Cell Cycle-Related Centromere Protein F Deficiency Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Cell Growth by Inducing Ferroptosis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the involvement of the cell cycle-related protein centromere protein F (CENPF) in the development of ovarian cancer (OC) and explored its relationship with ferroptosis. DESIGN: The databases were analysed to identify differential expression of cell cycle-related proteins between individuals with OC and normal individuals. Immunohistochemistry and statistical analysis were conducted on ovarian tissues obtained from 40 patients with epithelial OC and 20 normal individuals. In vitro experiments were performed using SKOV3 and HEY epithelial OC cell lines. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The mRNA microarray dataset, consisting of GSE14001, GSE54388, GSE40595, and GSE14407, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to investigate the genes associated with cell cycle regulation in OC cells. CENPF was selected as the subject of study through differential analysis.Assessed the expression of CENPF in both OC patients and normal ovarian tissues using immunohistochemistry. Lentivirus infection was employed to downregulate CENPF expression, and subsequent experiments including Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, cell cycle analysis, transwell assay, and wound-healing assay were conducted to investigate the effects of CENPF on proliferation, invasion, migration, and cell cycle regulation in OC cells. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the malondialdehyde (MDA) assays were performed to assess the involvement of CENPF in cellular redox reactions. Western blot analysis was conducted to examine the expression levels of ferroptosis-related proteins (GPX4, SLC7A11, DMT1, and protein 53 [p53]). RESULTS: By querying and integrating cell cycle-related genes from the GEO database, in silico analyses using The Cancer Genome Atlas database combined with immunohistochemical studies, we discovered that CENPF is upregulated in OC tissues and is related to survival. Downregulation of CENPF inhibited biological function of OC cells, increased intracellular ROS and MDA levels, and downregulated the GPX4 protein and the SLC7A11/xCT protein, but upregulated the DMT1 protein and the tumour p53 expression to induce ferroptosis. LIMITATIONS: This study did not investigate ferroptosis-related studies following CENPF overexpression, and the findings have not been validated in animal studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that the deficiency of CENPF played a crucial anti-oncogenic role in the progression of OC through the mechanism of ferroptosis.

Targeting PRKDC activates the efficacy of antitumor immunity while sensitizing to chemotherapy and targeted therapy in liver hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) ranks among the malignancies with the highest mortality rates, primarily due to chemoresistance culminating in treatment failure. Despite its impact, predictive models addressing disease progression, tumor microenvironment, and drug sensitivity remain elusive for LIHC patients. Recognizing the significant influence of various programmed cell death (PCD) modes on tumor evolution, this study investigates PCD genes to elucidate their implications on the prognosis and immune landscape of LIHC. METHODS: To develop the classification and model, we employed a total of 17 genes associated with PCD patterns. To collect data, we acquired gene expression profiles, somatic mutation information, copy number variation data, and corresponding clinical data from the TCGA database, specifically from LIHC patients. Moreover, we obtained spatial transcriptome data and additional bulk datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to conduct further analysis. Various experiments were conducted to validate the role of the PCD gene PRKDC in proliferation, migration, invasion, EMT, cell cycle, therapeutic sensitivity, and antitumor immunity. RESULTS: A novel LIHC classification based on these genes divided patients into two clusters, C1 and C2. The C2 cluster exhibited characteristics indicative of poor prognosis and an immune-activated microenvironment. This group showed greater response potential to immune checkpoint inhibitors, displaying higher levels of certain immune signatures and receptors. A programmed cell death index (PCDI) was constructed using 17 selected PCD genes. This index could effectively predict patient prognosis, with higher PCDI indicating poorer survival rates and a more pro-tumor microenvironment. Immune landscapes revealed varying interactions with PCDI, suggesting therapeutic targets and insights into treatment resistance. Moreover, experiments results suggested that PRKDC can augment the invasive nature and growth of malignant cells and it can serve as a potential target for therapy, offering hope for ameliorating the prognosis of LIHC patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study uncovers the insights of programmed cell death in the prognosis and potential therapeutic interventions. And we found that PRKDC can serve as a target for enhancing the efficacy of antitumor immunity while sensitizing chemotherapy and targeted therapy in liver hepatocellular carcinoma.

