Combination of metformin/efavirenz/fluoxetine exhibits profound anticancer activity via a cancer cell-specific ROS amplification.

The possible anticancer activity of combination (M + E + F) of metformin (M), efavirenz (E), and fluoxetine (F) was investigated in normal HDF cells and HCT116 human colon cancer cells. Metformin increased cellular FOXO3a, p-FOXO3a, AMPK, p-AMPK, and MnSOD levels in HDFs but not in HCT116 cells. Cellular ATP level was decreased only in HDFs by metformin.

Purple corn extract alleviates 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like phenotypes in BALB/c mice.

(Poaceae), also known as purple corn, is an annual herbaceous plant that is grown as food for human consumption in a variety of forms, including cooking oils and sweeteners in processed food and beverage products. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a novel purple corn extract, FB801, might have an anti-atopic dermatitis (AD) effect on AD-like skin lesions induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in BALB/c mice. Topical sensitization (1%) and challenge (0.

Metformin-induced ROS upregulation as amplified by apigenin causes profound anticancer activity while sparing normal cells.

Metformin increased cellular ROS levels in AsPC-1 pancreatic cancer cells, with minimal effect in HDF, human primary dermal fibroblasts. Metformin reduced cellular ATP levels in HDF, but not in AsPC-1 cells. Metformin increased AMPK, p-AMPK (Thr172), FOXO3a, p-FOXO3a (Ser413), and MnSOD levels in HDF, but not in AsPC-1 cells.

Changes in plasma lipoxin A4, resolvins and CD59 levels after ischemic and traumatic brain injuries in rats.

Ischemic and traumatic brain injuries are the major acute central nervous system disorders that need to be adequately diagnosed and treated. To find biomarkers for these acute brain injuries, plasma levels of some specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs, i.e.

G2A Protects Mice against Sepsis by Modulating Kupffer Cell Activation: Cooperativity with Adenosine Receptor 2b.

G2A is a GPCR abundantly expressed in immune cells. G2A mice showed higher lethality, higher plasma cytokines, and an impaired bacterial clearance in response to a murine model of sepsis (cecal ligation and puncture), which were blocked by GdCl, an inhibitor of Kupffer cells. Anti-IL-10 Ab reversed the impaired bacterial clearance in G2A mice.

Lipidomic analysis of plasma lipids composition changes in septic mice.

A lipidomic study on extensive plasma lipids in bacterial peritonitis (cecal ligation and puncture, CLP)-induced sepsis in mice was done at 24 h post-CLP. The effects of administration of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), compounds known to have beneficial effects in CLP, on the sepsis-induced plasma lipid changes were also examined. Among the 147 plasma lipid species from 13 lipid subgroups (fatty acid [FA], LPA, LPC, lysophosphatidylethanolamine [LPE], phosphatidic acid [PA], phosphatidylcholine [PC], phosphatidylethanolamine [PE], phosphatidylinositol [PI], monoacylglyceride [MG], diacylglyceride [DG], triacylglyceride [TG], sphingomyelin [SM], and ceramide [Cer]) analyzed in this study, 40 and 70 species were increased, and decreased, respectively, in the CLP mice.

Anti-inflammatory effects of traditional mixed extract of medicinal herbs (MEMH) on monosodium urate crystal-induced gouty arthritis.

Korean oriental medicine prescription is widely used for the treatment of gouty diseases. In the present study, we investigated anti-inflammatory effects of modified Korean herbal formulation, mixed extract of medicinal herbs (MEMH), and its modulatory effects on inflammatory mediators associated with gouty arthritis. Both in vitro and in vivo studies were carried out to assess the anti-inflammatory efficacy of MEMH on monosodium urate (MSU) crystals-induced gouty inflammation.

The activation of α-adrenergic receptor in the spinal cord lowers sepsis-induced mortality.

The effect of clonidine administered intrathecally (i.t.) on the mortality and the blood glucose level induced by sepsis was examined in mice.

Spinal β-adrenergic receptors' activation increases the blood glucose level in mice.

We examined the role of spinally located β-adrenergic receptors in the regulation of the blood glucose level. The intrathecal (i.t.

Regulation of blood glucose level by kainic acid in mice: involvement of glucocorticoid system and non-NMDA receptors.

Kainic acid (KA) is a well-known excitatory neurotoxic substance. In the present study, effects of KA-injected intraperitoneally (i.p.

Alteration of Lysophosphatidylcholine-Related Metabolic Parameters in the Plasma of Mice with Experimental Sepsis.

Plasma concentration of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) was reported to decrease in patients with sepsis. However, the mechanisms of sepsis-induced decrease in plasma LPC levels are not currently well known. In mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), a model of polymicrobial peritoneal sepsis, we examined alterations in LPC-related metabolic parameters in plasma, i.

