Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug activated gene (NAG-1) expression is closely related to death receptor-4 and -5 induction, which may explain sulindac sulfide induced gastric cancer cell apoptosis

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are powerful chemopreventive agents in various cancers. They act by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) activity, or through other mechanisms. NSAID-activated gene (NAG-1) has antitumorigenic and pro-apoptotic activities, but the mechanisms of NAG-1-induced apoptosis are poorly understood. Here we examined whether NAG-1 expression is induced in gastric cancer cells treated with NSAIDs, and the effect of NAG-1 expression on cell death. NAG-1 cDNA was transfected into SNU601 cells, and the relation between the ectopic expression of NAG-1 and death receptor-4 (DR-4) and DR-5 levels was studied. We found that NAG-1 expression was strongly induced in SNU601 cells, which lack endogenous COX-2, by sulindac sulfide, and that this was closely related with increased apoptosis and decreased cell viability. Moreover, temporal expressions of DR-4 and DR-5 induced by sulindac sulfide were similar to that of NAG-1. Most SNU601 cells transfected with NAG-1 cDNA did not survive during expansion. Forced NAG-1 expression significantly induced apoptosis and DR-4 and DR-5 expression. We conclude that NAG-1 expression is closely related to DR-4 and DR-5 induction, which could provide a mechanistic basis for the apoptotic effect of COX inhibitors in gastric cancer cells.     

Combination of alpha-interferon with lamivudine reduces viral breakthrough during long-term therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Viral breakthrough is frequently encountered during long-term lamivudine therapy, mostly associated with YMDD mutants. In this study, we investigated the effects of alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) combined with lamivudine on the occurrence of viral breakthrough during long-term lamivudine therapy. METHODS: Eighty-three patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis B were randomly allocated to a combination of lamivudine and IFN-alpha (LAM/IFN; n = 41) or lamivudine only (LAM; n = 42), and then followed up for >12 months. We calculated the cumulative rate of undetectable serum HBV-DNA and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss, as well as the cumulative occurrence rate of viral breakthrough. We also evaluated the relationship between YMDD mutants and the occurrence of viral breakthrough. RESULTS: There was no difference in cumulative rates of undetectable serum HBV-DNA (100%vs 100% at 24 months, P = 0.13) and cumulative rates of serum HBeAg loss between the LAM/IFN group and the LAM group (49%, 61% and 67%vs 31%, 39% and 42%, respectively, at 12, 24 and 36 months; P = 0.07). The cumulative occurrence rate of viral breakthrough, however, was significantly lower in the LAM/IFN group compared with the LAM group (5%, 20% and 30%vs 10%, 55% and 58%, respectively, at 12, 24 and 36 months; P = 0.006). From the patients with viral breakthrough, YMDD mutants were detected in 82% (18 of 22) of the LAM group in contrast with 56% (five of nine) of the LAM/IFN group in their sera. CONCLUSION: IFN-alpha combined with lamivudine may reduce viral breakthrough during long-term lamivudine therapy, probably by suppressing the appearance of YMDD mutants.     

Characteristic clinical features of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with Budd-Chiari syndrome: evidence of different carcinogenic process from hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a known risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Considering the pathophysiological mechanism of BCS, BCS-associated HCC may have a different carcinogenic process to hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated HCC, resulting in different characteristic clinical features. METHODS: The clinical, radiological and histopathological characteristics of 15 HCCs associated with BCS were analysed and compared with 211 HBV-associated HCCs. RESULTS: HCC associated with BCS showed a female predominance in contrast to a male predominance in HCC associated with HBV infection. Child classes of BCS-associated HCC patients were not different from the classes of HBV-associated HCC. BCS tended to be associated with the single nodular type of HCC. Only one BCS-associated HCC patient had portal vein invasion at the time of diagnosis, compared with 96 patients with HBV-associated HCC. No HCC patients with BCS showed biliary invasion, compared with 47 HBV-associated HCC patients. The median survival period of HCC patients associated with BCS was 58 months, which was much longer than the median survival period of 10 months in HBV-associated HCC. All of the three BCS-associated HCCs available for histological examination were well differentiated. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HCC associated with BCS seemed to survive for much longer periods than those with HBV due to the low invasiveness of the tumour. Such unique clinical features may be evidence of different carcinogenic processes in BCS-associated and HBV-associated HCC.     

Ipsilateral motor pathway confirmed by diffusion tensor tractography in a patient with schizencephaly

We evaluated the hand motor function of a right hemiparetic patient with schizencephaly using a combination of fMRI, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). Only the unaffected (right) primary sensori-motor cortex was found to be activated during either affected (right) or unaffected hand movements. Evoked motor potentials with similar characteristics were obtained from both abductor pollicis brevis muscles simultaneously when stimulating the unaffected motor cortex. Moreover, a tract presumed to be a corticospinal tract was observed in the unaffected hemisphere by DTT, however, no tract was observed in the affected hemisphere. Our results indicate that the ipsilateral corticospinal tract extended from the unaffected (right) motor cortex to both hands. This finding may reflect functional reorganization of motor function in a patient with congenital brain disorder.     

Effects of Qi-therapy on premenstrual syndrome

This study investigated the effects of Qi-therapy (nine sessions over two menstrual cycles) on pain and other symptoms in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Forty-six women who were attending college were randomly allocated to receive Qi-therapy (Qi-therapy group: n = 23) or placed on a waiting list as controls (n = 22: 1 dropped out). Qi-therapy had a significant effect on pain and water retention. In addition, there were significant short-term effects on pain, mental depression, and anxiety. These results suggested that Qi-therapy might be useful as a nursing intervention for women who suffer from PMS to maintain or restore a balance of Qi.     

Changes in microcystin production by Microcystis aeruginosa exposed to phytoplanktivorous and omnivorous fish

With direct exposure to phytoplanktivorous fish (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), increased mass-specific microcystin production occurred in three monoclonal Microcystis aeruginosa strains (NIES 44, 88 and 99). Total mass-specific microcystin content of NIES 44 exposed to H. molitrix was over 50 times higher than controls (a mean value of 16.2 microgg(-1)-dry cell in controls versus 878.6 microgg(-1)-dry cell in treatments). Up to nine times higher microcystin levels were detected in NIES 88 exposed to H. molitrix compared to controls (a mean value of 553 in controls versus 5145 microgg(-1)-dry cell in treatments). The microcystin levels of all strains were significantly different between controls and H. molitrix treatments (P < 0.01 for NIES 44 and 88; P < 0.05 for NIES 99). The microcystin response to the omnivorous Carassius gibelio langsdorfi was weaker than that of H. molitrix, though the levels in all strains exposed to the fish were higher than in controls and a significant difference in microcystin production between controls and omnivorous fish treatments occurred for NIES 44 (a mean value of 6.9 in controls versus 41.5 microgg(-1)-dry cell in treatments; P < 0.01) and NIES 88 (a mean value of 359.8 versus 480.4 microgg(-1)-dry cell; P < 0.05). Microcystis cells were observed in the both fish faeces and gut contents, and microcystin was also detected in the body tissues (from 0.6 to 2.5 microgg(-1)-dry weight) and faeces of both fish species on the final day of experiment, although 98% of fish in three strains of Microcystis cultures had lost weight (mean +/- S.E. fish growth rate with M. aeruginosa; -0.90 +/- 0.06% per day, n = 96). This study showed that several M. aeruginosa strains increased toxin production when exposed to fish, especially phytoplanktivorous species, even though fish appeared not to feed vigorously on toxic Microcystis, and supports the hypothesis that this response is a fish-induced defence mediated by physical contact associated with feeding or by chemical cues (e.g. kairomones).     

Flavonoids and aromatic compounds from the rhizomes of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zingiber zerumbet</Emphasis>

Repeated column chromatography of the CHCl3-soluble fraction of Zingiber zerumbet led to the isolation and identification of two aromatic compounds, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (1) and vanillin (2), and six kaempferol derivatives, kaempferol-3,4',7-O-trimethylether (3), kaempferol-3-O-methylether (4), kaempferol-3,4'-O-dimethylether (5), 4'-O-acetylafzelin (6), kaempferol-3-O-(4-O-acetyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside)], 2',4'-O-diacetylafzelin (7), kaempferol-3-O-(2,4-O-diacetyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside)], and 3',4'-O-diacetylafzelin (8), kaempferol-3-O-(3,4-O-diacetyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside)]. The structures of 1-8 were identified by analysis of spectroscopic data as well as by comparison with published values. This is the first report on the isolation of compounds 1-3 from this plant.     

Effects of dopamine-hci on structural parameters of bovine brain membranes

Fluorescence probes located in different membrane regions were used to evaluate the effect of dopamine.HCl on the structural parameters (transbilayer lateral mobility, annular lipid fluidity, protein distribution, and thickness of the lipid bilayer) of synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles (SPMV), which were obtained from the bovine cerebral cortex. An experimental procedure was used based on selective quenching of 1,3-di(1-pyrenyl)propane (Py-3-Py) by trinitrophenyl groups, and radiationless energy transfer from the tryptophan of membrane proteins to Py-3-Py and energy transfer from Py-3-Py monomers to 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid (ANS) was also utilized. Dopamine.HCl increased both the bulk lateral mobility and annular lipid fluidity, and it had a greater fluidizing effect on the inner monolayer than on the outer monolayer. Furthermore, the drug had a clustering effect on membrane proteins.