Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) undergo a characteristic phase transition in response to ambient temperature. Therefore, it has been be used as thermosensitive vector for the delivery of chemotherapy agents since can target hyperthermic tumors. This novel strategy introduces unprecedented options treating cancer with fewer concerns about side effects. In this study, ELP system was further modi...

Calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) was prepared by a simple precipitation method using avian eggshell waste as a low-cost alternative calcium precursor source. The synthesized CPP powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results indicate that pure b-CPP nanocrys...

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) as small molecular transporters with abilities of cell penetrating, internalization, and endosomal escape have potential prospect in drug delivery systems. However, a bottleneck hampering their application is the poor specificity for cells. By utilizing the function of hydration shell of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and acid sensitivity of hydrazone bond, we constr...

Introduction Accelerated development of secondary sexual characteristics or sexual precocity is a well-known entity [1–3]. Most authors recognize two groups of patients, those described as having central precocious puberty (CPP) and those with precocious pseudopuberty [1–3,6]. CPP results from premature activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and pseudopuberty is caused by lesions...

Previous studies have shown that peripheral electrical stimulation (PES) can suppress morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) and the reinstatement of extinguished CPP in the rat. The present study was performed to elucidate if preproenkephalin (PPE) and preprodynorphin (PPD) mRNAs in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) play a role in this event. Rats were trained with morphine for 4 days t...

OBJECTIVE IGF1 plays an important role in growth and metabolism during puberty. IGF1 levels are increased in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP). However, the relationship with insulin before and during gonadal suppression is unknown. In addition, the influence of the exon 3-deleted GH receptor gene (GHRd3) on IGF1 levels was evaluated. DESIGN Nine hundred and eleven healthy and 23 ea...

The hydrophilic nature of peptides and proteins renders them impermeable to cell membranes. Thus, in order to successfully deliver peptide and protein-based therapeutics across the plasma membrane or epithelial and endothelial barriers, a permeation enhancing strategy must be employed. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) constitute a promising tool and have shown applications for peptide and prote...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Hypothalamic hamartomas are the most common identifiable cause of central precocious puberty (CPP). Hamartoma characteristics proposed to be associated with CPP include specific anatomic features and expression of molecules such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha), and GRM1A, which encodes the type 1 metabotropic glutamate recept...

BACKGROUND Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test is the gold standard to identify central precocious puberty (CPP). This test requires multiple blood samples at different time points to measure gonadotropin levels, and is therefore expensive, time-consuming, and uncomfortable for patients. We aimed to simplify the GnRH stimulation test to require fewer blood samples. METHODS ...

PURPOSE Enamel erosion can occur with frequent consumption of sports drinks. The purpose of this study was to determine a minimal concentration of casein phosphopeptide-stabilized amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) which when added to a sports drink would eliminate such erosion in vitro. METHODS Human enamel specimens were immersed in: (1) the sports drink Powerade; (2) Poweradeplus 4 conc...