An Aggregation-Induced Fluorescence Probe for Detection H2S and Its Application in Cell Imaging.

Monitoring hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in living organisms is very important because H2S acts as a regulator in many physiological and pathological processes. Upregulation of endogenous H2S concentration has been shown to be closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes. Herin, a novel fluorescent probe HND with aggregation-induced emission was designed. Impressively, HND exhibited a high selectivity, fast response (1 min) and low detection limit (0.61 µM) for H2S in PBS buffer (10 mM, pH = 7.42). Moreover, the reaction mechanism between HND and H2S was conducted by Job's plot, HR-MS, and DFT. In particular, HND was successfully employed to detect H2S in HeLa cells.

Integrated network pharmacology and cellular assay reveal the biological mechanisms of Limonium sinense (Girard) Kuntze against Breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Limonium Sinense (Girard) Kuntze (L. sinense) has been widely used for the treatment of anaemia, bleeding, cancer, and other disorders in Chinese folk medicine. The aim of this study is to predict the therapeutic effects of L. sinense and investigate the potential mechanisms using integrated network pharmacology methods and in vitro cellular experiments. METHODS: The active ingredients of L. sinense were collected from published literature, and the potential targets related to L. sinense were obtained from public databases. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and DisGeNET enrichment analyses were performed to explore the underlying mechanisms. Molecular docking, cellular experiments, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were employed to further evaluate the findings. RESULTS: A total of 15 active ingredients of L. sinense and their corresponding 389 targets were obtained. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the biological effects of L. sinense were primarily associated with "Pathways in cancer". DisGeNET enrichment analysis highlighted the potential role of L. sinense in the treatment of breast cancer. Apigenin within L. sinense showed promising potential against cancer. Cellular experiments demonstrated that the L. sinense ethanol extract (LSE) exhibited a significant growth inhibitory effect on multiple breast cancer cell lines in both 2D and 3D cultures. RNA-seq analysis revealed a potential impact of LSE on breast cancer. Additionally, analysis of GEO datasets verified the significant enrichment of breast cancer and several cancer-related pathways upon treatment with Apigenin in human breast cancer cells. CONCLUSION: This study predicts the biological activities of L. sinense and demonstrates the inhibitory effect of LSE on breast cancer cells, highlighting the potential application of L. sinense in cancer treatment.

Integrated analysis reveals effects of bioactive ingredients from Limonium Sinense (Girard) Kuntze on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activation.

Limonium Sinense (Girard) Kuntze is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, showing blood replenishment, anti-tumour, anti-hepatitis, and immunomodulation activities amongst others. However, the mechanism of its pharmacological activities remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of bioactive ingredients from Limonium Sinense using an integrated approach. Water extracts from Limonium Sinense (LSW) showed a strong growth inhibitory effect on multiple cells in both 2D and 3D cultures. Global transcriptomic profiling and further connectivity map (CMap) analysis identified several similarly acting therapeutic candidates, including Tubulin inhibitors and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) modulators. The effect of LSW on the cell cycle was verified with flow cytometry showing a G2/M phase arrest. Integrated analysis suggested a role for gallic acid in mediating HIF activation. Taken together, this study provides novel insights into the bioactive ingredients in Limonium Sinense, highlighting the rich natural resource and therapeutic values of herbal plants.

The relationship between mild cognitive impairment and postoperative delirium undergoing total knee arthroplasty: The PNDABLE study.

Background: Patients undergoing surgery are at a higher risk of developing postoperative delirium (POD) as a result of anesthesia and surgical procedures. This study examined the association between POD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and whether MCI influences POD through the core pathology of POD. Methods: We enrolled Chinese Han patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty (aged 50-90, weighing 50-80 kg, and using ASAI-II), combined with epidural anesthesia between October 2020 and June 2021. All the participants were assessed using Winblad's criteria for diagnosing MCI on pre-operation and using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) postoperative 1-7 days (or before discharge) for diagnosing POD by an anesthesiologist. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of POD were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To examine the mechanism by which POD pathologies affect cognition, causal mediation analyses were performed. Results: POD incidence was 20.2%, including 32.5% in the MCI group and 12.4% in the non-mild cognitive impairment (NMCI) group. The MCI and CSF levels of T-tau and P-tau were risk factors, and the CSF levels of Aß42, Aß42/ T-tau, and Aß42/ P-tau were protective factors in POD (p < 0.05). Part of the effects of MCI on cognition can be attributed to amyloid pathology and tau. Conclusion: MCI may be a reasonably good prognostic factor in POD development. Overall, amyloid pathology and tau protein might partially mediate the influence of MCI on POD. Clinical trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: ChiCTR2000033439.

Shikonin Mediates Apoptosis through G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor of Ovarian Cancer Cells.

This study was intended to establish the predictive target of Shikonin (SK) against ovarian cancer using network pharmacology and to clarify the potential mechanism of SK in promoting apoptosis in ovarian cancer. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, plate clone assays, LDH assay, flow cytometric analysis of Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining, and western blotting were used to assess the effect of SK on apoptosis of ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3 and A2780). Pharmacodynamic targets were used to predict the targets of SK and ovarian cancer. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were used to analyze the biological functions and signal pathways of these targets. SK promoted apoptosis in ovarian epithelioid adenocarcinoma cells. SK-ovarian cancer pharmacodynamic target analysis screened 17 related genes. GO and KEGG analyses showed that SK affected the estrogen signaling pathway. SK inhibited the expression of GPER in SKOV3 and A2780 cells and downregulated the expression of EGFR, p-EGFR, PI3K, and p-AKT in a concentration-dependent manner. The apoptosis-promoting effect of SK was enhanced by GPER-specific agonist G1 and inhibited by the specific inhibitor G15. The expression of EGFR, p-EGFR, PI3K, and p-AKT was decreased by G1 and reversed by G15. SK also inhibited tumor growth in the SKOV3 xenograft model, and it acted synergistically with G1. However, the effect can be attenuated by G15 in vivo. In summary, SK may affect the apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells through GPER/EGFR/PI3K/AKT, and GPER may be a key target of SK in ovarian cancer cell apoptosis.

The Relationship Between Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score and Postoperative Delirium: The PNDABLE Study.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between Framingham Heart Study general cardiovascular disease risk score (FHS-CVD risk score) and postoperative delirium (POD) among patients who had unilateral total knee arthroplasty performed under epidural anesthesia. Furthermore, we examined whether such a hypothesized relationship was mediated by the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. Methods: A total of 750 participants were included in the current study. And the data were drawn from the database obtained from the Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorder And Biomarker Lifestyle (PNDABLE) study. The preoperative cognitive function of participants was measured by using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The incidence of POD was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). The POD severity was measured using the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS). The POD CSF biomarkers included in the current study were: Aß42, T-tau, P-tau, Aß42/T-tau, and Aß42/P-tau. The level of the CSF biomarkers was measured using the enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA) in the PNDABLE study. Linear regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between the FHS-CVD risk score and the POD CSF biomarkers. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between FHS-CVD risk score, POD CSF biomarkers, and POD incidence. The proposed mediating effect of CSF biomarkers was evaluated using Mediation Analysis with 10,000 bootstrapped iterations. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is chosen as the evaluation metric for assessing the efficacy of the FHS-CVD risk score in predicting POD. Results: In the PNDABLE study, the overall incidence of POD was 22.9% with 37.2% in the higher vascular risk group and 7.9% in the lower vascular risk group. Multiple linear regression models showed that a higher preoperative FHS-CVD risk score was positively correlated with CSF T-tau (ß = 0.218, P = 0.015) and P-tau level (ß = 0.309, P < 0.001) in the higher vascular risk group. After adjusting for age (40-90 years), gender, education, MMSE, smoking history, drinking history, hypertension, diabetes, and the presence of CHD (cardiovascular heart disease), the results of the logistic regression analysis demonstrated the effect of Aß42 (OR = 0.994, 95% CI 0.992-0.996, P < 0.001), Aß42/T-tau (OR = 0.353, 95% CI 0.254-0.491, P < 0.001), and Aß42/P-tau (OR = 0.744, 95% CI 0.684-0.809, P < 0.001) in protecting patients against POD. However, the FHS-CVD risk score (OR = 1.142, 95% CI 1.017-1.282, P = 0.025) and the remaining two biomarkers: T-tau (OR = 1.005, 95% CI 1.004-1.007, P < 0.001) and P-tau (OR = 1.045, 95%CI 1.029-1.062, P < 0.001) were identified as the risk factors. Mediation analyses revealed that the association between FHS-CVD risk score and POD was partially mediated by T-tau (proportion: 31.6%) and P-tau (proportion: 23.6%). The predictive power of the FHS-CVD risk score was validated by the ROC curve with an AUC of 0.7364. Conclusion: Higher vascular risk score is one of the preoperative risk factors for POD, which is partly mediated by CSF biomarker tau protein. Clinical Trial Registration: [www.clinicaltrials.gov], identifier [ChiCTR2000033439].

