• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.250-256
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• 2006

Purpose: Recently, interest in peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) has increased, although clinical studies of the effect of $PPAR-{\gamma}$ expression on gastric cancer have not been reported yet. In this study, we investigated the role of $PPAR-{\gamma}$ expression in gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: One hundred twenty-eight (128) samples of both gastric cancer and normal tissues were obtained from 128 patients who had undergone at a curative gastrectomy at Seoul Medical Center from Jan. 2001 to Dec. 2005. $PPAR-{\gamma}$ expression was determined by using immunohistochemical staining, and the results were analyzed. The statistical analysis was based on clinicopathological findings and the differences in survival rates. Results: The mean age of the patients was 6n, and the male : female ratio was 1.9 : 1. $PPAR-{\gamma}$ expression was significantly higher in cancer tissues than in normal tissue (81.3% vs. 57.0%, p<0.001). There was insignificant difference between well and moderately differentiated types and poorly differentiated types in terms of the expression of $PPAR-{\gamma}$ (87.0% vs. 74.6%, P=0.074). In the univariate analysis the survival rate was significantly increased when $PPAR-{\gamma}$ was expressed in normal tissue (P=0.003). In the multivariate analysis, only the UICC TNM staging had significance related to the survival rate. Conclusion: The rate of $PPAR-{\gamma}$ expression was higher in cancer tissue than it was in normal tissue from gastric cancer patients. In the univariate analysis, $PPAR-{\gamma}$ expression in normal tissue had significance with respect to survival, but the multivariate analysis showed no such significance. Thus, we should further evaluate more cases to determine whether or not such a significance exists.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2019

Glycyrrhizae radix is one of the most frequently prescribed ingredients in Oriental medicine, and Glycyrrhizae radix extract has been shown to exert anti-cancer effects. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of programed cell death (apoptosis) by Glycyrrhizae radix are poorly defined. In the present study, it was examined the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis by water extracts of Glycyrrhizae radix (GRW) in human bladder T24 cancer cells. It was found that GRW could inhibit the cell growth of T24 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation and increased populations of annexin-V positive cells. The induction of apoptotic cell death by GRW was connected with an up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL), and inhibition of apoptosis family proteins (XIAP, cIAP-1 and cIAP-2). In addition, apoptosis-inducing concentrations of GRW induced the activation of caspase-9, an initiator caspase of the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway, and caspase-3, accompanied by proteolytic degradation of PARP. GRW also induced apoptosis via a death receptor-mediated extrinsic pathway by caspase-8 activation, resulting in the down-regulation of total Bid and suggesting the existence of cross-talk between the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Taken together, the present results suggest that GRW may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human bladder cancer cells.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.165-178
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• 1988

In this study, the effect of single or repeated (daily for 7 or 14 days) electroconvulsive shock (ECS) on central and peripheral opiate system and modification of the actions of ECS by several psychoactive drugs were investigated in the rat. Repeated ECS caused increase of Met-enkephalin content and decrease of Bmax of specific $[^3H]$imorphine binding in the rat brain. These effects were persisted more than 7 days after the last ECS, but single ECS failed to show these effects. However, ${\beta}-endorphin$ content was decreased in midbrain preparation and increased in plasma by repeated or single ECS. These phenomenon was seen shortly after the last ECS. After ECS-induced seizure was prevented by phenobarbital, ECS-induced increase in Met-enkephalin content was significantly attenuated. Imipramine or pargyline did not affect the action of repeated ECS. On the other hand, reserpine, chlorpromazine or haloperidol which were classified as neuroleptic antipsychotics, augmented the ECS-induced changes of central and peripheral opiate parameters. Furthermore, in groups received repeated ECS, changes of Bmax of specific $[^3H]-morphine binding$ binding was inversely correlated with changes of Met-enkephalin contents, but not with changes of ${\beta}-endorphin$ contents. From these results, it is inferred that the central or peripheral opioidergic system may be involved in the therapeutic and/or adverse effects of ECS which also can be influenced by some psychoactive drugs.