OBJECTIVETo investigate the antitumor effects of koumine in mice bearing H22 solid tumor and its effect on the immune system of the mice.

METHODSThe changes in spleen and tumor weights and blood cell count were observed after koumine treatment in BALB/c athymic mice bearing H22 solid tumor, using normal saline solution and 5-Fu as the controls.

RESULTSKoumine significantly inhibited the tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner. The spleen index and blood cell counts in koumine group showed no significant differences from those in the saline control group, but higher than those in 5-Fu group.

CONCLUSIONKoumine can significantly inhibit the growth of H22 solid tumor without obvious inhibitory effect on the immune system in mice.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gelsemium ; chemistry ; Indole Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the dynamic changes of blood sugar and body's signs in streptozotocin diabetic animal models.

METHODSRat and mouse diabetic models were established by a single intraperitoneal (ip) injection and 5-day successive ip injections of streptozotocin respectively. Blood sugar levels were measured. The food consumption index (consumption of food/body weight) and the water consumption index (consumption of water/body weight) were calculated.

RESULTSSixty five point zero percent male rats received streptozotocin, 60 mg/kg ip, developed diabetes mellitus. The blood sugar remained in high level between the 15th day and the 25th day after injection, and it began to decline afterwards. By 5-day ip injections of streptozotocin, 40 mg/kg daily, 90.0% male mice developed diabetes mellitus. Dynamic changes of blood sugar of diabetic mouse were similar to those of rats, except that the blood sugar of mice did not decline as obvious as that of rats. The changes of water consumption index were in best fit with the changes of blood sugar in both models, with correlation index r>0.970.

CONCLUSIONThe blood sugar of diabetic animal model stayed in high level from the 15th day to the 25th day after the beginning of injection. And the period is suitable for observing effect of anti-diabetic drugs. The water consumption index can reflect the blood sugar levels of diabetes animals.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Body Weight ; physiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drinking ; physiology ; Eating ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Streptozocin

With the development of the wireless communication technology, implantable biosensor technology, and embedded system technology, Body Sensor Network (BSN) as one branch of wireless sensor networks and important part of the Internet of things has caught more attention of researchers and enterprises. This paper offers the basic concept of the BSN and analyses the related research. We focus on sensor node and wireless communication technology from perspectives of technology challenges, research advance and development trend in the paper. Besides, we also present a relative overview of domestic and overseas projects for the BSN.
Computer Communication Networks ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Monitoring, Ambulatory ; instrumentation ; Remote Sensing Technology ; instrumentation ; methods ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Telemedicine ; instrumentation ; Wireless Technology ; instrumentation

To investigate the chemical compounds from aerial part of Rehmannia glutinosa, six compounds were isolated and deter- mined by extensive spectroscopic analysis as(+)-(7S, 8S, 8'S)-9-O-[β-D-glucopyranoyl] asarininone(1), 2α,3β,19α,23-tetrahydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid(2),7,3'-dihydroxyl-5'-methoxyisoflavone (3), aeginetic acid (4), corchorifattty acid B (5), pinellic acid (6). Among them, compound 1 was a new natural product. Compounds 2, 3 and 5 were obtained from the Rehmannia genus for the first time. In vitro study showed that none of the six compounds exhibited obvious activities to BEL-7402 and HCT-8 at the concentration of 10 mg x L(-1).
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Rehmannia ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Biological characteristic of Salvia miltiorrhiza f. alba in field was studied. HPLC method was used to determine the lipophilic constituents (dihydrotanshinone, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone, tanshinone II (A) and miltione) and hydrophilic constituents (salvianolic acid, rosemarinic acid). The results showed that the fresh weight of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba which cropped for 2 years was decreased by 80.47%, while dry weight decreased by 79.42%. The normal diameter of the root was 0.3-0.5 cm, however, the diameter was 0.2-0.4 cm after 2 years, it was said that the decrease of the root diameter was the main reason for the decrease of the yield. The average contents of dihydrotanshinone, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone, tanshinone II (A), miltione, salvianolic acid and rosemarinic acid were decreased by 35.26%, 32.26%, 19.35%, 3.39%, 64.40%, 66.93% in plant which continuously cropped for 2 years, respectively. The yield and active constituents were mostly effected in the plant of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba, which continuously cropped for 2 years.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Linear Models ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Time Factors

The application of nanotechnology significantly benefits clinical practice in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management. Especially, nanotechnology offers a promise for the targeted delivery of drugs, genes, and proteins to tumor tissues and therefore alleviating the toxicity of anticancer agents in healthy tissues. This article reviews current nanotechnology platforms for anticancer drug delivery, including polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, nanoshells, carbon nanotubes, superparamagnetic nanoparticles, and nucleic acid-based nanoparticles [DNA, RNA interference (RNAi), and antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)] as well as nanotechnologies for combination therapeutic strategies, for example, nanotechnologies combined with multidrug-resistance modulator, ultrasound, hyperthermia, or photodynamic therapy. This review raises awareness of the advantages and challenges for the application of these therapeutic nanotechnologies, in light of some recent advances in nanotechnologic drug delivery and cancer therapy.
Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Dendrimers ; therapeutic use ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Humans ; Liposomes ; therapeutic use ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; therapeutic use ; Nanoparticles ; therapeutic use ; Nanoshells ; therapeutic use ; Nanotechnology ; trends ; Nanotubes, Carbon ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Polymers ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of serum inteferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in mice bearing S-180 tumor and explore the role of the endogenous IFN-gamma in confining the transplanted tumor by intervention with immunomodulators.

METHODSMouse models bearing S-180 solid tumor were established and subjected to intragastric administration of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) or cyclosporine A (CsA) at different daily doses for 9 consecutive days. Serum IFN-gamma levels were measured in untreated tumor-bearing mice and in those after completion of GLP or CsA treatments by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the changes of the tumor weight in the treated mice were evaluated.

