Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are proposed to account for the progression, metastasis, and recurrence of diverse malignancies. However, the disorganized vasculars in tumors hinder the accumulation and penetration of nanomedicines, posing a challenge in eliminating CSCs located distantly from blood vessels. Herein, a pair of twin-like small-sized nanoparticles, sunitinib (St)-loaded ROS responsive micelles (RM@St) and salinomycin (SAL)-loaded GSH responsive micelles (GM@SAL), are developed to normalize disordered tumor vessels and eradicate CSCs. RM@St releases sunitinib in response to the abundant ROS in the tumor extracellular microenvironment for tumor vessel normalization, which improved intratumor accumulation and homogeneous distribution of small-sized GM@SAL. Sequentially, GM@SAL effectively accesses CSCs and achieves reduction-responsive drug release at high GSH concentrations within CSCs. More importantly, RM@St significantly extends the window of vessel normalization and enhances vessel integrity compared to free sunitinib, thus further amplifying the anti-tumor effect of GM@SAL. The combination therapy of RM@St plus GM@SAL produces considerable depression of tumor growth, drastically reducing CSCs fractions to 5.6% and resulting in 78.4% inhibition of lung metastasis. This study offers novel insights into rational nanomedicines designed for superior therapeutic effects by vascular normalization and anti-CSCs therapy.

Objective To evaluate the effect of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block on postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia.Methods Forty-eight male patients undergoing laparoscopic tension-free repair of inguinal hernia under general anesthesia,aged 65-75 yr,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ,with body mass index of 20-28 kg/m2,were divided into 2 groups (n =24 each) using a random number table method:TAP block combined with general anesthesia group (group TG) and general anesthesia group (group G).Anesthesia was induced with midazolam,cisatracurium besylate,sufentanil and etomidate,and the patients were mechanically ventilated after laryngeal mask airway insertion.TAP block was performed through the anterior superior iliac spine approach,and 0.25％ ropivacaine 30 ml was injected in group TG.Anesthesia was maintained by target-controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanil and muscle relaxation by intravenously injecting cisatracurium.The occurrence of cerebral regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) and low rSO2 events (rSO2 ＜60％) was recorded at 1 min before anesthesia induction (T0),5 min after inserting the laryngeal mask airway (T1),at skin incision (T2),30 min after skin incision (T3),and at the end of surgery (T4).The consumption of propofol and remifentanil was recorded during surgery.Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to evaluate the cognitive function of patients at 1 day before surgery and 7 days after surgery,and the development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD,MoCA scores＜ 26) was recorded.Results Compared with group G,the intraoperative consumption of propofol and remifentanil was significantly reduced,rSO2 was increased at T2~,and the incidence of low rSO2 events was decreased,MoCA scores were increased at 7 days after surgery,and the incidence of POCD was decreased in group TG (P＜0.05).Conclusion TAP block can reduce the incidence of POCD in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia.

Objective To analyze the features of cutaneous lesions and age of onset of tuberous sclerosis(TS).Methods A total of 54 TS patients were recruited;their clinical data were analysed.Results The occurance of facial angiofibromas,periungual fibromas,hypomelanotic macules and shark macules was 72.5%,26%,70%and 48%,respectively,and the median age of onset of these lesions was 7,14,0.2 and 6 years,respectively,with a peak at 1-9,10-19,＜1 and 1-9 years,respectively.Conclusions Cutaneous lesions are commonly seen in TS,and most of them develop early in life.