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AlphaB-crystallin (HSPB5) is one of the most prominent and well-studied members of the small heat shock protein (sHsp) family. To date, it is known that this protein modulates significant cellular processes and therefore, it is not surprising that its deregulation is involved in various human pathologies, including cancer diseases. Despite the pathogenic significance of HSPB5 in cancer and its regulatory mechanism related to aggressiveness is poorly understood, several reports describe the association of breast carcinoma progression with HSPB5, whose expression is also considered an independent predictor of breast cancer metastasis to the brain. Indeed, numerous authors indicate HSPB5 as a new valuable biomarker for clinicopathological parameters and poor prognosis in breast cancer. Considering the cytoprotective, anti-apoptotic, pro-angiogenic, and pro-metastatic properties of the sHsps, it is not surprising that they are considered as promising targets for anticancer treatment, even though, at present, a deeper understanding of their mode of action is needed to allow the development of precise therapeutic interventions. Data on the direct inhibition of different sHsps demonstrate promising results in cancer pathologies; however, specific strategies against HSPB5 have not been considered. This review highlights the most relevant findings on HSPB5 and its role in breast cancer, as well as the possible strategies in using HSPB5 inhibition for therapeutic purposes.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a 4-week low-carbohydrate (CHO) diet regimen on body weight, exercise performance and hormonal response to running in master athletes. Six endurance master athletes performed three 30-min time trials, before (TT1), after 15 days (TT2) and after 30 days (TT3) on a low CHO diet. Blood samples were collected for hormonal and lactate measurements. After 15 days body weight had decreased (TT1 72.3 ± 2.4 kg, TT2 70.0 ± 2.7 kg; P = 0.006) and then remained stable. No differences were observed in performance (TT1 7,015 ± 273 m, TT2 6,920 ± 286 m, TT3 7,202 ± 315 m) and in the insulin/glucagon ratio. After 2 and 4 weeks, adrenocorticotropic hormone decreased significantly both at rest (baseline: TT1 42.5 ± 7.8 pg·ml−1, TT3 21.6 ± 3.2 pg·ml−1) and during exercise (end of exercise: TT1 120 ± 20 pg·ml−1, TT2 80 ± 16 pg·ml−1, TT3 31 ± 2 pg·ml−1). Baseline cortisol concentrations had increased significantly after as little as 15 days on the low CHO diet. The results of the present study demonstrate no changes in time trial performance in master endurance athletes after 4 weeks on a low CHO diet. However, an effect on the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis emerged.

A balanced intake of macro- and micro nutrients is crucially important for conditioning, recovery from fatigue after exercise, as well as for injury prevention. An increasing number of athletes have adopted vegetarian diets for one or more reasons and actually there is no available evidence to support either a beneficial or a detrimental effect of a vegetarian diet on sport performance. Therefore, it is widely accepted that appropriately planned vegetarian diets can provide sufficient nutrient energy with an appropriate range of carbohydrate, fat, and protein intake to support performance and health. On the other hand, questions have been raised by some investigators regarding unique risks of the vegetarian diet, including oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea, iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, and impaired mineral status. In the present overview those items are described with the aim of identifying intervention warnings for vegetarian athletes.