A pH-responsive supramolecular hydrogel encapsulating a CuMnS nanoenzyme catalyst for synergistic photothermal-photodynamic-chemodynamic therapy of tumours.

Traditional cancer therapies no longer meet the current demand for cancer precision therapy and personalized treatment and it's essential to develop new therapeutic modalities as well as to investigate new combination anti-tumor mechanisms. Therefore, amphiphilic prodrug polymer chains linking methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) and cinnamaldehyde (CA) with adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) as the pH-responsive center were designed and synthesized, which could self-assemble into PAC micelles in aqueous solution. A supramolecular hydrogel was formed based on the host-guest interaction between α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) and PAC micelles. Polyetherimide (PEI) modified copper manganese sulfide nanoenzyme catalysts (PCMS NPs) were prepared by a solvothermal method, which could be uniformly dispersed in the hydrogel to form a composite supramolecular hydrogel (PCMS@PAC/α-CD Gel). Under an acidic tumor environment, pH-responsive hydrazone bonds were broken, resulting in the slow release of CA and the amplification of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels. PCMS NPs exerted peroxidase (POD)-like activity and catalase (CAT)-like activity, which could convert H2O2 into hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) and oxygen (O2) to alleviate intra-tumor hypoxia and induce apoptosis, while exerting glutathione oxidase (GPX)-like activity to consume glutathione (GSH) to further enhance the effect of chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Under near-infrared light (NIR) irradiation, PCMS NPs exhibited an excellent photothermal conversion performance, which could rapidly increase the temperature of tumor cells to above 42 °C for photothermal therapy (PTT) and convert O2 to a superoxide anion (˙O2-) by exerting oxidase (OXD)-like activity for photodynamic therapy (PDT). It was demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo experiments that the PCMS@PAC/α-CD Gel was highly cytotoxic to cancer cells and could effectively inhibit tumor growth, indicating the potential for applications in the fields of biomedicine and smart materials.

In situ injectable NIR-responsive supramolecular hydrogels encapsulating ROS-triggered chain-breakage prodrug micelles and hydrophilic Fe3O4 nanoparticles for enhanced synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy.

Efficient synergistic therapeutic strategies for tumors with high specificity and sensitivity remain a major challenge. An injectable near-infrared (NIR)-responsive supramolecular hydrogel was prepared via host-guest interactions between conjugated poly(N-phenylglycine)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PNPG-PEG) and α-cyclodextrin. A reactive oxygen species (ROS)-triggered chain-breakage prodrug was composed of a thioketal (TK) linkage of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) and doxorubicin (DOX). The resulting amphiphilic conjugate mPEG-TK-DOX can self-assemble into prodrug micelles. PEG/poly(etherimide) (PEI)@Fe3O4 nanoparticles (PEG/PEI@Fe3O4 NPs) were prepared using a thermal decomposition method. The prodrug micelles and PEG/PEI@Fe3O4 NPs can be well dispersed into the hydrogel system. In a tumor micro-acid environment, PEG/PEI@Fe3O4 NPs catalyze the decomposition of H2O2 to highly toxic ˙OH via a Fenton reaction to induce the breakage of ROS-responsive TK bonds for the dissociation of micelles and the continuous release of DOX. PEG/PEI@Fe3O4 NPs can also generate an NIR-thermal effect and enhance the photothermal therapy. Notably, by combining with controllable photothermal therapy, the in situ composite hydrogel system shows enhanced synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy for tumors and almost complete in vitro and in vivo tumor suppression, providing a promising synergistic tumor treatment strategy.

Understanding health literacy from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective.

Health literacy is critical to improving individual and public health. However, indigenous perceptions of health are largely absent from Western-derived measurements, contributing to disparities in health outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous populations. China is the country with the world's largest population and only officially introduced the term "health literacy" in 2008. Current measures of health literacy in China are primarily based on Western-derived constructs, which have been shown to have poor comparability to the unique dual medical system in China. Given its significant importance to health management globally, understanding health perceptions from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective is essential. This review explores the concept and core elements of indigenous health literacy, evaluates the existing definitions and measurement tools as applied to the concept, and proposes a new model of traditional Chinese medicine health literacy. Please cite this article as: Qian Z, Wang GY, Henning M, Chen Y. Understanding health literacy from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(3): 215-220.

Injectable and Self-Healing Polysaccharide Hydrogel Loading Molybdenum Disulfide Nanoflakes for Synergistic Photothermal-Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer.

In order to overcome the limitation of traditional therapies for cancer and improve the accuracy of treatment, more advantageous cancer treatment methods need to be explored and studied. As a result, photothermal photodynamic therapy of breast cancer using bovine serum albumin (BSA) modifies molybdenum disulfide nanoflakes. Then the well-dispersed BSA-MoS2 NFs are loaded in the injectable and self-healing polysaccharide hydrogel which is prepared by the reaction of oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) and hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCS) through the formation of Schiff base bonds. The injection and self-healing properties of the nanocomposite hydrogel are investigated. In vitro photothermal and photodynamic investigations demonstrate that BSA-MoS2 NFs possess obvious photothermal conversion and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under the irradiation of near infrared (NIR) laser (808 nm). In vivo anticancer investigation indicates that the nanocomposite hydrogel can be directly injected and remain in the tumor sites and achieve the synergistic photothermal-photodynamic therapy of cancer.

