Nanoparticle-based targeted therapeutics in head-and-neck cancer.

Head-and-neck cancer is a major form of the disease worldwide. Treatment consists of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, but these have not resulted in improved survival rates over the past few decades. Versatile nanoparticles, with selective tumor targeting, are considered to have the potential to improve these poor outcomes. Application of nanoparticle-based targeted therapeutics has extended into many areas, including gene silencing, chemotherapeutic drug delivery, radiosensitization, photothermal therapy, and has shown much promise. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the field of nanoparticle-mediated targeted therapeutics for head-and-neck cancer, with an emphasis on the description of targeting points, including future perspectives.

Effect of Tong Qiao drops on the expression of eotaxin, IL-13 in the nasal mucosa of rats with allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, particularly in China, many Chinese medicines and prescriptions for treating allergic rhinitis have been evaluated for their clinical relevance. Studies have found that numerous herbs and their constituent compounds can significantly alleviate allergic symptoms and are effective treatments for allergic rhinitis. The purpose of this study was to examine the modulatory effect of Tong Qiao nose drops on allergy symptoms and the expression of cytokines in the nasal mucosa of rats with ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Sixty healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 20): negative, control, and experimental. Rats in the control or experimental groups were sensitized with ovalbumin to induce allergic rhinitis. The sensitized rats in the experimental group were subsequently exposed to Tong Qiao nose drops, whereas the sensitized control rats were given saline nose drops. Negative control rats were only treated with saline. Allergic symptoms and the pathologic features of the nasal mucosa were observed. The expression of eotaxin in the mucous membrane of rat nasal septums was detected by immunohistochemical staining, and the expression levels of interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The symptom scores for the experimental group were significantly lower than those of control rats (p < 0.01). Histopathologic examination revealed pathologic changes of nasal mucosa edema in the experimental group was mild and the infiltration of eosinophils was insubstantial. The expression levels of eotaxin, IL-5, and IL-13 in the nasal mucosa from experimental rats were significantly lower than that of control rats (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Tong Qiao nose drops alleviated the symptoms of allergic rhinitis in a rat model and lowered the expression levels of eotaxin, IL-5, and IL-13.