To investigate the anticancer effects of ring C in 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a series of GA derivatives featured with 9(11)-ene moiety in ring C were designed and synthesized. The structures were confirmed by IR, LC-MS and 1H NMR. Their inhibitory effects towards human prostate cancer PC-3 and leukemia HL-60 cell lines were determined. Most of the derivatives displayed stronger antiproliferative activities than GA. Particularly, compound 14 showed promising anticancer activity with the GI50 values of 4.48 µmol · L(-1) and 1.2 µmol · L(-1) against PC-3 and HL-60 cells respectively, which is worth further study.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Design ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; HL-60 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology

To obtain a number of extracellular penicillinase,the gene(penp)encoding penicillinse of Bacillus cereus ATCC10987 was cloned into expression vector in Bacillus subtilis,transformed into Bacillus subtilis DB104 deficient in two proteases.When recombinant bacteria was cultured in LB medium for 24 hours,the result of SDS-PAGE showed that the molecular weight of the protein was 28kDa and the penicillinase activity reached 339U/ml.By screening seven different fermentation media,the result showed that 4# medium is favorable to producing penicillinase by the recombinant cells than the others,with the yield of the enzyme being 1580U/ml.When the recombinant cells was cultured in 7 liter fermentor for 24h,the penicillinase activity reached 1255.8U/ml.

OBJECTIVETo understand the incidence of post-stroke depression (PSD) and the therapeutic effect of acupuncture-moxibustion.

METHODSFive hundred and sixty cases were rating with Hamilton depression scale, and lesion parts, gender, age and property of stroke between the PSD and non-PSD were compared by analysis of variance, chi2 test, and then the patients of PSD were randomly divided into two groups and treated respectively with Prozac-20 and acup-moxibustion at Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Anmian, Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmen (HT 7), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taichong (LR 3), Zhaohai (KI 6), Shenmai (BL 62).

RESULTSThe total incidence rate of PSD was 43.9%, with no relation to the lesion parts, gender, age and property of stroke (P > 0.05), and there were very significant differences in HAMD scores before and after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.0001), with no significant difference in the effective rate between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPSD has a high incidence and influences the recovery of nervous function, and it should be treated at early stage. Acup-moxibustion and Prozac-20 have similar therapeutic effect.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Depression ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Stroke ; complications

Objective To explore the relationship bet-ween air pollution and acute onset of cerebral hemorrhage in Hangzhou.Methods Time-stratified case-crossover study was used to analyze the effect of aerosol optical depth(AOD),PM10,SO2 and NO2 on the acute onset of cerebral hemorrhage.Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios(Ors) and their 95% confidence intervals(Cis) in relation to an increase of one unit of AOD and 10 μg/m3 of air pollutants.Results After adjusted temperature and relative humidity,the Ors of acute onset of cerebral hemorrhage by a unit increase in AOD at a 2 day-lag were 1.727(95%CI:1.103-2.703)in first half year and 2.412 (95%CI:1.230-4.733) at a 2 day-lag in spring.For a 10 μg/m3 increase in SO2,the Ors were 1.119(95% CI:1.019-1.229),1.230(95%CI:1.092-1.386),1.254(95%CI:1.076-1.460) in the whole year(2 day-lag),in first half year(2 day-lag) and in spring(2 day-lag),respectively.NO2 exposure in first half year(2 day-lag) was associated with cerebral hemorrhage,with OR as 0.841(95% CI:0.734-0.964).However,there were no statistical significances for AOD,SO2,NO2 in the rest time-periods(P>0.05).Additionally,no association was found between PM10 and the acute onset of cerebral hemorrhage in any time-periods(P>0.05).Conclusion Our data showed that there was association between air pollution and the acute onset of cerebral hemorrhage,especially in spring and in the first half of the year.

