ObjectiveTo summarize the possible roles and relevant mechanisms of solute carrier family 3 member A2 (SLC3A2) gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and explore its clinical application prospects and value in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of patients with HCC. MethodThe literature on reseaches of the SLC3A2 gene and its association with HCC both domestically and internationally in recent years was reviewed and summarized. ResultsNotably, the SLC3A2 exhibited obviously elevated expression in the HCC tissue as compared with the normal liver tissue. It mainly affected the disease progression of HCC by regulating the intracellular and extracellular amino acids transport, inhibiting the ferroptosis of cells, activating the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex signaling pathways and integrin signaling pathway, and played an important role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of patients with HCC. ConclusionFrom the results of literature review collected, SLC3A2 might be closely associated with the migration, invasion, proliferation, and apoptosis of HCC cell, and it is expected to serve as an indicator for evaluating survival and prognosis of patients with HCC, and become one of the effective treatment targets for HCC in future.
Objective To prepare chitosan microcarriers and to use it to cultivate rat primary hepatocytes. Methods The crosslinked chitosan microcarrier was prepared by the reaction of glutaraldehyde with chitosan. Various factors that influence the preparation were studied and the reaction conditions were optimized. Rat primary hepatocytes cultured on chitosan microcarrier were observed by using phase contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope. Results Chitosan microcarriers with good properties could be prepared by adjusting the concentration of chitosan solution and the quantity of glutaraldehyde. Rat hepatocytes cultured on chitosan microcarriers retained the spherical shape as they have in vivo. And albumin secretion can last over one week. The highest albumin secretion rate reached 26.7μg/24h/ml. Conclusion Chitosan microcarriers is a promising scaffold for hepatocyte attachment, which can be used in bioartificial liver support system.
Bone morphogenetic protein (BMPs) has been so far regarded as one of the highly potent osteoinductive growth factors. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins have been utilized extensively in the disciplines of orthopedics, stomatology, etc. For clinical application, BMPs are usually loaded in carriers with a controlled-release system, to maintain concentration to induce de novo bone formation at the desired site. In this article, the research advancements of the carriers and release systems of BMP are reviewed.
Objective Bioactive borate glass (BG) has good biocompatibil ity and biodegradation. To investigate the feasibilty of bioactive borate glass as a carrier of the antibiotic controlled-releasing by implanting vancomycin-loaded BG (VBG)into the focus of tibia chronic osteomyel itis after debridement. Methods VBG and vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate (VCS) were prepared with a vancomycin content of 80 mg/g. Sixty-five New Zealand white rabbits, weighing 2.12-3.91 kg (mean, 2.65 kg), were used. The tibia chronic osteomyel itis rabbit models were establ ished by injecting methicill in-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, 0.1 mL, 1 × 109 cfu/mL) into the right tibia of 65 rabbits. After 3 weeks of injection, 54 rabbits of successful models were randomly divided into groups A (n=11), B (n=11), C (n=16), and D (n=16). Simple debridement was performed in group A; BG, VCS, and VBG were implanted into the infection sites of groups B, C, and D respectively after thorough debridement. A sample of the debrided tissues was harvested for bacterial examination. The vancomycin serum levels were determined in groups C and D at 1, 2, 4, 10, 24, and 48 hours after operation. The boron serum levels were determined in groups B and D at 10, 24, 48, 72, and 120 hours after operation. After 8 weeks, the effectiveness was assessed radiographically, bacteriologically, and histopathol ogically. Results Ten rabbits died after operation. No vancomycin was detected in group C; the vancomycin level increased gradually, reached the highest level at 4 hours after operation, and then decreased rapidly in group D. No boron was detected in group B; the boron reached the highest serum level at 10 hours after operation, and then decreased gradually in group D. At 8 weeks, calcium sulfate degraded in group C; BG degraded partially in group D; and no obvious degradation was observedin group B. The repair effect was better in group D than in group C. There was no significant difference in radiograph scoring between groups A, B, C and D (P gt; 0.05) before operation, but there was significant difference between group D and groups A, B, C (P lt; 0.05) at 8 weeks after operation. The bacterial culture showed that all the MRSA results were positive in 4 groups. At 8 weeks, the negative rates of MRSA examination were 36.36%, 18.18%, 73.33%, and 81.25% respectively in groups A, B, C, and D, showing significant differences between group D and groups A, B (P lt; 0.05). The histopathological observation showed that a large number of new bones formed and no foreign body reaction occurred in group D. The histopathologic scores of groups A, B, C, and D were 6.45 ± 3.62, 7.55 ± 3.36, 4.27 ± 2.91, and 3.81 ± 3.04 respectively, showing significant differences between group D and groups A, B, and between group C and group B (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion VBG can improve the repair of bone defect in the treatment of chronic osteomyel itis.
It is difficult to repair long defect of bone. Biological bone carrier (BBC) was one of the artifical bone substitutes. It was obtained from human or swine bone after a series of biochemical treatment. It had good histocompatibility. It had the same components and structure of bone, and its biological strength was samiliar to bone. In clinic, BBC was applied to repair of long defect of bone in two cases. The lengths of defect were 13 cm and 11 cm, respectively. After followed up for 2 to 3 years, it was found that the implanted BBC had been combined with the femur with new bone. It had the same metabolism and density as that of the normal bone.
Objective To summarize recent research advancement on gene therapy for hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Methods Relevant references about basic and clinical researches of hepatic IRI were collected and reviewed. Results Recent experimental researches indicated that the expression of several genes and cytokines could protect hepatic cells by suppressing cell apoptosis, decreasing the production of oxyradical, remaining and improving portal venous flow, promoting bilifaction, self immunoloregulation and decreasing inflammatory reaction, so that it could decrease IRI. Conclusion IRI could be decreased by regulating the expressing of target genes or transducing relative genes in vivo, but the path of gene transfer and the selection and optimization of gene carrier still need more basic and clinical researches to prove.
Paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded self-assembling nano-micelles (PTX/NMs) were prepared based on amphiphilic cholesterol-bearing γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA-graft-CH). The properties of PTX/NMs in vitro and in vivo were investigated. The results indicated that PTX could be entrapped in γ-PGA-graft-CH NMs. PTX/NMs was characterized with a size of (343.5 ± 7.3) nm, drug loading content of 26.9% ± 0.8% and entrapment efficiency of 88.6% ± 1.7% at the optimized drug/carrier ratio of 1/10, and showed a pH-sensitive sustainable drug-release and less cytotoxicity in vitro. In vivo release and the pharmacokinetics study in mice showed that the elimination half-life (t1/2β) and area under curve (AUC) of PTX/NMs were significantly higher than those of PTX/polyoxyethylene castor oil (PTX/PCO), and less clearance (CL) of PTX/NMs was also observed. PTX/NMs were distributed higher in liver and tumor than PTX/PCO, and showed a good tumor-inhibiting activity in tumor-bearing mice. This study would lay a foundation on the potential application of γ-PGA-graft-CH NMs were the antitumor drug-delivery.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered as an ideal treatment for multiple diseases including ocular disease. Recent studies have demonstrated that MSCs-derived exosomes have similar functions with MSCs. Exosomes are nanovesicles surrounded by a phospholipid layer that shuttle active cargo between different cells. They are capable of passing the biological barrier and have potentials to be utilized as natural carrier for the ocular drug delivery.
Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) is a kind of blood substitutes. It is a separated, ultra-purified, modified human or bovine hemoglobin in a balanced saline solution. After modification, it has longer half-time, less renal toxicity, and better delivery of O2 even at low temperature and pH. Its shelf life is long and it dose not require cross-matching. In the field of cardiac surgery, the use of HBOCs can reduce the amount of transfusion postoperatively, and can be used in cardiopulmonary bypass priming and myocardial protection.
Objective To investigate the physicochemicalproperties of the calcium phosphate cement (CPC) containing Danshen composite injection and its drug release rate. Methods This experiment included 4 groups and each group contained 6 specimens. CPC (2 g) was mixed with the setting solution that served as thecontrol group; 0.1,0.5 and 1.0 ml of Danshen composites injection (concentration, 1 000 mg/ml; pH, 7.35) were respectively added to CPC (2 g), which were used as the experimental groups 1, 2 and 3. The resulting specimens were investigated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), the fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), and the scanning electron microscope (SEM).ResultsThe XRD analysis showed that the control group had a typical diffraction pattern of the hydroxypatite (HAP), which was consistent with the standard patternof HAP. When more Danshen was added in the experimental groups, the diffractionpeaks of HAP gradually decreased; when the diffraction angle 2θ was about 25.92°, the HAP peaks disappeared. Based on the FTIR analysis, with an increase of the drug concentration, the absorption peak of the hydroxy groups decreased. The SEM showed that the size of the CPC particle was related to the drug concentration; with an increase of the drug concentration, the CPC particle increased in number, resulting in an increasing trend of coacervation. The elution test showed that the drugrelease rate and capacity varied with the different concentrationsof Danshen. The initial release rate was relatively great, but after 96 hours the rate slowed down, lasting for a long time. Conclusion The physicochemical properties of CPC do not change when a proper dose (0.1 ml/2 g) of Danshen isadded to CPC. The Danshen composite can be effectively released from CPC, and so CPCcan be used as an ideal drugdelivery carrier for Danshen composite.