Evidence that naturopathic therapy including Cordyceps sinensis prolongs survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hypothesis: Naturopathic treatment will benefit patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of case series of HCC patients treated with naturopathic agents.

Methods: HCC was diagnosed by dynamic computed tomography (CT) imaging and α-fetoprotein (AFP) or PIVKA II, or by histology.

Furanonaphthoquinones cause apoptosis of cancer cells by inducing the production of reactive oxygen species by the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel.

The mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species has been implicated in the anticancer activity of furanonaphthoquinone. However, the mechanism of the activation remains elusive. In the current study, we found that treatment of HeLa cells with 2-methyl-5(or -8)-hydroxy-furanonaphthoquinone (FNQ13) induces mitochondrial swelling, followed by apoptosis.

Plant self-defense mechanisms against oxidative injury and protection of the forest by planting trees of triploids and tetraploids.

The depletion of the ozone layer, and the resulting substantial increase in incident ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and subsequent oxygen radical formation on the Earth, have caused an extensive variety of damage to the world's forests. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), which scavenge harmful oxygen radicals and inhibit lipid peroxides, were examined in two types of Japanese cedars, black pines, and cypresses, namely those with leaves showing premature withering, shedding, or dying and those with leaves not showing these effects prematurely. The effect of homogenates from these trees on lipid peroxide formation in a reaction system which UV light induces was also studied.

Effects of ondansetron, granisetron, ramosetron, and azasetron on human neutrophil functions.

Neutrophil functions play an important role in the antibacterial or antitumor host defense system. Ondansetron, granisetron, ramosetron, and azasetron are often used in gynecological patients as a prophylaxis against postoperative emesis or chemotherapy-induced emesis. In this study, using an ex vivo system, we have shown that these antiemetics at clinically relevant concentrations had no effect on superoxide (O(-)(2)) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) production of neutrophils, although high doses of these drugs significantly inhibited it to a similar degree.