Dual orexin receptor antagonist ameliorates sleep deprivation-induced learning and memory impairment in APP/PS1 mice.

Sleep is considered closely related to cognitive function, and cognitive impairment is the main clinical manifestation of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Sleep disturbance in AD patients is more severe than that in healthy elderly individuals. Additionally, sleep deprivation reportedly increases the activity of the hypothalamic orexin system and the risk of AD.

DNA damage repair-related gene signature for identifying the immune status and predicting the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses a challenge for accurate prognosis prediction. DNA damage repair genes (DDRGs) have an impact on a wide range of malignancies. However, the relevance of these genes in HCC prognosis has received little attention.

Identification of ferroptosis-related genes in type 2 diabetes mellitus based on machine learning.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which has a high incidence and several harmful consequences, poses a severe danger to human health. Research on the function of ferroptosis in T2DM is increasing. This study uses bioinformatics techniques identify new diagnostic T2DM biomarkers associated with ferroptosis.

F-box only protein 2 exacerbates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by targeting the hydroxyl CoA dehydrogenase alpha subunit.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major health burden with an increasing global incidence. Unfortunately, the unavailability of knowledge underlying NAFLD pathogenesis inhibits effective preventive and therapeutic measures.

Aim: To explore the molecular mechanism of NAFLD.

Overexpression of LILRA2 indicated poor prognosis of ovarian carcinoma: A new potential biomarker and therapeutic target.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the role of leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor A2 (LILRA2) in ovarian carcinoma (OC) oncogenesis and prognosis.

Materials And Methods: Using the Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype-Tissue Expression, and Gene Expression Omnibus databases, the association between clinicopathological profiles and LILRA2 expression was investigated using logistic regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox regression analysis, and column plots predicted the clinical outcomes of patients with OC and determine the predictive value of LILRA2.

Cdc42 upregulation under high glucose induces podocyte apoptosis and impairs β-cell insulin secretion.

Objectives: The progressive impairment of β-cell function results in prolonged deterioration in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Interestingly, the finding on pancreatitis secondary to renal injury suggests that potential communication exists between kidney and pancreas. Therefore, we aimed to investigate cell division cycle 42 (Cdc42)-mediated podocyte apoptosis and its effect on insulin secretion in islet β-cells.

External Validation of the Assessment of Different NEoplasias in the adneXa Model Performance in Evaluating the Risk of Ovarian Carcinoma Before Surgery in China: A Tertiary Center Study.

Objectives: The Assessment of Different NEoplasias in the adneXa (ADNEX) model was developed by the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis group to assess the risk of an ovarian mass being malignant. This study aimed to externally validate the ADNEX model performance in a tertiary center in China.

Methods: This retrospective, single-center university hospital study assessed the model diagnostic accuracy.

Hyaluronic acid-decorated redox-sensitive chitosan micelles for tumor-specific intracellular delivery of gambogic acid.

Herein, a hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated redox-sensitive chitosan-based nanoparticle, HA(HECS-ss-OA)/GA, was successfully developed for tumor-specific intracellular rapid delivery of gambogic acid (GA). The redox-sensitive polymer, HECS-ss-OA, was prepared through a well-controlled synthesis procedure with a satisfactory reproducibility and stable resulted surface properties of the assembled cationic micelles. GA was solubilized into the inner core of HECS-ss-OA micelles, while HA was employed to coat outside HECS-ss-OA/GA for CD44-mediated active targeting along with protection from cation-associated in vivo defects.

Co-delivery of paclitaxel and doxorubicin using mixed micelles based on the redox sensitive prodrugs.

A strategy of preparing mixed micelles containing both DOX prodrug and PTX prodrug was developed, i.e., synthesizing a DOX conjugate and a PTX conjugate started with the same biocompatible amphiphilic copolymer, TPGS and DTDPA, a linker containing disulfide bond.

N-mercapto acetyl-N'-octyl-O, N″-glycol chitosan as an efficiency oral delivery system of paclitaxel.

Herein, thioglycolic acid modified N-octyl-O, N'-glycol chitosan (N-mercapto acetyl-N'-octyl-O, N″-glycol chitosan, abbreviated as SH-OGC) was synthesized to improve the oral bioavailability of paclitaxel (PTX). PTX was readily solubilized into the hydrophobic inner core of SH-OGC. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that the bioavailability of PTX was greatly enhanced when delivered by SH-OGC compared to Taxol or non-sulfhydrylated OGC micelles.

Airway Complications during and after General Anesthesia: A Comparison, Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Using Flexible Laryngeal Mask Airways and Endotracheal Tubes.

Objective: Flexible laryngeal mask airways (FLMAs) have been widely used in thyroidectomy as well as cleft palate, nasal, upper chest, head and neck oncoplastic surgeries. This systematic review aims to compare the incidence of airway complications that occur during and after general anesthesia when using the FLMA and endotracheal intubation (ETT). We performed a quantitative meta-analysis of the results of randomized trials.

In vitro and in vivo effect of paclitaxel and cepharanthine co-loaded polymeric nanoparticles in gastric cancer.

Purpose: Response surface methodology (RSM) using the central composite rotatable design (CCRD) model was used to optimize the formulation of paclitaxel (PTX)-cepharanthine (CEP) nanoparticles for gastric cancer.

Methods: Nanoparticles were prepared using nanoprecipitation technique and optimized using central composite rotatable design response surface methodology (CCRD-RSM). Further the optimized nanoparticles were characterised for particle size (PS), zeta potential, entrapment efficiency (EE), drug loading efficiency (DL), anticancer potential against MKN45 (human gastric cancer) cells, in vivo tumor inhibition and survival analysis.

Linear-dendritic block copolymer for drug and gene delivery.

Dendrimers as a new class of polymeric materials have a highly ordered branched structure, exact molecular weight, multivalency and available internal cavities, which make them extensively used in biology and drug-delivery. Concurrent with the development of dendrimers, much more attention is drawn to a novel block copolymer which combines linear chains with dendritic macromolecules, the linear-dendritic block copolymer (LDBC). Because of the different solubility of the contrasting regions, the amphiphilic LDBCs could self-assemble to form aggregates with special core-shell structures which exhibit excellent properties different from traditional micelles, such as lower critical micelle concentration, prolonged circulation in the bloodstream, better biocompatibility, and lower toxicity.

Toward targeted therapy in chemotherapy-resistant pancreatic cancer with a smart triptolide nanomedicine.

Chemoresistance is the major impediment for treating pancreatic cancer. Herb-derived compound triptolide (TP) can inhibit proliferation of chemo-resistant pancreatic cancer (CPC) cell lines through multiple mechanisms, which exhibited superior anticancer efficacy compared with gemcitabine. However, toxicity due to non-specific exposure to healthy tissues hindered its clinical translation.

Association between sodium iodide symporter and differentiated Thyroid cancer: a meta-analysis of 9 studies.

Context: As many studies proved that sodium iodide symporter (NIS) plays a key role in radioactive iodide (RAI) therapy of thyroid cancer, however, a growing number of studies suggests that part of differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTC) with overexpression of NIS are insensitive to RAI well.

Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the expression of NIS in differentiated thyroid cancer, compared with normal thyroid tissue.

Data Sources: PUBMED, Sinomed, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP were searched for relevant case-control studies up to now.

Pimecrolimus micelle exhibits excellent therapeutic effect for Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca.

Poor corneal penetration and short residence time on the ocular surface are two major bottlenecks for conventional ophthalmic formulations. To overcome the foregoing dilemmas, we prepared two novel formulations of pimecrolimus nanomicelles (PNM) with particle size of 37.85 ± 1.

Cysteine modified and bile salt based micelles: preparation and application as an oral delivery system for paclitaxel.

The aim of the present study is to construct a cysteine modified polyion complex micelles made of Pluronic F127-chitosan (PF127-CS), Pluronic F127-cysteine (PF127-cysteine) and sodium cholate (NaC) and to evaluate the potential of the micelles as an oral drug delivery system for paclitaxel. Systematic studies on physicochemical properties including size distribution, zeta-potential and morphology were conducted to validate the formation of micelle structure. Compared with Pluronic micelles, drug-loading capacity of PF127-CS/PF127-cysteine/NaC micelles was increased from 3.

Dual targeting biomimetic liposomes for paclitaxel/DNA combination cancer treatment.

Combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs with nucleic acid has shown great promise in cancer therapy. In the present study, paclitaxel (PTX) and DNA were co-loaded in the hyaluronic acid (HA) and folate (FA)-modified liposomes (HA/FA/PPD), to obtain the dual targeting biomimetic nanovector. The prepared HA/FA/PPD exhibited nanosized structure and narrow size distributions (247.

Toward immunosuppressive effects on liver transplantation in rat model: tacrolimus loaded poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D,L-lactide) nanoparticle with longer survival time.

In this study, tacrolimus (FK506) was encapsulated into a biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D,L-lactide) (MPEG-PLA) block copolymer using a double emulsion-solvent evaporation technique. Drug loading (DL) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) can be changed by varying the mass ratio of FK506/MPEG-PLA. Furthermore, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Malvern Zetasizer were used to investigate the properties of FK506/MPEG-PLA nanoparticles (DL=9.

Polymeric micelles, a promising drug delivery system to enhance bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs.

Oral administration is the most commonly used and readily accepted form of drug delivery; however, it is find that many drugs are difficult to attain enough bioavailability when administered via this route. Polymeric micelles (PMs) can overcome some limitations of the oral delivery acting as carriers able to enhance drug absorption, by providing (1) protection of the loaded drug from the harsh environment of the GI tract, (2) release of the drug in a controlled manner at target sites, (3) prolongation of the residence time in the gut by mucoadhesion, and (4) inhibition of efflux pumps to improve the drug accumulation. To explain the mechanisms for enhancement of oral bioavailability, we discussed the special stability of PMs, the controlled release properties of pH-sensitive PMs, the prolongation of residence time with mucoadhesive PMs, and the P-gp inhibitors commonly used in PMs, respectively.