RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors have been extensively evaluated for their potential in the management of various diseases. Despite previous research on this topic, there is a lack of bibliometric analysis that summarizes research trends on JAK inhibitors. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the top 100 most frequently cited studies on JAK inhibitors over the last ten years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Web of Science database was used to screen and extract relevant studies on JAK inhibitors. The top 100 studies most cited within the JAK inhibitor-related research were identified and evaluated, and various data such as the year of publication, study focus and keywords, author information, and number of citations were extracted and analyzed for further examination. RESULTS: In the top 100 most cited studies of JAK inhibitors, more than 70% of studies focused on the role of JAK inhibitors in disease treatments, with 42% of these studies focused on using JAK inhibitors as treatment for autoimmune diseases and 19 of them focused on the treatment of neoplasms. Time trend analysis revealed that the keywords "tofacitinib", "atopic dermatitis", and "rheumatoid arthritis" were widely mentioned in 2016, while new trends emerged in 2018, with "ruxolitinib" and "baricitinib" being more commonly mentioned. CONCLUSIONS: The top 100 most frequently cited studies on JAK inhibitors focused primarily on the safety and efficacy of these inhibitors in the management of various diseases, particularly inflammatory diseases and neoplasms. The results can serve as a valuable reference for rheumatologists and immunologists interested in the development of JAK inhibitors and expanding future research fields.
Asunto(s)
Artritis Reumatoide , Enfermedades Autoinmunes , Inhibidores de las Cinasas Janus , Neoplasias , Humanos , Inhibidores de las Cinasas Janus/uso terapéutico , Inhibidores de las Cinasas Janus/farmacología , BibliometríaRESUMEN
Bifenthrin, a commonly used pyrethroid pesticide, evokes various toxicological effects in different models. However, the effect of bifenthrin on cytosolic-free Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) and cytotoxicity in human prostate cancer cells is unclear. This study examined whether bifenthrin altered Ca2+ homeostasis and cell viability in PC3 human prostate cancer cells. [Ca2+]i in suspended cells were measured using the fluorescent Ca2+-sensitive dye fura-2. Cell viability was examined by 4-[3-[4-lodophenyl]-2-4(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio-1,3-benzene disulfonate] water soluble tetrazolium-1 assay. Bifenthrin (100-400 µM) concentration-dependently induced [Ca2+]i rises. Ca2+ removal reduced the signal by approximately 30%. In Ca2+-free medium, treatment with the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitor 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone (BHQ) abolished bifenthrin-evoked [Ca2+]i rises. Conversely, treatment with bifenthrin abolished BHQ-evoked [Ca2+]i rises. Inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC) with U73122 significantly inhibited bifenthrin-induced [Ca2+]i rises. Mn2+ has been shown to enter cells through similar mechanisms as Ca2+ but quenches fura-2 fluorescence at all excitation wavelengths. Bifenthrin (400 µM)-induced Mn2+ influx implicates that Ca2+ entry occurred. Bifenthrin-induced Ca2+ entry was inhibited by 30% by protein kinase C (PKC) activator (phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate) and inhibitor (GF109203X) and three inhibitors of store-operated Ca2+ channels: nifedipine, econazole, and SKF96365. Bifenthrin at 175-275 µM decreased cell viability, which was not reversed by pretreatment with the Ca2+ chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetra acetic acid-acetoxymethyl ester. Together, in PC3 cells, bifenthrin-induced [Ca2+]i rises by evoking PLC-dependent Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum and Ca2+ entry via PKC-sensitive store-operated Ca2+ entry. Bifenthrin also caused Ca2+-independent cell death.
Asunto(s)
Señalización del Calcio/efectos de los fármacos , Calcio/metabolismo , Plaguicidas/toxicidad , Piretrinas/toxicidad , Técnicas de Cultivo de Célula , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Retículo Endoplásmico/efectos de los fármacos , Retículo Endoplásmico/metabolismo , Humanos , Células PC-3RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Whether continued oral feeding may have a negative impact on healing of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is unclear. The aim was to test the hypothesis that oral feeding is non-inferior to enteral feeding in closure of POPF after pancreatoduodenectomy, and to clarify the effects of oral feeding on the duration and grade of POPF. METHODS: This multicentre, non-inferiority randomized trial of oral or enteral feeding of patients with POPF after pancreatoduodenectomy recruited patients between August 2013 and September 2016. The primary efficacy outcome was the 30-day fistula closure rate. The prespecified non-inferiority margin was 15 per cent. Other efficacy outcomes included grade of fistula, and hospital stay and costs. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients were included, and received oral (57) or enteral (57) feeding. The two groups were balanced in baseline characteristics and no patient was lost to follow-up. In intention-to-treat analysis, oral feeding was non-inferior to enteral feeding in terms of 30-day fistula closure rate (88 versus 89 per cent respectively; difference -1·8 per cent, lower limit of 95 per cent c.i. -14·4 per cent; P = 0·020 for non-inferiority). Compared with enteral feeding, oral feeding significantly reduced hospital costs and duration of stay. No significant differences were noted in the number of patients whose POPF evolved into grade B/C, or other outcomes. CONCLUSION: Oral feeding in patients with POPF after pancreatoduodenectomy did not increase the duration or grade of POPF, and was associated with reduced duration of stay and hospital costs. Registration number: NCT01755260 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
Asunto(s)
Ingestión de Alimentos , Nutrición Enteral , Fístula Pancreática/etiología , Pancreaticoduodenectomía/efectos adversos , Femenino , Humanos , Tiempo de Internación/estadística & datos numéricos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Cuidados Posoperatorios/métodos , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/etiología , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
AIM: To describe the clinical characteristics and radiographic findings of horizontal root fractures (HRF) in posterior teeth without a history of dental trauma. METHODOLOGY: A total 24 patients and 31 HRF cases in 28 posterior teeth were collected from 2006 to 2015. Clinical examinations and radiographic imaging were evaluated. Value of confidence intervals of the proportions was calculated for data presentation. RESULTS: The number of males (54%) was similar to females (46%). The patients were predominantly between 50 and 70 years of age (75%). Most HRF cases were found in nonendodontically treated teeth (79%), without crown and bridge restorations (82%), and maxillary molars (54%). Many roots of maxillary molars had developed HRF, and the probability was nearly equal. Fractured teeth usually presented with periodontal and apical bone loss, and most patients (92%) were diagnosed with full mouth chronic periodontitis. Tooth wear was another common clinical feature amongst these patients. CONCLUSIONS: HRF in posterior teeth without dental trauma occurred mainly in patients aged between 50 and 70, in nonendodontically treated teeth, teeth with attrition but without crown and bridge restorations, maxillary molars and with periodontal and periapical bony destruction. Periodontal condition, occlusal wear and patients' age at diagnosis were the possible related factors. HRF in posterior teeth without dental trauma is a diagnostic challenge and even misdiagnosed. A thorough clinical examination, radiographic analysis and recognition of the clinical characteristics are helpful in the early diagnosis and treatment of HRF.
Asunto(s)
Fracturas de los Dientes , Raíz del Diente/lesiones , Distribución por Edad , Anciano , Diente Premolar/diagnóstico por imagen , Diente Premolar/lesiones , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Diente Molar/diagnóstico por imagen , Diente Molar/lesiones , Radiografía Dental , Distribución por Sexo , Fracturas de los Dientes/diagnóstico por imagen , Raíz del Diente/diagnóstico por imagenRESUMEN
Hyperpolarization of metabolites by dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (D-DNP) for MRI applications often requires fast and efficient removal of the radicals (polarizing agents). Ordered mesoporous SBA-15 silica materials containing homogeneously dispersed radicals, referred to as HYperPolarizing SOlids (HYPSOs), enable high polarization - P(1H) = 50% at 1.2 K - and straightforward separation of the polarizing HYPSO material from the hyperpolarized solution by filtration. However, the one-dimensional tubular pores of SBA-15 type materials are not ideal for nuclear spin diffusion, which may limit efficient polarization. Here, we develop a generation of hyperpolarizing solids based on a SBA-16 structure with a network of pores interconnected in three dimensions, which allows a significant increase of polarization, i.e. P(1H) = 63% at 1.2 K. This result illustrates how one can improve materials by combining a control of the incorporation of radicals with a better design of the porous network structures.
