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Objective: To analyze the efficacy and safety of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) for the treatment of thoracic postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in elderly patients with different pain phenotypes. Methods: A total of 201 elderly thoracic PHN patients, including 110 males and 91 females aged (72.2±6.9) years who received high-voltage, long-duration PRF at the dorsal root ganglion at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to December 2022, were retrospectively included. The neuropathic pain symptom inventory (NPSI) was used to evaluate the five different pain phenotypes, which included superficial spontaneous pain, deep spontaneous pain, paroxysmal pain, evoked pain, and paresthesia/dysesthesia, and to analyze the distribution of the five pain phenotypes. The numerical rating scale (NRS) and NPSI scores of all patients were compared before treatment and three months after treatment to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PRF for different pain phenotypes and pain phenotype combinations. Results: All patients had two or more pain phenotypes, and 50.2% (101/201) of the patients had five pain phenotypes at the same time. Compared with those before treatment, three months after treatment, the NPSI scores for superficial spontaneous pain, deep spontaneous pain, paroxysmal pain, evoked pain and paresthesia/dysesthesia decreased (all P <0.05), and the scores decreased by［ M （ Q 1 ， Q 3 ）］3.0 (2.0, 4.0), 1.5 (0.5, 2.5), 3.0 (2.5, 4.0), 2.3 (1.0, 4.0), and 1.0 (0.5, 2.0) points, respectively, the differences were statistically significant ( P <0.001). The decrease in the NPSI score in patients with paroxysmal pain was greater than that in patients with the other 4 pain phenotypes (all P <0.05). After treatment, the NRS score decreased by 4.0 (3.0, 5.0), 4.0 (3.0, 5.0), 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) and 5.0 (4.0, 6.0) points in patients with 2, 3, 4 and 5 pain phenotypes, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P <0.001). The decrease in the NRS score was greater in patients with a combination of 5 pain phenotypes than that in patients with a combination of 3 and 4 pain phenotypes (all P <0.05). No complications, such as pneumothorax, haematoma or infection, occurred in any of the patients during treatment. Conclusion: PRF has different therapeutic effects on PHN patients with different pain phenotypes, it has the best effect on paroxysmal pain, and the treatment is safe.

Objective: To investigate the effects of motivational interview education on psychological status, compliance behavior and quality of life in patients with malignant tumors combined with diabetes mellitus., Methods: This is a retrospective study. Eighty patients with malignant tumors combined with diabetes mellitus admitted at The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2021 to June 2022 were included as subjects and divided into observation group and control group according to the intervention measures. Patients in the control group were given routine health education intervention, while those in the observation group were given motivational interviewing intervention on the basis of the control group. We compared the prognosis, cognitive function, quality of life, relief of cancer pain before intervention and three months after the intervention of the two groups were compared., Results: At three months after the intervention, the total remission rate of cancer pain in the observation group was higher than that in the control group(p<0.05), while the levels of FBG and 2hPG in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(p<0.05). Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS) and Self-rating depression scale(SDS) scores decreased in both groups three months after the intervention, with the level of reduction in the observation group being higher than that in the control group(p<0.05). The overall compliance was higher in the observation group than in the control group(p<0.05)., Conclusion: Motivational interviewing leads to alleviate negative emotions, improve the psychological status, enhance compliance behavior and improve quality of life in patients with malignant tumors combined with diabetes mellitus., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interest: None., (Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.)

Neuroma, a pathological response to peripheral nerve injury, refers to the abnormal growth of nerve tissue characterized by disorganized axonal proliferation. Commonly occurring after nerve injuries, surgeries, or amputations, this condition leads to the formation of painful nodular structures. Traditional treatment options include surgical excision and pharmacological management, aiming to alleviate symptoms. However, these approaches often offer temporary relief without addressing the underlying regenerative challenges, necessitating the exploration of advanced strategies such as tissue-engineered materials for more comprehensive and effective solutions. In this study, we discussed the etiology, molecular mechanisms, and histological morphology of traumatic neuromas after peripheral nerve injury. Subsequently, we summarized and analyzed current nonsurgical and surgical treatment options, along with their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, we emphasized recent advancements in treating traumatic neuromas with tissue-engineered material strategies. By integrating biomaterials, growth factors, cell-based approaches, and electrical stimulation, tissue engineering offers a comprehensive solution surpassing mere symptomatic relief, striving for the structural and functional restoration of damaged nerves. In conclusion, the utilization of tissue-engineered materials has the potential to significantly reduce the risk of neuroma recurrence after surgical treatment.

