Adult ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Erythrocyte Membrane ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons ; adverse effects ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Animals ; Female ; Hydrocarbons ; toxicity ; Kidney ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Liver ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Mice

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pulmonary Ventilation ; drug effects ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; X-Ray Film

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons ; adverse effects ; Kidney ; drug effects ; physiology ; Liver ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; Young Adult

Objective:To evaluate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) -related molecules in human malignant melanoma A375 cells.Methods:Cultured A375 cells were divided into 4 groups: control-1 and -2 groups treated with Dulbecco′s modified Eagle medium (DMEM) for 24 and 48 hours respectively, and ATRA-1 and ATRA-2 groups treated with DMEM containing 10 μmol/L ATRA for 24 and 48 hours respectively. After the treatment, real-time quantitative PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of EMT-related genes E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin and β-catenin in the above 4 groups, Western blot analysis to determine the relative expression of the above proteins, and direct immunofluorescence study to assess the fluorescence intensity of E-cadherin and vimentin in the ATRA-1, ATRA-2 and control-1 groups. Statistical analysis was carried out by using two-way analysis of variance, one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference- t test. Results:Real-time quantitative PCR showed that the E-cadherin mRNA expression was significantly higher in the ATRA-1 group than in the control -1 group ( F = 13.148, P < 0.05) , and higher in the ATRA-2 group than in the control-2 group ( F = 31.529, P < 0.05) ; the mRNA expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and β-catenin was significantly lower in the ATRA-1 group than in the control-1 group ( P < 0.05) , and lower in the ATRA-2 group than in the control-2 group ( P < 0.05) ; the ATRA-2 group showed significantly increased mRNA expression of E-cadherin ( F = 13.148, P < 0.05) , but significantly decreased mRNA expression of the other 3 proteins compared with the ATRA-1 group (all P < 0.05) ; there was no significant difference in the mRNA expression of the above molecules between the control-1 and -2 groups (all P > 0.05) . Western blot analysis showed that the protein expression of E-cadherin significantly increased, but the protein expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and β-catenin significantly decreased in the ATRA-1 and ATRA-2 groups compared with the control-1 group (all P < 0.05) ; compared with the ATRA-1 group, the ATRA-2 group showed significantly increased protein expression of E-cadherin ( P < 0.05) , but significantly decreased protein expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and β-catenin (all P < 0.05) . Direct immunofluorescence study showed that the fluorescence intensity of E-cadherin was significantly higher in the ATRA-1 group and ATRA-2 group (6.23 ± 0.08, 10.37 ± 0.13, respectively) than in the control-1 group (2.37 ± 0.14, both P < 0.05) , while the fluorescence intensity of vimentin was significantly lower in the ATRA-1 group and ATRA-2 group (15.17 ± 0.18, 10.29 ± 0.03, respectively) than in the control-1 group (50.16 ± 0.26, both P < 0.05) , and the cells in the ATRA-1 group and ATRA-2 group transformed from spindle- to cobble-stone-like in shape. Conclusion:ATRA can up-regulate the expression of E-cadherin, down-regulate the expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and β-catenin in A375 cells, and may inhibit the EMT of A375 cells.

BACKGROUND: Poly (lactic-co-glycolic-acid) (PLGA)/nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) composite microspheres may continuously release drug in phosphate buffer solution in vitro.OBJECTIVE: To prepare 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu)-loaded PLGA/nHA microspheres, and research the effect of nHA on drug loading,encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: An in vitro materials observation was performed at Laboratory of College of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology between February and July 2009.MATERIALS: PLGA was provided by Jinan Daigang Biomaterial Co., Ltd.; nHA by Key Lab for Special Functional Materials,Ministry of Education; 5-Fu by Shanghai Kaiyang Biomaterial Co., Ltd.METHODS: 5-Fu, a water-soluble anti-cancer drug, was used as model drug, and was firstly adsorbed by nHA and coated with biodegradable and blocompatible materials of PLGA so as to prepare PLGA/nHA-5-Fu composite microspheres by a single-emulsion solvent evaporation method (S/O/W). nHA and drug-loaded nHA were analyzed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Drug loading and encapsulation efficiency as well as in vitro release of microspheres were studied with SEM, laser particle size analyzer, and UV-spectrophotometer.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Interaction between nHA and 5-Fu; drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release of Microspheres RESULTS: FTIR showed that nHA had a strong adsorption with 5-Fu. Drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of PLGA/nHA-5-Fu composite microspheres were 3.83% and 86.78%, respectively, which were significantly greater than PLGA-5-Fu microspheres. After initial burst, composite microspheres released more slowly than PLGA microspheres alone. At day 27, the cumulative release rate of composite microspheres and PLGA microspheres alone were 84.87% and 99.87%,respectively.CONCLUSION: Because nHA has a strong adsorption with 5-Fu, PLGA/nHA-5-Fu composite microspheres compared to PLGA-5-Fu microspheres alone enhances drug loading and encapsulation efficiency, and has a better drug delivery effect.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the carcinogenic and mutagenic mechanism of bitumen fume.

