Skin cancer treatment by albumin/5-Fu loaded magnetic nanocomposite spheres in a mouse model

Albumin/drug loaded magnetic nanocomposite spheres were fabricated using an oil-in-oil emulsion/solvent evaporation method, and tested on a mouse model (experimental squamous cell carcinoma) to determine the efficacy of the drug delivery system (DDS) on skin cancer. This novel DDS consists of human serum albumin, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), magnetic nanoparticles (10 nm) and fluorescent labeling molecule (diphenylhexatriene). One of the major purposes of using albumin is that it likely provides internal binding to and retention by the inflammatory tissues to reduce the amount of magnetic nanoparticles needed in the drug loaded microspheres (750–1100 nm). This study is aimed at reducing many negative side effects of conventionally used chemotherapy drugs by localizing the chemotherapy drug, controlling the release of the therapeutic agent and encouraging uptake of the DDS into cancerous cells. A group of mice treated with (1) the magnetic targeted DDS were compared to the other three groups, including, (2) DDS without a magnet, (3) 5-Fu local injection, and (4) untreated groups. The fluorescent tracer was ubiquitously identified inside the tumor tissue, and the DDS/tumor tissue boundary presented a leaky interface. The test results clearly showed that the magnetic targeted DDS exhibited significantly superior therapeutic effects in treating the skin cancer, with the increased efficacy to halt the tumor growth.

Fluorimetric determination of hydrogen peroxide in water using acetaminophen

A fluorimetric procedure for the determination of hydrogen peroxide, based on the oxidation of acetaminophen with hydrogen peroxide in acidic medium, is described. The calibration graph was linear in the range 5.0 x 10(-8) - 2.4 x 10(-5) M hydrogen peroxide at an emission wavelength of 333 nm with excitation at 298 nm. The method has been applied to the determination of hydrogen peroxide in rain water, and the recoveries in milk samples were good.

Biomarkers in the lung cancer diagnosis: a clinical perspective

The propensity for tumor biomarkers to be detected in serum at an early disease stage has become an area of interest for clinicians. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of 7 tumor biomarkers, namely, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), cytokeratin 19 (CYFRA-21-1), alpha-fetoprotein, carbohydrate antigen-125 (CA-125), carbohydrate antigen-19.9 (CA-19.9), and ferritin, independently or in combination for the diagnosis of lung cancer. Electrochemiluminescence immunization was used to determine biomarker levels expressed in 530 patients with pulmonary disease and 229 healthy subjects. The observed levels of CEA, NSE, CYFRA-21-1, CA-125, and CA-19.9 in patients with pathologically confirmed lung cancer were significantly higher than those in patients with benign pulmonary disease or control subjects. Adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and small cell carcinoma of the lung were associated with the highest observed levels of CA-125, CYFRA-21-1, and NSE, respectively. Combining biomarkers successfully led to the diagnosis of lung cancer. CEA + NSE + CA-125 showed the highest sensitivity for small cell carcinoma, at 83.33%, whereas CEA + NSE + CYFRA-21-1 + CA-125 showed 94.11% sensitivity for squamous cell carcinoma. The combination of 6 biomarkers, namely, CEA + NSE + CYFRA-21-1 + CA-125 + ferritin + CA-19.9, showed 80.49% sensitivity for adenocarcinoma. Combining biomarkers significantly aided in the diagnosis of lung cancer. However, this increased sensitivity on combination was accompanied by a decreased specificity for lung cancer subtypes. Combining biomarkers appropriately increases their sensitivity and helps with the diagnosis of lung cancer.

Vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis promotes transplant arteriosclerosis through inducing the production of SDF-1α

Transplant arteriosclerosis is a leading cause of late allograft loss. Medial smooth muscle cell (SMC) apoptosis is considered to be an important event in transplant arteriosclerosis. However, the precise contribution of medial SMC apoptosis to transplant arteriosclerosis and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We transferred wild-type p53 to induce apoptosis of cultured SMCs. We found that apoptosis induces the production of SDF-1α from apoptotic and neighboring viable cells, resulting in increased SDF-1α in the culture media. Conditioned media from Ltv-p53-transferred SMCs activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK/Erk signaling in a SDF-1α-dependent manner and thereby promoted mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) migration and proliferation. In a rat aorta transplantation model, lentivirus-mediated BclxL transfer selectively inhibits medial SMC apoptosis in aortic allografts, resulting in a remarkable decrease of SDF-1α both in allograft media and in blood plasma, associated with diminished recruitment of CD90(+)CD105(+) double-positive cells and impaired neointimal formation. Systemic administration of rapamycin or PD98059 also attenuated MSC recruitment and neointimal formation in the aortic allografts. These results suggest that medial SMC apoptosis is critical for the development of transplant arteriosclerosis through inducing SDF-1α production and that MSC recruitment represents a major component of vascular remodeling, constituting a relevant target and mechanism for therapeutic interventions.

