Objective To investigate the relationship between carotid intima media thickness (IMT) and pulse pressure index (PPI) in elderly hypertensive patients.PPI was defined as 24 h mean pulse pressure(PP)/24 h mean SBP.Methods One hundred and three elderly hypertensive patients were categorized by PPI level:group A (PPI

Ferulic acid (FA) was loaded into liposomes via calcium acetate gradient with (80.2 +/- 5.2)% entrapment efficiency. The average sizes of blank liposome and FA liposome were about 155 nm and 154 nm, respectively. The zeta potential of blank liposome and FA liposome were (13.14 +/- 1.67) mV and (4.12 +/- 0.05) mV, respectively. Unilamellar vesicles were present in freeze-fracture electron microscopy. In the pharmacodynamic studies, the protective effect of liposomal ferulic acid on tBHP-challenged U937 cells was measured with the morphology of cell injury, mitochondrial transmembrane potential alternation and cell viability assay used as index. The results of MTT assay, microscopy indicated that FA liposomes exhibited greater antioxidant activity than FA solution on U937 cell.
Antioxidants ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cholesterol ; chemistry ; Coumaric Acids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Drug Carriers ; Humans ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Particle Size ; U937 Cells

The dialysis method was employed to prepare blank and doxorubicin (DOX) loaded micelles formed by temperature- and pH- sensitive polyhistidine-co-polyDL-lactide-co-glycolide-co-polyethyleneglycol-co-polyDL-lactide-co-glycolide-co-polyhistidine (PHis-b-PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA-b-PHis). The critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of the copolymers were measured with Pyrene Fluorescent Probe Technique. The temperature- and pH- sensitive properties of the blank micelles solution were investigated by optical transmittance measurement. The morphology and diameter of DOX micelles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The entrapment rate and drug-loading rate were determined with dialysis method. The in vitro release study was further performed to examine the temperature- and pH-responsive drug release behavior from DOX-loaded micelles. The results indicated that the CMC, entrapment efficiency and drug-loaded amount of the micelles were 7.5 x 10(-3) g x L(-1), 85.2 +/- 3.1% and 10.4 +/- 4.5%, respectively. The DOX micelle was globular-shaped with a mean diameter of 91.1 +/- 15.8 nm. The transmittance of micelle solution consistently increased with the increasing temperature or decreasing pH. In comparison to the drug release profile at physiological conditions (37 degrees C, pH 7.4), the DOX-loaded micelles showed faster drug release rate at higher temperature (41 degrees C), lower pH (pH 7.0, pH 6.5, pH 5.0) or higher temperature and lower pH (41 degrees C, pH 5.0). This indicated that the micelles showed a temperature and pH-triggered drug release pattern. Base on the above results, it can be concluded that PHis-b-PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA-b-PHis block copolymer micelles which respond to temperature and pH stimuli are promising smart carriers for anti-tumor drugs with the advantages of temperature- and pH- triggered drug release.
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Histidine ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Micelles ; Particle Size ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Polyglactin 910 ; chemistry ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Temperature

The discovery, sorting and identification methods as well as targeted drug delivery systems for cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been reviewed by consulting the recent research papers. CSCs have been believed to be responsible for the occurrence and development of chemo-resistance, leading to the failure of chemotherapy. Much progress has been made in the approaches for CSCs targeting drug delivery systems. The understanding and targeted drug delivery systems for CSCs are promising to provide an alternative for cancer therapy.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo analyze the tendency in the incidence of malignant tumors in nutrition-intervened population of Lin County.

METHODSSubjects who had been enrolled in the General Population Trial, Lin County Nutrition Intervention Trial were followed up and the data of malignant tumors were collected with collaboration of National Cancer Institute/National Institute of Health. Incidences of malignant tumors during and after nutrition intervention were calculated and compared.

RESULTSEsophageal cancer, cardiac cancer, and stomach cancer were constantly the three leading cancers, accounting for 84.06% and 83.74% of the malignant tumors in men and women, respectively. The incidences of lung cancer and liver cancer in men showed increasing tendencies, while similar tendencies were found in those of stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, and liver cancer in women. With the prolonging of the follow-up, the incidences of upper digestive tract cancers declined (except stomach cancer in women).

CONCLUSIONSThe upper digestive tract cancers remain the leading malignant tumors, although their incidences may decline with longer-term follow-up. Prevention and control of tumors in Lin County should still be focused on the esophageal cancer, cardiac cancer, and stomach cancer, as well as lung cancer and liver cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo prepare the long-circulating nanoliposomes of curcumin.

METHODThe long-circulating nanoliposomes were prepared by ethanol infusion and the encapsulation efficiency was determindated by the mini-column centrifugation. The effect of some factors on the encapsulation efficiency, such as the buffer solutions, the weight ratio of curcumin to SPC, the weight ratio of SPC to Chol, the pH of buffer solution and the iron strength of water phase, was investigated respectively. Then the formulation was optimized by orthogonal design.

RESULTThe encapsulation efficiency of the curcumin liposomes was (88.27 +/- 2.16)%, and the average diameter of the liposomes was (136 +/- 18) nm. There was no change on encapsulation efficency within 30 d.

CONCLUSIONThe preparation of curcumin liposomes was easy and practicable and the pharmaceutical characterization showed that the curcumin liposomes are stable.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Curcumin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Drug Prescriptions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Liposomes ; blood ; chemistry ; Molecular Weight ; Nanostructures ; analysis ; Particle Size ; Sodium Chloride ; chemistry

Recently the use of peptides in bee venom (PBV) for cancer therapy has attracted considerable attention. In this study, the sterically stabilized liposomal PBV (PBV-SL) was prepared using soybean phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and cholesterol-PEG-COOH. The humanized antihepatoma disulfide-stabilized Fv (hdscFv25) was coupled to sterically stabilized liposomes using the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester method. The hdscFv25-immunoliposomes (SIL[hdscFv25]) were immunoreactive as determined by ELISA assay. SIL[hdscFv25] showed higher tumor cells selectivity. PBV-SIL[hdscFv25] can kill SMMC-7721 cells in vitro with higher efficiency than non-targeted liposomes. Whereas cytotoxicties were compared for Hela cells, no significant differences was observed between PBV-SIL[hdscFv25] and PBV-SL. Sterically stabilized immunoliposomal peptides in bee venom could be one drug targeting delivery system.
Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Bee Venoms ; chemistry ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Immunoconjugates ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Melitten ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Peptides ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

Objective To study the dynamic changes of cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-?),interleukin-6 (IL-6),IL-8 in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of asphyxia neonates,and to analyze the relationship between cytokines levels and severity of brain damage and neurological outcome. Methods The concentrations of TNF-?,IL-6,IL-8 in serum and CSF were measured by radioimmunoassay in 63 asphyxia neonates. Neurological development was evaluated at 12 months by children′s developmental scale of china.Results The serum concentrations of TNF-?, IL-6,IL-8 were significantly higher in asphyxiated neonates than those in the controls,and they were correlated with the degree of encephalopathy. The level of serum TNF-? was hig-(hest) at the first day and IL-6 was highest at the third day. There was no marked dynamic changes within 5 days in serum IL-8 level. The concentrations of TNF-?,IL-8 in CSF were higher at the first and the third day.The dynamic changes of IL-6 in CSF were similar in serum and they were positively correlated. The serum concentration of IL-6 in severe brain injury group was much higher than those of normal and mild group.The CSF concentration of IL-6 in severe brain injury group was much higher than that of normal group. The CSF concentration of IL-8 in severe brain injury group was much higher than those of the normal and mild group. Conclusions The concentrations of TNF-?,IL-6 and IL-8 are increased both in serum and CSF in asphyxiated neonates which are correlated with severity of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Cytokine-mediated inflammatory reactions may participate in the mechanism of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury after asphyxiaion.The concentration of IL-6 in serum and IL-6, IL-8 in CSF are correlated with the neurological outcome.

Basing on the synthesis of pH-sensitive amphiphilic block copolymer poly (2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-poly (D, L-lactide)(PEOz-PDLLA), this paper presents the preparation of docetaxel-loaded pH-sensitive block copolymer micelles using film dispersion method. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was measured by pyrene fluorescent probe technique. The entrapment efficiency and drug-loaded amount were determined by HPLC. The morphology, diameter and surface potential of the micelles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential analyzer, respectively. The in vitro release behavior of DTX from polymeric micelles was investigated using dialysis method. The results indicated that the CMC, drug-loaded amount and entrapment efficiency of the micelles was 1.0 x 10(-3) g x L(-1), 15.0% and 91.1%, respectively. The micelles had a narrow size distribution, with a mean diameter of 28.7 nm. The micelle was globular-shaped and its zeta potential was (1.19 +/- 0.12) mV. In pH 7.4 PBS, docetaxel was released in a sustained manner from the micelles; while in PBS at pH 5.0, drug was released more rapidly, which suggested the pH-sensitive drug release behavior of the PEOz-PDLLA micelles. According to all the studies above, it can be concluded that the PEOz-PDLLA block copolymer micelles may be applied as promising drug delivery system for hydrophobic anti-tumor drugs.
Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Micelles ; Oxazoles ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Polyamines ; Polyesters ; chemistry ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; metabolism

The dialysis method was employed to load adriamycin into the micelles formed by temperature and pH sensitive polyhistidine-co-DL-lactide-co-glycolide-polyethylene glycol poly DL-lactide-co-glycolide-co-histidine (OLH-b-PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA-b-OLH). The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the copolymer was measured with pyrene fluorescent probe method under different temperatures. The entrapment rate and drug-loading rate were determined with dialysis method. The diameter, morphology and surface potential of the copolymer micelles were investigated by corresponding instruments, respectively. The release behavior of adriamycin from copolymer micelles and the pH sensitivity were studied. The CMC of the copolymers ranged from 0.022 4 to 0.001 7 microg x mL(-1). The entrapment rate and drug-loading rate were 92.8% and 15.7%, respectively. The micelles have a mean diameter of (61.7 +/- 13.4) nm, and zeta potential was -9.88 mV. The in vitro adriamycin release rate increased with the pH dropping from 7.4 to 5.0. The results indicated that the CMC of the copolymers decreased as the raising of temperature, drug release behavior from the micelles possessed clearly pH sensitivity, and the copolymers may have a potential in targeted delivery system for anticancer drugs.
Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Micelles ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Polyglactin 910 ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Temperature