Xylomolins O-X: New limonoids from the Thai mangrove Xylocarpus moluccensis.

Ten new limonoids, named xylomolins O-X, were isolated from seeds of the mangrove Xylocarpus moluccensis, collected in the mangrove swamp of Trang Province, Thailand. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis. The absolute configurations of five compounds (1, 3, 8-10) were unequivocally determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, conducted with Cu Kα radiation.

The association between aquaporin-1 expression, microvessel density and the clinicopathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of aquaporin-1 (AQP1) level and intratumoral microvessel density (IMD) on the clinicopathological features of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The AQP1 expression levels, IMD and AQP1/IMD ratios in patients with HCC were measured using a semi-quantitative immunohistochemical technique. The association between these features and clinicopathological variables were evaluated.

Urotensin II promotes aldosterone expression in rat aortic adventitial fibroblasts.

Urotensin II (UII) contributes to cardiovascular diseases by activating vasoactive peptides. The present study aimed to determine the effect of UII on aldosterone (ALD) and its receptor in cultured adventitial fibroblasts (AFs) and the tunica adventitia of rat vessels to explore the possible mechanisms underlying vascular remodeling. Expression levels of aldosterone and its receptor on tunica adventitia were determined using immunohistochemistry.

Decreased expression of Sushi Domain Containing 2 correlates to progressive features in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Sushi Domain Containing 2 (SUSD2) has been identified as a regulator of colon and breast cancer. Increasing evidence suggests that SUSD2 plays a key role in tumorigenesis. However, the SUSD2 expression status and its functions in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unrevealed.

Does ligand-receptor mediated competitive effect or penetrating effect of iRGD peptide when co-administration with iRGD-modified SSL?

Ligand-mediated targeting of anticancer therapeutic agents is a useful strategy for improving anti-tumor efficacy. It has been reported that co-administration of a tumor-penetrating peptide iRGD (CRGDK/RGPD/EC) enhances the efficacy of anticancer drugs. Here, we designed an experiment involving co-administration of iRGD-SSL-DOX with free iRGD to B16-F10 tumor bearing mice to examine the action of free iRGD.

The antitumor activity of a doxorubicin loaded, iRGD-modified sterically-stabilized liposome on B16-F10 melanoma cells: in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

Considering the fact that iRGD (tumor-homing peptide) demonstrates tumor-targeting and tumor-penetrating activity, and that B16-F10 (murine melanoma) cells overexpress both αv integrin receptor and neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), the purpose of this study was to prepare a novel doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded, iRGD-modified, sterically-stabilized liposome (SSL) (iRGD-SSL-DOX) in order to evaluate its antitumor activity on B16-F10 melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo. The iRGD-SSL-DOX was prepared using a thin-film hydration method. The characteristics of iRGD-SSL-DOX were evaluated.

Silencing of periostin inhibits nicotine-mediated tumor cell growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in lung cancer cells.

Nicotine has been found to induce the proliferation of lung cancer cells through tumor invasion and to confer resistance to apoptosis. Periostin is abnormally highly expressed in lung cancer and is correlated with angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Here, we investigated the roles of periostin in the lung cancer cell proliferation, drug resistance, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by nicotine.

Anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effect of metronomic cyclic NGR-modified liposomes containing paclitaxel.

In the present study, we prepared NGR-modified sterically stabilized liposomes containing paclitaxel (NGR-SSL-PTX) in order to evaluate their potential targeting to aminopeptidase N receptors expressed on tumor endothelial cells and the tumor cell surface and its anti-angiogenic activity following metronomic administration. NGR-SSL-PTX was prepared by a thin-film hydration method. The in vitro targeting characteristics of NGR-modified liposomes on HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial cells), HT1080 (human fibrosarcoma cells) and MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma cells) were then investigated.

Fast CT metal artefacts correction based on derivative and region-based filling.

Introduction: Metal artefacts seriously degrade the quality of the CT images. Blurring around the junctions between metal and non-metal regions in CT images, metal artefacts often prevent right diagnoses, and even lead to misdiagnoses of patients. The aim of the study was to devise a fast and robust method to improve the quality of the artefact-contaminated CT images.

[Effect of polyI: C on secretion of thymic stromal lymphopoietin and airway inflammation in mice with respiratory syncytial virus-induced asthma exacerbation].

Objective: To investigate the effects of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) on the production of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and airway inflammation in mice with exacerbated asthma induced by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Methods: Thirty-two female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely the PBS control group, OVA group, OVA/RSV group, and OVA/RSV/polyI:C group. In the latter 3 groups, the mice were sensitized by OVA and stimulated with nebulized OVA.

[Study on the immune response of the therapeutic multi-epitope gene vaccine of hepatitis B virus in mice].

Aim: To study the immunogenicity of the therapeutic multi-epitope gene vaccine of Hepatitis B virus.

