Octylphenol reduces the expressions of steroidogenic enzymes and testosterone production in mouse testis.

4-tert-octylphenol (OP) is known to disrupt testicular development and reduce male fertility. In the present study, male mice were exposed to OP at two different developmental stages, and the expression of steroidogenic enzymes and testosterone production were evaluated. Juvenile (15-day-old) and adult (8-week-old) male mice were injected with 2, 20, or 200 mg/kg of OP or 0.

Investigation of molecular factors associated with malignant transformation of oligodendroglioma by proteomic study of a single case of rapid tumor progression.

Purpose: Frozen tumor tissues from a patient who showed rapid progression to anaplastic oligodendroglioma after near total resection of oligodendroglioma were used to examine differential expression of proteins to gain better understanding of the pathogenesis of malignant transformation.

Methods: We have determined their protein profiles using a 2D gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry approach.

Results: Among 23 differentially expressed spots, overexpression of peroxiredoxin 6 and underexpression of rho GDP dissociation inhibitor alpha were confirmed to be valid after western blot and immunocytochemical analysis of oligodendroglioma tissue.

Covered metallic stent placement in the management of cervical esophageal strictures.

Purpose: To describe the authors' experience with self-expandable covered metallic stents in 16 patients with malignant and benign cervical esophageal strictures.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen expandable covered metallic stents were placed with fluoroscopic guidance in 16 patients (14 men, two women; mean age, 60 years; age range, 26-75 years) with malignant and benign strictures of the cervical esophagus. The causes of strictures were ingestion of corrosive agents (n = 3), biopsy-proved squamous cell carcinoma (n = 12), and postsurgical scarring (n = 1).

Value of complete metabolic response by (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography in oesophageal cancer for prediction of pathologic response and survival after preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

We aimed to assess the ability of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scan to predict pathologic complete response (CR) and survival in patients with oesophageal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The study cohort consisted of 62 consecutive patients with operable oesophageal cancer who were treated with preoperative CRT followed by oesophagectomy. Endoscopy, computed tomography (CT) and PET were performed before and after CRT.

Comparative analysis of the developmental competence of three human embryonic stem cell lines in vitro.

One of the goals of stem cell technology is to control the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), thereby generating large numbers of specific cell types for many applications including cell replacement therapy. Although individual hESC lines resemble each other in expressing pluripotency markers and telomerase activity, it is not clear whether they are equivalent in their developmental potential in vitro. We compared the developmental competence of three hESC lines (HSF6, Miz-hES4, and Miz-hES6).

Airway exposure levels of lipopolysaccharide determine type 1 versus type 2 experimental asthma.

Allergic asthma is characterized by airway inflammation initiated by adaptive immune responses to aeroallergens. Recent data suggest that severe asthma may be a different form of asthma rather than an increase in asthma symptoms and that innate immune responses to LPS can modulate adaptive immune responses to allergens. In this study, we evaluated the hypothesis that airway exposure to different doses of LPS induces different form of asthma.

Involvement of p42/44 MAPK in the effects of ethanol on secretion of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-1 in primary cultured rat hepatocytes.

This article investigates the effects of ethanol on Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I secretion, p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, and IGF binding protein (IGFBP-1 secretion) in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. The p42/44 MAPK activity increased with the ethanol concentration compared to control after ethanol treatment. The secretion of IGF-I significantly increased compared to control, but IGFBP-1 secretion was inhibited.

The Feasibility of 18F-FDG PET scans 1 month after completing radiotherapy of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Unlabelled: Our purpose was to prospectively evaluate the efficacy of PET with (18)F-FDG 1 mo after the completion of radiotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Methods: Ninety-seven patients underwent (18)F-FDG PET scans before and after radiotherapy for nondisseminated SCCHN. The first scans were obtained no more than 4 wk before the start of radiotherapy, and follow-up scans were obtained 1 mo after the completion of radiotherapy.

Anti-ischemic effect of Aurantii Fructus on contractile dysfunction of ischemic and reperfused rat heart.

