Naproxen release aspect from boron-doped carbon nanodots as a bifunctional agent in cancer therapy

In this present study, boron–carbon nanodots were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. Boron–carbon nanodots were prepared by varying the concentration ratios of boronic acid and citric acid: 1 : 25, 2 : 1, and 25 : 1, respectively. The precursors were then poured into a Teflon autoclave and heated at 240° for 4 h. This research aims to synthesise and evaluate the potential of boron–carbon nanodots as a bioimaging agent and naproxen delivery carrier. An X-ray diffractogram showed that the boron–carbon nanodots were amorphous. To analyse the functional groups, FTIR and XPS analysis was carried out. Spectrofluorometric analysis (λ_ex 320 nm) showed that the formulation of boron–carbon nanodots 2 : 1 (BCD 2 : 1) has the most ideal fluorescent properties at λ_em 453 nm, whereas UV-vis analysis showed λ_max at 223 nm, with a quantum yield of 52.29%. A confocal laser scanning micrograph and toxicity test (MTT assays) showed that boron–carbon nanodots delivered naproxen efficiently with loading amount and loading efficiency of naproxen 28% and 65%, respectively. Furthermore, it induced an anticancer effect in HeLa cells. This result indicated that boron–carbon nanodots can be used as a bioimaging agent and naproxen delivery carrier.

In this present study, boron–carbon nanodots were synthesized by the hydrothermal method.     

Peripartum cardiomyopathy: A systematic review of the literature

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare cause of heart failure. It is defined as cardiomyopathy that develops in the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months of the postpartum period without an identifiable cause. We conducted a systematic review of literature of prospective studies with a focus on echocardiographic and long‐term clinical outcomes in PPCM. We searched MEDLINE and Embase up to October 1, 2017. Prospective studies (sample size ≥20) reporting all‐cause mortality and follow‐up duration of ≥1 year were included. Of the 956 studies identified, 7 met the inclusion criteria. A total of 445 patients with a mean age of 30 years (range, 27–32 years) were included. The mean follow‐up duration was 41 months (range, 12–61 months). The majority of patients had New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms at the time of diagnosis. Only 3 studies reported data on ethnicity where the majority of patients were non‐Caucasian. Most of the patients (81%–93%) were on guideline‐directed medical therapy, except 1 study (41%). Left ventricular ejection fraction at baseline ranged from 24% to 35% (mean, 28%) and at follow‐up from 31% to 53% (mean, 44%). Recovery in systolic function was noted in 20% to 82% (mean, 50%) of patients. All‐cause mortality ranged from 0% to 28% (mean, 16%). This systematic review summarizes the evidence to date on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with PPCM. Multicenter registries with long‐term follow‐up will help shed further light on characteristics and outcomes of patients with this rare disease.     

An exposure–response analysis based on rifampin suggests CYP3A4 induction is driven by AUC: an in vitro investigation

1.?Induction is an important mechanism contributing to drug–drug interactions. It is most commonly evaluated in the human hepatocyte assay over 48-h or 72-h incubation period. However, whether the overall exposure (i.e. Area Under the Curve (AUC) or C_ave) or maximum exposure (i.e. C_max) of the inducer is responsible for the magnitude of subsequent induction has not been thoroughly investigated. Additionally, in vitro induction assays are typically treated as static systems, which could lead to inaccurate induction potency estimation. Hence, European Medicines Agency (EMA) guidance now specifies quantitation of drug levels in the incubation.

2.?This work treated the typical in vitro evaluation of rifampin induction as an in vivo system by generating various target engagement profiles, measuring free rifampin concentration over 3 d of incubation and evaluating the impact of these factors on final induction response.

3.?This rifampin-based analysis demonstrates that the induction process is driven by time-averaged target engagement (i.e. AUC-driven). Additionally, depletion of rifampin in the incubation medium over 3 d as well as non-specific/specific binding were observed.

4.?These findings should help aid the discovery of clinical candidates with minimal induction liability and further expand our knowledge in the quantitative translatability of in vitro induction assays.     

Plummer-Vinson syndrome associated with solid- pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas

Plummer-Vinson syndrome （PVS）, also known as Paterson-Kelly syndrome or sideropenic dysphagia1 is characterized by dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia and esophageal webs. This syndrome is known to be associated with an increased risk of hypopharyngeal and/or cervical esophageal cancer. Three to 15 percent of the patients with PVS, mostly women between 15 and 50 years of age, have been reported to develop esophageal or pharyngeal cancer. There is a decreasing trend in the overall incidence of hypopharyngeal cancer in women, probably due to the diminished prevalence of PVS. There are few reports of gastric cancer in association with PVS.2[第一段]     

Sustainable Production of Arecanut Husk Ash as Potential Silica Replacement for Synthesis of Silicate-Based Glass-Ceramics Materials

Arecanut husk (AH) was selected as a material for silica replacement in the synthesis process of glass-ceramics zinc silicate and also the fact that it has no traditional use and often being dumped and results in environmental issues. The process of pyrolysis was carried out at temperature 700 °C and above based on thermogravimetric analysis to produce arecanut husk ash (AHA). The average purity of the silica content in AHA ranged from 29.17% to 45.43%. Furthermore, zinc oxide was introduced to AHA and zinc silicate started to form at sintering temperature 700 °C and showed increased diffraction intensity upon higher sintering temperature of 600 °C to 1000 °C based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The grain sizes of the zinc silicate increased from 1011 nm to 3518 nm based on the morphological studies carried out by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). In addition, the optical band gap of the sample was measured to be in the range from 2.410 eV to 2.697 eV after sintering temperature. From the data, it is believed that a cleaner production of low-cost zinc silicate can be achieved by using arecanut husk and have the potential to be used as phosphors materials.