Targeted anti-cancer therapy: Co-delivery of VEGF siRNA and Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) via cRGD-modified lipid nanoparticles for enhanced anti-angiogenic efficacy

Anti-tumor angiogenesis therapy, targeting the suppression of blood vessel growth in tumors, presents a potent approach in the battle against cancer. Traditional therapies have primarily concentrated on single-target techniques, with a specific emphasis on targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor, but have not reached ideal therapeutic efficacy. In response to this issue, our study introduced a novel nanoparticle system known as CS-siRNA/PEITC&L-cRGD NPs. These chitosan-based nanoparticles have been recognized for their excellent biocompatibility and ability to deliver genes. To enhance their targeted delivery capability, they were combined with a cyclic RGD peptide (cRGD). Targeted co-delivery of gene and chemotherapeutic agents was achieved through the use of a negatively charged lipid shell and cRGD, which possesses high affinity for integrin αvβ3 overexpressed in tumor cells and neovasculature. In this multifaceted approach, co-delivery of VEGF siRNA and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) was employed to target both tumor vascular endothelial cells and tumor cells simultaneously. The co-delivery of VEGF siRNA and PEITC could achieve precise silencing of VEGF, inhibit the accumulation of HIF-1α under hypoxic conditions, and induce apoptosis in tumor cells. In summary, we have successfully developed a nanoparticle delivery platform that utilizes a dual mechanism of action of anti-tumor angiogenesis and pro-tumor apoptosis, which provides a robust and potent strategy for the delivery of anti-cancer therapeutics.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale-Parent Form in parents of preterm infants

Background: The Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS)-Parent Form shows satisfactory reli-ability and validity to assess the readiness of parents to take care of their children discharged from hospitals in Western countries. However, the reliability and validity of this instrument has not been evaluated in Chinese populations.Objectives: Evaluate the psychometric features of the RHDS-Parent Form among Chinese parents of preterm infants. Methods: The RHDS-Parent Form was translated into a Chinese version following an international in-strument translation guideline. A total of 168 parents with preterm infants were recruited from the neonatal intensive care units of two tertiary-level hospitals in China. The internal consistency of this measure was assessed using the Cronbach's a coefficient;confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate the construct validity;and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to report the convergent validity. Results: The Chinese version of RHDS (C-RHDS)-Parent Form included 22 items with 4 subscales, ac-counting for 56.71% of the total variance. The C-RHDS-Parent Form and its subscales showed good reliability (Cronbach's a values 0.78-0.92). This measure and its subscales showed positive correlations with the score of Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale. Conclusion: The factor structure of C-RHDS-Parent Form is partially consistent with the original English version. Future studies are needed to explore the factors within this measure before it is widely used in Chinese clinical care settings.

Analysis on the Clinical Effect of Shenling Baizhu San Combined with Routine Treatment on Bacterial Pneumonia in Children

[Objectives]To explore the effect of Shenling Baizhu San combined with routine treatment on the clinical efficacy,gastrointestinal function protection,inflammatory response and immune function of children with bacterial pneumonia.[Methods]From July 2017 to January 2018,80 children with bacterial pneumonia were randomly selected and divided into observation group and control group with 40 cases in each group.The control group was treated with conventional Western medicine,while the observation group was treated with Shenling Baizhu San on the basis of conventional treatment,with a period of 10 d.Then,we compared the clinical efficacy,incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms,WBC,CRP,CD4+and CD8+levels between the two groups.[Results]The clinical efficacy of the observation group was better than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the levels of WBC and CRP in the two groups decreased,especially in the observation group(P<0.05).After treatment,the level of CD4+in both groups increased significantly,while the level of CD8+decreased significantly,and the level of CD4+in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group after treatment.The incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.01).[Conclusions]Shenling Baizhu San can obviously improve the clinical effect of bacterial pneumonia in children and has the protective effect of gastrointestinal tract,and its mechanism may be related to its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.

Protective Effect of Shenlingbaizhu Powder on Peroxidation Injury and Inflammatory Response in Mice with Pneumonia

[Objectives]The study aims to explore the protective effect of Shenlingbaizhu powder on peroxidation injury and inflammatory response in mice with pneumonia.[Methods]60 NIH mice were randomly divided into the blank group,model group,control group,large dose group,medium dose group and small dose group of Shenlingbaizhu powder.The mice in the control group were given cefixime granules,while the mice in each group of Shenlingbaizhu powder were given corresponding concentrations of Shenlingbaizhu powder water decoction by gavage.After 7 d,the content of MAD,SOD and CRP in the mice were detected by ELISA,while the content of NO was detected by fluorescence,and lung index was also detected.[Results]The medium dose and large dose of Shenlingbaizhu powder can effectively reduce the concentration of MAD and improve the level of SOD in mice with pneumonia.The effect of the large dose of Shenlingbaizhu powder is more obvious than that of the control group.Moreover,the large dose of Shenlingbaizhu powder can effectively reduce the level of NO in mice with pneumonia.In addition,the medium dose and large dose of Shenlingbaizhu powder can reduce the lung index and CRP level of mice with pneumonia,and the results are statistically significant.[Conclusions]The medium dose and large dose of Shenlingbaizhu powder can effectively reduce the concentration of MAD and improve the level of SOD in mice with pneumonia.The effect of the large dose of Shenlingbaizhu powder is more obvious than that of the control group.Moreover,the large dose of Shenlingbaizhu powder can effectively reduce the level of NO in mice with pneumonia.In addition,the medium dose and large dose of Shenlingbaizhu powder can reduce the lung index and CRP level of mice with pneumonia,and the results are statistically significant.

Carrier mobility tuning of MoS_(2) by strain engineering in CVD growth process

Strain engineering is proposed to be an effective technology to tune the properties of two-dimensional(2D)transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDCs).Conventional strain engineering techniques(e.g.,mechanical bending,heating)cannot conserve strain due to their dependence on external action,which thereby limits the application in electronics.In addition,the theoretically predicted strain-induced tuning of electrical performance of TMDCs has not been experimentally proved yet.Here,a facile but effective approach is proposed to retain and tune the biaxial tensile strain in monolayer MoS_(2) by adjusting the process of the chemical vapor deposition(CVD).To prove the feasibility of this method,the strain formation model of CVD grown MoS_(2) is proposed which is supported by the calculated strain dependence of band gap via the density functional theory(DFT).Next,the electrical properties tuning of strained monolayer MoS_(2) is demonstrated in experiment,where the carrier mobility of MoS_(2) was increased by two orders(~0.15 to~23 cm^(2)·V^(−1)·s^(−1)).The proposed pathway of strain preservation and regulation will open up the optics application of strain engineering and the fabrication of high performance electronic devices in 2D materials.