Preparation and characterization of a gemini surfactant-based biomimetic complex for gene delivery.

Gemini surfactants (GS) have been explored as non-viral gene delivery systems. Nevertheless, their cytotoxicity and the limitations in the in vivo studies have impeded their development. To attenuate toxicity and further explore their possibilities in gene delivery, a series of GS (18-7-18)-based gene delivery systems complexed with red blood cell membranes (RBCM) or/and DOPE-PEG2000 (DP) were prepared and evaluated. EGFP-encoding plasmids were delivered via GS-based complexes and the efficiency of gene transfection was evaluated by imaging of the major organs after intravenous administration in mice and qPCR quantification in hepatocytes. In order to assess the safety of GS-based complexes, the hemolysis test, serum biochemical indices, H&E staining and CCK-8 test were examined. The results revealed that EGFP was primarily expressed in livers, and all complexes showed minimal acute toxicity to major organs. Moreover, we found that the dual incorporation of RBCM and DP could significantly elevate the transfection efficiency and cell viability in hepatocytes. Overall, the results indicated that GS-based complexes possessed great potential as vectors for gene delivery both in vivo and in vitro and the dual incorporation of RBCM and DP could be a promising gene delivery approach with high transfection efficacy and low toxicity.

Research on the Functional Mechanism of Couplet Medicine of “Bupleuri Radix- Atractylodis macrocephalea Rhizoma”on Mammary Hyperplasia Based on Network Pharmacology / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE： To screen the active component， target and pathway of couplet medicine of “Bupleuri Radix- Atractylodis macrocephalea Rhizoma”， and to comprehensively explore its potential mechanism. METHODS： Based on the method of network pharmacology， main active componets and potential targets of  couplet medicine of “Bupleuri Radix-A. macrocephalea Rhizoma” were retrieved from TCMSP， DRAR-CPI， Genecards and OMIM database. The active component-potential target network and interaction network of potential targets were established by Cytoscape 3.6.0 software. Five potential core targets were screened， and its affinity with active components were validated with molecule docking method. GO classified enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of potential targets were carried out to obtain key pathway so as to construct active component-potential target-key pathway network. RESULTS： Totally 17 active components and 47 active component-potential targets were obtained from couplet medicine of “Bupleuri Radix-A. macrocephalea Rhizoma”. Five core targets were obtained， including AKT1， PRKCA， PRKCE， HRas， and PIK3CA. Five signaling pathways were involved， including MAPK pathway， PI3K/AKT pathway， RAS pathway， Estrogen pathway， BMP pathway. CONCLUSIONS： The couplet medicine of “Bupleuri Radix-A. macrocephalea Rhizoma” not only act on multiple targets through multiple components for mammary hyperplasia， but also play a complex network regulation role through the interaction between potential targets.

Clinical Observation of Modified Shenghua Decoction on Promoting Uterine Instauration After Cesarean Section / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To observe the curative effect of modified Shenghua Decoction on promoting uterine instauration after cesarean section. Methods A total of 300 parturient cases receiving cesarean section were evenly randomized into observation group and control group. After cesarean section, patients of observation group were given modified Shenghua Decoction orally, and those of the control group were given intramuscular injection of oxytocin. The observation indexes included uterine retraction, the amount of lochia, and ultrasound examination for uterine instauration. Results (1) In the observation group, uterine contraction 72, 120 h after cesarean section was better than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P0.05). Forty-two days after cesarean section, the sum of the three uterine diameters in the ob-servation group significantly differed from that of the control group (P<0.05). (4) Forty-two days after cesarean section, the incidence of uterine cavity effusion was 6.67%in the observation group, and was 17.33% in the con-trol group, the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The modified Shenghua Decoction has certain curative effect on promoting uterine instauration after cesarean section.