Insomnia and caregiver burden in chronic pain patients: A cross-sectional clinical study.

Insomnia is a major comorbid symptom of chronic pain and is likely to affect caregiver burden. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between insomnia in chronic pain patients and family caregiver burden. Participants were 60 patients with chronic pain of ≥3 months duration.

Association between change in self-efficacy and reduction in disability among patients with chronic pain.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether changes in psychosocial factors and pain severity were associated with reduction in disability due to pain among patients with chronic pain. We hypothesized that increased self-efficacy would reduce disability.

Patients And Methods: This longitudinal observational study included 72 patients.

Novel ubiquitin-independent nucleolar c-Myc degradation pathway mediated by antizyme 2.

The proto-oncogene c-Myc encodes a short-lived protein c-Myc that regulates various cellular processes including cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Degradation of c-Myc is catalyzed by the proteasome and requires phosphorylation of Thr-58 for ubiquitination by E3 ubiquitin ligase, Fbxw7/ FBW7. Here we show that a polyamine regulatory protein, antizyme 2 (AZ2), interacts with c-Myc in the nucleus and nucleolus, to accelerate proteasome-mediated c-Myc degradation without ubiquitination or Thr-58 phosphorylation.

Expression and distribution patterns of spermine, spermidine, and putrescine in rat hair follicle.

No expression and distribution patterns of polyamines (PAs), spermine, spermidine, and their precursor putrescine in mammalian hair follicle are available, although polyamines are known to correlate well with hair growth and epidermal tumor genesis. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) using our original two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) ASPM-29 specific for spermine or spermidine, and APUT-32 specific for putrescine allowed us to detect immunoreactivity for polyamines in hair follicles from normal adult rats. A wide range of immunoreactivity for the total spermine and spermidine was observed in the compartments of hair follicle: The highest degree of immunoreactivity for polyamines was observed in the matrix, in the Huxley's layer, in the deeper Henle's layer, and in the cuticle of the inner root sheath/the hair cuticle, while moderate immunoreactivity existed in the lower-to-mid cortex and the companion layer, followed by lower immunoreactivity in the outer root sheath, including the bulge region and in the deeper medulla, in which the immunoreactivity was also evident in their nuclei.

Polyamine regulating protein antizyme binds to ATP citrate lyase to accelerate acetyl-CoA production in cancer cells.

Antizyme (AZ) regulates cellular polyamines (i.e., putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) through binding to ornithine decarboxylase and subsequent ubiquitin-independent degradation of the enzyme protein by the 26S proteasome.

MicroRNA-21 is a candidate driver gene for 17q23-25 amplification in ovarian clear cell carcinoma.

Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most common cause of gynecological malignancy-related mortality. Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (CCC) has unique clinical characteristics and behaviors that differ from other histological types of EOC, including a frequent association with endometriosis and a highly chemoresistant nature, resulting in poor prognosis. However, factors underlying its malignant behavior are still poorly understood.

Multiple forms of mouse antizyme inhibitor 1 mRNA differentially regulated by polyamines.

Antizyme inhibitor 1 (Azin1), a positive regulator of cellular polyamines, is induced by various proliferative stimuli and repressed by polyamines. It has been reported that the translational repression of Azin1 by polyamines involves an upstream open reading frame on the mRNA, but little has been known about polyamine effect on its transcription or splicing. We found multiple forms of Azin1 transcripts formed by alternative splicing and initiation of transcription from putative alternative start sites.

Protocols for studying antizyme expression and function.

Antizyme (AZ) is a key molecule in feedback regulation of cellular polyamines. It is induced by polyamines through stimulation of ribosomal frameshifting during its translation. In mammals, AZ is diverged into three paralogs, AZ1-3.

