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Our finding suggested that the combination of CGA and Lut may be a potential therapeutic treatment for the inflammatory proliferation of synoviocytes in patients with RA.

In order to create an optimal microenvironment for neural regeneration in the lesion area after spinal cord injury (SCI), we fabricated a novel scaffold composed of a hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel with a longitudinal multi-tubular conformation. The scaffold was modified by binding with an anti-Nogo receptor antibody (antiNgR) and mixed further with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres containing brain-derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor (HA+PLGA). In the rat, after implantation of this composite into an injured area created by a dorsal hemisection at T9-10 of the spinal cord, favorable effects were seen with regard to the promotion of spinal repair, including excellent integration of the implants with host tissue, inhibition of inflammation, and gliosis. In particular, large numbers of new blood vessels and regenerated nerve fibers were found within and around the implants. Simultaneously, the implanted rats exhibited improved locomotor recovery. Thus, this novel composite material might provide a suitable microenvironment for neural regeneration following SCI.

In our previous studies, Lactobacillus plantarum Y44 showed antioxidant activity and favorable gastric and intestinal transit tolerance.

Substantial evidence suggests that phenolic extracts of Castanea mollissima spiny burs (CMPE) increase pancreatic cell viability after STZ (streptozotocin) treatment as a result of their antioxidant properties. In the present study, the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of CMPE were studied in normal and STZ-induced diabetic rats CMPE were orally administrated at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg twice a day for 12 consecutive days. Serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) level and SOD activity in liver, kidney, spleen and heart tissues were measured spectrophotometrically. In normal rats, no significant changes were observed in serum glucose, lipid profiles and tissue MDA and GSH levels after orally administration of CMPE. In diabetic rats, oral administration of CMPE at a dose of 300 mg/kg caused significant decreases in serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol levels, as well as MDA and GSH levels in spleen and liver tissues. However, the 300 mg/kg dosage caused a significant body weight loss in both normal and diabetic rats. The observed effects indicated that CMPE could be further developed as a drug to prevent abnormal changes in blood glucose and lipid profile and to attenuate lipid peroxidation in liver and spleen tissues.

Context Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are characterized by distinct genotype-phenotype relationships according to studies largely restricted to Caucasian populations. Objective To assess for possible differences in genetic landscapes and genotype-phenotype relationships of PPGLs in Chinese versus European populations. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Two tertiary-care centers in China and nine in Europe. Participants Patients with pathologically-confirmed diagnosis of PPGL, including 719 from China and 919 Europeans. Main Outcome Measures Next generation sequencing performed in tumor specimens with mutations confirmed by Sanger sequencing and tested in peripheral blood if available. Frequencies of mutations were examined according to tumor location and catecholamine biochemical phenotypes. Results Among all patients, higher frequencies of HRAS, FGFR1 and EPAS1 mutations were observed in Chinese than Europeans, whereas the reverse was observed for NF1, VHL, RET and SDHx. Among patients with apparently sporadic PPGLs, the most frequently mutated genes in Chinese were HRAS (16.5[13.6-19.3]% vs 9.8[7.6-12.1]%) and FGFR1 (9.8[7.6-12.1]% vs 2.2[1.1-3.3]%), whereas among Europeans the most frequently mutated genes were NF1 (15.9[13.2-18.6]% vs 6.6[4.7-8.5]%) and SDHx (10.7[8.4-13.0]% vs 4.2[2.6-5.7]%). Among Europeans, almost all paragangliomas lacked appreciable production of epinephrine and identified gene mutations were largely restricted to those leading to stabilization of hypoxia inducible factors. In contrast, among Chinese there was a larger proportion of epinephrine-producing paragangliomas, mostly due to HRAS and FGFR1 mutations. Conclusions This study establishes Sino-European differences in the genetic landscape and presentation of PPGLs, including ethnic differences in genotype-phenotype relationships indicating a paradigm shift in our understanding of the biology of these tumors.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of preoperative temporary inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement and intraoperative application of a liver mobilization technique. Materials and Methods: The experiment cohort of 42 cases and the control cohort of 36 cases of renal cell carcinoma involving the IVC were analyzed retrospectively. In the experiment cohort, patients were implanted with a temporary IVC filter as routine preoperative treatment. The control cohort of 36 cases received traditional radical nephrectomy + IVC thrombectomy. Results: In the experiment cohort, 42 cases did not show any symptom of tumor thrombus embolism perioperatively. The average operation time was 220 min and the average blood loss was 750 ml. Overall survival rate of improved surgery was significantly higher than traditional surgery (p = 0.0055). Moreover, tumor thrombus size and position was associated with overall survival (p = 0.0185). Conclusions: Preoperative temporary IVC filter placement and intraoperative application ofaliver mobilization technique to expose the IVC can effectively prevent tumor thrombosis embolism shedding and improve surgical safety.

The oral route of protein and peptide drugs has been a popular method of drug delivery in recent years, although it is often a challenge to achieve effective drug release and minimize the barrier functions of the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal mucosa can capture and remove harmful substances; similarly, it can limit the absorption of drugs. Many drugs are effectively captured by the mucus and rapidly removed, making it difficult to control the release of drugs in the gastrointestinal tract. The use of drug carrier systems can overcome the mucosal barrier and significantly improve bioavailability. Nanoparticle drug carriers can protect the drug from degradation, transporting it to a predetermined location in the gastrointestinal tract to achieve more efficient and sustained drug delivery. It is becoming clearer that the characteristics of nanoparticles, such as particle size, charge, and hydrophobicity, are related to permeability of the mucosal barrier. This review focuses on the latest research progress of nanoparticles to penetrate the mucosal barrier, including the delivery methods of nanoparticles on the surface of gastrointestinal mucosa, and aims to summarize how successful oral nanoparticle delivery systems can overcome this biological barrier in the human body. In addition, the in vitro model based on gastrointestinal mucus is an important tool for drug research and development. Here, we discuss different types of drug delivery systems and their advantages and disadvantages in design and potential applications. Similarly, we reviewed and summarized various methods for evaluating oral nanoparticles in in vitro and in vivo models.