Study on the autophagy of prostate cancer PC-3 cells induced by oridonin.

To investigate the mechanism of oridonin (ORI)-induced autophagy in prostate cancer PC-3 cells, PC-3 cells cultured in vitro were treated with ORI, and the inhibitory ratio of ORI on PC-3 cells was assayed by 3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide. The ultrastructural changes of the cells were observed under light microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Acridine orange (AO) staining was used to observe the acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs). The level of autophagy-related proteins, MAP1-LC3, was detected by Western Blot, and RT-PCR was used to detect the level of mRNA of beclin 1. After ORI treatment, the proliferation of PC-3 cells was inhibited significantly in a concentration and time-dependent manner. SEM examination revealed cellular shrinkage and disappearance of surface microvilli in ORI-treated cells. Under TEM examination, the nuclei exhibited chromatin condensation and the appearance of a large number of autophagosomes with double-membrane structure in cytoplasm. AO staining showed the existence of AVOs. The expression of LC3 and the mRNA level of beclin 1 was increased by ORI. Furthermore, autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine reversed the increase of beclin 1 mRNA. The growth of PC-3 cells was inhibited, and autophagy was induced by ORI, indicating ORI may have a potential antitumor effect.

Mortality associated with major depression in a Canadian community cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Prior studies have reported that major depressive episodes (MDEs) are associated with elevated mortality. However, the association has not always persisted after adjustment for other mortality risk factors. In our study, we examine this issue using data from a longitudinal Canadian study (the National Population Health Survey [NPHS]). The NPHS included a more comprehensive set of mortality determinants than prior studies, allowing a more comprehensive assessment of the effect of MDEs on mortality. METHODS: The NPHS began data collection in 1994 and follow-up data were available to 2006 at the time of this analysis. The NPHS assessed depression using a short-form version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Mortality was assessed as part of the cohort's follow-up, including linkage to vital statistics data. RESULTS: During follow-up, 2019 deaths occurred in the eligible part of the NPHS cohort. Consistent with prior studies, MDEs were strongly predictive of mortality when basic adjustments were made for age and sex (hazard ratio [HR] 2.0, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.9). The association disappeared with adjustment for other variables that predict mortality risk (HR 1.1, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.7). CONCLUSIONS: MDE is a strong predictor of mortality in the general population. This analysis failed to identify an independent effect of MDE when adjustments were made for other risk factors. However, the lack of a strong independent effect on mortality does not preclude an etiologic impact of MDE. MDE itself is intertwined with health-related changes that predict mortality and its impact may be mediated by these variables.

[Autophagy of prostate cancer PC-3 cells under the induction of oridonin].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of oridonin (ORI)-induced autophagy in prostate cancer PC-3 cells. METHODS: The PC-3 cells cultured in vitro were treated with ORI. The inhibitory ratio of oridonin In PC-3 cells was assayed by MTT. The ultrastructural cellular changes were observed under light microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). AO staining was used to observe the acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs). The level of MAP1-LC3 was detected by Western blot and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) used to detect the level of mRNA of beclin 1. RESULTS: After oridonin treatment, the proliferation of PC-3 cells was inhibited significantly in a concentration and time-dependent manner. The SEM examination revealed cellular shrinkage and the disappearance of surface microvilli after ORI treatment. And on the TEM examination, the nuclei exhibited chromatin condensation and the appearance of a large number of autophagosome with double-membrane structure in cytoplasm. AO staining showed the existence of AVOs. Simultaneously, the expressions of autophagy-related proteins, MAP-LC3 and the mRNA level of beclin 1 were elevated by ORI. The autophagy inhibitor 3-MA reversed the elevation of beclin 1 mRNA. CONCLUSION: The growth of PC-3 cells is inhibited. And cellular is induced by oridonin with a potential anti-tumor effect.

Effect of metal doping into Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 on photocatalytic activity of TiO2/Ce0.45Zr0.45M0.1OX (M=Y, La, Mn).

The paper demonstrates that the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 towards the decomposition of gaseous benzene in a batch reactor can be greatly improved by loading TiO2 on the surface of CeO(2)-ZrO(2). The research investigates the effects of three metals doping into Ce(0.5)Zr(0.5)O(2) on photocatalytic activity of TiO2/Ce(0.45)Zr(0.45)M(0.1)O(X) (M=Y, La, Mn). The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, UV-vis diffuse reflectance and XPS analyses. BET surface area of TiO2/Ce(0.45)Zr(0.45)M(0.1)O(X) (M=Y, La, Mn) is smaller than that of Ce(0.5)Zr(0.5)O(2). XRD results reveal that the deposited titania is highly dispersed as in the CeO(2)-ZrO(2) matrix, doping M in the CeO(2)-ZrO(2) lattice causes the changing of lattice space and the diffraction peaks shift to higher 2theta position. Among these four catalysts, the band gap value of TiO(2)/Ce(0.45)Zr(0.45)La(0.1)O(X) is the lowest. The binding energy value of Ti 2p(3/2) of four catalysts transfers to a lower value. The order of photocatalytic activity is TiO2/Ce(0.45)Zr(0.45)La(0.1)O(X)>TiO2/Ce(0.45)Zr(0.45)Y(0.1)O(X)>TiO2/Ce(0.45)Zr(0.45)Mn(0.1)O(X)>TiO2/Ce(0.5)Zr(0.5)O(2)>TiO2. The proposed mechanism is of electron transfer and the stronger absorption in the region 210-400 nm.