The carcinogenesis of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder involves etiologic... more The carcinogenesis of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder involves etiological factors, such as ethnicity, the environment, genetics, and diet. Cluster of differentiation (CD44), a well-known tumor marker, plays a crucial role in regulating tumor cell differentiation and metastasis. This study investigated the effect of CD44 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on TCC risk and clinicopathological characteristics. Five SNPs of CD44 were analyzed through real-time polymerase chain reaction in 275 patients with TCC and 275 participants without cancer. In this study, we observed that CD44 rs187115 polymorphism carriers with the genotype of at least one G were associated with TCC risk. Furthermore, TCC patients who carried at least one G allele at CD44 rs187115 had a higher stage risk than did patients carrying the wild-type allele (p < 0.05). In addition, The AATAC or GACGC haplotype among the five CD44 sites was also associated with a reduced risk of TCC. In conclusion, our results suggest that CD44 SNPs influence the risk of TCC. Patients with CD44 rs187115 variant genotypes (AG + GG) exhibited a higher risk of TCC; these patients may possess chemoresistance to developing late-stage TCC compared with those with the wild-type genotype. The CD44 rs187115 SNP may predict poor prognosis in patients with TCC.
Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) has been epidemiologically linked to heart disease am... more Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) has been epidemiologically linked to heart disease among non-smokers. However, the molecular mechanism behind SHS-induced cardiac disease is not well known. This study found that SD rats exposed to cigarette smoke at a dose of 10 cigarettes for 30 min twice a day for 1 month had a reduced left ventricle-to-tibia length ratio (mg/mm), increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis by TUNEL assay and a wider interstitial space by H&E staining. However, lumbrokinase and dilong both reversed the effects of SHS. Western blotting demonstrated significantly increased expression of the pro-apoptotic protein caspase-3 in the hearts of the rats exposed to SHS. Elevated protein expression levels of Fas, FADD and the apoptotic initiator activated caspase-8, a molecule in the death-receptor-dependent pathway, coupled with increased t-Bid and apoptotic initiator activated caspase-9 were found. Molecules in the mitochondria-dependent pathway, which disrupts mitochond...
Gastric cancer is the second cause of death from cancer worldwide and its prevalence and mortalit... more Gastric cancer is the second cause of death from cancer worldwide and its prevalence and mortality rates are still very high in developed countries. Interleukin-10 (IL10) is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by macrophages which can suppress and stimulate the immune response in tumorigenesis signaling. However, the contribution of IL10 genomic variants to gastric cancer is still largely unknown. In the present study, we aimed at investigating the role of IL10 genotypes in gastric cancer risk. The promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms on IL10, A-1082G (rs1800896), T-819C (rs3021097) and A-592C (rs1800872), were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method among 716 Taiwanese people (358 patients gastric cancer and 358 cancer-free controls). The results showed that there was a significant difference between the patient and control groups in the genotypic frequency distribution of IL10 A-1082G genotypes (p=0.0004). In addition, thos...
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also called endotoxin, is the important pathogen of acute lung injury (... more Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also called endotoxin, is the important pathogen of acute lung injury (ALI), which is a clinical syndrome that still lacks effective therapeutic medicine. Rutin belongs to vitamin P and possesses various beneficial effects. In this study, we investigate the potential protective effects and the mechanisms of rutin on LPS-induced ALI. Pre-administration with rutin inhibited LPS-induced arterial blood gas exchange and neutrophils infiltration in the lungs. LPS-induced expression of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 and activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 were suppressed by rutin. In addition, the inhibitory concentration of rutin on phosphorylation of Akt was similar as MIP-2 expression and MMP-9 activation. In conclusion, rutin is a potential protective agent for ALI via suppressing the blood gas exchange and neutrophil infiltration. The mechanism of rutin is down-regulation of MIP-2 expression and MMP-9 activation through inhibition of Akt p...
The purpose of this study was to investigate genetic impact of TIMP-3 -1296 T&amp... more The purpose of this study was to investigate genetic impact of TIMP-3 -1296 T>C (rs9619311) and TIMP-4 -55 T>C (rs3755724) gene polymorphisms on the susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 759 subjects, including 530 healthy controls and 229 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, were recruited in this study. Allelic discrimination of TIMP-3 -1296 T>C (rs9619311) and TIMP-4 -55 T>C (rs3755724) polymorphisms was assessed with the ABI StepOne™ Real-Time PCR System. Among women group, individuals with TC or CC alleles of TIMP-3 -1296 T>C gene polymorphism protected against HCC (AOR = 0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.12-0.97; p = 0.04) compared to individuals with TT alleles, after adjusting for other confounders. Also, women with TC alleles and with TC or CC alleles of TIMP-4 -55 T>C polymorphisms had a 2.52-fold risk (95%CI = 1.23-5.13; p = 0.01) and 2.47-fold risk (95%CI = 1.26-4.87; p = 0.008) of developing HCC compared to individuals with TT alleles, after adjusting for other confounders. There was no synergistic effect between gene polymorphism and environmental risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol consumptions and clinical statuses of HCC as well as serum expression of liver-related clinicopathological markers. In conclusion, gene polymorphisms of TIMP-3 -1296 T>C (rs9619311) and TIMP-4 -55 T>C (rs3755724) play a role in the susceptibility of HCC among Taiwan women.
Geniposide, an iridoid glycoside isolated from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, has biolo... more Geniposide, an iridoid glycoside isolated from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, has biological capabilities of detoxication, antioxidation, and anticarcinogenesis. We have recently found that geniposide possesses a potential for detoxication by inducing GST activity and the expression of GST M1 and GST M2 subunits. In this study, the signaling pathway of geniposide leading to the activation of GSH S-transferase (GST) was investigated. Primary cultured rat hepatocytes were treated with geniposide in the presence or absence of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors and examined for GST activity, expression of GST M1 and M2 subunits, and protein levels of MAPK signaling proteins. Western blotting data demonstrated that geniposide induced increased protein levels of GST M1 and GST M2 (approximately 1.76- and 1.50-fold of control, respectively). The effect of geniposide on the increased protein levels of GST M1 and GST M2 was inhibited by the MEK-1 inhibitor PD98059, but not by other MAPK inhibitors. The GST M1 and GST M2 transcripts as determined by RT-PCR and GST activity were also inhibited concurrently by the MEK-1 inhibitor PD98059. The protein levels of up- and down-stream effectors of the MEK-1, including Ras, Raf, and Erk1/2, and the phosphorylation state of Erk1/2 were found to be induced by geniposide, indicating a two-phase influence of geniposide. The results suggest that geniposide induced GST activity and the expression of GST M1 and GST M2 acting through MEK-1 pathway by activating and increasing expression of Ras/Raf/MEK-1 signaling mediators.
Terminalia catappa L. was a popular folk medicine and has several proven biological activities in... more Terminalia catappa L. was a popular folk medicine and has several proven biological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The present study investigated the effect of the extract of T. catappa leaves (TCE) on invasion and motility of tumor cells to find that TCE exerted a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the invasion and motility of highly metastatic A549 and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. To further investigate the precise involvement of TCE in tumor metastasis, A549 and LLC cells were treated with TCE at various concentrations, up to 100 microg/mL, for a specified period and results from zymography and Western blotting showed that a TCE treatment may decrease the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2, -9, urokinase plasminogen activator and their endogenous inhibitors, that is tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of TCE on the growth and metastasis of LLC cells in vivo was proven. These results indicated that TCE could be applied to be a potential antimetastatic agent.