The Quality of Life of Patients with Colorectal Cancer and a Stoma in China: A Quantitative Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore quality of life (QOL) in patients with colorectal cancer and a stoma and factors associated with their QOL. METHODS: A quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out in the stoma and wound care clinic of a cancer hospital in China. Participants were recruited from clinic patients. Investigators collected demographic data and clinical information; QOL was measured using a Chinese version of the stoma-QOL scale. RESULTS: In total, 359 participants took part; 161 (44.8%) had an ileostomy, whereas the others had a colostomy, and about half of the participants (46.5%) had a permanent stoma. The mean age was 57.86 ± 11.92 years. The QOL scores of most participants were poor, with a median value of 49.44. Participants whose stoma was cared for by others had a significantly lower QOL score than those who cared for their own stomas (odds ratio [OR], 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-2.38; P = .029). Participants with a temporary stoma had a lower QOL score than those with a permanent stoma (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.275-3.40; P = .004). Further, participants with a complication had a lower QOL score than those without (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.07-2.43; P = .022). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a need for well-developed interventions to improve the QOL of these patients. This study provides valuable insights to inform the development of future clinical practice and research in this area in China and beyond.

New fluorescent chemosensors based on mononuclear copper complex for highly selective and sensitive detection of phosphate anion in aqueous solution and living cells.

Three new probes, named, [Cu(L1)2]Cl2 (C1), [Cu(L2)2]Cl2 (C2) and [Cu(L3)2]Cl2 (C3) were synthesized and well characterized. The probes C1, C2 and C3 were successfully achieved for the efficient detection of PO43- as turn-on fluorescence chemosensors in DMSO/H2O (v:v = 2:8, Tris-HCl pH = 7.20). The limit of detection (LOD) of probes C1, C2 or C3 for PO43- could be as low as 0.029 µM, 0.048 µM, 0.079 µM, respectively, which were effectively applied for the determination of the PO43- concentration in environmental water of swimming pool. What's more, the binding constant between probes C1, C2, C3 and PO43- are estimated to be 3.11 × 107 M-1 (R2 = 0.9992), 1.84 × 107 M-1 (R2 = 0.9956), 1.93 × 107 M-1 (R2 = 0.9976), respectively. The proposed mechanism for the "on-off-on" fluorescence response was confirmed by ESI-MS and fluorescence spectrum. Moreover, the membrane-permeable probe C1 was successfully demonstrated in monitoring of PO43- in cultured HepG2 cells.

N-octyl-N-arginine-chitosan micelles for gambogic acid intravenous delivery: characterization, cell uptake, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution.

