Quality of life in Brazilian obese adolescents: effects of a long-term multidisciplinary lifestyle therapy

Background  

Obesity has adverse physical, social, and economic consequences that can negatively affect quality of life (QOL). Thus the aim of this study was to verify the effects of a long-term multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention on QOL, body image, anxiety, depression and binge eating in obese adolescents.     

Oligosaccharide modification by N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase‐V in macrophages are involved in pathogenesis of bleomycin‐induced scleroderma

Oligosaccharide modification by N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase‐V (GnT‐V), which catalyses the formation of β1,6 GlcNAc (N‐acetylglucosamine) branches on N‐glycans, is associated with various pathologies, such as cancer metastasis, multiple sclerosis and liver fibrosis. In this study, we demonstrated the involvement of GnT‐V in the pathophysiology of scleroderma. High expression of GnT‐V was observed in infiltrating cells in skin section samples from systemic and localized patients with scleroderma. Most of the infiltrating cells were T cells and macrophages, most of which were CD163⁺ M2 macrophages. To determine the role of GnT‐V in scleroderma, we next investigated skin sclerosis in GnT‐V knockout (MGAT5^?/?) mice. Expression of GnT‐V was also elevated in bleomycin (BLM)‐injected sclerotic skin, and MGAT5^?/? mice were resistant to BLM‐induced skin sclerosis with reduced collagen type 1 α1 content, suggesting the biological significance of GnT‐V in skin sclerosis. Furthermore, the number of CD163⁺ M2 macrophages and CD3‐positive T cells in BLM‐induced skin sclerosis was significantly fewer in MGAT5^?/? mice. In bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDMs), IL‐4‐induced expressions of Fizz1 and Ym1 were significantly reduced in MGAT5^?/? mice‐derived BMDMs. Taken together, these results suggest the induction of GnT‐V in skin sclerosis progression is possibly dependent on increased numbers of M2 macrophages in the skin, which are important for tissue fibrosis and remodelling.     

Adenovirus expressing shRNA to IGF-1R enhances the chemosensitivity of lung cancer cell lines by blocking IGF-1 pathway

RNA interference is a phenomenon whereby small double-stranded RNA knocks down the expression of a sequence-specific gene. Double-stranded siRNA transfection, as currently used, is considered to have transient and low transfection efficiency. We constructed an adenoviral vector-based short hair-pin(sh)RNA system to overcome the limitations of the genetic blockade of IGF-1R, one of most important cancer therapy targets. We constructed three different IGF-1R specific shRNAs (612, 801, and 3425) and generated three ad-shIGF-1Rs using BD Adeno-X expression system. We assessed the effect of ad-shIGF-1R on signal transduction, induction of apoptosis, and in vitro tumorigenicity of lung cancer cell lines. Western blot and FACS assays demonstrated that endogenous IGF-1R expression was efficiently suppressed after transduction of lung cancer cell lines with the three different ad-shIGF-1Rs. IGF-1R blockade by ad-shIGF-1R inhibited ligand induced phosphorylation of pAkt and pErk, and ad-shIGF-1R effectively blocked the in vitro tumorigenicity of lung cancer cell lines. Moreover, the transduction of a human lung cancer cell line with ad-IGF-1R(3425) enhanced chemosensitivity to anticancer drugs. We conclude that the adenoviral vector-based approach to the RNA interference of IGF-1R induced effective IGF-1R silencing in lung cancer cell lines as manifested by effective blocking of the downstream pathway of IGF-1R and by an antitumor effect. We believe that this system can be usefully applied to other cancer targets.     

New phenolic compounds from Camellia sinensis L. fermented leaves

Two new phenolic compounds (1 and 2, named as teasperol and teasperin, respectively) were isolated from fermented tea (Camellia sinensis L.) products, together with known phenolic compounds. Teasperol (1) was isolated from Chinese traditional post-fermented tea leaves (Liu-pao tea) and teasperin (2) was from a Japanese tea product which was selectively fermented with Aspergillus sp. The chemical structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated based on the analyses of their spectroscopic data.     

Progestin therapy for endometrial cancer: the potential of fourth-generation progestin (review)

Progestin preparations are made of synthetic progesterone and have often been used for hormone therapy in gynecological patients with endometriosis or endometrial cancer. Hormone therapy using progestin is considered to be one of the effective means of treatment particularly when dealing with endometrial cancer (an estrogen-dependent tumor). Numerous reports have been published concerning its efficacy in advanced or recurrent cases of atypical endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer. Dienogest has been developed as a fourth-generation progestin for hormone therapy for endometriosis that can be used with high safety for long periods of time. In Japan, dienogest has been recommended as a first-line drug for endometriosis-associated pain. However, its antitumor activity has also been attracting close attention following a report that this drug suppressed the proliferation in vitro of endometrial cancer-derived cell lines which failed to respond to other progestins such as medroxyprogesterine acetate (MPA). The mechanism for antitumor activity of dienogest is considered to differ from the mechanism for antitumor activity of conventional progestin preparations used for treatment of endometrial cancer. This drug is expected to be clinically applicable as a new drug for the treatment of endometrial cancer.     

A case of severe Chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation and complicated with disseminated intravascular coagulation]

A previously healthy 48-year-old man presented to his primary care physician with high fever, dry cough and dyspnea. Pneumonia was diagnosed and intravenous administration of imipenem/cilastatin was begun, but his respiratory condition worsened and he was admitted to our hospital with severe hypoxia. A chest radiograph showed reticular opacity and consolidation in both lung fields. The case was complicated with disseminated intravascular coagulation. Analysis of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed increases in the total cell counts and an elevated percentage of lymphocytes. Sputum, blood and bronchoalveolar lavage examinations failed to reveal etiology to explain his severe respiratory illness. Treatment consisted of mechanical ventilation and administration of steroid pulse-therapy and gabexate mesilate. On the basis of his clinical course, we suspected possible atypical pneumonia, and began therapy with intravenous minocyclin and oral erythromycin administration. On the third hospital day, the arterial blood gas data improved and the bilateral pulmonary infiltration on the chest radiographs disappeared. Using paired sera, we detected increases of 1.35 in ID for anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG antibodies by ELISA, and arrived at a diagnosis of Chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonia.