• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.23
• /
• pp.10495-10500
• /
• 2015

Background: To evaluate the effects of bufalin in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells in vitro and assess the underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Human A549 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells were treated with various concentrations of bufalin. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay, apoptotic cell percentage was calculated by flow cytometry and morphological change was observed by inverted phase contrast microscopy/transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the membrane potential of mitochondria was detected by JC-1 fluorescence microscopy assay, and the related protein expression of cytochrome C and caspase-3 was analyzed by Western blotting. Results: Bufalin could inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells via induction of apoptosis, with the evidence of characteristic morphological changes in the nucleus and mitochondria. Furthermore, bufalin decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential with up-regulation of cytochrome C in the cytosol, and activation of caspase-3. Conclusions: Bufalin inhibits the proliferation of A549 cells and triggers mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, pointing to therapeutic application for NSCLC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.12
• /
• pp.7289-7294
• /
• 2013

We here document discovery of a new and simple model of tumor seeding involving the mouse peritoneum. Irradiated tumor cells administered by i.p. injection provided effective vaccination against peritoneal carcinomatosis and distal metastasis with colorectal carcinomas. In flow cytometric analysis, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which are easy to obtain in the peritoneal cavity, were revealed to have significant differences between immunized and non-immunized mice and these contributed to antitumor responses. We also observed that both serum and peritoneal lavage fluid harvested from immunized mice showed the presence of CT26-specific autoantibodies. In addition, increase in level of TGF-${\beta}1$ and IL-10 in serum but a decrease of TGF-${\beta}1$ in peritoneum was found. Taken together, these findings may provide a new vaccine strategy for the prevention of peritoneal and even systemic metastasis of carcinomas through induction of an autoimmune response in the peritoneum.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.12
• /
• pp.7601-7605
• /
• 2013

Background: Gambogenic acid is a major active compound of gamboge which exudes from the Garcinia hanburyi tree. Gambogenic acid anti-cancer activity in vitro has been reported in several studies, including an A549 nude mouse model. However, the mechanisms of action remain unclear. Methods: We used nude mouse models to detect the effect of gambogenic acid on breast tumors, analyzing expression of apoptosis-related proteins in vivo by Western blotting. Effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis and apoptosis-related proteins in MDA-MB-231 cells were detected by MTT, flow cytometry and Western blotting. Inhibitors of caspase-3,-8,-9 were also used to detect effects on caspase family members. Results: We found that gambogenic acid suppressed breast tumor growth in vivo, in association with increased expression of Fas and cleaved caspase-3,-8,-9 and bax, as well as decrease in the anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2. Gambogenic acid inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: Our observations suggested that Gambogenic acid suppressed breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell growth by mediating apoptosis through death receptor and mitochondrial pathways in vivo and in vitro.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.1524-1532
• /
• 2015

Conventional space vector pulse width modulation based asymmetrical dual inverter configuration produces high common mode voltage (CMV) variations. This CMV causes the flow of common mode current, which adversely affects the motor bearings and electromagnetic interference of nearby electronic systems. In this study, a simple and generalized carrier based pulse width modulation (PWM) technique is proposed for dual inverter configuration. This simple approach generates various continuous and discontinuous modulating signals based PWM algorithms. With the application of the discontinuous modulating signal based PWM algorithm to the asymmetrical dual inverter configuration, the CMV can be reduced with a slightly improved quality of output voltage. The performance of the continuous and discontinuous modulating signals based PWM algorithms is explored through both theoretical and experimental studies. Results show that the discontinuous modulating signal based PWM algorithm efficiently reduces the CMV and switching losses.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.18
• /
• pp.8313-8319
• /
• 2016

We have recently shown that thymoquinone (TQ) has a potent cytotoxic effect and induces apoptosis via caspase-3 activation with down-regulation of XIAP in mouse neuroblastoma (Neuro-2a) cells. Interestingly, our results showed that TQ was significantly more cytotoxic towards Neuro-2a cells when compared with primary normal neuronal cells. In this study, the effects of TQ on cell-cycle regulation and the mechanisms that contribute to this effect were investigated using Neuro-2a cells. Cell-cycle analysis performed by flow cytometry revealed cell-cycle arrest at G2/M phase and a significant increase in the accumulation of TQ-treated cells at sub-G1 phase, indicating induction of apoptosis by the compound. Moreover, TQ increased the expression of p53, p21 mRNA and protein levels, whereas it decreased the protein expression of PCNA, cyclin B1 and Cdc2 in a dose-dependent manner. Our finding suggests that TQ could suppress cell growth and cell survival via arresting the cell-cycle in the G2/M phase and inducing apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.8
• /
• pp.3797-3803
• /
• 2016

Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy in women worldwide and thus one of the leading causes of mortality in women. Lovastatin, a non polar, anticholesterol drug has previously been reported to exert antitumour activity in vitro. In the present study, lovastatin from Aspergillus terreus (KM017963) was purified by adsoprtion chromatography and evaluated for its anticancer and anti-oxidant properties with a human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). Growth inhibitory and proapoptotic effects of purified lovastatin on HeLa cells were investigated by determining its influence on cell numbers, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA fragmentation and antioxidant properties in terms of hydroxy radical scavenging effects as well as levels of total reduced glutathione. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry (propidium iodide staining) confirmed induction of apoptotic cell death and revealed cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. Results of the study give leads for the anticancer effects of lovastatin and its potential usefulness in the chemotherapy of cervical cancer.

• Proceedings of the Korea Association of Crystal Growth Conference
• /
• 1999.06a
• /
• pp.271-284
• /
• 1999

As a semiconductor material for electronic devices operated under extreme environmental conditions, silicon carbides (SiCs) have been intensively studied because of their excellent electrical, thermal and other physical properties. The growth characteristics of single-crystalline 4H-SiC homoepitaxial layers grown by a thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) were investigated. Especially, the successful growth condition of 4H-SiC homoepitaxial layers using a SiC-uncoated graphite susceptor that utilized Mo-plates was obtained. The CVD growth was performed in an RF-induction heated atmospheric pressure chamber and carried out using off-oriented substrates prepared by a modified Lely method. In order to investigate the crystallinity of grown epilayers, Nomarski optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence(PL), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and other techniques were utilized. The best quality of 4H-SiC homoepitaxial layers was observed in conditions of growth temperature 1500$^{\circ}C$ and C/Si flow ratio 2.0 of C3H3 0.2sccm & SiH4 0.3sccm. The growth rate of epilayers was about 1.0$\mu\textrm{m}$/h in the above growth condition.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.65 no.1
• /
• pp.200-207
• /
• 2016

Nowadays, it is a global trend to build refinery or chemical plants with an isolated system in a place distant from the center of a city. In the refinery or chemical plants equipped with an isolated system, induced motors mostly take the load, and the scale of high-voltage electric motors reaches from several kW up to several MW. Therefore, it is needed to examine the effects of electric motors on the power system closely in the stages of planning and designing a plant to build a stable power system. This study is aimed to investigate how to decide rated voltage in consideration of stability which has not been considered in the stages of planning and designing so far in order to secure stability for the power system.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.15 no.12
• /
• pp.1163-1168
• /
• 2009

The power quality of wind energy becomes more and more important in connecting wind-farms to the grid, especially weak grid. This paper presents the simulation of a wind farm of a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) and a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG). Flicker mitigation is performed by using PMSG as a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) to regulate the voltage at the point of common coupling (PCC). A benefit of the measure is that integrating two function of to control the active power flow and to reduce the voltage flicker in a wind farm. Simulation results show that controlling PMSG is an effective and economic measure in reducing the flicker during continuous operation of grid connected wind turbines regardless of short circuit capacity ratio, turbulence intensity and grid impedance angle.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.944-951
• /
• 2007

3-Hydrogenkwadaphnin (3-HK) is a daphnane-type diterpene ester isolated from Dendrostellera lessertii (Thymelaeaceae) with high differentiation and apoptotic potency in leukemic cells without any measurable adverse effects on normal cells (Moosavi et al., 2005b). In this study, we report that 3-HK (12 nM) has the ability to cease proliferation, induce differentiation and apoptosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) K562 cell line. The treated cells lost erythroid properties and differentiated along the megakaryocytic lineage based on the morphological features apparent after Wright-Giemsa staining, DNA content analysis and the expression of cell surface marker glycoprotein IIb as analyzed by flow cytometry. Moreover, using Hoechst 33258 and Annexin V double staining indicated the occurrence of apoptosis among the treated cells. On the other hand, restoration of the depleted GTP pool size by exogenous addition of guanosine ($50{\mu}M$) reduced the effect of the drug regarding the extent of differentiation while no further enhancement of 3-HK effect was obtained by addition of exogenous hypoxanthine ($100{\mu}M$). These interesting results necessitate further investigation regarding the mechanism of action of this unique anti-leukemic agent.