Columbianadin Inhibits Cell Proliferation by Inducing Apoptosis and Necroptosis in HCT116 Colon Cancer Cells

Columbianadin (CBN), a natural coumarin from Angelica decursiva (Umbelliferae), is known to have various biological activities including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. In this study, the anti-proliferative mechanism of actions mediated by CBN was investigated in HCT-116 human colon cancer cells. CBN effectively suppressed the growth of colon cancer cells. Low concentration (up to 25 μM) of CBN induced apoptosis, and high concentration (50 μM) of CBN induced necroptosis. The induction of apoptosis by CBN was correlated with the modulation of caspase-9, caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, Bim and Bid, and the induction of necroptosis was related with RIP-3, and caspase-8. In addition, CBN induced the accumulation of ROS and imbalance in the intracellular antioxidant enzymes such as SOD-1, SOD-2, catalase and GPx-1. These findings demonstrate that CBN has the potential to be a candidate in the development of anti-cancer agent derived from natural products.

Hemoglobin A1c Is Positively Correlated with Framingham Risk Score in Older, Apparently Healthy Nondiabetic Korean Adults

BACKGROUND: Several studies have suggested that elevated levels of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in nondiabetic individuals. However, it is unclear whether HbA1c levels can serve as a simple screening marker for increased CVD risk in nondiabetic individuals. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between HbA1c levels and CVD risk using the Framingham risk score (FRS) in older, apparently healthy nondiabetic Korean adults. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 2,879 Korean adults between the ages of 40 and 79 who underwent voluntary health check-ups at the Health Promotion Center of our hospital from July 2009 to June 2011. Subjects were subdivided based on their HbA1c levels into four groups: tertiles within the HbA1c normal tolerance range and a group for subjects with an increased risk for diabetes (IRD). RESULTS: The mean FRS for the upper tertile (9.6+/-3.8) group was significantly higher than that of the middle tertile (8.4+/-4.0) and lower tertile (7.6+/-3.8) groups. In addition, FRS was highest in the IRD group (10.5+/-3.7). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that HbA1c levels exhibited a significant positive correlation with FRS when adjusted for confounding variables in all subjects (beta+/-standard error [SE], 0.018+/-0.002; R2, 0.131), women (beta+/-SE, 0.023+/-0.003; R2, 0.170), and men (beta+/-SE, 0.016+/-0.004; R2, 0.109). CONCLUSION: HbA1c levels were positively correlated with FRS in older, apparently healthy nondiabetic Korean adults. We propose that HbA1c levels may reflect CVD risk in nondiabetic individuals.

Erratum: Funding Acknowledgment

The funding acknowledgment in this article was omitted.

Effect of quercetin on impaired immune function in mice exposed to irradiation

Radiation used in cancer treatment may cause side effects such as inflammation. Quercetin is a polyphenol that reduces inflammation. This study evaluated the recovery efficacy of quercetin on impaired immune function in irradiation-induced inflammatory mice. Quercetin administered at two concentrations of 10 and 40 mg/kg body weight was initiated 2 weeks before irradiation and was continued 30 days after irradiation. The animals exposed/not exposed to radiation were sacrificed on radiation days 10 and 30. Splenocyte proliferation, which was diminished after irradiation, was enhanced significantly by quercetin supplementation after 30 days of irradiation. Cytokine secretion increased in the radiation group compared to that in the non-radiation control group. After 30 days of radiation, interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 secretion decreased significantly in the radiation-quercetin groups. When quercetin was administered for 44 days, it showed a possible protective effect against irradiation-induced inflammation in mice. Quercetin could be beneficial in the recovery of irradiation-induced increases in cytokine secretion.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Presenting as Acute Lupus Myocarditis / 대한류마티스학회지

Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of unknown etiology which affects various parts of body. SLE can involve all parts of the heart including the pericardium, myocardium, endocardium, heart valves and coronary arteries. Cardiopathy of SLE is the third common cause of death in all patients with SLE. Although cardiopulmonary symptoms are common in SLE, symptomatic acute lupus myocarditis is a very rare and fatal complication of SLE. We report here on a 20-year-old female patient with acute myocarditis as a initial manifestation of SLE and rapidly diagnosed using echocardiogram.