One-pot bottom-up fabrication of biocompatible PEGylated WS2 nanoparticles for CT-guided photothermal therapy of tumors in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Tungsten disulfide (WS2), which enjoyed a good potential to be a promising clinical theranostic agent for cancer treatment, is still subject to the tedious synthesis procedure. METHODS: Here, we reported a one-pot 'bottom-up' hydrothermal strategy for the fabrication of PEGylated WS2 nanoparticles (NPs). The WS2-PEG nanoparticles were characterized systematically. The CT imaging and photothermal therapy against tumor as well as biosafety in vitro and in vivo were also investigated. RESULTS: The obtained WS2-PEG NPs enjoyed obvious merits of good solubility and favorable photothermal performance. WS2-PEG NPs exhibited desirable photothermal ablation ability against cancer cells and cancer cell-bearing mice in vitro and in vivo. MTT assay and histological analysis demonstrated the low cytotoxicity and biotoxicity of WS2-PEG NPs, providing a valid biosafety guarantee for the coming biomedical applications. In addition, thanks to the obvious X-ray attenuation of W atom, the WS2-PEG NPs can also be served as a favorable contrast agent for CT imaging of tumors. CONCLUSION: WS2-PEG NPs has enjoyed a good potential to be a promising clinical CT-guided photothermal therapeutic agent against cancers.

Paroxysmal tonic upgaze accompanied by occipital discharge on electroencephalography: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Paroxysmal tonic upgaze (PTU) is an infantile-onset paroxysmal neurological disorder that is characterized by episodes of sustained conjugate upward eye deviation. The paroxysmal abnormal eye movements need to be differentiated from seizures. We report a case of PTU with occipital discharge on electroencephalography (EEG), which made the diagnosis more complicated. CASE PRESENTATION: A 6-month-old girl presented with paroxysmal upward deviation or left strabismus of the eyes, with a bowed head, lowered jaw, raised eyebrows, closed lips, and slight grin. Each episode lasted for a few seconds, and episodes occurred multiple times per day. EEG showed spike waves in the right occipital region, and the girl was initially misdiagnosed with epilepsy. After further analysis using video EEG, we corrected her diagnosis as PTU and stopped the administration of an antiepileptic drug. CONCLUSION: PTU accompanied by discharge on EEG may lead to a misdiagnosis. Video EEG monitoring, and especially the analysis of EEG traces synchronized with attacks, can provide evidence to distinguish between seizures and non-epileptic events.

New advances in liver decellularization and recellularization: innovative and critical technologies.

Techniques for producing decellularized scaffolds for use in liver tissue engineering are emerging as promising methods for tissue reconstruction. In this article, the authors present an overview of liver decellularization methods developed and applied in recent years. These include the widespread use of various perfusion methods for the generation of a 3D scaffold, which may function as a template for either cell recellularization or direct biological application. The authors evaluate methods for scaffold production and explore some factors that may affect the decellularization process. In addition to tissue engineering, this overview includes a description of other potential applications for a decellularized liver scaffold. The authors also introduce the concept of fabrication of fragile biomaterial architecture and finally review the cell types applied to liver scaffold engineering.