GTE structurally and functionally suppressed MNU-induced photoreceptor cell apoptosis. These findings indicate that GTE may help to ameliorate the onset and progression of human RP.
The effects of mead acid (MA; 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid) on the suppression of breast cancer cell growth and metastasis were examined in vitro and in vivo by using the KPL-1 human breast cancer cell line. MA suppressed KPL-1 cell growth in culture with an IC50 value of 214.2 µM (65.7 µg/ml) for 72 h, and MA significantly suppressed transplanted KPL-1 tumor growth (tumor volume and tumor weight: 872±103 mm3 and 1,000±116 mg vs. 376±66 mm3 and 517±84 mg) and regional (axillary) lymph node metastasis (67%, 10/15 vs. 10%, 1/10) in female athymic mice fed an MA-rich diet for 8 weeks. Tumor suppression was due to the suppression of cell proliferation. In ELISA, although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were unchanged, VEGF receptor (VEGFR)1 and VEGFR2 levels were significantly decreased after treatment with a 214.2-µM dose of MA for 72 h; E-cadherin levels were unchanged. As VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 expression was co-localized in KPL-1 cells, the mechanism leading to cell growth suppression was VEGF signaling directly to KPL-1 cells by an autocrine process. In contrast, MA did not influence angiogenesis. The mechanisms of action were through VEGF signaling directly to cancer cells.
Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a popular mild central nervous system stimulant found in the leaves, seeds and fruits of various plants and in foodstuffs such as coffee, tea, and chocolate, among others. Caffeine is widely used and is not associated with severe side effects when consumed at relatively low doses. Although rarely observed, overdoses can occur. However, only a few fatal caffeine intoxication cases have been reported in the literature. Herein, we report the pathological examination results and information on caffeine concentrations in the blood, urine and main organs in a fatal caffeine intoxication case. Even though high caffeine concentrations were found in the systemic organs, no caffeine-related pathological changes were detected.
Abstract. The effect of mead acid (MA;5,8, on the suppression of the development and growth of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced mammary cancer in female Sprague-Dawley rats was examined. The MA diet (2.4% MA) or control (CTR) diet (0% MA) was started at 6 weeks of age, MNU was injected intraperitoneally at 7 weeks of age, and the rats were maintained on the respective diets for the whole experimental period (until 19 weeks of age). All induced mammary tumors were luminal A subtype carcinomas (estrogen and progesterone receptor positive and HER2/neu negative). The MA diet significantly suppressed the initiation and promotion phases of mammary carcinogenesis; MA suppressed the development (incidence, 61.5 vs. 100%; multiplicity, 2.1 vs. 4.5) and the growth (final tumor weight, 427.1 vs. 1,796.3 mg) of mammary cancers by suppressing cell proliferation, but not by accelerating cell death. There were evident changes in the major fatty acid composition of n-3, n-6, and n-9 fatty acids in the serum of the MA diet group; there was a significant increase in MA and significant decreases in oleic acid (OA), linoleic acid, arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. In non-tumorous mammary tissue, there was a significant increase in MA and a significant decrease in OA in the MA diet group. The n-6/n-3 ratios in serum and mammary tissue of the MA diet group were significantly decreased. The MA diet suppressed MNU-induced luminal A mammary cancer by lowering cancer cell proliferation. Therefore, MA may be a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent. In addition to hormone therapy, MA supplementation may be a beneficial chemotherapeutic agent for the luminal A subtype of breast cancer.
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