Phylogenetic position of the Atlantic Gnomefish, (Teleostei: Scombropidae), within the genus , inferred from the sequences of complete mitochondrial genome and cytochrome oxidase subunit I genes.

We determined the complete mitochondrial genome of the Atlantic Gnomefish, (Scombropidae). The total length of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was 16,515 bp and included 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and one control region. The gene arrangement of was identical to those of three Japanese scombropid species and those of other teleosts.

Species composition of the genus Scombrops (Teleostei, Scombropidae) in the waters around the Japanese Archipelago: detection of a cryptic species.

Current literature states that family Scombropidae consists of a single genus Scombrops comprising three species worldwide, with two of them, Scombrops boops and Scombrops gilberti, distributed in the waters around the Japanese Archipelago. Although these two scombropids are commercially important species, little is known about the ecology of these fishes. It is difficult to discriminate between these two species based on external characteristics because of their morphological similarity.

Complete mitochondrial genome of an undescribed gnomefish of the genus (Teleostei, Scombropidae) from southern waters off Kyushu Island, Japan.

The complete mitochondrial genome of an undescribed gnomefish species of the genus was determined using a PCR-based method. The total length of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was 16,521 bp, and included 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and one control region. The mitochondrial gene arrangement of this gnomefish species was identical to that of two previously described scombropid species, and , and also to those of other teleosts.

Phylogenetic position of Scombropidae within teleostei: the complete mitochondrial genome of the gnomefish, Scombrops gilberti.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Japanese gnomefish, Scombrops gilberti, was determined using a PCR-based method. The total length of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is 16 518 bp, which includes 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and one control region. The mitochondrial gene arrangement of S.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the gnomefish Scombrops boops (Teleostei, Perciformes, Scombropidae) from the Pacific Ocean off the Japanese Islands.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the gnomefish Scombrops boops was determined by a PCR-based method. The total length of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was 16,517 bp, including 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and one control region. The mitochondrial gene arrangement of the gnomefish mtDNA was identical to those of typical teleosts.

Ovarian small cell carcinoma complicated by carcinomatous meningitis.

Meningeal metastasis is rare in the clinical course of ovarian carcinoma and its prognosis is extremely poor. We experienced a case of carcinomatous meningitis from metastatic ovarian small cell carcinoma. A 33-year-old woman with atypical genital bleeding, was diagnosed with a right ovarian tumor and referred to our department.

Population genetic structure of Scombrops boops (Percoid, Scombropidae) around the Japanese archipelago inferred from the cytochrome b gene sequence in mitochondrial DNA.

The gnomefish (Scombrops boops) is a member of the percoid family Scombropidae, which includes a single genus and three to four species worldwide. Since little is known about the ecology of this species, here, sequencing analysis of the cytochrome b gene (1141 bp) in mitochondrial DNA detected 101 haplotypes from 186 individuals of S. boops collected from waters at seven localities around the Japanese archipelago.

A translocator protein ligand PK11195 shows antigrowth activity in human choriocarcinoma cells.

The potential anticancer agent 1-(2-chlorophenyl-N-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinolinecarboxamide (PK11195), a translocator protein ligand (initially described as a ligand for the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor), induces apoptosis in some lines of human tumor cells. We investigated the effect of PK11195 in the choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo. BeWo cells were treated with various concentrations of PK11195, and changes in cell growth, the cell cycle, apoptosis, and related parameters were examined.

Bufalin, a traditional oriental medicine, induces apoptosis in human cancer cells.

Bufalin is a traditional oriental medicines which induces apoptosis in some lines of human tumor cells. It constitutes the major digoxin-like immunoreactive component of Chan Su, obtained from the skin and parotid venom glands of toads. Bufalin is cardioactive C-24 steroids that exhibits a variety of biological activities, such as cardiotonic, anaesthetic, blood pressure stimulatory, respiratory and antineoplastic effects.

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase inhibitor induces growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in human choriocarcinoma cells.

KN-93, a membrane-permeant calcium/calmodulin- dependent kinase-selective inhibitor, induces apoptosis in some lines of human tumor cells. We investigated the effect of KN-93 in the choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo. BeWo cells were treated with various concentrations of KN-93, and changes in cell growth, the cell cycle, apoptosis, and related parameters were examined.

Small cell carcinoma of the endometrium: a report of two cases.

Primary small cell carcinoma of the endometrium is rare and has an extremely poor prognosis. This report describes two cases of small cell carcinoma of the endometrium diagnosed as stage III. Case 1 was diagnosed as stage IIIc.

Application of the histone deacetylase inhibitors for the treatment of endometriosis: histone modifications as pathogenesis and novel therapeutic target.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that various epigenetic aberrations play definite roles in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. We investigated the histone acetylation status in endometriosis and the application of the histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) for the treatment of endometriosis.

Methods: The levels of acetylated histones in the endometriotic cyst stromal cells (ECSCs) and normal endometrial stromal cells (NESCs) were evaluated.

Aberrant DNA methylation status of endometriosis: epigenetics as the pathogenesis, biomarker and therapeutic target.

Endometriosis, a common, benign, estrogen-dependent disease affecting 3-10% of women of reproductive age, is characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial tissue that is found primarily in the peritoneum, ovaries and rectovaginal septum. Recently, endometriosis has been alternatively described as an immune disease, a genetic disease and a disease caused by exposure to environmental factors, in addition to its usual description as a hormonal disease. In addition, accumulating evidence suggests that various epigenetic aberrations play definite roles in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Effects of bufalin on the proliferation of human choriocarcinoma cells.

