Deep sea minerals prolong life span of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by compensatory augmentation of the IGF-I-survival signaling and inhibition of apoptosis.

Consumption of deep sea minerals (DSM), such as magnesium, calcium, and potassium, is known to reduce hypercholesterolemia-induced myocardial hypertrophy and cardiac-apoptosis and provide protection against cardiovascular diseases. Heart diseases develop as a lethal complication among diabetic patients usually due to hyperglycemia-induced cardiac-apoptosis that causes severe cardiac-damages, heart failure, and reduced life expectancy. In this study, we investigated the potential of DSM and its related cardio-protection to increase the life expectancy in diabetic rats.

Comparison and efficacy of LigaSure and rubber band ligature in closing the inflamed cecal stump in a rat model of acute appendicitis.

Safety of either LigaSure or rubber band in closing inflamed appendiceal stump in acute appendicitis has been less investigated. In this study, cecal ligation followed by resecting inflamed cecum was performed to mimic appendectomy in a rat model of acute appendicitis. Rats were sacrificed immediately (Group A) and 7 days (Group B) after cecal resection, respectively.

Anti-apoptosis effects on hearts of SHSST cyclodextrin complex in a carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhotic cardiomyopathy rat model.

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM) is a common cardiac dysfunction in patients waiting for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) intraperitoneal (IP) injection has been reported as successful in a cirrhosis-induced CCM model. In this work, we used the same assay for CCM induction using CCl₄ (0.

Cantharidin induces DNA damage and inhibits DNA repair-associated protein expressions in TSGH8301 human bladder cancer cell.

Cantharidin is an active component of mylabris, which has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine. Cantharidin has been shown to have antitumor activity against several types of human cancers in vitro and in animal models in vivo. We investigated whether cantharidin induces DNA damage and affects DNA damage repair-associated protein levels in TSGH8301 human bladder cancer cells.

Angiotensin II receptor blocker prevents upper gastrointestinal bleeding in hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease not on dialysis.

Aims: Investigate if angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) decreases risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) not on dialysis.

Methods: All hypertensive patients with CKD not on dialysis in outpatient department of China Medical University Hospital from 2003 to May 2013 were enrolled. The risk of UGIB was analysed using Cox proportional hazard regression.

Coronary artery aneurysms occurrence risk analysis between Kawasaki disease and LRP1B gene in Taiwanese children.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute and systemic vasculitis. Its complications in coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) make KD one of the leading causes of acquired cardiovascular diseases in childhood. Low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1B (LRP1B) is abundantly expressed in the medial layer of coronary arteries and involved in endothelium inflammations.

Postradiation trismus and its impact on quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer.

Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate the following in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC): (1) factors related to trismus that predict the development of trismus, (2) factors affecting quality of life and measurements of these factors, and (3) comparison of these findings in patients with and without trismus to evaluate the effects of trismus on quality of life.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included the questionnaires: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) - Depression Subscale, the Chewing Function Questionnaire (CFQ), and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Head and Neck Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-HN35). A scaled ruler was used to measure maximal intercisal opening (MIO).

Genetic variants of glutamate receptor gene family in Taiwanese Kawasaki disease children with coronary artery aneurysms.

Background: Patients with Kawasaki disease (KD), a pediatric systemic vasculitis, may develop coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) as a complication. To investigate the role of glutamate receptors in KD and its CAA development, we performed genetic association studies.

Methods And Results: We examined the whole family of glutamate receptors by genetic association studies in a Taiwanese cohort of 262 KD patients.

Diallyl trisulfide inhibits migration, invasion and angiogenesis of human colon cancer HT-29 cells and umbilical vein endothelial cells, and suppresses murine xenograft tumour growth.

Angiogenesis inhibitors are beneficial for the prevention and treatment of angiogenesis-dependent diseases including cancer. We examined the cytotoxic, anti-metastatic, anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic effects of diallyl trisulfide (DATS). In HT29 cells, DATS inhibited migration and invasion through the inhibition of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 which was associated with inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases-2, -7 and -9 and VEGF.

The characteristics of thrombin in osteoarthritic pathogenesis and treatment.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a mechanical abnormality associated with degradation of joints. It is characterized by chronic, progressive degeneration of articular cartilage, abnormalities of bone, and synovial change. The most common symptom of OA is local inflammation resulting from exogenous stress or endogenous abnormal cytokines.

Androgen suppresses the proliferation of androgen receptor-positive castration-resistant prostate cancer cells via inhibition of Cdk2, CyclinA, and Skp2.

The majority of prostate cancer (PCa) patient receiving androgen ablation therapy eventually develop castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). We previously reported that androgen treatment suppresses Skp2 and c-Myc through androgen receptor (AR) and induced G1 cell cycle arrest in androgen-independent LNCaP 104-R2 cells, a late stage CRPC cell line model. However, the mechanism of androgenic regulation of Skp2 in CRPC cells was not fully understood.

Ring finger protein 39 genetic variants associate with HIV-1 plasma viral loads and its replication in cell culture.

