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Cigarettes with pronounced astringency can diminish consumers' enjoyment. However, due to the complex composition of cigarettes, quantifying astringency intensity accurately has been challenging. To address this, research was conducted to develop a method for assessing astringency intensity in a simulated oral environment. The astringency intensity of four cigarette brands was determined using the standard sensory evaluation method. The mainstream smoke absorbing solution (MS) was prepared by simulating the cigarette smoking process, and its physicochemical properties (such as total phenol content and pH levels) were analyzed. The lubrication properties of the five solutions were tested using the MFT‐5000 wear tester, and factors influencing cigarette astringency were examined. The findings showed that total phenol content and pH of MS were positively and negatively correlated with astringency intensity, respectively. Particularly, the lubrication properties of MS were significantly correlated with astringency intensity, and the correlation coefficient was affected by load and speed during testing. The study concluded that coefficient of friction was a more reliable measure for assessing the extent of astringency in cigarettes than the total phenol content and pH of MS, offering new insights into astringency evaluation and development of high‐grade cigarettes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of anticancer therapy is often restricted by the development of drug resistance. Here, we report that the doxorubicin (DOX)-resistant MCF-7/Adr cells were more resistant to DOX-treatment than MCF-7 cells. However, an alternative treatment of DOX/TNF-alpha enhanced the cytotoxic effect in multidrug resistant MCF-7/Adr cell line. Treatment of cells with TNF-alpha following doxorubicin (DOX) resulted in a decrease of the activated Rel A/p65 in nuclei. Histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) was found to interact with Rel A/p65 in the complex, suggesting that HDAC1 is involved in mediating nuclear export of Rel A/p65. The combined treatment of TNF-alpha/DOX also resulted in a significant decrease of mRNA levels of anti-apoptotic genes, such as the cellular inhibitor of apoptosis-1 (c-IAP1), and the long isoform of B cell leukemia/lymphoma x gene (Bcl-xL), leading to efficient induction of caspase-8 cleavage and cell death. In previous work, we demonstrated that TNF-alpha promotes DOX-induced cell death and anti-cancer effect through downregulation of p21 in p53-deficient tumor cells. Thus, we proposed that alternative administration of TNF-alpha and DOX may be a new and efficient therapeutic strategy for patients that develop resistance to cytotoxic treatment.

Objective: To explore the effect of LPS on the expression of CD14 and the activation of Kupffer cells (KCs)., Methods: Rat KCs were isolated and cultured with LPS. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR methods were employed to determine the changes in the CD14 expression and the concentration of TNFalpha, IL-6 and NO in the supernatant of the cultured KCs with LPS., Results: (1) The expression of CD14mRNA and the synthesis of CD14 protein in the KCs increased evidently when stimulated by various concentrations of LPS, and the CD14mRNA expression was correlated in dose-dependent manner with LPS levels. (2) The expression of CD14mRNA and the synthesis of CD14 protein in KCs induced by LPS (10 micro g/ml) increased significantly and peaked at 3 approximately 6 hours. (3) The expression of CD14mRNA and the synthesis of CD14 protein in freshly cultured KCs were obviously up-regulated by the active mediators produced by KCs after being stimulated by LPS. (4) The release of TNFalpha, IL-6 and NO from cultured KCs was evidently down-regulated by the addition of anti-CD14McAb in the presence of serum or by the addition of LPS in the absence of serum, but up-regulated by the concomitant addition of LPS and LBP., Conclusion: (1) The CD14mRNA expression and the protein synthesis in cultured KCs were closely related to LPS and the active mediators produced from the KCs.The increased CD14 expression was possibly caused by LPS, and the further increase of the expression might be closely correlated to the cytokines released from the KCs. (2) The KC activation by low concentration of LPS was CD14 dependent.

Objective: To investigate the effects of postburn fluid resuscitation on the pathohistological and ultrastructural changes of multiple organs with dysfunction in severely burned dogs., Methods: Forty - four mongrel dogs were randomly divided into four groups: (1) immediate infusion (II, n = 8), (2) delayed infusion (DI, n = 15), (3) no infusion (NI, n = 14), (4) normal control (NC, n = 7). The dogs were inflicted with 50% TBSA III degree flame burn produced by napalm in concentration of 30g/L burning for 30 seconds on the back. Small pieces of tissue samples of heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract were taken from injured dogs at 72 postburn hours (PBHs) or moribund stage for the examination with light microscope (LM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM)., Results: Different degrees of blood circulation disturbance and degenerative changes were found in all above internal organs. These changes were more evident in DI than in II and NI groups., Conclusion: Delayed postburn fluid resuscitation could induce multiple organ dysfunction in early postburn stage.