OBJECTIVE Cloves(Syzygium aromaticum L.)have been used as both a spice and a traditional Chinese medicinal herb for thousands of years. However, relatively little is known about its potential anticancer activity and mechanisms.In this study,we investigated the in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor effects and mechanisms of water extract of cloves(WEC)against colorectal cancer. METHODS MTS assay and Colony-formation assay were used to detect the anti-tumor activity of WEC on HT-29 cells.The in vivo anti-tumor effect of WEC was detected in a subcutaneous transplantation tumor model of human HT-29 cells.Autophagy was detected by flow cytometry and the expressions of autophagy related proteins(Beclin-1 and LC-3a/b)were determined by western blot. RESULTS MTS result showed that WEC significantly inhibited the viability of HT-29 cells,with the IC50values of 150 μg·mL-1.The colony-formation assay showed that the WEC significantly suppressed colon cancer cells proliferation.WEC also exhibited significant antitumor activity in tumor bearing nude mice. Flow cytometry result showed that WEC significantly induced autophagy, and the averaged relative values of fluorescence intensity were 206,251,341 and 356 in cells treated with 0,100,150 and 200 μg·mL-1WEC for 48 h.Western blot result showed that WEC treatment significantly increased Beclin-1 expression and ratios of LC3-II/LC3-I. CONCLUSION These result showed that WEC inhibited the growth of colon tumor both in vitro and in vivo, which might be related with autophagy induction, and WEC has potential to be developed as a novel anticancer agent for the treatment of colon cancer.

OBJECTIVE Zn-doped CuO nanocomposites (Zn-CuO NPs) are novel nanoparticles synthesized by our research group.In this study,we assessed the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of Zn-CuO NPS on pancreatic cancer cells,as well as the potential mechanisms. METHODS MTS assay was used to detect the effects of Zn-CuO NPS on proliferation pancreatic cancer cells(Panc-mia and Aspc-1). The in vivo antitumor effects of Zn-CuO NPs were detected by xenografts model in nude mice. The effects of Zn-CuO NPS on autophagy were detected bytransmission electron microscopy (TEM) andflow cytometry. Autophagy related proteins were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS Zn-CuO NPS significantly inhibited the proliferation of Panc-mia cells and Aspc-1 cells.In vivo experi-ments showed that Zn-CuO NPS significantly inhibited the tumor growth in nude mice without affecting the body weight of the mice. TEM and flow cytometry showed that Zn-CuO NPS induced autophagy, and significantly increased the number of autophagosome.Western Blot showed that Zn-CuO NPS alterd the expression of autophagy related proteins,such as AMPK,mTORand Beclin-1.Also,AMPK inhibitor could significantly reduce Zn-CuO NPS-induced autophagy pathwayas analyzed byWestern blotting. CONCLUSION The findings suggested that Zn-doped CuO nanocomposites inhibited the in vitro and in vivo growth of pancreatic cancer by inducing autophagy through AMPK/mTOR pathway.

OBJECTIVE Granulin A (GRN A), a cytokinesis protein, is derived from proteolysis of progranulin. The previous study in our laboratory has shown that GRN A is able to inhibit cancer cell growth significantly. This study aimed to investigate the effect of combination of GRN A and cisplatin on in vitro and in vivo on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS The in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of combination of GRN A and Cisplatin were evaluated with MTS assay and subcuta-neous transplantation tumor model.Chou-Talalay method was used to calculate the combination index (CI). Colony formation assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the effects of GRN A on apoptosis. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blot. RESULTS MTS assay showed that GRN A significantly inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma cells growth with the IC50of 5.6 μmol·L-1, and GRN A combined with cisplatin synergistically inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation, with the CI<1.The colony-formation assay showed that GRN A significantly enhanced the inhibitory effects of cisplatin on cellular anchorage-independent growth. Flow cytometry showed that GRN A combined with cisplatin synergistically induced apoptosis,with the apoptotic rates of 5.87%,32.74%,35.67% and 67.15% in control, GRN A, Cisplatin, and combination of GRN A and Cisplatin groups, respectively. Western blot confirmed that the two drugs synergistically changed the expressions of proteins related to apoptosis.In vivo experiment indicated that combination of GRN A and cisplatin significantly suppressed tumor growth compared with single drug treatment groups.CONCLUSION The combination of GRN A and cisplatin resulted in synergistic antitumor effects against hepatocellular carcinoma both in vitro and in vivo.