OBJECTIVE: The deeper research of N-octyl-N-arginine chitosan (OACS) as intravenous delivery was characterized, cell uptake study, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution of OACS micelles (GA-OACS) were investigated. SIGNIFICANCE: Gambogic acid (GA) can inhibit the growth of various cancer cells. However, the short elimination half-life time and treatment without targeting limits its application. OACS was synthesized as delivery carrier for GA by us, but the deeper characterization of OACS, such as molecular modeling, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution were not investigated. METHODS: Gambogic acid loaded OACS micelles (GA-OACS) were evaluated by the molecular modeling, characterized by TEM, DLS, IR, 1HNMR, XRD. Confocal laser scanning microscope and flow cytometry were analyzed for cell uptake study. Imaging analysis was used to show the distribution of OACS in vivo directly, pharmacokinetics and biodistribution were also investigated. RESULTS: The molecular modeling result showed that GA could encapsulated stably in the core of OACS micelles. TEM, IR, 1HNMR, and XRD also suggested that GA was encapsulated in amorphous form in the core of OACS micelles. AUC and elimination half-life of GA-OACS were all increased by 1.5-fold and 2.0-fold compared with GA-ARG in rat, respectively. Biodistribution study indicated that GA-OACS was distributed mainly in the liver. GA amount in the kidney and heart was greatly reduced in the GA-OACS group. From the imaging analysis, OACS distribution in the liver was the most. CONCLUSIONS: OACS was an excellent carrier for GA intravenous delivery to prolong half-life. Moreover, OACS targeted on liver.

Effect of Hydrostatic Pressure on the Fluorescence of Tryptophan in the Presence of Metal Ions Running title: Effect of pressure on the tryptophan

ABSTRACT The effect of pressure on the fluorescence of tryptophan in the presence of metal ions was studied by fluorescence spectrometry. It was found that at 60 MPa, the fluorescence intensity of M/Trp mixtures (M represented metal ions) increased compared to that at atmosphere pressure. The relative fluorescence efficiency of M/Trp mixtures increased with pressure. When the M/Trp ratio was above 10:1, the relative fluorescence efficiency in decreasing order was Cu2+/Trp mixtures, Ni2+/Trp mixtures and Mg2+ (K+)/Trp mixtures. When the ratio was below 10:1, the decreasing order was Cu2+/Trp mixtures and Ni2+ (Mg2+, K+)/Trp mixtures. The relative fluorescence efficiency increased with the concentration of Cu2+ and Ni2+. The variation was relate to the quenching of tryptophan fluorescence in the presence of metal ions. A red shift was also observed, but the red shift was independent of metal ions.

Sexual Experiences of Chinese Patients Living With an Ostomy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the sexual experience of Chinese patients with ostomy and associated factors. DESIGN: A prospective descriptive study using self-report questionnaires. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Seventy-five Chinese participants who underwent ostomy surgery in a large cancer specialist hospital in the Hunan province between 2008 and 2013. METHODS: Data were collected face-to-face by the investigators in an outpatient setting from 75 participants who completed the Arizona Sexual Experience Inventory Scale (ASEX). The t test was used to compare variances between sexual function and dysfunction subgroups. A multiple linear regression model was used to analyze factors influencing sexual life after ostomy surgery. RESULTS: The mean ASEX score was 20.56 (5.378) years, which is higher than the standard for sexual dysfunction. The main subsection of sexual dysfunction included sexual arousal, orgasm ability, vaginal lubrication/penile erection, and sexual satisfaction. Significant differences in the ASEX score were observed in subgroups of age, gender, educational level, family relations, operation modes, stoma type, operation time, complications, supporters, self-care ability, and sexual life guidance. Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that family relations, operation modes, ostomy type, complications, and sexual life guidance affected sexual experience. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrate that patients with ostomy experience sexual dysfunction and many factors influence their quality of sexual life. WOC nurses and other healthcare providers should consider providing sexual health education for both the patient and spouse to improve the self-care capacity and quality of sexual life following ostomy surgery.

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, DNA/BSA binding, DNA cleavage and cytotoxicity studies of phenanthroline based copper(II)/zinc(II) complexes.

Research on copperII 1,10-phenanththroline (phen) derivatives continues to attract interest in the context of structure and biological properties. In this paper, two metal complexes [Cu2(phen)2(µ-Cl)2]Cl2 (1), [Zn(phen)2(H2O)Cl]Cl·4H2O (2) were synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 were determined by X-ray diffraction. In order to investigate the biological properties of the prepared complexes, spectroscopic and biological studies were performed. Results of X-ray diffraction showed that 1 and 2 form two types of crystal structures in a given system: dinuclear and mono-nuclear complex. The preliminary study on the DNA cleavage activity has shown that 1 under study behaved as the chemical nucleases. The DNA binding interaction of 1 & 2 with CT-DNA has been investigated by UV-Visible and fluorescence emission spectrometry and the apparent binding constant (K app) values are 5.1 × 104 and 1.2 × 104 M-1, respectively. In addition, fluorescence spectrometry of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with 1 & 2 showed that the quenching mechanism might be a static quenching procedure with one binding sites for BSA. In addition, the cytotoxicity of 1 in vitro on tumor cells lines (MCF-7, HepG2 and HT29) was examined by MTT and showed better antitumor effect on the tested cells.

