Protocol for a randomized controlled trial to compare bone-loading exercises with risedronate for preventing bone loss in osteopenic postmenopausal women.

Background: In the United States, over 34 million American post-menopausal women have low bone mass (osteopenia) which increases their risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Calcium, vitamin D and exercise are recommended for prevention of osteoporosis, and bisphosphonates (BPs) are prescribed in women with osteoporosis. BPs may also be prescribed for women with low bone mass, but are more controversial due to the potential for adverse effects with long-term use.

Epigallocatechin-gallate modulates chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in human cholangiocarcinoma cells.

Background: Green tea polyphenols are chemopreventive in several cancer models but their use as adjunctive therapeutic agents for cancer is unknown.

Aims: Cholangiocarcinomas respond poorly to chemotherapeutic agents and our aims were to assess the utility of green tea polyphenols as adjuncts to chemotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma.

Materials And Methods: We assessed the effect of purified green tea catechins on chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in KMCH, CC-LP-1 and Mz-ChA-1 human cholangiocarcinoma cells, and on chemosensitivity of Mz-ChA-1 cell xenografts in nude mice.

Pifithrin-alpha enhances chemosensitivity by a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent modulation of the eukaryotic initiation factor 4E in malignant cholangiocytes.

Pifithrin-alpha is the lead compound for a novel group of small molecules that are being developed for use as anticancer agents. The eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E) is overexpressed in many cancers, it can mediate sensitivity to therapy, and it may be regulated by p53. We examined the utility of pifithrin-alpha as an adjunct to therapy for the treatment of human cholangiocarcinoma, a tumor that is highly refractory to therapy, and we assessed the involvement of p53-dependent eIF-4E regulation in cellular responses to pifithrin-alpha.

Involvement of human micro-RNA in growth and response to chemotherapy in human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines.

Background & Aims: Micro-RNA (miRNA) are endogenous regulatory RNA molecules that modulate gene expression. Alterations in miRNA expression can contribute to tumor growth by modulating the functional expression of critical genes involved in tumor cell proliferation or survival. Our aims were to identify specific miRNA involved in the regulation of cholangiocarcinoma growth and response to chemotherapy.

Seven cDNAs enriched following hippocampal lesion: possible roles in neuronal responses to injury.

Synaptic plasticity is important for formation of long-term memories and in re-establishment of function following injury. Seven cDNAs enriched following lesion in the hippocampus of the rat have been isolated using a PCR-based cDNA suppression subtraction hybridization. Sequence analysis resulted in the identification of two genes with known roles in synaptic development and neuronal activities: astrotactin and calcineurin.