Understanding of enhanced nitrate in fine particles at agricultural sites in summer with high ammonia level.

Nitrate is one of the major constituents of fine particles and has not been effectively alleviated in Northeast Asia. Field measurements of various gases and the chemical composition of fine particles were conducted at two agricultural sites (cropland and livestock) in ammonia-rich environments to understand the effect of ammonia on nitric acid-nitrate partitioning using a thermodynamic model and to suggest a possible strategy to control total nitrate (i.e.

Berberine induces FasL-related apoptosis through p38 activation in KB human oral cancer cells.

In the present study, we examined the anticancer properties of berberine in KB oral cancer cells with a specific focus on its cellular mechanism. Berberine did not affect the cell viability of the primary human normal oral keratinocytes that were used as a control. However, the viability of KB cells was found to decrease significantly in the presence of berberine in a dose-dependent manner.

Licochalcone-A induces intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis via ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation-mediated TRAIL expression in head and neck squamous carcinoma FaDu cells.

We investigated Licochalcone-A (Lico-A)-induced apoptosis and the pathway underlying its activity in a pharyngeal squamous carcinoma FaDu cell line. Lico-A purified from root of Glycyrrhiza inflata had cytotoxic effects, significantly increasing cell death in FaDu cells. Using a cell viability assay, we determined that the IC50 value of Lico-A in FaDu cells was approximately 100 µM.