Objective To upregulate Notch signaling in cancer cells by overexpression of active part of Notch1 and to examine the proliferation of the cells. Methods Four cancer cell lines were infected with retrovirus recombined with sequence encoding active part of Notch1.CBF-1 reporter plasmid was used to detect Notch signaling and proliferation assay was carried out by MTS method.Cell cycle analysis was synchronously conducted. Results The overexpression of the active part of Notch1 induced upregulation of Notch signaling,led to growth inhibition in Hela and HepG2 cell lines and growth boost in BGC-823 cell lines,while had no effect on Chang cell lines. Conclusion The upregulation of Notch signaling can exert various effects on different cancer cell lines which is critical to the gene therapy for cancers.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents in the root of Hedysarum polybotrys Hand.-Mazz..

METHODThe constituents were isolated by Sephadex LH-20 and silica gel column chromatography, and their structures were identified on the basis of spectral analysis.

RESULTFive compounds, medicarpin (I), 3-hydroxy-9-methoxycoumestan (II), 3, 9-dihydroxycoumestan (III), beta-sitosterol (IV), beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucoside (V) were obtained.

CONCLUSIONCompounds II, III, V were obtained from the plant for the first time.

Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pterocarpans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To explore the approach and early effects of endovascular stent-graft deployment in the treatment of portal stenosis of cancerous thrombus.Methods Six cases with portal vein stenosis of cancerous thrombus,which caused by primary hepatic carcinoma(5 cases)and eholangiocarcinoma(1 case)and the severity of stenosis showed on contrast enhanced CT were more than 75% or occluded,were performed percutaneous transhepatie or transsplenic portography.FLUENCY~(TM) endovascular stent-graft(10 mm diameter)was placed at the position of stenosis after gastroesophageal varices embolization.Portal pressure was measured pre-and post-deployment.Results Stents were successfully placed in all patients.The average portal pressure decreased from 50.7 cm H_2O(1 cm H_2O = 0.098 kPa)to 41.3 cm H_2O after endovascular stent-graft deployment.The restenosis were found in 2 cases after one month.Haematemesis and refractory aseites appeared in one case respectively,the other 4 cases showed no significant symptoms above caused by portal hypertension.Conclusion It is safe and feasible for endovaseular stent-graft deployment in the treatment of portal stenosis of cancerous thrombus.Selecting the suitable indications,the symptoms of portal hypertension can be controlled effectively.

Thirteen compounds from Dendrolobium triangulare (Retz.) Schindl. were isolated and purified by chromatography on silica gel, macroporous resin column and recrystallization method, and their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectral analyses as azo-2, 2'-bis [Z-(2, 3-dihydroxy-4-methyl-5-methoxy) phenyl ethylene] (1), beta-sitosterol (2), N-(2'-hydroxy-tetracosanoyl)-2-amino-1, 3, 4-trihydroxyoctadec-8E-ene (3), lupeol (4), cycloeucalenol (5), daucosterol (6), betulinc acid (7), betulin (8), glyceryl hexacosanoate (9), glyceryl 26-hydroxy hexacosanoate (10), methyl pheophorbide-a (11), acacetin-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (12) and robinin (13). To our knowledge, all compounds are obtained from Dendrolobium genus for the first time and compound 1 is a novel compound. Moreover, it is understood that compound 1 has better protection against PC12 cell damnification deduced by glutamate, than that of Vitamin E in 2 microg x mL(-1) concentration.
Animals ; Azo Compounds ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; PC12 Cells ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Hedysarum polybotrys.

METHODChromatographic methods were used to isolate compounds from H. polybotrys and chemical and spectral methods were used to elucidate the structures of the isolated compounds.

RESULTFive compounds, N,N,N-trimethyl-tropaphone inner salt (hypaphorine) (1), octadecyl-3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-benzeneacrylate (2), 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-dihydroflavanone 5,7-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), 3,4,5-trimethoxy cinnamic acid methy ester (4) and vanillic acid (5), were isolated from the roots of H. polybotrys.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1, 2 and 3 were obtained from this plant for the first time, while compounds 1 and 2 were isolated from Hedysarum for the first time.

Acrylates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Indoles ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

AIMTo study the chemical constituents of Hedysarum polybotrys Hand.-Mazz..

METHODSThe compounds were separated with Sephadex LH-20 and silica gel column chromatography, and their structures were identified on the basis of spectral analysis.

RESULTSFive compounds were identified as hedysalignan A (1), isoliquiritigenin (2), formononetin (3), calycosin (4) and ononin (5).

CONCLUSIONHedysalignan (1) is a new compound and the others were obtained from the plant for the first time.

Chalcone ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chalcones ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Furans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the pathological changes in the blood vessels in rabbit femoral head with glucocorticoid-induced necrosis and investigate the pathogenesis of glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis.

METHODSTwenty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups, namely group A. which was injected with horse serum and prednisone and group B as the control group. Chinese ink was injected into the femoral cavity of the rabbits to observe the blood vessels in the femoral head under optical microscope and the femoral head was examined histopathologically.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the rabbits in group A had significantly decreased number of perfused vessels, which was featured by defective perfusion, osteocytie pyknosis or necrosis, increase of empty ostoocyte lacunae and fat cells, decrease of hematopoietic tissue, and blood vessel occlusion.

CONCLUSIONVascular occlusion and vasculitis due to glucocorticoid treatment may cause avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Animals ; Blood Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Femur Head ; blood supply ; pathology ; Femur Head Necrosis ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Male ; Prednisolone ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Vasculitis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study chemical constituents of Incarvillea arguta and their accelerating PC-12 cell differentiation.

METHODThe constituents were isolated and repeatedly purified on silica gel column chromatography, and were identified on the basis of physicochemical and spectroscopic analysis. The neurotrophic activity of different portion and all purified compounds from I. arguta was determined on the model of PC-12 cell.

RESULTFive compounds were isolated from BuOH portion of alcohol extraction of I. arguta. Their structures were identified as plantarenaloside (I), 5-hydroxy-4', 6 7-trimethoxy-flavone (II), 4', 5-dihydroxy-6, 7-dimethoxyflavone (III), 4', 5-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (IV), 5-dydroxy-4', 7-dimethoxyflavone (V).

CONCLUSIONCompound I is isolated from the plant for the first time and it has neurotrophic activity for PC-12 cell. Compounds II approximately V are isolated from the genus Incarvillea for the first time.

Animals ; Apigenin ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Bignoniaceae ; chemistry ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Flavones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Rats

A new sesquiterpene hydroquinone (1) was isolated from a deep sea sediment derived fungus, Phialocephala sp.. Its structure and stereochemistry were established on the basis of spectroscopic data and optical rotation. This compound was tested for cytotoxicity against P388 (murine leukemia cell) and K562 (human leukemia cell) cell lines, and displayed strong cytotoxic effects with IC50 value of 0.16 and 0.05 micromol x L(-1), separately.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ascomycota ; chemistry ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydroquinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia P388 ; pathology ; Mice ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVETo design a new afterloading brachytherapy simulation system based on CT images.

METHODSThis paper mainly focuses on the anthropomorphic pelvic phantom spiled by three pipelines and the nasopharyngeal carcinoma spiled by two pipelines. Microsoft Visual C++ was used to parse CT images for some information, then to reconstruct pipelines in the body of phantom or the patient and to give the three-dimensional coordinate of dwelling points. The dose distribution displayed on CT images was processed by the dose distribution calculation methods near single afterloading source and the dose optimization methods. VTK technology was used in the 3D display in the system.

RESULTSAccording to the reference points applied by doctors, the system can calculate reversely the dwelling time of dwelling points in pipelines and get satisfying dose distribution on CT images. Besides, it can reflect the 3D relationship between the dose volume and the normal tissues.

CONCLUSIONSThis system overcomes some deficiencies of 2D afterloading brachytherapy simulation system based on X-ray films which are used widely in China. It supplies 3D display of dose distribution for clinical doctors. At present, the system is being tested in clinics.

Brachytherapy ; methods ; Computer Simulation ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Software ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed