Mounting evidence suggests that lipoxygenase (LO)-catalyzed products may play a key role in the development and progression of human cancers. In this study, we analyzed the effects of a 5-LO inhibitor, which inhibits the conversion of arachidonic acid to leukotrienes, on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human malignant glioma cells, including 5-LO-expressing cells U-87MG, A172 and 5-LO non-expressing cell U373. Growth of U-87MG and A172 cells, but not that of U373 cells, was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by treatment with MK886. Similarly, specific 5-LO silencing by small interfering RNA reduced the growth of U-87MG and A172 cells. MK886 treatment reduced 5-LO activity independently of 5-LO-activating protein (FLAP) in human malignant glioma cells. MK886 treatment also induced cell apoptosis, measured by DNA fragmentation and nuclear condensation, in U-87MG and A172 cells but there were no signs in U373 cells. Moreover, this treatment reduced ERKs phosphorylation and anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-2 expression, and increased Bax expression in U-87MG and A172 cells. In summary, our results show there is a link between the 5-LO expression status and the extent of MK886-inhibited cell proliferation and apoptosis. Taken together, this study suggest that 5-LO is a possible target for treating patients with gliomas, and 5-LO inhibition might be potent therapy for patients with 5-LO-expressing malignant gliomas.

This study was conducted to determine the antioxidative and neuroprotective effect of pig skin extracts (PS) and pig skin gelatin hydrolysates (LPS) using a human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y). The extraction yield of PS was 3 fold higher than that of LPS. The protein content of PS was about 10 fold higher than that of LPS (p<0.05). Also LPS increased antioxidative activity dose dependently, and the activity was significantly higher than PS at all concentration (p<0.05). DPPH radical scavenging activity of LPS at 50 mg/mL was 92.97%, which was similar to 1 µM vitamin C as a positive control. ABTS radical scavenging activity of LPS (20 mg/mL) was 89.83% and oxygen radical absorbance capacity of LPS at 1 mg/ mL was 141.39 µM Trolox Equvalent/g. No significant change of human neuroblastoma cells was determined by MTT test. Cell death by oxidative stress induced by H 2 O 2 and amyloid beta 1-42 (Aβ 1-42 ) was protected by LPS rather than PS. Acetylcholine esterase was significantly inhibited, by up to 33.62% by LPS at 10 mg/mL. Therefore, these results suggest that pig skin gelatin hydrolysates below 3 kDa have potential to be used as anti-oxidative and neuroprotective functional additives in the food industry, while further animal test should be determined in the future.

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Background Esophageal cancer patients experience physical and psychological difficulties after surgery. This study aimed to identify the changes in psychological distress and quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer before surgery to three months after surgery. Methods We enrolled 49 patients who were scheduled to undergo esophageal surgery at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea in this prospective study. Patients’ psychological distress and quality of life were assessed with the Korean scales HADS, EORTC QLQ-C30, and QLQ-OES18 at the pre-surgery, one-month post-surgery, and three months post-surgery. Results Moderate-to-severe depression was reported in 12.2% of patients at the pre-surgery evaluation, in 57.1% of patients one-month post-surgery, and 8.2% of patients three-months post-surgery. Moderate-to-severe depression was reported in 12.2% of patients at the pre-surgery evaluation, in 63.3% of patients one-month post-surgery, and 16.3% of patients three months post-surgery. Clinically significant, moderate changes (10–20 points) in physical functioning, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, and dyspnea, and significant, large changes (> 20) in role functioning, fatigue, pain, and appetite loss (per EORTC QLQ-C30) were reported from pre-surgery to one-month post-surgery. Clinically significant, moderate changes (10–20 points) in dysphagia and taste problems and a significant, large change (> 20) in eating difficulties (per QLQ-OES18) were reported from pre-surgery to one-month post-surgery. Conclusion One month after esophageal cancer surgery, patients demonstrated severe psychological distress and worsening quality of life.