Are third-generation active-targeting nanoformulations definitely the best? In vitro and in vivo comparisons of pixantrone-loaded liposomes modified with different sialic acid derivatives.

Treatment with sialic acid-octadecylamine (SA-ODA)-modified pixantrone (Pix) liposomes results in favorable antitumor effects by targeting tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). To explore the influence of different types of SA decorations on antitumor efficiency, we synthesized a PEGylated SA derivative, SA-PEG-DSPE, and combined it with SA-ODA to construct three representative types of SA-modified liposomes (SA-ODA-modified Pix liposomes, SA-ODA-modified Pix liposomes with different PEG densities, and SA-PEG-DSPE-modified Pix liposomes, named Pix-SACL, Pix-SPL-0.2/0.

Development and Evaluation of Cucurbitacin B Microemulsion: the Effect of Oil Phase and Aqueous Phase on Drug Percutaneous Absorption Based on ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy and Molecular Modeling.

The present study aimed to develop a cucurbitacin B microemulsion (CuB-ME) and investigate the mechanism of the enhanced drug skin absorption at the molecular level. Firstly, the pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were developed to evaluate the effect of composition on microemulsion properties systematically. The formulation composition types and ratios of oil phase, surfactant, co-surfactant, and aqueous phase were optimized by an in vitro skin permeation experiment, and the optimized formula was confirmed with the pharmacodynamics study.

Assessment of dialysis initiation by a fuzzy mathematics equation (ADIFE): a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Starting dialysis early or late both result in a low quality of life and a poor prognosis in patients undergoing haemodialysis. However, there remains no consensus on the optimal timing of dialysis initiation, mainly because of a lack of suitable methods to assess variations in dialysis initiation time. We have established a novel equation named DIFE (Dialysis Initiation based on Fuzzy-mathematics Equation) through a retrospective, multicentre clinical cohort study in China to determine the most suitable timing of dialysis initiation.

Development of synthetic high-density lipoprotein-based ApoA-I mimetic peptide-loaded docetaxel as a drug delivery nanocarrier for breast cancer chemotherapy.

In this study, a synthetic high-density lipoprotein (sHDL), peptide-based nanocarrier loaded with docetaxel (DTX) was constructed, against breast cancer. The thermodynamic and molecular dynamic analyses were conducted to examine the stability of nanoparticles synthesized from mimetic peptide 5 A and various types of phospholipids. Furthermore, the cellular uptake and fluorescence imaging analysis experiments, with scavenger receptor B-I (SR-BI) were carried out to examine the tumor-targeting ability of sHDL.

An Equation Based on Fuzzy Mathematics to Assess the Timing of Haemodialysis Initiation.

In order to develop an equation that integrates multiple clinical factors including signs and symptoms associated with uraemia to assess the initiation of dialysis, we conducted a retrospective cohort study including 25 haemodialysis centres in Mainland China. Patients with ESRD (n = 1281) who commenced haemodialysis from 2008 to 2011 were enrolled in the development cohort, whereas 504 patients who began haemodialysis between 2012 and 2013 were enrolled in the validation cohort comprised. An artificial neural network model was used to select variables, and a fuzzy neural network model was then constructed using factors affecting haemodialysis initiation as input variables and 3-year survival as the output variable.

A cross-sectional survey on patient safety culture in secondary hospitals of Northeast China.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate patient safety culture in secondary hospitals of Heilongjiang, Northeast China, and explore the implications of patient safety culture and practices through the perspectives of various healthcare workers.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey using the Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ) was conducted to ascertain the status of patient safety culture in nine secondary hospitals across the six dimensions of the SAQ. Among the 900 staff members who were invited to participate, 665 completed the questionnaire.

Clinical and molecular characteristics of bladder urothelial carcinoma subtypes.

Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) is a common malignancy with high heterogeneity. A reasonable molecular subtyping can facilitate biological study and personalized therapy of BLCA. In this study, unsupervised consensus clustering was used to acquire the molecular subtypes of BLCA based on messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) data.

Luteolin reduces cancer‑induced skeletal and cardiac muscle atrophy in a Lewis lung cancer mouse model.

