Clinical applications of circulating biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer.

Despite recent advances in cancer diagnostics and treatment, the mortality associated with lung cancer is still the highest in the world. Late-stage diagnosis, often accompanied by metastasis, is a major contributor to the high mortality rates, emphasizing the urgent need for reliable and readily accessible diagnostic tools that can detect biomarkers unique to lung cancer. Circulating factors, such as circulating tumor DNA and extracellular vesicles, from liquid biopsy have been recognized as diagnostic or prognostic markers in lung cancer. Numerous clinical studies are currently underway to investigate the potential of circulating tumor DNA, circulating tumor RNA, exosomes, and exosomal microRNA within the context of lung cancer. Those clinical studies aim to address the poor diagnostics and limited treatment options for lung cancer, with the ultimate goal of developing clinical markers and personalized therapies. In this review, we discuss the roles of each circulating factor, its current research status, and ongoing clinical studies of circulating factors in non-small cell lung cancer. Additionally, we discuss the circulating factors specifically found in lung cancer stem cells and examine approved diagnostic assays designed to detect circulating biomarkers in lung cancer patients.

Relationship between intraoperative requirement for anesthetics and postoperative analgesic consumption in laparoscopic colectomy: a randomized controlled double-blinded study.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the relationship between intraoperative requirement for an inhalational anesthetic (sevoflurane) or an opioid (remifentanil) and postoperative analgesic consumption. METHODS: The study included 200 adult patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colectomy. In the sevoflurane group, the effect-site concentration of remifentanil was fixed at 1.0 ng/ml, while the inspiratory sevoflurane concentration was adjusted to maintain an appropriate anesthetic depth. In the remifentanil group, the end-expiratory sevoflurane concentration was fixed at 1.0 vol.%, and the remifentanil concentration was adjusted. Pain scores and cumulative postoperative analgesic consumptions were evaluated at 2, 6, 24, and 48 h after surgery. RESULTS: Average end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane and effect-site concentration of remifentanil were 2.0 ± 0.4 vol.% and 3.9 ± 1.4 ng/ml in the sevoflurane and remifentanil groups, respectively. Cumulative postoperative analgesic consumption at 48 h postoperatively was 55 ± 26 ml in the sevoflurane group and 57 ± 33 ml in the remifentanil group. In the remifentanil group, the postoperative cumulative analgesic consumptions at 2 and 6 h were positively correlated with intraoperative remifentanil requirements (2 h: r = 0.36, P < 0.001; 6 h: r = 0.38, P < 0.001). However, there was no significant correlation in the sevoflurane group (r = 0.04, P = 0.691). CONCLUSIONS: The amount of intraoperative requirement of short acting opioid, remifentanil, is correlated with postoperative analgesic consumption within postoperative 6 h. It may be contributed by the development of acute opioid tolerance. However, intraoperative sevoflurane requirement had no effect on postoperative analgesic consumption.

Comparing quality of recovery and satisfaction between spinal anesthesia and nerve block in orthopedic below-knee surgery: A prospective controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative quality of recovery (QoR) and patient satisfaction have gained increasing significance in medical services. This study aimed to compare these 2 parameters between 2 types of regional anesthetics (spinal anesthesia and combined sciatic-femoral nerve block) in orthopedic lower knee surgery. METHODS: A total of 101 patients were classified into 2 groups (combined sciatic-femoral nerve block, group N; spinal anesthesia, group S) according to patient preference. In group N, sciatic and femoral nerve blocks were performed on the popliteal and groin regions, respectively, under ultrasound guidance. Spinal anesthesia was performed in group S. The primary outcomes were QoR and patient satisfaction. QoR was measured using the Korean translation of the QoR-15K. Patient satisfaction was assessed using an 11-point Likert scale (0-10) and a dichotomous question addressing anesthesia preferences for future surgeries. RESULTS: The physical independence of the postoperative QoR-15K was significantly higher in group N than in group S (14.2 vs 12.0, P = .04). On the 11-point Likert scale, group N scored 8.8, and group S scored 7.8 (P = .001). In the dichotomous question, 93.8% of the group N and 52.8% of the group S answered that they would like to choose the same anesthesia method for the next surgery (P < .001). In addition, fewer participants in group N complained of backache than those in group S, and the time to first urination after anesthesia was shorter in group N than in group S (P = .004, <.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Combined sciatic-femoral nerve block may provide better physical independence and satisfaction than spinal anesthesia in orthopedic below-knee surgeries.

Anti-Obesity Effects of GABA in C57BL/6J Mice with High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Obesity is the excessive accumulation of body fat resulting from impairment in energy balance mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanism whereby GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity, and whether it induces lipolysis and browning in white adipose tissue (WAT), using high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We demonstrated that GABA substantially inhibits the body mass gain of mice by suppressing adipogenesis and lipogenesis. Consistent with this result, histological analysis of WAT demonstrated that GABA decreases adipocyte size. Moreover, we show that GABA administration decreases fasting blood glucose and improves serum lipid profiles and hepatic lipogenesis in HFD-fed obese mice. Furthermore, Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses showed that GABA activates protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathways that increase lipolysis and promote uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-mediated WAT browning. Overall, these results suggest that GABA exerts an anti-obesity effect via the regulation of lipid metabolism.

GABA Prevents Age-Related Sarcopenic Obesity in Mice with High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obesity.

Sarcopenic obesity is characterized by concurrent obesity and muscle wasting (sarcopenia) and is common in the elderly. Sarcopenic obesity has steadily increased as the aging population has grown and is an increasing public health burden. Both obesity and sarcopenia independently increase health risks of the elderly, but sarcopenic obesity has a greater effect on metabolic disease than either obesity or sarcopenia alone. The metabolic mechanisms of obesity and sarcopenia are strongly interconnected, and obesity and sarcopenia form a vicious cycle, with each pathology exacerbating the other. The pathogenesis of sarcopenic obesity is more complex than either disease alone and remains incompletely understood, underscoring the significant unmet clinical need for effective sarcopenic obesity treatments. We aimed to determine the efficacy and underlying regulatory mechanisms of Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in sarcopenic obesity in high-fat-diet-fed obese aged mice and alterations in related mechanisms to determine the potential of GABA as a therapeutic modality for sarcopenic obesity. In this study, we used young (3 months) and aged (20 months) mice to evaluate age-related sarcopenic obesity. The daily administration of GABA for 8 weeks resulted in decreased fat mass and increased muscle mass and strength in aged mice. GABA also enhanced energy expenditure in both adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. In addition, GABA promoted muscle synthesis and decreased muscle degradation by activating the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. These findings demonstrate that GABA has potential uses in preventing age-related sarcopenic obesity and related metabolic diseases.

Silk Peptide Ameliorates Sarcopenia through the Regulation of Akt/mTOR/FoxO3a Signaling Pathways and the Inhibition of Low-Grade Chronic Inflammation in Aged Mice.

As populations around the world age, interest in healthy aging is growing. One of the first physical changes that occurs with aging is the loss of muscle mass and strength, termed sarcopenia. Sarcopenia limits the activity of older people, reduces their quality of life, and increases the likelihood of their developing disease. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of the ingestion of acid-hydrolyzed silk peptide (SP) on the muscle mass and strength of mice of >22 months of age with naturally occurring sarcopenia, and to identify the mechanisms involved. The daily administration of SP for 8 weeks increased the activation of the Akt/mTOR/FoxO3a signaling pathways and increased the muscle mass and strength of the old mice. In addition, SP inhibited oxidative stress and inflammation in muscle, which are direct causes of sarcopenia. Therefore, SP represents a promising potential treatment for sarcopenia that may improve the healthy lifespan and quality of life of older people.

Hesperidin Ameliorates Sarcopenia through the Regulation of Inflammaging and the AKT/mTOR/FoxO3a Signaling Pathway in 22-26-Month-Old Mice.

Faced with a globally aging society, the maintenance of health and quality of life in older people is very important. The age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, known as sarcopenia, severely reduces quality of life and increases the risks of various diseases. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of hesperidin (HES) on inflammaging, with the intention of evaluating its potential use as a treatment for sarcopenia. We studied 22-26-month-old mice, corresponding to humans aged ≥70 years, with aging-related sarcopenia, and young mice aged 3-6 months. The daily administration of HES for 8 weeks resulted in greater muscle mass and strength and increased the fiber size of the old mice. HES also restored the immune homeostasis that had been disrupted by aging, such as the imbalance in M1/M2 macrophage ratio. In addition, we found that HES ameliorated the sarcopenia by regulating AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin/forkhead box 3a signaling through an increase in insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 expression in the old mice. Therefore, HES represents a promising candidate inhibitor of sarcopenia in older people, and its effects are achieved through the maintenance of immune homeostasis.

