SPION nanoparticles as an efficient probe and carrier of DNA to umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) were used to transfer gene into umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) in this study. This novel transfection method using SPION is safe and effective to UCB-MSCs, and would be a tool for genetic optimization with a significant potential for cell tracing.

Formulation of Docetaxel by folic acid-conjugated d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate 2000 (Vitamin E TPGS(2k)) micelles for targeted and synergistic chemotherapy.

Although high efficacy has been showed, Paclitaxel and Docetaxel cause serious side effects due to the adjuvant used in their clinical formulation Taxol® and Taxotere®. We developed a micelle system with a newly synthesized TPGS(2k) polymer, which shows lower CMC of 0.0219 mg/ml compared with 0.

Amphiphilic polymer-coated hybrid nanoparticles as CT/MRI dual contrast agents.

We describe hybrid nanoparticles, composed of iron oxide and gold nanoparticles, as potential dual contrast agents for both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The hybrid nanoparticles are synthesized by thermal decomposition of mixtures of Fe-oleate and Au-oleylamine complexes. Using a nano-emulsion method, the nanoparticles are coated with amphiphilic poly(DMA-r-mPEGMA-r-MA) to impart water-dispersity and antibiofouling properties.

TCL-SPION-enhanced MRI for the detection of lymph node metastasis in murine experimental model.

Rationale And Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of thermally cross-linked superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle contrast (TCL-SPION) in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (MRI) for the detection of lymph node metastasis in experimental model.

Materials And Methods: B16F1 human melanoma cells were subcutaneously injected into the thighs of C57BL/6 mice (n = 10). MRI was performed 21 days after tumor injection using a 4.

MR imaging features of small solid pseudopapillary tumors: retrospective differentiation from other small solid pancreatic tumors.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the MRI features of small solid pseudopapillary tumors useful for differentiating these tumors from other small solid pancreatic tumors.

Materials And Methods: Forty-five patients (18 men, 27 women; mean age, 59 ± 11.7 years) with 45 solid pancreatic tumors smaller than 3 cm in diameter registered from 2000 to 2009 were included.

Activated STAT3 regulates hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and cell migration in human glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma is the most common primary brain tumor, with typical histopathologic findings, pseudopalisading necrosis, and microvascular proliferation, all of which are associated with a poor prognosis. Hypoxia is known to affect these morphological features, but the underlying molecular mechanism has been poorly understood.

Objective: To determine the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the malignant progression of glioblastoma under hypoxic conditions.

A duplex oligodeoxynucleotide-dendrimer bioconjugate as a novel delivery vehicle for doxorubicin in in vivo cancer therapy.

We designed a bioconjugate between duplex oligodeoxynucleotides (dODNs) and a dendrimer (DEN) and demonstrate its feasibility as a novel delivery system for doxorubicin (Dox) in animal tumor models and against cancer cells in vitro. The dODNs-DEN conjugates formed stable complexes with Dox (~184 Dox molecules per conjugate) and the resulting Dox-loaded conjugate exhibited a sustained drug release pattern both in vitro and in vivo. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that Dox-loaded dODNs-DEN conjugates were cleared from plasma much more slowly (up to 5.

Integrin-targeting thermally cross-linked superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for combined cancer imaging and drug delivery.

We report multifunctional nanoparticles that are capable of cancer targeting and simultaneous cancer imaging and therapy. The nanoparticles are composed of cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (cRGD) peptide ligand bioconjugated thermally cross-linked superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (TCL-SPION) that enable loading of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox). The cyclic RGD-conjugated TCL-SPION (cRGD_TCL-SPION) had a mean hydrodynamic size of 34 ± 8 nm with approximately 0.

O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase status determined by promoter methylation and immunohistochemistry in gliosarcoma and their clinical implications.

O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is known as a DNA repair protein, and loss of function in MGMT is related to an increase in survival in patients with malignant gliomas treated with alkylating agents. In the present study, we determined the status of MGMT using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded specimens in 12 human gliosarcomas, and these results were then related to overall survival (OS) and response to alkylating agents. The MGMT promoter was methylated in six patients.

The ORF37 (UL24) is a neuropathogenicity determinant of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) in the mouse encephalitis model.

Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) bacterial artificial chromosome clone (Ab4p BAC) was established based on neuropathogenic strain Ab4p. ORF37 encoding UL24 was replaced with a selection cassette, rpsL-neo gene, to produce an ORF37 deletion mutant, Ab4pORF37. Transfection of RK-13 cells with Ab4pORF37 genome DNA produced infectious virus, indicating that ORF37 is not essential for EHV-1 replication in cell culture.

Hybrid superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle-branched polyethylenimine magnetoplexes for gene transfection of vascular endothelial cells.

