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Temozolomide (TMZ) is a promising chemotherapeutic agent for treating glioblastomas. However, resistance develops quickly and with a high frequency. Efforts to overcome chemoresistance are, therefore, critically needed. In present study, a poly(amidoamine; PAMAM) dendrimer was used as a vector to deliver microRNA-21 inhibitor (miR-21i) into U87 cells and the chemosensitivity of the combination effect of miR-21i and TMZ for glioma therapy was investigated. Flow cytometry analysis showed the uptake efficiency of microRNA-21 inhibitor after complexation with PAMAM. Real-time PCR and in situ hybridization indicated that, compared with TMZ or miR-21i treated cells, cells simultaneously treated with miR-21i and TMZ showed a remarkable decrease in the microRNA-21 (miR-21) level. The transfection of miR-21i enhanced the chemosensitivity by significantly decreasing the IC50 value of TMZ to glioma cells. Knockdown of miR-21 promoted the cells' apoptosis, and at the same time, inhibited cell invasion. In conclusion, the combination treatment of glioma cells with TMZ and miR-21i could yield a synergistic effect in inhibition of human glioma cell line. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2012 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the therapeutic results and the occurrence of adverse reactions of medicine between the combined therapy of warm acupuncture at back- shu points of five zang organs and the western medicine and the simple wes-tern medication, and observe the therapeutic effect and attenuating effect of this combined therapy in treatment on depression of yang deficiency pattern., Methods: A total of 80 patients with depression of yang deficiency pattern were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group （39 cases/group）. In the control group, escitalopram oxalate tablets were administered orally every day. In the observation group, on the base of the medication as the control group, warm acupuncture therapy was exerted at back- shu points of five zang organs, for 30 min each time, 5 times a week. The duration of treatment was 6 weeks in two groups. Before and after treatment, the scores of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and the antidepressant side effect scale (SERS) were evaluated and electroencephalogram (EEG) was detected; and the curative effect was assessed according to HAMD reduction rate in patients of the two groups., Results: After treatment, the HAMD and SERS scores were lower than those before treatment in both groups. Compared with the control group, the HAMD and SERS scores were lower ( P <0.05, P <0.01), and the EEG result was improved ( P <0.01) in the observation group. The clinical total effective rate of the observation group was 97.43% (38/39), higher than 92.30% (36/39) of the control group ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: The combined therapy of warm acupuncture at back- shu points of five zang organs and western medicine effectively relieves depression of yang deficiency pattern in the patients and its overall therapeutic effect is better than simple western medication, besides, the combined therapy alleviates the adverse reactions induced by simple western medication.