Near-infrared light-activated ROS generation using semiconducting polymer nanocatalysts for photodynamic-chemodynamic therapy.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is an emerging treatment strategy for cancer, but the low therapeutic efficacy and potential side effects still limit its applications. In this study, we report a semiconducting polymer nanocatalyst (PGFe) that can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) only upon near-infrared (NIR) light-activation for photodynamic therapy (PDT)-synergized CDT. Such PGFe consists of a semiconducting polymer as a photosensitizer, iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles as CDT agents, and glucose oxidase (GOx), all of which are loaded into a singlet oxygen (1O2)-responsive nanocarrier. Under NIR laser irradiation, PGFe produces 1O2 through a photosensitizer-mediated PDT effect, and the produced 1O2 destroys the 1O2-responsive nanocarriers, leading to controlled releases of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and GOx. In a tumor microenvironment, GOx catalyzes glucose degradation to form hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and thus the CDT effect of Fe3O4 nanoparticles is greatly improved. As such, an amplified ROS level in tumor cells is obtained by PGFe to induce cell death. PGFe can be utilized to treat subcutaneous 4T1 tumors, observably inhibiting the tumor growth and suppressing lung and liver metastasis. This study thus provides a NIR light-activated ROS generation strategy for precise and effective treatments of tumors.

Regional differences of tachykinin effects on smooth muscle and pacemaker potentials of the stomach, duodenum, ileum and colon of an emetic model, the house musk shrews.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The contractile effects of tachykinins on the gastrointestinal tract are well-known, but how they modulate slow-waves, particularly in species capable of emesis, remains largely unknown. We aimed to elucidate the effects of tachykinins on myoelectric and contractile activity of isolated gastrointestinal tissues of the Suncus murinus. METHODS: The effects of substance P (SP), neurokinin (NK)A, NKB and selective NK1 (CP122,721, CP99,994), NK2 (SR48,968, GR159,897) and NK3 (SB218,795, SB222,200) receptor antagonists on isolated stomach, duodenum, ileum and colon segments were studied. Mechanical contractile activity was recorded using isometric force displacement transducers. Electrical pacemaker activity was recorded using a microelectrode array. RESULTS: Compared with NKA, SP induced larger contractions in stomach tissue and smaller contractions in intestinal segments, where oscillation magnitudes increased in intestinal segments, but not the stomach. CP122,721 and GR159,897 inhibited electrical field stimulation-induced contractions of the stomach, ileum and colon. NKB and NK3 had minor effects on contractile activity. The inhibitory potencies of SP and NKA on the peristaltic frequency of the colon and ileum, respectively, were correlated with those on electrical pacemaker frequency. SP, NKA and NKB inhibited pacemaker activity of the duodenum and ileum, but increased that of the stomach and colon. SP elicited a dose-dependent contradictive pacemaker frequency response in the colon. CONCLUSION: This study revealed distinct effects of tachykinins on the mechanical and electrical properties of the stomach and colon vs. the proximal intestine, providing a unique aspect on neuromuscular correlation in terms of the effects of tachykinin on peristaltic and pacemaker activity in gastrointestinal-related symptoms.

Tuning Hybridized Local and Charge-Transfer Mixing for Efficient Hot-Exciton Emission with Improved Color Purity.

Delayed fluorescence (DF) emitters with high color purity are of high interest for applications in high-resolution displays. However, the charge transfer required by high emitting efficiency usually conflicts with the expected color purity. In this work, we investigated the S1/S0 conformational relaxation, spin-orbital coupling (SOC), and vibronic coupling of hot-exciton emitters while hybrid local and charge transfer (HLCT) state tuning was achieved by a structural meta-effect. The meta-linkage leads to suppressed S1/S0 conformational relaxation and weakened vibronic coupling, while the unsacrificed emitting efficiency is largely ensured by multiple rISC channels (Tn → Sm) with thermally accessible triplet-singlet energy gap (ΔEST) and effective SOC. We demonstrated that the unique excited-state mechanism provides opportunities to improve the emitting color purity of hot-exciton emitters without sacrificing emitting efficiency by HLCT state tuning with simple chemical structural modification, for which hot-exciton emitters might play a more important role for high-resolution organic light-emitting diode displays.

[The effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids on behavioral, cognitive functions and nervous systems of adolescents].

Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) is responsible for muscle building and masculinizing. Using AAS can enhance muscle development and strength, and improve athletic performance. AAS abuse is not only seen in sport. Research has shown that there is an increasing number of adolescent AAS abusers. Adolescents are at a critical period of physical and mental development. Sex hormones are one of the important physiological factors affecting the development of their bodies and brains. Long-term or high-dose AAS treatment is likely to cause irreversible damage to their nervous system and psychological behavior, and these effects are easily overlooked. The article reviewed the long-term adverse effects of AAS on psychological behavior, emotion, cognitive functions and the nervous system of adolescents.