Wave-controlled aliasing in parallel imaging (Wave-CAIPI): Accelerating speed for the MRI-based diagnosis of enhancing intracranial lesions compared to magnetization-prepared gradient echo.

PURPOSE: We aimed to validate the diagnostic performance of accelerated post-contrast magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo (MPRAGE) using wave-controlled aliasing in parallel imaging (Wave-CAIPI) for enhancing intracranial lesions, compared with conventional MPRAGE. METHODS: A total of 233 consecutive patients who underwent post-contrast Wave-CAIPI and conventional MPRAGE (scan time: 2 min 39 s vs. 4 min 30 s) were retrospectively evaluated. Two radiologists independently assessed whole images for the presence and diagnosis of enhancing lesions. The diagnostic performance for non-enhancing lesions, quantitative parameters (diameter of enhancing lesions, signal-to-noise ratio [SNR], contrast-to-noise ratio [CNR], and contrast rate), qualitative parameters (grey-white matter differentiation and conspicuity of enhancing lesions), and image qualities (overall image quality and motion artifacts) were also surveyed. The weighted kappa and percent agreement were used to evaluate the diagnostic agreement between the two sequences. RESULTS: Wave-CAIPI MPRAGE achieved significantly high agreement for the detection (98.7%[460/466], κ = 0.965) and diagnosis (97.8%[455/466], κ = 0.955) of enhancing intracranial lesions with conventional MPRAGE in pooled analysis. Detection and diagnosis of non-enhancing lesions (97.6% and 96.9% agreement), and diameter of enhancing lesions (P>0.05) also demonstrated high agreements between two sequences. Although Wave-CAIPI MPRAGE show lower SNR (P<0.01) than conventional MRAGE, it fulfilled comparable CNR (P = 0.486) and higher contrast rate (P<0.01). The qualitative parameters show similar value (P>0.05). The overall image quality was slightly poor, however, motion artifacts were better in Wave-CAIPI MPRAGE (both P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Wave-CAIPI MPRAGE provides reliable diagnostic performance for enhancing intracranial lesions within half of the scan time compared with conventional MPRAGE.

Radical Scavenging-Linked Anti-Obesity Effect of Standardized Ecklonia stolonifera Extract on 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes and High-Fat Diet-Fed ICR Mice.

Ecklonia stolonifera, belonging to the Laminariaceae family, is an edible widely distributed perennial brown marine alga that is rich in polyphenols. Dieckol, a bioactive component of the E. stolonifera extract (ESE), is a major phlorotannin compound found only in brown algae. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of ESE to inhibit lipid accumulation caused by oxidative stress in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high-fat diet-fed obese ICR mice. We report that ESE-treated obese ICR mice, which were fed a high-fat diet, showed reduced whole-body and adipose tissue weights with improved plasma lipid profiles. In vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that ESE inhibited the expression of adipogenesis-related genes associated with fat accumulation through AMP-activated protein kinase activity and increased the expression of lipolysis-related genes. In addition, ESE reduced the expression of enzymes involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and increased the expression of antioxidant enzymes, thereby reducing ROS levels. These findings suggest that ESE possesses strong antioxidant properties and inhibits oxidative stress-induced lipid accumulation by reducing ROS production during adipocyte generation.

PLK1-mediated phosphorylation of ß-catenin enhances its stability and transcriptional activity for extracellular matrix remodeling in metastatic NSCLC.

Rationale: ß-catenin is a component for cell adhesion and a transcriptional coactivator in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Previously we found that catalytically active PLK1 drives EMT in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), upregulating extracellular matrix factors including TSG6, laminin γ2, and CD44. To understand the underlying mechanism and clinical significance of PLK1 and ß-catenin in NSCLC, their relationship and function in metastatic regulation were investigated. Methods: The clinical relevance between the survival rate of NSCLC patients and the expression of PLK1 and ß-catenin was analyzed by a KM plot. Immunoprecipitation, kinase assay, LC-MS/MS spectrometry, and site-directed mutagenesis were performed to reveal their interaction and phosphorylation. A lentiviral doxycycline-inducible system, Transwell-based 3D culture, tail-vein injection model, confocal microscopy, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to elucidate the function of phosphorylated ß-catenin in the EMT of NSCLC. Results: Clinical analysis revealed that the high expression of CTNNB1/PLK1 was inversely correlated with the survival rates of 1,292 NSCLC patients, especially in metastatic NSCLC. In TGF-ß-induced or active PLK1-driven EMT, ß-catenin, PLK1, TSG6, laminin γ2, and CD44 were concurrently upregulated. ß-catenin is a binding partner of PLK1 in TGF-ß-induced EMT and is phosphorylated at S311. Phosphomimetic ß-catenin promotes cell motility, invasiveness of NSCLC cells, and metastasis in a tail-vein injection mouse model. Its upregulated stability by phosphorylation enhances transcriptional activity through nuclear translocation for the expression of laminin γ2, CD44, and c-Jun, therefore enhancing PLK1 expression by AP-1. Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence for the critical role of the PLK1/ß-catenin/AP-1 axis in metastatic NSCLC, implying that ß-catenin and PLK1 may serve as a molecular target and prognostic indicator of the therapeutic response in metastatic NSCLC patients.

The Effects of Body Composition Characteristics on the Functional Disability in Patients with Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

Several research studies suggest that obese patients are at a higher risk of developing lumbar spinal disorder, including degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), compared to normal-weight individuals. However, there are few investigations of how obesity affects functional disability in activities of daily living (ADL) in patients who were diagnosed with LSS. This prospective observational study aimed to determine if an association exists between body composition parameters, such as body fat and skeletal muscle, and functional disability in ADL of LSS patients. In the results of the current study, there were significant differences in percent body fat between the mild/moderate and severe disability groups. However, there were no differences in skeletal muscle mass or index between the two groups. Furthermore, we found a positive linear relationship between percent body fat and functional disability in male sex. This study suggests that increased percent body fat predicts potential severe functional disability in ADL in LSS patients. Body composition analysis may provide useful information for predicting the disease severity of various lumbar spinal disorders in clinical practice.

Renomedullary Interstitial Cell Tumor Mimicking Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report.

Renomedullary interstitial cell tumors are often incidentally identified either upon autopsy or kidney resection for other reasons. However, rare renomedullary interstitial cell tumor cases resulting in a clinical symptomatic mass have been reported. We present a case of renomedullary interstitial cell tumor that was manifested as an incidentally detected renal mass and mimicked renal cell carcinoma on the imaging features.

A Combined Angelica gigas and Artemisia dracunculus Extract Prevents Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy in Mice through the Akt/mTOR/FoxO3a Signaling Pathway.

Since skeletal muscle atrophy resulting from various causes accelerates the progression of several diseases, its prevention should help maintain health and quality of life. A range of natural materials have been investigated for their potential preventive effects against muscle atrophy. Here, ethanol extracts of Angelica gigas and Artemisia dracunculus were concentrated and dried, and mixed at a ratio of 7:3 to create the mixture CHDT. We then evaluated the potential for CHDT to prevent muscle atrophy and explored the mechanisms involved. CHDT was orally administered to C57BL/6 mice daily for 30 days, and dexamethasone (Dex) was intraperitoneally injected daily to induce muscle atrophy from 14 days after the start of oral administration. We found that CHDT prevented the Dex-induced reductions in muscle strength, mass, and fiber size, likely by upregulating the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. In addition, CHDT reduced the Dex-induced increase in the serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which directly induce the degradation of muscle proteins. These findings suggest that CHDT could serve as a natural food supplement for the prevention of muscle atrophy.

The non-saponin fraction of Korean Red Ginseng ameliorates sarcopenia by regulating immune homeostasis in 22-26-month-old C57BL/6J mice.

Background: The non-saponin fraction (NSF) of Korean Red Ginseng is a powder in which saponin is eliminated from red ginseng concentrate by fractionation. In this study, we examined the effect of NSF on age-associated sarcopenia in old mice. Methods: NSF (50 or 200 mg/kg/day) was administered orally daily to young (3-6-month-old) and old (20-24-month-old) C57BL/6 J mice for 6 weeks. Body weight and grip strength were assessed once a week during the oral administration period. The gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscle were excised, and the muscle fiber size was compared through hematoxylin and eosin staining. In addition, the effect of NSF on sarcopenia and inflammation/oxidative stress-related factors in hindlimb muscles was investigated by western blotting. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of NSF on immune homeostasis. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture, and the serum levels of insulin-like growth factor 1, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and glutathione were evaluated. Results: NSF significantly alleviated muscle strength, mass, and also fiber size in old mice. Age-associated impairment of immune homeostasis was recovered by NSF through retaining CD11b+F4/80+ macrophages and regulating inflammatory biomarkers. NSF also decreased the age-induced expression of oxidative stress factors. Taken together, NSF showed the effect of improving sarcopenia by inhibiting low-grade chronic inflammatory/oxidative stress factors. Conclusion: NSF exhibited anti-sarcopenia effects by regulating chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in old mice. Thus, we suggest that NSF is a promising restorative agent that can be used to improve sarcopenia in the elderly as well as maintain immune homeostasis.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) prevents obesity by reducing lipid accumulation and increasing white adipose browning in high-fat diet-fed mice.

