In vivo renal clearance, biodistribution, toxicity of gold nanoclusters

Gold nanoparticles have shown great prospective in cancer diagnosis and therapy, but they can not be metabolized and prefer to accumulate in liver and spleen due to their large size. The gold nanoclusters with small size can penetrate kidney tissue and have promise to decrease in vivo toxicity by renal clearance. In this work, we explore the in vivo renal clearance, biodistribution, and toxicity responses of the BSA- and GSH-protected gold nanoclusters for 24 h and 28 days. The BSA-protected gold nanoclusters have low-efficient renal clearance and only 1% of gold can be cleared, but the GSH-protected gold nanoclusters have high-efficient renal clearance and 36% of gold can be cleared after 24 h. The biodistribution further reveals that 94% of gold can be metabolized for the GSH-protected nanoclusters, but only less than 5% of gold can be metabolized for the BSA-protected nanoclusters after 28 days. Both of the GSH- and BSA-protected gold nanoclusters cause acute infection, inflammation, and kidney function damage after 24 h, but these toxicity responses for the GSH-protected gold nanoclusters can be eliminated after 28 days. Immune system can also be affected by the two kinds of gold nanoclusters, but the immune response for the GSH-protected gold nanoclusters can also be recovered after 28 days. These findings show that the GSH-protected gold nanoclusters have small size and can be metabolized by renal clearance and thus the toxicity can be significantly decreased. The BSA-protected gold nanoclusters, however, can form large compounds and further accumulate in liver and spleen which can cause irreparable toxicity response. Therefore, the GSH-protected gold nanoclusters have great potential for in vivo imaging and therapy, and the BSA-protected gold nanoclusters can be used as the agent of liver cancer therapy.     

The effects of modified versus unmodified wheat gluten administration in patients with celiac disease

Celiac disease (CD) treatment requires a gluten-free diet (GFD), although alternative approaches have been proposed. Modification of gliadin peptides using microbial transglutaminase (mTG) inhibits their ability to induce immune response in vitro. Our aim was to evaluate the safety of mTG-modified wheat flour ingestion in CD patients. Twenty-one CD patients in remission were randomized to receive mTG-modified (n = 11) or unmodified (n = 10) wheat flour rusks, in double-blind fashion. Monthly, patients completed a symptom questionnaire. Serum anti-tTG, EMA and creatinine levels were monitored. At baseline and after 90 days, serum anti-actin antibodies (AAA) were measured and upper endoscopy was performed. Data were analyzed by non-parametric tests. 7/11 patients eating modified rusks and 7/10 patients receiving unmodified rusks completed the study. At baseline, all patients showed negative serum anti-tTG and EMA results. At the end, 2/7 (28.6%) patients ingesting modified and 4/7 (57.1%) patients taking unmodified rusks presented positive serum anti-tTG and EMA results. Creatinine results were unmodified. Moreover, 1/7 (14.3%) patients ingesting modified and 4/7 (57.1%) patients taking unmodified rusks presented villous atrophy. In patients who received unmodified rusks, the AAA levels increased significantly and duodenal anti-tTG levels appeared higher than those measured in patients who ate modified rusks. Abdominal swelling, bloating and nausea were more severe in patients ingesting unmodified rusks than those taking modified rusks. Our results may support larger clinical trials to confirm the enzymatic treatment of wheat flour as an alternative to GFD.Clinicaltrials.gov registration no: NCT02472119.     

Solid cancer incidence among Chinese medical diagnostic x‐ray workers, 1950–1995: Estimation of radiation‐related risks

The objective of this study was to estimate solid cancer risk attributable to long‐term, fractionated occupational exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation. Based on cancer incidence for the period 1950–1995 in a cohort of 27,011 Chinese medical diagnostic X‐ray workers and a comparison cohort of 25,782 Chinese physicians who did not use X‐ray equipment in their work, we used Poisson regression to fit excess relative risk (ERR) and excess absolute risk (EAR) dose–response models for incidence of all solid cancers combined. Radiation dose reconstruction was based on a previously published method that relied on simulating measurements for multiple X‐ray machines, workplaces and working conditions, information about protective measures, including use of lead aprons, and work histories. The resulting model was used to estimate calendar year‐specific badge dose calibrated as personal dose equivalent (Sv). To obtain calendar year‐specific colon doses (Gy), we applied a standard organ conversion factor. A total of 1,643 cases of solid cancer were identified in 1.45 million person‐years of follow‐up. In both ERR and EAR models, a statistically significant radiation dose–response relationship was observed for solid cancers as a group. Averaged over both sexes, and using colon dose as the dose metric, the estimated ERR/Gy was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.48, 1.45), and the EAR was 22 per 10⁴PY‐Gy (95% CI: 14, 32) at age 50. We obtained estimates of the ERR and EAR of solid cancers per unit dose that are compatible with those derived from other populations chronically exposed to low dose‐rate occupational or environmental radiation.     

单细胞凝胶电泳用于放射工作者DNA损伤评价的研究

目的 评价不同级别医院放射工作人员的DNA损伤情况,探讨不同工种、工龄与DNA损伤程度之间的关系。方法 用碱性单细胞凝胶电泳技术检测放射组和对照组外周血淋巴细胞的DNA单链断裂水平。CASP软件分析彗星图像,主要观察彗星尾部DNA百分含量(TDNA%)、彗星尾长(TL)、尾矩(TM)和Olive尾矩(OTM)等指标。 结果 放射组的TDNA%,TL、TM、OTM明显高于对照组(F=3.93, P<0.01),不同工种、工龄间均有统计学差异(F=1.83, P<0.05),不同级别医院之间放射工作者上述指标也差异存在统计学意义(F=1.91,P<0.05)。结论 所观察医院的放射工作者外周血淋巴细胞DNA均存在不同程度的损伤,高级别医院略好于低级别医院,而且DNA损伤程度与放射工龄和工种有一定的相关性。     

Effect of Ethanol Content on Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Polyphenols from Tea

This study presents a novel packed-column extractor coupled with an absorption system to improve the quality of oleoresin oils for Oolong and green teas, extracted by using carbon dioxide. The effect of various co-solvents on the extract is also examined. In addition, gravimetrical measurement and HPLC chromatographic analysis individually determine the amount of oleoresin oil and the concentration of four major catechins. According to those results, the mean contents in the extract are 7.0- and 10.0-fold higher in an addition of 95% ethanol than in no addition for green tea and Oolong tea, respectively. The ratio of four major catechins to caffeine is the highest in Soxhlet ethanol extraction for both green and Oolong teas.     

Deterioration of nuclear morphology and architecture: A hallmark of senescence and aging

The metazoan nucleus is a highly structured organelle containing several well-defined sub-organelles. It is the largest organelle inside a cell taking up from one tenth to half of entire cell volume. This makes it one of the easiest organelles to identify and study under the microscope. Abnormalities in the nuclear morphology and architecture are commonly observed in an aged and senescent cell. For example, the nuclei enlarge, loose their shape, appear lobulated, harbour nuclear membrane invaginations, carry enlarged/fragmented nucleolus, loose heterochromatin, etc. In this review we discuss about the age-related changes in nuclear features and elaborate upon the molecular reasons driving the change. Many of these changes can be easily imaged under a microscope and analysed in silico. Thus, computational image analysis of nuclear features appears to be a promising tool to evaluate physiological age of a cell and offers to be a legitimate biomarker. It can be used to examine progression of age-related diseases and evaluate therapies.     