Asunto(s)
Fracturas Espontáneas/epidemiología , Osteoporosis/epidemiología , Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica/diagnóstico , Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica/epidemiología , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Codificación Clínica , Estudios de Cohortes , Bases de Datos Factuales , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de Riesgo , Distribución por Sexo , Taiwán/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: To evaluate whether the effects of providing or receiving social support are more beneficial to reduce mortality risk among the elderly with different educational levels. METHODS: In this long-term prospective cohort study, data were retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging. This study was initiated from 1996 until 2007. The complete data from 1492 males and 1177 females aged ≥67 years were retrieved. Participants received financial, instrumental, and emotional support, and they actively provided instrumental and emotional support to others and involved in social engagement. Education attainment was divided into two levels: high and low. The low education level included illiterate and elementary school. The high education level included junior high school to senior high school and above college. Cox regression analysis was used to examine the association between providing or receiving social support on mortality with different educational levels. RESULTS: The average age of the participants in 1996 was 73.0 (IQR=8.0) years, and the median survival following years (1996-2007) of participants was 10.3 (IQR=6.7) years. Most participants were low educational level including illiterate (39.3%) and elementary school (41.2%). Participants with high educational level tend to be younger and more male significantly. On the contrary, participants with low educational level tend to have significant more poor income, more depression, more cognition impairment, more with IADL and ADL disability than high educational level. Most participants received instrumental support from others (95.5%) and also provided emotional support to others (97.7%). Providing instrumental support can reduce 17% of mortality risk among the elderly with a low level of education after adjusting several covariates [Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.83; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.70-0.99; p = 0.036]. CONCLUSIONS: Providing instrumental social support to others confer benefits to the giver and prolong life expectancy among the elderly with low educational levels.
Asunto(s)
Envejecimiento/psicología , Escolaridad , Relaciones Interpersonales , Longevidad , Apoyo Social , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Trastornos del Conocimiento/epidemiología , Depresión/epidemiología , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Estudios Longitudinales , Masculino , Estudios Prospectivos , Análisis de Supervivencia , Taiwán/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Glycosylation controls diverse protein functions and regulates various cellular phenotypes. Trophoblast invasion is essential for normal placental development. However, the role of glycosylation in human placenta throughout pregnancy is still unclear. The ß-1,4-galactosyltransferase III (B4GALT3) has been found to regulate cancer cell invasion. We therefore investigated the expression of B4GALT3 in placenta and its roles in trophoblast. METHODS: B4GALT3 protein expression was examined by quantitative Western blotting analysis in human placentas. For identification of B4GALT3-positive cells in normal human placenta, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence methods were used. To investigate effects of B4GALT3 on extravillous trophoblast (EVT)-like cell and primary EVT cells, we analyzed cell growth, adhesion, migration, and invasion in mock and B4GALT3-transfected cell. RESULTS: B4GALT3 expression significantly increased in third trimester human placenta. Immunostaining revealed that B4GALT3 expressed in placental villous cytotrophoblast, syncytiotrophoblast, and a subpopulation of EVT cells throughout pregnancy. Interestingly, we found increases in the expression level and percentage of B4GALT3-positive cells in third trimester EVT, but not in syncytiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts of placental villi. Overexpression of B4GALT3 in HTR8/SVneo cells and primary trophoblast cells significantly suppressed cell migration. In addition, B4GALT3 suppressed cell invasion, and enhanced cell adhesion to laminin in HTR8/SVneo cells. Notably, we found that B4GALT3 modified glycans on ß1-integrin, suppressed focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling, and enhanced ß1-integrin degradation. DISCUSSION: We propose that B4GALT3-mediated glycosylation change not only enhances ß1-integrin binding to laminin, but also attenuates ß1-integrin stability. Our findings suggest that B4GALT3 is a critical regulator for suppressing EVT invasion in the late stages of pregnancy.
