The fruit hull of mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana L. has been used as a Thai indigenous medicine for many years. However, its mechanism of action as a medicine has not been elucidated. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of mangosteen extracts (100% ethanol, 70% ethanol, 40% ethanol and water) on histamine release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis. We found that the 40% ethanol...

Although estrogen is implicated in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation in many organs, the exact mechanism for liver regeneration is not completely understood. We investigated the effect of estrogen on liver regeneration in male and female Wistar rats after 70% partial hepatectomy (PHx) and performed immunohistochemistry, western blotting and Southwestern histochemistry. 17β-estra...

The importance of testosterone (T) in maintaining full expression of male mammal reproductive behavior is well documented and widely acknowledged. However, the role of estradiol (E2) in the regulation of male reproductive behaviors is much less widely recognized or appreciated. Indeed, T can be enzymatically converted to E2 via aromatase. Many regions within the brain of males and females are r...

There are many diseases related to disorganized blood cells, especially erythrocytes and granulocytes. Therefore, it is important to find some methods for producing them. In this research work, we used extract of mouse lung to investigate the effects of its hematopoietic growth factors on stem cell differentiation in vitro. Stem cells were isolated from umbilical cord by enzyme digestion and cu...

A novel in vivo model of tamoxifen-stimulated endometrial cancer was developed and the role of HER-2/neu investigated by using trastuzumab. Tamoxifen-stimulated tumors (ECC-1TAM) were growth stimulated by 17beta-estradiol (E2), tamoxifen, or raloxifene. Trastuzumab inhibited growth of E2-stimulated ECC-1E2 tumors by 50% and tamoxifen-stimulated ECC-1TAM tumors by 100%. ECC-1 tumors expressed fu...

Interactions between the transmembrane domains of phospholamban (PLB) and the cardiac Ca2+ pump (SERCA2a) have been investigated by chemical cross-linking. Specifically, C-terminal, transmembrane residues 45-52 of PLB were individually mutated to Cys, then cross-linked to V89C in the M2 helix of SERCA2a with the thiol-specific cross-linking reagents Cu2+-phenanthroline, dibromobimane, and bisma...

CONTEXT There is a need for increased knowledge about endogenous sex hormone levels and clinical outcomes of risk/benefit. Immunoassays have poor specificity to reliably measure low steroid concentrations in elderly. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to evaluate plasma steroid concentrations with regard to prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in elderly, using mass spectrometry. SE...

OBJECTIVE To compare autoantibody features in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and individuals presenting antimitochondria antibodies (AMAs) but no clinical or biochemical evidence of disease. METHODS A total of 212 AMA-positive serum samples were classified into four groups: PBC (definite PBC, n = 93); PBC/autoimmune disease (AID; PBC plus other AID, n = 37); biochemically norma...