In these cases, we suspect that decreasing moisture conditions in

In these cases, we suspect that decreasing moisture conditions in hydric meadows actually increased habitat suitability because sites near the limit of moisture extremes for some species became more acceptable.

Thus, species responses were relatively predictable based upon habitat affinity and habitat location along the hydrological gradient, and mesic meadows showed the highest potential for changes in community composition. The implications of these results are that longer-term changes due to drought could simplify community composition, resulting in prevalence of species tolerant to drying conditions and a loss Caspase inhibitor of species associated with wetter conditions. We contend that this application of gradient analysis could be valuable in assessing species vulnerability of other taxa and ecosystems.”
“Herpes simplex virus

(HSV) resistance to antivirals constitutes a therapeutic challenge, especially among immunocompromised patients. This observational survey on HSV resistance to antivirals was conducted retrospectively over a 4-year period (2008-2012). A total of 211 HSV-positive clinical samples Emricasan purchase (94 HSV-1 and 117 HSV-2) recovered from 139 patients (11 immunocompetent patients, 85 immunocompromised patients, and 43 patients with unknown immune status) with suspected HSV drug-resistance were analyzed for acyclovir and foscarnet susceptibility. Antiviral resistance testing consisted in a two-step procedure including a first-step genotypic assay, based on UL23 (thymidine kinase, TK) and UL30 (Pol) gene sequencing, and a second-step phenotypic assay (i.e., plaque reduction assay) performed when unpreviously described mutations were detected. As a whole, susceptibility and resistance to antivirals were evidenced for 58 (30.7%) and 86(45.5%) HSV, respectively, whereas antiviral profile remained undetermined for 45 (23.8%) HSV. The prevalence of drug resistance was significantly higher among HSV-2

isolates than among HSV-1 isolates (53.8% vs. 34.9%; p = 0.012). The majority (i.e., 79.7%) of cases of ACV resistance conferred by TK mutations resulted from UL23 gene frameshift reading. Apart from the learn more changes surely related to natural polymorphism or drug-resistance, 91 unpreviously reported mutations were identified in TK and Pol, including 51 potential natural polymorphisms, 22 mutations likely conferring resistance to antivirals, and 18 mutations of unclear significance. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Rapid and reliable tailoring of the dose of controlled release tablets to suit an individual patient is a major challenge for personalized medicine. The aim of this work was to investigate the feasibility of using a fused deposition modelling (FDM) based 3D printer to fabricate extended release tablet using prednisolone loaded poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) filaments and to control its dose. Prednisolone was loaded into a PVA-based (1.75 mm) filament at approximately 1.

The models account for the geometry of MPs and heterogeneous dist

The models account for the geometry of MPs and heterogeneous distribution of membrane channels and receptors in an EC. center dot Simulations show that SMC stimulation causes calcium release in and around EC MPs that activates hyperpolarizing currents in ECs and moderates SMC constriction. center dot The results help us better understand the mechanisms that regulate TPCA-1 chemical structure blood flow and pressure. Abstract We investigated the role of myoendothelial projections (MPs) in endothelial cell (EC) feedback response to smooth muscle cell (SMC) stimulation using mathematical modelling. A previously developed compartmental

EC-SMC model is modified to include MPs as subcellular compartments in the EC. The model is further extended into a 2D continuum model using a finite element method (FEM) approach and electron microscopy images to account for MP geometry. The EC and SMC are coupled via non-selective myoendothelial gap junctions (MEGJs) which are located on MPs and allow exchange of Ca2+, K+, Na+ and Cl- ions and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3). Models take into consideration recent evidence for co-localization of intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (IKCa) and IP3 receptors (IP3Rs) in the MPs. SMC stimulation

causes an IP3-mediated Ca2+ transient in the MPs with limited global spread in the bulk EC. A hyperpolarizing feedback generated by the localized IKCa channels is transmitted to the SMC via MEGJs. MEGJ resistance (Rgj) and the density of IKCa and IP3R in the projection influence the extent of EC response to SMC stimulation. find more The predicted Ca2+ transients depend also on the volume and geometry of the MP. We conclude that in the myoendothelial feedback response to SMC stimulation, PD98059 MPs are required to amplify the SMC initiated signal. Simulations suggest that the signal is mediated by IP3 rather

