Microparticulated Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide shows potent vaccine adjuvant effect.

Adjuvants are necessary for protein vaccines and have been used for nearly 100 years. However, developing safe and effective adjuvants is still urgently needed. Polysaccharides isolated from traditional Chinese medicine are considered novel vaccine adjuvant sources. This study aimed to investigate the adjuvant activity and immune-enhancing mechanisms of the microparticulated Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide (MP-PSP) modified by calcium carbonate. PSP demonstrated adjuvant activity, and MP-PSP further showed a higher humoral response compared to PSP. Subsequently, MP-PSP was elucidated to improving the immunity by slowing the rate of antigen release and activating dendritic cells along with interleukin-6 secretion through toll-like receptor 4 signaling, followed by T follicular helper cell and B cell interactions. Moreover, MP-PSP had a good safety profile in vaccinated mice. Thus, MP-PSP may be a promising vaccine adjuvant and warrants further investigation.

Effects of oxidative stress regulation in inflammation-associated gastric cancer progression treated using traditional Chinese medicines: A review.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a global public health concern that poses a serious threat to human health owing to its high morbidity and mortality rates. Due to the lack of specificity of symptoms, patients with GC tend to be diagnosed at an advanced stage with poor prognosis. Therefore, the development of new treatment methods is particularly urgent. Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), a precancerous GC lesion, plays a key role in its occurrence and development. Oxidative stress has been identified as an important factor driving the development and progression of the pathological processes of CAG and GC. Therefore, regulating oxidative stress pathways can not only intervene in CAG development but also prevent the occurrence and metastasis of GC and improve the prognosis of GC patients. In this study, PubMed, CNKI, and Web of Science were used to search for a large number of relevant studies. The review results suggested that the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and TCM prescriptions could target and improve inflammation, pathological status, metastasis, and invasion of tumor cells, providing a potential new supplement for the treatment of CAG and GC.

Protective Effects and Mechanisms of Huangqi Decoction Against Radiation-Induced Bystander Effects / Efectos Protectores y Mecanismos de la Decocción de Huangqi Contra los Efectos Secundarios Inducidos por la Radiación

SUMMARY: The 12C6+ heavy ion beam irradiation can cause bystander effects. The inflammatory cytokines, endocrine hormones and apoptotic proteins may be involved in 12C6+ irradiation-induced bystander effects. This study characterized the protective effects and mechanisms of Huangqi decoction (HQD) against 12C6+ radiation induced bystander effects. Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, 12C6+ heavy ion irradiation model, and high-dose/medium-dose/low-dose HQD groups. HE staining assessed the pathological changes of brain and kidney. Peripheral blood chemical indicators as well as inflammatory factors and endocrine hormones were detected. Apoptosis was measured with TUNEL. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression was determined with real-time PCR and Western blot.Irradiation induced pathological damage to the brain and kidney tissues. After irradiation, the numbers of white blood cells (WBC) and monocyte, and the expression of interleukin (IL)-2, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and PCNA decreased. The damage was accompanied by increased expression of IL-1β, IL-6, corticosterone (CORT) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) as well as increased neuronal apoptosis. These effects were indicative of radiation-induced bystander effects. Administration of HQD attenuated the pathological damage to brain and kidney tissues, and increased the numbers of WBC, neutrophils, lymphocyte and monocytes, as well as the expression of IL-2, CRH and PCNA. It also decreased the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, CORT and ACTH as well as neuronal apoptosis. HQD exhibits protective effects against 12C6+ radiation-induced bystander effects. The underlying mechanism may involve the promotion of the production of peripheral blood cells, inhibition of inflammatory factors and apoptosis, and regulation of endocrine hormones.

La irradiación con haz de iones pesados 12C6+ puede provocar efectos secundarios. Las citoquinas inflamatorias, las hormonas endocrinas y las proteínas apoptóticas pueden estar involucradas en los efectos secundarios inducidos por la irradiación 12C6+. Este estudio caracterizó los efectos y mecanismos protectores de la decocción de Huangqi (HQD) contra los efectos externos inducidos por la radiación 12C6+. Las ratas Wistar se dividieron aleatoriamente en grupos control, modelo de irradiación de iones pesados 12C6+ y grupos de dosis alta/media/baja de HQD. La tinción con HE evaluó los cambios patológicos del cerebro y el riñón. Se detectaron indicadores químicos de sangre periférica, así como factores inflamatorios y hormonas endocrinas. La apoptosis se midió con TUNEL. La expresión del antígeno nuclear de células en proliferación (PCNA) se determinó mediante PCR en tiempo real y transferencia Western blot. La irradiación indujo daños patológicos en los tejidos cerebrales y renales. Después de la irradiación, disminuyó el número de glóbulos blancos (WBC) y monocitos, y la expresión de interleucina (IL)-2, hormona liberadora de corticotropina (CRH) y PCNA. El daño estuvo acompañado por una mayor expresión de IL-1β, IL-6, corticosterona (CORT) y hormona adrenocorticotrópica (ACTH), así como un aumento de la apoptosis neuronal. Estas alteraciones fueron indicativas de efectos inducidos por la radiación. La administración de HQD atenuó el daño patológico a los tejidos cerebrales y renales, y aumentó el número de leucocitos y monocitos, así como la expresión de IL-2, CRH y PCNA. También disminuyó la expresión de IL-1β, IL-6, CORT y ACTH, así como la apoptosis neuronal. HQD exhibe mecanismos protectores contra los efectos externos inducidos por la radiación 12C6+. El mecanismo subyacente puede implicar la promoción de la producción de células sanguíneas periféricas, la inhibición de factores inflamatorios y la apoptosis y la regulación de hormonas endocrinas.

Reversed Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Dispersed in Iodized Oil for Transarterial Chemoembolization.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a promising treatment for patients suffering from unresectable liver malignancy. A coarse emulsion of doxorubicin solution and iodized oil is widely used in clinical practice. However, this coarse emulsion lacks sufficient physical stability and can split into water and oil very quickly. Furthermore, most chemotherapeutics are quickly released into systematic circulation, causing serious adverse effects. In this study, we aimed to prepare reversed lipid-based nanoparticles (RLBNs) dispersed in iodized oil as nanocarriers for the delivery of hydrophilic chemotherapeutics. Unlike a simple mixture of drug solution and oil, RLBN is a homogenous system and possesses a hydrophobic nanostructure that has high dispersibility in oils. Hydrophilic chemotherapeutics were entrapped in the polar core juxtaposed by highly biocompatible lipid materials, such as egg phospholipids. A sustained drug-release profile was observed in both in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics studies. The results of computed tomography showed that RLBN-doxorubicin-iodized oil could remain in the tumor region for more than 14 days and that the growth of tumors was effectively suppressed. Thus, the current results suggest that RLBN is a promising drug delivery system and is compatible with TACE treatment.

Identification of Prolificacy-Related Differentially Expressed Proteins from Sheep (Ovis aries) Hypothalamus by Comparative Proteomics.

Reproduction, as a physiologically complex process, can significantly affect the development of the sheep industry. However, a lack of overall understanding to sheep fecundity has long blocked the progress in sheep breeding and husbandry. In the present study, the aim is to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) from hypothalamus in sheep without FecB mutation in two comparison groups: polytocous (PF) versus monotocous (MF) sheep at follicular phase and polytocous (PL) versus monotocous (ML) sheep at luteal phase. Totally 5058 proteins are identified in sheep hypothalamus, where 22 in PF versus MF, and 39 proteins in PL versus ML are differentially expressed, respectively. A functional analysis is then conducted including Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis to reveal the potential roles of these DEPs. The proteins ENSOARP00000020097, ENSOARP00000006714, growth hormone (GH), histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4), and 5'-3' exoribonuclease 2 (XRN2) in PF versus MF, and bcl-2-associated athanogene 4 (BAG4), insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R), hydroxysteroid 11-beta dehydrogenase 1 (HSD11B1), and transthyretin (TTR) in PL versus ML appear to modulate reproduction, presumably by influencing the activities of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). This study provides an alternative method to identify DEPs associated with sheep prolificacy from the hypothalamus. The mass spectrometry data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD013822.

Transarterial Embolization for Treatment of Symptomatic Polycystic Liver Disease: More than 2-year Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Currently, treatment of symptomatic polycystic liver disease (PLD) is still a challenging problem, especially for these patients who are not feasible for surgery. Minimally invasive options such as laparoscopic fenestration and percutaneous cyst aspiration with sclerotherapy demonstrated disappointing results due to multiple lesions. Because the cysts in PLD are mostly supplied from hepatic arteries but not from portal veins, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of the hepatic artery branches that supply the major hepatic cysts can lead to shrinkage of the cyst and liver size, relieve symptoms, and improve nutritional status. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of TAE with a mixture of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and iodized oil for patients with severe symptomatic PLD during a more than 2-year follow-up. METHODS: Institutional review board had approved this study. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. From February 2007 to December 2014, twenty-three patients (20 women and 3 men; mean age, 49.0 ± 14.5 years) infeasible for surgical treatments underwent TAE. Changes in the abdominal circumferences, volumes of intrahepatic cysts, hepatic parenchyma volume, and whole liver, clinical symptoms, laboratory data, and complications were evaluated after TAE. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in all cases. No procedure-related major complications occurred. The median follow-up period after TAE was 48.5 months (interquartile range, 30.0-72.0 months). PLD-related severe symptoms were improved remarkably in 86% of the treated patients; TAE failed to benefit in four patients (four patients did not benefit from TAE). The mean maximum abdominal circumference decreased significantly from 106.0 ± 8.0 cm to 87.0 ± 15.0 cm (P = 0.021). The mean intrahepatic cystic volume reduction rates compared with pre-TAE were 36% at 12 months, 37% at 24 months, and 38% at 36 months after TAE (P < 0.05). The mean liver volume reduction rates were 32% at 12 months, 31% at 24 months, and 33% at 36 months (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TAE with the mixture of NBCA and iodized oil appears to be a safe and effective treatment method for patients with symptomatic PLD, especially for those who are not good candidates for surgical treatments, to improve both hepatic volume and hepatic cysts volume.

Application of iron oxide nanoparticles in glioma imaging and therapy: from bench to bedside.

Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors and have a very dismal prognosis. However, recent advancements in nanomedicine and nanotechnology provide opportunities for personalized treatment regimens to improve the poor prognosis of patients suffering from glioma. This comprehensive review starts with an outline of the current status facing glioma. It then provides an overview of the state-of-the-art applications of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) to glioma diagnostics and therapeutics, including MR contrast enhancement, drug delivery, cell labeling and tracking, magnetic hyperthermia treatment and magnetic particle imaging. It also addresses current challenges associated with the biological barriers and IONP design with an emphasis on recent advances and innovative approaches for glioma targeting strategies. Opportunities for future development are highlighted.

Comparing different physical factors on serum TNF-α levels, chondrocyte apoptosis, caspase-3 and caspase-8 expression in osteoarthritis of the knee in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effects that different physical factors may have on rabbits with osteoarthritis of the knee. METHODS: A total of 64 rabbits were randomised and organised into eight groups, eight of which were each assigned a different physical factor, in which the rabbits received one type of physical therapy: millimetre waves for 20 min, pulsed electromagnetic fields, millimetre waves for 40 min, ultrasound, low-level laser therapy or ultrashort wave diathermy. The two remaining groups, the normal group and the model group, served as controls. The efficacy of the different treatments were determined by observing the configuration and structure of the cartilaginous tissue by haematoxylin and Eosin staining, measuring the serum tumour necrosis factor-α levels by enzyme immunoassay, evaluating the expression levels of caspases-3 and -8 by immunohistochemistry, and calculating the ratio of chondrocytes apoptosis by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling. The values obtained for each assessment of the eight groups were analysed by a One-way ANOVA. RESULTS: By applying upmentioned physical treatments, the organisational configuration and structure of cartilage cells from the knees of rabbits with osteoarthritis increased. These treatments also decreased serum tumour necrosis factor-α levels, reduced the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8 and reduced chondrocyte apoptosis, resulting in an overall delay in osteoarthritis development. CONCLUSION: The application of pulsed electromagnetic fields, millimetre waves for 40 min, ultrasound, or low-level laser therapy had significant effects in improving osteoarthritis; in particular, treatment with pulsed electromagnetic fields or ultrasound yielded the greatest therapeutic effect.