Grifolin, a potent antitumour natural product upregulates death-associated protein kinase 1 DAPK1 via p53 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

Grifolin, a secondary metabolite isolated from the fresh fruiting bodies of the mushroom Albatrellus confluens, has been shown to inhibit the growth of some cancer cell lines in vitro by induction of apoptosis in previous studies of our group. However, the mechanisms of action are not completely understood. An apoptosis-related gene expression profiling analysis provided a clue that death-associated protein kinase 1 (dapk1) gene was upregulated at least twofold in response to grifolin treatment in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell CNE1.

A microplate-based method for real-time monitoring of Saccharomyces cerevisiae viability.

Measuring the viability of the cells after chemical or physical stresses is a routine method in the determination of phenotypes in yeast. Numerous analytical techniques have been applied to the measurement of yeast cell viability, but few of them are suitable for real-time monitoring. Here we propose a microplate-based method for real-time monitoring of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell viability.

[The effect of dental plaque in cyclosporin A-induced gingival overgrowth].

Purpose: To evaluate the role of dental plaque in cyclosporin A(CsA)-induced gingival overgrowth.

Methods: After extraction of half of the maxillary molars, twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to a CsA-injection group (10mg/k x d) or a control group. Ten rats per group were sacrificed at week 4.

[Preparation and spectral characterization of apigenin molecularly imprinted polymer].

An apigenin molecularly imprinted polymer was prepared by bulk polymerization using apigenin as template, acrylamide (AA) as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) as a crosslinking agent, acetonitrile and N, N-dimethylformamide as porogenic solvents, and 2, 2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The interaction between template and functional monomer was proved by ultraviolet visible (UV) spectrophotometry and based on the results, appropriate reaction solvent was selected and the synthesizing process was estimated. The molecularly imprinted polymer structure was analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometry.

Proteomic change of peripheral lymphocytes from scald injury and Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis in rabbits.

Background: Increased susceptibility to infection has been related to impairment of lymphocyte-regulated immune responses after severe burn. The aim of this study is to identify the differential expression of proteins in circulating lymphocytes from scald injury and Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis in rabbits to provide a basis for pathogenesis of burns and sepsis.

Methods: Rabbits were subjected to sham burn (A), 30% scald (B), A+bacterial challenge (C) or B+bacterial challenge (D).

[Proteomic change in lymphocytes of scalded rabbits caused by Staphylococcus aureus invasion].

Objective: To study the proteomic change in lymphocytes of rabbits with scald injury and Staphylococcus aureus (SA) invasion.

Methods: Twenty-four rabbits were divided into four groups as follows: control group, scald group, scald with SA invasion 2 hs group, and scald with SA invasion 6 hs group, according to random number table, with 6 rabbits in each group. Except for rabbits in control group (sham scald at 37 degrees C), rabbits in the other 3 groups were subjected to 30% TBSA full-thickness scald.

[Effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on heart function and ventricular remodeling in rats with isoproterenol-induced congestive heart failure].

Objective: To explore the effects of transplanted BMSCs (bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells) on cardiac function and ventricular remodeling in rats with isoproterenol (ISO) induced heart failure.

Methods: Wistar rats (n=50) received ISO (170 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) for 4 days) injection. Four weeks later, rats with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF < 70%, n=26) were randomly assigned to receive intramyocardially BMSCs (2 x 10(7)/ml, 150 microl) injection (n=13) or equal volume culture medium (n=13).

[Proteomic study of peripheral blood lymphocytes of rabbits with severe burn and Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis].

Objective: To study the effect of severe burn and Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis on the proteomics of lymphocytes (LCs) of rabbits.

Methods: Twenty-four rabbits were divided into four groups, i.e.

Sesquiterpenes from Laurencia similis.

One new sesquiterpene, (4E)-1-bromo-5-[(1'S*,3'R*)-3'-bromo-2',2'-dimethyl-6'-methylenecyclohexyl]-3-methylpent-4-ene-2,3-diol (1), and fifteen known sesquiterpenes, isopalisol (2), luzonensol (3), palisadin B (4), aplysistatin (5), palisadin A (6), 4-hydroxyl-palisudin C (7), 5-acetoxypalisadin B (8), 10-hydroxyaristolan-9-one (9), aristol-8-en-1-one (10), aristolan-9-en-1-one (11), aristolan-1(10)-en-9-one (12), aristolan-1(10)-en-9-ol (13), aristolan-1(10),8-diene (14), aristolan-1,9-diene (15) and aristofone (16), were isolated from a sample of marine red alga Laurencia similis. Their structures were established by detailed NMR spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature data. Compounds 2-9, and 16 were isolated for the first time from this species.

[A clinical study on the degree of mesorectal tumor invasion in middle-low rectal cancer].

Objective: To study the relationship between the degree of mesorectal tumor invasion and prognosis of the patients with middle-low rectal cancer.

Methods: Specimens from 49 patients with middle-low rectal cancer, undergone total mesorectal excision in our hospital from April 2003 to December 2003,were studied by large slice pathologic technique. The thickness of mesorectum and the depth of tumor infiltration were measured, and the degree of mesorectal tumor invasion was calculated.

