Many snake venoms contain complex mixtures of pharmacologically important molecules, some of which show potential therapeutic value in the treatment of cancer and other human disorders. In this review, we mainly reports the effects of snake venom active components, such as disintegrins and lectins in paralyzing cancer cells, blocking on cell migration, interaction with integrins, inhibition of tumor dissemination and angiogenesis. The advanced researches on the snake venom's apoptosis-inducing components on tumors are also introduced. [

It is no doubt that the gene therapy using recombinant engineering cells provides a novel approach to many refractory diseases. However, the transplant rejection from the host's immune system against heterogeneous cells has been the main handicap of its clinical application. The modern cell micro-encapsulation technique with good immune isolation makes it possible to overcome this problem and has shown potential application foreground in clinical therapies for a lot of diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Hemophiliac disease. This article reviews mainly the relative materials and techniques in processing micro-encapsulation, the host cells used to construct the recombinant genetic engineering cells and application of cell micro-encapsulation technique in the field of gene therapy.
Biomedical Engineering ; methods ; trends ; Cell Transplantation ; methods ; trends ; Genetic Therapy ; trends ; Humans ; Miniaturization ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; trends

Objective To investigate the stimulated proliferation of colon cancer cells in co-cultures of regenerating hepatocytes. Methods Regenerating hepatocytes(24 hours after partial hepatectomy)were obtained by collagenase perfusion of models of rats undergoing 70% liver resection. To determine whether the ratio of human colon cell line SW480 cells to hepatocytes in co-cultures has influence on their interaction,these cells were cultured in ratios of 1: 101:1, or 10: 1. Proliferation capacity was assessed by the percentage of 3 H-TdR incorporation. Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), insulin-like growth factor1 receptor(IGF-1R)and hepatocyte growth factor receptor(c-met) were analyzed by western blot. Results For co-cultured SW480 and hepatocytes in the ratios of 1: 1 and 1: 10, an increase of disintegrations per minute(dpm) occurred after 72 hours' culture, and lasted at 120 hours' culture(P < 0.05). No difference was found between the group with ratio of 10:1 and control group. Protein levels of EGFR and IGF-1R, but not c-met, were significantly increased between culture of 24 hours and 120 hours; however, no change of these receptors was found in the ratio of 10: 1. Conclusions These results imply that co-culturing human colon cancer cells with regenerating hepatocytes leads to increased expression of EGFR and IGF-1R. We conclude that this effect is probably dependent on paracrine stimulation, by which numerous signals from the hepatocytes contribute to the hyperproliferative state of colon cancer cells via up-regulating the responding receptors.

Objective To quantitatively analysis the aortic valve leaf anatomical characteristics in aortic regurgitation(AR) patients by real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT-3D-TEE),and screening the parameters which significantly affect AR to further reveal the mechanism of AR.Methods 32 patients with AR were enrolled as AR group and 20 cases of non-AR people were involved as control group.RT-3D-TEE was using to collect images in two groups and offline analysis was performed.4 sets of parameters of the aortic valves(left coronary valve,right coronary valve,and non-coronary valve):leaflet edge length(LL,RL,NL),leaflet height (LH,RH,N H),leaflet length/height ratio (LRa,RRa,NRa),leaflet tip plane distance(LTH,RTH,NTH) were acquired.Parameters of two groups were compared,and the parameters were incorporated into the logistic regression model,then the ROC curves were obtained.Results ①Compared with the control group,LL,RL,NL,RH,LRa,NRa,RRa in AR group increased (P ＜ 0.05),while the rest parameters had no statistical differences (P ＞0.05).②Multivariable logistic regression model gradually screening of the significant factors influencing the reflux,and as a result RL and RTH had significant influence on AR,P values were 0.001,0.011.③The ROC curve analysis showed that the area of RL or RTH curve were both greater than 0.5,which were 0.811 and 0.605 respectively.Conclusions The free edge length and free edge length/height ratio have changed unbalanced.Furthermore,right coronary valve parameters changed significantly,and this might be one of the possible mechanism of AR.

