Impact of Acupuncture on Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Adjuvant Antiestrogen Therapy with Tamoxifen: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of acupuncture on hot flashes in breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen as an adjuvant antiestrogen therapy in Korea. This trial was a randomized, no-treatment-controlled, single-blind, multi-center trial. Participants were randomized 1:1 into the acupuncture group or into the no-treatment control group.

Efficacy of saam acupuncture treatment on improvement of immune cell numbers in cancer patients: a pilot study.

Objective: To collect preliminary data on the effects of Saam acupuncture with regard to the immunity in cancer patients.

Methods: Ten cancer patients were analyzed for improvements in immunity. Acupuncture was applied at the 5 acupuncture points, Jingqu (LU 8), Zutonggu (BL 66), Yanggu (SI 5), Yangchi (TE 4), and Zhongwan (CV 12) for 2 weeks with 4 sessions.

Anti-angiogenic effects of water extract of a formula consisting of Pulsatilla koreana, Panax ginseng and Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the anti-angiogenic effects of the water extract of Pulsatilla koreana (Yabe ex Nakai) Nakai ex T. Mori., Panax ginseng C.

Anti-angiogenic effects of the water extract of HangAmDan (WEHAD), a Korean traditional medicine.

We investigated the anti-angiogenic effects of the water extract of HangAmDan (WEHAD), which is a crude extract of nine Korean medicinal substances of animal and plant origin. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells, WEHAD significantly inhibited bFGF-induced proliferation, adhesion, migration, and capillary tube formation. We used an antibody array to perform an analysis of signaling proteins, which showed up-regulated expression of various proteins including RAD51, RAD52, and p73, and down-regulated expression of pFAK.

BP1 Homeoprotein Enhances Metastatic Potential in ER-negative Breast Cancer.

Tumor invasion and metastasis remain a major cause of mortality in breast cancer patients. It was reported that BP1, a homeobox isoform of DLX4, is overexpressed in 80% of breast cancer patients and in 100% of estrogen receptor negative (ER-) tumors. The prevalence of BP1 positive cells and the intensity of BP1 immunoreactivity increased with the extent of ductal proliferation and tumorigenesis.

Gene expression profiling of lymphoblasts from autistic and nonaffected sib pairs: altered pathways in neuronal development and steroid biosynthesis.

Despite the identification of numerous autism susceptibility genes, the pathobiology of autism remains unknown. The present "case-control" study takes a global approach to understanding the molecular basis of autism spectrum disorders based upon large-scale gene expression profiling. DNA microarray analyses were conducted on lymphoblastoid cell lines from over 20 sib pairs in which one sibling had a diagnosis of autism and the other was not affected in order to identify biochemical and signaling pathways which are differentially regulated in cells from autistic and nonautistic siblings.

Gene expression profiling differentiates autism case-controls and phenotypic variants of autism spectrum disorders: evidence for circadian rhythm dysfunction in severe autism.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by delayed/abnormal language development, deficits in social interaction, repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. The heterogeneity in clinical presentation of ASD, likely due to different etiologies, complicates genetic/biological analyses of these disorders. DNA microarray analyses were conducted on 116 lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) from individuals with idiopathic autism who are divided into three phenotypic subgroups according to severity scores from the commonly used Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised questionnaire and age-matched, nonautistic controls.

Redox-regulated cochaperone activity of the human DnaJ homolog Hdj2.

The human DnaJ homolog Hdj2 is a cochaperone containing a cysteine-rich zinc finger domain. We identified a specific interaction of Hdj2 with the cellular redox enzyme thioredoxin using a yeast two-hybrid assay and a coimmunoprecipitation assay, thereby investigating how the redox environment of the cell regulates Hdj2 function. In reconstitution experiments with Hsc70, we found that treatment with H2O2 caused the oxidative inactivation of Hdj2 cochaperone activity.

Upregulation of Daxx mediates apoptosis in response to oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress induces apoptosis in a variety of cell types by as yet unclear signaling mechanisms. The Daxx protein is reportedly involved in apoptosis through its interactions with Fas, transforming growth factor-beta receptor, and promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML). Here, we explored the possible roles of Daxx in oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

(E)-Phenyl- and -heteroaryl-substituted O-benzoyl-(or acyl)oximes as lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 inhibitors.

A series of (E)-phenyl- and -heteroaryl-substituted O-benzoyl- (or acyl)oximes 3a-n were synthesized for evaluating their human lipoprotein-associated phospholiphase A2 (Lp-PLA2) inhibitory activities. The less lipophilic derivatives 3a-c showed the most potent in vitro inhibitory activity on human Lp-PLA2.

Saucerneol B derivatives as human acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitors.

A series of 2a-i were prepared from a lead compound, saucerneol B (1) for evaluating their acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitory activities. Compounds 2a-g exhibited the high specificity of hACAT-1 than hACAT-2, whereas 2h and 2i showed very weak inhibitory activities in both hACAT-1 and hACAT-2. Saucerneol B (1) exhibited strong cholesterol-lowering effect in high cholesterol-fed mice.

Phytochemical constituents of Carpesium macrocephalum F(R). et S(AV).

From the methanol extract of the whole plants of Carpesium macrocephalum F(R). et S(AV)., five sesquiterpene lactones (1: carabron, 2: tomentosin, 3: ivalin, 4: 4H-tomentosin, 5: carabrol) and three terpenoids (6: loliolide, 7: vomifoliol, 8: citrusin C) were isolated.

Phytochemical constituents ofCarpesium macrocephalum FR- et SAV.

From the methanol extract of the whole plants ofCarpesium macrocephalum FR. et SAV., five sesquiterpene lactones (1: carabron,2: tomentosin,3: ivalin,4: 4H-tomentosin,5: carabrol) and three terpenoids (6: loliolide,7: vomifoliol,8: citrusin C) were isolated.

EPO receptor-mediated ERK kinase and NF-kappaB activation in erythropoietin-promoted differentiation of astrocytes.

Erythropoietin (EPO), a hematopoietic factor, is also required for normal brain development, and its receptor is localized in brain. Therefore, it is possible that EPO could act as a neurotropic factor inducing differentiation of neurons. In the present study, we investigated whether EPO can promote differentiation of neuronal stem cells into astrocytes.

Inhibitory effects of multi-substituted benzylidenethiazolidine-2,4-diones on LDL oxidation.

Multi-substituted benzylidenethiazolidine-2,4-diones 3a-h were synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation of di- or tri-substituted 4-hydroxybenzaldehydes [or 1-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanone] 1 with thiazolidine-2,4-dione (2) and evaluated for antioxidant activities of Cu(2+)-induced oxidation of human low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Among compounds 3a-h, 3a was superior to probucol in LDL-antioxidant activities and found to be ninefold more active than probucol. Due to its potency, compound 3a was tested for complementary in vitro investigations, such as TBARS assay (IC(50) = 0.

Novel 3,5-diaryl pyrazolines and pyrazole as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation inhibitor.

Compounds 4a-j and 5 were synthesized by cyclocondensation of 3a-j and hydrazine and showed significant LDL-antioxidant activities in the TBARS assay, the lag time of conjugated diene production, the relative electrophoretic mobility (REM) of ox-LDL, the apoB-100 fragmentation, and the macrophage-mediated LDL oxidation. Among compounds 4a-j and 5, 4a was found to be the most active compound as an inhibitor of LDL oxidation and 4a (IC50 = 0.1 microM) was 6-fold more potent than probucol (IC50 = 0.

Novel 3,5-diaryl pyrazolines as human acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitors.

A series of pyrazoline derivatives were prepared for evaluating their acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activities. 3-(3,5-Di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(multi-substituted 4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-pyrazolines 4a-i were shown in vitro inhibitory activity on hACAT-1 and -2.