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Endostatin specifically targets both tumor blood vessels and lymphatic vessels
Wei Zhuo, Yang Chen, Xiaomin Song, Yongzhang Luo
Front Med. 2011, 5 (4): 336-340.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-011-0163-5
Endostatin, a 20 kDa C-terminal fragment of collagen XVIII, was first identified as a potent angiogenic inhibitor. The anti-angiogenic function of endostatin has been well documented during the past decade. Recently, several studies demonstrated that endostatin also inhibits tumor lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis. However, the exact mechanism that endostatin executes its anti-angiogenic and anti-lymphangiogenic functions remains elusive. In the current mini-review, we briefly summarize recent novel findings, including the functions of endostatin targeting not only angiogenesis but also lymphangiogenesis, and the underlying mechanism by which endostatin internalization regulates its biological functions.
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The unregulated commercialization of stem cell treatments: a global perspective
Douglas Sipp
Front. Med.. 2011, 5 (4): 348-355.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-011-0150-x
Research into the biological properties and clinical potential of stem cells has spurred strong public investment, industry development, media coverage, and patient interest in recent years. To date, however, few clinical applications of demonstrated safety and efficacy have been developed with the exception of uses of hematopoietic stem cells in the treatment of diseases of the blood and immune systems. This lack of an evidence basis notwithstanding, hundreds of companies and private clinics around the world now sell putative stem cell treatments for an enormously broad range of medical and quality-of-life conditions. This represents a major challenge for legitimate scientists working in the field, for authorities seeking to protect their constituencies, and for patients and consumers targeted by such companies’ marketing strategies. In this review, I provide an overview of the global industry in pseudomedical stem cell treatments, with an investigation of claims in a single disease area (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and make recommendations for the introduction and enforcement of appropriate regulatory responses to this problem.
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Stem cell gene therapy: the risks of insertional mutagenesis and approaches to minimize genotoxicity
Chuanfeng Wu, Cynthia E. Dunbar
Front Med. 2011, 5 (4): 356-371.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-011-0159-1
Virus-based vectors are widely used in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy, and have the ability to integrate permanently into genomic DNA, thus driving long-term expression of corrective genes in all hematopoietic lineages. To date, HSC gene therapy has been successfully employed in the clinic for improving clinical outcomes in small numbers of patients with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID-X1), adenosine deaminase deficiency (ADA-SCID), adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), thalassemia, chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS). However, adverse events were observed during some of these HSC gene therapy clinical trials, linked to insertional activation of proto-oncogenes by integrated proviral vectors leading to clonal expansion and eventual development of leukemia. Numerous studies have been performed to understand the molecular basis of vector-mediated genotoxicity, with the aim of developing safer vectors and lower-risk gene therapy protocols. This review will summarize current information on the mechanisms of insertional mutagenesis in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells due to integrating gene transfer vectors, discuss the available assays for predicting genotoxicity and mapping vector integration sites, and introduce newly-developed approaches for minimizing genotoxicity as a way to further move HSC gene therapy forward into broader clinical application.
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Mesenchymal stem cells hold promise for regenerative medicine
Shihua Wang, Xuebin Qu, Robert Chunhua Zhao
Front Med. 2011, 5 (4): 372-378.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-011-0164-4
Regenerative medicine is an emerging interdisciplinary field of research that uses several technological approaches including stem cells to repair tissues. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a type of adult stem cell, have generated a great amount of interest over the past decade in this field. Numerous studies have explored the role of MSCs in tissue repair and modulation of allogeneic immune responses. The mechanisms through which MSCs exert their therapeutic potential rely on some key properties of the cells as follows: the capacity to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes, endothelial, and neuronal cells; the ability to secrete multiple bioactive molecules capable of stimulating the recovery of injured cells and inhibiting inflammation; the lack of immunogenicity; and the ability to perform immunomodulatory functions. In the present review, we focus on these three aspects upon which the therapeutic effects of MSCs are mainly based. Furthermore, some pathological conditions under which the application of MSCs should be done with caution are also mentioned.
