Microwave ablation versus other interventions for hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) versus other treatment modalities for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was registered in Prospero (registration number CRD42017057046). A complete electronic search was conducted for studies on MWA versus other interventions for HCC using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library databases, and ISI Web of Science. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials were included. Data on technical efficacy, local tumor progression (LTP), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and major complications were extracted from included studies and combined to be analyzed via random effects models. OS was set as the primary outcome measure. Fifteen clinical studies were identified. When comparing MWA with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), no significant difference was found in 3-year OS rates (odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66–1.34, P = 0.74), 5-year OS rates (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.58–1.18, P = 0.29), 3-year PFS rates (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.77–1.43, P = 0.74), 1-year LTP rate (OR 1.28, 95% CI 0.52–3.18,P = 0.59), technical efficacy rate (OR 1. 35, 95% CI 0. 85–2.15, P = 0.20), and major complication rate (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.56–1.93, P = 0.90). When comparing MWA with hepatic resection, the 3-year OS rate was not significantly different (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.59–1.35, P = 0.59). Compared with RFA and hepatic resection, MWA showed similar safety and efficacy for HCC, especially in OS rate and PFS. However, high-quality clinical trials are needed to validate the superiority of MWA

Cell penetrating peptide TAT and brain tumor targeting peptide T7 dual modified liposome preparation and in vitro targeting evaluation / 药学学报

The purpose of this study is to prepare T7 and TAT dual modified liposomes (T7-TAT-LIP) to penetrate through blood brain barrier and target to brain tumor cells. The liposomes were prepared with CFPE, T7 modified PEG-DSPE, TAT modified PEG-DSPE, soybean phospholipid, PEG-DSPE and cholesterol. The CFPE was used to track the cellular uptake efficiency. The density of T7 and TAT and the length of PEG were optimized, and then the liposomes were characterized by particle size, zeta potential, morphology and stability. Afterwards, the cellular uptake by bEnd.3 and C6 cells were evaluated. The results showed that the optimized parameters were 6% of T7, 0.5% of TAT, the molecular weight of PEG for T7 was 2000 and the molecular weight of PEG for TAT was 1000. After optimization, the particle size of T7-TAT-LIP was 118 nm, the zeta potential was -6.32 mV and the particles were spherical. The turbidity and particle size of liposomes were not obviously changed after 24 h incubation in PBS at 37 °C. The particle size and polydispersity index were also stable during 1 month incubation at 4-8 °C. The cellular uptake by both bEnd.3 and C6 cells of T7-TAT-LIP was higher than that of T7 or TAT modified liposomes, suggesting dual modified liposomes possessed better blood brain barrier targeting ability and brain tumor targeting ability than the single ligand modified liposomes.

Effect of all-trans retinoid acid and G-CSF on growth, differentiation and RARα2 expression of myeloma cells / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of all-trans retinoid acid (ATRA) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the growth, apoptosis, differentiation and expression of RARα2 of myeloma cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Myeloma cell lines OPM2 (RARα2 positive) and U266 (RARα2 negative) were treated with ATRA in the presence or absence of G-CSF. The cells were divided into 6 groups: control groups, G-CSF groups (treated with 1000 U/ml and 2000 U/ml), ATRA groups (treated with 1.0 μmol/L ATRA) and combined groups (treated with 1000 U/mL or 2000 U/mL G-CSF plus 1.0 μmol/L ATRA). The cell viability, growth and apoptosis were examined by MTT method, inverted microscopy and Annexin-V/PI staining, respectively; RARα2 expression was detected by reverse transcription PCR; morphology change was evaluated by Wright-Giemsa staining; CD49e expression were analyzed by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The proliferation of OPM2 cells was inhibited by ATRA treatment (P<0.05) . The growth inhibition rates in combined groups were higher than corresponding single ATRA groups (P<0.05). However, the above effects in U266 cells were not significant (P >0.05). The OPM2 cell stained by Wright-Giemsa in ATRA groups showed that the cell nucleus became smaller, chromatin condensed, number of nucleolus reduced, the volume of cytoplasm increased and the cytoplasm became dark blue. Expression rates of CD49e were low in both U266 and OPM2 cells. Expression of RARα2 in OPM2 cells of combination groups were higher than those of control group and corresponding single groups (P<0.05); and there was no significant difference between control group and G-CSF groups (P>0.05). Expression of RARα2 in U266 cells of control group and G-CSF groups was not detected; and ATRA groups and combination groups had weak expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ATRA can induce proliferation inhibition in RARα2-expressing myeloma cells, and it may also play a certain role in promoting differentiation of RARα2 positive myeloma cells.</p>