The application of antitumor drug-targeting models on liver cancer

Hepatocarcinoma animal models, such as the induced tumor model, transplanted tumor model, gene animal model, are significant experimental tools for the evaluation of targeting drug delivery system as well as the pre-clinical studies of liver cancer. The application of antitumor drug-targeting models not only furnishes similar biological characteristics to human liver cancer but also offers guarantee of pharmacokinetic indicators of the liver-targeting preparations. In this article, we have reviewed some kinds of antitumor drug-targeting models of hepatoma and speculated that the research on this field would be capable of attaining a deeper level and expecting a superior achievement in the future.

Functional characterization of the PCLO p.Ser4814Ala variant associated with major depressive disorder reveals cellular but not behavioral differences

Genome-wide association studies have suggested a role for a genetic variation in the presynaptic gene PCLO in major depressive disorder (MDD). As with many complex traits, the PCLO variant has a small contribution to the overall heritability and the association does not always replicate. One variant (rs2522833, p.Ser4814Ala) is of particular interest given that it is a common, nonsynonymous exon variant near a calcium-sensing part of PCLO. It has been suggested that the molecular effects of such variations penetrate to a variable extent in the population due to phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity at the population level. More robust effects may be exposed by studying such variations in isolation, in a more homogeneous context. We tested this idea by modeling PCLO variation in a mouse knock-in model expressing the Pclo(SA)(/)(SA) variant. In the highly homogeneous background of inbred mice, two functional effects of the SA-variation were observed at the cellular level: increased synaptic Piccolo levels, and 30% increased excitatory synaptic transmission in cultured neurons. Other aspects of Piccolo function were unaltered: calcium-dependent phospholipid binding, synapse formation in vitro, and synaptic accumulation of synaptic vesicles. Moreover, anxiety, cognition and depressive-like behavior were normal in Pclo(SA)(/)(SA) mice. We conclude that the PCLO p.Ser4814Ala missense variant produces mild cellular phenotypes, which do not translate into behavioral phenotypes. We propose a model explaining how (subtle) cellular phenotypes do not penetrate to the mouse behavioral level but, due to genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity and non-linearity, can produce association signals in human population studies.

Synthesis and characterization of lanthanum phosphate nanoparticles as carriers for (223)Ra and (225)Ra for targeted alpha therapy

INTRODUCTION

Targeted alpha therapy (TAT) has the potential for killing micro-metastases with minimum collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissue. In-vivo generator radionuclides, such as(223)Ra, (225)Ra, and (225)Ac, are of special interest for radiotherapeutic applications as they emit multiple α-particles during their decay. Utilizing appropriate carriers capable of retaining both the parent radioisotope as well as daughter products is important for the effective delivery of the radioisotope to the tumor site while mitigating global in vivo radiotoxicity. In this work, LaPO4 core and core+2 shells nanoparticles (NPs) (NPs with 2 layers of cold LaPO4 deposited on the core surfaces) were synthesized containing either (223)Ra or(225)Ra/(225)Ac, and the retention of the parents and daughters within the NPs in vitro was investigated.

METHODS

Core LaPO4 NPs were synthesized in aqueous solution by reacting 1 equivalent of La(NO3)3, along with few microcuries of either (223)Ra or (225)Ra/(225)Ac, with 1 equivalent of sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) under moderate heating and purified by membrane dialysis. Core-shell NPs were also synthesized with one (core+1 shell) and two (core+2 shells) cold LaPO4 layers deposited onto the radioactive cores. The NPs were then characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder x-ray diffraction (XRD). Identification and quantification of radioactive parents and daughters released from the NPs in vitro were investigated using gamma-ray spectroscopy.

RESULTS

XRD and TEM analysis revealed that the NPs crystallized in the rhabdophane phase with mean diameters of 3.4 and 6.3nm for core and core+2 shells, respectively. The core LaPO4 NPs retained up to 88% of (223)Ra over 35days. However, in the core+2 shells NPs, the retention of (223)Ra and its daughter, (211)Pb, was improved to >99.9% over 27days. Additionally, the retention of (225)Ra/(225)Ac parents was >99.98% and ~80% for the (221)Fr and (213)Bi daughters over 35days for the core+2 shells NPs.

CONCLUSIONS

The in vitro retention of both parents and daughters results suggests that LaPO4 NPs are potentially effective carriers of radium isotopes.

EFFECT OF RELATIVE GENE EXPRESSION ON PLAQUE VULNERABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH STABLE ANGINA AND PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of relative gene expression on plaque vulnerability in patients with either stable angina or acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A total of 30 patients with ACS, 28 patients with stable angina and 17 healthy volunteers were selected. High resolution ultrasound was used to detect carotid arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque score, Sandwich enzyme linked immunoassay to determine the change of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1. The three groups had no statistically significant difference in age, gender, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. MMP-9, TIMP-1, MMP-9/TIMP-1 and IMT, total plaque score, soft plaque score and hard plaque score of patients’ acute coronary syndrome were obviously higher than those with stable angina and normal people. It was also found that MMP-9 was in a positive correlation with IMT, total and soft plaques score, TIMP-1 was positively correlated with IMT as was MMP-9/TIMP-1. Regardless of age, IMT was in a positive correlation with MMP-9, TIMP-1 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 in partial correlation analysis. All these findings suggest that ACS patients have remarkably higher MMP-9, 1TIMP-1, MMP- 9/TIMP-1, IMT, total plaque score, soft plaque score and hard plaque score compared to patients with stable angina pectoris and healthy subjects (P<0.05) and there are positive correlations between MMP- 9, TIMP-1, 1MMP-8/TIMP-1, total plaque and soft plaque score.