Aim To investigate whether SC58125 synergized with TNF-? to induce HT-29 cell apoptosis and study the possible molecular mechanism. Methods By using MTT, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry, we examined the effect of SC58125/TNF-? on cell proliferation and apoptosis in HT-29 cells. The activity of caspase-3 and the changes of I?B? and NF-?B were also measured after treatment with SC58125 by Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and Western blot. Results Both SC58125 and TNF-? exhibited cytotoxicity, the combination of the two agents significantly reduced HT-29 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. TNF-?-treated cells showed oligonucleosomal cleavage of genomic DNA. SC58125 significantly enhanced the inhibition of cell proliferation and inducement of cell apoptosis of TNF-?,the apoptotic index was increased from 11.2%?1.1% to 53.9%?2.1%. SC58125/TNF-?-induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells was accompanied by the induction of caspases-3. I?B? levels were substantially decreased after treatment with TNF-? and the degradation of I?B? was almost completely inhibited when SC58125 was added in NF-?B was activated in HT-29 cells after treatment with TNF-?, whereas pretreatment of HT-29 cells with SC58125 for 2 h, TNF-?-induced NF-?B DNA binding was profoundly inhibited. Conclusion SC58125 synergizes with TNF-? to inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in HT-29 cells, which may be mediated by activating caspases and preventing degradation of I?B?.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status quo of pharmacists training in Hong Kong,and to provide reference for pharmaceutical education reform of college in mainland.METHODS: The status quo,role,license examination and culture system of licensed pharmacist in Hong Kong were analyzed.Based on the practice of our university,the difference in culture system of pharmacentical talents and curriculum setting of pharmaceutical education were compared between Hong Kong and mainland.RESULTS & CONCLUSION: On the basis of education reform practice of our university for Hong Kong students,it is suggested to match the pharmacy curriculum setting and training program used in Hong Kong,to improve the clinical practice,to explore "4+2" culture model,and to enhance English training of pharmaceutical education.

In order to strengthen the education for university students’all-round devel-opment,and to improve the quality of teaching,Shantou University,by making good use of higher education resources,built a digital campus consisting of virtual classrooms based on advantage of computer and Internet network environment,and plenty of general education programs were carried out.The teaching practice showed that virtual classroom,as a network platform,played an important role in general education programs.

Decorin (DCN) is a member of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan gene family. Many studies indicated that DCN inhibited fibrosis and scar-formation by neutralization of TGF-P and interfering the binding of TGF-beta with its receptor, which induced ectopic deposition of extracellular matrix. Additionally, DCN can prevent the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells by activating EGFR/MAPK/p21 signal pathway and inhibiting the cell proliferation pathway mediated by EGF-EGFR. It is suggested that the recombinant DCN had potential pharmaceutical potency in treatment of chronic fibrosis and neoplasm for its critical biological activities and low immunogenicity.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Decorin ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Proteoglycans ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; antagonists & inhibitors

To investigate the impact of phenotypic knockout of CXCR4 on Molt-4 cells via intrakine technology,the C-terminal alpha-helix gene SDF-1alpha/54/KDEL of human stromal cell-derived Faceor-1 deletion is fused to a retention signal 4-peptide -KDEL that retains the newly synthesized receptor within the Molt-4 cells endoplasimc reticulum. Subsequently, PCR is used to amplify the target gene SDF-1alpha/54/ KDEL from the constructed plasmid SDF-WT-Gly x 4-Dec/PET-30a(+) at its C-terminal and subclone it into eukaryotic expression vectors pEGFP-C3 for generating recombinant vector cells by lipEGFP-C3/SDF-1alpha/54/KDEL, and then have it sequenced. After the transfection of recombinant plasmids into COS-7 posome, SDF-1alpha/54/KDEL protein is confirmed with Western blot. The recombinant plasmids pEGFP-C3/SDF-1alpha/54/KDEL are isolated and transiently transfected in Molt-4 cells by electroporation. Flow cytometric analysis shows a dramatic reduction of CXCR4 expression on Molt-4 cells. The conclusion is that SDF-1alpha/54/KDEL could assume a role in the phenotypic knockout of CXCR4, and the findings suggest that the inhibiting effect of SDF-1alpha/54 against CXCR4 is not influenced by the deletion of SDF-1alpha helix at the C terminal.
Animals ; COS Cells ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electroporation ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Transfection