Anticancer polypyrrole-polyethylenimine drug-free nanozyme for precise B-cell lymphoma therapy.

As an alternative strategy for cancer treatment, the combination of cancer nanomedicine and immunotherapy is promising with regard to efficacy and safety; however, precise modulation of the activation of antitumor immunity remains challenging. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to describe an intelligent nanocomposite polymer immunomodulator, drug-free polypyrrole-polyethyleneimine nanozyme (PPY-PEI NZ), which responds to the B-cell lymphoma tumor microenvironment, for precision cancer immunotherapy. Earlier engulfment of PPY-PEI NZs in an endocytosis-dependent manner resulted in rapid binding in four different types of B-cell lymphoma cells.

Novel light delivery method for performing transbronchial photodynamic therapy ablation to treat peripheral lung cancer: A pilot study.

Background: Photodynamic therapy involves using a photosensitizer with l illumination and is recommended for treating early, centrally located lung cancers, but it is not a standard treatment for peripheral lung tumor.. We previously proposed a novel light delivery method, in which lipiodol is perfused into the bronchial tree to increase the scope of illumination via the fiber effect.

Visualization and (Semi-)quantification of submicrometer plastics through scanning electron microscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry.

Increasing numbers of studies have demonstrated the existence of nanoplastics (1-999 nm) in the environment and commercial products, but the current technologies for detecting and quantifying nanoplastics are still developing. Herein, we present a combination of two techniques, e.g.

Enhancement of T2* Weighted MRI Imaging Sensitivity of U87MG Glioblastoma Cells Using γ-Ray Irradiated Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid-Conjugated Iron Nanoparticles.

Introduction: It has been reported that low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid (LMWHA) exhibits a potentially beneficial effect on cancer therapy through targeting of CD44 receptors on tumor cell surfaces. However, its applicability towards tumor detection is still unclear. In this regard, LMWHA-conjugated iron (FeO) nanoparticles (LMWHA-IONPs) were prepared in order to evaluate its application for enhancing the T2* weighted MRI imaging sensitivity for tumor detection.

Physical and Biological Evaluation of Low-Molecular-Weight Hyaluronic Acid/FeO Nanoparticle for Targeting MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells.

Low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid (LMWHA) was integrated with superparamagnetic FeO nanoparticles (FeO NPs). The size distribution, zeta potential, viscosity, thermogravimetric and paramagnetic properties of the LMWHA-FeO NPs were systematically examined. For cellular experiments, MCF7 breast cancer cell line was carried out.

Base on concept of traditional Chinese medicine: Experimental studies on efficacy of BIOCERAMIC Resonance to alleviate drug withdrawal symptoms.

Those who are challenged by dependency on prescription drugs or suffer drug addictions have few options available to them for recovery, such as psychotherapy and physiotherapy. Here we present a new approach with clinical examples involving stimulant addiction or overdose of hypnotic drugs that were received BIOCERAMIC Resonance, which was developed based on concept of 12 meridian channels of traditional Chinese medicine, and has successful withdrawal or dose reduction benefits. We describe the whole process and the clinical outcome.

Synthetic Fluororutaecarpine Inhibits Inflammatory Stimuli and Activates Endothelial Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-Type 1.

The natural product, rutaecarpine (RUT), is the main effective component of Evodia rutaecarpa which is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine. It has vasodilation, anticoagulation, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, further therapeutic applications are limited by its cytotoxicity.

Ubiquitin Ligase RNF138 Promotes Episodic Ataxia Type 2-Associated Aberrant Degradation of Human Ca2.1 (P/Q-Type) Calcium Channels.

Voltage-gated Ca2.1 channels comprise a pore-forming α subunit with auxiliary αδ and β subunits. Ca2.

GABA receptor occupancy by subtype selective GABA modulators: PET studies in humans.

Rationale: Sedation, dependence, and abuse liability limit the use of non-selective γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor positive modulators for the treatment of anxiety. AZD7325 and AZD6280 are novel, subtype-selective GABA receptor positive modulators with limited sedative effects.

Objectives: The current study aimed to confirm target engagement at GABA receptors by AZD7325 and AZD6280 in humans and to determine the relationship between exposure, GABA receptor occupancy, and tolerability.

The relationship between serum fibrosis markers and restrictive ventricular filling in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: A technetium-99m radionuclide ventriculography study.

Myocardial fibrosis leads to a restrictive diastolic filling pattern of the left ventricle which is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with heart failure. We investigated the relationship between cardiac fibrosis and restrictive filling pattern of the left ventricle measured by Tc99m left ventriculography in patients with chronic symptomatic heart failure. Serum cardiac extracellular matrix markers including type I and III aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen (PINP and PIIINP), matrix metalloproteinase-2,9 (MMP-2,9), and tissue inhibitor of MMP-1 (TIMP-1) were analyzed.

A retrospective study of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound ablation for uterine myoma in Taiwan.

Objective: To report our experiences with 40 patients who were treated with magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) for uterine fibroids and their 6-month follow-up status.

Materials And Methods: A total of 40 patients with uterine fibroids underwent MRgFUS from January 2009 to November 2011. The Uterine Fibroid Symptoms and Quality of Life Questionnaire was used to determine the patients' Symptom Severity Scores (SSS) prior to and 6 months after treatment.

Targeting of Topoisomerase I for Prognoses and Therapeutics of Camptothecin-Resistant Ovarian Cancer.

DNA topoisomerase I (TOP1) levels of several human neoplasms are higher than those of normal tissues. TOP1 inhibitors are widely used in treating conventional therapy-resistant ovarian cancers. However, patients may develop resistance to TOP1 inhibitors, hampering chemotherapy success.

Comparison the prognostic value of galectin-3 and serum markers of cardiac extracellular matrix turnover in patients with chronic systolic heart failure.

Background: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) shows the ability of survival prediction in heart failure (HF) patients. However, Gal-3 is strongly associated with serum markers of cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover. The aim of this study is to compare the impact of Gal-3 and serum markers of cardiac ECM turnover on prognostic prediction of chronic systolic HF patients.

Integrative proteomic analysis of the NMDA NR1 knockdown mouse model reveals effects on central and peripheral pathways associated with schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders.

Background: Over the last decade, the transgenic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) NR1-knockdown mouse (NR1(neo-/-)) has been investigated as a glutamate hypofunction model for schizophrenia. Recent research has now revealed that the model also recapitulates cognitive and negative symptoms in the continuum of other psychiatric diseases, particularly autism spectrum disorders (ASD). As previous studies have mostly focussed on behavioural readouts, a molecular characterisation of this model will help to identify novel biomarkers or potential drug targets.

Lipid profiles alter from pro-atherogenic into less atherogenic and proinflammatory in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients responding to anti TNF-α treatment.

Objective: Dyslipidemia with higher inflammatory states, disease activity, and longer disease duration in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients seemed to increase the risks of atherosclerosis. Tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) receptor blocking agent etanercept has been proven to be effective in JIA. However, data about the correlation of anti-inflammatory treatment on lipid profiles and atherogenic index in JIA patients remains limited.

Physiological effects of bioceramic material: harvard step, resting metabolic rate and treadmill running assessments.

Previous biomolecular and animal studies have shown that a room-temperature far-infrared-rayemitting ceramic material (bioceramic) demonstrates physical-biological effects, including the normalization of psychologically induced stress-conditioned elevated heart rate in animals. In this clinical study, the Harvard step test, the resting metabolic rate (RMR) assessment and the treadmill running test were conducted to evaluate possible physiological effects of the bioceramic material in human patients. The analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) during the Harvard step test indicated that the bioceramic material significantly increased the high-frequency (HF) power spectrum.

BlueBerry Isolate, Pterostilbene, Functions as a Potential Anticancer Stem Cell Agent in Suppressing Irradiation-Mediated Enrichment of Hepatoma Stem Cells.

For many malignancies, radiation therapy remains the second option only to surgery in terms of its curative potential. However, radiation-induced tumor cell death is limited by a number of factors, including the adverse response of the tumor microenvironment to the treatment and either intrinsic or acquired mechanisms of evasive resistance, and the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this study, we demonstrated that using different doses of irradiation led to the enrichment of CD133(+) Mahlavu cells using flow cytometric method.

Effects of far infrared rays irradiated from ceramic material (BIOCERAMIC) on psychological stress-conditioned elevated heart rate, blood pressure, and oxidative stress-suppressed cardiac contractility.

The present study examined the effects of BIOCERAMIC on psychological stress-conditioned elevated heart rate, blood pressure and oxidative stress-suppressed cardiac contractility using in vivo and in vitro animal models. We investigated the effects of BIOCERAMIC on the in vivo cardiovascular hemodynamic parameters of rats by monitoring their heart rates, systolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Thereafter, we assayed its effects on the heart rate in an isolated frog heart with and without adrenaline stimulation, and on cardiac contractility under oxidative stress.

Relationship between bone mineral density and serum osteoprotegerin in patients with chronic heart failure.

Purpose: Heart failure (HF) had been reported with increased risk of hip fractures. However, the relationship between circulating biomarkers and bone mineral density (BMD) in chronic HF remained unclear.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which recruited stable chronic HF from registry of the Heart Failure Center of National Taiwan University Hospital.

Prognostic significance of adipocytokines in systolic heart failure patients.

Objectives: The goal of this study was designed to assess prognostic values of simultaneous measurement of adipocytokines in systolic heart failure (HF) patients.

Methods: Patients with HF manifestations and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 50% were selected in this study. Gender, age, medications and serum biochemical data were recorded upon admissions.

Sulforaphane potentiates the efficacy of imatinib against chronic leukemia cancer stem cells through enhanced abrogation of Wnt/β-catenin function.

Sulforaphane (SFN) has been indicated for the prevention and suppression of tumorigenesis in solid tumors. Herein, we evaluated SFN's effects on imatinib (IM)-resistant leukemia stem cells (LSCs). CD34(+)/CD38(-) and CD34(+)/CD38(+) LSCs were isolated from KU812 cell line flowcytometrically.