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J Ethnopharmacol 2021 Jun 26;273:113964. Epub 2021 Feb 26.

College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 548 Binwen Road, Hangzhou, 310053, China. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Qizhen capsule (QZC) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation that has been widely used in clinical practice and exerts promising therapeutic effects against breast, lung, and gastric cancers. However, studies have not reported whether QZC inhibits colorectal cancer (CRC) development and progression. Meanwhile, the underlying molecular mechanisms of its anticancer activity have not been studied. Read More

Ther Adv Urol 2020 Jan-Dec;12:1756287220974133. Epub 2020 Dec 7.

Department of Surgery, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.

Objective: To characterize the impact on kidney injury of recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTI) in the frail elderly.

Methods: Prospective observational study in 200 frail elderly subjects for 1 year. Groups: GA ( = 100): subjects without RUTI, GB ( = 100): subjects with RUTI. Read More

Antioxidants (Basel) 2020 Nov 28;9(12). Epub 2020 Nov 28.

Beijing Key Laboratory of Viticulture and Enology, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common malignancies leading to death. Although radiotherapy and chemotherapy have certain effects, their side effects limit their therapeutic effect. Phytochemicals have recently been given more attention as promising resources for cancer chemoprevention or chemotherapy due to their safety. Read More

BMC Cancer 2020 Sep 14;20(1):881. Epub 2020 Sep 14.

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.

Background: A. oxyphylla extract is known to possess a wide range of pharmacological activites. However, the molecular mechanism of A. Read More

Mol Cell Biochem 2021 Jan 20;476(1):13-22. Epub 2020 Aug 20.

Detroit R&D, Inc., 2727 Second Ave. Suite 4113, Detroit, MI, USA.

Strategies to improve the early diagnosis of prostate cancer will provide opportunities for earlier intervention. The blood-based prostate-specific antigen (PSA) assay is widely used for prostate cancer diagnosis but specificity of the assay is not satisfactory. An algorithm based on serum levels of PSA combined with other serum biomarkers may significantly improve prostate cancer diagnosis. Read More

Mol Cell Biochem 2020 Aug 4. Epub 2020 Aug 4.

Department of Pathology, Tangshan Gongren Hospital, Lubei District, No. 27 Wenhua Road, Tangshan, 063000, Hebei, China.

This study explored the function and mechanism of RAD50 interactor 1 (RINT1), Zeste white 10 (ZW10) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene-1 (NAG-1) in cell growth of colon cancer. The mRNA expression of RINT1 was suppressed in patients with colon cancer. In addition, disease free survival (DFS) in colon cancer patients with high expression of RINT1, ZW10 and NAG-1 were promoted compared with colon cancer patients with low expression of RINT1, ZW10 and NAG-1. Read More

Poult Sci 2020 Jul 24;99(7):3583-3593. Epub 2020 Apr 24.

Department of Animal Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, P. R. China. Electronic address:

The present study determined the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of N-acetyl-L-glutamate (NAG) on early intestinal development and growth performance of broilers. A total of 702 fertile broiler eggs were randomly divided into 3 treatments: 1) non-punctured control group, 2) saline-injected control group, and 3) NAG solution-injected group (1.5 mg/egg). Read More

Clin Exp Metastasis 2020 08 5;37(4):451-464. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Biomedical Sciences Program, Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, 6, Diogenis Str, Engomi, 2404, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily, has been postulated to be implicated in cancer cell metastasis although its role has not been fully elucidated yet. The purpose of this review is to clarify the role of GDF-15 in cancer cell metastasis based on current advances in the field. The studies were divided into those involving evaluation of GDF15 expression in the serum or tissue of cancer patients, and those involving in vitro experiments in cancer cell lines or in vivo experiments in animal models. Read More

Food Funct 2020 Jan;11(1):662-679

Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443002, China.

Our previous studies have demonstrated that the total triterpenes from the fruits of Chaenomeles speciosa (CSTT) exhibit effective therapeutic effects on gastric ulcer patients and animals. The present aim is to further investigate the mechanisms involved. The results indicated that CSTT could ameliorate IND-induced gastric injury, which was related to promoting IND-damaged GES-1 cell proliferation and migration, improving the IND-damaged rat GBF, ulcer area, inhibition rate and pathologic changes of gastric mucous tissue, increasing the amount of adhered gastric mucus, attenuating the volume and total acidity of the gastric effluents, and augmenting the gastric pH; further studies showed that CSTT obviously downregulated miR-423-5p mRNA, NAG-1 mRNA and protein expression, Bax, Bad, cytosol cytochrome C, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase-3, and cleaved-caspase-9 protein expression and cytosol cytochrome C concentration, and upregulated TFF1, TFF2 and TFF3 mRNA and protein expression, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, pro-caspase-3, and pro-caspase-9 protein expression, mitochondrial viability, mitochondrial cytochrome C concentration and Bcl-2/Bax, Bcl-xl/Bad ratios. Read More

Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2020 03 30;57(2):114-125. Epub 2019 Oct 30.

Department of Clinical Biochemistry, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), also known as macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene (NAG-1) has been identified as a biomarker of response to treatment and prognosis in cardiovascular diseases. GDF-15 is a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily and is involved in several pathological conditions such as inflammation, cancer, cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal diseases. Cardiac myocytes produce and secrete GDF-15 in response to oxidative stress, stimulation with angiotensin II or proinflammatory cytokines, ischemia, and mechanical stretch. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019 10 29;519(1):29-34. Epub 2019 Aug 29.

Laboratory of Signal Transduction, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug activated gene-1 (NAG-1), also known as growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), is a TGF-β (transforming growth factor beta) superfamily protein with a distinctive secretion pathway. NAG-1 is associated with multiple diseases including cancer, wherein it plays a role in both pro- and anti-cancer activities. We previously reported that NAG-1 is translocated to different subcellular compartments and its activity depends on its localization. Read More

Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2019 10 21;317(4):L510-L521. Epub 2019 Aug 21.

Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common and devastating of the interstitial lung diseases. Epithelial dysfunction is thought to play a prominent role in disease pathology, and we sought to characterize secreted signals that may contribute to disease pathology. Transcriptional profiling of senescent type II alveolar epithelial cells from mice with epithelial-specific telomere dysfunction identified the transforming growth factor-β family member, growth and differentiation factor 15 (), as the most significantly upregulated secreted protein. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Jun 24;20(12). Epub 2019 Jun 24.

Dipartimento di Scienze e Innovazione Tecnologica, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Viale T. Michel 11, 15121 Alessandria, Italy.

Cisplatin and several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been proven to act synergistically or at least additively on several tumor cell lines. Dual-action cisplatin-based Pt(IV) combos containing ketoprofen and naproxen offer good antiproliferative performance on a panel of human tumor cell lines, including a malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) one, a very chemoresistant tumor. The main reason of the increased activity relies on the enhanced lipophilicity of these Pt(IV) conjugates that in turn promotes increased cellular accumulation. Read More

Adv Ther 2019 07 22;36(7):1606-1617. Epub 2019 May 22.

University Eye Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.

Introduction: To evaluate long-term outcomes following stand-alone implantation of two second-generation trabecular micro-bypass stents (iStent inject, Glaukos Corp., San Clemente, CA, USA) in eyes with predominantly primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and considerable preoperative disease burden.

Methods: Eyes with POAG, pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PXG), appositional narrow-angle glaucoma (NAG, with open-angle configuration in the area of implantation), or secondary glaucoma were included in this prospective, non-randomized, consecutive case series. Read More

Pharmacol Ther 2019 06 18;198:46-58. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Scientist Emeritus, NIEHS/NIH, 111 TW Alexander Dr. Bldg. 101 F-095, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States. Electronic address:

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15), also known as NSAID activated gene-1 (NAG-1), is associated with a large number of biological processes and diseases, including cancer and obesity. GDF15 is synthesized as pro-GDF15, is dimerized, and is cleaved and secreted into the circulation as a mature dimer GDF15. Both the intracellular GDF15 and the circulating mature GDF15 are implicated in biological processes, such as energy homeostasis and body weight regulation. Read More

Saudi J Biol Sci 2018 Dec 17;25(8):1767-1771. Epub 2017 Apr 17.

Department of Gastroenterology, People's Hospital of Linzi District, Zibo, Shandong Province 255400, China.

Background: The current study was designed to investigate the effect of crocetin on the proliferation inhibition of colon cancer cells and the underlying mechanism.

Methods: MTT assay showed inhibition of proliferation of colon cancer cells in a dose based manner by crocetin treatment. At 30 µM concentration of crocetin proliferation rate of colon cancer cells was reduced to 14% after 24 h. Read More

PLoS One 2018 3;13(10):e0205391. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone. Read More

Int J Oncol 2018 Dec 28;53(6):2356-2368. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China.

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) has been demonstrated to elicit antitumorigenic and proapoptotic activities in cancer; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of GLP have yet to be elucidated. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene-1 (NAG-1) has been reported to exert proapoptotic effects and therefore, may serve an important role in cancer prevention. The present study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which GLP stimulates anticancer activity in human prostate cancer (PCa) PC-3 cells. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2019 01 6;120(1):894-906. Epub 2018 Sep 6.

Cancer Signalling & Metabolism, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Portugal.

Unraveling molecular mechanisms that regulate tumor development and proliferation is of the utmost importance in the quest to decrease the high mortality rate of adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC). Our aim was to evaluate the role of two of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways (extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases [ERKs 1/2] and p38) in the adrenocortical tumorigenesis, as well as the therapeutic potential of MAPK/ERK inhibition. ERKs 1/2 and p38 activation were evaluated in incidentalomas (INC; n = 10), benign Cushing's syndrome (BCS; n = 12), malignant Cushing's syndrome (MCS; n = 6) and normal adrenal glands (NAG; 8). Read More

Trends Endocrinol Metab 2018 08 1;29(8):560-570. Epub 2018 Jun 1.

Cardiovascular & Metabolism Therapeutic Area, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Spring House, PA 19477, USA. Electronic address:

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) is a circulating protein that has been implicated in multiple biological processes, including energy homeostasis, body weight regulation, and cachexia driven by cancer and chronic disease. The potential to target GDF15 in the treatment of energy-intake disorders, including obesity and anorexia, is an area of intense investigation, but has been limited by the lack of an identified receptor, signaling mechanism, and target tissue. GDNF family receptor α-like (GFRAL) was recently identified as the neuronal brainstem receptor responsible for mediating the anorectic actions of GDF15. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2018 May 1;37(5):1281-1293. Epub 2018 Mar 1.

Pharmaceutical Preparation Section, Xianyang Central Hospital, No. 78, Renmin East Road, Xianyang, 712000, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common chronic rheumatic disorder, accompanied by the differential expression of various microRNAs (miRNAs) in patients suffering from the condition, some of which have the potential to serve as novel complementary AS biomarkers. During this study, AS patients were recruited in connection with our investigation into the correlation of microRNA-132 (miR-132) in peripheral blood and its target gene NAG-1 expressions in relation with the clinical efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) treatment in patients with AS. A total of 218 AS patients who had been previously treated with oral diclofenac sodium and were placed into either the response (n = 175) or non-response groups (n = 43) following a 16-week period of therapeutic evaluation. Read More

Kidney Int 2018 04 28;93(4):952-960. Epub 2017 Nov 28.