Four mononuclear platinum(II) complexes: synthesis, DNA/BSA binding, DNA cleavage and cytotoxicity.

Four new platinum(II) complexes: PtII L1·H2O (C1, H2 L1 = C20H16N2O2), PtII L2Cl2 (C2, L2 = C22H16N2O2), PtII L3Cl2·H2O (C3, L3 = C20H16N2), PtII L4Cl2·0.4H2O (C4, L4 = C18H14N4) have been synthesized and characterized by using various physico-chemical techniques. The binding interaction of the four platinum(II) complexes C1-C4 with calf thymus (CT)-DNA has been investigated by UV-Vis and fluorescence emission spectrometry. The apparent binding constant (K app) values follow the order: C3 > C1 > C2 > C4. In addition, fluorescence spectrometry of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with the four platinum(II) complexes C1-C4 showed that the quenching mechanism might be a static quenching procedure. For C1-C4, the number of binding sites was about one for BSA and the binding constants follow the order: C3 (7.08 × 105M-1) > C1 (2.82 × 105M-1) > C2 (0.85 × 105M-1) > C4 (0.15 × 105M-1). With the single condition change such as absence of an external agent, the DNA cleavage abilities of C3 exhibit remarkable changes. In addition, the cytotoxicity of C3 in vitro on tumor cells lines (MCF-7, HepG2 and HT29) were examined by MTT and showed better antitumor effects on the tested cells.

A highly selective and sensitive turn-on fluorescent probe for the detection of Al3+ and its bioimaging.

A novel fluorescent sensor, 1-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylene)urea (ocn) has been designed and applied as a highly selective and sensitive fluorescent probe for recognition of Al3+ in Tris-HCl (pH = 7.20) solution. The probe ocn exhibits an excellent selectivity to Al3+ over other examined metal ions, anions and amino acids with a prominent fluorescence 'turn-on' at 438 nm. ocn binds to Al3+ with a 2:1 binding stoichiometry and the detection limit was 0.3 µM. Furthermore, its capability of biological application was evaluated and the results showed that the sensor could be used to detect Al3+ in living cells.

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, DNA/protein binding and cytotoxicity studies of five α-aminophosphonate N-derivatives.

Five new α-aminophosphonates are synthesized and characterized by EA, FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 31P NMR, ESI-MS and X-ray crystallography. The X-ray analyses reveal that the crystal structures of 1-5 are monoclinic or triclinic system with the space group P 21/c, P-1, P-1, P2(1)/c and P-1, respectively. All P atoms of 1-5 have tetrahedral geometries involving two O-ethyl groups, one Cα atom, and a double bond O atom. The binding interaction of five new α-aminophosphonate N-derivatives (1-5) with calf thymus(CT)-DNA have been investigated by UV-visible and fluorescence emission spectrometry. The apparent binding constant (Kapp) values follows the order: 1 (3.38×105M-1)>2 (3.04×105M-1)>4 (2.52×105M-1)>5 (2.32×105M-1)>3 (2.10×105M-1), suggesting moderate intercalative binding mode between the compounds and DNA. In addition, fluorescence spectrometry of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with the compounds 1-5 showed that the quenching mechanism might be a static quenching procedure. For the compounds 1-5, the number of binding sites were about one for BSA and the binding constants follow the order: 1 (2.72×104M-1)>2 (2.27×104M-1)>4 (2.08×104M-1)>5 (1.79×104M-1)>3 (1.17×104M-1). Moreover, the DNA cleavage abilities of 1 exhibit remarkable changes and the in vitro cytotoxicity of 1 on tumor cells lines (MCF-7, HepG2 and HT29) have been examined by MTT and shown antitumor effect on the tested cells.

