One-step synthesis of multifunctional nanoparticles for CT/PA imaging guided breast cancer photothermal therapy.

Advances in nanotheranostics have promoted the development of precision medicine, which has great potential as a weapon for clinical diagnosis and therapy of tumors. However, the combination of three functional principle components (imaging probes, therapeutic agents and surface coating) in traditional theranostic system is difficult to be achieved in only one step, while undergoing multiple synthesis procedures, time-consuming process and unknown toxicity. Herein, we fabricated iodinated polyaniline (LC@I-PANi) nanoparticles via a facile one-step synthesis approach integrating chemical oxidative polymerization and iodine-doping process for computed tomography (CT) imaging and photoacoustic (PA) imaging-guided photothermal therapy (PTT). Iodic acid (HIO3) as an oxidant induces chemical oxidation polymerization of aniline monomers. Meanwhile, iodine is incorporated into the polyaniline structural units in the process of polymerization to obtain LC@I-PANi nanoparticles. Moreover, thel-cysteine (LC) has an effect on diameter of LC@I-PANi nanoparticles, which enables nanoparticles have size-controlled spherical morphology and good colloidal stability. The hemolysis assay and cytotoxicity assessment verified the good biocompatibility of LC@I-PANi. Moreover, our LC@I-PANi nanoparticles could not only exhibit appealing PTT efficiency, but also achieve excellent CT/PA dual-mode imaging effect. The histological evaluations suggested the negligible toxicity of LC@I-PANi in vivo. This is the first time to our knowledge that multifunctional LC@I-PANi nanoparticles were prepared by an ingenious one-step method. This work not only highlights a one-step strategy that simplified the complex synthesis of LC@I-PANi nanoparticles, but also provides insight for further biomedical application of "all-in-one" theranostic agent.

Possible mechanism underlying analgesic effect of Tuina in rats may involve piezo mechanosensitive channels within dorsal root ganglia axon.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the analgesic effect of Tuina mainly from mechanically sensitive ion channels in peripheral myelinated nerve fibers. METHODS: A total of 40 healthy and pathogen-free adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study [weight: (220.0 ¡À 1.4) g, Shanghai Slac Laboratory Animal Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China; license No. Shanghai ICP 05033115]. The rats were housed in cages with free access to water and food in a temperature-controlled room [(22 ¡À 1) ¡æ and 12-h/12-h light-dark cycle. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into five groups: naive, sham, chronic compression of dorsal root ganglion (CCD), Tuina (7 d) and Tuina (21 d). CCD rat model was established via unilateral DRG compression by ""L"" liked steel bar. Chinese Tuina treatment was accepted once per day. Behavior monitoring of paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were tested. The expression of Piezo1 and Piezo2 in myelinated nerve fiber were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western-blotting. RESULTS: There was a high expression of Piezo2 and a low expression of Piezo1 in the naive and CCD groups. In contrast, the expression of Piezo2 was down regulated and Piezo1 was increased after a period of Tuina. There was significant difference (P¡Ü0.05) between the groups. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that Tuina therapy can increase the expression of Piezo2 and decrease the expression of Piezo1 in the test rats. The different changes in the expressions of Piezo1 and Piezo2 may play an important role in alleviating CCD-induced allodynia and hyperalgesia.

Analgesic effects of Chinese Tuina massage in a rat model of pain.

Previous clinical trials have suggested that the Chinese Tuina massage may exert transient analgesic effects. However, further investigation regarding the underlying mechanism has been hindered by the lack of a suitable animal model of pain. The present study established a rat model of hind leg pain by injecting 5.8% hypertonic saline solution (HSS) into the left gastrocnemius muscle. The effects of various Tuina massages on the pain thresholds of the rats were then measured. In addition, the effects of ipsilateral and contralateral Tuina massages on C-fiber-evoked field potentials following electrical stimulation of the left sciatic nerve were determined. Alterations in the gastrocnemius muscle tissues following various Tuina applications were investigated using hematoxylin and eosin, and desmin staining, as well as malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase assays. Heavy hand pressure transiently reduced the pain sensitivity of both posterior limbs, despite HSS only being injected into the left hind leg. Tuina massage treatments that lasted for 15 min were associated with the best results and an absence of local tissue changes. The results of electrical sciatic nerve stimulation demonstrated that ipsilateral and contralateral Tuina massage may decrease the level of peripheral nociceptive C-fiber activity. In the present study, the Chinese Tuina massage exerted analgesic effects in a rat model of pain, which did not involve tissue damage, following a 15 min massage. Therefore, the rat model of pain used in the present study may provide a novel approach for investigating the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Tuina massage.

Optimization of parameters of Yi Zhi Chan Tuina manipulation promotes peripheral circulation.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the most effective parameters of Yi Zhi Chan Tuina manipulation for improving peripheral blood circulation. METHODS: A total of 45 volunteers were recruited from Pudong district in Shanghai, China, from October to December 2010, and randomly divided into nine groups using computer-generated random numbers. Participants received Yi Zhi Chan Tuina manipulation on Chengjin (BL 56) acupoint; each group received a particular combination of manipulation force and treatment time. We used a two-factor, three-level factorial design to examine the effects of force and treatment time on changes in popliteal artery average volume flow, pulsatility index, and vessel diameter to determine the optimal parameter group. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after Tuina manipulation by interviewers blind to treatment group status. RESULTS: After manipulation, two of the nine groups showed an increase in popliteal artery volume flow. An inter-participants effect test showed that for main effect of time, F = 0.331, P = 0.720; for main effect of force, F = 2.934, P = 0.066; and for the force-time interaction effect, F = 1.072, P = 0.385, indicating no interaction between force and time. However, a pairwise comparison of the three levels of time showed that a treatment time of 10 min was significantly more effective than that of 2 min (P = 0.024). A pairwise comparison of light force, medium force, and heavy force showed a statistically significant effect for medium force (P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: Yi Zhi Chan Tuina manipulation with vertical force of 9.31 N for 10 min is most effective in improving peripheral circulation.

[The theorotical basis for chronic fatigue syndrome from bladder meridian of foot-taiyang].

The bladder meridian of foot-taiyang is considered as key of six meridians and the yang of the yang, which is the pivot of transportation for qi and blood in the meridians and zang-fu. The running route and treatment characteristic of bladder meridian is closely related with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The bladder meridian belongs to brain and connects with governor vessel, which has a close relationship with zang-fu function, quality of sleep and fatigue. Besides, the running route of bladder meridian is highly consistent with the surface projections of important anatomical structures such as muscle, nerve and sympathetic trunk, etc. Therefore, regulating the meridian-qi of bladder meridian can harmonize five-zang and calm the mind, but also effectively relieve physical and mental fatigue in CFS.