[Molecules of G(2)/M phase and the phosphorylation of survivin in the carcinogenesis of oral submucosal fibrosis].

Objective: To determine the expression of Cyclin B1, p34(cdc2) and the phosphorylation of survivin (p-survivin) in oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral submucosa fibrosis (OSF), and to discuss their possible role in carcinogenesis of OSF.

Methods: The expression of Cyclin B1, p34(cdc2) and p-survivin were analyzed by Western blotting assay in 10 cases of normal oral mucosa epithelium, 40 cases of OSF epithelium and 42 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) originated from OSF, respectively. Immunoprecipitation was used to confirm the relationship between the p34(cdc2) and survivin.

[Analysis of heterogeneity in exon 4 of Coxsackievirus and Adenovirus receptor gene in dilated cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To investigate the genetic pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) by examining the heterogeneity of Coxsackievirus binding domain (exon 4) of Adenovirus receptor (CAR) in DCM patients and healthy adults, and to detect possible mutation site in exon 4.

Methods: Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we amplified exon 4 of CAR DNA extracted from blood samples obtained from 50 DCM patients and 40 healthy adults. The PCR products were screened with single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and then sequenced alternatively based on the SSCP results.

Soliton interaction in the higher-order nonlinear Schrödinger equation investigated with Hirota's bilinear method.

The soliton interaction is investigated based on solving the higher-order nonlinear Schrödinger equation with the effects of third-order dispersion, self-steepening, and stimulated Raman scattering. By using Hirota's bilinear method, the analytic one-, two-, and three-soliton solutions of this model are obtained. According to those solutions, the relevant properties and features of physical and optical interest are illustrated.

[Efficacy of alternating triple therapy on relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

Background & Objective: Treatment of relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) remains difficult. This study was to evaluate the efficacy of alternating triple therapy (ATT), alternating administration of ASHAP, m-BACOD, and MINE regimens every 3 weeks, on relapsed or refractory NHL.

Methods: Clinical data of 38 patients with relapsed or refractory NHL (28 relapsed NHL and 10 refractory NHL) treated with ATT were analyzed.

[A case of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome family].

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by developmental abnormalities and tumorigenesis. In this paper, a case of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome family was reported, and its incidence, pathogenesis, clinical features and methods of treatment were discussed by reviewing relevant literatures.

Phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT3 regulated by the Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) oncoprotein has been shown to mediate activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). In the present study, we delineated the mechanism by which LMP1 stimulates STAT3 in a human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line. LMP1 stimulated STAT3 Tyr 705-dependent nuclear accumulation, as well as the phosphorylation of STAT3 at both Tyr 705 and Ser 727.

[Effects of transgenic corn expressing Bacillus thuringiensis cry1Ab toxin on population increase of Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch].

A laboratory study was made on the effects of transgenic corn expressing cry1Ab toxin from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) on the life table of an experimental population of corn leaf aphid Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch. The results showed that no obvious negative effects of two Bt corn hybrids DK647BTY (event MON810) and NX4777 (event Bt11) were observed on the net reproductive rate, average generation time, innate capacity for increase, and finite rate of increase of R. maidis, and there were no significant differences in the rate of alate, mortality of nymph, and longevity and fecundity duration of corn leaf aphid when feeding on Bt and non-Bt corn hybrids, suggesting that Bt corn expressing cry1Ab toxin had no side-effects on the development and reproduction of R.

[Development of a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for detecting Bartonella henselae].

Objective: To develop a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detecting Bartonella henselae.

Methods: According to the 16S-23S rRNA intervening sequences (IVS) specific for B. henselae, one pair of primers and one TaqMan-MGB probe were designed.

B to O erythrocyte conversion by the recombinant alpha-galactosidase.

Background: Human group O red blood cells have great benefit in specialized transfusion areas such as armed conflict and natural calamity. The group B antigen differs structurally from group O antigen only by the addition of one terminal alpha-linked galactose residue. In this study we aimed to remove the terminal galactose from group B red blood cell to get group O red blood cell.

Role of Epstein-Barr virus encoded latent membrane protein 1 in the carcinogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) has been known to have oncogenic properties during latent infection in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Our studies focused on the role of LMP1 in NPC, and showed that LMP1 triggers the NF-kappaB, AP-1 and STAT signaling pathways. Strikingly, LMP1 was found to mediate the formation of a new heterodimer between c-Jun and JunB.

Controlled fabrication of highly oriented ZnO microrod/microtube arrays on a zinc substrate and their photoluminescence properties.

Well-aligned zinc oxide microrod and microtube arrays with high aspect ratios were fabricated on zinc foil by a simple solution-phase approach in an aqueous solution of ethylenediamine (en). The shape of the ZnO microstructures can be easily modulated from rods to tubes by adding cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) into the reaction system. Control experiments demonstrate that some reaction parameters, such as the concentration of ethylenediamine, the kind of surfactant, reaction time, and the temperature, all have direct influences on the morphology of the products.