Synergistic antitumor effects and mechanism of apigenin and tanshinone ⅡA / 中草药

Objective: To evaluate the synergistic anticancer effects of the combination of apigenin (Api) and tanshinone Ⅱ A (Tan IIA), and investigate the mechanisms of pharmacological effects and their potential applications as an anticancer therapy in clinics. Methods: MTT assay were used to determine anticancer effects of the combination of Api and Tan ⅡA on BGC823, MCF7, and SMMC7721 cells. AV-PI dual stain and PI staining method were used for detecting the effect of the two drugs combination on BGC823 cell apoptosis and cell cycle. Expression of p53, BAX/BCL-2, cyclin B1 and D1 proteins were determined by Western blotting. Circular dichroism method and DNA melting point method were explored to detect interaction among the two drugs and DNA. S180 tumor xenograft mice model was used to evaluate the antitumor effects of the two drugs combination. Results: Tan IIA combined with Api exerted synergistic inhibitory effects on the proliferation of BGC823 and other tumor cells with the CI of 0.28. After tumor cell treated by combination of Tan IIA and Api, the tumor cell apoptosis was significantly enhanced and the value of BAX/BCL-2 in cells was up-regulated (P < 0.01); The levels of cyclin B1, D1 protein were changed and cell cycle arrest was increased which mainly blocked in S phase. The interaction among the two drugs and DNA was in two different ways, leading to the curves of thermal denaturation of DNA changed significantly. Furthermore, the combination of Tan IIA and Api showed a stronger inhibitory effect on tumor volume and weight in S180 mice model than monotherapy, which was similar to cyclophosphamide therapy but less side effects. Conclusion Tan IIA combined with Api exerted synergistic antitumor effects. The two drugs interacted with DNA in different ways and aggravated the cell cycle arrest, which were the key mechanisms of their synergistic antitumor effects.

Risk factors of hypertensive disorders among Chinese pregnant women / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The prevalence of hypertensive disorders in China was much higher than that in the United States. Considering the large population with wide geographic area of China, we aimed to add more information regarding the risk factors for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. A case-control study was performed on 373 hypertensive cases and 507 normotensive controls. Participants were recruited from 2008 to 2014 in Yichang Maternal and Child Health Care Center in Hubei province and Anyang Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in Henan province, China. Socio-demographic factors, family- related factors, pregnancy-associated factors, factors related to daily life behaviors and psychosocial factors were investigated with respect to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy through well-designed questionnaire. Chi-square test, t-test, univariate logistic regression analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to find the possible risk factors behind hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. The results showed that family history of cardiovascular diseases (OR=6.18, 95% CI, 2.37 to 16.14), history of pregnancy-induced hypertension (OR=16.64, 95% CI, 5.74 to 48.22), low maternal educational level (OR=2.81, 95% CI, 1.30 to 6.04), and poor relationship with their parents-in-law (OR=3.44, 95% CI, 1.55 to 7.59) had statistically significant associations with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy through multivariate logistic regression analysis. Increased maternal age, increased pre-pregnancy body mass index, living in rural area, low paternal education level, family history of hypertension, passive smoking one year before and/or in pregnancy, and poor sleeping quality were significantly associated with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy from univariate logistic regression analysis while the associations became uncertain when they were entered for multivariate logistic regression analysis. It was concluded that family history of cardiovascular diseases, history of pregnancy-induced hypertension, low maternal educational level, and poor relationship with their parents-in-law were independent risk factors for hypertensive disorders among Chinese pregnant women.

Research on metrological verification and the development of the verification equipment for digital electrocardiographs / 中国医疗器械杂志

In order to guarantee that digital electrocardiographs with an adequate accuracy and reliabity are available for measurements in clinical practice, it is very important to determine the metrological characteristics, methods and to develop the equipments for verification. This paper elaborates the basic functions, specification, schematic drawing and key techniques of calibration equipments as well as test items for digital electrocardiographs.