Ming-Tse Lin

Inhibitory effects of xanthohumol from hops (Humulus lupulus L.) on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines

Xanthohumol is one of the main flavonoids in hop extracts and in beer. Very few investigations of xanthohumol have studied hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, the inhibitory effects of xanthohumol on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines were investigated. The IC50 values of xanthohumol for two hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and one normal hepatocyte cell line were 108, 166 and 211 µm, respectively. Normal murine hepatocyte cell line had more resistance to xanthohumol than hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Besides, the inhibitory effects of xanthohumol on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines were attributed to apoptosis as indicated in the results of flow cytometry, fluorescent nuclear staining and electrophoresis of oligonucleosomal DNA fragments. Hop xanthohumol was more efficient in the growth inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines than the flavonoids silibinin and naringin from thistle and citrus. It was shown for the first time that xanthohumol from hops effectively inhibits proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. Copyright

Reaction mechanism of isomaltooligosaccharides synthesis by α-glucosidase fromAspergillus carbonarious

SummaryAn α-glucosidase fromAspergillus carbonarious CCRC 30414 was employed for investigating the enzymatic synthesis of isomaltooligosaccharides from maltose. The enzyme transferred a glucose unit from the nonreducing end of maltose and other α-linked glucosyl oligosaccharides to glucose and other glucosyl oligosaccharides which function as accepting co-substrates. The transfer of a glucose unit occurs most frequently to the 6-OH position of the nonreducing end of acceptor, but transfer to 4-OH position also occurs. Treatment of 30 % (w/v) maltose with the enzyme under optimum conditions afforded more than 50% isomaltooligosaccharides.

Production of GST–SOD fusion protein by recombinant E coli XL1 Blue

A recombinant plasmid was constructed by inserting a DNA fragment with the coding region of Cu/Zn–superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn–SOD) cDNA from sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas (l) Lam cv Tainong 57, into the 3′ end of the open reading frame of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene in an expression vector, pGEX-2T. The constructed plasmid was transformed into E coli XL1 Blue. Fusion proteins of Cu/Zn–SOD and GST (GST–SOD) were produced from the recombinant E coli. About 6 mg of GST–SOD fusion proteins could be obtained from 1 dm3 of cultural broth after induction with 0.075 mmol dm−3 Isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG). Lactose was not an efficient inducer. High cell density culture was performed by fed-batch fermentation using a glucose analyzer to control glucose concentration at 1 g dm−3. The cell density of the fed-batch culture reached an OD600 of 30, the total amount of GST–SOD fusion protein was 100 mg dm−3 which is about 14 times more than that of the batch culture. Most of the fusion proteins were shown to be in an active monomeric form, and the molecular weight was estimated to be 45 kDa by SDS–PAGE and 47 kDa by gel filtration. The specific activity of the purified fusion proteins was about 1200 mg−1 and equal to 3200 unit per mg of SOD domain only. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry

A technology developed from concept of acupuncture and meridian system, the clinical effect of BIOCERAMIC resonance on psychological related sleep disturbance with findings on questionnaire, EEG and fMRI

Under the concept of meridian channels that belongs to traditional Chinese medicine, BIOCERAMIC Resonance (BR) has already been applied to many clinical medical research projects with functions mimicking of traditional acupuncture. Forty-five patients were recruited with chronic sleep disorders; 36 patients were given, applied to the device with BIOCERAMIC material and sound rhythm on chest skin surface; 9 patients were included as controls. All study participants completed a sleep pattern and quality of life questionnaire (assessment on psychological and physical causes of sleep disturbances), which was repeated before, during and after treatment. Electroencephalograph (EEG) recordings were analyzed before, during and after treatment. Functional MRI (fMRI) was also used for demonstration of BR effect for another 8 candidates. During the first 3 days of treatment, sleep quality improved in all 36 patients especially to psychological reasons; in 91.7% (33/36) treatment was associated with an elevation in the beta spectrum of the EEG (at 15–27 Hz). The result of fMRI found corresponding cerebral and cerebellar areas of activation and deactivation. BIOCERAMIC Resonance can improve sleep disorder due to psychological causes, with transient alter brain wave activity and functional activation on specific locations of brain.

UV-induced grafting polymerization of NIPAAm hydrogel and deposit of hydroxyapatites-like films on polymer surface by atmospheric plasma treatment

Surface graft polymerization can induce pure functional groups on surfaces which has a wide range of applications. In this study, helium atmospheric plasma treated (APT) (voltage: 12,00V, gas flow rate 0.4 l/min, glow distance 10mm) polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nonwoven in order to activate the surface. Subsequently UV-induced surface graft polymerization of the temperature sensitive hydrogel N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) on the plasma activated material surface was performed and then deposition of hydroxyapatite (HA: Ca5(OH)(PO4)3) on treated samples were immersed in two separate solutions (Ca2+ and PO43− source) for 30 min in each solution percycle. The results showed that, APT He treated can improved the hydrophilicity on surface. Also could be successfully grafted poly (NIPAAm) gel on the polymer surface and deposit of Hydroxyapatites-like Films on polymer surface.