than Ca2+ diffusion and that a localized rather than a global EC Ca2+ mobilization is more likely following SMC stimulation.”
“Vascular tumor is an abnormal buildup of blood vessels in the skin or internal organs that can lead to disfigurement and/or life-threatening consequences. The mechanism of hemangiogenesis remains unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the role of rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR (Rictor) in control of vascular tumor malignant biological behavior and cell signaling mechanism in Mouse Hemangioendothelioma Endothelial Cells (EOMA cells) and nude mouse model. Knocking down rictor was mediated by lentivirus shRNA. The role and mechanism of rictor in vascular tumor were assessed by western blotting, wst-1 proliferation assay, matrigel invasion assay and xenograft vascular tumor growth. Our results in vitro showed that loss of rictor down-regulated phosphorylation of AKT and S6 by which EOMA cells growth and proliferation were greatly suppressed. Knock down of rictor also inhibited the invasion of EOMA cells.

Unexpectedly, within non-REM episodes, overall firing rates gradu

Unexpectedly, within non-REM episodes, overall firing rates gradually increased together with a decrease in the recruitment of spiking to ripples. The rate increase within non-REM episodes was counteracted by a larger and more rapid decrease of discharge frequency within the interleaved

REM episodes. Both the decrease in firing rates and the increase in synchrony during the course of sleep were correlated with the power of theta activity during REM episodes. These findings assign a prominent role of REM sleep in sleep-related neuronal plasticity.”
“Objective Some evidence exists that patients with osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma are taller than the general population. However, previous studies are under-powered, lack comprehensive data and show inconsistencies.\n\nMethods Relevant studies linking osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma 3-Methyladenine concentration with height at diagnosis were identified in two major online databases, Medline (1950 to 2009) and Embase (1980 to 2009). Outcomes in individual studies were reported as standard deviation (SD) scores or percentages of study population with height at diagnosis above the median of the reference population. We performed separate random-effects meta-analyses for each outcome and tumour type.\n\nResults Napabucasin order 14 studies examined the height of patients with osteosarcoma or Ewing sarcoma. Meta-analyses on SD scores found patients with osteosarcoma were 0.260 SD (95% CI: 0.088-0.432) taller

than the reference population (five studies). A meta-analysis on percentages found 62% (95% CI: 57%-67%) of patients were estimated to have a height above the median (six studies). Patients with Ewing sarcoma were 0.096 SD (95% CI 0.004-0.188) taller (four studies). Only one study reported the percentage of Ewing sarcoma patients with height above the median.\n\nConclusion The average height of patients with osteosarcoma,

but not Ewing sarcoma, was significantly above the average height of the reference population by 2-3 centimetres. The observed differences indicate the involvement of pubertal longitudinal bone growth in osteosarcoma development while different biological pathways could be relevant for Ewing sarcoma.”
“The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of transplanting bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNCs) to treat children with complete interruption of spinal cord (SC) check details continuity. The present study was conducted from 2005 to 2011. The inclusion criteria were a magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed complete interruption of SC continuity and no improvement in neurological status within 6 months after standard therapy. Bone marrow was isolated from the iliac ala and submitted to BMNC isolation. Subsequently, the cell suspension was administered into the SC cavity and intravenously. In total, 18 of 19 intraspinal and intravenous BMNC transplantation procedures performed caused no adverse events. One case was connected with transient bradycardia.

Our analyses show that the population

Our analyses show that the population click here consisting of three phenotypes also constituted several stable polymorphic

evolutionarily stable states. To our knowledge, our study is the first to demonstrate the emergence of polymorphic evolutionarily stable strategies within a robot evolution framework.”
“Background: Limited studies have examined the intestinal microbiota composition in relation to changes in disease course of IBD over time. We aimed to study prospectively the fecal microbiota in IBD patients developing an exacerbation during follow-up. Design: Fecal samples from 10 Crohn’s disease (CD) and 9 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients during remission and subsequent exacerbation were included. Active disease was determined by colonoscopy and/or fecal calprotectine

levels. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy, antibiotic use, enema use and/or medication changes between consecutive samples. The microbial composition was assessed by 16S rDNA pyrosequencing. Results: After quality control, 6,194-11,030 sequences per sample were available for analysis. Patient-specific shifts in bacterial composition and diversity were observed during exacerbation compared to remission, but overarching shifts within UC or CD were not observed. Changes in the bacterial community composition Protein Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor between remission and exacerbation as assessed by Bray-Curtis dissimilarity, were significantly larger in CD versus UC patients (0.59 vs. 0.42, respectively; p = 0.025). Thiopurine use was found to be a significant cause of clustering as shown by Principal Coordinate Analysis and was associated with decreases in bacterial richness (Choa1 501.2 vs. 847.6 in non-users; p smaller than 0.001) and diversity (Shannon index: 5.13 vs. 6.78, respectively; p smaller than 0.01). Conclusion: Shifts in microbial composition in IBD patients with

changing disease activity over time seem to be patient-specific, and are more pronounced in CD than in UC patients. Furthermore, thiopurine use was found to be associated with the microbial composition and diversity, and should be considered when studying the intestinal microbiota in relation to disease course.”
“Research projects in structural biology increasingly rely on combinations of heterogeneous EMD 121974 sources of information, e. g. evolutionary information from multiple sequence alignments, experimental evidence in the form of density maps and proximity constraints from proteomics experiments. The OpenStructure software framework, which allows the seamless integration of information of different origin, has previously been introduced. The software consists of C++ libraries which are fully accessible from the Python programming language. Additionally, the framework provides a sophisticated graphics module that interactively displays molecular structures and density maps in three dimensions.


“Antiemetic therapy for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vo


“Antiemetic therapy for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with non-Hodgkin buy IWR-1-endo lymphoma (NHL) receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy

(MEC) generally includes a serotonin-type 3 (5-HT 3) receptor antagonist (RA). The efficacy and safety of the second-generation 5-HT 3 RA, palonosetron, in patients with NHL receiving MEC was assessed. Patients received a single iv bolus injection of 0.25 mg palonosetron and chemotherapy on day 1 of the first chemotherapy cycle, and up to three further consecutive cycles. Eighty-eight patients were evaluable for efficacy and safety. The primary endpoint, the percentage of patients with a complete response in the overall phase (0 -120 h after chemotherapy in each cycle), increased from 68.2% (cycle 1) to 80.5% (cycle 2), remaining high for the following cycles, and bigger than 90% patients were emesis-free without using selleck inhibitor aprepitant during therapy. Across all cycles, 78.4% of patients experienced treatment-emergent adverse events, but only 8% related to study drug, confirming palonosetron’s

good safety profile (EudraCT Number: 2008-007827-14).”
“Women in labour are considered at risk of gastric content aspiration partly because the stomach remains full before delivery. Ultrasonographic measurement of antral cross-sectional area (CSA) is a validated method of gastric content assessment. Our aim was to determine gastric content volume and its changes in parturients during labour under epidural analgesia using bedside ultrasonography. The cut-off value corresponding to an increased gastric content was determined by ultrasound

measurement of antral CSA in six pregnant women in late pregnancy before and after ingestion of 250 ml of non-clear liquid. Antral CSA was then measured twice in 60 parturients who presented in spontaneous labour: when the anaesthesiologist this website was called for epidural analgesia catheter placement, and at full cervical dilatation. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia was performed with a solution of ropivacaine and sufentanil. After liquid ingestion, antral CSA (mm(2)) increased from 90 (range, 80151) to 409 (range, 317463). A CSA of 320 was taken as cut-off value. The feasibility rate of antral CSA determination was 96. CSA decreased from 319 [Q1 158Q3 469] to 203 [Q1 123Q3 261] during labour (P210(7)). CSA was 320 in 50 of parturients at the beginning of labour vs 13 at full cervical dilatation (P0.006). Bedside ultrasonographic antral CSA measurement is feasible in pregnant women during labour and easy to perform. The observed decrease in antral CSA during labour suggests that gastric motility is preserved under epidural anaesthesia.

Dual-tuned magnetic resonance imaging of discs was performed at b

Dual-tuned magnetic resonance imaging of discs was performed at baseline and 12-week poststab. [Na-23] and T-2 were measured and compared among 3 groups of discs.\n\nResults. The mean [Na-23] were 274.8 +/- 40.2 mM for the normal discs, 247.2 +/- 27.7 mM for the internal-control discs, and 190.6 +/- 19.1 mM for the degenerated discs. The corresponding T-2 for 3 groups were 97.1 +/- 12.1 ms, 93.7 +/- 11.9 ms, and 79.0 +/- 9.1 ms, respectively.

The [Na-23] Ganetespib cost is highly correlated with the T-2 in the degenerated discs (r = 0.90, P < 0.01). The mean percent decreases from the normal to degenerated discs were in 30.6% in [Na-23] and 18.6% in T-2, whereas those from the internal-control to degenerated discs were 22.9% in [Na-23] and 15.6% in

T-2.\n\nConclusion. Although both [Na-23] and T-2 changes in discs were associated with the disc-punctured rabbits, greater change in [Na-23] is observed at 12-week poststab compared with T-2 change. Because T-2 and [Na-23] reflect different disc properties, Selleckchem Lapatinib performing both imaging under same condition will be helpful in the evaluation of disc degeneration.”
“Background: The last 15 years have been characterized by a rapid expansion of minimally invasive surgery as treatment for adrenal diseases. During these years, both indications and surgical techniques have shown improvements. This study analyzed an 11-year single-center experience with laparoscopic adrenalectomy.\n\nMaterials and Methods: Between January 1997 and April 2008, 242 laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed in 220 patients at Rikshospitalet selleck inhibitor University Hospital. Of these, 192 patients were operated on for benign lesions, 23 for malignant lesions, and in 5 cases “en bloc” adrenalectomies were performed. Benign lesions included 136 hormonally active lesions (41 pheochromocytomas, 48 Conn adenomas, 25 Cushing adenomas, and 18 patients with Cushing’s disease) and 56 with hormonally inactive lesions (among them, 47 nonfunctional adenomas). Malignant lesions included 16 adrenal metastases and 7 adrenocortical carcinomas.\n\nResults: All adrenalectomies were completed laparoscopically. The median time

of unilatateral adrenalectomy was 85 (range, 35-325) minutes. The median blood loss was 0 (range, 0-1100) mL. There were 6 intraoperative and 7 postoperative minor complications. The number of complications did not differ between the types of adrenal pathology. Only 19% of the patients required opioids postoperatively. Per- and postoperative parameters were homogeneous among patients with different adrenal lesions. The patients with adrenocortical carcinoma had a distinctive intraoperative course with an evidently longer operative time and higher blood loss. The median postoperative hospital stay was 2 (range, 1-15) days. Hospital stay was the only postoperative parameter where a difference was found between patients with different adrenal lesions.


“Rifampicin is one of the frontline drugs for tuberculosis


“Rifampicin is one of the frontline drugs for tuberculosis therapy but poor GNS-1480 cell line bioavailability of Rifampicin in combination with other anti-tuberculosis drugs is a subject of concern. Nano-based formulations for sustained release of anti-tubercular drugs have been shown to increase antibacterial efficacy and pharmacokinetic behavior. In the present study, liquid-crystalline folate nanoparticles were designed for sustained delivery of Rifampicin and its in vitro release study is reported. Liquid-crystalline

nanopartides of biocompatible folate ions consist of self assembled structures, resulting in high encapsulation, controlled release and low druglosses of about 20-30%, which is significant in itself. This study reports the size-control method of forming Rifampicin encapsulated folate nanoparticles as well as the parameters to control the release profiles of Rifampicin through these nanoparticles. These designs are able to present sustained release for over 25 days. The effect of different parameters such as nanoparticles size, type of cross-linking cation, cross-linking cation concentration and drug-loading on Rifampicin release was studied in vitro. The intracellular uptake and low cytotoxicity of nanoparticles by alveolar macrophages was also demonstrated using fluorescence

microscopy and MIT assay respectively. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid which regulates multiple biological parameters

selleck kinase inhibitor in a number of cell types, including stem cells. Here we report, for the first Nepicastat concentration time, that S1P dose-dependently stimulates differentiation of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASMC) towards smooth muscle cells. Indeed, S1P not only induced the expression of smooth muscle cell-specific proteins such as alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha SMA) and transgelin, but also profoundly affected ASMC morphology by enhancing cytoskeletal F-actin assembly, which incorporated alpha SMA. More importantly, S1P challenge was responsible for the functional appearance of Ca(2+) currents, characteristic of differentiated excitable cells such as smooth muscle cells. By employing various agonists and antagonists to inhibit S1P receptor subtypes, S1P(2) turned out to be critical for the pro-differentiating effect of S1P, while S1P(3) appeared to play a secondary role. This study individuates an important role of S1P in AMSC which can be exploited to favour vascular regeneration.”
“Interactions between proteins and soluble carbohydrates and/or surface displayed glycans are central to countless recognition, attachment and signaling events in biology. The physical chemical features associated with these binding events vary considerably, depending on the biological system of interest.

The main methods of diagnosis of EBV infections are serological m

The main methods of diagnosis of EBV infections are serological methods that detect certain specific antibodies and recently more popular molecular biological methods such as PCR or in situ hybridization.”
“Zerumbone, a natural cyclic sesquiterpene, has been the focus of recent research as it has been found to exhibit

selective toxicity towards cancer cells compared to normal cells. Studies on the cell cycle phase-specific effects of this interesting compound, however, remain sparse. Hence, concentration TH-302 and time-dependent effects of zerumbone were evaluated employing a suitable model system, the naturally synchronous surface cultures of Physarum polycephalum. Zerumbone treatment in S, early, and late G2 phases resulted in G2 arrest. Early G2 phase exhibited the highest sensitivity (P smaller than 0.001) to the compound. Protein profiles showed a complete inhibition of cyclin B1 expression following zerumbone treatment. Furthermore, FACS and comet analysis revealed that zerumbone inhibited DNA synthesis (P smaller than 0.001) without being genotoxic at the concentrations tested. Differential display of mRNA showed distinct zerumbone-induced variations in transcript profiles, an analysis of which suggested a likely link between cellular networks involving stress-related gene expression and G2 arrest in P. polycephalum.”
“Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is the

most common primary find more brain tumor in children; various signaling pathways have been implicated in its biology. The Notch signaling pathway has been found to play a role in the development, stem cell biology, and pathogenesis of several cancers, but its role in PA has not been investigated. We studied alterations in Notch signaling components in tumor tissue from 18 patients with PA and 4 with other low-grade astrocytomas to identify much needed therapeutic targets. We found that Notch pathway members were overexpressed at the mRNA (NOTCH1, NOTCH2, HEY1, HEY2) and protein (HES1) levels in PAs Androgen Receptor Antagonist at various anatomic sites compared with non-neoplastic brain samples. These changes were

not associated with specific BRAF alterations. Inhibiting the Notch pathway in the pediatric low-grade astrocytoma cell lines Res186 and Res259 using either RNA interference or a gamma-secretase inhibitor resulted in variable, but significant, reduction in cell growth and migration. This study suggests a potential role for Notch signaling in pediatric low-grade astrocytoma tumorigenesis and that Notch signaling may be a viable pathway therapeutic target.”
“Chitosan is widely used in the biomedical field due its chemical and pharmacological properties. However, intake of chitosan results in renal tissue accumulation of chitosan and promotes an increase in calcium excretion. On the other hand, the effect of chitosan on the formation of calcium oxalate crystals (CaOx) has not been described.

Finally, we cloned the tomato ortholog of TGF-beta Receptor Inter

Finally, we cloned the tomato ortholog of TGF-beta Receptor Interacting Protein (TRIP1), which see more was previously shown to be a BRI1-interacting protein and kinase domain substrate in Arabidopsis, and found that tomato TRIP1 is a substrate of both tomato BRI1 and BAK1 kinases in vitro.”
“Calcium and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are acknowledged as crucial second messengers involved in the response to various biotic and abiotic stresses. However, it is still not clear

how these two compounds can play a role in different signaling pathways leading the plant to a variety of processes such as root development or defense against pathogens. Recently, it has been shown that the concept of calcium and ROS signatures, initially discovered in the cytoplasm, can also be extended to the nucleus of plant cells. In addition, it has been clearly proved that both ROS and calcium signals are intimately interconnected. How

