Parecoxib Enhances Resveratrol against Human Colorectal Cancer Cells through Akt and TXNDC5 Inhibition and MAPK Regulation.

In this study, we discovered the mechanisms underlying parecoxib and resveratrol combination's anti-cancer characteristics against human colorectal cancer DLD-1 cells. We studied its anti-proliferation and apoptosis-provoking effect by utilizing cell viability 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, fluorescence microscope, gene overexpression, Western blot, and flow cytometry analyses. Parecoxib enhanced the ability of resveratrol to inhibit cell viability and increase apoptosis.

Parecoxib and 5-Fluorouracil Synergistically Inhibit EMT and Subsequent Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer by Targeting PI3K/Akt/NF-κB Signaling.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer mortality worldwide, and innovative drugs for the treatment of colorectal cancer are continually being developed. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a common clinical chemotherapeutic drug. Acquired resistance to 5-FU is a clinical challenge in colorectal cancer treatment.

Parecoxib expresses anti-metastasis effect through inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in human colon cancer DLD-1 cell line.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in Taiwan. Current treatments involve combination of surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy. These treatments have demonstrated to increased five-year survival of a patient with colorectal cancer.

Anti-fibrotic effect of rosmarinic acid on inhibition of pterygium epithelial cells.

Aim: To investigate the anti-fibrosis effect of rosmarinic acid (RA) in pterygium epithelial cells (PECs) to determine if RA is a potent agent for treating pterygium.

Methods: The PECs (1×10 cells/mL) were treated with 100 µmol/L of RA for 1, 3 and 6h. After RA treatment, the cell viability was determined by staining with acridine orange/DAPI and analysis a NucleoCounter NC-3000.

Propyl Gallate Exerts an Antimigration Effect on Temozolomide-Treated Malignant Glioma Cells through Inhibition of ROS and the NF-B Pathway.

In this study, we demonstrated that temozolomide (TMZ) and propyl gallate (PG) combination enhanced the inhibition of migration in human U87MG glioma cells. PG inhibited the TMZ-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The mitochondrial complex III and NADPH oxidase are two critical sites that can be considered to regulate antimigration in TMZ-treated U87MG cells.

Nephroprotective effect of electrolyzed reduced water against cisplatin-induced kidney toxicity and oxidative damage in mice.

Background: Cisplatin is a potent chemotherapeutic drug for cancer therapy, but it has serious side effects in clinical treatment, particularly nephrotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of electrolyzed reduced water (ERW) on renal injury caused by cisplatin.

Methods: Animals were divided into four groups as follows: normal control group, cisplatin control group, ERW control group and ERW + cisplatin group.

Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of hydrogen-rich water alleviate ethanol-induced fatty liver in mice.

Aim: To investigate the effects of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) treatment on prevention of ethanol (EtOH)-induced early fatty liver in mice.

Methods: reduction of hydrogen peroxide by HRW was determined with a chemiluminescence system. Female mice were randomly divided into five groups: control, EtOH, EtOH + silymarin, EtOH + HRW and EtOH + silymarin + HRW.

β-mangostin suppresses human hepatocellular carcinoma cell invasion through inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and activating the ERK and JNK pathways.

β-mangostin is a dietary xanthone that has been reported to have the anticancer properties in some human cancer cell types. However, the antimetastatic effect and molecular mechanism of β-mangostin action in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells remain unknown. In this study, we found that β-mangostin did not induce cytotoxicity in human HCC cells (SK-Hep-1, Huh-7 and HA22T/VGH cells).

Inhibitory effects of rosmarinic acid on pterygium epithelial cells through redox imbalance and induction of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis.

Pterygium is a common tumor-like ocular disease, which may be related to exposure to chronic ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Although the standard treatment for pterygium is surgical intervention, the recurrence rate of pterygium is high when no effective inhibitory drug is used after surgery. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a polyphenol antioxidant with many biological activities, including anti-UV and anti-tumor properties.

The Chinese medicine JC-001 enhances the chemosensitivity of Lewis lung tumors to cisplatin by modulating the immune response.

Background: JC-001 is a Chinese medicine that can modulate the immunity in Hepa 1-6 tumor-bearing mice, and we questioned whether JC-001 can serve as efficient adjuvant chemotherapy. We aimed to identify a novel approach for enhancing cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP)-based chemotherapy by immunomodulation.

Methods: The anti-tumor activity in vitro was determined based on foci formation and a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

Novel Function of Isoamylamine Improves Survival in Endotoxemic Mice by Ameliorating Coagulopathy and Attenuating MMP-9 Expression Through p-ERK/p-p38 Signaling at Early Stage.

When a host suffers endotoxemic shock or septic shock, it results in many symptoms including disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Septic shock (SS) causes coagulation time to decrease and then gradually increase, finally becoming prolonged and giving rise to DIC. Isoamylamine (IA) is one of the main components of grape products and can improve the survival rate of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemic shock.

Antitumor Activity of the Chinese Medicine JC-001 Is Mediated by Immunomodulation in a Murine Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

JC-001 is a Chinese medicine that has been used to treat liver disease; however, its significance in cancer treatment has not been characterized. In this study, we used an immunocompetent tumor model to characterize the antitumor activity of JC-001. A total of 48 Hepa 1-6 tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice were randomly grouped into 4 groups and treated with HO or JC-001 via oral administration.

Synergistic antioxidant activity of resveratrol with genistein in high-glucose treated Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells.

Resveratrol (Re), a stilbenoid, is associated with a potential benefit in controlling certain biomarkers in type II diabetes. Genistein (Ge), a phytoestrogen, may act as an antioxidant and thus may diminish damaging effects of free radicals in tissues. In the present study, a potential synergistic antioxidant effect of an Re/Ge combination on high-glucose (HG) incubation in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells was evaluated.

miR-302 Attenuates Amyloid-β-Induced Neurotoxicity through Activation of Akt Signaling.

Deficiency of insulin signaling has been linked to diabetes and ageing-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this regard, brains exhibit defective insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and hence result in alteration of insulin signaling in progression of AD, the most common cause of dementia. Consequently, dysregulation of insulin signaling plays an important role in amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced neurotoxicity.

Folate Deficiency Triggered Apoptosis of Synoviocytes: Role of Overproduction of Reactive Oxygen Species Generated via NADPH Oxidase/Mitochondrial Complex II and Calcium Perturbation.

Despite a plethora of literature has documented that osteoarthritis (OA) is veritably associated with oxidative stress-mediated chondrocyte death and matrix degradation, yet the possible involvement of synoviocyte abnormality as causative factor of OA has not been thoroughly investigated. For this reason, we conduct the current studies to insight into how synoviocytes could respond to an episode of folate-deprived (FD) condition. First, when HIG-82 synoviocytes were cultivated under FD condition, a time-dependent growth impediment was observed and the demise of these cells was demonstrated to be apoptotic in nature mediated through FD-evoked overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and drastically released of cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) concentrations.

The Anthropometric Measurement of Schober's Test in Normal Taiwanese Population.

The measurement of lower back mobility is essential in the assessment of lower back pain including ankylosing spondylitis. Original Schober's test (OST) and modified Schober's test (MST) are popularly conducted in daily rheumatology and orthopedics clinical practices. To our knowledge, this report is the only anthropometric reference study in a normal oriental population.

Hydrogen-rich water attenuates amyloid β-induced cytotoxicity through upregulation of Sirt1-FoxO3a by stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase in SK-N-MC cells.

Amyloid β (Aβ) peptides are identified in cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous evidence suggests Aβ-induced neurotoxicity is linked to the stimulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The accumulation of Aβ-induced ROS leads to increased mitochondrial dysfunction and triggers apoptotic cell death.

Humic Acid Increases Amyloid β-Induced Cytotoxicity by Induction of ER Stress in Human SK-N-MC Neuronal Cells.

Humic acid (HA) is a possible etiological factor associated with for several vascular diseases. It is known that vascular risk factors can directly increase the susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is a neurodegenerative disorder due to accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptide in the brain. However, the role that HA contributes to Aβ-induced cytotoxicity has not been demonstrated.

Environmentally relevant concentration of arsenic trioxide and humic acid promoted tumor progression of human cervical cancer cells: In vivo and in vitro studies.

In a previous study, treatment at higher concentrations of arsenic trioxide or co-exposure to arsenic trioxide and humic acid was found to be inhibited cell growth of cervical cancer cells (SiHa cells) by reactive oxygen species generation. However, treatment at lower concentrations slightly increased cell viability. Here, we investigate the enhancement of progression effects of environmentally relevant concentration of humic acid and arsenic trioxide in SiHa cell lines in vitro and in vivo by measuring cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and the carcinogenesis-related protein (MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF-A) expressions.

Dunaliella salina exhibits an antileukemic immunity in a mouse model of WEHI-3 leukemia cells.

Dunaliella salina has been shown to have antioxidant property and induce apoptotic cell death of human cancer cells in vitro. However, there is no information available on D. salina showing an antileukemia effect or immunomodulatory activity in vivo.

Induction of macrophage cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis by humic acid.

Humic acid (HA) in well water is associated with Blackfoot disease and various cancers. Previously, we reported that acute humic acid exposure (25-200 µg/mL for 24 hr) induces inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophages.

Electrolyzed acid water nasal irrigation after functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

Background: Electrolyzed acid water (EAW) has been recognized to have strong bactericidal activity, and the feasibility and safety of EAW irrigation in body cavities has been reported in the literature. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of EAW nasal irrigation on the postoperative care of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

Methods: Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who received FESS for treatment were recruited and randomly assigned to three groups at 1 month postoperatively.

An oxidative stress mechanism of shikonin in human glioma cells.

Shikonin is a quinone-containing natural product that induces the apoptotic death of some cancer cell lines in culture through increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Quinone-based drugs have shown potential in the clinic, making shikonin an interesting compound to study. Our previous study found that shikonin induces apoptosis in neuroblastoma by induction of ROS, but its mechanism of action and scope of activity are unknown.

Luteolin enhances paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells by blocking STAT3.

The potential use of low-dose chemotherapy has been appealing because lower dosages are more attainable during cancer therapy and cause less toxicity in patients. Combination therapy of paclitaxel, a promising frontline chemotherapy agent, with natural anti-tumor agents that are considerably less toxic and possess the capability of activating additional apoptotic signals may provide a rational molecular basis for novel chemotherapeutic strategies. Luteolin, a natural flavone, possesses multiple biological activities, including anti-tumor potential.