Search

HPLC was used to determine the content of ferulic acid in Chuanxiong toothpaste and TLC was used to identify the Chuanxiong in the toothpaste. The content of active ingredients extracted from Traditional Chinese medicine by decocting water was high, and the corresponding toothpaste had a good hemostatic effect. The identification by use of thin layer chromatography (TLC) showed with clear spots and strong specificity for both the test product and the control product (angelinolactone A) as observed under ultraviolet light (254 nm) with n-hexane-ethyl acetate (3:1) as the developing agent, which could be used as the basis for the qualitative identification of Chuanxiong toothpaste. The ferulic acid in the range of 0.019 3-0.481 7 µg·mL-1 showed a good linear relationship with the peak area and the recovery rate of sample was between 99.5% and 101.2%. This method was simple, stable and reliable, and could be used as the quality control method for ferulic acid in Chuanxiong toothpaste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccine-induced cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a critical role in adaptive immunity against cancers. An important goal of current vaccine research is to induce durable and long-lasting functional CTLs that can mediate cytotoxic effects on tumor cells. To attain this goal, there are four distinct steps that must be achieved. To initiate a vaccine-induced CTL antitumor immune response, dendritic cells (DCs) must capture antigens derived from exogenous tumor vaccines in vivo or autologous DCs directly loaded in vitro with tumor antigens must be injected. Next, tumor-antigen-loaded DCs must activate CTLs in lymphoid organs. Subsequently, activated CTLs must enter the tumor microenvironment to perform their functions, at which point a variety of negative regulatory signals suppress the immune response. Finally, CTL-mediated cytotoxic effects must overcome the tolerance induced by tumor cells. Each step is a complex process that may be impeded in many ways. However, if these steps happen under appropriate regulation, the vaccine-induced CTL antitumor immune response will be more successful. For this reason, we should gain a better understanding of the basic mechanisms that govern the immune response. This paper, based on the steps necessary to induce an immune response, discusses current strategies for enhancing vaccine-induced CTL antitumor immune responses., 1. Introduction Cancer is the leading cause of death in economically developed countries and the second leading cause of death in developing countries [1]. Advancements have been made in traditional [...]

A water stable tetrazolate‐containing metal‐organic framework, [Cd2(L)(OH)(H2O)2]n (1) [H3L = 5‐(4‐(tetrazol‐5‐yl)phenyl)isophthalic acid], was synthesized under solvothermal conditions and structurally characterized. Compound 1 displays a three dimensional porous network with one dimensional tubular channels based on trinuclear cluster [Cd3(μ3‐OH)N4C] units. Notably, 1 exhibits highly sensitive response to Cu2+ and Cr2O72– through luminescence quenching effects with the detection limit of 0.666 ppm for Cu2+ and 0.846 ppm for Cr2O72–, respectively. The possible mechanism of the luminescence quenching was discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) is still considered the standard treatment for patients with anastomotic strictures after esophagectomy. However, repeated dilation sessions are often required to maintain the lumen patency. We therefore developed a novel method called circular incision and cutting (CIC) and compared the efficacy of CIC and EBD among patients with anastomotic strictures after esophagectomy or gastrectomy. Methods: In this retrospective study, 71 consecutive patients with esophageal cancer with anastomotic strictures after esophagectomy or gastrectomy between January 2011 and December 2016 were included. Among them, 22 patients received CIC therapy and 49 were treated with EBD. Results: The dysphagia in all patients immediately ameliorated and no serious adverse events requiring further intervention were observed after CIC therapy. Compared with EBD, CIC exhibited a greater score in the difference of dysphagia before and after treatment (1.73 vs 1.16, P = 0.03). Moreover, the interval of restenosis and 6‐month lumen patency in CIC had a better effect than that in EBD (88.07 days vs 62.76 days, P = 0.001; dysphagia score 0.63 vs 1.44, P = 0.007). Conclusion: The CIC method may be an effective and safe option for patients with esophageal cancer with anastomotic strictures after esophagectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many new therapies are currently being used to treat cancer. Among these new methods, chemotherapy based on peptides has been of great interest due to the unique advantages of peptides, such as a low molecular weight, the ability to specifically target tumor cells, and low toxicity in normal tissues. In treating cancer, peptide-based chemotherapy can be mainly divided into three types, peptide-alone therapy, peptide vaccines, and peptide-conjugated nanomaterials. Peptide-alone therapy may specifically enhance the immune system's response to kill tumor cells. Peptide-based vaccines have been used in advanced cancers to improve patients' overall survival. Additionally, the combination of peptides with nanomaterials expands the therapeutic ability of peptides to treat cancer by enhancing drug delivery and sensitivity. In this review, we mainly focus on the new advances in the application of peptides in treating cancer in recent years, including diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) emerge as new important regulators of lipid homeostasis by regulating corresponding genes. MiR-613 is a newly discovered microRNA, of which the biological function is unknown. A recent report has shown that miR-613 downregulates liver X receptor a (LXRa), a ligand-activated nuclear receptor playing an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect and the molecular basis of miR-613 on lipogenesis in HepG2 cells. Methods: HepG2 cells were transiently transfected with miR-613 mimic or control microRNA. Real time PCR, Western blot, Luciferase reporter assay and Oil Red O staining were employed to examine the expression of LXRa and its target genes involved in lipogenesis, binding site for miR-613 in 30-untranslated region (30-UTR) of LXRa mRNA and lipid droplet accumulation in the cells. Results: MiR-613 dramatically suppressed the expression of LXRa and its target genes including sterol-regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), carbohydrate responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). Reporter assay showed that miR-613 directly bound to 30-UTR of LXRa mRNA. Moreover, miR-613 significantly repressed LXRa-induced lipid droplet accumulation in HepG2 cells. Ectopic expression of LXRa without 30-UTR markedly attenuated the miR-613-mediated downregulation of LXRa's target genes and LXRa-induced lipid droplet accumulation. Conclusions: MiR-613 suppresses lipogenesis by directly targeting LXRa in HepG2 cells, suggesting that miR-613 may serve as a novel target for regulating lipid homeostasis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]