The secretion and metabolism of cumulus cells support fertilization in the bovine model.

The cumulus oophorus is a structure that surrounds the mammalian egg and plays a key role in fertilization. However, very little is known with regards to how secretions from the cumulus cells can specifically promote fertilization. We hypothesized that secretions from bovine cumulus cells, and the reduction of oxygen stress by metabolic change, would enhance the fertilization capacity of sperm during in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures.

extract protects against ethanol-induced liver injury via the activation of the cAMP-PKA pathway.

The protective effects of extract (MF) on liver fibrosis induced with ethanol were examined using in vivo and in vitro model. MF treatment suppressed plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities in ethanol plus carbon tetrachloride (CCl)-induced cirrhosis rat model. MF also suppressed the increase in type l collagen and α-smooth muscle actin expression in the livers of ethanol plus CCl4-induced rat by the maintenance of intracellular glutathione levels.

Protective Effects of Hydrolyzed Nucleoproteins from Salmon Milt against Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury in Rats.

Dietary nucleotides play a role in maintaining the immune responses of both animals and humans. Oral administration of nucleic acids from salmon milt have physiological functions in the cellular metabolism, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of human small intestinal epithelial cells. In this study, we examined the effects of DNA-rich nucleic acids prepared from salmon milt (DNSM) on the development of liver fibrosis in an in vivo ethanol-carbon tetrachloride cirrhosis model.

[A case of long survival for rectal cancer with chemotherapies, for postoperative pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosa].

A 58-year-old man underwent a high anterior resection for rectal cancer in May, 2005.T he pathological finding was stage IIIa, and he therefore started taking UFT in August, 2005.H e had dyspnea in August, 2006, however, and his diagnosis was lymphangitis carcinomatosa of the lung.

The effects of amino-acid mutations on specific interactions between urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its receptor: Ab initio molecular orbital calculations.

During cancer invasion, the binding of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) to its receptor (uPAR) on the surface of a cancer cell is considered a trigger for invasion. Here, we present a stable structure of the solvated complex formed between uPA and uPAR (uPA-uPAR) and investigate the specific interactions between uPA and uPAR by ab initio fragment molecular orbital (FMO) calculations. The result indicates that the electrostatic interactions between the charged amino acid residues existing in both uPA and uPAR make a large contribution to the binding between uPA and uPAR.

Specific interactions between aryl hydrocarbon receptor and dioxin congeners: ab initio fragment molecular orbital calculations.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor and its function is activated by the binding of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and 1,2,4-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TrCDD). TCDD is highly toxic to rat, whereas its congener TrCDD shows only a weak effect on gene expression. In order to elucidate the reason of this remarkable difference in the effect of TCDD and TrCDD, we here obtained stable structures of the complexes with rat AhR (rAhR) and TCDD/TrCDD and investigated their electronic properties by using the ab initio fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method.

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations on specific interactions between urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its receptor.

Cancer invasions and metastases are controlled by various proteases. In particular, the binding of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) to the uPA receptor (uPAR) existing on the surface of cancer cell is considered to be a trigger for cancer invasions. In the present study, we determined the structure of uPA and uPAR complex in water and investigated the specific interactions between uPA and uPAR by ab initio molecular orbital (MO) calculations based on fragment MO method.

Molecular changes to HeLa cells on continuous exposure to SN-38, an active metabolite of irinotecan hydrochloride.

It is important to clarify the molecular characteristics of tumor cells showing multidrug resistance (MDR) and to identify the novel targets or biomarkers for chemotherapy. The aim of this study is to establish resistant HeLa sublines through exposure to SN-38, an active metabolite of irinotecan hydrochloride, and to investigate their molecular changes. HeLa cells were exposed to SN-38 at 1, 10, or 100 nM, and resistant clones were isolated and named HeLa/SN1, HeLa/SN10, and HeLa/SN100, respectively.

Molecular changes to HeLa cells on continuous exposure to cisplatin or paclitaxel.

Objective: To achieve a reversal of multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer chemotherapy, it is crucial to clarify the characteristics of MDR cells generated by various types of chemotherapeutic agents and to find novel targets.

Methods: Cisplatin- and paclitaxel-resistant HeLa sublines (HeLa/CDDP and HeLa/TXL, respectively) were established by continuous exposure and their cellular changes were examined based on growth inhibition assays, the transport activity of P-glycoprotein/MDR1, and a RT-PCR analysis of MDR-related factors.

Results: HeLa/CDDP cells showed cross-resistance to platinum derivatives, whereas HeLa/TXL cells were resistant to a variety of MDR1 substrates.

[HLA typing and transplantation].

Clinical trial of organ transplantation was renal transplantation by Voronoy at 1936. The discovery of HLA in the 1950s was one of the most important new findings in the area of transplantation. Nowadays, developing HLA genotyping methods, the serum analysis does not use for donor and recipient HLA typing but for cross-matching test.

Effects of 19 herbal extracts on the sensitivity to paclitaxel or 5-fluorouracil in HeLa cells.

The popularity of traditional herbal medicine (THM) being used as complementary medicines or alternative medicines is increasing. On the other hand, the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) remains a major hurdle to successful cancer chemotherapy. Some THMs capable of reversing MDR may contribute to the improvement of clinical outcomes in cancer chemotherapy.