Sb Treatment Research Articles

Therapeutic Effects of SB Natural Anticancer Drug in 50 Patients with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer

Purpose: Pancreatic cancers are still difficult in early dection and progression is rapid that can be hardly cured. Surgical therapy is limited by its hypervascularity, poor responses of radiational therapy and anticancer drugs. Root extract of Pulsatilla Koreana, SB365 has shown apoptotic effect by Pulsatilla saponin D component, and inhibition of angiogenesis by deoxypodophyllotoxin element as well as c-Met signal pathway inhibition in the pancreatic cancer. We present its therapeutic effect in 50 patients with stage IV pancreatic cancer for the first time in Korea. Materials and Methods From March 2013 to May 2014, there were 50 patients with stage IV pancreatic cancers admitted to Sahmyook Seoul Hospital for SB anticancer treatments with 24 control patient who did not get SB anticancer treatments in the same time interval.SB anticancer drug were administrated directly intratumoral injections using radiofrequent ablation techniques by interventional radiologist and intravenously by physician. Results Total 50 patients received SB anticancer therapy, male 25, female 25, and age ranged from 27 to 86 years with median age of 57 years with liver, lung, peritoneum and/or bone metastases, Control 24 patients, male 10, female 14, age ranged from 36 to 90 years with median age of 69 years. There was no significant side effect clinically as well as by laboratory measurement after every SB injections. Number of survived patients in SB study group was 27cases (54.0%), but only 2 cases(8.3%) in SB not treated control group ( p<0.01 with statistical significance). The total survival duration after diagnosis in SB treated group was 7 months, but 4 months in SB not treated control group. The interval from initial diagnosis to SB treatment in survived group was 2 month, less than 1 month in 12(44.4%) patients while in death group 5 months, and less than 1 month in only 3(14.3%) cases (p< 0.01 with statistical significance).The follow up duration and progression free estimate after SB treatment in survived group was median 5 months each, while in control group, median 2 months. Conclusion: SB natural anticancer drug administration is safe and increases survival rate and duration compared with control group, especially when treated within 1 month after diagnosis of stage IV pancreatic cancer. Long term follow up study with more numbers of patients are needed for accurate efficacy of SB treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer.

Effect of a single dose of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii on the occurrence of porcine neonatal diarrhoea

Piglet neonatal diarrhoea is an important issue in modern pig production and is linked to increased mortality and poor growth rates, affecting long-term pig health, increasing use of medication and cost of production. Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii (SB) is a probiotic yeast with documented clinical efficacy in the prevention and treatment of diarrhoeal diseases in humans. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the effect of SB on occurrence and severity of neonatal diarrhoea in piglets, mortality and growth rate. Forty-six litters (606 piglets) were randomly allocated to a control or SB treatment (n=23 per treatment). Within 24 h of farrowing, piglets assigned to the SB treatment received a single oral dose of a paste containing 3.3×109 CFU of SB CNCM I-1079. Piglets from the control litters received a placebo paste. Piglet weight, mortality and diarrhoea were recorded up to day 7 of age. It was shown that numbers of diarrhoea days were significantly correlated with increased mortality rate and reduced weight gain (P<0.05). SB treatment had no effect on growth or mortality in diarrhoeic litters. However, SB-supplemented litters had significantly lower faecal scores, indicating firmer faeces (P<0.01) and fewer numbers of diarrhoeic days (P<0.01) during the 1st week of life. Reduction in the number of diarrhoeic litters compared with the control group was observed following the probiotic administration (P<0.05). These results highlight the detrimental effects of neonatal diarrhoea on pre-weaning performance and suggest that SB, by reducing diarrhoea duration and severity, has the potential of improving enteric health in the early stages of life in pigs.

Inhibition of Tumor Growth and Immunomodulatory Effects of Flavonoids and Scutebarbatines of Scutellaria barbata D. Don in Lewis-Bearing C57BL/6 Mice.

