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Purpose The clinical management of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is difficult. However, novel treatment methods are gradually being introduced. Considering the adverse effects of traditional treatments, recent studies have investigated gene therapy as a method to combat CRPC; but, the application of long non-coding (lnc) RNA in gene therapy remains scarce, despite their promise. Therefore, it is imperative to develop a system that can efficiently deliver lncRNA for the treatment of CRPC. Here, we investigated the efficacy of a delivery system by introducing the plasmid-encoding tumor suppressor lncRNA MEG3 (pMEG3) in CRPC cells. Materials and Methods An EpDT3 aptamer-linked poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer targeting EpCAM was used to deliver pMEG3 in CRPC cells. The PAMAM-PEG-EpDT3/pMEG3 nanoparticles (NPs) were tested using in vitro cellular assays including cellular uptake, entry, and CCK-8 measurement, and tumor growth inhibition, histological assessment, and safety evaluations in in vivo animal models. Results The EpDT3 aptamer promoted endocytosis of PAMAM and PAMAM-PEG-EpDT3/pMEG3 NPs in CRPC cells. PAMAM-PEG-EpDT3/pMEG3 NPs exhibited a significant anti-CRPC effect, both in vivo and in vitro, when compared to that of unfunctionalized PAMAM-PEG/pMEG3 NPs. Conclusion PAMAM-PEG-EpDT3/pMEG3 NPs can potentially improve gene therapy in CRPC cells.

Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a severe complication of infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that cause serious damage to public health. Currently, no effective therapeutic strategy exists for CRS treatment in clinic, and supportive therapy is still the main method. Here, we show the potential of macrophage membrane-biomimetic nanoparticles for CRS treatment. By fusing macrophage membrane on the surface of the PLGA skeleton, we constructed biomimetic nanoparticles that inherited the membrane receptors from the "parental" macrophages, enabling the neutralization of CRS-related cytokines. We compared three types of macrophage membranes to screen out more effective biomimetic nanoparticles for CRS treatment. Our results show that biomimetic nanoparticles containing M0 macrophage membrane can decrease the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in CRS to the greatest extent. In a mouse model of RNA virus analog-induced CRS, the macrophage membrane-biomimetic nanoparticles manifested significant therapeutic efficacy by reducing cytokine levels and alleviating organ damage. Funding Information: This work was supported by Scientific Research Project of Tongji University (22120200021), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82073385 and 81803078), Shanghai Science and Technology Committee (20DZ2255200 and 21140901900). Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: All animal studies were approved under the guidelines of Tongji University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Androgen castration therapy is an effective treatment method for prostate cancer patients who cannot be completely cured by surgery. However, drug resistance often leads to treatment failure and poor prognosis. For castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), some new treatment methods have been gradually put into clinical validation or use. Considering the side effects of traditional treatment, gene therapy has been applied in recent studies to combat prostate cancer (PCa). A 19-nt RNA aptamer, termed as EpDT3, is endocytosed when bound to epithelial cell adhesion molecule EpCAM-overexpressing cells, including various types of prostate cancer cells. Therefore, poly (amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM) conjugated with EpDT3 on the surface was developed for gene delivery targeting the CRPC. Moreover, the PAMAM-PEG-EpDT3 vehicles were accumulated in CRPC cells. The CRPC-inhibitory effect of PAMAM modified with EpDT3 was significantly higher than that of the unmodified construct when loading the plasmid that encodes long noncoding (lnc) RNA MEG3 (pMEG3). In summary, the above results suggested that PAMAM-PEG-EpDT3/pMEG3 nanoparticles (NPs) have great potential for enhancing CRPC gene therapy.

Melanoma is a malignant skin tumor that results in poor disease prognosis due to unsuccessful treatment options. During the early stages of tumor progression, surgery is the primary approach that assures a good outcome. However, in the presence of metastasis, melanoma hasbecome almost immedicable, since the tumors can not be removed and the disease recurs easily in a short period of time. However, in recent years, the combination of nanomedicine and chemotherapeutic drugs has offered promising solutions to the treatment of late-stage melanoma. Extensive studies have demonstrated that nanomaterials and their advanced applications can improve the efficacy of traditional chemotherapeutic drugs in order to overcome the disadvantages, such as drug resistance, low drug delivery rate and reduced targeting to the tumor tissue. In the present review, we summarized the latest progress in imaging diagnosis and treatment of melanoma using functional nanomaterials, including polymers, liposomes, metal nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles and carbon-based nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are reported widely in melanoma chemotherapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and hyperthermia.

This paper analyzes the limitations of wire cut electrical discharge machining (WEDM) servo system in processing semiconductors, specifically its failure to distinguish an open circuit, normal discharge from a short-circuit state. This paper proposes a new servo system based on current pulse probability detection. Given the basic linear relationship between feed speed and current pulse probability, an appropriate control of current pulse probability can guarantee a suitable servo feed speed in machining semiconductors by WEDM. Contrast experiments are performed to verify the feasibility of this system.

We studied and analyzed the phenomenon of small holes on the surface of monocrystalline silicon when cut by wire cut EDM. When power density of plasma in the discharge channel reaches a certain value, gasification holes will appear. The influence of small holes on heat transfer process when monocrystalline silicon machined by WEDM was also analyzed, results show that these small holes make the surface heat source change towards body heat source, so thermal stress damage will happen and crack propagation depth increases rapidly when monocrystalline silicon machined by EDM.

Objective: To compare the effects and adverse reactions of dihydrocodeine tartrate and codeine phosphate in treating moderate cancer pain. Methods: Sixty-nine cases of cancer patients with moderate pain were treated with dihydrocodeine tartrate or codeine phosphate respectively by double-blind, controlled randomized methods and the effects and adverse reactions were observed. Results: After administration of dihydrocodeine tartrate or codeine phosphate, in treatment group or control group, the total effective rate was 86.6% and 93.6%, and common adverse symptoms included constipation (31.3%/12.9%), nausea (18.8%/19.7%), gastric trouble (18.8%/19.7%), skin pruritus (12.5%/10%), vomit (9.3% and 6.5%) with the difference being not significant. Conclusion: The effects of dihydrocodeine tartrate in treating moderate cancer pain are similar to codeine phosphate. Both them can be used to treat moderate cancer pain.