Synthesis and anti-diabetic activity of novel biphenylsulfonamides as glucagon receptor antagonists.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Insulin, a hormone secreted from pancreatic β-cells, decreases blood glucose levels, and glucagon, a hormone secreted from pancreatic α-cells, increases blood glucose levels by counterregulation of insulin through stimulation of hepatic glucose production. In diabetic patients, dysregulation of glucagon secretion contributes to hyperglycemia.

Design, synthesis, and effects of novel phenylpyrimidines as glucagon receptor antagonists.

The hormone glucagon increases blood glucose levels through increasing hepatic glucose output. In diabetic patients, dysregulation of glucagon secretion contributes to hyperglycemia. Thus, the inhibition of glucagon receptor is one target for the treatment of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes.

Anti-platelet and anti-thrombotic effect of a traditional herbal medicine Kyung-Ok-Ko.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Kyung-Ok-Ko (KOK), a traditional herbal prescription, contains six main ingredients; Rehmannia glutinosa var. purpurae, Lycium chinense, Aquillaria agallocha, Poria cocos, Panax ginseng, and honey. KOK has been widely taken as a traditional oriental medicine for improving blood circulation or age-related symptoms, such as dementia and stroke.

In vivo absorption and disposition of α-cedrene, a sesquiterpene constituent of cedarwood oil, in female and male rats.

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of α-cedrene as a new anti-obesity drug by characterizing absorption, metabolism and pharmacokinetics in rats. α-Cedrene was administered intravenously (10 and 20 mg/kg) and orally (50 and 100 mg/kg) to female and male Sprague-Dawley rats. Blood, tissues, urine, and feces were collected at predetermined times.

GC-MS/MS method for the quantification of α-cedrene in rat plasma and its pharmacokinetic application.

α-Cedrene is a pharmacologically active ingredient isolated from the essential oil of cedar. A selective and sensitive GC-MS/MS method was developed for the quantification of α-cedrene in rat plasma for the first time. α-Cedrene was extracted from rat plasma using ethyl acetate at neutral pH.

Characterization of a Novel Monoclonal Antibody (27H2) Recognizing Human CD34 Class III Epitope.

Background: Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognizing Class III epitope of CD34 are essential for flow cytometric diagnosis of leukemia.

Methods: 27H2 mAb was developed from a mouse alternatively immunized with human acute leukemia cell lines, KG1 and Molm-1. Using flow cytometric analysis of various leukemic cell lines and peripheral blood, immunohistochemical study of frozen tonsil, we characterized 27H2 mAb.

Adult stem cell-like tubular cells reside in the corticomedullary junction of the kidney.

The existence of adult renal stem cells has long been suspected because the kidney is capable of regeneration in response to injury, such as acute tubular necrosis (ATN), but their location, or niche, has not been fully defined yet. The aim of this study was to identify the niche of adult renal stem cells responsible for the tubular regeneration. The location of label-retaining cells (LRCs) was studied in adult mouse kidneys after administration of a pulse of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) during embryonic period.

eIF-4E expression is associated with histopathologic grades in cervical neoplasia.

Translation initiation factor eIF-4E (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E) is a 25 kd messenger RNA cap-binding phosphoprotein and is involved in the initiation of protein synthesis. The expression is known to be elevated in several carcinomas as compared with normal tissues and benign lesions. In the present study, we undertook to determine whether eIF-4E expression is associated with progression in cervical neoplasia.