Obesity is characterized by excessive fat accumulation owing to an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. The suppression of lipid accumulation and the promotion of white adipose tissue (WAT) browning, which increases energy expenditure, may protect against obesity. Here, we demonstrate that okra complex (OKC) significantly reduces the body and WAT mass of mice by inhibiting adipogenesis and lipogenesis. We also show that OKC administration reduces fasting blood glucose and serum cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) concentrations and ameliorates liver steatosis in HFD-fed obese mice. In addition, OKC activates the protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway, which increases lipolysis; and induces the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-mediated "browning" of WAT. These findings demonstrate that OKC has potentially beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and upregulates thermogenesis, which implies that it may be useful for the therapy and/or prevention of obesity and related metabolic diseases.

In-Depth Understanding of Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura: A Review of Its Bioactivities and Bioactive Compounds.

Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura (ES) is mainly distributed in the coastal areas of the middle Pacific, around Korea and Japan, and has a long-standing edible value. It is rich in various compounds, such as polysaccharides, fatty acids, alginic acid, fucoxanthin, and phlorotannins, among which the polyphenol compound phlorotannins are the main active ingredients. Studies have shown that the extracts and active components of ES exhibit anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, cardioprotective, immunomodulatory, and other pharmacological properties in vivo and in vitro. Although ES contains a variety of bioactive compounds, it is not widely known and has not been extensively studied. Based on its potential health benefits, it is expected to play an important role in improving the nutritional value of food both economically and medically. Therefore, ES needs to be better understood and developed so that it can be utilized in the development and application of marine medicines, functional foods, bioactive substances, and in many other fields. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the bioactivities and bioactive compounds of ES to promote in-depth research and a reference for the comprehensive utilization of ES in the future.

Gintonin-enriched fraction protects against sarcopenic obesity by promoting energy expenditure and attenuating skeletal muscle atrophy in high-fat diet-fed mice.

Background: Gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF), a non-saponin fraction of ginseng, is a novel glycolipoprotein rich in hydrophobic amino acids. GEF has recently been shown to regulate lipid metabolism and browning in adipocytes; however, the mechanisms underlying its effects on energy metabolism and whether it affects sarcopenic obesity are unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effects of GEF on skeletal muscle atrophy in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Methods: To examine the effect of GEF on sarcopenic obesity, 4-week-old male ICR mice were used. The mice were divided into four groups: chow diet (CD), HFD, HFD supplemented with 50 mg/kg/day GEF, or 150 mg/kg/day GEF for 6 weeks. We analyzed body mass gain and grip strength, histological staining, western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence to quantify changes in sarcopenic obesity-related factors. Results: GEF inhibited body mass gain while HFD-fed mice gained 22.7 ± 2.0 g, whereas GEF-treated mice gained 14.3 ± 1.2 g for GEF50 and 11.8 ± 1.6 g for GEF150 by downregulating adipogenesis and inducing lipolysis and browning in white adipose tissue (WAT). GEF also enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis threefold in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, GEF-treated skeletal muscle exhibited decreased expression of muscle-specific atrophic genes, and promoted myogenic differentiation and increased muscle mass and strength in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that GEF may have potential uses in preventing sarcopenic obesity by promoting energy expenditure and attenuating skeletal muscle atrophy.

Hyperechoic pancreas on ultrasonography: an analysis of its severity and clinical implications.

PURPOSE: This study investigated risk factors for hyperechoic pancreas (HP) on ultrasonography (US) according to HP severity. METHODS: Between December 2008 and February 2014, 1,459 subjects who underwent abdominal US as part of health examinations were retrospectively included. Two radiologists assessed and categorized the severity of HP as normal, mild, moderate, and severe. Subjects were allocated to two groups as follows: fatty pancreas 1 (FP1; mild to severe HP) and fatty pancreas 2 (FP2; moderate to severe HP). Clinico-metabolic parameters such as the body mass index and blood test profile of subjects with normoglycemia and prediabetes/diabetes were compared (normal vs. FP1; normal or mild HP vs. FP2). Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between HP, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and diabetes/prediabetes with adjustment for clinico-metabolic parameters. RESULTS: Of the 1,459 subjects, 71.2% and 40.4% showed HP and NAFLD on US, respectively. Normoglycemia and prediabetes/diabetes were present in 74.3% and 25.7% of subjects, respectively. Univariable analysis revealed that all the clinico-metabolic parameters were significantly associated with HP (all P<0.05). In the adjusted multivariable analysis, prediabetes/diabetes, NAFLD, age, and body mass index were significantly associated with HP with the FP1 and FP2 criteria. The independent factor with the strongest association with HP was NAFLD using the FP1 criterion (odds ratio [OR], 7.93; P<0.001) and prediabetes/diabetes using the FP2 criterion (OR, 6.96; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: NAFLD and prediabetes/diabetes were associated with US-diagnosed HP. Moderate to severe HP was a better predictor of prediabetes/diabetes, suggesting that evaluating HP severity may be useful in clinical practice.

Screening of Hibiscus and Cinnamomum Plants and Identification of Major Phytometabolites in Potential Plant Extracts Responsible for Apoptosis Induction in Skin Melanoma and Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells.

Carcinogenesis is a major concern that severely affects the human population. Owing to persistent demand for novel therapies to treat and prohibit this lethal disease, research interest among scientists is drawing its huge focus toward natural products, as they have minimum toxicity comparable with existing treatment methods. The plants produce secondary metabolites, which are known to have the anticancer potential for clinical drug development. Furthermore, the use of nanocarriers could boost the solubility and stability of phytocompounds to obtain site-targeting delivery. The identification of potential phytochemicals in natural compounds would be beneficial for the synthesis of biocompatible nanoemulsions. The present study aimed to investigate the potential cytotoxicity of ethanol extracts of Hibiscus syriacus and Cinnamomum loureirii Nees plant parts on human skin melanoma (G361) and lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells. Importantly, biochemical analysis results showed the presence of high phenol (50-55 µgGAE/mg) and flavonoids [42-45 µg quercetin equivalents (QE)/mg] contents with good antioxidant activity (40-58%) in C. loureirii Nees plants extracts. This plant possesses potent antiproliferative activity (60-90%) on the malignant G361 and A549 and cell lines correlated with the production of nitric oxide. Especially, C. loureirii plant extracts have major metabolites that exhibit cancer cell death associated with cell cycle arrest. These findings support the potential application of Cinnamomum for the development of therapeutic nanoemulsion in future cancer therapy.

Gintonin-enriched fraction improves sarcopenia by maintaining immune homeostasis in 20- to 24-month-old C57BL/6J mice.

BACKGROUND: Gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF) is a new non-saponin component glycolipoprotein isolated from ginseng root. This study examined the effect of GEF on age-related sarcopenia in old C57BL/6J mice. METHODS: Young (3-6 months) and old (20-24 months) C57BL/6J mice received oral GEF (50 mg/kg/day or 150 mg/kg/day) daily for 5 weeks. During the oral administration period, body weight and grip strength were measured weekly. After sacrifice, muscles from the hindlimb were excised and used for hematoxylin and eosin staining and western blotting to determine the effects of GEF on sarcopenia. The thymus was photographed to compare size, and flow cytometry was performed to examine the effect of GEF on immune homeostasis in the thymus and spleen. Blood samples were collected, and the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines and IGF-1 were measured. RESULTS: GEF caused a significant increase in muscle strength, mass, and fiber size in old mice. GEF restored age-related disruption of immune homeostasis by maintaining T cell compartments and regulating inflammatory biomarkers. Thus, GEF reduced common low-grade chronic inflammatory parameters, which are the main cause of muscle loss. CONCLUSION: GEF maintained immune homeostasis and inhibited markers of chronic inflammation, resulting in anti-sarcopenia effects in aged C57BL/6J mice. Thus, GEF is a potential therapeutic agent that slows sarcopenia in the elderly.