Identification of macrophage related gene in colorectal cancer patients and their functional roles.

Background: Recent scientific research has enabled the identification of macrophages related-genes (MaRG), which play a key role in the control of the immune microenvironment in many human cancers. However, the functional role of MaRGs in human tumors is ill-defined. Herein, we aimed at bioinformatically exploring the molecular signatures of MaRGs in colorectal cancer.

Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution over TiO Mesoporous Spheres-ZnO Nanorods Heterojunction.

Photocatalytic water splitting into hydrogen is regarded as one of the key solutions to the deterioration of the global environment and energy. Due to the significantly reduced grain boundaries, ZnO nanorods facilitate a fast electron transfer through their smooth tunnels and are well suited as a photocatalyst. However, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of pristine ZnO nanorods is still low due to the high recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and the less light absorption.

Screening antitumor bioactive fraction from Sauromatum giganteum (Engl.) Cusimano & Hett and sensitive cell lines with the serum pharmacology method and identification by UPLC-TOF-MS.

Sauromatum giganteum (Engl.) Cusimano & Hett Tuber are used in Chinese folklore medicine for treatment of neoplasms. However, the claim has not been scientifically validated.

Ethanol but not aqueous extracts of tubers of Sauromatum Giganteum(Engl.) Cusimano and Hett inhibit cancer cell proliferation.

Background: Both alcohol and aqueous extracts of Sauromatum giganteum(Engl.) Cusimano and Hett, the dried root tuber of which is named Baifuzi in Chinese, have been used for folklore treatment of cancer in Northeast of China. However, little is known about which is most suitable to the cancer therapy.

Alkaloids from beach spider lily (Hymenocallis littoralis) induce apoptosis of HepG-2 cells by the fas-signaling pathway.

Alkaloids are the most extensively featured compounds of natural anti-tumor herbs, which have attracted much attention in pharmaceutical research. In our previous studies, a mixture of major three alkaloid components (5, 6-dihydrobicolorine, 7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine, littoraline) from Hymenocallis littoralis were extracted, analyzed and designated as AHL. In this paper, AHL extracts were added to human liver hepatocellular cells HepG-2, human gastric cancer cell SGC-7901, human breast adenocarcinoma cell MCF-7 and human umbilical vein endothelial cell EVC-304, to screen one or more AHL-sensitive tumor cell.

Downregulation of Cdk1 and cyclinB1 expression contributes to oridonin-induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and growth inhibition in SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells.

Background: Oridonin isolated from Rabdosia rubescens, a plant used to treat cancer in Chinese folk medicine, is one of the most important antitumor active ingredients. Previous studies have shown that oridonin has anti- tumor activities in vivo and in vitro, but little is known about cell cycle effects of oridonin in gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: MTT assay was adopted to detect the proliferation inhibition of SGC-7901 cells, the cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry and protein expression by Western blotting.

Arylamine N-acetyltransferases: a new inhibitor of apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

Objective: To explore how arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) is related to cell apoptosis.

Methods: NAT activity in apoptotic HepG2 cells was measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); the apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells acted upon by an NAT inhibitor was measured using flow cytometry.

Results: NAT activity was lowered in apoptotic HepG2 cells; apoptosis rate induced by camptothecin (CAM) increased after inhibition of NAT activity in HepG2 cells.

[Effect of Sudan I, III and IV on proliferation of HepG-2 and SGC-7901].

To study the effect of sudan I, III and IV on the growth of HepG-2 and SGC-7901, the ratio of DNA/RNA and 3D image in HepG-2 treated by different dose of sudan I, III and IV was detected by LCM, the content change of DNA and the cell cycle in SGC-7901 treated by different dose of sudan I, III and IV was detected by flow cytometry. Results showed the ratio of DNA/RNA in control group was 1.2232 +/- 0.

Effect of solanine on the membrane potential of mitochondria in HepG2 cells and [Ca2+]i in the cells.

Aim: To observe the effect of solanine on the membrane potential of mitochondria in HepG(2) cells and [Ca(2+)](i) in the cells, and to uncover the mechanism by which solanine induces apoptosis.

Methods: HepG(2) cells were double stained with AO/EB, and morphological changes of the cells were observed using laser confocal scanning microscopy (LCSM). HepG(2) cells were stained with TMRE, and change in the membrane potential of mitochondria in the cells were observed using LCSM.

[Study on the effects of two kinds of cactus polysaccharide on erythrocyte immune function of S180 mice].

Objective: To study the effects of two kinds of cactus polysaccharide on erythrocyte immune function in S180 mice.

Method: Classical pharmaceutical method and test kit.

Result: The cactus polysaccharide increased the content of RBC-CaR, RFER, decreased the content of RFIR, raised the content of sialic acid.

[Influence of sargassum fusiforme polysaccharide on apoptosis of tumor cells].

Objective: To study mechanism of antitumor activity of Sargassum Fusiforme Polysaccharide (SFPS).

Method: The effect on cell cycle and apoptosis was studied with flow cytometry (FCM). Intracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]i was marked with Fluo-3/AM and measured with laser scanner confocal microscope (LSCM).

Effect of Haimiding on the functioning of red cell membrane of FC and H22 tumor-bearing mice.

Aim: To study the effect of Haimiding on the functioning of red cell membrane of FC and H(22) tumor-bearing mice.

Methods: The membrane fluidity of red cells is measured with DPH fluorescence probe as a marker; the amount of red cell membrane proteins is measured using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; the amount of sialic acid (SA) on the surface of red cell membrane and the sealability of these cells are measured using colorimetric analysis.

Results: Haimiding can lower the membrane fluidity of red cells in tumor-bearing mice and the amount of their membrane proteins, while increasing the amount of sialic acid in the membrane of red cells in these mice and enhancing the ability of the membrane of their red cells to reseal.

[Study on the effects of two kinds of cactus polysaccharide on erythrocyte membrane protein and fluidity of the lipid in S180 mice].

Objective: To study the effects of two kinds of cactus polysaccharide on Band 3 protein, cross-linking protein and lipid fluidity of erythrocyte membrane in S180 mice.

Method: The membrane protein content was analysed by SDS-PAGE. Lipid fluidity was measured by Skinitzky method.

Anti-neoplastic efficacy of Haimiding on gastric carcinoma and its mechanisms.

Aim: To study the anti-neoplastic effect of Haimiding and its mechanisms of action.

Methods: Experiments using MTT and colony formation were carried out to study the in vitro anti-neoplastic action of Haimiding, its in vivo anti-neoplastic action was studied by observing its effect on the weight of tumors in FC mice and S(180), H(22) tumor bearing mice, as well as their life spans. The effect of Haimiding on cell apoptosis and different stages of cell cycles in human gastric carcinoma cells were studied by flow cytometry.