Existing nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery systems for glioma systemic chemotherapy remain a great challenge due to poor delivery efficiency resulting from the blood brain barrier/blood-(brain tumor) barrier (BBB/BBTB) and insufficient tumor penetration. Here, we demonstrate a distinct design by patching doxorubicin-loaded heparin-based nanoparticles (DNs) onto the surface of natural grapefruit extracellular vesicles (EVs), to fabricate biomimetic EV-DNs, achieving efficient drug delivery and thus significantly enhancing antiglioma efficacy. The patching strategy allows the unprecedented 4-fold drug loading capacity compared to traditional encapsulation for EVs. The biomimetic EV-DNs are enabled to bypass BBB/BBTB and penetrate into glioma tissues by receptor-mediated transcytosis and membrane fusion, greatly promoting cellular internalization and antiproliferation ability as well as extending circulation time. We demonstrate that a high-abundance accumulation of EV-DNs can be detected at glioma tissues, enabling the maximal brain tumor uptake of EV-DNs and great antiglioma efficacy in vivo.

The nomogram accurately predicted OS in patients with pancreatic head cancer with suspected peripancreatic venous invasion after attempted curative pancreatic resectional surgery.

The hydrophilic extracts of eggplant peel (HEEP) and purple sweet potato (HEPP) and lipophilic extracts of tomato (LET) and carrot (LEC) were mixed in different ratios to assess the significance of the compatibility of aliments, based on their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory interactions in H9c2 cells. The results indicated that groups of some combinational extracts (HEPP-HEEP F1/10, LEC-HEEP F3/10, LEC-HEPP F3/10) showed stronger synergistic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects than individual groups. For example, the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity of the LEC-HEEP (F3/10) group (86.71 ± 1.88) was higher than that in the HEEP (79.97 ± 1.68) and LEC (77.31 ± 1.85) groups. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was 30.37 ± 0.25 in the LEC-HEEP (F3/10) group while the levels were 34.34 ± 0.36 and 46.23 ± 0.51 in the HEEP and LEC groups, respectively. And the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was 1.82 ± 0.24 in the LEC-HEEP (F3/10) group while the levels were 2.48 ± 0.13 and 3.01 ± 0.24 in the HEEP and LEC groups, respectively. The expressions of inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8) and cell adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1) showed similar tendencies. However, some groups (LET-LEC F5/10, LET-LEC F9/10, LET-HEPP F7/10) showed antagonistic effects based on these indicators. The principal component analysis showed that samples could be defined by two principal components: PC1, the main phenolic acids and flavonoids; PC2, carotenoids. Moreover, phenolics and anthoyanins were in the majority in synergistic groups, and carotenoids were in the majority in antagonistic groups. These results indicated that there exist synergistic or antagonistic interactions of aliments on antioxidation and anti-inflammation, which implied the significance of food compatibility.

Background Questionnaires and lactic acid sting test (LAST) are two widely used methods to identify sensitive skin. However, the self-perceived sensitive skin by questionnaires was not consistent with the determination of LAST. Objective The aim of the study was to measure the biophysical properties noninvasively of sensitive skin evaluated by questionnaire and LAST and to investigate their correlations with the scores of questionnaire and LAST. Methods A total of 209 healthy Chinese females completed the study. Self-assessment questionnaire and LAST were both performed to identify sensitive skin. Epidermal biophysical properties, including skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), sebum content, erythema index (EI), a* value, L* value, skin elasticity, and skin pH, were measured with noninvasive instruments. Results The frequency of sensitive skin was 50.2% and 66.0% by questionnaire and LAST, respectively. Subjects with self-assessed sensitive skin had a slightly higher LAST positive rate. Skin hydration, sebum content, a* and EI values were significantly higher in the self-assessed sensitive skin group, while TEWL, a* and EI values increased but L* value decreased with significance in the LAST positive group. The LAST stingers among sensitive skin subjects had higher EI but not in the healthy skin subjects. In addition, questionnaire scores positively correlated with skin hydration, sebum content, a* and EI values, while a positive relationship of LAST scores with TEWL, a* and EI values was observed. The scores of questionnaire and LAST both negatively related to L* value. Conclusion Self-assessed questionnaire is associated with sensitive skin featured by oily and red face without impaired barrier function, whereas LAST is suitable to identify fragile skin barrier and enhanced blood flow on the face. Combination of both methods to diagnose sensitive skin might be more reliable.

To improve the detection of prostate cancer (PCa) by combining the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADS v2) and prostate-specific antigen–age volume (PSA–AV), especially among those in gray zone with PI-RADS v2 score 3 or serum total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA) 4 to 10 ng/mL. The 357 patients were enrolled in this study. The PI-RADS v2 scoring system was used to represent characteristics on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). PI-RADS v2 score 3 or tPSA 4 to 10 ng/mL were defined as the gray zone in detecting PCa. The formula equates to the patient age multiplied by the prostate volume, which is divided by the tPSA level. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done to ascertain significant predictors of prostate cancer. In all, 174 (48.7%) were benign prostatic hyperplasia, 183 (51.3%) had PCa. The results showed that PI-RADS v2, tPSA, and PSA–AV were significant independent predictors of prostate cancer. PI-RADS v2 score ≥4 could detect PCa with rate of 82.1%. Serum tPSA ≥10 ng/mL could detect PCa with rate of 66.2%, PSA density (PSAD) ≥0.15 ng/mL/cc with rate of 62.8%, and PSA–AV ≤250 with rate of 83.5%. Combining with PSA–AV ≤250, patients those with tPSA 4 to 10 ng/mL could improve the detection from 36.0% up to 81%, those with PI-RADS v2 score 3 from 28.6% up to 60.0%. PI-RADS v2 and PSA–AV are faithful variables for detecting PCa. And for patients, those in gray zones of PI-RADS v2 and tPSA, PSA–AV can improve detection rate of PCa.

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Background Facial skin exhibits unique biophysical properties, which are influenced by anatomical regions and genders. The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess the regional and gender differences in facial skin biophysical parameters among Chinese population. Materials and Methods The 12 skin biophysical parameters at four distinct facial skin sites (forehead, cheek, canthus and chin) were measured in a normal population (n = 212) with 42 males and 141 females aged 18‐29 years living in Beijing. These parameters consisted of skin hydration, transepidermal water loss, sebum content, erythema/melanin indices, L*a*b* color, skin gloss and elasticity, all quantifying with non‐invasive instruments. Results The results demonstrated that the characteristics of the facial skin were significantly different between the regions and genders. The forehead had weaker skin barrier function but secreted the most sebum content, while the cheek was the driest and brightest region on the face. The canthus was the most hydrated area and the chin displayed higher sebum secretion, darker skin color and less elastic. The females showed more hydrated, less oil, lighter and more elastic facial skin compared with males. Conclusion This study indicates that the young Chinese facial skin significantly varies with face anatomical regions and differs between genders.