Ginsenoside CK cooperates with bone mesenchymal stem cells to enhance angiogenesis post-stroke via GLUT1 and HIF-1α/VEGF pathway.

The transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in stroke is hindered by the restricted rates of survival and differentiation. Ginsenoside compound K (CK), is reported to have a neuroprotective effect and regulate energy metabolism. We applied CK to investigate if CK could promote the survival of MSCs and differentiation into brain microvascular endothelial-like cells (BMECs), thereby alleviating stroke symptoms. Therefore, transwell and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models were used to mimic oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Our results demonstrated that CK had a good affinity for GLUT1, which increased the expression of GLUT1 and the production of ATP, facilitated the proliferation and migration of MSCs, and activated the HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway to promote MSC differentiation. Moreover, CK cooperated with MSCs to protect BMECs, promote angiogenesis and vascular density, enhance neuronal and astrocytic proliferation, thereby reducing infarct volume and consequently improving neurobehavioral outcomes. These results suggest that the synergistic effects of CK and MSCs could potentially be a promising strategy for stroke.

Biomimetic black phosphorus quantum dots-based photothermal therapy combined with anti-PD-L1 treatment inhibits recurrence and metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive malignant disease with a high rate of recurrence and metastasis, few effective treatment options and poor prognosis. Here, we designed and constructed a combined photothermal immunotherapy strategy based on cancer cell membrane-coated biomimetic black phosphorus quantum dots (BBPQDs) for tumor-targeted photothermal therapy and anti-PD-L1 mediated immunotherapy. RESULTS: BBPQDs have good photothermal conversion efficiency and can efficiently target tumor cells through homologous targeting and tumor homing. Under near infrared irradiation, we found that BBPQDs kill tumors directly through photothermal effects and induce dendritic cells maturation. In vivo studies have confirmed that the combined photothermal immunotherapy strategy displays a stronger antitumor activity than anti-PD-L1 monotherapy. In addition, BBPQDs-mediated photothermal therapy in combination with anti-PD-L1 treatment inhibit tumor recurrence and metastasis by reprograming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment into an immune-active microenvironment, and promoting the local and systemic antitumor immune response. We further found that the combined photothermal immunotherapy strategy can produce an immune memory effect against tumor rechallenge. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a novel therapeutic strategy for inhibiting the recurrence and metastasis of TNBC, with broad application prospects.

Combination of baseline total metabolic tumor volume measured on FDG-PET/CT and ß2-microglobulin have a robust predictive value in patients with primary breast lymphoma.

The aim was to build a prognostic model to stratify patients at diagnosis into different risk categories. We investigated the prognostic value of functional PET parameters and clinical features in 64 primary breast lymphoma (PBL) patients. With a median follow-up of 60 months, 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was 62.5% and 73.4%. In multivariate analysis, baseline total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV0) and ß2-microglobulin remained more reliable predictors of survival than other prognostic factors. The optimal TMTV0 cut-off value was 90 cm3 . Among 29 patients with high TMTV0, 5-year PFS and OS were 44.8% and 62.1%, respectively, while 5-year PFS and OS of 35 patients with low TMTV0 were 74.3% and 85.7%, respectively. TMTV0 combined with ß2-microglobulin identified three groups with very different prognosis, including low-risk group with low TMTV0 and ß2-microglobulin≤normal (n = 30), intermediate-risk group with high TMTV0 or ß2-microglobulin>normal (n = 20), and high-risk group with high TMTV0 and ß2-microglobulin>normal (n = 14). In the three groups, 5-year PFS rates were 80%, 55% and 28.6% (P = .003), and 5-year OS rates were 90%, 65%, and 50% (P = .023) respectively. We established a new prognostic model through TMTV0 and ß2-microglobulin, and can divide PBL at diagnosis into different risk categories.

CD5 expression correlates with inferior survival and enhances the negative effect of p53 overexpression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

De novo CD5-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (CD5+ DLBCL) is increasingly recognized as a distinct pathologic phenomenon with a specific clinical picture. However, CD5+ DLBCL has not been studied on a large scale in China. In this study, we show that CD5+ DLBCL occurs at a low frequency (9.2%). Comparison of clinical characteristics of CD5+ vs CD5- DLBCL showed that CD5+ DLBCL was more frequently elderly (>60 years) and had B symptoms, high-performance status, stage III-IV, an IPI score >2 and bone marrow involvement. Patients with CD5+ DLBCL had tumours with a higher prevalence of BCL-2 and p53 overexpression than CD5- DLBCL. Patients with CD5+ DLBCL had inferior progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than did patients with CD5- DLBCL. For CD5+ DLBCL, the patients who were treated with rituximab showed significantly better PFS and OS than those treated without rituximab. However, patients treated with RCHOP showed similar PFS and OS when compared with the group treated with intensive therapy. In addition, patients with p53 and CD5 co-expression had the worst PFS and OS. In conclusion, CD5+ DLBCL was associated with unfavorable clinicopathologic variables and with inferior survival. CD5+ DLBCL has a high frequency of p53 overexpression, and CD5 augments the negative effect of p53 overexpression in DLBCL.

Identification and profiling of growth-related microRNAs in Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi).

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in the regulation of diverse biological processes in eukaryotes. Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi) is one of the most economically important fish species widely cultured in China. Growth is an extremely important characteristic in fish. Individual differences in body size are common in Siniperca chuatsi, which significantly influence the aquaculture production of Siniperca chuatsi. However, the underline growth-related regulatory factors, such as miRNAs, are still unknown. RESULTS: To investigate the growth-related miRNAs in Siniperca chuatsi, two RNA libraries from four growth-related tissues (brain, pituitary, liver, and muscle) of Siniperca chuatsi at 6-month stage with relatively high or low growth rates (big-size group or small-size group) were obtained and sequenced using Solexa sequencing. A total of 252 known miRNAs and 12 novel miRNAs were identified. The expression patterns of these miRNAs in big-size group and small-size group were compared, and the results showed that 31 known and 5 novel miRNAs were differently expressed (DE). Furthermore, to verify the Solexa sequencing, five DE miRNAs were randomly selected and quantified by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The results showed that their expression patterns were consistent with those of Solexa sequencing. In addition, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of target genes of DE miRNAs was performed. It showed that the target genes were involved in multiple biological processes including metabolic process, suggesting that metabolic process played an important role in growth of fish. CONCLUSIONS: Siniperca chuatsi is a popular and economically important species in aquaculture. In this study, miRNAs in Siniperca chuatsi with different growth rates were identified, and their expression profiles were compared. The data provides the first large-scale miRNA profiles related to growth of Siniperca chuatsi, which is expected to contribute to a better understanding of the role of miRNAs in regulating the biological processes of growth and possibly useful for Siniperca chuatsi breeding.

Can the radiation dose be safely reduced in the treatment of nk/T cell lymphoma?

The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility and safety of dose reduction in the radiotherapy of NK/T-cell lymphoma. A retrospective collection of clinical and treatment data was conducted on 41 patients. The analysis aimed to assess whether the reduction in radiation therapy dosage affected patients' local control and survival. Among the 41 patients, all achieved complete remission after the initial treatment. With a median follow-up of 28.4 months, all except one patient demonstrated good control within the irradiated area. In the entire cohort, a total of 6 patients died and none of the deaths were caused by local tumor failure. The 3-year overall survival rate and progression-free survival rate was 83.8%, 94.4%, respectively. The incidence of long-term toxicity was low. It seems safe to reduce the prophylactic radiation dose to 45 Gy and the preliminary treatment results are satisfactory, with further reduction in side effects.

GBE1 Promotes Glioma Progression by Enhancing Aerobic Glycolysis through Inhibition of FBP1.

Tumor metabolism characterized by aerobic glycolysis makes the Warburg effect a unique target for tumor therapy. Recent studies have found that glycogen branching enzyme 1 (GBE1) is involved in cancer progression. However, the study of GBE1 in gliomas is limited. We determined by bioinformatics analysis that GBE1 expression is elevated in gliomas and correlates with poor prognoses. In vitro experiments showed that GBE1 knockdown slows glioma cell proliferation, inhibits multiple biological behaviors, and alters glioma cell glycolytic capacity. Furthermore, GBE1 knockdown resulted in the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway as well as elevated expression of fructose-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1). Further knockdown of elevated FBP1 reversed the inhibitory effect of GBE1 knockdown, restoring glycolytic reserve capacity. Furthermore, GBE1 knockdown suppressed xenograft tumor formation in vivo and conferred a significant survival benefit. Collectively, GBE1 reduces FBP1 expression through the NF-κB pathway, shifting the glucose metabolism pattern of glioma cells to glycolysis and enhancing the Warburg effect to drive glioma progression. These results suggest that GBE1 can be a novel target for glioma in metabolic therapy.

NeuroD4 converts glioblastoma cells into neuron-like cells through the SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 antioxidant axis.

Cell fate and proliferation ability can be transformed through reprogramming technology. Reprogramming glioblastoma cells into neuron-like cells holds great promise for glioblastoma treatment, as it induces their terminal differentiation. NeuroD4 (Neuronal Differentiation 4) is a crucial transcription factor in neuronal development and has the potential to convert astrocytes into functional neurons. In this study, we exclusively employed NeuroD4 to reprogram glioblastoma cells into neuron-like cells. In vivo, the reprogrammed glioblastoma cells demonstrated terminal differentiation, inhibited proliferation, and exited the cell cycle. Additionally, NeuroD4 virus-infected xenografts exhibited smaller sizes compared to the GFP group, and tumor-bearing mice in the GFP+NeuroD4 group experienced prolonged survival. Mechanistically, NeuroD4 overexpression significantly reduced the expression of SLC7A11 and Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). The ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 effectively blocked the NeuroD4-mediated process of neuron reprogramming in glioblastoma. To summarize, our study demonstrates that NeuroD4 overexpression can reprogram glioblastoma cells into neuron-like cells through the SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 signaling pathway, thus offering a potential novel therapeutic approach for glioblastoma.

A Reliable Nonhuman Primate Model of Ischemic Stroke with Reproducible Infarct Size and Long-term Sensorimotor Deficits.

A nonhuman primate model of ischemic stroke is considered as an ideal preclinical model to replicate various aspects of human stroke because of their similarity to humans in genetics, neuroanatomy, physiology, and immunology. However, it remains challenging to produce a reliable and reproducible stroke model in nonhuman primates due to high mortality and variable outcomes. Here, we developed a focal cerebral ischemic model induced by topical application of 50% ferric chloride (FeCl3) onto the MCA-M1 segment through a cranial window in the cynomolgus monkeys. We found that FeCl3 rapidly produced a stable intraarterial thrombus that caused complete occlusion of the MCA, leading to the quick decrease of the regional cerebral blood flow in 10 min. A typical cortical infarct was detected 24 hours by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and was stable at least for 1 month after surgery. The sensorimotor deficit assessed by nonhuman primate stroke scale was observed at 1 day and up to 3 months after ischemic stroke. No spontaneous revascularization or autolysis of thrombus was observed, and vital signs were not affected. All operated cynomolgus monkeys survived. Our data suggested that FeCl3-induced stroke in nonhuman primates was a replicable and reliable model that is necessary for the correct prediction of the relevance of experimental therapeutic approaches in human beings.

Hybrid Membrane Nanovaccines Combined with Immune Checkpoint Blockade to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy.

PURPOSE: Cancer vaccines are a promising therapeutic approach in cancer immunotherapy and can inhibit tumor growth and prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis by activating a sustained antitumor immunoprotective effect. However, the therapeutic effect of cancer vaccines is severely weakened by the low immunogenicity of cancer antigens and the immunosuppressive microenvironment in tumor tissues. METHODS: Here, we report a novel hybrid membrane nanovaccine, composed of mesoporous silica nanoparticle as a delivery carrier, hybrid cell membranes obtained from dendritic cells and cancer cells, and R837 as an immune adjuvant (R837@HM-NPs). We investigated the anti-tumor, tumor recurrence and metastasis prevention abilities of R837@HM-NPs and their mechanisms of action through a series of in vivo and ex vivo experiments. RESULTS: R837@HM-NPs not only provide effective antigenic stimulation but are also a durable supply of the immune adjuvant R837. In addition, R837@HM-NPs promote antigen endocytosis into dendritic cells via various receptor-mediated pathways. Compared with HM-NPs or R837@HM-NPs, R837@HM-NPs in combination with an immune checkpoint blockade showed stronger antitumor immune responses in inhibiting tumor growth, thus eliminating established tumors, and rejecting re-challenged tumors by regulating the immunosuppressive microenvironment and immunological memory effect. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the hybrid membrane nanovaccine in combination with immune checkpoint blockade is a powerful strategy to enhance antitumor immunotherapy without concerns of systemic toxicity.

"Magnetism-Optogenetic" System for Wireless and Highly Sensitive Neuromodulation.