Serum cytokeratin 18 M30 antigen level and its correlation with nutritional parameters in middle-aged Japanese males with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Cytokeratin (CK) 18 M30 antigen has been proposed as a diagnostic marker of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We studied serum CK18 M30 antigen level and examined the correlations among CK18 and biological data, dietary intake, and plasma fatty acid composition in middle-aged Japanese males with (NAFLD; n=42) and without NAFLD (control; n=35). NAFLD was diagnosed if subjects showed fatty liver on abdominal ultrasonography and their alcohol consumption was <20 g/d.

Subcellular localization and phosphorylation of antizyme 2.

Antizymes (AZs) are polyamine-induced proteins that negatively regulate cellular polyamine synthesis and uptake. Three antizyme isoforms are conserved among mammals. AZ1 and AZ2 have a broad tissue distribution, while AZ3 is testis specific.

Intracellular delivery of siRNA by cell-penetrating peptides modified with cationic oligopeptides.

To achieve the effective intracellular delivery of siRNA and silence specific genes, various types of conjugates between cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs; Transportan, Penetratin, Tat) and cationic peptides were developed. Uptake, intracellular localization, cytotoxicity, and biological activity of siRNA were significantly dependent on the kind of CPP used and the length of the cationic peptides in the conjugate. Transportan-based conjugates yielded both high internalization of siRNA and strong gene silencing activity, while Penetratin- and Tat-based conjugates did not.

The change of antizyme inhibitor expression and its possible role during mammalian cell cycle.

Antizyme inhibitor (AIn), a homolog of ODC, binds to antizyme and inactivates it. We report here that AIn increased at the G1 phase of the cell cycle, preceding the peak of ODC activity in HTC cells in culture. During interphase AIn was present mainly in the cytoplasm and turned over rapidly with the half-life of 10 to 20 min, while antizyme was localized in the nucleus.

Antizyme is necessary for conversion of pancreatic tumor cells into glucagon-producing differentiated cells.

Human pancreatic tumor cell lines - AsPC-1, PANC-1, MIA paca2, KP-1 and KP-59 cells - can be induced to differentiate into pancreatic hormone-producing cells by brief trypsin treatment and subsequent culture in a serum-free, chemically defined medium. During culture, AsPC-1 cells formed cell clusters resembling the pancreatic islets, expressed genes associated with the pancreatic development and produced glucagon but not insulin. When PANC-1, MIA paca2, KP-1 and KP-59 cells were treated and cultured the same way, they underwent similar morphological changes and produced insulin and glucagon.

Pneumocystis mediates overexpression of antizyme inhibitor resulting in increased polyamine levels and apoptosis in alveolar macrophages.

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) is the most common opportunistic disease in immunocompromised patients. Alveolar macrophages are responsible for the clearance of Pneumocystis organisms; however, they undergo a high rate of apoptosis during PcP due to increased intracellular polyamine levels. In this study, the sources of polyamines and mechanisms of polyamine increase and polyamine-induced apoptosis were investigated.

Role of ornithine decarboxylase antizyme inhibitor in vivo.

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) antizyme inhibitor (AZI) has been shown to regulate ODC activity in cell cultures. However, its biological functions in an organism remain unknown. An embryonic stem (ES) cell clone was established, in which the Azin1 gene was disrupted by the gene trap technique.

Eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation for chronic hepatitis C patients during combination therapy of pegylated interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (1.8 g/day) was administered to 12 chronic hepatitis C patients receiving combination therapy of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alpha-2b and ribavirin for 48 weeks (EPA group). Twelve patients were not administered EPA (control group).

Electrospray ionization and time-of-flight mass spectrometric method for simultaneous determination of spermidine and spermine.

A sensitive method for the determination of polyamines in mammalian cells was described using electrospray ionization and time-of-flight mass spectrometer. This method was 50-fold more sensitive than the previous method using ionspray ionization and quadrupole mass spectrometer. The method employed the partial purification and derivatization of polyamines, but allowed a measurement of multiple samples which contained picomol amounts of polyamines.

Zinc supplementation prevents the increase of transaminase in chronic hepatitis C patients during combination therapy with pegylated interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin.

