BACKGROUND Trans-ferulic (FA) acid exhibits antioxidant effects in vitro. However, the underlying mechanism of trans-FA activity in cellular physiology, especially cancer physiology, remains largely unknown. This study investigated the cellular physiological effects of trans-FA on the H1299 human lung cancer cell line. METHODS The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay was used to determine free...

Genetic similarities between plant interactions with microbial pathogens and wheat interactions with Hessian fly larvae prompted us to investigate defense and counterdefense mechanisms. Plant oxidative burst, a rapid increase in the levels of active oxygen species (AOS) within the initial 24 h of an interaction with pathogens, commonly is associated with defenses that are triggered by gene-for-...

Emerging evidence has suggested that pancreatic adenocarcinoma is sustained by pancreatic cancer stem cells. The present study aimed to investigate the expression patterns of the pancreatic cancer stem cell surface markers cluster of differentiation CD44 and CD24 in a pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line, and to investigate the possible mechanisms for their radiation resistance. Flow cytometry w...

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) plantlets were exposed to Cd or Hg to study the kinetics of diverse stress indexes. In the so-called beaker-size hydroponic system, plantlets were grown in 30 microM of Cd or Hg for 7 d. Oxidative stress took place and increased over time, a linear response being observed with Cd but not with Hg. To improve the sensitivity of the stress assays used, a micro-assay syste...

BACKGROUND Cryopreservation of pre-antral follicles is a hopeful technique to preserve female fertility. The aim of the present study was to evaluate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels of mouse vitrified pre-antral follicles in the presence of alpha lipoic acid (ALA). METHODS Isolated pre-antral follicles (140-150 µm in diameter) were divided into vitrif...

Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 10(-7) M) activation of adherent neutrophils (PMNs) led to a markedly attenuated release of superoxide anion (O2-) per cell when PMNs were activated at high density (2.85 fmol O2-/PMN at 2 million in 0.1 ml) in comparison with cells activated at low cell density (12.0 fmol O2-/PMN at 250,000 in 0.1 ml). This "autoregulatory" phenomenon was not due to a defect in ...

The aim of the present study was to characterize potential somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) donor cells by comparing two lines of transfected cells with their non‑modified parental controls in culture. Fetal fibroblasts used in the study originated from crossbred Landrace x Yorkshire x Duroc (LYD) or Yucatan mini‑pigs. The LYD fibroblasts were modified by the transfection of a tetracycline ...

Although high glucose (HG) has been shown to induce nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation in vascular cells, the upstream regulation and the biologic significance of NF-kappaB activation in diabetic renal injury are not clear. It was, therefore, examined if HG-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protein kinase C (PKC) activation are involved in NF-kappaB activation in...

Tungsten alloys (WA) have been introduced in an attempt to find safer alternatives to depleted uranium and lead munitions. However, it is known that at least one alloy, 91% tungsten-6% nickel-3% cobalt (WNC-91-6-3), causes rhabdomyosarcomas when fragments are implanted in rat muscle. This raises concerns that shrapnel, if not surgically removable, may result in similar tumours in humans. There ...

Studies into the effects of ultrafine particles in the lung have shown adverse effects considered to be due in part to the particle size. Air pollution particles (PM(10)) are associated with exacerbations of respiratory disease and deaths from cardiovascular causes in epidemiological studies and the ultrafine fraction of PM(10) has been hypothesized to play an important role. The aim of the pre...