Protective effects of a dimeric derivative of ferulic acid in animal models of Alzheimer's disease.

Ferulic acid is a compound with potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. We previously reported the protective effects of ferulic acid administration against two animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD): intracerebroventricular (i.c.

Blood glucose regulation mechanism in depressive disorder animal model during hyperglycemic states.

Depression is more common among diabetes people than in the general population. In the present study, blood glucose change in depression animal model was characterized by various types of hyperglycemia models such as d-glucose-fed-, immobilization stress-, and drug-induced hyperglycemia models. First, the ICR mice were enforced into chronic restraint stress for 2h daily for 2 weeks to produce depression animal model.

Effect of sulfonylureas administered centrally on the blood glucose level in immobilization stress model.

Sulfonylureas are widely used as an antidiabetic drug. In the present study, the effects of sulfonylurea administered supraspinally on immobilization stress-induced blood glucose level were studied in ICR mice. Mice were once enforced into immobilization stress for 30 min and returned to the cage.

The effect of depression on serum VEGF level in Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: Growing evidence suggests that angiogenesis might represent a new pathogenic mechanism involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among angiogenic cytokines, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in AD patients have been evaluated, but the results are controversial among studies. We investigated serum levels of VEGF in AD patients with depression, AD patients without depression, and the controls, respectively.

Effect of pertussis and cholera toxins administered supraspinally on CA3 hippocampal neuronal cell death and the blood glucose level induced by kainic acid in mice.

The effect of cholera toxin (CTX) or pertussis toxin (PTX) administered supraspinally on hippocampal neuronal cell death in CA3 region induced by kainic acid (KA) was examined in mice. After the pretreatment with either PTX or CTX intracerebroventricularly (i.c.

Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactide) nanoparticles encapsulating quercetin act as an effective anticancer agent by inducing apoptosis in breast cancer.

Purpose: To overcome the therapeutic restrictions offered by hydrophobic quercetin (Qu), this study aims to synthesize MPEG-PLA encapsulated Qu nanoparticle and to evaluate their anticancer efficacy.

Materials And Methods: In vitro anticancer potential and apoptotic studies were done by cell cytotoxicity assay and flow cytometry, respectively. MPEG-PLA-Qu nanoparticles were evaluated for anticancer efficacy in vivo using xenograft mice model.

Activation of spinal α2 adrenergic receptors induces hyperglycemia in mouse though activating sympathetic outflow.

The roles of α2-adrenergic receptors located in the spinal cord in the regulation of blood glucose levels were studied in imprinting control region (ICR) mice. Mice were treated intrathecally (i.t.

Pertussis toxin administered spinally induces a hypoglycemic effect on normal and diabetic mice.

Background/aims: To show whether intrathecal (i.t.) treatment with pertussis toxin (PTX) produces a hypoglycemic effect in ICR, db/db and streptozotocin-treated mice.

Protective effects of Acanthopanax divaricatus extract in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Acanthopanax divaricatus var. albeofructus (ADA) extract has been reported to have anti-oxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-mutagenic activity.

Materials/methods: We investigated the effects of ADA extract on two mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD); intracerebroventricular injection of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) and amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1)-transgenic mice.

The modulatory role of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone administered spinally in the regulation of blood glucose level in d-glucose-fed and restraint stress mouse models.

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is known as a regulator of the blood glucose homeostasis and food intake. In the present study, the possible roles of α-MSH located in the spinal cord in the regulation of the blood glucose level were investigated in d-glucose-fed and immobilization stress (IMO) mouse models. We found in the present study that intrathecal (i.

Effect of tolbutamide, glyburide and glipizide administered supraspinally on CA3 hippocampal neuronal cell death and hyperglycemia induced by kainic acid in mice.

Sulfonylureas are widely used oral drugs for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus. In the present study, the effects of sulfonylureas administered supraspinally on kainic acid (KA)-induced hippocampal neuronal cell death and hyperglycemia were studied in ICR mice. Mice were pretreated intracerebroventricularly (i.

Effects of nateglinide and repaglinide administered intracerebroventricularly on the CA3 hippocampal neuronal cell death and hyperglycemia induced by kainic acid in mice.

Meglitinides (nateglinide and repaglinide) are widely used oral drugs for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus. In the present study, the effects of meglinitides administered supraspinally on kainic acid (KA)-induced hippocampal neuronal cell death and hyperglycemia were studied in ICR mice. Mice were pretreated intracerebroventricularly (i.

The modulatory role of spinally located histamine receptors in the regulation of the blood glucose level in d-glucose-fed mice.

The possible roles of spinal histamine receptors in the regulation of the blood glucose level were studied in ICR mice. Mice were intrathecally (i.t.