RESULTSIt was found for the first time that serum IFN-gamma levels in the tumor-bearing mice increased progressively within the initial 20 days after tumor implantation. The serum IFN-gamma levels in the 3 GLP-treated groups (at daily doses of 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg) all increased, which was the most obvious in 400 mg/kg GLP-treated group, and the tumor weight decreased significantly in response to GLP treatment, but the most conspicuous effect occurred with the daily dose of 200 mg/kg, and no significant statistical correlation was found between the two parameters. CsA treatment (at 20, 10, and 5 mg/kg, respectively) resulted in reduced serum IFN-gamma levels but produced virtually no effect on the tumor weight, and no obvious correlation was found between serum IFN-gamma level and the tumor weight.

CONCLUSIONIncreased serum IFN-gamma levels following GLP treatment are not significantly correlated to tumor growth inhibition in mice, and CsA reduces serum IFN-gamma levels without affecting the tumor weight, suggesting that endogenous IFN-gamma is not a major immunomodulating factor in growth inhibition of transplanted S-180 tumor.

Animals ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Female ; Ganoderma ; chemistry ; Immunologic Factors ; pharmacology ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Sarcoma 180 ; blood ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) expression on cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) Hep-2 cells.

METHODSHDAC2 siRNA and control siRNA were transfected into LSCC Hep-2 cells by lipofectamine 2000, and cells were divided into three experimental groups: untreated group, control siRNA group and HDAC2 siRNA transfection group. Western blotting was utilized to detect the expression of HDAC2 protein in Hep-2 cells. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were investigated by CCK-8 kit and flow cytometry, respectively. Boyden chamber was used to study cell migration. Expressions of cell apoptosis and cell migration related proteins were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSHDAC2 siRNA significantly down-regulated the expression of HDAC2 protein in LSCC Hep-2 cells. Down-regulation of HDAC2 expression coincided with an inhibition of cell proliferation and migration along with an induced cell apoptosis of Hep-2 cells. Moreover, down-regulation of HDAC2 expression significantly increased the expressions of caspase-3 and caspase-9 proteins but decreased the expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 proteins.

CONCLUSIONSHDAC2 may play a pivotal role in the initiation and development of LSCC. Down-regulation of HDAC2 expression mediates cell apoptosis. Cell migration inhibition may be tightly associated with overexpression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 along with down-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Histone Deacetylase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the antitumor effect of saponin extracted from Tupistra chinensis Baker (STCB) against mouse sarcoma S-180 cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo and explore the primary mechanism of this effect.

METHODSCytotoxic effect of STCB on S-180 cells in vitro was evaluated by MTT colorimetry, and its effect against in vitro tumor growth was tested in Kunmin mice bearing S-180 implanted tumor. The morphological and ultrastructural changes of S-180 cells after saponin treatment in vitro were examined with light and transmission electron microscope. Flow cytometry was performed to examine the cell cycle and apoptosis of S180 cells treated with different concentrations of STCB with propidium iodide staining.

RESULTSSTCB could markedly inhibit S-180 cell proliferation in vitro with 50% inhibitory concentration of 34.64 microg/ml. STCB given by intragastric administration also significantly inhibited the growth of S-180 solid tumor, and the inhibition rate exceeded 30% at the dose of 0.5 g/kg, reaching 54.86% at 2 g/kg. Electron microscopy and flow cytometry revealed increased S180 tumor cell apoptotic rate with the increment of saponin concentration, along with increased percentage of cells in S phase and decreased cells in G(2)/M phase in response to 10 or 30 microg/ml STCB treatment. At the concentration of 60 microg/ml, however, STCB resulted in an opposite effect on the cell cycles, presumably due to its interference with mitosis at high concentrations.

CONCLUSIONSSTCB inhibits the growth of S-180 cells both in vivo and in vitro possibly by inducing cell apoptosis and interfering with the cell cycle progression of the tumor cells.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Liliaceae ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Phytotherapy ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Sarcoma 180 ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and to analyze the effects of downregulation of HDAC6 expression on cell cycle, proliferation and migration of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cell line Hep-2 cells, and to explore their possible molecular mechanisms.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of HDAC6 protein in 55 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and 20 cases of normal laryngeal mucosa. HDAC6 siRNA and control siRNA were transfected into Hep-2 cells via lipofectamine 2000, and the interfering effect was analyzed using Western blotting. The effects of downregulation of HDAC6 expression on cell cycle, proliferation and migration were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry and Boyden chamber, respectively. Finally, Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of cell cycle, proliferation and migration related proteins.

RESULTSThere was a high level expression of HDAC6 protein in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and its expression was not related to age and sex of the patients (P > 0.05), but closely associated with the degree of histological differentiation, TNM staging and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). HDAC6 siRNA effectively down-regulated the expression of HDAC6 protein in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cell line Hep-2 cells, and downregulation of its expression obviously inhibited cell proliferation, arrested cell cycle at G(0)/G(1) phase and decreased cell migration ability in Hep-2 cells. Additionally, the downregulation of HDAC6 protein expression markedly decreased the expressions of cyclin D1, cyclin E, cdk2 and MMP-9 proteins, but increased the expressions of p21 and E-cadherin proteins.

CONCLUSIONSHDAC6 may play a pivotal role in the carcinogenesis and development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The downregulation of HDAC6 expression-mediated cell proliferation inhibition, cell cycle arrest and decreased cell migration ability may be closely associated with the decrease of cyclin D1, cyclin E, cdk2 and MMP-9 proteins and increase of p21 and E-cadherin proteins.

Adult ; Aged ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin E ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Histone Deacetylase 6 ; Histone Deacetylases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection