Nanoparticles integrated with mild photothermal therapy and oxaliplatin for tumor chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Aims: Preparation and evaluation of nanoparticles for tumor chemotherapy and immunotherapy mild photothermal therapy and oxaliplatin. Methods: The double emulsion method was used for nanoparticle preparations. Polydopamine was deposited on the surface, which was further modified with folic acid. Cytotoxicity assays were carried out by cell counting kit-8. In vivo antitumor assays were carried out on 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. Results: The nanoparticles exhibited a 190 nm-diameter pomegranate-like sphere, which could increase temperature to 43-46°C. In vivo distribution showed enhanced accumulation. The nanoparticles generated stronger immunogenic cell death effects. By stimulating the maturation of dendritic cells, mild photothermal therapy combined with oxaliplatin significantly increased the antitumor effect by a direct killing effect and activation of immunotherapy. Conclusion: This study provided a promising strategy of combination therapy for tumors.

Independent associations of serum calcium with or without albumin adjustment and serum phosphorus with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: results from NHANES 1999-2018.

Background: The associations of serum calcium and phosphorus with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain unclear. In addition, there may be an effect of albumin correction on the association between serum calcium and NAFLD. We aimed to explore these relationships in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods: Eligible adult individuals from NHANES 1999-2018 were recruited for the study. We explored the associations of serum calcium, albumin-adjusted serum calcium, and serum phosphorus with NAFLD in multivariable-adjusted regression models. In addition, restricted cubic spline (RCS), stratified analysis, and multiple sensitivity analyses were used for further elaboration. Results: The study sample consisted of 20,900 participants, with an observed NAFLD prevalence of 44.65%. Fully adjusted models indicated that serum calcium was inversely associated with NAFLD (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.70 (0.62, 0.78), p<0.0001), whereas albumin-adjusted serum calcium was positively associated with NAFLD (OR and 95% CI=1.59 (1.41, 1.79), p<0.0001). RCS modeling indicated that serum calcium without and with albumin adjustment was linearly(p nonlinear = 0.083) and nonlinearly (p nonlinear < 0.0001) associated with NAFLD, respectively, whereas serum phosphorus showed a U-shaped relationship with NAFLD(p nonlinear < 0.0001). Gender is a significant influence in all associations, and other variables may also have an effect. Sensitivity analyses indicated that these associations were independent of additional significant confounders. Conclusion: Serum calcium and phosphorus were significantly associated with the development of NAFLD. These findings suggest the potential clinical significance of serum calcium/phosphorus and albumin levels in individuals at high risk for NAFLD. Our study supports the potential role of serum calcium/phosphorus homeostasis in the pathophysiology of NAFLD and could serve as NAFLD-related biomarkers.

Zinc supplementation with polaprezinc was associated with improvements in albumin, prothrombin time activity, and hemoglobin in chronic liver disease.

Zinc deficiency occurs in a variety of diseases, including chronic liver disease (CLD). We investigated the correlation between zinc levels and biochemical and hematological tests in CLD and the effect of zinc supplementation with polaprezinc on these values. The first study (Study 1) was a retrospective observational study of 490 patients with CLD not receiving zinc supplementation, with data available from September 2009 to August 2021. Univariate and multiple regression analysis showed that serum zinc levels correlated most strongly with albumin (Alb) and also significantly with prothrombin time activity (PT%) and hemoglobin (Hb). A subsequent study (Study 2) focused on patients with advanced CLD who used polaprezinc for more than 90 days between January 2005 and August 2021. Using a self-controlled design with the 6-month period prior to polaprezinc as the control period, comparisons showed that Alb (p<0.0001), PT% (p<0.0005), and Hb (p<0.01) were significantly improved in the polaprezinc-treated patients compared to the control group. In conclusion, serum zinc levels were correlated with serum Alb, Hb, and PT% in patients with CLD, and zinc supplementation with polaprezinc was associated with improvements in Alb, Hb, and PT% within at least 6 months.

Neurological recovery and neurogenesis by curcumin sustained-release system cross-linked with an acellular spinal cord scaffold in rat spinal cord injury: Targeting NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

In the context of treating spinal cord injury (SCI), the modulation of inflammatory responses, and the creation of a suitable region for tissue regeneration may present a promising approach. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of curcumin (Cur)-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (Cur-BSA NPs) cross-linked with an acellular spinal cord scaffold (ASCS) on the functional recovery in a rat model of SCI. We developed an ASCS using chemical and physical methods. Cur-BSA, and blank (B-BSA) NPs were fabricated and cross-linked with ASCS via EDC-NHS, resulting in the production of Cur-ASCS and B-ASCS. We assessed the properties of scaffolds and NPs as well as their cross-links. Finally, using a male rat hemisection model of SCI, we investigated the consequences of the resulting scaffolds. The inflammatory markers, neuroregeneration, and functional recovery were evaluated. Our results showed that Cur was efficiently entrapped at the rate of 42% ± 1.3 in the NPs. Compared to B-ASCS, Cur-ASCS showed greater effectiveness in the promotion of motor recovery. The implantation of both scaffolds could increase the migration of neural stem cells (Nestin- and GFAP-positive cells) following SCI with the superiority of Cur-ASCS. Cur-ASCS was successful to regulate the gene expression and protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, and Casp1in the spinal cord lesion. Our results indicate that using ASCS can lead to the entrance of cells into the scaffold and promote neurogenesis. However, Cur-ASCS had greater effects in terms of inflammation relief and enhanced neurogenesis.

Tannin-albumin particles as stable carriers of medicines.

Background: The effectiveness of a drug is dependent on its accumulation at the site of therapeutic action, as well as its time in circulation. The aim of the research was the creation of stable albumin/tannin (punicalagin, punicalin) particles, which might serve for the delivery of medicines. Methods: Numerous chromatographic and analytical methods, docking analyses and in vivo testing were applied and used. Results: Stable tannin-albumin/medicine particles with a diameter of ∼100 nm were obtained. The results of in vivo experiments proved that tannin-albumin particles are more stable than albumin particles. Conclusion: Based on the experiments and docking analyses, these stable particles can carry an extended number of medicines, with diverse chemical structures.

Dual-Targeting Macrophages and Hepatic Stellate Cells by Modified Albumin Nanoparticles for Liver Cirrhosis Treatment.

Hepatic cirrhosis has become a global public health concern with high mortality and currently lacks effective clinical treatment methods. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and the large number of macrophages infiltrating into the liver play a critical role in the development of liver cirrhosis. This study developed a novel modified nanoparticle system (SRF-CS-PSA NPs) in which Sorafenib (SRF) was encapsulated by palmitic acid-modified albumin (PSA) and further modified with chondroitin sulfate (CS). These modifications enabled the SRF-CS-PSA NPs to effectively target hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and macrophages. SRF-CS-PSA NPs showed uniform particle size distribution of approximately 120 nm and high loading efficiency of up to 99.5% and can be taken up by HSCs and macrophages via CD44 and SR-A receptors, respectively. In a mouse model of liver cirrhosis, SRF-CS-PSA NPs demonstrated superior targeting and inhibition of HSCs and macrophages, effectively reversing the process of liver cirrhosis. Overall, our study demonstrates the potential of SRF-CS-PSA NPs as a targeted therapy for liver cirrhosis, with promising clinical applications.

Deciphering the binding mechanism of gingerol molecules with plasma proteins: implications for drug delivery and therapeutic potential.

Ginger is a highly valued herb, renowned globally for its rich content of phenolic compounds. It has been traditionally used to treat various health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, digestive issues, migraines, Alzheimer's disease, tumor reduction and chronic inflammation. Despite its potential medicinal applications, the therapeutic effectiveness of ginger is hindered by its limited availability and low plasma concentration levels. In this study, we explored the interaction of ginger's primary phenolic compounds, specifically 6-gingerol (6 G), 8-gingerol (8 G) and 10-gingerol (10 G), with plasma proteins which are human serum albumin (HSA) and α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP). These two plasma proteins significantly influence drug distribution and disposition as they are key binding sites for most drugs. Fluorescence emission spectra indicated strong binding of 6, 8 and 10 G with HSA, with binding constants of 2.03 ± 0.01 × 104 M-1, 4.20 ± 0.01 × 104 M-1 and 6.03 ± 0.01 × 106 M-1, respectively. However, the binding of gingerols with AGP was found to be negligible. Molecular displacement by site-specific probes and molecular docking analyses revealed that gingerols bind at the IIA domain, with stability provided by hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, conventional hydrogen bonds, carbon-hydrogen bonds, alkyl and Pi-alkyl interactions. Further, the partial unfolding of the protein was observed upon binding the gingerol compound with HSA. In addition, molecular dynamic simulations demonstrated that gingerols remained stable in the subdomain IIA over 100 ns. This stability, coupled with Molecular Mechanics Generalized Born Surface Area indicating free energies of -43.765, -57.504 and -66.69 kcal/mol for 6, 8 and 10 G, respectively, reinforces the robust binding potential of these compounds. Circular dichroism studies suggested that the interaction of gingerols leads to the minimal transformation of HSA secondary structure, with the pattern being 10 G > 8 G > 6 G, a finding further substantiated by root mean square deviation and root mean square fluctuation fluctuations. These results propose that HSA has a stronger affinity to gingerols than AGP, which could have significant implications on the therapeutic circulating levels of gingerols.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Design strategies for enhancing antitumor efficacy through tumor microenvironment exploitation using albumin-based nanosystems: A review.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex and dynamic system that plays a crucial role in regulating cancer progression, treatment response, and the emergence of acquired resistance mechanisms. The TME is usually featured by severe hypoxia, low pH values, high hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations, and overproduction of glutathione (GSH). The current development of intelligent nanosystems that respond to TME has shown great potential to enhance the efficacy of cancer treatment. As one of the functional macromolecules explored in this field, albumin-based nanocarriers, known for their inherent biocompatibility, serves as a cornerstone for constructing diverse therapeutic platforms. In this paper, we present a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in the design strategies of albumin nanosystems, aiming to enhance cancer therapy by harnessing various features of solid tumors, including tumor hypoxia, acidic pH, the condensed extracellular matrix (ECM) network, excessive GSH, high glucose levels, and tumor immune microenvironment. Furthermore, we highlight representative designs of albumin-based nanoplatforms by exploiting the TME that enhance a broad range of cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy, phototherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and other tumor therapies. Finally, we discuss the existing challenges and future prospects in direction of albumin-based nanosystems for the practical applications in advancing enhanced cancer treatments.

Green tea polysaccharide conjugates and bovine serum albumin have a synergistic effect in improving the emulsification ability.

Our previous study revealed that green tea polysaccharide conjugate (gTPC) has emulsion effect, but its emulsifying ability is weak. In order to improve the emulsification ability of gTPC, gTPC and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were combined to form five different mass proportions of the TPC/BSA (TB) complex: TPC/BSA: 5:1, 5:2, 5:3, 5:4, and 5:5 w/w. We observed that the 5:5 w/w TB emulsion was more hydrophobic and surface-active. Furthermore, the emulsions prepared using 50.00 wt% medium-chain triglycerides exhibited the best stability. In addition, the TB emulsion exhibited stability in adverse environments of pH, salt, and heat; in particular, under salt conditions, no significant changes were observed in zeta potential. Subsequently, in vitro simulated digestion experiments were performed to investigate the use of TB emulsions for ß-carotene encapsulation. We observed that the encapsulation efficiency for ß-carotene was approximately 90.0 %; it was subsequently released in the intestine.

