Marine bioactive compound dieckol induces apoptosis and inhibits the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells PANC-1.

Pancreatic cancer, which threatens the global population, is a very aggressive disease with an increased mortality rate. Regarding the types of cancer, pancreatic cancer is prone to display significant resistance to conventional therapy, therefore there 5-year survival rate is only 2% to 9%. Bioactive metabolites of marine algae such as polysaccharides, chitin, carternoids, and sterols possess immense pharmacological properties and tend to be promising alternatives for cancer treatment.

Coreactant-Free Dual Amplified Electrochemiluminescent Biosensor Based on Conjugated Polymer Dots for the Ultrasensitive Detection of MicroRNA.

Generally, electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assays are performed in the presence of a coreactant. The addition of the coreactant in the detection solution would make the ECL system lack sufficient stability. In the case of dissolved oxygen as the coreactant, the unknown concentration of dissolved O would result in an inevitable error and a lack of reproducibility in detection.

Screening potential reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR analysis in the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata.

The oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata, is a major insect pest in China and other Asian countries. Unfortunately, suitable reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) have not been previously identified in M. separata for normalizing target gene expression.

Mangiferin inhibits apoptosis and oxidative stress via BMP2/Smad-1 signaling in dexamethasone-induced MC3T3-E1 cells.

Mangiferin is a xanthone glucoside, which possesses antioxidant, antiviral, antitumor and anti-inflammatory functions, and is associated with gene regulation. However, it remains unknown whether mangiferin protects osteoblasts, such as the MC3T3-E1 cell line, against glucocorticoid-induced damage. In the present study, MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with dexamethasone (Dex), which is a well-known synthetic glucocorticoid, in order to establish a glucocorticoid-induced cell injury model.

An electrochemiluminescent sensor based on functionalized conjugated polymer dots for the ultrasensitive detection of Cu.

An ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection for Cu was explored using the carboxyl functionalized poly(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PS-COOH-co-PFO) dots as the signal label without adding any coreactant.

Roc curves of obesity indicators have a predictive value for children hypertension aged 7-17 years.

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the distribution of integrated covariate and its association with blood pressure (BP) among children in Anhui province, China, and assess the predictive value of integrated covariate to children hypertension.

Methods: A total of 2,828 subjects (1,588 male and 1,240 female) aged 7-17 years participated in this study. Height, weight, waistline, hipline and BP of all subjects were measured, obesity and overweight were defined by an international standard, specifying the measurement, the reference population, and the age and sex specific cut off points.

Urinary methylmalonic acid as an indicator of early vitamin B12 deficiency and its role in polyneuropathy in type 2 diabetes.

The rising incidence of diabetes and its negative impact on quality of life highlights the urgent need to develop biomarkers of early nerve damage. Measurement of total vitamin B12 has some limitations. We want to determine the levels of urinary methylmalonic acid and its relationships with serum vitamin B12 and polyneuropathy.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV is a potential molecular biomarker in diabetic kidney disease.

The present study was designed to identify the changes in microvesicle-dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP IV) levels in human urine and serum, and to determine whether there were correlations with the severity of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). A total of 127 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were divided into three groups according to the urinary albumin/ creatinine ratio (UACR): microalbuminuria group (n = 50); macroalbuminuria group (n = 34) and normoalbuminuria group (n = 43), and 34 age- and sex-matched non-diabetic healthy subjects were selected as controls. Microvesicle-bound DPP IV and free urinary DPP IV were separated by a filtra-centrifugation method.

The construction of glucose biosensor based on platinum nanoclusters-multiwalled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites.

One-step synthesis method was proposed to obtain the nanocomposites of platinum nanoclusters and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PtNCs-MWNTs), which were used as a novel immobilization matrix for the enzyme to fabricate glucose biosensor. The fabrication process of the biosensor was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscope. Due to the favorable characteristic of PtNCs-MWNTs nanocomposites, the biosensor exhibited good characteristics, such as wide linear range (3.

[Effects of electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on Pharmacokinetics of paracetamol in rates].

Objective: To investigate influence of electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on pharmacokinetics after oral administration of Paracetamol in rats and explore the effect and mechanism of acupuncture combined with medicinal drugs.

Methods: Forty-eight SD rats, in half respectively male and female, were randomly divided into 6 groups: Paracetamol groups of low, moderate, and high doses (oral dose of Paracetamol 300, 600 or 1200 mg/kg, respectively), and electroacupuncture plus Paracetamol groups of low, moderate, and high doses (electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) acupoint for 20 min after oral dose of Paracetamol 300, 600 or 1 200 mg/kg, respectively). Serum specimens of rats in each group were obtained at different time points to determine the concentrations of Paracetamol by RP-HPLC after oral administration of Paracetamol at different dosage, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by software 3P87, so as to observe the influence of electroacupuncture on absorption and metabolism of Paracetamol.

[Segmental resection of the liver by Glissonean pedicle transection for primary liver cancer].

Objective: To study the clinical effect of segmental resection of the liver using Glissonean pedicle transection for primary liver cancer.

Methods: The clinical data of 55 primary liver cancer patients admitted from January 2006 to October 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. Twenty-five of the patients underwent segmental resection of the liver by Glissonean pedicle transection (group A), and 30 underwent routine hepatectomy (group B).

[The relationship between resistin and the peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the serum resistin concentration and type 2 DM with peripheral neuropathy.

Methods: Ninety-six patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) among which 52 were with peripheral neuropathy (DM + PN) and 34 healthy persons undergoing routine physical examination as controls were studied. Body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and beta-cell action measured by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-beta), and blood lipids were measured.