Molecular mechanisms of ampelopsin from Ampelopsis megalophylla induces apoptosis in HeLa cells

Ampelopsin (AMP) is an active ingredient of flavonoid compounds that is extracted from Ampelopsis megalophylla Diels et Gilg. The present study aimed at investigating the antitumor activities of AMP and the possible underlying molecular mechanisms in HeLa cells. A total of three types of tumor cell were selected to screen antitumor activities for AMP using the MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell apoptotic proportion and the cell cycle. Rhodamine 123 staining was used to determine changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Western blot analysis was used to determine the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins. The results of the present study demonstrated that AMP may inhibit the viability of HeLa cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Changes in morphology were observed using fluorescence microscopy. In addition, Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide (PI) double staining revealed that AMP induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner and PI staining indicated that HeLa cells were arrested in S phase. Furthermore, western blot analysis demonstrated that AMP treatment induced apoptosis through activation of caspases 9 and 3, which was validated by the increasing ratio of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein to Bcl-2. Additionally, the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and the release of cytochrome c suggested that AMP-induced apoptosis was associated with the mitochondrial pathway. Taken together, these results indicate that AMP may induce apoptosis via the mitochondrial signaling pathway in HeLa cells.

MiR-155 regulates oral squamous cell carcinoma Tca8113 cell proliferation, cycle, and apoptosis via regulating p27Kip1

OBJECTIVE

P27Kip1 is the one of the negative regulators of the cell cycle that plays an important role in regulating cell cycle and inhibiting cell proliferation by restraining cell in G1 phase. P27Kip1 downregulation maybe related to the occurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). It was found that miR-155 significantly upregulated in OSCC tissue. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-155 may bind with the 3'-UTR of p27Kip1. This study investigated the role of miR-155 in regulating p27Kip1 and affecting Tca8113 cell proliferation, cycle, and apoptosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 46 cases of OSCC patients received treatment in our hospital were enrolled to obtain tumor tissue. Another 25 normal oral mucosa samples were selected as control to detect the relationship between miR-155 and p27Kip1 expressions. Dual luciferase assay was adopted to confirm the targeted relationship between miR-155 and p27Kip1. Flow cytometry was applied to test cell apoptosis and cell cycle. CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate cell proliferation. Caspase-3 activity was detected by spectrophotometry.

RESULTS

MiR-155 upregulated, while p27Kip1 declined in OSCC tissue compared with normal oral mucosa. Their expressions were related to TNM stage. MiR-155 targeted suppressed p27Kip1 expression. MiR-155 mimic and/or pEGFP-p27Kip1 transfection obviously declined p27Kip1 expression, blocked cell cycle in G1 phase, reduced cell proliferation, enhanced Caspase-3 activity, and increased cell apoptosis in Tca8113 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-155 increased, while p27Kip1 reduced in OSCC tissue. Inhibition of miR-155 upregulated p27Kip1 expression, blocked cell cycle in G1 phase, weakened cell proliferation, and induced cell apoptosis.

Anticorrosive superhydrophobic polystyrene-coated mesh for continuous oil spill clean-up

An anti-corrosive superhydrophobic box wrapped with a polystyrene-coated mesh can continuously remove oil spills from the seawater surface.

[Direct anterior approach versus posterolateral approach for total hip arthroplasty in the lateral decubitus position]

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of the direct anterior approach (DAA) and the posterolateral approach (PLA) for total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the lateral decubitus position. Methods: From July to December, 2014, 104 patients randomly divided into two equal groups of the DAA group and the PLA group underwent unilateral primary THA procedures.All procedures were performed by the same surgeon in the Department of Orthopaedics, the Affiliated Anhui Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University.General data, perioperative index, postoperative function and radiological evaluation were recorded and statistically analyzed. Results: The patients had an average follow-up of 14 (range, 10-16) months.No significant differences were detected with respect to the operation time, incision length, preoperative Hb concentration and transfusion rate between two groups (P> 0.05 for all comparisons). However, there were significant differences associated with the intraoperative bleeding, postoperative drainage and postoperative Hb concentration in the two groups(P<0.05 for all comparisons). The DAA group showed significant superior outcomes compared with the PLA group in the Harris hip scores [(83.6±7.1) vs (79.8±6.6), P<0.05], WOMAC[ (28.9±6.1) vs (36.1±6.9), P<0.001], and VAS pain scores[ (2.2±0.9) vs (2.9±1.1), P<0.05]at 1 month after surgery. No differences were seen between the study groups in the evaluation of radiography and the incidence of adverse event (P> 0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusions: Compared with the posterolateral approach, the present study shows the exciting results in patients underwent the DAA THA in the lateral decubitus position at early follow-up.The advantages of THA using the DAA include less operative trauma, alleviation of postoperative pain, and faster postoperative rehabilitation. It is a safe, reliable and effective surgery approach.