The application of in situ Raman spectroscopy under multiple fields is widely recognized as an effective approach for investigating the physical mechanism of phase transitions in ferroelectrics, because it can directly provide the detailed information about the vibration evolution of various phonon modes within lattices, such as bond stretching and rotation. Based on this technique, our work aims to thoroughly probe the dynamics of phase transitions in traditional ferroelectric potassium sodium niobate [(K,Na)NbO 3 , KNN] under external fields, by analyzing the in situ dependence of wavenumber and intensity of phonon modes under the varying temperature and electric fields. The results indicate that different vibration modes respectively relating to the A-site ions and NbO 6 octahedra in KNN exhibit distinct and abrupt distortion behavior during the orthorhombic-tetragonal and tetragonal-cubic transitions. Moreover, a certain degree of distortion can still be observed in the cubic phase above the Curie temperature. With an applied electric field, KNN presents quite different electrostriction in orthorhombic and tetragonal phases. Particularly, more than one kind of phonon mode undergoes non-linear variations under the varying electric fields, accompanied by the mutations at some fixed fields. These findings will be conducive to further understanding the phase transition mechanism in KNN from the perspective of phonon evolution. Simultaneously, it will also give crucial guidance for the design and development of KNN-based ferroelectrics as well as functional devices.

Bioactive macromolecular drugs known as Growth Factors (GFs), approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have found successful application in clinical practice. They hold significant promise for addressing peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs). Peripheral nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) loaded with GFs, in the context of tissue engineering, can ensure sustained and efficient release of these bioactive compounds. This, in turn, maintains a stable, long-term, and effective GF concentration essential for treating damaged peripheral nerves. Peripheral nerve regeneration is a complex process that entails the secretion of various GFs. Following PNI, GFs play a pivotal role in promoting nerve cell growth and survival, axon and myelin sheath regeneration, cell differentiation, and angiogenesis. They also regulate the regenerative microenvironment, stimulate plasticity changes post-nerve injury, and, consequently, expedite nerve structure and function repair. Both exogenous and endogenous GFs, including NGF, BDNF, NT-3, GDNF, IGF-1, bFGF, and VEGF, have been successfully loaded onto NGCs using techniques like physical adsorption, blend doping, chemical covalent binding, and engineered transfection. These approaches have effectively promoted the repair of peripheral nerves. Numerous studies have demonstrated similar tissue functional therapeutic outcomes compared to autologous nerve transplantation. This evidence underscores the substantial clinical application potential of GFs in the domain of peripheral nerve repair. In this article, we provide an overview of GFs in the context of peripheral nerve regeneration and drug delivery systems utilizing NGCs. Looking ahead, commercial materials for peripheral nerve repair hold the potential to facilitate the effective regeneration of damaged peripheral nerves and maintain the functionality of distant target organs through the sustained release of GFs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Objective: The clinical value of increased levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in patients with septic acute kidney injury (AKI) is still unclear. This study aimed to assess the link between illness severity and NGAL in patients with septic AKI., Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective observational study that took place at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China. The cohort included 365 patients who were admitted to the ICU during the 21-month period. Of them, 18 patients were diagnosed with sepsis (septic group). The average age of patients in the septic group was over 65, and 60.00% of them eventually progressed to septic AKI. Plasma NGAL (pNGAL) and urine NGAL (uNGAL) levels at defined time points were measured. AKI staging was done based on the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classification. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores were determined. Patterns and associations between NGAL levels with SOFA scores and different stages of septic AKI were investigated., Results: Both pNGAL and uNGAL showed a positive correlation with SOFA and proved to be reliable predictors of the same. Furthermore, the accuracy of severe sepsis (SOFA ≥ 8) was 0.67 for pNGAL and 0.66 for uNGAL. Real-time detection of pNGAL and uNGAL indicated that they were good biomarkers of severe septic AKI. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) for pNGAL and uNGAL were 0.72 (0.69-0.85), and 0.83 (0.71-0.95), respectively. However, only patients with KDIGO 3 AKI presented significantly elevated levels of pNGAL (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the uNGAL level at each stage of septic AKI was higher than that of the non-AKI period (p < 0.01)., Conclusions: In patients with septic AKI, levels of NGAL correlated with SOFA. Levels of pNGAL were good predictors of severe kidney injury and uNGAL levels could detect mild stages of AKI.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Rheum palmatum L; Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.), is referred to as 'Dahuang, Huangqi' in China. As an important medicinal plant, the rhizome of rhubarb and astragalus is traditionally used in the treatment of kidney diseases associated with renal failure, inflammation and tumors., Aim of the Study: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a drug-containing serum of rhubarb-astragalus capsules (composed of rhubarb and astragalus) and to elucidate its mechanism in the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of renal tubular epithelial cells., Materials and Methods: Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of HK-2 cells was induced by TGF-β1, and rhubarb-astragalus and losartan drug-containing serum from rats, as well as SB203580 (a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK), were used. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis was performed to determine the main components of the drug-containing serum of rhubarb-astragalus from rats. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis were used to determine the levels of protein expression, and real-time quantitative PCR analysis was used to detect the levels of gene expression., Results: The drug-containing serum of rhubarb-astragalus contained emodin (0.36 μg/ml) and danthraquinone (0.96 μg/ml). Rhubarb-astragalus significantly decreased the protein expression levels of α-SMA, FN, vimentin and N-cadherin in HK-2 cells that were increased by TGF-β1, while it significantly increased the E-cadherin protein expression level that was decreased by TGF-β1. Rhubarb-astragalus also significantly decreased the protein expression levels of TGF-β1 and p38 MAPK and the mRNA expression levels of α-SMA, vimentin, TGF-β1, p38 MAPK, Smad2 and Smad3 in HK-2 cells that were increased by TGF-β1. It is worth noting that SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor) had similar effects as rhubarb-astragalus in this study., Conclusion: The drug-containing serum of rhubarb-astragalus can inhibit EMT in HK-2 cells by downregulating the TGF-β1/p38 MAPK/Smad2/3 pathway., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Laminaria japonica, a brown seaweed, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat a variety of diseases including lung cancer., Aim of the Study: To demonstrate the effects of Fucoxanthin (FX), a major active component extracted from Laminaria japonica on metastasis and Gefitinib (Gef) sensitivity in human lung cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo., Materials and Methods: Invasion and migration of lung cancer cells were detected using the wound healing assay and transwell assay. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) factors and PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathways were analyzed by western blotting. RNA interference (RNAi) technology was used to silence TIMP-2 gene expression in A549 cells. The anti-metastatic effect of FX was evaluated in vivo in an experimental lung metastatic tumor model. On the other hand, cell counting kit-8 assay was used to study the cell viability of human lung cancer PC9 cells and Gef resistant PC9 cells (PC9/G) after Gef, FX or FX combined with Gef treatment. PC9 xenograft model was established to explore the anti-tumor effect of FX or combined with Gef. Immunohistochemistry staining assay and immunofluorescence staining assay were used to reveal the effects of FX on lung cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis., Results: FX was able to significantly inhibit lung cancer cells migration and invasion in vitro. FX suppressed the expressions of Snail, Twist, Fibronectin, N-cadherin, MMP-2, PI3K, p-AKT and NF-κB, and increased the expression of TIMP-2. Furthermore, knockdown of TIMP-2 attenuated FX-mediated invasion inhibition. Additionally, we demonstrated that FX inhibited lung cancer cells metastasis in vivo. The anti-metastatic effects of FX on lung cancer cells might be attributed to inhibition of EMT and PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. We further demonstrated that the anti-tumor activity of FX was not only limited to the drug sensitive cell lines, but also prominent on lung cancer cells with Gef resistant phenotype. Furthermore, in vivo xenograft assay confirmed that FX inhibited tumor growth and enhanced the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to Gef and this effect may be due to inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and activation of apoptosis., Conclusion: Collectively, our findings suggested that FX suppresses metastasis of lung cancer cells and overcomes EGFR TKIs resistance. Thus, FX is worthy of further investigation as a drug candidate for the treatment of lung cancer., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To investigate the effect of total pelvic floor reconstruction with a six-arm mesh in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse., Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective observational cohort study. A total of 368 patients with pelvic organ prolapse underwent pelvic floor reconstruction surgery. Patients were categorized by the type of surgical mesh: 176 patients received a six-arm mesh and 192 patients received an anteroposterior approach mesh. The 1-year effect of the two groups was compared. The Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory Questionnaire (PFDI-20), Colorectal-Anal Distress Inventory (CRADI-8) and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitation (POP-Q) staging were used for evaluation. The incidence of complications was recorded. A cure standard was registered by a POP-Q score of grade I or below. A P value <0.05 indicates the difference is statistically significant., Results: There was no recurrence documented in the patients; the cure rate was 100% in both groups. After surgery, the length of the vagina in the six-arm mesh group was longer than that of the control group at 6 months and 12 months, respectively ( P < 0.05). The six-arm mesh group had lower PFDI-20 and CRADI-8 scores after surgery than those of the control group at 6 and 12 months, respectively ( P < 0.05). Pelvic floor and rectal dysfunction symptom improvement were superior in the six-arm mesh group compared with the control group. After surgery, the Female Sexual Function Inventory (FSFI) score of the six-arm mesh group was superior to that of the control group at 6 and 12 months, respectively ( P < 0.05). The incidence of complications in the six-arm mesh group was lower than that of the control group ( P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The total pelvic floor reconstruction using six-arm mesh has the same healing rate as anteroposterior approach mesh surgery, and it is better than traditional surgery in improving subjective symptoms and reducing postoperative complications., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2020 Zhao et al.)

