Accessory polar renal artery encountered in transperitoneal systemic laparoscopic paraaortic lymphadenectomy

OBJECTIVE

To increase vigilance among gynecological surgeons for the presence of accessory polar renal artery (APRA) encountered with transperitoneal systemic laparoscopic paraaortic lymphadenectomy (LPAL).

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted on 156 women who underwent LPAL for various gynecologic malignancies between November 2003 and December 2009.

RESULTS

The median age, parity, body mass index, and number of previous abdominal surgeries, respectively, of the women were 52 years (range, 23-82 years), two (range, 0-7), 24.1 kg/m2 (range, 17.4-35.0 kg/m2), and 0 (range, 0-3). During the study period, we found four women with APRA. There were three cases of right lower APRAs arising from the abdominal aorta, caudal to the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA), terminating at the parenchyma of the lower pole of the right kidney. In the other case, the APRA arose from the abdominal aorta superior to the IMA. There were no vascular complications, such as transection or ligation of the APRA.

CONCLUSION

It is important for the gynecological oncologic surgeon to have knowledge of retroperitoneal vascular anatomy, experience in laparoscopic surgery, and an accurate surgical technique to avoid vascular injury during LPAL.

A case of primary ovarian adenomyoma mimicking ovarian malignancy

Adenomyoma is a benign tumor composed of smooth muscle and benign endometrium. These tumors typically originate within the uterus. An extrauterine adenomyoma is an extremely rare entity. After an extensive literature search, only four cases of primary ovarian adenomyoma appear to have thus far been reported. Here, we report a case of ovarian adenomyoma in a 39-year-old woman mimicking malignant neoplasma of the ovary, along with a brief literature review.

Association between interleukin-4R and TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms and the risk of colorectal cancer in a Korean population

AIM

Colorectal cancer is associated with inflammatory bowel disease. The mechanisms of how different genetic make-ups of cytokines might influence the individual susceptibility to develop particular types of tumours are still unknown. The authors analysed the association between genetic polymorphisms in cytokine/cytokine receptor genes and the risk of colorectal cancer in a Korean population.

METHOD

The authors assessed polymorphisms of the interleukin: IL-1, IL-1R, IL-2, IL-4, IL-4R, IL-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, IFN-γ genes in Korean patients with colorectal cancer (n = 170) and in a normal healthy control group (n = 130) to investigate the association between theses cytokine gene polymorphisms and the risk of colorectal cancer.

RESULTS

The IL-4R 1902*T allele was found to be associated with an increased risk of colon cancer (P < 0.01, OR = 2.0) and rectal cancer (P < 0.05, OR = 1.8). The IL-4R 1902*C allele was associated with a decreased risk of both colon cancer (P < 0.01, OR = 0.51) and rectal cancer (P < 0.05, OR = 0.5). The TFG-β1 10*T allele was found to be associated with an increased risk of colon cancer (P < 0.00, OR = 2.3) and the TFG-β1 10*C allele with a decreased risk of colon cancer (P < 0.00, OR = 0.43).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the genetic polymorphisms of IL-4R and TGF-β1 are associated with the risk of colorectal cancer in a Korean population.

Inhibition of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1β by Hispidin Derivatives Isolated from the Fruiting Body of Phellinus linteus

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1β (PTP1β) acts as a negative regulator of insulin signaling. Selective inhibition of PTP1β has served as a potential drug target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We evaluated the inhibitory effect of Phellinus linteus against PTP1β as part of our ongoing search for natural therapeutic and preventive agents for diabetes mellitus. Fractions of the P. linteus extract were found to exhibit significant inhibitory activities against PTP1β. In an attempt to identify bioactive components, we isolated, from the most active ethyl acetate fraction, five hispidin derivatives (phelligridimer A, davallialactone, hypholomine B, interfungins A, and inoscavin A) and four phenolic compounds (protocatechuic acid, protocatechualdehyde, caffeic acid, and ellagic acid). The chemical structures of these compounds were elucidated from spectroscopic evidence and by comparison with published data. All the compounds strongly inhibited PTP1β activity in an in vitro assay; their IC50 values ranged from 9.0 ± 0.01 to 58.2 ± 0.3 μM. Our results indicated that the hispidin skeleton may be an important moiety for inhibitory activity of the above compounds against PTP1β. Thus, hispidin derivatives could be a potent new class of natural PTP1β inhibitors.

