Double whammy - mediastinal and ovarian teratoma: a rare clinical co-existence

Teratomas are germ cell tumours arising as the result of abnormal development of totipotential cells. They are commonly encountered in the gonads and occasionally found in mediastinum. We report a case of asymptomatic 28 years old lady with concomitant mature cystic teratoma in her mediastinum and left ovary which was diagnosed incidentally during health check up. This case is reported because of its rare and unusual coexistence.     

Precoccygeal epidermoid cyst in a child — A unique case report

Introduction

Epidermoid cyst is a benign tumour frequently observed throughout the body. It can grow in size and may get infected over a period of time.

Genistein potentiates the growth inhibitory effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in DU145 human prostate cancer cells: role of the direct inhibition of CYP24 enzyme activity

In a search for improved therapies for prostate cancer, we investigated the effect of genistein in combination with 1alpha-25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], on the growth of DU145 human prostate cancer cells. DU145 cells were very resistant to the growth inhibitory action of 1,25(OH)2D3 or genistein when administered individually. However, the combination caused a significant growth inhibition seen at lower concentrations of both agents. 1,25(OH)2D3 induces the expression of the CYP24 gene, which codes for the enzyme that initiates the catabolism of 1,25(OH)2D3. We showed for the first time that genistein at low doses (50-100 nM) directly inhibited CYP24 at the enzyme level. Addition of genistein to mitochondrial preparations inhibited CYP24 enzyme activity in a noncompetitive manner. CYP24 inhibition by genistein increased the half-life of 1,25(OH)2D3 thereby augmenting the homologous up-regulation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) both at the mRNA and protein levels. Genistein co-treatment enhanced 1,25(OH)2D3-mediated transactivation of the vitamin D responsive reporters OC-Luc and OP-Luc transfected into DU145 cells. Consistent with the growth inhibition due to the combination treatment, significant changes in the expression of genes involved in growth arrest and apoptosis were seen. We conclude that genistein potentiates the antiproliferative actions of 1,25(OH)2D3 in DU145 cells by two mechanisms: (i) an increase in the half-life of 1,25(OH)2D3 due to the direct inhibition of CYP24 enzyme activity and (ii) an amplification of the homologous up-regulation of VDR. Together these two effects lead to a substantial enhancement of the cellular responses to the growth inhibitory and pro-apoptotic signaling by 1,25(OH)2D3.     

The androgen receptor CAG and GGN repeat polymorphisms and prostate cancer susceptibility in African-American men: results from the Flint Men’s Health Study

Repeat lengths of the CAG and GGN microsatellites in exon 1 of the androgen receptor (AR) gene have been hypothesized to be associated with prostate cancer risk. In vitro studies have showed an inverse association between AR CAG and GGN repeat length and activity levels of the AR product. It is known that men of African descent have a higher incidence of and greater mortality from prostate cancer than men of Caucasian or Asian descent and, on average, a smaller number of repeats at AR CAG and GGN. Consistent with these findings, studies have also found increased AR protein expression levels in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic diseased tissues from men of African descent. Despite these findings, limited studies have been conducted to evaluate the association between repeat lengths at AR CAG and prostate cancer risk in African Americans. Our study is the first such study to examine whether repeat length of the AR GGN repeat is associated with prostate cancer risk in African Americans. We found no evidence for an association between AR CAG or GGN repeat lengths and prostate cancer risk in a population-based sample of African Americans.     

Rosiglitazone and 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2, PPARgamma agonists, differentially regulate cigarette smoke-mediated pro-inflammatory cytokine release in monocytes/macrophages

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma (PPARgamma) ligands have the potential for use as anti-inflammatory agents in chronic airway diseases. We hypothesized that cigarette smoke (CS)-mediated pro-inflammatory cytokine release would be downregulated in the monocyte-macrophage cell line (MonoMac6) by synthetic and natural PPARgamma ligands. Surprisingly, treatment of MonoMac6 cells with the natural PPARgamma ligand 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 led to increased cytokine (IL-8) release in response to either TNF-alpha or CS extract (CSE). However, exposure to rosiglitazone, a synthetic agonist, led to decreased TNF-alpha, but not CSE, mediated cytokine release. Cytokine release correlated with nuclear PPARgamma localization; CSE reduced the amount of activated PPARgamma located in the nucleus and formed aldehyde adducts as PPARgamma protein carbonyls. Furthermore, it was shown that PPARgamma interacts with the RelA/p65 subunit of NF-kappaB under TNF-alpha exposure conditions, but this interaction was disrupted by CS exposure, suggesting that CS blocks this important anti-inflammatory pathway involving PPARgamma. Thus, these new data show that activation of PPARgamma with natural or synthetic ligands have differential inhibitory effects on CS-mediated pro-inflammatory mediator release. These data have implications in designing therapies for treatment of COPD and pulmonary fibrosis.     

Portulaca oleracea alleviates CCl4-induced acute liver injury by regulating hepatic S100A8 and S100A9

Objective: Acute liver injury (ALF) is a potential factor of many serious hepatopathies. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a possible environmental toxicant that can induce ALF. Portulaca oleracea (PO) is one of the most popular edible herbs and has several biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory effects. We explored the significance of PO in regulating inflammatory function in animal models and cultured hepatocytes during liver damage caused by CCl4. Methods: The effect of PO on ALF was evaluated by CCl4-induced mice models in vivo. Hepatic levels of transaminase activities and inflammatory factors were examined. The gene and protein expression of S100A8 and S100A9 were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Meanwhile, the efficacy of PO was certified by HepG2 cells in vitro. The transaminase activities, inflammatory factors, and the protein expression of S100A8 and S100A9 were also detected. Results: Animal tests showed that pretreatment with PO reduced the liver pathological tissue damage and the serum levels of ALT, AST, ALT and LDH, as well as reducing the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) secretion in CCl4-induced liver injury mice. Simultaneously, HepG2 cells pretreated with PO exhibited a significant decrease in the activities of ALT and AST. Moreover, PO resulted in a significant downregulation of the pro-inflammatory markers S100A8, S100A9 gene and protein expression on CCl4 induced acute liver injury was demonstrated entirely in vivo and vitro experiments. Conclusion: PO may down-regulate S100A8 and S100A9 and inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines'' release, indicating a potential clinical effect for controlling the disease.     

Fluorinated Sulfonated Poly(ether sulfone)-Based Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Dispersion: A Hole Transport Layer Material in Organic Solar Cells

Here the synthesis of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) aqueous dispersion using sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) (SPES) with hydrophobic fluorinated groups to improve the weather and water stability of the conductive film is reported. The conductivity and surface morphology of the fabricated PEDOT:SPES conductive thin films are investigated. The PEDOT:SPES film after the N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) treatment showed a 200 times increase in the conductivity and the transmittance is over 96.5%. Raman spectroscopy indicates conformational changes in PEDOT chains due to the solvent treatment. The PEDOT:SPES film shows better water and weather stability performance in terms of dimensional stability in comparison to the commercial PEDOT:poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSS). Further, the organic solar cells performance is tested using PEDOT:SPES as hole transport layer and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P₃HT):[6,6]-phenyl C₇₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) as active material. The PEDOT:SPES achieves a good power conversion efficiency (=3.36%), comparable with the conventional PEDOT:PSS (AI 4083).