Objective: Bufalin is a traditional Chinese medicine, and it induces apoptosis in some lines of human tumor cells.

Methods: We investigated the effect of bufalin in the choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo. BeWo cells were treated with various concentrations of bufalin, and changes in cell growth, the cell cycle, apoptosis, and related parameters were examined.

Novel chemotherapy using histone deacetylase inhibitors in cervical cancer.

Since epigenetic alterations are believed to be involved in the repression of tumor suppressor genes and promotion of tumorigenesis in cervical cancers, novel compounds endowed with a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory activity are an attractive therapeutic approach. In this review, we discuss the biologic and therapeutic effects of HDAC inhibitors (HDACIs) in treating cervical cancer. HDACIs were able to mediate inhibition of cell growth, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and the expression of genes related to the malignant phenotype in a variety of cervical cancer cell lines.

Anti-neoplastic effect of β-hydroxyisovalerylshikonin on a human choriocarcinoma cell line.

β-hydroxyisovalerylshikonin (β-HIVS), a compound isolated from the traditional asian medicinal herb Lithospermum radix, is an ATP non-competitive inhibitor of protein-tyrosine kinases such as v-Src and EGFR, and has been shown to induce apoptosis in several human tumor cell lines. We investigated the effect of β-HIVS in the choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo. BeWo cells were treated with various concentrations of β-HIVS, and changes in cell growth, the cell cycle, apoptosis, and related parameters were examined.

Synergistic anti-neoplastic effect of AG1478 in combination with cisplatin or paclitaxel on human endometrial and ovarian cancer cells.

AG1478, a potent inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), facilitates the induction of cell death in combination with a variety of cytotoxic and chemotherapeutic agents in certain human tumor cell lines. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of AG1478 on three endometrial cancer and two ovarian cancer cell lines as compared to normal human endometrial epithelial cells. Cells were treated with various concentrations of AG1478 alone or in combination with the chemotherapeutic drugs cisplatin or paclitaxel, and the effect of AG1478 on cell growth, the cell cycle and apoptosis was investigated.

Advanced small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy with irinotecan and cisplatin followed by radical surgery.

Small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a rare form of cervical cancer characterized by extreme aggressiveness and poor prognosis because of its rapid growth, frequent distant metastases, and resistance to conventional treatment modalities. We report here a case of advanced-stage small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by radical surgery, resulting in locoregional disease control. A 39-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed as having stage IIIb small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Erucylphosphocholine induces growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in human choriocarcinoma cells.

A membrane-targeted, lipophilic ether lipid of synthetic phospholipid analog, erucylphosphocholine (ErPC), induces apoptosis in some lines of human tumor cells. We investigated the effect of ErPC in the choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo. BeWo cells were treated with various concentrations of ErPC, and changes in cell growth, the cell cycle, apoptosis, and related parameters were examined.

Aberrant expression of apoptosis-related molecules in endometriosis: a possible mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Endometriosis, a disease affecting 3% to 10% of women of reproductive age, is characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial tissue under the influence of estrogen. It is also becoming recognized as a condition in which ectopic endometrial cells exhibit abnormal proliferative and apoptotic regulation in response to appropriate stimuli. Apoptosis plays a critical role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and represents a normal function to eliminate excess or dysfunctional cells.

Synchronous ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma with a functioning stroma and endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma by different loss of heterozygosity findings.

Purpose: Mucinous epithelial ovarian tumors generally have estrogenic stroma, although the frequency of endometrioid adenocarcinoma with functioning stroma is very low. And while synchronous development of carcinomas in the endometrium and ovaries is a fairly common phenomenon, the distinction of a single clonal tumor with metastasis from two independent primary tumors may present a diagnostic challenge. We present a rare case of a 31-year-old woman with endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the ovary with functioning stroma and endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma who showed symptoms of virilization.

A Case of Villoglandular Papillary Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Cervix Diagnosed during Early Pregnancy Followed by Successful Term Delivery.

Villoglandular papillary adenocarcinoma (VPA) is a very rare subtype of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix, but a well-recognized variant of cervical adenocarcinoma with a favorable prognosis and generally occurring in women of child-bearing age. Only five cases of VPA and pregnancy have been reported. Herein, we report a case of VPA diagnosed during early pregnancy and managed successfully with conservative measures; our patient delivered a healthy baby in full term.

Impact of positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the management of patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma after treatment.

Purpose: The aims of this study were to compare the usefulness and reliability of integrated whole-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) with those of contrast-enhanced multidetector CT during regular follow-up in patients after initial treatment of ovarian cancer, to assess the impact of FDG-PET/CT on the confirmation of recurrence, restaging, and clinical management of patients, and to determine the incremental information provided by PET/CT.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 19 ovarian cancer patients who underwent a total of 30 FDG-PET/CT and contrast-enhanced multidetector CT scans. The following information was obtained: the clinical information of the patients; the results of FDG-PET/CT and contrast-enhanced multidetector CT, particularly with regard to the impact on the diagnosis of recurrence; information on the localization and number of diseases; and the impact on subsequent clinical management.

Novel target genes responsive to the anti-growth activity of triptolide in endometrial and ovarian cancer cells.

Triptolide (TPL), a bioactive component of the Chinese medicinal herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, induces apoptosis in some lines of human tumor cells. However, the effect of TPL on gynecologic cancer cells has not yet been well-described. We investigated the effects of TPL on cell growth, cell cycle, and apoptosis in endometrial and ovarian cancer cell lines.