Rikkunshito prevents paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy through the suppression of the nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) phosphorylation in spinal cord of mice.

Peripheral neuropathy is the major side effect caused by paclitaxel, a microtubule-binding antineoplastic drug. Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy causes a long-term negative impact on the patient's quality of life. However, the mechanism underlying paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy is still unknown, and there is no established treatment. Ghrelin is known to attenuate thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve, and inhibit the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) in the spinal dorsal horn. Rikkunshito (RKT), a kampo medicine, increases the secretion of ghrelin in rodents and humans. Thus, RKT may attenuate paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy by inhibiting phosphorylated NFκB (pNFκB) in the spinal cord. We found that paclitaxel dose-dependently induced mechanical hyperalgesia in mice. Paclitaxel increased the protein levels of spinal pNFκB, but not those of spinal NFκB. NFκB inhibitor attenuated paclitaxel-induced mechanical hyperalgesia suggesting that the activation of NFκB mediates paclitaxel-induced hyperalgesia. RKT dose-dependently attenuated paclitaxel-induced mechanical hyperalgesia. Ghrelin receptor antagonist reversed the RKT-induced attenuation of paclitaxel-induced mechanical hyperalgesia. RKT inhibited the paclitaxel-induced increase in the protein levels of spinal pNFκB. Taken together, the present study indicates that RKT exerts an antihyperalgesic effect in paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain by suppressing the activation of spinal NFκB.

Plasminogen deficiency is associated with improved glucose tolerance, and lower DPP-4 activity.

Plasminogen (Plg), which is the inactive form of plasmin, deficiency enhanced insulin secretion, and was associated with improved oral glucose tolerance in mice. Additionally, Plg deficiency was associated with lower dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) activity, and enhanced glucagons-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) expression. Plg may regulate the DPP-4 activity and the glucose metabolism.

Desulfurization of N,N-dimethylthioformamide by hydrosilane with the help of an iron complex. Isolation and characterization of an iron-carbene complex as an intermediate of C=double bond cleavage.

Desulfurization of N,N-dimethylthioformamide (Me(2)NCHS) by hydrosilane has been achieved under photo irradiation in the presence of a methyl iron complex. The reaction sequences have been proposed, in which silyl migration from Fe to S of thioformamide triggers the cleavage of a C=S bond to give a carbene-iron complex. This intermediate was isolated and characterized by X-ray analysis.