Effects of handholding and providing information on anxiety in patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Aims And Objectives: This study evaluated the effects of handholding and spoken information provided on the anxiety of patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty under local anaesthesia.

Background: A surgical intervention usually entails physical discomfort and psychological burden. Furthermore, patients under local anaesthesia are conscious during the surgical intervention, which leads to more anxiety, as patients are aware of their surroundings in the operating theatre.

6,7-di-O-acetylsinococuline (FK-3000) induces G2/M phase arrest in breast carcinomas through p38 MAPK phosphorylation and CDC25B dephosphorylation.

We evaluated the cytostatic effect of 6,7-di-O-acetyl-sinococuline (FK-3000) isolated from Stephania delavayi Diels. against breast carcinoma cell lines MDA-MB‑231 and MCF-7. FK-3000 suppressed CDC25B phosphorylation directly and indirectly via p38 MAPK phosphorylation.

Expression of hepatic antioxidant enzymes in non-obese type-2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Diabetes mellitus and its complications have been attributed in part to oxidative stress, against which antioxidant enzymes constitute a major protective mechanism. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of early stage type 2 diabetes in the absence of obesity and liver damage on hepatic antioxidant enzyme expression and oxidative stress using 9-week-old Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. Hepatic total antioxidant capacity determined by total oxygen radical scavenging capacity and lipid peroxidation determined by malondialdehyde in plasma and liver were not significantly different between normal Wistar rats and GK rats.

Role of NADPH oxidase-4 in saturated fatty acid-induced insulin resistance in SK-Hep-1 cells.

We aimed to develop a cell culture model of type 2 diabetes by treating SK-Hep-1 cells with four free fatty acids [i.e., palmitic acid, stearic acid (SA), linoleic acid and oleic acid].

1'-Acetoxychavicol acetate isolated from Alpinia galanga ameliorates ovalbumin-induced asthma in mice.

The World Health Organization reports that 235 million people are currently affected by asthma. This disease is associated with an imbalance of Th1 and Th2 cells, which results in the upregulation of cytokines that promote chronic inflammation of the respiratory system. The inflammatory response causes airway obstruction and can ultimately result in death.

Hepatic metabolism of sulfur amino acids in db/db mice.

To determine the effect of type-2 diabetes and obesity on the hepatic metabolism of sulfur amino acids, hepatic sulfur amino acid metabolism was determined in db/db mice. Hepatic methionine was markedly decreased in db/db mice, although the hepatic activity of betaine homocysteine methyltransferase was increased. The decrease in hepatic methionine was reflected by decreased sulfur-containing methionine metabolites, including S-adenosylmethionine, homocysteine, cysteine, and hypotaurine in liver and plasma.

Effects of palmitic acid on TNF-α-induced cytotoxicity in SK-Hep-1 cells.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an increasingly common cause of chronic liver disease; however, no specific pharmacologic therapy has been shown to be effective in its treatment. The present study was designed to develop an experimental cell culture model of NASH using four kinds of fatty acids - palmitic acid (PA), stearic acid (SA), linoleic acid (LA), and oleic acid (OA) - and TNF-α, according to the "two-hit" hypothesis. The saturated fatty acids PA and SA are more cytotoxic than the unsaturated fatty acids OA and LA.

Preformulation and formulation of newly synthesized QNT3-18 for development of a skin whitening agent.

New molecules having the structure of (E)-2-(4-tert-butylbenzylidene) hydrazinecarbothioamide (QNT3-18) or 4-tert-butylphenylthiourea (QNT3-20) was synthesized and presupposed to inhibit melanogenesis through the inhibition of tyrosinase, which is involved in melanin formation. Therefore, we seek to develop these new molecules as skin whitening agents in topical formulations based on preformulation studies. QNT3-18 or QNT3-20 showed a strong single endothermic peak at 159.

Evaluation of the total oxidant scavenging capacity of saponins isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum.

The antioxidant activity of saponins isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum (PG; Balloon flower) was determined using the total oxidant-scavenging capacity (TOSC) assay. Platycodigenin, polygalacic acid, platycodin D, platycoside E and deapioplatycoside E were isolated and their structures were characterised based on their physical and spectral properties and by comparison of these results with similar data in the literature. Platycodin D showed the greatest TOSC value against peroxyl radicals, followed (in decreasing order) by polygalacic acid, platycodigenin, deapioplatycosides E and platycoside E.

Evaluation of hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats treated with tert-butyl hydroperoxide.

Although tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) is commonly used to induce oxidative stress, little is known about the time- or dose-dependence of its oxidative effects. In this study, we examined hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in male rats at various times (0-24 h) after t-BHP (0, 0.2, 0.

Hepatic expression of cytochrome P450 in type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Although hepatic expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) changes markedly in diabetes, the role of ketone bodies in the regulation of CYP in diabetes is controversial. The present study was performed to determine the expression and activity of CYP in non-obese type II diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats with normal levels of ketone bodies. In the present study, basal serum glucose levels increased 1.

Plasma homocysteine level and hepatic sulfur amino acid metabolism in mice fed a high-fat diet.

Purpose: Obesity, a feature of metabolic syndrome, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and elevated plasma homocysteine is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. However, little published information is available concerning the effect of obesity on homocysteine metabolism.

Methods: Hepatic homocysteine metabolism was determined in male C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks.

A novel family VII esterase with industrial potential from compost metagenomic library.

Background: Among the vast microbial genomic resources now available, most microbes are unculturable in the laboratory. A culture-independent metagenomic approach is a novel technique that circumvents this culture limitation. For the screening of novel lipolytic enzymes, a metagenomic library was constructed from compost, and the clone of estCS2 was selected for lipolytic properties on a tributyrin-containing medium.

Metformin inhibits P-glycoprotein expression via the NF-κB pathway and CRE transcriptional activity through AMPK activation.

Background And Purpose: The expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), encoded by the multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene, is associated with the emergence of the MDR phenotype in cancer cells. We investigated whether metformin (1,1-dimethylbiguanide hydrochloride) down-regulates MDR1 expression in MCF-7/adriamycin (MCF-7/adr) cells.

Experimental Approach: MCF-7 and MCF-7/adr cells were incubated with metformin and changes in P-gp expression were determined at the mRNA, protein and functional level.

3-Caffeoyl, 4-dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid from Salicornia herbacea inhibits tumor cell invasion by regulating protein kinase C-delta-dependent matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression.

In this study, we determined the effects of a novel chlorogenic acid, 3-caffeoyl, 4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (CDCQ) isolated from Salicornia herbacea, on tumor invasion and migration in human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells and investigated the possible mechanism(s) involved. CDCQ reduced the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP-2 and inhibited cell invasion and migration. CDCQ suppressed PMA-induced expression of MMP-9 mRNA and protein by suppressing the transcription factor AP-1, without changing the level of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1.

Evaluation of antioxidant defense systems in H4IIE cells infected with a retroviral vector.

Retroviral gene transfer technology is frequently used to establish stable transgenic cell lines. However, no studies to date have evaluated antioxidant defense systems in cells infected with retroviral particles. In the present study, we examined the effects of retroviral infection on antioxidant defense systems using H4IIE cells infected with a retrovirus that overexpresses green fluorescent protein (retro-H4IIE cells).

Age-related changes in hepatic expression and activity of cytochrome P450 in male rats.

Age-related changes in hepatic expression and activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP) were investigated in male rats aged 3 (weanling), 12 (young), 26 (adult), and 104 (old) weeks. Levels of microsomal protein, total CYP, and cytochrome b(5) increased fully after puberty. CYP1A1 was detected only in 3-week-old rats, and CYP1A2, CYP2B1, and CYP2E1 were maximally expressed at 3 weeks but decreased at 12 and 26 weeks.

Preparation and evaluation of solid lipid nanoparticles with JSH18 for skin-whitening efficacy.

A new molecule having the structure of 6-methyl-3-phenethyl-3,4-dihydro-1H-quinazoline-2-thione (JSH18) was synthesized and it was possibly presupposed to show depigmentation through the inhibition of tyrosinase which is involved in the formation of melanin. Therefore, we are going to develop JSH18 as an inhibitor of melanin synthesis with topical formulations to show its optimal efficiency for skin whitening. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) play an important role as drug delivery systems for intravenous, peroral, parenteral, or ocular administration and for topical delivery.

Pseudoruegeria lutimaris sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat sediment, and emended description of the genus Pseudoruegeria.

A Gram-negative-staining, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, HD-43(T), was isolated from a tidal flat sediment collected from Hwang-do, an island of Korea. Strain HD-43(T) grew optimally at pH 7.0-8.

Planomicrobium flavidum sp. nov., isolated from a marine solar saltern, and transfer of Planococcus stackebrandtii Mayilraj et al. 2005 to the genus Planomicrobium as Planomicrobium stackebrandtii comb. nov.

A Gram-positive to Gram-variable, motile and coccoid- or short rod-shaped bacterial strain, ISL-41(T), was subjected to a polyphasic study to investigate its exact taxonomic position. Strain ISL-41(T) grew optimally at pH 7.0-8.

Immunosuppressive effect of silibinin in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Silibinin is the major pharmacologically active compound of silymarin, the Silybum marianum fruit extract. Hepatoprotective activities of silibinin/silymarin are well-known, and recent studies demonstrated their anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects which are due to inhibition of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. Based on this knowledge, we hypothesized that silibinin could be effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and so we tested its immunosuppressive effect in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the MS animal model.