Changes in skeletal collagen cross-links and matrix hydration in high- and low-turnover chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases fracture risk. The results of this work point to changes in bone collagen and bone hydration as playing a role in bone fragility associated with CKD.

INTRODUCTION

Clinical data have documented a clear increase in fracture risk associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Preclinical studies have shown reductions in bone mechanical properties although the tissue-level mechanisms for these differences remain unclear. The goal of this study was to assess collagen cross-links and matrix hydration, two variables known to affect mechanical properties, in animals with either high- or low-turnover CKD.

METHODS

At 35 weeks of age (>75% reduction in kidney function), the femoral diaphysis of male Cy/+ rats with high or low bone turnover rates, along with normal littermate (NL) controls, were assessed for collagen cross-links (pyridinoline (Pyd), deoxypyridinoline (Dpd), and pentosidine (PE)) using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay as well as pore and bound water per volume (pw and bw) using a (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique. Material-level biomechanical properties were calculated based on previously published whole bone mechanical tests.

RESULTS

Cortical bone from animals with high-turnover disease had lower Pyd and Dpd cross-link levels (-21% each), lower bw (-10%), higher PE (+71%), and higher pw (+46%) compared to NL. Animals with low turnover had higher Dpd, PE (+71%), and bw (+7%) along with lower pw (-60%) compared to NL. Both high- and low-turnover animals had reduced material-level bone toughness compared to NL animals as determined by three-point bending.

CONCLUSIONS

These data document an increase in skeletal PE with advanced CKD that is independent of bone turnover rate and inversely related to decline in kidney function. Although hydration changes occur in both high- and low-turnover disease, the data suggest that nonenzymatic collagen cross-links may be a key factor in compromised mechanical properties of CKD.

Insight into the high reactivity of commercial Fe–Si–B amorphous zero-valent iron in degrading azo dye solutions

Improving intrinsic reactivity is one of the key requirements in applying zero-valent iron in the field.

Muscarinic-mediated vasoconstriction in human, rat and sheep umbilical cords and related vasoconstriction mechanisms

OBJECTIVE

The umbilical cord provides nutrition and oxygen to the fetus. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of acetylcholine (ACh) on umbilical cords from humans and other mammals, and the mechanisms of ACh-mediated vasoconstriction in the human umbilical cord.

DESIGN

Human and animal umbilical cords used in vascular and cellular experiments.

SETTING

Institute for Fetology, First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

POPULATION

A total of 85 pregnant women, 16 Sprague Dawley rats and seven pregnant sheep.

METHODS

Umbilical cord veins and arteries from humans, rats and sheep, aortas and mesenteric arteries from rats, and mesenteric, carotid and femoral arteries from ovine fetuses were used to compare vascular functions in response to ACh and to determine the mechanisms of ACh-mediated umbilical vasoconstriction. Vascular tension and ion channel currents were measured on isolated vessels and smooth muscle cells from human umbilical cords.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Provision of new evidence to conclude that ACh-stimulated vasoconstriction is common to all umbilical cords, and cellular mechanisms are linked to potassium channels.

RESULTS

ACh caused reliable vasoconstriction in umbilical veins/arteries in humans, rats and sheep, but not in any other vessels, including fetal vessels. Atropine inhibited the effects of ACh. The mRNA of ACh-muscarinic receptor subtypes M1 -M5 was expressed in human umbilical vessels. The protein kinase C antagonist GF109203X and the calcium inhibitor nifedipine decreased ACh-induced vasoconstriction in human umbilical vessels. ACh also caused a reduction in whole-cell potassium channel currents and the single-channel current of large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BKca) channels.

CONCLUSION

Umbilical vessels are significantly different from other vessels in their response to ACh. BKca channels in smooth muscle cells may play important roles in ACh-mediated vasoconstriction in human umbilical cords. This information may be important for fetal medicine and practice with regard to the effect on fetal development of umbilical vascular functions.

CRP gene polymorphism predicts post-stroke functional outcome in Han Chinese

OBJECTIVES

Stroke is a major cause of long-term disability and morbidity worldwide. C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker, has been reported to be an independent predictor of functional outcome after ischemic stroke (IS). Because several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the CRP locus have been linked with elevated CRP levels, we hypothesized that CRP genetic variation might be associated with functional disability in patients after first-ever IS.

METHODS

A total of 1716 patients from western China with first-ever IS were genotyped for the CRP SNPs rs1130864 and rs1800947 using the ligation detection reaction method. Functional outcome was assessed 3 months after IS using the modified Rankin Scale. Then, we tested the association of CRP SNP genotypes with stroke outcome after adjusting for non-genetic factors.

RESULTS

Our data showed a significant association between the T allele of rs1130864 and poor functional outcome in IS patients. In addition, the presence of TT+CT genotypes of rs1130864 strongly predicted functional disability within the first 3 months, even after adjusting for potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that SNP rs1130864 in the CRP gene is an independent predictor of 3-month functional outcome in patients with first-onset IS in a Han Chinese population. Further studies in different ethnic groups are needed to validate our findings.

Simultaneous determination of aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, mycophenolic acid and sterigmatocystin in grape pomace by UHPLC-MS/MS

A reliable ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, mycophenolic acid and sterigmatocystin in grape pomace. The samples were extracted by acetonitrile aqueous solution and further purified using a solid-phase extraction-based homemade clean-up cartridge. Next, the analytes were separated on a reversed-phase C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of water and acetonitrile. The separated compounds were detected with a tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in positive electro-spray ionisation mode using multiple reaction monitoring. The established method was extensively validated by determining linearity (R2≯0.999), recovery (97.5-102.8%) and precision (relative standard deviation ≤7.0%). This method was then used for the simultaneous determination of the four mycotoxins in grape pomace samples.