Improved physical disability and nutritional status by bovine colostrum supplementation in adults with traumatic peri-trochanteric femoral fracture: A randomized, controlled, clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with femur fracture after surgery are at risk of malnutrition, weight loss, disability, and mobility complications. In the present study the role of colostrum supplementation on physical disability, and some nutritional variables after surgery has been investigated. RESEARCH METHODS & PROCEDURES: Patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention group received 45 g colostrum and the control group received 15 g whey protein daily for 21 days (each containing 12 g of protein). The trend comparison during 30 days of variables including weight, appetite, serum albumin level, hemoglobin and lymphocytes between the two groups was modeled with the generalized estimation equation. Moreover, the trend comparison during 90 days of Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) between the two groups was calculated. RESULTS: The basic characteristics were the same between the two groups (colostrum, n = 46; control, n = 48). Protein intake was the same in both groups during the study period. There was a significant difference in weight gain (ß = 0.32, 95 % CI: 0.09-0.54; P = 0.005) within 30 days after operation between the colostrum and control groups in favor of the increase in the colostrum group. Compared to the control group, patients in the colostrum group had a 0.31 score more appetite (P < 0.001), 0.17 g/dL higher serum albumin level (P = 0.001), 0.5 mg/dL higher hemoglobin level and 440 more blood lymphocytes (P < 0.001) during the 30 days of intervention. Regarding physical function disability, patients in the colostrum group had about 4 ODI scores lower than the control group during the study period. CONCLUSION: Colostrum supplement can increase appetite, hemoglobin, serum albumin level and the number of blood lymphocytes more than the control group. It can also accelerate weight gain and physical performance after surgery.

Biodegradable nanocarrier of gemcitabine and tocopherol succinate synergistically ameliorates anti-proliferative response in MIA PaCa-2 cells.

Gemcitabine (GEM) is an important chemotherapeutic agent used alone or in combination with other anticancer agents for the treatment of various solid tumors. In this study, the potential of a dietary supplement, α-tocopherol succinate (TOS) was investigated in combination with GEM by utilizing human serum albumin-based nanoparticles (HSA NPs). The developed nanoparticles were characterized using DLS, SEM and FTIR and evaluated in a panel of cell lines to inspect cytotoxic efficacy. The ratio metric selected combination of the NPs was further investigated in human pancreatic cancer cell line (MIA PaCa-2 cells) to assess the cellular death mechanism via a myriad of biochemical and bio-analytical assays including nuclear morphometric analysis by DAPI staining, ROS generation, MMP loss, intracellular calcium release, in vitro clonogenic assay, cell migration assay, cell cycle analysis, immunocytochemical staining followed by western blotting, Annexin V-FITC and cellular uptake studies. The desolvation-crosslinking method was used to prepare the NPs. The average size of TOS-HSA NPs and GEM-HSA NPs was found to be 189.47 ± 5 nm and 143.42 ± 7.4 nm, respectively. In combination, the developed nanoparticles exhibited synergism by enhancing cytotoxicity in a fixed molar ratio. The selected combination also significantly triggered ROS generation and mitochondrial destabilization, alleviated cell migration potential and clonogenic cell survival in MIA PaCa-2 cells. Further, cell cycle analysis, Annexin-V FITC assay and caspase-3 activation, up regulation of Bax and down regulation of Bcl-2 protein confirmed the occurrence of apoptotic event coupled with the G0/G1 phase arrest. Nanocarriers based this combination also offered approximately 14-folds dose reduction of GEM. Overall, the combined administration of TOS-HSA NPs and GEM-HSA NPs showed synergistic cytotoxicity accompanied with dose reduction of the gemcitabine. These encouraging findings could have implication in designing micronutrient based-combination therapy with gemcitabine and demands further investigation.

Investigation of the Association of Serum Trace Elements Concentrations and Serum Biochemical Parameters with the Risk of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Case-Control Study.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous endocrinological syndrome characterized by hyperandrogenism of ovarian origin and is often considered a predisposing factor for metabolic disorders. The objective of the study was to investigate serum levels of (a) trace elements (copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), selenium (Se), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn)); and (b) biochemical parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), albumin, total protein, creatinine, and C-reactive protein (CRP) with risk of PCOS. Another objective was to explore the relationship between serum trace elements and biochemical variables. Serum trace elements were estimated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and biochemical parameters were estimated by colorimetric methods in 99 PCOS cases and 82 controls. Linear and non-linear associations of serum variables with PCOS risk were studied under logistic, probit, GAM, and BKMR model. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 22.0 and R package version 4.2.1. All studied serum trace elements (except Zn) are significantly associated with PCOS. Combined effect analysis revealed Mg-Se and Fe-Cu association with PCOS risk. A significant association of cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, CRP, and albumin was observed. Furthermore, linear regression analysis suggests an association between Mg-Cu and Mg-Fe-Mn with HDL-C; Fe and Cr-Cu with albumin; and Cu-Se with cholesterol and LDL-C both.

Design and characterization of a binary CT complex of imidazole-oxyresveratrol: exploring its pharmacological and computational aspects.

A new binary charge transfer (CT) complex between imidazole (IMZ) and oxyresveratrol (OXA) was synthesized and characterized experimentally and theoretically. The experimental work was carried out in solution and solid state in selected solvents such as chloroform (CHL), methanol (Me-OH), ethanol (Et-OH), and acetonitrile (AN). The newly synthesized CT complex (D1) has been characterized by various techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, 1H-NMR, and powder-XRD. The 1:1 composition of D1 is confirmed by Jobs' method of continuous variation and spectrophotometric (at λmax 554 nm) methods at 298 K. The infrared spectra of D1 confirmed the existence of proton transfer hydrogen bond beside charge transfer interaction. These findings indicate that the cation and anion are joined together by the weak hydrogen bonding as N+-H-O-. Reactivity parameters strongly recommended that IMZ behaves as a good electron donor and OXA an efficient electron acceptor. Density functional theory (DFT) computations with basis set B3LYP/6-31G (d,p) was applied to support the experimental results. TD-DFT calculations gives HOMO (-5.12 eV) → LUMO (-1.14 eV) electronic energy gap (ΔE) to be 3.80 eV. The bioorganic chemistry of D1 was well established after antioxidant, antimicrobial, and toxicity screening in Wistar rat. The type of interactions between HSA and D1 at the molecular level was studied through fluorescence spectroscopy. Binding constant along with the type of quenching mechanism, was investigated through the Stern-Volmer equation. Molecular docking demonstrated that D1 binds perfectly with human serum albumin and EGFR (1M17) and exposes free energy of binding (FEB) values of -295.2 and -283.3 kcal/mol, respectively. The D1 fits successfully into the minor groove of HAS and 1M17, the results of molecular docking show that the D1 binds perfectly with the HAS and 1M17, the higher value of binding energy shows stronger interaction between HAS and 1M17 with D1. Our synthesized complex shows good binding results with HAS compared to 1M17.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Effect of pectin concentration on emulsifying properties of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae albumin modified by pH-shifting and ultrasonication.

The effect of pectin concentration on the structural and emulsifying properties of black soldier fly larvae albumin (BSFLA) modified by pH-shifting (pH12) and ultrasound (US) was studied. The results (intrinsic fluorescence, surface hydrophobicity, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, and disulfide bonds) showed that modified BSFLA samples, especially pH12-US, were more likely to bind to pectin through hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions due to the unfolding of BSFLA, the collapse of disulfide bonds and exposure of hydrophobic groups. Thus, a BSFLA-pectin complex with smaller particle size, more negative charges, and a relatively loose structure was formed. The emulsifying activity (EAI) and stability index (ESI) of pH12-US modified BSFLA were significantly enhanced by the addition of pectin, reaching the highest values (associated with 174.41 % and 643.22 % increase, respectively) at pectin concentration of 1.0 %. Furthermore, the interface modulus of the emulsion prepared by the modified BSFLA was mainly viscous, and had higher apparent viscosity, smaller particle size and droplet size, contributing to higher EAI and ESI. The study findings suggest the addition of pectin to pH12-US treated BSFLA could be used in industry to prepare BSFLA-pectin emulsion with exceptional/desirable properties.

Ordered mesoporous silicas for potential applications in solid vaccine formulations.

