Diagnostic value of pentraxin 3 in respiratory tract infections: A meta-analysis.

Background: Pentraxin 3 is an acute inflammatory protein of the long pentraxin subfamily. A meta-analysis was performed to assess diagnostic accuracy of pentraxin 3 for respiratory tract infections.

Methods: We identify studies examining diagnostic value of pentraxin 3 for respiratory tract infections by searching Pubmed, Web of Knowledge, and Cochrane Library.

Cationic lipids containing cyclen and ammonium moieties as gene delivery vectors.

In this study, two novel cationic lipids containing protonated cyclen and quaternary ammonium moieties were designed and synthesized as non-viral gene delivery vectors. The structures of the two lipids differ in their hydrophobic region (cholesterol or diosgenin). Cationic liposomes were easily prepared from the lipids individually or from the mixtures of each cationic lipid and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine.

Cyclen-based cationic lipids for highly efficient gene delivery towards tumor cells.

Background: Gene therapy has tremendous potential for both inherited and acquired diseases. However, delivery problems limited their clinical application, and new gene delivery vehicles with low cytotoxicity and high transfection efficiency are greatly required.

Methods: In this report, we designed and synthesized three amphiphilic molecules (L1-L3) with the structures involving 1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen), imidazolium and a hydrophobic dodecyl chain.

Cationic lipids containing protonated cyclen and different hydrophobic groups linked by uracil-PNA monomer: synthesis and application for gene delivery.

In this report, as candidates for non-viral gene vectors, cationic lipids L1, L2 and L3 based on protonated cyclen and different hydrophobic groups (cholesterol, dodecanol or diosgenin) linked by PNA monomer were designed and synthesized. Their liposomes were easily prepared by mixing the synthesized lipids with dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE) under appropriate mole ratios. Agarose gel retardation and fluorescent titration by ethidium bromide (EB) showed the strong DNA-binding ability with the K(sv) values of 1.

Novel cationic lipids possessing protonated cyclen and imidazolium salt for gene delivery.

In this study, two novel protonated cyclen and imidazolium salt-containing cationic lipids differing only in their hydrophobic region (cholesterol or diosgenin) have been designed and synthesized for gene delivery. Cationic liposomes were easily prepared from each of these lipids individually or from the mixtures of each cationic lipid and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE). Several studies including DLS, gel retardation assay, ethidium bromide intercalation assay, and TEM demonstrated that these amphiphilic molecules are able to bind and compact DNA into nanometer particles that could be used as non-viral gene delivery agents.

A novel macrocyclic polyamine cationic lipid containing an imidazolium salt group: synthesis, characterization and its transfection activity as a gene delivery vector.

The synthesis and characterization of a novel macrocyclic polyamine cationic lipid containing an imidazolium salt group is reported. Its interaction with plasmid DNA was studied by gel electrophoresis and fluorescence quenching experiments. The transfection activity of target compound as a gene delivery vector was also investigated.