The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of cytosolic carbonic anhydrase ... more The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of cytosolic carbonic anhydrase (CA) isoenzymes in erythrocytes of patients with aplastic, autoimmune hemolytic, iron deficiency or beta-thalassemia anemia. Western blotting and CA esterase activity analysis were used to analyze cytosolic erythrocyte CA isoenzymes in 118 subjects with various types of anemia and 35 healthy controls. Total CA activity and CAII concentration of anemia patients were significantly higher than that of the control subjects while CAI concentration was significantly lower in patients of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (P<0.01). Compared with controls, CAIII concentration was lower in iron deficiency anemia (P<0.01), but higher in beta-thalassemia anemia (P<0.001). Carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes may contribute differently to various types of anemia. CAI may be an indicator to differentiate autoimmune hemolytic anemia from other types of anemia. CAII provides the CA activity necessary for maintaining ion transport in erythrocytes while CAIII may play an agent against oxidative damage in iron deficiency and beta-thalassemia anemia.
The insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) ... more The insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and human growth hormone (h-GH) have been recognized as therapeutic targets for the heart disease therapy. The bioavailability and actions of insulin-like growth factors-II (IGF-II) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) are important for embryonic development and cardiomyocyte differentiation as well. However, the clinical manifestations following the change in the serum IGF-II and MMP9 in infants with isolated ventricular septal defect (VSD) undergoing surgical repair have not been clearly defined. Serum samples were collected from 72 infants: Twenty normal infants (group I) and 51 consecutive infants with echocardiography established isolated VSD (aged from 3 months to 1 year) were investigated. Among the 51 infants with VSD, 28 with shunt fraction, Qp/Qs < or = 1.5 were free of congestive heart failure symptoms (group II); 23 with shunt fraction, Qp/Qs > or = 2.0 were in congestive heart failure (group IIIa); and 23 of these 23 infants had undergone VSD repair 6 months before their second study (group IIIb). All insulin-like growth factors-II (IGF-II) and human growth hormone (h-GH), insulin like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and its specific serum protease-MMP9 concentration were analyzed using ELISA and zymography, respectively. Serum IGF-II and MMP9 exhibited significant decreasing trends among the three groups and significantly lower concentrations of IGF-II, IGF-II/IGFBP-3 ratio and MMP9, were found only in the severe group whereas h-GH/IGF-II ratio became significantly higher in this group. Moreover, there were no significant differences in these parameters between the infants after surgical correction and the normal ones. The improvement in IGF-II and MMP9 serum concentration was identified in infants with VSD after surgical repair. These findings also indicate a significant relationship between IGF-II, MMP9 and VSD which might be used as diagnosis and prognosis indicators for this defect. Slight reductions in IGF-II/IGFBP3 ratio and slight increase in the h-GH/IGF-II ratio indicate mild VSD. The reductions in the MMP9, IGF-II, and IGF-II/IGFBP3 ratio plus high increase in the h-GH/IGF-II ratio indicate severe VSD.
Transarterial chemoembolization has been widely used to treat unresectable hepatocellular carcino... more Transarterial chemoembolization has been widely used to treat unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Various complications have been reported, but they have not included acute myocardial infarction. Acute myocardial infarction results mainly from coronary artery occlusion by plaques that are vulnerable to rupture or from coronary spasm, embolization, or dissection of the coronary artery. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We present a case report that describes a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transarterial chemoembolization and died subsequently of acute myocardial infarction. To our knowledge, there has been no previous report of this complication induced by transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. This case illustrates the need to be aware of acute myocardial infarction when transarterial chemoembolization is planned for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in patients with underlying coronary artery disease.
We would like to highlight the application of natural products to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).... more We would like to highlight the application of natural products to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We will focus on the natural products known as flavonoids, which target this disease at different stages of hepatocarcinogenesis. In spite of the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in treating HCC, patients with HCC still face poor prognosis because of the nature of multidrug resistance and toxicity derived from chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Flavonoids can be found in many vegetables, fruits, and herbal medicines that exert their different anticancer effects via different intracellular signaling pathways and serve as antioxidants. In this review, we will discuss seven common flavonoids that exert different biological effects against HCC via different pathways.
