The ethanol extract isolated from Weiqi Decoction induces G₂/M arrest and apoptosis in AGS cells / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effects of the ethanol extract isolated from Weiqi Decoction (WQD-EE) on AGS cell proliferation and apoptosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detectors (HPLC-UV) assay and MTT method, the main compounds in WQD-EE and cell viability were detected. And cell cycle distributions were determined by flow cytometry with propidium iodine (PI) staining while apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with annexin V/PI double staining. Finally, caspase-3 activities were measured by colorimetric method and protein expression was determined by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HPLC analysis showed that naringin (35.92 μg/mg), nobiletin (21.98 μg/mg), neohesperidin (17.98 μg/mg) and tangeretin (0.756 μg/mg) may be the main compounds in WQD-EE. WQD-EE not only inhibited AGS and MCF 7 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, but also blocked cell cycle progression at G2/M stage as well as inducing cell apoptosis at concentrations triggering significant inhibition of proliferation and cell cycle arrest in AGS cells. While at 0.5 mg/mL, WQD-EE significantly increased caspase-3 activity by 2.75 and 7.47 times at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. Moreover, WQD-EE in one hand reduced protein expressions of p53 and cyclin B1, and in other hand enhanced protein expressions of cytochrome c and Bax. Protein levels of Bcl-2, Fas L and Fas were not significantly affected by WQD-EE.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>WQD-EE inhibits AGS cell proliferation through G2/M arrest due to down-regulation of cyclin B1 protein expression, and promotes apoptosis by caspase-3 and mitochondria-dependent pathways, but not by p53-dependent pathway.</p>

Effects of taraxerol and taraxeryl acetate on cell cycle and apoptosis of human gastric epithelial cell line AGS / 中西医结合学报

Objective: To investigate the effects of taraxerol and taraxeryl acetate on cell cycle and apoptosis of human gastric epithelial cell line AGS cells. Methods: The inhibitory effects of taraxerol and taraxeryl acetate at different concentrations on AGS cell growth were measured by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and the concentrations of taraxerol and taraxeryl acetate to be used in following experiments were decided. Then, cell cycle analysis was performed by FACScan flow cytometry after culture with taraxerol or taraxeryl acetate. Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining was used to measure cell apoptosis. Results: Taraxerol significantly inhibited AGS cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Taraxerol arrested the AGS cells at G(2)/M stage. 110 μmol/L taraxerol elevated the population of AGS cells arrested in G(2)/M phase compared with solvent (P0.05). Conclusion: Taraxerol has inhibitory effects on AGS cell growth through inducing G(2)/M arrest and promotion of cell apoptosis. Taraxeryl acetate has less effect on cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of AGS cells than taraxerol.

Antiproliferative effects of essential oil of a compound Chinese herbal medicine Weiqi Decoction on AGS cells / 中西医结合学报

Objective: The main ingredients and the inhibitory effects of essential oil of a compound Chinese herbal medicine Weiqi Decoction (WQD) on AGS cell proliferation were to be investigated. Methods: Chemical compounds of WQD essential oil were detected by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Cell viability was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. Apoptosis and necrosis of AGS cells were determined by Hoechst 33342/propidium iodine staining. Results: Chemical analysis showed that the main ingredients of WQD essential oil were bornylene and 3-n-butylphthalide. Ligustilide, which is the effective compound of Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), was not detected in WQD essential oil. The essential oil inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and blocked cell cycle progression at G(2)/M stage. At the concentrations that resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest, essential oil induced both apoptosis and necrosis. Conclusion: The results suggest that WQD essential oil contains some effective ingredients for treating chronic atrophic gastritis and functional dyspepsia, and also has an antiproliferative effect on AGS cells through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis promotion in vitro. Therefore, essential oil should be retained as much as possible during stewing this decoction.

Preliminary construction of three-dimensional visual educational system for clinical dentistry based on world wide web webpage / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a new visual educational system of virtual reality for clinical dentistry based on world wide web (WWW) webpage in order to provide more three-dimensional multimedia resources to dental students and an online three-dimensional consulting system for patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on computer graphics and three-dimensional webpage technologies, the software of 3Dsmax and Webmax were adopted in the system development. In the Windows environment, the architecture of whole system was established step by step, including three-dimensional model construction, three-dimensional scene setup, transplanting three-dimensional scene into webpage, reediting the virtual scene, realization of interactions within the webpage, initial test, and necessary adjustment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Five cases of three-dimensional interactive webpage for clinical dentistry were completed. The three-dimensional interactive webpage could be accessible through web browser on personal computer, and users could interact with the webpage through rotating, panning and zooming the virtual scene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is technically feasible to implement the visual educational system of virtual reality for clinical dentistry based on WWW webpage. Information related to clinical dentistry can be transmitted properly, visually and interactively through three-dimensional webpage.</p>