Different cucurbitacin derivatives have been compared for the gamma globin induction potential. Cucurbitacin D turned out to be the most potential inducer among the derivatives had been tested. Later I had screened more herbs for the gamma globin induction activities. One of the herbs showed a higher activity than Fructus Trichosanthis, which could be the potential candidate to isolate more potent inducer. In the toxicity study, cucurbitacin D only have a mild toxic effect on the normal cell lines and transgenic mice. Finally, the efficacy of cucurbitacin D was tested on a sickle cell anemia mouse model and demonstrated a significant induction of fetal haemoglobin production. Cucurbitacin D may be a potential drug candidate for treating beta globinopathies. / Thalassemia is a global disease. It was report in 2001 that there were 270 million people who carried the severe disease. Most of the cases were found in Africa and south-east Asia. China has a high incidence rate of 0.66% in 2001. In the past, the treatments of the disease were blood transfusion and bone marrow transplantation. However, many defects in such kinds of treatments were reported. The balance of relieving the syndrome of the disease and the adverse effects of the drugs was the consideration to the physician. The drug, hydroxyurea, can activate the gamma globin gene and produce hemoglobin F to replace the beta globin as an oxygen transporter is considered as an better treatment to ameliorate the syndrome. Safety and effectiveness in the long-term treatment using hydroxyurea are questionable. Cucurbatacin D purified from a Chinese herb demonstrates 2000 folds more potent than hydroxyurea. It can activate the gamma globin gene and produce hemoglobin F shown in ELISA and confocal microscopy. The fundamental work for drug development is carrying out through this project. In this project the biological property and toxicity were studied. / Liu, Shuk Ming. / Adviser: M.C. Tung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-02, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 245-270). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Xu Jinze. / "August 2004." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 165-182). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Hypoxia and reperfusion can result in many pathological complications in the fetus including retinopathy, ischemic encephalopathy and even stillbirth. The adverse effects are due to excess production of free radicals that attack vital bio-molecules such as DNA and enzymes. Antioxidant treatment may be a way to alleviate oxidative stress. Green tea is a source of antioxidants. It contains polyphenols mainly catechins, that possess high reducing power and low toxicity. Major catechin compounds in green tea are (+)-catechin (C), (-)-epicatechin (EC, (-)-gallocatechin (GC), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-catechin gallate (CG), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), (-)-gallocatechin gallate (GCG) and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Accordingly, catechins may be ideal agents for antioxidant treatment of the fetus exposed to hypoxia during pregnancy. / In the animal experiments, rat mothers, at the 15.5th gestation day, were intragastrically administrated a single dose of green tea extract. The pharmacokinetic profiles of catechins in maternal plasma, whole embryos and embryonic organs were investigated. The catechins GC, ECG, C, EC, were found to exhibit non-linear capacity limited pharmacokinetic behaviour implying their metabolism or absorption was saturated. Catechin gallates, EGCG and ECG, appeared to exhibit enterohepatic re-circulation behaviour. Peak time was about 1 hour for both groups of catechins; the half life of the catechin group was about 1 hour while that of EGCG and ECG was about 3.7 hours. EC, EGC and EGCG were the dominant compounds present in plasma. All catechins exhibited a consecutive one-compartment model in the embryo, where EGCG, ECG, EGC and EC were dominant compounds and ECG had the highest penetrability. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / In this study, pregnant rat dams were fed green tea extract in an attempt to raise catechin levels in the rat embryo in order to scavenge free radicals. To test this hypothetical application, we first established analytical methods to evaluate oxidative stress and catechins levels of the fetus in vivo. The methodologies included assaying F2-isoprostanes in cord blood and determining catechin levels in biological fluids and tissues. We further utilized these new sensitive analytical methods to investigate the pharmacokinetics of the catechins in maternal rat plasma, whole embryos and embryonic organs. Since no data has been previously reported on the toxic effects of catechins on embryos, we also tested the toxic effects of various concentrations of catechins on the developing embryonic features in embryo culture. / Chu Kai On. / "April 2005." / Advisers: Michael Scott Rogers; Chi Pui Pang. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-01, Section: B, page: 0244. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 208-241). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Steroid-associated osteonecrosis (SAON) accounts for a major fraction in non-traumatic osteonecosis (ON) and generally has poor prognosis even after surgical interventions. This suggests that prevention is one of the important intervention strategies for SAON. So far, there is lacking of proven prevention modalities for SAON. / Study I was to establish an alternative SAON model. Based on the proposed pathogenesis of SAON that the intravascular thrombosis and extravascular marrow fat deposition are the two important contributors to the development of ON lesion, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) could induce vascular dysfunction and even thrombosis, and methylprednisolone (MPS) could induce the adipogenesis of marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). They were accordingly used in a combination for ON induction in animals. / Study II was to investigate the effect of Herbal Epimedium-derived formula for prevention of ON using the validated SAON animal model. Efficacy of the herbal Epimedium-derived formula was assessed for prevention of SAON using the animal model. Thirty adult male rabbits were used in this study. The ON incidence was set as the end-point for evaluation of the prevention efficay. For the potential intervention targets, the intravascular thrombosis and extravascular marrow fat formation were evaluated hematologically and histopathologically. The vascular structure and function were evaluated by advanced bioimaging modalities of micro-CT and MRI. / Study III was to investigate the bioactive compound(s) from the herbal Epimedium-derived herbal formula for prevention of SAON. Phytochemical analysis identified seven compounds in this efficacy-proven formula, with icariin as the major compound accounting for more than 80% in weight. Icariin was therefore tested for its prevention efficacy using the SAON animal model. / Study IV was to investigate the underlying mechanism(s) of bioactive compound Icariin in effective prevention of SAON using in vitro cell models. As activation of endothelial cells and adipogenesis of MSCs are suggested to be the two major events involving in vascular dysfunction and marrow fat formation in SAON animal model, Icariin were accordingly hypothesized to be able to prevent activation of endothelial cells and inhibit adipogenesis of MSCs. / Summary. After summarizing the major findings of these four logically interrelated studies, it was able to conclude that Icariin was the identified bioactive compound from the herbal Epimedium-derived formula, which was able to reduce the SAON incidence with inhibition of intravascular thrombosis and extravascular marrow fat formation in an established rabbit model. The underlying mechanisms might be related to its effects on protection of endothelial cells activation and inhibition of MSCs adipogenesis (This can be summarized in the following picture). This study provides a new bioactive agent Icariin for SAON prevention and potential future clinical application. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / The following research questions were addressed in the present study: (1) Is there an alternative SAON animal model? (Study I); (2) Whether the herbal Epimedium-derived formula is able to prevent SAON in this animal model? (Study II); (3) What is the bioactive compound(s) in this herbal Epimedium-derived formula? (Study III); (4) How does this bioactive compound prevent SAON? (Study IV) / Sheng, Hui. / Adviser: Ling Qin. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3421. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

激素性骨壞死是由於經常使用脈衝性激素處理非骨科性問題引起的一種常見的骨科疾病。在組織病理學上，激素性骨壞死指骨死亡，血管內血栓閉塞和血管外骨髓脂肪沉積會引起缺血導致骨修復不足。上游的分子細胞病理學機制研究表明間充質幹細胞細胞池活性下降，成骨細胞凋亡和骨小梁基質退變導致的不充分修復是激素性骨壞死發生的重要因素。 / 間充質幹細胞是骨髓的基質組成部分，具有分化成多種細胞的潛能。最近的研究表明，激素性骨壞死可能是骨細胞和/或間質幹細胞病變引起的一種疾病。研究發現，在接受類固醇治療而發生骨壞死的病人中，骨髓間充質幹細胞活性下降和分化潛能發生改變。在骨髓細胞中，激素能夠誘導脂肪發生。盛輝等發現來源於激素性骨壞死兔子中的間充質幹細胞成脂分化增強，謝新薈等進一步發現發生激素性骨壞死的兔子，骨缺損修復延遲，這可能是由激素導致的間充質幹細胞潛能發生改變引起的。綜合以上研究表明，間充質幹細胞在骨壞死發生和修復過程中起著重要作用。我們之前報導過淫羊藿黃酮（EFs）的腸代謝產物淫羊藿素Icaritin通過抑制血栓的形成和脂肪沉澱預防激素性骨壞死。最近，我們把Icaritin整合到聚乳酸聚乙醇酸共聚物/磷酸三鈣（PLGA/TCP）支架材料中，形成PLGA/TCP/Icaritin複合支架材料。我們發現PLGA/TCP/Icaritin複合材料可以促進激素性骨壞死骨缺損的修復，肌肉移植發現PLGA/TCP/Icaritin也能促進新生血管的發生。我們也發現單純PLGA/TCP複合材料也能夠促進激素性骨壞死骨缺損的修復，但是潛在的機制尚不清楚。 / 骨是一個高度血管化的組織，依賴於血管和骨細胞密切的時空連結維持骨骼的完整性。因此，血管生成在骨骼發育和骨折修復過程中發揮著舉足輕重的作用。血管為骨的發育和再生提供氧氣，為基質輸送刺激間充質細胞特異性成骨的重要信號，另一方面，骨為血管生成輸送生長因數和細胞。 / 本論文分為以下四個主要部分： / 第一部分: 研究Icaritin對人源間充質幹細胞分化的作用及其機制。流式細胞分選鑒定結果表明我們使用的人源間充質幹細胞能夠特異表達間充質幹細胞表面標誌物。MTT實驗結果顯示Icaritin不影響間充質幹細胞的增殖；分化實驗表明Icaritin在沒有成骨誘導試劑存在的情況下無法影響間充質幹細胞的分化。在成骨誘導試劑存在的情況下，Icaritin促進間充質幹細胞成骨分化，抑制其成脂分化；即時螢光實時定量聚合酶鏈式擴增（RT-PCR）結果顯示Icaritin在間充質幹細胞分化過程中上調成骨基因的表達，下調成脂基因表達。進一步研發發現在成骨分化過程中，Icaritin能夠促進BMP2和beta-catenin 蛋白的表達，而BMP2抑制劑Noggin能夠能夠逆轉Icaritin促進的成骨發生。這些發現表明Icaritin能夠促進而非誘導間充質幹細胞的成骨分化，Icaritin調解間充質幹細胞成骨分化具有BMP2信號通路依賴性。 / 第二部分: 評估激素性骨壞死兔源間充質幹細胞的分化潛能及Icaritin 對異常分化的間充質幹細胞分化潛能的影響。結果表明Icaritin促進正常兔源間充質幹細胞的成骨分化，抑制其成脂分化。激素性骨壞死兔源間充質幹細胞的成骨分化潛能降低，成脂分化升高；而Icaritin能夠劑量依賴性地部分恢復降低的成骨分化潛能，抑制升高的成脂分化活性。激素性骨壞死兔源間充質幹細胞的增殖活性也下降但是不能被Icaritin恢復。Icaritin對激素性骨壞死兔源間充質幹細胞中下降的VEGF的表達無影響。這些發現顯示間充質幹細胞的分化潛能在激素性骨壞死發生過程中遭到破壞，但是能夠被Icaritin部分恢復。 / 第三部分: 評估Icaritin對體外成血管的影響。我們對Icaritin對人臍帶靜脈內皮細胞（HUVECs）的增殖、遷移、管狀結構形成及成血管相關基因的表達的影響進行了檢測。結果表明Icaritin不影響HUVECs的增殖、遷移和管狀結構的形成；RT-PCR結果顯示Icaritin對HUVECs中的VEGF, HIF1a, FGF2 and TGF-beta表達也沒有影響。這些發現表明Icaritin在體外並不能直接作用于血管生成。結果謝新薈和陳詩慧等人的體內研究結果可以推測在骨缺損修復過程中，Icaritin通過促進成骨間接促進血管生成。 / 第四部分: 主要研究Icaritin及複合生物材料在體外體內對間充質幹細胞歸巢的影響。結果表明Iaritin能夠促進間充質幹細胞的遷移並上調血管細胞黏附分子1（VCAM1）的表達。複合材料PLGA/TCP和PLGA/TCP/Icaritin在體外培養的條件下能夠募集間充質幹細胞到材料周圍及進入材料。間充質幹細胞體外用修飾性超順磁性氧化鐵（SPIO@SiO₂-NH₂）納米顆粒標記後，其分化潛能依然保留，增殖和潛能能力稍微下降。兔激素性骨壞死造模完成後，股骨遠端髓芯減壓壞死骨缺損手術，PLGA/TCP和PLGA/TCP/Icaritin複合材料植入缺損孔道，同時把SPIO@SiO₂-NH₂標記的間充質幹細胞注射到距離缺損區20毫米的骨髓腔內。結果顯示只有標記的間充質幹細胞植入而沒有材料植入時，缺損區被脂肪細胞充滿，並沒有標記的間充質幹細胞出現，而在缺損區附近和遠離缺損區的部位有標記的間充質幹細胞出現。同時植入PLGA/TCP複合材料和標記的間充質幹細胞時，標記的間充質幹細胞出現在缺損區的材料中，在缺損區附近沒有標記的間充質幹細胞出現，而在遠離缺損區的部位，有標記的間充質幹細胞出現。同時植入PLGA/TCP/Icaritin和標記的間充質幹細胞時，得到跟植入PLGA/TCP複合材料和標記的間充質幹細胞相似的結果，但是在缺損區域，SPIO陽性的間充質幹細胞數目在PLGA/TCP和PLGA/TCP/Icaritin組別中並未發現有顯著性差異。以上發現表明Icaritin和PLGA/TCP複合材料能夠在體外和體內促進間充質幹細胞的歸巢。 / 綜上所述，複合支架材料PLGA/TCP/Icaritin通過調節間充質幹細胞的歸巢和分化促進激素性骨壞死骨缺損的修復。Icaritin通過BMP2和Wnt/beta-catenin通路調解間充質幹細胞的成骨分化。這是首次研究發現Icaritin及PLGA/TCP支架材料影響骨缺損修復過程中幹細胞歸巢，但是分子細胞生物學機制還需要進一步的研究。 / Steroid-associated osteonecrosis (SAON) is a common orthopaedic problem as the pulsed steroids are frequently prescribed for the treatment of non-orthopaedic medical conditions. Histopathologically, SAON refers to death of bone. Intravascular thrombus occlusion and extravascular marrow lipid deposition cause ischemia, which leads to an inadequate repair of the bone. Recent study revealed upstream pathological mechanism at cellular and molecular level. The decrease in activity of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) pool, apoptosis of osteocytes, and trabecular bone matrix degeneration may cause bone inadequate repair, a key pathological feature found in SAON. / MSCs are the stromal component of bone marrow (BM) and have the potential to differentiate into several cell types. Recent studies have suggested that SAON may be a disease of bone cells and/or MSCs. With corticosteroid therapy in patients, the MSCs activity decreased and differentiation potential changed. Steroids have been also shown to produce adipogenesis in bone-marrow cells. It has been found adipogenesis of MSCs from SAON rabbits elevated (Sheng et al., 2007a) and bone defect repair was delayed in rabbits with SAON (Xie et al., 2011), this may be caused by altered MSCs potentials. All these findings imply MSCs play a vital role in SAON development and bone defect repair. It had been reported that Icaritin, an intestinal metabolite of Epimedium-derived avonoids (EF) reduced SAON incidence with inhibition of both thrombosis and lipid deposition (Zhang et al., 2009a). More recently, we found integrating Icaritin into PLGA/TCP to form PLGA/TCP/Icaritin composite scaffold could promote SAON bone defect repair and more neovascularization formed in an intramuscular implantation model, and further found PLGA/TCP scaffold only also could promote SAON bone defect repair in rabbits (Wang et al., 2012a). But the underlying mechanism remains unclear. / Bone is a highly vascularized tissue reliant on the close spatial and temporal connection between blood vessels and bone cells to maintain skeletal integrity. Angiogenesis thus plays a pivotal role in skeletal development and bone fracture repair. The vasculature supplies oxygen to developing and regenerating bone and also delivers critical signals to the stroma that stimulate MSC specification to promote bone formation and repair. On the other hand, bone also supplies growth factors and cells for angiogenesis. The content of this thesis is divided into the following four major parts: / Part I: to study the effect and molecular mechanism of Icaritin on the differentiation of human bone marrow-derived MSCs. Human MSC was identified first by flow cytometery and result showed our cultured human MSC expressed standard surface markers of MSCs. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed that the proliferation ability of MSCs was not affected by Icaritin. Differentiation assay showed that without oseteogenic supplements (OS), Icaritin had no effect on osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. With presence of OS, Icaritin promoted osteogenic differentiation while inhibited adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. Real- time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that Icaritin up-regulated osteoblastic marker genes expression during osteogenic differentiation of MSCs and inhibited adipogenic gene expression. Further studies showed that Icaritin enhanced the protein expression of BMP2 and beta-catenin, while BMP2 inhibitor Noggin reversed the Icaritin-enhanced osteogenesis. All these findings indicated Icaritin possessed osteopromotive but not osteoinductive potentials during the differentiation of MSCs. Icaritin regulated osteogenic differentiation of MSCs in BMP2 pathway dependent manner. / Part II: to evaluate the differentiation potential of MSCs derived from rabbit with SAON and the effect of Icaritin on the altered differentiation of MSCs. The results showed that Icaritin promoted osteogenic differentiation while inhibited adipogenic differentiation of MSCs derived from normal rabbit. Osteogenic differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells derived from rabbit with SAON declined and Icaritin partly rescued the declined osteogenic differentiation potential in dose-dependent manner. Adipogenic differentiation potential of MSCs derived from rabbit with SAON enhanced while the enhanced adipogenesis could be depressed by Icaritin. The proliferation ability of MSCs derived from rabbit with SAON declined while could not be rescued by Icaritin. VEGF expression decreased in MSCs derived from rabbit with SAON but its expression could not be influenced by Icaritin. These findings showed that the differentiation potential of MSCs destroyed during SAON development and this potential could be partially restored by Icaritin. / Part III: to evaluate the in vitro angiogenic effect of Icaritin. The proliferation, migration and tube formation ability of human umbilical vein cells (HUVECs) were detected. The results showed that Icaritin did not affect HUVECs proliferation, migration and tube-like structure formation of HUVECs. Real time PCR showed that VEGF, HIF1a, FGF2 and TGF-beta expression in HUVECs was not changed when HUVECs were treated by Icaritin. These data indicated Icaritin did not directly impact angiogenesis in vitro. Combined with in vivo findings, we supposed Icaritin promoted angiogenesis through its enhanced osteogenesis during bone defect repair. / Part IV: to study Icaritin and scaffold impact on stem cell homing in vitro and in vivo. It was found Icaritin promoted the migration of rabbit MSCs and increased vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1) expression. Composite scaffolds PLGA/TCP and PLGA/TCP/Icaritin could recruit rabbit MSCs under in vitro culture condition. When labeled