Luteolin-Loaded Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Melanoma.

Background And Purpose: Luteolin (LUT), a flavonoid found in various plants, has been reported to have potential therapeutic effects in melanoma. However, poor water solubility and low bioactivity have severely restricted the clinical application of LUT. Based on the high reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in melanoma cells, we developed nanoparticles encapsulating LUT with the ROS-responsive material poly(propylene sulfide)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PPS-PEG) to enhance the water solubility of LUT, accelerate the release of LUT in melanoma cells, and further enhance its anti-melanoma effect, providing a viable solution for the application of LUT nano-delivery systems in melanoma therapy.

Multidisciplinary team therapy for left giant adrenocortical carcinoma: A case report.

Background: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant epithelial tumor originating from adrenocortical cells that carries a very poor prognosis. Metastatic or inoperable diseases are often considered incurable, and treatment remains a challenge. Especially for advanced cases such as ACC complicated with renal venous cancer thrombus, there are few cumulative cases in the literature.

Identification of the potential novel biomarkers as susceptibility gene for Wilms tumor.

Background: Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common malignant renal tumor in children. The aim of this study was to identify potential susceptibility gene of WT for better prognosis.

Methods: Weighted gene coexpression network analysis is used for the detection of clinically important biomarkers associated with WT.

Associations between PBDEs exposure from house dust and human semen quality at an e-waste areas in South China-A pilot study.

Previous studies have confirmed that house dust is one of the main sources of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) exposure, and also indicated that PBDEs might affect human semen quality. The aim of this study was to explore the association between PBDEs concentration in house dust and the semen quality of male resident. Results showed that the semen qualities of the residents living around the e-waste dismantling workshops for a long time (3-17years) at the e-waste areas in South China significantly decreased, and the DNA damage of sperms were aggravated.

Genetic analysis of a Chinese family with members affected with Usher syndrome type II and Waardenburg syndrome type IV.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to identify the genetic causes of a family presenting with multiple symptoms overlapping Usher syndrome type II (USH2) and Waardenburg syndrome type IV (WS4).

Methods: Targeted next-generation sequencing including the exon and flanking intron sequences of 79 deafness genes was performed on the proband. Co-segregation of the disease phenotype and the detected variants were confirmed in all family members by PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing.

A dominant variant in DMXL2 is linked to nonsyndromic hearing loss.

Purpose: To explore the genetic etiology of deafness in a dominant family with late-onset, progressive, nonsyndromic hearing loss.

Methods: Genome-wide linkage analysis was performed for 21 family members. Candidate pathogenic variants were identified by whole-exome sequencing of selected family members and confirmed by Sanger sequencing of all family members.

IF7-Conjugated Nanoparticles Target Annexin 1 of Tumor Vasculature against P-gp Mediated Multidrug Resistance.

Multidrug resistance is the main cause of clinical chemotherapeutic failure. Antiangiogenic cancer therapy with nanomedicine that allows the targeted delivery of antiangiogenic agents to tumor endothelial cells may contribute to innovative strategies for treating multidrug-resistant cancers. In this study, we developed a new nanodrug delivery system (nano-DDS), with improved antiangiogenic efficacy against multidrug resistant human breast cancer MCF-7/ADR cells.

Suppression of colorectal cancer subcutaneous xenograft and experimental lung metastasis using nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery to tumor neovasculature.

Antiangiogenic therapy is a validated approach for colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. However, diverse adverse effects inevitably appear due to the off-target effect of the approved antiangiogenic inhibitors on the physiological functions and homeostasis. This study was to investigate a new tumor vessel targeting nanoparticulate drug delivery system, F56 peptide conjugated nanoparticles loading vincristine (F56-VCR-NP), for the effective treatment of CRC subcutaneous xenograft and experimental lung metastasis model.

Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery to tumor neovasculature to combat P-gp expressing multidrug resistant cancer.

