The Effects of Holothurin and Caspofungin on the Vaginal Cell Inflammation Parameters of the Rattus norvegicus Strain Post Induction of Candida albicans.

Purpose: Candida albicans (C. albicans) is a fungus that causes superficial and invasive candidiasis in its host. Caspofungin, has been widely used as a synthetic antifungal, whereas holothurin has been shown to have potential as a natural antifungal. The purpose of this study was to see how holothurin and caspofungin affected the number of C. albicans's colonies, LDH levels, and the number of inflammatory cells in vagina of Rattus norvegicus. Patients and Methods: Design of this research is using posttest only with control group design with 48 Rattus norvegicus Wistar strains used in this study were divided into six treatment groups. Each group was divided into three-time intervals of 12, 24, and 48 hours. LDH markers were tested using ELISA, inflammatory cells were counted manually, and the number of colonies was calculated using colonymetry before being diluted with NaCl 0.9% and planted in sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). Results: According to the findings, inflammatory cells in the treatment of holothurin (48-hours) had an OR of 1.68 CI (-0.79-4.16) P = 0.09 and caspofungin had an OR of 4.18 CI (1.26-9.63) P = 0.09. Meanwhile, LDH in the holothurin (48-hour) treatment obtained OR 348, CI (286-410), P=0.03, and Caspofungin OR 393, CI (277-508), P=0.03. Colonies were obtained with zero numbers in the holothurin treatment (48 hours) and with Caspofungin OR 393, CI (273-508) P=0.00. Conclusion: Holothurin and caspofungin administration reduced the number of C. albicans colonies and the number of inflammatory cells (P 0.05), implying that holothurin and caspofungin could prevent C. albicans infection.

The combination therapy of targeting both paclitaxel and Dendrophthoe pentandra leaves extract nanoparticles for improvement breast cancer treatment efficacy by reducing TUBB3 and MAP4 expressions.

The aim of this study is to investigate the combination treatments of paclitaxel and chitosan-Dendrophthoe pentandra leaves extract nanoparticles (NPDP) on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Chitosan-NPDP nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and assessed by using immunofluorescence microscopy. MCF-7 cells are cultured and divided into six groups: group 1 was a negative control (without paclitaxel or NPDP); group 2 was treated with paclitaxel alone; groups 3-5 were treated with NPDP (2, 4, and 8 mg/mL, respectively) and group 6 was treated only by 8 mg/mL of chitosan-NPDP nanoparticles. The proliferation and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry and the expression of TUBB3 and MAP4 were assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy. The combinations of paclitaxel-NPDP significantly inhibit proliferation of cells (P<0.001) and it is able to induce G2/M cell cycle arrest (P<0.001). The combination of paclitaxel-NPDP significantly decreases the expressions of TUBB3 (P<0.001) and MAP4 (P<0.001) in MCF-7 cells. These results indicate that the combination of NPDP nanoparticles could reduce the expressions of TUBB3 and MAP4. This research may provide possible sources of new therapy for NPDP.

Coelomic Fluid of Eisenia fetida Ameliorates Cetuximab to Reduce K-Ras and Vimentin Expression through Promoting RUNX3 in an AOM/DSS-Induced Colitis Associated Colon Cancer.

Ulcerative colitis is a major risk factor that increases the occurrence of colorectal cancer. In colorectal cancer due to colitis, intestinal inflammation plays an important role which causes DNA damage. The aim of this study is to investigate the anticancer effect of coelomic fluid of Eisenia fetida (CFEF) and cetuximab combinations. Colitis associated colon cancer was induced in BALB/c mice by DSS/AOM. The mice were randomly divided into six groups: group 1 received vehicle (control), groups 2-6 received DSS/AOM, groups 3-5 received cetuximab + CFEF (30, 60, or 120 mg/kgBW), and group 6 received CFEF only. After the 12th week of treatments, the colon tissues were removed for histological examination and immune-fluorescence. Intestinal Epithelial Cells (CECs) were analyzed by flow cytometer. Administration of CFEF significantly decreased the severity of DSS/AOM-induced CAC in a dose-dependent manner. The combinations of CFEF-cetuximab were revealed by histological change. The CFEF significantly reduced the severity scores (P < 0.05). The combinations of CFEF-cetuximab significantly inhibited K-Ras and vimentin expressions, whereas the percentage of RUNX3 significantly increased in CECs. The increasing of RUNX3 could prevent EMT, so that it can decrease K-Ras and vimentin to suppressed cell invasion and migration by CFEF. Our results suggest that CFEF has the therapeutic potential to CAC.

