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.

Chronic Disease ; Constipation ; surgery ; Humans

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

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.

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

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Flos Daturae alkaloids (FDA) on TGF-beta1-1uuuu;U epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human pulmonary adenocarcinoma A549 cells.

METHODSA549 cells in vitro cultured were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the blank control group, the TGF-beta1 group, the low dose FDA group, the medium dose FDA group, and the high dose FDA group. The morphologies of A549 cells were observed. Expressions of cytokeratin (CK)-19 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) were detected by Western blot and real-time PCR at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively.

RESULTSA549 cells in the TGF-beta1, group turned from cobblestone to spindle shape gradually. Those in low, medium and high dose FDA groups showed similar shapes to those of the TGF-beta1 group. There was no statistical difference in the morphology of A549 cells among the 3 dose FDA groups (P > 0.05). Western blot showed that, when compared with the blank control group, the expression of CK-19 was down-regulated, but the expression of alpha-SMA was up-regulated in the TGF-beta1 group (P < 0.01). Compared with the TGF-beta1, group, the expression of CK-19 was up-regulated, but the expression of alpha-SMA was suppressed in low, medium and high dose FDA groups (P < 0.01). The CK-19 expression obviously increased, but the alpha-SMA expression was suppressed in high dose FDA group at 72 h (P < 0.01). Real-time PCR results showed, as compared with the TGF-beta1 group, the mRNA expression of CK-19 was increased, but the mRNA expression of alpha-SMA was reduced in low, medium and high dose FDA groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSFDA had no effect on EMT morphological changes of TGF-beta1 induced A549 cells. FDA could reverse characteristic markers of A549 cells during EMT to some extent, such as expressions of CK-19 and alpha-SMA. The expression of CK-19 (as the epithelium marker) increased and the expression of alpha-SMA (as the mesenchymal marker) was reduced. Besides, they were most obviously seen in the high dose FDA group at 72 h in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Actins ; Adenocarcinoma ; Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Datura ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Animals ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; Humans ; Immune System Phenomena ; Toll-Like Receptors

Objective To investigate the role of T follicular helper ( Tfh) cells in the immuno-pathogenesis of persistent immune thrombocytopenic purpura ( pITP) .Methods Twenty children with pITP and twenty healthy controls were enrolled in this study .The proportion of CD4+CXCR5+ICOShigh PD-1high T ( cTfh) cells and the expression of ICOSL on CD 19+B cells in peripheral blood of the patients and healthy subjects were analyzed by flow cytometry .The expressions of Bcl-6, c-Maf, IL-21 and ICOSL at mRNA level were detected by real-time PCR.The plasma concentrations of IL-2, IL-6 and IL-21 were determined by ELISA.Results (1) Compared with the healthy controls , the proportions of cTfh cells increased signifi-cantly in patients with pITP [(17.45±9.04) %vs.(7.57±2.57) %, P<0.05], but decreased with the treatment of dexamethasone (DEX) for 7 days [(5.93±1.64) %vs.(17.45±9.04) %, P<0.05].(2) The expression of Bcl-6, c-Maf and IL-21 at mRNA level in patients with pITP were higher than those in healthy controls (P<0.05).(3) Compared with healthy controls, the expression of ICOSL at mRNA and protein levels in CD19+B cells were significantly up-regulated in patients with pITP (P<0.05), which showed no significant changes after treatment with DEX (P>0.05).(4) The plasma concentration of IL-21 was remarkably elevated in patients with pITP , regardless of DEX treatment (P<0.05).But the plasma concentrations of IL-2 and IL-6 showed no significant changes compared with control group (P>0.05).Con-clusion The immunopathogenesis of persistent immune thrombocytopenic purpura might be associated with the hyper-activation of Tfh cells caused by excessive expression of ICOSL and IL-21.The persistent high expression of ICOSL and IL-21 might be one of the important factors resulting in the recurrence of pITP in children .

Objective To investigate the mechanism of disturbed immunological function induced by Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) infection through evaluating NKG2D expressions in NK cells and CD8+ T lymphocytes from children with infectious mononucleosis.Methods Twenty-nine children with infectious mononucleosis (IM) and twenty-five age-matched healthy children were enrolled in the study.NKG2D/NKG2A expressions in NK cells and CD8+T lymphocytes,and NKG2D ligand MHC Ⅰ chain-related molecules A(MICA) and UL-16binding proteins (ULBP-1) expressions on CD14+ mononuclear cells (MC) were analyzed by flow cytometry.The concentrations of cytokines such as IL-7,IL-12,IL-15,IFN-γ,TGF-β and soluble MICA(sMICA) in plasma were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results (1) Compared with the control group,NKG2D expression was significantly decreased in both NK cells and CD8+T lymphocytes from children with IM (P＜0.05),especially in the three cases of suspected EVB-HLH children.(2)There was no difference in the expression of MICA and ULBP-1 in CD14+ MC between the children with IM and the normal control(P＞0.05).(3)The concentrations of IL-15 and TGF-β in plasma were lower than those of the control group (P＜0.05),while the levels of IL-7,IL-12,IFN-γ and sMICA were up-regulated(P＜0.05) in children with IM.(4)NKG2A expression in NKcells in children with IM was significantly increased as compared with healthy controls(P＜0.05),however,there was no differences in the expression of NKG2A in CD8+ T lymphocytes between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion Remarkable down-regulated expressions of NKG2D in NK cells and CD8+T lymphocytes might be one of the factors causing disturbed immunological function in children with EBV infection,which might have a close relationship with abnormal cytokine milieu of IL-15 and IL-12or high concentration of sMICA.

Objective To observe the effects of Toxoplasma lysate antigen(TLA)on growth inhibition and tumor angiogenesis in mice B16 melanoma.Methods Twenty mice bearing B16 melanoma were established by subcutaneous inoculating with B16 cells and were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group 0.1 ml TLA was administered once every two days for the treatment group starting on the seventh day after inoculation.and an equivalent volume of sterile saline was administered similarly in the control group.The mice were sacrificed on 21 th day after the tumor cells was injected.The anti-tumor effects of TLA were observed by measuring the size and weight of tumor.The microvessel density(MVD)and expression of vascdar endotheilial growth factor(VEGF)were observed by immunohistochemical method.Results TLA Can markedly inhibit the B16 melamoa growth in mice.The volume and weight of the tumors in the experimental group were significantly decreased compared with the control group(P＜0.05),and the turnout inhibitory rate was 49.6%.The MVD of experimental group and control was(44.4000±4.7888)and(31.9000±2.6012)respectively,and with a significant difference between two groups(P＜0.05).The VEGF in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion TLA can inhibit the growth of the B16 melanoma in mice.suggesting that the anti-tumor effect induced by TLA via a possible antianigionesis mechanism.