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Human insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) is the primary mediator of the effects of the growth hormone (GH). Therefore, it has been used as a biomarker to detect the abuse of GH in sports. The measurement of IGF-I relies on mass-based and immunological approaches to analysis. Among the mass-based analysis methods, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has a number of functional advantages. LC-MS measurements based on the quantification of IGF-I, according to trypsin digestion, are used in the most common method of analyzing doping. However, this method is time-consuming and subject to experimental variability. In this study, we optimized a rapid method for detecting IGF-I without the trypsin digestion step. This method of analysis uses an ultra-centrifugal filter and an LC-HRMS through narrow-range mass scan method. To verify the validity of this method, eight categories of validation testing were applied with the following results: linearity, R2 > 0.99; limit of detection, 15 ng/ml; limit of quantification, 20 ng/ml; accuracy, >99%; recovery rate, >95%; carryover

Previously, we performed an in silico analysis of the Periplaneta americana transcriptome. Antimicrobial peptide candidates were selected using an in silico antimicrobial peptide prediction method. It was found that periplanetasin-5 had antimicrobial activity against yeast and grampositive and gram-negative bacteria. In the present study, we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activities of periplanetasin-5 in mouse macrophage Raw264.7 cells. No cytotoxicity was observed at 60 μg/ml periplanetasin-5, and treatment decreased nitric oxide production in Raw264.7 cells exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, quantitative RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that periplanetasin-5 reduced cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6) expression levels in the Raw264.7 cells. Periplanetasin-5 controlled inflammation by inhibiting phosphorylation of MAPKs, an inflammatory signaling element, and reducing the degradation of IκB. Through LAL assay, LPS toxicity was found to decrease in a periplanetasin-5 dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these data showed that periplanetasin-5 had antiinflammatory activities, exemplified in LPS-exposed Raw264.7 cells. Thus, we have provided a potentially useful antibacterial peptide candidate with anti-inflammatory activities.

Summary Background Total breast reconstruction involves a long process consisting of mastectomy, breast reconstruction, and adjuvant therapy. For various reasons, some patients refuse the final step of nipple-areola reconstruction. Some patients have potential risk factors for poor outcome after undergoing conventional techniques. We have performed tattoo-only nipple-areola complex (NAC) reconstruction in these situations and accomplished satisfactory results for both patients and surgeons. Methods Ninety-five patients who underwent NAC reconstruction between October 2017 and June 2018 were included. We retrospectively evaluated the breast reconstruction timing and type, history of a secondary breast procedure or other operations, history of adjuvant therapy, reasons for performing a tattoo-only procedure, and average operative time. Overall patient satisfaction was assessed and compared. Results Twenty patients (21%) underwent tattoo-only NAC reconstruction. The main reasons for performing the tattoo-only technique were patient reluctance to undergo another operation, thin and/or tight breast skin in patients with implant-based reconstruction, radiation therapy after implant-based reconstruction, adverse chemotherapy effects, scar across the central breast mound, and smoking habit. The average time for tattooing was 29 min (range, 15–45 min). The average overall satisfaction score was 8.1 on a 10-point scale, which was significantly the highest compared with that of other techniques. Conclusion The tattoo-only NAC reconstruction technique is an essential option to consider and utilize in selected patients who refuse another nipple reconstruction operation for various reasons. Moreover, tattoo-only NAC reconstruction has distinct advantages for patients with potential risk factors and poor outcome after conventional NAC reconstruction.

Isocudraxanthone K (IK) is a novel, natural compound from a methanol extract of the root bark of Cudrania tricuspidata. It has not been shown previously that IK possessed antitumor activity. We investigated the antitumor effects and molecular mechanism of IK and related signal transduction pathway(s) in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (OSCCCs). The MTT assay revealed that IK had an antiproliferative effect on OSCCCs, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. IK induced apoptosis in OSCCCs, as identified by a cell-cycle analysis, annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide staining, and the nuclear morphology in cell death. IK caused time-dependent phosphorylation of Akt, p38, and ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase). In addition, IK increased the cytosolic to nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 and the degradation and phosphorylation of IκB-α in HN4 and HN12 cells. Furthermore, IK treatment downregulated hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and its target gene, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Cobalt chloride (CoCl2), a HIF-1α activator, attenuated the IK-induced growth-inhibiting and apoptosis-inducing effects, and blocked IK-induced expression of apoptosis regulatory proteins, such as Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9, and cytochrome c. Collectively, these data provide the first evidence of antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of IK as a HIF-1α inhibitor and suggest it may be a drug candidate for chemotherapy against oral cancer.

In a previous work, we performed de novo RNA sequencing of Allomyrina dichotoma using next generation sequencing and identified several antimicrobial peptide candidates based on transcriptome analysis. Among them, a cationic antimicrobial peptide, allomyrinasin, was selected bioinformatically based on its physicochemical properties. Here, we assessed the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of allomyrinasin against microorganisms and mouse macrophage Raw264.7 cells. Allomyrinasin showed antimicrobial activities against various microbes and decreased the nitric oxide production of the lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw264.7 cells. Furthermore, quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA revealed that allomyrinasin reduced cytokine expression levels in the Raw264.7 cells. We also identified inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 expression, and PGE2 production through western blot analysis and ELISA. We confirmed that allomyrinasin bound to bacterial cell membranes via a specific interaction with lipopolysaccharides. Taken together, these data indicate that allomyrinasin has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities as exemplified in lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw264.7 cells. We have provided a potentially useful antimicrobial peptide candidate that has both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities.

Canavalia gladiata, known as sword bean, has been used as a Chinese traditional medicine for anti-inflammatory effects. However, the action mechanisms of sword bean have not yet been clearly defined. In the present study, the whole parts of a ripened sword bean (RSB) and the green sword bean (GSB) containing bean pod were extracted with ethanol by reflux extraction. The two crude extracts (RSBE and GSBE) from RSB and GSB were validated by a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis of gallic acid as a reference chemical. The anti-inflammatory effects of two sword bean extracts were extensively investigated using LPS-stimulated macrophage cells. First, RSBE and GSBE significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-[Formula: see text] (TNF-[Formula: see text]), interleukin-6 (IL-6), prostaglandinE2 (PGE2), and nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. RSBE and GSBE showed no cytotoxicity to RAW264.7 cells and mouse peritoneal macrophage cells. In addition, the overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells was significantly decreased by RSBE and GSBE. Western blotting and immunostaining analysis showed that RSBE and GSBE inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-[Formula: see text]B subunits, which correlated with the inhibitory effects on inhibitor kappa B (I[Formula: see text]B) degradation. In dextran sulfated sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice model, RSBE restored body weight, colon length, and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-[Formula: see text], IL-6, interleukin-1[Formula: see text] (IL-1[Formula: see text]), and interferon-[Formula: see text] (IFN-[Formula: see text]). In addition, RSBE significantly suppressed the expression of COX-2, iNOS, and NF-[Formula: see text]B.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibition has been studied to overcome multidrug resistance in cancer chemotherapy but failed in clinical trials due to low/toxic effects. Recently, a dual modulation of transporters and natural derivatives have been examined to surmount this limitation. We examined breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) inhibition in vitro and in vivo by P-gp inhibitors derived from natural compounds in previous studies. P-gp inhibitors increased the accumulation of the anticancer drug, topotecan (TPT)—a substrate of P-gp and BCRP, albeit with higher affinity for BCRP—in BCRP-overexpressing cells, resulting in cell death. These dual inhibitors, when orally co-administered with TPT, enhanced TPT bioavailability with slightly reduced total oral clearance (Clt/F) in rats. In xenograft mice, they strengthened oral TPT-induced tumor reduction with no alterations in body weight. Moreover, we investigated the effects of an oral drug formulation (Cremophor® EL, Tween® 80, and polyethylene glycol 400) on the transporters function. The excipients increased TPT accumulation in P-gp- or BCRP-overexpressing cells. Oral TPT bioavailability was higher with the formulation than with a control, as shown by the increases in the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and the area under the plasma concentration–time curve from zero to infinity (AUCINF) (p&lt, 0.01). Therefore, oral TPT bioavailability was enhanced by P-gp/BCRP dual inhibition, which resulted in a formulation-mediated increase in absorption and decrease in elimination, and a dual inhibitor-mediated decrease in elimination. These results suggest that the combination of dual inhibition by a natural derivative and the drug formulation can be a useful clinical approach.

Relationships between heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) and cancer aggressiveness, metastasis, drug resistance, and poor patient outcomes in various cancer types including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were reported, and inhibition of HSP27 expression is suggested to be a possible strategy for cancer therapy. Unlike HSP90 or HSP70, HSP27 does not have an ATP-binding pocket, and no effective HSP27 inhibitors have been identified. Previously, NSCLC cancer cells were sensitized to radiation and chemotherapy when co-treated with small molecule HSP27 functional inhibitors such as zerumbone (ZER), SW15, and J2 that can induce abnormal cross-linked HSP27 dimer. In this study, cancer inhibition effects of NA49, a chromenone compound with better solubility, longer circulation time, and less toxicity than J2, were examined in combination with anticancer drugs such as cisplatin and gefitinib in NSCLC cell lines. When the cytotoxic drug cisplatin was treated in combination with NA49 in epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) WT cell lines, sensitization was induced in an HSP27 expression-dependent manner. With gefitinib treatment, NA49 showed increased combination effects in both EGFR WT and Mut cell lines, also with HSP27 expression-dependent patterns. Moreover, NA49 induced sensitization in EGFR Mut cells with a secondary mutation of T790M when combined with gefitinib. Augmented tumor growth inhibition was shown with the combination of cisplatin or gefitinib and NA49 in nude mouse xenograft models. These results suggest the combination of HSP27 inhibitor NA49 and anticancer agents as a candidate for overcoming HSP27-mediated drug resistance in NSCLC patients.

A high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV) method has been used to quantify teicoplanin concentrations in human plasma. However, the limited analytical accuracy of previously bioanalytical methods for teicoplanin has given rise to uncertainty due to the use of an external standard. In this study, an internal standard (IS), polymyxin B, was applied to devise a precise, accurate, and feasible HPLC-UV method. The deproteinized plasma sample containing teicoplanin and an IS of acetonitrile was chromatographed on a C18 column with an acidic mobile phase consisting of NaH2PO4 buffer and acetonitrile (78:22, v/v) by isocratic elution and detection at 220 nm. The linearity was in the range 7.8–500 mg/L calculated by the ratio of the teicoplanin signal to the IS signal. This analytical method, validated by FDA guidelines with ICH Q2 (R1), was successfully applied to analyze the plasma samples of patients in the intensive care unit for treating serious resistant bacterial infectious diseases, such as those by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. The methods suggested the potential for use in routine clinical practice for therapeutic drug monitoring of teicoplanin, providing both improved accuracy and a wide range of linearity from lower than steady-state trough concentrations (10 mg/L) to much higher concentrations.

Rosuvastatin is a statin used to treat metabolic syndrome conditions, such as hyperlipidemia. It is relatively safe; however, fatal rhabdomyolysis or skeletal myopathy can sometimes occur. Therefore, to investigate the overall effects of rosuvastatin, including lipid lowering and adverse effects, metabolic profiling was performed using metabolomics and lipidomics after rosuvastatin administration. Specifically, the metabolic profiles between healthy subjects and patients with hyperlipidemia were compared and the metabolic changes related to the mechanism of the drug effect were proposed. Healthy volunteers (n = 32) and hyperlipidemic patients (n = 14) were orally administered rosuvastatin (20 mg) once a day for 3–8 weeks, and plasma and urine were collected. Metabolomics and lipidomics were performed using UHPLC-LTQ/Orbitrap/MS/MS for non-targeted analysis and UHPLC-TQ-MS/MS for targeted analysis. Using non-targeted analysis, we successfully profiled and identified 73 and 87 metabolites in healthy subjects and hyperlipidemia subjects, respectively. Through targeted analysis, we have also quantified 188 metabolites, including amino acids, biogenic amines, glycerophospholipids, and sphingolipids. The levels of L-carnitine, diacylglycerol, and acylcarnitines significantly decreased after rosuvastatin administration regardless of the group. The overall levels of fatty acids (FA) and lysophosphatidylcholines (LysoPC) increased, while phosphatidylcholines (PC) decreased only in the patient group. β-Oxidation decreased overall, while the production of polyunsaturated FA increased only in the hyperlipidemic patients. Using metabolic profiling, we have evaluated the alterations in the biochemical pathways, which may aid in a more detailed understanding of the effect of rosuvastatin. Patient-specific metabolomic and lipidomic profiles may serve as valuable markers for the understanding of the adverse effects associated with statin treatment.

Objective We investigated whether luteal estrogen administration and an early follicular Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (E/G-ant) priming protocol improves clinical outcomes in poor responders to controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer, and identified underlying mechanisms. Methods This restrospective study consisted of 65 poor responders who underwent the E/G-ant priming protocol. Sixty-four other poor responders undergoing conventional protocols without pretreatment were included as the control group. Clinical outcomes were compared between 2 groups. Results The E/G-ant priming protocol group exhibited improvements over the control group in terms of the number of retrieved oocytes (3.58±2.24 vs. 1.70±1.45; P=0.000), mature oocytes (2.68±2.11 vs. 1.65±1.23; P=0.000), fertilized oocytes (2.25± 1.74 vs. 1.32±1.26; P=0.001), good embryos (1.62±0.91 vs. 1.14±0.90, P=0.021). Day 3 follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH; 8.40±4.84 vs. 16.39±13.56; P=0.000) and pre-ovulation progesterone levels (0.67 vs. 1.28 ng/mL; P=0.016) were significantly higher in the control group than in the E/G-ant priming group. The overall rate of positive human chorionic gonadotropin tests was higher in the E/G-ant priming group than in the control group (32.3% vs.16.1%; P=0.039). Also, clinical pregnancy rate (26.2% vs. 12.5%; P=0.048) and the rate of live births (23.1% vs. 7.1%; P=0.023) were significantly higher in the E/G-ant priming group than in the control group. Conclusion The E/G-ant priming protocol would lead to promising results in poor responders to IVF by suppressing endogenous FSH and by preventing premature luteinization.

Given the challenges posed by antibiotic resistant microbes and the high mortality rate associated with sepsis, there is an urgent need to develop novel peptide antibiotics that exhibit both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Herein, we evaluated antimicrobial activity and anti-inflammatory activity of psacotheasin 2, one of the antimicrobial peptide candidates identified previously using an in silico analysis on the transcriptome of Psacothea hilaris. In addition to exhibiting antimicrobial activities against microorganisms without inducing hemolysis, psacotheasin 2 also decreased the nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Raw264.7 cells. Moreover, ELISA and western blot analysis revealed that psacotheasin 2 reduced the expression levels of pro-inflammatory enzymes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Further, we found that psacotheasin 2 markedly reduced the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-1β) by regulating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) signaling in LPS-induced Raw264.7 cells. We also confirmed that the binding of psacotheasin 2 to bacterial cell membranes occurs via a specific interaction with LPS. In mouse models of LPS-induced shock, psacotheasin 2 significantly enhanced the survival rate and recovered weight by attenuating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, psacotheasin 2 could be a promising candidate as a peptide antiseptic agent.

// Byeol Choi 1, * , Seul-Ki Choi 1, * , You Na Park 1 , Soo-Yeon Kwak 2 , Hwa Jeong Lee 1 , Youngjoo Kwon 1 , Younghwa Na 2 and Yun-Sil Lee 1 1 Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-720, Korea 2 College of Pharmacy, CHA University, Pocheon 487-010, Korea * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Yun-Sil Lee, email: yslee0425@ewha.ac.kr Younghwa Na, email: yna7315@cha.ac.kr Keywords: HSP27 inhibition; altered dimerization; combination therapy; HSP27 inhibitor Received: June 20, 2017 Accepted: September 21, 2017 Published: October 31, 2017 ABSTRACT Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27, HSPB1) induces resistance to anticancer drugs in various cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therefore, pharmacological inhibition of HSP27 in NSCLC may be a good strategy for anticancer therapy. Unlike other HSPs such as HSP90 and HSP70, small molecule approaches for neutralization of HSP27 are not well established because of the absence of an ATP binding domain. Previously, small molecules with altered cross linking activity of HSP27, were identified to inhibit building a large oligomer led to sensitization in combination with radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs. In this study, a chromene compound, J2 that exhibited better cross-linking activity of HSP27 than xanthone compound, SW15 which was previously identified, was yielding sensitization to NSCLC cells with high expression of HSP27 when combined with HSP90 inhibitor and standard anticancer modalities such as taxol and cisplatin. In vivo xenograft system also showed sensitization activity of J2, as well as in vitro cell viability, cell death or apoptosis detection assay. For better druggability, several quinolone compounds, an (bio) isostere of chromone and one of well-known core in many marketed medicine, was designed and synthesized by replacement of oxygen with nitrogen in 4-pyron structure of J2. However, the cross linking activity of HSP27 disappeared by quinolone compounds and the sensitizing effects on the anticancer drugs disappeared as well, suggesting oxygene moiety of 4-pyron structure of J2 may be a pharmacophore for induction of cross linking of HSP27 and sensitization to cancer cells. In conclusion, combination of chemotherapy with small molecules that induces altered cross-linking of HSP27 may be a good strategy to overcome the resistance of anticancer drugs in HSP27-over-expressing cancer cells.

Objective This study aims to investigate whether there are any notable etiologies for repeated biochemical pregnancy (RBP) and, if so, to compare those etiologies associated with repeated spontaneous abortion in infertile couples who have undergone in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods Forty-four infertile couples who underwent IVF and experienced RBP were included in this study. RBP was defined as more than 2 early pregnancy losses that occurred before the detection of a gestational sac, with ectopic pregnancies specifically excluded by serial serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin evaluation. Forty-three infertile couples who underwent IVF and experienced recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) were included as a control group. Karyotype analysis, anatomic evaluation of uterus, endocrine and immunological evaluation were performed. In addition, the number of pregnant women confirmed by 12 weeks' gestation was compared between groups. Results Immunological factors (RSA: 20.9% vs. RBP: 29.5%, P=0.361), diminished ovarian reserve (RSA: 10.9% vs. RBP: 17%, P=0.552), and parental chromosomal abnormalities (RSA: 18.6% vs. RBP: 9.1%, P=0.218) were not different between groups. Additionally, the incidence of uterine factors (RSA: 11.6% vs. RBP: 4.6%, P=0.206), unknown cause (RSA: 48.8% vs. RBP: 54.5%, P=0.161), and the pregnancy outcome identified until 12 weeks' gestation (RSA: 46.5% vs. RBP: 38.6%, P=0.520) did not differ between groups. Conclusion In the present study, the causes of RBP after IVF were similar to those of RSA. Accordingly, we suggest that efforts should be made to define the etiology of RBP, particularly for infertile couples, and that possible management strategies should be offered.

Tetradecanol is a straight-chain saturated fatty alcohol purified from Dendropanax morbifera leaves. We found that tetradecanol (30μM) reduced specifically the growth of T cells such as EL-4 T cell and isolated murine CD4+ T cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of tetradecanol on the regulation of interlukin-2 (IL-2), a potent T cell growth factor. Tetradecanol significantly inhibited IL-2 secretion in EL-4 T cells activated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus ionomycin (Io) and also in isolated murine CD4+ T cells activated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies. Next, we examined the effect of tetradecanol on the transcriptional activity related to IL-2 production in T cells. Tetradecanol decreased PMA/Io-induced promoter activity of NF-κB in EL-4 T cells, but did not show any significant effects on the promoters of activator protein 1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT). Tetradecanol inhibited IκBα degradation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB subunit, p65 in PMA/Io-activated EL-4 T cells. These results suggest that tetradecanol might have immunosuppressive effects on T cell mediated disorders. Using a chronic allergic contact dermatitis model induced by repeated application of oxazolone, we showed that tetradecanol reduced ear thickness induced by oxazolone.

Salmonella enterica infects a broad range of host animals, and zoonostic infection threatens both public health and the livestock and meat processing industries. Many antimicrobials have been developed to target Salmonella envelope that performs essential bacterial functions; however, there are very few analytical methods that can be used to validate the efficacy of these antimicrobials. In this study, to develop a potential biosensor for Salmonella envelope stress, we examined the transcription of the S. enterica serovar typhimurium spy gene, the ortholog of which in Escherichia coli encodes Spy (spheroplast protein y). Spy is a chaperone protein expressed and localized in the periplasm of E. coli during spheroplast formation, or by exposure to protein denaturing conditions. spy expression in S. typhimurium was examined by constructing a spy-gfp transcriptional fusion. S. typhimurium spy transcription was strongly induced during spheroplast formation, and also when exposed to membrane-disrupting agents, including ethanol and the antimicrobial peptide polymyxin B. Moreover, spy induction required the activity of regulator proteins BaeR and CpxR, which are part of the major envelope stress response systems BaeS/BaeR and CpxA/CpxR, respectively. Results suggest that monitoring spy transcription may be useful to determine whether a molecule particularly cause envelope stress in Salmonella.

Paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the most frequently used anticancer agent for treating refractory ovarian cancer, metastatic breast cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. However, its oral administration is impeded by very low bioavailability (

Basavaraj R Patil,1 Su Yeon Kang,2 Da Hee Jung,2 Prakash G Avaji,1 Yong Joo Jun,1 Hwa Jeong Lee,2 Youn Soo Sohn1 1C & Pharm, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea; 2Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Youn Soo SohnC & Pharm, Ewha Womans University, Room 304, University-Industry Cooperation Building, 52 Ewhayeodae-Gil, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of KoreaTel +82 70 7008 2120Fax +82 2 362 8813Email yssohn@ewha.ac.krHwa Jeong LeeGraduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-Gil, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of KoreaTel +82 2 3277 3409Fax +82 2 3277 2851Email hwalee@ewha.ac.krPurpose: A new theranostic nanomedicine involving anticancer-active cisplatin moiety was designed to study its tumor-targeting properties as well as its drug efficacy and toxicity.Methods: A cisplatin carrier polymer was prepared by grafting equimolar polyethylene glycol of a molecular weight of 550 (PEG550) and aminoethanol to the poly(dichlorophosphazene) backbone. Cisplatin was conjugated to the carrier polymer using cis-aconitic acid as a linker.Results: The cisplatin-loaded polyphosphazene, named “Polycisplatin” was found to be amphiphilic in aqueous solution and self-assembled into nanoparticles with an average particle size of 18.6 nm in diameter. The time-dependent organ distribution study of Cy5.5-labeled Polycisplatin in the A549-tumor-bearing mice exhibited a high tumor selectivity of Polycisplatin by EPR effect despite the relatively small particle size. In order to compare the in vivo efficacy of Polycisplatin and cisplatin, their xenograft trials were performed using nude mice against the human gastric cell line MKN-28. Polycisplatin exhibited slightly less tumor suppression effect compared with cisplatin at the same dose of 1.95 mg Pt/kg, which is the maximum tolerate dose of cisplatin, but at the higher double dose of 3.9 mg Pt/kg, Polycisplatin exhibited a little better efficacy than cisplatin. Furthermore, mice treated with cisplatin at the dose of 1.95 mg Pt/kg exhibited severe body weight decrease by about 25%, while mice treated with Polycisplatin did not show serious body weight decrease even at its double dose of 3.9 mg Pt/kg. Furthermore, kidney indicators including kidney index, BUN, and creatinine values measured displayed that Polycisplatin is much less nephrotoxic than cisplatin.Conclusion: Nanoparticular Polycisplatin was successfully prepared by conjugating cisplatin to a hydrophilic polyphosphazene carrier polymer using the acid-cleavable cis-aconitic acid. Polycisplatin nanoparticles exhibit excellent tumor-targeting properties by EPR effect. The xenograft trials exhibited excellent antitumor efficacy and reduced systemic toxicity of Polycisplatin.Keywords: cisplatin, polyphosphazene, platinum drug, drug delivery, nanomedicine

Deciduosis is the presence of ectopic decidual tissue outside the uterus, pelvic, or abdominal organs usually associated with pregnancy. It usually presents as smaller lesions but can be larger vascular lesions. Typically, these masses are detected incidentally during operative procedures. Our patient was referred at 14 weeks for a large intrauterine mass detected on ultrasound examination that was initially thought to be an acardiac twin. The mass was highly vascularized. However, since the patient was asymptomatic, she strongly desired to continue the pregnancy. The pregnancy was followed closely from 14 to 39 weeks with serial ultrasound examinations. The vascularity was documented to diminish overtime and the mass appeared to convolute as well. Due to the decrease in vascularity of the mass, the patient was allowed spontaneous vaginal delivery at term. Following delivery of the fetus and the placenta, the mass was easily extracted manually without any complications.

To evaluate changes in tryptophan metabolism and discover diagnostic biomarkers for gastric cancer, a quantitative method was developed for tryptophan and its seven metabolites (indole-3-lactic acid, anthranilic acid, serotonin, nicotinic acid, kynurenic acid, kynurenine and 3-indoxyl sulfate) in both human serum and gastric juice using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Serum and gastric juice were prepared with a simple protein precipitation using aqueous 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile. As a result, it was found that the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism was activated in gastric cancer and that the metabolic ratio of kynurenine/tryptophan, which reflects the enzyme activity of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase, was associated with the observed metabolic changes. Finally, the investigation of tryptophan metabolites, especially kynurenic acid, in serum and gastric juice might serve as biomarkers for gastric cancer. The findings in this study provide critical information of tryptophan metabolism which can be applied to a serum-based diagnostic test for gastric cancer.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate comparison of the effectiveness on knowledge improvement before and after the oral health education focusing on foreign students. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was filled out by 40 foreign students in Sun Moon University from June 2 to September 30, 2014. The experimental group had an online oral health education and the control group had an off line education. The questionnaire consisted of oral health(10 items), toothbrushing(10 items), dental caries(10 items), periodontal disease(5 items), tooth sensitivity(5 items), oral cancer(6 items), and smoking(5 items). The data were analyzed by SPSS Win 18.0 program. Results: Knowledge scores of online education increased to average 1.257 points, and that of offline education was average of 2.56 points. There were statistically significant results for toothbrushing, dental caries, periodontal disease, tooth sensitivity, oral cancer and TMD except for smoking in offline education group. Conclusions: This study suggests that the offline oral health education is more effective than online oral health education.