Antimicrobial activity of the constituents of Smallanthus sonchifolius leaves against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been a serious problem as its infection is associated with higher mortality and increase cost worldwide. In the present study, the antibacterial activity of enhydrin, polymatin B, allo-schkuhriolide from the leaves of Smallanthus sonchifolius was investigated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Enhydrin, polymatin B, allo-schkuhriolide from the leaves of Smallanthus sonchifolius were tested for antimicrobial activity using micro dilution broth method against 2 strains of ATCC 33591, ATCC 25923 and 15 strains of clinical isolates MRSA.

RESULTS

The antibacterial activity of Smallanthus sonchifolius can safely be attributed to enhydrin as polymatin B, and allo-schkuhriolide are not showing any activity against Staphylococcus aureus strains. The enhydrin showed good antibacterial activity against all tested strains (MIC = 125-500 microg/ml).

DISCUSSION

These results suggest that only enhydrin can be considered as an antibacterial drug against MRSA.

Inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1beta by hispidin derivatives isolated from the fruiting body of Phellinus linteus

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1beta (PTP1beta) acts as a negative regulator of insulin signaling. Selective inhibition of PTP1beta has served as a potential drug target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We evaluated the inhibitory effect of Phellinus linteus against PTP1beta as part of our ongoing search for natural therapeutic and preventive agents for diabetes mellitus. Fractions of the P. linteus extract were found to exhibit significant inhibitory activities against PTP1beta. In an attempt to identify bioactive components, we isolated, from the most active ethyl acetate fraction, five hispidin derivatives (phelligridimer A, davallialactone, hypholomine B, interfungins A, and inoscavin A) and four phenolic compounds (protocatechuic acid, protocatechualdehyde, caffeic acid, and ellagic acid). The chemical structures of these compounds were elucidated from spectroscopic evidence and by comparison with published data. All the compounds strongly inhibited PTP1beta activity in an in vitro assay; their IC50 values ranged from 9.0 +/- 0.01 to 58.2 +/- 0.3 microM. Our results indicated that the hispidin skeleton may be an important moiety for inhibitory activity of the above compounds against PTP1beta. Thus, hispidin derivatives could be a potent new class of natural PTP1beta inhibitors.

Arterial stiffness and proinflammatory cytokines in fibromyalgia syndrome

OBJECTIVES

We assessed arterial stiffness and inflammatory cytokine profiles in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients and analysed the association between them.

METHODS

Twenty-seven FMS patients and 29 age-matched premenopausal healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Arterial stiffness was assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) from pulse waveform analysis. Levels of serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and a colorimetric assay was used for measurement of serum nitric oxide (NO) metabolites (nitrate and nitrite, NOx) level. Statistical analyses included the Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman's correlation coefficient analysis.

RESULTS

Higher AIx and AIx@HR75 (aortic AIx at a heart rate of 75 beats/min) were noted in FMS compared to those in the controls after adjustment using covariants (p(adj)=0.023 and p(adj)<0.001). However, there were no differences between the three regional PWVs of the two groups at the aorta-femoral, femoral-dorsalis, and aorta-radialis arteries (p(adj)>0.05 for all). FMS subjects had significantly higher serum IL-8 levels than did the healthy controls (327.9±588.7 vs. 76.4±90.5, p(adj)=0.041). However, there were no significant differences in serum IL-1β, IL-6, VEGF, or NOx levels between the FMS patients and the controls (p(adj)>0.05 of all). Serum IL-8 level did not correlate with PWV and AIx in FMS patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates higher AIx and IL-8 levels in FMS subjects compared to those of the controls. However, arterial stiffness including AIx in FMS was not determined by the serum IL-8 level.

Obesity of TallyHO/JngJ mouse is due to increased food intake with early development of leptin resistance

TALLYHO/JngJ (TallyHo) mouse is a recently established animal model for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with phenotypes of mild obesity and male-limited hyperglycemia. In this study, we investigated how obesity develops in TallyHo mice by measuring parameters of food intake and energy expenditure. At 4 weeks of age, TallyHo mice were heavier than control C57BL/6 mice with increased food intake but comparable energy expenditure parameters, such as body temperature, cold-induced thermogenesis, oxygen consumption rate (VO(2)) and spontaneous locomotor activity. Furthermore, pair-fed TallyHo mice, which were fed the same amount of food as C57BL/6 mice, showed similar patterns of body weight gain to C57BL/6 mice at all ages, implying that obesity in TallyHo mice may develop by increased food intake but not by decreased energy consumption. TallyHo mice appear to have hypothalamic leptin resistance at 4 weeks of age, as indicated by the increased expression of orexigenic neuropeptides in the hypothalamus and no alteration of food intake and neuropeptide expression upon intravenous leptin treatment. Leptin injection to TallyHo mice, however, increased the phosphorylation of STAT3 and Akt, an important signaling mediator of leptin, in a pattern similar to that in C57BL/6 mice. In conclusion, increased food intake is a crucial component in the development of obesity in TallyHo mice, in which central leptin resistance, possibly caused by uncoupling between activation of leptin signaling and neuropeptide expression, might be involved.

An abnormal nonhyperdiploid karyotype is a significant adverse prognostic factor for multiple myeloma in the bortezomib era

Multiple myeloma is clinically heterogeneous and risk stratification is vital for prognostication and informing treatment decisions. As bortezomib is able to overcome several high-risk features of myeloma, the validity of conventional risk-stratification and prognostication systems needs to be reevaluated. We study the survival data of 261 previously untreated myeloma patients managed at our institution, where bortezomib became available from 2004 for the treatment of relapse disease. Patient and disease characteristics, and survival data were evaluated overall, and with respect to bortezomib exposure. Overall, the international staging system (ISS), metaphase karyotyping and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were discerning of survival outcomes, where the median for the entire cohort was 5.2 years. However, when stratified by bortezomib exposure, only metaphase karyotyping was still discriminating of long-term prognosis. The presence of an abnormal nonhyperdiploid karyotype overrides all other clinical and laboratory parameters in predicting for a worse outcome on multivariate analysis (median survival 2.6 years, P = 0.001), suggesting that bortezomib used at relapse is better able to overcome adverse risk related to high tumor burden (as measured by the ISS) than adverse cytogenetics on conventional karyotyping. Metaphase karyotyping provides additional prognostic information on tumor kinetics where the presence of a normal diploid karyotype in the absence of any high-risk FISH markers correlated with superior survival and could act as a surrogate for lower plasma cell proliferation.

Risk factors for device-associated infection related to organisational characteristics of intensive care units: findings from the Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System

Device-associated infections (DAIs) have been the major causes of morbidity and mortality of patients in intensive care units (ICUs). This study evaluated the risk factors for DAIs in ICUs. Ninety-six medical or surgical ICUs of 56 hospitals participated in the Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System between July 2007 and June 2008. The occurrence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), central line-associated bloodstream infection (CABSI), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) were monitored and DAI rates were calculated. Data associated with ICU characteristics were collected and Poisson regression was used for statistical analysis. Rates of CAUTI, CABSI, and VAP were 3.87 per 1000 urinary catheter days, 2.23 per 1000 central line days, and 1.89 per 1000 mechanical ventilator days, respectively. Rates of CAUTI were higher in ICUs in Seoul (P=0.032) and ICUs of major teaching hospitals (P=0.010). The ICUs of university-affiliated hospitals showed lower CAUTI rates (P=0.013). CABSI rates were higher in Seoul (P=0.001) and in medical ICUs (P=0.026). VAP rates were lower in ICUs of hospitals with more than 900 beds compared with hospitals with 400-699 beds (P=0.026). VAP rates were higher in surgical ICUs (P<0.0001) and increased 1.13-fold with each 100-unit increase in beds per infection control professional (P=0.003). The organisational and institutional characteristics of ICUs may influence DAI rates and there is a need for improvement in the incidence of VAP, CAUTI or CABSI.

Electronic structure of double perovskite A2FeReO6 (A = Ba and Ca): interplay between spin-orbit interaction, electron correlation, and lattice distortion

We have investigated the electronic structure of double perovskites, Ba(2)FeReO(6) (metallic) and Ca(2)FeReO(6) (insulating) using optical and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. By comparing the experimental results with the density functional theory calculations, we found that the electronic structure of Ba(2)FeReO(6) could be determined from the interaction of the electron correlation and spin-orbit coupling. On the other hand, for Ca(2)FeReO(6), the lattice distortion and electron correlation are important in determining the electronic structure. Additionally, the insulating gap in Ca(2)FeReO(6) is realized by the spin-orbit coupling. Our work shows that the subtle interplay of the spin-orbit interaction, electron correlation, and lattice distortion should be taken into account to understand the electronic structure of the 5d transition metal oxides.

Anti-angiogenic activity of methanol extract of Phellinus linteus and its fractions

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of MeOH extract of PL (PLME) and its fractions on angiogenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PLME and its subsequent fractions (methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions) were evaluated in vitro. Specifically, the anti-angiogenic activities of PLME and its fractions were investigated by measuring their effects on the proliferation, migration, tube formation and phosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition, the in vivo Matrigel plug model was applied to evaluate new vessel formation.

RESULTS

The results revealed that PLME and its subsequent fractions, except for the aqueous fraction, led to significant inhibition of the proliferation, migration, tube formation and VEGFR-2 phosphorylation of HUVECs as well as in vivo angiogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate the potential for the use of PLME in pathological situations involving stimulated angiogenesis, such as inflammation and tumor development.

Roasted licorice extracts dampen high glucose-induced mesangial hyperplasia and matrix deposition through blocking Akt activation and TGF-beta signaling

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) characterized as nephrotic syndrome and diffuse glomerulosclerosis can cause renal failure and end-stage kidney disease. Expansion of mesangial matrix around capillaries in the kidney glomeruli is a prominent feature of DN. This study investigated whether licorice extracts inhibited mesangial cell (MC) proliferation and matrix accumulation induced by high glucose (HG). Human renal MC were cultured in media containing 5.5 mM glucose plus 27.5 mM mannitol as an osmotic control or 33 mM glucose for 3 d in the presence of water or ethanol extracts from raw licorice (LW, LE) or roasted licorice (RLW, RLE). Non-polar components including glycyrrhetic acid were elevated during licorice roasting, whereas polar components soluble in water extracts were diminished. Exposure of cells to HG caused significant increases in collagen IV secretion and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression, which was appeased by RLW and RLE at transcriptional levels. The inhibitory potency was high in the order of RLE > or = RLW > or = LE > > LW. Non-polar glycyrrhetic acid but not glycyrrhizin retarded HG-stimulated mesangial matrix deposition through diminishing CTGF expression. In addition, RLW and RLE but not LW modulated membrane type matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MT-1 MMP) expression, MMP-2 activity and tissue inhibitor of MMP-2 (TIMP-2), which facilitated the degradation of mesangial matrix. Furthermore, the augmented expression of CTGF and TIMP-2 in HG-exposed cells was mediated by Akt activation and TGF-beta/Smad signaling through PKCbeta2-responsive signaling pathways. However, HG-down-regulated MT-1 MMP expression was independent of activation of ERK1/2 and Akt when using their inhibitors of DB98059 (ERK1/2) and LY294002 (Akt) alone or in combination. These results demonstrate that extracts from roasted licorice may be highly potent therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of mesangial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis leading to diabetes nephropathy due to longstanding diabetes mellitus.

A prospective observational study of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in Asia: baseline characteristics of symptom severity and treatment options in a paediatric population

OBJECTIVES

To better understand the burden and management of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in East Asia, this subanalysis of the baseline characteristics of a large prospective, observational, nonrandomized study investigating the relationships between symptom severity, treatments, co-morbidities, and health outcomes provides information about the diagnosis of, and treatment patterns for, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in this region.

METHODS

Outpatients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms participated in this 12-month study performed in China, Korea, and Taiwan. Patients were grouped according to whether they received conventional treatment or no or other treatment. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptom severity and co-morbidities were assessed using the Clinical Global Impressions-Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Severity scale and Child Symptom Inventory-4: Parent Checklist (categories B to J) / Adolescent Symptom Inventory-4: Parent Checklist (categories L and O), respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 502 patients aged 6 to 18 years were enrolled. Investigators were psychiatrists (69%) and paediatricians (31%), who used the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (86%), the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (6%), and other attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnostic criteria (8%) for diagnosis. Pharmacotherapy was the most commonly prescribed treatment (n = 251; 50%), and treated patients were older (9.1 vs. 8.2 years; p < 0.001) and more severely ill (Clinical Global Impressions-Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder- Severity scale, 4.6 vs. 4.2; p < 0.001) than those who were not treated. Anxiety and oppositional co-morbidities were commonly reported.

CONCLUSIONS

These data provide an insight into the demographics, diagnosis, and treatment of paediatric patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in East Asia, and provide a baseline for assessing changes in treatment practices in this population.

Increased prevalence of white matter hyperintensities in patients with panic disorder

The aim of the current study is to compare the prevalence, severity and location of cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH) between patients with panic disorder (PD) and healthy control subjects. Patients with PD (n = 24) and matched healthy control subjects (n = 24) were scanned using a 3.0 Tesla whole-body magnetic resonance scanner. Axial T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images were acquired and evaluated for the prevalence, severity and location of WMH using the modified composite scale of Fazekas and Coffey and coded separately for deep and periventricular WMH. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between WMH and the diagnosis of PD. A greater severity of total WMH was associated with a diagnosis of PD in a dose-dependent pattern (odds ratio [OR] = 8.8, P = 0.005 for mild WMH; OR = 27.7, P = 0.007 for moderate to severe WMH). Deep WMH, where most group differences originated, were predominantly located in the frontal region of the brain (n = 16 in PD, n = 1 in control). The current report is the first study to report an increased prevalence of WMH in patients with PD.

Callus formation is associated with hyperproliferation and incomplete differentiation of keratinocytes, and increased expression of adhesion molecules

BACKGROUND

A callus is a local thickening of skin, characterized by accelerated keratinization and a reduced rate of desquamation. However, the mechanism of callus formation is not fully understood.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the expression patterns, in callused skin, of genes that are implicated in keratinization and adhesion/desquamation.

METHODS

Samples of skin from the dorsum of the foot (DF), centre of the plantar arch (CP) and anterior aspect of the heel (AH) were obtained from fresh cadavers, and protein and gene expression were determined by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively.

RESULTS

The stratum corneum in the DF showed a splitting phenotype by conventional haematoxylin and eosin staining, while the stratum corneum was normal in the AH. Cells of the stratum corneum in the AH were nonsquamous. Expression of cornification-related molecules including involucrin, filaggrin, caspase 14 and calcium-sensing receptor was higher in the AH. Similarly, expression of adhesive proteins such as corneodesmosin, desmoglein 1 and desmocollin 1 was increased in the AH. However, protease-activated receptor 2 expression was reduced in the stratum granulosum in the AH. The number of proliferating cells in the stratum basale was significantly increased in the AH, compared with the DF and CP.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that calluses form as a result of hyperproliferation and incomplete differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes, and increased expression of adhesion molecules.

Generation of a recloned transgenic cat expressing red fluorescence protein

Somatic cells from a first-generation red fluorescence protein transgenic cat (first RFP TG cat) were used to produce a recloned RFP transgenic cat (Re-RFP TG cat) (Felis catus) that systemically expressed RFP. A total of 281 RFP cloned embryos were transferred into 13 surrogate mothers (mean=21+/-7.7 embryos/recipient). One surrogate cat was diagnosed pregnant (7.7%) and delivered one live kitten. The presence of the RFP gene in the mRNA and genomic DNA of the Re-RFP TG cat was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analyses, and red fluorescence was detected in its internal organs and placental tissue samples. Analysis of nine feline-specific microsatellite loci confirmed that the Re-RFP TG cat was genetically identical to the donor cat. To test whether results such as normality of offspring and a low cloning success were due to epigenetic modifications, global methylation of placenta from the two first cloned RFP TG cats (77.08% and 82.29%) and the Re-RFP TG cat (76.38%) were compared by bisulfite mutagenesis sequencing analysis. In conclusion, although cloning efficiency was low, we demonstrated the successful use of a cloned first RFP TG cat as a donor cat to produce a Re-RFP TG cat. These results may facilitate future developments in biomedical models for human therapeutic applications.

Dynamic scaling in the susceptibility of the spin-1/2 kagome lattice antiferromagnet herbertsmithite

The spin-1/2 kagome lattice antiferromagnet herbertsmithite, ZnCu(3)(OH)(6)Cl(2), is a candidate material for a quantum spin liquid ground state. We show that the magnetic response of this material displays an unusual scaling relation in both the bulk ac susceptibility and the low energy dynamic susceptibility as measured by inelastic neutron scattering. The quantity chiT(alpha) with alpha approximately 0.66 can be expressed as a universal function of H/T or omega/T. This scaling is discussed in relation to similar behavior seen in systems influenced by disorder or by the proximity to a quantum critical point.

The diagnostic value of the sagittal multiplanar reconstruction CT images for nasal bone fractures

AIM

To compare the diagnostic performance of sagittal multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images and axial images for the detection of a nasal bone fracture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective study included 533 consecutive patients who underwent three-dimensional images with 64-section multidetector-row CT for the evaluation of a facial bone fracture between June 2007 and May 2008 (366 males; 167 females; mean age +/- standard deviation 31.1+/-21.2 years; age range 1-92 years). Two observers independently scored the possibility of a nasal bone fracture on axial and sagittal images. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The Az values of the sagittal images were higher than those of the axial images for both observers (p=0.002 and 0.010, respectively) with higher accuracy (p<0.001 and 0.016, respectively). The sensitivities of sagittal images were superior to those of axial images, especially for type 1simple nasal bone fractures with no or minimal displacement (observer 1, 98.6 versus 72.8%; observer 2, 84.9 versus 71%).

CONCLUSION

Sagittal MPR facial bone CT images provided superior diagnostic performance, and their addition to axial images is useful for the evaluation of nasal bone fractures.

Dehydroglyasperin C isolated from licorice caused Nrf2-mediated induction of detoxifying enzymes

Our preliminary experiment demonstrated that a n-hexane/EtOH (9:1, volume) extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice) caused a significant induction of NAD(P)H:oxidoquinone reductase (NQO1), one of the well-known phase 2 detoxifying enzymes. We isolated dehydroglyasperin C (DGC) as a potent phase 2 enzyme inducer from licorice. DGC induced NQO1 both in wild-type murine hepatoma Hepa1c1c7 and ARNT-lacking BPRc1 cells, indicating that the compound is a monofunctional inducer. The compound induced not only NQO1 but also some other phase 2 detoxifying/antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione S-transferase, gamma-glutamylcysteine synthase, glutathione reductase, and heme oxygenase 1. Similar to most monofunctional inducers, DGC caused the accumulation of Nrf2 in the nucleus in dose- and time-dependent manners and thereby activated expression of phase 2 detoxifying enzymes. It also resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the luciferase activity in the reporter assay, in which HepG2-C8 cells transfected with antioxidant response element (ARE)-luciferase construct were used, suggesting that the induction of phase 2 detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes could be achieved through the interaction of Nrf2 with the ARE sequence in the promoter region of their genes.

Two-dimensional confinement of 3d{1} electrons in LaTiO_{3}/LaAlO{3} multilayers

We report spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements of the anisotropy of the interband transitions parallel and perpendicular to the planes of (LaTiO3)n(LaAlO3)5 multilayers with n=1-3. These provide direct information about the electronic structure of the two-dimensional (2D) 3d{1} state of the Ti ions. In combination with local density approximation, including a Hubbard U calculation, we suggest that 2D confinement in the TiO2 slabs lifts the degeneracy of the t{2g} states leaving only the planar d{xy} orbitals occupied. We outline that these multilayers can serve as a model system for the study of the t{2g} 2D Hubbard model.

A case of ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma with yolk sac tumor in a 35-year-old woman

Ovarian yolk sac tumor (YST) is a malignant ovarian neoplasm differentiated from primordial germ cells that occur in young age, while endometrioid carcinoma (ECA) is a müllerian epithelial tumor that usually occurs in older patients. The coexistence of an ovarian ECA and YST component is very rare. Only 12 cases have been reported until now according to a Medline search of the English literatures. We present a case of a simultaneous ECA and a YST component in a 35-year-old woman. Exploratory laparotomy was performed. The parts of both ovaries that showed an endometrioid-like glandular pattern were positive for cytokeratin 7 and negative for AFP, but the YST component was negative for cytokeratin 7 and positive for AFP. After completion of four courses of BEP chemotherapy, two courses of taxane and carboplatin chemotherapy were added. The patient failed to respond and succumbed to the disease after 12 months of follow-up.