Dalian Medical University

About: Dalian Medical University is a education organization based out in Dalian, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Apoptosis. The organization has 15623 authors who have published 9993 publications receiving 164145 citations.

Influence of covid-19 on cerebrovascular disease and its possible mechanism

Abstract: The global spread of COVID-19 has caused a substantial societal burden and become a major global public health issue. The COVID-19 elderly population with hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular diseases are at risk. Mortality rates are highest in these individuals if infected with COVID-19. Although the lungs are the main organs involved in acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 triggers inflammatory and immune mechanisms, inducing a "cytokine storm" that aggravates disease progression and may lead to death. Presently, effective drugs are lacking, although current studies have confirmed that drugs with therapeutic potential include redaciclovir, lopinavir/ritonavir combined with interferon-β, convalescent plasma, and monoclonal antibodies. Currently, the most reasonable and effective way to prevent COVID-19 is to control the source of infection, terminate routes of transmission, and protect susceptible populations. With the rise of COVID-19 in China and worldwide, further prevention, diagnosis, and treatment measures are a critical unmet need. Cerebrovascular disease has high incidence, disability rate, and fatality rate. COVID-19 patient outcomes may also be complicated with acute stroke. This paper summarizes the influence of COVID-19 on cerebrovascular disease and discusses possible pathophysiological mechanisms to provide new angles for the prevention and diagnosis of this disease.

Chrysin ameliorates diabetes-associated cognitive deficits in Wistar rats.

Abstract: Chrysin (CH) is an important natural plant flavonoid and possesses diverse pharmacological activities. Our present investigations aimed to assess the neuroprotection of CH against diabetes-associated cognitive decline (DACD) in a rat model of diabetes and exploring its potential mechanism. Diabetic model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Then, they were treated with vehicle or CH by doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg for 26 days. Learning and memory function was evaluated by Morris water maze test. The oxidative indicators [malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH)], NF-κB p65 unit, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and caspase-3 were measured in cerebral cortex and hippocampus using corresponding commercial kits. The diabetic rats showed marked reductions in body weight, percentage of time spent in target quadrant and number of times of crossing platform, coupled with increases in plasma glucose levels, escape latency, mean path length and oxidative stress (increased MDA level and decreased CAT and SOD as well as reduced GSH), NF-κB p65 unit, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and caspase-3 in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Moreover, CH supplement dramatically reversed the corresponding behavioral, biochemical and molecular alterations in diabetes. The alterations of swimming speed among different groups were not observed after CH adminstration. In conclusion, our current work discloses that CH remarkably alleviates DACD and suggests that oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptotic cascades are linked with diabetes-associated cognitive deficits. These findings point toward the therapeutic potential of CH in DACD.

Photoactivated H2 Nanogenerator for Enhanced Chemotherapy of Bladder Cancer.

Abstract: Hydrogen gas can mitigate oxidative stress in many diseases and is regarded to be safe and free of side effects. Inspired by a metalloenzyme in a variety of microorganisms, here, we propose a photoactivated H2 nanogenerator that comprises a fluorinated chitosan (FCS), a chemotherapeutic drug (gemcitabine, GEM), and a catalyst of H2 production ([FeFe]TPP) that can form self-assembled [FeFe]TPP/GEM/FCS nanoparticles (NPs). The [FeFe]TPP/GEM/FCS NPs exhibit excellent transmucosal and tumor cell penetration capacities after intravesical instillation into the bladder and can efficiently produce H2 gas in situ upon 660 nm laser irradiation, which significantly enhances the efficacy of hydrogen chemotherapy of cancer in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we discover that H2 gas in hydrogen chemotherapy can inhibit mitochondrial function, hinder ATP synthesis, and cause a reduction of the P-gp efflux pump function, which finally attenuates P-gp protein drug transport capacity in cancer cells. This photoactivated H2 evolution in situ to improve the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy of bladder cancer may present an effective hydrogen chemotherapy strategy for cancer treatment.