Three human melanoma cell lines of known content of specific glucocorticoid-binding sites were studied for colony formation after a microM dose of glucocorticoid combined with melphalan. In one of the three cell lines, M-5A, subcloned from M-5 (formerly designated RPMI 8322), the effect of combined treatment was markedly increased compared to that of melphalan even if the glucocorticoid was app...

The combined toxicity of five insecticides (chlorpyrifos, avermectin, imidacloprid, λ-cyhalothrin, and phoxim), two herbicides (atrazine and butachlor) and a heavy metal (cadmium) has been examined with the earthworm acute toxicity test. Toxicological interactions of these chemicals in four, five, six, seven, and eight-component mixtures were studied using the combination-index (CI) equation me...

Many clinical studies have reported that irinotecan has reproducible antitumor activity against lung cancer. Both cisplatin and SN-38 are key drugs in the treatment of lung cancer, and their combination is one of the most promising regimens available. Using lung cancer cell lines, ABC-1 and SBC-3, we examined the cytotoxic effect of the schedule, as well as the effect of cisplatin on topoisomer...

The detection of synergisms ± deviations from additive or linear behaviour ± is often an important step in uncovering mechanisms of biochemical processes. Yet, a theoretical background for systemic analysis of synergisms in metabolic networks is lacking. Based on suitable mathematical models, such a theoretical approach should allow predicting synergisms and analysing what mechanistic features ...

The c-fos protooncogene is transcriptionally activated by a wide variety of agents including serum, growth factors, and phorbol esters. This induction is rapid and transient and is mediated through a number of identified promoter elements. Growth hormone (GH) is also known to induce transcription of c-fos in a variety of cell types including NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and 3T3-F442A preadipocytes. To i...

Previously we reported negative terata and c-mitosis synergism of FireMaster (polybrominated biphenyls) with colchicine in subacutely treated rats. Now we report absence of chromosome aberrations from FireMaster and absence of c-mitosis synergism of FireMaster and colchicine in male mice. For the study of chromosome aberrations groups of three mice received 0, 50, or 500 mg/kg FireMaster or 4.5...

Interleukin (IL)-9 is a pleiotropic cytokine that has been proposed as a candidate gene for asthma. As IL-9 expression is correlated with airway hyperresponsiveness in animals, we examined the effects of IL-9 on cultured human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cells. IL-9 alone had no effect on IL-8 release, but at concentrations of > or =30 ng/ml, IL-9 significantly increased IL-8 release induced by...

BACKGROUND Gigantol and syringic acid (SA) have been shown to synergistically prevent formation of diabetic cataract (DC). However, the exact mechanism of this effect is unknown. Here, we investigate the effect of these compounds on the activity of aldose reductase (AR) and cataract formation. METHODS We examined the synergistic anti-cataract efficacy of gigantol and SA in the high glucose- a...