Arginine Thiazolidine Carboxylate Stimulates Insulin Secretion through Production of Ca2+-Mobilizing Second Messengers NAADP and cADPR in Pancreatic Islets.

Oxothiazolidine carboxylic acid is a prodrug of cysteine that acts as an anti-diabetic agent via insulin secretion and the formation of the Ca2+-mobilizing second messenger, cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR). Here we show that a hybrid compound, arginine thiazolidine carboxylate (ATC), increases cytoplasmic Ca2+ in pancreatic β-cells, and that the ATC-induced Ca2+ signals result from the sequential formation of two Ca2+-mobilizing second messengers: nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) and cADPR. Our data demonstrate that ATC has potent insulin-releasing properties, due to the additive action of its two components; thiazolidine carboxylate (TC) and L-arginine.

Oncologic Outcomes and Risk Factors for Recurrence after Tumor-specific Mesorectal Excision of Rectal Cancer: 782 Cases.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the oncologic outcomes and the risk factors for recurrence after a tumor-specific mesorectal excision (TSME) of resectable rectal cancer in a single institution.

Methods: A total of 782 patients who underwent a TSME for resectable rectal cancer between February 1995 and December 2005 were enrolled retrospectively. Oncologic outcomes included 5-year cancer-specific survival and its affecting factors, as well as risk factors for local and systemic recurrence.