Target-to-distractor ratio effects on decision time in the orderly array shape cancellation task.

The cancellation task is a paper-and-pencil test commonly used to assess attention or planning. This study investigated whether the decision time performance on the task was influenced by the number of targets and distractors. This study reduced the demand of planning and used an index of the decision time, an estimate of the time taken to decide whether to mark a stimulus.

Gefitinib and gemcitabine coordinately inhibited the proliferation of cholangiocarcinoma cells.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCC) is the second most common type of primary liver cancer, and is associated with a high rate of mortality due to the difficulty of early detection and resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. To evaluate the possibility for new therapeutic strategies, we examined the combined effect of gefitinib and gemcitabine on CCC.

Materials And Methods: The effect of gefitinib, an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling, gemcitabine, which is a pyrimidine analog, and the combined effect of gefitinib and gemcitabine on CCC cells were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo.

Zeaxanthin, a retinal carotenoid, protects retinal cells against oxidative stress.

Purpose: To investigate whether zeaxanthin, the predominant carotenoid pigment of the macular pigments in human retina, provides neuroprotection against retinal cell damage.

Methods: We used in vitro cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), specifically RGC-5, an E1A virus-transformed rat cell line. Cell damage was induced either by a 24-hr exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or by serum deprivation.

Neuroprotective effects of Brazilian green propolis and its main constituents against oxygen-glucose deprivation stress, with a gene-expression analysis.

Our purpose was to investigate the neuroprotective effects (and the underlying mechanism) exerted by water extract of Brazilian green propolis (WEP) and its main constituents against the neuronal damage induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)/reoxygenation in retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5, a rat ganglion cell-line transformed using E1A virus). Cell damage was induced by OGD 4 h plus reoxygenation 18 h exposure. In RGC-5, and also in PC12 (rat pheochromocytoma, neuronal cells), WEP and some of its main constituents attenuated the cell damage.

Comparison of bee products based on assays of antioxidant capacities.

Background: Bee products (including propolis, royal jelly, and bee pollen) are popular, traditional health foods. We compared antioxidant effects among water and ethanol extracts of Brazilian green propolis (WEP or EEP), its main constituents, water-soluble royal jelly (RJ), and an ethanol extract of bee pollen.

Methods: The hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-, superoxide anion (O2.

Edaravone, a free radical scavenger, protects against retinal damage in vitro and in vivo.

Edaravone (3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one), a free radical scavenger, is used for the treatment of acute cerebral infarction. In this study, we investigated whether edaravone is neuroprotective against retinal damage. In vitro, we used a radical-scavenging capacity assay using reactive oxygen species-sensitive probes to investigate the effects of edaravone on H(2)O(2), superoxide anion (O(2)*), and hydroxyl radical (*OH) production in a rat retinal ganglion cell line (RGC-5).

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress in retinal ganglion cells.

We examined the radical-scavenging activity of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and its effects on the neuronal cell death induced by oxidative or hypoxic stress in cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5, a rat ganglion cell-line transformed using E1A virus). The radical-scavenging activity [hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), superoxide anion (O(2)*(-)), and hydroxyl radical (*OH)] of DHA in RGC-5 cells was measured using the ROS-sensitive probes CM-H(2)DCFDA and APF. DHA concentration-dependently scavenged the intracellular radical productions induced by H(2)O(2) radical, O(2)*(-), and *OH (minimum effective DHA concentrations 0.

Astaxanthin, a dietary carotenoid, protects retinal cells against oxidative stress in-vitro and in mice in-vivo.

We have investigated whether astaxanthin exerted neuroprotective effects in retinal ganglion cells in-vitro and in-vivo. In-vitro, retinal damage was induced by 24-h hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) exposure or serum deprivation, and cell viability was measured using a WST assay. In cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5, a rat ganglion cell-line transformed using E1A virus), astaxanthin inhibited the neurotoxicity induced by H2O2 or serum deprivation, and reduced the intracellular oxidation induced by various reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Effect of an inducer of BiP, a molecular chaperone, on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced retinal cell death.

Purpose: The effect of a preferential inducer of 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78)/immunoglobulin heavy-chain binding protein (BiP; BiP inducer X, BIX) against tunicamycin-induced cell death in RGC-5 (a rat ganglion cell line), and also against tunicamycin- or N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced retinal damage in mice was evaluated.

