Green tea seed extract inhibits cell migration by suppressing the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in breast cancer cells

Recently, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been implicated in human pathology, including fibrosis and cancer metastasis. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of green tea seed (GTS) on the EMT process and migration using the human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB231. Pretreatment with GTS significantly inhibited migration of breast cancer cells, as measured by monolayer scratch assay. GTS treatment clearly decreased vimentin (a mesenchymal marker) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) mRNA expression, while E-cadherin (an epithelial marker) expression was significantly increased. Furthermore, GTS also reduced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9. Taken together, our results demonstrated that GTS inhibits migration of breast cancer cells by suppressing the EMT process via reduction of MMP activities and FAK mRNA expression. Based on these findings, we speculate that GTS might be a potential agent for inhibition of breast cancer cell migration.     

Influence of left ventricular function on survival and mode of death after implantable defibrillator therapy (Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Montefiore Medical Center experience)

To determine the influence of left ventricular (LV) function on survival and mode of death in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), sudden death, surgical mortality, total arrhythmia-related death, total cardiac death and total death were retrospectively evaluated in 377 consecutive patients. The outcomes were also compared between patients with an LV ejection fraction > or = 30% (214 patients, group 1) and < 30% (148 patients, group 2). Surgical mortality was 3.9% (1.8% in group 1, 7% in group 2). During the follow-up of 25 +/- 20 months, actuarial survival rates of all patients at 3 years were 96% for sudden deaths, 81% for total cardiac deaths and 74% for total mortality. When the 2 groups were compared, survival rates of groups 1 and 2 at 3 years, respectively, were 99 and 90% for sudden death (p < 0.05), 97 and 84% for sudden death and surgical mortality (p < 0.01), 94 and 80% for the total arrhythmia-related death (p < 0.001), 88 and 68% for total cardiac death (p < 0.0001), and 81 and 62% for total mortality (p < 0.002). In group 2, 73% of total cardiac deaths within 1 year were causally related to the arrhythmia. Thus, in patients with an ICD, sudden death rates were very low. However, total cardiac death and total death rates were relatively higher. The outcomes of patients with an ICD were strongly influenced by the degree of LV dysfunction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of fermented milk peptides supplement on blood pressure and vascular function in spontaneously hypertensive rats

This study investigated the effects of fermented milk peptides (FMP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity were significantly ameliorated in FMP (10 mg/kg BW/day) group compared to those of the skimmed milk or captopril (CAP, 50 mg/kg BW/day) groups, respectively. The higher plasma nitric oxide (NO) level and the reduced aortic thickness were found in the FMP and CAP groups versus those in the control group, respectively. In conclusion, fermented milk products containing tripeptides have been shown to be a well-tolerated dietary option against mild hypertension.