Introduction: Endocrine dysregulation's role in heterotopic ossification (HO) remains unexplored. We sought to examine corticosterone and testosterone in established rat models of ectopic bone formation, and correlate to HO formation with CT analysis., Methods: Fifteen rats were placed into three groups of traumatic injury patterns: Blast and injury (120 kPa blast, femoral fracture and quadriceps crush), injury only, and blast only. Serum corticosterone and testosterone levels were drawn until post-operative day 40. HO was analyzed using CT., Results: Corticosterone levels peaked in the blast and injury group in the shortest time post injury, followed by injury only and blast only groups. Testosterone levels reached nadir in similar fashion. Volume of HO was highest in the blast and injury group, followed by the injury only group., Conclusion: Corticosterone and testosterone's contribution to HO formation requires further characterization, but this study suggests that high peaks in corticosterone and a low nadir in testosterone are associated with higher volumes of HO., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: COI (CORONATINE INSENSITIVE), an F-box component of the Skp1-Cullin-F-box protein (SCF COI1 ) ubiquitin E3 ligase, plays important roles in the regulation of plant growth and development. Recent studies have shown that COIs are involved in pollen fertility. In this study, we identified and characterized COI genes in the wheat genome and analyzed expression patterns under abiotic stress., Results: A total of 18 COI candidate sequences for 8 members of COI gene family were isolated in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Phylogenetic and structural analyses showed that these COI genes could be divided into seven distinct subfamilies. The COI genes showed high expression in stamens and glumes. The qRT-PCR results revealed that wheat COIs were involved in several abiotic stress responses and anther/glume dehiscence in the photoperiod-temperature sensitive genic male sterile (PTGMS) wheat line BS366., Conclusions: The structural characteristics and expression patterns of the COI gene family in wheat as well as the stress-responsive and differential tissue-specific expression profiles of each TaCOI gene were examined in PTGMS wheat line BS366. In addition, we examined SA- and MeJA-induced gene expression in the wheat anther and glume to investigate the role of COI in the JA signaling pathway, involved in the regulation of abnormal anther dehiscence in the PTGMS wheat line. The results of this study contribute novel and detailed information about the TaCOI gene family in wheat and could be used as a benchmark for future studies of the molecular mechanisms of PTGMS in other crops.

