PURPOSE Tolfenamic acid (TA), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is known to exhibit antitumor effects in various cancers apart from nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). NPC exhibits high invasiveness, as well as metastatic potential, and patients continue to suffer from residual, recurrent, or metastatic disease even after chemoradiation therapy. Therefore, new treatment strategies are needed for...

Radiotherapy is used to treat many different human tumors. Paradoxically, radiation can activate TGF-β1 signaling and induce the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is associated with enhanced tumor progression. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of halofuginone, a plant-derived alkaloid that has been shown to inhibit TGF-β1 signaling, on radiation-induced EMT and explore...

The angiotensin (ANG)-(1-7)/Mas receptor (MasR) pathway activates vascular repair-relevant functions of bone marrow progenitor cells. We tested the effects of ANG-(1-7) on mobilization and vasoreparative functions of progenitor cells that are impaired in diabetes. The study was performed in streptozotocin-induced diabetic (db/db) mice. Diabetes resulted in a decreased number of Lineage-Sca-1+c-...

The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP-1) binds and mediates the endocytosis of multiple ligands, transports the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and other membrane proteins into endosomes, and binds intracellular adaptor proteins involved in cell signaling. In this paper, we show that in murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and L929 cells, LRP-1 functions ...

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and liver endothelial cells (LEC) migrate to sites of injury and perpetuate alcohol-induced liver injury. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a protein released from the nucleus of injured cells that has been implicated as a proinflammatory mediator. We hypothesized that HMGB1 may be released from ethanol-stimulated liver parenchymal cells and contribute to HSC and...

Endostar, a recombinant human endostatin, is recognized as one of the most effective angiogenesis inhibitors. The angiogenesis inhibitory effects of Endostar suggest a possible beneficial role of Endostar in choroidal neovascularization (CNV), which is predominantly induced by hypoxia. In our previous study, it was reported that Endostar may inhibit the proliferation and migration of RF/6A chor...

The enantiomeric separation of three selenoamino acids, D,L-selenomethionine, D,L-selenoethionine and D,L-selenocystine is described. Both sulfated beta-cyclodextrin and vancomycin have been successfully used to separate all enantiomers of the compounds with UV detection. Reproducible separations, in terms of peak area and migration time were obtained using sulfated beta-cyclodextrin with rever...

BACKGROUND The CD40/CD40 ligand system is involved in atherogenesis. Activated T lymphocytes and platelets, which express high amounts of CD40 ligand (CD40L) on their surface, contribute significantly to plaque instability with ensuing thrombus formation, leading to acute coronary syndromes. Because reendothelialization may play a pivotal role for plaque stabilization, we investigated a potenti...

This paper presents findings of a comparative study carried out in Poland and the Czech Republic, which analysed societal attitudes towards migration migrants Europe. Our research shows that reaction to Republic constitutes reversed (bottom up) securitisation. Moreover, contrary majority security challenges where immediate threats are understood be more dangerous than those placed distant futur...

Proliferation, migration, and the phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play an important role in remodeling induced by hypertension. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), active ingredient Astragalus membranaceus, has been shown to exert a beneficial cardiovascular disease. The present study aimed investigate mechanism responsible for protective effects AS-IV on hypertension-induced re...