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We have shown that gypenosides (Gyp) induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in many human cancer cell lines. However, there are no reports showing that show Gyp acts on human leukemia HL-60 cells in vitro and in a murine xenograft model in vivo. In the present study effects of Gyp on cell morphological changes and viability, cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in vitro and effects on Gyp in an in vivo murine xenograft model. Results indicated that Gyp induced morphological changes, decreased cell viability, induced G0/G1 arrest, DNA fragmentation and apoptosis (sub-G1 phase) in HL-60 cells. Gyp increased reactive oxygen species production and Ca(2+) levels but reduced mitochondrial membrane potential in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Gyp also changed one of the primary indicators of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress due to the promotion of ATF6-α and ATF4-α associated with Ca(2+) release. Gyp reduced the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax due to an increase in the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and inhibited levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Oral consumption of Gyp reduced tumor size of HL-60 cell xenograft mode mice in vivo. These results provide new information on understanding mechanisms by which Gyp induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.

The purpose of this paper is to study the position and role in the technological network by the concepts of structural equivalence. By means of procedures drawing on the notion of structural equivalence from social network analysis, a set of roles and positions of technological network are delineated. 4 technological roles are categorized in terms of the technological classification of patent. 4 technological positions are clustered on the basis of patent citation modes. Patents sufficiently similar in their citation patterns will be grouped into a block and be treated as equivalent. We argue that the relationships between positions and roles in the technological network are mutual. In addition, the positions in the network form a core and periphery structure. Some technology implications are discussed in the conclusion.

Methods: We design two-phase prospective intervention study in public 1800-bed medical center in Taipei, Taiwan. Cleaning efficacy was monitored by ATP bioluminescence after the daily morning cleaning program completed in a CICU and a MICU. The following high-touch surfaces were monitored: bed rails, surfaces of vital monitors, intravenous injection sets, bed tables, and handles of the nursing care cart. The threshold for cleanliness was set at a level of 250 relative light units (RLU). The intervention included an infection control education program, use of disposable wipes rather than a reusable microfiber towel, and feedback the monitoring result. Results: In phase I, only 43.9% of surfaces were clean (RLU < 250) after the daily cleaning process, and some of the surfaces were even more contaminated. In phase II, 88.1% of surfaces were clean after the daily cleaning process, significantly from phase I. The infection rate also declined after the intervention, from 21.0& to 10.7& in the MICU (p Z 0.047) and from 15.6& to5.6& in the CICU (p Z 0.028). Conclusions: Implementation of a new cleaning program that included use of disposable wipes and monitoring by ATP levels significantly reduced contamination of surfaces and infection rate in our ICUs.