NICD表达下调对辐射损伤小鼠成骨细胞系MC3T3-E1增殖和功能基因表达的影响

目的利用RNA干扰抑制小鼠成骨细胞系MC3T3-E1表达Notch信号通路胞内结构域（NICD）,探讨靶向抑制NICD表达对辐射损伤MC3T3-E1细胞的增殖和相关功能基因表达的影响。方法建立抑制NICD表达的MC3T3-E1细胞株,利用实时定量PCR（qRT-PCR）和Western blot法检测其NICD基因的表达。MC3T3-E1细胞和NICD RNA干扰MC3T3-E1细胞经2 Gy γ射线照射后,用BrdU掺入法和qRT-PCR法检测上述细胞的增殖及相关功能基因的表达水平。使用Student-Newman-Keuls进行组间差异分析,两组间比较采用t检验。结果用RNA干扰技术可靶向抑制MC3T3-E1细胞表达NICD。抑制NICD表达可干扰前体成骨细胞和成骨细胞的增殖。2 Gy照射后,前体成骨细胞和成骨细胞以及NICD RNA干扰的成骨细胞的增殖明显下降,各靶细胞的相关功能基因与照射前相比的变化如下:①2 Gy照射后的前体成骨细胞成骨特导性转录因子（Runx2）表达上调,差异有统计学意义（t=2.353,P < 0.05）,NICD RNA干扰的前体成骨细胞Runx2表达下调,差异有统计学意义（t=2.353,P < 0.05）;②2 Gy照射后的前体成骨细胞和成骨细胞以及NICD RNA干扰的前体成骨细胞碱性磷酸酶（ALP）表达上调,差异有统计学意义（t=3.182、3.345、3.555,均P < 0.05）,NICD RNA干扰的成骨细胞ALP表达下调,差异有统计学意义（t=5.045,P < 0.01）;③2 Gy照射后前体成骨细胞核因子κB受体活化因子配体（RANKL）表达下调,差异有统计学意义（t=2.541,P < 0.05）,成骨细胞和NICD干扰的前体成骨细胞RANKL表达上调,差异有统计学意义（t=3.299,P < 0.05;t=10.212,P < 0.01）,而抑制NICD表达则发生相反变化,差异无统计学意义（t=0.765,P>0.05）;④2 Gy照射后的前体成骨细胞和成骨细胞骨保护素（OPG）表达下调,差异有统计学意义（t=2.994、2.782,均P < 0.05）,抑制NICD表达使前体成骨细胞OPG表达上调,差异有统计学意义（t=5.841,P < 0.01）,成骨细胞OPG表达下调,差异有统计学意义（t=2.544,P < 0.05）;⑤2 Gy照射后各靶细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（M-CSF）表达变化趋势与RANKL表达变化情况一致。结论在不同阶段的成骨细胞中抑制NICD表达对辐射损伤表现出的作用是不同的:①可降低前体成骨细胞和成骨细胞的增殖,对辐射损伤后的前体成骨细胞的增殖有保护作用;②可通过调节Runx2从而明显抑制辐照后前体成骨细胞分化,减少骨质丢失;③辐照后各成骨细胞不会通过RANKL/OPG/RANK系统表现出对破骨细胞功能的调节作用;④成骨细胞经过调节M-CSF表现出对破骨细胞的功能抑制作用。     

Alterations of serum antioxidant trace elements (Se,Zn and Cu) status in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis

ObjectiveTo assess the serum antioxidant trace elements selenium (Se), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients.MethodsIn this study, serum Se, Zn and Cu was determined by using atomic absorption spectrometry in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (n=95). The values were statistically compared between patients and control group (n=100) using One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsOur results showed that there was a significant difference in the values of Se and Zn between two groups (P<0.000 1 and P<0.01, respectively). Meanwhile, no significant difference in level of Cu was observed between patients and healthy subjects (P>0.05). Se and Zn levels were found to be (4.33±1.06) and (70.23±19.12) μg/dL in cutaneous leishmaniasis cases, and these values were found statistically lower compared to the controls (11.10±2.37) and (119.61±26.18) μg/dL, respectively.ConclusionsThe observations that host products are released from stimulated leukocytes and could induce metabolic changes similar to an acute-phase response revealed an endocrine role for the immune system. Characteristic changes in trace-mineral metabolism are an integral part of the acute-phase response. The changes are usually reflected in decreased serum Se and Zn concentrations.     

Selectively enhancing radiosensitivity of cancer cells via in situ enzyme-instructed peptide self-assembly

The radiotherapy modulators used in clinic have disadvantages of high toxicity and low selectivity. For the first time, we used the in situ enzyme-instructed self-assembly (EISA) of a peptide derivative (Nap-G^DF^DFpYSV) to selectively enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells with high alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression to ionizing radiation (IR). Compared with the in vitro pre-assembled control formed by the same molecule, assemblies formed by in situ EISA in cells greatly sensitized the ALP-high-expressing cancer cells to γ-rays, with a remarkable sensitizer enhancement ratio. Our results indicated that the enhancement was a result of fixing DNA damage, arresting cell cycles and inducing cell apoptosis. Interestingly, in vitro pre-formed assemblies mainly localized in the lysosomes after incubating with cells, while the assemblies formed via in situ EISA scattered in the cell cytosol. The accumulation of these molecules in cells could not be inhibited by endocytosis inhibitors. We believed that this molecule entered cancer cells by diffusion and then in situ self-assembled to form nanofibers under the catalysis of endogenous ALP. This study provides a successful example to utilize intracellular in situ EISA of small molecules to develop selective tumor radiosensitizers.