To investigate the effects of oleanolic acid (OA) on the proliferation, migration and the formation of tube-like structure in human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). MTT assay, flat plate scarification, Transwell plates and matrigel-induced tube formation assay were performed to detect the effects of OA on proliferation, migration and tube formation. MTT assay showed that the inhibition rates of HUVECs treated with 60 and 100 microg x mL(-1) of OA for 24 h were 19% and 83% respectively. Treatment of HUVECs significantly inhibited the cell migration in a dose-dependent manner. The vascular indexes of HUVECs treated with 40 and 60 microg x mL(-1) OA were 33% and 20% respectively. Western blotting analysis showed that treatment of the cells with OA significantly attenuated the expression and secretion of VEGF. Additionally, VEGF could in part reverse the effects of OA on migration and tube formation of HUVECs. In conclusion, OA inhibits the proliferation, and VEGF plays an important role in OA induced decreased migration and tube formation of HUVECs.
Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Oleanolic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; secretion

BACKGROUNDAscorbic acid (AA) represents one of the most important enzyme co-factors, antioxidants and neuromodulators and plays an important role in the cerebral system. Increasing evidence has suggested that AA could treat certain kinds of vertigo diseases such as Meniere's disease. To elucidate the neurochemical functions associated with AA in vertigo, the change of extracellular AA in the brain cortex following caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) was evaluated.

METHODSAn on-line electrochemical detection was coupled with in vivo microdialysis to continuously monitor the change of extracellular AA in the primary somatosensory (SI) area of guinea pigs following a caloric vestibular stimulation. Sixteen guinea pigs were divided into three groups, i.e., experimental group with irrigation of the ear canal with ice water (0 degrees C) (n = 8), and two control groups, one with irrigation of the ear canal with warm water (38 degrees C) (n = 4) and the other with irrigation of the auricle with ice water (n = 4).

RESULTSIn the experimental group, the ice water irrigation of the left external ear canal induced a horizontal nystagmus towards the right side lasting about 45 seconds. No nystagmus was induced by warm water irrigation of the external ear canal or by ice water irrigation of the auricle. The extracellular AA concentration significantly increased following the ice water vestibular stimulation, reaching a maximum of (130 +/- 20)% (n = 8) of the basal dialysate level (2.61 +/- 0.92) micromol/L (n = 8), lasting at least for an hour. AA level did not change distinctly after the irrigation of the left external ear canal with warm water or the irrigation of the auricle with ice water.

CONCLUSIONSThe concentration of extracellular AA in the brain cortex of the SI area increased following the ice water vestibular stimulation. This demonstration may be useful for the investigation of the neurochemical processes associated with AA in the process of vertigo.

Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; analysis ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Electrochemistry ; methods ; Extracellular Space ; metabolism ; Guinea Pigs ; Ice ; Male ; Microdialysis ; methods ; Physical Stimulation ; methods ; Vestibule, Labyrinth ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the current status of maternal HIV infection, mother to child transmission, and the work accomplishments in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT).

METHODSDuring October, 2001 to May, 2009, HIV voluntary consultation and examination were carried out in 339 866 pregnant women in the urban areas, while 594 pregnant women who tested positive were intervened, and interventions were also conducted among 326 babies who were born to HIV positive mothers, including HIV immune body examination on the babies when they were 12 months and 18 months old.

RESULTSA total of 594 pregnant women were found HIV positive, with the positive rate of 0.17% (594/339 866). And the rate was declining year by year. The highest rate was 0.47% (37/7837) in 2002, and the lowest rate was 0.12% (86/73 343) in 2008. Of the 594 positive pregnant women, 228 (38.38%) terminated pregnancy voluntarily, 43 (7.24%) kept on pregnancy and 317 (53.37%) parturients. Of 326 babies born by the 317 parturients, 317 survived.298 received curbing intervention for mother to child transmission (PMTCT), the ratio was 94.01% (298/317). Of 224 babies who were 18 months old, 221 accepted examination, and 7 HIV positive. The maternal infant transmission rate after intervention was 3.17% (7/221).

CONCLUSIONThrough the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, the HIV infection status in the pregnant women can be timely observed, which can effectively decrease the level of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; prevention & control ; Pregnancy