In an effort to develop efficient vaccine formulations, the use of ordered mesoporous silica (SBA-15) as an antigen carrier has been investigated. SBA-15 has required properties such as high surface area and pore volume, including narrow pore size distribution to protect antigens inside its matrix. This study aimed to examine the impact of solvent removal methods, specifically freeze-drying and evaporation on the intrinsic properties of an immunogenic complex. The immunogenic complexes, synthesized and incorporated with BSA, were characterized by various physicochemical techniques. Small Angle X-ray Scattering measurements revealed the characteristic reflections associated to pure SBA-15, indicating the preservation of the silica mesostructured following BSA incorporation and the formation of BSA aggregates within the macropore region. Nitrogen Adsorption Isotherm measurements demonstrated a decrease in surface area and pore volume for all samples, indicating that the BSA was incorporated into the SBA-15 matrix. Fluorescence spectroscopy evidenced that the tryptophan residues in BSA inside SBA-15 or in solution displayed similar spectra, showing the preservation of the aromatic residues' environment. The Circular Dichroism spectra of BSA in both conditions suggest the preservation of its native secondary structure after the encapsulation process. The immunogenic analysis with the detection of anti-BSA IgG did not give any significant difference between the non-dried, freeze-dried or evaporated groups. However, all groups containing BSA and SBA-15 showed results almost three times higher than the groups with pure BSA (control group). These facts indicate that none of the BSA incorporation methods interfered with the immunogenicity of the complex. In particular, the freeze-dried process is regularly used in the pharmaceutical industry, therefore its adequacy to produce immunogenic complexes was proved Furthermore, the results showed that SBA-15 increased the immunogenic activity of BSA.

Hybrid Nanoparticle-Assisted Chemo-Photothermal Therapy and Photoacoustic Imaging in a Three-Dimensional Breast Cancer Cell Model.

Bioinspired nanoparticles have recently been gaining attention as promising multifunctional nanoplatforms for therapeutic applications in cancer, including breast cancer. Here, the efficiency of the chemo-photothermal and photoacoustic properties of hybrid albumin-modified nanoparticles (HSA-NPs) loaded with doxorubicin was evaluated in a three-dimensional breast cancer cell model. The HSA-NPs showed a higher uptake and deeper penetration into breast cancer spheroids than healthy breast cell 3D cultures. Confocal microscopy revealed that, in tumour spheroids incubated with doxorubicin-loaded NPs for 16 h, doxorubicin was mainly localised in the cytoplasm, while a strong signal was detectable at the nuclear level after 24 h, suggesting a time-dependent uptake. To evaluate the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin-loaded NPs, tumour spheroids were treated for up to 96 h with increasing concentrations of NPs, showing marked toxicity only at the highest concentration of doxorubicin. When doxorubicin administration was combined with laser photothermal irradiation, enhanced cytotoxicity was observed at lower concentrations and incubation times. Finally, the photoacoustic properties of doxorubicin-loaded NPs were evaluated in tumour spheroids, showing a detectable signal increasing with NP concentration. Overall, our data show that the combined effect of chemo-photothermal therapy results in a shorter exposure time to doxorubicin and a lower drug dose. Furthermore, owing to the photoacoustic properties of the NPs, this nanoplatform may represent a good candidate for theranostic applications.

[Preparation of vitexin albumin nanoparticles and its pharmacokinetic study].

This study aims to prepare vitexin albumin nanoparticles(VT-BSA-NPs) to alleviate the low bioavailability of vitexin(VT) in vivo due to its poor water solubility. VT micro powders were prepared by the antisolvent crystallization method, and the morphology, size, and physicochemical properties of VT micro powders were studied. The results showed that the VT micro powder had a particle size of(187.13±7.15) nm, an approximate spherical morphology, and a uniform size distribution. Compared with VT, the chemical structure of VT micro powders has not changed. VT-BSA-NPs were prepared from VT micro powders by desolvation-crosslinking curing method. The preparation process was screened by single factor test and orthogonal test, and the quality evaluation of the optimal prescription particle size, PDI, Zeta potential, EE, and morphology was performed. The results showed that the average particle size of VT-BSA-NPs was(124.33±0.47) nm; the PDI was 0.184±0.012; the Zeta potential was(-48.83±2.20) mV, and the encapsulation rate was 83.43%±0.39%, all of which met the formulation-related requirements. The morphological results showed that the VT-BSA-NPs were approximately spherical in appearance, regular in shape, and without adhesion on the surface. In vitro release results showed a significantly reduced release rate of VT-BSA-NPs compared with VT, indicating a good sustained release effect. LC-MS/MS was used to establish an analytical method for in vivo analysis of VT and study the plasma pharmacokinetics of VT-BSA-NPs in rats. The results showed that the specificity of the analytical method was good, and the extraction recovery was more than 90%. Compared with VT and VT micro powders, VT-BSA-NPs could significantly increase AUC, MRT, and t_(1/2), which was beneficial to improve the bioavailability of VT.

Effects of oral nutritional supplements on the nutritional status and inflammatory markers in patients on maintenance dialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background and aims: Patients on hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) often have insufficient energy and protein intake, resulting in poor nutritional status and adverse outcomes. Oral nutritional supplements (ONSs) are the most commonly used to increase such patients' energy and protein intakes. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we analyzed studies on nutritional status, inflammatory markers, and electrolyte levels in patients on dialysis receiving ONSs. We searched four electronic databases from inception until 31 December 2022, for randomized controlled trials comparing ONS treatment versus placebo or routine care. Results: 22 studies with 1185 patients on dialysis were included in our meta-analysis. Compared with the control group, the ONS group exhibited significantly increased serum albumin levels [1.26 g/l (95%CI, 0.50-2.02, P < 0.0001; I2 = 80.4%)], body mass indexes (BMIs) [0.30 kg/m2 (95%CI, 0.09-0.52, P = 0.005; I2 = 41.4%)], and handgrip strength (HGS) [0.96 kg (95%CI, 0.07-1.84, P = 0.034; I2 = 41.4%)] from baseline to the end of intervention. No significant differences were observed between the groups in lean body mass, phase angle, C-reactive protein, and serum phosphorus and potassium levels. In terms of improving albumin, the subgroup analyses show that ONS use seems to be more inclined to three variations: HD patients, short-term use, and non-intradialytic supplementation. Conclusion: In conclusion, ONS use can improve the nutritional status of patients on dialysis in terms of their serum albumin, BMI, and HGS without significant effects on serum phosphorus, potassium, and C-reactive protein levels. However, it remains uncertain whether these results translate to improvement in clinically relevant outcomes. Large-scale high-quality studies are still required in this population.

The Feline and the Swine: A Peculiar Case in an Allergy Clinic.

Cross-reactivity between mammalian proteins, such as that in Pork Cat Syndrome, remains a topic of great interest. This syndrome, characterized by an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated response to porcine albumin triggered by sensitization through cat epithelium, has been sparsely documented. We discuss a 41-year-old female who developed a pruritic rash within 30 minutes of consuming pork. Notably, she exhibited elevated serum IgE levels with specific reactions to cat dander, dog dander, and pork. A skin prick test for pork was positive. The patient was treated conservatively with allergen avoidance, vitamin D supplementation, fexofenadine, and doxycycline for systemic reactions, and topical corticosteroids for localized skin reactions, yielding a resolution of symptoms. This case underscores the significance of recognizing rare cross-reactivities in allergy and immunology and the manifestations of Pork Cat Syndrome, necessitating a comprehensive patient history and awareness for improved diagnosis and management.

Curcumin-loaded albumin submicron particles with potential as a cancer therapy: an in vitro study.

Curcumin (CUR), a polyphenolic compound, shows promising biological properties, particularly antioxidant activity. However, its medical applications are limited due to its low water solubility, bioavailability, and pH-instability. CUR-loaded albumin microparticles (CUR-HSA-MPs) of submicron size in the range of 800 to 900 nm and a zeta potential of -15 mV were prepared. The CUR loading efficiency was up to 65%. A maximum release of 37% of the encapsulated CUR was observed within 6 h when the CUR-HSA-MPs were dispersed in 50% ethanol in PBS at pH 7, while in RPMI 1640 medium the release was 7%. This demonstrates a sustainable release. The in vitro cytotoxicity of CUR-HSA-MPs showed promising anticancer potential against human hepatocellular carcinoma (Huh-7) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell lines, although this effect was less pronounced in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFB) and human cholangiocyte (MMN) cell lines. Confocal microscopy was used to confirm the uptake of CUR-HSA-MPs by cancer cells. Our studies revealed that HSA-MPs are potentially promising vehicles for increasing the solubility and bioavailability of CUR.