Thymoquinone suppresses the proliferation of renal cell carcinoma cells via reactive oxygen species-induced apoptosis and reduces cell stemness.

Thymoquinone is a phytochemical compound isolated from Nigella sativa and has various biological effects, including anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and anticancer. Here, we further investigated the anticancer effects and associated molecular mechanism of 2-methyl-5-isopropyl-1,4-benzoquinone (thymoquinone) on human renal carcinoma cell lines 786-O and 786-O-SI3 and transitional carcinoma cell line BFTC-909. Results showed that thymoquinone significantly reduced cell viability, inhibited the colony formation of renal cancer cells, and induced cell apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential change in both cancer cells.

Thymoquinone inhibits metastasis of renal cell carcinoma cell 786-O-SI3 associating with downregulation of MMP-2 and u-PA and suppression of PI3K/Src signaling.

Phytochemicals represent an important source of novel anticancer and chemotherapeutic agents. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the major bioactive phytochemical derived from the seeds of and has shown potent anticancer activities. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anticancer activity of Thymoquinone on the human renal carcinoma cell 786-O-SI3 and the underlying mechanism.

The Evaluation of Different Radiological Measurement Parameters of the Degree of Collapse of the Vertebral Body in Vertebral Compression Fractures.

For compression fracture, vertebral body height loss (VBHL) and kyphotic angle (KA) are two important imaging parameters for determining the prognosis and appropriate treatment. This study used previous measurement methods to assess the degree of VBHL and KA, compare and examine differences between various measurement methods, and examine the correlation between relevant measurement parameters and intravertebral cleft (IVC) in the vertebral body. The radiographic images (lateral view of the T-L spine) of 18 patients with a single-level vertebral compression fracture were reviewed.

Fibronectin Promotes Cell Growth and Migration in Human Renal Cell Carcinoma Cells.

The prognostic and therapeutic values of fibronectin have been reported in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, the underlying mechanisms of malignancy in RCC are not completely understood. We found that silencing of fibronectin expression attenuated human RCC 786-O and Caki-1 cell growth and migration.

Amentoflavone Effectively Blocked the Tumor Progression of Glioblastoma via Suppression of ERK/NF- B Signaling Pathway.

Glioblastoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system, with an annual incidence of 5.26 per 100000 people. The clinical outcome of standard therapy and the survival rate remain poor; therefore, there is an unmet need for a new strategy to treat this lethal disease.

Fisetin Suppresses Human Osteosarcoma U-2 OS Cell Migration and Invasion Affecting FAK, uPA and NF-ĸB Signaling Pathway .

Background/aim: Evidence has indicated that fisetin induces cytotoxic effects in human cancer cell lines, including the inhibition of cell migration and invasion, however, the exact molecular mechanism of action of fisetin in human osteosarcoma cells remains unclear.

Materials And Methods: The anti-metastatic mechanisms of fisetin in human osteosarcoma U-2 OS cells were investigated in vitro.

Results: Fisetin reduced the viability of cells at different concentrations (2.

Activity-related outcome in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with synthetic ligament advanced reinforcement system.

Background: Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with ligament advanced reinforcement system (LARS) had revealed good results with low complication and failure rate in series of studies. The specific candidates for ACL reconstruction with LARS are still unknown anyway. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the activity-related outcome in ACL reconstruction using LARS ligament.

Antithrombotic Treatment May Reduce Mortality Among New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation Patients with Gray-Zone Risk of Stroke.

In clinical practice, some atrial fibrillation (AF) patients were classified as having low and moderate stroke risk by the CHADS score (≤ 1) in 2001 but in 2012 they were not truly classified as low risk of stroke according to the CHADS-VASc score (≥ 2) (defined gray zone). Therefore, a treatment gap exists in gray zone AF patients. This study aimed to evaluate whether gray zone AF patients could benefit from reduced all-cause mortality under antithrombotic treatment.

Genistein induces apoptosis in vitro and has antitumor activity against human leukemia HL-60 cancer cell xenograft growth in vivo.

Genistein, a major isoflavone compound in soybeans, has been shown to have biological activities including anti-cancer activates. In the present, we investigated the anti-leukemia activity of genistein on HL-60 cells in vitro. The percentage of viable cell, cell cycle distribution, apoptotic cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and Ca production and the level of ΔΨ were measured by flow cytometric assay.

Maslinic Acid Enhances Immune Responses in Leukemic Mice Through Macrophage Phagocytosis and Natural Killer Cell Activities .

Background/aim: Maslinic acid (MA), a pentacyclic triterpene extracted from wax-like coatings of olives, has been shown to reduce cancer cell number through induction of autophagy and apoptosis in many human cancer cells including human leukemia HL-60 cells. In the present study, we investigated whether or not MA affects immune responses in a leukemia mouse model.

Materials And Methods: WEHI-3 cells were intraperitonealIy (i.

Intravenous Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke After Idarucizumab Reversal of Dabigatran Effect: Analysis of the Cases From Taiwan.

Background: Asians with atrial fibrillation carry a higher risk of ischemic stroke than non-Asians even under treatment of nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants. The purpose of the study was to observe the feasibility of intravenous thrombolytic therapy after administering a reversal agent, idarucizumab, in dabigatran-treated patients with acute ischemic stroke in Taiwan.

Methods: Dabigatran-treated patients with acute ischemic stroke who received intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) after idarucizumab reversal were enrolled in the retrospective nationwide study.

Anti-inflammatory and Neuroprotective Effects of Fungal Immunomodulatory Protein Involving Microglial Inhibition.

Microglia polarization of classical activation state is crucial to the induction of neuroinflammation, and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous neurodegenerative diseases. Fungal immunomodulatory proteins are emerging health-promoting natural substances with multiple pharmacological activities, including immunomodulation. Herein, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective potential of fungal immunomodulatory protein extracted from (GMI) in an in vitro rodent model of primary cultures.

Effects of pay for performance on risk incidence of infection and of revision after total knee arthroplasty in type 2 diabetic patients: A nationwide matched cohort study.

As the world's population ages, the number of people receiving total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been on the rise. Although patients with diabetes mellitus are known to face greater risks of TKA postoperative infection and revision TKA owing to diabetic complications, studies on whether such patients' participation in pay for performance (P4P) programs influences the incidence rates of TKA postoperative infection or revision TKA are still lacking. This study examined the 2002-2012 data of Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to conduct a retrospective cohort analysis of diabetic patients over 50 years old who have received TKA.

Capsaicin-induced TRIB3 upregulation promotes apoptosis in cancer cells.

Background: Capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) is one of the main pungent components of chili peppers and has been shown to exert various effects on numerous physiological processes. Recent studies have focused on the chemopreventive effects of capsaicin, which can combat growth in various human cancer cell systems. The tribbles-related protein 3 (TRIB3) is evolutionarily conserved from Drosophila to humans.

Comparison of outpatient reimbursement for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis treatment in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based study.

Objective: This study compared Taiwanese public health insurance outpatient reimbursements for interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment.

Methods: This observational study used data from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database between 2002 and 2013. Patients with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for IC/BPS and RA were selected and matched in a ratio of 1 : 5 based on index year.

Regulation of tNOX expression through the ROS-p53-POU3F2 axis contributes to cellular responses against oxaliplatin in human colon cancer cells.

Background: Oxaliplatin belongs to the platinum-based drug family and has shown promise in treating cancer by binding to DNA to induce cytotoxicity. However, individual patients show diverse therapeutic responses toward oxaliplatin due to yet-unknown underlying mechanisms. We recently established that oxaliplatin also exert its anti-cancer activity in gastric cancer cell lines by targeting tumor-associated NADH oxidase (tNOX), attenuate NAD generation and reduce NAD-dependent sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) deacetylase activity, which in turn enhances p53 acetylation and apoptosis.

Benzyl isothiocyanate inhibits human brain glioblastoma multiforme GBM 8401 cell xenograft tumor in nude mice in vivo.

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), a member of isothiocyanates (ITCs), has been shown to induce cell death in many human cancer cells, but there is no further report to show BITC suppresses glioblastoma multiforme cells in vivo. In the present study, we investigate the effects of BITC on the inhibition of GBM 8401/luc2 cell generated tumor on athymic nude mice. We established a luciferase expressing stable clone named as GBM 8401/luc2.

Health Education and Symptom Flare Management Using a Video-based m-Health System for Caring Women With IC/BPS.

Objective: To assess effectiveness of the video-based m-health system providing videos dictated by physicians for health education and symptom self-management for patients with Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS).

Methods: An m-health system was designed to provide videos for weekly health education and symptom flare self-management. O'Leary-Sant index and visual analogue scale as well as SF-36 health survey were administrated to evaluate the disease severity and quality of life (QoL), respectively.

Demethoxycurcumin Suppresses Migration and Invasion of Human Cervical Cancer HeLa Cells Inhibition of NF-κB Pathways.

Background/aim: Demethoxycurcumin (DMC), one of the curcuminoids present in turmeric, has been shown to induce cell death in many human cancer cell lines, however, there has not been any investigation on whether DMC inhibits metastatic activity in human cervical cancer cells in vitro. In the present study, DMC at 2.5-15 μM decreased cell number, thus, we used IC (7.

Morbidity rate and medical utilization in interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The objective was to calculate the morbidity rate and medical utilization of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) over 12 years using a nationwide database of Taiwan.

Methods: This was a cohort study of the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010 with new diagnoses of IC/PBS from 2002 through 2013. The morbidity rate was adjusted for age, sex, and calendar date using density methods.

Indomethacin induced glioma apoptosis involving ceramide signals.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are increasingly implicated in the prevention and treatment of cancers apart from their known inhibitory effects on eicosanoid production. One of the NSAIDs, indomethacin, in particular shows promising antineoplastic outcome against glioma. To extend such finding, we here studied in human H4 and U87 glioma cells the possible involvement of the ceramide/protein phosphatase 2 A (PP2A)/Akt axis in the indomethacin-induced apoptosis.

540° versus 360° barbecue rotation for HSC-canalithiasis.

Background: There are some variations of barbecue rotation to treat canalithiasis of horizontal semicircular canal (HSC-canalithiasis). But a 540° approach has never been reported.

Objective: To compare a modified 540° to a traditional 360° barbecue rotation for treatment of HSC-canalithiasis.