Anticancer drug resistance is a common intractable obstacle in clinical cancer chemotherapy. Here, we hypothesize that antiangiogenic cancer therapy through the targeted delivery of antiangiogenic agents to the tumor endothelial cells (EC), not the resistant cancer cells, may have the potential of combating multidrug resistant cancer. The K237 peptide-conjugated paclitaxel loaded nanoparticles (K237-PTX-NP), which can target KDR receptors highly expressed in the tumor vasculature, were fabricated for this investigation and the human colorectal adenocarcinoma HCT-15 with naturally expressed P-gp on the cell surface was adopted as the resistant tumor model.

The use of nanoparticulate delivery systems in metronomic chemotherapy.

Metronomic chemotherapy aiming at inhibiting tumor angiogenesis with conventional chemotherapeutics is a promising strategy for antiangiogenic cancer therapy. However, current metronomic chemotherapy mainly focuses on free small-molecule drugs, without any effort to achieve tumor-specific biodistribution, which may lead to long-term toxicity concerns. Metronomic chemotherapy using nanoparticulate drug delivery system (DDS) offers significant upside to reduce off-target side effects, decrease accumulated dose, and enhance the efficacy of tumor vessel targeting without compromising antitumor efficacy; but there has been a lack of thorough experimental data describing the targeted metronomic chemotherapy.

Antiangiogenic triterpenes isolated from Chinese herbal medicine Actinidia chinensis Planch.

Actinidia chinensis Planch. is a famous Chinese herbal medicine to treat many diseases such as cancers. Triterpenes, polyphenols and anthraquinones are normally considered as the main constituents for its effects.

Antiangiogenic polyketides from Peperomia dindygulensis Miq.

Two new polyketides: 2Z-(heptadec-12-enyl)-4-hydroxy-3,4,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-chromen-5(6H)-one (1) and 2-(heptadec-12-enyl)-5-hydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromen- 4-one (2), together with eleven known compounds: 4-hydroxy-2-[(3,4-methylenedioxy- phenyl)tridecanoyl] cyclohexane-1,3-dione (3), oleiferinone (4), 4-hydroxy-2-[(3,4- methylenedioxyphenyl)undecanoyl]cyclohexane-1,3-dione (5), 4-hydroxy-2-[(11-phenyl- undecanoyl)cyclohexane-1,3-dione (6), proctorione C (7), surinone C (8), 5-hydroxy- 7,8,4'-trimethoxyflavone (9), 5-hydroxy-7,8,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone (10), 5-hydroxy- 7,3',4'-trimethoxyflavone (11), 5,8-dihydroxy-7,3',4'-trimethoxyflavone (12) and cepharanone B (13) were isolated from the whole plant of Peperomia dindygulensis Miq. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D-NMR techniques. Compounds 2, 3, 5 and 8 inhibited human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation and compounds 5 and 8 sharply suppressed HUVEC tube formation.

Secolignans with antiangiogenic activities from Peperomia dindygulensis.

Two new secolignans, peperomins G and H (1 and 2, resp.), were isolated from the whole plant of Peperomia dindygulensis, together with five known secolignans, peperomin A (3), peperomin E (4), peperomin B (5), 2,3-trans-2-methyl-3-{(3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)[5-methoxy-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenyl]methyl}butyrolactone (6), 2,3-cis-2-(hydroxymethyl)-3-{bis[5-methoxy-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenyl]methyl}butyrolactone (7). Their structures and configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR techniques.

Dichloroacetate shifts the metabolism from glycolysis to glucose oxidation and exhibits synergistic growth inhibition with cisplatin in HeLa cells.

The unique bioenergetic feature of cancer, aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect, is an attractive therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Reversing the glycolytic phenotype may trigger apoptosis in tumor cells. Recently, dichloroacetate (DCA) was proven to produce significant cytotoxic effects in certain tumor cells through this distinct mechanism.

Peptide-conjugated biodegradable nanoparticles as a carrier to target paclitaxel to tumor neovasculature.

