Aqueous Extract of Terminalia chebula Induces Apoptosis in Lung Cancer Cells Via a Mechanism Involving Mitochondria-mediated Pathways

The current study was designed to evaluate the aqueous extract of Terminalia chebula activity, and the main pathway was detected on lung cancer by extracts of T. chebula. Aqueous extract of T. chebula was separated using a zeolite, and five fractions of T. chebula extract were obtained and analyzed by ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Antiproliferative activity was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) methods against human lung cancer (A549) and mouse lung cancer cell line LLC. T. chebula acts by regulating the Bcl-2 family protein-mediated mitochondrial pathway detected by western blot. Fraction 4 of the T. chebula extract showed much function and was thus studied further. Fraction 4 increased the activation of caspase-3, induced PARP cleavage, and promoted cytochrome c release into the cytoplasm. These data suggest that T. chebula acts by regulating the Bcl-2 family protein-mediated mitochondrial pathway and provide evidence that T. chebula deserves further investigation as a natural agent for treating and preventing cancer.

Wave Intensity Analysis of Carotid Artery: A Noninvasive Technique for Assessing Hemodynamic Changes of Hyperthyroid Patients / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

This study examined the wave intensity (WI) of the carotid artery in patients with hyperthyroid in order to assess the hemodynamic changes of hyperthyroid patients. A total of 86 hyperthyroid patients without cardiac morphological changes and arrhythmia, and 80 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. Right common carotid artery (RCCA) was selected for ultrasonic imaging to obtain WI indices, including amplitude of the peak during early systole (W1), amplitude of the peak during late systole (W2), area of the negative wave during mid-systole (NA), interval between R wave of electrocardiogram and W1 (R-1 st), interval between W1 and W2 (1 st-2nd). The levels of serum thyroid hormones, consisting of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxin (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), were measured in hyperthyroid patients. Echocardiographic indices including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS) were determined in each subject. The results showed that the WI, W2, NA, and (lst-2nd×HR) in hyperthyroid patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. There was no significant difference in LVEF and LVFS between the two groups. FT3 was correlated with WI, W2, NA,(lst-2nd×HR), pulse pressure (PP) and heart rate (HR) in hyperthyroid patients. Several abnormal waves on WI curves were present in 19 hyperthyroid patients during mid-systole. It was concluded that WI technique may prove a real-time, noninvasive, sensitive and convenient tool for assessing the cardiac function and hemodynamic alterations in hyperthyroid patients.