The hybrid pencil beam model (HPBM) is an effective algorithm for calculating electron dose distribution in radiotherapy. The mean energy distribution of incident electron beam in phantom is one of the factors that affect the calculation accuracy of HPBM, especially in field edge areas near the end of the electron range. A new fitted formula based on Monte Carlo (MC) simulation data for electron beams with energy range of 6-20 MeV in the homogeneous water phantom is proposed in this paper. The precision of the fitted formula within the scope of the energy was evaluated by comparing the electron dose distribution of ECWG measured data with that obtained from HPBM which took the mean electron energy that calculated by the fitted formula and the existed empirical formula, respectively. The results showed that the accuracy of dose distribution that obtained by the mean electron energy calculated with the fitted formula increased about 1%.
Algorithms ; Electrons ; Humans ; Monte Carlo Method ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Water

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of an active fraction (DSS-A-N-30) from Danggui Shaoyao San.

METHODDSS-A-N30 was prepared by macroporous resin chromatography, the compound was isolated by column chromatography on silica gel and RPC-18, the structure was elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

RESULTA new monoterpene glycoside was isolated and identified from DSS-A-N-30.

CONCLUSIONThe new monoterpene glycoside was identified as 4"-hydroxyl-albiflorin.

Bridged-Ring Compounds ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, Gel ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Monoterpenes ; analysis ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain containing 5 (CMTM5) on xenografted human prostatic cancer in nude mice and its action mechanism.

METHODSWe established a model of xenografted prostatic cancer by inoculating PC-3 cells subcutaneously into nude mice, and 3 weeks later injected CMTM5 adenovirus locally into the tumor followed by daily observation of the tumor volume and body weight of the experimental animals. All the rats were killed 2 weeks after CMTM5 injection and the tumor tissue harvested for detection of the inhibitory effect of CMTM5 on the expressions of VEGF and NF-kappaB proteins by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe tumor volume was significantly smaller and body weight of the CMTM5-treated mice were (573.39 +/- 175.24) mm3 and (0.55 +/- 0.11) g, respectively, significantly decreased as compared with those of the controls ([1482.50 +/- 327.86] mm3 and [1.31 +/- 0.29] g) (P = 0.03 and P = 0.027). Immunohistochemistry showed that the expressions of VEGF and NF-kappaB were obviously down-regulated in the CMTM5 group in comparison with the control group.

CONCLUSIONCMTM5 suppresses the growth of prostate cancer by down-regulating the expressions of VEGF and NF-kappaB.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chemokines ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; MARVEL Domain-Containing Proteins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of aquaporin (AQP)-1, 3, 8, 9 in human fetal membrane and their role in the human amniotic fluid circulation.

METHODSRT-PCR was employed for detection of the expressions of AQP-1, 3, 8, 9 mRNA in human amnion and chorion from 20 women with normal term pregnancy.

RESULTSAQP-1, 3, 8, 9 mRNA expression was detected in both human amnion and chorion, and no significant difference was found in their expression levels or between the amnion and chorion (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAQP-1, 3, 8, 9 can be associated with intramembranous transport and volume regulation of amniotic fluid.

Adult ; Amnion ; embryology ; metabolism ; Aquaporin 1 ; genetics ; Aquaporin 3 ; genetics ; Aquaporins ; genetics ; Chorion ; embryology ; metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Extraembryonic Membranes ; embryology ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective:Compare the anti-tumor effect and mechanism of Liushenwan and realgar (As₄S₄) on human endometrial cancer cells JEC. Method:The release of As in Liushenwan and As₄S₄ was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used for cell proliferation, and cell migration was measured by Transwell assay. Flow cytometry and Western Blot were used to determine apoptosis and DNA damage. Result:The dissolution of As in Liushenwan was 17.4%, and that of As₄S₄ was only 1.6% according to atomic absorption assay. With the same content of As, compared with the As₄S₄ group, the cell viability in the 3，10 mg·L^-1 Liushenwan groups was decreased (P<0.05), the early apoptosis rate was significantly increased in 0.25，0.5，1 mg·L^-1 Liushenwan groups (P<0.05), the rate of cell migration was decreased in 1 mg·L^-1 Liushenwan group (P<0.05), the expressions of cleaved cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3 (cleaved Caspase-3), cleaved cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-7 (cleaved Caspase-7), cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase (cleaved PARP), phosphorylated histone (p-H₂AX), phosphorylation of checkpoint kinase 2 (p-CHK2) and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) were increased in 1 mg·L^-1 Liushenwan group (P<0.05), while the expression of phosphorylation of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated rad3-related (ATR) was decreased in 1 mg·L^-1 Liushenwan group (P<0.05), with no significant changes in the expressions of cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3 (Caspase-3) and cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-7 (Caspase-7). Conclusion:With the same content of As, both Liushenwan and As₄S₄ could inhibit JEC cell proliferation and migration, and induce cell apoptosis and DNA damage. Liushenwan has a stronger effect than As₄S₄. It is suggested that there are other components in Liushenwan with an anti-tumor effect in cooperation with As.