East Asian Genome-wide association study derived loci in relation to type 2 diabetes in the Han Chinese population.

Meta-analysis of GWAS in East Asian populations had established 10 loci that were associated with type 2 diabetes. Eight of them were with genome-wide significance and two with a border line association. Since these data have not been studied in an independent Han Chinese population, we aimed to investigate the association of these susceptibility loci with type 2 diabetes in an independent Han Chinese population. We executed a case-control study in 2 000 Chinese by the SNPscan method. Firstly, the repetitive sequences of 10 loci were assessed. Next, we investigated the association of 8 SNPs out of 10 with type 2 diabetes and constructed the GRS of those 8 SNPs. Finally, the relationship of the 8 loci and diabetes-related traits was analyzed. Based on the fact, that highly repetitive sequences were detected in 2 SNPs, we investigated the remaining 8 SNPs. With the exception of four SNPs (CMIP rs16955379, PEPD rs3786897, PSMD6 rs831571, ZFAND3 rs9470794), the other SNPs had the same direction of effect (odds ratio [OR]>1.0) as in the original reports, especially GLIS3 rs7041847 and KCNK16 rs1535500 were significantly associated with type 2 diabetes (rs1535500: p=0.005, OR=1.224, 95% CI 1.062-1.409; rs7041847: p=0.035, OR=1.118, 95% CI 1.070-1.388). The GRS constructed from the 8 SNPs was significantly associated with type 2 diabetes in the Chinese population (p=0.004, OR=1.065, 95% CI: 1.021-1.111). Among the participants with 24≤BMI<28 kg/m2 the 8 SNPs were significantly associated with type 2 diabetes (p=0.040, OR=1.079, 95% CI: 1.003-1.160). In quantitative trait analyses, WWOX rs17797882 was associated with decreased HOMA-ß and increased level of TG and HDL-Ch, while PEPD rs3786897 and MAEA rs6815464 were associated with decreased fasting plasma glucose, and KCNK16 rs1535500 has shown a significant association with increased T-Ch and PSMD6 rs831571 had a significant association with decreased HDL-Ch. In Conclusion, with high probability the 8 loci identified in the East Asian GWAS meta-analysis are associated with type 2 diabetes in the Han Chinese population.

Murine lymph node-derived stromal cells effectively support survival but induce no activation/proliferation of peripheral resting T cells in vitro.

Little is known about the homeostatic mechanisms by which the levels of peripheral lymphocytes are maintained. The survival of naïve T cells in vivo must be maintained by some factors that have not been characterized in an in vitro culture system. In this study, we established a culture system of stromal cells derived from murine lymph nodes and investigated the action of the stromal cells in supporting the survival of resting T cells in vitro. Most of the T cells cocultured with the stromal cells did not die, and the supernatant of cultured stromal cells increase the viability of T cells. This T-cell survival-supporting activity was maintained for more than 7 days. Although interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-7, and interferon-beta also rescued peripheral T cells from spontaneous cell death, medium-soluble and heat-sensitive factor(s) derived from the stromal cells supported the survival of T cells more effectively and for a longer time than did these cytokines. T cells maintained in the culture system with the stromal cells appeared to remain in a resting G0/G1 state and did not show remarkable DNA synthesis. From these results, it is presumed that some soluble factor(s) other than the tested cytokines that have been identified as supporting T-cell survival are produced from lymph node stromal cells. These factor(s) play an important role in maintenance of resting T cells.