Recent Development of Supramolecular Cancer Theranostics Based on Cyclodextrins: A Review.

With the development of personalized medical demands for precise diagnosis, rational management and effective cancer treatment, supramolecular theranostic systems have received widespread attention due to their reversibly switchable structures, sensitive response to biological stimuli and integration ability for multiple capabilities in a single platform with a programmable fashion. Cyclodextrins (CDs), benefiting from their excellent characteristics, such as non-toxicity, easy modification, unique host-guest properties, good biocompatibility, etc., as building blocks, serve as an all-purpose strategy for the fabrication of a supramolecular cancer theranostics nanodevice that is capable of biosafety, controllability, functionality and programmability. This review focuses on the supramolecular systems of CD-bioimaging probes, CD-drugs, CD-genes, CD-proteins, CD-photosensitizers and CD-photothermal agents as well as multicomponent cooperation systems with regards to building a nanodevice with functions of diagnosis and (or) therapeutics of cancer treatment. By introducing several state-of-the-art examples, emphasis will be placed on the design of various functional modules, the supramolecular interaction strategies under the fantastic topological structures and the hidden "bridge" between their structures and therapeutic efficacy, aiming for further comprehension of the important role of a cyclodextrin-based nanoplatform in advancing supramolecular cancer theranostics.

Influence of traditional Chinese medicines on the in vivo metabolism of lopinavir/ritonavir based on UHPLC-MS/MS analysis.

A fast, reliable, and cost-effective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was established to determine the effects of the traditional Chinese medicine employed to treat coronavirus disease 2019, namely, Lianhua Qingwen granules, Huoxiang Zhengqi capsules, Jinhua Qinggan granules, Shufeng Jiedu capsules, and Angong Niuhuang pills, on the pharmacokinetics of lopinavir/ritonavir in rats. Blood samples were prepared using the protein precipitation method and atazanavir was selected as the internal standard (IS). Separation was performed on an Agilent ZORBAX eclipse plus C18 (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.8 µm) column using acetonitrile and water containing 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase for gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.4 mL/min and the injection volume was 2 µL. Agilent Jet Stream electrospray ionization was used for mass spectrometry detection under positive ion multiple reaction monitoring mode at a transition of m/z 629.3→447.3 for lopinavir, m/z 721.3→296.1 for ritonavir, and m/z 705.4→168.1 for the IS. The method showed good linearity in the concentration range of 25-2500 ng/mL (r=0.9981) for lopinavir and 5-500 ng/mL (r=0.9984) for ritonavir. The intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy were both within ±15%. Items, such as dilution reliability and residual effect, were also within the acceptable limits. The method was used to determine the effects of five types of traditional Chinese medicines on the pharmacokinetics of lopinavir/ritonavir in rats. The pharmacokinetic results showed that the half-life of ritonavir in the groups administered Lianhua Qingwen granules and Huoxiang Zhengqi capsules combined with lopinavir/ritonavir was prolonged by approximately 1.5- to 2-fold relative to that in the control group. Similarly, the pharmacokinetic parameters of lopinavir were altered. Overall, the results of this study offer important theoretical parameters for the effective clinical use of five types of traditional Chinese medicines combined with lopinavir/ritonavir to reduce the occurrence of clinical adverse reactions.

Eating disorders and trajectory of mental health across the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from the Understanding America study.

BACKGROUND: Given the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to understand how those with eating disorders (EDs) are affected by the pandemic. Using data from the Understanding America Study (UAS), we examined the association between EDs and mental health and how the relationship changed over time across the months following the institution of virus containment procedures (e.g., social distancing, quarantine). METHOD: The analytic sample consisted of 7137 adults (Mage =50.58 years; SD =16.10) who completed surveys between waves 1-11 of the UAS study. Participants self-reported ED diagnosis (i.e., yes, no, or unsure) and completed self-report measures of psychological distress, perceived stress, and loneliness. Multilevel models were used to compare trajectories of psychological distress, perceived stress, and loneliness among ED groups. RESULTS: Individuals with EDs and unsure EDs had higher levels of psychological distress, perceived stress, and loneliness compared to those without EDs. Those unsure about their EDs showed initial decreases in perceived stress and loneliness but started increasing again after some time. Levels of loneliness among those with EDs increased initially but later began to decrease; individuals with EDs showed steady decreases in perceived stress. LIMITATIONS: Type, severity, and duration of EDs were unspecified in the self-reported measure of EDs, which could differentiate the trajectories of outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Intervention is crucial for mitigating mental health problems among those with a history of ED symptoms during COVID-19. Further, results showed that individuals who are unsure about their ED status may be experiencing more fluctuation in mental health across the pandemic.