An Esterase-Responsive SLC7A11 shRNA Delivery System Induced Ferroptosis and Suppressed Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression.

Ferroptosis has garnered attention as a potential approach to fight against cancer, which is characterized by the iron-driven buildup of lipid peroxidation. However, the robust defense mechanisms against intracellular ferroptosis pose significant challenges to its effective induction. In this paper, an effective gene delivery vehicle was developed to transport solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) shRNA (shSLC7A11), which downregulates the expression of the channel protein SLC7A11 and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), evoking a surge in reactive oxygen species production, iron accumulation, and lipid peroxidation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, and subsequently leading to ferroptosis. This delivery system is composed of an HCC-targeting lipid layer and esterase-responsive cationic polymer, a poly{N-[2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl]-N-[p-acetyloxyphenyl]-N} (PQDEA) condensed shSLC7A11 core (G-LPQDEA/shSLC7A11). After intravenous (i.v.) injection, G-LPQDEA/shSLC7A11 quickly accumulated in the tumor, retarding its growth by 77% and improving survival by two times. This study is the first to construct a gene delivery system, G-LPQDEA/shSLC7A11, that effectively inhibits HCC progression by downregulating SLC7A11 expression. This underscores its therapeutic potential as a safe and valuable candidate for clinical treatment.

Combination of serum alpha-fetoprotein, PIVKA-â ¡ and glypican-3 in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis. / è¡€æ¸ å­¦æ ‡å¿—ç‰©ç”²èƒŽè›‹ç™½ã€PIVKA-â ¡å’Œç£·è„‚é °è‚Œé†‡è›‹ç™½èšç³–3联合诊断肝癌的meta分析.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-Ⅱ (PIVKA-Ⅱ) and glypican-3 (GPC-3) in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Studies of AFP, PIVKA-Ⅱ, GPC-3 or in combination for the diagnosis of HCC since 2002 were searched in PubMed, Web of Science and Embase databases. The literature was screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the quality of the included articles was evaluated by QUADAS checklist, and relevant data were extracted by Meta DiSc, Review Manager 5.4 and Stata 15.1. The diagnostic values of AFP, PIVKA-Ⅱ and GPC-3 alone or in combination for HCC were assessed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: A total of 32 articles were included in the study. Meta-analysis showed that when a single marker was used to diagnose HCC, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of PIVKA-Ⅱ was the highest (0.88, 95%CI: 0.85-0.91), followed by GPC-3 and AFP. The AUC of combination of serum markers was higher than that of a single marker, and the AUC of PIVKA-Ⅱ combined with GPC-3 was the highest (0.90, 95%CI: 0.87-0.92). When a single marker was used for diagnosis, the sensitivity of PIVKA-Ⅱ and GPC-3 were relatively high (0.75 and 0.76), while the specificity of PIVKA-Ⅱ (0.88) and AFP (0.87) were higher than that of GPC-3 (0.81). The sensitivity of the combination of serum markers was higher than that of a single marker, while the specificity was not significantly improved. When a single marker is used to diagnose HCC, the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of PIVKA-Ⅱ was the highest (22, 95%CI: 13-36), followed by GPC-3 and AFP. The DOR of the combination of two markers in the diagnosis of HCC was higher than that of a single marker, and the DOR of AFP combined with GPC-3 was the highest (25, 95%CI: 9-67). The DOR of the combination of the three markers was significantly reduced to 10 (95%CI: 7-45). CONCLUSIONS: When a single marker is used, PIVKA-Ⅱ has a higher diagnostic value for HCC. The combination of two markers can significantly improve the diagnostic sensitivity, and AFP combined with PIVKA-Ⅱ is recommended for the diagnosis of HCC. The combination of all three markers failed to further improve the diagnostic value.

Substitutive proprioception feedback of a prosthetic wrist by electrotactile stimulation.

Objective: Sensory feedback of upper-limb prostheses is widely desired and studied. As important components of proprioception, position, and movement feedback help users to control prostheses better. Among various feedback methods, electrotactile stimulation is a potential method for coding proprioceptive information of a prosthesis. This study was motivated by the need for proprioception information for a prosthetic wrist. The flexion-extension (FE) position and movement information of the prosthetic wrist are transmitted back to the human body through multichannel electrotactile stimulation. Approach: We developed an electrotactile scheme to encode the FE position and movement of the prosthetic wrist and designed an integrated experimental platform. A preliminary experiment on the sensory threshold and discomfort threshold was performed. Then, two proprioceptive feedback experiments were performed: a position sense experiment (Exp 1) and a movement sense experiment (Exp 2). Each experiment included a learning session and a test session. The success rate (SR) and discrimination reaction time (DRT) were analyzed to evaluate the recognition effect. The acceptance of the electrotactile scheme was evaluated by a questionnaire. Main results: Our results showed that the average position SRs of five able-bodied subjects, amputee 1, and amputee 2 were 83.78, 97.78, and 84.44%, respectively. The average movement SR, and the direction and range SR of wrist movement in five able-bodied subjects were 76.25, 96.67%, respectively. Amputee 1 and amputee 2 had movement SRs of 87.78 and 90.00% and direction and range SRs of 64.58 and 77.08%, respectively. The average DRT of five able-bodied subjects was less than 1.5 s and that of amputees was less than 3.5 s. Conclusion: The results indicate that after a short period of learning, the subjects can sense the position and movement of wrist FE. The proposed substitutive scheme has the potential for amputees to sense a prosthetic wrist, thus enhancing the human-machine interaction.

Lotus seedpod-inspired internal vascularized 3D printed scaffold for bone tissue repair.

In the field of bone defect repair, 3D printed scaffolds have the characteristics of personalized customization and accurate internal structure. However, how to construct a well-structured vascular network quickly and effectively inside the scaffold is essential for bone repair after transplantation. Herein, inspired by the unique biological structure of "lotus seedpod", hydrogel microspheres encapsulating deferoxamine (DFO) liposomes were prepared through microfluidic technology as "lotus seeds", and skillfully combined with a three-dimensional (3D) printed bioceramic scaffold with biomimetic "lotus" biological structure which can internally grow blood vessels. In this composite scaffold system, DFO was effectively released by 36% in the first 6 h, which was conducive to promote the growth of blood vessels inside the scaffold quickly. In the following 7 days, the release rate of DFO reached 69%, which was fundamental in the formation of blood vessels inside the scaffold as well as osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). It was confirmed that the composite scaffold could significantly promote the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to form the vascular morphology within 6 h in vitro. In vivo, the composite scaffold increased the expression of vascularization and osteogenic related proteins Hif1-α, CD31, OPN, and OCN in the rat femoral defect model, significantly cutting down the time of bone repair. To sum up, this "lotus seedpod" inspired porous bioceramic 3D printed scaffold with internal vascularization functionality has broad application prospects in the future.

Comparative proteomes change and possible role in different pathways of microRNA-21a-5p in a mouse model of spinal cord injury.

Our previous study found that microRNA-21a-5p (miR-21a-5p) knockdown could improve the recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury in a mouse model, but the precise molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, a modified Allen's weight drop was used to establish a mouse model of spinal cord injury. A proteomics approach was used to understand the role of differential protein expression with miR-21a-5p knockdown, using a mouse model of spinal cord injury without gene knockout as a negative control group. We found that after introducing miR-21a-5p knockdown, proteins that played an essential role in the regulation of inflammatory processes, cell protection against oxidative stress, cell redox homeostasis, and cell maintenance were upregulated compared with the negative control group. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis identified enriched pathways in both groups, such as the oxidative phosphorylation pathway, which is relevant to Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cardiac muscle contraction. We also found that miR-21a-5p could be a potential biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as miR-21a-5p becomes deregulated in this pathway. These results indicate successful detection of some important proteins that play potential roles in spinal cord injury. Elucidating the relationship between these proteins and the recovery of spinal cord injury will provide a reference for future research of spinal cord injury biomarkers. All experimental procedures and protocols were approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Shandong University of China on March 5, 2014.

MiR-539 functions as a tumor suppressor in pancreatic cancer by targeting TWIST1.

The dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression has been highlighted in a variety of human malignant conditions with reports implicating a critical role in the process of tumor growth. The role of miR-539 in pancreatic cancer (PC) is yet to be fully elucidated, hence the aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of miR-539 expression in relation to a cohort of 52 PC specimens. The application of a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed a significantly down-regulated miR-539 level, which was accompanied by an increased TWIST1 expression in PC when compared with the controls. The in vitro experiment results demonstrated that the endogenic mimic of miR-539 significantly suppressed the growth of the xenograft tumors in PANC-1 cells, when compared to the delivery of the control miRNA and blank control. Meanwhile, the key epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inducer, TWIST1 was verified as a direct target gene of miR-539 through the application of a luciferase reporter assay. In conclusion, the results of the current study present evidence emphasizing the significance of the interactions between miR-539 and TWIST1 in the development of and progression of PC, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in the treatment of PC patients.

Neuroprotective mechanisms of rutin for spinal cord injury through anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation and inhibition of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase pathway.

Rutin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-viral, anti-tumor and immune regulatory effects. However, the neuroprotective effects of rutin in spinal cord injury are unknown. The p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) pathway is the most important member of the MAPK family that controls inflammation. We assumed that the mechanism of rutin in the repair of spinal cord injury is associated with the inhibition of p38 MAPK pathway. Allen's method was used to establish a rat model of spinal cord injury. The rat model was intraperitoneally injected with rutin (30 mg/kg) for 3 days. After treatment with rutin, Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan locomotor function scores increased. Water content, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta, and interleukin 6 levels, p38 MAPK protein expression and caspase-3 and -9 activities in T8-9 spinal cord decreased. Oxidative stress related markers superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels increased in peripheral blood. Rutin exerts neuroprotective effect through anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis and inhibition of p38 MAPK pathway.

An aptamer@AuNP-modified POSS-polyethylenimine hybrid affinity monolith with a high aptamer coverage density for sensitive and selective recognition of ochratoxin A.

A novel hybrid affinity monolith with a high aptamer coverage density was developed via a highly efficient modification of aptamer@gold nanoparticles (Apt@AuNPs) on a well-controlled 3D skeletal POSS-polyethylenimine (PEI) matrix. The effects of amine reagents and the skeletal structures of the hybrid monoliths on the modification efficiency of Apt@AuNPs were studied, and the resultant Apt@AuNPs@POSS-PEI1200 monolith was proposed with a high coverage density of aptamer of up to 1413 pmol µL-1, which is 4-5 times more than the coverage density when modified with Apt@AuNPs that was reported previously. Characterization including morphology, spectra analysis, mechanical stability, binding capacity and specificity studies was also carried out. Significant specific recognition targeting of ochratoxin A (OTA) was achieved with a detection limit as low as 0.06 ng mL-1. High recoveries of OTA were achieved of 92.6 ± 1.3% to 94.7 ± 1.4% (n = 3), while the cross-reactivity towards analogues such as ochratoxin B (OTB) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was weak. This highlights a facile approach to POSS-based affinity monoliths with a high aptamer coverage density for sensitive and selective recognition of a trace target (OTA).

Down-regulation of MiR-539 Indicates Poor Prognosis in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

It has been demonstrated that miR-539 plays an important role in the development and progression of tumors. The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation between the expression level of miR-539 and the clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze the expression level of miR-539 in 60 patients with pancreatic cancer. It was found that miR-539 gene expression was down-regulated in pancreatic cancer compared with that in paracancerous tissues. In addition, the expression level of miR-539 was inversely correlated with tumor differentiation (poorly to moderately differentiated vs. well differentiated, P=0.006), lymph node metastasis (positive vs. negative, P=0.006), clinical stage (III-IV vs. I-II, P=0.002), CA199 (≥200 vs. <200, P=0.019) and distant metastasis (positive vs. negative, P=0.035). The survival time of pancreatic cancer patients with low expression of miR-539 was significantly shorter than that of patients with high expression of miR-539. Multivariate analysis suggested that miR-539 expression level was an independent prognostic indicator for patients with pancreatic cancer (P=0.025). Down-regulation of miR-539 may be a potentially unfavorable prognostic factor for patients with pancreatic cancer, and further studies are needed to confirm our conclusion in the future.

The effects of novel chitosan-targeted gemcitabine nanomedicine mediating cisplatin on epithelial mesenchymal transition, invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the effects involved with the novel chitosan gemcitabine (Gem) nanoparticles mediating cisplatin (DDP) on epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. METHODS: A total of 62 healthy purebred BALB/C of specific-pathogen free (SPF) female nude mice were recruited and a SW1990 cell line was subsequently cultured. A heterotopic xenograft tumor model was constructed. After determining the optimal drug concentration, the nude mice were assigned into the control, glycol chitosan (GC)-Gem microsphere, antibody Complex (Abc)-GC-Gem and Abc-GC-Gem microsphere+DDP groups (n=8 in each group). The tumor morphology of the nude mice was observed and HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the respective tissues. TUNEL staining was performed to detect cell apoptosis, while immunohistochemistry was employed for analysis of the positive expression rate of EGFR and the number of microvessel density (MVD). Both RT-qPCR and Western blotting were utilized for mRNA and protein expressions of VEGF, EGFR, Bcl-2, Bax, Survivin, Bak, E-cadherin and Vimentin analysis. RESULTS: The optimal drug concentration of Gem was determined to be 120mg/m2. In comparison to the control group, tumor size, weight, positive expression rate of EGFR and tumor MVD, as well as mRNA and protein expressions of Bax and E-cadherin decreased, while the inhibition rate (IR) and apoptosis index (AI), expression of VEGF, EGFR, Bcl-2, Survivin, Bak and Vimentin increased in the GC-Gem microsphere, Abc-GC-Gem microsphere and Abc-GC-Gem microsphere+DDP groups. Compared with the GC-Gem microsphere group, Abc-GC-Gem and Abc-GC-Gem microsphere+DDP groups had decreases concerning tumor size and weight, positive rate of protein expression of EGFR and tumor MVD, as well as the expression of Bax and E-cadherin, and enhances on IR and AI, expression of VEGF, EGFR, Bcl-2, Survivin, Bak, and Vimentin, which were the most obvious in the Abc-GC-Gem+DDP group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Novel Gem nanoparticles aid in mediating DDP to inhibit PC cell invasion and migriation, promote PC cell apoptosis and enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy. Our findings demonstrated that Gem administered in combination with DDP was more effective than Gem alone.

Effects of microRNA-183 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition, proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer SW1900 cells by targeting MTA1.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore effects of miR-183 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion by targeting MTA1 in human pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. METHODS: Totally, 108 PC patients admitted in Wenzhou Central Hospital and Wenzhou People's Hospital, The Dingli Clinical Institute of Wenzhou Medical University from March 2010 to March 2014 were enrolled. qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were applied to examine expression of MTA1 mRNA and protein. Samples were divided into 6 groups: blank, NC, miR-183 mimics, miR-183 inhibitors, MTA1-siRNA and miR-183 inhibitors +MTA1-siRNA groups. CCK8 method was employed for determining cell proliferation rate, flow cytometry for cell apoptosis rate, scratch test for cell migration and Transwell assay for cell invasion. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to determine expression of MTA1, E-cadherin and Vimentin mRNA and protein. RESULTS: Positive expression rate of MTA1 was upregulated in PC tissues, and expression of miR-183 and MTA1 was associated with differentiation, migration, tumor size, TNM. The miR-183 mimics and MTA1-siRNA groups showed a decrease in proliferation, migration and invasion, whereas increased apoptosis, in comparison with blank and NC groups, as expression of MTA1 and Vimentin mRNA and protein were reduced, expression of E-cadherin mRNA and protein was elevated. Compared to blank and NC groups, the miR-183 inhibitors group exhibited enhanced proliferation, migration and invasion and inhibited apoptosis; increased expressions of MTA1 and Vimentin mRNA and protein and decreased expressions of E-cadherin mRNA and protein. CONCLUSION: Our study supported that miR-183 could repress EMT and invasion of human PC cells through inhibition of MTA1 expression.

Laparoscopic treatment of hemorrhagic Meckel diverticulum after diagnosis with wireless capsule endoscopy and double-balloon enteroscopy

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Laparoscopic treatment of hemorrhagic Meckel diverticulum after diagnosis with wireless capsule endoscopy and double-balloon enteroscopy.

Meckel diverticulum (MD) is a common small intestinal malformation. The difficulty of MD with hemorrhage treatment lies in preoperative diagnosis. Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) and double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) have been widely used to diagnose and treat diseases of the small intestine, but only rarely have they been used in combination to diagnose and treat bleeding MD. We successfully diagnosed and treated a patient with MD with hemorrhage with a combination of WCE, DBE, and laparoscopy. A 17-year-old man presented to the emergency room with hematochezia and was admitted for testing. Abdominal computed tomography, gastroscopy, and colonoscopy did not reveal hemorrhage, but WCE showed MD combined with ulceration. DBE was conducted to confirm the presence of the lesion and showed MD combined with ulceration 1 m proximal to the ileocecal valve. The patient underwent emergency laparoscopic surgery, which confirmed MD. The patient recovered well after the operation.MD with hemorrhage poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and can be missed on examination using standard modalities. Laparoscopy combined with WCE and DBE can be efficacious in the treatment of MD with hemorrhage.

Duodenal Adenocarcinoma Metastatic to the Breast: A Case Report.

Duodenal adenocarcinoma, a very rare malignant gastrointestinal tumor, mainly metastasizes via the lymphatic system. Metastases from duodenal adenocarcinomas to the breast are very uncommon. A 31-year-old woman presented at our department with a left breast tumor. She had a past medical history of duodenal adenocarcinoma. Physical examination on admission confirmed a 2.5-cm-diameter tumor in the outer lower quadrant of the left breast. Computed tomography (CT) examination showed a soft lesion with tissue-like density and enlarged axillary lymph nodes. Local excision was performed to remove the breast lesion. The findings of cytologic, histologic, and immunohistochemistry examination indicated a breast metastasis from the previous duodenal adenocarcinoma. The patient was treated with palliative chemotherapy. Metastases from duodenal adenocarcinoma to the breast are rare. The diagnosis depends on medical history, imaging, and pathologic examination including immunohistochemistry. An accurate diagnosis is important to avoid unnecessary surgery.

A series of 3D lanthanide frameworks constructed from aromatic multi-carboxylate ligand: structural diversity, luminescence and magnetic properties.

Reactions of lanthanide(III) nitrates with multi-donor carboxylate ligand in the presence of oxalate anion afforded four new lanthanide coordination polymers with three dimensional (3D) frameworks, namely, {[Ln2(DPPA)2(µ2-C2O4)(H2O)2]·2H2O}n (Ln = Nd (1), Sm (2)) and [Ln2(HDPPA)2(DPPA)2]n (Ln = Tb (3), Yb (4)), (H3DPPA = 3-(4-hydroxyl pyridinium-1-yl) phthalic acid and H2C2O4 = oxalic acid). Compounds 1 and 2 are isostructural and isomorphous, featuring oxalate pillared binodal (4,5)-connected porous 3D framework with intersected 1D channels, in which the coordinated and lattice waters are accommodated. The complexes 3 and 4 are also isostructural, but featuring a (4,6)-connected 3D network based on a rectangular window composed of {Ln(HDPPA)}(+) extended anion chains, further interlinked by DPPA. The Tb(III) analogue exhibits intense characteristic green photoluminescence employing DPPA as an antenna. While Sm(III) compound 2 mainly involves ligand-to-ligand charge transfer. Variable-temperature susceptibility analyses of complexes 1 (Nd), 2 (Sm) and 3 (Tb) revealed that depopulation of the Stark levels together with weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the lanthanide ions lead to a continuous decrease in χ(M)T when the samples are cooled from 300 to 2 K.

A series of Zn-4f heterometallic coordination polymers and a zinc complex containing a flexible mixed donor dicarboxylate ligand.

A new zinc compound, together with a corresponding series of Zn-4f heterometallic coordination polymers, namely, [Zn(H2PBDA)(PBDA)]n (1), {[Ln2(PBDA)2·2H2O] [Zn2(PBDA)2Cl2]}n [H2PBDA = 3-(pyridin-3-yl-oxy) benzene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, and Ln = Pr(2), Nd(3), Eu(4), Gd(5), Dy(6), Ho(7), Er(8)] have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized systematically. Polymers 2-8 feature two-dimensional (2D) 4,4 networks, containing the original 1D heterometallic double stranded chains composed of [Ln2Zn2(PBDA)2] entities. The extensive hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interactions were observed to stabilize the extended architectures. The luminescence emission spectra of the polymers vary depending on the lanthanide(III) ion present. Informative magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the same carboxylate bridging fashion of the PBDA ligand results in the different magnetic properties occurring within the heterometallic coordination polymers. In addition, polymer 6 exhibits an interesting slow magnetic relaxation behavior at lower temperatures.

Recombinant human erythropoietin prevents motor neuron apoptosis in a rat model of cervical sub-acute spinal cord compression.

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) in a rat model of cervical sub-acute spinal cord compression. 80 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Rats in the sham group (Group A, n=5) underwent surgical procedures without cervical spinal cord compression; while rats in other groups were subjected to the spinal compression process. In the control group (Group B, n=25), rats received an i.v. injection of 1 mL saline at day 7 post-surgery. Rats in the low-dose group (Group C, n=25) and the high-dose group (Group D, n=25) were treated with rhEPO at 500 units/kg body-weight and 5000 units/kg, respectively, via intravenous injection at day 7 post surgery. Limb motor function was scored by Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) standards at 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post-surgery. The distribution and quantities of EPO and its receptor (EPO-R) in the compressed segment of the spinal cord were detected by immunohistochemistry. Motor neuron apoptosis in the spinal cord was evaluated using TUNEL staining and flow cytometry at the indicated time points. Finally, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß levels in the compressed cervical spinal cord were determined by ELISA within the lesion epicenter at each time point post-surgery. The data suggest that expression of EPO-R was significantly increased following sub-acute cervical spinal cord compression; Groups C and D exhibited better BBB scores at all observed time points compared with the control group (p<0.01). Using TUNEL staining and FCM, we observed that rhEPO profoundly inhibited motor neuron apoptosis in the spinal cord at day 21 (p<0.01). Additionally, treatment with rhEPO halted the elevation of inflammatory cytokines. rhEPO administration decreased motor neuron apoptosis in the cervical spinal cord, improved motor functions and reduced the inflammatory response in a sub-acute cervical spinal cord compression model. Moreover, sustained treatment with low doses of rhEPO revealed a positive therapeutic effect.

Chiral phosphine-squaramides as enantioselective catalysts for the intramolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction.

Novel squaramides containing tertiary phosphine were developed as chiral bifunctional organic catalysts to promote the asymmetric intramolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of ω-formyl-enones. The adducts were obtained in high yields with good-to-excellent enantioselectivity (up to 93% ee).