Genomic Medicine, Biomarkers, and Health Sciences最新文献

We aim to establish a microfluidic chip device capable for continuous sample separation by integrating a simple and easy-fabrication microweir structure for crossflow filtration in the present study. The proposed microchip device is composed of two major components, including flow channels and microweir structure. Using the injection of the mixed samples with different sizes, the samples can be transported through the flow channel and then be separated by the microweir structure. The microweir structure with a different height can be generated by utilizing a standard lithography and overetching process, so that the gap can be used to be a selective tool to separate the smaller sample. In this study, a 10-μm gap was generated by established a microweir structure with 20 μm in height with a 20-minute etching process. Optimal sample separation efficiency in 82% can be obtained of the sample concentration in 10³ μL⁻¹ by utilizing the proposed design of the microweir structure to separate two groups of beads in different diameters. In conclusion, the proposed chip device can be regarded as an effective tool for clinical application.

A systemic approach was used to identify the possible mechanisms underlying the development of 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-induced resistance on HCT116 colon cancer cells. From microarray analysis, HCT116 high-dose 5FU-resistant subclones showed differential gene expression compared to HCT116-sensitive clones. According to gene ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, the up-regulated genes were related to cell death and lupus erythematosus, respectively. On the other hand, the down-regulated genes were related to cell division or DNA replication. Connectivity map (cMAP) analysis revealed that the molecular drugs, such as antiasthmatic or antiallergy agents that have negative correlations with cMAP score, may have beneficial effect for the resistant subclones. Our findings suggested that the feasibility of cMAP combining microarray gene expression profile may help identify a potential drug that possibly will reverse the effect of 5FU-induced resistance.

The formation of N-(2-hydroxyethyl) valine (HEV) in hemoglobin has been considered as a biologically effective dose for exposures to ethylene oxide (EO). In this study, 148 volunteers with no EO exposure history and 76 EO-exposed hospital sterilization workers in Taiwan were recruited, 10 ml of blood was collected, and background information was gathered using questionnaires from each study subject. HEV was processed by following the modified Edman degradation method and quantitated using a gas chirography coupled with mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis shows that the formation of HEV was significantly associated with smoking status and EO exposure.

The purpose of this study was to assess the apoptotic -related gene expression of single-agent oxaliplatin in vitro. Growth inhibition studies were performed using the human cerebral cavernous malformation-1 colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-nt-1 lymphoma cell line. At 50% inhibitory concentrations, oxaliplatin displayed suppressive effects toward Bcl-2 and the surviving expression in human cancer cell lines, whereas the expression of Fas/FasL was completely abolished in peripheral blood cells. Our data showed that oxaliplatin exerts potent antiapoptotic effects in human normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells at the suprapharmacologic concentration, warranting further investigations in the role of autoimmune adverse events while being used in numerous cycles for the treatment of malignancies.

Generally, chemotherapy is effective when the cancer cell is dividing; most drugs trigger cancer cells to undergo apoptosis by attacking the cell’s DNA. In the process of cancer cell apoptosis, cancer cells become more resistant to chemotherapy treatments over time. Since DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) plays an important role in DNA repairing, it is interesting to investigate the relationship between this particular enzyme and the development of multidrug resistance. In this study, we chose the commonly used chemotherapy drug doxorubicin to treat glioblastoma cells (M059k and M059j), and performed 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenykterazolium bromide (MTT) assay and immunofluorescence staining to assess the presence of DNA-PK. The result of MTT assay showed that the concentration of an inhibitor/drug required to reduce the cell viability by half of M059j is 1.75 μm while that of M059k is 0.71 μm after doxorubicin treatment. Comparing the staining result of M059j and M059k, DNA-PK was more detectable in M059k than in M059j. It suggested that further experiments need to be performed to identify and characterize the proteins that are important for signal transduction pathways that actually link DNA-PK with doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity as well as those that are drug resistant.

The internal transcribed spacer (ITS), located between the 18S and 26S nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences, has a high degree of variation. Analysis of ITS sequences is commonly used to identify the authenticity of Chinese herbal medicines. The aim of this study is to analyze ITS sequences of Angelica from different habitats to find out whether there are differences in sequence. Angelicas from three habitats were used in this study, including Taiwan, Sichuan Province (China), and Gansu Province (China). DNA was extracted from Angelicas, and ITS sequences were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. The results showed that the similarity of ITS-1 and ITS-2 rDNA sequences in Angelicas produced in Gansu and Sichuan Provinces is up to 100%, and that produced in Taiwan and Sichuan Province is 88% and 87%, respectively. Therefore, we could use PCR and ITS sequencing analysis to identify whether these Angelicas were the same strain, in order to determine their worthiness and authenticity in terms of traditional Chinese medicine.

This study investigated the hepatoprotective activity of the polyherbal formulation Livshis in CCl₄-induced hepatotoxic male albino rats, and included an assessment of the toxicity of the formulation. Male Wistar albino rats (140 ± 10 g) were divided into five groups (n = 6). Liver necrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl₄ (1 mL/kg body weight, 50% v/v with olive oil). Antioxidant enzyme activities, such as lipid peroxidation, and liver function test biosensors were assessed. Hematological and renotoxicity markers were evaluated to assess the general toxicity of the formulation. For acute toxicity evaluation of Livshis, the formulation was administered orally at doses ranging from 25 to 3200 mg/kg body weight. Hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities diminished significantly, and hepatic lipid peroxidation rates were elevated in CCl₄-treated animals that were pretreated with distilled water (Group II). The activities of serum toxicity marker enzymes and serum liver function test biosensors increased significantly in Group II animals, whereas these biosensors were significantly protected in Livshis pretreated, CCl₄-treated animals. Group V animals, treated with Livshis alone, did not exhibit any significant variation in levels of hematological and renotoxicity markers compared to controls. In an acute toxicity study, there were no toxic symptoms up to the dose level of 3200 mg/kg body weight. We conclude that Livshis is safe for long-term treatment for hepatic protection at doses of 50 mg/kg body weight.

The present study examined the effect of sex-pair on birthweight of twins. The birthweight and sex-pairs of 104 live-born full-term twin pairs were recorded and analyzed. The mean birthweight and the mean birthweight sum of a different-sex twin pair were compared with that of a same-sex twin pair. The relative incidence of low birthweight (LBW) and birthweight discordance in the different-sex twin pair and same-sex twin pair were examined. Comparing the mean birthweight of the different-sex twin pair with that of same-sex twin pair, it was 2503 ± 428 g [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2369–2637] versus 2398 ± 442 g (95% CI = 2291–2505), p > 0.05. The overall mean birthweight sum of the different-sex twin pair was 3889 ± 492 g (95% CI = 3679–4099) while, for the same-sex twin pair, it was 3665 ± 512 g (CI = 3493–3837), p > 0.05. The mean birthweight sum for the male-male twin pair was 3903 ± 536 g (95% CI = 3648–4158), while for the female-female twin pair it was 3426 ± 560 g (95% CI = 3160–3192); p < 0.05. The mean birthweight of female infants in the male-female twin pair was 2081 ± 492 g (95% CI = 1927–2235) compared with 1795 ± 502 g (95% CI = 1635–1955) for female infants in the female-female twin pair; p > 0.05. The figures for the male infants in the male-female pair and the male-male twin pair were 2136 ± 468 g (95% CI = 1989–2283) and 1976 ± 519 g (95% CI = 1804–2148), respectively; p > 0.05. Rate of delivery of LBW twin pairs in all live-born twins were: different-sex, 51.3%; male same-sex, 43.8%; and female same-sex, 75.8%. Of the 59 LBW twin pairs, 20 (33.9%) were different-sex and 39 (66.1%) were same-sex twin pairs. In conclusion, cohabitation in the uterus of twin fetuses of different sexes influenced their intrauterine growth.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential role of an ethanolic extract of the entire plant of Cynodon dactylon in lowering the plasma lipid parameters in rats fed a high cholesterol diet. Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups of six and for 45 days were administered either: 0.5 ml water (negative controls); 30 mg cholesterol (hypercholesterolemic animals); C dactylon extract at 400 mg/kg body weight (positive control); or the same doses of both cholesterol and the extract (test animals). The effects of C dactylon on the lipid profile were assessed by measuring the plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c). Administration of cholesterol showed significant elevation (p < 0.001) of TC, LDL-c, VLDL-c, and TG concentrations, and of the TC:HDL-c ratio (p < 0.05). Concurrent administration of C dactylon extract caused a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in the concentrations of serum TC, LDL, HDL, VLDL TGs when compared with cholesterol fed control rats. The TC:HDL-c ratio was also declined significantly (p < 0.001). These results suggest lipid-lowering effects of C dactylon, which serves as a new potential natural product for preventing hyperlipidemia.

Immunization is the most cost effective weapon for disease prevention in developing countries, and advanced molecular and genetic technologies are making new types of vaccines feasible. Here, the utility of both in vitro and in vivo methods to assess the release pattern of chitosan microspheres containing tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccine were evaluated. TT was stabilized and encapsulated in chitosan (TTCH) with a water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) multiple emulsion method using sucrose as a protein stabilizer. The TTCH prepared was smooth and spherical in shape with a diameter of around 10 μm. The in vitro release efficiency of TTCH was evaluated by differing stabilizer (sucrose) concentration (5%, 7%, 10% and 12% w/v) for a period of 70 days. The antigen release rates from the microspheres were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In these TTCH microspheres, a 10% w/v sucrose concentration gave good sustained antigen delivery for the period of 70 days. Based on the results of in vitro release, the in vivo studies were carried out using alum-adsorbed TT (from the Central Research Institute) as the standard. The antibody level was measured after 6 months, 9 months and finally, with one booster dose, after 12 months. In these in vivo studies, the TTCH antibody level rose up to 3.5 IU/mL of guinea pig serum; this compared with 2 IU/mL of guinea pig serum using the alum-adsorbed TT after 12 months with a second booster dose. The TTCH approach would be helpful to replace the existing adjuvant alum in the future.