Key factors influencing the TCM nomenclature in international standards.

Amid the globalization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the English translation of related texts is in full swing. Several representative international organizations in fields regarding standardization and healthcare, one after another, have published a series of international standards for TCM nomenclature. With these efforts, the internationalization of TCM has been dramatically advanced. When selecting parallel texts for reference, translators need to be aware of key factors influencing the English translation of TCM terms in international standards, including the distinctive characteristics of this discipline and relevant influences of international standard makers. In this way, proper standards and reasonable English expression can be chosen for specific terms, thus stimulating the effective use of TCM nomenclature with consensus.

STAT3 signaling statuses determine the fate of resveratrol-treated anaplastic thyroid cancer cells.

BACKGROUNDS: Anaplastic thyroid cancer/ATC is highly lethal malignancy without reliable chemotherapeutic drug. Resveratrol possesses anti-ATC activities but encounters resistance in some cases due to certain unknown reason(s). OBJECTIVE: Because signal transducer and activator of transcription/STAT3 signaling is critical for ATC cell survival and the main molecular target of resveratrol, its roles in determining the fates of resveratrol-treated ATC cells were investigated here. METHODS: Human THJ-11T, THJ-16 and THJ-21T ATC cell lines were treated by 100 µM resveratrol and their growth, statuses of STAT3 signaling and STAT3-related gene expression were examined. The relevance of STAT3 activation with resveratrol resistance was elucidated using STAT selective inhibitor AG490. Leukemia inhibitory factor/LIF expression and phosphorylated-STAT3/p-STAT3 nuclear translocation in ATC tissues were immunohistochemically analyzed. RESULTS: Resveratrol inhibited proliferation, p-STAT3 nuclear translocation as well as LIF and STAT3 expression of THJ-16T and THJ-21T but not THJ-21T cells which showed LIF upregulation and more frequent p-STAT3 nuclear translocation. AG490 significantly prevent p-STAT3 nuclear translocation, and reversed the resveratrol tolerance of THJ-11T cells. Immonohistochemical staining revealed 14.3% (4/28) of LIF and 3.6% (1/28) of p-STAT3 detection in noncancerous ATC-surrounding tissues, which increased to 89.5% (17/19) and 52.6% (10/19) respectively among ATC specimens. The correlative analysis indicated the relevance of LIF expression and STAT3 activation (r= 0.825; P< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The status of STAT3 activation and LIF expression are closely correlated with the therapeutic effect of resveratrol on ATCs. Frequent LIF upregulation and STAT3 activation are the unfavorable factors of ATCs and the potential targets of anti-ATC therapy.

Resveratrol Suppresses the Growth and Enhances Retinoic Acid Sensitivity of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Cells.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a highly lethal undifferentiated malignancy without reliable therapies. Retinoic acid (RA) has been employed to promote redifferentiation of thyroid cancers by increasing their I131 uptake and radio-sensitivity, but its effect(s) on ATCs has not yet been ascertained. Likewise, resveratrol induces cancer redifferentiation but, also in this case, its effects on ATCs remain unknown. These issues have been addresses in the current study using three human ATC cell lines (THJ-11T, THJ-16T, and THJ-21T) through multiple experimental approaches. The results reveal that RA exerts a small inhibitory effect on these cell lines. In comparison with normally cultured cells, the total cell number in resveratrol-treated THJ-16T and THJ-21T cultures significantly decreased (p < 0.05), and this effect was accompanied by reduced Cyclin D1 immuno-labeling, increased apoptotic fractions, and distinct caspase-3 activation. Resveratrol failed to inhibit growth but enhanced RA sensitivity of THJ-11T cells, suppressed peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-ß/δ (PPAR-ß/δ), and upregulated cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 2 (CRABP2) and retinoic acid receptor beta (RAR-ß) expression. Increased thyroglobulin (Tg) and E-cadherin levels and appearance of membranous E-cadherin were evidenced in resveratrol-treated THJ-11T cells. Our results demonstrate for the first time: (1) the therapeutic value of resveratrol by itself or in combination with RA in the management of ATCs, (2) the capacity of resveratrol to overcome RA resistance in ATC cells by reprogramming CRABP2/RAR- and fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5)/PPAR-ß/δ-mediated RA signaling, and (3) the redifferentiating potential of resveratrol in ATC cells.

Polymer/Ordered mesoporous carbon nanocomposite platelets as superior sensing materials for gas detection with surface acoustic wave devices.

We have prepared nanocomposites of polymers and platelet CMK-5-like carbon and have demonstrated their superior performance for gravimetric gas detection. The zirconium-containing platelet SBA-15 was used as hard template to prepare CMK-5-like carbon, which was then applied as a lightweight and high-surface-area scaffold for the growth of polymers by radical polymerization. Mesoporous nanocomposites composed of four different polymers were used as sensing materials for surface acoustic wave devices to detect ppm-level ammonia gas. The sensors showed much better sensitivity and reversibility than those coated with dense polymer films, and the sensor array could still generate a characteristic pattern for the analyte with a concentration of 16 ppm. The results show that the nanocomposite sensing materials are promising for highly sensitive gravimetric-type electronic nose applications.