The present work was undertaken to evaluate the antimetastatic potential of capsaicin (8­methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) by measuring its effects on matrix metalloproteinase activity, cell invasion and lung metastasis. Significant inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity by capsaicin (100 $\mu$M) was detected by gelatin zymography. In vitro invasion assay showed capsaicin (50, 100 $\mu$M) reduced tumor cell invasion ($28-40\%$). Capsaicin (i.p., 2.5 mg/kg) inhibited development of lung colonization ($58\%$). These results suggest that capsaicin prevents metastasis in part through suppression of invasion of B16F10 melanoma cells by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-2 responsible for degradation of extracellular matrix.

Many compounds might become activated after absorption of UV light energy. In some cases, the resulting molecule may undergo further biological reaction of toxicological relevance related especially to the photo-carcinogenicity resulting from photo-genotoxicity. However, no regulatory requirements have been issued with the exception of guideline issued by the Scientific Committee of Cosmetology, Commission of the European Communities (SCC/EEC) on the testing of sunscreens for their photo-genotoxicity. Thus, the objectives of this study are to investigate the utility of photo-Ames assay for detecting photo-mutagens, and to evaluate its ability to predict rodent photo-carcinogenicity. Photo-Ames assay was performed on five test substances that demonstrated positive results in photo-carcinogenicity tests: 8-methoxypsoralen (photoactive substance that forms DNA adducts in the presence of ultraviolet A irradiation), chlorpromazine (an aliphatic phenothiazine an a-adr-energic blocking agent), lomefloxacin (an antibiotic in a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones), anthracene (a tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbon a basic substance for production of anthraquinone, dyes, pigments, insecticides, wood preservatives and coating materials) and retinoic acid (a retinoid compound closely related to vitamin A). Out of 5 test substances, 3 showed a positive outcome in photo-Ames assay. With this limited data set, an investigation into the predictive value of this photo-Ames test for determining the photo-carcinogenicity showed that photo-Ames assay has relatively low sensitivity (the ability of a test to predict carcinogenicity). Thus, to determine the use of in vitro genotoxicity tests for prediction of carcinogenicity,' several standard photo-genotoxicity assays should be compared for their suitability in detecting photo-genotoxic compounds.

In the present study, we have measured 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA of stomach cancers, adjacent stomach cancer tissues, normal stomach tissues and peripheral blood leukocytes of the same stomach cancer patients (n = 48) to investigate their etiological association with gastric cancer and possibility whether peripheral blood leukocytes can use surrogate marker for early stomach cancer diagnosis by HPLC/ECD system. In normal stomach tissues, we found that 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels in tissues infected with Helicobacter pylori were 1.4 fold higher than those in tissues without infected with Helicobacter pylori. However, in adjacent stomach cancer tissues, we found that 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels in tissues infected with Helicobacter pylori were 1.5 fold lower than those in tissues without infected with Helicobacter pylori. In stomach cancer tissues, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels in tissues infected with Helicobacter pylori were not significantly different from those in tissues without infected with Helicobacter pylori. In Helicobacter pylori-negative specimens, 8­hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels of adjacent stomach cancer tissues were found to be significantly higher than those of normal stomach and cancer tissues. The 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels of female were 1.7 fold higher than those of male in peripheral blood leukocytes of the same stomach cancer patients. The 8-hydroxy-2'­deoxyguanosine levels in Helicobacter pylori-negative specimens among adjacent stomach cancer tissues were found to be reversely correlated with those in peripheral blood leukocytes, suggesting that 8-hydroxy-2'-deox­yguanosine in peripheral blood leukocytes may not use as surrogate marker for the early diagnosis of human stomach cancer.

