Nimbolide induces apoptosis in human nasopharyngeal cancer cells.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a tumor arising from epithelial cells that cover the surface and line the nasopharynx, is a rare malignancy worldwide but is prevalent in certain geographical areas, such as Southern Asia (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Southern China) and North Africa. Despite advances in diagnostic techniques and improvements in treatment modalities, the prognosis of NPC remains poor. Therefore, an effective chemotherapy regimen that enhances tumor sensitivity to chemotherapeutics is urgently required. Nimbolide, derived from Azadirachta indica, has a wide range of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. The present study evaluated the antitumor activity of nimbolide in NPC cells and its underlying mechanisms. Our results revealed that the treatment of HONE-1 cells with nimbolide potently inhibited cell viability. Moreover, nimbolide led to cell cycle arrest, which subsequently activated caspase-3, -8, and -9 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase to induce cell apoptosis. Moreover, nimbolide induced Bik, Bax, and t-Bid expression in HONE-1 cells. The results indicated that nimbolide induces apoptosis through the modulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) pathways. Nimbolide induces apoptosis in human NPC cells and is a potential chemopreventive agent against NPC proliferation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 2085-2092, 2017.

Early eradication has a lower risk of peptic ulcer bleeding in Helicobacter pylori-infected chronic kidney disease patients.

BACKGROUND: End stage renal disease (ESRD) contributes to a higher mortality rate in peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) patients. A crucial question is whether early Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy is necessary for H. pylori-infected chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. To explore whether H. pylori eradication therapy has a lower risk of PUB at the pre-ESRD stage than at the ESRD stage. METHODS AND PATIENTS: Patients meeting 2 criteria were defined as newly diagnosed ESRD cases: (1) patients diagnosed with ESRD and receiving regular dialysis between 2000 and 2009; and (2) patients with no history of dialysis between 1997 and 1999. We divided the study participants into pre-ESRD and ESRD groups on the basis of the time between H. pylori eradication and dialysis. The date of the first PUB diagnosis was defined as the primary endpoint. Stratified Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to estimate the effect of H. pylori eradication at the pre-ESRD and ESRD stage on the occurrence of PUB. RESULTS: We included 476 patients in the pre-ESRD cohort and 476 patients in the matched ESRD cohort. After adjustment for age, sex, the presence of comorbidities, and medication use, the hazard ratio of PUB was 0.66 times less in the pre-ESRD cohort than in the ESRD cohort. Factors such as Charlson's score more than 3, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were associated with an increased risk of PUB. CONCLUSION: Our result supports that early H. pylori eradication has a lower risk of PUB in H. pylori-infected CKD patients.

Efficacy of Baduanjin Exercise and Feasibility of Mobile Text Reminders on Follow-up Participation in People With Severe Mental Illness: An Exploratory Study.

BACKGROUND: People with severe mental illness (SMI) frequently have poor physical health, which can in part be related to a low level of physical activity. The goal of this exploratory study was to examine the efficacy of a group participating in Baduanjin (a type of traditional Chinese exercise) on the health of individuals with SMI and the feasibility/acceptability of using short message service (SMS) reminder strategies to prompt continued exercise during a follow-up period. METHOD: Participants (N=11) participated in a Baduanjin group session for 8 weeks and then maintained home-based Baduanjin with SMS reminders for another 8 weeks. Physical and psychological tests were administered to participants. RESULTS: Significant improvements were found in balance and processing speed and in some domains of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) after the Baduanjin program. Participants were able to maintain engagement in 80% of the expected practice time during the follow-up period. The acceptability of strategies to support home-based exercise, including SMS reminders, was high. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study suggested the efficacy of Baduanjin and the feasibility of SMS reminders in maintaining follow-up participation in people with SMI. Future studies using a larger sample size and a control group are needed to confirm the findings.

In human T cells mifepristone antagonizes glucocorticoid non-genomic rapid responses in terms of Na(+)/H(+)-exchange 1 activity, but not ezrin/radixin/moesin phosphorylation.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) and progesterone have been employed as immunosuppressive agents during pregnancy for many years. Intracellular acidification by GCs is due to a rapid non-genomic inhibition of membrane Na(+)/H(+)-exchange 1 (NHE1) activity and is followed by immunosuppression of PHA-stimulated proliferation. NHE1 is tethered to the cortical actin cytoskeleton through ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins within lipid rafts; these regulate cell shape, migration and resistance to apoptosis. We explored whether mifepristone (RU486), an antagonist of GCs in T cells, is able to completely block rapid non-genomic responses, namely NHE1 activity and the phosphorylation C-terminal residues of ERM proteins at threonine (cp-ERM). GCs stimulate a rapid non-genomic cp-ERM response in cells within 5min. RU486 antagonized the GC-induced rapid decrease in NHE1 activity, and arrested PHA-stimulated T cells at G0/G1 phase but had no effect on the rapid increase in cp-ERM, which persisted for 24h. However, the cp-ERM response was blocked by staurosporine in both resting and GC stimulated cells. The results of RU486 antagonized the GC induced rapid decrease in NHE1 ion transport activity, but not the increase cp-ERM. This suggests that RU486 in T cells exerts its antagonistic effects at NHE1 containing plasma membrane sites and not where cp-ERM links lipid rafts to cortical cytoskeletons.

Minimally invasive endoscope-assisted trans-oral excision of huge parapharyngeal space tumors.

Parapharyngeal space tumors are rare head and neck neoplasms, and most are benign lesions. Complete excision of these tumors is difficult because of the complexity of the surrounding anatomic structures. The algorithm for excision of these tumors is typically based on the tumor's characteristics; excision is performed via approaches such as the trans-oral route, the trans-cervical route, and even a combination of the trans-parotid route and mandibulotomy. However, each of these approaches is associated with some complications. Endoscope-assisted minimally invasive surgery is being increasingly employed for surgeries in the head and neck regions. It has the advantage of leaving no facial scars, and ensures better patient comfort after the operation. Here, we report the use of endoscope-assisted trans-oral surgery for excision of parapharyngeal space tumors. The technique yields an excellent outcome and should be a feasible, safe, and economic method for these patients.

Endoscopic resection of intranasal meningo-encephalocele accompanying meningioma.

This paper aims to present the case of a 43-year-old woman diagnosed with a rare condition of meningoencephalocele that arose from a meningioma, and treated with endoscope-assisted transnasal tumor extirpation and repair of the skull base defect with tensor fascia lata flap. Endoscope-assisted operation is a viable and minimally invasive alternative to traditional craniotomy. With improved endoscopic equipment and operative technique, we can perform more reliable surgery and provide better quality of life for these patients.