[Bone proportional measurement on the chest and abdomen among 101 young females].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the bone proportional measurement standard on the chest and abdomen of modern women. METHODS: The height, weight and distances of bone proportional measurement chest and abdomen of 101 young females were measured. The height was divided by 75 to calculate the data of bone proportional measurement, and compared with the national standard published in 2006 and the ancient literature of Miraculous Pivot: Gudu. RESULTS: The bone proportional distances between two nipples and two coracoid processes of women were 8 cun and 12 cun respectively, which were in line with the 2006 national standard. The bone proportional distance from navel to superior margin of pubic symphysis (Qugu) was 6.5 cun, which was consistent with the ancient literature of Miraculous Pivot: Gudu. The bone proportional distance from suprasternal fossa to the middle point of xiphisternal synchondrosis (Qigu) was less than 9 cun, while the bone proportional distance from Qigu to navel was more than 8 cun, resulting in the ratio less than 9︰8. The bone proportional distance from suprasternal fossa to the middle point of xiphoid process was 9 cun, corresponding to the ratio of 9︰8 when comparing with the measurement from the middle point of xiphoid process to navel. CONCLUSION: The bone proportional distance measurement between two nipples and two coracoid processes of women should follow the 2006 national standard, and the bone proportional distance measurement from navel to superior margin of pubic symphysis should follow the standard of Miraculous Pivot: Gudu. The middle point of xiphisternal synchondrosis should be replaced by the middle point of xiphoid process.

Injectable and self-healing nanocomposite hydrogel loading needle-like nano-hydroxyapatite and graphene oxide for synergistic tumour proliferation inhibition and photothermal therapy.

Non-chemotherapeutic tumour treatment has received extensive attention due to its having fewer side effects as compared to chemotherapy. However, nanomaterials-based non-chemotherapy still faces limitations such as poor targeting and low retention. Therefore, a Schiff base cross-linked hydrogel was designed and prepared using aldehyde-modified polyethylene glycol (PEG) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC). This hydrogel has good injectable and self-healing properties and can carry graphene oxide (GO) as a photothermal agent and needle-like nano-hydroxyapatite (HAP) as a tumour inhibitor. Combined with tumour proliferation inhibition therapy and photothermal therapy, the nanocomposite hydrogel system can avoid the side effects of chemotherapy and improve the accuracy of tumour treatment. The PEG-CMC/HAP/GO nanocomposite hydrogel system has a porous structure, good injectability and self-healing properties to meet the mechanical requirements. In vitro cell characterization showed that GO is phototoxic to tumour cells, HAP can inhibit the proliferation of tumour cells, the nanocomposite hydrogel remained in the tumour site, and the encapsulated GO and HAP did not transfer to the normal site and cause cell damage. In the in vivo investigation, the breast cancer tumour-bearing mice, the model animals for tumour treatment, were treated with an intratumoral injection of the PEG-CMC/HAP/GO nanocomposite hydrogel. This functional self-healing hydrogel loaded with GO and HAP effectively inhibited tumour cell proliferation and realized the synergistic effect of photothermal therapy, which is expected to become a new effective treatment approach for tumours.

Effect of Compound Laser Acupuncture-Moxibustion on Blood Glucose, Fasting Insulin and Blood Lipids Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of compound laser acupuncture-moxibustion on blood glucose, fasting insulin and blood lipids levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, including the normal group, model control group, laser group and sham laser group (n=10 per group). The rats in the normal group were fed with a standard diet. Rats in other groups were fed with a high-sugar and high-fat diet for 4 weeks, then intraperitoneally injected with 1% streptozotocin to induce T2DM model. The laser group was irradiated by 10.6 µm and 650 nm compound laser on bilateral Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) for 5 min, 6 times a week for 5 weeks. The sham laser group received the same treatment as the laser group, but without laser output. The model control group and normal group were not treated. Blood glucose levels were measured before and after 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks of treatment. The serum levels of fasting insulin, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were analyzed after the last treatment. RESULTS: The blood glucose levels in the model control group increased during the 5 weeks of treatment compared with the normal group (P<0.05), while those in the laser group were significantly lower than the model control group after weekly treatment (P<0.01 or P<0.05). After 1, 2 and 3 weeks of treatment, the blood glucose levels in the laser group decreased obviously compared with the sham laser group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the levels of fasting insulin, TC and LDL in the model control group notably increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), while their levels in the laser group were significantly lower than the model control group after 5 weeks of treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in TG or HDL levels among the 4 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The compound laser acupuncture-moxibustion of 10.6 µm and 650 nm had positive effects on the regulation of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in T2DM rats, which may be a potential treatment for T2DM, and also provide an alternative to the traditional acupuncture and moxibustion therapy.