Recent studies have shown that many types of cancer cells have increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhance antioxidant capacity as an adaptation to intrinsic oxidative stress, suggesting that cancer cells are more vulnerable to oxidative insults and are more dependent on antioxidant systems compared with normal cells. Thus, disruption of redox homeostasis caused by a decline in antioxidant capacity may provide a method for the selective death of cancer cells. Here we show that ROS-mediated selective death of tumor cells can be caused by inhibiting sulfiredoxin (Srx), which reduces hyperoxidized peroxiredoxins, leading to their reactivation. Srx inhibitor increased the accumulation of sulfinic peroxiredoxins and ROS, which led to oxidative mitochondrial damage and caspase activation, resulting in the death of A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Srx depletion also inhibited the growth of A549 cells like Srx inhibition, and the cytotoxic effects of Srx inhibitor were considerably reversed by Srx overexpression or antioxidants such as N-acetyl cysteine and butylated hydroxyanisol. Moreover, Srx inhibitor rendered tumorigenic ovarian cells more susceptible to ROS-mediated death compared with nontumorigenic cells and significantly suppressed the growth of A549 xenografts without acute toxicity. Our results suggest that Srx might serve as a novel therapeutic target for cancer treatment based on ROS-mediated cell death.

Non-invasive radiofrequency (RF) frequency may be utilized as an energy source to activate thermo-responsive nanoparticles for the controlled local delivery of drugs to cancer cells. Herein, we demonstrate that 180 ± 20 nm sized curcumin encapsulated chitosan-graft-poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) nanoparticles containing iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4-CRC-TRC-NPs) were selectively internalized in cancer cells in vivo. Using an RF treatment at 80 watts for 2 min, Fe3O4-CRC-TRC-NPs, dissipated heat energy of 42 degrees C, which is the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the chitosan-graft-poly(N-vinyl caprolactam), causing controlled curcumin release and apoptosis to cultured 4T1 breast cancer cells. Further, the tumor localization studies on orthotopic breast cancer model revealed that Fe3O4-CRC-TRC-NPs selectively accumulated at the primary tumor as confirmed by in vivo live imaging followed by ex vivo tissue imaging and HPLC studies. These initial results strongly support the development of RF assisted drug delivery from nanoparticles for improved tumor targeting for breast cancer treatment.

This meta-analysis investigated the association between the risk of breast cancer and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Various stratified analyses were performed according to race (Asian/Westerner), HRT type [all hormone therapies, estrogen-only therapy (ET), or combined estrogen–progestin therapy (EPT)], histological breast cancer type (ductal/lobular/mixed ductal–lobular), and estrogen receptor status (ER-positive/ER-negative). A literature search was performed using Pubmed, Embase, and KoreaMed. Twenty-five epidemiological studies including 23 cohort studies and two randomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis. Using a random-effects model, HRT use was found to be positively associated with the risk of breast cancer with a pooled hazard ratio (HR) of 1.33 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24, 1.44]. Compared with ET, EPT was more strongly associated with breast cancer risk. EPT was associated with both ductal and lobular breast cancer risks [for ductal breast cancer, HR = 1.51 (95% CI 1.28, 1.78); for lobular breast cancer, HR = 1.38 (95% CI 1.20, 1.60)]. According to ER status, all HRTs were associated with the risk of ER-positive breast cancer, but not with that of ER-negative breast cancer. Asian HRT users had a higher risk of breast cancer than western HRT users. Both ET and EPT were significantly associated with the risk of all breast cancer histological types and ER-positive breast cancer.

Nanoparticles in the field of dendritic cell (DC) research are emerging as a promising method of enhancing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. We investigated the effect of branched polyethylenimine-superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (bPEI-SPIONs) on tumor cells loaded onto DCs. The tumor antigens were prepared as follows: (1) apoptotic U266 cells with ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation followed by a 2 h incubation in the absence (2 h postirradiated cells) or (2) presence of bPEI-SPIONs (bPEI-SPION 2 h postirradiated cells) and (3) apoptotic U266 cells with UVB irradiation followed by an overnight 16 h incubation (16 h postirradiated cells). bPEI-SPIONs render U266 cells sensitive to UVB irradiation through reactive oxygen species production to accelerate apoptotic death. The 2 h postirradiated cells and bPEI-SPION 2 h postirradiated cells released immunogenic proteins, including Hsp70, Hsp90, and HMGB1. The DCs loaded with bPEI-SPION 2 h postirradiated cells showed the highest IL-12p70 production and Th1 polarization compared with other DCs. These results suggest that bPEI-SPIONs are a promising method of enhancing the immunogenicity of tumor cells and promoting Th1 polarization of DCs loaded with these tumor cells.

Background Genomic fusions of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK) are a well-established therapy target in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). From a survey of 114,200 clinical cases, we determined the prevalence of ALK rearrangements (rALK) in non-NSCLC tumors and report their responsiveness to therapies targeting ALK. Materials and Methods Comprehensive genomic profiling of 114,200 relapsed and metastatic malignancies, including both solid tumors and hematolymphoid cancers, was performed using a hybrid-capture, adaptor ligation-based next-generation sequencing assay. Results Of 114,200 clinical samples, 21,522 (18.8%) were NSCLC and 92,678 (81.2%) were other tumor types. Of the 876 (0.8%) cases with ALK fusions (fALK) or rALK, 675 (77.1%) were NSCLC and 201 (22.9%) were other tumor types. ALK fusions were significantly more frequent in NSCLC (3.1%) than non-NSCLC (0.2%; p Conclusion ALK rearrangements can be identified in a wide variety of epithelial and mesenchymal malignancies beyond NSCLC. Anti-ALK therapies can be effective in non-NSCLC tumors driven by fALK, and further study of therapies targeting ALK in clinical trials involving a wider variety of cancer types appears warranted.

Docetaxel formulated by micelle-encapsulation using a tripodal cyclotriphosphazene amphiphile [NP(MPEG750)(GlyPheLeu) 2 Et] 3 (CP750) was named “Phostaxel” and compared in efficacy and stability with Taxotere ® formulated using the surfactant polysorbate 80, which is currently in clinical use. Phostaxel has always shown better efficacy than Taxotere ® in various xenograft trials at the same dosage and administration schedule against the tumor cell lines tested. The better efficacy of Phostaxel could be explained based on the difference in pharmacokinetic and biodistribution profiles of Phostaxel and Taxotere ® . Phostaxel exhibited significantly slower clearance rate and larger AUC last value compared with Taxotere ® . Phostaxel has also shown higher DTX distribution in tumor than Taxotere ® . In addition, Phostaxel displayed better solution stability compared with Taxotere ® both in distilled water and in saline solution at room and refrigerator temperatures.

Na(+)/H(+) exchanger regulatory factor 3 (NHERF3) is a PSD-95/discs large/ZO-1 (PDZ)-based adaptor protein that regulates several membrane-transporting proteins in epithelia. However, the in vivo physiologic role of NHERF3 in transepithelial transport remains poorly understood. Multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) is an ATP binding cassette transporter that mediates the efflux of organic molecules, such as nucleoside analogs, in the gastrointestinal and renal epithelia. Here, we report that Nherf3 knockout (Nherf3(-/-)) mice exhibit profound reductions in Mrp4 expression and Mrp4-mediated drug transport in the kidney. A search for the binding partners of the COOH-terminal PDZ binding motif of MRP4 among several epithelial PDZ proteins indicated that MRP4 associated most strongly with NHERF3. When expressed in HEK293 cells, NHERF3 increased membrane expression of MRP4 by reducing internalization of cell surface MRP4 and consequently, augmented MRP4-mediated efflux of adefovir, a nucleoside-based antiviral agent and well known substrate of MRP4. Examination of wild-type and Nherf3(-/-) mice revealed that Nherf3 is most abundantly expressed in the kidney and has a prominent role in modulating Mrp4 levels. Deletion of Nherf3 in mice caused a profound reduction in Mrp4 expression at the apical membrane of renal proximal tubules and evoked a significant increase in the plasma and kidney concentrations of adefovir, with a corresponding decrease in the systemic clearance of this drug. These results suggest that NHERF3 is a key regulator of organic transport in the kidney, particularly MRP4-mediated clearance of drug molecules.

Since P-glycoprotein (P-gp) acts as a barrier to intestinal absorption of various drugs, P-gp inhibitors have been studied as oral absorption enhancers of P-gp substrate drugs. Here, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of a novel coumarin derivative (LL-348) for its P-gp inhibitory activity. With LL-348, accumulation of daunomycin (DNM) increased 270% and efflux of DNM decreased 63% compared to that of DNM alone. Paclitaxel (PTX, 25mg/kg) after oral administration with LL-348 (5mg/kg), the optimal dose of LL-348 as an oral absorption enhancer of PTX, improved the relative bioavailability (RB) of PTX to 961%. In a xenograft animal model, PTX (40mg/kg) treated with LL-348 (10mg/kg) significantly increased the efficacy of PTX. The results collectively demonstrate that LL-348 can provide a therapeutic benefit in the oral absorption of P-gp substrate anticancer drugs.

Aim: The methylation-variable sites around CpG islands are frequently overmethylated in Helicobacter pylori-infected stomachs. Age-related patterns of the overmethylation changes were compared between the fast-growing antrum cells and the slow-growing body cells. Materials & methods: A total of 316 H. pylori-positive tissues and 380 H. pylori-negative tissues were obtained by endoscopic biopsy. The methylation-variable sites of ten housekeeping genes and nine tissue-specific genes were semiquantitatively analyzed, based on the ten-level classification of methylation-specific PCR intensity. The overmethylated genes were scored when their methylation levels were higher than an intermediate level of each gene common in the H. pylori-negative mucosa. Results: The age-dependent methylation level of the inactive APC gene observed similarly in the antrum and the body was used as an age standard of methylation variation in a biopsy tissue. The overmethylation of housekeeping genes and stomach-specific genes rapidly increased to a high plateau frequency in the young-aged APC methylation cases (mean age: 43 years) in the H. pylori-positive antrum. In the H. pylori-positive body, most of the overmethylated housekeeping genes slowly increased to a peak frequency in the middle-aged APC methylation cases (mean age: 53 years). The housekeeping gene pairs showed high correlations (Spearman’s correlation coefficient > 0.4) in both the antrum and the body. Conclusion: The overmethylation of housekeeping genes rapidly and slowly increased to a high frequency in concordance with a rapid and slow growth of epithelial cells in the H. pylori-infected stomach.

Development of a targeted polymeric gene delivery system is essential for reducing the non-specific uptake and toxicity of the gene carriers. In this study, we have tested the specificity of the cell penetrating peptide (DS 4-3), screened by phage display technique, towards metastatic breast cancer cells. This peptide has shown specificity towards metastatic breast cancer cells, which was confirmed through endocytosis inhibition study. Furthermore, the DS 4-3 peptide was conjugated to bPEI, to deliver the therapeutic miR-145. Tumor suppressor miR-145 inhibited tumor cell growth, and significantly suppressed cell invasion. The DS 4-3 peptide conjugated branched PEI (DSbPEI)/pLuc nanoparticles showed increased transfection in malignant murine breast cancer cells at the neutral surface charge (N/P molar ratio of 3), compared to scramble peptide conjugated bPEI/pLuc nanoparticles, without causing any cytotoxicity. This specific increase in transfection with DS-bPEI/pLuc nanoparticles was not found in the cancer cells that originated from different tissue, such as HeLa cervical cancer cells, or in the normal cells, such as NIH-3T3 murine fibroblast cells. Thus, the specific transfection of miR-145 in metastatic breast cancer cells mediated by DS-bPEI resulted in enhanced reduction in proliferation. Open image in new window

The objective of the present investigation is to examine the effects of rifampicin, which is a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 inducer, on the pharmacokinetics of risperidone and its active metabolite, 9-hydroxyrisperidone, in rats. To determine the plasma levels of risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone in rats, a high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed using a liquid–liquid acid back extraction. After pretreated with rifampicin (600 mg/kg) for 6 days, the mean Cmax and AUC0–10 values of risperidone were significantly decreased and the Clt of the drug was significantly increased compared with control (p < 0.01

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are globally prescribed, exhibit mainly anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects but also can cause adverse effects including gastrointestinal erosions, ulceration, bleeding, and perforation. The purpose of this study was to investigate surrogate biomarkers associated with the gastrointestinal (GI) damage caused by NSAID treatment using pattern recognition analysis of (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) spectra of rat urine. Urine was collected for 5h after oral administration of the following NSAIDs at low or high doses: acetylsalicylic acid (10 or 200mgkg(-1)), diclofenac (0.5 or 15mgkg(-1)), piroxicam (1 or 10mgkg(-1)), indomethacin (1 or 25mgkg(-1)), or ibuprofen (10, or 150mgkg(-1)) as nonselective COX inhibitors and celecoxib (10 or 100mgkg(-1)) as a COX-2 selective inhibitor. The urine was analyzed using 500MHz (1)H NMR for spectral binning and targeted profiling and the level of gastric damage was examined. The nonselective COX inhibitors caused severe gastric damage while no lesions were observed in the celecoxib-treated rats. The (1)H NMR urine spectra were divided into spectral bins (0.04ppm) for global profiling, and a total of 44 endogenous metabolites were assigned for targeted profiling. Multivariate data analyses were performed to recognize the spectral pattern of endogenous metabolites related to NSAIDs using partial least square-discrimination analysis (PLS-DA). The (1)H NMR spectra clustered differently according to gastric damage score in global profiling. In targeted profiling, the endogenous metabolites of citrate, allantoin, 2-oxoglutarate, acetate, benzoate, glycine, and trimethylamine N-oxide were selected as putative biomarkers for gastric damage caused by NSAIDs. These putative biomarkers might be useful for predicting the risk of adverse effects caused by NSAIDs in the early stage of drug development process.

Osteoclast cells (OCs) are differentiated from bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) by activation of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL). Activation of NADPH oxidase (Nox) isozymes is involved in RANKL-dependent OC differentiation, implicating Nox isozymes as therapeutic targets for treatment of osteoporosis. Here, we show that a novel pyrazole derivative, Ewha-18278 has high inhibitory potency on Nox isozymes. Blocking the activity of Nox with Ewha-18278 inhibited the responses of BMMs to RANKL, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and NF-κB, and OC differentiation. To evaluate the anti-osteoporotic function of Ewha-18278, the derivative was applied to estrogen-deficient ovariectomized (OVX) ddY mice. Oral administration of Ewha-18278 (10 mg/kg/daily, 4 weeks) into the mice recovered bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume, trabecular bone length, number and thickness, compared to control OVX ddY mice. Moreover, treatment of OVX ddY mice with Ewha-18278 increased bone strength by increasing cortical bone thickness. We provide that Ewha-18278 displayed Nox inhibition and blocked the RANKL-dependent cell signaling cascade leading to reduced differentiation of OCs. Our results implicate Ewha-18278 as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Cancer cells have been suggested to be more susceptible to oxidative damages and highly dependent on antioxidant capacity in comparison with normal cells, and thus targeting antioxidant enzymes has been a strategy for effective cancer treatment. Sulfiredoxin (Srx) is an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of sulfinylated peroxiredoxins and thereby reactivates them. In this study we developed a Srx inhibitor, K27 (N-[7-chloro-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-quinazolinyl]-N-(2-phenylethyl)-β-alanine), and showed that it induces the accumulation of sulfinylated peroxiredoxins and oxidative stress, which leads to mitochondrial damage and apoptotic death of cancer cells. The effects of K27 were significantly reversed by ectopic expression of Srx or antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine. In addition, K27 led to preferential death of tumorigenic cells over non-tumorigenic cells, and suppressed the growth of xenograft tumor without acute toxicity. Our results suggest that targeting Srx might be an effective therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment through redox-mediated cell death.

To evaluate the metabolic interaction between host and gut microflora on drug metabolism, pseudo germ-free rats were prepared with an antibiotics cocktail to change their gut conditions. The usefulness of the pseudo germ-free model was evaluated for observing the DMPK of acetaminophen (APAP). Pseudo germ-free rats were prepared by orally administering antibiotic cocktails consisting of bacitracin, streptomycin and neomycin, and then APAP was orally administered to control and pseudo germ-free rats. The plasma concentration of APAP and its six metabolites were quantified using a validated LC-MS/MS method. A non-compartment model estimated the pharmacokinetic parameters of APAP and its metabolites, and the ratios of the area under curve (AUC; AUC(metabolite) /AUC(APAP) ) were also observed to evaluate the change of APAP metabolism. The AUCs of APAP and APAP-Glth (glutathione) were higher and the AUC(APAP-Sul) /AUC(APAP) (metabolic efficiency of sulfate conjugation) was lower in pseudo germ-free rats than those in the control rats. The decrease in metabolic efficiency of sulphate conjugation could result from the reduction of the sulphate supply, causing an increase of the AUC of APAP and APAP-Glth. The activities of gut microflora can affect the state of hepatic sulphate for drug conjugation, indirectly leading to characteristic APAP metabolism. These results indicate that gut microflora may play an important role in the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of APAP. Thus, the metabolic interaction between host and gut microflora should be considered upon drug administration and pseudo germ-free rats prepared in the present study can be competent for investigating the metabolic interaction between host and gut microflora on drug metabolism.

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug. It is mainly metabolized by phase 1 and 2 reactions in the liver, and thus it could be involved in many drug-drug interactions. Therefore, the study of APAP metabolism is important in toxicological and pharmacokinetic studies. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid and sensitive method for the determination of APAP and its six metabolites in rat plasma for the pharmacokinetic studies. APAP and its metabolites were separated through a Capcell Pak MGII C(18) column and quantitated with a 16 min run in a triple-quadruple mass spectrometer. The mobile phases were composed of 0.1% formic acid in either 95% water or 95% acetonitrile and analysis was performed twice in positive and negative modes. Validations such as accuracy, precision, recovery, matrix effect and stability were found to be within acceptance criteria of validation guidelines, indicating that the assay was applicable to the determination of the plasma concentrations of drug and its six metabolites. In conclusion, we developed an LC-MS/MS method for the quantitative analysis of APAP and its six metabolites in rat plasma, and this method appears to be useful for pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic studies of APAP and its metabolites in rats.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have side effects including gastric erosions, ulceration and bleeding. In this study, pattern recognition analysis of the 1 H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of urine was performed to develop surrogate biomarkers related to the gastrointestinal (GI) damage induced by indomethacin in rats. Urine was collected for 5 h after oral administration of indomethacin (25 mg kg −1 ) or co-administration with cimetidine (100 mg kg −1 ), which protects against GI damage. The 1 H-NMR urine spectra were divided into spectral bins (0.04 ppm) for global profiling, and 36 endogenous metabolites were assigned for targeted profiling. The level of gastric damage in each animal was also determined. Indomethacin caused severe gastric damage; however, indomethacin administered with cimetidine did not. Simultaneously, the patterns of changes in their endogenous metabolites were different. Multivariate data analyses were carried out to recognize the spectral pattern of endogenous metabolites related to indomethacin using partial least square-discrimination analysis. In targeted profiling, a few endogenous metabolites, 2-oxoglutarate, acetate, taurine and hippurate, were selected as putative biomarkers for the gastric damage induced by indomethacin. These metabolites changed depending on the degree of GI damage, although the same dose of indomethacin (10 mg kg −1 ) was administered to rats. The results of global and targeted profiling suggest that the gastric damage induced by NSAIDs can be screened in the preclinical stage of drug development using a NMR based metabolomics approach.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of formulation vehicles on the pharmacokinetics of docetaxel. The following three formulations of docetaxel were prepared to compare the pharmacokinetic profiles of docetaxel: Tween® 80 formulation (a vehicle composition of Taxotere®), Cremophor® EL formulation (a vehicle composition of Taxol®) and DMSO formulation (a combination of surfactants and solvents). Three different formulations of docetaxel were injected into the femoral vein of each rat at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Docetaxel and internal standard (IS, paclitaxel) were extracted from plasma by one-step extraction with acetonitrile. Docetaxel and IS were eluted at 13.0 min and 15.7 min in rat plasma, respectively, without interfering peaks from the endogenous components. Docetaxel was highly distributed to body organs and cleared from the body quickly with a short elimination half-life in Tween® 80 formulation. In Cremophor® EL formulation and DMSO formulation, systemic exposure (AUC) and maximum plasma concentration of docetaxel were enhanced 6-fold and 4-fold, respectively, as compared with Tween® 80 formulation after IV injection. These results suggest that the disposition patterns of docetaxel could be affected by formulation vehicles following IV injection.

Anti-tumor efficacies of a red ginseng preparation (RGP) and a cytolase-treated red ginseng preparation (Cytolase-RGP) in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay and in nude mice xenografted with human colon adenocarcinoma (SW480) cells were investigated. The immune-enhancing effect of the preparations was also assessed using a carbonclearance test. The concentrations of protopanaxadiols (including Rb1) and protopanaxatriols (including Rg3) were much higher (1.42–3.43-fold) in Cytolase-RGP than in RGP. RGP and Cytolase-RGP were cytotoxic in vitro to SW480 in a dose-dependent manner, exhibiting IC50 values of 255 and 1,090 μg/mL, respectively. In vivo, the 4-week application of 300 mg/kg RGP or Cytolase-RGP suppressed tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice, decreasing the tumor weight and volume by 15.6–19.3 and 24.4–27.1%, respectively. In the carbon-clearance assay, a 7-day treatment of RGP or Cytolase-RGP at a dose of 300 mg/kg enhanced the phagocytic index of blood macrophages by 307 and 402% of control value, respectively. The results suggest that Cytolase-RGP is superior to RGP in SW480 tumorsuppressive efficacy, and that the increased antitumor activity of Cytolase-RGP might be due to the improved immunomodulatory activity, rather than due to any increase in the cytotoxic activity.

In this study, we determined the anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of action of a hexane fraction (hWRF) obtained from white Rosa hybrida flowers by employing various assays such as quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, and Electrophoretic-Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA). The results revealed that the hWRF had excellent anti-inflammatory potency by reducing inflammatory repertoires, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in RAW264.7 cells when stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a pro-inflammatory mediator. The reduction of nitric oxide (NO) release from RAW 264.7 cells supported the anti-inflammatory effect of hWRF. Interestingly, hWRF effectively inhibited LPS-mediated nuclear factor- (NF-) p65 subunit translocation into the nucleus and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 phosphorylation, suggesting that hWRF anti-inflammatory activity may be based on inhibition of the NF- and MAPK pathways. Based on the findings described in this study, hWRF holds promise for use as a potential anti-inflammatory agent for either therapeutic or functional adjuvant purposes.

For the quantification of azasetron in rat plasma samples, a column-switching HPLC method was developed and validated. Following dilution of plasma samples with mobile phase A (17 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 3.0)) and simple protein precipitation by addition of perchloric acid (60%), the mixture was directly injected onto the pre-column. After endogenous plasma substances were eluted to waste, the analyte was transferred to the trap column by switching the system. Then, the analyte was back-flushed to the analytical column for separation with mobile phase B (a 22:78 v/v mixture of acetonitrile and 17 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 3.0)) and detected at 250 nm using a photodiode array detector. A linear standard curve was obtained in the concentration range of 10-800 ng/mL with the correlation coefficient (r) of 0.9998. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy values for azasetron were in the ranges of 0.3-12.9% and 89.7-101.4%, respectively. The method was valid in terms of specificity, precision, and accuracy. In addition, this efficient analytical method was successfully applied to determine plasma concentrations of azasetron following oral administration of azasetron at a dose of 4.0 mg/kg to rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of di- and sesquiterpenoids isolated from the pods of Sindora sumatrana Miq. (Leguminosae) on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) function in an adriamycin-resistant human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7/ADR. Over-expression of P-gp is known to be one of the mechanisms involved in multidrug resistance (MDR), which is a major obstacle in clinical cancer treatment. Among six di- and sesquiterpenoids extracted from S. sumatrana, (+)-7beta-acetoxy-15,16-epoxycleroda-3,13(16),14-trien-18-oic acid (1) showed a strong P-gp inhibitory effect, as great as that of verapamil, a representative P-gp inhibitor. Compound 1 enhanced daunomycin accumulation more than fourfold and significantly decreased daunomycin efflux compared with control, resulting in a decrease in the IC(50) value for daunomycin. These results suggest that compound 1 inhibits the functioning of P-gp and, therefore, can be developed as an MDR-reversing agent.

Summary Background and objective: CYP2C19 is clinically important in Korea because of the relatively high incidence of poor metabolizers in the population. To fully understand the genetic mechanism of the CYP2C19 defect in poor metabolizers, all variants need to be studied simultaneously. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of CYP2C19 haplotypes as a marker of CYP2C19 enzyme activity in Koreans. Methods: We analysed the single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes of the CYP2C19 gene in 150 healthy Koreans and found three major (frequency > 0·1) haplotypes (H1, H2 and H3). One oral dose of 40 mg omeprazole (Losec®) was administered to 30 subjects grouped as H1/H1, H2/H2, H1/H2, H1/H3 and H2/H3. The pharmacokinetics of omeprazole and its metabolites, 5-hydroxyomeprazole and omeprazole sulphone, in those groups was analysed. Results and discussion: The area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC0∞) and elimination half-life (T1/2) of omeprazole were significantly greater in the H2/H2 and H2/H3 groups than in the H1/H1 group (P

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, acute pain, and fever. However, NSAIDs have side effects that include gastric erosions, ulceration, bleeding, and perforation, etc. Selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors have been developed to avoid the adverse drug reaction of traditional NSAIDs. The COX-2 inhibitors have a different mechanism of action from nonselective COX inhibitors. In this study, pattern recognition analysis of the (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of urine was performed to develop surrogate biomarkers related to the gastrointestinal (GI) damage induced by NSAIDs in rats. Urine was collected for 5 h after administering the following NSAIDs at high doses: celecoxib (133 mg kg(-1), p.o.), a COX-2-selective inhibitor; and indomethacin (25 mg kg(-1), p.o.) or ibuprofen (800 mg kg(-1), p.o.), nonselective COX inhibitors. The urine was analyzed using 600 M (1)H NMR for spectral binning and targeted profiling. The level of gastric damage in each animal was also determined. Indomethacin and ibuprofen caused severe gastric damage, but no lesions were observed in the celecoxib-treated rats. The (1)H NMR urine spectra were divided into spectral bins (0.04 ppm) for global profiling, and 36 endogenous metabolites were assigned for targeted profiling. Multivariate data analyses were carried out to recognize the spectral pattern of endogenous metabolites related to NSAIDs using partial least-squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA). There were different clusterings of (1)H NMR spectra according to the gastric damage scores in global profiling. In targeted profiling, a few endogenous metabolites of allantoin, taurine, and dimethylamine were selected as putative biomarkers for the gastric damage induced by NSAIDs. The results of global and targeted profilings suggest that the gastric damage induced by NSAIDs can be screened in the preclinical stage of drug development using a current metabolomics study. In addition, the putative biomarkers might also be useful for predicting the risk of adverse effects caused by NSAIDs.