The carcinogenesis of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder involves etiologic... more The carcinogenesis of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder involves etiological factors, such as ethnicity, the environment, genetics, and diet. Cluster of differentiation (CD44), a well-known tumor marker, plays a crucial role in regulating tumor cell differentiation and metastasis. This study investigated the effect of CD44 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on TCC risk and clinicopathological characteristics. Five SNPs of CD44 were analyzed through real-time polymerase chain reaction in 275 patients with TCC and 275 participants without cancer. In this study, we observed that CD44 rs187115 polymorphism carriers with the genotype of at least one G were associated with TCC risk. Furthermore, TCC patients who carried at least one G allele at CD44 rs187115 had a higher stage risk than did patients carrying the wild-type allele (p < 0.05). In addition, The AATAC or GACGC haplotype among the five CD44 sites was also associated with a reduced risk of TCC. In conclusion, our results suggest that CD44 SNPs influence the risk of TCC. Patients with CD44 rs187115 variant genotypes (AG + GG) exhibited a higher risk of TCC; these patients may possess chemoresistance to developing late-stage TCC compared with those with the wild-type genotype. The CD44 rs187115 SNP may predict poor prognosis in patients with TCC.
Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) has been epidemiologically linked to heart disease am... more Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) has been epidemiologically linked to heart disease among non-smokers. However, the molecular mechanism behind SHS-induced cardiac disease is not well known. This study found that SD rats exposed to cigarette smoke at a dose of 10 cigarettes for 30 min twice a day for 1 month had a reduced left ventricle-to-tibia length ratio (mg/mm), increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis by TUNEL assay and a wider interstitial space by H&E staining. However, lumbrokinase and dilong both reversed the effects of SHS. Western blotting demonstrated significantly increased expression of the pro-apoptotic protein caspase-3 in the hearts of the rats exposed to SHS. Elevated protein expression levels of Fas, FADD and the apoptotic initiator activated caspase-8, a molecule in the death-receptor-dependent pathway, coupled with increased t-Bid and apoptotic initiator activated caspase-9 were found. Molecules in the mitochondria-dependent pathway, which disrupts mitochond...
Gastric cancer is the second cause of death from cancer worldwide and its prevalence and mortalit... more Gastric cancer is the second cause of death from cancer worldwide and its prevalence and mortality rates are still very high in developed countries. Interleukin-10 (IL10) is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by macrophages which can suppress and stimulate the immune response in tumorigenesis signaling. However, the contribution of IL10 genomic variants to gastric cancer is still largely unknown. In the present study, we aimed at investigating the role of IL10 genotypes in gastric cancer risk. The promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms on IL10, A-1082G (rs1800896), T-819C (rs3021097) and A-592C (rs1800872), were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method among 716 Taiwanese people (358 patients gastric cancer and 358 cancer-free controls). The results showed that there was a significant difference between the patient and control groups in the genotypic frequency distribution of IL10 A-1082G genotypes (p=0.0004). In addition, thos...
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also called endotoxin, is the important pathogen of acute lung injury (... more Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also called endotoxin, is the important pathogen of acute lung injury (ALI), which is a clinical syndrome that still lacks effective therapeutic medicine. Rutin belongs to vitamin P and possesses various beneficial effects. In this study, we investigate the potential protective effects and the mechanisms of rutin on LPS-induced ALI. Pre-administration with rutin inhibited LPS-induced arterial blood gas exchange and neutrophils infiltration in the lungs. LPS-induced expression of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 and activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 were suppressed by rutin. In addition, the inhibitory concentration of rutin on phosphorylation of Akt was similar as MIP-2 expression and MMP-9 activation. In conclusion, rutin is a potential protective agent for ALI via suppressing the blood gas exchange and neutrophil infiltration. The mechanism of rutin is down-regulation of MIP-2 expression and MMP-9 activation through inhibition of Akt p...