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Synthesis and application of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in targeted therapy and imaging of cancer
Liangqian Tong, Ming Zhao, Shu Zhu, Jing Chen
Front Med. 2011, 5 (4): 379-387.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-011-0162-6
Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles have become a popular strategy of cancer treatment and molecular imaging because of their versatile properties and biocompatibility. A variety of studies have shown the exciting potential of functionalized SPIO nanoparticles, such as surface-coated, targeted ligand-conjugated, and/or drug-loaded SPIO nanoparticles, as powerful tools for targeted imaging and therapy. Moreover, the applications of SPIO nanoparticles that integrate diagnosis and therapy in SPIO nanoparticles facilitate the monitoring of therapeutic efficacy during treatment. In the present review, we primarily concentrate on the recent advancements in the field of SPIO nanoparticles in terms of synthesis, targeted therapy, and cancer imaging.
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MicroRNAs and their roles in osteoclast differentiation
Zhuying Xia, Chao Chen, Peng Chen, Hui Xie, Xianghang Luo
Front Med. 2011, 5 (4): 414-419.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-011-0168-0
Osteoclasts, which are derived from monocyte-macrophage precursors, are exclusive bone resorption cells. Limited evidence indicates that a class of small non-coding single-stranded RNAs known as “microRNAs” (miRNAs) is also involved in bone resorption. Although various miRNAs regulate cell proliferation and differentiation, few miRNAs have been reported to play a key role in the regulation of osteoclast differentiation. In this short review, the biology and functional mechanisms of miRNAs in osteoclastogenesis are summarized. The profiling, function, and target prediction of miRNAs are discussed as well.
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Arsenic geochemistry of groundwater in Southeast Asia
Kyoung-Woong Kim, Penradee Chanpiwat, Hoang Thi Hanh, Kongkea Phan, Suthipong Sthiannopkao
Front Med. 2011, 5 (4): 420-433.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-011-0158-2
The occurrence of high concentrations of arsenic in the groundwater of the Southeast Asia region has received much attention in the past decade. This study presents an overview of the arsenic contamination problems in Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Thailand. Most groundwater used as a source of drinking water in rural areas has been found to be contaminated with arsenic exceeding the WHO drinking water guideline of 10 μg·L-1. With the exception of Thailand, groundwater was found to be contaminated with naturally occurring arsenic in the region. Interestingly, high arsenic concentrations (>10 μg·L-1) were generally found in the floodplain areas located along the Mekong River. The source of elevated arsenic concentrations in groundwater is thought to be the release of arsenic from river sediments under highly reducing conditions. In Thailand, arsenic has never been found naturally in groundwater, but originates from tin mining activities. More than 10 million residents in Southeast Asia are estimated to be at risk from consuming arsenic-contaminated groundwater. In Southeast Asia, groundwater has been found to be a significant source of daily inorganic arsenic intake in humans. A positive correlation between groundwater arsenic concentration and arsenic concentration in human hair has been observed in Cambodia and Vietnam. A substantial knowledge gap exists between the epidemiology of arsenicosis and its impact on human health. More collaborative studies particularly on the scope of public health and its epidemiology are needed to conduct to fulfill the knowledge gaps of As as well as to enhance the operational responses to As issue in Southeast Asian countries.
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Pyogenic liver abscess as initial presentation in locally advanced right colon cancer invading the liver, gallbladder, and duodenum
Kai Qu, Chang Liu, Aasef M A Mansoor, Bo Wang, Jincai Chen, Liang Yu, Yi Lv
Front Med. 2011, 5 (4): 434-437.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-011-0157-3
Locally advanced colorectal cancer complicated with adjacent organic invasion may remain confined to the local area with minimal metastasis. In the present paper, we report on a patient with advanced right colon cancer, including liver, gallbladder, and duodenal invasion behind the scene of liver abscess. En bloc resection was performed on the patient, with right-hemicolectomy, cholecystectomy, partial duodental resection, and hepatectomy. Postoperative management was administered, including nutritional support in the early postoperative period, effective anti-infection treatment, and adjuvant chemotherapy (FOLFOX4). The patient survived for 16 months after the operation. Common clinical manifestations of colorectal cancer were digestive symptoms and changes in defecation. However, the clinical manifestation of locally advanced colon cancer was extremely complicated. Extended or multivisceral resection may offer patients a chance to survive an acute crisis and allow for treatment with adjuvant therapy.
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14 articles
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