with SPIO@SiO₂-NH₂, the differentiation potential of rabbit MSCs retained while proliferation and migration ability of rabbit MSCs declined. Two weeks after SAON establishment, PLGA/TCP and PLGA/TCP/Icaritin scaffolds were implanted into the bone tunnel after core-decompression in initial necrotic bone defect in rabbits with SAON, immediately with SPIO@SiO₂-NH₂ labeled MSCs injected into bone marrow cavity locally. The results showed that without scaffold implantation, the tunnel was filled with fat cells and fibrotic tissues and there was no label MSC in the tunnel while there were more labeled cells appeared in bone marrow near the tunnel than far away the tunnel, with both PLGA/TCP and PLGA/TCP/Icaritin implantation, the labeled MSCs migrated into scaffold after its implantation into the bone tunnel while there was no labeled cell next to the tunnel but some were shown away from the tunnel. No significant difference was found in SPIO positive MSCs in bone tunnel between PLGA/TCP and PLGA/TCP/Icaritin group. The findings indicated that at least PLGA/TCP scaffold itself promoted MSCs homing in vitro and in vivo where the released icaritin could execute its osteopromotive effects. / In summary, the composite scaffold PLGA/TCP/Icaritin enhanced bone defect repair in rabbit with SAON by promoting homing and osteogenesis of MSCs. Icaritin promoted osteogenic differentiation of MSCs through BMP2 mediated signal pathway, such as Wnt/beta-catenin signal pathway. It is first time to report that PLGA/TCP scaffold promoted MSCs homing during bone defect repair, but underlying molecular and cellular mechanism need to be further studied. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Yao, Dong. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-158). / Abstract also in Chinese; some appendixes also in Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.i / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / ABSTRACT (IN ENGLISH) --- p.x / ABSTRACT (IN CHINESE) --- p.xiv / FLOWCHART --- p.xviii / LIST OF PUBLICATIONS --- p.xix / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xxi / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xxiv / Chapter CHAPTER 1: --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1 --- Osteonecrosis --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1. --- Etiology --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2. --- Anatomy of femoral head --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3. --- Pathogenesis --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.1. --- Intraosseous hypertension (Compartment Syndrome of Bone --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.2. --- Intraosseous hypertension (Compartment Syndrome of Bone) --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.3. --- Coagulation --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4. --- Development stages of osteonecrosis --- p.5 / Chapter 2. --- Steroids-associated osteonecrosis --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1. --- Epidemiology --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2. --- Histopathology --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3. --- Etiopathogenesis --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3.1. --- Steroid and fat metabolism --- p.14 / Chapter 2.3.2. --- Steroid and endothelial cells --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3.3. --- Steroid and coagulation --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3.4. --- Steroid and angiogenesis --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4. --- Steroid and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) --- p.18 / Chapter 2.5. --- Treatment strategies for SAON --- p.18 / Chapter 2.5.1. --- Prevention --- p.19 / Chapter 2.5.2. --- Nonoperative treatment --- p.19 / Chapter 2.5.3. --- Operative treatment --- p.19 / Chapter 2.5.3.1. --- Core decompression strategy --- p.20 / Chapter 2.5.3.2. --- Tissue engineering approach --- p.22 / Chapter 3. --- Epimedium-derived flavonoids (EFs) --- p.22 / Chapter 3.1. --- Icaritin -Intestinal metabolism of EFs --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1.1. --- Anti-tumor activity --- p..25 / Chapter 3.1.2. --- Neuroprotective effects --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1.3. --- Embryonic stem cells differentiation --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1.4. --- Osteogenic differentiation --- p.26 / Chapter 4. --- Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid / tricalcium phosphate (PLGA/TCP) scaffold --- p.26 / Chapter 5. --- PLGA/TCP/Icaritin --- p.28 / Chapter 6. --- Hypothesis of this study --- p.28 / Chapter 7. --- Objective --- p.29 / Chapter CHAPTER 2: --- The effect of phytomolecule Icaritin on differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells in vitro --- p.30 / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.31 / Chapter 2. --- Material and Methods --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1. --- Ethics --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2. --- Reagents and cell culture --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3. --- Surface phenotypes of human BM-MSCs --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4. --- Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of human BM-MSCs treated with Icaritin --- p.34 / Chapter 2.5. --- MTT assay for proliferation of BM-MSCs --- p.34 / Chapter 2.6. --- ALP staining --- p.35 / Chapter 2.7. --- ALP activity assay --- p.35 / Chapter 2.8. --- Alizarin Red S staining --- p.35 / Chapter 2.9. --- Oil Red O staining --- p.35 / Chapter 2.10. --- Ribonucleic acid (RNA) isolation --- p.36 / Chapter 2.11. --- Reverse transcription --- p.36 / Chapter 2.12. --- Real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) --- p.37 / Chapter 2.13. --- Western blotting --- p.37 / Chapter 2.14. --- Osteogenetic analysis of human MSCs after the addition of BMP2 inhibitor Noggin --- p.39 / Chapter 2.15. --- Statistical analysis --- p.39 / Chapter 3. --- Results --- p.40 / Chapter 3.1. --- Characterization of surface phenotypes of human BM-MSCs --- p.40 / Chapter 3.2. --- Icaritin had no effect on human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) proliferation --- p..41 / Chapter 3.3. --- Icaritin promoted osteogenic differentiation of MSCs in presence of osteogenic supplement --- p.42 / Chapter 3.4. --- Icaritin enhanced mineralization in osteogenic differentiation of MSCs only in presence of osteogenic supplement --- p.44 / Chapter 3.5. --- Icaritin upregulated mRNA expression of osteoblastic marker genes during osteogenic differentiation of MSCs --- p.45 / Chapter 3.6. --- Icaritin enhanced the protein expression of BMP2 and beta-catenin, while BMP2 inhibitor Noggin reversed the Icaritin-enhanced osteogenesis --- p..48 / Chapter 3.7. --- Icaritin inhibited fat droplets formation during adipogenic differentiation of MSCs --- p.50 / Chapter 4. --- Discussion --- p.52 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion --- p.56 / Chapter CHAPTER 3: --- Icaritin rescued abnormal differentiation potential of MSCs derived from rabbit with SAON --- p.57 / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.58 / Chapter 2. --- Methods and materials --- p.59 / Chapter 2.1. --- SAON model establishment --- p.59 / Chapter 2.2. --- Primary bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) isolation and culture --- p.60 / Chapter 2.3. --- Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of rabbit BM-MSCs treated with Icaritin --- p.61 / Chapter 2.4. --- MTT Assay for Proliferation of BM-MSCs --- p.62 / Chapter 2.5. --- ALP Staining --- p.62 / Chapter 2.6. --- ALP Activity Assay --- p.62 / Chapter 2.7. --- Alizarin Red S Staining --- p.62 / Chapter 2.8. --- Oil Red O Staining --- p.63 / Chapter 2.9. --- RNA Isolation --- p.63 / Chapter 2.10. --- Reverse transcription --- p.64 / Chapter 2.11. --- Real time Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) --- p.64 / Chapter 2.12. --- Western blotting performance --- p.65 / Chapter 2.13. --- Statistical analysis --- p.65 / Chapter 3. --- Results --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1. --- The osteogenic differentiation potential declined while adipogenic differentiation ability elevated of MSCs derived from SAON rabbits --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2. --- The dose-dependent effect of Icaritin on osteogenic differentiation enhancement of MSCs from normal and SAON rabbits --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3. --- Icaritin inhibited adipogenic differentiation of MSCs both derived from normal and SAON rabbits --- p..71 / Chapter 3.4. --- PPAR-γ and aP2 proteins expression increased in SAON rabbit while inhibited by Icaritin both in normal and SAON rabbit --- p.74 / Chapter 3.5. --- Proliferation ability of MSCs derived from SAON rabbit declined and Icaritin had no effect on proliferation both derived from normal and SAON rabbit --- p.75 / Chapter 3.6. --- Icaritin had no effect on the expression of VEGF which decreased in MSCs derived SAON --- p.76 / Chapter 4. --- Discussion --- p.76 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion --- p.81 / Chapter CHAPTER 4: --- The effect of Icaritin on angiogenesis in vitro --- p.82 / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.83 / Chapter 2. --- Material and Methods --- p.85 / Chapter 2.1. --- Cell culture --- p.85 / Chapter 2.2. --- Proliferation assay --- p.85 / Chapter 2.3. --- Scratch-wound healing assay --- p..86 / Chapter 2.4. --- Migration Assay --- p.86 / Chapter 2.5. --- In vitro Angiogenesis Assay --- p.87 / Chapter 2.6. --- RNA Isolation and Real-time PCR Performance --- p.87 / Chapter 2.7. --- Statistical Analysis --- p.88 / Chapter 3. --- Results --- p.88 / Chapter 3.1. --- Icaritin did not affect HUVECs migration --- p.88 / Chapter 3.2. --- Icaritin had no effect on tube formation on growth factors reduced Matrigel --- p.92 / Chapter 3.3. --- Icaritin had no effect on HUVECs proliferation --- p.94 / Chapter 3.4. --- Icaritin did not change the angiogenesis related gene expression --- p.95 / Chapter 4. --- Discussion --- p.96 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion --- p.100 / Chapter CHAPTER 5: --- Effect of PLGA/TCP and PLGA/TCP/Icaritin composite scaffolds on stem cell homing during bone defect repair with SAON --- p.101 / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.102 / Chapter 2. --- Material and Methods --- p.106 / Chapter 2.1. --- Preparation of porous PLGA/TCP/Icaritin composite scaffolds --- p.106 / Chapter 2.2. --- Primary bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) isolation and culture --- p.106 / Chapter 2.3. --- Wound healing assay --- p.107 / Chapter 2.4. --- In vitro MSCs recruitment assay of scaffolds --- p.107 / Chapter 2.5. --- MSCs labeling with SPIO@SiO2-NH2 nanoparticle --- p.108 / Chapter 2.6. --- Prussian blue staining --- p.108 / Chapter 2.7. --- MTT assay for SPIO@SiO2-NH2 labeled MSCs --- p.108 / Chapter 2.8. --- Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of SPIO@SiO2-NH2 labeled MSCs --- p.109 / Chapter 2.9. --- Real time PCR --- p.109 / Chapter 2.10. --- Animal model establishment --- p.109 / Chapter 2.11. --- Descriptive histology and histomorphometry --- p.110 / Chapter 2.12. --- In vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of nanoparticle-labeled MSCs --- p.112 / Chapter 2.13. --- Statistical analysis --- p.112 / Chapter 3. --- Results --- p.112 / Chapter 3.1. --- Icaritin promoted MSCs migration in vitro --- p.112 / Chapter 3.2. --- PLGA/TCP and PLGA/TCP/Icaritin recruited MSCs when incubated in vitro --- p.114 / Chapter 3.3. --- Stem cell potentials of MSC after SPIO@SiO2-NH2 labeling --- p.118 / Chapter 3.4. --- PLGA/TCP and PLGA/TCP/Icaritin promoted MSCs homing in vivo --- p.122 / Chapter 4. --- Discussion --- p.126 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion --- p.136 / Chapter CHAPTER 6: --- Summary of the study and future research --- p.137 / Chapter 1. --- Summary of the study --- p.138 / Chapter 2. --- Limitations and further studies --- p.139 / APPENDIXES --- p.142 / REFERENCES --- p.147

背景及研究目的：據報導薑黃素（curcumin）在阿爾茨海默癥（老年癡呆癥）的動物模型中表現出有效性。這可能與其能阻抑β 澱粉樣蛋白的聚集有關，而β 澱粉樣蛋白正是老年癡呆癥中達成共識的神經毒性物質。然而，薑黃素的水溶性很差，這一弱點直接限制其在作為口服藥物的生物利用度。羥丙基-β-環糊精是一種由七個單糖分子鍵合成的環狀分子，該環具有親水性的外部和疏水性的內部，這一特點使得疏水性藥物可以裝入環糊精分子內部從而提高該藥物的親水性，進而提高藥物的口服吸收率。 / 方法：包合物在50 攝氏度下，由摩爾比為1:2 的薑黃素和羥丙基-β-環糊精經過6 小時的攪拌而形成。其后对包合物的物化性質與相同摩爾比的薑黃素與羥丙基-β-環糊精的混合物的物化特性进行了对比以证实包合物的形成，诸如水溶性，掃描電鏡下的形態以及傅利葉紅外圖譜特性。接著用經包合物和普通薑黃素粉末喂食的SD 大鼠做藥代動力學研究，取出大鼠血樣然之後用高效液相色譜-質譜聯用法對薑黃素進行定量，計算出達峰時間（T{U+2098}{U+2090}{U+2093} ）， 峰濃度（C{U+2098}{U+2090}{U+2093} ）以及 0 到4 小時藥時曲綫下面積 （AUC₀→₄{U+2095} ）從而比較包合物較普通薑黃素是否有優越之處。之後，用Tg2576 轉基因小鼠做短期研究，此种小鼠能過度表達β 澱粉樣蛋白，是一種被廣泛應用于老年癡呆癥相關科研的動物模型，經過連續7 日的喂食之後，對小鼠的β 樣澱粉蛋白進行觀察。進一步，將用能同時過度表達β 樣澱粉蛋白與神經纖維結（NTFs）的Tau/APP 轉基因小鼠做長達兩月的藥效學實驗，在實驗始末配以关联恐惧调件反应测试（CFC）和八臂迷宮（Radial Arm Maze）來對實驗小鼠的記憶失進行定量分析。處死小鼠之後，對β 樣澱粉蛋白與神經纖維結（NTFs）進行定量分析從而確定包合物在藥效學上的優勢。 / 結果：在包合的過程中，大部份的薑黃素被整合到包合物之中。通過傅利葉紅外圖譜和掃描電鏡照片都可以觀察到包合物與混合物的顯著不同。在藥代動力學研究中，普通薑黃素粉末的達峰時間為22 分鐘左右，而包合物是40 分鐘，同時，經過包合，峰濃度也提高了3 倍左右，藥時曲綫下面積提高了2 倍以上。在用Tg2576 進行的為期一周的短期實驗中，觀察不到包合物和普通薑黃素在β 樣澱粉蛋白清除方面有明顯差別，然後通過體內染色卻可以看到經包合物喂食的小鼠腦切片中可以觀察到更多的來自薑黃素的螢光信號。在2 個月的長期實驗中，就关联恐惧调件反应测试和八臂迷宮實驗的結果來看，可以觀察到包合物有更好延遲TAPP 小鼠記憶失過程的趨勢但無顯著性，除此之外，對處死后的小鼠腦部進行分析，其β 澱粉樣蛋白與神經纖維節的含量分析結果也和行為測試具有一致性。 / 結論：用羥丙基-β-環糊精對薑黃素進行包合確實可以通過增加薑黃素的水溶性從而提高其生物利用度，讓更多的薑黃素通過血腦屏障進入大腦進而與β 澱粉樣蛋白進行結合。然後短期實驗無法表明包合物具有β 澱粉樣蛋白清除效應。而長期實驗中行為實驗和處死後大腦分析顯示出較普通薑黃素而言包合物具有有限的優點，如果要證明這一優點確實存在，可能需要更長時間的喂食與另外劑量。 / Background: Curcumin is reported to be an effective treatment in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), possibly by inhibiting aggregation of amyloid-β peptides, which can be neurotoxic.However, curcumin is poorly soluble in water, limiting its oral bioavailability. Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), a cyclic oligosaccharide made of seven sugar molecules bound togetherin a ring has a hydrophobic exterior and a hydrophobic interior, within which curcumin can reside, thus increasing the aqueous solubility of curcumin. This study aims to solve the problem of poor water-solubility of curcumin using HP-β-CD. / Method: The inclusion complexes were formed by stirring a suspension of curcumin and HP-β-CD at a molar ratio of 1:2 at 50°C for 6 hr. Physicochemical properties, including watersolubility,morphology under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum, varied between the inclusion complex and a physical mixture of the two compounds. The inclusion complex and curcumin powder were fed to Sprague Dawley rats for pharmacokinetic studies, from which blood samples were analyzed using LC/MS/MS, and relevant parameters such as T{U+2098}{U+2090}{U+2093}, C{U+2098}{U+2090}{U+2093} and AUC₀→₄{U+2095} were calculated to study the effect of HP-β-CD on the bioavailability of curcumin. To evaluate the pharmacodynamic effects, Tg2576 mice, which over express amyloid-β, were treated for 7 consecutive days with curcumin powder or inclusion complexes. Further, to examine effects of long-term treatment, Tau/APP mice, a commonly used AD model producing both amyloid-β and mutant tau proteins, were treated for 2 months. Behavior tests were conducted at the beginning and end of the long-term treatment to quantify the memory loss of the mice, and post mortem analyses, including quantification of amyloid-β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, were performed after sacrificing the mice. / Result: The majority of curcumin was integrated into complexes. FTIR profiles and SEM photographs of complexes displayed significant differences from the physical mixture. In the pharmacokinetic study, the concentration of curcumin in the control group peaked at around 22.5 min, while that of inclusion complexes peaked around 40 min. The maximum concentration of curcumin trebled and the area under the curve from 0 to 4 hours more than doubled. For shortterm treatment in Tg2576 mice, paraffin sections stained with Thioflavin T, a dye detecting amyloid-β plaques, showed no obvious difference between mice treated with curcumin powder or complexes; however brain sections from complex-treated mice had more fluorescence signal from curcumin than did mice treated with curcumin powder. For long-term treatment, in terms of the results of contextual fear conditioning and radial arm maze, there was a trend toward inclusion complexes delaying the memory loss of Tau/APP mice more effectively than curcumin powder. Compared to curcumin powder, complexes tended to reduce the number of plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. / Conclusion: Complexation with HP-β-CD can significantly enhance curcumin bioavailability by increasing its water-solubility, allowing more curcumin to penetrate the blood brain barrier to bind to amyloid-β plaques. However, short-term treatment showed no advantage of inclusion complexes in clearing amyloid-β plaques. The results of behavior tests and post-mortem studies from the 2-month long-term treatment indicated limited superiority of inclusion complexes over curcumin powder. A longer feeding period or altered dosage or both might be necessary to enhance the effect of curcumin inclusion complexes. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Liu, Hao. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-117). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Overview of Alzheimer’s disease --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- The pathological mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Anti-Alzheimer’s disease drugs --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- Curcumin as a potential anti-AD agent --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Actions of curcumin on Aβ --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities of curcumin in AD --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Activities of curcumin to combat metal toxicity --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3 --- The physicochemical properties of curcumin and limitations of curcumin in clinical usage --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4 --- Cyclodextrin in pharmaceutical usage --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5 --- Aims of the study --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Preparation and characterization of curcumin-HP-β-CD complexes --- p.24 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2 --- Phase solubility study --- p.24 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Preparation of solid complexes --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Characterization of solid complexes --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Previous work on the curcumin HP-β-CD inclusion complex --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methodology --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Phase solubility test --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Preparation of curcumin-CD complexes --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Recovery --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Differential solubility --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- SEM Studies --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Infrared --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Phase solubility analysis --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Recovery test --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Differential solubility --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- SEM study --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Infrared study --- p.45 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Staining of amyloid plaques in Tg2576 mice after oral administration of curcumin-HP-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2 --- In vitro staining of amyloid plaques by thioflavin T and curcumin --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Thioflavin T and curcumin specifically binding to amyloid plaques --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Chemicals --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Method --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3 --- In vivo staining of amyloid plaques after oral administration of curcumin-HP-β-CD inclusion complex --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Animal treatment --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Method --- p.54 / Chapter 3.4 --- Results and discussion --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- In vitro staining of amyloid plaques by thioflavin T and curcumin --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- In vivo staining of amyloid plaques by curcumin --- p.57 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Plaque removal effects after short-term feeding --- p.58 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Pharmacokinetic study of curcumin in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats after oral administration of curcumin-HP-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex --- p.61 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.61 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Previous pharmacokinetic study of curcumin-HP-β-CD inclusion complex --- p.61 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Previously established LC/MS/MS methods for quantification of curcumin in SD rat plasma sample --- p.62 / Chapter 4.2 --- Development and validation of LC/MS/MS assay --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Chemicals --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Instrumentation and chromatographic conditions --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Preparation of standard solutions --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Validation of the assay method --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3 --- Pharmacokinetic profile of curcumin in SD rats --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Animals --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Animal treatment and blood sampling --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Plasma sample analysis --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Data analysis --- p.66 / Chapter 4.4 --- Result and discussion --- p.67 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Mass spectrum --- p.67 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Chromatography and specificity --- p.69 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Linearity and sensitivity --- p.71 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Method validation---Precision and accuracy --- p.71 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Method validation---Liquid-liquid extraction recovery --- p.72 / Chapter 4.4.6 --- Pharmacokinetics parameters --- p.73 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Long-term effects of curcumin-HP-β-CD inclusion complex on Alzheimer’s disease model mice --- p.79 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.79 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Tau/APP trangenic mouse --- p.79 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Memory --- p.80 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- The role of the hippocampus in memory --- p.81 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Memory task contextual fear conditioning (CFC) --- p.82 / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Memory task radial arm maze (RAM) --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2 --- Methods --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Animal treatment --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Contextual fear conditioning test --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Radial arm maze test --- p.87 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Post-mortem analysis amyloid plaque removal effects of the curcumin-HP-β-CD inclusion complex --- p.88 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Post-mortem analysis neurofibrillary tangle removal effects of the curcumin-HP-β-CD inclusion complex --- p.90 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.92 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Mortality of the mice --- p.92 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Contextual fear conditioning test --- p.93 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Radial arm maze (RAM) test --- p.95 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Post-mortem analysis amyloid plaque removal effects of the curcumin-HP-β-CD inclusion complex --- p.97 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- Post-mortem analysis neurofibrillary tangle removal effects of the curcumin-HP-β-CD inclusion complex --- p.99 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusions and future perspective --- p.100 / Chapter 6.1 --- Conclusions --- p.101 / Chapter 6.2 --- Future perspective --- p.103 / References --- p.104

