Effects of testosterone replacement therapy on metabolic syndrome among Japanese hypogonadal men: A subanalysis of a prospective randomised controlled trial (EARTH study).

We investigated the effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on metabolic factors among hypogonadal men with a metabolic syndrome. From the study population of the EARTH study, which was a randomised controlled study in Japan, 65 hypogonadal patients with a metabolic syndrome, comprising the TRT group (n = 32) and controls (n = 33), were included in this study analysis. The TRT group was administered 250 mg of testosterone enanthate as an intramuscular injection every 4 weeks for 12 months. Waist circumference, body mass index, body fat volume and blood pressure were measured in all patients at baseline and at 12 months. In addition, blood biochemical data, including total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), HDL cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, were also evaluated. Changes in these categories from baseline to 12 months were compared between the TRT and control groups, with significant differences observed in waist circumference, body fat percentage, FPG, TG and HbA1c levels. No significant differences were observed in other parameters. TRT for 1 year was associated with improvements in some metabolic factors among Japanese men with hypogonadism and metabolic syndrome.

Anti-obesity compounds in green leaves of Eucommia ulmoides.

The anti-hypertensive effect of Eucommia leaves has been confirmed clinically, and the study of their anti-obesity properties has advanced. However, the compounds involved in their anti-obesity effect have not been fully elucidated. In this Letter, we examined the anti-obesity effect of Eucommia green leaf extract (EGLE) divided into five fractions with high porous polystyrene gel and of the compounds isolated, geniposidic acid, asperuloside and chlorogenic acid, respectively. A metabolic syndrome-like clinical model in mice was generated by feeding a 40% high-fat diet to examine the anti-obesity effects of chronic administration of test substance. After 4 weeks, body weight, white adipose tissue weight, plasma triglyceride levels and total cholesterol levels in the model mice were significantly inhibited by the 30% MeOH fraction (containing much higher levels of asperuloside than the other fractions), and these effects were similar to those of EGLE. Chronic administration of isolated asperuloside in Eucommia leaves suppressed increases in model mouse body weight, white adipose tissue weight, plasma triglyceride levels and free fatty acids levels. These results suggest that asperuloside in Eucommia leaves has important anti-obesity effects.

Changes in penile length after radical prostatectomy: effect of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy.

Although reports have shown evidence for penile length (PL) shortening after radical prostatectomy (RP), the association between neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (NADT) and PL after RP has yet to be determined. This study evaluates chronological changes in PL after NADT and RP. Stretched PLs (SPLs) of 143 patients, 41 of whom had undergone NADT, were measured before, 10 days after, and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months after RP. Chronological erectile function and testosterone levels were then evaluated. SPL was shortest 10 days after RP in both the NADT (-) and NADT (+) groups and gradually recovered in length thereafter. SPL in the NADT (-) group was significantly longer than that in the NADT (+) group before RP. However, no significant differences in SPLs were found between both groups 6 months after RP. Although all subjects in the NADT (+) group had testosterone levels of <50 ng/dL before RP, such levels increased after RP. Before RP, the NADT (-) group was found to have significantly better erectile function than the NADT (+) group. However, differences in erectile function between the NADT (-) and NADT (+) groups after RP were not significant. This report is the first to show that among patients with prostate cancer, those who underwent NADT had greater PL recovery after RP than those who did not. Data regarding PL recovery after NADT and RP obtained in this study could be useful for patients with prostate cancer who plan to undergo such procedures.

Expression of survivin and its relationship to loss of apoptosis in breast carcinomas.

Aberrant inhibition of programmed cell death (apoptosis) prevents normal homeostasis and promotes tissue tumorigenesis, but whether it also influences the outcome of common cancers has remained arguable. The expression of a novel IAP apoptosis inhibitor, survivin, in breast cancer and its association with tumor cell apoptosis and overall prognosis were examined in this study. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that survivin expression was positive in 118 of 167 cases (70.7%) of breast carcinomas of histological stages I to IH. In contrast, no expression of survivin in adjacent normal tissue was detected. Although survivin expression was not correlated with p53 mutations, survivin-positive cases were strongly associated with bcl-2 expression (78.0% versus 47.5%; P = 0.0005) and reduced apoptotic index (0.62% +/- 0.51% versus 1.27% +/- 1.37%; P < 0.0001). In addition, patients with low apoptotic index (<0.52%) had worse survival rates than the group with high apoptotic index (> or =0.52%; P = 0.028), and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model analysis identified apoptotic index as an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.024). The results suggest that apoptosis inhibition by survivin, alone or in cooperation with bcl-2, is a significant prognostic parameter of worse outcome in breast carcinoma.

Isolation and characterization of the cDNA for pea chloroplast SecA. Evolutionary conservation of the bacterial-type SecA-dependent protein transport within chloroplasts.

We report here the isolation of the cDNA for pea chloroplast SecA. Pea SecA encodes a polypeptide of 1,011 amino acids and shows high sequence similarity with cyanobacterial SecA. Pea SecA was synthesized as a larger precursor and was imported into isolated chloroplasts in vitro. The purified pea SecA, which was expressed in Escherichia coli cells, stimulated the in vitro import of the 33 kDa protein of the oxygen-evolving complex into thylakoids. These results indicate that higher plant chloroplasts contain a bacterial-type SecA protein-dependent system for the intraorganellar protein transport into thylakoids.

Prognostic value of tumor cell proliferation and intratumor microvessel density in advanced gastric cancer treated with curative surgery.

To clarify the prognostic value of tumor cell proliferation [proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive rate assessed by anti-PCNA immunostaining] and intratumor microvessel density (/0.74 mm2, assessed by anti-CD34 immunostaining) in gastric cancer, 192 advanced gastric cancer patients who underwent curative surgery were investigated. Multivariate analysis showed that the following variables were significantly related to prognosis: age (P=0.029), depth of invasion (P=0.005), lymph node metastasis (P=0.006), lymphatic invasion (P=0.038), venous invasion (P=0.0005), PCNA-positive rate (P=0.049) and intratumor microvessel density (P=0. 011). In conclusion, tumor cell proliferation and intratumor microvessel density were independent prognostic factors in patients with advanced gastric cancer undergoing curative surgery.

Steroidal alkaloids of Fritillaria maximowiczii.

From the bulbs of Fritillaria maximowiczii, in addition to the known jerveratrin alkaloid, kuroyurinidine, three new steroidal alkaloids, 23-isokuroyurinidine, 15,16-seco-22 alpha H, 25 beta H-solanida-5,14-dien-3 beta-ol O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-xylopyranoside and hapepunine 3-O-beta-cellobioside have been isolated and structurally elucidated.

Triterpenoidal saponins from Dumasia truncata.

Extraction of the aerial parts of Dumasia truncata Sieb et Zucc. afforded two new triterpenoidal saponins, together with four known ones. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectral analysis as 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosy-28-O- beta-D- glucopyransoyl hederagenin and 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->3)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl oleanic acid.

Triterpenoidal saponins from Baptisia australis.

Extraction of the roots of Baptisia australis afforded a new triterpenoid saponin, baptisiasaponin I together with kaikasaponin III. The structure of baptisiasaponin I was elucidated as 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl- (1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl sophoradiol on the basis of its spectral data and chemical degradation.

Steroidal glycosides from Capsicum annuum.

Four new steroidal glycosides, named capsicosides A-D together with proto-degalactotigonin, were isolated from the roots and seeds of Capsicum annuum var. conoides and Capsicum annuum var. fasciculatum. On the basis of detailed chemical and spectroscopic evidence, the structures of capsicosides A-D were shown to be furostanol glycosides corresponding to gitogenin and tigogenin oligoglycosides. Capsicoside A was regarded as the same compound as the previously described capsicoside, whose structure now needs to be revised according to the data presented in this report.

Glycosides of 19-formylthevetiogenin and 5 alpha-thevetiogenin from Thevetia neriifolia.

C-nor-D-homo-homologues of cannogenin and uzarigenin glycosides were isolated along with known cardenolide glycosides from the frozen fresh leaves of Thevetia neriifolia. A bisdesmosidic tetraoside of 3 beta,14,21-trihydroxy-5 beta,14 beta-pregnan-20-one was also obtained from the polar fraction and the structure established.

Cycloartane-type glycosides from thalictri herba.

Two new cycloartane-type glycosides, designated as thalictosides V and IX, were isolated from the methanolic extract of Thalictri Herba (Takatogusa), the dried aerial parts of Thalictrum sp. plants. Their chemical structures have been characterized as 3-O-monodesmoside and the 3,21-di-O-bisdesmoside of 3 beta,22 zeta,30-trihydroxycycloart-24-en-21-oic acid, by chemical and spectroscopic evidence.

Antinociceptive substances from Incarvillea delavayi.

Antinociceptive activities of an Incarvillea delavayi extract, as well as its constituents, 8-epideoxyloganic acid and delavayine A, were evaluated in the acetic acid induced writhing test in mice. An oral administration of the delavayi extract weakly decreased the number of writhings and stretchings in this test, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, orally administered 8-epideoxyloganic acid showed weak antinociceptive activity, whereas administration by subcutaneous injection did not. However, subcutaneous injection of delavayine A, a novel monoterpene alkaloid, showed a more significant level of antinociceptive activity.

Cycloartane-type glycosides from Aquilegia flabellata.

Two new cycloartane-type glycosides, named aquilegiosides A and B, were isolated from the dried aerial parts of Aquilegia flabellata Sieb.et Zucc.var flabellata (Ranunculaceae). Their chemical structures have been characterized as 22S-3beta,16alpha,29-trihydroxy-cycloart-24-en-26,22-olid e 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--->2)-alpha- L-arabinopyranoside and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, by chemical and spectroscopic evidence.

Phenethyl alcohol glycosides and isopentenol glycoside from fruit of Bupleurum falcatum.

Investigation on the constituents of the fruit of Bupleurum falcatum L. resulted in the isolation of the three new glycosides, phenethyl alcohol 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-b eta-D- glucopyranoside, phenethyl alcohol 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside and isopentenol 1-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside along with five known glycosides, icariside D1, icariside F2, saikosaponin a, saikosaponin c and saikosaponin d. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of interpretation of chemical and spectral data.

Diterpenoids from the fruits of Vitex trifolia.

An abietane-type diterpene, named vitetrifolin A, and two labdane-type diterpenes, named vitetrifolins B and C, were isolated from the acetone extract of the fruits of Vitex trifolia L. (Viticis Fructus; Verbenaceae) along with three known diterpenes, rotundifuran, dihydrosolidagenone and abietatriene 3beta-ol. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, X-ray crystallographic analysis and chemical evidence.

Flavonol sinapoyl glycosides from leaves of Thevetia peruviana.

From the leaves of Thevetia peruviana four new flavonol glycosides, kaempferol 3-glucosyl(1 --> 4) [6"'-sinapoylglucosyl] (1 --> 2) galactoside and 3-[2""-sinapoylglucosyl](1 --> 4)[6"'-sinapoylglucosyl](1 --> 2)galactoside and kaempferol and quercetin 3-[6"'-sinapoylglucosyl](1 --> 2)galactoside were isolated, together with the known compounds, kaempferol and quercetin 3-glucosyl(1 --> 2)galactoside. The glycosides were characterized from FAB mass, 1H and 13C NMR and UV spectral data.

Eudesmane derivatives from Tessaria integrifolia.

Five eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the methanol extract of the aerial part of Tessaria integrifolia Ruiz. et Pavon (Compositae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis is well as chemical evidence.