The purpose of this study was to investigate genetic impact of TIMP-3 -1296 T&amp... more The purpose of this study was to investigate genetic impact of TIMP-3 -1296 T>C (rs9619311) and TIMP-4 -55 T>C (rs3755724) gene polymorphisms on the susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 759 subjects, including 530 healthy controls and 229 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, were recruited in this study. Allelic discrimination of TIMP-3 -1296 T>C (rs9619311) and TIMP-4 -55 T>C (rs3755724) polymorphisms was assessed with the ABI StepOne™ Real-Time PCR System. Among women group, individuals with TC or CC alleles of TIMP-3 -1296 T>C gene polymorphism protected against HCC (AOR = 0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.12-0.97; p = 0.04) compared to individuals with TT alleles, after adjusting for other confounders. Also, women with TC alleles and with TC or CC alleles of TIMP-4 -55 T>C polymorphisms had a 2.52-fold risk (95%CI = 1.23-5.13; p = 0.01) and 2.47-fold risk (95%CI = 1.26-4.87; p = 0.008) of developing HCC compared to individuals with TT alleles, after adjusting for other confounders. There was no synergistic effect between gene polymorphism and environmental risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol consumptions and clinical statuses of HCC as well as serum expression of liver-related clinicopathological markers. In conclusion, gene polymorphisms of TIMP-3 -1296 T>C (rs9619311) and TIMP-4 -55 T>C (rs3755724) play a role in the susceptibility of HCC among Taiwan women.
Geniposide, an iridoid glycoside isolated from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, has biolo... more Geniposide, an iridoid glycoside isolated from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, has biological capabilities of detoxication, antioxidation, and anticarcinogenesis. We have recently found that geniposide possesses a potential for detoxication by inducing GST activity and the expression of GST M1 and GST M2 subunits. In this study, the signaling pathway of geniposide leading to the activation of GSH S-transferase (GST) was investigated. Primary cultured rat hepatocytes were treated with geniposide in the presence or absence of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors and examined for GST activity, expression of GST M1 and M2 subunits, and protein levels of MAPK signaling proteins. Western blotting data demonstrated that geniposide induced increased protein levels of GST M1 and GST M2 (approximately 1.76- and 1.50-fold of control, respectively). The effect of geniposide on the increased protein levels of GST M1 and GST M2 was inhibited by the MEK-1 inhibitor PD98059, but not by other MAPK inhibitors. The GST M1 and GST M2 transcripts as determined by RT-PCR and GST activity were also inhibited concurrently by the MEK-1 inhibitor PD98059. The protein levels of up- and down-stream effectors of the MEK-1, including Ras, Raf, and Erk1/2, and the phosphorylation state of Erk1/2 were found to be induced by geniposide, indicating a two-phase influence of geniposide. The results suggest that geniposide induced GST activity and the expression of GST M1 and GST M2 acting through MEK-1 pathway by activating and increasing expression of Ras/Raf/MEK-1 signaling mediators.
Terminalia catappa L. was a popular folk medicine and has several proven biological activities in... more Terminalia catappa L. was a popular folk medicine and has several proven biological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The present study investigated the effect of the extract of T. catappa leaves (TCE) on invasion and motility of tumor cells to find that TCE exerted a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the invasion and motility of highly metastatic A549 and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. To further investigate the precise involvement of TCE in tumor metastasis, A549 and LLC cells were treated with TCE at various concentrations, up to 100 microg/mL, for a specified period and results from zymography and Western blotting showed that a TCE treatment may decrease the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2, -9, urokinase plasminogen activator and their endogenous inhibitors, that is tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of TCE on the growth and metastasis of LLC cells in vivo was proven. These results indicated that TCE could be applied to be a potential antimetastatic agent.
