Controlling Ligand Surface Density Optimizes Nanoparticle Binding to ICAM-1

During infection, pathogens utilize surface receptors to gain entry into intracellular compartments. Multiple receptor-ligand interactions that lead to pathogen internalization have been identified and the importance of multivalent ligand binding as a means to facilitate internalization has emerged. The effect of ligand density, however; is less well known. In this study, ligand density was examined using poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs). A cyclic peptide, cLABL, was used as a targeting moiety as it is a known ligand for intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). To modulate the number of reactive sites on the surface of PLGA NPs, modified Pluronic® with carboxyl groups and Pluronic® with hydroxyl groups were combined at different ratios and the particle properties were examined. Utilizing a surfactant mixture directly affected the particle charge and the number of reactive sites for cLABL conjugation. The surface density of cLABL peptide increased as the relative amount of reactive Pluronic® was increased. Studies using carcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549) showed that cLABL density may be optimized to improve cellular uptake. These results compliment other studies suggesting surface density of the targeting moiety on the NP surface should be considered to enhance the effect of ligands employed for cell targeting

Wound-healing potential of topical application of preparations from Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) leaf extract

255-269Developing products derived from medicinal herbs with wound-healing effects has been a current trend. This study was set up to observe the wound healing efficiency of herbal preparations formulated from M. citrifolia leaf extract on mice. The wound healing activity of cream, ointment, and powder preparations containing Noni leaf extract of 1% and 5% (w/w) was investigated on the excision wound model. The potential preparation was continuously evaluated for rabbit skin irritation, antioxidant activity, total flavonoid, and rutin contents. Results revealed that the topical application of Noni leaf extract preparations treated groups increased remarkably wound contraction during 11 days of treatment. A cream containing 1% extract not only had the ability to significantly reduce the size of the wound but also regenerated the structure of the skin histology at the wound area. Moreover, the cream showed safety following an acute dermal irritation study on rabbits as well as an antioxidant effect via inhibition of DPPH and ABTS free radicals. The present study also identified the content of total flavonoids and rutin markers in the cream. This research affirms the topical application of the cream containing M. citrifolia leaf extract as a known wound healing factor from traditional medicine

Steroid glycosides isolated from Paris polyphylla var. chinensis aerial parts and paris saponin II induces G1/S-phase MCF-7 cell cycle arrest

In our previous research on Vietnamese medicinal plants, we found that the ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis exhibited cytotoxic effects in vitro in the MCF-7 human cancer cell line. Here, we used combined chromatographic separations to isolate six compounds including a new steroid glycoside, paripoloside A (3), and five known compounds, from the butanol extract of the aerial parts of P. polyphylla. We unambiguously elucidated their structures based on spectroscopic data (proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance, heteronuclear single quantum coherence, heteronuclear multiple bond correlation, correlation spectroscopy, and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy data), and chemical reactions. Among the isolated compounds, paris saponin II (PSII) had the strongest cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Interestingly, PSII significantly increased the expression of p53, p21, p27, and Bax protein levels and significantly suppressed the expression of cyclin D1 and retinoblastoma protein. These data suggest that PSII may induce G1/S phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis pathway development in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the MCF-7 breast cancer cells mechanism of PSII was also investigated using molecular docking. Together, our results demonstrate that isolated compounds from P. polyphylla are promising candidates as breast cancer inhibitors

Training Advanced Practice Providers to Collect Functional Outcomes After Fragility Fractures

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether advanced practice providers could learn to collect objective functional assessment data accurately and efficiently with commercially available devices that measure kinematics and kinetics (Nintendo Wii Balance Board [WBB] and Level Belt [LB]) to aid in the assessment of fall risk and outcomes after fragility fractures. Methods: Nine advanced practice providers participated in a 1-hour clinical assessment tools (CATs) training session on equipment use, providing standardized instructions, and practice of the testing procedures. Afterward, they participated in a skills demonstration evaluation and completed a postsession survey. Results: Participants successfully achieved a mean of 18.22 (standard deviation 1.56) of 20 performance measures. Of the incomplete or omitted tasks, the majority (10 of 16) occurred within the first of 3 CATs activities. Postsession survey results revealed that 9 of 9 participants reported that the 1 hour provided for training on the CATs was sufficient. All participants reported that after the training, they felt confident they could reliably carry out the tasks to test patients on both the WBB and the LB. The majority of participants reported that they believed that the WBB (7 of 9) and LB (8 out of 9) would be good assets to clinics in assessing patient functionality after fragility fractures. Conclusion: These results indicate that advanced practice providers can confidently learn and effectively test patients with the WBB and LB within 1 hour of training. In the future, adoption of CATs in the clinical setting may allow for objective, easy-to-use, portable, noninvasive, and relatively inexpensive measures to assess functional outcomes in patients with fragility fracture

Multiple serous membrane effusion caused by primary pericardial mesothelioma

Primary pericardial mesothelioma is an extremely rare cancer with a short survival prognosis. Clinical symptoms are often atypical, and most patients are diagnosed after surgery or at autopsy. We report a case of a 35-year-old female patient with multiple serous membrane effusion for more than 1 year. The patient underwent pericardial, pleural, and peritoneal fluid drainage many times and underwent many laboratory tests to find the cause; however, there was no definitive diagnosis. She was admitted to the hospital because of shortness of breath, cough, and sputum for 5 days. She underwent extensive pericardiectomy to resolve the dyspnea and pericardial surgery to find the cause of the multiple serous membrane effusion. After surgery, her dyspnea was relieved, and the serous effusion gradually decreased

Eritema multiforme olgularının değerlendirilmesi

This study aimed to define the width and length of the dental arch in 12-year-old Vietnamese children, and to elucidate differences between genders and among ethnic groups. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 4565 12 years-old children from the 4 major ethnic groups in Vietnam (Kinh, Muong, Thai, and Tay), with a healthy and full set of 28 permanent teeth that had never had any orthodontic treatment and with no reconstructive materials at the measured points. The mean variables in all subjects were 36.39 mm for upper inter-canine width; 46.88 mm for upper inter-first molar width; 59.43 mm for upper inter-second molar width; 10.41 mm for upper anterior length; 32.15 mm for upper posterior length 1; 45.52 mm for upper posterior length 2; 28.31 mm for lower inter-canine width; 41.63 mm for lower inter-first molar width; 54.57 mm for lower inter-second molar width (LM2W); 7.06 mm for lower anterior length (LAL); 26.87 mm for lower posterior length 1 (LP1L); and 41.29 mm for lower posterior length 2. Significant differences in these parameters between genders were found in all ethnic groups, except for LAL in the Kinh and Thai groups, and LP1L in the Tay group. Significant ethnic differences were also found in almost all parameters except LM2W in both males and females. Taken together, the representative sizes of dental arches of 12-year-old Vietnamese children have been defined. Our data indicate that there are some variations in dental arch dimensions among ethnic groups and between genders