We investigated the effects of zinc supplementation on clinical observations in chronic hepatitis C patients receiving pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alpha-2b plus ribavirin combination therapy. Patients were randomly allocated to receive 150 mg polaprezinc (zinc group, n=11) or no supplement (control group, n=12) daily in addition to PEG-IFN alpha-2b plus ribavirin therapy and 300 mg vitamin E and 600 mg vitamin C supplementation daily for 48 wk. Among the patients who continued treatment, the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level at 12 wk in the zinc group was significantly lower than that in the control group.

Dietary intake, neutrophil fatty acid profile, serum antioxidant vitamins and oxygen radical absorbance capacity in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Nutrition may play an important role in the pathogenesis and treatment of ulcerative colitis. Several studies suggest an association between dietary factors and the onset of ulcerative colitis; however, only few studies have examined the relationship between dietary intake and relapse of ulcerative colitis. The aim of this study was to assess the dietary intake and antioxidative capacity of ulcerative colitis patients and to elucidate the efficacy of dietary therapy for ulcerative colitis.

The antiproliferative effects of agmatine correlate with the rate of cellular proliferation.

Polyamines are small cationic molecules required for cellular proliferation. Agmatine is a biogenic amine unique in its capacity to arrest proliferation in cell lines by depleting intracellular polyamine levels. We previously demonstrated that agmatine enters mammalian cells via the polyamine transport system.

Alpha-tocopherol [corrected] and ascorbic acid attenuates the ribavirin [corrected] induced decrease of eicosapentaenoic acid in erythrocyte membrane in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Background: Oxidative damage of the erythrocyte membrane plays an important role in ribavirin-induced anemia. The purpose of the present paper was to assess whether supplementation of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid (vitamins) causes changes in the erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition during interferon and ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients.

Methods: Fatty acid compositions in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids were determined by gas chromatography at 0, 2, 4, 8 weeks, and at the end of combination therapy (26 weeks) for interferon with ribavirin in 32 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were randomized to receive vitamins or not (controls).

Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory actions. To evaluate the effects of EPA on chronic hepatitis C, we administered EPA ethyl ester capsules to patients receiving the combination therapy of interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin. EPA (1,800 mg/d) was supplemented in combination with vitamin E (300 mg/d) and C (600 mg/d) to 5 chronic hepatitis C patients (EPA group).

Vitamin E and C supplementation prevents decrease of eicosapentaenoic acid in mononuclear cells in chronic hepatitis C patients during combination therapy of interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin.

Objective: We investigated the effects of vitamin E and C supplementation on the fatty acid composition of mononuclear cells and on the clinical observations in patients who had chronic hepatitis C and received interferon-alpha-2b (IFN-alpha-2b) and ribavirin combination therapy.

Methods: Patients were randomly allocated to receive daily 500 mg of vitamin E and 750 mg of vitamin C (vitamin group, n = 14) or no supplement (non-vitamin group, n = 16) in addition to IFN-alpha-2b and ribavirin therapy. The fatty acid composition of mononuclear cell phospholipids was analyzed before and at 2, 4, and 8 wk after treatment.

Characterization of a counterpart to Mammalian ornithine decarboxylase antizyme in prokaryotes.

The degradation of mammalian ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) (EC 4.1.1.

High levels of autoantibodies against drug-metabolizing enzymes in SLA/LP-positive AIH-1 sera.

Autoimmune hepatitis type 1 (AIH-1) is characterized by the detection of smooth muscle autoantibodies, antinuclear antibodies and antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies, and AIH-2 is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against LKM, which contain drug-metabolizing enzymes. In this study, we measured the levels of drug-metabolizing enzymes in AIH-1 patients (ANA-positive). We exhaustively investigated the level of autoantibodies against major CYPs and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases of typical phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes, a transporter (MDR1), and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase in 4 patients with AIH-1 and 6 controls, as a case report.