Cascade-amplifying synergistic effects of chemo-photodynamic therapy using ROS-responsive polymeric nanocarriers.

The simple integration of chemotherapeutic drugs and photosensitizers (PSs) into the same nanocarriers only achieves a combination of chemo-photodynamic therapy but may not confer synergistic effects. The boosted intracellular release of chemotherapeutic drugs during the photodynamic therapy (PDT) process is necessary to achieve a cascade of amplified synergistic therapeutic effects of chemo-photodynamic therapy. In this study, we explored an innovative hyperbranched polyphosphate (RHPPE) containing a singlet oxygen (SO)-labile crosslinker to boost drug release during the PDT process.

[Differentiation of axillary inflammatory and metastatic lymph nodes with diffusion-weighted imaging in animal modes].

Objective: To evaluate the value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the differentiation of axillary inflammatory hyperplastic and metastatic lymph nodes.

Methods: Forty female New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into 2 groups (n = 20 each). And the animal models of axillary inflammatory hyperplastic and metastatic lymph nodes were established.

Magnetic resonance imaging in assessment of treatment response of gamma knife for brain tumors.

Objective: To review the applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques in assessing treatment response to gamma knife radiosurgery for brain tumors.

Data Sources: Published articles about assessing treatment response to gamma knife radiosurgery for brain tumors were selected using PubMed. The search terms were "MRI", "gamma knife" and "brain tumors".

Study on HIF-1α Gene Translation in Psoriatic Epidermis with the Topical Treatment of Capsaicin Ointment.

Objective. To investigate the mechanism of capsaicin in treating active psoriasis vulgaris. Methods.

Effects of echo time on diffusion quantification of brain white matter at 1.5 T and 3.0 T.

The aim was to investigate the effects of echo time (TE) on diffusion quantification of brain white matter. Seven rhesus monkeys (all males; age, 4-6 years; weight, 5-7 kg) underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with a series of TEs in 1.5 T and 3.

Silencing livin gene by siRNA leads to apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, and proliferation inhibition in malignant melanoma LiBr cells.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of silencing the livin gene by small interfering RNA (siRNA) on the expression of livin and the effects on apoptosis, cell cycle, and proliferation in human malignant melanoma LiBr cells.

Methods: Three chemically-synthetic siRNA duplexes targeting livin were transiently transfected into the LiBr cells, and the effects on livin expression were detected both at the mRNA level by real-time RT-PCR and at the protein level by Western blotting. Apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated digoxigenin-dUTP nick-end labeling assay, flow cytometric analysis, and the expression of procaspase-3 and activated caspase-3 analysis by Western blotting.

Histogram analysis of diffusion measures in clinically isolated syndromes and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Objective: The purposes of our study were to employ diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based histogram analysis to determine the presence of occult damage in clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), to compare its severity with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), and to determine correlations between DTI histogram measures and clinical and MRI indices in these two diseases.

Materials And Methods: DTI scans were performed in 19 CIS and 19 RRMS patients and 19 matched healthy volunteers. Histogram analyses of mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy were performed in normal-appearing brain tissue (NABT), normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and gray matter (NAGM).

[Effects of siRNA on expression of livin and dose- and time-response in human malignant melanoma LiBr cells].

Aim: To investigate the effects of siRNA on expression of livin and dose- and time-response in human malignant melanoma LiBr cells.

Methods: Three chemically synthesized specific siRNAs targeting to livin were transfected to LiBr cells, then the expression of livin was detected both at mRNA level by real-time RT-PCR and at protein level by Western blot, and the effective one was selected for use on observation of dose- and time-response to livin silencing.

Results: One of three designed siRNAs could effectively knock down the livin expression both at mRNA and protein levels in dose- and time- dependent manners, 100 nmol/L of which achieved the highest knockdown effect on mRNA at 48 h and on protein at 72 h after transfection.

Relapsing neuromyelitis optica and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: differentiation at diffusion-tensor MR imaging of corpus callosum.

Purpose: To prospectively assess sensitivity and specificity of diffusion indexes of the corpus callosum (CC) for differentiating relapsing neuromyelitis optica (RNMO) from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), by using final clinical diagnosis as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: Participants provided informed consent; the study was approved by the institutional review board. Forty-six consecutive patients with RRMS (18 men, 28 women; mean age, 37.

Ureteral intussusception due to a polyp.

Intussusception of the ureter is a rare complication of some ureteral diseases. A 49-year-old man was found to have a ureteral intussusception in the middle part of the right ureter accompanied by a polyp below the invaginated segment of the ureter. Surgery confirmed the diagnostic imaging findings.

Diffusion tensor imaging in medial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Background: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a noninvasive imaging technique for the assessment of the integrity of cerebral tissues. This study was undertaken to assess the changes of diffusion indices of hippocampal formation (HF) in patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE).

Methods: Fourteen patients with MTLE and 14 healthy subjects were evaluated.

[Diffusion tensor imaging of the normal-appearing brain tissue in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis].

Objective: To investigate whether normal-appearing brain tissue (NABT) on conventional MRI has occult damage in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) histogram analysis, and to determine the correlations between DTI histogram-derived measures of the NABT and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores, disease durations, T2WI lesion volumes and brain tissue volumes in RRMS patients.

Methods: Conventional MRI and DTI scans were performed in 24 patients with RRMS and 24 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. After segmentation of the NABT, the mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) histograms of the NABT were created and analyzed.

Diffusion tensor tractography in patients with cerebral tumors: a helpful technique for neurosurgical planning and postoperative assessment.

Objective: To demonstrate the role of diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) in preoperative mapping of eloquent tracts in relation to cerebral tumors and to determine whether it is helpful for neurosurgical planning and postoperative assessment.

Methods And Materials: Sixteen patients with brain tumors underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The pyramidal tract, corpus callosum and optic radiation were reconstructed and the exact location of a lesion with respect to these tracts was observed to design a reasonable surgical plan for preserving vital tracts while maximizing tumor resection.