ß-elemene induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in human glioma cells in vitro through the upregulation of Bax and Fas/ FasL and downregulation of Bcl-2.

BACKGROUND: ß-elemene, extracted from herb medicine Curcuma wenyujin has potent anti-tumor effects in various cancer cell lines. However, the activity of ß-elemene against glioma cells remains unclear. In the present study, we assessed effects of ß-elemene on human glioma cells and explored the underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human glioma U87 cells were used. Cell proliferation was determined with MTT assay and colony formation assay to detect the effect of ß-elemene at different doses and times. Fluorescence microscopy was used to observe cell apoptosis with Hoechst 33258 staining and change of glioma apoptosis and cell cycling were analyzed by flow cytometry. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western-blotting assay were performed to investigated the influence of ß-elemene on expression levels of Fas/FasL, caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax. The experiment was divided into two groups: the blank control group and ß-elemne treatment group. RESULTS: With increase in the concentration of ß-elemene, cytotoxic effects were enhanced in the glioma cell line and the concentration of inhibited cell viability (IC50) was 48.5 µg/mL for 24h. ß-elemene could induce cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. With Hoechst 33258 staining, apoptotic nuclear morphological changes were observed. Activation of caspase-3,-8 and -9 was increased and the pro-apoptotic factors Fas/FasL and Bax were upregulated, while the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 was downregulated after treatment with ß-elemene at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, proliferation and colony formation by U87 cells were inhibited by ß-elemene in a time and does- dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that ß-elemene inhibits growth and induces apoptosis of human glioma cells in vitro. The induction of apoptosis appears to be related with the upregulation of Fas/FasL and Bax, activation of caspase-3,-8 and -9 and downregulation of Bcl-2, which then trigger major apoptotic cascades.

[Discriminatory analyses of climacteric syndrome patients of shen deficiency syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To find out a set of practical,objective, and quantitative laboratory indices of climacteric syndrome (CS) patients of Shen deficiency syndrome (SDS), thus studying the essence of SDS from the perspective of laboratory medicine. METHODS: Recruited were 40 CS patients of SDS (or of SDS as main syndrome) as the SDS group, while another 40 healthy subjects were recruited as the control group. Their serum samples were collected. Serum levels of total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (TESTO), estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL), progesterone (PROG), cortisol (CORT), immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin G (lgG), Complement 3 (C3), complement hemolysis 50% (CH50), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), aldosterone (ALD), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bone Gla-protein (BGP) were measured by automatic electrochemical luminescence assay analyzer, automatic chemiluminescence assay analyzer, automatic biochemistry analyzer, and automatic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyzer. The correlation between syndrome types and laboratory indices were judged by gradual discriminant analyses. RESULTS: (1) Compared with the control group,serum levels of CORT, TESTO, E2, TT3, FT3, FT4, TSH, C3, CH50, ALP, and BGP significantly decreased in the SDS group (P < 0.01, P < 0. 05), while FSH, LH, and ACE significantly increased (P < 0.05). (2) The index with stronger capacity for diagnosing CS patients of SDS was ranked from high to low as CH50, PROG, TSH, TESTO, BGP, CORT, and C3, with their contribution rate of the discriminant function being 95.9%. (3) Discriminant analysis equation of CS patients of SDS was Y = -25.904 - 0.468CH50 + 0.002PROG + 0.182TSH + 9.690TESTO + 1.015BGP + 0.016CORT + 33.581 C3. CONCLUSIONS: (1) CS patients of SDS were closely correlated with thyroid hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, renin-renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system,the immune function, and bone formation, and etc. (2) CH50 might be of a high sensibility marker for diagnosing CS patients of SDS. (3) Discriminant analysis equations of laboratory medicine index may be used in preliminary diagnosis and auxiliary certificate of CS patients of SDS.

[Effects of aerosolized perfluorocarbon on gas exchange, respiratory mechanics and hemodynamics in a swine model of acute respiratory distress syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of aerosolized perfluorocarbon (PFC) on gas exchanges, respiratory mechanics and hemodynamics in a swine model of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: ARDS was induced by intratracheal instillation of detergent in 16 piglets, and the animals were then randomly assigned to a PFC treated group (n = 8) and a control group (n = 8). Animals of the control group were gas-ventilated with 100% O2 (3 L/min), while those of the PFC treated group received an additional continuous aerosolized PFC at 7 - 8 ml.kg(-1).h(-1). Blood gases, average artery pressure, heart rate, platform pressure, compliance, expiratory tidal volume and intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPi) were measured per 15 minutes. RESULTS: Detergent instillation resulted in a marked decrease in arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) within 60 min, from (383 +/- 53) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) to (49 +/- 12) mm Hg in the control group [fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) 100%], and from (377 +/- 55) mm Hg to (56 +/- 13) mm Hg in the PFC group (FiO2 100%). After 2 h treatment, PaO2 was increased from (49 +/- 12) mm Hg to (83 +/- 51) mm Hg in the control group, compliance from (1.4 +/- 0.4) ml/cm H2O to (2.8 +/- 1.8) ml/cm H2O, and expiratory tidal volume from (30.8 +/- 5.5) ml to (50.1 +/- 4.1) ml in the control group; PaO2 from (56 +/- 13) mm Hg to (189 +/- 133) mm Hg, compliance from (1.5 +/- 0.4) ml/cm H2O to (4.1 +/- 1.4) ml/cm H2O, and expiratory tidal volume from (30.8 +/- 3.3) ml to (74.5 +/- 16.9) ml in the PFC group (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2), pH values, blood pressure, heart rates, plat pressure and PEEPi during treatment (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that aerosolized PFC increases arterial oxygenation, compliance, and expiratory tidal volume in extended detergent-induced ARDS.