The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of cytosolic carbonic anhydrase ... more The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of cytosolic carbonic anhydrase (CA) isoenzymes in erythrocytes of patients with aplastic, autoimmune hemolytic, iron deficiency or beta-thalassemia anemia. Western blotting and CA esterase activity analysis were used to analyze cytosolic erythrocyte CA isoenzymes in 118 subjects with various types of anemia and 35 healthy controls. Total CA activity and CAII concentration of anemia patients were significantly higher than that of the control subjects while CAI concentration was significantly lower in patients of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (P<0.01). Compared with controls, CAIII concentration was lower in iron deficiency anemia (P<0.01), but higher in beta-thalassemia anemia (P<0.001). Carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes may contribute differently to various types of anemia. CAI may be an indicator to differentiate autoimmune hemolytic anemia from other types of anemia. CAII provides the CA activity necessary for maintaining ion transport in erythrocytes while CAIII may play an agent against oxidative damage in iron deficiency and beta-thalassemia anemia.
The insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) ... more The insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and human growth hormone (h-GH) have been recognized as therapeutic targets for the heart disease therapy. The bioavailability and actions of insulin-like growth factors-II (IGF-II) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) are important for embryonic development and cardiomyocyte differentiation as well. However, the clinical manifestations following the change in the serum IGF-II and MMP9 in infants with isolated ventricular septal defect (VSD) undergoing surgical repair have not been clearly defined. Serum samples were collected from 72 infants: Twenty normal infants (group I) and 51 consecutive infants with echocardiography established isolated VSD (aged from 3 months to 1 year) were investigated. Among the 51 infants with VSD, 28 with shunt fraction, Qp/Qs < or = 1.5 were free of congestive heart failure symptoms (group II); 23 with shunt fraction, Qp/Qs > or = 2.0 were in congestive heart failure (group IIIa); and 23 of these 23 infants had undergone VSD repair 6 months before their second study (group IIIb). All insulin-like growth factors-II (IGF-II) and human growth hormone (h-GH), insulin like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and its specific serum protease-MMP9 concentration were analyzed using ELISA and zymography, respectively. Serum IGF-II and MMP9 exhibited significant decreasing trends among the three groups and significantly lower concentrations of IGF-II, IGF-II/IGFBP-3 ratio and MMP9, were found only in the severe group whereas h-GH/IGF-II ratio became significantly higher in this group. Moreover, there were no significant differences in these parameters between the infants after surgical correction and the normal ones. The improvement in IGF-II and MMP9 serum concentration was identified in infants with VSD after surgical repair. These findings also indicate a significant relationship between IGF-II, MMP9 and VSD which might be used as diagnosis and prognosis indicators for this defect. Slight reductions in IGF-II/IGFBP3 ratio and slight increase in the h-GH/IGF-II ratio indicate mild VSD. The reductions in the MMP9, IGF-II, and IGF-II/IGFBP3 ratio plus high increase in the h-GH/IGF-II ratio indicate severe VSD.
Transarterial chemoembolization has been widely used to treat unresectable hepatocellular carcino... more Transarterial chemoembolization has been widely used to treat unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Various complications have been reported, but they have not included acute myocardial infarction. Acute myocardial infarction results mainly from coronary artery occlusion by plaques that are vulnerable to rupture or from coronary spasm, embolization, or dissection of the coronary artery. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We present a case report that describes a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transarterial chemoembolization and died subsequently of acute myocardial infarction. To our knowledge, there has been no previous report of this complication induced by transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. This case illustrates the need to be aware of acute myocardial infarction when transarterial chemoembolization is planned for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in patients with underlying coronary artery disease.
We would like to highlight the application of natural products to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).... more We would like to highlight the application of natural products to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We will focus on the natural products known as flavonoids, which target this disease at different stages of hepatocarcinogenesis. In spite of the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in treating HCC, patients with HCC still face poor prognosis because of the nature of multidrug resistance and toxicity derived from chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Flavonoids can be found in many vegetables, fruits, and herbal medicines that exert their different anticancer effects via different intracellular signaling pathways and serve as antioxidants. In this review, we will discuss seven common flavonoids that exert different biological effects against HCC via different pathways.
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