Far-infrared rays control prostate cancer cells _in vitro_ and _in vivo_

We introduce a new effective method to control hormone refractory prostate cancer cells by using an activated rubber/resin form (RB), far-infrared ray emitter, with or without sodium butyrate (SB). The growth of three human prostate cancer cell lines (Du145, PC-3 and LNCaP) was suppressed _in vitro_ and _in vivo_ by using RB, and the cells were eradicated with RB + 3 mM SB. G1 arrest and apoptotic pathway proteins were induced by RB with intensified expressions of apoptosis - related mRNA on cDNA microarray. RB radiates the infra-red rays of the 4 to 25 [mu]m wavelengths to an object which exert a favorable influence on a cancer control. These results may render us a new therapeutic modality in hormone refractory prostate cancer

A deep brain photoreceptive molecule in the toad hypothalamus

AbstractWe have isolated a cDNA clone encoding a deep brain photoreceptive molecule from the hypothalamic cDNA library of the toad, Bufo japonicus. The deduced amino acid sequence showed the highest similarity to that of pinopsin (75–76%) among vertebrate retinal opsins, indicating the expression of toad pinopsin in the deep brain. Antibodies raised against the C-terminal tail of toad pinopsin stained cell bodies and the knob-like structures of the cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons in the anterior preoptic nucleus. This region is known to play an important role in breeding behavior, suggesting that toad pinopsin acts as a photosensor for the photoperiodic gonadal response

Damage to Cauliflower Coral by Monofilament Fishing Lines in Hawaii

Abstract in English and FrenchMany fishing methods and gear types used in coral reefs cause physical damage to the reef substratum. Only recently have monofilament fishing lines been recognized as a cause of coral damage and death. We assessed the extent of damage caused by monofilament fishing lines to the cauliflower coral ( Pocillopora meandrina) colonies in fished and adjacent unfished zones at seven sites in the main Hawaiian islands. We examined coral colonies for the presence or absence of fishing line and for the degree of damage (dead, no live coral surface; damaged, some dead coral surface; or intact, no dead coral surface) in nine 25-m2 grids. The mean proportion of colonies entangled with fishing lines in fished zones ranged from 0.18 to 0.44. The mean proportion of dead or damaged colonies was higher in fished than adjacent unfished zones, and there was a positive linear relationship between the proportion of colonies entangled with fishing lines and the proportion of dead or damaged colonies. These results indicate that monofilament fishing lines have a negative impact on the health and survival of P. meandrina colonies. Because tourism and related recreational fishing activities are expanding rapidly in many tropical states and nations, we recommend that the degrading effects of fishing lines on corals be considered in the design and management of tourism development.This study was supported by a grant from the National Fisheries and Wildlife Foundation (2001–0336–002) to E.A.M

Behavior of vascular resistance undergoing various pressure insufflation and perfusion on decellularized lungs

Bioengineering of functional lung tissue by using whole lung scaffolds has been proposed as a potential alternative for patients awaiting lung transplant. Previous studies have demonstrated that vascular resistance (Rv) could be altered to optimize the process of obtaining suitable lung scaffolds. Therefore, this work was aimed at determining how lung inflation (tracheal pressure) and perfusion (pulmonary arterial pressure) affect vascular resistance. This study was carried out using the lungs excised from 5 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats. The trachea was cannulated and connected to a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device to provide a tracheal pressure ranging from 0 to 15 cmH(2)O. The pulmonary artery was cannulated and connected to a controlled perfusion system with continuous pressure (gravimetric level) ranging from 5 to 30 cmH(2)O. Effective Rv was calculated by ratio of pulmonary artery pressure (P-PA) by pulmonary artery flow (V'(PA)). Rv in the decellularized lungs scaffolds decreased at increasing V'(PA), stabilizing at a pulmonary arterial pressure greater than 20 cmH(2)O. On the other hand, CPAP had no influence on vascular resistance in the lung scaffolds after being subjected to pulmonary artery pressure of 5 cmH(2)O. In conclusion, compared to positive airway pressure, arterial lung pressure markedly influences the mechanics of vascular resistance in decellularized lungs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Potential tactics with certain gut microbiota for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes an extremely malignant form of primary liver cancer. Intricate connections linking to the immune system might be associated with the pathogenesis of HCC. Meanwhile, immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors has been established to be a favorable therapeutic possibility for advanced HCC. Although curative opportunities for advanced HCC are restricted, the immune checkpoint immunotherapy has developed as the main choice for treating HCC. However, patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD)-linked HCC might be less likely to benefit from the immunotherapy alone. The limitation of the effect of the immunotherapy might be owing to the impaired T cell activation in MAFLD patients, which could be well explained by a dysfunctional gut-liver axis. Gut microbiota and their metabolites including several bile acids could contribute to modulating the responses of the immune checkpoint immunotherapy. Roles of gut microbiota in the development of cancers have expected great interest in the latest studies. Here, an interplay between the gut and liver has been presented, which might suggest to affect the efficacy of immune checkpoint immunotherapy against HCC

Detection of Nε-(hexanoyl)lysine in the tropomyosin 1 protein in N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced rat gastric cancer cells

Nε-(Hexanoyl)lysine, formed by the reaction of lysine with n-6 lipid hydroperoxide, is a lipid peroxidation marker during the initial stage of oxidative stress. The aim of the present study is to indentify Nε-(hexanoyl)lysine-modified proteins in neoplastic transformed gastric mucosal cells by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, and to compare the levels of these proteins between gastric mucosal cells and normal gastric cells. Much greater fluorescence of 2-[6-(4'-hydroxy)phenoxyl-3H-xanthen-3-on-9-yl]benzoic acid, an index of the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species, was observed for gastric mucosal cells compared to normal gastric cells. Nε-(Hexanoyl)lysine-modified proteins were detected by SDS-PAGE or two-dimensional electrophoresis and Western blotting using anti-Nε-(hexanoyl)lysine polyclonal antibody, and a protein band of between 30–40 kDa was clearly increased in gastric mucosal cells compared to normal gastric cells. Two Nε-(hexanoyl)lysine-modified protein spots in gastric mucosal cells were identified as the tropomyosin 1 protein by mass spectrometry using a MASCOT search. The existence of Nε-(hexanoyl)lysine modification in tropomyosin 1 was confirmed by Western blotting of SDS-PAGE-separated or two-dimensional electrophoresis-separated proteins as well as by the immunoprecipitation with anti-tropomyosin 1 antibody. These data indicate that Nε-(hexanoyl)lysine modification of tropomyosin 1 may be related to neoplastic transformation by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in gastric epithelial cells

Potential tactics with vitamin D and certain phytochemicals for enhancing the effectiveness of immune-checkpoint blockade therapies

Immunotherapy strategies targeting immune checkpoint molecules such as programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4) are revolutionizing oncology. However, its effectiveness is limited in part due to the loss of effector cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Interestingly, supplementation of vitamin D could abolish the repressive effect of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) on CD8+ T cells, which might prevent the lymphocytopenia. In addition, vitamin D signaling could contribute to the differentiation of T-regulatory (Treg) cells associated with the expression of Treg markers such as forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) and CTLA-4. Furthermore, vitamin D may be associated with the stimulation of innate immunity. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and estrogen receptor (ESR) signaling, and even the signaling from phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway could have inhibitory roles in carcinogenesis possibly via the modulation of immune checkpoint molecules. In some cases, certain small molecules including vitamin D could be a novel therapeutic modality with a promising potential for the better performance of immune checkpoint blockade cancer therapies