Natural biocompatible nanomaterials such as self-assembled triterpene natural small molecule products with favorable anticancer activity show great potential for biomedical application. However, the mechanisms of their molecular self-assembled structures have not been investigated systematically, while there are still few reports of the natural active carrier for drug delivery. Herein, in this work, we further explored the molecular assembly mechanism and common regularity of tetracyclic triterpenes ergosterol, stigmasterol as well as pentacyclic triterpenes glycyrrhetinic acid and ursolic acid, which suggested that the coplanarity and orderliness of molecular arrangements which are speculated to be responsible for their self-assembly into the spherical, rod-like or lamellar nanostructure. Besides, ergosterol (ET) with better anticancer activity was chosen as a representative substance for construction of the synergistic antitumor nanodrug. By intermolecular hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking, chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel (PTX) was encapsulated into ET-PTX NPs successfully. Then, the anti-cancer efficacy of the tumor-bearing mice was evaluated according to the protocol approved by the Experimental Animal Research Center of Harbin Medical University. The resulting nanodrug exhibited excellent biosafety and enhanced in vivo anticancer activity efficiency of 52.3%, higher than free PTX (29.4%) or ET NPs (32.5%) alone, further verifying the potential medical application value of triterpene natural products. This work provides not only a theoretical basis for exploring the self-assembly behavior of small molecule natural products, but also a promising perspective for the fabrication of active natural biocompatible nanodrug delivery systems for synergistic antitumor therapy and other biomedical applications.

Objective To evaluate the value of color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI) in the diagnosis of congenital coronary artery fistula (CAF).Methods Thirteen consecutive patients ranging in age from 8 to 68 years underwent conventional transthoracic echocardiography,which depicts their origin, course, and drainage site. Results Right CAFs were detected in 8 patients: four of them had drainages to the left ventricle, two to the main pulmonary artery, one to the right ventricle(RV) and the other to the right atrium(RA). CAFs arising from the left coronary artery were noted in five patients: three of them had drainages to the main pulmonary, and the other two to the RA and RV respectively. The origin and the course were precisely defined and the drainage site was clearly depicted in all thinteen patients. The diagnosis of the thirteen patients was confirmed by coronary angiography, and eight of them received surgical treatment. Conclusions CDFI offers a simple, useful and reliable technique in diagnosis of CAF.

Chronic Disease ; Constipation ; surgery ; Humans

0.05).However,the sex distribution was different between the two groups(P

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; poisoning ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rodenticides ; poisoning

Objective To analyze relevant factors of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia residual or recurrence after loop electri‐cal excision procedure(LEEP) .Methods We observed the patients who were histopathologically confirmed CIN and treated with LEEP in our hospital from January 2006 to September 2012 ,and investigated the postoperative residual and recurrence .Then we an‐alysed relevant factors of residual or recurrence .Results (1)After at least 2 years of follow‐up ,26 cases showed residual or recur‐rence(the residual rate was 0 .97% and the recurrence rate was 4 .08% ) .(2)Overall severity of residual or recurrence had been re‐duced ,but the severity and recurrence of preoperative severity was positively correlated(r=0 .354 0 ,P<0 .05) .(3)Age ,smoking , preoperative high‐risk HPV load ,post‐operative the same type of HPV continuous infection ,endocervical involvement ,lesions in‐vo1ving quadrants ,and post‐operative TCT results between the recurrence group and non‐recurrence group were statistically signifi‐cant different(P<0 .05) .Conclusion CIN residual or recurrence after LEEP might be affected by many factors ,and the treatment should be individualized .

Objective To investigate the echocardiographic features in patients with right atrial myxoma and thus evaluate the value of echocardiog?raphy in the diagnosis of right atrial myxoma. Methods The echocardiographic findings of 20 patients with right atrial myxomas were retrospectively analyzed,and the echocardiographic features of these patients were summarized. Results The main clinical symptoms of right atrial myxoma includ?ed chest tightness,shortness of breath,lower limb edema,and syncope. Of these 20 patients,the echocardiography showed that the average size of the right atrial myxomas was 3.11 cm × 2.90 cm to 7.44 cm × 4.52 cm. The myxomas were round or oval shape in 15 patients(75%)and lobulated shape in 5(25%). The myxomas were attached to the atrial septum in 15 patients(75%)and to right atrial free wall in 25%of the patients. The aver?age width of the basement was 1.62±0.30 cm,and the width was greater than 1 cm in 80%of the patients had the width over 1 cm. Some myxomas had internal areas of calcification and anechoic cystic areas. The percentages of patients with the blocking of right atrium,tricuspid and pulmonary hy?pertension were 70%,50%,and 10%,respectively. Conclusion The echocardiographic features of right atrial myxoma were specific. Echocardiog?raphy can accurately assess the tumor and identify the secondary changes in cardiac structure and hemodynamics and thus provide evidence for time?ly and accurate diagnosis of right atrial myxoma.

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of calcium antagonists on anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injury of cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Primary-cultured cardiomyocytes were divided into four groups, namely A/R, A/R+nifedipine(Nif), A/R+ruthenium red(Ru)+heparin (Hep) and control groups. The following parameters were measured in all groups: intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca 2+ ]i), cardiac cell viability, ATP content, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the medium, PKC and MAPK activity and -Leucine(-Leu) incorporation. RESULTS: In comparison with A/R group, A/R+nifedipine(Nif) and A/R+ruthenium red(Ru)+heparin (Hep) groups showed a marked decrease in [Ca 2+ ]i and LDH content, and a significant increase in cell viability ,ATP content, activity of PKC and MAPK and -Leu incorporation(P

AIM: To investigate the effects of intracellular free calcium ([Ca 2+ ]i) from different resources on the proliferation mediated by mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). METHODS: Cultured VSMCs were used in all experiments. Calcium influx was stimulated by angiotension Ⅱ(AngⅡ). The release of intracellular calcium stores was induced by inositol trisphosphate(IP 3) and ryanodine(RY). MAPK activity was measured by [?- 32 P]-ATP incorporation , MAPK protein expression by western blot, VSMCs proliferation by -Leucine(-Leu) and -Thymidine(-TdR) incorporation. RESULTS: Compared to the control VSMCs, AngⅡ, IP 3 and RY significantly increased [Ca 2+ ]i concentration , activity of MAPK and its protein content in VSMCs. The promotion of -Leu and -TdR incorporation in VSMCs was also observed ( P

AIM: To investigate the contribution of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) to the regulation of calpain system in infarcted myocardium. METHODS: Rat myocardial infarction (MI) model was established by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery. The treatment with the ACEI inhibitor rampril (1 mg?kg~-1 ?d~-1 ) was started 7 days prior to surgery. On day 1, 3, 7 and 14 after MI, protein levels of calpainⅠ, Ⅱ and calpastatin were determined in left ventricular free wall (LVFW), interventricular septum (IS) and right ventricule. RESULTS: CalpainⅠprotein level was increased in IS 14 d post MI, whereas the protein level of calpainⅡ was maximally increased in LVFW 3 d post MI. Rampril decreased protein up-regulation of calpainⅠ and Ⅱ, and reduced infarct size and interstitial fibrosis. Calpastatin protein expression was not affected by ACEI. CONCLUSIONS: CalpainⅠ is involved in cardiac remodelling in the late and calpainⅡ contributes to cardiac tissue damage in the early phase of MI. The heart protective effect of ACEI may be related to the inhibition of calpain system in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction.