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BackgroundMuscle wasting and weight loss were observed when carcinomas were induced in a murine model of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Our hypothesis was C3H/HeN mice would develop evidence of cachexia when injected with tumor cellsMethodsAge- and weight-matched female mice were injected with SCCF/VII cells. Daily food intake and weights were measured. Body composition and analysis of circulating cytokines was performed. At the completion of experiments, hind legs were weighed. Muscle atrophy was detected using analysis for muscle ring finger 1 (MuRF1). The tumor-derived lipid mobilizing factor (LMF) was measured.ResultsDespite increased food intake, tumor-bearing mice lost weight and experienced reduced hind leg weights. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) was increased and MuRF1 was present in tumor-bearing mice but not controls. LMF was present in SCCF/VII cells.ConclusionIn this immunocompetent murine model, we demonstrated the development of cancer cachexia in mice inoculated with SCCF cells, which express LMF. There was increased serum IL-1beta, weight loss, and muscle wasting and atrophy in tumor-bearing mice.

PurposeCancer cachexia is a devastating and understudied illness in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The primary objective was to identify clinical characteristics and serum levels of cytokines and cachexia-related factors in patients with HNSCC. The secondary objective was to detect the occurrence of cytokine and cachexia-related factor gene expression in HNSCC tumors.Experimental designFor the primary objective, cross-sectional data were obtained from prospectively recruited patients identified as cachexia cases and matching cachexia-free controls. For the secondary objective, a retrospective cohort design with matched controls was used.ResultsClinical characteristics associated with cancer cachexia in HNSCC were T(4) status (P = 0.01), increased C-reactive protein (P = 0.01), and decreased hemoglobin (P < 0.01). Exploratory multiplex analysis of serum cytokine levels found increased interleukin (IL)-6 (P = 0.04). A highly sensitive ELISA confirmed the multiplex result for increased IL-6 in cachectic patients (P = 0.02). Quality of life was substantially reduced in patients with cachexia compared with noncachectic patients (P < 0.01). All tumors of HNSCC patients both with and without cachexia expressed RNA for each cytokine tested and the cachexia factor lipid-mobilizing factor. There were no statistically significant differences between the cytokine and cachexia factor RNA expression of cachectic and noncachectic patients (each P > 0.05). No tumors expressed the cachexia factor proteolysis-inducing factor.ConclusionWe have identified clinical characteristics and pathophysiologic mechanisms associated with cancer cachexia in a carefully defined population of patients with HNSCC. The data suggest that the acute-phase response and elevated IL-6 are associated with this complex disease state. We therefore hypothesize that IL-6 may represent an important therapeutic target for HNSCC patients with cancer cachexia.

Epimedium (EM) and Psoraleae Fructus (PF) are a traditional herb combination often used as a fixed form to treat osteoporosis disease in the clinic. However, the intricate interactions of this pair remain unknown. In our study, we undertook a comprehensive examination of their compatibility behaviors. Concurrently, a precise and sensitive quantitation method was successfully developed and validated using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of 12 components. This method was applied in analyzing herbal extracts and biological samples (both in the portal vein and systemic plasma), which was also used to study the pharmacokinetics of the herb pair. The results indicated that the combination of EM and PF enhanced the dissolution of chemical components from PF in extracts, but it had a negligible influence on the contents of the components from EM. On the contrary, the in vivo exposure of the lowly exposed EM flavonoids significantly increased following the combination of EM and PF, whereas the highly exposed psoralen and isopsoralen were greatly reduced. These interactions might be crucial for the synergy and toxicity reduction of the herbal pair in disease treatment, which pave the way for further exploration into the clinical application and pharmacological mechanisms of EM and PF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic hyperthermia generated by functionalized bone cement is a promising approach to treat postosteocarcinoma cancer regeneration. However, it is crucial to minimize the magnetic field intensity using localized high‐caloric‐generating nanoparticles to avoid the potential hazards of electromagnetic field exposure to living organisms. Herein, in situ hydrothermally synthesized CoFe2O4 (CoFe) nanoparticles and boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS)–supported CoFe complexes (BNCoFe) are incorporated into polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) cement to prepare a composite implant with high‐intensity magnetic–thermal performance and safety. The results show that the CoFe nanoparticles (size = ~70 nm) anchored on BNNS surfaces exhibit a maximum magnetic–thermal ablation temperature of ~42°C within 50 s under an alternating magnetic field of 400 KHz (field frequency) and 30 Oe (field intensity) in vitro. Furthermore, the incorporation of BNNSs into the PMMA matrix notably increases the thermal conductivity of PMMA from 0.07 to 0.25 W mK−1 and improves its mechanical properties (compressive strength increases from 74.0 ± 1.6 to 81.0 ± 1.0 MPa), which is attributed to the crystalline structure of BNNSs in the PMMA matrix. Inductively coupled plasma analysis shows a considerably reduced Co2+ ion release from PMMA/BNCoFe, indicating its potential as a safe implantation material for hyperthermia treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective In order to screen TuBb inhibitors, this paper describes the preparation of immobilized TuBb on chitosan nanoparticles. Methods TuBb was immobilized onto chitosan nanoparticles by covalent binding method. Results The results of the univariate test indicated that the highest immobilized yield can be obtained when the optimal immobilization condition was 1 mg of TuBb, 0.5 mol/L of buffer solution with pH 6.5, immobilization 30 min and immobilization at 0-4 °C. Conclusions The authors conclude that the immobilized TuBb maintain the catalysis properties and can be used as the screening of TuBb inhibitors.