New anti-cancer explorations based on metal ions

Due to the urgent demand for more anti-cancer methods, the new applications of metal ions in cancer have attracted increasing attention. Especially the three kinds of the new mode of cell death, including ferroptosis, calcicoptosis, and cuproptosis, are of great concern. Meanwhile, many metal ions have been found to induce cell death through different approaches, such as interfering with osmotic pressure, triggering biocatalysis, activating immune pathways, and generating the prooxidant effect. Therefore, varieties of new strategies based on the above approaches have been studied and applied for anti-cancer applications. Moreover, many contrast agents based on metal ions have gradually become the core components of the bioimaging technologies, such as MRI, CT, and fluorescence imaging, which exhibit guiding significance for cancer diagnosis. Besides, the new nano-theranostic platforms based on metal ions have experimentally shown efficient response to endogenous and exogenous stimuli, which realizes simultaneous cancer therapy and diagnosis through a more controlled nano-system. However, most metal-based agents have still been in the early stages, and controlled clinical trials are necessary to confirm or not the current expectations. This article will focus on these new explorations based on metal ions, hoping to provide some theoretical support for more anti-cancer ideas.

Hyponatremia in children with acute respiratory infections: A reappraisal

Hyponatremia (<135 mmol/L), typically associated with an elevated anti-diuretic hormone level, is common among children admitted with bronchiolitis, pneumonia, or pulmonary exacerbation of cystic fibrosis. The main consequences of acute hyponatremia include cerebral edema and Ayus-Arieff pulmonary edema. A widespread belief is that, in children with pneumonia or bronchiolitis, hyponatremia results from inappropriate anti-diuresis. By contrast, the pathogenic role of extracellular fluid volume depletion or decreased effective circulating blood volume is underscored. Considering the prevalence of hyponatremia, sodium determination is advised on admission in children diagnosed with bronchiolitis, pneumonia, or pulmonary exacerbation of cystic fibrosis. There is no necessity to do anything beyond reassessing the appropriateness of fluid therapy in cases with mild (130-134 mmol/L) hyponatremia. In children with sodium <130 mmol/L, the underlying etiology is sometimes evident from history and physical findings. Given that clinical assessment of fluid volume status is difficult in hyponatremia, further laboratory evaluation is often required in these patients. An increase in sodium level ≤6 mmol/L per day is currently considered the therapeutic goal in all cases. Emergency correction with a 2 mL/kg body weight bolus of 3.0% saline over 10-15 min intravenously is advised in cases with severe symptoms due to hyponatremia and in cases with symptoms, even if mild, due to a rapid-onset (<48 h) of hyponatremia (two additional doses are administered if the patient's condition does not improve).