Randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of chicken hot water extract on insulin secretion

OBJECTIVE

Essence of chicken (EOC), a hot water extract of chicken, is widely consumed in Southeast Asia as a beverage. EOC has an inhibitory effect on the elevation of blood glucose levels and a secretagogue effect on insulin. However, the mechanism by which EOC promotes insulin secretion is unknown. We aimed to verify the postprandial hyperglycemic inhibitory effect and the insulin secretory effect of EOC in healthy adults under appropriate placebo settings. In addition, we aimed to understand the mechanism underlying the insulin secretory effect of EOC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-four healthy Japanese adults were fed 68 mL of EOC or control food, followed by 200 g of cooked rice. Blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were measured at 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after the participants ate cooked rice. The trial had a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled design.

RESULTS

The ingestion of EOC induced an increase in the maximum blood concentration (Cmax) of insulin and shortened the time required to reach the maximum blood concentration following rice consumption. Ingestion of the test beverage resulted in a significantly higher insulinogenic index than that obtained after ingestion of the control beverage. No side effects were observed in this study. Mechanistic experiments revealed that EOC stimulated significant (p < 0.05) secretion of GLP-1 from NCI-H716 human intestinal L cells at 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/mL.

CONCLUSIONS

Consuming EOC when eating rice supports pancreatic function. Daily consumption of EOC could elevate the early-phase insulin response; therefore, it could prevent diabetes in Asians with low insulin secretion.

Leukoderma induced by rhododendrol is different from leukoderma of vitiligo in pathogenesis: A novel comparative morphological study

BACKGROUND

Rhododendrol (rhododenol), an inhibitor of tyrosinase activity, is used as a skin-whitening component. Many cases of leukoderma after the application have been reported, termed rhododenol-induced leukoderma (RIL). The aim of this study was to clarify the pathogenesis of RIL morphologically through comparison with vitiligo.

METHODS

We examined 14 cases of RIL and 15 cases of vitiligo using routine histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Thirteen cases of RIL, six cases of vitiligo and specimens of the RIL mouse model were evaluated by electron microscopy.

RESULTS

There were common findings in RIL and vitiligo at the light-microscopic level: (a) vacuolar changes in the dermo-epidermal junction, (b) melanophages in the papillary dermis, (c) perifollicular lymphocyte infiltration, (d) loss or decrease of basal melanin pigment and (e) decrease of melanocytes in the lesions. The ultrastructural observations showed specific findings of RIL: (a) remaining melanocytes in depigmented lesions, (b) inhomogeneous melanization in melanocytes and (c) degenerated melanosomes in melanocytes. Some of the findings were observed in a RIL mouse model. Furthermore, it is notable that cell organelles of melanocytes were intact in our RIL cases.

CONCLUSION

Morphological changes of RIL targeting melanosomes in melanocytes without degeneration of organelles reflect the reversible clinical course of most cases.

Apocrine Adenocarcinoma Occurring on the Chin

We report a case of adenocarcinoma affecting the chin of a 48-year-old man. The tumor showed signs of apocrine differentiation and had infiltrated the muscle. The patient had no history or clinical evidence of breast cancer. We made a diagnosis of cutaneous apocrine adenocarcinoma. Apocrine adenocarcinoma rarely arises in areas with scarce apocrine glands. We reviewed the literature on apocrine adenocarcinoma of the face in areas other than the eyelids and auditory canal, where specialized apocrine glands are present.

Exendin-4, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, enhances isoflurane-induced preconditioning against myocardial infarction via caveolin-3 expression

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the cardioprotective effects of isoflurane and exendin-4 against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and the signaling pathways through which these effects are mediated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For infarct size measurements, anesthetized mice were subjected to 30 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Wild-type or caveolin-3 knockout mice received isoflurane, exendin-4, or isoflurane with exendin-4 before ischemia index determination. Caveolin-3 expression in the heart was measured by immunoblotting.

RESULTS

Myocardial infarct size was smaller in the isoflurane- [1.0 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC)] or exendin-4- (30 ng/kg i.v.) treated groups than the controls. Infarct size was not affected by isoflurane at 0.5 MAC or 3 ng/kg i.v. exendin-4, but the combination of these treatments reduced infarct size. Pharmacological preconditioning (isoflurane at 1.0 MAC, 30 ng/kg i.v. exendin-4, or isoflurane at 0.5 MAC with 3 ng/kg i.v. exendin-4) increased caveolin-3 protein expression in the heart after infarct induction. The cardioprotective effects of isoflurane, exendin-4, and isoflurane with exendin-4 were abolished in caveolin-3 knockout mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of isoflurane and exendin-4 reduced infarct size, but it was not more effective than either agent alone, and the cardioprotective effects of these agents are mediated by caveolin-3 expression.

