Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of PLD in treating of in patients who experience epithelial ovarian, fallopian tubal, and peritoneal cancer progression within 12 months after the first-line platinum-based therapy. METHODS: This was an open-label, single-arm and multicenter clinical trial. The ORR was the interim primary objective, and the DCR, AEs and QOL were the secondary objectives. The impact of factors on efficacy outcomes, the change trend of CA125 and the artificial platinum-free interval were exploratory endpoints. RESULTS: Totally, 115 patients were enrolled in this study and included in the ITT population. Moreover, 101 patients were included in the safety population. The median follow-up time was 4 months (IQR 2-6). In the ITT population, the confirmed ORR was 37.4% (95% CI, 28.4-46.4%), and the DCR was 65.2% (95% CI, 56.4-74.1%). The previous response status to platinum-based chemotherapy and baseline CA125 levels were significantly correlated with the ORR. The ORR was significantly higher in patients with a CA125 decrease after the first cycle than in the patients with a CA125 increase. The most common grade 3 or higher AE was hand-foot syndrome (3 [3.0%] of 101 patients). No statistically significant differences existed between the baseline and the postbaseline questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: For patients who experience platinum-resistant and platinum-refractory relapse, the use of PLD may be acceptable because of the associated satisfactory efficacy, low frequency of AEs and high patient QOL. Moreover, a low CA125 level at baseline and a reduction in CA125 after the first cycle are predictive factors for satisfactory efficacy.

Rapid and reliable determination of p-nitroaniline in wastewater by molecularly imprinted fluorescent polymeric ionic liquid microspheres.

Rapid and efficient detecting trace amount of environmental p-nitroaniline (p-NA) is in urgent need for security concerns and pollution supervision. In this work we report the use of molecularly imprinted polymeric ionic liquid (MIPIL) microspheres to construct recognizable surfaces for detection of p-NA through fluorescence quenching. The p-NA imprinted microspheres are synthesized by precipitation polymerization upon co-polymerization of 3-(anthracen-9-ylmethyl)-1-vinyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium chloride (Fluorescent IL monomer) with ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). The electron-rich group alkenyl imidazole in IL functional monomer can dramatically improve the emission of anthracene fluorophore and the π-π stacking, electronic, and hydrogen bond between p-NA and MIPIL can efficiently enhance the selective recognition force. The as-synthesized MIPIL microspheres present spherical shape, high fluorescence emission intensity and specific recognition, which showed rapid detection rate (1min), stable reusable property (at least 4 time recycles), wonderful selectivity over several structural analogs, wide linear range (10nM to 10M) with a correlation coefficient of 0.992, and excellent sensitivity (LOD, 9nM). As synthesis and surface functionalization of MIPIL microspheres are well established, the methods reported in this work are facile, rapid and efficient for monitoring p-NA in environmental wastewater.

[Effect of moulding and extruding conditions on mechanical properties of poly(D,L-lactide) and MDI chain-extending poly(D,L-lactide)/hydroxyapatite composite].

In this paper, poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA), MDI chain-extending poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA/MDI) and MDI chain-extending poly(D,L-lactide)/hydroxyapatite composite (PDLLA/HA/MDI) were prepared respectively and the effects of moulding and extruding conditions on their mechanical properties were also investigated. At the optimal conditions, bending strength of PDLLA and PDLLA/MDI is 35.1 MPa and 51.3 MPa, respectively, and their bending modulus is 2413.6 MPa and 1830.9 MPa, respectively. Bending strength of PDLLA/HA and PDLLA/HA/MDI is 31.2 MPa and 55.4 MPa, respectively, and their bending modulus is 1735.0 MPa and 2068.5 MPa, respectively. These results have shown that the mechanical properties of PDLLA/MDI and PDLLA/HA/MDI have enhanced significantly by MDI chain-extending.