Immunomodulatory effect has been found to be an important therapeutic measure for immune responses against cancer. In this study, we evaluated the inhibition of Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SB), an anti-inflammatory and an antitumor Chinese herb, including flavonoids and scutebarbatines on tumor growth and its immunomodulatory effects in vivo. HPLC and LC/MS/MS methods were conducted for the analysis of flavonoids and scutebarbatines in SB. Lewis-bearing C57BL/6 mice model was established and tumor volume was evaluated by high frequency color ultrasound experiment. ELISA and western blot analysis were performed for the determination of immunomodulatory factors. SB treatment at the dose of 10, 6.67, and 3.33 g crude drug/kg/d significantly inhibited tumor growth of Lewis-bearing C57BL/6 mice with the inhibition rates of 44.41 ± 5.44%, 33.56 ± 4.85%, and 27.57 ± 4.96%, respectively. More importantly, the spleen and thymus indexes were increased remarkably by SB treatment. SB could decrease IL-17, IL-10, FOXP3, TGF-β1, RORγt, and IL-6 levels whereas it could increase remarkably IL-2 and IFN-γ levels. Our results demonstrated that SB could inhibit tumor growth in vivo through regulating immune function in tumor-bearing mice and suggested that the immunomodulatory function of SB had a potential therapeutic effect in lung cancer.

TREATMENT OF DIARRHEA-PREDOMINANT IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME WITH MESALAZINE AND/OR SACCHAROMYCES BOULARDII

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disease characterized by abdominal pain and altered intestinal habits. The pathophysiology of IBS remains unclear. Recent studies have demonstrated that some IBS patients, especially in diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D), display persistent signs of minor mucosal inflammation and a modified intestinal microflora. The mesalazine has known intestinal anti-inflammatory properties. Saccharomyces boulardii is a probiotic used for a long time in treatment of diarrhea, including infectious diarrhea. Evaluate the effects of mesalazine alone, combined therapy of mesalazine with liophylised Saccharomyces boulardii or alone on symptoms of IBS-D patients. Based on Rome III criteria, 53 IBS-D patients (18 year or more) were included. To exclude organic diseases all patients underwent colonoscopy, stool culture, serum anti-endomisium antibody, lactose tolerance test and ova and parasite exam. Patients were divided in three groups: mesalazine group (MG) - 20 patients received mesalazine 800 mg t.i.d. for 30 days; mesalazine and Saccharomyces boulardii group (MSbG) - 21 patients received mesalazine 800 mg t.i.d. and Saccharomyces boulardii 200 mg t.i.d. for 30 days and; Saccharomyces boulardii group (SbG) - 12 patients received Sb 200 mg t.i.d. for 30 days. Drugs that might have any effect on intestinal motility or secretion were not allowed. Symptom evaluations at baseline and after treatment were performed by means of a 4-point likert scale including: stool frequency, stool form and consistency (Bristol scale), abdominal pain and distension. Paired t test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for statistical analyses. Compared to baseline, there were statistically significant reduction of symptom score after 30 th day therapy in all three groups: MG (P<0.0001); MSbG (P<0.0001) and in SbG (P = 0.003). There were statistically significant differences in the symptom score at 30 th day therapy of the MG, MSbG and SbG groups (P = 0.03). There were no statistical differences between MSbG and MG symptom score at 30th day therapy (P = 0.9). The use of mesalazine alone, Saccharomyces boulardii alone or combined treatment with mesalasine and Saccaromyces boulardii improved IBS-D symptoms. The improvement of the symptom score was greater with mesalazine alone or combined with Sb as compared with Sb treatment alone. These preliminary results suggest that mezalazine may be useful in treatment of IBS-d patients, and warrant further larger studies.