Luteolin was recently demonstrated to suppress tumor growth by interfering with nuclear factor (NF)‑κB activation. As the NF‑κB pathway plays a critical role in muscular atrophy associated with cancer cachexia, we aimed to investigate the potential of luteolin to alleviate cancer‑associated cachexia in a Lewis lung cancer mouse model. C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups: A control group, a model group and a luteolin group.

Discriminating gastric cancer and gastric ulcer using human plasma amino acid metabolic profile.

Patients with gastric ulcer (GU) have a significantly higher risk of developing gastric cancer (GC), especially within 2 years after diagnosis. The main way to improve the prognosis of GC is to predict the tumorigenesis and metastasis in the early stage. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the ability of human plasma amino acid metabolic profile for discriminating GC and GU.

lncRNA NEAT1 promotes cell proliferation and invasion by regulating miR‑365/RGS20 in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of tumor progression. However, the function and mechanism of lncRNA NEAT1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are unclear. In the present study, NEAT1 was significantly upregulated in OSCC cells and tissues.

MiR-96 expression in prostate cancer and its effect on the target gene regulation.

Objective: Previous studies showed that miR-96 was associated with a carcinogenic effect. To investigate the expression of miR-96 and related target genes in the regulation of prostatic cancer, we compared the expression of miR-96 in both prostatic cancer and adjacent normal tissues, and explored the role of miR-96 in prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: PC-3 cell line originated from human prostatic cancer tissues was prepared.

Subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for synchronous bilateral lung resection.

Objectives: With advancements in medical imaging and current emphasis on regular physical examinations, multiple pulmonary lesions increasingly are being detected, including bilateral pulmonary lesions. Video-assisted thoracic surgery is an important method for treating such lesions. Most of video-assisted thoracic surgeries for bilateral pulmonary lesions were two separate operations.

Targeted hydroxyethyl starch prodrug for inhibiting the growth and metastasis of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies among men. Although chemotherapy has been an effective therapeutic approach for treating metastatic prostate cancer, serious undesired side effects have hampered its wide application clinically. In this work, a pH-responsive LHRH-conjugated hydroxyethyl starch-doxorubicin (HES-DOX/LHRH) prodrug was facilely synthesized by conjugating oxidized HES (HES-CHO) with DOX and LHRH through an acid-sensitive Schiff base bond.

TAZ Activator Is Involved in IL-10-Mediated Muscle Responses in an Animal Model of Traumatic Brain Injury.

The transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) functions as a downstream regulatory target in the Hippo signaling pathway that plays various roles. We previously developed a cell-based assay and identified the TAZ activator IBS008738 as a potential therapeutic target for glucocorticoid-induced atrophy. To further explore the application of IBS008738 in various muscle-related diseases, we examined the function of IBS008738 in inflammatory cytokine-mediated mouse muscle responses after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Screening of lung cancer related SNPs and CNVs with SNP microarrays.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the lung cancer related SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) and CNVs (copy number variations) with SNP microarrays, as well as to identify the CNV related genes and functions.

Materials And Methods: The GSE29172 SNP array data were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus, including 100%, 30%, 50%, 70% cancer samples, and the mixture is matched blood. The PennCNV software was applied to analyze SNP arrays, and then the related SNPs and CNVs in different degrees of cancer samples were identified.

Superficial parotidectomy versus partial superficial parotidectomy in treating benign parotid tumors.

The aim of the present study was to compare the outcomes of superficial parotidectomy (SP) and partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP) in treating benign parotid tumors. Individuals who had undergone SP or PSP between 2005 and 2008 were enrolled, the medical records were reviewed, and a questionnaire was created and mailed to the patients. For the statistical analysis, χ and non-parametric Mann-Whitney tests were used to analyze the variables.

Honokiol suppresses TNF-α-induced migration and matrix metalloproteinase expression by blocking NF-κB activation via the ERK signaling pathway in rat aortic smooth muscle cells.

Honokiol, a small-molecule polyphenol derived and isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Magnolia officinalis, has been shown to possess a wide range of pharmacological activities. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of honokiol on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced migration in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). We found that honokiol inhibited TNF-α-induced RASMC proliferation and migration in a dose-dependent manner.