Phytogalactolipid dLGG Inhibits Mouse Melanoma Brain Metastasis through Regulating Oxylipin Activity and Re-Programming Macrophage Polarity in the Tumor Microenvironment.

Current conventional cancer therapies for melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) remain ineffective. In this study, we demonstrated the bioefficacy of a phyto-glyceroglycolipid, 1,2-di--α-linolenoyl-3--β-galactopyranosyl--glycerol (dLGG) alone, or in combination with liposomal doxorubicin (Lip-DOX) or Avastin against MBM in a syngeneic B16BM4 brain-seeking melanoma mouse model. Treatment with dLGG-10, dLGG-25, dLGG-10 + Avastin-5, Lipo-DOX-2, dLGG-10 + Lipo-DOX-2 or Lipo-DOX-2 + Avastin-5 suppressed, respectively, 17.

Do-not-attempt resuscitation independently predict in-hospital mortality in septic patients.

Introduction: Sepsis patients require timely and appropriate treatment in an intensive care setting. However, "do-not-attempt resuscitation" (DNAR) status may affect physicians' priorities and treatment preferences. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether DNAR status affects the outcomes of septic patients.

Plant galactolipid dLGG suppresses lung metastasis of melanoma through deregulating TNF-α-mediated pulmonary vascular permeability and circulating oxylipin dynamics in mice.

This study demonstrates the bioefficacy and gives mechanistic insights into a plant galactolipid 1,2-di-O-linolenoyl-3-O-β-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol (dLGG) against metastatic melanoma using a syngeneic mouse model implanted with B16 melanoma. dLGG-20 (p.o.

miR-4725-3p targeting stromal interacting molecule 1 signaling is involved in xanthohumol inhibition of glioma cell invasion.

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common brain tumor in adults. Because of its highly invasive nature, it is not easy to treat, resulting in high mortality rates. Stromal interacting molecule 1 (Stim1) plays important roles in regulating store-operated Ca entry, and controls invasion by cancer cells.

Characteristics and outcomes of "Do Not Resuscitate" patients admitted to the emergency department-Intensive care unit.

Background: Appropriate utilization of intensive care unit (ICU) beds are essential. Patients with critical illness who have do not resuscitate (DNR) have a reduced priority of intensive care. However, the possibility of recovery/survival is ambiguous and multifactorial.

Improved effects of honokiol on temozolomide-induced autophagy and apoptosis of drug-sensitive and -tolerant glioma cells.

Background: Temozolomide (TMZ)-induced side effects and drug tolerance to human gliomas are still challenging issues now. Our previous studies showed that honokiol, a major bioactive constituent of Magnolia officinalis (Houpo), is safe for normal brain cells and can kill human glioma cells. This study was further aimed to evaluate the improved effects of honokiol and TMZ on drug-sensitive and -resistant glioma cells and the possible mechanisms.

Red blood cell distribution width is associated with mortality in elderly patients with sepsis.

Introduction: RDW is a prognostic biomarker and associated with mortality in cardiovascular disease, stroke and metabolic syndrome. For elderly patients, malnutrition and multiple comorbidities exist, which could affect the discrimination ability of RDW in sepsis. The main purpose of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value of RDW in sepsis among elderly patients.

The Inhibition of microRNA-128 on IGF-1-Activating mTOR Signaling Involves in Temozolomide-Induced Glioma Cell Apoptotic Death.

Temozolomide (TMZ), an alkylating agent of the imidazotetrazine series, is a first-line chemotherapeutic drug used in the clinical therapy of glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and high-grade primary glioma in adults. Micro (mi)RNAs, which are small noncoding RNAs, post-transcriptionally regulate gene expressions and are involved in gliomagenesis. However, no studies have reported relationships between TMZ and miRNA gene regulation.

The miR-204-3p-targeted IGFBP2 pathway is involved in xanthohumol-induced glioma cell apoptotic death.

Xanthohumol (XN), a prenylated chalcone extracted from hop plant Humulus lupulus L. (Cannabaceae), has potential for cancer therapy, including gliomas. Micro (mi)RNAs are small noncoding RNAs that control gene expression.

Preclinical effects of honokiol on treating glioblastoma multiforme via G1 phase arrest and cell apoptosis.

Background: Our previous study showed that honokiol, a bioactive polyphenol, can traverse the blood-brain barrier and kills neuroblastoma cells.

Purpose: In this study, we further evaluated the preclinical effects of honokiol on development of malignant glioma and the possible mechanisms.

Methods: Effects of honokiol on viability, caspase activities, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest in human glioma U87 MG or U373MG cells were assayed.

Protecting against ischaemic stroke in rats by heat shock protein 20-mediated exercise.

