Inhibition of tamoxifen's therapeutic effects by emodin in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cell lines.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to investigate the combination effect of endoxifen and emodin on estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer cell lines and to explain the mechanism of the combination effect. METHODS: We conducted this study on MCF-7 (ER+/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 [HER2]-), T47D (ER+/HER2-), ZR-75-1 (ER+/HER2+), and BT474 (ER+/HER2+) cell lines, which confirmed combination effect of endoxifen and emodin. Optimal concentrations for combination were determined to study the effects on proliferation of MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 cells. Analysis of the combination effect was carried out in the CompuSyn software. The combination of downstream mechanisms, and combined effects of other similar compounds were tested on the MCF-7 and ZR 75-1 cell lines. Protein expression was confirmed by western blot. RESULTS: The combination of endoxifen and emodin had antagonistic effects on MCF-7 and ZR-75-1cell lines (combination index > 1). We validated the antagonistic effect in T47D and BT474 cell lines. During the combined treatment, the results showed elevated amounts of cyclin D1 and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK). Analysis of drug interactions showed antagonistic effect between endoxifen and chemical compounds similar to emodin, such as chrysophanol or rhein, in MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 cells. CONCLUSION: Addition of emodin attenuated tamoxifen's treatment effect via cyclin D1 and pERK up-regulation in ER-positive breast cancer cell lines.

Kinetic Study on the Effect of Chromium Addition to Ni-Based Catalysts for the Steam-CO2 Reforming of Methane.

In the present work, the kinetic effects of Ni-based catalysts containing various amounts of Cr on the steam-CO2 reforming (SCR) of methane were studied. Kinetic expressions for the SCR of methane over the Ni-based catalysts have been proposed using the power-law rate expression, based on the kinetic data obtained. In addition, the Arrhenius equation was used for calculating the activation energy. Analysis of the data revealed four simple results. Firstly, the partial pressure of CH4 exerts a major influence on the CH4 conversion rates. Secondly, the CH4 conversion rate is inversely proportional to the partial pressure of CO2. Thirdly, the partial pressure of steam has a very slight effect on the reaction rates. Finally, all the catalysts studied have similar apparent activation energies.

Carbon Deposition Onto Ni-Based Catalysts for Combined Steam/CO2 Reforming of Methane.

The present study was performed to suppress carbon deposition by Ce and Fe onto Ni-based catalysts in combined steam/CO2 reforming of methane (CSCRM), which is a process for producing synthesis gas (H2:CO = 2:1) for gas-to-liquids (GTL). The catalytic reaction was evaluated at 900 degrees C and 20 bar with a reactant feed ratio CH4:CO2:H20:Ar = 1:0.8:1.3:1 and gas hourly space velocity GHSV = 25,000 h(-1). The Ce and Fe modified Ni/gamma-A120, catalyst was characterized by BET surface area analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), H2 temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), H2 chemisorption, CO2 temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and SEM. Ce- and Fe-modified Ni/Al2O3 catalysts exhibited remarkable activity and stability during the CSCRM over the course of 50 hours. It suggested that the Ni(12)-Ce(5)-Fe(5)/Al2O3 catalyst shows highly dispersed Ni particles with strong metal-to-support interaction (SMSI) as well as excellent catalytic activity.

Kinetics for Steam and CO2 Reforming of Methane Over Ni/La/Al2O3 Catalyst.

Kinetic studies of mixed (steam and dry) reforming of methane on Ni/La/Al2O3 and Ni/La-Co (1, 3 wt%)/Al2O3 catalysts were performed in an atmospheric fixed-bed reactor. Kinetic parameters for the mixed reforming over these catalysts were obtained under reaction conditions free from heat and mass transfer limitations. Variables for the mixed reforming were the reaction temperature and partial pressure of reactants. The fitting of the experimental data for the rate of methane conversion, rCH4, using the power law rate equation rCH4 = k(PrCH4)α(PCO2)ß(PH2O)γ showed that the reaction orders α, ß, and γ are steady and obtained values equal to α = 1, ß = 0, and γ = 0. In other words, among CH4, CO2, H2O, and H2, only CH4 reaction orders were not zero and they were affected by the promoters. The apparent activation energy on catalysts Ni/La/Al2O3, Ni/La-Co (1)/Al2O3 and Ni/La-Co (3)/Al2O3 is 85.2, 93.8, and 99.4 kJ/mol, respectively. The addition of Co to Ni/La/Al2O3 was increased the apparent activation energy of the mixed reforming reaction. And the Ni/La-Co (3 wt%)/Al2O3 catalyst showed the highest reforming activity and apparent activation energy. The Co promoters can increase the apparent activation energy of mixed reforming of methane.

Effect of Bimetallic Ni-Cr Catalysts for Steam-CO2 Reforming of Methane at High Pressure.

The present work was to carry out the development of high performance Ni-based catalyst for Steam-CO2 reforming of methane (SCR) which is suitable for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of GTL- FPSO (floating, production, storage and offloading) process. The bimetallic Ni-Cr catalysts were prepared by co-impregnation method. The Ni and Cr loading amount were fixed at 12 wt% and 3~7 wt%, respectively. The catalytic reaction was conducted at 900 °C and 20 bar with reactant feed ratio of CH4:CO2:H2O:Ar = 1:0.8:1.3:1 and GHSV = 25,000 h(-1). The Cr-modified Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was characterized by BET surface area analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), H2-temperature programmed reduction (TPR), H2-chmisorption, CO2-temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and Transmission electron microscopy(TEM). To confirm the amount and type of the carbon deposition, the used catalysts were examined by Thermogravitic analysis (TGA) and Field emission-scanning microscopy/Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (FE-SEM/EDX). It was found that the bimetallic Ni-Cr catalyst exhibits highly dispersed Ni particles with strong metal-to-support interaction (SMSI) as well as excellent catalytic activity, resulting in the suppression of Ni sintering and carbon deposition.