The Effect of Metformin Treatment on CRBP-I Level and Cancer Development in the Liver of HBx Transgenic Mice.

Retinoids regulate not only various cell functions including proliferation and differentiation but also glucose and lipid metabolism. After we observed a marked up-regulation of cellular retinol-binding protein-I (CRBP-I) in the liver of hepatitis B virus x antigen (HBx)-transgenic (HBx Tg) mice which are prone to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and fatty liver, we aimed to evaluate retinoid pathway, including genes for the retinoid physiology, CRBP-I protein expression, and retinoid levels, in the liver of HBx Tg mice. We also assessed the effect of chronic metformin treatment on HCC development in the mice.

CD26/DPP4 levels in peripheral blood and T cells in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Context: Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (CD26/DPP4) is expressed on blood T cells and also circulates in a soluble form (sCD26/DPP4).

Objective: We aimed to evaluate blood T cell and circulating CD26/DPP4 and its association with metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Designs: We measured CD26/DPP4 expression (percentage of CD26(+) cells using flow cytometry) on CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, serum CD26/DPP4 level and activity, and various metabolic parameters in T2DM patients not on DPP4 inhibitor therapy (n = 148).

Promotion effect of acankoreoside J, a lupane-triterpene in Acanthopanax koreanum, on hair growth.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Acanthopanax koreanum and acankoreoside J from A. koreanum on the promotion of hair growth. When immortalized rat vibrissa dermal papilla cells were treated with extract of A.

Effect of KIOM-79 against mitochondrial damage induced by streptozotocin in pancreatic beta-cells.

The present study examined the effects of KIOM-79 on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress in rat pancreatic beta-cells (RINm5F). KIOM-79 is a mixture of plant extracts from parched Puerariae radix, gingered Magnoliae cortex, Glycyrrhizae radix, and Euphorbiae radix. A marked increase in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed in STZ induced diabetic cells, which returned to control conditions after KIOM-79 treatment.

Promotion effect of norgalanthamine, a component of Crinum asiaticum, on hair growth.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Crinum asiaticum, a plant native to Jeju Island, Korea, on the promotion of hair growth. When rat vibrissa follicles were treated with a 95% ethanol (EtOH) extract of C. asiaticum, the hair-fiber lengths of the vibrissa follicles increased significantly.

Promotion effect of Schisandra nigra on the growth of hair.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Schisandra nigra, a plant native to Jeju Island, South Korea, on the promotion of hair growth. When rat vibrissa follicles were treated with 85% ethanol (EtOH) extract of S. nigra, the hair-fiber lengths of the vibrissa follicles increased significantly.

Protective effect of butin against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis by scavenging reactive oxygen species and activating antioxidant enzymes.

The antioxidant property of butin was investigated for cytoprotective effect against H(2)O(2)-induced cell damage. This compound showed intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and DNA damage. This radical scavenging activity of butin protected cell damage exposed to H(2)O(2).

The Effects of on the Apoptosis Induction and the Reversal of Multidrug Resistance in HL-60/MX2.

The present study investigated the anti-proliferative and chemosensitizing effects of var. against multi-drug resistant (MDR) cancer cells. The 80% methanol extract, chloroform (CHCI) fraction and butanol (BuOH) fraction of inhibited the growth of mitoxantrone (MX) resistant HL-60 (HL-60/MX2) cells.

Caffeic acid protects hydrogen peroxide induced cell damage in WI-38 human lung fibroblast cells.

Cytoprotective effect of caffeic acid (3,4-dihydroxy cinnamic acid) on human lung fibroblast (WI-38) cells against hydrogen peroxide induced damage was investigated. Caffeic acid was found to scavenge intracellular reactive oxygen species, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, and thus prevented lipid peroxidation. The caffeic acid protected cell damage of WI-38 cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), via the activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase protein.

The cytotoxicity of Scytosiphon lomentaria against HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells.

This study examined the cytotoxicity of Scytosiphon lomentaria, using various cancer cell lines. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of this alga showed the cytotoxicity to leukemia cells, including HL-60. When HL-60 cells were treated with its EtOAc fraction, several apoptotic characteristics, such as DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and an increase of the population of sub-G1 hypodiploid cells, were observed.