Repeated aerosol delivery of carboxyl-terminal modulator protein suppresses tumor in the lungs of K-rasLA1 mice.

Rationale: Difficulties in achieving long-term survival of patients with lung cancer treated with conventional therapies suggest that novel approaches are required. Recent advances in aerosol-mediated gene delivery have provided the possibility of an alternative for the safe and effective treatment of lung cancer.

Objectives: To investigate the repeated effect of carboxyl-terminal modulator protein (CTMP) on multistage lung tumorigenesis.

Diastereoselective synthesis of polycyclic acetal-fused pyrano[3,2-c]pyran-5(2H)-one derivatives.

A facile and efficient diastereoselective one-pot synthesis of polycyclic acetal-fused pyrano[3,2-c]pyrane-5(2H)-one was achieved through the annulation reaction of 2-C-formyl glycals with various 4-hydroxycoumarins and 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one. The asymmetric induction was significantly influenced by the C-4 stereogenic center of 2-C-formyl glycals. The resulting polycyclic acetal-fused pyranopyrones demonstrated anticancer activities.

Complications with laparoscopically assisted gastrectomy: multivariate analysis of 300 consecutive cases.

Background: Complications associated with laparoscopically assisted gastrectomy (LAG) are not significantly different from those associated with open gastrectomy. However, additional risks related to abdominal access, pneumoperitoneum, and special electrosurgical instruments result in an increased incidence of complications with LAG. This study analyzed the causes and risk factors linked to postoperative morbidity.

A Hub-protein based visualization of large protein-protein interaction networks.

According as the protein-protein interaction (PPI) data more increase, we need to optimally visualize them as network, in that describing the relationship among proteins is able to easily analyze biological processes happened in a cell. In this paper, to fast layout large-scale PPI networks, we proposed a method taking hub-proteins into consideration, which have more interactions than any other proteins in a network. In other words, it enforces two core parts of Walshaw's multilevel force-directed placement algorithm (MLFDP) to be modified.

A rule-based detection of functional modules in protein-protein interaction networks.

In the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network there are many functional modules, each involving several protein interactions to perform discrete functions. Pathways and protein complexes are the examples of the functional modules. In this paper, we propose a rule-based method for detecting the modules.

Pro-MMP-2 activation by the PPARgamma agonist, ciglitazone, induces cell invasion through the generation of ROS and the activation of ERK.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a nuclear receptor modulating a variety of biological functions including cancer cell proliferation and differentiation. However, the role of PPARgamma and its ligands in tumor invasion is unclear. To evaluate a possible role for PPARgamma ligands in tumor invasion, we examined whether PPARgamma agonists including pioglitazone, troglitazone, rosiglitazone, and ciglitazone could affect the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the HT1080 cell line, a well-studied and well-characterized cell line for MMP research.

Synthesis and in vitro photodynamic activities of water-soluble fluorinated tetrapyridylporphyrins as tumor photosensitizers.

A series of water-soluble fluorinated cationic porphyrins were designed, synthesized, and characterized. In vitro photocytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated by MTT assay on HeLa cells. Their photocytotoxicity was dependent on the positions of the cations and the fluorines in the pyridine ring, and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(N-methyl-2-fluoro-pyridin-3-yl)-porphyrin (8) showed the most potent photo-induced cytotoxicity without photobleaching.

Methylselenol generated from selenomethionine by methioninase downregulates integrin expression and induces caspase-mediated apoptosis of B16F10 melanoma cells.

Melanoma is a highly metastatic cancer resistant to current chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic approaches. Several studies have shown that interactions between cancer cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) are critical for the survival and invasion of metastatic cancer cells. In this study, we examine the effects of methylselenol generated from selenomethionine (SeMet) by methioninase (METase) on cell proliferation, adhesion, and expression of integrins in murine melanoma B16F10 cells, which are metastatic in the lungs of syngeneic C57BL/6J mice.

An analysis of linguistic styles by inferred age in tv dramas.

A language analysis program, Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC), was successful in identifying various psychological variables. This study investigated the relationship between spoken language and age inferred from drama scripts of 162 characters, analyzed by the Korean-LIWC across 4 age categories (10-19, 20-39, 40-59, and 60-79 years). Analysis indicated that younger characters use fewer phrases, morphemes, nouns, auxiliary words, and adverbs than older characters, suggesting less cognitive development of younger characters.

Methylseleninic acid inhibits PMA-stimulated pro-MMP-2 activation mediated by MT1-MMP expression and further tumor invasion through suppression of NF-kappaB activation.

Selenium, an essential biological trace element, reduces the incidence of cancer. Our previous studies show that selenite inhibits tumor invasion by suppressing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) -2 and -9. Methylseleninic acid (MSeA), an immediate precursor of methylselenol, inhibits tumor cell growth in vitro and mammary carcinogenesis in vivo.

Ultraviolet B-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -3 secretions are mediated via PTEN/Akt pathway in human dermal fibroblasts.

Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are crucial enzymes for ultraviolet irradiation-induced photoaging in human skin. Ultraviolet B (UVB) stimulates dermal fibroblasts to increase MMP-1 and -3 expression and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in photoaging. We investigated whether phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/Akt pathway is involved in secretions of MMP-1 and -3 in human dermal fibroblasts.

Arteriovenous malformation of the urinary bladder: Treated by transurethral resection.

A localized arteriovenous malformation of the bladder is extremely rare. To our knowledge, arteriovenous malformation of the bladder has been reported in limited number of cases in the published literature. When arteriovenous malformation is suspected, an angiogram and pelvic computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is essential to delineate the extent of the disease and to plan appropriate therapy.

Onvergence and application of online active sampling using orthogonal pillar vectors.

The analysis of convergence and its application is shown for the Active Sampling-at-the-Boundary method applied to multidimensional space using orthogonal pillar vectors. Active learning method facilitates identifying an optimal decision boundary for pattern classification in machine learning. The result of this method is compared with the standard active learning method that uses random sampling on the decision boundary hyperplane.

Antiallergic activity of a disaccharide isolated from Sanguisorba officinalis.

The antiallergic activity of the natural disaccharide, 5-O-alpha-D-(3-C-hydroxymethyl)lyxofuranosyl-beta-D-(2-C-hydroxymethyl)arabinofuranose was evaluated using both in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Intravenously administered compound inhibited the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis response in rats in a dose-dependent manner (ED(50) = 9.6 mg/kg).

Differences in styles of writing about a tragic public event over time.

This pilot study analyzed the actual language used in two writing samples by university students (8 men, 28 women) about a tragic public incident, the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack. To analyze samples a computer-based text-analysis program with a wide range of psychological dimensions and linguistic variables was used. More words and more past tense verbs were used right after the incident.

Effect of saikosaponin-A, a triterpenoid glycoside, isolated from Bupleurum falcatum on experimental allergic asthma.

The separation and isolation of an extract of Bupleurum falcatum were performed based on antiallergic activities in preliminary studies with higher plants. The final active compound was identified as saikosaponin-A (SSA), a triterpenoid glycoside. SSA at more than 1 mg/kg (i.