Highly Effective Generation of Singlet Oxygen by an Imidazole-Linked Robust Photosensitizing Covalent Organic Framework.

Developing effective photosensitizers to initiate the generation of singlet oxygen (1O2) is of great significance in both chemistry and physiology. Herein, linking the photoactive porphyrin moieties by in situ-formed robust imidazole groups, a covalent organic framework (COF), PyPor-COF, was successfully designed and synthesized. Detailed characterizations reveal that it not only possesses high crystallinity, permanent porosity, and robust stability but also shows a semiconductive photoresponse activity. As demonstrated by electron paramagnetic resonance experiments, the COF can initiate the generation of 1O2 efficiently under visible-light irradiation, the efficiency of which is higher than that of the pristine porphyrin-based reactant and even higher than some commonly used commercially available photosensitizing agents. Anticancer experiments prove that it can efficiently trigger the production of 1O2 in a physiological environment. This work demonstrates that the imidazole-linked porphyrin-incorporated COF is a highly promising photosensitizer that can even be applied in photodynamic therapy.

An endometrial receptivity scoring system basing on the endometrial thickness, volume, echo, peristalsis, and blood flow evaluated by ultrasonography.

Background: Establishing a successful pregnancy depends on the endometrium and the embryo. It is estimated that suboptimal endometrial receptivity account for one-third of implantation failures. Despite the indepth understanding of the processes associated with embryo-endometrial cross-talk, little progress has been achieved for diagnosis and treatments for suboptimal endometrial receptivity. Methods: This retrospective study included women undergoing their first frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles at our reproductive medicine center from March 2021 to August 2021. Transvaginal three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound was performed in the morning on the day of embryo transfer for all the thawed embryo transfer patients, to evaluate endometrial receptivity, including endometrial thickness, echogenicity, volume, movement and blood flow. Results: A total number of 562 patients of FET with 315 pregnancies (56.0%) was analyzed. It was found that only the echo of the endometrial central line was different between the pregnant group and non-pregnant group. Other parameters, such as endometrial thickness, volume, endometrial peristalsis, or the endometrial blood flow were not statistically different between the two groups. Then, according to the relationship between the different groups and the clinical pregnancy rate, a score of 0 to 2 was respectively scored. The sum of the scores for the six items was the patient's endometrial receptivity score. It showed that the clinical pregnancy rate increased as the endometrial receptivity score increased, and when the receptivity score reaches at least 5, the clinical pregnancy rate is significantly improved (63.7% versus 49.5%, P=0.001). Conclusion: We developed an endometrial receptivity scoring system and demonstrated its validity. It may aid clinicians in choosing the useful marker in clinical practice and for informing further research.

Effect of Calcium Dobesilate in Preventing Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients with Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the protective effect of calcium dobesilate against contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) after coronary angiography (CAG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: A total of 130 patients with diabetes and CKD estimated glomerular filtration rate: 30-90 mL/min/1.73m2 were enrolled and included in the analysis. They were divided into experimental (n=65) and control groups (n=65). Patients in the experimental group were administered oral calcium dobesilate (500 mg) three times daily for 2 days before and 3 days after the procedure. The serum creatinine (SCr), cystatin C (Cys C), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels were measured before and after the procedure. RESULTS: The mean SCr level at 24h after the procedure was found to be significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (79.1±19.6 µmol/L vs. 87.0±19.3 µmol/L, p=0.023). However, the Cys C and NGAL levels were not significantly different between the two groups at all measurement time points (all p>0.05). The incidence of CIN defined by the SCr level was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (3 [4.6%] vs. 13 [20.0%], p=0.017). However, the incidence of CIN defined by the Cys C level was not statistically different between the two groups (7 [10.8%] vs. 7 [10.8%], p=1.000). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that calcium dobesilate has no preventive effect against CIN in patients with diabetes and CKD.

Effect of calcium dobesilate in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the protective effect of calcium dobesilate against contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) after coronary angiography (CAG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: A total of 130 patients with diabetes and CKD estimated glomerular filtration rate: 30-90 mL/min/1.73m2 were enrolled and included in the analysis. They were divided into experimental (n=65) and control groups (n=65). Patients in the experimental group were administered oral calcium dobesilate (500 mg) three times daily for 2 days before and 3 days after the procedure. The serum creatinine (SCr), cystatin C (Cys C), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels were measured before and after the procedure. RESULTS: The mean SCr level at 24h after the procedure was found to be significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (79.1±19.6 μmol/L vs. 87.0±19.3 μmol/L, p=0.023). However, the Cys C and NGAL levels were not significantly different between the two groups at all measurement time points (all p>0.05). The incidence of CIN defined by the SCr level was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (3 [4.6%] vs. 13 [20.0%], p=0.017). However, the incidence of CIN defined by the Cys C level was not statistically different between the two groups (7 [10.8%] vs. 7 [10.8%], p=1.000). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that calcium dobesilate has no preventive effect against CIN in patients with diabetes and CKD.

Comparison of Treatment Response and Survival Profiles Between Drug-Eluting Bead Transarterial Chemoembolization and Conventional Transarterial Chemoembolization in Chinese Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

This study evaluated the difference in treatment response and survival profiles between drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) and conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) treatments in Chinese hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. A total of 120 HCC patients were consecutively enrolled in this prospective cohort study, which showed that DEB-TACE achieved higher complete response (CR) (30.8%) compared with cTACE (7.4%) with no difference in overall response rate (ORR) for patients treated with DEB-TACE and cTACE (80.8% vs. 73.5%). In addition, DEB-TACE was associated with a lower rate of progressive disease (PD) compared with cTACE (1.9% vs. 11.8%). With respect to survival, patients in the DEB-TACE group achieved median progression-free survival (PFS) of 15 months (95% CI 12-18 months), which was longer than the cTACE group [median PFS 11 months (95% CI 10-12 months)]. Median overall survival (OS) was also longer with DEB-TACE [25 months (95% CI 22-28 months)] when compared with cTACE [21 months (95% CI 18-24 months)]. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that DEB-TACE was an independent predictive factor for achieving CR. Univariate Cox's regression analysis revealed that DEB-TACE was a predictive factor for prolonged PFS and OS, while multivariate analysis demonstrated that DEB-TACE was not an independent factor for predicting PFS or OS. In conclusion, we found that DEB-TACE achieved higher treatment response and prolonged survival compared with cTACE in Chinese HCC patients.

GRP78 upregulation-induced increase in cisplatin sensitivity of SPCA1 lung cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone, plays a critical role in chemotherapy resistance in a variety of cancers. In this study, we investigated the up-regulation of GRP78 induced by A23187 and its association with the chemotherapeutical sensibility to cisplatin in human lung cancer cell line SPCA1. METHODS: SPCA1 cells were pretreated with A23187 at different concentrations. The expression of GRP78 at the mRNA level was analyzed by RT-PCR; the expression of GRP78 at the protein level was determined by Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay. Cell survival was determined by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The expression of GRP78 at both the mRNA and protein levels was obviously induced by A23187 in SPCA1 cells, with an elevation of GRP78 by 2.1-fold at the mRNA level and by 3.8-fold at the protein level compared to the control. There was a dose-dependent response. Survival curve analysis demonstrated that A23187 induction caused a significant reduction of survival for the cells subjected to cisplatin treatment (P < 0.05). After treatment by cisplatin, the percentage of apoptotic cells in the A23187 pretreated group increased about three fold compared with the control group ((27.53 ± 4.32)% vs. (9.25 ± 3.64)%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A23187 treatment was fairly effective for the induction of GRP78 in SPCA1 cells at both the mRNA and protein levels. To a certain extent, GRP78 up-regulation by A23187 was associated with the enhancement of drug sensitivity to cisplatin in human lung cancer cell line SPCA1.