Int J Med Sci
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Purpose: To establish small-sized superparamagnetic polymeric micelles for magnetic resonance and fluorescent dual-modal imaging, we investigated the feasibility of MR imaging (MRI) and macrophage-targeted in vitro. Methods: A new class of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and Nile red-co-loaded mPEG-Lys3-CA4-NR/SPION polymeric micelles was synthesized to label Raw264.7 cells. The physical characteristics of the polymeric micelles were assessed, the T2 relaxation rate was calculated, and the effect of labeling on the cell viability and cytotoxicity was also determined in vitro. ⋯ Compared with the hydrophilic SPIO, mPEG-Lys3-CA4-NR/SPION micelles increased transversely (r2), leading to a notably high r2 from 1.908 µg/mL-1S-1 up to 5.032 µg/mL-1S-1, making the mPEG-Lys3-CA4-NR/SPION micelles a highly sensitive MRI T2 contrast agent, as further demonstrated by in vitro MRI. The results of Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) and Prussian blue staining of Raw264.7 after incubation with micelle-containing medium indicated that the cellular uptake efficiency is high. Conclusion: We successfully synthesized dual-modal MR and fluorescence imaging mPEG-Lys3-CA4-NR/SPION polymeric micelles with an ultra-small size and high MRI sensitivity, which were effectively and quickly uptaken into Raw 264.7 cells. mPEG-Lys3-CA4-NR/SPION polymeric micelles might become a new MR lymphography contrast agent, with high effectiveness and high MRI sensitivity.
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BMMSCs have drawn great interest in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine attributable to their multi-lineage differentiation capacity. Increasing evidence has shown that the mechanical stiffness of extracellular matrix is a critical determinant for stem cell behaviors. However, it remains unknown how matrix stiffness influences MSCs commitment with changes in cell morphology, adhesion, proliferation, self-renewal and differentiation. ⋯ The cells exhibited a polygonal morphology and larger spreading area. These results suggest that matrix stiffness modulates commitment of BMMSCs. Our findings may eventually aid in the development of novel, effective biomaterials for the applications in tissue engineering.
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Background: Psoriasis is one of the most common chronic, life-long dermatologic diseases, which has considerable negative effects on quality of life. Psoriasis is considered as a systemic inflammatory disease, thus acute phase proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and orosomucoid (ORM) have been shown to play a role in its pathophysiology. This study was aimed to compare CRP, serum ORM (se-ORM) and urinary ORM (u-ORM) levels of psoriatic patients to healthy individuals. ⋯ No significant differences were found between the groups regarding se-ORM levels. HsCRP, se-ORM and u-ORM/u-CREAT levels were significantly higher in patients with severe psoriasis than in mild and moderate cases (p<0.05). Conclusion: As a highly sensitive, easily available biomarker u-ORM shows itself capable of becoming a new inflammatory marker in psoriasis providing clinically useful information on disease severity.
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Background: Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) is a cardiometabolic predictor of cardiovascular (CV) disease in humans. We evaluated the association between serum A-FABP levels and future CV events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: A total of 106 CAD patients were enrolled in this study between January and December 2012 and were followed-up until June 30, 2017. ⋯ Multivariate Cox analysis showed that triglycerides (hazard ratio (HR): 1.008, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.001-1.016, p = 0.026) and serum A-FABP levels (HR: 1.027, 95% CI: 1.009-1.047, p = 0.004) were independently associated with CV events. Conclusion: Serum A-FABP level is a biomarker for future CV events in patients with CAD. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the mechanisms underlying this association.
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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a liver malignancy and a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide. AURKA (aurora kinase A) is a mitotic serine/threonine kinase that functions as an oncogene and plays a critical role in hepatocarcinogenesis. We report on the association between 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the AURKA gene (rs1047972, rs2273535, rs2064836, and rs6024836) and HCC susceptibility as well as clinical outcomes in 312 patients with HCC and in 624 cancer-free controls. ⋯ Moreover, carriers of at least one A allele in rs2273535 were less likely to progress to stage III/IV disease, develop large tumors or be classified into Child-Pugh class B or C. Individuals with at least one G allele at AURKA SNP rs2064863 were at lower risk of developing large tumors or progressing to Child-Pugh grade B or C. Our results indicate that genetic variations in the AURKA gene may serve as an important predictor of early-stage HCC and be a reliable biomarker for the development of HCC.