Cisplatin-based combination therapies: Their efficacy with a focus on ginsenosides co-administration.

Cisplatin, a frequently prescribed chemotherapeutic agent, serves as a clinically therapeutic strategy for a broad range of malignancies. Its primary mode of action centers around interference with DNA replication and RNA transcription, thereby inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. Nevertheless, the clinical utility of cisplatin is constrained by its severe adverse effects and the burgeoning problem of drug resistance. Ginsenosides, potent bioactive constituents derived from ginseng, possess an array of biological activities. Recent scientific investigations underscore the substantial amplification of cisplatin's anticancer potency and the mitigation of its harmful side effects when administered concomitantly with ginsenosides. This review aims to explore the underlying mechanisms at play in this combination therapy. Initially, we provide a concise introduction to the cisplatin. Then, we pivot towards illuminating how ginsenosides bolster the anticancer efficacy of cisplatin and counteract cisplatin resistance, culminating in enhanced therapeutic outcomes. Furthermore, we provide an extensive discussion on the reduction of cisplatin-induced toxicity in the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, and ear, accompanied by immune-fortification with ginsenosides. The existing clinical combined use of cisplatin and ginsenosides is also discussed. We propose several recommendations to propel additional research into the mechanisms governing the synergistic use of ginsenosides and cisplatin, thereby furnishing invaluable insights and fostering advancement in combined modality therapy.

High-Purity Graphitic Carbon for Energy Storage: Sustainable Electrochemical Conversion from Petroleum Coke.

The petroleum coke (PC) has been widely used as raw materials for the preparation of electrodes in aluminium electrolysis and lithium-ion batteries (LIB), during which massive CO2 gases are produced. To meet global CO2 reduction, an environmentally friendly route for utilizing PC is highly required. Here, a simple, scalable, catalyst-free process that can directly convert high-sulfur PC into graphitic nanomaterials under cathodic polarization in molten CaCl2 -LiCl at mild temperatures is proposed. The energy consumption of the proposed process is calculated to be 3 627.08 kWh t-1 , half that of the traditional graphitization process (≈7,825.21 kWh t-1 graphite). When applied as a negative electrode for LIBs, the as-converted graphite materials deliver a competitive specific capacity of ≈360 mAh g-1 (0.2 C) compared with commercial graphite. This approach has great potential to scale up for sustainably converting low-value PC into high-quality graphite for energy storage.

Experience and efficacy of surgery for retaining viable subcutaneous tissue in extensive full-thickness burns.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: For adult patients with extensive full-thickness burns (EFTB), a fascial excision is mostly used but it causes a very significant deformity. This study aims to summarize experience and efficacy of surgery for retaining viable subcutaneous tissue in EFTB. METHOD: Clinical data were reviewed for 31 consecutive adult patients with full-thickness burn (FTB) over 70% total body surface area (TBSA) and undergoing first tangential excision and skin grafting on subcutaneous tissue wound (TESGSTW) within 7 days post burn at our burn center between 2002 and 2013. RESULTS: Average age, total burn area, and FTB area of 31 patients were 32.4 ± 12.8 years, 89.0 ± 6.2% and 80.4 ± 7.6% TBSA, respectively. Of these, 80.6% combined with inhalation injury and 71.0% supervened early shock. Eighteen patients who survived (58.1%) totally underwent 121 times of surgery, of which TESGSTW and autologous skin grafting were 41 and 88 times, respectively. Their average time and area of first tangential excision was 4.1 ± 0.6 days post burn and 33.8 ± 7.6% TBSA, respectively, and accumulated tangential excision area was 58.4 ± 10.8% TBSA. In 39 times of TESGSTW within 14 days post burn, cryopreserved alloskin or fresh young pigskin was applied on 84.6%, and average time and take rate of autologous skin grafting instead of grafted alloskin or xenoskin was 14.6 ± 0.7 days and 89.5 ± 1.4%, respectively. Scalp was the main donor site for autologous skin, especially microskin grafting. Systemic wound healing time roughly was 67.3 ± 1.9 days post burn, meanwhile, viable subcutaneous tissue was retained. Healed wounds were plump, and their extensibility and sensitivity were better by follow-up. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment in EFTB is practicable and effective.

Regeneration of mature dermis by transplanted particulate acellular dermal matrix in a rat model of skin defect wound.

Native mammalian extracellular matrix (ECM) has been made in various forms including particles, sheet and mesh which are appropriate for site-specific applications. The ECM particles are usually created by homogenization method and have a wider size distribution. This needs to be improved to produce more uniform ECM particles. In present study, we had successfully developed a method for preparing particulate acellular dermal matrix (PADM) in different gauges. The resultant PADM was approaching a rectangular parallelepiped or cubic shape, with a better or narrower size distribution than other ECM particles in previous reports. It also retained ultrastructure and functional molecules of native ECM. In vivo performances were evaluated after implantation of PADM in an acute full-thickness skin defect wound in rats. Histological analysis showed that allogeneic PADM used as dermal regeneration template could facilitate maturation and improving collagen bundle structure of regenerated dermis at the endpoint of 20 weeks post-surgery. The PADM could be used for further investigation in analyzing the impacts of cellularly and/or molecularly modified PADM on soft tissue regeneration.

[Effect of particulate allogeneic acellular dermal matrix (PADM) combined with autologous split-thickness skin (STS) on wound healing in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of mixed grafting of allogeneic PADM and autologous STS on wound healing of full-thickness defect in rats. METHODS: Full-thickness defects with size of 6 cm x 4 cm were produced on the back of 12 SD rats, and they were divided into E group (n = 6) and C group (n = 6) according to the random number table. The wounds in E group were grafted with a mix of allogeneic PADM (expansion rate 10: 5) and autologous STS with thickness of 0.2 mm, while those in C group were grafted with autologous STS in the same thickness. The wound healing rate, survival rate, contraction rate, and expansion rate of transplanted skin were observed at post operation week (POW) 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 20. Tissue samples form wounds and surrounding normal skin were harvested at POW 20 for histopathological observation as follows. The structure of collagen fiber bundle was observed by HE staining, the diameter and gap rate of collagen fiber bundle were also measured. The distribution of type I and III collagen was observed by sircus red staining, and the contents of type I, III collagen and their ratio were also examined. Data were processed with independent samples t test, Levene test, and t' test. RESULTS: Survival rate of transplanted skin in E group at POW 2 [(76.1 +/- 13.1)%] was obviously lower than that in C group [(94.5 +/- 1.3)%, t' = 3.440, P = 0.018]. Contraction rate of transplanted skin in E, C groups at POW 3 showed significant difference [(34 +/- 8)% vs. (16 +/- 12)%, t = -3.211, P = 0.009]. Compared with those in peri-wound normal skin, collagen fiber bundles in C group showed signs of homogenization, and collagen fibers were thin with irregular arrangement. Collagen fiber structure and arrangement of composite skin in E group were similar to those surrounding normal skin with incomplete degradation of PADM. Diameter of collagen fiber bundle [(9.6 +/- 0.8) microm], gap rate between collagen bundle [(24 +/- 5)%], content of type I collagen [(80.2 +/- 5.4)%] and the ratio of type I to type III collagen (4.3 +/- 1.2) in E group were all increased as compared with those in C group [(7.3 +/- 1.4) microm (t = -3.562, P = 0.005), (17 +/- 4)% (t = -2.760, P = 0.020), (68.1 +/- 8.4)% (t = -2.981, P = 0.014), 2.3 +/- 1.0 (t = -3.204, P = 0.009)], while content of type III collagen [(19.8 +/- 5.4)%] in E group was lower than that in C group [(32.0 +/- 8.4)%, t = 2. 981, P = 0.014]. Above-mentioned indexes of collagen in wound of E group were similar to those of normal skin surrounding the wound. CONCLUSIONS: Allogeneic PADM used as dermal regeneration template is beneficial in improving collagen fiber bundle structure in dermis layer of rats with full-thickness skin wounds when repaired with autologous STS, and it accelerates maturation of regenerative dermal tissue.