Characteristics of demyelinating Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease with concurrent diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the most common type of inherited peripheral neuropathy and has a high degree of genetic heterogeneity. CMT with concurrent diabetes mellitus (DM) is rare. The purpose of this study is to explore the genetic, clinical and pathological characteristics of the patients with CMT and concurrent DM. METHODS: We investigated gene mutations (the peripheral myelin protein 22 gene, myelin protein zero gene, lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-α factor gene, early growth response gene and the neurofilament light chain gene loci) of a relatively large and typical Chinese family with CMT1 and concurrent DM2. From the literature, we also retrieved all reported families and single cases with CMT and concurrent DM. We comprehensively analyzed the characteristics of total 33 patients with CMT and concurrent DM, and further compared these characteristics with those of patients of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). RESULTS: Patients with CMT and concurrent DM had some relatively independent characteristics and pathogenic mechanisms. So we designated that kind of characteristic demyelinating CMT which accompanies DM as Yu-Xie syndrome (YXS), a new specific clinical subtype of CMT. CONCLUSION: CMT is an etiologic factor of DM, even though the intrinsic association between CMT and DM still remains further exploration.

Ultraviolet ZnSe1-xSx gradient-alloyed nanocrystals via a noninjection approach.

Highly emissive ultraviolet ZnSeS nanocrystals (NCs), with a core-shell-like structure, were designed and synthesized via a one-step noninjection approach in 1-octadecene (ODE). These ultraviolet ZnSeS NCs exhibit bright bandgap emission with high color purity and little trap emission. With full width at half-maximum (fwhm) of ∼21 nm only, photoluminescent (PL) quantum yield (QY) of ∼60% was estimated for one ensemble dispersed in toluene exhibiting bandgap absorption peaking at ∼380 nm and bandgap emission at ∼389 nm. These alloyed ZnSeS NCs present a cubic crystal structure consisting of a Se-rich core and a S-rich shell. Such a gradiently alloyed structure was suggested by our investigation on the temporal evolution of optical properties of the growing ZnSeS NCs monitored from 80 to 300 °C, together with structural and compositional characterization performed with XRD, XPS, EDX, and TEM. This newly developed one-step noninjection approach was achieved with zinc oleate (Zn(OA)(2)), diphenylphosphine selenide (SeDPP), and diphenylphosphine sulfide (SDPP) as Zn, Se, and S precursors, respectively. ZnSe monomers mainly participated in nucleation at ∼120 °C, while both ZnSe and ZnS monomers contributed to NC formation in later growth stages (∼160 °C and higher). (31)P NMR study demonstrates that SeDPP is more reactive than SDPP toward Zn(OA)(2), and also supports such a model proposed on the combination of ZnSe and ZnS monomers leading to nucleation/growth of ZnSeS alloyed NCs. The present study offers conceptual methodology to various highly photoluminescent alloyed NCs with high quality, high particle yield, and high synthetic reproducibility.

Collection, cryopreservation, and characterization of human dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells for banking and clinical use.

Recent studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) with the potential for cell-mediated therapies and tissue engineering applications can be isolated from extracted dental tissues. Here, we investigated the collection, processing, and cryobiological characteristics of MSC from human teeth processed under current good tissue practices (cGTP). Viable dental pulp-derived MSC (DPSC) cultures were isolated from 31 of 40 teeth examined. Of eight DPSC cultures examined more thoroughly, all expressed appropriate cell surface markers and underwent osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation in appropriate differentiation medium, thus meeting criteria to be called MSC. Viable DPSC were obtained up to 120 h postextraction. Efficient recovery of DPSC from cryopreserved intact teeth and second-passage DPSC cultures was achieved. These studies indicate that DPSC isolation is feasible for at least 5 days after tooth extraction, and imply that processing immediately after extraction may not be required for successful banking of DPSC. Further, the recovery of viable DPSC after cryopreservation of intact teeth suggests that minimal processing may be needed for the banking of samples with no immediate plans for expansion and use. These initial studies will facilitate the development of future cGTP protocols for the clinical banking of MSC.