Human prostate cancer cell death by novel anticancer compounds, apoptosis-inducing nucleosides from CD57+ HLA-DR(bright) natural suppressor cell line

BACKGROUND: We validated the induction of apoptosis in human prostate cancer PC3 cells by apoptosis-inducing nucleosides (AINs) released from the CD57(+)HLA-DR(bright)-natural suppressor (57.DR-NS) cell line. We analyzed the molecular signaling pathway during AINs-induced apoptosis in PC3 cells. METHODS: Direct and indirect co-cultures between 57.DR-NS and PC3 cells were performed. AINs were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) from 57.DR-NS cell cultures. Apoptosis in PC3 cells was analyzed by DNA fragmentation, sub-G(1) DNA content with flow cytometry, and terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method. The DNA strand breaks and activation of caspase-3 in PC3 cells were measured by DNA unwinding and flow cytometry assay. RESULTS: The 57.DR-NS cell line generated apoptosis in PC3 cells via AINs. AINs isolated from 57.DR-NS cell cultures induced apoptosis in PC3 cells. Furthermore, we found DNA strand breaks followed by activation of caspase-3 during AINs-induced apoptosis in PC3 cells. CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained here indicated that AINs could induce apoptosis in PC3 cells through DNA strand breaks and activation of caspase-3.     

Dose-response relationship between total cadmium intake calculated from the cadmium concentration in rice collected from each household of farmers and renal dysfunction in inhabitants of the Jinzu River basin,Japan

The association between total cadmium (Cd) intake and abnormal urinary findings was investigated in the Cd-polluted Jinzu River basin. In 1967 and 1968 the most systematic and large-scale health examinations were conducted among the entire population aged over 30 years of this region. We performed this study by targeting the subjects participating in the 1967 health survey conducted mainly in the heavily polluted area. From subjects who had eaten household rice of known Cd concentration, 1,075 inhabitants who had either resided in their current household since birth or who had moved there from a non-polluted area (group A), and 780 inhabitants who had resided in the current household since birth (group B), were selected as the target population. The total Cd intake for each person was calculated from the Cd dose ingested from rice and other foods. Logistic regression analysis was performed using the prevalence of abnormal urinary findings (proteinuria, glucosuria and proteinuria with glucosuria) as the criterion variable and the total Cd intake and age as explanatory variables. In subjects of groups A and B the odds ratios became higher as the dose of total Cd intake increased. Odds ratios in subjects of group A were statistically significant except for glucosuria of men and proteinuria of women. In subjects of group B the odds ratios were also significant for proteinuria + glucosuria of men and glucosuria of women. It was demonstrated that the greater the increase in total Cd intake, the greater the increase in abnormal urinary findings in the Jinzu River basin, and the association of the two factors was very close.     

Relationship between cadmium concentration in rice and renal dysfunction in individual subjects of the Jinzu River basin determined using a logistic regression analysis

We investigated the association between the Cd concentration in rice and renal dysfunction in individuals living in the Cd-polluted Jinzu River basin, using a logistic regression analysis. In the cases of logistic regression analysis for people (1) who had either resided in the present hamlet since birth or who had moved there from a non-polluted area and for those (2) who had resided in the present hamlet since birth, except for glucosuria in males, all partial correlation coefficients between the Cd concentration in rice and occurrence of abnormal urinary findings were statistically significant in both sexes. The allowable level of Cd concentration in rice was calculated by substituting the abnormality rates of urinary findings of the controls in the 40-49, 50-59 and 60-69 year age groups into the logistic regression formula for people (3). The value for subjects aged 50 years was 0.13 and 0.17 ppm for males and females, respectively, with regard to proteinuria and 0.15 and 0.10 ppm for males and females, respectively, with regard to proteinuria+glucosuria.     

Bombesin and its family of peptides: prospects for the treatment of obesity

Bombesin, its family of bombesin-like peptides, and many other peptides/hormones modulate biological and behavioral functions in animals. Among the wide variety of functions influenced by bombesin/bombesin-like peptides, the most prominent may be their role in feeding-related behavior. Over many years, intensive psychopharmacological studies have addressed the mechanisms by which these peptides induce feeding suppression, and the results suggest the applicability of bombesin/bombesin-like peptides for the treatment of eating disorders and/or obesity in humans. Recent studies using gene-knockout mice also shed new light on the relationship between bombesin/bombesin-like peptides and feeding behavior. In addition, genetic analyses of the possible links between bombesin/bombesin-like peptides/receptors and human obesity have also been undertaken. Here, we briefly review the literature pertaining to the relationship between bombesin/bombesin-like peptides and feeding behavior—with particular attention to human subjects—and discuss the pharmacotherapeutic potential of bombesin/bombesin-like peptides with regard to obesity.     