Homologous and Heterologous Antibody Responses to Lipopolysaccharide after EnterohemorrhagicEscherichia coliInfection

To evaluate antibody responses against lipopolysaccharide (LPS: O157, O26, and O111) in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli(EHEC) infection, sera of 24 schoolchildren associated with the Morioka outbreak in 1997 and of 74 sporadic patients suspected of having EHEC infection were examined. Using a positive standard serum, quantitative evaluation of LPS antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was established. High levels of specific IgM and IgA antibodies against homologous E. coli LPS were present in the acute period and are characteristic of EHEC. This could be used for the serological diagnosis of EHEC infection, except for early infants and the elderly. In addition to the specific homologous response, multiple antibody responses against different serotypes other than those isolated were demonstrated in many cases by qualitative analysis using Western blotting.

Polymyxins as novel and safe mucosal adjuvants to induce humoral immune responses in mice

There is currently an urgent need to develop safe and effective adjuvants for enhancing vaccine-induced antigen-specific immune responses. We demonstrate here that intranasal immunization with clinically used polypeptide antibiotics, polymyxin B (PMB) and colistin (CL), along with ovalbumin (OVA), increases OVA-specific humoral immune responses in a dose-dependently manner at both mucosal and systemic compartments. Enhanced immunity by boosting was found to persist during 8 months of observation. Moreover, mice intranasally immunized with OVA plus various doses of PMB or CL showed neither inflammatory responses in the nasal cavity and olfactory bulbs nor renal damages, compared to those given OVA alone. These data suggest that polymyxins may serve as novel and safe mucosal adjuvants to induce humoral immune responses. The polymyxin adjuvanticity was found to be independent of endotoxins liberated by its bactericidal activity, as indicated by similar enhancing effects of PMB in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-hyporesponsive and LPS-susceptible mice. However, despite the presence of preexisting anti-PMB antibodies, we observed no reduction in the adjuvant function of polymyxins when they were given intranasally. Furthermore, the titers of OVA-specific Abs in mice intranasally immunized with OVA plus PMB or CL were significantly higher than those in mice administered with polymyxin analogues, such as polymyxin B nonapeptide and colistin methanesulfonate. The levels of released β-hexosaminidase and histamine in mast cell culture supernatants stimulated by PMB or CL were also significantly higher than those stimulated by their analogues. These results suggest that both the hydrophobic carbon chain and hydrophilic cationic cyclic peptide contribute to the mucosal adjuvanticity of PMB and CL.

Phase I first-in-human study of TAK-285, a novel investigational dual HER2/EGFR inhibitor, in cancer patients

BACKGROUND

This phase I first-in-human study was conducted in Japanese patients to investigate the safety, pharmacokinetics (PKs), and determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of oral TAK-285, a novel dual erbB protein kinase inhibitor that specifically targets human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2.

METHODS

The TAK-285 dose was escalated until MTD was determined. A second patient cohort received TAK-285 at the MTD for at least 4 weeks.

RESULTS

In all, 26 patients received TAK-285 at doses ranging from 50 to 400 mg once daily (q.d.) or twice daily (b.i.d.); 20 patients made up the dose escalation cohort and the remaining 6 patients were the repeated administration cohort. TAK-285 was well tolerated. Dose-limiting toxicities noted in two patients who received 400 mg b.i.d. were grade 3 increases in aminotransferases and grade 3 decreased appetite. Consequently, the MTD was determined to be 300 mg b.i.d. Absorption of TAK-285 was rapid after oral dosing, and plasma exposure at steady-state increased in a dose-proportional fashion for doses ranging from 50 to 300 mg b.i.d. A partial response was observed for one patient with parotid cancer who received 300 mg b.i.d.

CONCLUSION

The toxicity profile and PK properties of oral TAK-285 warrant further evaluation.

[Clinical trials of Escherichia coli O-serogroup serodiagnosis in patients with diarrhea by Ec-LPS array]

After developing the Ec-LPS array for Escherichia coli O-serogroup serodiagnosis (J. Jpn. Infect. Dis., 2007; 81: 26-32), we tested the array's usefulness in sera bled over 8 years ago from 24 patients with pediatric diarrhea. IgM and IgA antibodies in 20 sera among sera from the 24 reacted with a single LPS spot, making it possible to diagnose the O-serogroup. IgG antibodies in almost all patient sera reacted with many LPS among the 58 O-serogroup LPS of E. coli. O-serogroup strains of E. coli isolated from the 24 patients numbered 15. Among 11 patients in who O-serogroups were serodiagnosed by both methods, 7 were diagnosed with the same O-serogroups. Based on these results, this array appears useful in the O-serogroup serodiagnosis of E. coli.

[Study on pollutant pathway of norovirus contamination in oysters]

Noroviruses (NVs) cause human gastroenteritis through person-to-person transmission and via contaminated foods. In food poisoning, a major suspected cause is the consumption of raw oysters. We detected NVs from environmental water and oysters around a closed gulf where oysters are cultivated. We collected oyster and water samples once or twice a month for 30 months from October 2001 to March 2004. We then studied monthly changes in virus occurrence and in genetic relationships among 208 NVs isolated from water and oyster samples and from the feces of children suffering from acute gastroenteritis during the same period in the same region. In the analysis of untreated water flowing into farm sewage, NVs were detected year round. In other water samples -processed sewage, river water, and seawater-, oysters, and children's feces, NVs were detected mainly in winter. A comparison of NV nucleotide sequences showed genetic diversity, but some strains predominated in certain winter seasons. These predominant strains were detected across sample materials. In 2002/03, an identical strain was detected in sewage, river water, seawater, oysters, and feces. We also found that NV genetic types changed at the beginning of the season, in November or December, in both 2001/02 and 2002/03. This study showed a clear relationship between NVs detected in children's feces and those in environmental water and oysters. These results support the idea that NVs are transmitted from the feces of infected persons to oysters by the flow of water through farm sewage, rivers, and the sea, finally accumulating in the mid-gut gland of oysters.

Anoikis-resistant MDCK cells carrying susceptibilities to TNF-alpha and verotoxin that are suitable for influenza virus cultivation

Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were originally anchorage-dependent epithelial cells. Here, we have isolated a novel MDCK-derived cell population, termed 6 M-4, by means of culturing MDCK cells in suspension for nearly 6 months in the presence of Streptomyces griseus metalloendopeptidase (MEP). The isolated cells showed unique proliferation characteristics, which differed from parental MDCK cells. They proliferated adherently on a polystyrene matrix, but proliferated non-adherently both in the presence of MEP and on a non-adhesive matrix coated with poly 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC). The 6 M-4 cells consisted of at least two cell types. One type, termed 6 M-4-TR7, would not grow in soft agar and showed a novel phenotype in that the cells were susceptible to both TNF-alpha and verotoxin 1 (VT1). In addition, the isolated adhesion-independent cells sustained epithelial traits of parental MDCK cells. We further show that these MDCK-derivative cells are suitable for influenza virus cultivation. Hemagglutination (HA) titers of influenzaviruses A and B were increased in the suspension culture of 6 M-4-TR7 cells supplemented with the MEP in comparison to adherently growing cells in the presence of trypsin.

A novel endoscopic marker: safety experiments in the rat stomach

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

The study aimed to assess a newly developed endoscopic marker designed to cause only minor inflammatory reactions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Chitosan and carbon powder were used in the marker substance. The product was a viscoelastic solution, which was injected into the submucosa in rat stomach walls. The tissue reactions were then examined histopathologically. The structure of the injected marker substance was examined with electron microscopy into rat stomach walls. India ink, which is currently used as an endoscopic marker, served as the control.

RESULTS

Histopathological examination showed that inflammatory reactions with the novel agent were remarkably mild in the rat organs, while submucosally applied india ink caused severe inflammation in situ. The electron-microscopic findings showed that the carbon particles used were completely spherical in shape and that the carbon in the marker substance was entrapped in the chitosan networks. The india ink was shown to consist of a mixture of fine carbon particles and adhesive additives.

CONCLUSIONS

The chitosan-carbon solution appears to be a promising endoscopic marker substance, causing significantly reduced inflammation.

Antiproliferative activity of root extract from gentian plant (Gentiana triflora) on cultured and implanted tumor cells

We describe a novel pharmacological activity of the gentian root, an ingredient of Chinese medicines. Root extract from Gentiana triflora triggered cell death of human Daudi cells in culture. In addition, daily administration of the extract to mice inhibited growth of implanted solid tumors. Extract treatment of cultured cells resulted in the appearance of shranken, fragmented, or condensed cell and nuclear morphologies, and in chromosomal DNA degradation. But, the extract-treated cells did not show DNA fragmentation, which exhibits a nucleosome ladder, suggesting that extract-triggered cell death is not mediated through a typical apoptotic pathway.

[Serum anti-lPS antibody production in an outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 infection among schoolchildren]

Although there have been many reports of the usefulness of serodiagnosis of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157, the serotype of the bacteria detected and the increase in anti-LPS antibody have not always been consistent. In this study we investigated the diagnostic significance of measurements of anti-LPS antibody by ELISA in an outbreak of O157 infection among schoolchildren in whom the bacteriological test findings were clarified and the age groups were uniform. The anti-LPS antibody titer was measured in 31 patients (77 serum samples) in an outbreak of EHEC O157 : H7 infection (220 children infected) that occurred in a primary school in Morioka in 1996. The anti-O157 LPS antibody positivity rates of IgM, IgG, and IgA were 98.7%, 85.7%, and 98.7%, respectively. Between the time the meal that caused the outbreak and 19 days later, anti-O157 LPS IgM antibody and IgA antibody were detected in all patients. The specificity was investigated using control serum, and the specificity of IgM, IgG, and IgA was 93.5%, 93.5%, and 97.2%, respectively. Some samples contained antibodies against O111 and O26 LPS, but the titers were lower than the anti-O157 antibody titer. The anti-O111 antibody titer and anti-O26 antibody titer were highly correlated, suggesting that they were crossreactive antibodies for O157 LPS. No significant correlation was found between differences in clinical manifestations and the anti-O157 LPS antibody titer in this O157 outbreak in schoolchildren. It was clarified that an increase in anti-LPS antibody was found to support the diagnosis of mild cases of 0157 infection infection as well as severe cases.

Augmentation effects of lymphocyte activation by antigen-presenting macrophages on FDG uptake

OBJECTIVE

Research on FDG-uptake by blood cells has revealed that FDG is incorporated by macrophages and granulocytes, as well as activated lymphocytes. These characteristics of FDG suggest the possibility of visualizing the distribution of immunocytes in target organs. The aim of this study was to investigate if mouse spleen-derived lymphocytes, activated by macrophages presenting sheep red blood cell (sRBC) antigens, could be traced by FDG.

METHODS

One percent of a sRBC suspension was injected into the peritoneal cavity of mice thereby creating immunity to the sRBC antigen. The splenocytes, consisting mostly of lymphocytes, were isolated, and serum containing the anti-sRBC antibody was mixed with sRBC to prepare sRBC-antibody complexes (sRBC-AbCs). Then five percent of a thioglycolate medium was injected into the peritoneal cavity of the same mice, and macrophages of ascitic cell origin were obtained. These macrophages were added to the sRBC-AbCs to induce sRBC antigen presenting macrophages. These were incubated with splenocytes obtained from sRBC immunized mouse (sRBC immunized splenocytes) or non-immunized splenocytes to induce a T cell immune response. [3H]deoxyglucose ([3H]DG) and FDG were incorporated in splenocytes, and the quantity of their uptake was measured.

RESULTS

[3H]DG uptake by sRBC-immunized splenocytes was about eleven times as high as that of non-immunized splenocytes. In contrast, [3H]DG uptake by sRBC-immunized splenocytes, co-cultured with macrophages phagocytizing sRBC-AbCs, was about 40 times higher compared with non-immunized splenocytes. Splenocytes in non-immunized mice picked up very little [3H]DG, despite co-culture with macrophages phagocytizing sRBC-AbCs. Similar tendencies were observed with FDG.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the SUV calculated in PET reflects not only the number of lymphocytes, but also the activation state of the lymphocytes themselves. In addition, the biodistribution of antigen specific lymphocytes, that have been taken up FDG in vitro and returned to the body, can be observed through PET.

Nucleotide sequence of the 5'nontranslated and virion polypeptides regions of coxsackievirus B6

The nucleotide sequence of coxsackievirus B6 (CVB6) has been determined, and the nucleotides encoding the 5' nontranslated region (5' NTR) and virion polypeptides (VP4, 2, 3 and 1) were compared with other serotype CVBs. An Unweighted Pair-Group Method Analysis (UPGMA) of phylogenetic trees indicated that the 5' NTR of CVB6 locates on an independent branch from the other CVBs. The tree based on the amino acid sequences showed that CVB6 has close correlation with CVB4 in the VP4 and VP2 regions, with CVB1 and CVB5 in the VP3 region, and with CVB5 in the VP1 region. Amino acid sequences of variable regions within the VP2, VP3, and VP1 of CVB6 were unique among CVBs. Thus, by comparison of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of these variable regions, CVB6 can be easily distinguished from other serotypes. In addition, serine, instead of glycine, was found to locate at the amino-terminus of the VP1 region of CVB6, indicating that CVB6 has a unique cleavage site (i.e., glutamine/serine instead of glutamine/glycine) for proteinase 3C of Picornaviridae.

A Fe(3+)/DNA complex induces an anti-human immunodeficiency virus factor(s) in CD4+ lymphocyte cell lines

Numerous cytokines and chemokines are involved in inflammatory and immune response. Whereas some of them inhibit virus replication in vitro directly or increase the patients' T4-lymphocyte level, others effects are not so clear. Using human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cell cultures we have studied the antiviral effect of complexes of salmon DNA with metals and of a new factor(s) (antiviral factor, AVF) induced in cells by the complexes. The Fe3+/DNA complex possessed the highest antiviral activity. It was found that MT-2, MT-4, CEM and Jurkat cells treated with the complexes secreted AVF which inhibited the replication of nine HIV-1 isolates, was noncytotoxic and stimulated cell proliferation. AVF did not inactivate HIV. The molecular mass analysis of AVF showed that its antiviral activity is associated with its fraction of M(r) of 3 K. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of mRNA from MT-4 cells treated with the complexes showed an increase in the the expression of genes for interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and TNF-beta while expression of genes for IL-1-beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8. IL-10, IL-12; 35p, 40p, IL-13, GMCSF, GSF and RANTES was not detected at all. However, the anti-HIV activity of the cell culture supernatant in vitro cannot be explained by mere presence of the inflammatory substances mentioned above, because they do not possess such activity and their M(r) is higher than that of AVF. Our findings raise the possibility that AVF(s) may be involved in the mechanism of cell resistance against HIV.

Diversity of calcium signaling by metabotropic glutamate receptors

During prolonged application of glutamate (20 min), patterns of increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were studied in HEK-293 cells expressing metabotropic glutamate receptor, mGluR1alpha or mGluR5a. Stimulation of mGluR1alpha induced an increase in [Ca2+]i that consisted of an initial transient peak with a subsequent steady plateau or an oscillatory increase in [Ca2+]i. The transient phase was largely attributed to Ca2+ mobilization from the intracellular Ca2+ stores, but the sustained phase was solely due to Ca2+ influx through the mGluR1alpha receptor-operated Ca2+ channel. Prolonged stimulation of mGluR5a continuously induced [Ca2+]i oscillations through mobilization of Ca2+ from the intracellular Ca2+ stores. Studies on mutant receptors of mGluR1alpha and mGluR5a revealed that the coupling mechanism in the sustained phase of Ca2+ response is determined by oscillatory/non-oscillatory patterns of the initial Ca2+ response but not by the receptor identity. In mGluR1alpha-expressing cells, activation of protein kinase C selectively desensitized the pathway for intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, but the mGluR1alpha-operated Ca2+ channel remained active. In mGluR5a-expressing cells, phosphorylation of mGluR5a by protein kinase C, which accounts for the mechanism of mGluR5a-controlled [Ca2+]i oscillations, might prevent desensitization and result in constant oscillatory mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ stores. Our results provide a novel concept in which oscillatory/non-oscillatory mobilizations of Ca2+ induce different coupling mechanisms during prolonged stimulation of mGluRs.

In-vitro characterization of YM872, a selective, potent and highly water-soluble alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate receptor antagonist

The in-vitro pharmacological properties of (2,3-dioxo-7-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-6-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-quinoxal inyl)-acetic acid monohydrate, YM872, a novel and highly water-soluble alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA)-receptor antagonist were investigated. YM872 is highly water soluble (83 mg mL(-1) in Britton-Robinson buffer) compared with 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulphamoyl-benzo(F)quinoxaline (NBQX), 6-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-7-nitro-2,3(1H,4H)-quinoxalinedione hydrochloride (YM90K) or 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX). YM872 potently inhibits [3H]AMPA binding with a Ki (apparent equilibrium dissociation constant) value of 0.096 +/- 0.0024 microM. However, YM872 had very low affinity for other ionotropic glutamate receptors, as measured by competition with [3H]kainate (high-affinity kainate binding site, concentration resulting in half the maximum inhibition (IC50) = 4.6 +/- 0.14 microM), [3H]glutamate (N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor glutamate binding site, IC50 > 100 microM) and [3H]glycine (NMDA receptor glycine-binding site, IC50 > 100 microM). YM872 competitively antagonized kainate-induced currents in Xenopus laevis oocytes which express rat AMPA receptors, with a pA2 value of 6.97 +/- 0.01. In rat hippocampal primary cultures, YM872 blocked a 20-microM AMPA-induced increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration with an IC50 value of 0.82 +/- 0.031 microM, and blocked 300-microM kainate-induced neurotoxicity with an IC50 value of 1.02 microM. These results show that YM872 is a potent and highly water-soluble AMPA antagonist with great potential for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as stroke.