Defective Tungsten Oxides with Stacking Faults for Proton Exchange Membrane Green-Hydrogen Generation.

Defects can introduce atomic structural modulation and tailor performance of materials. Herein, it demonstrates that semiconductor WO3 with inert electrocatalytic behavior can be activated through defect-induced tensile strains. Structural characterizations reveal that when simply treated in Ar/H2 atmosphere, oxygen vacancies will generate in WO3 and cause defective structures. Stacking faults are found in defects, thus modulating electronic structure and transforming electrocatalytic-inert WO3 into highly active electrocatalysts. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to calculate *H adsorption energies on various WOx surfaces, revealing the oxygen vacancy composition and strain predicted to optimize the catalytic activity of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Such defective tungsten oxides can be integrated into commercial proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser with comparable performance toward Pt-based PEM. This work demonstrates defective metal oxides as promising non-noble metal catalysts for commercial PEM green-hydrogen generation.

Induction of therapeutic immunity and cancer eradication through biofunctionalized liposome-like nanovesicles derived from irradiated-cancer cells.

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of cancer. However, its efficacy remains to be optimized. There are at least two major challenges in effectively eradicating cancer cells by immunotherapy. Firstly, cancer cells evade immune cell killing by down-regulating cell surface immune sensors. Secondly, immune cell dysfunction impairs their ability to execute anti-cancer functions. Radiotherapy, one of the cornerstones of cancer treatment, has the potential to enhance the immunogenicity of cancer cells and trigger an anti-tumor immune response. Inspired by this, we fabricate biofunctionalized liposome-like nanovesicles (BLNs) by exposing irradiated-cancer cells to ethanol, of which ethanol serves as a surfactant, inducing cancer cells pyroptosis-like cell death and facilitating nanovesicles shedding from cancer cell membrane. These BLNs are meticulously designed to disrupt both of the aforementioned mechanisms. On one hand, BLNs up-regulate the expression of calreticulin, an "eat me" signal on the surface of cancer cells, thus promoting macrophage phagocytosis of cancer cells. Additionally, BLNs are able to reprogram M2-like macrophages into an anti-cancer M1-like phenotype. Using a mouse model of malignant pleural effusion (MPE), an advanced-stage and immunotherapy-resistant cancer model, we demonstrate that BLNs significantly increase T cell infiltration and exhibit an ablative effect against MPE. When combined with PD-1 inhibitor (α-PD-1), we achieve a remarkable 63.6% cure rate (7 out of 11) among mice with MPE, while also inducing immunological memory effects. This work therefore introduces a unique strategy for overcoming immunotherapy resistance.

Radiotherapy plus cetuximab or cisplatin in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The present meta-analysis was updated with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to revaluate the efficacy and safety of cetuximab vs. cisplatin combined with radiotherapy in patients of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: A meta-analysis containing RCTs that compared the efficacy or toxicity of cetuximab and cisplatin in HNSCC patients was conducted. RESULTS: Seven RCTs were included in the final analysis. The patients treated by cetuximab plus radiotherapy showed an inferior overall survival (OS) and locoregional control (LRC) compared to cisplatin plus radiotherapy. The tendency of progression-free survival (PFS) was in agreement with OS and LRC. Subgroup analysis showed that cetuximab had poorer OS relative to cisplatin in the absence of induction chemotherapy. The profile of severe adverse events (SAEs) varied between the two groups, no significant difference in total SAEs was shown for the two arms. DISCUSSION: Cetuximab combined with radiotherapy shows significantly reduced therapeutic efficacy compared to cisplatin plus radiotherapy in HNSCC patients.

Qin's seven steps for endoscopic selective lateral neck dissection via the chest approach in patients with papillary thyroid cancer: experience of 35 cases.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic thyroidectomy is widely performed as it does not result in neck scar. However, there is a paucity of reports pertaining to completely endoscopic lateral neck dissection (LND). In this study, we introduce our step-wise approach for performing endoscopic selective LND via the chest-breast approach. We refer to this approach as Qin's seven steps. METHODS: The Qin's seven steps are: (1) establishment of working space range; (2) dissection of lymph nodes between the SCM and the sternohyoid muscle (level IV) and exposure of omohyoid; (3) dissection of lymph nodes at level IV; (4) dissection of lymph nodes at level III; (5) dissection of lymph nodes at carotid triangle (level III); (6) exposure of accessory nerve and dissection of lymph nodes at level II a; (7) dissection of lymph nodes at level II b. We reviewed the clinical data of 35 patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) who were operated using the Qin's seven steps. RESULTS: All 35 patients successfully underwent LND; bilateral LND was performed in 5 patients. The mean tumor size was 1.8 ± 1.0 cm; seven patients had multiple lesions. The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes in level II, III and IV were 8.8 ± 5.6, 6.1 ± 4.0 and 9.3 ± 5.1, respectively. As for complications, there were 3 cases of accessory nerve injury and 1 case of hypoglossal nerve injury. Internal jugular vein injury, cervical plexus injury and lymphatic leakage occurred in 2, 7, and 1 patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Qin's seven steps for performing endoscopic selective LND could be safely used in PTC patients with lateral lymph node metastasis. Satisfactory results were achieved in the short-term follow-up period. We recommend the use of Qin's seven steps for PTC patients who are not desirous of neck scar.

Endoscopic thyroidectomy via the combined trans-oral and chest approach for cT1-2N1bM0 papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Recent years there have been witnessed considerable advances in endoscopic selective lateral neck dissection (LND). However, dissection of lymph nodes at level IV and level VI via the chest approach is inherently challenging. In this study, we used combined trans-oral and chest approach for endoscopic thyroidectomy in patients with cT1-2N1bM0 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). METHODS: Clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of ten patients with cT1-2N1bM0 PTC who underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy via combination of trans-oral and chest approach between September 2020 and September 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: All 10 patients successfully underwent total thyroidectomy and selective LND via chest approach, while central neck dissection (CND) and supplementary dissection of lymph nodes at level IV were performed via the trans-oral approach. The mean number of positive/retrieved level II, III-IV, and VI lymph nodes were 0.6 ± 1.0/9.8 ± 5.0, 4.6 ± 2.8/23.1 ± 4.7, and 4.9 ± 3.4/10.3 ± 4.6, respectively. Four patients developed transient hypoparathyroidism which spontaneously resolved within 1 month. Five patients developed numbness of lateral neck and ear and one patient experienced limb lift restriction. No other complications or tumor recurrence occurred during follow-up. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to perform total thyroidectomy, CND, and selective LND via combined trans-oral and chest approach, and satisfactory short-term outcomes were observed in this cohort. This approach may offer one more option for cT1-2N1bM0 PTC patients, especially those in whom metastatic lymph nodes at level IV or level VI are detected by preoperative examination.

Safety and feasibility of the transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach with neuroprotection techniques for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the trans-oral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) with neuroprotection techniques for the surgical management of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). METHODS: Patients with PTC who underwent TOETVA between December 2016 and July 2020 were included in this study, and their relevant clinical characteristics, operational details, and surgical outcomes were reviewed and extracted from their medical records for further analysis. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients successfully underwent TOETVA with zero conversions. Unilateral lobectomy with isthmectomy and total thyroidectomy were completed for 58 and 17 patients, respectively, all using our unique neuroprotective procedure and ipsilateral central neck dissection (CND). The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes versus positive lymph nodes was 6.8 ± 3.7 vs. 1.5 ± 2.3. Postoperative complications included three cases of transient superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) palsy (4.0%), five cases of transient recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy (6.7%), 14 cases of transient hypoparathyroidism (18.7%), two cases of numb chin (2.7%) and two cases of flap perforation (2.7%). The follow-up period for patients with PTC lasted for 15.6 ± 10.9 months, during which no other complications or tumor recurrence were observed. CONCLUSION: TOETVA can be safely performed for patients with PTC with satisfactory results during the short-term follow-up period. Our neuroprotection techniques can be integrated into TOETVA, which is worth recommending for PTC patients who desire better cosmetic surgical outcomes.

Tumor-infiltrating B cells as a favorable prognostic biomarker in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tumor-infiltrating B lymphocytes (TIL-Bs) is a heterogeneous population of lymphocytes. The prognostic value of TIL-Bs in patients with breast cancer remains controversial. Here we conducted this meta-analysis to clarify the association of TIL-Bs with outcomes of patients with breast cancer. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify relevant studies assessing the prognostic significance of TIL-Bs in patients with breast cancer. Fixed- or random-effects models were used to evaluate the pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS), breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS), disease-free survival (DFS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) in breast cancer. RESULTS: A total of 8 studies including 2628 patients were included in our study. Pooled analyses revealed that high level of TIL-Bs was associated with longer OS (pooled HR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.24-0.60), BCSS (pooled HR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.47-0.85), and DFS/RFS (pooled HR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.27-0.55). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that TIL-Bs could be a promising prognostic marker for breast cancer. Novel therapeutic strategies for breast cancer treatment could be developed by enhancement of B cell-mediated antitumor immunity.

Translation and cross-cultural adaption of the Chinese version of the Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey version 2.0: a tool for oral symptom assessment in head and neck cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) who are receiving radiotherapy commonly face detrimental complications, including oral issues. However, oral symptoms are not well understood given the lack of available specific assessment instruments. The Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey version (VHNSS) 2.0 is an instrument specifically developed to identify oral symptoms in HNC patients receiving radiotherapy in the United States. OBJECTIVE: To perform the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the original English version of VHNSS 2.0 into a Chinese version (Mainland China). METHODS: The translation and cultural adaptation process involved translation by independent translators, construction of a consensus version, back translation into the original English version, analysis by the expert committee and a pretest. The pretest was administered to 90 patients with HNC to assess the feasibility and practicality of the tool. RESULTS: The final Chinese version approved by the expert committee was well understood by all participants in the study. The instrument had satisfactory content validity, with indexes of 0.83 for semantic and idiomatic equivalence, 0.90 for cultural equivalence, and 0.91 for conceptual equivalence. Furthermore, this version had good internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from 0.74 to 0.95. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of VHNSS 2.0 was translated and cross-culturally adapted for use in China. This translation is a feasible instrument to assess oral health-related quality of life in HNC patients undergoing radiotherapy and will be useful for symptom management by clinicians and researchers in China.

Cancer Immunotherapy via Targeting Cancer Stem Cells Using Vaccine Nanodiscs.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) proliferate extensively and drive tumor metastasis and recurrence. CSCs have been identified in over 20 cancer types to date, but it remains unknown how to target and eliminate CSCs in vivo. Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is a marker that has been used extensively for isolating CSCs. Here we present a novel approach to target and reduce the frequency of ALDHhigh CSCs by vaccination against ALDH. We have identified ALDH1-A1 and ALDH1-A3 epitopes from CSCs and developed synthetic high-density lipoprotein nanodiscs for vaccination against ALDHhigh CSCs. Nanodiscs increased antigen trafficking to lymph nodes and generated robust ALDH-specific T cell responses. Nanodisc vaccination against ALDHhigh CSCs combined with anti-PD-L1 therapy exerted potent antitumor efficacy and prolonged animal survival in multiple murine models. Overall, this is the first demonstration of a simple nanovaccine strategy against CSCs and may lead to new avenues for cancer immunotherapy against CSCs.

Multivalence-Actuated DNA Nanomachines Enable Bicolor Exosomal Phenotyping and PD-L1-Guided Therapy Monitoring.

Exosome-associated liquid biopsies are hampered by challenges in the exosomal quantification and phenotyping. Here, we present a bioinspired exosome-activated DNA molecular machine (ExoADM) with multivalent cyclic amplification that enables highly sensitive detection and phenotyping of circulating exosomes. ExoADM harbors two (an exposed and a hidden) DNA toehold domains that actuate sequential branch migration and multivalent recycling in response to exosomal surface markers. Importantly, this self-powered ExoADM achieves a high sensitivity (33 particles/µL) and is compatible with another DNA nanomachine targeting different exosomal surface markers for dual-color phenotyping. Using this strategy, we can simultaneously track the dynamic changes of ExoPD-L1 and ExoCD63 expression induced by signaling molecules. Further, we found that their expression levels on circulating exosomes could well differentiate cancer patients from the normal individuals. More importantly, ExoPD-L1 levels could reflect the efficacy of different treatments and guide anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, suggesting the potential of ExoPD-L1 in clinical diagnosis and targeted therapy monitoring.

UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis of anticancer fractions from Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis and Ophiocordyceps sinensis.

Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis (O. xuefengensis), a new species of caterpillar fungus, has been identified as the sister taxon of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (O. sinensis). The aims of the present study are to evaluate the anticancer activity and to qualitatively analyze the potential bioactive chemical constituents of O. xuefengensis and O. sinensis, comparatively. An MTT assay was used to evaluate the in vitro anticancer activities of different fractions from O. xuefengensis and O. sinensis. The results show that ethyl acetate fractions of O. xuefengensis and O. sinensis have significant in vitro anticancer activity. These two bioactive fractions were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization with quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry technology. A total of 82 compounds and 101 compounds were identified or tentatively characterized in the bioactive fractions of O. xuefengensis and O. sinensis, respectively. Among these compounds, 68 existed in both O. xuefengensis and O. sinensis. A total of 67 compounds were reported in O. xuefengensis and 8 compounds were reported in caterpillar fungus for the first time. This is the first detailed comparative analysis of the in vitro anticancer activity and chemical ingredients between O. xuefengensis and O. sinensis. The application of this work will provide reliable fundamental pharmacological substances for the use of O. xuefengensis by Yao people.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells endow stem-like qualities to multiple myeloma cells by inducing piRNA-823 expression and DNMT3B activation.

BACKGROUND: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) are two important cellular components in the tumor microenvironment, which may modify the cancer phenotype and affect patient survival. However, the crosstalk between MDSCs and multiple myeloma stem cells (MMSCs) are relatively poorly understood. METHODS: The frequencies of granulocytic-MDSCs (G-MDSCs) in MM patients were detected by flow cytometry and their association with the disease stage and patient survival were analyzed. RT-PCR, flow cytometry, western blot and sphere formation assays were performed to investigate the effects of G-MDSCs, piRNA-823 and DNA methylation on the maintenance of stemness in MM. Then a subcutaneous tumor mouse model was constructed to analyze tumor growth and angiogenesis after G-MDSCs induction and/or piRNA-823 knockdown in MM cells. RESULTS: Our clinical dataset validated the association between high G-MDSCs levels and poor overall survival in MM patients. In addition, for the first time we showed that G-MDSCs enhanced the side population, sphere formation and expression of CSCs core genes in MM cells. Moreover, the mechanism study showed that G-MDSCs triggered piRNA-823 expression, which then promoted DNA methylation and increased the tumorigenic potential of MM cells. Furthermore, silencing of piRNA-823 in MM cells reduced the stemness of MMSCs maintained by G-MDSCs, resulting in decreased tumor burden and angiogenesis in vivo. CONCLUSION: Altogether, these data established a cellular, molecular, and clinical network among G-MDSCs, piRNA-823, DNA methylation and CSCs core genes, suggesting a new anti-cancer strategy targeting both G-MDSCs and CSCs in MM microenvironment.

Comprehensive comparison of the anti-inflammatory activity and chemical consistency of traditional Chinese medicine formula granules with Ge-Gen decoction as a representative sample.

Traditional Chinese medicine formula granules (TCMFGs), an advanced dosage form of traditional Chinese medicine, are entering the market on a large scale. However, little attention has been paid to the simultaneous efficacy assessment and quality control of this advanced dosage form. In this study, a comprehensive comparison of the pharmacological activity and chemical consistency of TCMFGs from different manufacturers was performed. Ge-Gen decoction (GGD) samples were used as the target TCMFG. The in vitro anti-inflammatory effects among different types of GGDs indicate that all of them showed different abilities to reduce the lipopolysaccharide-activated production of nitric oxide, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. The results from a dimethylbenzene-induced inflammation model in mice indicated that the nine samples in this study showed significant in vivo anti-inflammatory effects. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed by multiwavelength ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection and electrospray ionization with quadrupole time-of-flight-tandem mass spectrometry. To visually interpret the differences in the chemical materials, a scatter plot analysis was performed. According to the scatter plot analysis, nine compounds were evaluated as important contributors to the differences. This is the first report of TCMFGs on the basis of the spectrum-effect consistency.

Insights into Triterpene Acids in Fermented Mycelia of Edible Fungus Poria cocos by a Comparative Study.

As an edible sclerotia-forming fungus, Poria cocos is widely used as a food supplement and as a tonic in China. High-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) was applied to identify triterpene acids in fermented mycelia of P. cocos, as well as the epidermis and inner part of natural sclerotia. A total of 19 triterpene acids were identified in fermented mycelia, whereas 31 were identified in the epidermis and 24 in the inner part. Nine triterpene acids were quantitatively determined, and the concentrations of two valuable triterpenes, dehydropachymic acid and pachymic acid, reached 1.07 mg/g and 0.61 mg/g in the fermented mycelia part, respectively, and were both significantly higher than the concentration in the two natural parts. The fermented mycelia could be a good choice for producing some target triterpene compounds and functional foods through fermentation thanks to the high concentration of some triterpene acids.

Prognostic role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in diffuse large B cell lymphoma patients: an updated dose-response meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a biomarker for systematic inflammation, has been recently identified as a prognostic factor for various types of both solid and hematologic malignancies. Here we conducted an updated dose-response meta-analysis to investigate whether NLR can be served as a prognostic biomarker in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, ISI Web of Science and CNKI for relevant studies. Odds ratios or hazards ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled to estimate the association between NLR and clinicopathological parameters or survival of cancer patients. RESULTS: Eleven trials with 2515 DLBCL patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results revealed that elevated pretreatment NLR was significantly associated with elder age, advanced Ann Arbor stage, higher incidence rate of B symptoms and bone marrow involvement, and higher lactate dehydrogenase level, etc. Moreover, increased NLR also predicted poorer overall survival (HR 1.826, 95% CI 1.238-2.692) and progression-free survival/event-free survival (PFS/EFS) (HR 1.591, 95% CI 1.124-2.252). And two-stage dose-response meta-analysis revealed non-linear association between increased NLR and risk of mortality in DLBCL patients. CONCLUSION: DLBCL patients with higher NLR are more likely to have poorer prognosis than those with lower NLR.

Simultaneous Identification and Dynamic Analysis of Saccharides during Steam Processing of Rhizomes of Polygonatum cyrtonema by HPLC⁻QTOF⁻MS/MS.

The sweet rhizomes of Polygonatum cyrtonema are widely used as a tonic and functional food. A sensitive and rapid analytical method was developed for simultaneous identification and dynamic analysis of saccharides during steam processing in P. cyrtonema using HPLC⁻QTOF⁻MS/MS. Fructose, sorbitol, glucose, galactose, sucrose, and 1-kestose were identified, as well as a large number of oligosaccharides constituted of fructose units through ß-(2→1) or ß-(2→6). Polysaccharides and oligosaccharides were decomposed to monosaccharides during a steaming process, since the contents of glucose, galactose, and fructose were increased, while those of sucrose, 1-kestose, and polysaccharides were decreased. The high content of fructose was revealed to be the main determinant for increasing the level of sweetness after steaming. The samples of different repeated steaming times were shown to be well grouped and gradually shift along the PC1 (72.4%) axis by principal component analysis. The small-molecule saccharides, especially fructose, could be considered as markers for the steaming process of rhizomes of P. cyrtonema.

Magnetic nanoparticle clusters radiosensitise human nasopharyngeal and lung cancer cells after alternating magnetic field treatment.

PURPOSE: Heat generated by magnetic nanoparticle clusters (MNCs) in an alternating magnetic field (AMF) can be used for hyperthermia cancer treatment. Here, we have synthesised polyacrylic acid-coated MNCs according to previous report, with the ability to increase particle stability in suspension. Radiosensitisation effects of the MNCs under an AMF were investigated in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MTT assay, flow cytometry, clone formation assay, Western blotting, and a γ-H2AX experiment were used to explore the biocompatibility and radiosensitisation effect of the MNCs and their putative radiosensitisation mechanism. An NCI-H460 mouse xenograft model was used to investigate the anti-tumour effect under an AMF in vivo. RESULTS: The temperature of MNC fluids at different concentrations (200 µg/mL to 2 mg/mL) increased rapidly. The MNCs were endocytosed by the cells and were found to be biocompatible. Hsp70 and caspase-3 were found to be up-regulated upon MNCs under an AMF, radiation, and combination of both treatments. MNCs under an AMF efficiently radiosensitised both CNE-2 cells and NCI-H460 cells. Finally, the tumour inhibition rate after treatment with MNCs under an AMF and radiation was significantly higher than that after either treatment alone. The mechanism of radiosensitisation putatively involves inhibition of DNA repair and induction of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: The MNC fluids under an AMF enhanced the radiosensitivity of tumour cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Template-independent, in situ grown DNA nanotail enabling label-free femtomolar chronocoulometric detection of nucleic acids.

A routine electrochemical DNA (E-DNA) sensor requires either an exquisite design of conformation-switchable recognition probe that is critical to facilitate electron transfer at a sensing interface, or a template-dependent DNA amplification, which often involves designing prone-to-false "sticky ends" and labeling redox tags at one end of the signal probes. Here we report an in situ grown DNA nanotail (IGT)-mediated straightforward and template-free signal amplification strategy for highly sensitive and sequence-specific DNA detection. This novel electrochemical IGT (E-IGT) DNA sensor can quantify target nucleic acids in a label-free manner because the electrochemical signals are generated by chronocoulometric interrogation of redox [Ru(NH3)6](3+) that electrostatically and quantitatively binds to the negatively charged phosphate moieties in the electrode surface-attached DNA. By introduction of terminal deoxynucleoside transferase (TdT) to this sensor design, both the sensitivity and selectivity have been significantly enhanced. This DNA sensor achieves an impressive detection limit of 20 fM for a DNA sequence with 22 nucleotides, which is lower than that of an analogous optical DNA sensor by 2 orders of magnitude. More importantly, it exhibits excellent selectivity against even a single-base mismatched sequence. In addition, this novel DNA sensor presents reliable reusability and is capable of measuring target DNA in complex matrixes, such as undiluted human serum, with minimal interference. These advantages make our E-IGT sensor a promising contender in the E-DNA sensor family for medical diagnostics.

The influence of astragalus polysaccharide and ß-elemene on LX-2 cell growth, apoptosis and activation.

BACKGROUND: Activated hepatic stellate cells are the main source of excessive collagen deposition in liver fibrosis. Here we report the inhibitory effects of the combinational treatment of two natural products, astragalus polysaccharide (APS) and ß-elemene (ELE) on the activation of human liver hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 cells. METHODS: Cultured LX-2 cells were treated with different concentrations of APS or ELE for 24 or 48 hours. Cell viability/apoptosis was measured by MTT assay and Annexin V/PI staining , activation related genes including α-SMA and CD44 expressions were measured by real-time PCR and western blot respectively. RESULTS: The majority of LX-2 cells showed morphological change in the presence of APS or ELE for 24 hours. Treatment with APS + ELE for 24 or 48 hours significantly inhabited the cell proliferation compared with APS or ELE treatment alone on LX-2 cells. APS + ELE may block the up-regulation of α-SMA and CD44 both in mRNA and protein levels through TGF-ß pathway in LX-2 cells. CONCLUSION: APS or ELE treatment alone on LX-2 cells could inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. The combinational treatment using APS + ELE significantly increased the killing efficiency on LX-2 cells. α-SMA and CD44 expressions was inhibited upon APS + ELE treatment through TGF-ß pathway in LX-2 cells. The results indicated a novel treatment using natural products for liver diseases with anti-fibrotic effect.

Synthesis and characterization of surface-modified Fe3O4 super-paramagnetic nanoparticles.

Aqueous dispersion and stability of Fe3O4 nanoparticles remain an issue unresolved since aggregation of naked iron nanoparticles in water. In this study, we successfully synthesized different Fe3O4 super-paramagnetic nanoparticles which were modified by three kinds of materials [DSPE-MPEG2000, TiO2 and poly acrylic acid (PAA)] and further detected their characteristics. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) clearly showed sizes and morphology of the four kinds of nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) proved successfully coating of the three kinds of nanoparticles and their structures were maintained. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) verified that their magnetic properties fitted for the super-paramagnetic function. More importantly, the particle size analysis indicated that Fe3O4@PAA had a better size distribution, biocompatibility, stability and dispersion than the other two kinds of nanoparticles. In addition, using CNE2 cells as a model, we found that all nanoparticles were nontoxic. Taken together, our data suggest that Fe3O4@PAA nanoaparticles are superior in the application of biomedical field among the four kinds of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the future.