Effect of environmental changes on oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage in systemic lupus erythematosus

In a study conducted in Japan, the authors used urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) to study the effects of high-intensity and low-intensity sunlight on oxidative damage to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in patients who had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). During late May through early September (i.e., a period of high-intensity sunlight), the mean urinary 8-OHdG level in SLE patients was significantly higher than in controls (31.0 +/- 20.6 [standard deviation] ng/mg vs. 15.4 +/- 7.2 ng/mg, respectively [p < .05]). During late November through early March (i.e., low-intensity sunlight season), however, no significant differences were noted (15.4 +/- 5.5 ng/mg vs. 16.3 +/- 4.6 ng/mg, respectively). The mean urinary 8-OHdG level in SLE patients during the period of high-intensity sunlight was significantly higher than during the period of low-intensity sunlight (21.3 +/- 20.6 ng/mg vs. 12.6 +/- 6.7 ng/mg, respectively; p < .01), although no such seasonal changes were observed among controls (16.2 +/- 8.0 ng/mg vs. 15.7 +/- 5.1 ng/mg, respectively). The effect of sunlight intensity (i.e., season) may require consideration when oxidative DNA damage occurs in individuals who have SLE.     

Association between renal dysfunction and mortality among inhabitants in the region around the Jinzu River basin polluted by cadmium

A follow-up study was conducted on 5725 inhabitants (men 2858, women 2867) in and around the Jinzu River basin to determine the influence of environmental Cd exposure on mortality. In the Jinzu River basin, standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) investigated according to urinary findings (protein, glucose, and protein+glucose) were significantly low in the urinary protein-, glucose-, and protein+glucose-negative groups. SMRs calculated after dividing urinary protein- and glucose-positive status into two levels were lowest in the proteinuria- and glycosuria-negative groups and tended to be high in the higher positive groups. In the Jinzu River basin, Cox's hazard ratios were significantly higher for men and women in the urinary protein, glucose and protein+glucose-positive-groups. In the same analysis where the urinary protein- and glucose-positive subjects were divided into two levels, mortality was demonstrated to be higher in the groups with the greater degrees of proteinuria and glycosuria. In the Jinzu River water system almost all SMRs and Cox's hazard ratios showed statistical significance. This was not the case in the other water systems. Mortality of inhabitants with Cd-induced renal injury is increased in the Jinzu River basin.     

Association between duration of daily VDT use and subjective symptoms

BACKGROUND: Although visual display terminal (VDT) work has become a common task among office workers, surveys which would help to determine the allowable duration of daily VDT use are limited. METHODS: We investigated more than 25,000 workers three times over a 3-year period using a self-administered questionnaire. Three factors, namely mental, physical and sleep-related symptoms, were extracted by factor analysis. Adjusted means of each factor score were compared with the duration of daily VDT use by general linear model. RESULTS: Physical symptoms score became higher with increasing duration of daily VDT use without a threshold effect. Mental and sleep-related symptom scores of the workers using VDT for more 5 hr/day were significantly higher than that of the groups using VDT for >1, 1-3, and 3-5 hr/day. CONCLUSIONS: Duration of daily VDT use was linearly related to the physical symptom score, and was non-linearly related to mental and sleep-related symptom score with a threshold effect of 5 hr/day.     

The relationships among self-identity,self-esteem and attitude towards sexual behavior in university students

PURPOSE: It has been reported that the young people of today tend to engage in sexual behavior at an early age and the abortion rate is high. The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of post-adolescents with regard to sexual behaviors and the relationship to self-identity and self-esteem. METHODS: The subjects were 234 males (mean +/- SD 20.2 +/- 1.1 years) and 460 females (mean +/- SD 19.5 +/- 1.1 years) 4-year university students aged 18 to 23 years in Aichi Prefecture. An anonymous, self-report questionnaire was used to survey the subjects with regard to self-identity ("Establishment of Self" scale), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and sexual attitude and behavior. The scores on both scales and subscales of the "Establishment of Self" scale, "Foundation of Identity (Foundation)" and "Establishment of Identity (Establishment)", were calculated and intercompared, along with sexual attitude and behavior, controlled for age and school type. RESULTS: The mean total score of the "Establishment of Self" scale for males was 55.3 (SD9.2) and for females 52.2 (SD9.3), while those for the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were 27.2 (SD5.5) and 25.7 (SD5.2), respectively. There was significant positive correlation all scales in both sexes. Both male and female students had positive attitude towards sex and a negative view of "traditional gender roles" particularly females. Of the subjects, 82.4% of males and 69.5% of females were thinking of accepting a request for sexual intercourse from their partners. Many students understood the "need for contraception", that is a component of contraceptive behavior. Most of them, however, didn't acquire the other components. A total of 68.3% of males and 48.2% of females had experienced sexual intercourse during the last year. Of these, 50.6% of males and 58.2% of females consistently used contraception. The score on the "Establishment of Self" scale was higher among both the male and female students who responded positively to having "communication ability," "learning ability," and "acquisition ability." Significant differences were found in total and "Establishment" scales among males, and all scales among females. The score on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was significantly higher with "learning ability" among males, and with "communication ability" and "learning ability" among females. However, no significant relationship was found between actual contraceptive behavior and any of the scales. CONCLUSION: In dealing with contraception, a gap exists between university students' attitudes and actual behavior. The scores on the "Establishment of Self" scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were found to be significantly higher for those who exhibited higher values for components of contraceptive behavior.