New Insights into the Structural Requirements of Isatin-Derived Pro-Apoptotic Agents against Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Searching for bioactive compounds within the huge chemical space is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Isatin is a unique natural compound which is endowed with different bio-pertinent activities, especially in cancer therapy. Herein, we envisaged that adopting a hybrid strategy of isatin and α,β-unsaturated ketone would afford new chemical entities with strong chemotherapeutic potential.

Transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells ameliorates vascular dysfunction and portal hypertension in carbon tetrachloride-induced rat liver cirrhotic model.

Background And Aim: In cirrhosis, sinusoidal endothelial cell injury results in increased endothelin-1 (ET-1) and decreased nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, leading to portal hypertension. However, the effects of transplanted endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on the cirrhotic liver have not yet been clarified. We investigated whether EPC transplantation reduces portal hypertension.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis in a patient with chronic hepatitis C who received treatment with pegylated interferon.

A 54-year-old male was treated for chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) α-2a administered for 24 weeks. HCV-RNA was negative at 24 weeks after treatment, showing sustained virological response (SVR). Abdominal distention and diarrhea were observed 28 weeks after commencing the treatment, i.

Limitation of repeated radiofrequency ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma: proposal of a three (times) × 3 (years) index.

Background And Aim: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the controllability of HCC and explored the algorithm of therapeutic strategy for HCC in patients who met the RFA criteria.

Methods: We enrolled 472 patients with HCC who met the RFA criteria (≤ 3 nodules, ≤ 3 cm) and underwent RFA for initial therapy.

Systemic chemotherapy using carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil for extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: We have evaluated the effectiveness of systemic chemotherapy for patients with extrahepatic metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methodology: We examined the background, survival rates, median survival time and side effects of 15 cases in which systemic chemotherapy using carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil was done (chemotherapy group) and 59 cases in which chemotherapy was not done (non-chemotherapy group) out of a total of 74 cases of patients with extrahepatic metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Results: The prognoses of the 15 chemotherapy cases and the 59 non-chemotherapy cases were as follows: 66.

Late-evening snack with branched-chain amino acids improves liver function after radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim:   This prospective study was designed to examine whether consumption of a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)-enriched nutrient mixture as a late-evening snack (LES) helps maintain and/or improve liver functioning in liver cirrhosis (LC) patients who have undergone radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods:   An equal number (10) of 30 LC patients who had undergone RFA for HCC was randomly assigned to a standard diet group (control) group, a morning BCAA (M-BCAA) administration group, or a LES with BCAA (LES-BCAA) administration group. Liver function testing was performed and Child-Pugh scores (CPS) calculated for each group to assess the improvement at 1, 4 and 12 weeks post-RFA.

A case of hepatitis C-associated osteosclerosis that was improved with the combination therapy of peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin.

Hepatitis C-associated osteosclerosis (HCAO) is a rare disorder characterized by a marked increase in skeletal mass in patients who are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The clinical presentation is an acquired deep bone pain with increased serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. We present a case of a patient with HCAO who was treated with antiviral therapy.

Clinical features of Wilson disease: Analysis of 10 cases.

Aim:   The diagnosis of Wilson disease is based on the results of several clinical and biochemical tests. This study aimed to clarify the clinical features and spectrum of Wilson disease, including severe Wilson disease.

Methods:   Between 1985 and 2009, 10 patients with clinical, biochemical or histological evidence of Wilson disease were either diagnosed or had a previously established diagnosis confirmed at Fukuoka University Hospital.

Significance and therapeutic potential of endothelial progenitor cell transplantation in a cirrhotic liver rat model.

Background & Aims: We investigated whether endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) transplantation could reduce established liver fibrosis and promote hepatic regeneration by isolating rat EPCs from bone marrow cells.

Methods: Recipient rats were injected intraperitoneally with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) twice weekly for 6 weeks before initial administration of EPCs. CCl(4) was then readministered twice weekly for 4 more weeks, and EPC transplantation was carried out for these same 4 weeks.

Cell cycle regulation by the Wee1 inhibitor PD0166285, pyrido [2,3-d] pyimidine, in the B16 mouse melanoma cell line.

Background: Wee1 kinase plays a critical role in maintaining G2 arrest through its inhibitory phosphorylation of cdc2. In previous reports, a pyridopyrimidine molecule PD0166285 was identified to inhibit Wee1 activity at nanomolar concentrations. This G2 checkpoint abrogation by PD0166285 was demonstrated to kill cancer cells, there at a toxic highest dose of 0.

Gene transfer of kringle 1-5 suppresses tumor development and improves prognosis of mice with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Recent studies indicate that kringle 1-5 has a potent and specific antiangiogenic activity. Here, we investigated the antitumor effect of kringle 1-5 gene transfer on hepatocellular carcinoma in mice.

Methods: The inhibitory effect of kringle 1-5 protein on proliferation of bovine capillary endothelial cells was evaluated by a tetrazolium-based assay.

A human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) carrier complicated with various autoimmune diseases including primary biliary cirrhosis.

A 47-year-old woman with primary biliary cirrhosis and scleroderma was examined at our hospital for a 1-week history of non-resolving fever, arthralgia, myalgia, muscle weakness and fatigue. A diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus was made based on arthralgia, low leukocyte count, low lymphocyte count, low serum concentration of complements, positive anti-nuclear antibody and positive anti-double-strand-DNA antibody. She was negative for anti-U1RNP antibody, but positive for anti-Jo1 antibody, and her initial serum concentration of creatine phosphokinase was elevated.

Suppression of transforming growth factor-beta results in upregulation of transcription of regeneration factors after chronic liver injury.

Background/aims: To determine the effects of dominant-negative TGF-beta receptor expression during liver regeneration in rats with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver injury.

Methods: Rats were first treated with DMN for 3 weeks, and then intravenously injected once with AdTbeta-TR, AdLacZ, or saline. Serial changes in hepatocyte proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using anti-Ki67 antibody, and TUNEL staining, respectively.

Overexpression of angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly vascular tumor. Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 have been shown to be involved in tumor angiogenesis. We investigated the expression of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 in HCC.

Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits platelet-derived growth factor-induced proliferation of human hepatic stellate cell line LI90.

Background/aims: Green-tea polyphenols are known to have anti-fibrotic properties of the skin and the artery. The proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) is closely related to the progression of liver fibrosis in chronic liver diseases. We investigated the inhibitory effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major potential inhibitory component of green-tea polyphenols, on the proliferation of HSC.

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis and rheumatoid arthritis treated with prednisolone.

A 62-year-old woman with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was examined at our hospital for a 2-week history of non-resolving fever, cough and malaise. Her chest radiograph revealed left lower lobe opacity. Various kinds of antibiotics were not effective and transbronchial biopsy revealed non-specific inflammatory alveolar lesions.