Screening marine algae from China for their antitumor activities

Thirty-nine species of marine algae collected from the coast of China were screened for their antitumor activities, and eight species Leathesia difformes, Polysiphonia urcedata, Scytosiphon lomentarius, Gloiopeliis furcata, Punctaria latifolia, Symphyocladia latiuscula, Rhodomela confervoides and Ulva pertusa showed potent cytotoxic activities. Three, Rhodomela confervoides, Scytosiphon lomentarius and Gloiopeliis furcata, were used for further investigation. More than 30 compounds were isolated and purified, and 14 bromophenols, 1 steroid and 1 carotene were identified by advanced spectroscopic methods including IR, MS, and NMR techniques. Amongst the 16 identified compounds, 7 showed vigorously selective activities against KB, Bel7402 and A549 cancer cells, and 6 bromophenols were new compounds.

Emodin-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer BCap-37 cells through the mitochondrial signaling pathway

Emodin, a natural anthraquinone compound isolated from the rhizome of rhubarb, is reported to suppress the growth of tumor in many clinical situations. In this study, we focused on the effect of emodin in human breast cancer BCap-37 cells and further understand the underlying molecular mechanism in treating breast cancer. Using MTT assay and flow cytometry, we demonstrated the critical role of emodin in the suppression of the proliferation of BCap-37 cells based on a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The increase of apoptotic rate was also observed after incubation of BCap-37 cells on emodin at 20 mu M and 50 mu M for 48 h. The cells exhibited typical apoptotic features including cellular morphological change, chromatin condensation and membrane blebbing. The results of the study further showed that Bcl-2 level decreased, while Bax and cytosolic cytochrome c levels in sample cells increased after the emodin treatment by using Western blot. The decline in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and the increase of cytosolic cytochrome c concentration were consistent with the increase of the apoptotic ratio. The results strongly suggest that the disruption of the mitochondrial signaling pathway was involved in emodin-induced apoptosis in BCap-37 cells.

Screening and analysis of biologically active compounds in Angelica sinensis by molecular biochromatography

A novel strategy for the screening and analysis of biologically active compounds in traditional Chinese medicine by molecular biochromatography is proposed. Molecular biochromatography with human serum albumin (HSA) immobilized on silica as stationary phase was used to screen and analyse the bioactive compounds in the typical Chinese medicine of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. Ten peaks showed retention on this column, which is based on their affinity for HSA. Ferulic acid and liguistilide were identified as the principal active components, which agrees very well with the results in the literature. A quality control method was also developed based on the simultaneous determination the concentrations of ferulic acid and liguistilide in solutions of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels extracted with water and methanol. It was observed that the concentrations of ferulic acid and liguistilide in solution extracted with methanol were 2 and 53 times higher, respectively, than those with water. It was shown that molecular biochromatography is an effective way of analysing and screening biologically active compounds in traditional Chinese medicine.

Avaliação do potencial de transporte de agrotóxicos usados no Brasil por modelos Screening e planilha eletrônica.

2007

Characteristic infrared spectroscopic patterns in the protein bands of human breast cancer tissue

Infrared (IR) spectra of normal, hyperplasia, fibroadenoma and carcinoma tissues of human breast obtained from 96 patients have been determined and analyzed statistically. Several spectral differences were detected in the frequency regions of N-H stretching, amide I, II and III bands: (1) the bands in the region 3000-3600cm-1 shifted to lower frequencies for the carcinomatous tissue; (2) the A(3300)/A(3075) absorbance ratio was significantly higher for the fibroadenoma than for the other types of tissues; (3) the frequency of the a-helix amide I band decreased for the malignant tissue, while the corresponding beta -sheet amide I band frequency increased; (4) the A(1657)/A(1635) and A(1553)/A(1540) absorbance ratios were the highest for fibroadenoma and carcinoma tissues; (5) the A(1680)/A(1657) absorbance ratio decreased significantly in the order of normal > hyperplasia > fibroadenoma > carcinoma; (6) the A(1651)/A(1545) absorbance ratio increased slightly for the fibroadenoma and the carcinoma tissues; (7) the bands at 1204 and 1278 cm(-1), assigned to the vibrational modes of the collagen, did not appear in the original spectra as resolved peaks and were distinctly stronger in the deconvoluted spectra of the carcinoma tissue and (8) the A(1657)/A(1204) and A(1657)/A(1278) absorbance ratios, both yielding information on the relative content of collagen, increased in the order of normal < hyperplasia < carcinoma < fibroadenoma. The said differences imply that the information is useful for the diagnosis of breast cancer and malignant breast abnormalities, and may serve as a basis for further studies on conformational changes in tissue proteins during carcinogenesis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

High-throughput screening of HZSM-5 supported metal-oxides catalysts for the coupling of methane with CO to benzene and naphthalene

High-throughput screening of HZSM-5 supported metal-oxides catalysts were carried out for the coupling reaction of methane with CO to aromatics in a multi-stream reactor system. Zn/HZSM-5 and Mo/HZSM-5 were observed to be rather effective for the catalytic formation of aromatics from the coupling reaction of methane with CO. Temperature-programmed reaction has further proven the efficiency of the coupling of methane and CO over Zn/HZSM-5 catalyst. The results were also validated in a conventional fixed-bed reactor coupled with GC. The results propose that the coupling methane with CO toward benzene and naphthalene can be catalyzed by Zn/HZSM-5 at 500 &DEG; C. Both methane and CO are needed for the formation of reactive coke on the catalyst, and the reactive coke may be the initial product in the producing of hydrocarbons. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An in silico approach for screening flavonoids as P-glycoprotein inhibitors based on a Bayesian-regularized neural network

P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, functions as a biological barrier by extruding cytotoxic agents out of cells, resulting in an obstacle in chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. In order to aid in the development of potential P-gp inhibitors, we constructed a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model of flavonoids as P-gp inhibitors based on Bayesian-regularized neural network (BRNN). A dataset of 57 flavonoids collected from a literature binding to the C-terminal nucleotide-binding domain of mouse P-gp was compiled. The predictive ability of the model was assessed using a test set that was independent of the training set, which showed a standard error of prediction of 0.146 +/- 0.006 (data scaled from 0 to 1). Meanwhile, two other mathematical tools, back-propagation neural network (BPNN) and partial least squares (PLS) were also attempted to build QSAR models. The BRNN provided slightly better results for the test set compared to BPNN, but the difference was not significant according to F-statistic at p = 0.05. The PLS failed to build a reliable model in the present study. Our study indicates that the BRNN-based in silico model has good potential in facilitating the prediction of P-gp flavonoid inhibitors and might be applied in further drug design.

Screening and analysis of bioactive compounds with biofingerprinting chromatogram analysis of traditional Chinese medicines targeting DNA by microdialysis/HPLC

Biofingerprinting chromatogram, analysis, which is defined as the comparison of fingerprinting chromatograms of the extract of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) before and after the interaction with biological systems (DNA, protein. cell. etc.), was proposed for screening and analysis of the multiple bioactive compounds in TCMs. A method of microdialysis sampling combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to the study of DNA-binding property for the extracts of TCMs. Seven compounds were found to bind to calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) from the TCMs of Coptis chinensis Franch (Coptis), but only three ones from Phellodendron amurense Rupr. (Phellodendron) and none from Sophoraflavescens Ait. (Sophora) to bind to ct-DNA. respectively. Three of them were identified as berberine, palmatine and jatrorrhizine and their association constants (K) to ct-DNA were determined by microdialysis/HPLC. Competitive binding behaviors of them to ct-DNA were also investigated. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Clinical significance and prognostic value of urinary nucleosides in breast cancer patients

Objective: Thirteen urinary nucleosides, primarily degradation products of tRNA, were evaluated as potential tumor markers for breast cancer patients.

Anthropometry of the Breast Region: How to Measure?

Breast region measurements are important for research, but they may also become significant in the legal field as a quantitative tool for preoperative and postoperative evaluation. Direct anthropometric measurements can be taken in clinical practice. the aim of this study was to compare direct breast anthropometric measurements taken with a tape measure and a compass.Forty women, aged 18-60 years, were evaluated. They had 14 anatomical landmarks marked on the breast region and arms. the union of these points formed eight linear segments and one angle for each side of the body. the volunteers were evaluated by direct anthropometry in a standardized way, using a tape measure and a compass.Differences were found between the tape measure and the compass measurements for all segments analyzed (p > 0.05).Measurements obtained by tape measure and compass are not identical. Therefore, once the measurement tool is chosen, it should be used for the pre- and postoperative measurements in a standardized way.This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. for a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Accelerated partial irradiation for breast cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis of 8653 women in eight randomized trials

Background and purpose: Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is the strategy that allows adjuvant treatment delivery in a shorter period of time in smaller volumes. This study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness and outcomes of APBI in breast cancer compared with whole-breast irradiation (WBI). Material and methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of WBI versus APBI. Two authors independently selected and assessed the studies regarding eligibility criteria. Results: Eight studies were selected. A total of 8653 patients were randomly assigned for WBI versus APBI. Six studies reported local recurrence outcomes. Two studies were matched in 5 years and only one study for different time of follow-up. Meta-analysis of two trials assessing 1407 participants showed significant difference in the WBI versus APBI group regarding the 5-year local recurrence rate (HR = 4.54, 95% CI: 1.78-11.61, p = 0.002). Significant difference in favor of WBI for different follow-up times was also found. No differences in nodal recurrence, systemic recurrence, overall survival and mortality rates were observed. Conclusions: APBI is associated with higher local recurrence compared to WBI without compromising other clinical outcomes. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Measurement Issues in the Application of Screening Tools for PTSD.

Psychometrics is a term within the statistical literature that encompasses the development and evaluation of psychological tests and measures, an area of increasing importance within applied psychology specifically and behavioral sciences. Confusion continues to exist regarding the fundamental tenets of psychometric evaluation and application of the appropriate statistical tests and procedures. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the main psychometric elements which need to be considered in both the development and evaluation of an instrument or tool used within the context of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The psychometric profile of a tool should also be considered in established tools used in screening PTSD. A “standard” for the application and reporting of psychometric data and approaches is emphasized, the goal of which is to ensure that the key psychometric parameters are considered in relation to the selection and use of PTSD screening tools.