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More rigorous trials are warranted to establish acupuncture's role in neurological disorders.

Citrus fruits have been known to reduce the proliferation of many cancer cells. The antiproliferative effects of Citrus reticulata Blanco (CR) extract, the immature tangerine peel, on human gastric cancer cell line SNU-668 were evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, 4,6-diamidineo-2-phenylindole staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction expressions of BCL-2, BAX and CASP-3 genes, caspase-3 activity, and immunocytochemistry of caspase-3. From the results of the morphological and biochemical assays, CR (50 microg/ml) increased the apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells with typical apoptotic characteristics, including morphological changes of chromatin condensation and apoptotic body formation. CR (50 microg/ml) reduced the expression of BCL-2, whereas the expression of BAX and CASP-3 was increased compared with the control group. Furthermore, caspase-3 activity and caspase-3 protein expression in the CR-treated group was significantly increased compared with that in control group. These results suggest that CR may induce the apoptosis through the caspase-3 pathway in human gastric cancer cells.

The existence of specific melatonin-binding sites in lymphoid cells led to the discovery of signal transduction pathway for melatonin in human lymphocytes and immunomodulatory role of melatonin in immune cells. In recent years, transcriptional regulation of melatonin on various transcription factors has been demonstrated. Therefore, this study was designed to assess by cDNA microarray analysis the regulatory effects of melatonin on transcription factors in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Forty-six genes were upregulated and 23 were downregulated more than twofold in melatonin-treated PBMCs. Of the more than twofold upregulated transcription factor genes, homeo box A4 (HOXA4), forkhead box O1A (FOXO1A), transcription elongation factor B (SIII), polypeptide 3 (TCEB3), and peroxisome proliferative activated receptor delta (PPARD) were identified. Of the more than twofold downregulated genes, PHD finger protein 15 (PHF15) and zinc finger protein 33a (ZNF33A) were identified. In summary, identification of these genes by cDNA microarray analysis in response to melatonin administration may provide a foundation for further studies on the function of melatonin in human PBMCs.

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