Aurantii Fructus (AF) is one of the most well-known traditional herbal medicines frequently used for the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms in Korea. The anti-ischemic effects of AF on ischemia-induced isolated rat heart were investigated through analyses of changes in perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output. The subjects in this study were divided into two groups: an ischemia-induced group without any treatment, and an ischemia-induced group with AF treatment.

Recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor inhibits the airway hyperresponsiveness, mucus production, and lung inflammation induced by an allergen challenge.

Background: IL-13 is believed to be a central mediator of asthma, and TGF-beta1 is a key downstream mediator in the development of IL-13-mediated asthma phenotypes.

Objective: To evaluate the biological roles of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) in phenotype expression in transgenic (TG) mice overexpressing lung-specific TGF-beta1, and the therapeutic effects of recombinant FGF2 in the development of asthma phenotypes.

Methods: To evaluate the roles of FGF2 in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) expression induced by high levels of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta1 TG (+) mice were bred with FGF2-deficient mice.

Neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside Rg3 against homocysteine-induced excitotoxicity in rat hippocampus.

We previously demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg(3) (Rg(3)), one of the active ingredients in Panax ginseng, attenuates NMDA receptor-mediated currents and NMDA-induced neurotoxicity (Kim, S., Kim, T., Ahn, K.

Optimal time interval between capecitabine intake and radiotherapy in preoperative chemoradiation for locally advanced rectal cancer.

Purpose: Capecitabine and its metabolites reach peak plasma concentrations 1 to 2 hours after a single oral administration, and concentrations rapidly decrease thereafter. We performed a retrospective analysis to find the optimal time interval between capecitabine administration and radiotherapy for rectal cancer.

Methods And Materials: The time interval between capecitabine intake and radiotherapy was measured in patients who were treated with preoperative radiotherapy and concurrent capecitabine for rectal cancer.

Ginseng saponins diminish adverse vascular effects associated with chronic methionine-induced hyperhomocysteinemia.

Recent studies have shown that Panax ginseng has a variety of beneficial effects on the cardiovascular systems. Homocysteine (Hcy), which is derived from L-methionine (Met), has been closely associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we examined whether in vivo long-term administration of ginseng saponins (GS), active ingredients of Panax ginseng, attenuate adverse vascular effects associated with chronic Met-induced hyperhomocysteinemia (H-Hcy).

Involvement of the Fas-Fas ligand system and active caspase-3 in abnormal apoptosis in human testes with maturation arrest and Sertoli cell-only syndrome.

Objective: To provide evidence that the Fas-mediated apoptotic process may participate in developing hypospermatogenesis, such as maturation arrest (MA) and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCO).

Design: Prospective clinical and descriptive study.

Setting: Hospital-based infertility research laboratory and university laboratory.

Clinical results of stereotactic body frame based fractionated radiation therapy for primary or metastatic thoracic tumors.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of stereotactic body radiation therapy for treating primary or metastatic thoracic tumors using a stereotactic body frame. Between January 1998 and February 2004, 101 lesions from 91 patients with thoracic tumors were prospectively reviewed. A dose of 10-12 Gy per fraction was given three to four times over consecutive days to a total dose of 30-48 Gy (median 40 Gy).

Cloning and heterologous expression of a Ca2+-activated chloride channel isoform from rat brain.

We previously reported the cloning of a calcium-activated chloride channel (CLCA) from rat brain (Biochem. Biophys. Res.

Neurogenic effect of vascular endothelial growth factor during germ layer formation of human embryonic stem cells.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent mitogen for vascular endothelial cells, has been suggested as a modulator that is involved in neurogenesis as well as angiogenesis. Here, we directly examined the effect of VEGF on neuroectodermal differentiation using human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). VEGF treatment upregulated the expression of neuroectodermal genes (Sox1 and Nestin) during germ layer formation in embryoid bodies (EBs) and efficiently increased the number of neural rosettes expressing both Pax6 and Nestin.

Effects of Nelumbinis Semen on contractile dysfunction in ischemic and reperfused rat heart.

Nelumbinis Semen (NS), or lotus seed, is one of the most well-known traditional herbal medicines and is frequently used to treat cardiovascular symptoms in Korea. The anti-ischemic effects of NS on ischemia-induced isolated rat heart were investigated through analyses of changes in blood pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output. The subjects in this study were divided into two groups: a control, untreated ischemia-induced group, and an ischemia-induced group treated with NS.

Nonylphenol and octylphenol-induced apoptosis in human embryonic stem cells is related to Fas-Fas ligand pathway.

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells have been proposed as a source of various cell types for cell replacement therapy. Besides their potential in therapeutic uses, ES cells also have other potential applications, such as in drug discovery and in vitro screening assays of various toxicants. Nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) are common environmental contaminants, known to disrupt the reproductive and endocrine system.

Effects of sun ginseng on subjective quality of life in cancer patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

Objective: Ginseng has been reported to increase mental and physical abilities, improve mood and promote general health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of sun ginseng (SG) on quality of life in cancer patients.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial was performed for 12 weeks.

Effects of dextrorotatory morphinans on alpha3beta4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

We previously demonstrated that dextromethorphan (DM; 3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan) analogs have neuroprotective effects, and a recent report showed that DM reduces the adverse effects of morphine and blocks alpha3beta4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, a major target of anti-addictive agents. Here, we investigated the effects of DM, three of its analogs (DF, 3-methyl-17-methylmorphinan; AM, 3-allyloxy-17-methoxymorphian; and CM, 3-cyclopropyl-17-methoxymorphinan) and one of its metabolites (HM; 3-methoxymorphinan), on neuronal alpha3beta4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, using the two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique. We found that intraoocyte injection of neuronal alpha3 and beta4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit cRNAs elicited an inward current (IACh) in the presence of acetylcholine.

Treatment-induced menstrual changes in very young (<35 years old) breast cancer patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment-induced menstrual changes in very young (< 35 years old) breast cancer patients.

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively examined the clinical records of 160 patients, ranging in age from 18 to 34 years old (median age, 32 years), treated between June 1992 and December 2002. One hundred twenty patients underwent mastectomy and 40 underwent breast conserving surgery.

Effects of ginsenosides and their metabolites on voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel subtypes.

In previous reports we demonstrated that ginsenosides, active ingredients of Panax ginseng, affect some subsets of voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels in neuronal cells expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. However, the major component(s) of ginseng that affect cloned Ca(2+) channel subtypes such as alpha(1C) (L)-, alpha(1B) (N)-, alpha(1A) (P/Q)-, a1E (R)- and a1G (T) have not been identified. Here, we used the two-microelectrode volt-age clamp technique to characterize the effects of ginsenosides and ginsenoside metabolites on Ba(2+) currents (IBa) in Xenopus oocytes expressing five different Ca(2+) channel subtypes.

Effect of Acori graminei Rhizoma on contractile dysfunction of ischemic and reperfused rat heart.

Acori graminei Rhizoma is one of the best-known traditional herbal medicines frequently used for the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms in Asian countries. The anti-ischemic effect of Acori graminei Rhizoma on ischemia-induced isolated rat heart was investigated through analysis of changes in perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output. The subjects in this study were divided into two groups, an ischemia-induced group without any treatment (I), and an ischemia-induced group with Acori graminei Rhizoma treatment (I+AGR).

Expression of Ca2+-dependent synaptotagmin isoforms in mouse and rat parotid acinar cells.

Synaptotagmin is a Ca2+ sensing protein, which triggers a fusion of synaptic vesicles in neuronal transmission. Little is known regarding the expression of Ca2+-dependent synaptotagmin isoforms and their contribution to the release of secretory vesicles in mouse and rat parotid acinar cells. We investigated a type of Ca2+-dependent synaptotagmin and Ca2+ signaling in both rat and mouse parotid acinar cells using RT-PCR, microfluorometry, and amylase assay.