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The water-soluble polypeptide drug oxytocin was encapsulated in liposomes by reverse-phase evaporation vesicle method to obtain oxytocin loaded liposomes (OT@LPs) which was further modified with cationic cell penetrating peptide—arginine octamer (R8) to get R8 modified oxytocin loaded liposomes (OT@LPs-R8) which showed enhanced mucoadhesive. The brain targeting efficiency was evaluated preliminarily after nasal administration. OT@LPs-R8 showed a round shape with a particle size distribution of 110.2 ± 7.3 nm, a surface potential as high as +18 mV, a drug loading (62.17 ± 1.88) %, an encapsulation rate (5.85 ± 0.72) %, and stood stable in nasal mucus. After nasal administration, it could significantly prolong the retention and enhance the distribution in the brain with no irritation to the nasal mucosa. The animal experiment in line with the regulations of the Department of Laboratory Animal Science of Fudan University on the ethics of animal experiments had been carried out after passing the review of the Animal Ethics Committee of Fudan University. The results showed nasal administration of OT@LPs-R8 could promote oxytocin directly into the brain from the nose which expected to become a new carrier for delivery of oxytocin to the brain.
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The mucous barrier is a major physiological obstacle that the mucosal drug delivery system needs to deal with. In response to this physiological barrier, many achievements have been made in research of mucosal adhesion and mucus penetration. This review puts emphasis on the progress of the research on new mucosal adhesion strategies such as cationization, sulfhydrylization, maleimide functionalization, lectinization and catechol conjugation; polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poly (2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) (POZ), zwitterionic polymers and other mucus-inert materials, strategies to enhance mucus penetration ability such as enzyme functionalization, reducing agent pretreatment and so on. The problems of each strategy are also analyzed and discussed, which can provide some references for clinical transformation.
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The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of different shading conditions on the growth,physiological characteristics and biomass allocation of Polygonatum cyrtonema,which offered a theoretical basis for its cultivation.Different light environments(100%,80%,60% and 35% light transmittance) were simulated with shading treatments.Growth and photosynthetic indexes of P.cyrtonema were measured and the variances were analyzed.The results show that shading decreased superoxide anion radical(O-·2)production rate and hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_2) accumulation,kept the activity of SOD,POD and CAT enzyme at a high level.Furthermore,The content of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b,net photosynthetic rate(Pn),stomatal conductance(Gs),transpiration rate(Tr),maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem Ⅱ(Fv/Fm),photochemical quenching index(q P) and effective quantum yield of photosystem II(ΦPSⅡ) of P.cyrtonema were increased while the intercellular CO2 concentration(Ci),Foand NPQ were decreased by shading.Shading is beneficial to P.cyrtonema growth,can increase the total biomass P.cyrtonema.The allocation proportion of biomass on the aerial portion of P.cyrtonema increased but underground parts decreased with increasing shading conditions.In this study,P.cyrtonema can grow well in shading conditions,shading is beneficial to the formation of the yield and quality of the rhizomes of P.cyrtonema,especially in 65% light transmittance.
Subject(s)
Biomass , Chlorophyll , Chlorophyll A , Photosynthesis , Plant Leaves , Plant Stomata , Plant Transpiration , Polygonatum , Physiology , SunlightABSTRACT
The study is aimed to explore the effect of combination use of nitrogen(N) and zinc(Zn) fertilizers on the growth, yield and the effective components of Agastache rugosa. A. rugosa was grown under two N application rate (120, 300 kg·hm⁻²) and five Zn levels (0, 20, 50, 100，150 kg·hm⁻²) under field condition. The effect of the treatments on the physiological indicators, distribution of nitrogen and zinc and volatile oil components of A. rugosa were studied. The results showed that the combination use of N and Zn could significantly affect the growth and development, yield and volatile oil components of A. rugosa. Under the test conditions, the highest yield of Agastaches Herba was obtained when 50 kg·hm⁻² of Zn fertilizer was applied with high N application rate of 300 kg·hm⁻². Under the same N application rate, the increase of Zn production was positively correlated with the amount of Zn application in a certain concentration range, but excessive Zn application led to the decrease of yield. With the increase of N application level, the content of Zn also significantly increased. The combination use of N and Zn increased the yield of Agastaches Herba. High level of N application was beneficial to the absorption and accumulation of N and Zn of A. rugosa. Zn fertilizer could also promote the absorption and accumulation of N of A. rugosa. The interaction between N and Zn had significant influence on the main chemical constituents of the volatile oil of A. rugosa. Among the volatile oil chemical constituents of A. rugosa the content of pulegone (34.56%-53.91%) and piperonyl methyl ether (18.86%-42.27%) were much higher. Under the same N application rate, different Zn application rates also had significant effects on the main chemical components of volatile oil.
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@#Objectives: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is currently considered to be a major contributing factor in migraine headache. Botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) was found to be effective in migraine prevention. However, the mechanism of action in patients was unknown. Using injection as in clinical setting, the study aimed to determine whether BTXA could decrease the sensitization of the trigeminovascular nociceptive system through the reduction of CGRP action. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were pretreated with normal saline solution or BTXA before KCl application to induce cortical spreading depression (CSD) or NaCl application as a control. Regional cerebral blood flow at parietal cortex was measured for 90 min after KCl or NaCl application. Tissues from trigeminal ganglion (TG) and trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) were then collected for CGRP and c-Fos measurement respectively. Results: BTXA pretreatment significantly decreased the cumulative blood flow and number of hyperemic peaks induced by KCl. Numbers of CGRP positive cells at TG and c-Fos positive cells at TNC were also reduced by BTXA.Conclusion: BTXA pretreatment reduced CGRP production and release from the TG leading to lessen CSD production and persistent activation of TNC which played a major role in migraine headache.
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The finite element method (FEM) is a technology for numerical analysis which based on the development of the electronic computer, and also a more advanced biomechanical research method. Early FEM was applied in the fields of engineering science and technology. In recent years, FEM has been widely used for brain research in biomedical engineering. With the rapid development of traffic and transportation, the high incident of craniocerebral injury has become a serious threat to human health year by year. The biomechanical mechanism of craniocerebral injury can be well researched by establishing the finite element model of human head. In this review, establishment, development and application of human head finite element model are summarized, and the future research direction is discussed as well.
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The finite element method (FEM) is a technology for numerical analysis which based on the development of the electronic computer,and also a more advanced biomechanical research method.Early FEM was applied in the fields of engineering science and technology.In recent years,FEM has been widely used for brain research in biomedical engineering.With the rapid development of traffic and transportation,the high incident of craniocerebral injury has become a serious threat to human health year by year.The biomechanical mechanism of craniocerebral injury can be well researched by establishing the finite element model of human head.In this review,establishment,development and application of human head finite element model are summarized,and the future research direction is discussed as well.
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Objective:To investigate the modulatory effect of IL-29 on trypsin-induced protease activated receptors (PARs) ex-pression on P815 mast cell.Methods:After P815 mast cells were challenged with different concentrations of IL-29 alone or combined with trypsin for 2 h, 6 h and 16 h, the challenged cells were collected and analysed by flow cytometry to detect the protein expression of PARs on P815 cells, and analysed by real time RT-PCR to detect the mRNA expression of PARs on P 815 cells.Results:Compared with the corresponding control , IL-29 induced significantly decreased expression of PAR-1 at protein and mRNA level on P815 cells, and upregulated PAR-3, PAR-4 mRNA level on P815 cells, whereas IL-29 did little effect on the expressions of PAR-2,3,4 at protein level on P815 cells accordingly.Preincubation of mast cell with IL-29 did not alter trypsin-induced PAR-1 expression on P815 cells, whereas up-regulated expression of PAR-2, 3, 4 were detected when P815 cell were pre-treated with IL-29 before being challenged with trypsin compared with the corresponding control .Conclusion: IL-29 can upregulate trypsin-induced PARs expression on mast cells through which participated in mast cell related inflammation .