Neuromodulation is becoming more and more important in studying brain function, disease treatment, and brain-computer interfaces. However, traditional regulation methods cannot effectively achieve both wireless regulation and highly sensitive response, which are essential factors in neuromodulation. In this paper, a "magnetism-optogenetic" system is constructed, which uses a magnetic field to drive mechanoluminescent materials (ZnS:Cu) to generate light, thus stimulating photogenetic proteins. This system effectively combines the wireless magnetic regulation with the high sensitivity of optogenetics. The results show that the luminous intensity of this system changes with the power of an external magnetic field. In addition, under the continuous stimulation of the wireless magnetic field, this system can activate hippocampal-related neural responses and induce the expression of C-fos. In the end, this system can further regulate the movement behavior of rats with C1V1 protein expression in the primary motor cortex. This new magnetism-optogenetic system will provide an excellent reference for wireless and highly sensitive neuromodulation.

PTBP1 knockdown promotes neural differentiation of glioblastoma cells through UNC5B receptor.

Rationale: Cell reprogramming technology is utilized to prevent cancer progression by transforming cells into terminally differentiated, non-proliferating states. Polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 (PTBP1) is an RNA binding protein required for the growth of neurons and may directly transform multiple normal human cells into functioning neurons in vitro and in vivo when expressed at low levels. As a result, we identified it as a key to inhibiting cancer cell proliferation by boosting glioblastoma cell neural differentiation. Methods: Immunocytofluorescence (ICF) targeting TUJ1, MAP2, KI67, and EdU were utilized to evaluate glioblastoma cell reprogramming under PTBP1 knockdown or other conditions. PTBP1 and other target genes were detected using Western blotting and qRT-PCR. Activating protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and RhoA were detected using specific kits. CCK8 assays were employed to detect cell viability. Bioluminescence, immunohistofluorescence (IHF), and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were utilized to demonstrate the in vivo reprogramming efficiency of PTBP1 knockdown in U87 murine glioblastoma model. In this study, RNA-seq technology was used to examine the intrinsic pathway. Results: The expression of TUJ1 and MAP2 neural markers, as well as the absence of KI67 and EdU proliferative markers in U251, U87, and KNS89 cells, indicated that glioblastoma cell reprogramming was successful. In vivo, U87 growth generated xenografts was substantially shrank due to PTBP1 knockdown induced neural differentiation, and these tumor-bearing mice had a prolonged survival time. Following RNA-seq, ten potential downstream genes were eliminated. Lentiviral interference and inhibitors blocking tests demonstrated that UNC5B receptor and its downstream signaling were essential in the neural differentiation process mediated by PTBP1 knockdown in glioblastoma cells. Conclusions: Our results indicate that PTBP1 knockdown promotes neural differentiation of glioblastoma cells via UNC5B receptor, consequently suppressing cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, providing a promising and feasible approach for glioblastoma treatment.

Nonhuman primate models of ischemic stroke and neurological evaluation after stroke.

Nonhuman primates are closer to human beings than rodents in genetics, neuroanatomy, physiology and immunology. Nonhuman primates are therefore considered an ideal preclinical model to replicate various aspects of human stroke. Ischemia stroke models in nonhuman primates can better fit the physiological symptoms and changes in humans after cerebral ischemia. Currently, various construction methods and neurological evaluation methods have been developed and applied to stroke models of nonhuman primates, including craniectomy models, endovascular stroke models, autologous thrombus models and intraluminal filament models. Meanwhile, new innovative methods have emerged, such as the endothelin-1 model and photothrombosis model. In the past thirty years, these model studies have explored various mechanisms that are initiated in the first minutes, hours, and days after a stroke. Permanent and temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion models have been trying to simulate the complex situation of human stroke. However, a comprehensive comparison of the above methods, including their advantages and disadvantages, difficulty and application fields, is limited. Here, we introduce various modeling methods that are currently available for nonhuman primate stroke models, compare the differences between these different preparation methods, and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the various methods and the fields of application. The imaging detection methods of nonhuman primates after cerebral ischemia and the neurological evaluation methods after stroke are also discussed briefly. Methods are sorted and compared so that scholars can choose appropriate modeling methods and evaluation methods to establish nonhuman primate stroke models.

Establishment of a Modified and Standardized Ferric Chloride-Induced Rat Carotid Artery Thrombosis Model.

BACKGROUND: Ferric chloride is widely utilized in inducing thrombosis in small vessels of experimental animals. However, the lack of its application in large blood vessels of experimental animals and inconsistent concentration has limited its application. Therefore, we systematically tested the most suitable concentration and reliable induction time in the experiment of using ferric chloride to induce rat carotid artery thrombosis. METHODS: In this study, we selected the common carotid artery of 59 Sprague-Dawley rats as the target vessel. The exploration process was divided into three stages. First, to determine the optimum induction concentration, we compared the effects of 30-60% ferric chloride on thrombus formation within 24 h. Second, to confirm the handling time, we tested different induction times from 3 min to 10 min. Lastly, we used the thrombolytic drug rt-PA to detect whether the formed thrombus can be lysed. Doppler blood flow imaging and H-E staining were employed to estimate the blood flow and thrombus. The ATP levels in the brain were measured using a bioluminescence ATP assay kit. RESULTS: We found that the application of 50% ferric chloride for 10 min was enough to successfully induce thrombosis in the rat carotid artery and without spontaneous thrombolysis after 24 h. It is better than other concentrations and will lead to the decline of the ATP content in the ischemic hemisphere. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the rat carotid artery thrombosis model induced by 50% ferric chloride for 10 min is stable and reliable.

Upconversion Optogenetic Engineered Bacteria System for Time-Resolved Imaging Diagnosis and Light-Controlled Cancer Therapy.

Engineering bacteria can achieve targeted and controllable cancer therapy using synthetic biology technology and the characteristics of tumor microenvironment. Besides, the accurate tumor diagnosis and visualization of the treatment process are also vital for bacterial therapy. In this paper, a light control engineered bacteria system based on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP)-mediated time-resolved imaging (TRI) was constructed for colorectal cancer theranostic and therapy. UCNP with different luminous lifetimes were separately modified with the tumor targeting molecule (folic acid) or anaerobic bacteria (Nissle 1917, EcN) to realize the co-localization of tumor tissues, thus improving the diagnostic accuracy based on TRI. In addition, blue light was used to induce engineered bacteria (EcN-pDawn-φx174E/TRAIL) lysis and the release of tumor apoptosis-related inducing ligand (TRAIL), thus triggering tumor cell death. In vitro and in vivo results indicated that this system could achieve accurate tumor diagnosis and light-controlled cancer therapy. EcN-pDawn-φx174E/TRAIL with blue light irradiation could inhibit 53% of tumor growth in comparison to that without blue light irradiation (11.8%). We expect that this engineered bacteria system provides a new technology for intelligent bacterial therapy and the construction of cancer theranostics.

Hydrogel microcapsules containing engineered bacteria for sustained production and release of protein drugs.

Subcutaneous administration of sustained-release formulations is a common strategy for protein drugs, which avoids first pass effect and has high bioavailability. However, conventional sustained-release strategies can only load a limited amount of drug, leading to insufficient durability. Herein, we developed microcapsules based on engineered bacteria for sustained release of protein drugs. Engineered bacteria were carried in microcapsules for subcutaneous administration, with a production-lysis circuit for sustained protein production and release. Administrated in diabetic rats, engineered bacteria microcapsules was observed to smoothly release Exendin-4 for 2 weeks and reduce blood glucose. In another example, by releasing subunit vaccines with bacterial microcomponents as vehicles, engineered bacterial microcapsules activated specific immunity in mice and achieved tumor prevention. The engineered bacteria microcapsules have potential to durably release protein drugs and show versatility on the size of drugs. It might be a promising design strategy for long-acting in situ drug factory.

Polymeric liposomes-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as contrast agent for targeted magnetic resonance imaging of cancer cells.

The purpose of this study was to use polymeric liposomes (PLs) with a targeting ligand (folate) to coat superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and transfer the magnetic nanoparticles from organic phases to aqueous solutions, and further evaluate their efficacy as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent. The formed nanoparticles exhibited a narrow range of size dispersity (core size of the particles is about 8-10 nm) and relatively high T2 relaxivities (r2 = 164.14 s(-1) mM(-1) for folate-PLs-coated SPIONs). The in vitro tumor cell targeting efficacy of the folate functionalized and PLs-coated SPIONs was evaluated upon observing cellular uptake of magnetite liposomes by HeLa cells, which overexpresses surface receptors for folic acid. In the Prussian blue staining experiments, cells incubated with folate-PLs-coated SPIONs showed much higher intracellular iron density than did the cells incubated with the folate-free PLs-coated SPIONs. Meanwhile, the MTT assay explains the negligible cell cytotoxicity of SPIONs and folate-PLs-coated SPIONs. In HeLa cells, the in vitro MRI study also indicates the better T2-weighted images in folate-PLs-coated SPIONs than in folate-free PLs-coated SPIONs.

Cancer Cell Membrane Camouflaged Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Combined with Immune Checkpoint Blockade for Regulating Tumor Microenvironment and Enhancing Antitumor Therapy.

PURPOSE: Although anti-programmed cell death protein 1 antibody (aPD1) immunotherapy and chemotherapy has made much progress in the treatment of melanoma, the efficacy still needs to be further improved. METHODS: Cancer treatment has been greatly enhanced by the use of nanotechnology. Cancer cell membrane (CCM)-camouflaged nanoparticles have shown promising potential in tumor therapy due to their excellent homologous-targeting ability, long blood circulation and immune escape. This work presents a biocompatible and tumor acidic environmental responsive CCM-camouflaged mesoporous silica nanoparticle (CMSN) that is loaded with dacarbazine (DTIC) and combined with aPD1 to achieve better antitumor efficacy. RESULTS: In vitro cell experiments demonstrated that DTIC@CMSN exhibits a better anti-tumor killing efficiency and a stronger ability to promote the apoptosis of tumor cells than free DTIC. In vivo antitumor results demonstrated that combination therapy of DTIC@CMSN chemotherapy and aPD1 immunotherapy remarkably suppress the melanoma growth and prolong survival time due to highly selective tumor killing, activation of tumor-specific T cells, and regulation of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In addition, safety evaluation studies of DTIC@CMSN also demonstrate their increased tumor accumulation and decreased systemic toxicity. CONCLUSION: This study provides a promising nano-platform for the combination of chemotherapy with immunotherapy, which is potentially useful for the treatment of melanoma.

A modified prognostic model in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with immunochemotherapy.

In the era of immunochemotherapy, the traditional international prognostic index (IPI) has partially lost its predictive value in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-IPI (NCCN-IPI) is unable to effectively identify high-risk patients. Thus, the present study aimed to develop a modified prognostic model (M-PM) to identify high-risk patients that require aggressive treatment. The present study included 169 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (RCHOP) or RCHOP-like regimens, between 2011-2017. The results demonstrated that the risk discrimination was improved in the NCCN-IPI compared with the IPI, and patients were divided into four risk groups with a 5-year overall survival rate of 93.8, 76.5, 54.3 and 39.4%, respectively. However, the NCCN-IPI failed to identify the high-risk DLBCL population. The newly developed M-PM presented here included four parameters: Age (≥65 years), an elevated lactate dehydrogenase level, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score ≥2 and total metabolic tumor volume ≥300 cm3. The M-PM also divided patients into four risk groups that comprised 40.8, 23.1, 26.0 and 10.1% of the patients, and the 5-year survival rates of these groups were 92.4, 70.6, 52.3 and 24.5%, respectively. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated that the M-PM was more accurate compared with the IPI and the NCCN-IPI, which served as an effective tool for identifying patients with DLBCL at high risk of an adverse prognosis.

Construction of a novel cationic polymeric liposomes formed from PEGlated octadecyl-quaternized lysine modified chitosan/cholesterol for enhancing storage stability and cellular uptake efficiency.

The design and construction of delivery vectors with high stability and effective cellular uptake efficiency is very important. In this study, a novel polymeric liposomes (PLs) formed from PEGlated octadecyl-quaternized lysine modified chitosan (OQLCS) and cholesterol with higher size stability and cellular uptake efficiency has been synthesized successfully. Compared to conventional liposomes (CLs; phosphatidyl choline/cholesterol), the calcein-loaded PLs exhibited a multi-lamellar structure with homogenous size diameter (200 nm) and high calcein encapsulation efficiency (about 92%). PLs could be stored at different temperature (25, 4, and -20 degrees C) and different medium (deionized water, phosphate-buffered saline, and human plasma solution) for up to 4 weeks without significant size change. The spectrophotometer fluorometry analysis and the flow cytometry analysis indicated that in comparison with CL, PLs with positive zeta potential facilitates the uptake of calcein by MCF-7 tumor cells. The data suggests that PLs may provide a new method to overcome the stability and enhance the uptake efficiency of CLs.