Cinnamaldehyde decreases the invasion and u-PA expression of osteosarcoma by down-regulating the FAK signalling pathway.

Cancer metastasis is the major cause of the high mortality risk of patients with osteosarcoma. Cinnamaldehyde has been shown to exhibit multiple tumour-suppressing activities, but its role in human osteosarcoma is not yet completely defined. In this study, the antimetastatic effect of cinnamaldehyde on highly metastatic human osteosarcoma cells was observed in vitro and in vivo using Saos-2 and 143B cells. Cinnamaldehyde reduced the activity and protein level of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and suppressed the invasion ability of osteosarcoma cells by inhibiting the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. In addition, cinnamaldehyde reduced cell movement, cell-matrix adhesion, and the expression of the mesenchymal markers of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, namely, fibronectin and N-cadherin. Importantly, the oral administration of cinnamaldehyde remarkably suppressed the pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma in mice. Results indicated that cinnamaldehyde has therapeutic potential for inhibiting osteosarcoma metastasis.

Reduction of invasion and cell stemness and induction of apoptotic cell death by Cinnamomum cassia extracts on human osteosarcoma cells.

Cinnamomum cassia possesses antioxidative activity and induces the apoptotic properties of various cancer types. However, its effect on osteosarcoma invasion and cancer stemness remains ambiguous. Here, we examined the molecular evidence of the anti-invasive effects of ethanoic C. cassia extracts (CCE). Invasion and migration were obviously suppressed after the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and matrix metalloprotein 2 in human osteosarcoma 143B cells were downregulated. CCE reversed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by transforming growth factor ß1 and downregulated mesenchymal markers, such as snail-1 and RhoA. CCE suppressed self-renewal property and the expression of stemness genes (aldehyde dehydrogenase, Nanog, and CD44) in the 143B cells. CCE suppressed cell viability, reduced the colony formation of osteosarcoma cancer cells, and induced apoptotic cell death in the 143B cells, as indicated by caspase-9 activation. The xenograft tumor model of immunodeficient BALB/c nude mice showed that CCE administered in vivo through oral gavage inhibited the growth of implanted 143B cells. These findings indicated that CCE inhibited the invasion, migration, and cancer stemness of the 143B cells. CCE reduced proliferation of 143B cell possibly because of the activation of caspase-9 and the consequent apoptosis, suggesting that CCE is a potential anticancer supplement for osteosarcoma.

Predictors of five-year relapse rates of youths with substance abuse who underwent a family-oriented therapy program.

BACKGROUND: Substance abuse among young people has become a serious public health problem for years. The risk of relapse among illicit drug use is essential for developing adequate substance reuse prevention policies. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the potential predictor in long-term relapse rates among young patients that underwent a family-based treatment program. METHODS: To perform this study, 103 young patients with substance use (mean age: 16.2 years, 78.6% male) were referred to participate in a 10-week family-based treatment program. At the beginning and at the end of the treatment, the patients were required to fill out the Chinese Craving Beliefs Questionnaire (CCBQ), the Adolescents' Behavior-problem Scale (ABS), and the Family APGAR. Furthermore, the patients' caregivers had to fill out the Family APGAR, the 12-item version of the Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ), and the Parenting Stress Index (PSI). All patients were followed up for 5 years in order to observe their long-term outcomes regarding substance use relapse. RESULTS: During the 10-week family-oriented programs, the CCBQ scores, the CHQ scores and the Child-domain of PSI significantly decreased. Better changes in patients' behavioral problems during the treatment program predicted a lesser likelihood of substance use relapse in the subsequent 5 years. Furthermore, methamphetamine or 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine use and living in single-parent families were two factors associated with higher relapse rates. CONCLUSIONS: The changes in patients' behavioral problems during the treatment program may serve as a predictor of substance use relapse over the subsequent 5 years. This study's findings provide insight about substance use prevention and serve as a reference for policy-making.

