[A colorimetric method for vascular endothelial growth factor detection based on aptamer and magnetic beads].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a novel colorimetric method for detecting the tumor biomarker vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) based on aptamer and magnetic beads. METHODS: The capture aptamer was hybridized to urease functionalized single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and immobilize on the surface of magnetic beads by specific biotin-avidin binding. In the presence of VEGF, aptamers bound to VEGF to form a specific stem-loop structure to release the urease functionalized ssDNA. After separation, the supernatant was transferred to a tube and urea and phenol red were added. Urease hydrolyzed urea to produce ammonia to cause an increase of the pH value and a color change of phenol red. The results were inspected with either the naked eyes or by a UV spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Under optimized conditions, the detection system showed a good linear relationship for VEGF detection in the range of 0.1 to 10 pmol/L with a detection limit as low as 0.06 pmol/L. The results of VEGF detection in the serum of patients with lung cancer were consistent with those using an ELISA Kit. The results of examination of 10 serum samples with this aptamer-based method and ELISA kit showed that the accuracy of this method was 90%. CONCLUSION: This aptamer-based system provides an simple and convenient method for VEGF detection with a high sensitivity and selectivity.

[Observation on effects of Zhiling Capsule in treating 400 patients with various types of cancer in mid-ad-vanced stage].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of Zhiling Capsule (ZLC) in improving symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in patients with various types of cancer in mid-advanced stage. METHODS: A multi-centre randomized and controlled trial was conducted. Four hundred patients with mid-advanced cancer were assigned to two groups: the treatment group (300 cases) treated with ZLC and the control group (100 cases) with Pingxiao Capsule (PXC), both were given orally for two weeks. Clinical symptoms, QOL, weight and adverse reactions were observed before and after treatment. RESULTS: Improving rate of symptom, increasing rates of QOL and weight in the treatment group were all higher than those in the control group (P<0.05); and no obvious adverse reaction was observed in the two groups. CONCLUSION: ZLC could alleviate the qi-yin deficiency syndrome and pain syndrome and improve QOL in patients with various types of cancer in mid-advanced stage.

[Effects of zhiling capsule on the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction in human small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H446].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Zhiling Capsule (ZLC) on the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction in human small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H446. METHODS: According to the different components of ZLC, NCI-H446 cells were treated with traditional Chinese medicine, Western medicine and ZLC compound groups. The rates of cell viability and colony formation were observed by MTT assay and colony formation assay respectively. Cell cycle assay, Bcl-2 protein expression, chondrial transmembrane potential and Caspase-3 activity were detected by flow cytometer. Apoptotic cells were detected by DNA fragmentation assay, Annexin-V FITC staining and TUNEL labeling methods. RESULTS: After NCI-H446 cells were treated with various concentrations of drug groups, cell growth was significantly inhibited in a dose dependent manner. Cell colony formation was obviously lowered in the same way. The levels of chondrial transmembrane potential and Bcl-2 protein expression were decreased, while the levels of Caspase-3 activity were increased after the treatment. Typical DNA ladder were seen from gel electrophoresis, and apparent apoptotic peaks were observed by flow cytometer. Apoptosis occured in the early and late stage was identified by Annexin-V FITC staining and TUNEL labeling methods respectively. The ZLC compound group has stronger apoptosis induction than the other groups. CONCLUSION: ZLC could efficiently inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in NCI-H446 cells, which may be related with the down-regulation of chondrial transmembrane potential and Bcl-2 protein expression and the up-regulation of Caspase-3 activity.

[Observation on the effect of zhiling capsule in treating patients with lung cancer of middle/advanced stage].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect and safety of Zhiling Capsule (ZC) in treating lung cancer of middle/advanced stage. METHODS: With the multi-center, randomized, double-blinded and parallel controlled method, the patients were divided into 4 groups, the 104 patients in the group A were treated with the whole recipe of ZC, the 52 in the group B with the disassembled recipe 1 (Western medicines) of ZC, the 46 in the group C with the disassembled recipe 2 (Chinese medicines) of ZC, and the 48 in the control group with Pingxiao Capsule, all the drugs were administered orally for 2 weeks. The changes of syndrome of qi-yin deficiency, symptoms, quality of life (QOL), body weight and adverse reactions occurred in patients were observed. RESULTS: The effective rate in alleviating syndrome in the groups A-D was 91.3%, 80.8%, 37.0% and 14.6% respectively; in remitting stuffiness and chest pain 86.9% , 60.5%, 20.0% and 10.0%; in improving appetite was 80.4%, 47.9%, 23.7% and 10.3%. QOL in the groups A-C was significantly elevated after treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the improvement of group A was superior to that of other treatments (P < 0.01). Body weight in the group A was significantly increased and superior to that of others (P < 0.05). The whole recipe of ZC showed the therapeutic effect superior to that of the other treatments (P < 0.05). No obvious adverse reaction was found in all the 4 groups. CONCLUSION: ZC can improve the symptoms and QOL in patients with lung cancer of middle/advanced stage.