Methods: Multi-epitope gene of Hepatitis B virus was cloned into prokaryon expression vector pBAD/gIIIA to express a non-fusional antigen B-BPT and BALB/c mice were immunized with the antigen. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte(CTL) was determined with CytoTox96 kit which quantitatively measures the lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) that is released on cell lysis.

Analysis of acute radiation-induced esophagitis in non-small-cell lung cancer patients using the Lyman NTCP model.

Purpose: To analyze acute esophagitis (AE) in a Chinese population receiving 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), combined or not with chemotherapy (CT), using the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman (LKB) normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) model.

Materials And Methods: 157 Chinese patients (pts) presented with NSCLC received 3DCRT: alone (34 pts) or combined with sequential CT (59 pts) (group 1) or with concomitant CT (64 pts) (group 2). Parameters (TD(50), n, and m) of the LKB NTCP model predicting for>grade 2 AE (RTOG grading) were identified using maximum likelihood analysis.

[Effects of different factors on the expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in respiratory syncytial virus-infected human airway epithelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of different factors on the expressions of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-infected human airway epithelial cell line 16HBE cells.

Methods: RSV amplified by infecting Hep-2 cells was identified for its virulence. 16HBE cells were divided into six groups, namely the control group, RSV group, RSV/anti-TLR3 group, RSV/IFN-gamma group, RSV/IL-4 group and RSV/dexamethasone group with corresponding treatments.

A vectorial image soft segmentation method based on neighborhood weighted Gaussian mixture model.

The CT uroscan consists of three to four time-spaced acquisitions of the same patient. After registration of these acquisitions, the data forms a volume in which each voxel contains a vector of elements corresponding to the information of the CT uroscan acquisitions. In this paper we will present a segmentation tool in order to differentiate the anatomical structures within the vectorial volume.

[Effect of ribavirin upon secretion of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in respiratory syncytial virus-induced asthma exacerbation of mice].

Objective: To investigate the role of ribavirin (RIB) in treating respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced asthma exacerbation of mice.

Methods: (1) Cell experiment: 32 flasks of human airway epithelial cell 16HBEs were randomly divided into four groups: RSV group, RSV/RIB group, RIB group and control group. 16HBEs were infected with RSV at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 2.

[Non-rigid medical image registration based on mutual information and thin-plate spline].

To get precise and complete details, the contrast in different images is needed in medical diagnosis and computer assisted treatment. The image registration is the basis of contrast, but the regular rigid registration does not satisfy the clinic requirements. A non-rigid medical image registration method based on mutual information and thin-plate spline was present.

[Effect of adjusting the immunosuppressants on the prognosis of the infection in the patients with liver transplantation].

Objective: To explore the method of adjusting the immunosuppressants in serious infection after liver transplantation.

Methods: With reference to sepsis-related organ failure assessment (SOFA), 2005.1-2007.

A vectorial image classification method based on neighborhood weighted Gaussian mixture model.

The CT uroscan contains three to four time-spaced acquisitions of the same patient. Registration of these acquisitions forms a vectorial volume, which contains a more complete anatomical information. In order to outline the anatomical structures, multi-dimensional classification is necessary for analyzing this vectorial volume.

[Construction and expression of non-fusional expression vector of the multi-epitope gene of hepatitis B virus].

Aim: To study the cloning, expression and antigen of therapeutic multi-epitope gene of hepatitis B virus.

Methods: The multi-epitope gene of hepatitis B virus(BPT) was designed, synthesized and cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pBAD/gIIIA. Then it was transformed into E.

[Development of a three-dimensional precise conformal radiotherapy treatment planning system based on a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit].

In this paper, a three-dimensional precise conformal radiotherapy treatment planning system based on a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit is introduced. With the help of additional precise target localization and conformal field-shaping devices, the TPS can greatly improve the performance of conventional cobalt-60 teletherapy units in precise target localization, radiotherapy planning and dose delivery. The clinical practices show that the TPS has advantages of reliable precision and an affordable price , and it is urgently needed in our country.

[Optimization methods in radiation treatment planning].

The optimization methods in radiation treatment planning are reviewed in this paper, including the physical and biological optimization models, the optimization for Gamma knife treatment planning, the optimization for intensity modulated radiation treatment planning and the optimization for intravascular brachytherapy treatment planning. The development trend of radiation treatment planning is also introduced in the paper.

Intra subject 3D/3D kidney registration using local mutual information maximization.

One of the goal of the Nephron-Sparing Surgery properative planning is to delineate as exactly as possible the renal carcinoma and to specify its relations to the renal arterial, venous and collecting system anatomies. The classical preoperative imaging system is the Spiral CT Urography, which gives sucessive 3D acquisitions of complementary information The integration of this information within the a patient spacific anatomical referential can be achieved by intra-patient registration techniques. A local MI maximization registration method is proposed in this paper.