Co-delivery of Cyclopamine and Doxorubicin Mediated by Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoparticles Reverses Doxorubicin Resistance in Breast Cancer by Down-regulating P-glycoprotein Expression.

Combination chemotherapy is considered to be one of the most effective treatments for breast cancer by reducing the emergence of drug resistance. In this study, a novel drug delivery system based on bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSA NPs) was successfully developed. Doxorubicin (DOX) and cyclopamine (CYC), a potential anti-cancer agent that inhibits the hedgehog signaling pathway were entrapped into BSA NPs through electrostatic interactions and hydrophobic interactions, respectively. Rather than simple combination of two different chemotherapeutics, the CYC also increased the intracellular DOX accumulation by decreasing the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which could thus reverse the DOX resistance. Tumor-targeting property of nanoparticles was the prerequisite for its further application. Interestingly, retention of fluorescently-labeled particles in vivo indicated that the dual-drug-loaded BSA NPs could not only target the primary tumors, but also target the metastatic lymph nodes, which would simultaneously inhibit the tumor growth and distant metastasis. Taken together, this study provides a promising strategy for co-delivery of drugs, tumor and metastatic lymph node targeting, and DOX resistance reversing in breast cancer chemotherapy.

Clinical research on intelligence seven needle therapy treated infants with brain damage syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the intelligence seven needle therapy administered in infants with perinatal brain damage syndrome (BDS) as early intervention would improve patients' neural development. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Sixty-four infants with BDS were randomly assigned to two groups: the comprehensive group and the control group. Both groups received routine early intervention; in addition, the comprehensive group received intelligence seven needle therapy. Before and after treatment, the Bayley Scale of Infant Development (BSID), Gesell Developmental Schedules, Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), transcranial doppler ultrasound (TCD), and cranial imaging examination were tested for contrast. RESULTS: After treatment, the comprehensive group showed significant difference in the Mental Development Index (MDI) scores of BSID compared with the control group (P<0.05), however, no significant discrepancy in psychomotor development index (PDI,P>0.05) was observed. The children's development quotients (DQ) of the comprehensive group exhibited a significant superiority in improving the social adaptation DQ of Gesell Developmental Schedules compared with the control group (P<0.01), as well as GMFM and linguistic and social intercourse (P<0.05). Again, no discrepancy in the fine movement DQ was found (P>0.05). The total scores of GMFM in the comprehensive group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Comparing the two groups, the comprehensive group showed a significantly greater recovery rate than the control group on TCD after treatment (P<0.05). After 6-month follow-up, some recovery in both groups, specifically on broadening of brain outside space by cranial imaging examination were observed. The comprehensive group demonstrated a significantly greater recovery rate than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The developmental level of intelligence, motion function, linguistic competence and social intercourse can be promoted for infants with perinatal BDS by treating with the intelligence seven needle therapy. This approach can improve the brain blood supply and promote the growth of frontal and parietal lobes.