Modulation of Autophagy is a Potential Strategy for Enhancing the Anti-Tumor Effect of Mebendazole in Glioblastoma Cells.

Mebendazole (MBZ), a microtubule depolymerizing drug commonly used for the treatment of helminthic infections, has been suggested as a repositioning candidate for the treatment of brain tumors. However, the efficacy of MBZ needs further study to improve the beneficial effect on the survival of those patients. In this study, we explored a novel strategy to improve MBZ efficacy using a drug combination.

Autophagy Is a Potential Target for Enhancing the Anti-Angiogenic Effect of Mebendazole in Endothelial Cells.

Mebendazole (MBZ), a microtubule depolymerizing drug commonly used for the treatment of helminthic infections, has recently been noted as a repositioning candidate for angiogenesis inhibition and cancer therapy. However, the definite anti-angiogenic mechanism of MBZ remains unclear. In this study, we explored the inhibitory mechanism of MBZ in endothelial cells (ECs) and developed a novel strategy to improve its anti-angiogenic therapy.

Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes of Aneurysms Treated with Two Self-expanding Stent-assisted Coiling Systems: A Comparison of Solitaire AB and Enterprise VRD Stents.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare clinical findings and outcomes of Enterprise and Solitaire stent-assisted coiling (SAC).

Materials And Methods: Between January 2012 and March 2014, 86 patients (mean age, 60.3 years) harboring 89 aneurysms were treated with Enterprise (n = 57) or Solitaire (n = 32) SAC.

Extracts of Rehmanniae radix, Ginseng radix and Scutellariae radix improve glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and beta-cell proliferation through IRS2 induction.

Recent studies have revealed that beta-cell dysfunction is an important factor in developing type 2 diabetes. beta-cell dysfunction is related to impairment of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling cascade through insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS2). The induction of IRS2 in beta-cells plays an important role in potentiating beta-cell function and mass.

Discrimination of teas with different degrees of fermentation by SPME-GC analysis of the characteristic volatile flavour compounds.

As tea is traded all over the world, it is necessary for both customs officers and business investigators to develop an easy and reliable method to discriminate teas from each other. A total of 56 kinds of various green, Oolong, and black teas were collected from different countries and markets, and their catechin contents and volatile flavour compounds (VFC) were compared by analyses, using HPLC and solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatograph (SPME-GC). It was found that neither total catechin nor individual catechin contents in green and Oolong teas were significantly different among the samples investigated, but the fermentation processes altered the profiles of tea VFC.

Exendin-4 and exercise promotes beta-cell function and mass through IRS2 induction in islets of diabetic rats.

Not only exendin-4 but also exercise has been reported to improve glucose homeostasis by enhancing insulinotropic action, but the nature of its molecular mechanism has not been clarified. We investigated a mechanism to promote insulinotropic action by means of exendin-4 and exercise training in 90% pancreatectomized (Px) rats fed 40% energy fat diets. Px diabetic rats were divided into 4 groups: 1) exendin-4, 2) exendin-4 plus exercise, 3) saline (control), and 4) exercise.

Long-term effects of central leptin and resistin on body weight, insulin resistance, and beta-cell function and mass by the modulation of hypothalamic leptin and insulin signaling.

To determine the long-term effect of central leptin and resistin on energy homeostasis, peripheral insulin resistance, and beta-cell function and mass, intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of leptin (3 ng/h), resistin (80 ng/h), leptin plus resistin, and cerebrospinal fluid (control) was conducted by means of an osmotic pump for 4 wk on normal rats and 90% pancreatectomized diabetic rats fed 40% fat-energy diets. Overall, the effects were greater in diabetic rats than normal rats. Leptin infusion, causing a significant reduction in food intake, decreased body weight and epididymal fat.

Exercise improves glucose homeostasis that has been impaired by a high-fat diet by potentiating pancreatic beta-cell function and mass through IRS2 in diabetic rats.

In this study, we investigated the effects of a high-fat diet and exercise on pancreatic beta-cell function and mass and its molecular mechanism in 90% pancreatectomized male rats. The pancreatectomized diabetic rats were given control diets (20% energy) or a high-fat (HF) diet (45% energy) for 12 wk. Half of each group was given regular exercise on an uphill treadmill at 20 m/min for 30 min 5 days/wk.

Changes in components, glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid, in raw Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, modify insulin sensitizing and insulinotropic actions.