Herb‐induced autoimmune‐like hepatitis in C57BL/6J mice

Animal model suitable for studying herb-induced experimental autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) remains a challenging problem. A medicinal herb containing Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Sb) and Bupleurum chinense DC (Bc) has been sporadically reported to be related to liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Sb and Bc on experimental AIH in mice. C57BL/6J mice received intraperitoneal injection of Sb and/or Bc herbal extracts (1 mg/kg) for 4 or 8 weeks. Serum samples were collected to analyse serum transferase (AST, ALT), creatinine, markers for AIH and hepatic cytokine levels such as IFN-γ, IL10 and TGF-β1. Peripheral mononuclear cell (PBMC) gene expression profiles were analysed to show their effects on immune system. Our results showed that Sb or Bc treatment increased serum AST, ALT, IgG and ANA levels. Prominent necroinflammatory changes were demonstrated in the livers of Sb- or Bc-treated mice while the decrease in IFN-γ and elevation of IL10 and TGF-β1 levels in liver tissues. Furthermore, the PMBC gene expression profile suggested that Sb or Bc treatment could modulate immune responses. We conclude that the presence of AIH in Sb- or Bc-treated mice and C57BL/6J strain mice is a reliable animal model for studying herb-induced AIH-like hepatitis.

Effects of Sb and heat treatment on the microstructure of Al-15.5wt%Mg2Si alloy

The modification effects of alloying element Sb and heat treatment on Al-15.5wt%Mg2Si alloy were investigated by Olympus microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy and energy disperse spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It is found that Sb plays a significant role in shaping primary Mg2Si phase and eutectic Mg2Si phase in Al-15.5wt%Mg2Si alloy. The Sb addition of about 1.0wt% makes the resultant alloy show the finest primary Mg2Si phase and the eutectic Mg2Si phase with well distribution. But further increasing the Sb content decreases the amount of primary Mg2Si phase, and some segregated phases appear at regions between the grains. In addition, heat treatment can modify the microstructural feature of Sb-modified Al-15.5wt%Mg2Si alloy in terms of obviously shortening the nodulizing time of primary Mg2Si phase and eutectic Mg2Si phase.

Probiotic Yeast Inhibits VEGFR Signaling and Angiogenesis in Intestinal Inflammation

Background and Aims Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb) can protect against intestinal injury and tumor formation, but how this probiotic yeast controls protective mucosal host responses is unclear. Angiogenesis is an integral process of inflammatory responses in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and required for mucosal remodeling during restitution. The aim of this study was to determine whether Sb alters VEGFR (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor) signaling, a central regulator of angiogenesis.MethodsHUVEC were used to examine the effects of Sb on signaling and on capillary tube formation (using the ECMatrix™ system). The effects of Sb on VEGF-mediated angiogenesis were examined in vivo using an adenovirus expressing VEGF-A(164) in the ears of adult nude mice (NuNu). The effects of Sb on blood vessel volume branching and density in DSS-induced colitis was quantified using VESsel GENeration (VESGEN) software.Results1) Sb treatment attenuated weight-loss (p<0.01) and histological damage (p<0.01) in DSS colitis. VESGEN analysis of angiogenesis showed significantly increased blood vessel density and volume in DSS-treated mice compared to control. Sb treatment significantly reduced the neo-vascularization associated with acute DSS colitis and accelerated mucosal recovery restoration of the lamina propria capillary network to a normal morphology. 2) Sb inhibited VEGF-induced angiogenesis in vivo in the mouse ear model. 3) Sb also significantly inhibited angiogenesis in vitro in the capillary tube assay in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.01). 4) In HUVEC, Sb reduced basal VEGFR-2 phosphorylation, VEGFR-2 phosphorylation in response to VEGF as well as activation of the downstream kinases PLCγ and Erk1/2.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the probiotic yeast S boulardii can modulate angiogenesis to limit intestinal inflammation and promote mucosal tissue repair by regulating VEGFR signaling.