Novel Long-Circulating Liposomes Consisting of PEG Modified ß-Sitosterol for Gambogic Acid Delivery.

Long-circulating liposome is an effective formulation in field of cancer treatment. However, high expenditure of formulation and high dose of cholesterol severely restrict its application. In this paper, we developed a method by grafting polyethylene glycol 2000 on ß-sitosterol succinic anhydride ester to obtain relatively cheap polyethylene glycol-ß-sitosterol conjugates, which were used to prepare long-circulating liposome without cholesterol. Gambogic acid which is an effective antitumor ingredient with very short half-life, was used as a model drug to prepare long-circulating liposome in this research. Meanwhile, the characteristics, pharmacokinetics and distribution of this novel long-circulating liposome were also investigated in comparison with other gambogic acid formulations. Polyethylene glycol-ß-sitosterol conjugates were synthesized, different liposomal formulations were also prepared by ethanol injection method, and the obtained nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscope. The long-circulating effect, pharmacokinetics and distribution of gambogic acid in rats were also explored. 1HNMR confirmed that polyethylene glycol-ß-sitosterol conjugates were synthesized successfully. Novel long-circulating liposome was successfully prepared by ethanol injection method attaining a entrapment efficiency of 89.4%, exhibiting a homogeneous particle size of 245.2 nm and -24.3 mV zeta potential with smooth continuous surface. This novel long-circulating liposome demonstrated better long-circulating effect than ordinary long-circulating liposome. The novel long-circulating liposome as-prepared not only could reduce cost of grafting polyethylene glycol on macromolecular phospholipid, but also no cholestrol in preparation was applied, expanding the application of liposome as a formulation in the field of lowering blood lipid. Therefore, polyethylene glycol-ß-sitosterol conjugates are recommended substitute for polyethylene glycol modified phospholipid to prepare long-circulating liposomes.

Sexual function in cervical cancer patients: Psychometric properties and performance of a Chinese version of the Female Sexual Function Index.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties and performance of a Chinese version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) among a sample of Chinese women with cervical cancer. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was used. The respondents included 215 women with cervical cancer in an oncology hospital in China. A translated Chinese version of the FSFI was used to investigate their sexual functioning. Psychometric testing included internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient and item-total correlations), test-retest reliability, construct validity (principal component analysis via oblique rotation and confirmatory factor analysis), and variability (floor and ceiling effects). RESULTS: The mean score of the total scale was 20.65 ± 4.77. The Cronbach values were .94 for the total scale, .72-.90 for the domains. Test-retest correlation coefficients over 2-4 weeks were .84 (p < .05) for the total scale, .68-.83 for the subscales. Item-total correlation coefficients ranged between .47 and .83 (p < .05). A five-factor model was identified via principal component analysis and established by confirmatory factor analysis, including desire/arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. There was no evidence of floor or ceiling effects. CONCLUSIONS: With good psychometric properties similar to its original English version, this Chinese version of the FSFI is demonstrated to be a reliable and valid instrument that can be used to assess sexual functioning of women with cervical cancer in China. Future research is still needed to confirm its psychometric properties and performance among a large sample.

A novel external catheter fixation method for chemotherapy using inferior epigastric arterial catheterization for cervical cancer.

The aim of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the effects of a novel external catheter fixation method for chemotherapy using inferior epigastric arterial catheterization for cervical cancer.Patients diagnosed with cervical cancer were randomly divided into a control group (n = 32) and a treatment group (n = 33). Patients in the control group underwent a traditional fixation method using a haemostat, elastic band and abdominal bandage. Patients in the treatment group underwent an improved fixation method using an indwelling needle and membrane cover. We used a visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate each patient's comfort score and also recorded the incidence of needlestick injury and the length of injection time in each group. The VAS scores measured before and after chemotherapy in the treatment group were lower than in the control group. The incidence of needlestick injury in the treatment group was significantly lower than in the control group. The length of injection time in treatment group was significantly lower than in the control group. Compared with the traditional fixation method, the improved fixation method not only increased patient comfort but also reduced both the risk of needlestick injury and the length of injection time. This improved technique deserves increased clinical use.