Multienzyme-Like Nanozyme Encapsulated Ocular Microneedles for Keratitis Treatment.

Keratitis, an inflammation of the cornea caused by bacterial or fungal infections, is one of the leading causes of severe visual disability and blindness. Keratitis treatment requires both the prevention of infection and the reduction of inflammation. However, owing to their limited therapeutic functions, in addition to the ocular barrier, existing conventional medications are characterized by poor efficacy and low bioavailability, requiring high dosages or frequent topical treatment, which represents a burden on patients and increases the risk of side effects. In this study, manganese oxide nanocluster-decorated graphdiyne nanosheets (MnOx/GDY) are developed as multienzyme-like nanozymes for the treatment of infectious keratitis and loaded into hyaluronic acid and polymethyl methacrylate-based ocular microneedles (MGMN). MGMN not only exhibits antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects owing to its multienzyme-like activities, including oxidase, peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase mimics but also crosses the ocular barrier and shows increased bioavailability via the microneedle system. Moreover, MGMN is demonstrated to eliminate pathogens, prevent biofilm formation, reduce inflammation, alleviate ocular hypoxia, and promote the repair of corneal epithelial damage in in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experiments, thus providing a better therapeutic effect than commercial ophthalmic voriconazole, with no obvious microbial resistance or cytotoxicity.

[Clinical efficacy of Longjintonglin Capsules on chronic prostatitis with damp-heat stasis syndrome Re-evaluation based on multicenter real-world study].

OBJECTIVE: To re-evaluate the clinical efficacy of Longjintonglin Capsules (LJTL) in the treatment of chronic prostatitis with damp-heat stasis syndrome. METHODS: This multicenter real-world study included 1 352 cases of chronic prostatitis with damp-heat and stagnation syndrome treated with LJTL (3 capsules once, tid, 30 minutes after meals, for 2 four-week courses) in addition to routine treatment. Before and after treatment, we analyzed the NIH-CPSI scores, the scores of Chinese medicine symptom quantitative classification and changes in individual symptom scores, and observed adverse reactions to medication. RESULTS: The total effectiveness rate of LJTL was 93.64%. Compared with the baseline, the NIH-CPSI scores were significantly decreased after treatment (ï¼»24.27 ± 6.04ï¼½ vs ï¼»8.17 ± 4.21ï¼½, P < 0.05), and so were the scores on the pain symptoms (ï¼»9.63 ± 3.65ï¼½ vs ï¼»3.02 ± 2.23ï¼½, P < 0.05), voiding symptoms (ï¼»5.65 ± 2.15ï¼½ vs ï¼»1.62 ± 1.36) and quality of life (ï¼»8.96 ± 2.32ï¼½ vs ï¼»3.16 ± 1.89ï¼½, P < 0.05). The effectiveness rate of LJTL was 95.9% on the Chinese medicine symptom frequent urination, 90.4% on painful urination, and 91.4% scanty dark urine, with a total effectiveness rate of 82.4% － 95.9%, all with statistically significant difference in comparison with the baseline (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Longjintonglin Capsules combined with routine treatment can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of chronic prostatitis with damp-heat stasis syndrome, especially effective on the symptoms of frequent urination, painful urination and scanty dark urine. Besides, it recommendable for its antidepressant and antianxiety effects, and the effect of improving the quality of life of the chronic prostatitis patients with damp-heat stasis.

A possible relationship between serum sex hormones and benign prostatic hyperplasia/lower urinary tract symptoms in men who underwent transurethral prostate resection.

In this study, we examined the relationship between sex hormone levels and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who underwent transurethral surgery. The study was conducted in 158 patients who came to our hospital for surgery. Clinical conditions were assessed by body mass index (BMI), digital rectal examination, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). The levels of sex hormones (including total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E 2 ), progesterone (P), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL)) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were reviewed. Correlations were determined through statistical analysis. The mean age was 72.06 ± 8.68 years. The total IPSS was significantly associated with the TT level (r = -0.21, P= 0.01). Other sex hormone levels were not correlated with total IPSS. However, some ratios such as E 2 / TT (r = 0.23, P= 0.00) and FSH/LH (r = -0.17, P = 0.04) were associated with total IPSS. Further analysis showed that the nocturia was associated with age (r = 0.16, P= 0.04), BMI (r = 0.21, P = 0.01), and TT (r = -0.19, P= 0.02). Moreover, we divided the patients into two subgroups based on IPSS severity (<20 or ≥20). The mean TT level was in the normal range, but it was significantly related to the presence of severe LUTS. In summary, our study has shown that the severity of LUTS is associated with TT, E 2 / TT and FSH/LH in men who underwent prostate surgery. Increasing nocturia was observed in lower testosterone patients. Additional larger studies are needed to elucidate the potential mechanisms.

[Clinical observation on post-stroke shoulder pain treated with balance acupuncture].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the difference of therapeutic effect on post-stroke shoulder pain between balance acupuncture and conventional acupuncture. METHODS: Sixty cases were randomly divided into two groups, 30 cases in each one. In balance acupuncture group, the balance technique of acupuncture was used on Jiantong point. In conventional acupuncture group, the conventional acupuncture was applied to Shuigou (GV 26), Neiguan (PC 6), Tongli (HT 5), Zusanlti (ST 36), Xuanzhong (GB 39) and others, combined with the points on the affected meridians. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was adopted to evaluate the efficacy. RESULTS: Separately, before and after the 1st treatment, VAS scores were 5.62 +/- 0.46 and 5.00 +/- 0.31 in balance acupuncture group (P < 0.01), and those were 5.52 +/- 0.65 and 5.22 +/- 0.29 in conventional acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The improvement in balance acupuncture group was superior to that in conventional acupuncture group (P < 0.05). After 10 treatments (one course of treatment), VAS score was 3.75 +/- 0.67 in balance acupuncture group and was 3.77 +/- 0.62 in conventional acupuncture group, which reduced significantly as compared with those before treatment (both P < 0.01), the difference between two groups was not significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Either balance acupuncture or conventional acupuncture has significant analgesia on post-stroke shoulder pain. But, the instant analgesia of balance acupuncture is superior to that of conventional acupuncture.

[Cortical neuron apoptosis induced by beta-amyloid peptide and protective effect of panoxadiol in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the apoptosis of cortical neurons induced by beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta(1-40)) and the protective effect of panoxadiol. METHODS: The Abeta(1-40) induced damage of primarily cultured mouse cortical neurons was examined with morphological observation, MTT assay, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and Western-blot. RESULT: After 48 h treated with 12 mumol/L Abeta(1-40), the cortical neurons showed apoptotic characteristics: including decreased OD570 value in MTT assay, DNA cleavage fragment in electrophoresis and increased apoptotic cells. Western-blot showed that the expression of bcl-2 reduced significantly (P<0.05). Cell apoptosis was significantly attenuated in 40 mg/L panoxadiol treated group. CONCLUSION: Panoxadiol can protect cultured cortical neurons from apoptosis induced by Abeta(1-40) in mice.

Cortical neuron apoptosis induced by beta-amyloid peptide and protective effect of panoxadiol in mice / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the apoptosis of cortical neurons induced by beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta(1-40)) and the protective effect of panoxadiol.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The Abeta(1-40) induced damage of primarily cultured mouse cortical neurons was examined with morphological observation, MTT assay, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and Western-blot.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>After 48 h treated with 12 mumol/L Abeta(1-40), the cortical neurons showed apoptotic characteristics: including decreased OD570 value in MTT assay, DNA cleavage fragment in electrophoresis and increased apoptotic cells. Western-blot showed that the expression of bcl-2 reduced significantly (P<0.05). Cell apoptosis was significantly attenuated in 40 mg/L panoxadiol treated group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Panoxadiol can protect cultured cortical neurons from apoptosis induced by Abeta(1-40) in mice.</p>