Tu1976 Clostridium Butyricum Regulates IL-10 Production in Normal and Inflammatory Conditions Through Different Target Cells

Background: A shift in composition of intestinal microbiota is regarded to be important for the symptoms and complications of short bowel syndrome (SBS). However, attempts to normalize the colonic microbiota in SBS have not been formally studied. We investigated whether two weeks' treatment with Saccharomyces boulardii influences colonic microbiota and has an impact on the lactate levels in SBS patients. Methods: Symptoms and colonic microbiota were investigated in 14 SBS adult patients on long-term parenteral nutrition who were treated with Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb). A 250 mg capsule Sb was given twice daily for two weeks. Microbiota were investigated using structure functional fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of Carnoy fixated stool cylinders. Altogether 82 FISH probes representing different groups of microbiota were used. Stool samples were collected at days 0, 7, 14, as related to the start of Sb therapy. 10 healthy untreated persons were used as controls. Results: The patients had an apparently SBS-specific increase in the prevalence of Lactobacilli. Bacteroides (Bac303), Roseburia (EREC) groups increased, and Bifidobacteriaceae (Bac 164) and Enterobacteriaceae (Ebac) groups decreased significantly with Sb therapy in SBS. These changes all represented an alteration towards the distribution seen in the normal controls. The changes in all other microbial groups were not consistent, and the median values did not change significantly. The SBS-specific increase in Lactobacilli demonstrated a tendency to decrease, which was however statistically non-significant. However, probiotic treatment decreased levels of lactic acid from 30, 72 mg/dL to 18, 64 mg/dL, so to the reference value. Conclusions: The composition of colonic microbiota in patients with SBS on long term parenteral nutrition differs significantly from that in healthy persons. Saccharomyces boulardii treatment made the microbiota more similar to healthy controls. Especially strong effects are observed with regard to Bacteroides, Roseburia, Bifidobacteriaceae and Enterobacteriaceae groups. None of these bacterial groups showed complete normalization when compared to healthy controls however. The concentration of plasma lactate fell to reference values after Sb treatment. It is possible that the two-week treatment was insufficient to unravel specific shifts in other bacterial groups or to normalize the main fermentative groups. Longer-term therapeutic studies are necessary for what appears a promising strategy.

Tu1975 Impact of Saccharomyces Boulardii on Colonic Microbiota and Plasma Lactate in Short Bowel Syndrome Patients on Long-Term Parenteral Nutrition

controls. Results: The patients had an apparently SBS-specific increase in the prevalence of Lactobacilli. Bacteroides (Bac303), Roseburia (EREC) groups increased, and Bifidobacteriaceae (Bac 164) and Enterobacteriaceae (Ebac) groups decreased significantly with Sb therapy in SBS. These changes all represented an alteration towards the distribution seen in the normal controls. The changes in all other microbial groups were not consistent, and the median values did not change significantly. The SBS-specific increase in Lactobacilli demonstrated a tendency to decrease, which was however statistically non-significant. However, probiotic treatment decreased levels of lactic acid from 30, 72 mg/dL to 18, 64 mg/dL, so to the reference value. Conclusions: The composition of colonic microbiota in patients with SBS on long term parenteral nutrition differs significantly from that in healthy persons. Saccharomyces boulardii treatment made the microbiota more similar to healthy controls. Especially strong effects are observed with regard to Bacteroides, Roseburia, Bifidobacteriaceae and Enterobacteriaceae groups. None of these bacterial groups showed complete normalization when compared to healthy controls however. The concentration of plasma lactate fell to reference values after Sb treatment. It is possible that the two-week treatment was insufficient to unravel specific shifts in other bacterial groups or to normalize the main fermentative groups. Longer-term therapeutic studies are necessary for what appears a promising strategy.

Acute inhibition of GSK causes mitochondrial remodeling

Recent data have shown that cardioprotection can result in the import of specific proteins into the mitochondria in a process that involves heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and is blocked by geldanamycin (GD), a HSP90 inhibitor. To test the hypothesis that an alteration in mitochondrial import is a more widespread feature of cardioprotection, in this study, we used a broad-based proteomics approach to investigate changes in the mitochondrial proteome following cardioprotection induced by inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3. Mitochondria were isolated from control hearts, and hearts were perfused with the GSK inhibitor SB 216763 (SB) for 15 min before isolation of mitochondria. Mitochondrial extracts from control and SB-perfused hearts were labeled with isotope tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ), and differences in mitochondrial protein levels were determined by mass spectrometry. To test for the role of HSP90-mediated protein import, hearts were perfused in the presence and absence of GD for 15 min before perfusion with SB followed by mitochondrial isolation and iTRAQ labeling. We confirmed that treatment with GD blocked the protection afforded by SB treatment in a protocol of 20 min of ischemia and 40 min of reperfusion. We found 16 proteins that showed an apparent increase in the mitochondrial fraction following SB treatment. GD treatment significantly blocked the SB-mediated increase in mitochondrial association for five of these proteins, which included annexin A6, vinculin, and pyruvate kinase. We also found that SB treatment resulted in a decrease in mitochondrial content of eight proteins, of which all but two are established mitochondrial proteins. To confirm a role for mitochondrial import versus a change in protein synthesis and/or degradation, we measured changes in these proteins in whole cell extracts. Taken together, these data show that SB leads to a remodeling of the mitochondrial proteome that is partially GD sensitive.

Probiotic Yeast Inhibits VEGFR Signaling and Angiogenesis in Colonic Inflammation

Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb), a probiotic yeast, has been used for decades to protect against intestinal injury and inflammation. We previously reported Sb protects against Clostridium difficile colitis and intestinal tumor formation in animal models through modulation of host signaling pathways including EGFR/Erk signaling. There is increasing evidence that angiogenesis is an important component of intestinal inflammation clinically and in experimental IBD models. The aim of this study was to determine whether Sb alters VEGFR (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor) signaling, a central regulator of angiogenesis. HUVEC cells were used to examine the effects of Sb on cell signaling and on capillary tube formation (using the ECMatrixTM system). The effects of Sb on VEGF-mediated angiogenesis were examined in vivo using an adenovirus expressing VEGF-A(164) in the ears of adult nude mice (NuNu). The effects of Sb on neo-vascularization in acute DSS-induced colitis was quantified by three dimensional analyses of blood vessel volume and density in mouse colon. 1) In HUVEC, Sb reduced basal VEGFR-2 phosphorylation, VEGFR-2 phosphorylation in response to VEGF as well as activation of the downstream kinases PLCγ and Erk1/2. 2) Sb significantly inhibited angiogenesis in vitro in the capillary tube assay in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.01) 3) Sb also inhibited VEGF-induced angiogensis in vivo in the mouse ear model. 4) Sb treatment attenuated weightloss (p<0.01) in DSS colitis. Quantitative colonic vascular network imaging showed significantly increased blood vessel density and volume in DSS-treated mice compared to control. Sb treatment significantly reduced the neo-vascularization associated with DSS colitis and restored the vascular network to a normal morphology. Sb inhibits VEGFR signaling in vitro and reduces neo-vascularization in vitro and in two separate in vivo models. Our findings indicate that the probiotic yeast S boulardii can modulate angiogenesis in intestinal injury and repair, which provides a novel mechanism for its beneficial effects.

Exposure to enriched environments during adolescence prevents abnormal behaviours associated with histone deacetylation in phencyclidine-treated mice

Enriched environments (EEs) during development have been shown to influence adult behaviour. Environmental conditions during childhood may contribute to the onset and/or pathology of schizophrenia; however, it remains unclear whether EE might prevent the development of schizophrenia. Herein, we investigated the effects of EE during adolescence on phencyclidine (PCP)-induced abnormal behaviour, a proposed schizophrenic endophenotype. Male ICR mice (3 wk old) were exposed to an EE for 4 wk and then treated with PCP for 2 wk. The EE potentiated the acute PCP treatment-induced hyperlocomotion in the locomotor test and prevented chronic PCP treatment-induced impairments of social behaviour and recognition memory in the social interaction and novel object recognition tests. It also prevented the PCP-induced decrease of acetylated Lys9 in histone H3-positive cells and increase of the histone deacetylase (HDAC)5 level in the prefrontal cortex. To investigate whether the histone modification during adolescence might be critical for the effect of EE, 3-wk-old mice were first treated with sodium butyrate (SB; an HDAC inhibitor) for 4 wk and then treated with PCP for 2 wk. Chronic SB treatment during adolescence mimicked the effects of EE, including potentiation of hyperlocomotion induced by acute PCP treatment and prevention of social and cognitive impairments, decrease of acetylated Lys9 in histone H3-positive cells and increase of the HDAC5 level in the prefrontal cortex associated with chronic PCP treatment. Our results suggest that EEs prevent PCP-induced abnormal behaviour associated with histone deacetylation. EEs during childhood might prove to be a novel strategy for prophylaxis against schizophrenia.

Influence of iron plaque and cultivars on antimony uptake by and translocation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings exposed to Sb(III) or Sb(V)

Characteristically baseline levels of Sb in the environment are low, but problematic local elevation trends arise from anthropogenic activities such as mining and incineration. Arsenic (analog of Sb) accumulation by rice can be reduced by iron (Fe) plaque. A hydroponic experiment was conducted to investigate whether Fe plaque could reduce the uptake and translocation of different Sb species in different rice cultivars. After Fe plaque on rice roots was induced in solution containing 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.7, 1.2, 2.0 mM Fe2+ for 24 h, seedlings were transferred into nutrient solution with 20 μM Sb(V) or Sb(III) for 3 d. About 60–80% (Sb(III) treatment) and 40–60% (Sb(V) treatment) of the total Sb accumulated in Fe plaque. There was a significant correlation between the concentrations of Sb and Fe on the root surface. A similar relationship was observed in roots and shoots. Cultivar (Jiahua 1) formed the most Fe plaque, had the highest Fe associated Sb sequestration but the lowest Sb concentration in the root interior. Fe plaque may act as a ‘buffer’ for Sb(V) and Sb(III) in the rhizosphere, and cultivars played an important role in the different species Sb uptake and translocation.

English

In recent years, Sb has received increased attention from regulatory agencies and the need for a reliable treatment technology for antimony-containing waters is necessary. Unfortunately, antimony is difficult to remove to the very low levels required. Adsorbents which have proven successful for the removal of arsenic have been disappointing when applied to Sb treatment. In the current investigation, a number of conventional media were tested at the bench-scale and in the full-scale system, including: Severn Trent E33 Bayoxide®, Severn Trent Omni-SORB TM greensands, activated carbon, and Dow ADSORBSIA TM , a proprietary TiO2 media. Each media was tested using pretreatment oxidation with sodium permanganate and sodium hypochlorite, and the TiO2 was tested under varying pH conditions. Pre-oxidation with sodium hypochlorite followed by greensands and TiO2 media was found to be the most effective and long lasting of the combinations tested. The results of the column and full-scale tests along with an evaluation of the removal mechanisms using electron microprobe analyses will be presented.

Exploring the Mechanism of a Probiotic Combination VSL#3 in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Study

right ears of mice (N=5) were injected with SbS and the left ears were injected with vehicle as control. The first treatment was administered at 1 hour after 5x10^6 pfu Ad-VEGF-A164 was injected into both ears. The second SbS/vehicle injections were administered 24 hours later. An inhibitory effect of SbS was clearly evident by day 7 with reduced new vessel formation in the right ear compared to the left. The effect of SbS remained evident until the end of the experiment on day 21. 4) DSS (4% for 5 days) was administered to mice to induce colitis. Daily gavage of Sb significantly attenuated weight-loss (N=5,p<0.01). DSS treated mice had significantly increased blood vessel density and volume compared to healthy mice. Sb treatment significantly reduced the neo-vascularization associated with inflammation in the colon. CONCLUSIONS: Sb inhibits VEGFR signaling and reduces neo-vascularization In Vitro and in two separate In Vivo models. Our findings indicate that the probiotic yeast S boulardii can modulate angiogenesis in intestinal injury and repair, which provides a novel mechanism for its beneficial effects.

Lactobacillus Casei Prevents Osmotic Stress-Induced Disruption of Tight Junctions (TJ) and Adherens Junctions (AJ) in CACO-2 Cell Monolayers by a PKC-Dependent Mechanism, but Independent of EGF Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Activity

right ears of mice (N=5) were injected with SbS and the left ears were injected with vehicle as control. The first treatment was administered at 1 hour after 5x10^6 pfu Ad-VEGF-A164 was injected into both ears. The second SbS/vehicle injections were administered 24 hours later. An inhibitory effect of SbS was clearly evident by day 7 with reduced new vessel formation in the right ear compared to the left. The effect of SbS remained evident until the end of the experiment on day 21. 4) DSS (4% for 5 days) was administered to mice to induce colitis. Daily gavage of Sb significantly attenuated weight-loss (N=5,p<0.01). DSS treated mice had significantly increased blood vessel density and volume compared to healthy mice. Sb treatment significantly reduced the neo-vascularization associated with inflammation in the colon. CONCLUSIONS: Sb inhibits VEGFR signaling and reduces neo-vascularization In Vitro and in two separate In Vivo models. Our findings indicate that the probiotic yeast S boulardii can modulate angiogenesis in intestinal injury and repair, which provides a novel mechanism for its beneficial effects.

Use of Sb spray for improved performance of InAs/GaAs quantum dots for novel photovoltaic structures

Photoluminescence output from InAs/GaAs quantum dots has been improved by a Sb treatment immediately prior to capping with GaAs. Spectra taken at 300 and 80 K show a significant increase in output intensity when the quantum dots are exposed for 15 s under a Sb flux of approximately 0.1 monolayers per second, but this improvement is lost when the Sb exposure is extended to 30 s. There is no significant shift in the emission energies between samples indicating strain relief due to the cap layer is not responsible for the improvement. Analysis of temperature dependent photoluminescence taken between 80 and 300 K show increased activation energies at lower temperatures when an Sb spray is used, suggesting passivation of deep defect levels. For the higher temperature activation energy, corresponding to carrier escape from the QD to the barrier, whilst a 15 s Sb spray gives a substantial increase, the longer 30 s Sb spray sees the activation energy decrease, a result deduced to be due to Sb segregation providing shallow defect levels. A band structure including a very thin GaAsSb layer adjacent to the quantum dots is used to explain these results, with the 30 s Sb spray leading to shallow Sb segregation related defects and a lower activation energy. Depth dependent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data support the band structure proposed to explain the photoluminescence results and also reveals the highest concentration of Sb at the sample surface suggesting a ‘floating layer’ of Sb during growth of the GaAs cap. Some of the implications of these results, for growth of quantum dot samples and for two novel solar cell proposals, the intermediate band and hot carrier solar cells, are discussed.

Abstract 5677: Inhibition of Azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci in C57BL/6 mice by the Chinese medicinal herb Scutellaria barbata

Abstract Scutellaria barbata (SB) is a perennial herb of the mint family which has been used to treat appendicitis, hepatitis, pulmonary abscess, and cancers of the liver, lung, and colon in Chinese medicine. Our early studies showed that SB contained phytochemicals that inhibited mutagenesis, DNA binding, and metabolism of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and benzo[a]pyrene bioactivated by Arcoclor 1254-induced rat S9. It also inhibited the mutagenicity of AFB1 bioactivated by either non-induced or DXM-induced hepatic S9, suggesting its effect via an inhibition of CYP3-mediated metabolism of [3H]AFB1. Recent oral feeding data demonstrated that SB could delay prostate tumor development in TRAMP mice. Complementary in vitro data indicated that SB may exert this function via up-regulating the apoptotic pathway and down-regulating the survival pathway in murine (TRAMP-C1) and human (LNCaP) prostate cancer cells. Inhibitory effects of SB were also observed in inducing cell death in human (LoVo) colon cancer cells. This study investigated the effects of SB on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (AFC) formation in C57BL/6 mice. Thirty C57BL/6 mice of 9 wks old were randomized into three groups (N=10). Mice of the positive control and experimental groups were injected with AOM (5 mg/kg body wt) at the beginning and second wk of the 8-wk duration while the negative control group received no injection. Animals in the experimental group received daily oral feedings of 24 mg SB since day 1 while mice in the other two groups were given sterilized-water placebo. SB feeding significantly reduced the number of AOM-induced ACF in the proximal colon (25 mm) compared with the water-fed positive control AOM-induced group (8.35 ± 5.56 &amp;lt; 32.1 ± 9.86; P&amp;lt; 0.000047). The negative non-induced group had minimal ACF (2.0 ± 1.56) compared to the experimental and positive control groups (P&amp;lt; 0.0056; P&amp;lt; 0.0000034 respectively). The potency index of the herb was calculated as 3.84. Significant percent inhibition (74%) of AOM-induced ACF formation was obtained with SB treatment. Mice in all three groups had gained wt (% increase) in the course of the experiment (negative control, 16.2 ± 4.32 &amp;lt; experimental, 20.7 ± 10.39 &amp;lt; positive control, 35.78 ± 16.79). These in vivo data suggest the potential chemopreventive and treatment potential of SB. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5677.

Toxic effects of antimony on photosystem II of Synechocystis sp. as probed by in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence

It has been demonstrated that antimony (Sb) at concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 10.0 mg L−1 inhibits O2 evolution. Deeper insight into the influence of Sb on PSII was obtained with measurements of in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence. The donor and the acceptor sides of PSII were shown to be the target of Sb. Sb treatment induces inhibition of electron transport from Q A − to QB/Q B − and accumulation of P 680 + . S2(QAQB)− charge recombination and oxidation by PQ9 molecules became more important in Q A − reoxidation as the electron transfer in PSII was inhibited. Sb exposure caused a steady increase in the proportion of PSIIX and PSIIβ. These changes resulted in increased fluxes of dissipated energy and decreased index of photosynthesis performance, of maximum quantum yield, and of the overall photosynthetic driving force of PSII.

Immobilization of cadmium in soils by UV-mutated Bacillus subtilis 38 bioaugmentation and NovoGro amendment

Immobilization of cadmium (10 mg Cd per kilogram soil) in soil by bioaugmentation of a UV-mutated microorganism, Bacillus subtilis 38 accompanied with amendment of a bio-fertilizer, NovoGro was investigated using extractable cadmium (E-Cd) by DTPA. B. subtilis 38, the mutant with the strongest resistance against Cd, could bioaccumulate Cd four times greater than the original wild type. Single bioaugmentation of B. subtilis 38 (SB treatment) to soil however did not reduce E-Cd significantly, while the amendment of NovoGro (SN treatment) reduced E-Cd remarkably. Simultaneous application of B. subtilis 38 and NovoGro (SNB treatment) exhibited a synergetic effect compared to the single SB and SN treatment. The immobilization effect was significantly affected by temperature, soil moisture, and pH. It seems that the immobilization on Cd reached the maximum when environmental conditions favored the activity of microorganisms. Under the optimum conditions, after 90 days incubation, E-Cd was 3.34, 3.39, 2.25 and 0.87 mg kg −1 in the control soil, SB, SN and SNB soils, respectively. NovoGro not only showed a great capacity for Cd adsorption, but also promoted the growth of B. subtilis 38. This study provides a potential cost-effective technique for in situ remediation of Cd contaminated soils with bioaugmentation.