Bmi-1 expression modulates non-small cell lung cancer progression.

Previous studies indicate that the role of B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 homolog (Bmi-1) is responsible for multiple cancer progression. However, Bmi-1 in controlling gene expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) development is not well explored. Here we report that the Bmi-1 level is highly increased in primary NSCLC tissues compared to matched adjacent non-cancerous tissues and required for lung tumor growth in xenograft model.

Establishment of hairy root cultures by Agrobacterium rhizogenes mediated transformation of Isatis tinctoria L. For the efficient production of flavonoids and evaluation of antioxidant activities.

In this work, Isatis tinctoria hairy root cultures (ITHRCs) were established as an alternative source for flavonoids (FL) production. I. tinctoria hairy root line V was found to be the most efficient line and was further confirmed by the PCR amplification of rolB, rolC and aux1 genes.

Extracts of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and isoliquiritigenin counteract amyloid-β toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Alzheimer's disease is a rising threat for modern societies as more and more people reach old age. To date, there is no effective treatment for this condition. In this study, we investigated the potential of Glycyrrhiza uralensis to counteract amyloid-β toxicity, one of the key features of Alzheimer's disease.

Synthetic cajanin stilbene acid derivatives inhibit c-MYC in breast cancer cells.

In the present study, we investigated the activity and modes of action of cajanin stilbene acid (CSA) and its derivatives in terms of cytotoxicity, gene expression profile, and transcription factor activity. XTT assays on MCF7 cells were performed upon treatment with CSA or derivatives. After the determination of IC50 values, gene expression profiling was performed with Agilent microarray experiments.

Optimized extraction of polysaccharides from Taxus chinensis var. mairei fruits and its antitumor activity.

The simultaneous ultrasonic/microwave-assisted extraction (UMAE) method is potentially useful for the extraction of polysaccharides from Taxus chinensis var. mairei fruits (TCFPs). In this study, we used a response surface methodology to identify optimal TCFPs extraction conditions.

The pure distal left main bronchial sleeve resection with total lung parenchymal preservation: report of two cases and literature review.

Pure bronchial sleeve resection and reconstruction is a type of rare thoracic surgery, especially for the second carina reconstruction on the left side, needs more exquisite surgical techniques, and patient selection to such surgery often requires rigorous screening. We present two cases of left main bronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma with the second carina reconstruction. The purpose of this paper is to recommend a useful supplement to conventional surgery for some very selected patients.

Efficient production of isoflavonoids by Astragalus membranaceus hairy root cultures and evaluation of antioxidant activities of extracts.

In this study, Astragalus membranaceus hairy root cultures (AMHRCs) were established as an attractive alternative source for the efficient production of isoflavonoids (IF). A. membranaceus hairy root line II was screened as the most efficient line and was confirmed by PCR amplification of rolB, rolC and aux1 genes.

Externally controlled triggered-release of drug from PLGA micro and nanoparticles.

Biofilm infections are extremely hard to eradicate and controlled, triggered and controlled drug release properties may prolong drug release time. In this study, the ability to externally control drug release from micro and nanoparticles was investigated. We prepared micro/nanoparticles containing ciprofloxacin (CIP) and magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated in poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) PLGA.

Ionic-liquid-based ultrasound/microwave-assisted extraction of 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one and 6-methoxy-benzoxazolin-2-one from maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings.

We evaluated an ionic-liquid-based ultrasound/microwave-assisted extraction method for the extraction of 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one and 6-methoxy-benzoxazolin-2-one from etiolated maize seedlings. We performed single-factor and central composite rotatable design experiments to optimize the most important parameters influencing this technique. The best results were obtained using 1.

Effective bioconversion of sophoricoside to genistein from Fructus sophorae using immobilized Aspergillus niger and Yeast.

In this study, sophoricoside from Fructus sophorae was highly bioconversed to genistein by co-immobilized Aspergillus niger and Yeast. Bioconversion conditions for genistein were optimized with single-factor experiments. The optimal conditions were as follows: microbial concentration 1.

Synthesis and anti-tumor activity of novel aminomethylated derivatives of isoliquiritigenin.

A series of new aminomethylated derivatives of isoliquiritigenin was synthesized. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by IR, MS, NMR, 13C-NMR and elemental analyses. Cytotoxic activities of these derivatives towards the human prostatic cell line PC-3, human mammary cancer cell line MCF-7 and human oophoroma cell line HO-8910 in vitro were tested.

In vitro oxidative metabolism of cajaninstilbene Acid by human liver microsomes and hepatocytes: involvement of cytochrome p450 reaction phenotyping, inhibition, and induction studies.

Cajaninstilbene acid (CSA, 3-hydroxy-4-prenyl-5-methoxystilbene-2-carboxylic acid), an active constituent of pigeonpea leaves, an important tropical crop, is known for its clinical effects in the treatment of diabetes, hepatitis, and measles and its potential antitumor effect. In this study, the effect of the cytochrome P450 isozymes on the activity of CSA was investigated. Two hydroxylation metabolites were identified in the study.

Optimization of ionic liquid based simultaneous ultrasonic- and microwave-assisted extraction of rutin and quercetin from leaves of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) by response surface methodology.

An ionic liquids based simultaneous ultrasonic and microwave assisted extraction (ILs-UMAE) method has been proposed for the extraction of rutin (RU), quercetin (QU), from velvetleaf leaves. The influential parameters of the ILs-UMAE were optimized by the single factor and the central composite design (CCD) experiments. A 2.

Negative pressure cavitation-microwave assisted preparation of extract of Pyrola incarnata Fisch. rich in hyperin, 2'-O-galloylhyperin and chimaphilin and evaluation of its antioxidant activity.

A novel and effective extraction method, namely negative pressure cavitation-microwave assisted extraction technique (NMAE), was developed for the preparation of extracts of Pyrola incarnata Fisch., which are rich in the main constituents hyperin, 2'-O-galloylhyperin and chimaphilin. Single factor experiments and Box-Behnken design (BBD) were combined with a response surface methodology to examine factors affecting extraction.

Simultaneous determination of phenolic compounds in Equisetum palustre L. by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry combined with matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction.

A method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction followed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry is presented for the extraction and determination of phenolic compounds in Equisetum palustre. This method combines the high efficiency of matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction and the rapidity, sensitivity, and accuracy of ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The influential parameters of the matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction were investigated and optimized.

A recombinant porcine circovirus type 2 expressing the VP1 epitope of the type O foot-and-mouth disease virus is infectious and induce both PCV2 and VP1 epitope antibodies.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the etiological agent of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome, a disease that causes huge economic damage in swine industry. A recombinant PCV2 expressing the neutralizing VP1 epitope (aa 141-160) of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) was rescued using an infectious cloning technique. The PCV2 antigen and FMDV-VP1 antigenic epitope of the cloned strain recPCV2-CL-VP1 were confirmed by an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA) and a capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Ampelopsin-induced autophagy protects breast cancer cells from apoptosis through Akt-mTOR pathway via endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Our previous study has shown that ampelopsin (AMP), a flavonol mainly found in Ampelopsis grossedentata, could induce cell death in human breast cancer cells via reactive oxygen species generation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway. Here, we examined whether autophagy is activated in AMP-treated breast cancer cells and, if so, sought to find the exact role and underlying molecular profile of autophagy in AMP-induced cell death. Our results showed that AMP treatment activated autophagy in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells, as evidenced by the accumulation of autophagosomes, an increase of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta-2 (LC3B-II) and the conversion of LC3B-I to LC3B-II, the degradation of the selective autophagic target p62/SQSTM1, and the formation of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-LC3 puncta.

Resveratrol inhibits breast cancer stem-like cells and induces autophagy via suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic compound, is abundantly found in plant foods and has been extensively studied for its anti-cancer properties. Given the important role of CSCs (Cancer Stem Cells) in breast tumorigenesis and progression, it is worth investigating the effects of resveratrol on CSCs. The article is an attempt to investigate the effects of resveratrol on breast CSCs.

Synthesis of polyethylenimine (PEI) functionalized silver nanoparticles by a hydrothermal method and their antibacterial activity study.

In this study, we report a facile, one-step hydrothermal method to synthesize PEI-functionalized Ag nanoparticles in which no extra reducing agent is needed and PEI serves as a reducing agent and a stabilizing agent. The obtained Ag colloids have been characterized by TEM, UV absorption spectra and laser particle size analyzer. We found that the size of Ag nanoparticles can be tuned through the alteration of the temperature and growth mode.

PA-1, a novel synthesized pyrrolizidine alkaloid, inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by damaging the cell membrane.

In the present study, antimicrobial activity and mode of a novel synthesized pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA-1) were investigated. PA-1 exhibited predominantly strong antibacterial activity toward six bacteria tested with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.0039 to 0.

Chimaphilin induces apoptosis in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells through a ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway.

Chimaphilin, 2,7-dimethyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, is extracted from pyrola [Passiflora incarnata Fisch.]. In this study, the anticancer activity and underlying mechanisms of chimaphilin toward human breast cancer MCF-7 cells are firstly investigated.

A pilot-scale homogenization-assisted negative pressure cavitation extraction of Astragalus polysaccharides.

This paper reported a new, green and effective extraction technique for polysaccharides, namely homogenization-assisted negative pressure cavitation extraction (HNPCE), which succeeded in the extraction of Astragalus polysaccharides (APs). Central composite design and kinetic model were applied to optimize the extraction conditions, and the optimal parameters were obtained as follows: homogenization time 70s, negative pressure -0.068MPa, extraction temperature 64.

Aspidin BB, a phloroglucinol derivative, exerts its antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus by inducing the generation of reactive oxygen species.

Aspidin BB, a phloroglucinol derivative extracted from Dryopteris fragrans (L.) Schott, has been previously reported to exert high biological activities. In the present study, antibacterial activities and mechanisms of aspidin BB against Staphylococcus aureus were investigated.

Rapid analysis of Fructus forsythiae essential oil by ionic liquids-assisted microwave distillation coupled with headspace single-drop microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A rapid, green and effective miniaturized sample preparation and analytical technique, i.e. ionic liquids-assisted microwave distillation coupled with headspace single-drop microextraction (ILAMD-HS-SDME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for the analysis of essential oil (EO) in Fructus forsythiae.

Microwave-assisted aqueous enzymatic extraction of oil from pumpkin seeds and evaluation of its physicochemical properties, fatty acid compositions and antioxidant activities.

Microwave-assisted aqueous enzymatic extraction (MAAEE) of pumpkin seed oil was performed in this study. An enzyme cocktail comprised of cellulase, pectinase and proteinase (w/w/w) was found to be the most effective in releasing oils. The highest oil recovery of 64.