In this article, a fluorescence-CT dual-mode nanoprobe is successfully synthesized by making use of distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine-poly(ethylene glycol)-folate (DSPE-PEG2000-FA) and other amphiphilic molecules to coat silver sulfide (Ag2S) quantum dots (QDs) and iodinated oil simultaneously. In vitro experiments show that the fluorescence wavelength of the nanoprobe is 1170 nm in the near infrared-II region. Its size is 139.6 nm, it has good dispersibility, and it has low cellular toxicity at concentrations up to 25 μg mL(-1) Ag. In vivo experiments revealed that the probe has a rather long circulation time (blood half-life of 5.7 hours), and the tissue histopathological tests show that it is not obviously harmful to major organs' normal function. Biochemical analysis (glutamic pyruvic transaminase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase levels) and blood analysis (white blood cell, red blood cell, hemoglobin and blood platelet counts) reveal that it has little influence on blood within 15 days of administration. When injected into HeLa xenograft nude mice by the tail vein, the probe elicited intensely enhanced fluorescence and X-ray computed tomography (CT) signals in the tumors after 24 hours, and the structure, size and position of tumor tissue were shown clearly. In a word, the probe has good tumor targeting capabilities, and it has significant value in fluorescence-CT dual-mode imaging in vivo.

Background: X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging can be used to reveal the three-dimensional structure of deep tissue with high spatial resolution. However, it cannot reveal molecular or cellular changes, and has great limitations in terms of specificity and sensitivity. Fluorescence imaging technology is one of the main methods used for the study of molecular events in vivo and has important applications in life science research. Therefore, the combination of CT and fluorescence imaging is an ideal dual-modal molecular imaging method, which can provide data on both molecular function and tissue structure, and has important research value. In a previous study, Bi2S3 nanoparticles were wrapped with quantum dots in SiO2 to generate CT and fluorescence imaging. However, this type of probe led to low survival and caused innegligible in vivo toxicity in mice. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new multifunctional probes that demonstrate biocompatibility and safety in vivo., Methods: A polyethylene glycol-phospholipid bilayer structure was used to synthesize hybrid clusters containing hydrophobic Bi2S3 nanoparticles and quantum dots for combined CT/fluorescence imaging. Mean particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential were used to study the stability over an 8-week test period. In vivo CT and fluorescence imaging experiments were performed, and the in vivo safety of the probe was evaluated, using histopathological, biochemical, and blood analyses., Results: The probe distinctly enhanced the CT contrast and had fluorescence imaging capability. In addition, the nanocomposite hybrid clusters showed a longer circulation time (>4 h) than iobitridol. The results also showed that the Bi2S3-QD@DSPE probe had good biocompatibility and safety, and did not affect normal organ functioning., Conclusions: Bi2S3-QD@DSPE hybrid clusters exhibited remarkable performance in CT angiography and fluorescence imaging in vivo.

Multifunctional nanocomposites combining imaging and therapeutic functions have great potential for cancer diagnosis and therapy. In this work, we developed a novel theranostic agent based on hollow gold nanospheres (HGNs) and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO). Taking advantage of the excellent magnetic properties of SPIO and strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption property of HGNs, such nanocomposites were applied to targeted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) of cancer cells. In vitro results demonstrated they displayed significant contrast enhancement for T2-weighted MRI and strong PAI signal enhancement. Simultaneously, the nanocomposites exhibited a high photothermal effect under the irradiation of the near-infrared laser and can be used as efficient photothermal therapy (PTT) agents for selective killing of cancer cells. All these results indicated that such nanocomposites combined with MRI-PAI and PTT functionality can have great potential for effective cancer diagnosis and therapy.

In this study, silica coated Au nanospheres (Au@SiO2) were prepared by a reverse microemulsion method; subsequently, a layer of fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) were adsorbed onto it and then it was coated with silica again. After modifying with PVP, the composite silica coated gold nanosphere and quantum dots nanoparticle (Au@SiO2-QDs/SiO2-PVP) was obtained. This composite structure contained Au and QDs, and it could be used for contrast-enhanced X-ray CT imaging and fluorescence imaging. Characterization showed that the composite nanoparticle had good dispersity, a high fluorescence intensity and a good effect of X-ray absorption, and it was suitable for using as a bimodal imaging probe.

Considerable studies indicate huperzine A is a promising natural product to suppress neuronal damages induced by β-amyloid (Aβ), a key pathogenic event in the Alzheimer's disease (AD). As an extension, the present study for the first time explored whether the beneficial profiles of huperzine A against oligomeric Aβ(42) induced neurotoxicity are associated with the accumulation and detrimental function of intraneuronal/mitochondrial Aβ, on the basis of the emerging evidence that intracellular Aβ is more relevant to AD progression as compared with extracellular Aβ. Huperzine A treatment was shown to significantly attenuate the neurotoxicity of oligomeric Aβ(42), as demonstrated by increased neuronal viability. Interestingly, our results proved that exogenous Aβ(42) could accumulate intraneuronally in a dose- and time-dependent manner, while huperzine A treatment markedly reduced the level of intracellular Aβ(42). Moreover, huperzine A treatment rescued mitochondrial dysfunction induced by oligomeric Aβ(42), including adenosine triphosphate (ATP) reduction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and membrane potential depolarization. Further study demonstrated that huperzine A also significantly reduced the level of Aβ(42) in the mitochondria-enriched subcellular fractions, as well as the Aβ(42) fluorescent signals colocalized with mitochondrial marker. This study indicates that interfering intracellular Aβ especially mitochondrial Aβ accumulation, together with ameliorating Aβ-associated mitochondrial dysfunction, may contribute to the protective effects of huperzine A against Aβ neurotoxicity. Above results may shed more light on the pharmacological mechanisms of huperzine A and provide important clues for discovering novel therapeutic strategies for AD.

Gold nanoparticles coated with mesoporous silica (Au@mSiO2) have been prepared by a facile one-pot two-step method. The resultant Au@mSiO2 exhibit an ideal core-shell structure with uniform mSiO2 coverage and without any interfacial adhesive layer on the Au surface. Some new explanations on the role that CTAB plays in the synthesis of Au@mSiO2 are discussed.

Probe bismuth sulfide modified with Pluronic F127 (Bi2S3-PF127), which has high biocompatibility and dispersibility, is synthesized using triblock copolymer Pluronic F127 to modify hydrophobic Bi2S3 nanoparticles that are prepared by a hot injection method. TEM results show that most of the probe has a length of about 14.85 ± 1.70 nm and a breadth of about 4.79 ± 0.63 nm. After injected into the tail vein of a mouse, the probe has obvious CT contrast enhancement capability from x-ray CT imaging results. Meanwhile, the probe's in vivo toxicity is also studied. It is found that hematoxylin and eosin stains of major organs have no change. A biochemical analysis (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase) prove the probe has no adverse effects. The results of a blood analysis (white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and platelet count) are also normal. The biological distribution of Bi by ICP-AES shows that most of nanoparticles are cleaned out after injection 48 h, and the circulation half-life of the probe is 5.0 h, suggesting that Bi2S3-PF127 has a long circulation and indicating that the Bi2S3-PF127 probe has good biocompatibility and safety.

Multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) have great potential for multimodal cancer imaging and effective therapy. We have developed multifunctional NPs (GNR@SiO 2 @QDs) by incorporating gold nanorods (GNRs) and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) into silica. Folic acid (FA) as a targeting ligand was covalently conjugated on the surfaces of GNR@SiO 2 @QDs with a silane coupling agent. Cell viability assay showed that these NPs had low cytotoxicity. And confocal fluorescence images illustrated that they could selectively target HeLa cells overexpressing folate receptors (FRs) rather than FR-deficient A549 cells. In vitro cell imaging experiments revealed that these NPs exhibited strong X-ray attenuation for X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging and strong fluorescence for fluorescence imaging. They also showed an enhanced photothermal therapy (PTT) effect for cancer cells due to GNRs' high absorption coefficient in the near infrared (NIR) region and a better heat generation rate. All results show that they have great potential in theranostic applications such as for targeted tumor imaging and therapy.

