The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of prostate tumor bioimaging both in vitro and in vivo using an upconversion fluorophore, NaYF4: Yb, Er nanoparticles. Luminescent signals of human prostate cancer cells (CWR22R and LNCaP) labeled with NaYF4: Yb, Er nanoparticles were detected by laser scanning confocal microscope, while Cy3 or FITC was used as control probe. Mouse-human prostate cancer model was developed by subcutaneously injecting the CWR22R cells into BALB/c nude mice to investigate the in-vivo imaging properties of NaYF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles. Both CWR22R and LNCaP cells could phagocytose NaYF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles in vitro, and the cellular uptake of CWR22R cells was much higher than that of LNCaP cells (95.42 ± 3.47 % vs. 51.63 ± 6.43 %), which made us choose the former for the further study. CWR22R cells pre-labeled with NaYF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles showed no obvious decrease of fluorescence intensity (P > 0.05) after light exposure, while the fluorescence intensity of Cy3 or FITC labeled cells decreased rapidly with prolonged bleaching (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the in-vivo results showed that the prostate cancer cells pre-labeled with or without NaYF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles formed tumors 4 weeks after injection, and the tumor length-diameter of the nanoparticle group and the control group was (10.3 ± 2.0) mm and (9.8 ± 2.5) mm, respectively. Significant upconversion fluorescence signals were observed in the tumors of the nanoparticle group when being excited at 980 nm by a NIR laser. In summary, the results suggest that as an intensive fluorescence imaging label agent, NaYF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles possess unique features and can be used for imaging prostate tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo by phagocytosis.

Background. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are an important alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and show great promise in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. However, identifying the novel genes and pathways and finding the underlying mechanisms regulating ADSCs osteogenic differentiation remain urgent. Methods. We downloaded the gene expression profiles of GSE63754 and GSE37329 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Database. We derived differentially expressed genes (DEGs) before and after ADSC osteogenic differentiation, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) functional and KEGG pathway analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. 211 differentially expressed genes (142 upregulated genes and 69 downregulated genes) were aberrantly expressed. GO analysis revealed that these DEGs were associated with extracellular matrix organization, protein extracellular matrix, and semaphorin receptor binding. Conclusions. Our study provides novel genes and pathways that play important roles in regulating ADSC osteogenic differentiation, which may have potential therapeutic targets for clinic.

Background: This study aimed to introduce our single-center experience of infant vascular tumor associated with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) which received combined medicine treatment with intralesional laser photocoagulation (ILP) and sclerotherapy. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of medical records of all children with diagnosis of KHE or TA associated with KMP treated with medicine treatment, intralesional laser photocoagulation (ILP) and sclerotherapy between February 2017 to November 2020. Clinical features, response to comprehensive therapy and outcomes were recorded. Results. Twenty-three patients, including nine females (39%) and fourteen males (61%), were identified. The mean age was 6.9 months (age range, 11 days to 2 years) at the time of treatment. Nine children (39%) demonstrated sensitivity to single corticosteroid therapy. Fourteen children (61%) received combining therapy with intravenous VCR and corticosteroid therapy. All children had at least two ILP and sclerotherapy performed, with a mean of 3.5 procedures (range: 2-6). Of these 14 children, only one experienced a relapse of thrombocytopenia and the remaining 13 children had no clinical symptoms recurred but non-involuting tumor. Conclusions. The combined therapy modalities could induce a more rapid tumor response and resolution of KMP, decrease the rebound rates. The precent research presents a noval and safe multi-modality treatment for infant vascular tumor associated with KMP.