Preparation and photothermal therapy of gold nanorods modified by Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC polysaccharide.

In recent years, the application of nanoparticles formed by coupling metal nanomaterials of photothermal therapy with polysaccharides as modified carriers in the targeted treatment of liver cancer has attracted extensive attention. In the present work, an undescribed homogeneous polysaccharide BCP50-2 was obtained from Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC. The structural analysis displayed that BCP50-2 contained galactose and a small amount of arabinose, and was mainly composed of six monosaccharide residues: →3,5)-α-l-Araf-(1→, →4)-ß-d-Galp-(1→, →4,6)-ß-d-Galp-(1→, →3)-α-l-Galp-(1→, terminal α-l-Araf, and terminal ß-d-Galp. To enhance the antitumor activity of BCP50-2, BCP50-2-AuNRs were prepared by coupling BCP50-2 with gold nanorods for the treatment of liver cancer. BCP50-2-AuNRs were rod-shaped with a long diameter of 26.8 nm and had good photothermal conversion effects. Under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, BCP50-2-AuNRs possessed photothermal effects and suppressed the growth of HepG2, A549, and MCF-7 cells. In addition, BCP50-2-AuNRs inhibited the development of liver cancer by inducing cell apoptosis, arresting the cell cycle in G2/M phases, and inhibiting cell migration. Moreover, BCP50-2-AuNRs inhibited tumor proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in zebrafish. In summary, BCP50-2-AuNRs may be potentially useful for cancer treatment.

Preparation and characterization of GNRs stabled with the thiolated lemon polysaccharide and the applications for tumor photothermal therapy.

Photothermal therapy is a novel strategy for cancer treatment, which can kill tumor cells by converting light energy into heat energy through irradiating photothermal conversion materials with laser. As a common photothermal agent, gold nanorods (GNRs) have characteristics of high conversion efficiency and long circulation time in vivo. However, improving stability and reducing toxicity of GNRs remain a significant challenge. In this research, a simple and novel strategy for the synthesis of modified GNRs was proposed. The polysaccharide CL90 was obtained from lemon, which was modified to afford thiolated lemon polysaccharide (SH-CL90). SH-CL90 was used to prepare stable GNRs and give the composite GNRs-SH-CL90, which was found to have good stability in PBS solution and possess high photothermal conversion effects and photothermal stability. The biological experiments revealed that GNRs-SH-CL90 inhibited tumor cell proliferation under near-infrared light irradiation and could induce apoptosis significantly. Furthermore, in vivo experiments supported that GNRs-SH-CL90 could inhibit the proliferation and migration of tumor cells. All the experiments demonstrated that GNRs-SH-CL90 might be promising in the field of cancer treatment.

Sesquiterpene Lactams and Lactones With Antioxidant Potentials From Atractylodes macrocephala Discovered by Molecular Networking Strategy.

Atractylodes macrocephala rhizome (called Bái-zhú in China) has a long history as a functional food and herbal medicine in East Asia, especially China. Sesquiterpenoids are one of the main active compounds of Atractylodes macrocephala rhizome. This study aimed to explore the unknown sesquiterpenoids of A. macrocephala rhizome using a molecular networking strategy. Two new nitrogen-containing sesquiterpenoids, atractylenolactam A (1) and atractylenolactam B (2), and 2 new sesquiterpene lactones, 8-methoxy-atractylenolide V (6) and 15-acetoxyl atractylenolide III (7), along with 12 known analogs (3-5 and 8-16) were discovered and isolated. All the structures were assigned based on detailed spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations of 1, 2, 6, and 7 were established by time-dependent density functional theory ECD (TDDFT-ECD) calculations. All these compounds had different degrees of concentration-dependent activating effects on nuclear-factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2).

A natural xanthone suppresses lung cancer growth and metastasis by targeting STAT3 and FAK signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: Nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common malignant tumors, and the current drugs have not achieved ideal therapeutic effects. The abnormal activation of STAT3 and FAK signal transduction in tumor cells is highly correlated with their proliferation and migration ability. Therefore, bioactive compounds that can inhibit STAT3 and FAK activation have the potential to become agents to treat NSCLC. PURPOSE: This study aims to discover new antitumor compounds from Garcinia xipshuanbannaensis and investigate the molecular mechanism by which they inhibit lung cancer proliferation and metastasis in vivo and in vitro, all of which may lead to obtainment of a potential antitumor agent. METHODS: Xipsxanthone H was obtained by various chromatography methods (including silica gel, medium pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC), and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)). 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were used to analyze the structure. Cell viability and wound healing assays were employed to detect changes in the proliferation and migration of cancer cells. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein expression of STAT3 and FAK signaling pathways affected by xipsxanthone H was determined by Western blotting. The zebrafish model was used to evaluate the in vivo effects of xipshantone H on tumor proliferation and metastasis. Molecular docking was utilized to explore the interaction between xipsxanthone H and STAT3. Cellular thermal shift assays (CETSAs) were employed to explore the possible target of xipsxanthone H. RESULTS: The novel compound xipsxanthone H was purified and characterized from G. xipshuanbannaensis. Xipsxanthone H exhibited strong anti-proliferation activity in a variety of tumor cell lines. In addition to inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and arresting the cell cycle, mechanistic studies demonstrated that xipsxanthone H suppressed STAT3 and FAK phosphorylation and regulated the downstream protein expression of the STAT3 and FAK signaling pathways. The in vivo studies using the zebrafish model revealed that xipsxanthone H inhibited tumor proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: A new xanthone was obtained from G. xipshuanbannaensis, and this compound had the property of inhibiting tumor proliferation and metastasis by targeting STAT3 and FAK signaling pathways in NSCLC. These findings suggested that xipsxanthone H might be a potential candidate agent for NSCLC treatment.

Poisoning Associated with Consumption of a Homemade Medicinal Liquor - Chongqing, China, 2018.

On May 3, 2018, Chongqing Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CQCDC) received a report of 15 persons with numbness of the tongue or limbs and vomiting of unknown etiology; all ill persons had attended an adult birthday luncheon in Bishan District, Chongqing municipality, in southwest China. Initial reports indicated that one person had died. Within 2 hours, CQCDC and Western Chinese Field Epidemiology Training Program staff members launched an investigation that included identification of cases, laboratory testing of drinks, and patient interviews to identify the cause of what appeared to be a poisoning. Among the 15 cases, five persons died. The investigation of this apparent mass intoxication implicated a homemade alcoholic beverage produced from a highly toxic flowering plant in the genus Aconitum used in traditional Chinese medicine. Although the risk of aconite toxicity is known, approximately 5,000 cases of aconite poisoning incidents were reported in China, Germany, Japan, and other countries during 1993-2005; most cases of fatal poisoning occurred in China (1). This event highlights the importance of enforcing and complying with existing regulations regarding sale and purchase of Aconitum species (also known as wolfbane), and of dissemination of critical public health messages.

Design and construction of IR780- and EGCG-based and mitochondrial targeting nanoparticles and their application in tumor chemo-phototherapy.

An integration combination of phototherapy and chemotherapy to treat carcinoma, solving the inner limitation of individual-modal chemical agent-based therapy or phototherapy, emerges to be a strategy with high prospects for achieving synergistic curative effects. The dye IR780-iodide (IR780) close to infrared radiation is a phototherapy agent with high prospects. However, it is limited in its clinical applications due to poor solubility in water. While epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), naturally resourced green tea polyphenol, has been extensively proven with intrinsic antitumor activity, but it is largely restricted by its low bioavailability in vivo. Hence, novel multiple-function nanoparticles comprising hyaluronic acid (HA) and IR780 were proposed to deliver EGCG, defined as EGCG@THSI nano-scale particles (EGCG@THSI NPs), thereby rapidly solving limitations of EGCG and IR780. Amphiphilic nano-scale carrier was prepared by triphenylphosphine (TPP), hyaluronic acid (HA), cystamine, and IR780, termed as TPP-HA-SS-IR780, and EGCG was loaded into the amphiphilic copolymer by self-assembly. TPP-HA-SS-IR780 endowed the as-synthesized EGCG@THSI NPs with excellent TPP-mediated mitochondrial-targeted and glutathione-triggered rapid drug release properties. As impacted by the integration of phototherapy and chemotherapy, the EGCG@THSI NPs under NIR laser irradiation showed a prominent anti-tumor effect. Taken together, this study presented a multiple-function nano-scale carrier platform with high prospects in improving the therapeutic efficacy of anti-carcinoma drugs.

Temperature-Sensitive Lipid-Coated Carbon Nanotubes for Synergistic Photothermal Therapy and Gene Therapy.

The combination of photothermal therapy (PTT) and gene therapy (GT) shows great potential to achieve synergistic anti-tumor activity. However, the lack of a controlled release of genes from carriers remains a severe hindrance. Herein, peptide lipid (PL) and sucrose laurate (SL) were used to coat single-walled carbon nanotubes (SCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) to form bifunctional delivery systems (denoted SCNT-PS and MCNT-PS, respectively) with excellent temperature-sensitivity and photothermal performance. CNT/siRNA suppressed tumor growth by silencing survivin expression while exhibiting photothermal effects under near-infrared (NIR) light. SCNT-PS/siRNA showed very high anti-tumor activity, resulting in the complete inhibition of some tumors. It was highly efficient for systemic delivery to tumor sites and to facilitate siRNA release owing to the phase transition of the temperature-sensitive lipids, due to PL and SL coating. Thus, SCNT-PS/siRNA is a promising anti-tumor nanocarrier for combined PTT and GT.

Malnutrition and its associated factors among elderly Chinese with physical functional dependency.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and to identify the associated factors of malnutrition among elderly Chinese with physical functional dependency. DESIGN: Face-to-face interviews using standardised questionnaires were conducted to collect demographic information, health-related issues and psychosocial status. Physical function was measured by the Barthel Index (BI), and nutrition status was assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to assess associated factors of malnutrition. SETTING: China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2323 participants (aged ≥ 60 years) with physical functional dependency in five provinces in China were enrolled using a multistage cluster sampling scheme. RESULTS: The prevalence of malnutrition was 17·9 % (95 % CI 16·3, 19·4). Multivariable binary logistic regression revealed the independent risk factors of poor nutrition status were being female, older age, lower educational status, poor hearing, poor physical functional status, lack of hobbies, low religious participation, poor social support, lack of social participation and changes in social participation. The study found that the most significant independent risk factor for malnutrition was complete physical functional dependence (OR 4·46, 95 % CI 2·92, 6·82). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study confirm that malnutrition and the risk of malnutrition are prevalent in Chinese older adults with physical functional dependency. In addition to demographic and physical health-related factors, psychosocial factors, which are often overlooked, are independently associated with nutrition status in Chinese older adults with physical functional dependency. A holistic approach should be adopted to screen for malnutrition and develop health promotion interventions in this vulnerable population.

Community composition, structure and productivity in response to nitrogen and phosphorus additions in a temperate meadow.

Global nitrogen (N) enrichment likely alters plant community composition and increases productivity, consequently affecting ecosystem stability. Meanwhile, the effects of N addition on plant community composition and productivity are often influenced by phosphorus (P) nutrition, as the effects of N and P addition and interactions between N and P on plant community structure and productivity are still not well understood. An in situ experiment with N and P addition was conducted in a temperate meadow in northeastern China from 2013 to 2016. The responses of plant community composition, structure, functional group cover, richness and productivity to N and P additions were examined. N addition significantly reduced species richness and diversity but increased aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) during the four-study-year period. P addition exerted no significant impact on species richness, diversity or ANPP but reduced cover of grasses and increased legume cover. Under N plus P addition, P addition alleviated the negative effects of N addition on community structure by increasing species richness and covers of legume and forbs. N and P additions significantly altered plant community structure and productivity in the functional groups. N addition significantly increased the cover of gramineous and reduced the cover of legume, P addition significantly increased legume cover. Our observations revealed that soil nutrient availability regulates plant community structure and ANPP in response to nutrient enrichment caused by anthropogenic activities in the temperate meadow. Our results highlight that the negative influence of N deposition on plant community composition might be alleviated by P input in the future.

Aged care clinical mentoring model of change in nursing homes in China: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Residents living in nursing homes usually have complex healthcare needs and require a comprehensive care approach to identifying and meeting their care needs. Suboptimal quality of care is reported in nursing homes and is associated with the poor health and well-being of the residents, the burden on acute care hospitals and the high costs of healthcare for the government. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that an Aged Care Clinical Mentoring Model will create and sustain evidence-based quality improvement in priority areas and will be cost-effective in nursing homes in Hunan Province, China. METHODS: A cluster randomized controlled trial will be applied to the study. Fourteen nursing homes will be randomly allocated to either the intervention group (n = 7) or the control group (n = 7). Forty staff will be recruited from each nursing home and the estimated sample size will be 280 staff in each group. The intervention includes a structured, evidence-based quality improvement education program for staff to facilitate knowledge translation in evidence-based quality improvement targeting urinary incontinence, pressure injury and falls prevention. The primary outcomes are nursing homes' capacity to create and sustain quality improvement, staff perceptions of person-centered care, self-reported quality of care by residents and selected quality indicators at 12 months follow-up adjusted for baseline value. Secondary outcomes are residents' quality of life, residents' unplanned admissions to acute care hospitals, quality of care reported by staff, staff job satisfaction and staff intention to leave adjusted for baseline value. A mixed linear regression model will be adopted to compare the significant differences between groups over a 12-month period. DISCUSSION: Although the Aged Care Clinical Mentoring Model has been tested as an effective model to bring positive changes in nursing homes in a high-income country, factors affecting the adaptation of the model in nursing homes in low- and middle-income countries are unknown. The carefully planned intervention protocol enables the project team to consider enablers and barriers when adapting the Model. Therefore, strategies and resources will be in place to manage challenges while demonstrating best practice in this study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Prospectively registered via Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR), ChiCTR-IOC-17013109 , Registered on 25 October 2017.

Iroquois Homeodomain transcription factors in ventricular conduction system and arrhythmia.

Iroquois homeobox genes, Irx, encode cardiac transcription factors, Irx1-6 in most mammals. These six transcription factors are expressed in different patterns mainly in the ventricular part of the heart. Existing researches show that Irx genes play key roles in the differentiation and development of ventricular conduction system and the establishment and maintenance of gradient expression of potassium channels, Kv4.2. Our main focus of this review is on the recent advances in the discovery of above-mentioned genes and the function of the encoding products, how Irx genes establish ventricular conduction system and regulate ventricular repolarization, how the individual and complementary functions can be verified to complement our cognition and leads to novel therapeutic approaches.