No abstract

No abstract

Clinical and epidemiological studies have indicated that the consumption of green tea has a number of beneficial effects on health. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCg), the major polyphenolic compound present in green tea, has received much attention as an active ingredient. Among the numerous promising profiles of EGCg, the present study focused on the anticancer effects. Apoptosis induced by EGCg and subsequent cell growth suppression have been demonstrated in a number of cell culture studies. However, the underlying mechanism of apoptotic cell death remains unclear. Thus, the aim of the present study was to identify the major molecule that mediates proapoptotic cell death by EGCg. The effect of EGCg on cell proliferation and the induction of mRNA that modulates apoptotic cell death was evaluated in the A549 human non-small-cell lung cancer cell line. In addition, morphological changes were assessed by microscopy in A549 cells that had been treated with 100 μM EGCg for 24 h. The MTT assay revealed that cell proliferation was significantly reduced by EGCg in a dose-dependent manner (3–100 μM). The mRNA expression level of B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) was decreased in A549 cells following 24 h incubation with 100 μM EGCg. Therefore, the results indicated that the inhibition of cell proliferation by EGCg may be achieved via suppressing the expression of the cell death-inhibiting gene, Bcl-xL.

Pioglitazone is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) full agonist and useful for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Naringenin is a citrus flavonoid with anti-inflammatory actions, which has been shown to prevent obesity-related diseases and to activate PPARγ. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dietary naringenin affects the actions of pioglitazone. We administered naringenin (100 mg/kg) and pioglitazone (10 mg/kg) to Tsumura Suzuki Obese Diabetes (TSOD) mice for 4 weeks and then conducted an oral glucose tolerance test. We found that oral administration of naringenin attenuated the hypoglycemic action of pioglitazone in TSOD mice. However, pioglitazone and naringenin did not affect fasting blood glucose levels, epididymal fat pad weight and body weight changes in this administration period. Pioglitazone suppressed expression of obesity-related adipokines such as tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 in adipose tissue of TSOD mice, but this effect was attenuated by naringenin. However, naringenin did not affect the pharmacokinetics of pioglitazone after single or repeated administration. Naringenin exhibited weak partial agonist activity in time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay, but naringenin interfered with pioglitazone agonism, consistent with partial agonism. Our results suggest that it is advisable to avoid administering a combination of naringenin and pioglitazone.

BackgroundAs of 2014, community pharmacies in Japan are approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to measure lipid panel, HbA1c, glucose, ALT, AST and γ-GTP, but not to screen for influenza virus. We provided influenza virus screening tests at a community pharmacy to triage people with symptoms suggestive of influenza. Participants were given appropriate advice on how to prevent the spread of and safeguard against influenza. We subsequently evaluated the effects of community pharmacy-based influenza virus screening and prevention measures.MethodsLocal residents with symptoms suggestive of influenza participated in this study. Influenza virus screening tests using nasal samples were provided to the pharmacy, and we assessed samples for the presence of influenza virus. The study consisted of a preliminary interview, informed consent, and screening test on Day 1, and mail-in survey on Day 14.ResultsA total 52 local residents participated in the study. The number of participants and influenza virus positive results followed the same trend as the influenza epidemic in the study area. Influenza virus was found in 28.8% of samples. There was no significant difference between the appearance ratios of subjective symptoms among influenza-positive and influenza-negative groups. The percentages of participants who were first screened at the pharmacy, and those who were first screened at a clinic and then tested again at the pharmacy, were 71.2% (37/52) and 28.8% (15/52), respectively. In the latter group, 14 of 15 were negative by screening at the clinic, and one was diagnosed with influenza without testing. Subsequently, 46.8% (7/15) of participants tested positive for influenza by pharmacy-based screening. According to the mail-in survey, all influenza-positive (100%, 7/7) and 35.3% (6/17) of influenza-negative participants visited the clinic after being tested at the community pharmacy; test results between the community pharmacy and clinic were consistent. A total 64.7% (11/17) of symptomatic participants who tested negative recovered spontaneously at home.ConclusionsImplementation of influenza virus screening followed by provision of appropriate advice for both influenza-positive and influenza-negative participants at the community pharmacy showed a significant effect on improving the health of the local community.