pH/enzyme dual sensitive and nucleus-targeting dendrimer nanoparticles to enhance the antitumour activity of doxorubicin.

Direct delivery of drugs into the nucleus is a promising nanotechnology therapy, since the nucleus is one of the most important organelles controlling cell proliferation and apoptosis. Here, we report a nucleus-targeting nanocarrier for nuclear drug delivery using a pH/enzyme dual sensitive strategy. The specific ligand PGM (PKKKRKV-GFLG-Mp), composed of nuclear localization sequence (PKKKRKV), enzyme-sensitive tetrapeptide (Gly-Phe-Leu-Gly, GFLG), and pH-sensitive molecules morpholine (Mp), was modified on poly (amidoamine) (PAMAM) by maleimide active polyethylene glycol ester (NHS-PEG-MAL) to form PAMAM-PEG-PGM.

A single nucleotide polymorphism in the gene is associated with Behcet's disease in a Chinese Han population.

Aim: To explore the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene region with the susceptibility to Behcet's disease (BD) in a Chinese Han population.

Methods: A total of eight SNPs in the candidate gene region (rs11792633, rs7025417, rs10975519 and rs1048274 in ; rs2310220, rs12712142, rs13424006 and rs3821204 in ) were genotyped in783 BD patients and 701 healthy controls by the Sequenom Mass Array iPLEX platform.

Results: A statistically significant association was observed between rs12712142 and BD patients.

Size-shrinkable and protein kinase Cα-recognizable nanoparticles for deep tumor penetration and cellular internalization.

In the present study, the three functions, including enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, deep penetration within tumor, and receptor-mediated endocytosis, were integrated into a single platform in order to improve antitumor efficiency. A novel nanoparticle (dendrigraft poly-L-lysine@glycyrrhetinic acid@cyclohexane dicarboxylic anhydride@doxorubicin@ hyaluronic acid composite) has been successfully developed and was denoted as DGL-GA-CDA-DOX-HA. The transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), polymer dispersity index (PDI), fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and zeta potentials were used to characterize the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles.

Identification of Novel Biomarkers for Behcet Disease Diagnosis Using Human Proteome Microarray Approach.

Behcet disease (BD) is a chronic systemic vasculitis and considered as an autoimmune disease. Although rare, BD can be fatal due to ruptured vascular aneurysms or severe neurological complications. To date, no known biomarker has been reported for this disease, making it difficult to diagnosis in the clinics.

Association Study of a Proliferation-inducing Ligand, Spermatogenesis Associated 8, Platelet-derived Growth Factor Receptor-alpha, and POLB Polymorphisms with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Chinese Han Population.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disease with complex genetic inheritance. This study was conducted to examine whether the association of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), spermatogenesis associated 8 (SPATA8), platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRA), and DNA polymerase beta (POLB) with SLE can be replicated in a Chinese Han population.

Methods: Chinese SLE patients (n = 1247) and ethnically and geographically matched healthy controls (n = 1440) were genotyped for the APRIL, SPATA8, PDGFRA, and POLB single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs3803800, rs8023715, rs1364989, and rs12678588 using the Sequenom MassARRAY System.

A single-nucleotide polymorphism of CCL21 rs951005 T>C is associated with susceptibility of polymyositis and such patients with interstitial lung disease in a Chinese Han population.

Objectives: Our objective was to better understand the roles of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CCL21, ERBB3, and TERT genes region in the development of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), we explored the associations between SNPs in the mentioned three genes and IIMs susceptibility in a Chinese Han population.

Methods: Chinese polymyositis (PM) patients (n =291), dermatomyositis (DM) patients (n=526) and ethnically-matched healthy controls (n =968) were genotyped for the CCL21 region SNPs (rs951005 and rs2492358), ERBB3 (rs2292239 and rs11171739), and TERT (rs2853676 and rs10069690), by using the Sequenom MassArray system.

Results: Our study indicated strong allele and genotype associations between rs951005 (OR: 1.