Vitamin C is one of the lipolytic substances in green tea

We have studied the influence of vitamin C contained in green tea on the lipolysis of well-differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. When mature adipocytes were exposed to vitamin C the triglyceride concentration was decreased (p < 0.05) and the activity of glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, a marker of adipose conversion, was significantly inhibited (p < 0.01). These data suggest that green tea may have a lipolytic activity due to the mechanism by which the vitamin C contained in it inhibits triglyceride accumulation.     

A short-term dietary supplementation of high doses of vitamin E increases T helper 1 cytokine production in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: Patients with advanced cancer exhibit multifaceted defects in their immune capacity, which are likely to contribute to an increased susceptibility to infections and disease progression and to constitute a barrier to immunotherapeutic interventions. A chronic inflammatory condition associated with increased oxidative stress has been suggested as one of the responsible mechanisms behind the tumor-induced immune suppression. We, therefore, speculated that supplementation with the antioxidant vitamin E could enhance the immune functions in patients with advanced cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: This hypothesis was here tested in twelve patients with colorectal cancer (Dukes' C and D) who, prior to intervention with chemo- or radiotherapy, received a daily dose of 750 mg of vitamin E during a period of 2 weeks. RESULTS: Short-term supplementation with high doses of dietary vitamin E leads to increased CD4:CD8 ratios and to enhanced capacity by their T cells to produce the T helper 1 cytokines interleukin 2 and IFN-gamma. In 10 of 12 patients, an increase of 10% or more (average, 22%) in the number of T cells producing interleukin 2 was seen after 2 weeks of vitamin E supplementation, as compared with peripheral blood monocyte samples taken before treatment (P = 0.02). Interestingly, there seemed to be a more pronounced stimulatory effect by vitamin E on na?ve (CD45RA(+)) T helper cells as compared with T cells with a memory/activated phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary vitamin E may be used to improve the immune functions in patients with advanced cancer, as a supplement to more specific immune interventions.     

Application of Non-Radioactive Europium(EU3+) Release Assay to a Measurement of Human Natural Killer Activity of Healthy and Patient Populations

Europium (Eu³⁺) release assay is a non-radioactive method for a measurement of cytotoxicity of lymphocytes and has several advantages compared with a conventional ⁵¹Cr release assay. However, the Eu³⁺ release assay has not been applied to a natural killer (NK) activity measurement of a large number of the human population mainly due to a lack of comparability with the ⁵¹Cr release assay. With some modifications of the procedures and careful manipulation of cells, constant and reproducible results were obtained by the Eu³⁺ release assay. NK activity of several individuals was measured by the Eu³⁺ release assay and was compared with data obtained by ⁵¹Cr release assay performed simultaneously. The obtained values by the two methods were almost identical. We applied the Eu³⁺ method to measure NK activity of a large number of individuals, including 68 apparently healthy donors and 36 autoimmune and 21 cancer patients. Some of these diseases are known to show abnormal NK activity. The obtained cytotoxicities were mostly consistent with the previously reported data obtained by the ⁵¹Cr release assay. These results indicated that the Eu³⁺ release assay could be used as an alternative method for a measurement of human NK activity of mass population including patients.     

Distribution of a Brain-specific Proteoglycan, Neurocan, and the Corresponding mRNA During the Formation of Barrels in the Rat Somatosensory Cortex

Neurocan is a developmentally regulated chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan in the rat brain. In the present study, spatiotemporal patterns of expression of neurocan and the corresponding mRNA were examined in the developing cortical barrel field of the rat brain by using a monoclonal antibody that was highly specific to neurocan and a riboprobe for a portion of the mRNA. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that neurocan was distributed throughout the cerebral cortex during early postnatal development but was excluded from the centres of cortical barrels at the time of entry and arborization of thalamocortical axons. At this developmental stage, expression of neurocan mRNA was shown by in situ hybridization to be down-regulated in the barrel centres. When a row of whisker follicles was laser-cauterized on postnatal day 1, the pattern of expression of neurocan was disturbed in the row of barrels that corresponded to the lesioned whisker follicles in the contralateral somatosensory cortex. From these observations, it appears that neuronal stimuli through early thalamocortical fibres from the sensory periphery cause reduced expression of neurocan mRNA in neurocan-producing cells in the presumptive barrel centres. Our findings also suggest that the pattern of distribution of neurocan in early postnatal barrel fields may be due mainly to the down-regulation of expression of neurocan mRNA.     

A case of carcinosarcoma of the breast

Carcinosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor of the breast. A 59-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of a right breast mass for one month. The mass grew rapidly, and modified radical mastectomy was performed. Based on the histological findings of carcinomatous and sarcomatous components entangled without a transition area, and the results of immunohistochemical staining, carcinosarcoma of the breast was diagnosed. Within 9 months of the surgery, a recurrent lesion appeared in her chest wall. As shown by local resection, this recurrent tumor had only a carcinomatous component. Such tumors are very rare, and there have been no detailed reports of recurrence patterns of carcinosarcoma. Here we report our pathological findings in detail.     

Development of agonists/antagonists for protease-activated receptors (PARs) and the possible therapeutic application to gastrointestinal diseases

Protease-activated receptors (PARs), a family of G-protein-coupled seven-transmembrane-domain receptors, are activated by proteolytic unmasking of the N-terminal cryptic tethered ligand by certain serine proteases. Among four PAR family members cloned to date, PAR-1, PAR-2, and PAR-4 can also be activated through a non-enzymatic mechanism, which is achieved by direct binding of exogenously applied synthetic peptides based on the tethered ligand sequence, known as PARs-activating peptides, to the body of the receptor. Various peptide mimetics have been synthesized as agonists for PARs with improved potency, selectivity, and stability. Some peptide mimetics and/or nonpeptide compounds have also been developed as antagonists for PAR-1 and PAR-4. PARs are widely distributed in the mammalian body, especially throughout the alimentary systems, and play various roles in physiological/pathophysiological conditions, i.e., modulation of salivary, gastric, or pancreatic glandular exocrine secretion, gastrointestinal smooth muscle motility, gastric mucosal cytoprotection, suppression/facilitation of visceral pain and inflammation, etc. Thus PARs are now considered novel therapeutic targets, and development of selective agonists and/or antagonists for PARs might provide a novel strategy for the treatment of various diseases that are resistant to current therapeutics.     

p53 negativity, CDC25B positivity, and metallothionein negativity are predictors of a response of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to chemoradiotherapy

AIM: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is generally sensitive to chemoradiotherapy (CRT), but some cases are not. Using a retrospective analysis, we aimed to identify the predictors of the response by esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to definitive CRT. METHODS: The intensities of expression of,p53, Ki67, Bcl-2, Bax, cyclin D1, VEGF, CDC25B, and metalbthionein (MT) were evaluated immunohistochemically in the bfopsy specimens obtained before CRT, and the intensities of their expression were tested for correlations with the clinical effects of CRT. RESULTS: The esophageal squamous cell carcinomas with negative p53, positive CDC25B, and negative MT expression were found to be significantly more sensitive to CRT. In addition, p53 positivity and CDC25B positivity respomd well to CRT. CONCLUSION: Esophageal squamous cell carcinomas with negative p53,positive CDC25B, and negative MT expressions respond well to CRT. Even with p53 positivity, if with CDC25B positivity, CRT can be expected.     

Care practices on the resuscitation of newborns in the context of a delivery center

Approximately 10 to 15% of the neonates present difficulties in adapting to extra uterine life, which requires ability and readiness from the professional to intervene properly. This is an observational, cross-sectional study aimed at describing the care practices on the resuscitation of the newborn in the Delivery Center of a public hospital in the city of S?o Paulo. Data were obtained from the observation of 100 assistances given by health care professional staff and were recorded on a check-list instrument. Meconium-amniotic fluid was found in 24 (24.0%) births and 47 (47.0%) newborns were submitted to respiratory airways aspiration. Of these, 6.4% (3) had their trachea aspirated. 26 (26.0%) newborns were ventilated, 5 (19.2%) of which by mask plus positive pressure; 1 (1.0%) newborn was submitted to a chest compression. After the initial resuscitation procedures, 6 (6.0%) newborns were referred to the neonatal intensive care unit.