Monodispersed Bi2S3-QD@SiO2-PEG nanoparticles are prepared by a one-pot method in a reverse microemulsion system, which exhibited remarkable performances in CT and fluorescence imaging in vitro and in vivo.

A ruthenium(II) β-carboline complex [Ru(tpy)(Nh)3](2+) (tpy = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine, Nh = Norharman, Ru1) has been synthesized and characterized. This complex induced apoptosis against various cancer cell lines and had high selectivity between tumor cells and normal cells. In vivo examination indicated Ru1 decreased mouse MCF-7 and HepG2 tumor growth. Signaling pathways analysis demonstrated that this complex induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway, as evidenced by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, ΔΨm) and the release of cytochrome c. The resulting accumulation of p53 proteins from phosphorylation at Ser-15 and Ser-392 correlated with an increase in p21 and caspase activation. Taken together, these findings suggest that Ru1 exhibits high and selective cytotoxicity induced p53-mediated apoptosis and may contribute to the future development of improved chemotherapeutics against human cancers., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Four [Ru(tpy)(N-N)(L)] type complexes: [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(Nh)](2+) (Ru1, tpy = 2,2';6',2″-terpyridine, bpy = 2'2-bipyridine, Nh = Norharman), [Ru(tpy)(phen)(Nh)](2+) (Ru2, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), [Ru(tpy)(dpa)(Nh)](2+) (Ru3, dpa = 2,2'-dipyridylamine) and [Ru(tpy)(dip)(Nh)](2+) (Ru4, dip = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) were presented as anticancer drugs. In vitro cytotoxicity assays indicated that these complexes showed anticancer activity against various cancer cells. Flow cytometry and signaling pathways analysis demonstrated that these complexes induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway, as evidenced by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and the release of cytochrome c. The resulting accumulation of p53 proteins from phosphorylation at serine-15 and serine-392 was correlated with an increase in p21 and caspase activation. Taken together, these findings suggested that Ru1-Ru4 may contribute to the future development of improved chemotherapeutics against human cancers., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Spine grape (Vitis davidii Foex) is an important wild plant species in South China. To provide sufficient experimental evidence for the strong antioxidant activity of spine grapes, four cultivars from Chongyi County, China, including three red varieties (Junzi #1, Junzi #2, and Liantang) and one white variety (Baiyu) were evaluated. The Junzi #1 had the highest phenolic content (total phenolic, flavonoids, flavanols, and anthocyanins) and the strongest antioxidant capacity (DPPH radical-scavenging capacity, cupric-reducing capacity and hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity) among the four varieties. HPLC analysis of spine grapes revealed that the (+)-catechin was the most abundant phenolics and the hydroxycinnamic acids were the major phenolic acids in the four varieties. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the Junzi #1 belongs to the group with high phenolic content and strong antioxidant power. The results suggest the Junzi #1 has the best health promoting properties, and the higher utilization value and potential for development., (Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In Britton-Robinson (BR) buffer solution at pH 4.0, erythrosine (ET) reacts with tetracaine hydrochloride (TA x HCl) to form an ion association complex that quenches the fluorescence of erythrosine and has a compound ratio of 1 : 1. The measurement wavelength of fluorescence quenching was located at lambda(ex)/lambda(em) = 525 nm/556 nm. The linear range for TA x HCl is from 0.28 microg x mL(-1) to 4.8 microg x mL(-1), and its detection limit is 0.083 microg x mL(-1). The influence of coexisting substance was also inspected, and the result shows that this method has a better selectivity. Therefore, a new fluorospectrophotometry, being high sensitive, sample and rapid, was developed to determinate TA x HCl at trace amounts. The method has been applied to the determination of TA x HCl in human serum and urine samples with satisfactory results. In this study, the spectral characteristics and the optimum reaction conditions were discussed with quantum chemistry AM1 method.