This study is to investigate the apoptotic induction effect of the combination of diosgenin and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) on non-small-cell lung cancer cell line A549 by using the Chou-Talalay method, and observe the mechanism of the combination. The apoptotic effect of diosgenin or TRAIL alone and their combination on A549 and normal cell line 293T proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Chou-Talalay method was used to evaluate the combination effect. Apoptosis was examined by Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry assay. Western blotting detects the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins. Diosgenin or TRAIL alone can inhibit proliferation ofA549 in a concentration-dependent manner. According to the Chou-Talalay method, when f(a) = 0.1, CI > 1, when f(a) > 0.1, CI < 1. Combined with TRAIL, the IC50 of diosgenin decreases from 21.864 to 14.810 micromol x L(-1) (P < 0.05) on A549 cells. But for 293T cells, IC50 of diosgenin does not change significantly. As with Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry assay, the apoptosis ratios also increased in the combination group. At protein expression level, combination-treated group displays increased Caspase-8, Caspase-9, Bid, Caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage, significantly decreased Bcl-2 and increased Bax expression, and MAPK pathways were activated. The combination of diosgenin and TRAIL has synergistic effect on A549 cells.

ObjectiveTo establish a method of two-times second derivative Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FTIR） for identifying melamine （MEL） and its conjugates with cyanuric acid （MEL-CYA） or with uric acid （MEL-UA） in human urinary calculi. MethodsMEL， MEL-CYA and MEL-UA were added to calcium oxalate stone samples， and then analyzed by two-times second derivative FTIR for identifying the characteristic response bands of MEL and its conjugates in stones as well as confirming the ratio of detection. ResultsThe second derivative FTIR could improve the detection of MEL in CaO_x stones by two orders of magnitude. When CaO_x being mixed with MEL （MEL∶ CaO_x）， the two-times second derivative FTIR showed the characteristic peak at 1 548 cm^-1 and the minimum mass ratio of detection at 1∶100 （1%）. When CaO_x being mixed with MEL-CYA complex （MEL-CYA∶ CaO_x）， the two-times second derivative FTIR showed the characteristic peak on 1 740 cm^-1 and 1 538 cm^-1 and the minimum mass ratio of detection at 1∶500 （0.2%）. When CaO_x being mixed with MEL-UA complex （MEL-UA∶ CaO_x）， the two-times second derivative FTIR showed the characteristic peak at 1 117， 982 and 710 cm^-1 and the minimum mass ratio of detection at 1∶250 （0.4%）.ConclusionCompare to the original spectra， the two-times second derivative FTIR can improve the detection ratio MEL in the CaO_x stones from 0.2% to 1.0%. The second derivative FTIR has the unique characteristic bands and sensitive detection limit for identifying MEL in kidney stones.

This study was designed to evaluate ERK5 expression in lung cancer and malignant melanoma progression and to ascertain the involvement of ERK5 signaling in lung cancer and melanoma. We show that ERK5 expression is abundant in human lung cancer samples, and elevated ERK5 expression in lung cancer was linked to the acquisition of increased metastatic and invasive potential. Importantly, we observed a significant correlation between ERK5 activity and FAK expression and its phosphorylation at the Ser
A549 Cells ; Animals ; Cell Movement ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics* ; Focal Adhesion Kinase 1/metabolism* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mice ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 7/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism*