147 research outputs found

    Efficacy of Bidens pilosa Extract against Herpes Simplex Virus Infection In Vitro and In Vivo

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    The development of strains of herpes simplex virus (HSV) resistant to drugs has been reported among the immunocompromised patients. Thus, there is a need to develop new therapeutic agents for HSV infections. We evaluated the anti-HSV activity of Bidens pilosa (B. pilosa), a tropical weed, in tissue culture cells and a mouse model. B. pilosa extract showed potent virucidal activity. It inhibited plaque formation and suppressed virus yield in Vero and RAW 264.7 cells infected with HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both the binding of virus to host cells and penetration of virus into cells were also blocked by B. pilosa. Furthermore, B. pilosa was effective against thymidine kinase-deficient and phosphonoacetate-resistant HSV-1 strains. B. pilosa treatment increased the survival rate of HSV-infected mice and limited the development of skin lesions. Our results indicate that B. pilosa has anti-HSV activity and is thus a potentially useful medical plant for treatment of HSV infection

    Anastomotic recurrence after delta method

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    Delta-shaped anastomosis is nowadays an increasingly performed reconstruction method in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. To date, anastomotic recurrence at the delta-shaped anastomotic site has not been reported. Surgery for this disease is more complicated than anastomotic recurrence at the site of conventional Billroth-I anastomosis. A 68-year-old female was referred to our institute with early gastric cancer on the posterior wall of the antrum. She underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with delta-shaped Billroth-I anastomosis. Follow-up gastrofiberscopy 16 months after the operation revealed suspected anastomotic recurrence, and gastric biopsy revealed signet-ring cell carcinoma. Open total gastrectomy with reconstruction with the Roux-en-Y method was performed. At the distal part of the previous anastomosis, an adequate length of the duodenum was dissected from the pancreas. Then, the duodenum was transected 3 cm distal to the anastomosis using a linear stapler. The patient recovered well and was discharged on postoperative day 14. The patient is alive without re-recurrence 3 years postoperatively. We successfully treated a patient with anastomotic recurrence of gastric cancer after delta-shaped anastomosis. Adequate resection of the duodenal stump was performed without any residual tumor or injury to the pancreas

    Anti-adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma effects of indole-3-carbinol

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a malignancy derived from T cells infected with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), and it is known to be resistant to standard anticancer therapies. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a naturally occurring component of <it>Brassica </it>vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprout, is a promising chemopreventive agent as it is reported to possess antimutagenic, antitumorigenic and antiestrogenic properties in experimental studies. The aim of this study was to determine the potential anti-ATLL effects of I3C both <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the <it>in vitro </it>study, I3C inhibited cell viability of HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines and ATLL cells in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, I3C did not exert any inhibitory effect on uninfected T-cell lines and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. I3C prevented the G<sub>1</sub>/S transition by reducing the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin D2, Cdk4 and Cdk6, and induced apoptosis by reducing the expression of XIAP, survivin and Bcl-2, and by upregulating the expression of Bak. The induced apoptosis was associated with activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. I3C also suppressed IκBα phosphorylation and JunD expression, resulting in inactivation of NF-κB and AP-1. Inoculation of HTLV-1-infected T cells in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency resulted in tumor growth. The latter was inhibited by treatment with I3C (50 mg/kg/day orally), but not the vehicle control.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our preclinical data suggest that I3C could be potentially a useful chemotherapeutic agent for patients with ATLL.</p

    ICG fluorescence catheter system in TaTME

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    Background. Sometimes intraoperative urethral injury occurs in Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME). The aim of this study is to investigate the usefulness of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescent catheter system for avoiding intraoperative urethral injury in TaTME in experimental model. Methods. A urethral catheter was filled with the mixture of albumin and ICG and raw hams were applied in layers as the surrogate model of rectourethral muscle. The detectability of ICG fluorescence in this catheter was investigated by using laparoscope-type fluorescence camera system. Results. Fluorescence was detected when ICG was mixed with albumin or peripheral blood. ICG fluorescence could be detected within 4 mm depth of layered raw hams as the surrogate model. Quantitative analysis of the picture detected that ICG fluorescence plateaued in lower concentration than that of serum. Conclusion. ICG fluorescent catheter system may be useful for avoiding intraoperative urethral injury in TaTME

    Human T-cell leukemia virus type I infects human lung epithelial cells and induces gene expression of cytokines, chemokines and cell adhesion molecules

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is associated with pulmonary diseases, characterized by bronchoalveolar lymphocytosis, which correlates with HTLV-I proviral DNA in carriers. HTLV-I Tax seems to be involved in the development of such pulmonary diseases through the local production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in T cells. However, little is known about induction of these genes by HTLV-I infection in lung epithelial cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We tested infection of lung epithelial cells by HTLV-I by coculture studies in which A549 alveolar and NCI-H292 tracheal epithelial cell lines were cocultured with MT-2, an HTLV-I-infected T-cell line. Changes in the expression of several cellular genes were assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. Coculture with MT-2 cells resulted in infection of lung epithelial cells as confirmed by detection of proviral DNA, HTLV-I Tax expression and HTLV-I p19 in the latter cells. Infection was associated with induction of mRNA expression of various cytokines, chemokines and cell adhesion molecule. NF-κB and AP-1 were also activated in HTLV-I-infected lung epithelial cells. <it>In vivo </it>studies showed Tax protein in lung epithelial cells of mice bearing Tax and patients with HTLV-I-related pulmonary diseases.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that HTLV-I infects lung epithelial cells, with subsequent production of cytokines, chemokines and cell adhesion molecules through induction of NF-κB and AP-1. These changes can contribute to the clinical features of HTLV-I-related pulmonary diseases.</p

    Mechanisms of Legionella pneumophila-induced interleukin-8 expression in human lung epithelial cells

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Legionella pneumophila </it>is a facultative intracellular bacterium, capable of replicating within the phagosomes of macrophages and monocytes, but little is known about its interaction with human lung epithelial cells. We investigated the effect of <it>L. pneumophila </it>on the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in human A549 alveolar and NCI-H292 tracheal epithelial cell lines.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Infection of <it>L. pneumophila </it>strain, but not heat-killed strain, resulted in upregulation of IL-8. IL-8 mRNA expression was induced immediately after the infection and its signal became gradually stronger until 24 h after infection. On the other hand, IL-8 expression in A549 cells infected with <it>L. pneumophila </it>lacking a functional type IV secretion system was transient. The IL-8 expression was slightly induced at 16 h and increased at 24 h after infection with flagellin-deficient <it>Legionella</it>. Activation of the IL-8 promoter by <it>L. pneumophila </it>infection occurred through the action of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Transfection of dominant negative mutants of NF-κB-inducing kinase, IκB kinase and IκB inhibited <it>L. pneumophila</it>-mediated activation of IL-8 promoter. Treatment with hsp90 inhibitor suppressed <it>L. pneumophila</it>-induced IL-8 mRNA due to deactivation of NF-κB.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Collectively, these results suggest that <it>L. pneumophila </it>induces activation of NF-κB through an intracellular signaling pathway that involves NF-κB-inducing kinase and IκB kinase, leading to IL-8 gene transcription, and that hsp90 acts as a crucial regulator in <it>L. pneumophila</it>-induced IL-8 expression, presumably contributing to immune response in <it>L. pneumophila</it>. The presence of flagellin and a type IV secretion system are critical for <it>Legionella </it>to induce IL-8 expression in lung epithelial cells.</p

    Lymphocyte to C-reactive protein ratio predicts long-term outcomes for patients with lower rectal cancer

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    Backgrounds: The lymphocyte to C-reactive protein (CRP) ratio (LCR) is an indicator of systemic inflammation and host–tumor cell interactions. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of LCR in lower rectal cancer patients who received preoperative chemo-radiotherapy (CRT). Methods: Forty-eight patients with lower rectal cancer who underwent CRT followed by curative surgery were enrolled in this study. Routine blood examinations were performed before and after CRT were used to calculate pre-CRT LCR and post-CRT LCR. The median LCR was used to stratify patients into low and high LCR groups for analysis. The correlation between pre- and post-CRT LCR and clinical outcomes was retrospectively investigated. Results: The pre-CRT LCR was significantly higher than the post-CRT LCR (11,765 and 6780, respectively, P < 0.05). The 5-year overall survival rate was significantly higher for patients with high post-CRT LCR compared with low post-CRT LCR (90.6% and 65.5%, respectively, P < 0.05). In univariate analysis, post-CRT LCR, post-CRT neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, and fStage were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. In multivariate analysis, post-CRT LCR, but not other clinicopathological factors or prognostic indexes, was a significant prognostic factor for overall survival (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Post-CRT LCR could be a prognostic biomarker for patients with lower rectal cancer
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