Department of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Renal dysfunction is an important component of chronic heart failure (CHF), but its single assessment does not sufficiently reflect clinically silent progression of CHF prior to adverse clinical outcome. Therefore, we aimed to investigate temporal evolutions of glomerular and tubular markers in 263 stable patients with CHF, and to determine if their patient-specific evolutions during this clinically silent period can dynamically predict clinical outcome. We determined the risk of clinical outcome (composite endpoint of Heart Failure hospitalization, cardiac death, Left Ventricular Assist Device placement, and heart transplantation) in relation to marker levels, slopes and areas under their trajectories. Read More

Reprod Sci 2018 09 20;25(9):1349-1356. Epub 2017 Nov 20.

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

To investigate the effects of trichostatin A (TSA) on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene 1 (NAG-1) expression and apoptosis in human endometriotic stromal cells (HESCs), ectopic endometrial tissues were obtained from 15 patients with endometriotic cysts who underwent cystectomy. Human endometriotic stromal cells were isolated and cultured with different concentrations of TSA. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively, and apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. Read More

Oncol Rep 2017 Nov 27;38(5):2803-2813. Epub 2017 Sep 27.

College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China.

The medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has been reported to possess a variety of pharmacological activities including anticancer effects. However, the anti-colorectal cancer effects and the potential molecular mechanisms of the ethanol extracts of sporoderm-broken spores of G. Read More

Cell Biochem Funct 2017 Oct 4;35(7):407-413. Epub 2017 Oct 4.

Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have therapeutic potential for treatment of diabetes. However, in vitro behavior of MSCs in high glucose condition as well as presence of glucose lowering agents is not fully understood. Because MSCs have an important role in tissue repair, we examined the effects of metformin and celecoxib on viability of MSCs in different glucose conditions. Read More

Free Radic Biol Med 2017 11 9;112:49-59. Epub 2017 Jul 9.

State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

We have previously reported that a newly synthesized compound, GL-V9 could induce mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in HepG2 cells. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully understood yet. In current study, we further showed that GL-V9 exhibited significant inhibitory effect on growth of several hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Read More

Pharmacol Res 2017 Jul 25;121:122-128. Epub 2017 Apr 25.

Laboratory of Mucosal Exposome and Biomodulation, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, South Korea; Research Institute for Basic Sciences and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea; Immunoregulatory Therapeutics Group in Brain Busan 21 Project, Busan, South Korea. Electronic address:

In spite of the beneficial actions of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in epithelial inflammation and cancers, their use is limited because of their cyclooxygenase-dependent or independent gastrointestinal toxicity. As an eicosanoid-independent mediator, NSAID-activated gene 1 (NAG-1) has been assessed for its involvement in cellular integrity and pathogenesis in mucosal inflammation and carcinogenesis. At the cellular levels, NAG-1 is involved in the cell growth regulation (cell death, cell cycle arrest, or proliferation) in epithelial and mesenchymal tissues. Read More

Int J Oncol 2017 May 29;50(5):1541-1554. Epub 2017 Mar 29.

College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China.

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) polysaccharides (GLPs) have been used as traditional Chinese medicine for cancer prevention for many years. However, the mechanism by which GLP exerts its chemopreventive activities remains elusive. Read More

Sci Rep 2017 01 25;7:41396. Epub 2017 Jan 25.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, 117576, Singapore.

Over the years, several approaches have been devised to widen the operating bandwidth, but most of them can only be triggered at high accelerations. In this work, we investigate a broadband energy harvester based on combination of non-linear stiffening effect and multimodal energy harvesting to obtain high bandwidth over wide range of accelerations (0.1 g-2. Read More

Oncotarget 2017 Jan;8(3):4051-4061

Bioinnovation Center, Tzu Chi Foundation, Department of Pathology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a major site of cellular homeostasis regulation. Under the ER stress condition, Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) cells activate the unfolded protein response. In this study, we discovered isochaihulactone, a natural compound extracted from the Chinese traditional herb Nan-Chai-Hu, which can disrupt ER homeostasis in GBM cell lines. Read More