Methods: In vitro, BiP mRNA was measured after BIX treatment using semi-quantitative RT-PCR or real-time PCR. The effect of BIX on tunicamycin (at 2 microg/mL)-induced damage was evaluated by measuring the cell-death rate and CHOP protein expression.

Coenzyme Q10 protects retinal cells against oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo.

Purpose: To investigate the neuroprotective effects of coenzyme Q10 and/or a vitamin E analogue on retinal damage both in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: We employed cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5, a rat ganglion cell-line transformed using E1A virus) in vitro. Cell damage was induced by 24-h hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) exposure, and cell viability was measured using tetrazolium salt (WST-8).

Propofol exerts greater neuroprotection with disodium edetate than without it.

The main objective of this study, on mice, was to compare the neuroprotective effects of propofol with those of propofol plus disodium edetate (propofol EDTA). We also administered propofol EDTA (0.005% (w/v) EDTA) to mice intravenously, and measured the changes in zinc concentrations occurring after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Fasudil, a Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, protects against ischemic neuronal damage in vitro and in vivo by acting directly on neurons.

Background And Purpose: Recently, fasudil, a Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, was reported to prevent cerebral ischemia in vivo by increasing cerebral blood flow and inhibiting inflammatory responses. However, it is uncertain whether a ROCK inhibitor can directly protect neurons against ischemic damage. Our purpose was to evaluate both the involvement of ROCK activity in ischemic neuronal damage and any direct neuroprotective effect of fasudil against cerebral infarction.

Water extract of propolis and its main constituents, caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, exert neuroprotective effects via antioxidant actions.

We investigated whether water extract of Brazilian green propolis (WEP) and its main constituents [caffeoylquinic acid derivatives (3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid) and cinnamic acid derivatives (p-coumaric acid, artepillin C, drupanin, baccharin)] exert neuroprotective effects against the retinal damage induced by oxidative stress. Additionally, their neuroprotective effects were compared with their antioxidant effects. WEP, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid, and p-coumaric acid (but not artepillin C, baccharin, or drupanin) concentration-dependently inhibited oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity [achieved using L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO) to deplete glutathione in combination with glutamate to inhibit cystine uptake] in cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5, a rat ganglion cell line transformed using E1A virus).

Lig-8, a bioactive lignophenol derivative from bamboo lignin, protects against neuronal damage in vitro and in vivo.

Lig-8, a lignophenol derivative from bamboo lignin, potently suppresses oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Here, we first examined in vitro whether lig-8 protects against neuronal damage induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) followed by reoxygenation, tunicamycin [endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress inducer], or PSI (proteasome inhibitor). In pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell cultures, lig-8 (1 to 30 microM) concentration-dependently inhibited OGD- and tunicamycin (2 microg/ml)-induced cell deaths (significant at >/=3 microM and >/=1 microM, respectively).

Living-related liver transplantation for multiple liver metastases from rectal carcinoid tumor: a case report.

A 42-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of multiple liver tumors detected by ultrasonography. Colonoscopy revealed submucosal tumor in the rectum, which was considered the primary lesion. Endoscopic mucosal resection followed by histopathological examination revealed that the tumor was carcinoid.

Brazilian green propolis protects against retinal damage in vitro and in vivo.

Propolis, a honeybee product, has gained popularity as a food and alternative medicine. Its constituents have been shown to exert pharmacological (anticancer, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) effects. We investigated whether Brazilian green propolis exerts neuroprotective effects in the retina in vitro and/or in vivo.

Pancreatic and gastric metastases of leiomyosarcoma arising in the left leg.

Pancreatic or gastric metastases from other primary malignancies are rare, especially from leiomyosarcoma. We report a case of leiomyosarcoma in the left lower leg with metastases to the pancreas and stomach. A 61-year-old man had liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus infection and was followed up by his primary physician.

Antiangiogenic hypoxic cytotoxin TX-402 inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor 1 signaling pathway.

Background: Hypoxia represents an important tumor-specific target for cancer therapy. We have reported that hypoxic cytotoxins, such as TX-1102, tirapazamine (TPZ) and TX-402, selectively induced tumor cells to p53-independent apoptosis under hypoxic conditions and inhibited angiogenesis.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the effects of the antiangiogenic hypoxic cytotoxins on hypoxia-induced gene expression and their hypoxia-selective cytotoxicity in human squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SAS cells) and p53-deficient human non-small cell lung carcinoma H1299 cells transfected with either wild-type or mutant p53 gene.