Objective: To study the feasibility of sandwich structure made by GP-084 cellular silicone rubber and SY-1 silicone elastomer in preparing facial prostheses. Methods: Samples of SY-1 silicone or GP-084 or sandwich of both were made in the size of 100 cm 2. Sandwich structure was made of SY-1 silicone as the top and bottom lyers of 1 mm in thickness and GP-084 cellular silicone as the middle layer of 23 mm in thickness. The weight density and Shore﹝A﹞hardness of the samples were measured. Results: The weight density (?10 3 kg/m 2) of GP-084, SY-1 silicone rubber and the sandwich structure was 0.411? 0.003, 1.245?0.024 and 0.679? 0.002 respectively(P

Objective:To construct superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles targeting tumor angiogenesis and evaluate their potential value as contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) .Methods:Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles targeting tumor angiogenesis were prepared by using co-precipitation chemical method. Cyclic RGD(cRGD) containing the sequence of Arg-Gly-Asp were conjugated USPIO nanoparticles by using chemical conjugative method to prepare superparamagnetic imaging agent targeting tumor angiogenic vessles. The physical and chemical properties of cRGD-USPIO nanoparticles were detected. The specific binding capabilities of cRGD-USPIO and USPIO to human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were tested by Prussian blue staining. A549 xenografts were established in nude mice, then USPIO and cRGD-USPIO were injected though tail vein, and the MRI signal enhancement effect of cRGD-USPIO was evaluated.Results:We successfully prepared the cRGD-USPIO nanoparticles. Its core diameter was 5-10 nm and the average diameter was (43.97±10.10) nm and the quality saturation magnetic intensity was 59.94 A·m~2·kg~(-1). Cell-binding test suggested that cRGD-USPIO group showed strengthened positive staining. In vivo MRI experiments showed that signals of tumor were significantly reduced in cRGD-USPIO group than that in USPIO group (P<0.01). Conclusion:The constructed cRGD-USPIO nanoparticles can be developed as a potential tumor-specific MRI contrast agent for the early diagnosis of cancer.

BACKGROUNDAt present, it has been known that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays a crucial role in invasion, development and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In order to explore whether the expression of COX-2 inhibits the occurrence and development of NSCLC, antisense vector of human COX-2 gene is transfected into COX-2 highly expressing NSCLC cell line H1299 and its effects on proliferation and sensitivity to cisplatin of H1299 are analysed.

METHODSH1299 cells were transfected with antisense vector of human COX-2 gene using LipoVecTM transfecting technique. Transfected cells were selected with Geneticin (G418). The COX-2 mRNA level was examined by using reverse polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The COX-2 protein level was examined by Western Blot. The proliferative status and sensitivity to cisplatin of cells was measured by methabenzthiazuron (MTT) assay.

RESULTSRT-PCR showed a lower COX-2 mRNA level in transfected cells. The level of COX-2 protein was decreased apparently. The proliferative index of the transfected cells decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The IC50 value of cisplatin decreased remarkably in transfected cells (1.8mg/l) compared with that in H1299 cells without transfection (3.8mg/l) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTransfection with antisense vector of human COX-2 gene can not only inhibit the proliferation of H1299 cells, but also increase the sensitivity to cisplatin of H1299 cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different concentrations of indium chloride (InCl3) on the proliferation of human lung epithelial (Beas-2B) cells and its potential mechanism.

METHODSBeas-2B cells were exposed to different concentrations of InCl3 (0.3, 1.0, 3.0, 10.0, 30.0, 90.0, 270.0, and 810.0 µmol/L) for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. The effects of InCl3 on cell proliferation were determined by the CCK-8 assay. The effects of InCl3 on apoptosis were evaluated using annexin V-PI staining followed by flow cytometry. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Beas-2B cells after exposure to InCl3 was determined using 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate labeling followed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, InCl3 at a relatively low concentration (0.3~3.0 µmol/L) significantly promoted cell proliferation (P < 0.05), while InCl3 at a relatively high concentration (30.0~80.0 µmol/L) significantly inhibited cell proliferation after 72 h (P < 0.05). InCl3 at a concentration of 0.3 µmol/L failed to induce apoptosis within 72 h; however, InCl3 at a concentration of 30.0 or 810.0 µmol/L induced substantial early apoptosis after 72 h. Compared with the control group, cells exposed to 0.3 µmol/L InCl3 showed a slight decrease in the level of intracellular ROS within 72 h, while cells exposed to 30.0 or 810.0 µmol/L InCl3 showed a significant increase in the level of intracellular ROS after 72 h (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAt a low concentration, InCl3 stimulates cell proliferation by reducing intracellular ROS. However, at a high concentration, InCl3 inhibits cell viability by elevating intracellular ROS and inducing apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Indium ; toxicity ; Reactive Oxygen Species