Camptothecin is known to possess a broad spectrum of anticancer activities, however due to its high toxicity and low solubility in water, camptothecin is severely limited in clinic. To optimize the effects of camptothecin in the treatment of malignancies, besides the structural modification and reconstruction of camptothecin, the establishment of new drug delivery systems becomes a hot topic in the camptothecin research. This paper aims to summarize the advanced progress in the delivery system and function of camptothecin at recent years. The advances in improving the poor solubility, lactone ring instability, controlled release systems and targeting delivery systems of camptothecin are also reviewed. As the related methods and technologies are improved and developed, camptothecin will be a group of prospective anticancer drugs.

The numerous noxious reactions caused by misusing medicinal plant ingredients have been widely concerned at home and abroad. The problems of safe drug use needed to be solved. DNA barcode is a powerful molecular identification method, which can cover the shortage of tradditional morphological and chemical identification. In recent years, DNA barcode provided new aspects for the identification of Chinese herbal medicines and have obtained outstanding achievement. Several popular DNA regions ( ITS, ITS2, ps-bA-trnH, rbcL and matK) have been used for the identification of Chinese herbs.

Magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion weighted imaging (PWI) is a functional MR imaging technique that reflects the distribution of tissue microvessels and blood perfusion. In recent years,with the development of MR technology, PWI has been widely used in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cerebral infarction. Dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced imaging can delineate the ischemic penumbra and evaluate the compensation of collateral circulation. Dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging can reflect the integrity of blood-brain barrier, evaluate risk of the hemorrhagic transformation and the compensation of collateral circulation. The technique of arterial spin labeling can also be used to delineate ischemic penumbra, confirm the perfusion around the infarct core,and to evaluate the collateral circulation. The relevant studise on MR PWI in acute cerebral infarction will be reviewed.

Objective: To investigate the expression of BRD4 in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tissues and cells, and the effects of its expression on cell proliferation and invasion ability. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect BRD4 protein expression in SCC tissues and paired normal esophageal squamous epithelial tissues. The expression of BRD4 protein was detected in different SCC cell lines and normal esophageal squamous epithelial cells by Western blot. BRD4 siRNA and control siRNA were used to transfect SCC Eca109 cells, and experiments were divided into three groups: untreated group, control siRNA group and BRD4 siRNA group. Western blot was employed to investigate the expression of BRD4 protein in the three groups of SCC Eca109 cells. CCK-8 kit was utilized to detect cell proliferation ability, and Transwell chamber was used to examine cell invasion ability. Finally, Western blot was used to detect the expression of MMP2 and MMP9 proteins. Results: The positive rate of BRD4 protein expression in SCC tissues was significantly higher than that of normal squamous epithelial tissues. The expression of BRD4 protein in 4 SCC cell lines was higher than that in normal esophageal cell Het-1A. BRD4 siRNA obviously downregulated the expression of BRD4 protein in Eca109 cells, and its downregulation contributed to the suppression of cell proliferation and invasion ability in Eca109 cells (all P<0.05), coupled with the decreases of MMP2 and MMP9 proteins. Conclusion BRD4 may be closely associated with the proliferation and invasion of SCC, and it thus may be a potential therapeutic target for SCC.

Objective: To understand physical fitness among students aged 13-18 years in Henan Province and its influencing factors. Methods: Data of 21 785 students aged 13-18 years who participated in the national physical fitness surveys in Henan Province in 2014 were analyzed based on phyical fitness indicators and the questionnarie of physical exercise. The qualified rates of physical fitness indicators were evaluated based on the "National Students Constitutional Health Standards"(2014 revised edition). Results: In 2014, the eligible rate for physical test was 85.6% for boys and 82.5% for girls. Higher eligible rate was observed among boys with sleep duration less than 7 hours, compared to those with higher than 7 hours, while lower eligible rate was more likely observed in boys who reported sweaty and tired in PE class(OR=0.76), sweay and extreme tired in PE class(OR=0.72). Higher eligible rate was more common among girls who attended exercise during recess 2-3 times per day (OR=1.18) compared to those attended exercises higher than 3 times per day. Lower eligible rate was more common among girls with sleep duration less than 7 hours (OR=0.88) and those with low attendance in school recess exercises(OR=0.77). Normal weight, living in urban area, sufficient and regular PE class, daily physical exercise for more than 1 hour, enjoying physical exercise and extracurricular sports activities or long-distance running activities have higher success rates(P<0.05). Conclusion There is a relatively high eligible rate of phyical fitness among middle school boys and girls in Henan Province. Physical fitness is related to multiple factors. These findings highlight the need to target physical fitness interventions with sufficient time allocation in PE class and physical activity so as to effectively promote the phyical quality of students.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the kanamycin-induced deafness model in SD rats, and to investigate the expression and significance of transmembrane protease, serine 3 (TMPRSS3) in the cochlea following kanamycin ototoxicity. METHODS: A total of 40 male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. The experimental rats received intramuscular kanamycin sulfate for 3, 7, and 14 consecutive days, and the control group were treated with normal saline for 14 days. Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were obtained before and after the kanamycin administration. The expression of TMPRSS3 in the cochlea was identified and detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: Kanamycin-induced deafness model in the SD rats was successfully established. ABR thresholds were increased and the expression of TMPRSS3 in the cochlea was reduced after the kanamycin injection (P<0.01). CONCLUSION TMPRSS3 may play an important role in normal cochlea function and involve in the process of aminoglycoside antibiotics induced deafness.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; toxicity ; Cochlea ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Deafness ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; physiology ; Kanamycin ; toxicity ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serine Endopeptidases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of proteinase transmembrane protease, serine 3 (TMPRSS3) in mouse cochlea, and to investigate the significance of TMPRSS3 in the inner ear. METHODS: The protein expression of TMPRSS3 in C57/BL mouse cochlea was identified and detected by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Different cochlear tissues, such as spiral ganglion neurons, corti organ, stria vascularis and so on, were separated to detect the gene expression of TMPRSS3 by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The cochlear tissues with different ages were collected and the expression of TMPRSS3 mRNA was detected by qPCR. RESULTS: TMPRSS3 was mainly expressed in the spiral ganglion neurons, and there was TMPRSS3 mRNA in the cochlea in groups with different age. The expression level of TMPRSS3 mRNA was much weaker. CONCLUSION The distribution of TMPRSS3 was observed in many regions of the mouse cochlea, but mainly in the spiral ganglion neurons. This indicates that TMPRSS3 may be involved in the physiological functional regulation of the spiral ganglion neurons.
Animals ; Cochlea ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Serine Proteases ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective:To investigate the survival benefit of radiotherapy on the basis of systemic treatment for stage ⅣB esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods:Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, we collected the treatment information of 298 patients with newly diagnosed stage ⅣB ESCC admitted to Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2016 to February 2021. All patients were divided into two groups based on treatment: early radiotherapy intervention group (CRT group, n=197) and salvage radiotherapy intervention or no intervention group (CT group, n=101). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance baseline characteristics between two groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate and log-rank was used to test the difference. Cox model was used to analyze the multivariate prognosis. Results:In the CRT and CT groups, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 52.8% vs. 31.5%( P=0.006) and 98.9% vs. 85.4%( P=0.001) respectively, and the 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 74.2% vs. 52.8%、31.5% vs. 10.1% and 15.7% vs. 2.2%, respectively. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.5 months (95% CI: 6.7-10.3 months) vs. 4.4 months (95% CI: 3.5-5.3 months)( P<0.001). Median overall survival (OS) were 17.1 months (95% CI: 14.9-19.3 months) vs. 12.7 months (95% CI: 8.0-17.4 months)( P<0.001). The difference of adverse reactions was mainly in hematology. Conclusions:For newly diagnosed stage ⅣB patients with ESCC, radiotherapy should be combined with systemic therapy as early as possible. It yields longer PFS and OS, and effectively improves dysphagia. Adverse reactions are tolerated. Further validation is recommended in larger prospective studies.

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of dexmetomidine (DEX) in improving lung injury in septic mice.Methods:Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to the blank group (NC), sham operation group (sham), cecal ligation and puncture group (CLP), and Dex treatment group (CLP+DEX), 36 mice per group. Mice in the CLP group were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL sterile saline 15 min before CLP, and mice in the CLP + DEX group were intraperitoneally injected with 50 μg/kg DEX 15 min before CLP. The survival rate was recorded within 24 h after CLP. The mice were sacrificed at 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after CLP, and lung tissues were collected. The expression levels of cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) and lncRNA-HOTAIR in the lung of mice were detected by qPCR. RAW264.7 cell were cultured in vitro, LPS (100 ng/mL) and DEX (1 μ mol/L) were used to establish a cell model for studying the mechanism of Dex, and the expression of cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) and lncRNA-HOTAIR in RAW264.7 cell model were detected by qPCR. In addition, the effect of lncRNA-HOTAIR on sepsis was explored in vivo and in vitro by knockdown or overexpression of HOTAIR.Results:The survival rate of the CLP+DEX group was higher than that of the CLP group within 24 h after surgery, and the levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the lungs were significantly lower than those in the CLP group at 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery ( P<0.05). In addition, the level of lncRNA HOTAIR showed that the expression level of lncRNA HOTAIR in the lungs of mice were decreased after Dex treatment, and were decreased 1.1 times ( P<0.05), 4.0 times ( P<0.01) and 3.8 times ( P<0.01) at 6, 12, and 24 h, respectively. Compared with the NC group, knockdown of HOTAIR significantly decreased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in septic mice ( P<0.05), and overexpression of HOTAIR significantly increased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in septic mice ( P<0.01). Conclusions:DEX can reduce the production of inflammatory factors in the lungs of septic mice and improve the survival rate of septic mice. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of HOTAIR expression.

Objective: To understand the status of teaching environmental health in primary and secondary schools and explore its association with myopia, so as to provide a basis for precision myopia prevention and control. Methods: From September to October 2020, a stratified cluster sampling method was used in 16 districts of Shanghai. After matching the teaching environment testing classrooms with the classrooms where the students were surveyed, totally 470 classrooms and 14 624 students were monitored. Trained professional technicians used laser range finder, luxmeter to measure parameters about teaching environmental health. Students were subject vision testing and questionnaires. Multilevel models was used to analyze the association between teaching environment and screening myopia. Results: The qualified rates of each indicators of teaching environmental health were as follows: window to floor area ratio (93.0%), classroom area per capita (82.1%), uniformity ratio of illuminance of blackboard ( 79.7% ), blackboard size (68.7%), daylight factor (67.0%), blackboard hanging height (66.9%), average illuminance on desk (66.4%), uniformity ratio of illuminance of desk (63.6%), reflectance of blackboard (46.8%), average illuminance on blackboard (41.4%), reflectance of wall (33.2%), desk and chair allocation compliance rate (19.8%). The results of two level Logistic model analysis showed that unqualified average illuminance on blackboard was positively associated with screening myopia ( OR =1.24, 95% CI = 1.05 -1.47, P <0.05). Conclusion Teaching environmental health of primary and secondary schools in Shanghai is not optimistic, teaching environment especially the desk and chair allocation compliance rate need to be improved. The average illumination on blackboard is positively correlated with screening myopia, suggesting that myopia prevention and control can focus on improving the illuminance on blackboard.