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Objective To evaluate the radioprotective effect of vanillin derivative VND3207 on DNA damage induced by different LET ionizing radiation.Methods The plasmid DNA in liquid was irradiated by 60Co γ-rays, proton or 7Li heavy ion with or without VND3207.The conformation changes of plasmid DNA were assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis and the quantification was done using gel imaging system.Results The DNA damage induced by proton and 7Li heavy ion was much more serious as compared with that by 60Co γ-rays, and the vanillin derivative VND3207 could efficiently decrease the DNA damage induced by all three types of irradiation sources, which was expressed as a significantly reduced ratio of open circular form (OC) of plasmid DNA.The radioprotective effect of VND3207 increased with the increasing of drug concentration.The protective efficiencies of 200 μmol/L VND3207 were 85.3% (t =3.70,P =0.033), 73.3% (t = 10.58, P =0.017)and 80.4% (t =8.57,P =0.008)on DNA damage induction by 50 Gy of γ-rays, proton and 7Li heavy ion, respectively.It seemed that the radioprotection of VND3207 was more effective on DNA damage induced by high LET heavy ion than that by proton.Conclusions VND3207 has a protective effect against the genotoxicity of different LET ionizing radiation, especially for γ-rays and 7 Li heavy ion.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To find possible factors correlated with combined loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of 1p and 19q.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The status of 1p and 19q of 138 glioma specimen from January 2009 to December 2009 was evaluated by Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method, and the frequencies of combining LOH of 1p/19q were compared between different pathologies, brain sub-regions, genders and ages.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies of combined LOH of 1p and 19q of oligodendroglial (81.3%) and oligo astrocytic tumors (55.8%) were significantly higher than that of astrocytic tumor (22.2%) (P < 0.01), and the frequency of oligodendroglial tumor was significantly higher than that of oligo astrocytic tumor (P < 0.05). The frequency of combining LOH of 1p and 19q in frontal lobe (61.8%) was higher than that in temporal (31.8%) and insular lobes (34.6%) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combining LOH of 1p and 19q has significant correlation with the pathologies and brain sub-regions.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Brain Neoplasms , Genetics , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 , Genetics , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 , Genetics , Glioma , Genetics , Loss of HeterozygosityABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the current status of disabled children and prevalence of disabilities in children aged 0-6 years and their risk factors, and to provide scientific evidence for making relevant policies for disabled children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In a community-based cross-sectional study, multi-phase, stratified, unequal proportional and cluster sampling was adopted to survey 60 124 children aged 0-6 years. All the investigated children were screened for disabilities, and those with positive screening tests were further diagnosed by various specialties.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 819 children were diagnosed as disabled with an overall prevalence of 1.362%, 0.155% for hearing disability, 0.160% for visual disability, 0.931% for intelligent disability, 0.424% for limb disability, and 0.101% for mental disability. Prevalence of disability in children was higher in rural areas, and in families with two or more children, low educational level or in divorced families.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalence of disability can be reduced by economic development, improvement of health care and quality of population, as well as harmonious familial relationship, early prevention of disability, and preschool education for disabled children.</p>
Subject(s)
Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Blindness , Epidemiology , China , Epidemiology , Disabled Persons , Hearing Loss , Epidemiology , Intellectual Disability , Epidemiology , Limb Deformities, Congenital , EpidemiologyABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a rare human genetic disorder characterized by increased UV sensitivity, developmental abnormalities and premature aging. Cells isolated from individuals with CS have a defect in transcription-coupled DNA repair. Despite the repair defect, there is no any increased risk of spontaneous or UV-induced cancer for CS individuals. The strategy of RNA interfering was used here to explore the potential radiosensitizing and anticancer activity of targeting CS group B (CSB) gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The vectors encoding CSB-specific siRNAs were constructed by inserting duplex siRNA encoding oligonucleotides into the plasmid P(silencer TM 3.1). The cell lines expressing the CSB-siRNA were generated from HeLa cells transfected with the above vectors. Colony-forming ability was used to assay cell survival. Cell cycle was analyzed by FACScan flow cytometry. The apoptosis was measured by detecting the accumulation of sub-G(1) population as well as by fluorescence staining assay. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to semi-quantify mRNA expression. Protein level was detected by Western blotting analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two constructs encoding CSB-specific siRNA were generated, both of them resulted in remarkable suppression on CSB expression in HeLa cells, and led to an increased sensitivity to (gamma-ray and UV light. siRNA-mediated silencing of CSB decreased cell proliferation rate, increased spontaneous apoptosis as well as the occurrence of UV- or cisplatin-induced apoptosis by 2 to 3.5 fold. A significant S phase blockage and a remarkable reduction of G(1) population were induced in control HeLa cells at 18 hours after being exposed to 10 J/m(2) of UV light. The S phase blockage was also observed in UV-irradiated CSB-siRNA transfected HeLa cells, but the extent of increased S phase population was lower than that in the UV-irradiated control cells. No or a relative weak reduction on G(1) phase population was observed in UV-irradiated CSB-siRNA transfected HeLa cells. In addition, siRNA-mediated silencing of CSB promoted the elimination of G(2)/M phase cells after UV light radiation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>siRNA-mediated silencing of CSB causes cells to proliferate more slowly, sensitize cells to genotoxicants, and modify UV radiation-induced cell cycle changes. siRNA-mediated inactivation of CSB could be an attractive strategy for ameliorating cancer therapy, which can be fulfilled via the combination of gene therapy and sensitization of radiotherapy or chemotherapy.</p>