Inhibition of Glioblastoma Cell Growth In Vitro and In Vivo by Brucine, a Component of Chinese Medicine.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common glial cell tumors and has drawn more and more attention in the clinic in recent years. Brucine has been reported to significantly suppress gastric cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer growth in vivo by inducing cell apoptosis. Here, the effects of brucine on U251 human glioma cell growth were investigated in vitro by cell proliferation assay, FACs, and qPCR in a xenograft tumor model. Treatment with brucine reduced the expression of BCL-2 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), while upregulated BAX expression in U251 human glioma cells resulted in reduced glioma cell survival rate and inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors. We concluded that brucine has a suppressive effect on U251 human glioma cells in vitro and in vivo, which could help in understanding the role of brucine in glioma cells and guiding drug use in the clinic.

64-slice CT angiography in lower extremity peripheral arterial occlusive disease: clinical value of test injection at popliteal arteries / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical value of the test injection at popliteal arteries on 64-slice CTA in lower extremity peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). Methods Twenty-eight patients with PAOD referred for 64-slice CTA were enrolled consecutively in the study. Test injection was performed at bilateral popliteal arteries (the level of knee joints) and the clinic value of the peak value and the time to peak was analyzed. The relationship between the time to peak and the peak value was evaluated with Pearson test. The time to peak was used for programming of the CT angiographic acquisitions with fast scanning mode. The quality of visualization of each arterial segment was determined independently by two radiologists. Results Fifty-four (96%, 54/56) time-attenuation curves were obtained in 28 patients. The wide interindividual variation in the peak value and the time to peak was observed in 52 curves of 26 patients with range of 60-178 HU,21-46 s and an average of (135±28) HU,(31±6) s, respectively. The difference in the peak value and the time to peak between bilateral popliteal arteries was also observed with range of 10-80 HU and an average of (32±18) HU in 19 patients,with range of 1-12 s and an average of (5±3) s in 21 patients. There was negative relationship between the peak value and the time to peak (r=-0.526, P<0.01). The CTA images were of good (598 segments) or medium quality (12 segments) in 99% segments (610/616). Conclusions The test injection at popliteal arteries was useful for 64-slice CTA in the patients with PAOD, as it could accurately specify the delay time of CT angiographic acquisitions.