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Background: Chordoma is a rare congenital low-grade malignant tumor characterized by infiltrative growth. It often tends to compress important intracranial nerves and blood vessels, making its surgical treatment extremely difficult. Besides, the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy is limited. The photosensitizer hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) can emit red fluorescence under 405 nm excitation and produce reactive oxygen species for tumor therapy under 630 nm excitation. Herein, we investigated the effects of the photosensitizer hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) on different cell lines of chordoma and xenograft tumors under 405 nm and 630 nm excitation. Methods: The photosensitizer hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) and Two different chordoma cell lines (U-CH1, JHC7) were used for the test. The in vitro experiments were as follows: (1) the fluorescence intensity emitted by chordoma cells excited by different 405 nm light intensities was observed under a confocal microscope; (2) the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was performed to detect the effects of different photosensitizer concentrations and 630 nm light energy densities on the activity of chordoma cells. In the in vivo experiments, (3) Fluorescence visualization of chordoma xenograft tumors injected with photosensitizer via tail vein under 405 nm excitation; (4) Impact of 630 nm excitation of photosensitizer on the growth of chordoma xenograft tumors. Results: (1) The photosensitizers in chordoma cells and chordoma xenografts of nude mice were excited by 405 nm to emit red fluorescence; (2) 630 nm excitation photosensitizer reduces chordoma cell activity and inhibits chordoma xenograft tumor growth in chordoma nude mice. Conclusion: Photodynamic techniques mediated by the photosensitizer hematoporphyrin derivatives can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of chordoma.

Background and PurposeThe systemic immune-inflammation index, a new index based on platelets, neutrophils and lymphocytes, has been shown to be associated with outcomes of patients with venous sinus thrombosis and cancer. However, its application in acute ischemic stroke has rarely been reported. Therefore, we examined the relationship between systemic immune-inflammation index levels at hospital admission and the outcomes of patients 3 months after onset, and plotted a nomogram to predict the probability of adverse outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed a total of 208 patients with acute ischemic stroke who were admitted between January 2020 and December 2020, and recorded the modified Rankin score 3 months later. A modified Rankin score ≥ 3 was defined as an adverse outcome. Age, sex, NIHSS score, SII, hypertension and coronary heart disease were included in the binary logistic regression, and the nomogram was plotted with a regression equation.ResultsReceiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that the best cutoff value of the systemic immune-inflammation index was 802.8, with a sensitivity of 70.9% and specificity of 58.2% (area under the curve: 0.657, 95% confidence interval: 0.572–0.742). The nomogram had a C index of 0.802. The average error of the calibration curves of the training set and the validation set was 0.021 and 0.034, respectively.ConclusionThe systemic immune-inflammation index is associated with short-term adverse outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and the nomograms can predict the risk of adverse outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Abnormal migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) serves an important role in hypertension, atherosclerosis and restenosis following angioplasty, which is regulated numerous hormonal and humoral factors, including neuropeptide Y (NPY) and dopamine. Dopamine and NPY are both sympathetic neurotransmitters, and a previous study reported that NPY increased VSMC proliferation, while dopamine receptor inhibited it. Therefore, the authors wondered whether or not there is an inhibitory effect of dopamine receptor on NPY‑mediated VSMC migration. The present study demonstrated that stimulation with NPY dose‑dependence (10‑10‑10‑7M, 24 h) increased VSMC migration, the stimulatory effect of NPY was via the Y1 receptor. This is because, in the presence of the Y1 receptor antagonist, BIBP3226 (10‑7 M), the stimulatory effect of NPY on VSMC migration was blocked. Activation of the D3 receptor by PD128907 dose‑dependence (10‑11‑10‑8 M) reduced the stimulatory effect of NPY on VSMC migration. The effect of PD128907 was via the D3 receptor, because the inhibitory effect of PD128907 on NPY‑mediated migration was blocked by the D3 receptor antagonist, U99194. The authors' further study suggested that the inhibitory effect of the D3 receptor was via the PKA signaling pathway, in the presence of the PKA inhibitor, 14‑22 (10‑6 M), the inhibitory effect of PD128907 on VSMC migration was blocked. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of PD128907 was imitated by PKA activator, Sp‑cAMP [S], in the presence of Sp‑cAMP [S], the NPY‑mediated stimulatory effect on VSMC migration was abolished. The present study indicated that activation of the D3 receptor inhibits NPY Y1‑mediated migration on VSMCs, PKA is involved in the signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two functional monomers, methacrylic acid 4‐(2‐benzoxazol)‐benzyl ester (MABE) containing the benzoxazole group and 4‐(2‐(9‐anthryl))‐vinyl‐styrene (AVS) containing the anthracene group were synthesized by rational design. The MABE was polymerized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate (EBIB) as initiator in CuBr/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) catalyst system; block copolymers poly(MABE‐b‐AVS) was obtained, which was conducted by using poly(MABE) as macro‐initiator, AVS as the second monomer, and CuBr/PMDETA as catalyst. The constitute of two monomers in block copolymers poly(MABE‐b‐AVS) by ATRP could be adjusted, that is the constitute of the benzoxazole group and the anthracene group could be controlled in AB‐type block copolymers. Moreover, the fluorescent properties of homopolymers poly(MABE) and block copolymers poly(MABE‐b‐AVS) were discussed herein. With the excitation at λex = 330 nm, the fluorescent emission spectrum of poly(MABE) solution showed emission at 375 nm corresponding to the benzoxazole‐based part; with the same excitation, the fluorescent emission spectrum of poly(MABE‐b‐AVS) solution showed a broad peek at 330–600 nm when the monomer AVS to the total monomers mole ratio was 0.31, and the fluorescent emission spectrum of poly(MABE‐b‐AVS) in film state only showed one peak at 525 nm corresponding to the anthracene‐based unit that indicated a complete energy transfer from the benzoxazole group to the anthracene group. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3894–3901, 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

End‐functionalized polystyrene (PSt) was synthesized via atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) by using 4‐chloromethyl benzoic acid (CMBA) and the ethyl‐protected carboxylic acid, ethyl 4‐chloromethybenzenecarboxylate (ECBC), as initiators respectively. The structure of PSt proved the living‐radical polymerization. Results exhibit both ATRP initiators afforded well‐controlled polymerization with high initiator efficiencies. However, the study also shows the controllability of ATRP can be obviously influenced by using different initiator in different catalyst system. Furthermore, the terminal group of the PSt1, benzoic acid, can coordinate with Europium(III) ion to obtain the polymeric Eu(III) complex, which shows both emissions of polymer and Eu(III) ion. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene (St) using two initiators with similar structures, 5-chloromethyl-2-methoxy-benzaldehyde (CMMB) and 5-chloromethyl-2-hydroxyl-benzaldehyde (CMOB), CuCI/N,N,N',N",N"-pentamethyldiethyltriamine (PMDETA) as catalyst were studied in this paper. At the same reaction condition, the ATRP using CMMB was obviously accelerated, the efficiency of the initiator was higher and even could proceed at relatively lower temperature (40°C), while ATRP using CMOB as initiator shows obvious slow-initiation and was under poor-control. It was speculated that, the methoxy group in CMMB has stronger electron-donor ability and avoid the formation of hydrogen bond, so that the ATRP was promoted. Furthermore, the end group of obtained PSt can also be turned into Schiff base and form polymeric complex with metal ions, which owns good film-forming ability and shows visible fluorescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Two novel Pb(II) complexes, {[Pb(hca)2·DMF]·DMF} ∞ and [Pb(hca)2(phen)·DMF]2 (hca=trans-4-hydroxycinnamic group), were obtained by solid-phase reactions of PbAc2 and Hhca and PbAc2, Hhca, and phen, respectively, and characterized by spectroscopy. X-ray crystallography analysis reveals that complex 1, {[Pb(hca)2·DMF]·DMF} ∞ , adopts a 2-dimensional structure through the weak interactions of Pb and O atoms and that complex 2, [Pb(hca)2(phen)·DMF]2, shows a discrete dimeric structure, in which hydrogen bonds link the dimers into a 2D network. Both complexes 1 and 2 show visible fluorescence and the intensity is stronger than that of the ligand. More interestingly, the intensity of emission was increased at least fivefolds when the pH of the solution was adjusted to alkalinity. This can be attributed to that the deprotonization of phenolic group enhancing the conjugation of the ligand hca. These results indicate that this method may be an effective way to increase the emission intensity of similar complexes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]