AIM: To establish quality standard for Yinxie Tablets(Fructus Gardeniae, Radix Astragali, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, etc.). METHODS: Fructus Gardeniae, Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis were identified by TLC, and the content of geniposide was determined by HPLC. RESULTS: Fructus Gardeniae, Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis could be identified by TLC. The calibration curve of geniposide was linear (r=0.999 5). The precision was perfect (RSD=0.98%). The average recovery was 101.81% with RSD of ~0.54% . CONCLUSION: This method is simple, quick and specific, suitable for the quality control.

Cancer stem cells play a crucial role in tumors'invasion, metastasis, recurrence and drug resistance.Investigation on the chemicals with tumor stem cell growth inhibitory activity has been greatly highlighted in the field of anti-tumor drug discovery.This paper briefly reviews the recent progress of chemical investigations on substances with tumor stem cell growth inhibitory activity , aiming to give readers a reference on anti-tumor drug discovery.

Objective In order to avoid potential injuries imposed to human body, it can be feasible to use the musculoskeletal models which can be reconstructed from the cadaver color cryosection (CCC) images, computerized tomography (CT) images, magnetic resonance (MR) images or other images to analyze the dynamic properties of muscles in vivo during human movement. Methods We reconstruct the lower limb musculoskeletal model and define the uniform joint coordinate system (JCS) on the model and the subject. The coordinate transformation of the muscle attachment points both on the model and the subject is described in detail. Results The length and the moment arm of the biceps femoris (short head) during knee flexion are calculated and analyzed. Conclusion This method plays an important role in improving the kinematics and dynamic simulation and the muscle force estimation.

On the basis of the growth and metabolism behavior inherent in suspended Sf21 insect cells,the intermittent feeding of growth-limiting nutrients(glucose and protein hydrolysates)was employed in the regulation of cellular growth during the cultivation by using the residual glucose concentration as a reference point. It was shown that as compared with the batch cultivation, the intermittent-feeding of growth-limiting nutrients effectively prolonged the growth and stationary phase for Sf21 insect cells grown in two representative culture medium(TC-100 and IPL-41). The maximum cell density was increased from 3.0×106 cells/ml to 6.5×106 cells/mL in TC-100 medium, and in IPL-41 medium, the maximum cell density was increased from 7.05×106 cells/mL to 9.0×106 cells/mL. As the defined nutrient solution was used for feeding in lieu of the complicated and expensive base medium, the technique would find prospects in large scale high-density cultivation of insect cells.

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 identify suitable hydroxyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) for co-evaluation of internal exposure level of PAHs by simultaneous determination of a variety of OH-PAHs in urine.

METHODSThe 24-h individual particulate matter and morning urine samples of 112 subjects were collected during June 2011. PAHs carried by individual particulate matter samples and OH-PAHs in urine samples were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTSSeven OH-PAHs were detected in urine samples, among which 1-hydroxy-naphthalene (1-OHNap) concentration was the highest [(20.54 ± 28.94) µmol/mol Cr], while 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP) concentration was the lowest [(0.73 ± 0.63) µmol/mol Cr]. The concentrations of these seven OH-PAHs decreased in the following order: 1-hydroxy-naphthalene (1-OHNap) > 9-hydroxy-fluorene (9-OHFlu) > 2-hydroxy-naphthalene (2-OHNap) > 3-hydroxy-fluorene (3-OHFlu) > 2-hydroxy-fluorene (2-OHFlu) > 6-hydroxy-chrysene (6-OHChr) > 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP). The effects of gender and smoking upon the contents of OH-PAHs in urine samples were not significant. There was a good correlation between total hydroxy-naphthalene (ΣOHNap) and 1-OHNap (r = 0.948), and a good correlation was also showed between total hydroxy-fluorene (ΣOHFlu) and 9-OHFlu (r = 0.975). Naphthalene carried by atmospheric particulate matters demonstrated better correlation with 1-OHNap than 2-OHNap, while fluorene carried by atmospheric particulate matters showed better correlation with 9-OHFlu than 3-OHFlu and 2-OHFlu. The correlation coefficients of ΣOHNap, ΣOHFlu and 6-OHChr with 1-OHP were 0.427, 0.543 and 0.655, respectively, and the correlations were not strong.

CONCLUSIONIt cannot reflect internal exposure level of PAHs to use 1-OHP as the only biomarker, while 1-OHNap and 9-OHFlu can be well predictive of the exposure levels of corresponding total OH-PAHs, suggesting that simultaneous determination of 1-OHNap, 9-OHFlu and 1-OHP can be more accurate and comprehensive in evaluating the internal exposure level of PAHs.

Aged ; Air Pollutants ; analysis ; urine ; China ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxyl Radical ; analysis ; urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; analysis ; urine

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this article is to examine the effect of curcumin on the proliferation and metastasis of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma and analyze its mechanism.

METHODSSCC-4 were treated with curcumin of 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 100 micromol x L(-1) in 24 h. MTT assay, Matrigel invasion assay, flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy were used to examine the effect of curcumin on the growth and metastasis of SCC-4. cDNA microarray and RT-PCR were employed to analyze the expression of genes treated by curcumin.