The work demonstrated the development of thermally cross-linked superparamagnetic nanomaterial which possessed polyethylene glycol moiety and covalently linked branched polyethylenimine (BPEI), and exhibited highly efficient magnetofection even under serum conditioned media. The study showed its high anti-biofouling, cell viability and serum stability and thus revealed a potential magnetic nanoparticle-mediated targeted gene delivery system. This superparamagnetic particle mediated rapid and efficient transfection in primary vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) successfully inhibits expression of PAI-1 which is responsible for various vascular dysfunctions such as vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis and thereby provides a potential strategy to transfect highly sensitive HUVEC.

Oxygen transfer rate control in the production of human-like collagen by recombinant Escherichia coli.

The effects of different methods for elevating the OTR (oxygen transfer rate) during foreign gene expression and the cell growth of recombinant Escherichia coli BL21 were investigated. Two strategies were introduced to control DO (dissolved oxygen) levels in the fermentation broth: (i) increasing fermentor pressure and (ii) supplying oxygen-enriched air. These two methods were compared with the glucose feedback model, which acted as the control.

Diverse pathogenicity of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) isolates in CBA mouse model.

The pathogenicity of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) isolates of Japan were evaluated by using the CBA mouse model. CBA mice were inoculated with eight Japanese EHV-1 strains (89c1, 90c16, 90c18, 97c11, 98c12, 00c19, 01c1 and HH-1) and one British strain (Ab4p). 89c1 caused slight body weight loss and nervous signs in mice at 8 days post infection (dpi).

Positive feedback loop between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and transforming growth factor-beta1 during renal fibrosis in diabetes.

Background/aims: Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 is increasingly recognized as a profibrotic factor but the mechanisms are not entirely clear. The present study examined the profibrotic mechanism of PAI-1 focusing on its effect on transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 in experimental diabetes.

Methods: PAI-1 knockout (KO) mesangial cells cultured under high glucose (HG) in addition to streptozotocin-induced diabetic PAI-1 KO mice were used.

Induction of apoptosis by immature plum in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

In the present study, the effect of an extract of immature Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Soldam fruit on the viability and induction of apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells was investigated.

Histone deacetylase-2 is a key regulator of diabetes- and transforming growth factor-beta1-induced renal injury.

Excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the kidneys and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular epithelial cells contributes to the renal fibrosis that is associated with diabetic nephropathy. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) determines the acetylation status of histones and thereby controls the regulation of gene expression. This study examined the effect of HDAC inhibition on renal fibrosis induced by diabetes or transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and determined the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as mediators of HDAC activation.

Pulmonary toxicity and kinetic study of Cy5.5-conjugated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles by optical imaging.

Recent advances in the development of nanotechnology and devices now make it possible to accurately deliver drugs or genes to the lung. Magnetic nanoparticles can be used as contrast agents, thermal therapy for cancer, and be made to concentrate to target sites through an external magnetic field. However, these advantages may also become problematic when taking into account safety and toxicological factors.

Development of abnormal gait detection and vibratory stimulation system on lower limbs to improve gait stability.

The purpose of this study is to develop an abnormal gait detection algorithm and a vibratory stimulation system on a lower limb to improve gait stability and prevent falls. The system consists of a gait measurement module, an abnormal gait detection module, and a vibratory stimulation module. The gait measurement module measures the vertical acceleration of the ankle during walking using an accelerometer.

Inhibitory effect of immature plum on PMA-induced MMP-9 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effect of Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Soldam at three maturity stages (immature, midmature and mature).

A combined chemoimmunotherapy approach using a plasmid-doxorubicin complex.

We report a combined chemoimmunotherapy vehicle consisting of plasmid loaded with doxorubicin and evaluate its efficacy in two different tumor models. A stable complex was formed with a 1300:1 ratio of doxorubicin bound to native plasmid via intercalation. Pharmacokinetics of the complex showed much slower clearance from plasma up to 3 h compared to 10 min for free doxorubicin.

Insulin resistance is a major determinant of sustained virological response in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C patients receiving peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin.

Background: Cross-sectional studies suggest insulin resistance is strongly associated with hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), which might affect the efficacy of antiviral therapy. Aim To investigate retrospectively the impact of insulin resistance on treatment response in Chinese genotype 1 CHC patients receiving a 24-week course therapy with peginterferon alpha-2b/ribavirin.

Methods: A total of 133 biopsy-proven CHC patients were enrolled for analyses.

Experiences with acute kidney injury complicating non-fulminant hepatitis A.

Aim: To describe the clinical features and to identify factors related to development of acute kidney injury in acute hepatitis A patients.

Methods: The study and control groups consisted of 21 and 425 patients who did or did not develop acute kidney injury, respectively, after acute hepatitis A from January 1997 to May 2007.

Results: There were 13 men and eight women; their mean age at diagnosis was 28.