Effects of Medicinal Fungi-Derived β-Glucan on Tumor Progression.

β-Glucans have been studied in animal species, from earthworms to humans. They form a heterogenous group of glucose polymers found in fungi, plants, bacteria, and seaweed. β-Glucans have slowly emerged as an important target for the recognition of pathogens.

The gene expression profile of a drug metabolism system and signal transduction pathways in the liver of mice treated with tert-butylhydroquinone or 3-(3'-tert-butyl-4'-hydroxyphenyl)propylthiosulfonate of sodium.

Tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) is a highly effective phenolic antioxidant used in edible oils and fats in foods as well as in medicines and cosmetics. TBHQ has been shown to have both chemoprotective and carcinogenic effects. Furthermore, it has potential anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, and neuroprotective activities.

A comparative study of the hypolipidaemic effects of a new polysaccharide, mannan Candida albicans serotype A, and atorvastatin in mice with poloxamer 407-induced hyperlipidaemia.

Objectives: We evaluated the hypolipidaemic effect of mannan Candida albicans serotype A, relative to atorvastatin, in a mouse model of hyperlipidaemia.

Methods: Mannan serotype A was investigated in vitro and in vivo to determine its effects on macrophage proliferation, nitric oxide (NO) production by cultured macrophages, serum and liver lipids, changes in liver morphology and serum chitotriosidase activity and its expression in the liver.

Key Findings: Mannan serotype A stimulates the macrophage proliferation and NO production in murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro.

Filaggrin mutations in a Western siberian population and their association with atopic dermatitis in children.

We determined the frequencies of null mutations of the FLG gene--2282del4, R501X, R2447X, 3702delG, S3247X, and the 12-repeat allele (rs12730241)--among 460 Caucasians of the city of Novosibirsk, Russia. The frequency was 17.7% for rs12730241, 2.