Novel targeting liposomes with enhanced endosomal escape for co-delivery of doxorubicin and curcumin.

Effective endosomal escape is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of nanodrug delivery systems. In this study, we developed a novel liposomal system utilizing acid-sensitive N-(3-amino-propyl) imidazole cholesterol (IM-Chol), specifically designed for the targeted co-delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) and curcumin (CUR) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Designated as GA-IM-LIP@DOX/CUR, this liposomal system incorporates glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) to improve target specificity toward HCC cells.

Efficient delivery of curcumin by functional solid lipid nanoparticles with promoting endosomal escape and liver targeting properties.

In the realm of intracellular drug delivery, overcoming the barrier of endosomal entrapment stands as a critical factor influencing the effectiveness of nanodrug delivery systems. This study focuses on the synthesis of an acid-sensitive fatty acid derivative called imidazole-stearic acid (IM-SA). Leveraging the proton sponge effect attributed to imidazole groups, IM-SA was anticipated to play a pivotal role in facilitating endosomal escape.

SMRT sequencing of a full-length transcriptome reveals cold induced alternative splicing in Vitis amurensis root.

Alternative splicing enhances diversity at the transcriptional and protein levels that widely involved in plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses. V. amurensis is an extremely cold-tolerant wild grape variety, however, studies on alternative splicing (AS) in amur grape at low temperatures are currently poorly understood.

Higher efficiency of vanadate iron in heterogeneous Fenton-like systems to pretreat sugarcane bagasse and its enzymatic saccharification.

Pretreatment is crucial for effective enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulose such as sugarcane bagasse (SCB). In the present study, SCB was pretreated with five kinds of heterogeneous Fenton-like systems (HFSs), respectively, in which α-FeOOH, α-FeO, FeO, and FeS worked as four traditional heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts (HFCs), while FeVO worked as a novel HFC. The enzymatic reducing sugar conversion rate was then compared among SCB after different heterogeneous Fenton-like pretreatments (HFPs), and the optimal HFS and pretreatment conditions were determined.

Influence paradigms of soil moisture on land surface energy partitioning under different climatic conditions.

Soil moisture (SM) directly controls the land surface energy partition which plays an important role in the formation of extreme weather events. However, its dependence on specific climatic conditions is not thoroughly understood due to the complexity of soil moisture effects. Here, we examine the relationship between SM and surface energy partitioning under different climate conditions, and identify the influence paradigms of soil moisture on surface energy partition.

Preparation of nano-sized multi-vesicular vesicles (MVVs) and its application in co-delivery of doxorubicin and curcumin.

Multi-vesicular vesicles (MVVs) offer structural advantages in terms of drug encapsulation and physiological stability. In this study, we address the challenge of preparing small-sized MVVs for drug delivery. The nano-sized MVVs (∼120 nm) loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and curcumin (CUR) (DOX/CUR@MVVs) were successfully prepared using a glass bead combined with a thin film dispersion method.

Effectiveness of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers in patients with Alport syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockers have been considered the primary treatment for patients with Alport syndrome (AS) for a decade, there is no comprehensive review with evidence-based analysis evaluating the effectiveness of RAAS blockers in AS.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed of published studies that compared outcomes related to disease progression between patients with AS receiving RAAS blockers with those taking non-RAAS treatment. Outcomes were meta-analyzed using the random effects models.

Dissecting the effect of ethylene in the transcriptional regulation of chilling treatment in grapevine leaves.

Ethylene (ETH) plays important roles in various development programs and stress responses in plants. In grapevines, ETH increased dramatically under chilling stress and is known to positively regulate cold tolerance. However, the role of ETH in transcriptional regulation during chilling stress of grapevine leaves is still not clear.

Discovery of Highly Potent and Selective Thyroid Hormone Receptor β Agonists for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and is characterized by steatosis, inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning, and fibrosis. While there are currently no approved therapies for NASH, the thyroid hormone receptor β (THR-β), primarily expressed in the liver, is emerging as an effective molecular target for the treatment of NASH. However, the adverse cardiac and bone effects mediated by thyroid hormone receptor α (THR-α) need to be minimized.

Values of combined C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and serum amyloid A in differential diagnosis of bacterial and non-bacterial community acquired pneumonia in children.

This research aimed to explore the clinical value of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and serum amyloid A (SAA) in early diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia. CRP, PCT, and SAA levels of children with bacterial pneumonia, children with non-bacterial pneumonia, and healthy children were compared. The sensitivity and specificity of CRP, PCT, and SAA in the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia in children were compared.

An Acid-Sensitive Nanofiber Conjugate Based on a Short Aromatic Peptide for Targeted Delivery of Doxorubicin in Liver Cancer.

Purpose: This study aimed to construct a DOX conjugate with liver tumor targeting and acid sensitivity based on a short aromatic peptide FFYEE, which could amplify the tumor inhibition efficacy of DOX and alleviate tissue toxicity.

Methods: A novel DOX-peptide conjugate, D-gal-FFYEE-hyd-DOX, was constructed by linking DOX to the side chain of FFYEE with acid-sensitive hydrazone bond and by modifying the C-terminal of peptide with α-D-galactosamine (D-gal) as targeting ligand. The structure of D-gal-FFYEE-hyd-DOX was characterized by mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy (IR), and UV-Vis spectroscopy (UV-Vis).

A review of alternative climate products for SWAT modelling: Sources, assessment and future directions.

Alternative climate products, such as gauge-based gridded data, ground-based weather radar, satellite precipitation and climate reanalysis products, are being increasingly applied for hydrological modelling. This review aims to summarize the studies that have evaluated alternative climate products within Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) applications and to propose future research directions, primarily for modelers who wish to study limited gauge, ungauged or transnational river basins. A total of 126 articles have been identified since 2004, the majority of which have been published within the last five years.

CD8 T cells actively penetrate hepatocytes via the CD44/p-ERM/F-actin pathway in autoimmune hepatitis.

Objective: Emperipolesis is a pathological feature for the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). We have previously found that CD8 T cells participated in the emperipolesis in AIH. In this study we aimed to clarify the characteristics and molecular mechanisms of emperipolesis in patients with AIH in vitro and in mice with α-Galactosylceramide (α-GalCer)-induced acute hepatitis.

The restoration of Wnt/β-catenin signalling activity by a tuna backbone-derived peptide ameliorates hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte injury.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a serious disease with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Reducing myocardial reperfusion injury in MI patients remains a challenge. The generation of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) during reperfusion is known to be responsible for injury.

Increased Neutrophil Respiratory Burst Predicts the Risk of Coronary Artery Lesion in Kawasaki Disease.

Kawasaki diseases (KD) is a febrile systemic vasculitis in infants associated with coronary aneurysm. The etiology of KD remains unclear. Human neutrophils have great capacity to cause tissue damage in inflammatory diseases via their inappropriate activation to release reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Self-Assembled Peptide Functionalized Gold Nanopolyhedrons with Excellent Chiral Optical Properties.

Because of the unique optical properties of gold nanomaterials, the preparation of gold nanomaterials with excellent chirality has received extensive attention. In order to develop a simple fabrication method for three-dimensional chiral Au nanostructures with a size of several hundred nanometers, chiral gold nanoparticles were developed to transfer chirality of a peptide to gold nanoparticles. In this study, the controlled synthesis of asymmetric gold nanopolyhedrons was achieved.

De-methylation of miR-148a by arsenic trioxide enhances sensitivity to chemotherapy via inhibiting the NF-κB pathway and CSC like properties.

Chemo-resistance to conventional therapy is a major barrier requiring further investigation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cancer stem like cells (CSCs) contribute to the tumorigenicity, progression, and chemo-resistance of malignancies. Studies have implicated the anti-cancer effects of arsenic trioxide (ATO) and have explored the underlying mechanisms.

Reversal of sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma: epigenetically regulated disruption of 14-3-3η/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α.

Sorafenib resistance is one of the main obstacles to the treatment of advanced/recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, sorafenib-resistant HCC cells and xenografts in nude mice were used as experimental models. A cohort of patients with advanced recurrent HCC who were receiving sorafenib therapy was used to assess the clinical significance of this therapy.

Fabrication of Polymer Micelles with Zwitterionic Shell and Biodegradable Core for Reductively Responsive Release of Doxorubicin.

To achieve a high stability in physiological environment and rapid intracellular drug release, a biodegradable zwitterionic triblock copolymer with a disulfide-linked poly-ε-caprolactone and polycarboxybetaine methacrylate (PCBMA-SS-PCL-SS-PCBMA) was prepared for micellar carrier to delivery doxorubicin (DOX) into tumor cells. PCBMA-SS-PCL-SS-PCBMA was obtained by following steps: i) introducing disulfide bonds through end-group modification of PCL diol with cystamine dihydrochloride; ii) preparing PCL-RAFT macromolecular chain transfer agent by EDC/NHS chemistry; iii) RAFT polymerization of zwitterionic monomer. Self-assembling from PCBMA-SS-PCL-SS-PCBMA, polymeric micelles had many advantages, such as ultra-low protein absorption in serum and obvious reduction-responsiveness in the presence of DTT.

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a dipstick assay for the rapid analysis of trans-resveratrol in grape berries.

trans-Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol present in grapes, has many beneficial effects to human health. However, measurement of trans-resveratrol is technically complicated and time-consuming. In the present study, we obtained a sensitive and specific monoclonal antibody (mAb), namely 3C9, against trans-resveratrol.

Comparison of Fenton and bismuth ferrite Fenton-like pretreatments of sugarcane bagasse to enhance enzymatic saccharification.

This study compared enzymatic saccharification of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) after application of two different pretreatment methods, Fenton pretreatment (FP) and BiFeO Fenton-like pretreatment (BFP). The composition, morphology and structural properties of SCB with different pretreatments were analyzed. Results showed that, after BFP, the yield of reducing sugar of SCB under enzymatic saccharification for 72 h was 25.

Arsenic trioxide reverses the chemoresistance in hepatocellular carcinoma: a targeted intervention of 14-3-3η/NF-κB feedback loop.

Background: Multi-drug resistance (MDR) is one of the main obstacles for treatment of advanced/recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We have previously identified arsenic trioxide (ATO) as an effective metastasis/angiogenesis inhibitor in HCC. Here, we further found that MDR-HCC cells were more sensitive to ATO.

Rivaroxaban for the treatment of venous thromboembolism in patients with nephrotic syndrome and low AT-III: A pilot study.

The anticoagulation effect of heparin requires adequate serum antithrombin (AT)-III levels. Rivaroxaban, however, exhibits its anticoagulation effects independent of AT-III. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban as a treatment for venous thromboembolism in patients with AT-III deficiency due to nephrotic syndrome.

[Research progress on medicinal values of scorpion venom components].

For thousands of years, scorpions and their venoms have been applied in traditional medicine in China to treat a variety of difficult miscellaneous diseases. The venom is a complex mixture of bioactive molecules, such as peptides and proteins (e.g.