The interactions of paclitaxel with tumour microenvironment.

Today, it is well-known that the interactions and secretion within the tumour are crucial to consider for cancer therapy. Some novel cancer therapy modalities such as immunotherapy or tumour vaccination therapy work based on the control of interactions within the tumour microenvironment (TME). It has been revealed that anti-cancer drugs or radiotherapy can modulate some interactions in favour of cancer therapy.

Hydrodynamic Cavitation of Creosote Oil in the Presence of a Ni Initiator Results in an Increase in Its Overall Naphthalene Content.

Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) of aromatic hydrocarbons present in creosote oil obtained from coal tar in the presence of 0.3% (w/w) Ni as an inducer increased its naphthalene and phenanthrene content by 7.3 and 2.

Sequential thermal dissolution of two low-rank coals and characterization of their structures by high-performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Rationale: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/TOF-MS) were used to separate and reveal the molecular characteristics of organic matter in low-rank coals.

Methods: Six soluble portions (SPs) were obtained by sequential thermal dissolution (TD) of two low-rank coals in the order of cyclohexane, acetone and methanol solvents at 300°C. Organic matter with different molecular characteristics were enriched in eachTD extract, which was further separated and analyzed by GC/MS and HPLC/TOF-MS using an electrospray ionization source in positive mode to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the structural composition of coals.

Insight into molecular information of Huolinguole lignite obtained by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and statistical methods.

Rationale: Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) was applied to the characterization of organic compounds in coal extracts at the molecular level. Large volumes of data obtained by FT-ICR MS were processed via statistical methods to extract valuable information on the molecular structures and compositions of organic compounds in coal.

Methods: A low-rank coal was subjected to ultrasonic extraction sequentially with six solvents to separate and enrich species with different molecular characteristics.

Evaluation of coal-related model compounds using tandem mass spectrometry.

Rationale: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is a routine and basic instrumental method for the analysis of complex coal conversion products in the chemical industry. To further enhance the practical potential of GC/MS in chemical industry, a tandem MS method for the selection of ion pairs applied in monitoring coal conversions was established using GC/quadrupole time-of-flight MS (GC/Q-TOF MS). The corresponding fragmentation pathways were explored and suitable ion pairs were screened.

[Ionic homeostasis of Populus ×euramericanna 'Neva' influenced by irrigation with magne-tized brackish water.].

The research aimed to study the characteristic of ionic homeostasis of annual seedlings of Populus ×euramericanna under irrigation with non-magnetized and magnetized 0 or 4.0 g·L NaCl solution for 30 days in the growing season. The ion contents of K, Na, Ca and Mg in the lea-ves and roots were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS).

Germacrone induces apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells through inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway.

Previous studies have shown that STAT3 plays a vital role in the genesis and progression of cancer. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway and germacrone-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were incubated with germacrone for 24 h, the protein expression of p-STAT3, STAT3, p-JAK2 and JAK2 was detected by Western Blotting, and RT-PCR was used to determine the expression of STAT3, p53, Bcl-2 and Bax at transcriptional levels.

[Characterization of atherosclerotic plaque in patients with unstable angina pectoris and stable angina pectoris by optical coherence tomography].

Objective: To compare the characterization of coronary atherosclerotic plaques in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and stable angina pectoris (SAP) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: OCT was performed in 47 patients (23 UAP and 24 SAP) undergoing coronary angiography. Lipid-rich plaque (defined by > or = 2 quadrants of the cross-section area), thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), thickness of fibrous cap, plaque rupture, calcification and thrombus visualized by OCT were compared between UAP and SAP patients.

[Visualization of intimal proliferation of drug-eluting stent and bare mental stent by use of optical coherence tomography].

Objective: To compare neointimal proliferation of drug-eluting stent (DES) with bare mental stent (BMS) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: OCT images were obtained in 21 diseased coronary vessels with 23 stents in 19 patients with coronary artery disease at 5 - 93 months post DES or BMS stents. Twenty-two stents of all 23 stents were divided into three groups.

[Coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque and stent visualizations by optical coherence tomography].

Objective: To evaluate coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque characteristics and changes post coronary stenting by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: OCT images were obtained in 22 diseased coronary vessels after coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in 20 patients and in 23 stents [7 sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) follow up at 4-29 months post stenting and 8 bare mental stents (BMS) at 4-35 months post stenting, 8 stents immediately after PCI].

Results: All 22 vessels and 23 stents OCT images were successfully acquired.