Ellagic acid induces apoptosis and autophagy in colon cancer through the AMPK/mTOR pathway.

Ellagic acid (EA), found in fruits and foods, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of breast, colon and bladder cancer. However, due to the complexity of colon cancer, the therapeutic mechanism of EA for colon cancer is still unclear. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay were employed to investigate the cell proliferation. Western blotting and flow cytometry assays were utilized to investigate apoptosis and autophagy in CRC cells (HCT116), respectively. Moreover, western blotting and luciferase reporter assays were evaluated the effect of EA on AMPK/mTOR pathway. Through flow cytometry analysis, EA could promote the apoptosis of HCT116 cells. In addition, EA can reduce the phosphorylation of mTOR, promoted phosphorylation of AMPK, and induced autophagy in HCT116 cells. Also, Dorsomorphin pretreatment can reduce the expression of autophagy protein, which indicates that EA induces autophagy through AMPK/mTOR pathway. These results suggest that EA inhibits the growth of colon cancer through AMPK/mTOR pathway and induces apoptosis and protective autophagy.

[Efficacy of Lactated Ringer's versus Normal Saline in Treating Patients with Septic Shock].

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of lactated Ringer's (LR) and normal saline (NS) in treating patients with septic shock. Methods The clinical data of 198 patients with septic shock who received fluid resuscitation in the Intensive Care Unit of Quzhou People's Hospital from January 2014 to January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into NS group (n=100) and LR group (n=98) according to fluids used. The amounts of trial fluid,other liquids,and blood products and the average total fluid volume were recorded. The oxygenation index (PO2/FiO2),mean artery pressure (MAP),central venous pressure (CVP),and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) before and after treatment as well as the early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) 8 h (EGDT8),EGDT 24 h recovery rate,EGDT recovery time,28-day mortality rate were compared. Other secondary outcomes including bleeding,allergic reaction,acute kidney injury (AKI),venous blood filtration (RRT) rate,hyperkalemia,and ICU stay were also recorded. The 28-day survival rate was calculated using the Kaplan-Maier method,and the difference in survival rate was compared by log-rank test. Results The two groups showed no significant difference in gender,age,body weight,source of admission to ICU,procalcitonin level,source of sepsis,Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ score,number of AKI patients,amount of white blood cells,and C-reactive protein level (all P>0.05). The amount of blood products on the first day [(782±357)ml vs.(606±273)ml;t=2.044,P=0.046] and the average total amount of liquid on the first three days [(5470±1078)ml vs.(5092±929) ml;t=2.640,P=0.009] were significantly higher in NS group than in LR group. The amount of trial fluid and the volumes of other fluids were not significantly different (both P>0.05). The PO2/FiO2,MAP,CVP,and BNP levels significantly increased after treatment in both groups (all P<0.05);however,they were not significantly different between LR group and NS group at different time points before and after treatment (all P>0.05). The incidences of hyperlactacidemia (86.0% vs.71.4%,OR:2.457,95%CI:1.202-5.023,P=0.012) and hyperchloremia (25.0% vs.13.2%,OR:2.179,95%CI:1.041-4.562,P=0.036) were significantly higher in NS group than in LR group. These two groups showed no significant difference in EGDT8,24 h recovery rate,EGDT recovery time,28-day mortality rate,AKI,RRT rate,hyperkalemia,and ICU stay (all P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the 28-day survival rate was not significantly different (χ2 log-rank=0.012,P=0.911). Conclusion When liquid resuscitation is applied in patients with septic shock,the use of LR can lower blood transfusion requirement on the first day and total liquid dosage on the first three days (compared with NR), along with lower incidences of hyperlactacidemia and hyperchloremia,although there was no significant difference in the 28-day mortality rate.

[Diagnosing Low Health and Wood Borer Attacked Trees of Chinese Arborvitae by Using Thermography].

Water and energy metabolism of plants is very important actions in their lives. Although the studies about these actions by using thermography were often reported, seldom were found in detecting the health status of forest trees. In this study, we increase the measurement accuracy and comparability of thermo-images by creating the difference indices. Based on it, we exam the water and energy status in stem of Chinese arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco) by detecting the variance of far infrared spectrum between sap-wood and heart-wood of the cross-section of felling trees and the cores from an increment borer using thermography. The results indicate that the sap rate between sapwood and heartwood is different as the variance of the vigor of forest trees. Meanwhile, the image temperature of scale leaves from Chinese arborvitae trees with different vigor is also dissimilar. The far infrared spectrum more responds the sap status not the wood percentage in comparing to the area rate between sapwood and heartwood. The image temperature rate can be used in early determining the health status of Chinese arborvitae trees. The wood borers such as Phloeosinus aubei Perris and Semanotus bifasciatus Motschulsky are the pests which usually attack the low health trees, dying trees, wilted trees, felled trees and new cultivated trees. This measuring technique may be an important index to diagnose the health and vigor status after a large number of measurements for Chinese arborvitae trees. Therefore, there is potential to be an important index to check the tree vigor and pest damage status by using this technique. It will be a key in the tending and management of ecological and public Chinese arborvitae forest.

[Quantitative genetic analysis and multiple trait selection of pharmaceutical composition on Ginkgo biloba L. leaves].

The China possesses more than 70% Ginkgo resources in the world. The purposes of this research are to collect fine seedling and grafting clones in China, to probe genetic law on flavone glycosides and terpenes on Ginkgo leaves, and select leaf-used cultivars of high-pharmaceutical composition. In this research, we have collected 87 clones from 13 provenances and have carried out randomized block experiment at Tancheng, Laizhou and Yaoxiang in Shandong Province. Flavone glycosides and terpenes were determined through HPLC method from an improved Van Beek (1991) techniques and Shimadzu Lc-10 AD (Japan). Data and breeding analyses were carried out through IBMPC and SPQG30 software. The results of variance analyses show that there are significant differences to flavone glycosides, terpenes in clones, and the law of genetic parameters on heritability (h2) and genetic variability coefficient (Gcv), is clone > sex > provenance to flavone glycosides in ginkgo leaves. The sigma g2, h2, Gcv and delta G' in male tree clone leaves are higher than female clone leaves on flavone glycosides. We have found that there is a maximum flavone content clone among males and a maximum terpene clone among females. The results of Q-cluster analyses are consistent with R-factor analyses of twenty higher terpenes clones. The results of index selection show that the ri.Y2, E(I) and CGS' of multiple traits selection including (gamma) trait are higher than single trait and multiple traits selection excluding gamma. The direct or index selection is more suited to leaf-used cultivars of Ginkgo. The genetic stability of each clone was appraised by Wricke's ecovalence method and Nassar & Huhu noparameter method. Flavone glycosides and terpenes are more than 2.09%-2.57% and 0.33%-0.41%, respectively, and we have selected four clones.