Objective To investigate the roles of dCK Ser-74 in radiation-induced cell death in breast cancer cells.Methods Different phenotypes of dCK plasmids were transfected into MCF-7 cells by liposome transfection,including dCK-Vector,dCK-WT (wild type),dCK-S74A (non-phosphorylation) and dCK-S74E (hyper-phosphorylation).All these cells were irradiated by 0,2,4,6,8 Gy X-rays,respectively.The transcriptional and translational level of dCK were detected with real time-PCR and Western blot,respectively.Radiosensitivity was analyzed using cell counting kit (CCK-8) and colony formation assays.Monodansylcadaverine staining (MDC) and flow cytometry were used to detect autophagy and apoptosis,respectively.Results Four phenotypes of dCK cell models were established successfully.After irradiation,the cell viabilities of MCF-7 and dCK-Vector decreased significantly as compared with mock group (t =14.469 and 9.357,P ＜ 0.05),the cell viabilities of dCK-WT,dCK-S74A and dCK-S74E showed no changes (P ＞ 0.05).The total mortalities of dCK-WT and dCK-S74E decreased significantly as compared with dCK-Vector (x2 =3.857-3.971,P ＜ 0.05),but no changes in dCK-S74A cells (P ＞0.05).The apoptosis rates in dCK-S74A,dCK-Vector and control group were up-regulated after irradiation (t =-4.531,-3.688 and-7.076,P ＜ 0.05),and the irradiation-induced apoptosis was reversed in dCK-WT and dCK-S74E (66％ and 68％ of the increase level in dCK-Vector group).The autophagy in dCK-WT and dCK-S74E increased by 22％ and 26％ (t =-9.051 and-8.411,P ＜0.01),but no changes were observed in dCK-S74A,dCK-Vector and control groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The dCK-WT and dCK-S74E could reverse the irradiation-induced apoptosis,increase the autophagy occurence,and decrease the total mortality,indicating that the phosphorylation of dCK at Ser-74 sites is related to the radiosensitivity of MCF-7 cells.

Objective:To investigate the effects of oxymatrine(OM)on the apoptosis of human hepatoma HepG2 cells and its possible mechanisms.Methods:HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of OM.The proliferation inhibition was measured by MTT assay and the apoptosis of HepG2 cells were examined by Hochest staining method.Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis rate.The expression of caspase-3,Bcl-2,Bcl-x_L and Bax proteins was assayed by Western blotting assay.Results:OM inhibited HepG2 cells growth in a time-and dose-dependent manner.After treatment with OM for 24 hours,some cells appeared typical apoptotic characteristics and the apoptosis rate was increased. Treatment with OM also increased caspase-3 activity and Bax expression in HepG2 cells,and decreased the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x_L.Conclusion:OM can induce HepG2 cell apoptosis,which may be related to the down-regulation of PI3K/Akt signal pathway,suppression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x_L activity,and activation of caspase-3.

Photosynthetic bacteria(PSB) showed great promise in biohydrogen production. Chromatium vinosum was able to utilize the fermentation waste of Klebsiella oxytoca for both photo-fermentative and dark-fermentative hydrogen production. The content of residual sugars and main organic acids decreased obviously after hydrogen production by C.vinosum. The maximal hydrogen production of C.vinosum was obtained at pH 6.5 adding extra 0.1%(W/W) NH_4Cl. Under photo-fermentative conditions, the content of butyric acid decreased by 54.38%, and the maximal hydrogen yield was 36.97 mL/mg cell. Under dark-fermentative conditions, the content of butyric acid decreased by 36.1% and the maximal hydrogen production was achieved as 37.50 mL/mg cell.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy of compound periploca liquid (CPL) in treating condyloma acuminatum (CA), and to explore its mechanisms at molecular level.

METHODSEighty-one patients with CA were randomly divided into three groups, 30 patients in Group A were treated with CPL, 21 in Group B were treated with periploca syrup and 30 in Group C were treated with Youtuoxin (YXG). The clinical efficacy and adverse reaction occurred in the three groups was evaluated respectively. Besides, change of human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA in two patients with CA was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in vitro after being treated with CPL and periploca, the monarchic drug of CPL.

RESULTSThe cure rate obtained in group A, B, and C was 56.67%, 42.86% and 63.33% respectively, the total effective rate in them was 83.33%, 71.43% and 86.67% respectively, the difference of therapeutic efficacy was insignificant among the three groups. But the adverse reaction occurrence in them (6.67%, 4.76% and 86.67%) was significantly different (P < 0.01). The recurrent rate in them was 14.29%, 12.5% and 47.1% respectively. PCR showed negative expression of HPV in the two samples of CA of same concentration after the verrucous homogenate suspension being treated with CPL or periploca syrup of different concentration, while it was positive after the suspension was treated with the group of normal saline without any drug.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic efficacies of CPL, periploca syrup and Youtuoxin are not significantly different, but the former two have advantages of less adverse effects and lower recurrent rate. And they are possibly having germicidal action on HPV-DNA in CA tissue in vitro.

Administration, Topical ; Adult ; Condylomata Acuminata ; drug therapy ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Female ; drug therapy ; virology ; Genital Diseases, Male ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; drug effects ; Papillomavirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Periploca ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Produced by and purified from Taxus brevifolia, Taxol (paclitaxel) has become a widely used cancer drug in clinic. Due to the rapid growing market, current industrial production of taxol by semi-synthesis that consumes large amount of Taxus trees cannot meet the requirement of the market. The discovery of taxol-producing fungus Taxomyces andeanae, an endophyte of T. brevifolia, by Stierle et al (1993), paves a new way to the production of the drug, i.e. employing large-scale fungal fermentation to make Taxol at lower cost and yet higher yield. This review discusses the present problems in taxol production in pharmaceutical industry, the finding and research progress on taxol-producing fungi, and the potential application of fungal fermentation to manufacture this important drug.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; biosynthesis ; Fermentation ; Mitosporic Fungi ; metabolism ; Paclitaxel ; biosynthesis ; Taxus ; microbiology ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Two hydrogen-producing bacterial strains were newly isolated and identified as Enterobacter sp. Z-16 and Clostridium sp. C-32 by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Various parameters for hydrogen production, including substrates, initial pH and temperature, have been studied. The optimum condition for hydrogen production of strain Z-16 were achieved as: initial pH7.0, temperature 35 degrees C , sucrose as the favorite substrate. In comparison, The optimum condition for hydrogen production of strain C-32 were obtained as: initial pH8.0, temperature 35 degrees C , maltose as the favorite substrate . Under batch fermentative hydrogen production conditions, the maximal hydrogen conversion rate for strain Z-16 and strain C-32 were 2.68 mol H2/mol sucrose and 2.71mol H2/mol maltose, respectively. Using glucose as substrate, the hydrogen conversion rate of strain Z-16 and strain C-32 were 2.35 and 2.48 mol H2/mol glucose, respectively. This research suggest a good application potential of strain Z-16 and C-32 in the future biological hydrogen production.
Clostridium ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Enterobacter ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Fermentation ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Hydrogen ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Maltose ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; Species Specificity ; Sucrose ; metabolism ; Temperature

At present, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is recognized as an important risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the world; however, during the development and progression of hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer, other factors may promote the development of HCC independently or synergistically with HBV, such as sex, age, family history, alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase, smoking and drinking history, metabolic syndrome, and HCV or HIV infection. This article reviews the research advances in the risk factors associated with HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. At present, the treatment methods for HCC mainly include surgical treatment, local regional treatment, radiotherapy, systematic treatment, and traditional Chinese medicine treatment. This article introduces the indications for surgical treatment, surgical procedures, and the advantages of postoperative adjuvant therapy, analyzes the indications for liver transplantation and its future application in clinical practice, and describes the basic principles, optimal indications, and technical advantages of mature and new ablation techniques at present. It is pointed out that for patients with early-stage HCC, the advantages and shortcomings of each treatment regimen should be fully understood to select a precise treatment regimen.

Objective To investigate the regulatory mechanism of activated hepatic stellate cell (aHSC) in the microvascular generation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Tissue samples of 25 patients with HCC who underwent liver resection in Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Third Afifliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January to December 2013 were collected. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the ethical committee approval was received. There were 21 males and 4 females with age ranging from 29 to 75 years old and the median age of 54 years old. The HCC tissues (HCC group) and peri-cancer tissues (peri-cancer group) were collected and normal liver tissues of 21 cases were collected as control group. The expressions of smooth muscle actin (SMA), angiogenin (Ang-1), and cluster of differentiation (CD) 34 were detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression level of Ang-1 was detected by Western blot. The high expression of SMA in HCC tissues was regarded as a marker of aHSC. The differences of 3 groups were compared using one-way analysis of variance and LSD-t test. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between different proteins expression. Results The mean of optical densities of SMA in HCC, peri-cancer, control group were (4.56±0.64)×104, (2.71±0.37)×104, (2.25±0.48)×104 respectively, which was signiifcantly higher in HCC group than those in peri-cancer group and control group (LSD-t=7.09, 7.42;P<0.05). The optical densities of Ang-1 in 3 groups were (3.11±0.27)×105, (2.28±0.20)×105, (1.26±0.15)×105 respectively, which was significantly higher in HCC group than those in peri-cancer group and control group (LSD-t=3.00, 3.14; P<0.05). The relative gray values of Ang-1 expression in 3 groups were 4.33±1.17, 1.62±0.33, 1.60±0.38 respectively, which was significantly higher in HCC group than those in peri-cancer group and control group (LSD-t=2.71, 2.74; P<0.05). The optical intensities of CD34 in 3 groups were (18.3±0.36)×103, (5.75±1.17)×103, (2.75±0.72)×103 respectively, which was signiifcantly higher in HCC group than those in peri-cancer group and control group (LSD-t=3.21, 3.36;P<0.05). There were positive correlations between SMA, Ang-1, CD34 (r=0.442, 0.449, 0.582;P<0.05). Conclusions High expressions of SMA, Ang-1 and CD34 can be observed in HCC group and closely related with each other. SMA marked aHSC can be observed in the HCC tissues. The aHSC may promote the microvascular generation of HCC by secreting Ang-1.

Objective:To explore the miRNA (micro RNA)differential expression profile between primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma tissues and normal fat tissues,and to provide the evidence that miRNA were involved in the molecular pathways of primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma tissues' occurrence.Methods:Collecting retroperitoneal liposarcoma tissues and normal fat tissues from 4 patients after radical surgery of retroperitoneal lipsarcoma.Using microarray analysis.The tissues' miRNA hybridizated with human's LC Sciences microRNA Microarray-Single (miRBase 21.0) expression profile gene chips,and got the date.Analyzing the differential expressing of the siginal date by LOWESS.Results:Total 38 differential expressed miRNA were found (P＜0.05),including 23 over-expression and 15 low-expression miRNAs.10 of them(38 differential miRNAs) was significant deviation (P＜0.01),including 4 over-expression and 6 low-expression.Date analysis revealed that some miRNAs were associated some different tumors,Conclusion:The number of over-expression were more than the low-expression in primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma compared with the normol fat tissue,which indicate that the genes expression are less abundant in primary retroperitoneal li-posarcoma;some of the miRNAs might involved in the molecular pa-thways of primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma tissues' occurrence and recurrence,they might become the target point of the targetedtherapy of the primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma,some of the over-expressed miRNAs can become new biomarkers in the following diagnosis of the primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma.