Multifunctionalized Gold Sub-Nanometer Particles for Sensitizing Radiotherapy against Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is the most common lethal malignant intracranial tumor with a low 5-year survival rate. Currently, the maximal safe surgical resection, followed by high-dose radiotherapy (RT), is a standard treatment for glioblastoma. However, high-dose radiation to the brain is associated with brain injury and results in a high fatality rate. Here, integrated pharmaceutics (named D-iGSNPs) composed of gold sub-nanometer particles (GSNPs), blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration peptide iRGD, and cell cycle regulator α-difluoromethylornithine is designed. In both simulated BBB and orthotopic murine GL261 glioblastoma models, D-iGSNPs are proved to have a beneficial effect on the BBB penetration and tumor targeting. Meanwhile, data from cell and animal experiments reveal that D-iGSNPs are able to sensitize RT. More importantly, the synergy of D-iGSNPs with low-dose RT can exhibit an almost equal therapeutic effect with that of high-dose RT. This study demonstrates the therapeutic advantages of D-iGSNPs in boosting RT, and may provide a facile approach to update the current treatment of glioblastoma.

Hydrogen gas improves photothermal therapy of tumor and restrains the relapse of distant dormant tumor

Inflammation during photothermal therapy (PTT) of tumor usually results in adverse consequences. Here, a biomembrane camouflaged nanomedicine (mPDAB) containing polydopamine and ammonia borane was designed to enhance PTT efficacy and mitigate inflammation. Polydopamine, a biocompatible photothermal agent, can effectively convert light into heat for PTT. Ammonia borane was linked to the surface of polydopamine through the interaction of hydrogen bonding, which could destroy redox homoeostasis in tumor cells and reduce inflammation by H₂ release in tumor microenvironment. Owing to the same origin of outer biomembranes, mPDAB showed excellent tumor accumulation and low systemic toxicity in a breast tumor model. Excellent PTT efficacy and inflammation reduction made the mPDAB completely eliminate the primary tumors, while also restraining the outgrowth of distant dormant tumors. The biomimetic nanomedicine shows potentials as a universal inflammation-self-alleviated platform to ameliorate inflammation-related disease treatment, including but not limited to PTT for tumor.

A hybrid nanomaterial with NIR-induced heat and associated hydroxyl radical generation for synergistic tumor therapy

Although photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) are widely commended for tumor treatment recently, they still suffer severe challenges due to the non-specificity of photothermal agents (PTAs)/photosensitizers (PSs) and hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Here, an oxygen independent biomimetic nanoplatform based on carbon sphere dotted with cerium oxide and coated by cell membrane (MCSCe) was designed and synthesized with good biocompatibility, homologous targeting ability, and improved photophysical activity. Notably, MCSCe could realize accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in tumor cells and hyperthermia under single laser (808 nm) irradiation, which were simultaneously utilized by itself to produce more toxic hydroxyl radical (OH). Resultantly, the synergistic therapeutic effect against tumor cells was obtained under near infrared (NIR) laser irradiation.

A tungsten nitride-based degradable nanoplatform for dual-modal image-guided combinatorial chemo-photothermal therapy of tumors

An innovative tungsten-based multifunctional nanoplatform composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified tungsten nitride nanoparticles (WN NPs) is constructed for tumor treatment. The PEG-WN NPs not only possess strong near-infrared (NIR) absorbance, high photothermal conversion efficiency, and excellent photothermal stability, but also effectively inhibit tumor cells upon 808 nm laser irradiation. After coating with thiolated (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (MUA-CD) on the surface, such a nanoplatform can also be used for drug delivery (such as DOX) and presents a synergistic tumor inhibition effect both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the PEG-WN NPs present good contrasting capability for X-ray computed tomography (CT) and photoacoustic (PA) imaging. With PA/CT imaging, the tumor can be accurately positioned for precise treatment. It is worth mentioning that PEG-WN NPs are biodegradable and could be effectively excreted from the body with no appreciable toxicity in vivo. It is expected that this biocompatible multifunctional nanoplatform can serve as a potential candidate for tumor treatment in future clinical applications.

[The clinical efficacy analysis of the surgery of the posterior approach parotid gland region resection preserving retinal ganglion and parotid fascia]

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy analysis the surgery of the posterior approach parotid gland resection preserving retinal ganglion and parotid fascia for the treatment of benign parotid tumour.Method:One hundred and twelve cases were randomly divided into control group and treatment group. The control group was treated by anterior approach parotid gland region resection preserving retinal ganglion and parotid fascia. The treatment group was treated by posterior approach parotid gland region resection preserving retinal ganglion and parotid fascia. The data of operation time, postoperative local numbness, Frey syndrome, facial paralysis and postoperative recurrence case were analyzed. Result:There was no postoperative recurrence case in both two groups, and there was no significant difference between two the groups in operation time and the percent of facial paralysis（all P>0.05）.However, the percent of postoperative local numbness and Frey syndrome in control group were significantly higher than those in treatment group（all P<0.05）. Conclusion:The treatment group had similar clinical efficacy with the traditional surgical operation. In addition, the operation of treatment group contributed to decreased postoperative complications.

[Application of a modified tympanic membrane surgical knife with suction and tube device in myringotomy with ventilation tube placement]

Objective:To explore the efficacy of a modified tympanic membrane surgical knife with suction and tube device in myringotomy with ventilation tube placement for the treatment of secretory otitis media.Method:From June of 2014 to December of 2015, 87 cases of secretory otitis media were randomly divided into two groups: One group was treated by general approach to achieve tympanic membrane tube insertion, and another group with modified method. The total effective rate，the rate of tube detachment at 3 months postoperatively, the rate of scar formation or tympanic membrane atrophy, the operation time and the success rate of tube insertion for the first time in two groups were analyzed retrospectively. Result:There was no significantly difference between two groups about the total effective rate，the rate of tube detachment and the rate of scar formation or tympanic membrane atrophy（P>0.05）.However, the duration of operation in general method group［(11.4±4.3 min）］was significantly longer than that in modified method group［(8.1±3.6)min］(t=5.412，P<0.05）.In addition, the success rate of tube insertion in general group（81.2%） was significantly lower than that in modified group（93.7%）(χ²=5.397，P<0.05）. Conclusion:The modified method contributed to shorten the duration of operation, improved the success rate of tube insertion and avoided the injury of tympanic membrane and external auditory canal caused by repeated operation.

Preparation of pH and redox dual-sensitive core crosslinked micelles for overcoming drug resistance of DOX

When incubating the pH and redox dual-sensitive CCL/SS micelles with MCF-7/ADR cells, they could sufficiently overcome drug resistance to deliver DOX into MCF-7/ADR cells, leading to the apoptosis of tumor cells.

Clinical application of three-dimensional reconstruction and rapid prototyping technology of multislice spiral computed tomography angiography for the repair of ventricular septal defect of tetralogy of Fallot

Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and rapid prototyping technology (RPT) of multislice spiral computed tomography angiography (CTA) was applied to prepare physical models of the heart and ventricular septal defects of tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) patients in order to explore their applications in the diagnosis and treatment of this complex heart disease. CTA data of 35 ToF patients were collected to prepare l:l 3D solid models using digital 3D reconstruction and RPT, and the resultant models were used intraoperatively as reference. The operations of all 35 patients were completed under the guidance of the 3D solid model, without difficulty. Intraoperative findings of the patients were consistent with the morphological and size changes of the 3D solid model, and no significant differences were found between the patches obtained from the 3D solid model and the actual intraoperative measurements (t = 0.83, P = 0.412). 3D reconstruction and RPT of multislice spiral CTA can accurately and intuitively reflect the anatomy of ventricular septal defects in ToF patients, providing the foundation for a solid model of the complex congenital heart.

Nanotoxicity comparison of four amphiphilic polymeric micelles with similar hydrophilic or hydrophobic structure

Background

Nanocarriers represent an attractive means of drug delivery, but their biosafety must be established before their use in clinical research.

Objectives

Four kinds of amphiphilic polymeric (PEG-PG-PCL, PEEP-PCL, PEG-PCL and PEG-DSPE) micelles with similar hydrophilic or hydrophobic structure were prepared and their in vitro and in vivo safety were evaluated and compared.

Methods

In vitro nanotoxicity evaluations included assessments of cell morphology, cell volume, inflammatory effects, cytotoxicity, apoptosis and membrane fluidity. An umbilical vein cell line (Eahy.926) and a kind of macrophages (J774.A1) were used as cell models considering that intravenous route is dominant for micelle delivery systems. In vivo analyses included complete blood count, lymphocyte subset analysis, detection of plasma inflammatory factors and histological observations of major organs after intravenous administration to KM mice.

Results

All the micelles enhanced inflammatory molecules in J774.A1 cells, likely resulting from the increased ROS levels. PEG-PG-PCL and PEEP-PCL micelles were found to increase the J774.A1 cell volume. This likely correlated with the size of PEG-PG-PCL micelles and the polyphosphoester structure in PEEP-PCL. PEG-DSPE micelles inhibited the growth of Eahy.926 cells via inducing apoptosis. This might relate to the structure of DSPE, which is a type of phospholipid and has good affinity with cell membrane. No evidence was found for cell membrane changes after treatment with these micelles for 24 h. In the in vivo study, during 8 days of 4 time injection, each of the four nanocarriers altered the hematic phase differently without changes in inflammatory factors or pathological changes in target organs.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that the micelles investigated exhibit diverse nanotoxicity correlated with their structures, their biosafety is different in different cell model, and there is no in vitro and in vivo correlation found. We believe that this study will certainly provide more scientific understandings on the nanotoxicity of amphiphilic polymeric micelles.

[Classification and surgical treatment of lumbosacral nerve root anomalies]

In this paper 12 cases of lumbosacral nerve-root anomalies proved on operations were reported. Two roots with a common conjoined origin entering the common intervertebral foramen separately were seen in two cases; two roots arising respectively from the lateral and ventral sides of the dural sac at the level of upper margin of the pedicle, in which one ran transversely into the foramen and another obliquely ran downward, in one case; two roots with closely adjacent origins, in which one ran transversely into the foramen at the level of upper margin of the pedicle and another obliquely ran downward, in four cases; a single root with abnormally large whereas the adjacent root with abnormally small, in five cases. We proposed a classification method for the sake of appropriate surgical program, which assorted the anomalies into three types: (I) General volume of nerve roots in the spinal canal or nerve-root canal abnormally increased, either the diameter of a single root increases or two roots entered the common. foramen; (II) The origin and course of two roots were anomalous; (III) Combination of I and II.

[Treatment of femoral trochanteric fracture with intramedullary interlocking nailing: a report of 32 cases]

We improved and made the intramedullary interlocking nail and it's instrument for surgical operation in December 1989 by consulting the reported material of the gamma locking nail. 32 cases of the femoral trochanteric fracture were treated by using this fixation system. The results were satisfactory. The patients could stand up and move about beginning from 6th to 13th day after operation. No mechanical failure of implant, infection and other complications occurred in our series. 29 cases were followed-up for 5 to 19 months and showed all of the fractures were healed. Their hip functions were completely or basically recovered. Coxa vara deformity occurred in two cases and one had a 2.5 cm shortening of the lower limb. We consider that the intramedullary interlocking nail conforms to the principle of human biomechanics and it may be used as an effective surgical treatment with the fracture fixation of superior strength and stability for every type of femoral trochanteric fractures.