Effect of Huaier on the proliferation and apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells through modulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Huaier on the proliferation and apoptosis of the MKN45 and SGC7901 gastric cancer cell lines. The MTT assay was used to measure the effects of Huaier on the growth of the cells, while cell cycle distribution and apoptosis levels were analyzed using flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to assess the levels of proteins associated with the apoptotic pathway.

5-Fluorouracil chemotherapy of gastric cancer generates residual cells with properties of cancer stem cells.

Background: 5-Fluorouracil (5Fu) chemotherapy is the first treatment of choice for advanced gastric cancer (GC), but its effectiveness is limited by drug resistance. Emerging evidence suggests that the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) contributes to chemoresistance. The aim of the present study was to determine whether 5Fu chemotherapy generates residual cells with CSC-like properties in GC.

[Distribution and property of anti-beta3-adrenoceptor autoantibody in patients with heart failure].

Objective: To investigate the biological effects of anti-beta(3) adrenoceptor (beta(3)-AR) autoantibody in the serum of patients with heart failure, which may contribute to a new therapeutic clue for heart failure.

Methods: The synthetic peptide of the second extracellular loop of the beta(3)-AR was used as the antigen to screen sera of patients with heart failure and of healthy controls by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IgG in the patients group of positive autoantibody sera was prepared by using a MabTrap Kit (Amersham) following the manufacturer's instructions.