Is tolvaptan indicated for refractory oedema in nephrotic syndrome?

Tolvaptan is useful for correcting dilutional hyponatraemia because of its aquaretic effect. On the other hand, there is a distinct lack of data regarding tolvaptan-induced natriuresis, although previous studies have demonstrated improvement of congestive symptoms and signs in heart failure patients following tolvaptan treatment. Here, we report the case of a 47-year-old man diagnosed with minimal change nephrotic syndrome and whose refractory oedema was immediately controlled by tolvaptan before steroid response was induced. With tolvaptan treatment, patient urine output increased dramatically to approximately 5.5 L/day and body weight decreased by 9 kg over 5 days. Interestingly, urine sodium concentration, fractional excretion of sodium and urine osmolality all increased in response to tolvaptan administration. However, serum sodium concentration was maintained within the normal range, and mild azotaemia was corrected. Tolvaptan was discontinued after 11 days when heavy proteinuria and generalized oedema had been resolved. We discuss the potential mechanisms by which V2 receptor antagonists may stimulate natriuresis in the kidney. In conclusion, tolvaptan may be useful as an adjunctive treatment for oedematous disorders.

Photoluminescent green carbon nanodots from food-waste-derived sources: large-scale synthesis, properties, and biomedical applications.

We have developed a simple approach for the large-scale synthesis of water-soluble green carbon nanodots (G-dots) from many kinds of large food waste-derived sources. About 120 g of G-dots per 100 kg of food waste can be synthesized using our simple and environmentally friendly synthesis approach. The G-dots exhibit a high degree of solubility in water because of the abundant oxygen-containing functional groups around their surface. The narrow band of photoluminescence emission (400-470 nm) confirms that the size of the G-dots (∼4 nm) is small because of a similar quantum effects and emission traps on the surfaces. The G-dots have excellent photostability; their photoluminescence intensity decreases slowly (∼8%) under continuous excitation with a Xe lamp for 10 days. We carried out cell viability assay to assess the effect of cytotoxicity by introducing G-dots in cells such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1), mouse muscle cells (C2C12), and African green monkey kidney cells (COS-7), up to a concentration of 2 mg mL(-1) for 24 h. Due to their high photostability and low cytotoxicity, these G-dots are excellent probes for in vitro bioimaging. Moreover, the byproducts (not including G-dots) of G-dot synthesis from large food-waste derived sources promoted the growth and development of seedlings germinated on 3DW-supplemented gauze. Because of the combined advantages of green synthesis, high aqueous stability, high photostability, and low cytotoxicity, the G-dots show considerable promise in various areas, including biomedical imaging, solution state optoelectronics, and plant seed germination and/or growth.

Photoluminescent carbon nanotags from harmful cyanobacteria for drug delivery and imaging in cancer cells.

Using a simple method of mass production of green carbon nanotags (G-tags) from harmful cyanobacteria, we developed an advanced and efficient imaging platform for the purpose of anticancer therapy. Approximately 100 grams of G-tags per 100 kilograms of harmful cyanobacteria were prepared using our eco-friendly approach. The G-tags possess high solubility, excellent photostability, and low cytotoxicity (<1.5 mg/mL for 24 h). Moreover, doxorubicin-conjugated G-tags (T-tags; >0.1 mg/mL) induced death in cancer cells (HepG2 and MCF-7) in-vitro at a higher rate than that of only G-tags while in-vivo mice experiment showed enhanced anticancer efficacy by T-tags at 0.01 mg/mL, indicating that the loaded doxorubicin retains its pharmaceutical activity. The cancer cell uptake and intracellular location of the G- and T-tags were observed. The results indicate that these multifunctional T-tags can deliver doxorubicin to the targeted cancer cells and sense the delivery of doxorubicin by activating the fluorescence of G-tags.