The combination of crocin with cisplatin suppresses growth of gastric carcinoma cell line BGC-823 and promotes cell apoptosis.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of crocin alone and in combination with cisplatin in the therapy of gastric carcinoma cells. In this study, human gastric carcinoma cell line BGC-823 was purchased and maintained in standard condition. Crocin, cisplatin and crocin plus cisplatin diluted to different concentrations were added into medium, respectively. MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to test the anti-proliferation effects and apoptosis rates of cells, respectively. In addition, quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes, such as p53, Bax and Bcl-2. After treated with different concentrations of crocin, the inhibition ratio and apoptosis rate of BGC-823 cells were not significantly changed. However, the tumor cell inhibition ratio and apoptosis rate in crocin plus cisplatin group were significantly higher than that in cisplatin, crocin and control group (p<0.05). The treatment of crocin plus cisplatin significantly increased the expression of p53 and Bax (p< 0.05), and significantly decreased the Bcl-2 expression (p<0.05). Collectively, our data demonstrated for the first time that crocin plus cisplatin may be used as a new anticancer drug for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Lung lymph response to overinfusion with hydroxyethyl starch in sheep. Comparative studies of high and low molecular weight compounds.

BACKGROUND: Several hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions are available clinically. We performed comparative studies of low and high molecular weight HES to evaluate the effects on lung lymph flow in sheep, to see the difference in the types of HES. METHODS: We prepared awake sheep with vascular monitorings and lung lymph fistulas. We measured systemic artery pressure (Psa), pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa), and left atrial pressure (Pla) continuously. Cardiac output (CO) was measured every 30 min. Lung lymph flow (Qlym) was collected every 15 min. After baseline measurements, two HES solutions were infused over 2 h, respectively. Experiment 1 (n=6): low molecular weight HES (MW 70 000, substitution ratio 0.5-0.55), Experiment 2 (n=5): high molecular weight HES (MW 450 000, substitution ratio 0.7). RESULTS: Both low and high molecular HES behaved similarly as a volume expander, increasing Psa, CO, Pla and Ppa, and decreasing hematocrit. In addition, the actual oncotic pressure gradient (plasma - lymph) was widened after the start of either low or high molecular HES, but the value for high molecular HES was significantly higher than that for low molecular HES. Qlym of low molecular HES rose significantly from the baseline and the percent increase in Qlym for low molecular HES was significantly higher than that for high molecular HES. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that low molecular HES is as useful a plasma substitute as high molecular HES, but may increase lung fluid filtration in the overinfused state.