Background: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) exploits host proteins to complete its life cycle. Genome-wide siRNA approaches suggested that host proteins affect HIV-1 replication. However, the results barely overlapped.

In vitro study of a novel nanogold-collagen composite to enhance the mesenchymal stem cell behavior for vascular regeneration.

Novel nanocomposites based on type I collagen (Col) containing a small amount (17.4, 43.5, and 174 ppm) of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, approximately 5 nm) were prepared in this study.

Effect of whole-body vibration for 3 months on arterial stiffness in the middle-aged and elderly.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common problem of middle-aged and older adults. Increased arterial stiffness is a CVD risk factor. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a simple and convenient exercise for middle-aged and older adults; however, there have been few studies investigating the effect of WBV on arterial stiffness.

Regulation of human endothelial progenitor cell maturation by polyurethane nanocomposites.

The mobilization and homing of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are critical to the development of an antithrombotic cardiovascular prosthesis. Polyurethane (PU) with superior elasticity may provide a mechanical environment resembling that of the natural vascular tissues. The topographical cues of PU were maximized by making nanocomposites with a small amount of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).

ANG II promotes IGF-IIR expression and cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting HSF1 via JNK activation and SIRT1 degradation.

Hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis are major characteristics of early-stage heart failure. Our previous studies found that the activation of insulin-like growth factor receptor II (IGF-IIR) signaling was critical for hypertensive angiotensin II (ANG II)-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. However, the detailed mechanism by which ANG II regulates IGF-IIR in heart cells remains elusive.

Resistance to irinotecan (CPT-11) activates epidermal growth factor receptor/nuclear factor kappa B and increases cellular metastasis and autophagy in LoVo colon cancer cells.

Chemotherapy is usually applied to treat colon cancer but leads to chemoresistance, and increased metastasis and invasion. The main focus of this study is to observe effects of resistance to irinotecan (CPT-11) on metastasis, invasion and autophagy in CPT-11 resistant (CPT-11-R) LoVo colon cancer cells. CPT-11, a topoisomerase I inhibitor and a first-line chemotherapeutic drug, is used to treat colon cancer.

Lumbrokinase from earthworm extract ameliorates second-hand smoke-induced cardiac fibrosis.

Exposure to tobacco smoke has epidemiologically been linked to the occurrence of cardiovascular disease among nonsmokers but the associated molecular events are not well elucidated yet. When Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to second-hand tobacco cigarette smoke twice a day for a 30 days period at an exposure rate of 10 cigarettes/30 min, they showed adverse effects including reduced left ventricle weight, increased cardiac damages, deteriorated cardiac features, and cardiac fibrosis. Exposure to second-hand smoking (SHS) increased the molecular markers of cardiac fibrosis such as urokinase plasminogen activator and matrix metallopeptidases.

Investigation of the novel lead of melanocortin 1 receptor for pigmentary disorders.

Knowing the role of MC1R in skin tanning can provide a brand new idea to resolve pigmentary disorders. α MSH has 13 amino acids and is the most essential pigmentary melanocortin responsible for melanin synthesis. One could utilize the compound library to find lead compounds by virtual screening from peptide database and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) database@Taiwan.

CCN2 enhances resistance to cisplatin-mediating cell apoptosis in human osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common form of malignant bone tumor and is an aggressive malignant neoplasm exhibiting osteoblastic differentiation. Cisplatin is one of the most efficacious antitumor drugs for osteosarcoma patients. However, treatment failures are common due to the development of chemoresistance.

Pharmacological chaperone design for reducing risk factor of Parkinson's disease from traditional chinese medicine.

Dysfunction of β -glucocerebrosidase (GCase) has no hydrolytic activity in patients of Gaucher's disease and increasing the risk factor for Parkinson's disease occurrence. Pharmacological chaperone design has been used to treat with misfolded protein in related disease, which utilized a small compound to cause protein folding correctly. This study employed the world largest traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) database for searching for potential lead compound as pharmacological chaperone, and we also performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to observe the stability of binding conformation between ligands and active site of GCase structure.

Crude extract of Rheum palmatum L inhibits migration and invasion of LS1034 human colon cancer cells acts through the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2/-9 by MAPK signaling.

Crude extract of Rheum palmatum L. (CERP) has been used to treat different diseases in the Chinese population for decades. In this study, we investigated the anti-metastasis effects of CERP on LS1034 human colorectal cancer cells in vitro and examined potential mechanisms of its effects.

CTGF increases drug resistance to paclitaxel by upregulating survivin expression in human osteosarcoma cells.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor, and its treatments require more effective therapeutic approaches. Paclitaxel has a broad range of antitumor activities, including apoptosis-inducing effects. However, the majority of tumors in patients with advanced cancer eventually develop chemoresistance.

n-butylidenephthalide protects against dopaminergic neuron degeneration and α-synuclein accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans models of Parkinson's disease.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that impairs motor skills and cognitive function. To date, the disease has no effective therapies. The identification of new drugs that provide benefit in arresting the decline seen in PD patients is the focus of much recent study.