Neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity mediates Lycium barbarum polysaccharides-enhanced sexual performance without stimulating noncontact erection in rats.

RATIONALE: Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is known to promote reproductive functions. However, its role in noncontact erection (NCE) of penis initiated by brain regions including medial preoptic area (MPOA) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) regions responsible for sexual behavior has not been investigated. OBJECTIVES: Therefore, this study initially investigated the effects of LBP on male sexual function, and subsequently, the mechanistic insight was investigated through assessing the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the MPOA and PVN. METHODS: The adult male rats were treated with 100 mg/kg of LBP or vehicle by oral gavage. Before and after 14 days of treatment, copulatory behavior and noncontact erection (NCE) were recorded. After the last behavioral test, the brain was isolated to measure nNOS expression in the MPOA and PVN. RESULTS: Data showed that LBP treatment significantly increased both the frequencies of intromission as well as ejaculation, compared to the control group. Whereas, a reduced post-ejaculatory interval was observed compared to same group on day 0. Furthermore, the treatment led to an increased intromission ratio, inter-intromission interval, and the number of MPOA nNOS-immunoreactive cells (nNOS-ir). Additionally, a significantly positive correlation between ejaculation frequency and MPOA nNOS-ir cells was recorded. Of note, LBP treatment had no effects on NCE and PVN nNOS-ir expression. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that LBP enhances sexual behavior through increased nNOS expression in the MPOA in male rats.

Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on lipopolysaccharide-induced anhedonic depressive-like behavior in male rats.

The peripheral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces depressive-like behavior. Anhedonia is a core symptom of depression, defined as a loss of the capacity to experience pleasure. The present study used the sucrose preference test to investigate the influence of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on LPS-induced anhedonia in male rats. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: (I) vehicle + saline, (II) vehicle + LPS, (III) EGb 761 + saline, and (IV) EGb 761 + LPS. Saline or LPS (100 µg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 2 h before the sucrose preference test. Sucrose consumption was recorded 2, 4, 6, 13, and 24 h after 100 µg/kg of LPS or saline injection in the dark phase of the light/dark cycle. Dopamine and serotonin levels in the nucleus accumbens were measured. Our results indicated that the vehicle + LPS group exhibited a significant decrease in sucrose intake compared with the vehicle + saline group. The EGb 761 + LPS group showed more sucrose and food consumption than the vehicle + LPS group. Additionally, compared with the EGb 761 + LPS group, the vehicle + LPS group had less dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens. Treatment with EGb 761 had no effect on water intake. Our results suggest that EGb 761 may be useful for reducing anhedonic depressive-like behavior.

A useful method integrating production and immobilization of recombinant cellulase.

The development of cellulase-based bioprocess is afflicted by the processing efficiency of enzymes. To address this issue, a method based on artificial oil bodies (AOBs) was proposed to integrate production and immobilization of recombinant cellulase. First, the heterologous endoglucanase (celA), cellobiohydrolase (celK), and ß-glucosidase (gls) genes were individually fused with oleosin, a structural protein of plant seed oils. After expression in Escherichia coli, each fusion protein of insolubility was mixed together with plant oils. AOBs were assembled by subjecting the mixture to sonication. Consequently, active CelA, CelK, and Gls were resumed and co-immobilized on AOBs surface. Finally, the assembly condition (including the protein ratio) and the reaction condition were further optimized by response surface methodology. The resulting AOBs-bound cellulase remained stable for 4 cycles of cellulose-hydrolyzed reactions. Overall, the result shows a promise of this proposed approach for processing recombinant cellulase, which may provide a facile method to investigate optimum combination of cellulase components towards various cellulosic materials.

Oxaliplatin with weekly bolus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in pretreated advanced colorectal cancer patients: a phase II study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and toxicity of oxaliplatin in combination with weekly bolus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) in patients with 5-FU-pretreated advanced colorectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 39 patients with documented 5-FU-resistant advanced colorectal cancer were enrolled. All 39 patients had previously received weekly high-dose 5-FU/LV (2,600 mg/m(2) 5-FU plus 100 mg/m(2) LV as 24-hour infusion) as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Oxaliplatin (85 mg/m(2)) was delivered as an intravenous infusion over 2 h on days 1 and 15, while 5-FU (500 mg/m(2)) and LV (20 mg/m(2)) were administered as an intravenous bolus on days 1, 8 and 15. One treatment course consisted of 3 consecutive weeks of therapy followed by a 1-week rest. RESULTS: In an intent-to-treat analysis, the objective response rate for the 39 patients was 20.5% (95% confidence interval, 7.2-33.8%). The disease was stable in 19 patients (48.7%), and progressive in 11 (28.2%). The median survival for all 39 patients was 8.9 months. The median time to progression was 5.0 months. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in only 1 patient (2.6%), and grade 2 and 3/4 peripheral neuropathy occurred in 10 (25.6%) and 5 (12.8%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Oxaliplatin in combination with weekly bolus 5-FU/LV is also active in patients with advanced colorectal cancer where first-line treatment has failed.