The Swedish double mutation (KM670/671NL) of amyloid precursor protein (Swe-APP) is associated with early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) and increases amyloid beta peptide production. Although APP/A/3 mediated neurotoxicity is observed both in vitro and in vivo, the relationship between mutant APP expression, A/3 production, and neuronal death observed in the brains of FAD patients remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of Swe-APP-induced cell death in HEK293 and NGF-differentiated PC 12 cells. We found that the expression of Swe-APP induced cytochrome C relase, activation of caspase 3 in HEK 293 and NGF-differentiated PC 12 cells. We also show that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected in Swe-APP expressing HEK 293 cells and NGF-differentiated PC 12 cells and that pretreatment with vitamine E attenuated the cellular death, cytochrome C release induced by Swe-APP expression, indicating the involvement of free radical in these processes. These results suggest one of possible apoptotic mechanisms of Swe-APP which could occur through cytochrome C release from mitochondria and this apoptosis inducing effects could be at least in part, due to ROS generation by Swe-APP expression.

The objective was to use MR imaging to provide a template of posterior fossa development during the late stages in the chick embryos. The MR findings were then correlated with histological data. Fourteen normal formalin-fixed embryonic specimens with a gestational age of 14 to 20 days were examined with 1.5 Tesla unit MRl using a conventional clinical magnet and pulse sequences. The MR findings were correlated with the whole-mount histological specimens. Resolution of the morphological features of posterior fossa development in embryos greater than 14 days gestational age was possible. Development of cerebellum, brain stem, 4th ventricle and bony posterior fossa was documented. In the 14-day-old embryos, a premordial cerebellum was visualized in the enlarged bony posterior fossa, and it covered the the roof of the primitive fourth ventricle. The bony posterior fossa grows at the same rate along the supratentorial skull. The supratentorial skull and the rostral part of the brain grows at the same rate. The cerebellum begins to grow later than the rostral part of the brain. In the 19- to 20-day-old embryos, MRl revealed the rapid development of the cerebellar hemispheres, along with an increase in volume manifested by the more typical mushroom-shaped configuration observed in the newly hatched. At this stage, the cerebellum almost completely filled the posterior fossa and covered the entire fourth ventricle. The brain stem grew steadily, but the volume change was too subtle to evaluate. Features of cerebellar histogeneis were beyond the resolution of MRl. However, there were lots of artifacts in the features of the bony posterior fossa. An MR template of normal posterior fossa development would be useful to avoid confusion of normal development with abnormal development and to identify the expected developmental features when provided the estimated gestational age of a embryo.

In order to identify potential biomarkers of environmental monitoring, we evaluated heat shock genes expressions as effects of various environmental pollutants (nonylphenol, bisphenol-A, 17a­ethynyl estradiol, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, endosulfan, paraquat dichloride, chloropyriphos, fenitrothion, cadmium chloride, lead nitrate, potassium dichromate, benzo[a]pyrene and carbon tetrachloride) on larvae of aquatic midge Chironomus tentans (Diptera, Chironomidae). Heat shock protein 70 gene expression increased in most of chemicals treated larvae compared to control. The response was rapid and sensitive to low chemical concentrations but not stressor specific. In conjunction with stressor specific biomarkers, heat shock protein 70 gene expression in Chironomus might be developed for assessing exposure to environmental stressors in the fresh water ecosystem. Considering the potential of Chironomus larvae as biomonitoring species, heat shock gene expression has a considerable potential as a sensitive biomarker for environmental monitoring in Chironomus.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) displays high toxicity in animals and has been implicated in human carcinogenesis. Although the mechanism of carcinogenesis by TCDD is unclear, it is considered to be a non-genotoxic compound and tumor promoter. In our experiment, we investigated the effects of TCDD on gene expression in mouse skin carcinogenesis. We used cDNA microarray to detect the differential gene expression in tumors induced in hairless mouse skin by MNNG plus TCDD protocol. We found that erb-2, c-ets2 and p27$^{kip1}$ were significantly up-regulated, but TNFR2, AKT-l, integrin $\beta$l, maspin, IGF-l, c-raf-l, Rb were significantly down-regulated, in tumor region, respectively. We also found that the expression of 53 genes involved in cen cycle, signal transduction, apoptosis, adhesion molecule, angiogenesis, and invasion, were changed two fold more, in tumor surrounding region. These data suggest that TCDD alters the expression of a large array of genes involved in apoptosis, cytokine production and angiogenesis in mouse skin carcinogenesis.