Genetic analysis of NR4A2 gene in a large population of Han Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND

NR4A2 gene is a transcription factor crucial for differentiation and survival of midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons, and several variants have been eported to be associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) in the Caucasian population.

METHODS

To determine whether there is any association of NR4A2 mutation or variation with PD in the Han Chinese population, we performed a genetic analysis of all the exons and exon-intron boundaries in 689 PD patients and 672 controls from mainland China using direct sequencing analysis.

RESULTS

We identified four novel variants and two previously reported variants. Two novel variants (exon 2 c.-20 C>G and exon 3 c.711 C>A) were only found in PD. The others (exon 2 c.-35 A>G; exon 8 c.1615 G>A; intron 4 IVS4-16 G>T; and intron 6 IVS6 + 18 insG) were found in both PD and controls at different frequencies.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our results suggest that NR4A2 may be a susceptibility gene for PD in the Chinese population.

Diverse roles of G-protein coupled receptors in the regulation of neurohypophyseal hormone secretion

The magnocellular neurones in the supraoptic nucleus project to the neural lobe and release vasopressin and oxytocin into the peripheral circulation, where they act on the kidney to promote fluid retention or stimulate smooth muscles in the vasculature, uterus and mammary glands to support blood pressure, promote parturition or induce milk let-down, respectively. Hormone release is regulated by complex afferent pathways carrying information about plasma osmolality, blood pressure and volume, cervical stretch, and suckling. These afferent pathways utilise a broad array of neurotransmitters and peptides that activate both ligand-gated ion channels and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The ligand-gated ion channels induce rapid changes in membrane potential resulting in the generation of action potentials, initiation of exocytosis and the release of hormone into the periphery. By contrast, the GPCRs activate a host of diverse signalling cascades that modulate action potential firing and regulate other cellular functions required to support hormone release (e.g. hormone synthesis, processing, packaging and trafficking). The diversity of these actions is critical for integration of the distinct regulatory signals into a response appropriate for maintaining homeostasis. This review describes several diverse roles of GPCRs in magnocellular neurones, focusing primarily on adrenergic, purinergic and peptidergic (neurokinin and angiotensin) receptors.

Cytotoxicity of release products from magnetic nanocomposites in targeted drug delivery

The efficacy of chemotherapy can be significantly improved if the therapeutic agent remains localized at the afflicted area and released at controlled rates. Such a targeted drug delivery can be achieved using magnetic nanocomposite (MNC), which incorporates drug and magnetic nanoparticles in biodegradable polymer microspheres. Reported here are results from an in vitro study on drug release rate and cytotoxicity of other release products from MNC. The model system contains an anti-cancer chemotherapy agent 5-flurouracil (5-FU) and (Co(0.5)Zn(0.5))Fe(2)O(4) in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) matrix produced by an oil/oil emulsion technique. Cell proliferation data indicate a sustained release of 5-FU for mouse macrophage cell eradication, whereas other microsphere components of magnetic nanoparticles and PLGA have little cytotoxic effects.

Characterization of nuclear neurokinin 3 receptor expression in rat brain

Ligand-induced translocation of the G-protein-coupled receptor, neurokinin 3 (NK3-R), to the nucleus of hypothalamic neurons was reported using antibodies (ABs) raised against the C-terminal region of NK3-R. The current work was undertaken to substantiate the ability of NK3-R to enter the nucleus and identify which portion of the NK3-R molecule enters the nucleus. ABs directed at epitopes in the N-terminal and second extracellular loop of the rat NK3-R molecule were used to evaluate western blots of whole tissue homogenates and nuclear fractions from multiple brain areas. Specificity of the protein bands recognized by these ABs was demonstrated using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with rat or human NK3-R. Both ABs prominently recognized a diffuse protein band of ∼56-65 kDa (56 kDa=predicted size) and distinct ∼70-kDa and 95-kDa proteins in homogenates of multiple brain areas. The ∼95-kDa protein recognized by the extracellular loop AB was enriched in nuclear fractions. Recognition of these proteins by ABs directed at different regions of the NK3-R supports their identification as NK3-R. The size differences reflect variable glycosylation and possibly linkage to different cytosolic and nuclear proteins. Recognition of protein bands by both ABs in nuclear fractions is consistent with the full-length NK3-R entering the nucleus. Hypotension increased the density of the ∼95-kDa band in nuclear fractions from the supraoptic nucleus indicating activity-induced nuclear translocation. Since NK3-R is widely distributed in the CNS, the presence of NK3-R in nuclei from multiple brain regions suggests that it may broadly influence CNS gene expression in a ligand-dependent manner.

Protective effects of bone morphogenetic protein 7 against amyloid-beta induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells

Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) has neuroprotective effects against ischemia, oxidation stress, and lipopolysaccharide, but its role on amyloid-beta (Aβ)-induced neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we exposed PC12 cells to Aβ25-35 for 26 h to induce neurotoxicity, and added exogenous BMP7 at 2 h to observe the neuroprotective effects. The protective mechanisms involved, mostly related to inhibition of cell apoptosis and oxidation stress, were analyzed. In rat in vivo experiments, we bilaterally injected Aβ1-40 into the basal forebrain to simulate neuropathological processes in AD, performed the Morris water maze test to evaluate the effect of Aβ on spatial learning and memory, and explored the change of endogenous BMP7 expression in the brain. The present study demonstrated that BMP7 prevented neuronal injuries in PC12 cells induced by Aβ25-35, including cell apoptosis and morphological impairment of dendrites as well as oxidation stress. BMP7 treatment significantly protected PC12 cells against Aβ25-35-induced injury and inhibited the increasing content of the Bax gene and the decreasing activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Aβ1-40 bilaterally injected into the rat basal forebrain obviously inhibited the rat's spatial learning ability and memory, and significantly induced downregulation of endogenous BMP7 in the basal forebrain while upregulating it in the hippocampus. Our results suggest that BMP7 has neuroprotective effects against Aβ, which may be mediated through inhibition of Bax gene expression during cell apoptosis and elevation of SOD activities during the oxidative stress response. On the other hand, endogenous BMP7 may have a potential self-modulation capacity through negative feedback between the region of the basal forebrain and the hippocampus as a protective cytokine.

High- and low-temperature manipulation during late incubation: effects on embryonic development, the hatching process, and metabolism in broilers

Temperatures continuously higher and lower than the standard incubation temperature by 3°C from embryonic d 16 until embryonic d 18.5 result in differential effects on embryonic development, the hatching process, and embryonic metabolism. Embryos in the high-temperature group were forced into a state of malnutrition by the temperature treatment, as reflected by reduced embryo growth and yolk consumption, resulting in a significantly lower chick weight at hatch. In addition, altered air cell and blood gases as well as a retarded hatching process further indicated reduced growth of embryos exposed to higher incubation temperatures during the latter part of incubation. In addition, hatchability was significantly reduced by the high-temperature treatment due to higher embryonic mortality during the treatment period and the hatching process. Levels of blood glucose, lactate, liver glycogen, plasma triglycerides, and nonesterified fatty acids indicated an altered carbohydrate and lipid metabolism for the high-temperature group. Although the hatching process of embryos exposed to lower incubation temperatures was also significantly retarded, their embryonic development and growth were strikingly similar to those of the control group.

The feasibility of light microscopic measurements of intercellular spaces in squamous epithelium in the lower-esophagus of GERD patients

The study aims to determine whether light microscopy can be used to accurately measure the diameters of intercellular spaces between squamous epithelial cells in the lower esophagus, and whether changes in this outcome measure can be used as a diagnostic marker for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The study has two parts. Part 1 involves 42 asymptomatic controls and 119 patients with typical symptoms of GERD, including 58 with erosive esophagitis (EE), and 61 patients with nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (NERD). All biopsies were taken from the lower esophagus. All samples were observed using an immersion objective, after which diameters were measured by computer-assisted morphometry. Part 2 involves 61 individuals who were randomly selected from part 1, including 19 controls, 13 with NERD and 29 with EE. Diameter measurements using both light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed for samples of 61 individuals. Samples from a total of 61 individuals (31 male, 30 female, mean age 44.3 ± 16.0 years) were observed using both light microscopy and TEM. Both methods showed significant differences between control and disease groups; the outcomes from the two methods had a certain correlation (r = 0.605, P = 0.000). Morphometric analysis of all 161 individuals (83 males, 78 females, mean age 41.4 ± 15.7) showed mean diameters from light microscopy to be 0.58 ± 0.16 µm for controls, 1.07 ± 0.30 µm for NERD, and 1.29 ± 0.20 µm for EE; differences between control and disease groups were significant (P<0.05). The optimal cut-off value from receiver operator characteristic analysis was 0.85 µm. Diagnoses were validated using the combination of symptoms of GERD, endoscopy, and 24 h ambulatory pH monitoring as the gold standard. At the optimal cutoff, sensitivity was 93.3% and specificity was 100%. The diameters of the intercellular spaces in squamous epithelium of lower esophagus from controls and in patients with GERD can be quantitatively measured using light microscopy. Dilated diameters can serve as a sensitive, specific, and objective indicator for diagnosis of GERD.