by Chan Ping Tim Timothy. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-141). / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.I / ABSTRACT --- p.II / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.IV / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.VI / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- GENERAL INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- History of tea --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Botany and agriculture of tea --- p.1 / Chapter 1.3 --- Classification of tea --- p.2 / Chapter 1.4 --- Composition of tea --- p.4 / Chapter 1.5 --- Tea processing --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Manufacture of green tea --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Manufacture of black tea --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Manufacture of oolong tea --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6 --- Pharmacological effects of tea catechins --- p.13 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Antioxidative activity --- p.13 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Hypolipidemic activity --- p.14 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Antimutagenic activity --- p.15 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- Anticarcinogenic activity --- p.15 / Chapter 1.6.5 --- Antibacterial activity --- p.16 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- ANTIOXIDATIVE ACTIVITIES OF TEA ETHANOL EXTRACTS AND GTC ON OXIDATION OF CANOLA OIL --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Lipid oxidation in food --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Phenolic antioxidants --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- Major phenolic antioxidants used in food --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- Mechanism of action of phenolic antioxidants --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1.2.3 --- BHA and its safety --- p.22 / Chapter 2.1.2.4 --- BHT and its safety --- p.24 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Natural antioxidants --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2 --- Objectives --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3 --- Materials --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4 --- Methods --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- GTC extraction --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- "HPLC analysis of GTC," --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Isolation and purification of individual epicatechin isomers --- p.30 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Ethanol extraction of tea --- p.30 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Effect of tea ethanol extracts on oxygen consumption of canola --- p.31 / Chapter 2.4.6 --- Effect of GTC on oxygen consumption of canola oil --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4.7 --- Fatty acid analysis --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4.8 --- Thermal loss of BHT --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4.9 --- Thermal loss of GTC --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4.10 --- Statistics --- p.35 / Chapter 2.5 --- Results --- p.37 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Antioxidative activities of tea ethanol extracts --- p.37 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- The yield and composition of GTC from jasmine tea --- p.51 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Antioxidative activity of GTC --- p.55 / Chapter 2.5.4 --- Antioxidative activities of individual epicatechin isomers --- p.55 / Chapter 2.5.5 --- Thermal loss of GTC --- p.60 / Chapter 2.6 --- Discussion --- p.62 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Contribution of catechins to the antioxidative effects of tea ethanol extracts --- p.62 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Antioxidaitve activities of different types of teas --- p.62 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Proposed mechanisms for the relative activity of epicatechin isomers --- p.63 / Chapter 2.6.4 --- Loss of BHT via volatilization --- p.66 / Chapter 2.6.5 --- Potential of tea catechins as food antioxidants --- p.67 / Chapter 2.6.5.1 --- Safety of GTC --- p.67 / Chapter 2.6.5.2 --- Solubility of GTC --- p.68 / Chapter 2.6.5.3 --- Effects of GTC on food quality --- p.68 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF GTC AND EPICATECHIN ISOMERS ON IN VITRO CU2+-MEDIATED LDL OXIDATION --- p.70 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.70 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Mechanisms of LDL oxidation --- p.71 / Chapter 3.1.1.1 --- Nature and sources of oxidants underlying LDL oxidation --- p.71 / Chapter 3.1.1.2 --- Structural changes of ox-LDL --- p.72 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Biological effects of ox-LDL --- p.74 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Antioxidants and atherosclerosis --- p.76 / Chapter 3.2 --- Objectives --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3 --- Materials and methods --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- LDL isolation --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- LDL oxidation --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) assay --- p.80 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Lipid analysis --- p.80 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Statistics --- p.81 / Chapter 3.4 --- Results --- p.82 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Protective effects of GTC against LDL oxidation --- p.82 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Varying protective effects of individual epicatechin isomers --- p.82 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Protective effects of GTC against oxidative degradation of PUFAs in LDL --- p.86 / Chapter 3.5 --- Discussion --- p.88 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Tea catechins as anti-atherogenic agents --- p.88 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Mechanisms of the protective effects of tea catechins against Cu2+-induced LDL oxidation --- p.88 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Relative antioxidative activities of epicatchin isomers --- p.89 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Absorption of tea catechins --- p.90 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- Pro-oxidant activities of tea catechins --- p.91 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- HYPOLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITY OF GTC --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- High serum cholesterol as a risk factor of CHD --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Serum TG and CHD --- p.94 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Hypolipidemic effect of tea --- p.95 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Hamster as an animal model of cholesterol metabolism --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2 --- Objectives --- p.97 / Chapter 4.3 --- Materials and methods --- p.98 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Animals --- p.98 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Experiment 1 --- p.98 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Experiment 2 --- p.100 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Experiment 3 --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- "Serum lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein determinations" --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Lipid analysis of liver and carcass --- p.102 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Analysis of fecal lipid content --- p.102 / Chapter 4.3.8 --- Determination of hepatic cholesterol content --- p.103 / Chapter 4.3.9 --- Assay of fatty acid synthase activity --- p.105 / Chapter 4.3.10 --- Statistics --- p.105 / Chapter 4.4 --- Results --- p.106 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Growth and food intake --- p.106 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Effects of different levels of dietary GTC on serum TG and cholesterol --- p.106 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Time course study of the hypolipidemic effects of dietary GTC --- p.109 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Effects of GTWE on serum lipid and apolipoprotein profiles --- p.113 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- "Effects of dietary GTC on hepatic TG, FFA and cholesterol contents" --- p.113 / Chapter 4.4.6 --- "Effects of dietary GTC on carcass TG, FFA and cholesterol contents" --- p.118 / Chapter 4.4.7 --- Effects of dietary GTC on fatty acid synthase activity --- p.118 / Chapter 4.4.8 --- Effects of dietary GTC on fecal lipids content --- p.118 / Chapter 4.5 --- Discussion --- p.120 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Hypolipidemic effect of GTC --- p.120 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Effects of GTC on serum apolipoproteins --- p.120 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- Implication of GTC intake in humans --- p.121 / Chapter 4.5.4 --- Mechanisms for the hypolipidemic activity of GTC --- p.122 / Chapter 4.5.5 --- Reduction in hepatic TG and FFA contents in GTC-fed hamsters --- p.123 / Chapter 4.5.6 --- Suppression of body lipid accumulation by dietary GTC --- p.124 / Chapter 4.5.7 --- Mechanisms for the hypocholesterolemic activity of GTC --- p.124 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.126 / REFERENCES --- p.129

by Liu Fang. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 159-178). / ACKNOWLEGEMENTS --- p.i / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.v / LIST OF TABLES --- p.ix / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xi / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xiv / Chapter Chapter 1. --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Literature Review --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1. --- Biologically active polysaccharides --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2. --- Antitumor activities of polysaccharides --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- In vivo studies --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- In vitro studies --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3. --- Antitumor mechanisms of polysaccharides --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4. --- Structure and antitumor activities of polysaccharides --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4.1. --- The effect of molecular mass --- p.26 / Chapter 2.4.2. --- The impact of branching configuration --- p.21 / Chapter 2.4.3. --- The relationship between antitumor activity and conformation --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4.4. --- Improvement of antitumor activity by chemical modification --- p.29 / Chapter 2.5. --- Other biological activities --- p.30 / Chapter 2.5.1. --- Antiviral activity --- p.30 / Chapter 2.5.2. --- Antimicrobial activity --- p.31 / Chapter 2.5.3. --- Free radical scavenging activity --- p.32 / Chapter 2.5.4. --- Hepatic protective effect --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Isolation and Characterization of a Polysaccharide-Protein Complex (PSPC) from Tricholoma lobayense --- p.34 / Chapter 3.1. --- Introduction --- p.34 / Chapter 3.2. --- Materials and methods --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2.1. --- Strain --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- Culture conditions --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2.3. --- Extraction of T. lobayense --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.4. --- Purification of polysaccharide-protein complex --- p.40 / Chapter 3.2.5. --- Molecular mass determination --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2.6. --- High performance liquid chromatography --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2.7. --- SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.8. --- Ultraviolet scanning --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.9. --- Chemical analysis --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.10. --- Experimental animals --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.11. --- In vivo antitumor assay --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.12. --- Safety tests --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.13. --- Statistical analysis --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3. --- Results --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- Extraction and purification --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- Biochemical analysis --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.3. --- Chemical analysis --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.4. --- In vivo antitumor activity --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3.5. --- Safety evaluation --- p.68 / Chapter 3.4. --- Discussion --- p.75 / Chapter 3.5. --- Summary --- p.84 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- "Immunomodulating, Antitumor and other Biological Activities of Polysaccharide-Protein Complex (PSPC) from Tricholoma lobayense" --- p.85 / Chapter 4.1. --- Introduction --- p.85 / Chapter 4.2. --- Materials and methods --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2.1. --- Experimental animals --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2.2. --- Cultivation of tumor cells --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2.3. --- Preparation of peritoneal exudate cells and splenocytes --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2.4. --- Mitogenic response of T cells --- p.89 / Chapter 4.2.5. --- Responses of peritoneal exudate cells --- p.89 / Chapter 4.2.6. --- In vitro antitumor assay --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2.7. --- Transmission electron microscope --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2.8. --- Evaluation of other biological activities --- p.94 / Chapter 4.2.9. --- Statistical analysis --- p.99 / Chapter 4.3. --- Results --- p.99 / Chapter 4.3.1. --- Immunomodulating activity --- p.99 / Chapter 4.3.2. --- In vitro antitumor action --- p.107 / Chapter 4.3.3. --- Observation on tumor regression induced by PSPC --- p.107 / Chapter 4.3.4. --- Other biological actions --- p.112 / Chapter 4.4. --- Discussion --- p.121 / Chapter 4.4.1. --- Immunomodulating activity --- p.121 / Chapter 4.4.2. --- Antitumor activity --- p.125 / Chapter 4.4.3. --- Other biological activities --- p.127 / Chapter 4.5. --- Summary --- p.130 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- Induction of Gene Expression of Immunomodulating Cytokines by Polysaccharide-Protein Complex (PSPC) from Tricholoma lobayense --- p.132 / Chapter 5.1. --- Introduction --- p.132 / Chapter 5.2. --- Materials and methods --- p.135 / Chapter 5.2.1. --- Experimental animals --- p.135 / Chapter 5.2.2. --- Preparation of peritoneal exudate cells and splenocytes --- p.136 / Chapter 5.2.3. --- RNA extraction --- p.137 / Chapter 5.2.4. --- Reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction --- p.137 / Chapter 5.2.5. --- Dot blot --- p.138 / Chapter 5.2.6. --- Hybridization --- p.141 / Chapter 5.3. --- Results --- p.142 / Chapter 5.3.1. --- mRNA phenotyping of cytokines and cytokine receptors in normal mice --- p.142 / Chapter 5.3.2. --- mRNA phenotyping of cytokines and cytokine receptors in tumor-bearing mice --- p.142 / Chapter 5.4. --- Discussion --- p.150 / Chapter 5.5. --- Summary --- p.153 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- General Discussion and Conclusion --- p.155 / REFERENCES --- p.159

by Lynn Wah Wong Tsang. / Consent form in Chinese. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-145). / Declaration --- p.i / Acknowledgments --- p.ii / Table of Contents --- p.iii / List of Tables --- p.vii / List of Figures --- p.x / List of Appendix --- p.xi / Chapter CHAPTER1 --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- General Introduction --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Literature Review --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Classifications of Diabetes Mellitus --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Diagnostic Criteria of Diabetes Mellitus --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Characteristics of NIDDM --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Epidemiology of NIDDM --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Pathophysiology of NIDDM --- p.16 / Chapter 1.2.6 --- Determinants and Causes of NIDDM --- p.16 / Chapter 1.2.7 --- Etiology and Risk Factors ofNIDDM --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.7.1 --- Genetic Factors --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.7.2 --- Environmental Factors --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.7.2.1 --- Physical Inactivity --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.7.3 --- Body Weight and Fat Distribution --- p.21 / Chapter 1.2.7.4 --- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus --- p.22 / Chapter 1.2.7.5 --- Impaired Glucose Tolerance --- p.23 / Chapter 1.2.8 --- Complications --- p.23 / Chapter 1.2.9 --- Oral hypoglycaemic agents --- p.25 / Chapter 1.2.9.1 --- Insulin Secretagogues --- p.25 / Chapter 1.2.9.2 --- Metformin --- p.26 / Chapter 1.2.9.3 --- Apha-Glucosidase Inhibitors --- p.26 / Chapter 1.2.9.4 --- Insulin Sensitizers --- p.27 / Chapter 1.2.10 --- Oral Hypoglycaemic Agent Failure --- p.27 / Chapter 1.2.11 --- Use of Insulin in NIDDM --- p.28 / Chapter 1.2.12 --- Combination Therapy --- p.30 / Chapter CHAPTER2 --- RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS / Chapter 2.1 --- Study Protocol --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2 --- Objectives --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3 --- Overall Design --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Selection of Patients --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- Inclusion Criteria --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- Exclusion Criteria --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Recruitment Period --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Screening Period --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Pre-Run-In Period --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Run-in Period --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.3.1 --- Stabilization --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.3.2 --- Randomization --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3.3.2.1 --- Combination Group --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3.3.2.2 --- Insulin Group --- p.47 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Evaluation Periods --- p.48 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Study Medications --- p.49 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Clinical Assessments --- p.50 / Chapter 2.4 --- Withdrawals --- p.50 / Chapter 2.5 --- Investigations --- p.51 / Chapter 2.6 --- Analytical Methods --- p.52 / Chapter 2.7 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.53 / Chapter CHAPTER3 --- RESULTS / Chapter 3.1 --- Study Population --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2 --- Randomization --- p.58 / Chapter 3.3 --- Study Results --- p.63 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Indices of Glycaemic Control and Lipids --- p.63 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Glucose Values --- p.63 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Glucosylated Haemoglobin and Glycated Plasma Protein Concentration --- p.64 / Chapter 3.3.1.2.1 --- Glucosylated Haemoglobin --- p.64 / Chapter 3.3.1.2.2 --- Glycated Plasma Protein Concentration --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3.1.3 --- Plasma Lipid Concentrations --- p.69 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Clinical Determinants --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Blood Pressure Measurements --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Body Weight Evaluations --- p.71 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Insulin Types Used --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Insulin Dosage Requirements --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Subjective Well Being and Acceptability of Insulin Injection --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Hypoglycaemic Events --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- Subsequent Study Discontinuation --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.8 --- Responders versus no Responders --- p.86 / Chapter CHAPTER4 --- GENERAL DISCUSSION / Chapter 4.1 --- Summary of Results --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2 --- Acute and Long Term Effects of --- p.101 / Combination Therapy / APPENDIX --- p.111 / REFERENCES --- p.127 / Chapter 2 --- Abstracts summarized recent data not incorporated in this thesis --- p.147

by Cheung Tak Chi. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-123). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Acknowledgeements --- p.i / Abbreviations --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.v / List of Figures --- p.viii / List of Tables --- p.xiv / Contents --- p.xv / Contents / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Epidemiological Risk Factors --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Age --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Race --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Environmental or Migratory Factor --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Diet --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Genetics --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- Regulation of Normal Prostate Development and Function --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Biochemistry and Development of Prostate Cancer --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Androgen-Dependent Prostate Cancer --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4 --- Classification of Prostate Cancer --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Stage A Prostate Cancer --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Stage B Prostate Cancer --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Stage C Prostate Cancer --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Stage D Prostate Cancer --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5 --- Methods for Early Detection of Prostate Cancer --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6 --- Clinical Treatment of Prostate Cancer --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Surgery --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Radiotherapy --- p.13 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Chemotherapy --- p.13 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- Hormonal Therapy --- p.13 / Chapter 1.7 --- Objective --- p.14 / Chapter 1.8 --- Estrogen and Its Related Compounds --- p.16 / Chapter 1.8.1 --- 17β-Estradiol --- p.16 / Chapter 1.8.2 --- Tamoxifen --- p.18 / Chapter 1.8.3 --- Aromatase Inhibitor --- p.20 / Chapter 1.9 --- Anticancer Drugs --- p.23 / Chapter 1.9.1 --- Doxorubicin --- p.23 / Chapter 1.9.2 --- cis-Platinum --- p.24 / Chapter 1.10 --- Apoptotic Pathways --- p.25 / Chapter 1.10.1 --- BCL-2 /BAD Pathway --- p.26 / Chapter 1.10.2 --- FADD Pathway --- p.27 / Chapter 1.10.3 --- CAS Pathway --- p.27 / Chapter 2. --- Materials and Methods --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2 --- Cell Lines --- p.32 / Chapter 2.3 --- Preparation of Drugs --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4 --- Drug Sensitivity Assay --- p.33 / Chapter 2.5 --- Cell Cycle Analysis --- p.35 / Chapter 2.6 --- DNA Fragmentation Assay --- p.36 / Chapter 2.7 --- Annexin Binding Assay --- p.37 / Chapter 2.8 --- Western Blot Analysis --- p.38 / Chapter 2.9 --- Data Analysis --- p.41 / Chapter 3. --- Results --- p.42 / Chapter 3.1 --- Response of Human Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer Cells to Doxorubicin and cis-Platinum --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2 --- The Effect of 17p-Estradiol on the Growth and Anticancer Drug Sensitivity of Human Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer Cells --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- 17β-Estradiol on Cell Growth --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- 17β-Estradiol on Anticancer Drug Sensitivity --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- 17β-Estradiol and Doxorubicin on Cell Cycle Progression --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- 17β-Estradiol and Doxorubicin Induced DNA Fragmentation --- p.57 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- 17β-Estradiol and Doxorubicin on Annexin Staining --- p.59 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- 17β-Estradiol and Doxorubicin on Apoptotic Protein Expression --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3 --- The Effect of Tamoxifen on the Growth and Anticancer Drug Sensitivity of Human Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer Cells --- p.64 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Tamoxifen on Cell Growth of Human --- p.65 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Tamoxifen on Anticancer Drug Sensitivity --- p.65 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Tamoxifen and Doxorubicin on Cell Cycle Progression --- p.71 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Tamoxifen and Doxorubicin Induced DNA Fragmentation --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Tamoxifen and Doxorubicin on Annexin Staining --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Tamoxifen and Doxorubicin on Apoptotic Protein Expression --- p.79 / Chapter 3.4 --- The Effect of Aromatase Inhibtiors on the Growth and Anticancer Drug Sensitivity of Human Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer Cells --- p.81 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Aromatase Inhibitors on Cell Growth --- p.81 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Aromatase Inhibitors on Anticancer Drug Sensitivity --- p.83 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- 4-AcA and Doxorubicin on Cell Cycle Progression --- p.93 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- 4-AcA and Doxorubicin Induced DNA Fragmentation --- p.99 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- 4-AcA and Doxorubicin on Annexin Staining --- p.100 / Chapter 3.4.6 --- 4-AcA and Doxorubicin on Apoptotic Protein Expression --- p.102 / Chapter 4. --- Discussion --- p.105 / Chapter 4.1 --- 17 β-Estradiol and Anticancer Drug Sensitivity --- p.106 / Chapter 4.2 --- Tamoxifen and Anticancer Drug Sensitivity --- p.109 / Chapter 4.3 --- Aromatase Inhibitors and Anticancer Drug Sensitivity --- p.112 / Chapter 4.4 --- DU145 Cells vs PC3 Cells --- p.115 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion and Perspectives --- p.116 / Chapter 6. --- References --- p.117