Aim Targeted drug delivery in the brain is the necessary way for the treatment of brain diseases. In our study, a new peptide derived from the rabies vi-rus glycoprotein ( RVG-derived peptide, RDP ) was used as a targeted carrier to modify the curcumin stealth liposomes, and their characteristics and brain targeting effect were studied. Methods The curcumin liposomes were prepared by thin film dispersion. The release test in vitro was conducted to investigate their drug release. Curcumin distribution in several organs of mice was investigated by caudal vein injection of curcumin suspension liquid ( CUR ) , curcumin lipo-somes ( CUR-L) , RDP modified curcumin stealth lipo-somes ( RDP-CUR-L) via HPLC assay at different time points. Results The prepared stealth nano liposomes had a size of around 100 nm, and also had a good dis-persion and reproducibility. The entrapment efficiency was larger than 85%. After caudal vein injection of CUR, CUR-L and RDP-CUR-L in mice respectively, no curcumin was detected in brain of CUR group, and only a little was detected in CUR-L group. Neverthe-less, high concentration of curcumin was detected in RDP-CUR-L group. Conclusion RDP can deliver li-posome into the brain, which may provide a new meth-od for the treatment of brain diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of ZEB2 and E-cadherin mRNA and protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissues. METHOD: The expressions of ZEB2 and Ecadherin in 39 cases of NPC tissue and 12 cases of nasopharyngeal inflammation tissue were detected by Real-time PCR method and immunohistochemical technique. To assess their correlations with clinicopathological parameters of NPC and the interrelationship between them. RESULT: Both the expression of ZEB2 mRNA and protein were higher in NPC tissues than that in inflammation tissues (P < 0.05). Abnormal expression of ZEB2 mRNA and protein in NPC were significantly associated to N stage and clinic stage (P < 0.05), but the difference in expression between the different gender, age and T stage were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Both the expression of Ecadherin mRNA and protein were higher in NPC tissues than that in inflammation tissues (P < 0.05). Abnormal expression of Ecadherin mRNA and protein in NPC were significantly associated to N stage (P < 0.05), but the different expression between the different gender, age, T stage and clinic stage were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In NPC tissues, the expression of ZEB2 mRNA was negative correlated with the expression of E-cadherin mRNA (r = -0.367, P < 0.05). The expression of ZEB1 protein was negative correlated with the expression of E-cadherin protein (r = -0.322, P < 0.05), the differences were both statistically significant. CONCLUSION The expression of ZEB2 was up-regulated in NPC, while the expression of E-cadherin was down-regulated, their expression was significantly negative correlated, and might be associated with metastasis of NPC, ZEB2 may promote the invasion and metastasis of NPC by inhibiting the expression of E-cadherin.
Antigens, CD ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma ; Down-Regulation ; Homeodomain Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Nasopharynx ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Repressor Proteins ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2

Objective To discuss the correlationship between the diagnosis of surgical pathology and the signs of malignancy which is both displayed by breast conventional mammography and amplificatory mammography with partial compression.Methods 65 cases with breast cancer were examined by both breast conventional mammography and amplificatory mammography with partial compression.The results of the two methods were analyzed.Results In all 65 cases of breast cancer,the comparison between breast conventional mammography and amplificatory mammography with partial compression could provide 16/60 cases in the X-ray signs of malignancy,which were in accordance with pathological examination results,19/41cases in the occurrence of calcification,13/37 cases in ductal calcification,0/4 cases in mixed type calcification,18/46 and 14/59 cases in the occurrence of lobulation and spicule signs.Conclusion Amplificatory mammography with partial compression can provide better insight in breast cancer than conventional mammography,especially in the region of dense shadow,small calcification and dense breast lesions,amplificatory mammography with partial compression can provide higher accuracy in diagnosis,especially for early breast cancer.

BACKGROUND:Bisphosphonates that can increase bone density and inhibit bone resorption have been clinical y confirmed, but the structure of the bone matrix has been less studied.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of alendronate on bone structure and bone matrix metabolism, and then to investigate the control ing mechanism by which alendronate improves bone mass and increase bone intensity.
METHODS:An ovariectomized rat model was prepared and intervened with alendronate as treatment group. Model and sham-surgery groups were set as controls. Alendronate effects on bone mineral density, bone metabolism, bone biomechanics, and bone structure were observed in bone loss rats using bone imaging, bone tissue pathology and biomechanical test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Alendronate intervention could fight against bone loss as compared with model group at weeks 4, 8, and 12 after treatment (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of urinary deoxypyridinoline and serum carboxyterminal propeptide of type Ⅰ procol agen was decreased significantly after alendronate intervention (P<0.05);the maximal load, maximal pressure and modelus on the lumbar vertebrae and femur were increased as wel as ratio of urinary pyridinoline/deoxypyridinoline of type Ⅰ procol agen (P<0.05). These findings suggest that alendronate intervention can inhibit bone loss in rats induced by estrogen deficiency, increase biomechanical properties, improve bone matrix structure, and meanwhile, recover the Ⅰ col agen crosslinking component due to ovariectomy.

Objective:To investigate the effect of 3 HLA matching measures on preventing hyperacute rejection(HAR). Methods:Among 1 152 cases,550 cases received anti donor lymphocytotoxic crossmatch(LXM),335 cases received LXM and HLA serological test,267 cases of the latter again received panel reaction antibody(PRA)test, the change of the HAR rate with different HLA matching measures were analyzed. Results:If LXM value ≤10% or HLA matched loci ≥3,the rate of HAR was unrelated to LXM value or HLA matched loci. HAR rate decreased significantly in patients with LXM and HLA serological test, and decreased more markedly in those with additional PRA test compared with those only with LXM test. Conclusion:HLA test and PRA are necessary and effective to avoid HAR.

Objective One typical case with stress cardiomyopathy was reported and the current knowledge of the syndrome was reviewed to improve relevant knowledge.Methods A 71-year-old female patient presented dyspnea and chest pain due to emotional stress.ECG,echocardiography,selective coronary artery angiography,left ventriculography,~(99)Tc~m-MIBI single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT),~(18)F-FDG SPECT and MRI were performed.Results Electrocardiogram at admission showed ST segment elevation and T wave inversion in leads V1—V4.Pathological Q wave occurred 1 week later,it disappeared 1 month later however and severe T wave inversion occurred.Normal or slightly elevated cardiac enzymes in the blood were found during the course.Left ventriculogram at admission showed left ventricular apical ballooning with LVEF of 30%.The ballooning volume was about 3/4 of left ventricular volume, without any corresponding coronary artery diseases found in coronary angiogram.The abnormal apical ballooning decreased significantly in the follow-up left ventriculogram performed one month later.The LVEF rose up to 63.6%.~(99)Tc~m-MIBI and ~(18)F-FDG SPECT showed mismatch of perfusion and metabolism in the corresponding region,indicating presence of viable myocardium.MRI showed left ventricular apical ballooning without perfusion defect and late enhancement,indicating viability of corresponding myocardium. Conclusions Emotional stress can cause transient left ventricular apical ballooning called"stress cardiomyopathy".Either ~(99)Tc~m-MIBI SPECT associated with ~(18)F-FDG SPECT or delayed enhancement MRI plays an important role in identification of myocardial viability,which can efficiently guide clinical treatment.

OBJECTIVETo study on the drug release characteristics and mechanism of gastrodin ion-activated nasal in situ gel in vitro.

METHODRegularity and mechanism of the drug release of gastrodin nasal in situ gel were studied by using the diffusion cell model and the membrane-less dissolution model, respectively. A novel kinesis diffusion cell model was designed according to the characteristics of release environment of nasal cavity. It was used to investigate the effect of adhesiveness on the release of the in situ gel.

RESULTDrug release of gastrodin nasal in situ gel followed the one order release model. Erosion rate of the gel was low and not linearly correlated with the release rate. Compared with gastrodin solution, the nasal in situ gel could increase release time and release amount.

CONCLUSIONGastrodin in the nasal in situ gel is released mainly by diffusion rather than erosion. Release amount of the in situ gel in nasal cavity may be obviously increased because of its adhesiveness.

