Red wine extract prevents neuronal apoptosis in vitro and reduces mortality of transgenic mice.

In this work, we have investigated the effects of nutritional antioxidants as antidegenerative agents on glutamate-induced apoptosis in primary cultures of cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). Glutamate-induced apoptosis is also associated with intracellular [Ca(2+)]i overload, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), depression of cell energy metabolism, cytochrome c release, and increase in caspase-3 activity. Pretreatment (3 h) with red wine extract (5 microg/mL) and ascorbic acid (30 microM) blocks glutamate-induced apoptosis in CGNs.

Intercellular communication and human hepatocellular carcinoma.

We have previously reported that gap junction-mediated intercellular communication (GJIC) can be restored in junctionally deficient human prostate epithelial cells, also suggesting that GJIC activity is regulated by estrogen. In the present work, we report studies on sex steroid regulation of GJIC and proliferative activity in both nontumoral (Chang liver, CL) and malignant (HepG2, Huh7) human liver cells. Junctional activity and liver cell growth were measured using the scrape-loading/dye-transfer (SL/DT) and the MTS assay, respectively.

Tissue content of hydroxyestrogens in relation to survival of breast cancer patients.

Purpose: The main goal of our study was to assess estrogen contents of breast tumor tissues, having different estrogen receptor status, in relation to long-term follow-up of patients.

Experimental Design: Twenty-one breast cancer cases, all collected from January 1986 to January 1988 at the M. Ascoli Cancer Hospital Centre in Palermo, were included in the study and compared with 6 healthy women as a control group.

Altered androgen metabolism eventually leads hepatocellular carcinoma to an impaired hormone responsiveness.

Sex steroid hormones are thought, among several other risk factors, to play a role in liver malignancies. For example, from epidemiological studies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a clear disadvantage for male sex is evident. In addition, elevated levels of serum testosterone (T) and increased T to Estradiol (E(2)) ratio have been reported to predict an increased risk of HCC for male cirrhotic patients.