Juniperus communis extract induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo

Juniperus communis (JCo) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal plant that has been used to treat wounds, fever, swelling, and rheumatism. However, the mechanism underlying the anticancer effect of JCo extract on colorectal cancer (CRC) has not yet been elucidated. This study investigated the anticancer effects of JCo extract in vitro and in vivo as well as the precise molecular mechanisms. Cell viability was evaluated using the MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution was examined by flow cytometry analysis, and cell apoptosis was determined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Protein expression was analyzed using western blotting. The in vivo activity of the JCo extract was evaluated using a xenograft BALB/c mouse model. The tumors and organs were examined through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that JCo extract exhibited higher cytotoxicity against CRC cells than against normal cells and showed synergistic effects when combined with 5-fluorouracil. JCo extract induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase via regulation of p53/p21 and CDK4/cyclin D1 and induced cell apoptosis via the extrinsic (FasL/Fas/caspase-8) and intrinsic (Bax/Bcl-2/caspase-9) apoptotic pathways. In vivo studies revealed that JCo extract suppressed tumor growth through the inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis. In addition, there was no obvious change in body weight or histological morphology of normal organs after treatment. JCo extract suppressed CRC progression by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, suggesting the potential application of JCo extract in the treatment of CRC.

Application of Qu single abdominal aorta clamping for bloodless hepatectomy and Pringle hepatectomy in 118 cases of liver tumors / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the results of application of Qu single abdominal aorta clamping for bloodless hepatectomy and Pringle hepatectomy in 118 cases of liver tumors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 118 patients, including 59 patients undergoing Qu single abdominal aorta clamping for bloodless hepatectomy (Group QG) and 59 patients undergone Pringle first hepatic portal clamping hepatectomy (Group PG) since March 2009 in the Ningbo Tumor Hospital and Jiangxi Provincial Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The changes of blood pressure, oxygen saturation, urine volume, intravenous fluid volume, amount of bleeding, time of abdominal aorta (or first hepatic portal) clamping, duration of operation and anesthesia, and other intraoperative indexes of the two groups were compared, and the changes of peritoneal drainage, blood tests, liver functions, etc. before operation and 1, 3, 7, 14 days after the hepatectomy in the two groups were also analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After taking appropriate measures for intraoperative blood pressure control, only small fluctuations of blood pressure, which could be safely adjusted and controlled with stable vital signs, was observed in the group QG. The amount of intraoperative bleeding in the group QG was (96.25 ± 18.45) ml, significantly less than (536.25 ± 35.65) ml in the group PG (P < 0.05). In the group QG, both the duration of operation time [(227.58 ± 28.20) min] and duration of anesthesia [(249.48 ± 31.35) min] were significantly shorter than that [(261.46 ± 32.12) min and (286.58 ± 35.62) min, respectively] in the group PG (both P < 0.05). The postoperative liver dysfunction in the group QG was also milder than that in the group PG (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>For liver tumor patients, Qu single abdominal aorta clamping for bloodless hepatectomy can basically achieve the goal of bloodless hepatectomy. This surgical operation is simple and safe, worthy of recommendation to skillful liver surgeons in hospitals there are some difficulties of blood supply.</p>

Normal skin and hypertrophic scar fibroblasts differentially regulate collagen and fibronectin expression as well as mitochondrial membrane potential in response to basic fibroblast growth factor

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) regulates skin wound healing; however, the underlying mechanism remains to be defined. In the present study, we determined the effects of bFGF on the regulation of cell growth as well as collagen and fibronectin expression in fibroblasts from normal human skin and from hypertrophic scars. We then explored the involvement of mitochondria in mediating bFGF-inducedeffects on the fibroblasts. We isolated and cultivated normal and hypertrophic scar fibroblasts from tissue biopsies of patients who underwent plastic surgery for repairing hypertrophic scars. The fibroblasts were then treated with different concentrations of bFGF (ranging from 0.1 to 1000 ng/mL). The growth of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts became slower with selective inhibition of type I collagen production after exposure to bFGF. However, type III collagen expression was affected in both normal and hypertrophic scar fibroblasts. Moreover, fibronectin expression in the normal fibroblasts was up-regulated after bFGF treatment. bFGF (1000 ng/mL) also induced mitochondrial depolarization in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (P < 0.01). The cellular ATP level decreased in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (P < 0.05), while it increased in the normal fibroblasts following treatment with bFGF (P < 0.01). These data suggest that bFGF has differential effects and mechanisms on fibroblasts of the normal skin and hypertrophic scars, indicating that bFGF may play a role in the early phase of skin wound healing and post-burn scar formation.

Reproducibility of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire in Chaoshan area, China.

OBJECTIVE: To examine reproducibility of assessed intake of foods and nutrients according to a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQFFQ) in adult doctors and nurses residing in Chaoshan area of China. SUBJECTS: The SQFFQ was administered first in October to December of 2004 to 120 adult doctors and nurses living in Chaoshan area of China and was then re-administered to 102 three months later between January and March of 2005 (SQFFQ 1 and SQFFQ 2). METHODS: Reproducibility was evaluated in terms of consumption of 10 food groups and energy and 34 macro- and micro-nutrients based on the SQFFQ from the 102 doctors and nurses. RESULTS: For intake of foods, Pearsom's correlation coefficients (CCs) with log-transformation and energy adjustment (minimum - median - maximum) range from 0.43 (eggs) - 0.84 - 0.90 (teas). Spearman's rank CCs with energy adjustment ranged from 0.77 (cereals) - 0.84 - 0.94 (milks). Kappa statistics with energy adjustment ranged from 0.53 (vegetables) - 0.63 - 0.82 (teas). For consumption of nutrients, Pearson's correlation coefficients (CCs) with log-transformation and energy adjustment (minimum - median - maximum) range from 0.83 (docosahexaenoic acid and oryzanin) - 0.88 - 0.90 (linolenic acid, vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin E, calcium, sodium, selenium and magnesium). Spearman's rank CCs with energy adjustment ranged from 0.81 (oryzanin and vitamin C) - 0.86 - 0.90 (sodium). Kappa statistics with energy adjustment ranged from 0.49 (protein) - 0.60 - 0.77 (sodium). CONCLUSION: Substantially high reproducibility was observed; it is possible to use the tailored, relatively simple, but comprehensive, self-administered SQFFQ to facilitate assessment of the association between lifestyle and health/disease in large-scale epidemiological studies.