There has been considerable evidence recently demonstrating the anti-tumour effects of flavonols. Quercetin, an ubiquitous bioactive flavonol, inhibits cells proliferation, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in different cancer cell types. The precise molecular mechanism of quercetin-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of quercetin on cell viability and to determine its underlying mechanism in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Quercetin decreased the percentage of viable cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, which was associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Quercetin did not increase reactive oxygen species generation but increased cytosolic Ca2+ levels and reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Quercetin treatment promoted activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9 in MDA-MB-231 cells. Caspase inhibitors prevented the quercetin-induced loss of cell viability. Quercetin increased abundance of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and decreased the levels of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Confocal laser microscope examination indicated that quercetin promoted apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) release from mitochondria and stimulated translocation to the nucleus. Taken together, these findings suggest that quercetin results in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell death through mitochondrial- and caspase-3-dependent pathways.

BackgroundCurrently, there is a debate as to whether triple negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) has a worse prognosis than non-TNBC. Our aim was to determine whether TNBC is a prognostic factor for survival.MethodsWe identified 1,048 Taiwanese breast carcinoma patients, of whom 167 (15.9%) had TNBC. Data used for analysis were derived from our cancer registry database for women with breast cancer who were diagnosed between 2002 January and 2006 December.ResultsIn the Kaplan-Meier analysis, tumor subgroup (TNBC vs. non-TNBC) was a prognosis factor related to 5-year overall survival. In the univariate analysis, tumor subgroup (TNBC vs. non-TNBC) was a significant factor related to 5-year overall survival, in addition to age, tumor size, lymph node, metastasis, grade, stage, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, and HER2 overexpression status. In the multivariate analysis, tumor subgroup was not a significant factor related to 5-year disease-free survival (DFS). In node-positive patients, tumor subgroup was a significant factor related to 5-year overall survival, in addition to age, tumor size, metastasis, and grade. In node-negative patients, tumor subgroup was not a significant factor related to 5-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival.ConclusionOur results indicated that TNBC patients in Taiwan have worse 5-year overall survival than non-TNBC patients. Notably, in node-positive patients, TNBC played a prognostic role in 5-year overall survival.

Tumor size is an independent prognostic factor in resected small HCC and the prognostic significance of tumor size may vary according to different cut-off points.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether triple-negative breast cancer has a worse prognosis; here, we present the 10-year follow-up results of triple-negative breast cancer patients in Taiwan. Methods: We identified 2858 breast cancer patients in Taiwan, of whom 416 (14.6%) had triple-negative breast cancer. Data used for analysis were derived from those breast cancer patients who were diagnosed between January 1996 and December 2006. Results: In the Kaplan -Meier analysis, tumor subgroup (triple-negative breast cancer vs. non-triple-negative breast cancer) was a prognostic factor related to 10-year breast cancer death-specific survival and disease-free survival. The results of univariate analysis showed that tumor subgroup was a significant factor related to 10-year disease-free survival and breast cancer death-specific survival, as well as menopausal status, tumor size, lymph node, metastasis, grade, stage, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status and her2/ neu gene expression status. Similarly, the multivariate analysis also revealed that tumor subgroup was a significant factor related to 10-year breast cancer death-specific survival and disease-free survival, in addition to tumor size, lymph node, metastasis and grade. Conclusions: It was suggested that triple-negative breast cancer patients in Taiwan have worse 10-year survival. Notably, in node-positive patients, triple-negative breast cancer played a prognostic role in 10-year breast cancer death-specific survival.

Abstract. Cancer development involves the destruction of tight junctions, deprivation of cell polarity, and increased cell mobility. Claudin 16 (CLDN16) is a tight junction protein and plays important roles in the maintenance of cell polarity, cellular arrangement, adhesion, paracellular transport, and ionic permeability of various epithelia. A novel link protein, HAPLN3, functions in hyaluronic acid binding and cell adhesion. Both genes are hypothesized to be related to cancer development and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to estimate the roles of the genes CLDN16 and HAPLN3 in breast cancer. A total of 146 samples were collected from breast cancer tissues and their adjacent normal breast tissues. Reverse transcription and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to estimate gene expression levels. There were significantly increased gene expression of CLDN16 (p<0.0001) and HAPLN3 (p<0.0001) among breast cancer tissues compared with normal tissues, irrespective of clinical pathological parameters. The absolute increased gene expression level of CLDN16 was significantly negatively correlated with estrogen (r=-0.46; p<0.0001) and progesterone receptor (r=-0.384; p=0.001) staining density. However, a significantly positive correlation (r=0.24; p=0.04) between the absolute increased HAPLN3 gene level and human epidermal receptor 2 staining density was found. There was no significant association between overall survival and the two gene expression levels. The gene up-expression of both CLDN16 and HAPLN3 was suggested to be involved in the development of breast cancer and to be a biomarker and target treatment for breast cancer.

Objectives: To investigate the mental health of rheumatic diseases patients and explore the effect of psychotherapy for the mental health status in rheumatism inpatients. MethOds: 1. To compare the mental health status in rheumatism inpatients with normal by SCL-90 score. 2. 66 inpatients with rheumatism were recruited in the study and randomly divided into study group (n= 33) and control group (n= 33). The patients in the study group accepted psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, and control group only accepted pharmacotherapy. 3. Six weeks later, the effect of psychotherapy to rheumatism inpatients were assessed by comparing the score of SCL-90 between the two groups. Results: 1. The SCL-90 score significantly increased in rheumatism inpatients group compared with normal group: rheumatism inpatients group (152.8±35.9) and normal group (129.9±38.7), (P< 0.05). 2. Six weeks later, the SCL-90 sore of study group was lower than that of control group. 3. The SCL-90 score significantly reduced after psychological treatment. cOnclusiOns: The mental health status of rheumatism patients can not be ignored, because the patients have varying degrees of mental psychotic symptoms. The psychotherapy can improve the mental health status in rheumatism patients and can help the recovery of the patients.

journals and articles as very useful source of information and 35.92% doctors mentioned as useful source of information. Only 4.85% doctors believe this is less useful source of drug information. 49.51% of doctors believe as very useful source of information and 45.63% as useful. Only 4.85% doctors mentioned that as less useful source. Subscription based source showed that 41.74% doctors mentioned that as very useful source and 49.51% mentioned that as useful source. A total of 8.73% doctors mentioned that as less useful source. Informal discussions with other doctors as drug information source is very useful for 47.57% doctors and useful for 46.60% while only 5.82% doctors mentioned that as less useful source of information. CONCLUSIONS: Medical representative is not the option for successful promotion, companies should also focus on other sources ex. medical journals, internet sources which are highly appreciated among health care practitioners.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes is a serious, costly metabolic disorder with a rising prevalence worldwide. Chromium has long been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles, and blood glucose in insulin resistance and type-2 diabetic patients. METHODS: All relevant databases were searched up to December 2011 limited to human studies in English language. Clinical studies in newly onset patients with type-2 diabetes reporting use of chromium at least for 4 weeks and outcomes of fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and body mass index (BMI) were identified. Data of before and after use of chromium intake were compared. RESULTS: The functional outcome data from clinical studies revealed that our of 834 studies, 39 met inclusion criteria. Seventy present of articles demonstrated a decrease in FBS while 23% showed an increase. Forty-seven percent of studies showed an increase in HbA1c, while 15% a decrease. TG in 60% of studies showed an increase while in 15% a reduction was reported. LDL cholesterol in 60% of studies showed a decrease and in the rest there was no report of increase. Forty percent of studies showed a decrease in HDL cholesterol while 30% showed an increase. BMI in 40% of studies decreased and in 7% of cases increased. CONCLUSIONS: In clinical studies, average of mentioned parameters were improved significantly after administration of chromium in patients with type 2 diabetes in a dose-dependent manner with no side effects. This systematic review indicates beneficial effects of chromium in diabetic patients.