Aims/Introduction: Adipose tissue‐derived hormones are associated with metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study investigated the levels of adiponectin and pro‐inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β) andIL‐10 in Vietnamese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and their correlations with clinical parameters of overweight and type 2 diabetes mellitus.Materials and Methods: Based on body mass index, 73 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were categorized either as overweight or non‐overweight. As healthy controls, 57 overweight and non‐overweight individuals without type 2 diabetes mellitus were included. The adiponectin,TNF‐α,IL‐1β andIL‐10 levels were measured in the sera samples in all study participants by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and were correlated with clinical parameters.Results: The adiponectin levels were lower in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (2.5 ± 1.5 μg/mL) compared with controls (16 ± 18.6 μg/mL;P< 0.0001), and were decreased in overweight individuals compared with those who were not overweight. TheTNF‐α andIL‐1β levels were increased, whereas theIL‐10 levels were decreased in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and in overweight controls compared with non‐overweight controls (P< 0.0001). The adiponectin levels were correlated with theTNF‐α,IL‐1β,IL‐10 levels, and the clinical parameters of overweight and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The quantitative insulin sensitivity check index and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance indexes were correlated with the relative ratios of adiponectin/TNF‐α, adiponectin/IL‐1β, adiponectin/IL‐10,TNF‐α/IL‐10 andIL‐1β/IL‐10.Conclusions: Adiponectin and pro‐inflammatory cytokines are associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and might serve as a prognostic marker and a therapeutic intervention for overweight‐related type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles have been investigated for decades due to their potential biomedical applications. In this study, we synthesized, characterized and biologically tested multifunctional Fe₃O₄-based drug delivery systems for such an application. The nanosystems were successfully prepared with a small size, high saturation magnetization and high drug loading. The Fe₃O₄ core in an alternating magnetic field could generate enough heat for both effective hyperthermia therapy and doxorubicin release from the alginate shell for chemotherapy. Also, a folate factor was attached to the nanoparticles to help the system to enter and stay in the tumor cells for a longer time. In vivo experiments showed that the combined treatment was very helpful for the survival of lung cancer-bearing mice, especially in the case of the presence of a folate factor.

Oncolytic measles and mumps viruses (MeV, MuV) have a potential for anti-cancer treatment. We examined the anti-tumor activity of MeV, MuV, and MeV-MuV combination (MM) against human solid malignancies (HSM). MeV, MuV, and MM targeted and significantly killed various cancer cell lines of HSM but not normal cells. MM demonstrated a greater anti-tumor effect and prolonged survival in a human prostate cancer xenograft tumor model compared to MeV and MuV. MeV, MuV, and MM significantly induced the expression of immunogenic cell death markers and enhanced spleen-infiltrating immune cells. In conclusion, MM combination significantly improves the treatment of human solid malignancies.

Radiotherapy side-effects present serious problems in cancer treatment. Melanin, a natural polymer with low toxicity, is considered as a potential radio-protector; however, its application as an agent against irradiation during cancer treatment has still received little attention. In this study, nanomelanin particles were prepared, characterized and applied in protecting the spleens of tumor-bearing mice irradiated with X-rays. These nanoparticles had sizes varying in the range of 80–200 nm and contained several important functional groups such as carboxyl (-COO), carbonyl (-C=O) and hydroxyl (-OH) groups on the surfaces. Tumor-bearing mice were treated with nanomelanin at a concentration of 40 mg/kg before irradiating with a single dose of 6.0 Gray of X-ray at a high dose rate (1.0 Gray/min). Impressively, X-ray caused mild splenic fibrosis in 40% of nanomelanin-protected mice, whereas severe fibrosis was observed in 100% of mice treated with X-ray alone. Treatment with nanomelanin also partly rescued the volume and weight of mouse spleens from irradiation through promoting the transcription levels of splenic Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α). More interestingly, splenic T cell and dendritic cell populations were 1.91 and 1.64-fold higher in nanomelanin-treated mice than those in mice which received X-ray alone. Consistently, the percentage of lymphocytes was also significantly greater in blood from nanomelanin-treated mice. In addition, nanomelanin might indirectly induce apoptosis in tumor tissues via activation of TNF-α, Bax, and Caspase-3 genes. In summary, our results demonstrate that nanomelanin protects spleens from X-ray irradiation and consequently enhances immunoactivity in tumor-bearing mice; therefore, we present nanomelanin as a potential protector against damage from radiotherapy in cancer treatment.

The complement system may be crucial during dengue virus infection and progression to severe dengue. This study investigates the role of MBL2 genetic variants and levels of MBL in serum and complement proteins in Vietnamese dengue patients. MBL2 genotypes (− 550L/H, MBL2 codon 54), MBL2 diplotypes (XA/XO, YA/XO) and MBL2 haplotypes (LXPB, HXPA, XO) were associated with dengue in the study population. The levels of complement factors C2, C5, and C5a were higher in dengue and dengue with warning signs (DWS) patients compared to those in healthy controls, while factor D levels were decreased in dengue and DWS patients compared to the levels determined in healthy controls. C2 and C5a levels were associated with the levels of AST and ALT and with WBC counts. C9 levels were negatively correlated with ALT levels and WBC counts, and factor D levels were associated with AST and ALT levels and with platelet counts. In conclusions, MBL2 polymorphisms are associated with dengue in the Vietnamese study population. The levels of the complement proteins C2, C4b, C5, C5a, C9, factor D and factor I are modulated in dengue patients during the clinical course of dengue.