Integration of PEG 400 into a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system improves drug loading capacity and nasal mucosa permeability and prolongs the survival of rats with malignant brain tumors.

Kolliphor EL (K-EL) is among the most useful surfactants in the preparation of emulsions. However, it is associated with low hydrophobic drug loading in the resulting emulsified formulation. In this study, a formulation for intranasal administration of butylidenephthalide (Bdph), a candidate drug against glioblastoma (GBM), was prepared.

n-Butylidenephthalide exhibits protection against neurotoxicity through regulation of tryptophan 2, 3 dioxygenase in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 or Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD) is characterized by the repetition of a CAG codon in the ataxin-3 gene (ATXN3), which leads to the formation of an elongated mutant ATXN3 protein that can neither be denatured nor undergo proteolysis in the normal manner. This abnormal proteolysis leads to the accumulation of cleaved fragments, which have been identified as toxic and further they act as a seed for more aggregate formation, thereby increasing toxicity in neuronal cells. To date, there have been few studies or treatment strategies that have focused on controlling toxic fragment formation.

Genetic and epigenetic instability of stem cells.

Recently, research on stem cells has been receiving an increasing amount of attention, both for its advantages and disadvantages. Genetic and epigenetic instabilities among stem cells have been a recurring obstacle to progress in regenerative medicine using stem cells. Various reports have stated that these instabilities can transform stem cells when transferred in vivo and thus have the potential to develop tumors.

Cells and materials for liver tissue engineering.

Liver transplantation is currently the most efficacious treatment for end-stage liver diseases. However, one main problem with liver transplantation is the limited number of donor organs that are available. Therefore, liver tissue engineering based on cell transplantation that combines materials to mimic the liver is under investigation with the goal of restoring normal liver functions.

Adipose-derived stem cells can abrogate chemical-induced liver fibrosis and facilitate recovery of liver function.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are easy to harvest and have the ability for self-renewal and to differentiate into various cell types, including those of the hepatic lineage. Studies on the use of ADSCs for liver transplantation are, however, limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using human ADSCs and to better understand their mechanism of action for the repair of liver damage in a thioacetamide (TAA)-induced model of chronic liver damage in the rat.

Synthesis and evaluation of a new series of tri-, di-, and mono-N-alkylcarbamylphloroglucinols as bulky inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase.

1,3,5-Tri-N-alkylcarbamylphloroglucinols (1-4) are synthesized as a new series of bulky inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase that may block the catalytic triad, the anionic substrate binding site, and the entrance of the enzyme simultaneously. Among three series of phloroglucinol-derived carbamates, tridentate inhibitors 1,3,5-tri-N-alkylcarbamylphloroglucinols (1-4), bidentate inhibitors 3,5-di-N-n-alkylcarbamyloxyphenols (5-8), and monodentate inhibitors 5-N-n-alkylcarbamyloxyresorcinols (9-12), tridentate inhibitors 1-4 are the most potent inhibitors of mouse acetylcholinesterase. When different n-alkylcarbamyl substituents in tridentate inhibitors 1-4 are compared, n-octylcarbamate 1 is the most potent inhibitor of the enzyme.

Local interstitial delivery of z-butylidenephthalide by polymer wafers against malignant human gliomas.

We have shown that the natural compound z-butylidenephthalide (Bdph), isolated from the chloroform extract of Angelica sinensis, has antitumor effects. Because of the limitation of the blood-brain barrier, the Bdph dosage required for treatment of glioma is relatively high. To solve this problem, we developed a local-release system with Bdph incorporated into a biodegradable polyanhydride material, p(CPP-SA; Bdph-Wafer), and investigated its antitumor effects.

Pulsed electromagnetic fields accelerate proliferation and osteogenic gene expression in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells during osteogenic differentiation.

Osteogenesis is a complex series of events involving the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to generate new bone. In this study, we examined the effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralization of the extracellular matrix, and gene expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) during osteogenic differentiation. Exposure of BMMSCs to PEMFs increased cell proliferation by 29.

Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field on the proliferation and differentiation potential of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) have been used clinically to slow down osteoporosis and accelerate the healing of bone fractures for many years. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of PEMFs on the proliferation and differentiation potential of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC). PEMF stimulus was administered to BMMSCs for 8 h per day during culture period.