We hypothesized that roasted Glycyrrhizae Radix (Glycyrrhizin Radix Praeparata, GRP) might modify anti-diabetic action due to compositional changes. Then we examined the anti-diabetic effect and mechanism of raw Glycyrrhizae Radix (GR) and GRP extracts and their major respective components, glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid. In partial pancreatectomized (Px) diabetic mice, both GR and GRP improved glucose tolerance, but only GRP enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion as much as exendin-4.

Chlorpromazine exacerbates hepatic insulin sensitivity via attenuating insulin and leptin signaling pathway, while exercise partially reverses the adverse effects.

Investigated in this study are the effects and mechanisms of exercise and chlorpromazine (CPZ), a widely used conventional antipsychotic drug, on the hepatic insulin sensitivity of 90% pancreatectomized (Px) male Sprague-Dawley rats. The Px diabetic rats were provided with 0, 5, or 50 mg CPZ per kg of body weight (No-CPZ, LCPZ, or HCPZ) for 8 weeks, and half of each group had regular exercise. LCPZ did not exacerbate hepatic insulin sensitivity through insulin and leptin signaling in diabetic rats.

Long-term consumption of fermented soybean-derived Chungkookjang enhances insulinotropic action unlike soybeans in 90% pancreatectomized diabetic rats.

Background: We previously reported that Chungkookjang (CKJ), fermented unsalted soybeans, exhibited better anti-diabetic action than cooked soybeans (CSB) in vitro, but its effectiveness and mechanism have not been studied in vivo.

Aim Of The Study: We investigated whether CKJ modulated insulin resistance, insulin secretion, and pancreatic beta-cell growth and survival in 90% pancreatectomized (Px) diabetic rats.

Methods: The Px rats weighing 201 +/- 12 g were divided into four groups and fed for 8 weeks with a CSB diet, a CKJ diet, a casein diet, or a casein diet plus rosiglitazone (20 mg/kg body weight/day).

Inhibition of anaphylaxis-like reaction and mast cell activation by water extract from the fruiting body of Phellinus linteus.

Mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reaction is involved in many allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. Phellinus linteus has been used as a traditional herb medicine in oriental countries and is known to have anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic activities. However, roles of Phellinus linteus in the mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reactions have not fully been examined.

Protective effects of green tea polyphenol extracts against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damages in rats: stress-responsive transcription factors and MAP kinases as potential targets.

There are multiple lines of compelling evidence from epidemiologic and laboratory studies supporting that frequent consumption of green tea is inversely associated with the risk of chronic human diseases including cancer. The chemopreventive and chemoprotective effects of green tea have been largely attributed to antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of its polyphenolic constituents, such as epigallocatechin gallate. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of green tea polyphenols in protecting against alcohol-induced gastric damage and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Double geminal C-H activation and reversible alpha-elimination in 2-aminopyridine iridium(III) complexes: the role of hydrides and solvent in flattening the free energy surface.

[H2Ir(OCMe2)2L2]BF4 (1) (L = PPh3), a preferred catalyst for tritiation of pharmaceuticals, reacts with model substrate 2-(dimethylamino)pyridine (py-NMe2; py = 2-pyridyl) to give chelate carbene [H2Ir(py-N(Me)CH=)L2]BF4 (2a) via cyclometalation, H2 loss, and reversible alpha-elimination. Agostic intermediate [H2Ir(py-N(Me)CH2-H)L2]BF4) (4a), seen by NMR, is predicted (DFT(B3PW91) computations) to give C-H oxidative addition to form the alkyl intermediate [(H)(eta2-H2)Ir(py-N(Me)CH2-)L2]BF4. Loss of H2 leads to the fully characterized alkyl [HIr(OCMe2)(py-N(Me)CH2-)L2]BF4 (3a(Me2CO)), which loses acetone to give alkylidene hydride 2a by rapid reversible alpha-elimination.

Single shot fast spin echo diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the spine; Is it useful in differentiating malignant metastatic tumor infiltration from benign fracture edema?

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of single shot fast spin echo diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWSSFSE) in differentiating malignant metastatic tumor infiltration of vertebral bone marrow from benign vertebral fracture edema.

Materials And Methods: Forty-six consecutive patients with 59 acute osteoporotic or traumatic vertebral fractures (mean age = 59) and 31 patients with 98 vertebral metastasis including 20 pathologic fractures (mean age = 53) were included in this study. Diffusion-weighted MR images were obtained by single-shot fast spin echo technique with diffusion gradient (b = 500 s/mm2, TR/TE: 5002/99) by using a 1.