Asunto(s)
Regulación hacia Abajo , Regulación del Desarrollo de la Expresión Génica , Integrina beta1/metabolismo , N-Acetil-Lactosamina Sintasa/metabolismo , Placentación , Procesamiento Proteico-Postraduccional , Trofoblastos/metabolismo , Adulto , Adhesión Celular , Línea Celular , Movimiento Celular , Células Cultivadas , Femenino , Glicosilación , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Integrina beta1/química , Isoenzimas/genética , Isoenzimas/metabolismo , N-Acetil-Lactosamina Sintasa/genética , Embarazo , Estabilidad Proteica , Proteínas Recombinantes/metabolismo , Trofoblastos/citología , Trofoblastos/enzimologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and allied conditions (COPD) is frequently associated with various comorbidities. This study examined the association between osteoporosis and pathologic fractures in a sample of patients with COPD. METHODS: In this cohort study, claims data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan were used to evaluate the risk between COPD and osteoporosis. Using data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000, we conducted a retrospective cohort study by investigating patients aged 20 years and older who were newly diagnosed with COPD and comparing them with controls without COPD during 2000-2010. In addition, we used univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models to measure the association between COPD and the risk of osteoporosis. RESULTS: Our results revealed that COPD was significantly associated with a high risk of osteoporosis, regardless of whether the patients with COPD were corticosteroid users and irrespective of age and sex. After adjustment for covariates, the COPD patients exhibited a 1.54-fold higher risk of developing osteoporosis (hazard ratio 1.54, 95% confidence interval 1.44-1.64). COPD was a stronger risk factor for osteoporosis in men. Moreover, patients with severe COPD had a higher risk of osteoporosis or pathologic fractures. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that COPD, which shares the characteristics of inflammatory diseases, is associated with a higher risk of osteoporosis after adjustment for comorbidities.
Asunto(s)
Osteoporosis/etiología , Fracturas Osteoporóticas/etiología , Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica/complicaciones , Adulto , Distribución por Edad , Anciano , Estudios de Cohortes , Comorbilidad , Bases de Datos Factuales , Femenino , Glucocorticoides/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Osteoporosis/epidemiología , Fracturas Osteoporóticas/epidemiología , Prednisolona/uso terapéutico , Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica/epidemiología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , Distribución por Sexo , Taiwán/epidemiología , Adulto JovenAsunto(s)
Infarto Encefálico/inducido químicamente , Técnicas Cosméticas/efectos adversos , Ácido Hialurónico/efectos adversos , Oclusión de la Arteria Retiniana/inducido químicamente , Viscosuplementos/efectos adversos , Adulto , Ceguera/inducido químicamente , Femenino , Humanos , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , NarizRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Both psoriasis and asthma are chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the risk of developing asthma in patients with psoriasis compared with controls. METHODS: This cohort study was conducted using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients with psoriasis (n = 10,288) and matched comparison patients without psoriasis (n = 41,152) were evaluated. A Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to determine the risk of asthma in patients with and without psoriasis. RESULTS: The risk of asthma was 1·38-fold higher [95% confidence interval (CI) 1·23-1·54] in the cohort with psoriasis than in the reference cohort, after adjusting for age, sex and comorbidities. The incidence of asthma in men and women with psoriasis exhibited nonsignificant differences. Among all patients aged > 50 years, psoriasis was associated with a higher risk of asthma compared with not having psoriasis [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1·49; 95% CI 1·18-1·88 (in patients aged 50-64 years); adjusted HR 1·63; 95% CI 1·34-1·99 (in patients aged > 65 years)]. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that patients with psoriasis are associated with a increased risk of developing asthma.
Asunto(s)
Asma/etiología , Psoriasis/complicaciones , Adulto , Distribución por Edad , Anciano , Asma/epidemiología , Métodos Epidemiológicos , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Psoriasis/epidemiología , Distribución por Sexo , Taiwán/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is frequently associated with various comorbidities. However, the proportion of COPD patients with dementia has not been adequately examined. This retrospective cohort study investigated the association between COPD and dementia by using a nationwide population-based database in Taiwan. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database and analyzed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models to assess the effects of COPD on the risk of dementia after adjusting for demographic characteristics and comorbidities. RESULTS: The COPD cohort exhibited a higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, head injury and depression at baseline than did the non-COPD cohort (P < 0.0001). After adjusting for covariates, the COPD patients exhibited a 1.27-fold higher risk of developing dementia (hazard ratio 1.27, 95% confidence interval 1.20-1.36). The incidence rate was higher in patients with frequent acute exacerbations than in the non-COPD patients regardless of whether a hospital admission or emergency room visit was required (hazard ratio 196.8 vs. 41.7, 95% confidence intervals 145.9-265.5 and 22.3-78.0). CONCLUSION: This study shows that COPD is associated with a subsequent higher risk of dementia after adjusting for comorbidities. Specifically, the association between COPD and dementia is greater in patients with more frequent acute exacerbation events of COPD.
Asunto(s)
Demencia/epidemiología , Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica/epidemiología , Anciano , Comorbilidad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Riesgo , Taiwán/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Previous research has shown that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) tend to have a higher risk for cognitive impairment and dementia, a neurodegenerative disorder. The goal of this study was to examine what relationship, if any, exists between COPD and Parkinson's disease (PD), which is also a neurodegenerative disorder. METHOD: Our study analyzed medical data from the population of Taiwan from 1998 to 2008, with a follow-up period extending to the end of 2010. We identified patients with COPD by the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). We selected a comparison cohort from the general population that was random frequency-matched by age (in 5-year increments), sex and index year, and further analyzed the risk of PD using Cox's regression model, including sex, age and comorbidities. RESULTS: The study enrolled 20 728 COPD patients (71.1% male, mean age = 68.2 years) and 41 147 controls. The risk of developing PD was 1.37 times greater in patients with COPD compared with patients without COPD after adjusting for age, sex and comorbidities. A significantly increased risk of PD was also found in patients with COPD who had any comorbidity other than diabetes. CONCLUSION: This nationwide retrospective cohort study demonstrates that PD risk is significantly increased in patients with COPD compared with those of the general population.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedad de Parkinson/etiología , Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica/complicaciones , Distribución por Edad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Estudios de Cohortes , Comorbilidad , Femenino , Humanos , Incidencia , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Enfermedad de Parkinson/epidemiología , Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica/epidemiología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Distribución por Sexo , Taiwán/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Investigation of single molecule DNA dynamics in confined environments has led to important applications in DNA analysis, separation, and sequencing. Here, we studied the electrophoretic transport of DNA molecules through nanochannels shorter than the DNA contour length and calculated the associated translocation time curves. We found that the longer T4 DNA molecules required a longer time to traverse a fixed length nanochannel than shorter λ DNA molecules and that the translocation time decreased with increasing electric field which agreed with theoretical predictions. We applied this knowledge to design an asymmetric electric pulse and demonstrate the different responses of λ and T4 DNA to the pulses. We used Brownian dynamics simulations to corroborate our experimental results on DNA translocation behaviour. This work contributes to the fundamental understanding of polymer transport through nanochannels and may help in designing better separation techniques in the future.
Asunto(s)
Adenocarcinoma/secundario , Neoplasias de los Bronquios/secundario , Neoplasias Endometriales/terapia , Adenocarcinoma/diagnóstico , Adenocarcinoma/terapia , Biopsia , Neoplasias de los Bronquios/diagnóstico , Broncoscopía , Resultado Fatal , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos XRESUMEN
Extravillus trophoblast (EVT) invasion plays a critical role in placental development. Integrins bind to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins to mediate EVT cell adhesion, migration, and invasion. Changes in O-glycans on ß1-integrin have been found to regulate cancer cell behavior. We hypothesize that O-glycosyltransferases can regulate EVT invasion through modulating the glycosylation and function of ß1-integrin. Here, we found that the GALNT1 and GALNT2 mRNA were highly expressed in HTR8/SVneo and first trimester EVT cells. Immunohistochemstry and immunofluorescence staining showed that GALNT2 was expressed in subpopulations of EVT cells in deciduas, but not in syncytiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts of placental villi. The percentage of GALNT2-positive EVT cells increased with gestational ages. Overexpression of GALNT2 in HTR8/SVneo cells significantly enhanced cell-collagen IV adhesion, but suppressed cell migration and invasion. Notably, we found that GALNT2 increased the expression of Tn antigen (GalNAc-Ser/Thr) on ß1-integrin as revealed by Vicia Villosa agglutinin (VVA) binding. Furthermore, GALNT2 suppressed the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a crucial downstream signaling molecule of ß1-integrin. Our findings suggest that GALNT2 is a critical initiating enzyme of O-glycosylation for regulating EVT invasion.
Asunto(s)
Movimiento Celular , Regulación hacia Abajo , Regulación Enzimológica de la Expresión Génica , N-Acetilgalactosaminiltransferasas/metabolismo , Placentación , Trofoblastos/metabolismo , Adhesión Celular , Línea Celular , Células Cultivadas , Decidua/citología , Decidua/metabolismo , Femenino , Proteína-Tirosina Quinasas de Adhesión Focal/metabolismo , Glicosilación , Humanos , Cadenas beta de Integrinas/metabolismo , Isoenzimas/genética , Isoenzimas/metabolismo , N-Acetilgalactosaminiltransferasas/biosíntesis , N-Acetilgalactosaminiltransferasas/genética , Fosforilación , Embarazo , Procesamiento Proteico-Postraduccional , Proteínas Recombinantes/biosíntesis , Proteínas Recombinantes/metabolismo , Trofoblastos/citología , Polipéptido N-AcetilgalactosaminiltransferasaRESUMEN
The effect of the natural compound phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) on cytosolic Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) and viability in MDCK renal cells is unknown. This study explored whether PEITC changed [Ca(2+)](i) in MDCK cells using the Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2. PEITC at 200-700 µM increased [Ca(2+)](i) in a concentration-dependent manner. The signal was reduced by removing extracellular Ca(2+). PEITC-induced Ca(2+) influx was inhibited by nifedipine, econazole, SK&F 96365 and protein kinase C modulators. In Ca(2+)-free medium, treatment with the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pump inhibitor thapsigargin (TG) or 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone (BHQ) inhibited PEITC-induced rise in [Ca(2+)](i). Incubation with PEITC also inhibited TG or BHQ-induced rise in [Ca(2+)](i). Inhibition of phospholipase C with U73122 abolished PEITC-induced rise in [Ca(2+)](i). At 15-75 µM, PEITC decreased viability. The cytotoxic effect of PEITC was enhanced by chelating cytosolic Ca(2+) with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid/acetoxymethyl ester. Annexin V-FITC data suggest that 20 and 50 µM PEITC induced apoptosis. At 10 and 15 µM, PEITC did not increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Together, in renal tubular cells, PEITC-induced rise in [Ca(2+)](i) by inducing phospholipase C-dependent Ca(2+) release from endoplasmic reticulum and Ca(2+) entry via store-operated Ca(2+) channels. PEITC induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent, ROS/Ca(2+)-independent manner.