Purpose: Breast cancer cells with overexpression of HER2 are known to be more aggressive, invasive, and resistant to chemotherapeutic agent. Brazilin, the major compound in the Caesalpinia sappan L. (CS) heartwood, has been studied for it's anticancer activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic and antimigratory activity of brazilin (Bi) in combination with doxorubicin (Dox) on MCF-7/HER2 cells.Methods: Cytotoxic activities of Bi individually and in combination with Dox were examined by MTT assay. Synergistic effects were analyzed by combination index (CI). Apoptosis and cell cycle profiles were observed by using flow cytometry. Migrating and invading cells were observed by using a Boyden chamber assay. Levels of MMP2 and MMP9 activity were observed by using a gelatin zymography assay. Levels of HER2, Bcl-2, Rac1, and p120 protein expression were observed by using an immunoblotting assay.Results: The results of the MTT assay showed that Bi inhibited MCF-7/HER2 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 54 ± 3.7 µM. Furthermore, the combination of Bi and Dox showed a synergistic effect (CI <1). Flow cytometric analysis of Bi and its combination with Dox showed cellular accumulation in the G2/M phase and induction of apoptosis through suppression of Bcl-2 protein expression. In the Boyden chamber assay, gelatin zymography, and subsequent immunoblotting assay, the combination Bi and Dox inhibited migration, possibly through downregulation of MMP9, MMP2, HER2, Rac1, and p120 protein expression.Conclusion: We conclude that Bi enhanced cytotoxic activity of Dox and inhibited migration of MCF-7/HER2 cells. Therefore, we believe that it has strong potential to be developed for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer with HER2 overexpression.

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The development of fluorescent silica nanoparticles (SNP-RB) from natural amorphous silica and its performance as an Escherichia coli (E. coli) biosensor is described in this paper. SNP-RB was derived from silica recovered from geothermal installation precipitation and modified with the dye, Rhodamine B. The Fourier Infrared (FTIR) confirms the incorporation of Rhodamine B in the silica matrix. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) micrographs show that the SNP-RB had an irregular structure with a particle diameter of about 20–30 nm. The maximum fluorescence spectrum of SNP-RB was recorded at 580 nm, which was further applied to observe the detection performance of the fluorescent nanoparticles towards E. coli. The sensing principle was based on the fluorescence-quenching mechanism of SNP-RB and this provided a wide linear E. coli concentration range of 10–105 CFU/mL with a limit detection of 8 CFU/mL. A rapid response time was observed after only 15 min of incubation of SNP-RB with E. coli. The selectivity of the biosensor was demonstrated and showed that the SNP-RB only gave quenching response only to live E. coli bacteria. The use of SNP-RB as a sensing platform reduced the response time significantly compared to conventional 3-day bacterial assays, as well having excellent analytical performance in terms of sensitivity and selectivity.

Antihepatitis C virus (HCV) IgM antibodies were found in patients with both acute and chronic hepatitis C. The aims of the study were to determine the significance, in terms of liver disease and virological parameters, of anti-HCV core IgM antibodies in the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C, and the possible relationship between the presence of these antibodies before treatment and biochemical and virological responses to interferon therapy. Sixty-one patients with chronic hepatitis C were studied. Tests for serum anti-HCV core IgM antibodies were carried out before treatment. The patients received 3 mega units of interferon alpha-2a subcutaneously thrice weekly for at least 3 months (6 months when alanine aminotransferase activity was normal at month 3). A biochemical response to interferon therapy was defined as normal alanine aminotransferase activity at the end of treatment (month 6: biochemical response) and 6 months later (month 12: sustained biochemical response). A sustained virological response was defined as serum HCV RNA negativity by a polymerase chain reaction-based detection method (PCR) in patients with normal alanine aminotransferase at month 12. Anti-HCV core IgM antibodies were detected in 28 of the 61 patients (46%). The prevalence of these antibodies was significantly higher in patients infected with HCV genotype 1 (including subtypes 1a and 1b) than in patients infected with other genotypes (including 2a and 3a) (57% vs. 17%; P < 0.01). No significant difference was found between IgM-positive and IgM-negative patients as regards the mean age, sex ratio, serum alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities, the prevalence of cirrhosis in liver biopsy specimens, detection of HCV RNA by PCR, and quantitation by branched DNA assay. At month 6 of interferon therapy, normal alanine aminotransferase activity was significantly more frequent in IgM-negative than in IgM-positive patients (52% vs. 21%, respectively; P < 0.02). At month 12, normal alanine aminotransferase activity and PCR negativity were significantly more frequent in IgM-negative than in IgM-positive patients (18% vs. 0%, P < 0.04). It is concluded that anti-HCV core IgM antibodies in serum are significantly more frequent in patients infected by HCV type 1 than by other types. This suggests that their overall prevalence in patients with chronic hepatitis C in industrialized countries, where HCV type 1 accounts for the majority of infections, would be of the order of 50%, that anti-HCV core IgM antibodies are not associated with characteristic features of liver disease, and that their presence before treatment is associated with a failure of interferon alpha therapy to clear the virus.

