OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pharmacokinetics of citalopram hydrobromide(CTH)thermosensitive nasal gel and further evaluate its brain delivery in rats. METHODS: The concentrations of CTH in rat plasma and brain tissue were determined by HPLC method. With intragastric administration (ig) of CTH solution as control, CTH thermosensitive nasal gel was intranasally given to rats and the concentrations of CTH in plasma and brain tissues were then determined. Moreover, the main pharmacokinetic parameters of CTH in plasma and brain tissues such as tmax, ρmax,relative bioavailability (Fr) and drug targeting efficiency (DTE) were estimated. RESULTS: Main pharmacokinetic parameters of CTH following nasal and ig administration to rats such as tmax and ρmax were 5 and 45 min, 2 152.86 and 589.68 ng•mL-1 in plasma, and 5 and 45 min, 17 660.56 and 1 171.68 ng•g-1 in brain tissue, respectively. Finally, the Fr and DTE of CTH thermosensitive nasal gel were found to be 184.91% and 250.03%, respectively. CONCLUSION: CTH thermosensitive nasal gel may be an ideal non-oral new dosage form with many advantages such as rapid in vivo absorption, high bioavailability and obvious brain delivery characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the formulation of citalopram hydrobromide (CTH ) thermosensitive nasal gel and further evaluate its in vitro properties. METHODS: With gelling temperature and gelling time as evaluating indexes, central composite design-response surface and single factor experimental design method were used to optimize the formulation of CTH thermosensitive nasal gel by using poloxamer 407(F127) and carbomer 940 (CP940) as gel materials. Meanwhile, nasal mucosa permeation enhancer for CTH was then sieved by using Franz diffusion cell and ex vivo sheep nasal mucosa as experimental model. Finally, CTH thermosensitive nasal gel was prepared with cold method and then its in vitro properties was evaluated. In vitro cumulative erosion and cumulative release rate of the drug thermosensitive nasal gel were investigated by membrane-free dissolution method and dialysis membrane method, respectively. Moreover, the effect of temperature and pH on the viscosity of the drug nasal gel formulation was also evaluated. RESULTS: The optimal formulation of the thermosensitive nasal gel consisted of CTH 8.0%, F127 20.27%, CP940 0.17%, DM-β-CD 3.0%, ethylparaben 0.05% and distilled water. The gelling temperature, gelling time and pH of the drug thermosensitive nasal gel were found to be about 32.5 ℃,42 s and 5.0, respectively. The in vitro cumulative erosion and cumulative release percentage were both greater than 90% in 55 min and furthermore there was good linear correlation between these two parameters (r=0.998 6). Additionally, in vitro cumulative release of the drug from the gel formulation was determined to be 92% within 8 h, which conformed to Higuchi kinetic equation. Furthermore, the viscosity of the drug nasal gel was influenced by temperature as well as pH in different extent. CONCLUSION: The optimized formulation of the CTH thermosensitive nasal gel with central composite design-response surface method and single factor design method shows suitable gelling temperature, gelling time, pH value for nasal preparation and obvious in vitro drug sustained release characteristics.

At present, cancer is still one of the most serious threats to human health. Despite the wide application of multiple cancer therapies in clinical practice, the therapeutic effects of most cancers are still far from satisfactory. In recent years, the discovery of regulated cell death may be a good first step on the road to treat cancer. Ferroptosis is triggered by lipid peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in cell membrane catalyzed by iron ion. It has been widely concerned as an emerging target for cancer therapy. With the booming of biomedical nanotechnology, ferroptosis as an emerging therapeutic target has attracted extensive attention. Here, we review the advance on the intersection of ferroptosis and biomedical nanotechnology. First, the research background of ferroptosis and nano-preparation as well as the feasibility of ferroptosis-based nano-drug delivery systems (nano-DDS) for cancer treatment are presented and analyzed. Then, the strategies for inducing ferroptosis based on nano-DDS are summarized, mainly including: the promotion of Fenton reaction, the inhibition of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX-4) and the restriction of the cysteine-glutamate exchange transporter (system Xc^-). Furthermore, the combination therapy strategies based on biomedical nanotechnology induced ferroptosis are also discussed. Finally, we shine the spotlight on the prospects and challenges of ferroptosis-based nanotherapeutics in clinical application.

Aim To investigate estradiol inhibition of neointimal proliferation after rat carotid artery balloon injury. Methods Eight to ten-week-old SD rats (male,n=21,female,n=21) were divided into intact control(n=7),gonadectomy control(n=7) and estradiol (n=7, gonadectomy)groups in each sex. Left carotid artery was not injured with 2.0 F PTCA balloon until estradiol was injected for three days. Rats were killed 2 wk after injury. Neointimal areas and media area, ratios of intimal areas/media areas were measured with computer. Results Male neointimal areas and ratios of intimal areas /media areas in estradiol group were less than those in intact control group significantly(all P0.05). Conclusions Estrdiol inhibits neointimal proliferation after the gonadectomy in rats undergoing carotid artery balloon injury.

Along with the rapid development of molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, and immunology, there is a new understanding on the pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas. The pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas is considered to be related with gene mutation, growth factors, cell receptors, transcription factors, and cellular signaling pathways.
Adenoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Keratin-5 ; metabolism ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prostate ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Total mRNA was extracted from lymphocytes separated from the peripheral blood of allergic patients, and then variable region of heavy chain (VH) and variable region of light chain (VL) cDNA library were constructed by RT-PCR. Human scFv templates for rabbit reticulocyte lysate ribosome display were assembled by primers and linker peptide (Gly4Ser)3. mRNA bound in antibody-ribosome-mRNA complexes was recovered using in-situ single primer RT-PCR, and three rounds of anti-IgE scFv DNA were enriched. The target DNA fragments were double enzyme digested and ligated into plasmid pET22b (+), followed by transformation in E. coli Rosseta (DE3). Positive clones were screened using clone PCR, Dot blotting and antigen ELISA. The correct lengths of VH (400 bp) and VL (710 bp) PCR products were obtained. The expected 1,000 bp ribosome display templates were also observed in agarose gel electrophoresis. After three rounds of ribosome display target sequences were effectively enriched, leading to a library of 10(13) members. Antibodies with the highest ELISA value for IgE were generated in the strain pET-IgE-6. A human anti-IgE scFv library was successfully constructed as described herein. Ribosome display using single primer in-situ RT-PCR as the recovery procedure effectively enriched target sequences. Anti-IgE scFv with high affinity and specificity were identified. The prepared human anti-IgE scFv fragment might be self-developed to a lead drug for treating asthma. Our study provides an alternative method for rapid discovery of human antibodies of therapeutic importance.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Antibody Affinity ; Asthma ; blood ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Complementary ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains ; genetics ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region ; genetics ; Lymphocytes ; chemistry ; Peptide Library ; RNA, Messenger ; isolation & purification ; Recombination, Genetic ; genetics ; Ribosomes ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Single-Chain Antibodies ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Transformation, Genetic

Clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas are the most common types among pituitary adenomas. These tumors are usually diagnosed in their later stages due to the absence of clinical symptoms and detectable hormonal hypersecretion. Although these tumors are benign, they are hard to be completely removed during neurosurgery due to the massive invasion into the surrounding tissues at diagnosis. Furthermore, relapse is common. In recent years, medical treatment of pituitary adenomas has witnessed a rapid development. New medications have shown certain effectiveness in reducing the tumor size and improving the clinical symptoms.
Adenoma ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between sympathetic remodeling and electrical remodeling at the infarcted border zone (IBZ) of rabbit with chronic myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODSThirty rabbits were randomly assigned into two groups: MI group (n = 20): ligation of the anterior descending coronary; sham operation (SO) group (n = 10): without contrary ligation. Eight weeks after surgery, transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) at baseline, during sympathetic nerve stimulation, TDR change (DeltaTDR) during sympathetic nerve stimulation and ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) were measured at the IBZ in MI group and corresponding zone in SO group. The distribution and densities of growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive nerves in ventricle were also detected with immunohistochemical techniques.

RESULTSEighteen rabbits in the MI group and 10 in the SO group survived to the end of the study. The densities of GAP43 and TH at the IBZ in the MI group were significantly higher than that at the corresponding zone in the SO group (both P < 0.05). The densities of GAP43 and TH in MI rabbits positively correlated with TDR at baseline, TDR or DeltaTDR during sympathetic nerve stimulation (all P < 0.01) and both showed a weak negative correlation with VFT (r =-0.44, P = 0.07; r = -0.41, P = 0.09, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSympathetic remodeling is correlated with electrical remodeling at the IBZ in rabbits with chronic MI.

Action Potentials ; Animals ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo compare the diagnostic value of (18)F-FDG PET-CT with abdomen contrast CT in the diagnosis of peritoneal metastases.

METHODSBetween January 2008 and May 2011, imaging results of 97 patients with suspicious peritoneal metastases were retrospectively reviewed, and all the patients underwent both abdomen contrast CT and (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging. Final diagnosis was made by histopathology or follow up.

RESULTSSeventy-seven patients were verified as peritoneal metastases after pathological examination(n=88) or follow up(n=9), while the other 20 patients were absent. The sensitivity of (18)F-FDG PET-CT was 90.9%(70/77), the specificity 85.0%(17/20), and the accuracy 89.7%(87/97). There were 3 false positive and 7 false negative. The sensitivity of contrast CT was 66.2%(51/77), the specificity 80.0%(16/20), and the accuracy 69.1%(67/97). There were 4 false positive and 26 false negative. The difference in diagnostic accuracy was statistically significantly between these two methods(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe diagnostic value of (18)F-FDG PET-CT is significantly higher than that of abdominal enhanced CT for peritoneal metastases.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult