Antitumor effects of α-bisabolol against pancreatic cancer.

In the present study, we investigated whether α-bisabolol, a sesquiterpene alcohol present in essential oils derived from a variety of plants, has antitumor effects against pancreatic cancer. α-Bisabolol induced a decrease in cell proliferation and viability in pancreatic cancer cell lines (KLM1, KP4, Panc1, MIA Paca2), but not in pancreatic epithelial cells (ACBRI515). α-Bisabolol treatment induced apoptosis and suppressed Akt activation in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Furthermore, α-bisabolol treatment induced the overexpression of early growth response-1 (EGR1), whereas EGR1 siRNA decreased the α-bisabolol-induced cell death of KLM1 cells. Tumor growth in both subcutaneous and peritoneal xenograft nude mouse models was significantly inhibited by intragastric administration of 1000 mg/kg of α-bisabolol, once a week for three weeks. The results indicate that α-bisabolol could be a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of pancreatic cancer

Identification of Minimal p53 Promoter Region Regulated by MALAT1 in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

The MALAT1 long noncoding RNA is strongly linked to cancer progression. Here we report a MALAT1 function in repressing the promoter of p53 (TP53) tumor suppressor gene. p21 and FAS, well-known p53 targets, were upregulated by MALAT1 knockdown in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. We found that these upregulations were mediated by transcriptional activation of p53 through MALAT1 depletion. In addition, we identified a minimal MALAT1-responsive region in the P1 promoter of p53 gene. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that MALAT1-depleted cells exhibited G1 cell cycle arrest. These results suggest that MALAT1 affects the expression of p53 target genes through repressing p53 promoter activity, leading to influence the cell cycle progression

Three-dimensional Images Fusion Method Useful for Preoperative Simulation of Clipping Surgery for Cerebral Aneurysms

This study aimed to introduce a three-dimensional (3D) images fusion method for preoperative simulation of aneurysm clipping. Consecutive unruptured aneurysm cases treated with surgical clipping from March 2021 to October 2023 were included. In all cases, preoperative images of plain computed tomography (CT), CT angiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 3D fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, 3D heavily T2-weighted images, and 3D rotational angiography were acquired and transported into a commercial software (Ziostation2 Plus, Ziosoft, Inc. Tokyo, Japan). The software provided 3D images of skull, arteries including aneurysms, veins, and brain tissue that were freely rotated, magnified, trimmed, and superimposed. Using the 3D images fusion method, two operators predicted clips to be used in the following surgery. The predicted clips and actually used ones were compared to give agreement scores for the following factors: (1) type of clips (simple or fenestrated), (2) shape of clips (straight, curved, angled, or bayonet), and (3) clipping strategy (single or multiple). The agreement score ranged from 0 to 3 because a score of 1 or 0 was given for agreement or disagreement on each factor. Interoperator reproducibility was also evaluated. During the study period, 44 aneurysms from 37 patients were clipped. All procedures were successfully completed, thanks to the precisely reproduced surgical corridors with the 3D images fusion method. Agreement in clip prediction was good with mean agreement score of 2.4. Interobserver reproducibility was also high with the kappa value of 0.79. The 3D images fusion method was useful for preoperative simulation of aneurysm clipping

Formosa haliotis sp. nov., a brown-alga-degrading bacterium isolated from the gut of the abalone Haliotis gigantea

Four brown-alga-degrading, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, gliding and rod-shaped bacteria, designated LMG 28520(T), LMG 28521, LMG 28522 and LMG 28523, were isolated from the gut of the abalone Haliotis gigantea obtained in Japan. The four isolates had identical random amplified polymorphic DNA patterns and grew optimally at 25 degrees C, at pH 6.0-9,0 and in the presence of 1.0-4.0 % (w/v) NaCI. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences placed the isolates in the genus Formosa with Formosa algae and Formosa arctica as closest neighbours. LMG 28520(T) and LMG 28522 showed,100 % DNA-DNA relatedness to each other, 16-17 % towards F. algae LMG 28216(T) and 17-20 % towards F. arctica LMG 28318(T); they could be differentiated phenotypically from these established species. The predominant fatty acids of isolates LMG 28520(T) and LMG 28522 were summed feature 3 (iso-C-15:0 2-OH and/or C-16:1 omega 7c), iso-C-15:1 G and iso-C-15:0. Isolate LMG 28520(T) contained menaquinone-6 (MK-6) as the major respiratory quinone and phosphatidylethanolamine, two unknown aminolipids and an unknown lipid as the major polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 34.4 mol% for LMG 28520(T) and 35.5 mol% for LMG 28522. On the basis of their phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, and differential phenotypic properties, the four isolates are considered to represent a novel species of the genus Formosa, for which the name Formosa haliotis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LMG 28520(T) (= NBRC 111189(T))