ABSTRACT
The heavily harsh plateau environment including low pressure, hypoxia, cold, dryness and strong ultraviolet radiation, seriously threatens the physical and mental health of those who quickly enter the plateau area. Lungs are the sensitive organs for high altitude injury. High-altitude lung diseases include the acute high-altitude lung disease (i.e., high-altitude pulmonary edema), the chronic high-altitude lung disease (i.e., high-altitude pulmonary artery hypertension) and the high-altitude de-adapted reaction. This review summarizes the pathogenic mechanisms and the main therapeutic drugs of high-altitude lung diseases based on the recent research. Moreover, the related formulations and administration routes are also reviewed here. It will provide support and counsel for the diagnosis and treatment of high-altitude lung diseases.
ABSTRACT
Radiation therapy is an effective method to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors using high-energy X-ray or γ-ray. Radiation pneumonitis (RP) is one of the most serious complications of radiation therapy for thoracic cancers, commonly leading to serious respiratory distress and poor prognosis. Here, we prepared curcumin-loaded mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticles (CMPN) for prevention and treatment of RP by pulmonary delivery. Mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticles (MPDA) were successfully synthesized with an emulsion-induced interface polymerization method and curcumin was loaded in MPDA via π‒π stacking and hydrogen bonding interaction. MPDA owned the uniform spherical morphology with numerous mesopores that disappeared after loading curcumin. More than 80% curcumin released from CMPN in 6 h and mesopores recovered. CMPN remarkably protected BEAS-2B cells from γ-ray radiation injury by inhibiting apoptosis. RP rat models were established after a single dose of 15 Gy 60Co γ-ray radiation was performed on the chest area. Effective therapy of RP was achieved by intratracheal administration of CMPN due to free radical scavenging and anti-oxidation ability, and reduced proinflammatory cytokines, high superoxide dismutase, decreased malondialdehyde, and alleviated lung tissue damages were observed. Inhaled CMPN paves a new avenue for the treatment of RP.
ABSTRACT
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death globally and metastasis always leads to treatment failure. Here, we develop a versatile hydrogel loading photothermal agents, chemotherapeutics, and immune-adjuvants to eradicate orthotopic tumors and inhibit metastasis by combinational therapy. Hydrogel networks were synthesized via the thiol-Michael addition of polydopamine (PDA) with thiolated hyaluronic acid. PDA acted as a cross-linking agent and endowed the hydrogel with excellent photothermal property. Meanwhile, a chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin (DOX), was loaded in the hydrogel via π‒π stacking with PDA and an immune-adjuvant, CpG-ODN, was loaded via electrostatic interaction. The release of DOX from the hydrogel was initially slow but accelerated due to near infrared light irradiation. The hydrogels showed remarkably synergistic effect against 4T1 cancer cells and stimulated plenty of cytokines secreting from RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, the hydrogels eradicated orthotopic murine breast cancer xenografts and strongly inhibited metastasis after intratumoral injection and light irradiation. The high anticancer efficiency of this chemo-photothermal immunotherapy resulted from the strong synergistic effect of the versatile hydrogels, including the evoked host immune response. The combinational strategy of chemo-photothermal immunotherapy is promising for highly effective treatment of breast cancer.
ABSTRACT
Clinical data of 65 patients with acute cerebral infarction (frontal or temporal or both lobes) treated in our hospital during 2015-2016 were retrospectively reviewed.The patients were followed up for 6 months,34 cases were diagnosed as vascular dementia (VD) according to ICD-10 (VD group) and 31 cases were diagnosed as simple cerebral infarction (control group).The abnormal rate of electroencephalograph (EEG) at baseline in VD group was significantly higher than that in control group (x2 =5.44,P =0.02).Compared to control group,the powers of slow wave (θ wave and δ wave) at baseline,third month and sixth month in VD group were significantly increased (Fbet groups =17.39,Finner groups =163.50,Finteraction =38.71;all P =0.00) and (Fbetween groups =5.10,Finner groups =119.04,Finteraction =6.54;P ＜ 0.05).Compared to baseline,the α wave and β wave were significantly decreased at third month and sixth month in VD (Finner groups =116.40,P =0.00) and (Finner groups =55.90,P ＜ 0.05).Compared to control group,the powers of θ wave (except in the frontal lobe at baseline and third month) and δ wave were significantly increased at all time points (P ＜ 0.05).Except the θ wave in occipital lobe,there were significant differences in slow wave at all time points between VD group and control group (P ＜ 0.05).The featured EEG with increased slow wave in many regions of cerebral infarction can be used for early diagnosis of VD in patients with cerebral infarction.