FAM3C activates Akt to promote viability of oral squamous-cell carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the expression and roles of family with sequence similarity 3, member C (FAM3C) in oral squamous-cell carcinoma cells. METHODS: The mRNA and protein expression levels of FAM3C in dysplastic oral keratinocyte (DOK) and oral squamous-cell carcinoma WSU-HN6 cells were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The WSU-HN6 cells were treated with siFAM3C or FAM3C antibody. After 24, 48 and 72 h, the viability of WSU-HN6 cells was measured by CCK-8 assay, and the activation of protein kinase B (Akt) was detected by Western blot. Adenovirus was used to mediate over-expression of FAM3C in the DOK cells. The DOK cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay after adenovirus infection for 24, 48 and 72 h, and the activation of Akt was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the DOK cells, the mRNA and protein levels of FAM3C were significantly increased in the WSU-HN6 cells (P<0.05). The viability of WSU-HN6 cells transfected with siFAM3C was significantly inhibited at 48 h and 72 h (P<0.05). siFAM3C treatment inhibited the activation of Akt (P<0.05). FAM3C antibody treatment also suppressed the viability of the WSU-HN6 cells at 48 h and 72 h and the activation of Akt (P<0.05). Over-expression of FAM3C in the DOK cells promoted the cell viability at 48 h and 72 h and activated Akt (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: FAM3C might promote oral squamous-cell carcinoma cell growth by activating Akt.     

Chemical composition and anti-Candida potencial of the extracts of Tarenaya spinosa (Jacq.) Raf. (Cleomaceae)

Phytochemical prospecting was performed by HPLC-DAD. The Inhibitory Concentration of 50% of mortality the microorganisms (IC₅₀) was determined and a cell viability curve was obtained. Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) was determined by subculture in Sabourad Dextrose Agar. The effect of the combination extract/fluconazole was verified by microdilution, with the extracts in subinhibitory concentrations (MFC/16). Caffeic acid was the major compound of both extracts, representing 6.08% in the aqueous extract and 7.62% in the ethanolic extract. The extracts showed a fungistatic effect (MFC ≥ 16,384 μg/mL). The IC₅₀ results demonstrated that the combination of the extracts with fluconazole were more significant than the products tested alone, with values from 4.9 to 34.8 μg/mL for the ethanolic extract/fluconazole and 5 to 84.7 μg/mL for the aqueous extract/fluconazole. The potentiating effect of fluconazole action was observed against C. albicans and C. tropicalis. In C. krusei the aqueous extract had an antagonistic effect.     

合欢磁牡口服液提取工艺研究△

为探究不同的提取条件对合欢磁牡口服液质量的影响,以确定最佳的提取工艺。通过不同的提取工艺、浓缩工艺及提取工艺验证试验处理后,检测合欢磁牡口服液中(-)-丁香树脂酚-4-O-β-D-呋喃芹糖基-(1→2)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(C_(33)H_(44)O_(17))的含量。结果显示,煎煮次数C对提取工艺有显著影响(P0.01);煎煮时间B和加水量A对提取工艺无显著影响(P0.05);不同的浓缩温度对合欢磁牡口服液含量无显著影响(P0.05),采用本试验确定的最佳工艺提取的合欢磁牡口服液中C_(33)H_(44)O_(17)的转移率平均值为72.37%,RSD为0.83%。因此,确定的最佳提取生产工艺为8倍量水,提取3次,每次煮沸1 h。     

In Vitro Evaluation of the Effects of Selected Plants on the Growth of the Mycelial Form of Histoplasma capsulatum Variety farciminosum in Ethiopia

Epizootic lymphangitis is prevalent in equines in Ethiopia, causing remarkable economic and welfare impacts but often neglected. Lack of effective treatment contributed to its continued occurrence, and hence, search for an effective treatment should be considered a priority area to minimize its impacts. Previous ethnobotanical studies have reported that Curcuma longa, Phytolacca dodecandra, and Datura stramonium were used to treat cutaneous fungal infections and reduce their incidence. The treatment effects of these plants against epizootic lymphangitis should be studied. The in vitro growth inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of the root of C. longa, berry of P. dodecandra, and leaf of D. stramonium were evaluated. Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum was isolated from clinical cases of epizootic lymphangitis in carthorses in central Ethiopia. The nested polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm the identity of the isolates. Serial twofold dilutions of the extract of berries of P. dodecandra and leaves of D. stramonium were done in sterile water, whereas dilution of the extract of roots of C. longa was done in dimethylsulphoxide. The effects of the plants on the growth of Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum were assessed by agar dilution assay. Culture media with no antifungal agent and media containing ketoconazole served as negative and positive control, respectively. The methanol extract of C. longa showed inhibitory effects at concentrations ranging from 0.07 to 5 mg/mL. Similarly, the methanol extract of P. dodecandra showed growth inhibitory effects at concentrations ranging from 0.156 to 5 mg/mL. That is, the growth inhibitory concentration of C. longa was 0.07 mg/mL, whereas that of P. dodecandra was 0.156 mg/mL. In contrast, D. stramonium showed no inhibitory effect. This preliminary observation showed that methanol extracts of C. longa and P. dodecandra showed inhibitory effects on the growth of Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum requiring further repeated in vitro evaluation so as to generate adequate evidence, which would justify in vivo trials.     

Effects of germination and kilning on the phenolic compounds and nutritional properties of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus)

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus) are nutritious pseudocereals that originate from the Andean region. The aim of this research was to study the effect of germination and the subsequent kilning on the phenolic compounds and proximate composition in selected Peruvian varieties of quinoa (“Chullpi”) and kiwicha (“Oscar Blanco”). The germination process was carried out for 24, 48 and 72 h at 22 °C, and the kilning was performed with samples germinated for 72 h by drying the seeds at 90 °C for 5 min. Both processes increased the protein content of the samples. However, lipid content was reduced during germination. On the other hand, germination and kilning clearly increased the concentration of total phenolic compounds in both quinoa and kiwicha. Germination for 72 h either with or without kilning process resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the total content of phenolics compared to untreated materials, which was especially due to coumaric acid and a kaempferol tri-glycoside in quinoa and caffeoylquinic acid in kiwicha. Based on the results, germination and kilning may improve the nutritional quality of the Andean grains, encouraging the usage of the processed grains as ingredients in functional products for people with special gluten-free or vegetarian diets.     

Recent progress in analytical method development to ensure the safety of gluten-free foods for celiac disease patients

As laid down by the Codex Alimentarius, products bearing a gluten-free label must not contain gluten levels above 20 mg/kg to be safe for consumption by celiac disease patients. Analytical methods to detect gluten from wheat, rye and barley need to be sufficiently sensitive, specific, suitable for routine analyses and validated by collaborative studies. With continuous progress in the field of gluten analysis, the aim of this paper is to provide an up-to-date overview of legislation regarding gluten-free products worldwide, as well as immunochemical, proteomics-based, genomics-based and other methods designed to analyse gluten traces. While ELISA test kits and PCR are still most widely used in quality control, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is gaining more and more importance by providing unprecedented insights into gluten. Several other methods such as immunosensors, other sensors and microarrays are being developed. The pro's and con's of the different methods are discussed as well as the remaining challenges, including the need for improved extraction procedures, comprehensive reference materials and independent reference methods.     

一种新型气液分离器的设计

在食品发酵行业中压缩空气脱水不足会造成发酵染菌,同时发酵罐的发酵液随尾气排出罐体时,会造成生产产量降低及造成空气二次污染,加大发酵染菌机率,导致停产。针对行业需求,本文介绍了一种新型气液分离器,该设备与同类产品相比有较高的分离效率。      

不同产地西洋参氨基酸种类及含量分析

为研究不同种植区西洋参氨基酸的含量和品质，按食品安全国家标准GB/T5009.124-2016，对加拿大多伦多市、陕西省留坝县、吉林省抚松县、山东省文登市来源的4 a生西洋参进行氨基酸种类和含量测定及对比分析。各产地西洋参均检测出17种氨基酸，其中含有人体必需的赖氨酸、蛋氨酸、异亮氨酸、苯丙氨酸、亮氨酸、苏氨酸、缬氨酸和半必需氨基酸精氨酸；含有蛋氨酸、亮氨酸、异亮氨酸、苯丙氨酸、赖氨酸、天冬氨酸、甘氨酸、谷氨酸和精氨酸等8种药用氨基酸。人体必需氨基酸及药用氨基酸含量对比分析结果表明，加拿大多伦多市来源西洋参的这两类氨基酸含量最高，分别为46.20 mg/g 和61.93 mg/g，占总氨基酸含量的 54.0%和72.3%，其次是陕西省留坝县来源的西洋参，分别为45.70 mg/g和61.63 mg/g，占总氨基酸含量的51.9%和70.0%。主成分分析及综合评价结果表明，从氨基酸含量及营养均衡性角度来看，陕西省留坝县西洋参是最接近原产地加拿大的西洋参。     

光照对药用植物有效成分含量的影响

概述了近10a来光照条件与药用植物有效成分之间关系的研究进展。     

湖南小溪国家级自然保护区野生药用植物资源研究

对小溪国家级自然保护区的野生药用植物资源进行了初步调查。结果表明，小溪自然保护区有野生药用植物200科685属1420种。在介绍了88个科106种重要的药用植物药用部位和药用功能的基础上，就如何开发利用和保护药用植物资源提出了建议。