Difference in long-term relapse rates between youths with ketamine use and those with stimulants use.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the relapse risk among different illicit drugs is vital for developing an adequate relapse prevention policy. Therefore, the current study aims to explore the potential difference in long-term relapse rates between youths who use ketamine and those who use stimulants (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA] or methamphetamine). METHODS: The study's participants included 92 youths with ketamine use (ketamine group, mean age: 16.0 years) and 43 youths with MDMA/methamphetamine use (stimulants group, mean age: 16.1 years) that had undergone a family-oriented treatment program in a medical center in Taiwan. All participants were followed up for a maximum of 7 years in order to observe their long-term outcomes with regard to substance use relapse. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, compared to the 34.8% relapse rate in ketamine users, their counterparts who used MDMA or methamphetamine had a significantly higher relapse rate (60.5%, Adjusted HR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.06-3.28, p = 0.032). Of the youths in the ketamine group that relapsed, 65.6% continued to use ketamine in their relapse event, while 34.4% switched to MDMA or methamphetamine. Among the relapsing youths in the stimulants group, 84.6% continued to use MDMA or methamphetamine in their relapse event, while 15.4% switched to ketamine (p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to adolescents who use ketamine, those using MDMA or methamphetamine had higher relapse rates and were more likely to use the same type of drug upon relapsing. These results can serve as a crucial reference for developing relapse prevention policies of illicit drugs for the youth population.

Cinnamomum Cassia Extracts Suppress Human Lung Cancer Cells Invasion by Reducing u-PA/MMP Expression through the FAK to ERK Pathways.

Cinnamomum cassia exhibits antioxidative, apoptotic, and cytostatic properties. These activities have been attributed to the modulation of several biological processes and are beneficial for possible pharmaceutical applications. However, the potential of C. cassia in retarding lung adenocarcinoma cells metastasis remains ambiguous. We determined whether C. cassia extract (CCE) reduces metastasis of human lung adenocarcinoma cells. The results showed that CCE treatment (up to 60 µg/mL) for 24 h exhibited no cytotoxicity on the A549 and H1299 cell lines but inhibited the motility, invasiveness, and migration of these cells by repressing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA). CCE also impaired cell adhesion to collagen. CCE significantly reduced p-focal adhesion kinase (FAK) Tyr397, p-FAK Tyr925, p-extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)1/2, and Ras homolog gene family (Rho)A expression. CCE showed anti-metastatic activity of A549 and H1299 cells by repressing u-PA/MMP-2 via FAK to ERK1/2 pathways. These findings may facilitate future clinical trials of lung adenocarcinoma chemotherapy to confirm the promising results.

Duchesnea indica extract suppresses the migration of human lung adenocarcinoma cells by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process through which epithelial cells are transformed into mesenchymal cells; EMT diminishes cell polarity and cell-cell adhesion in cancer cells, leading to enhanced migratory and invasive properties. In this experiment, zymography, cell invasion, and migration assays were performed. Results indicated that Duchesnea indica extracts (DIE) inhibited highly metastatic A549 and H1299 cells by reducing the secretions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and urokinase-type plasminogen activator. Cell adhesion assay also demonstrated that DIE reduced the cell adhesion properties. Western blot analysis showed that DIE down-regulated the expression of N-cadherin, fibronectin, and vimentin, which are mesenchymal markers, and enhanced that of E-cadherin, which is an epithelial marker. In vivo study showed that tumor growth was significantly reduced in BALB/c nude mouse xenograft model administered with oral gavage of DIE. Therefore, DIE could be exhibits potential as a phytochemical-based platform for prevention and treatment of lung cancer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 2053-2063, 2017.

Everolimus suppresses invasion and migration of renal cell carcinoma by inhibiting FAK activity and reversing epithelial to mesenchymal transition in vitro and in vivo.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults and the major cause of mortality in urological cancer. Most patients with RCC are asymptomatic until the disease is advanced and unresectable. In this situation, systemic therapy with immunotherapy or molecularly targeted therapy agents play an important role in therapeutic strategy. Everolimus (EVE), an m-TOR inhibitor, has the potential to inhibit tumor progression at multiple levels and is indicated for the treatment of advanced RCC in patients whose disease has metastasis. In this study, we provide molecular evidence associated with the antimetastatic effect of everolimus by demonstrating the suppression of lung metastasis of 786-O cells in mouse model. This effect was associated with reduced protein expressions of p-FAK (Tyr 925), p-Src (Tyr416), Vimentin, and RhoA and also with increased the E-cadherin protein expression. In summary, these findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in the antimetastatic effect of everolimus and are thus valuable in the treatment of metastatic RCC.

Cinnamomum cassia extracts reverses TGF-ß1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human lung adenocarcinoma cells and suppresses tumor growth in vivo.

Metastasis is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality in patients, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is essential for cancer metastasis and antidrug resistance. Cinnamomum cassia has several antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer biological effects. However, the anti-EMT effect of C. cassia in human lung carcinoma is rarely reported. In this study, we determined whether C. cassia extracts (CCE) reduces the EMT and tumor growth of human lung adenocarcinoma cells. CCE inhibited the transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1-induced cell motility and invasiveness of A549 and H1299 cells by repressing matrix metalloproteinase-2 and urokinase-type plasminogen activator as well as impaired cell adhesion to collagen. CCE also affected the TGF-ß1-induced EMT by downregulating the expression of vimentin and fibronectin and upregulating E-cadherin. The nude mice xenograft model showed that CCE reduced A549 tumor growth. Thus, CCE possesses antimetastatic activity of A549 and H1299 cells by affecting EMT and suppressing A549 tumor growth in vivo. This result suggested that CCE could be used as an antimetastatic agent or as an adjuvant for anticancer therapy.

Preliminary Asian experience of using perampanel in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the efficacy and safety of perampanel over a 3-month period in a sample of Asian people with epilepsy. METHODS: The efficacy and safety of perampanel as an adjunctive therapy for patients with epilepsy were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Patients were categorized according to seizure type, concomitant antiepileptic drug usage, and perampanel dosage. RESULTS: A total of 210 patients were included in the study and 131 patients completed 3 months of perampanel treatment. The average dosage of perampanel was 5.31 mg/day, and the 50% responder rate (≥50% seizure frequency reduction) in all patients was 45.8%, with a 27.5% seizure-free rate. For focal seizures, focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures, and primary generalized seizures, the 50% responder rates were respectively 29.4%, 49.5%, and 36.4%. In total, 39.5% of patients experienced adverse events within 3 months of observation period, and the rate of drug withdrawal due to adverse events was 8.6%. Dizziness, ataxia, irritability/aggression were the most common adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy and safety of perampanel in a real-world setting with Asian patients is comparable to that in clinical trials that have included fewer Asian patients.

3-Hydroxyflavone inhibits human osteosarcoma U2OS and 143B cells metastasis by affecting EMT and repressing u-PA/MMP-2 via FAK-Src to MEK/ERK and RhoA/MLC2 pathways and reduces 143B tumor growth in vivo.

Many natural flavonoids have cytostatic and apoptotic properties; however, we little know whether the effect of synthetic 3-hydroxyflavone on metastasis and tumor growth of human osteosarcoma. Here, we tested the hypothesis that 3-hydroxyflavone suppresses human osteosarcoma cells metastasis and tumor growth. 3-hydroxyflavone, up to 50 µM without cytotoxicity, inhibited U2OS and 143B cells motility, invasiveness and migration by reducing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and also impaired cell adhesion to gelatin. 3-hydroxyflavone significantly reduced p-focal adhesion kinase (FAK) Tyr397, p-FAK Tyr925, p-steroid receptor coactivator (Src), p-mitogen/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK)1/2, p-myosin light chain (MLC)2 Ser19, epithelial cell adhesion molecule, Ras homolog gene family (Rho)A and fibronectin expressions. 3-hydroxyflavone also affected the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by down-regulating expressions of Vimentin and α-catenin with activation of the transcription factor Slug. In nude mice xenograft model and tail vein injection model showed that 3-hydroxyflavone reduced 143B tumor growth and lung metastasis. 3-hydroxyflavone possesses the anti-metastatic activity of U2OS and 143B cells by affecting EMT and repressing u-PA/MMP-2 via FAK-Src to MEK/ERK and RhoA/MLC2 pathways and suppresses 143B tumor growth in vivo. This may lead to clinical trials of osteosarcoma chemotherapy to confirm the promising result in the future.

Capsaicin protects endothelial cells and macrophage against oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced injury by direct antioxidant action.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease. It is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, lipid accumulation, leukocyte activation, and the production of inflammatory mediators and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Capsaicin, a biologically active compound of the red pepper and chili pepper, has several anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and hypolipidemic biological effects. However, its protective effects on foam cell formation and endothelial injury induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the anti-oxidative activity of capsaicin, and determined the mechanism by which capsaicin rescues human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from oxLDL-mediated dysfunction. The anti-oxidative activity of capsaicin was defined by Apo B fragmentation and conjugated diene production of the copper-mediated oxidation of LDL. Capsaicin repressed ROS generation, as well as subsequent mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, cytochrome c expression, chromosome condensation, and caspase-3 activation induced by oxLDL in HUVECs. Capsaicin also protected foam cell formation in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Our results suggest that capsaicin may prevent oxLDL-induced cellular dysfunction and protect RAW 264.7 cells from LDL oxidation.

Inhibition of the invasion and migration of renal carcinoma 786­o­si3 cells in vitro and in vivo by Koelreuteria formosana extract.

Koelreuteria formosana ethanolic extract (KFEE) is obtained from natural plants that are endemic to Taiwan. In a previous study, it was demonstrated that KFEE inhibited low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and prevented oxidized LDL­induced apoptosis in endothelial cells. In the present study, KFEE was shown to inhibit the invasion and migration of 786­O­SI3 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells while not exhibiting any cytotoxic effects. 786­O­SI3 cells were treated with KFEE at numerous concentrations of ≤100 µg/ml for 24 h. In order to examine the effects of KFEE, cells were then subjected to a series of assays for cell viability (MTT), wound healing migration, cell invasion and migration, gelatin zymography, casein zymography and immunofluorescence, as well as western blot analysis. KFEE was shown to decrease levels of matrix metalloproteinase­2, phosphorylated (p­)focal adhesion kinase Try925, p­paxillin Ser178, p­mitogen­activated protein kinase kinase 1/2, p­myosin light chain and p­extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in 786-0-SI3 cells. Reduction of lung metastases was observed in KFEE-treated mice compared with vehicle­treated control mice. KFEE inhibited the invasion of RCC cells and may have the potential for use as a chemopreventive agent against RCC metastasis.

Lithiation of a silyl ether: formation of an ortho-Fries hydroxyketone.

A hydroxy-directed alkylation of an N,N-diethylarylamide using CIPE-assisted α-silyl carbanions (CIPE = complex-induced proximity effect) has been developed using a simple reagent combination of LDA (lithium diisopropylamide) and chlorosilane. A study of the mechanism, and the application of the procedure to an anionic Snieckus-Fries rearrangement for a highly efficient synthesis of the potent phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002, are reported.

Koelreuteria formosana extract impedes in vitro human LDL and prevents oxidised LDL-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Koelreuteria formosana ethanol extract (KFEE) is obtained from natural plants that are endemic in Taiwan. A study showed that KFEE has antioxidant activity in DPPH assay. In the current study, the antioxidative activity of KFEE, which contains polyphenols including gallic acid and caffeic acid, was evaluated. The manner by which KFEE protects human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from oxidised LDL (oxLDL)-mediated dysfunction in vitro was investigated as well. The results indicate that the antioxidative activity of KFEE is defined by the relative electrophoretic mobility of oxLDL, the fragmentation of ApoB, conjugated diene production, and malondialdehyde production through Cu(2+)-mediated oxidation of LDL. KFEE also inhibited ROS generation as well as the subsequent mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, chromosome condensation, cytochrome C release, and caspase-3 activation induced by oxLDL in HUVECs. Our results also indicate that KFEE may protect LDL oxidation and prevent oxLDL-induced cellular dysfunction in HUVECs.

Black tea polyphenols reverse epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and suppress cancer invasion and proteases in human oral cancer cells.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer cells is considered to be a prerequisite for acquiring invasive/migratory phenotype and subsequent metastasis. This study provides molecular evidence associated with the antimetastatic effect of black tea polyphenol extracts (BTE), which contain polyphenols including gallic acid, gallocatechin, catechin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, epicatechin-3-gallate, and theaflavin 3,3'-digallate, in an an oral squamous cell culture system by showing a nearly complete inhibition on the invasion (p < 0.001) of SCC-4 cells via reduced activities of MMP-2 (p < 0.001) and u-PA (p < 0.001). Immunoblot was performed to find that BTE could induce up-regulation of epithelial markers such as E-cadherin and inhibit mesenchymal markers such as snail-1 and vimentin. BTE inhibited p-FAK and p-paxillin, indicating the anti-EMT effect of BTE in oral squamous cell carcinoma. BTE was evidenced by its inhibition of the tumor growth of SCC-4 cells via cancer cell xenografted nude mice mode. These results suggested that BTE could reduce invasion by reversing EMT in human oral cancer cells.