Beyond the Antagonism: Self-Labeled Xanthone Inhibitors as Modeled "Two-in-One" Drugs in Cancer Therapy.

Self-labeled inhibitors (SLIs) are promising for creating links, ranging from cancer therapy and metastatic pathways to mechanistic elucidation. In this study, a new category of "two-in-one" fluorescent xanthone inhibitors was developed for the systematic evaluation of anticancer activity and the selective imaging of cytoplasm in vitro. These xanthone inhibitors presented high fluorescent brightness, working over a wide pH range enabled by a "switchable reaction" of the heterocyclic backbone. The strength and nature of fluorescence were probed via spectroscopic methods and density functional theory calculations on the molecular level, respectively. Along with the potent anticancer activity, which was demonstrated using MTT and clonogenic assays with high fluorescent brightness in the cytoplasm, SLI 3fd could be established as a modeled self-monitoring drug in cancer therapy.

Process optimization of preparation of ZnO-porous carbon composite from spent catalysts using one step activation.

The process parameters of one step preparation of ZnO/Activated Carbon (AC) composite materials, from vinyl acetate synthesis spent catalyst were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) and the central composite rotatable design (CCD). Regeneration temperature, time and flow rate of CO2 were the process variables, while the iodine number and the yield were the response variables. All the three process variables were found to significantly influence the yield of the regenerated carbon, while only the regeneration temperature and CO2 flow rate were found to significantly affect the iodine number. The optimized process conditions that maximize the yield and iodine adsorption capacity were identified to be a regeneration temperature of 950 degrees C, time of 120 min and flow rate of CO2 of 600 ml/min, with the corresponding yield and iodine number to be in excess of 50% and 1100 mg/g. The BET surface area of the regenerated composite was estimated to be 1263 m2/g, with micropore to mesopore ratio of 0.75. The pore volume was found to have increased 6 times as compared to the spent catalyst. The composite material (AC/ZnO) with high surface area and pore volume coupled with high yield augur economic feasibility of the process. EDS and XRD spectrum indicate presence of ZnO in the regenerated samples.

[Identification and clonogenicity of side-population cells in human decidua of first trimester pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the existence of side-population cells (SP cells) in human decidual tissues in early pregnancy, and its biological characteristics. METHODS: Decidual cells were obtained by enzymatic digestion from the decidual tissues of human early pregnancy. The cells then were stained with Hoechst33342 dye either alone or in combination with verapamil. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis was used to identify and isolate SP cells. The isolated cells were cultured in conditioned media culture to observe the proliferation and ability to form colony. RESULTS: Stem cells were found in the decidual tissues of early pregnancy with a percentage of 0.78% +/- 0.71% (0% - 3.20%). These cells further proliferated and formed colonies during long-time culture in vitro. No significant statistical difference was found in contents of SP cells among different gestational week (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: SP cells exist in human decidua that can further proliferate and have the clonogenicity in culture in vitro.