METHODSThe experimental mice were forced to inhale the bitumen fume at different exposure level (55 mg/m(3), 165 mg/m(3)) and in different time (30 days, 60 days). The pathological changes of the lung tissue in mice were observed with H.E staining. The content of the DNA in the lung tissue of mice and the cell circles were determined with flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe lesion of the lung tissue in mice comprised the atypical hyperplasia of different levels and the carcinoma in situ with the increase of the containment time and dosage; the cycle index was changed: the number of the G 1 phase cells was decreased, the S phase was retarded, the cells entering the G 2/S phase were decreased, the cell proliferation index (P I) was increased and the heteroploid DNA index (DI) was increased (P < 0.05). The cell index in the 55 mg/m(3) group and the 165 mg/m(3) group was higher than that in the control group when the containment time was same. The heteroploid DNA index (DI) in the 55 mg/m(3) group was significantly higher than that in the 165 mg/m(3) group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). When the containment dosage was same, the DI in the 60 days treatment group (1.16 +/- 1.51 x 10(-2), 1.20 +/- 2.3 x 10(-2)) was all significantly higher than those in the 30 days treatment group (1.14 +/- 8.8 x 10(-2), 1.16 +/- 1.47 x 10(-2)) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe precancerous lesion in the lung tissue of the mice induced by the bitumen fume may be related with the changes of the cell cycle.

Animals ; Carcinogens ; toxicity ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; DNA ; analysis ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Hydrocarbons ; toxicity ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Precancerous Conditions ; chemically induced ; pathology

The strain of Cunninghamella echinulata 9980 was first selected with high aminoacylase activity . In three submerged cultures, the aminoacylase activity in the mycelial cell was compared . A number of factors have effects on the resolution reaction. The results showed that, peptone culture gave the highest aminoacylase activity with 680U/g.The optium temperature,pH,and substrate concentration were 55℃, 7.0,and 0.2mol/L,respectively. The ions in the buffer lowered the activity,but the Co~(2+) in 10~(-4)~10~(-3 )mol/L was necessary for its activity.

Objective To explore the feasibility,advantages and disadvantages of combined trans- gastric and transcolonic routes for NOTES.Methods A female swine was used in this study.Transgastric entrance was the first,followed by transeolonie entrance.A dual-channel endoscope was inserted through the porcine mouth into the gastric cavity and penetrated into the peritoneal cavity through the puncture and bal- loon dilatation of the gastric wall.Then under direct visualization through the transgastric approach,the other endoseope was advanced into the peritoneum.Using the two endoscopes inside the peritoneal cavity,collabo- rative peritoneoseopy was performed by the two endoscopists.After the examination the incisions in the stom- ach and the colon wall were closed with Endoclips.The animal was sacrificed for post-mortem examination with particular attention to the entrance sites and presence of any complications related to the access or to ma- nipulations inside the peritoneal cavity.Results No hemorrhage oecurred during the puneture and balloon dilatation or bow-knife cutting of the gastric wall or the eolonic wall.The liver was damaged while a needle knife penetrated the gastric wall.On the contrary,no organs were damaged during the needle knife penetra- ted the eolonic wall under direet visualization through the transgastric approach.It was difficult to find the gallbladder or the oviduct with a"single arm",but it was easy to see them with the double routes.It was easier to close the colonic incision than to close the gastrie wall with Endoclips.Conclusion Combined transgastric and transcolonic route for NOTES is feasible and it seems to be easier to show a target compared with a single route.

A phytochemical investigation on the aerial parts of a Tibetan medicine Meconopsis horridula, by solvent extraction, repeated chromatographies on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative TLC techniques, led to the isolation of 9 compounds. By spectroscopic analysis and comparison of its 1H and 13C-NMR data with those in literatures, their structures were identified as oleracein E(1), N-( trans-p-coumaroyl) tyramine (2), chrysoeriol (3), apigenin (4), hydnocarpin (5), p-coumaric acid glucosyl ester (6), stigmast-5-ene-3beta-ylformate (7), 3beta-hydroxy-7alpha-ethoxy-24beta-ethylcholest-5-ene (8), and beta-sitosterol (9), respectively, among which compounds 6-8 were isolated from the genus for the first time,and 1,3 were isolated from the species for the first time. A MTT method was applied to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of compounds 14 against the human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2), and compound 1 showed significant cytotoxicity against HepG2,with its inhibitory rate of 52.2% at 10 micromol x L(-1).
Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Molecular Structure ; Papaveraceae ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization