ABSTRACT
Yacon is used in folk medicines as a medicinal tea for hypoglycemia. In a recent study described herein, anti-oxidative, -bacterial, -fungal activities and cell protective functions of leaf extract of Smallanthus sonchifolius have been reported. In this study, to evaluate the effect on pancreatitis by using yacon extract (YE), we examined the efficacy of YE on DBTC (8 mg/kg)-induced pancreatitis in rats. After the treatment of DBTC on day 21, highly increased inflammatory cells, necrosis of acinar cells and connective tissues were observed. However, the inflammation was strongly inhibited in YE as compared to control group (CON). As a result of immunoreactions against HSP27, HSP70 and MAC387, weak or no possibilities of normal group (NOR) were observed in pancreas, whereas in immunoreactions against HSP27 and HSP70, strong expression of CON was observed in acinar and duct cells on day 14. However, the expression of HSP27 was decreased in acinar cells for CON treatment on day 21 as compared to 14 days observation, whereas strong expression of HSP27 was observed in duct cells and blood vessels on day 21. As regards the immunoreactions against HSP70, weak or no possibilities of CON were observed in duct cells and blood vessels as well as in acinar cells on day 21. In CON, time-dependent increase of MAC387 was observed. However, the expressions of HSP27 and HSP70 were weakly observed in YE as compared to CON on day 14 with strong positive reaction in acinar cells on day 21. Immunoreactions against MAC387 were decreased in YE on day 14 than day 7, which increased on day 21 as compared to day 14. These results suggested that yacon extract has inhibitory and mitigatory effects against DBTC-induced pancreatitis.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Acinar Cells , Beverages , Blood Vessels , Connective Tissue , Hypoglycemia , Inflammation , Necrosis , Pancreas , PancreatitisABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and low dose leucovorin (LV) combination in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with unresectable or recurrent colorectal carcinomas were prospectively accrued. Up to one prior chemotherapy regimen was allowed. Patients received oxaliplatin, 85 mg/m2, administered as a 2-hour infusion on day 1, followed by LV, 20 mg/m2, as a bolus and 5-FU, 1, 500 mg/m2, via continuous infusion for 24 hours on days 1 and 2. Treatment was repeated every 2 weeks until disease progression or adverse effects prohibited further therapy. RESULTS: Between August 1999 and May 2004, 31 patients were enrolled in this study. Of the patients enrolled, 24 and 31 were evaluable for tumor response and survival analysis, respectively. The patients' characteristics included a median age of 59, with 6 (19%) having had prior chemotherapy. No patient achieved a complete response, but nine (38%) attained a partial response. Seven (29%) patients maintained a stable disease and 8 (33%) experienced increasing disease. The median duration of the response was 6 months. After a median follow-up of 9.6 months, the median time to progression was 3.8 months, with a median survival of 10.7 months. The hematological toxicities were mild to moderate, with no treatment-related mortality or infection. The major non-hematological toxicity was gastrointestinal toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The combination chemotherapy of oxaliplatin, low dose LV and continuous infusion of 5-FU is safe and has a cost-benefit, but is a moderately effective regimen in advanced colorectal cancer. A randomized trial comparing low and high dosages of leucovorin in the FOLFOX regimen is warranted.