RESULTSThe results showed that curcumin could concentration-dependently inhibit SCC-4 cell proliferation at the concentration range from 20 to 100 micromol x L(-1). Furthermore, Matrigel invasion assay indicated that curcumin can reduce SCC-4 cell invasion under the dosage of 20, 30, 60 micromol x L(-1). Flow cytometry also showed that curcumin can influence the distribution of cell cycle of SCC-4 cell with the dosage of 20, 30, 60 micromol x L(-1). And the dosage of 30 micromol x L(-1) curcumin could lead to the recruitment of alpha-tubulin. cDNA microarray showed that 87 genes were activated and 198 genes were inhibited with the effect of curcumin. These results were validated by the real time quantitative RT-PCR.

CONCLUSIONAccording to the results, it suggests that curcumin has the potential as the leading compound for anti-cancer proliferation and invasion in oral cancer treatment, and cdc27, EGFR substrate 15, PPAR-alpha and H2A histone may play an important role among this multiple anticancer-targeting ability.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Curcumin ; Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms

Objective:To explore the application of magnetic resonance(MR)quantitative analysis technique of fat in analyzing the relationships between liver fat fraction(LFF)and pancreatic fat fraction(PFF)and the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),and between them and liver function.Methods:A total of 185 patients who received MR whole-liver mDIXON sequence scan were selected,and their LFF and PFF were measured.They were divided into NAFLD group(160 cases)and control group(25 cases)according to the fat fraction(FF)of liver.The body mass index(BMI),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),triglycerides(TG),fasting blood glucose(FBG),low-density lipoprotein(LDL-c),high-density lipoprotein(HDL-c),LFF and PFF between two groups were compared.Spearman analysis method was adopted to analyze the correlation between LFF and various indicators,and between PFF and various indicators.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of NAFLD severity.Results:In 160 patients of NAFLD group,72 cases were mild degree(LFF WAS 5.1%-14.0%),and 76 cases were moderate degree(LFF was 14.1%-28.0%),and 12 cases were severe degree(LFF>28.0%).There were significant differences in LFF,PFF and BMI between NAFLD group and control group(tLFF=17.259,tPFF=9.058,tBMI=7.430,P<0.05),and the differences of ALT,TG,FBG,LDL-c and HDL-c between two groups also were significant(t=6.591,t=3.957,t=3.267,t=2.112,t=-3.727,P<0.05),respectively.There were significant differences in LFF,PFF,BMI,ALT,TG,FBG,LDL-c and HDL-c among mild group,moderate group and severe group of patients(F=21.944,F=16.391,F=5.872,F=30.240,F=3.984,F=3.863,F=3.398,F=1.214,P<0.05),respectively.BMI,ALT,TG and FBG appeared positive correlation with LFF and PFF of NAFLD patients(r=0.31,r=0.52,r=0.33,r=0.35,r=0.30,r=0.36,r=0.27,r=0.29,P<0.05),and HDL-c appeared negative correlation with them(r=-0.16,r=-0.3,P<0.05),respectively.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that HDL-c was an independent protective factor of the severity of NAFLD(OR=0.004,P<0.05),and LFF,PFF,BMI,ALT,TG,LDL were independent risk factors of the severity of NAFLD(OR=2.252,OR=1.988,OR=1.404,OR=1.196,OR=1.025,OR=5.150,P<0.05),respectively.Conclusion:LFF and PFF are closely related to the severity of NAFLD and the indicators of liver function,and the increases of LFF and PFF are independent risk factors of the aggravation of NAFLD.The MR quantitative analyses of LFF and PFF values have a certain guiding significance in clinical monitoring for NAFLD severity and liver function.

To assess the neurotoxic effects and redox responses of Aroclor 1254 (A1254) on perinatally exposed rat offspring, A1254 was administered by gavage from gestational day (GD) 6 to postnatal day (PND) 21. Neurobehavioral development, antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), and NO synthase (NOS) levels were analyzed in the offspring. Neurobehavioral development analysis revealed delayed appearance of the righting reflex, negative geotaxis, and cliff drop test responses in A1254 exposed group. Developmental A1254 exposure also caused oxidative stress in the brain of PND 22 offspring via reductions in the activity of SOD and GSH-Px, and by promoting a rise in the levels of NO and NOS.
Aging ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine) ; toxicity ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nervous System ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Nervous System Diseases ; chemically induced ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; chemically induced ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of liver stiffness measured by acoustic radiation force impulse imaging(ARFI) in assessing hepatic functional reserve in patients with space-occupying lesions in the liver.

METHODSSixty-three patients with space-occupying lesions in the liver were enrolled. Liver stiffness (LS) measurements with ARFI and indocyanine green(ICG) retention test were performed in the same day, and plasma clearance rate of indocyanine green(ICG-K), ICG retention at 15 minutes(ICGR15) as well as 10 effective values of LS were recorded. The correlation between Child-Pugh score, ICGR15, ICG-K, and LS were evaluated.

RESULTSThe LS measurements with ARFI failed in one patient. A strong correlation between LS and ICGR15(r=0.789, P<0.01) and an inverse correlation between LS and ICG-K(r=-0.738, P<0.01) were observed. Besides, there was a significant correlation between LS measurements and Child-Pugh score(r=0.929, P<0.01) . The LS significantly differed among patients with Child-Pugh class A, B, and C(P<0.01) .

CONCLUSIONARFI is a simple, feasible and non-invasive method for assessing hepatic functional reserve in patients with space-occupying lesions in the liver.

Adult ; Aged ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged