With the improvement of nanotechnology and nanomaterials, redox-responsive delivery systems have been studied extensively in some critical areas, especially in the field of biomedicine. The system constructed by redox-responsive delivery can be much stable when in circulation. In addition, redox-responsive vectors can respond to the high intracellular level of glutathione and release the loaded cargoes rapidly, only if they reach the site of tumor tissue or targeted cells. Moreover, redox-responsive delivery systems are often applied to significantly improve drug concentrations in targeted cells, increase the therapeutic efficiency and reduce side effects or toxicity of primary drugs. In this review, we focused on the structures and types of current redox-responsive delivery systems and provided a comprehensive overview of relevant researches, in which the disulfide bond containing delivery systems are of the utmost discussion.

• Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma is composed of highly differentiated chondrosarcoma and highly malignant non-cartilaginous sarcomas with abruptly-defined. • The question of whether the two components originated from the same archaeocyte has not yet been clarified. • Clonality analysis showed that the two components were same X chromosome inactivation. • The mutation states of IDH1 and IDH2 gene were consistent in the two components of a DDCS. • We conclude that the two components of a DDCS originate from the same primitive cell.

Background: This study aims to investigate isocitrate dehydrogenase gene mutations in patients with the non-hereditary skeletal disorders of Ollier disease and Maffucci syndrome, particularly in the extraosseous tumours. Methods: A total of 16 tumours from three patients with Ollier disease and three patients with Maffucci syndrome were collected. Sanger sequencing was applied to determine the hotspot mutations of IDH1 and IDH2 genes in multiple neoplastic tissues. Results: A majority of the tumours displayed an IDH1 mutation (p.R132C in 11 tumours including the paediatric ovarian tumour from one patient with Ollier disease, 4 cutaneous haemangiomas from three patients with Maffucci syndrome, 5 enchondromas and 1 chondrosarcoma; p.R132H in 2 cartilaginous tumours from one patient). Conclusions: IDH1 mutations were demonstrated in multiple cartilaginous tumours and extraskeletal neoplasms in this case series. Specifically, identical IDH1 mutations were confirmed in the separate lesions of each patient. These results are in concordance with findings that have been reported. However, here, we additionally reported the first case of Ollier disease with an ovarian tumour, which harboured the identical IDH1 mutation with the corresponding cartilaginous tumour. We further provided evidence that IDH mutations are the potential genetic links among the multiple neoplastic lesions of Ollier disease and Maffucci syndrome.

Background: EPCs were isolated primarily in 1997 by Asahara et al. and recent studies indicated that bone-marrow-derived EPCs contributed little to the endothelium of tumor vessels. Tumors of the CNS system demonstrate various features of angiogenesis. Methods: EPCs derived from rat bone marrow were isolated and cultured in M199 medium without any induced factors. EPCs were studied using immunohistochemical staining, Flow cytometry and culture under three-dimensional condition to determine EPCs’ characteristics in vitro. We also established an animal model by injecting EPCs marked with Hoechst 33342 into the back of BALB/c nude mice and performed hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and immunofluorescent staining to study EPCs’ features in vivo. To research effect of EPCs on glioma, animals bearing tumors model with C6 glioma were established. About 27 day after injection, we performed immunohistochemical staining and Immunofluorescence staining. Results: Our results showed that EPCs derived from rat bone marrow appeared typical morphological characteristics and were positive of CD34, CD133, KDR and CD31 antigens at different time in vitro under the special M199 medium without any induced factors. The percentage of cells that expressed CD133 decreased gradually. In brief, the present study showed that EPCs derived from rat bone marrow differentiated into ECs in medium the without any induced factors and formed tubular structures in three-dimensional circumstances. Animal experiments suggested that EPCs differentiated into ECs and other else non-endothelial cells, and that EPCs contributed M199 of glioma. Discussion: These findings provides some novel results about biological characteristics of EPCs in vivo and ex vivo, and an update on the effect of EPCs on glioma and which would be helpful for the overall understanding of EPCs and make EPCs to be implied on the clinical therapy.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological process through which gene expression can be inhibited by RNA molecules with high selectivity and specificity, providing a promising tool for tumor treatment. Two types of molecules are often applied to inactivate target gene expression: synthetic double stranded small interfering RNA (siRNA) and plasmid DNA encoding short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Vectors with high transfection efficiency and low toxicity are essential for the delivery of siRNA and shRNA. In this study, TDAPEI, the synthetic derivative of low-molecular-weight polyethylenimine (PEI), was cross-linked with imine bonds by the conjugation of branched PEI (1.8 kDa) and 2,5-thiophenedicarboxaldehyde (TDA). This biodegradable cationic polymer was utilized as the vector for the delivery of plasmid DNA expressing anti-VEGF-shRNA. Compared to PEI (25 kDa), TDAPEI had a better performance since experimental results suggest its higher transfection efficiency as well as lower toxicity both in cell and animal studies. TDAPEI did not stimulate innate immune response, which is a significant factor that should be considered in vector design for gene delivery. All the results suggested that TDAPEI delivering anti-VEGF-shRNA may provide a promising method for tumor treatment.