Herein, a doxorubicin-loaded carbon-based drug delivery system, denoted as PC-DOX, composed of pH-responsive imine bond was developed for the tumor-targeted treatment. PC-DOX with a uniform particle ...size around 180 nm was synthesized by coating of as-synthesized hollow carbon-based nanoparticles (NPs) with dialdehyde PEG, which was used as carrier to attach DOX covalently through dynamic covalent bond. The unique structure endowed the advantages of specific tumor targeting and tumor microenvironment (TME) specific drug delivery capacity with PC-DOX. For the one hand, the tumor targeting caused by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect could significantly improve the tumor cellular uptake. For the other hand, the pH-responsiveness could realize the effective DOX accumulation in tumor tissues, avoiding the unwanted side effect to the normal tissues. As a result, PC-DOX with high DOX loading capacity (70.12%) and excellent biocompatibility, concurrently, presented a significant anti-tumor effect at a low mass concentration (DOX equivalent dose: 20 μg/mL). Another attractive characteristic of PC-DOX was the remarkable protective effect towards DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, which could be clearly observed from in vitro cellular, and animal assays. Compared with free DOX, the cardiomyocyte viability increased by average 30.58%, and the heart function was also significantly improved. This novel drug delivery nanoplatform provides a new method for the future clinical application of DOX in the cancer’s therapeutics.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a type of cardiovascular disease that greatly hurts the health of human beings. Diabetic status is one of the largest clinical factors affecting CAD-associated gene ...expression changes. Most of the studies focus on diabetic patients, whereas few have been done for non-diabetic patients. Since the pathophysiological processes may vary among these patients, we cannot simply follow the standard based on the data from diabetic patients. Therefore, the prognostic and predictive diagnostic biomarkers for CAD in non-diabetic patient need to be fully recognized.
To screen out candidate genes associated with CAD in non-diabetic patients, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was constructed to conduct an analysis of microarray expression profiling in patients with CAD. First, the microarray data GSE20680 and GSE20681 were downloaded from NCBI. We constructed co-expression modules
WGCNA after excluding the diabetic patients. As a result, 18 co-expression modules were screened out, including 1,225 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were obtained from 152 patients (luminal stenosis ≥50% in at least one major vessel) and 170 patients (stenosis of <50%). Subsequently, a Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted between the modules and clinical traits. Then, a functional enrichment analysis was conducted, and we used gene network analysis to reveal hub genes. Last, we validated the hub genes with peripheral blood samples in an independent patient cohort using RT-qPCR.
The results showed that the midnight blue module and the yellow module played vital roles in the pathogenesis of CAD in non-diabetic patients. Additionally, CD40, F11R, TNRC18, and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II gamma (CAMK2G) were screened out and validated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in an independent patient cohort and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining in an atherosclerosis mouse model.
Our findings demonstrate that hub genes, CD40, F11R, TNRC18, and CAMK2G, are surrogate diagnostic biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets for CAD in non-diabetic patients and require deeper validation.
To investigate the effects of mitochondrion-targeted cyanine fluorescent small molecule IR-61 on cardiac injury induced by exhaustive exercise in rats.
Thirty-six adult male SD rats were randomly ...divided into 3 groups(
=12),control group (Ctrl), exhaustive exercise group (EE) and IR-61+ exhaustive exercise group (IR-61+EE). IR-61+EE group were intraperitoneally injected with 2 mg/kg IR-61 at the same time on day 1, 4 and 7. One hour after the end of the last drug administration, the two exhaustive exercise groups were subjected to exhaustive exercise modeling. The rats were placed on an animal treadmill with a slope of 0° at a speed of 10~15 m/min to coordinate their limbs running posture, and then ran at a speed of 25~30 m/min until exhaustion about 15 minutes later. After the animal models established, ECG was recorded by physiological recorder, myocardial injury was observed by light microscope, mitochondrial injury was observed by transmission electron microscope, myocardial cell apoptosis was detected by
To assess whether intraoperative use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)-CT/MR image fusion can accurately evaluate ablative margin (AM) and guide supplementary ablation to improve AM after ...hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ablation.
Ninety-eight patients with 126 HCCs designated to undergo thermal ablation treatment were enrolled in this prospective study. CEUS-CT/MR image fusion was performed intraoperatively to evaluate whether 5-mm AM was covered by the ablative area. If possible, supplementary ablation was applied at the site of inadequate AM. The CEUS image quality, the time used for CEUS-CT/MR image fusion and the success rate of image fusion were recorded. Local tumor progression (LTP) was observed during follow-up. Clinical factors including AM were examined to identify risk factors for LTP.
The success rate of image fusion was 96.2% (126/131), and the duration required for image fusion was 4.9 ± 2.0 (3-13) min. The CEUS image quality was good in 36.1% (53/147) and medium in 63.9% (94/147) of the cases. By supplementary ablation, 21.8% (12/55) of lesions with inadequate AMs became adequate AMs. During follow-up, there were 5 LTPs in lesions with inadequate AMs and 1 LTP in lesions with adequate AMs. Multivariate analysis showed that AM was the only independent risk factor for LTP (hazard ratio, 9.167; 95% confidence interval, 1.070-78.571; p = 0.043).
CEUS-CT/MR image fusion is feasible for intraoperative use and can serve as an accurate method to evaluate AMs and guide supplementary ablation to lower inadequate AMs.
Intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction of indoles catalyzed by trisoxazoline/copper(II) is described. This annulation provides an easy access to polycyclic indole derivatives with up to ...90% ee in up to 99% yield.
Display omitted An intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction of indoles has been developed and up to 90% ee is achieved in high to excellent yields by empolying trisoxazoline/copper(II) as a catalyst.
Background Sodium 4-phenylbutanoate (NaPB) can induce cellular differentiation and cell cycle arrest. However, its potential anticancer properties in hepatocellular carcinoma and influence on normal ...liver cell are still unclear. We observed the effects of NaPB on growth inhibition, including differentiation and phase growth arrest in normal liver cell line L-02 and hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Bel-7402. Furthermore, we investigated its mechanism in Bel-7402. Methods Hepatocellular carcinoma cells Bel-7402 and normal liver cell line L-02 were treated with NaPB at different concentrations. Light microscopy was used to find morphological change in cells. Cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Expression of acetylating histone H4 and of histones deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) were determined by Western blot. The expression of P21WAF1/CIP1 and E-cadherin were observed through immunocytochemistry. Results NaPB treatment led to time dependent growth inhibition in hepatocellular carcinoma cells Bel-7402. NaPB treatment caused a significant decline in the fraction of S phase cells and a significant increase in Go/G1 cells. NaPB increased the expression of P21wAFVCIP1 and E-cadherin in Bel-7402 and significantly decreased the level of HDAC4 in Bel-7402. NaPB significantly improved the level of acetylating histone H4. The normal liver cell line L-02 showed no distinct changes under treatment with NaPB. Conclusions NaPB inhibited the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells Bel-7402 and induced partial differentiation through enhancing the acetylating histones. In Bel-7402, the expressions of P21WAF1/CIP1 and E-cadherin may be related to level of acetylating histones and inhibition of cellular growth. NaPB showed no significant effect on normal liver cells.
In order to prepare a high capacity packing material for solid-phase extraction with specific recognition ability of trace ractopamine in biological samples, uniformly-sized, molecularly imprinted ...polymers (MIPs) were prepared by a multi-step swelling and polymerization method using methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker, and toluene as a porogen respectively. Scanning electron microscope and specific surface area were employed to identify the characteristics of MIPs. Ultraviolet spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Scatchard analysis and kinetic study were performed to interpret the specific recognition ability and the binding process of MIPs. The results showed that, compared with other reports, MIPs synthetized in this study showed high adsorption capacity besides specific recognition ability. The adsorption capacity of MIPs was 0.063 mmol/g at 1 mmol/L ractopamine concentra- tion with the distribution coefficient 1.70. The resulting MIPs could be used as solid-phase extraction materials for separation and enrichment of trace ractopamine in biological samples.
Understanding the effects of intermolecular interactions on metal‐to‐metal charge transfer (MMCT) is crucial to develop molecular devices by grafting MMCT‐based molecular arrays. Herein, we report a ...series of solvent‐free {Fe2Co2} compounds sharing the same cationic tetranuclear {Fe(PzTp)(CN)32Co(dpq)22}2+ (PzTp−=tetrakis(pyrazolyl)borate, dpq=dipyrido3,2‐d:2′,3′‐fquinoxaline) square units but having anions with different size, including BF4−, PF6−, OTf−, and Fe(PzTp)(CN)3−. Intermolecular π⋅⋅⋅π interactions between dpq ligands, which coordinate to cobalt ions in the {Fe(PzTp)(CN)32Co(dpq)22}2+ units, can be modulated by introducing different counterions, regulating the distortion of the CoN6 octahedron and ligand field around the cobalt ions. This change results in different MMCT behavior. Computational analyzes reveal the substantial role of the intermolecular interactions tuned by the presence of different counteranions on the MMCT behavior.
Transfer window: A series of solvent‐free {Fe(PzTp)(CN)32Co(dpq)22}⋅2 A− compounds were synthesized. The variation in π⋅⋅⋅π interactions between dpq ligands coordinated to Co centers can alter the distortion of the CoN6 octahedron and ligand field around the Co ions, thereby allowing control of the thermally and photo‐induced metal‐to‐metal charge transfer (MMCT).