Background: Exercise preconditioning (EP(+) ) has been widely accepted as a being of safe and effective preventive measure for stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether EP(+) improves outcomes of ischaemic stroke by promoting neuronal and glial expression of heat shock protein (HSP) 20.

Materials And Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (288 in number) were used to investigate the contribution of HSP20-containing neurons and HSP20-containing glial cells in the exercise-mediated neuroprotection in the stroke condition using middle cerebral artery occlusion.

A Prospective Randomized Study of Brain Tissue Oxygen Pressure-Guided Management in Moderate and Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Patients.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of PbtO2-guided therapy with traditional intracranial pressure- (ICP-) guided treatment on the management of cerebral variables, therapeutic interventions, survival rates, and neurological outcomes of moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. From 2009 to 2010, TBI patients with a Glasgow coma scale <12 were recruited from 6 collaborative hospitals in northern Taiwan, excluding patients with severe systemic injuries, fixed and dilated pupils, and other major diseases. In total, 23 patients were treated with PbtO2-guided management (PbtO2 > 20 mmHg), and 27 patients were treated with ICP-guided therapy (ICP < 20 mmHg and CPP > 60 mmHg) in the neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU); demographic characteristics were similar across groups.

Astragaloside improves outcomes of traumatic brain injury in rats by reducing microglia activation.

Astragaloside (AST) is traditionally prescribed for the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. We directly tested the therapeutic effects of AST in a rat model of traumatic brain injury (TBI). One hour after the onset of TBI rats were given Saline (1 ml/kg) or AST (20-80 mg/kg) via i.

Early morning awakening and nonrestorative sleep are associated with increased minor non-fatal accidents during work and leisure time.

Background: The relationship between a composite measure of insomnia and occupational or fatal accidents has been investigated previously; however, little is known regarding the effect of various insomnia symptoms on minor non-fatal accidents during work and leisure time.

Objective: We investigated the predicting role of insomnia symptoms on minor non-fatal accidents during work and leisure time.

Methods: Data from the 2005 Taiwan Social Development Trend Survey of 36,473 Taiwanese aged ≥18 years were analyzed in 2013.

Brushing teeth with purified water to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Background: Oral care may decrease the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and improve oral hygiene. However, little evidence is available to guide the development of oral care protocols. The practical effect of toothbrushing on VAP development and oral health and hygiene improvement is inconclusive.

A retrospective survey of patients with malignant gliomas treated in the neuro-oncological care system under the Universal National Health Insurance program in Taiwan.

In 1995 a government-supported Universal National Health care system was implemented in Taiwan, which in 2008 was available to 98% of the population. This system offers affordable, rapid medical attention. A multi-center retrospective study was conducted to assess the prognosis of malignant glioma patients under this system.

Clinical practice guidelines in severe traumatic brain injury in Taiwan.

Background: Severe TBIs are major causes of disability and death in accidents. The Brain Trauma Foundation supported the first edition of the Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in 1995 and revised it in 2000. The recommendations in these guidelines are well accepted in the world.

The antioxidative effect of bone morphogenetic protein-7 against high glucose-induced oxidative stress in mesangial cells.

Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) protects kidneys from diabetic nephropathy (DN), and high glucose (HG)-induced oxidative stress is involved in DN. We investigated the antioxidative ability of BMP-7 using HG-treated mesangial cells. We treated rat mesangial cells (RMCs) with recombinant human BMP-7 (rhBMP-7) and examined changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and intracellular signals in response to HG-induced oxidative stress.

Insulin resistance without obesity induced by cotton pellet granuloma in mice.

Obesity leads to insulin resistance because the larger adipocytes in obese persons secrete proinflammatory cytokines that cause chronic inflammation in adipose tissue. This, in turn, leads to the alteration of adipokine secretion, which can induce insulin resistance. However, the development of insulin resistance without obesity is still obscure.

Activation of muscarinic M-3 receptor may decrease glucose uptake and lipolysis in adipose tissue of rats.

Role of muscarinic receptor in the regulation of glucose uptake or lipolysis in adipose tissue remained unclear. In epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) isolated from Wistar rats, we observed that acetylcholine (ACh) attenuated the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and the release of glycerol from WAT in a concentration-dependent manner. Using the blockade of specific antagonists, both actions of ACh were characterized mainly due to an activation of M3 receptors.

Cerebral sinus thrombosis with intracerebral hemorrhage in pregnancy: a case report.

A 29-year-old woman who was pregnant for 12 weeks presented with headache for one week and drowsiness for two days. Computed tomography of the brain revealed multifocal hematomas with mass effect. Decompressive craniectomy was done to relieve the increased intracranial pressure.