this cross-talk can finally modulate the translocation and/or the activity of nuclear proteins leading to the control of specific genes expression is the main focus of this review. We will especially focus on how calcium and ROS interact at the molecular level to modify their targets.”
“The purpose of this study was to enhance the dissolution of total flavones of Hippophae rhamnoides L. (TFH) by solid dispersions consisting of the drug and a polymeric carrier, poloxamer 188 (PXM). The solvent evaporation method

was used to prepare solid dispersions. A 32 full-factorial design approach was used for optimization TDO inhibitor wherein the amount of solvent (X(1)) Pevonedistat mouse and the drug-to-polymer ratio (X(2)) were selected as independent variables and the percentage of TFH dissolved in 10 min (Q(10)) was selected as the dependent variable. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that a suitable level of X(1) and X(2) was required for obtaining higher dissolution of TFH from PXM solid dispersions. Solid dispersions were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and dissolution tests. Characterization studies revealed that solid dispersion of TFH-PXM showed enhancement of TFH dissolution due to the conversion of TFH into a less crystalline and/or amorphous form. In conclusion, dissolution enhancement of TFH was obtained by preparing its solid dispersions in PXM using solvent method.”
“Aims: The aim of this study was to create a prediction model using data mining approach to identify low risk individuals for incidence of type 2 diabetes, using the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) database. Methods: For a 6647 population without diabetes, aged bigger than = 20 years, followed for 12 years, a prediction model was developed using classification by the decision tree technique. Seven hundred and twenty-nine (11%) diabetes cases occurred during the follow-up.

However, its precise role remains unclear We set out to characte

However, its precise role remains unclear. We set out to characterize developmental growth and response to chronic isoproterenol (ISO) stress in knockin (KI) mice lacking the critical N-terminal serines, 21 of GSK-3 alpha and 9 of GSK-3 beta respectively, required for inactivation by upstream kinases.\n\nBetween 5 and 15 weeks, KI mice grew more rapidly, but normalized heart weight and contractile performance were similar to wild-type (WT) mice. Isolated hearts of both genotypes responded comparably to acute ISO infusion with increases in heart rate and contractility. In WT mice, chronic subcutaneous ISO infusion over 14 days resulted in cardiac hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and impaired contractility,

accompanied by foetal gene reactivation. These effects were all significantly attenuated in KI mice. Indeed, selleck kinase inhibitor ISO-treated KI hearts demonstrated reversible PF-00299804 mw physiological remodelling traits with increased stroke volume and a preserved contractile response to acute adrenergic stimulation. Furthermore, simultaneous pharmacological inhibition of GSK-3 in KI mice treated with chronic subcutaneous ISO recapitulated the adverse remodelling phenotype seen in WT hearts.\n\nExpression of inactivation-resistant GSK-3 alpha/beta does not affect eutrophic myocardial growth but protects against pathological hypertrophy induced by chronic adrenergic stimulation,

maintaining cardiac function and attenuating interstitial fibrosis. Accordingly, strategies to prevent

phosphorylation of Ser-21/9, and consequent inactivation of GSK-3 alpha/beta, may enable a sustained cardiac response to chronic beta-agonist stimulation while preventing pathological remodelling.”
“Breast BMS-777607 price cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) is one of the pure compounds from Salviae miltiorrhizae radix (Danshen). Tan-IIA can inhibit human breast cancer cells but the molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Our previous study showed that Tan-IIA can inhibit hep-J5 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptotic pathway. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of Tan-IIA on BT-20 human breast cancer cells and assessed the involvement of the ER-stress-apoptotic pathway. The cytotoxicity of Tan-IIA in BT-20 cells was measured by the MTT assay. The cell cycles were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of ER stress-related proteins in BT-20 cells treated with Tan-IIA were evaluated by western blotting and immunocytochemical staining. These results showed that Tan-IIA can inhibit BT-20 cells and increase the sub-GI phase in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Tan-IIA could increase the protein expression of caspase 12, CADD153. caspase 3, phospho-JNK, phospho-p38 and Bax, but decreased Bcl-xl and phospho-ERK expression in BT-20 cells.