Antiangiogenic cancer therapy can be achieved through the targeted delivery of antiangiogenic agents to the endothelial cells of tumor neovasculature. In the present study, we developed a drug delivery system (DDS), nanoparticles conjugated with K237-(HTMYYHHYQHHL) peptides for tumor neovasculature targeting drug delivery. Paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent with potent antiangiogenic activity, was used as a prototype drug.

[Transsacral resection for presacral tumors].

Objective: To explore the operation indication and safety of presacral tumor.

Methods: Clinical data of 36 patients with presacral tumor from November 1990 to May 2006 treated in our hospital, in whom 23 patients underwent trans-sacral operation, were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: The operation time was from 43 to 210 min (average 94 min).

Protection of PC12 cells against superoxide-induced damage by isoflavonoids from Astragalus mongholicus.

Objective: To further investigate the neuroprotective effects of five isoflavonoids from Astragalus mongholicus on xanthine (XA)/ xanthine oxidase (XO)-induced injury to PC12 cells.

Methods: PC12 cells were damaged by XA/XO. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, MTT, LDH, and GSH assays were used to evaluate the protection of these five isoflavonoids.

Influence of E3 region on conditionally replicative adenovirus mediated cytotoxicity in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Virotherapy employing conditionally replicative adenovirus (CRAd) represents a novel targeted strategy for the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. In this study, we explored the potential influence of E3 region, which encodes several TRAIL-inhibiting proteins (E3-6.7K, E3-10.

Anti-4-1BB scFv immunogene therapy and low dose cyclophosphamide exhibit a synergistic antitumor effect in established murine lung tumors.

T-cell costimulatory molecules such as 4-1BB may provide a distinct and important signal for promoting positive immune regulation. 4-1BB is thought to have potential use as a cancer immunotherapeutic drug. In our previous study, a nonreplicative adenovirus (Ad.

Studies of chemical constituents and their antioxidant activities from Astragalus mongholicus Bunge.

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant activities of different chemical constituents from Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and their protection against xanthine (XA)/xanthine oxidase (XO)-induced toxicity in PC12 cells.

Methods: The compounds of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge were isolated by chromatography and the structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data interpretation. Their antioxidant activities were detected by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities in a cell-free system.

[Bowel control of anus-preserving operation for low rectal cancer in elderly patients over 75 years].

Objective: To evaluate the bowel control of the anus-preserving operation for elderly patients over 75 years with low rectal cancer.

Methods: Thirty-nine elderly patients over 75 years with low rectal carcinoma (4-7 cm from anal verge) were treated during the study period. The patients were divided into different groups according to the surgical procedures and anastomotic locations.

[Bowel control of elderly low rectal cancer patients after anus-retained operation].

Background & Objective: Though anus-retained operation has became the first choice in radical cure operation for rectal cancer, most surgeons whom fear of dissatisfied bowel control after operation recommend permanent bowel stoma in abdomen for elderly low rectal cancer patients rather than anus-retained operation. This study was to evaluate the bowel control of elderly low rectal cancer patients after anus-retained operation.

Methods: A total of 80 elderly low rectal cancer patients were divided into > or =75-year old group (39 patients) and 60-74-year old group (41 patients).

[Analysis of the clinicopathological features of Chinese hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features of Chinese hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).

Methods: Patients who met the Amsterdam criteria were enrolled in this study from several hospitals in China. Clinicopathological features of patients with HNPCC were compared between the patients with suspected HNPCC and sporadic colorectal cancer.

Genetic detection of Chinese hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

Aim: To explore the germline mutations of the two main DNA mismatch repair genes (hMSH2 and hMLH1) between patients with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and suspected (atypical) HNPCC.

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the index patient of each family, and germline mutations of hMSH2 and hMLH1 genes were detected by PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing techniques.

Results: For PCR-SSCP analysis, 67% (4/6) abnormal exons mobility in typical group and 33% (2/6) abnormal exons mobility in atypical group were recognized.