Photodynamic Therapy Using RGD-Functionalized Quantum Dots Elicit a Potent Immune Response in a Syngeneic Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer.

Purpose: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) induces anti-tumor immune responses by triggering immunogenic cell death in tumor cells. Previously, we demonstrated that novel QDs-RGD nanoparticles exhibited high efficiency as photosensitizers in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. However, the underlying mechanism of the anti-tumor immune effects induced by the photosensitizer remains unknown.

Endoscopic polidocanol foam sclerobanding for the treatment of grade II-III internal hemorrhoids: A prospective, multi-center, randomized study.

Background: Endoscopic rubber band ligation (ERBL) is a nonsurgical technique for the treatment of symptomatic internal hemorrhoids but is limited by recurrence and post-procedural pain.

Aim: To evaluate satisfaction, long-term recurrence, and post-procedural pain in managing internal hemorrhoids using a combination of polidocanol foam sclerotherapy and ERBL.

Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, randomized study.

Feasibility and efficacy of endoscopic purse-string suture-assisted closure for mucosal defects induced by endoscopic manipulations.

Background: Large or transmural defects induced by gastrointestinal endoscopic manipulations are difficult to close, although complete closure is recommended for better recovery. Endoscopic purse-string assisted suturing (EPSS) has been used in clinical practice and has proven to be an effective and safe technique for the closure of large mucosal defects. However, details regarding the efficacy of endoscopic pre-purse-string suture (P-EPSS) are unknown, especially that it offers several advantages over conventional EPSS (C-EPSS).

Combining protein arginine methyltransferase inhibitor and anti-programmed death-ligand-1 inhibits pancreatic cancer progression.

Background: Immunotherapy targeting programmed death-1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) has been shown to be effective in a variety of malignancies but has poor efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Studies have shown that PD-L1 expression in tumors is an important indicator of the efficacy of immunotherapy. Tumor cells usually evade chemotherapy and host immune surveillance by epigenetic changes.

ABIN3 Negatively Regulates Necroptosis-induced Intestinal Inflammation Through Recruiting A20 and Restricting the Ubiquitination of RIPK3 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background And Aims: There is evidence for a disturbed necroptosis function in many inflammatory diseases, but its role in inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we studied the functional significance and molecular mechanisms of ABIN3, a ubiquitin-binding protein, in regulating the ubiquitination and activation of necroptosis in IBD.

Methods: The expression of necroptosis hallmarks and ABIN3 were assessed in inflamed samples of IBD patients, dextran sodium sulphate [DSS]-induced colitis models, and azoxymethane [AOM]/DSS models in mice.

Low-dose photodynamic therapy-induced increase in the metastatic potential of pancreatic tumor cells and its blockade by simvastatin.

Pancreatic tumor are a deadly malignancy with high aggressiveness, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a prospective remedy. Nevertheless, the cells in the peripheral tissues of large tumors are often subjected to low-dose illumination and tend to survive after sublethal PDT exposure. Thus, it is of critical importance to determine the metastatic influence of PDT on pancreatic neoplasms.

Preliminary study on the inhibitory effect of tumor suppressor gene KPC1 on the proliferation in gastric carcinoma cell.

Background: To investigate Kip1 ubiquitination-promoting complex 1 (KPC1) expression and its relationship with NF-κB p50 in gastric cancer cell lines.

Methods: The expression of KPC1 and NF-κB p50 in tissue samples from 159 gastric cancer patients after tumor resection and normal gastric mucosa samples from 56 patients as negative controls was retrospectively studied. The relationship between KPC1, NF-κB p50, and clinicopathological factors was analyzed, and the correlation between KPC1 and cytoplasmic NF-κB p50 was determined.

Application of single balloon enteroscopy-assisted therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients after bilioenteric Roux-en-Y anastomosis: Experience of multi-disciplinary collaboration.

Background: Bilioenteric Roux-en-Y anastomosis is one of the most complicated approaches for reconstructing the gastrointestinal tract, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is technically challenging in patients after bilioenteric Roux-en-Y anastomosis. The optimal endoscopic strategies for such cases remain unknown.

Aim: To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of single balloon enteroscopy-assisted (SBE-assisted) therapeutic ERCP in patients after bilioenteric Roux-en-Y anastomosis based on multi-disciplinary collaboration between endoscopists and surgeons as well as report the experience from China.

Effect of photodynamic therapy with (17R,18R)-2-(1-hexyloxyethyl)-2-devinyl chlorine E6 trisodium salt on pancreatic cancer cells and .

Aim: To investigate the antitumor effects and underlying mechanisms of (17R,18R)-2-(1-hexyloxyethyl)-2-devinyl chlorine E6 trisodium salt (YLG-1)-induced photodynamic therapy (PDT) on pancreatic cancer and .

Methods: YLG-1 is a novel photosensitizer extracted from spirulina. Its phototoxicity, cellular uptake and localization, as well as its effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis-associated proteins were detected .

Biodistribution and toxicity assessment of intratumorally injected arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptide conjugated to CdSe/ZnS quantum dots in mice bearing pancreatic neoplasm.

Quantum dots (QDs) conjugated with arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptides (which are integrin antagonists) are novel nanomaterials with the unique optical property of high molar extinction coefficient, and they have potential utility as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Our group previously demonstrated significant benefits of using PDT with QD-RGD on pancreatic tumor cells. This study aimed to evaluate the biodistribution and toxicity of QD-RGD in mice prior to in vivo application.

Overexpression of xeroderma pigmentosum group C decreases the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of colorectal carcinoma cells to cisplatin.

Xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XPC) is a DNA-damage-recognition gene active at the early stage of DNA repair. XPC also participates in regulation of cell-cycle checkpoint and DNA-damage-induced apoptosis. In the present study, the expression levels of genes involved in nucleotide excision repair (NER) were assessed in human colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue.

Effects of arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptide-conjugated quantum dots-induced photodynamic therapy on pancreatic carcinoma in vivo.

Quantum dots (QDs) conjugated with integrin antagonist arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptides (QDs-RGD) are novel nanomaterials with a unique optical property: a high molar extinction coefficient. Previously, we have shown that QDs-RGD demonstrate a photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect as new photosensitizers for the pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 in vitro. Here, we investigate the application of QDs-RGD in mice bearing pancreatic tumors using PDT.

Expression Changes of Long Noncoding RNA in the Process of Endothelial Cell Activation.

Background: Endothelial cells have been shown to be in response to a variety of local and systemic stimuli, and are able to transition between quiescent and activated states. Endothelial cell activation is critical for the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases. However, the expression changes of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are still unknown in the process of endothelial cell activation.

NEAT1 regulates pancreatic cancer cell growth, invasion and migration though mircroRNA-335-5p/c-met axis.

NEAT1 has been reported to affect cancer progression, which was subsequently confirmed in multiple cancers. Hsa-miRNA-335-5p (miR-335-5p) has recently been identified as an anticancer agent in various organs. However, the relationship between NEAT1 and miR-335-5p remains poorly understood.

HOXB8 promotes tumor metastasis and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition via ZEB2 targets in gastric cancer.

Purpose: The homeobox B8 (HOXB8) functions as a sequence-specific transcription factor that is involved in development. Increased expression of this gene is associated with a wide variety of tumor; however, its function in gastric cancer has not been clarified. In the present study, the expression of HOXB8 in gastric cancer tissues and influence of HOXB8 on gastric cancer cellular were evaluated.

CdSe/ZnS quantum dots induce photodynamic effects and cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancer cells.

Aim: To investigate the photodynamic effect of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) on pancreatic cancer cells and elucidate the probable mechanisms.

Methods: The pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 was treated with different concentrations of CdSe/ZnS QDs (0, 0.5, 1.

Engineering of lipid prodrug-based, hyaluronic acid-decorated nanostructured lipid carriers platform for 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin combination gastric cancer therapy.

Purpose: The first-line chemotherapy treatment protocol for gastric cancer is combination chemotherapy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CDDP). The aim of this study was to engineer prodrug-based nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) platform for codelivery of 5-FU and CDDP to enhance therapy and decrease toxicity.

Methods: First, 5-FU-stearic acid lipid conjugate was synthesized by two steps.

Value of bevacizumab in treatment of colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Methods: All randomized controlled trials of bevacizumab for the treatment of colorectal cancer from January 2003 to June 2013 were collected by searching the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang databases. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints were progression-free survival, overall response rate and adverse events.

Depletion of thymosin β4 promotes the proliferation, migration, and activation of human hepatic stellate cells.

Background & Aims: It has recently been reported that thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) has anti-fibrogenic effects in human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro, but the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of Tβ4 in the proliferation, migration, and activation of HSCs.

Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), immunohistochemistry, and western blot assays were utilized to determine the expression levels of Tβ4 in serum, liver tissues, and LX-2 cells.

Effects of integrin-targeted photodynamic therapy on pancreatic carcinoma cell.

Aim: To investigate the effects of photodynamic therapy with quantum dots-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) probe as photosensitizer on the proliferation and apoptosis of pancreatic carcinoma cells.

Methods: Construction of quantum dots-RGD probe as photosensitizer for integrin-targeted photodynamic therapy was accomplished. After cells were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT), the proliferation of SW1990 cells were measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay.

Effects of medical adhesives in prevention of complications after endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Aim: To evaluate the use of medical adhesive spray in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).

Methods: Patients who underwent ESD between January 2009 and June 2012 (n = 173) were enrolled in the prospective randomized study. Two patients undergoing surgery due to severe intraoperative hemorrhage and failed hemostasis were excluded, and the remaining 171 patients were randomly divided into two groups: group A (medical adhesive group, n = 89) and group B (control group, n = 82).

Comparison between air and carbon dioxide insufflation in the endoscopic submucosal excavation of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Aim: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of CO(2) insufflation compared with air insufflation in the endoscopic submucosal excavation (ESE) of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Methods: Sixty patients were randomized to undergo endoscopic submucosal excavation, with the CO(2) group (n = 30) and the air group (n = 30) undergoing CO(2) insufflation and air insufflation in the ESE, respectively. The end-tidal CO(2) level (pETCO(2)) was observed at 4 time points: at the beginning of ESE, at total removal of the tumors, at completed wound management, and 10 min after ESE.

Antifibrotic effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline on bile duct ligation induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Aim: To investigate the preventive effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (AcSDKP) on bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Methods: Liver fibrosis in rats was induced by BDL and AcSDKP was infused subcutaneously for 2 wk via a osmotic minipump (Alzet 2ML4) immediately after BDL operation. After scarifying, serum and liver specimens were collected.