ABSTRAKYoghurt kering merupakan salah satu inovasi pengembangan produk yoghurt. Yoghurt kering dapat meningkatkan daya simpan yoghurt serta lebih praktis karena mengurangi volume sehingga lebih memudahkan dalam proses distribusi. Pengayaan yoghurt kering dengan III sebagai pangan fungsional yang berperan dalam meningkatkan penyerapan kalsium bermanfaat sebagai pencegahan terhadap osteoporosis. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis karakteristik yoghurt kering yang diperkaya dengan DFA III dari umbi dahlia dan umbi meliputi: (1) proses pembuatan yoghurt kering tanpa pengayaan (Y), diperkaya dengan DFA III dari umbi dahlia (YD), dan diperkaya dengan DFA III komersial dari umbi organoleptik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tingkat kemurnian DFA III dari umbi dahlia 96,0% dan DFA III komersial dari umbi 99,9%. Hasil terbaik diperoleh dari yoghurt kering yang diperkaya dengan DFA III dari umbi dahlia (YD) menghasilkan rendemen 17,83±0,36% lebih tinggi secara nyata dibandingkan dengan tanpa pengayaan (Y) 14,90±1,27% dan pengayaan dengan DFA III dari umbi (YC) 14,71±1,69% (p<0,05). Produk YD mengandung kadar air 7,89±0,01%; kadar abu 3,43±0,06%; kadar protein 12,43±0,13%; kadar lemak 1,22±0,07%; kadar karbohidrat 75,02±0,10%; pH/derajat keasaman 3,9±0,00; keasaman sebagai asam laktat 0,49±0,02%; derajat putih 89,29±0,08%; dan viabilitas bakteri asam laktat 1,20x107cfu.g-1. Pengujian organoleptik menggunakan 40 panelis semi terlatih, dengan hasil penilaian untuk aroma dan warna menunjukkan kriteria suka, untuk tekstur dan rasa menunjukkan kriteria agak suka. Yoghurt kering yang diperkaya dengan DFA III dari umbi dahlia yang bersifat prebiotik dapat meningkatkan viabilitas bakteri asam laktat sebagai probiotik yang menunjukkan bahwa produk tersebut dapat digolongkan sebagai produk sinbiotik dan dapat digunakan sebagai minuman fungsional untuk meningkatkan penyerapan kalsium sebagai pencegahan terhadap osteoporosis. Kata kunci:III, karakteristik, pengayaan, yoghurt kering ABSTRACTDried yogurt is one of yogurt product development innovations. Beside increases the shelf life, dried yogurt is also more practical because it reduces the volume to the easier distribution process. Dried yogurt enriched by Difructose Anhydride III as functional food in increasing calcium absorption is useful as osteoporosis prevention. The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of dried yogurt enriched by DFA III from dahlia and chicory tubers as functional drink on physicochemical, microbiology, and organoleptic properties. The research stages include: (1) The production of dried yogurt without enrichment (Y), with DFA III enrichment from dahlia tubers (YD), and with DFA