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Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in arterial walls, which can eventually result in cardiovascular diseases. It has been confirmed that the imbalance in the polarization of M1-type pro-inflammatory and M2-type anti-inflammatory macrophages in AS plaques is closely related to plaque instability and the development of cardiovascular diseases like AS-related heart and cerebrovascular diseases. Triptolide (TP) is a promising drug for the treatment of AS due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects. However, its poor solubility and lack of specificity limit its clinical application. We developed a targeted delivery system for TP to M1-type macrophages using mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) nanospheres modified with the LyP-1 peptide. We then observed the performance of this targeted delivery system and explored its regulatory effects on macrophage polarization in AS. The results showed that the LYP-1-modified MPDA-TP delivery system had an average encapsulation rate of 66.5%, a drug loading capacity of 4.5%, and an average diameter of 250 nm. It exhibited excellent targeting ability and drug release rate towards target cells. LYP-MPDA-TP was capable of inhibiting the proportion of M1 macrophages induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein stimulation in mouse macrophages, promoting apoptosis in M1-type macrophages significantly, and demonstrating a significant inhibitory effect on AS in experimental animals. The LYP-1 peptide-modified MPDA delivery system provides a new approach for TP treatment of AS and an important theoretical basis and methodological reference for the design of targeted delivery systems for anti-AS nanoparticles.

Objective To investigate the effect of proanthocyanidins (PC) on the neurite outgrowth of rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Methods In vitro, primary rat DRG neurons were cultured with a series of concentration of PC to assess the effect of PC on the number and length of neurites as well as the morphology of growth cone. In vivo, the expression of growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) in the early stage of injury was detected using the sciatic nerve crush model. Finally, the impact of PC on nerve growth factor (NG)) expression in DRG neurons was evaluated in vitro using immunofluorescence and ELISA. Results PC significantly increased the number and length of neurites and the number of pseudopodium in growth cones of DRG neurons. PC also promoted the expression of GAP43 in the early stage of sciatic nerve injury in rats and enhanced the expression of NGF in DRG neurons. Conclusion PC may promote the neurite outgrowth by increasing the expression of NGF in DRG neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To analyze the efficacy of surgical resection versus brain biopsy combined with postoperative chemotherapy for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and to discuss a clinically standardized treatment protocol., Material and Methods: Patients with a pathological diagnosis of PCNSL and subsequent chemotherapy between 2016 and 2021 at Northern Jiangsu People?s Hospital were selected and divided into groups according to whether they underwent microsurgical resection or stereotactic needle biopsy. Statistical analyses were performed to compare efficacy and safety in the two groups., Results: A total of 21 patients with PCNSL were identified, of whom 12 underwent resection and 9 underwent diagnostic stereotactic biopsy only. Compared with the resection group, the biopsy group had a higher proportion of deep tumors (55.6% vs. 8.3%, p=0.016), and the mean intraoperative bleeding was significantly reduced (13.33 ± 6.61 mL vs. 170.83 ± 101.04 ml, p < 0.001). In addition, the mean survival time of patients who died during the postoperative follow-up period was shorter (6.83 ± 1.60 vs. 18.56 ± 10.20 months, p=0.016), and the one-year survival rate was lower (33.3% vs. 83.3%, p=0.032). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the mean progression-free survival time or new functional impairment after surgery., Conclusion: For PCNSL, patients who undergo surgical resection have a better outcome than those who undergo biopsy only, suggesting that when the tumor is located at a surgically resectable site, surgical resection should be actively chosen; when the tumor is located at a deep and unresectable site, brain biopsy should be chosen.

Objective: To observe the inhibition of flavonoids extract (FE) from Inula britannica on oxidative stress in rat aorta after balloon injury., Method: The model of vascular intimal hyperplasia was established by balloon injury. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, model, FE and captopril (CAP, positive control). The FE group was treated by intragastric administration with FE in dose of 12.5, 25, 50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1). The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum were detected by thiobarbituric acid (TAB) method and xanthine oxidase method respectively, and superoxide anion (O2-) in vessel was detected by dihydroethidium (DHE) staining. The histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to observe the changes of appearance and SOD expression in vascular tissues after balloon injury., Result: The best concentration of FE to rats was 50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1). The neointima thickness in the model group was significantly higher than that in the FE group (50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and control group at 14 days after balloon injury (P < 0.01). The lever of MDA in serum of FE group was decreased (P < 0.01) and SOD was increased (P < 0.05) in both serum and vascular tissues. The level of O2*- in the drug group was lower than that in the model group., Conclusion: FE can enhance the antioxidation capacities of vessel tissues by suppressing the formation of O2- induced by injury, by which FE inhibites neointima formation after balloon injury in rat.

A method was established for the determination of acetylbritannilactone (ABL) in inulicins and rat plasma by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC), in which on-line sweeping technique was applied to elevate the sensitivity of the detection. The column used was an uncoated fused silica capillary with a size of 57 cm (effective length of 50 cm) x 75 microm i.d. Electrode buffer was a 50 mmol/L borate buffer containing 50 mmol/L sodium lauryl sulfate (SDS) (pH 9.5). Sample buffer was a 10 mmol/L borate buffer (pH 9.5). Other conditions were as follows: separation voltage, 23 kV; detection wavelength, 195 nm; sample injection, 3.45 kPa (0.5 psi) x 5 s; column temperature, 25 degrees C. The on-line sweeping-MECC had excellent linearity with correlation coefficient of 0. 997 5, and reproducibility with the relative standard deviation of ABL migration time less than 5%. The recovery was more than 92%, and the sensitivity was 0.005 g/L. ABL in inulicin and their dynamic change in vivo were determined by sweeping-MECC. The results indicate that on-line sweeping-MECC is a simple and rapid method for the determination of trace biological sample. The method needs only micro-amount of samples, and is characterized by higher degree of automation and sensitivity.

A method of non-gel sieving capillary electrophoresis (NGSCE) was established to determine osteopontin at trace levels. The capillary used was uncoated fused silica with a size of 57 cm x 75 microm i. d. and an effective length of 50 cm. The electrode buffer was a 150 mmol/L boric acid-borate buffer containing 30 g/L polyethylene glycol 20000 (pH 10.0). Other conditions were as follows: separation voltage 23 kV; detection wavelength 214 nm; pressure of injecting sample 3.4 kPa (0.5 psi) x 5 s; and column temperature 25 degrees C. The NGSCE method had excellent linearity with correlation coefficient of 0. 996, and reproducibility with the relative standard deviation of migration time of osteopontin less than 5% . The recovery was 95% and better, the sensitivity was 0. 079 g/L. Osteopontin secreted by vascular smooth muscle cells was determined by the NGSCE method at different times after serum withdrawal, and the results were in agreement with those of Western blot method. The results indicate that NGSCE is a simple and rapid method of determining osteopontin at trace levels. This method only needs a micro-amount of sample and is easily automated.