Local generation of hydrogen for enhanced photothermal therapy.

By delivering the concept of clean hydrogen energy and green catalysis to the biomedical field, engineering of hydrogen-generating nanomaterials for treatment of major diseases holds great promise. Leveraging virtue of versatile abilities of Pd hydride nanomaterials in high/stable hydrogen storage, self-catalytic hydrogenation, near-infrared (NIR) light absorption and photothermal conversion, here we utilize the cubic PdH0.2 nanocrystals for tumour-targeted and photoacoustic imaging (PAI)-guided hydrogenothermal therapy of cancer. The synthesized PdH0.2 nanocrystals have exhibited high intratumoural accumulation capability, clear NIR-controlled hydrogen release behaviours, NIR-enhanced self-catalysis bio-reductivity, high NIR-photothermal effect and PAI performance. With these unique properties of PdH0.2 nanocrystals, synergetic hydrogenothermal therapy with limited systematic toxicity has been achieved by tumour-targeted delivery and PAI-guided NIR-controlled release of bio-reductive hydrogen as well as generation of heat. This hydrogenothermal approach has presented a cancer-selective strategy for synergistic cancer treatment

Standardization of Syndrome Differentiation Defined by Traditional Chinese Medicine in Operative Breast Cancer: A Modified Delphi Study

Objective. The aim of this study was to establish the standardization of syndrome differentiation of operative breast cancer treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by the modified Delphi method. Method. A literature search for standardization of syndrome differentiation of operative breast cancer was conducted and eligible articles were identified in indexed databases from 1982 to 2013. We carried out two rounds of investigation between March and October 2013 and organized 20 experts who focused on TCM or integrative medicine in breast cancer research. Experts’ judgments were collected via posted questionnaires or e-mail. A final evaluation was carried out after the end of both rounds. Result. The response ratio of the 1st round investigation reached 100%, and two experts were excluded due to the uncompleted questionnaire. The 2nd round investigation was completed by 18 experts in the 1st round panel board. In both rounds, the experts agreed that the stage of breast cancer defined by TCM could be divided into the perioperation period, the perichemotherapy period, the periradiotherapy period, and the consolidation period. Conclusion. We identified the feasibility and reasonability to establish the standardization of syndrome differentiation of operative breast cancer. According to the suggestions from experts in our Delphi study, we preliminarily established the TCM standard of syndrome differentiation based on different treatment stages of operative breast cancer

Referred pain: characteristics, possible mechanisms, and clinical management

Purpose of this reviewReferred pain is a common but less understood symptom that originates from somatic tissues. A comprehensive recognition of referred pain is important for clinicians when dealing with it. The purpose of this study is to summarize the current understanding of referred pain, including its pathogenesis, characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment.Recent findingsReferred pain arises not only from pathologies primarily involving local tissue but also from lesions in distant structures. Central sensitization of convergent neurons and peripheral reflexes of dichotomizing afferent fibers are two theories proposed to explain the pathological mechanism of referred pain. Because syndromes related to referred pain of different origins overlap each other, it is challenging to define referred pain and identify its originating lesions. Although various approaches have been used in the diagnosis and treatment of referred pain, including conservative treatment, blockade, radiofrequency, and surgery, management of referred pain remains a clinical challenge.SummaryUnlike radicular pain and neuropathic pain, referred pain is a less studied area, despite being common in clinics. Referred pain can derive from various spinal structures, and blockage helps identify the primary pathology. Due to the heterogeneity of referred pain, treatment outcomes remain uncertain. Further studies are needed to improve our understanding of referred pain

Preparation and electromechanical properties of PVDF matrix piezo-electric composites containing highly oriented BaTiO3 whiskers

The piezoelectric composites containing highly oriented BaTiO3 whiskers as active phase and PVDF as matrix have been prepared by micro-hole extrusion and orientation in carried fibers. The morphology of oriented BaTiO3 whiskers and microstructure of the composites were observed by SEM. As for its electromechanical properties, it is found that the dielectric constant, piezoelectric constant and remnant of polarization in the BaTiO3 whisker-PVDF composite are considerably higher than that in the BaTiO3 powders-PVDF composite, while the loss factors follow the opposite trend. For the BaTiO3 whisker-PVDF composite, the values of epsilon, d(33) and P-r parallel to the whisker orientation (normal specimen) are much higher than that perpendicular to the whisker orientation (parallel specimen). The significant effects of the connective passages of active phase on electromechanical properties of the piezoelectric composites has also been investigated

A New Sequence Stratigraphic Framework of Terrestrial Fluvial

Currently, the recognition and research on the classification of fluvial types mainly focus on the description and results of a series of indicators, such as the plane shape and sediment characteristics. However, there is limited literacy about how to demonstrate the fluvial types from the depositional process, especially less on sequence model of inland fluvial. Thus, this paper aims o propose a new kind of sequence stratigraphic framework, which is able to reflect the fluvial processes under the perspective of sequence stratigraphy. Accordingly, we use the principle of concrete analysis for concrete problems by comprehensively summing up the previous classification schemes of river types. With the research method of sedimentation process, new fluvial systems tracts for fluvial are presented here, including four parts: low fluvial system tract (LFST), advancing fluvial system tract (AFST), flooding fluvial system tract (FFST), receding fluvial system tract (RFST). Moreover, these could be applied to tackle the problem of the traditional division of fluvial. Various rivers have the different characteristics of systems tracts, then this may play a vital role in the discrimination of meandering river, braided river, anastomosing river and branched river. This study embodies the philosophical thought of Process Sedimentology and may contribute to revealing the deposition process of the fluvial system more profoundly from the aspect of genetic mechanism and evolution course. Most importantly, the fluvial classification system is definitely improved from the description stage to a complete rational stage

Astragaloside IV enhances the sensitivity of breast cancer stem cells to paclitaxel by inhibiting stemness

Background: Chemotherapy is one of the common treatments for breast cancer. The induction of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is an important reason for chemotherapy failure and breast cancer recurrence. Astragaloside IV (ASIV) is one of the effective components of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Astragalus membranaceus, which can improve the sensitivity of various tumors to chemotherapy drugs. Here, we explored the sensitization effect of ASIV to chemotherapy drug paclitaxel (PTX) in breast cancer from the perspective of CSCs. Methods: The study included both in vitro and in vivo experiments. CSCs from the breast cancer cell line MCF7 with stem cell characteristics were successfully induced in vitro. Cell viability and proliferation were detected using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays, and flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) methods were performed to detect cell apoptosis. Stemness-related protein expression was determined by western blotting (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Body weight, histopathology, and visceral organ damage of mice were used to monitor drug toxicity. Results: The expression of stemness markers including Sox2, Nanog, and ALDHA1 was stronger in MCF7-CSCs than in MCF7. PTX treatment inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells by promoting cell apoptosis, whereas the stemness of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) resisted the effects of PTX. ASIV decreased the stemness of BCSCs, increased the sensitivity of BCSCs to PTX, and synergistically promoted PTX-induced apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Our results showed that the total cell apoptosis rate increased by about 25% after adding ASIV compared with BCSCs treated with PTX alone. The in vivo experiments demonstrated that ASIV enhanced the ability of PTX to inhibit the growth of breast cancer. WB and IHC showed that ASIV reduced the stemness of CSCs. Conclusions: In this study, the resistance of breast cancer to PTX was attributed to the existence of CSCs; ASIV weakened the resistance of MCF7-CSCs to PTX by significantly attenuating the hallmarks of breast cancer stemness and improved the efficacy of PTX. Keywords: Breast cancer; cancer stem cells (CSCs); astragaloside IV (ASIV); paclitaxel (PTX); chemotherap