Adhesiveness ; Benzyl Alcohols ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Calibration ; Diffusion ; Gels ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Kinetics ; Models, Chemical ; Nose ; metabolism ; Solubility

Objective To compare 99Tcm-MIBI MPI with delayed enhancement MRI (DE-MRI) in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM). Methods Forty patients with IDCM were included. They underwent both rest 99Tcm-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging and DE-MRI within 7 days. 99Tcm-MIBI MPI was performed to identify diffuse or segmental abnormal perfusion patterns including reduced or defect perfusion segments. DE-MRI images were divided into 4 categories: no delayed enhancement, septal, subendocardial and transmural delayed enhancement, x2 test was used for data analysis. Results Diffuse and segmental perfusion abnormality on 99Tcm-MIBI MPI were found in 19 (47.5%) and 21 (52.5%)patients respectively, while DE-MRI enhancement was simultaneously found in 5 patients of the former (5/19, 26.3%) and 18 (18/21, 85.7%) of the latter (x2 =14.401, P＜0. 001). For those (n=18) with both segmental perfusion abnormality and DE-MRI enhancement, the number of segments of the 4 DE-MRI respectively. A significant difference was found in the DE-MRI enhancement categories between normal and defect perfusion segments (x2 = 29. 183, P ＜0.001 ) and between reduced and defect perfusion segments as well (x2 =25. 110, P＜0. 001). Conclusions Both diffuse and segmental perfusion abnormalities on 99Tcm-MIBI MPI can be found in patients with IDCM. DE-MRI enhancement is more frequently found in patients with segmental perfusion abnormality.

AIM:To investigate the impact of long-term administration of pentoxifylline (PTX) on morphology and inflammation of the lung in mouse models with chronic exposure of cigarette smoke. METHODS: Male BALB/c mice were randomized into the following four study groups: smoke-exposure only, shamed smoke-exposure, smoke-exposure and PTX administration, shamed smoke-exposure and PTX administration. Animals assigned to smoke-exposure were put inside a chamber twice a day for cigarette smoke exposure. The oral dose of PTX allocated to each mouse was about 20 mg?kg-1?d-1. Animals were sacrificed anaesthetically at day 120. Slices of lung were stained with H&E for pathological analysis. Modified ashcroft pulmonary fibrosis score (mAPFS) was estimated, and IFN-? (a Th1 cytokine), IL-4 (a Th2 cytokine) in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and hydroxyproline in mouse lung tissue were measured by commercial kits of ELISA assay. RESULTS: Lungs in smoke-exposure only group exhibited emphysema-like morphology, low mAPFS (median 1.50, 95%CI 1.25-3.75), lowest hydroxyproline (2.43?0.11) mg/L and lowest ratio of IL-4 to IFN-? (20.3?25.5), whereas lungs in smoke-exposure and PTX interference group exhibited interstitial fibrosis-like morphology, highest mAPFS (4.75, 4.09-5.71), highest hydroxyproline (5.57?0.55) mg/L and highest ratio of IL-4 to IFN-? (70.7?59.9) among the four study groups (P

ObjectiveTo investigate the size effect of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles on proliferation and apoptosis of osteoblast-like cells.MethodsCetyltrimethylammnonium bromide (CTAB) was used to regulate the size of nano hydroxyapatite (nHAP) particles.All obtained particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM),X-ray diffraction,dynamic light scattering and chemical analysis.HAP films were obtained by slowly coating cover glasses with 1％ HAP particle suspension.MG-63 cells on three different films(20HAP,40HAP and 80HAP) were cocultured for up to 5 days.Cell proliferation assay was obtained by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT).Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometric detection.Cell ultrastructure morphology was observed by TEM observation.ResultsnHAP with diameter of 20 nm,40 nm and 80 nm were synthesized and and analyzed.The MG-63 cells were cultured on three different fihns.The optical density value of cells on 20HAP was 1.22±0.13 after 5 days incubation,and there was no different compared to the control group(F=6.843,P=0.124).Cell number and viability were significantly higher on 20HAP compared to large nHAP after 5 days incubation.The percentage of apoptotic cells increased with increasiug nHAP particle size.TEM images showed 20HAP was found in cytoplasm and cell morphology had no changes.ConclusionBoth cell proliferation and cell apoptosis are related to the size of the nHAP particles.20HAP was the most effective on promoting cell growth and inhibiting cell apoptosis.