Xonotlite Nanowire-Containing Bioactive Scaffolds for the Therapy of Defective Adipose Tissue in Breast Cancer.

Considering the challenge in the treatment of severe breast tumor patients, xonotlite nanowire-containing bioactive scaffolds (Fe3O4-CS-GelMA) were fabricated by the 3D-printing technique for the therapy of injured adipose tissue after surgery. Importantly, benefiting from the excellent magnetothermal performance of Fe3O4 microspheres, Fe3O4-CS-GelMA scaffolds could effectively kill tumor cells in vitro and suppress breast cancer in vivo under an alternating magnetic field, and the tumor did not recur in 2 weeks. In addition, attributed to the released bioactive inorganic ions, Fe3O4-CS-GelMA composite scaffolds could effectively promote the expression of adipogenesis-related genes and proteins of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) via the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway in vitro. Furthermore, Fe3O4-CS-GelMA scaffolds with ADSCs could obviously stimulate the formation of adipose in vivo, compared with that of pure GelMA without inorganic components. Therefore, this study offers a promising strategy for the therapy of breast tumors after the surgical excision of breast carcinoma.

Longevity, tumor, and physical vitality in rats consuming ginsenoside Rg1.

Background: Effects of the major ginsenoside Rg1 on mammalian longevity and physical vitality are rarely reported. Purpose: To examine longevity, tumor, and spontaneous locomotor activity in rats consuming Rg1. Methods: A total of 138 Wistar rats were randomized into 2 groups: control (N = 69) and Rg1 (N = 69). Rg1 (0.1 mg/kg per day) were orally supplemented from 6 months of age until natural death. Spontaneous mobility was measured by video-tracking together with body composition (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) and inflammation markers at 5, 14, 21, and 28 months of age. Results: No significant differences in longevity (control: 706 days; Rg1: 651 days, p = 0.77) and tumor incidence (control: 19%; Rg1: 12%, p = 0.24) were observed between the two groups. Movement distance in the control group declined significantly by ∼60% at 21 months of age, together with decreased TNF-α (p = 0.01) and increased IL-10 (p = 0.02). However, the movement distance in the Rg1 group was maintained ∼50% above the control groups (p = 0.01) at 21 months of age with greater magnitudes of TNF-α decreases and IL-10 increases. Glucose, insulin, and body composition (bone, muscle and fat percentages) were similar for both groups during the entire observation period. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest a delay age-dependent decline in physical vitality during late life by lifelong Rg1 consumption. This improvement is associated with inflammatory modulation. Significant effects of Rg1 on longevity and tumorigenesis were not observed.

Preparation and characterization of a water-resistant polyamide-oxidized starch-methyl methacrylate eco-friendly wood adhesive.

A water-resistant polyamide-oxidized starch-methyl methacrylate (P-OS-M) adhesive with zero formaldehyde-emission was successfully synthesized, using natural corn starch, KMnO4, polyamide and methyl methacrylate as raw material, oxidant, crosslinking agent and comonomer, respectively. The P-OS-M25 adhesive synthesized with the optimal amount of methyl methacrylate (25 ml) could reach wet shear strength of 1.04 MPa, which was far greater than natural starch (NS) and oxidized starch (OS). Fourier transforms infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that polyamide and methyl methacrylate were successfully cross-linked and copolymerized with oxidized starch. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), rheology, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and contact angle respectively indicated that P-OS-M adhesive was suitable for wood adhesives in terms of thermal stability, viscosity, morphological and water resistence. These advantages increased the possibility of P-OS-M adhesive instead of petroleum-based wood adhesives.

Aerobic exercise induces tumor suppressor p16INK4a expression of endothelial progenitor cells in human skeletal muscle.

Aerobic exercise induces oxidative stress and DNA damage, nevertheless, lowers cancer incidence. It remains unclear how genetic stability is maintained under this condition. Here, we examined the dynamic change of the tumor suppressor p16INK4a in cells of skeletal muscle among young men following 60-min of aerobic cycling at 70% maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2max). Rg1 (5 mg, an immunostimulant ginsenoside) and placebo (PLA) were supplemented 1 h before exercise. Data from serial muscle biopsies shows unchanged p16INK4a+ cells after exercise followed by a considerable increase (+21-fold) in vastus lateralis muscle 3 h later. This increase was due to the accumulation of endothelial progenitor cells (p16INK4a+/CD34+) surrounding myofibers and other infiltrated nucleated cells (p16INK4a+/CD34-) in necrotic myofibers. During the Rg1 trial, acute increases of p16INK4a+ cells in the muscle occurred immediately after exercise (+3-fold) and reversed near baseline 3 h later. Rg1 also lowered IL-10 mRNA relative to PLA 3 h after exercise. Post-exercise increases in VEGF mRNA and CD163+ macrophages were similar for PLA and Rg1 trials. Conclusion: The marked increases in p16INK4a protein expression of endothelial progenitor cells in skeletal muscle implicates a protective mechanism for maintaining genetic stability against aerobic exercise. Rg1 accelerates resolution of the exercise-induced stress response.

Black Bioceramics: Combining Regeneration with Therapy.

Bioceramics have been developed from bioinert to bioactive or biodegradable materials in the past few decades. However, at present, traditional bioceramics are still mainly used in bone tissue regeneration and dental restoration. In this work, a new generation of "black bioceramics," extending the applications from tissue regeneration to disease therapy, is presented. Black bioceramics, through magnesium thermal reduction of traditional white ceramics, including silicate-based (e.g., CaSiO3 , MgSiO3 ) and phosphate-based (e.g., Ca3 (PO4 )2 , Ca5 (PO4 )3 (OH)), are successfully synthesized. Due to the presence of oxygen vacancies and structural defects, the black bioceramics possess photothermal functionality while maintaining their initial high bioactivity and regenerative capacity. These black bioceramics show excellent photothermal antitumor effects for both skin and bone tumors. At the same time, they have significantly improved bioactivity for skin/bone tissue repair in vitro and in vivo. These fascinating properties award the black bioceramics with profound applications in both tumor therapy and tissue regeneration, which should greatly promote the scientific relevance and clinical application of bioceramics, representing a promising new direction of cell-instructive biomaterials.

Lower tumorigenesis without life extension in rats receiving lifelong deep ocean minerals.

Naturally occurring tumor in animals receiving high minerals from deep oceans (DOM: hardness 600 mg/L) from 6 months of age until natural death was firstly assessed in 200 Sprague Dawley rats, randomized into four groups: Control (C), DOM (D), Fructose (F), and Fructose + DOM (FD). Fructose drink contained 11% fructose. Tumor incidence (necropsy at death) in the D group was ~40% lower than that in the C group (P < .05), together with lower body mass gain and greater locomotive activity during their initial 18 months (P < .05) but not during later life. X-ray image analysis on abnormal solid tissue among survivors at 18 and 24 months of age confirms a similar trend, exhibiting ~50% and ~65% lower tumor incidence than the C and F groups, respectively. Reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) declined with age for the first three quarters of life on all groups (P < .05), followed by a resurgence during end-life among survivors at 24 months. This resurgence is markedly associated with lower tumor expansion but unrelated with DOM supplementation. Our results demonstrate valuable application of minerals and trace elements from deep oceans, as a vastly available natural source, on tumor suppression during normal aging.

Ginsenoside Rg1 supplementation clears senescence-associated ß-galactosidase in exercising human skeletal muscle.

BACKGROUND: Ginsenoside Rg1 has been shown to clear senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) in cultured cells. It remains unknown whether Rg1 can influence SA-ß-gal in exercising human skeletal muscle. METHODS: To examine SA-ß-gal change, 12 young men (age 21 ± 0.2 years) were enrolled in a randomized double-blind placebo controlled crossover study, under two occasions: placebo (PLA) and Rg1 (5 mg) supplementations 1 h prior to a high-intensity cycling (70% VO2max). Muscle samples were collected by multiple biopsies before and after cycling exercise (0 h and 3 h). To avoid potential effect of muscle biopsy on performance assessment, cycling time to exhaustion test (80% VO2max) was conducted on another 12 participants (age 23 ± 0.5 years) with the same experimental design. RESULTS: No changes of SA-ß-gal were observed after cycling in the PLA trial. On the contrary, nine of the 12 participants showed complete elimination of SA-ß-gal in exercised muscle after cycling in the Rg1 trial (p < 0.05). Increases in apoptotic DNA fragmentation (PLA: +87% vs. Rg1: +133%, p < 0.05) and CD68+ (PLA: +78% vs. Rg1: +121%, p = 0.17) occurred immediately after cycling in both trials. During the 3-h recovery, reverses in apoptotic nuclei content (PLA: +5% vs. Rg1: -32%, p < 0.01) and increases in inducible nitrate oxide synthase and interleukin 6 mRNA levels of exercised muscle were observed only in the Rg1 trial (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Rg1 supplementation effectively eliminates senescent cells in exercising human skeletal muscle and improves high-intensity endurance performance.

Defective Black Nano-Titania Thermogels for Cutaneous Tumor-Induced Therapy and Healing.

Current challenges in cutaneous tumor therapy are healing the skin wounds resulting from surgical resection and eliminating possible residual tumor cells to prevent recurrence. To address this issue, bifunctional biomaterials equipped with effective tumor therapeutic capacity for skin cancers and simultaneous tissue regenerative ability for wound closure are highly recommended. Herein, we report an injectable thermosensitive hydrogel (named BT-CTS thermogel) with the integration of nanosized black titania (B-TiO2- x, ∼50 nm) nanoparticles into a chitosan (CTS) matrix. The B-TiO2- x nanocrystal exhibits a crystalline/amorphous core-shell structure with abundant oxygen vacancies, which endows the BT-CTS thermogels with simultaneous photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) effects under single-wavelength near-infrared laser irradiation, leading to an excellent therapeutic effect on skin tumors in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the BT-CTS thermogel not only supports the adhesion, proliferation, and migration of normal skin cells but also facilitates skin tissue regeneration in a murine chronic wound model. Therefore, such BT-CTS thermogels with easy injectability, excellent thermostability, and simultaneous PTT and PDT efficacy as well as tissue regenerative activity offers a promising pathway for the healing of cutaneous tumor-induced wounds.

Doxorubicin inhibits muscle inflammation after eccentric exercise.

BACKGROUND: Doxorubicin, a widely used anti-tumour drug, is known to cause muscle loss in cancer patients. METHODS: Following an acute dose of doxorubicin injection (2.5 mg/kg per body weight), we examined macrophage distribution in rat soleus muscle challenged by eccentric exercise (downhill running). Long-term doxorubicin treatment (one injection every 3 days) on muscle mass and survival were also determined. RESULTS: Under non-exercised condition, increased tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA and decreased IL-10 mRNA were observed in soleus muscle of doxorubicin-treated rats, compared with saline-treated control rats. However, increases in inflammation score (leukocyte infiltration), nitrotyrosine level, and M1 macrophage (CD68+ ) invasion in exercised soleus muscle were absent in doxorubicin-treated rats, whereas increased M2 macrophage (CD163+ ) localization in exercised muscle was less affected by doxorubicin. Despites coenzyme Q (Q10) supplementation significantly elevated TNF-alpha mRNA, nitrotyrosine, and anti-oxidant gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS) levels in non-exercised soleus muscle, these pro-inflammatory responses were also abolished in doxorubicin-treated rats. Results from long-term doxorubicin treatment show a significant muscle loss followed by an accelerated death, which cannot be reversed by Q10 supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: (i) Doxorubicin impairs inflammation mechanism by depleting M1 macrophage in exercised skeletal muscle; (ii) Muscle loss and accelerated death during prolonged doxorubicin treatment cannot be reversed by Q10 supplementation.