Mesenchymal neoplasms with NTRK and other kinase gene alterations

Kinase alterations are increasingly recognised as oncogenic drivers in mesenchymal tumours. Infantile fibrosarcoma and the related renal tumour, congenital mesoblastic nephroma, were among the first solid tumours shown to harbour recurrent tyrosine kinase fusions, with the canonical ETV6::NTRK3 fusion identified more than 20 years ago. Although targeted testing has long been used in diagnosis, the advent of more robust sequencing techniques has driven the discovery of kinase alterations in an array of mesenchymal tumours. As our ability to identify these genetic alterations has improved, as has our recognition and understanding of the tumours that harbour these alterations. Specifically, this study will focus upon mesenchymal tumours harbouring NTRK or other kinase alterations, including tumours with an infantile fibrosarcoma-like appearance, spindle cell tumours resembling lipofibromatosis or peripheral nerve sheath tumours and those occurring in adults with a fibrosarcoma-like appearance. As publications describing the histology of these tumours increase so, too, do the variety kinase alterations reported, now including NTRK1/2/3, RET, MET, RAF1, BRAF, ALK, EGFR and ABL1 fusions or alterations. To date, these tumours appear locally aggressive and rarely metastatic, without a clear link between traditional features used in histological grading (e.g. mitotic activity, necrosis) and outcome. However, most of these tumours are amenable to new targeted therapies, making their recognition of both diagnostic and therapeutic import. The goal of this study is to review the clinicopathological features of tumours with NTRK and other tyrosine kinase alterations, discuss the most common differential diagnoses and provide recommendations for molecular confirmation with associated treatment implications.     

Prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases in collagen synthesis

Collagens are the most abundant proteins in the extracellular matrix. They provide a framework to build organs and tissues and give structural support to make them resistant to mechanical load and forces. Several intra‐ and extracellular modifications are needed to make functional collagen molecules, intracellular post‐translational modifications of proline and lysine residues having key roles in this. In this article, we provide a review on the enzymes responsible for the proline and lysine modifications, that is collagen prolyl 4‐hydroxylases, 3‐hydroxylases and lysyl hydroxylases, and discuss their biological functions and involvement in diseases.     

基于网络药理学探讨搜风愈喘方拆方“祛宿痰方”调控儿童哮喘的作用机制＊

目的 基于“伏风暗瘀宿痰”小儿哮喘病机新说，采用网络药理学及实验验证的方法，探索搜风愈喘方拆方“祛宿痰方”治疗儿童哮喘的作用机制，验证中医“宿痰”病机与西医细胞外基质改变病理之间的交通性。方法 通过TCMSP数据库建立“祛宿痰方”的有效成分和靶点数据集，利用OMIM、GeneCards、DrugBank、TTD疾病数据库建立哮喘疾病靶点数据集，利用Cytoscape软件取交集并构建“祛宿痰方”与哮喘的蛋白质互作网络，筛选关键靶点蛋白。利用Metascape数据库进行基因本体（Gene ontology，GO）分析以及京都基因和基因组百科全书（Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes，KEGG）富集分析。复制卵蛋白（OVA）诱导的哮喘大鼠模型，对核心通路及关键靶点进行实验验证。结果 共得到“祛宿痰方”治疗哮喘的靶点98个，包括IL-13、TP53、TGF-β1、VEGF-A、MMP9等，KEGG得到与哮喘相关的通路287条（P＜0.05），包括NF-κB信号通路、PI3K-AKT信号通路、IL-17信号通路等。GO结果显示与哮喘相关生物进程包括炎症反应、细胞外基质调控、氧化应激、血管生成等。动物实验证实“祛宿痰方”可下调大鼠肺组织中p-NF-κB-P65磷酸化水平，抑制NF-κB信号通路的激活，降低IL-13、TGF-β1 mRNA表达量（P<0.05），减少哮喘大鼠肺组织中炎症细胞浸润、黏液产生，从而延缓哮喘的进程。结论 “祛宿痰方”可抑制NF-κB信号通路的激活，降低肺组织中IL-13、TGF-β1 mRNA表达量，可能通过抑制炎症反应、调控细胞外基质等途径作用于哮喘，中医“宿痰”病机与西医细胞外基质改变病理之间存在一定的的交通性。     

The clinical dilemma of JAK inhibitor failure in myelofibrosis: Predictive characteristics and outcomes

Two Janus-associated kinase inhibitors (JAKi) (initially ruxolitinib and, more recently, fedratinib) have been approved as treatment options for patients who have intermediate-risk and high-risk myelofibrosis (MF), with pivotal trials demonstrating improvements in spleen volume, disease symptoms, and quality of life. At the same time, however, clinical trial experiences with JAKi agents in MF have demonstrated a high frequency of discontinuations because of adverse events or progressive disease. In addition, overall survival benefits and clinical and molecular predictors of response have not been established in this population, for which the disease burden is high and treatment options are limited. Consistently poor outcomes have been documented after JAKi discontinuation, with survival durations after ruxolitinib ranging from 11 to 16 months across several studies. To address such a high unmet therapeutic need, various non-JAKi agents are being actively explored (in combination with ruxolitinib in first-line or salvage settings and/or as monotherapy in JAKi-pretreated patients) in phase 3 clinical trials, including pelabresib (a bromodomain and extraterminal domain inhibitor), navitoclax (a B-cell lymphoma 2/B-cell lymphoma 2-xL inhibitor), parsaclisib (a phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor), navtemadlin (formerly KRT-232; a murine double-minute chromosome 2 inhibitor), and imetelstat (a telomerase inhibitor). The breadth of data expected from these trials will provide insight into the ability of non-JAKi treatments to modify the natural history of MF.     

Abnormal liver function tests associated with severe rhabdomyolysis

Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome of skeletal muscle injury with release of cellular constituents such as potassium,phosphate,urate and intracellular proteins such as myoglobin into the circulation,which may cause complications including acute kidney injury,electrolyte disturbance and cardiac instability.Abnormal liver function tests are frequently observed in cases of severe rhabdomyolysis.Typically,there is an increase in serum aminotransferases,namely aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase.This raises the question of liver injury and often triggers a pathway of investigation which may lead to a liver biopsy.However,muscle can also be a source of the increased aminotransferase activity.This review discusses the dilemma of finding abnormal liver function tests in the setting of muscle injury and the potential implications of such an association.It delves into some of the clinical and experimental evidence for correlating muscle injury to raised aminotransferases,and discusses pathophysiological mechanisms such as oxidative stress which may cause actual liver injury.Serum aminotransferases lack tissue specificity to allow clinicians to distinguish primary liver injury from muscle injury.This review also explores potential approaches to improve the accuracy of our diagnostic tools,so that excessive or unnecessary liver investigations can be avoided.     

Morphological,Functional, and Tissue Characterization of Silent Myocardial Involvement in Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis

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金刚丸调节Hippo信号通路mRNA表达防治OVX大鼠骨质疏松作用机制

摘要：目的 基于Hippo信号通路核心基因mRNA表达，探索具有补肾填精壮骨之效的金刚丸治疗去卵巢（ovariectomized,OVX）大鼠骨质疏松症的疗效机制。方法 通过OVX法建立绝经后骨质疏松症（postmenopausal osteoporosis,PMOP）大鼠模型，分正常组、假手术组、模型组、金刚丸高剂量组、金刚丸中剂量组、金刚丸低剂量组、仙灵骨葆对照组、骨化三醇对照组。灌胃12周后，通过X射线骨密度仪检测骨密度、镜下观察股骨头显微形态结构、ELISA法检测血清ALP、实时定量RT-PCR检测骨组织Mst2、Lats1、Taz mRNA表达。结果 ①与正常组比较，模型组股骨骨密度显著降低（P＜0.01）、骨微结构显著破坏、血清ALP显著降低（P＜0.01）、骨组织Mst2、Lats1 mRNA表达显著升高（P＜0.01）、Taz mRNA表达显著降低（P＜0.01）；②与模型组比较，除金刚丸低剂量组外，各给药组的骨密度均显著升高（P＜0.01），各给药组骨微结构破坏均得到改善、血清ALP均显著升高（P＜0.01）、骨组织Mst2、Lats1 mRNA表达均显著降低（P＜0.01）、Taz mRNA表达均显著升高（P＜0.01），均以金刚丸高剂量组最为显著。结论 骨组织Hippo信号通路核心基因Mst2、Lats1 mRNA表达上调，Taz mRNA表达下调可能是PMOP的发病机制之一；金刚丸可能通过下调骨组织Hippo信号通路核心基因Mst2、Lats1 mRNA表达、上调Taz mRNA表达的机制，有效防治PMOP。     

酪氨酸激酶受体RON与E-cadherin在子宫内膜异位症上的表达及意义

目的探讨酪氨酸激酶受体RON及上皮型钙粘蛋白(E-cadherin)在子宫内膜异位症(endometriosis,EMs)上的表达及意义。方法选择2017年7~12月深圳市龙岗区人民医院收治的42例EMs患者,术中分别留取新鲜异位内膜组织和在位内膜组织,随机选取子宫切除或诊断性刮宫治疗的非EMs患者42例,术中留取其正常子宫内膜组织。采用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测子宫内膜组织中RON mRNA的表达,采用免疫组织化学方法检测对应42例石蜡组织中RON蛋白和E-cadherin的表达,并分析RON蛋白和E-cadherin的相关性。结果EMs异位内膜组织RON mRNA及RON蛋白阳性表达率显著高于在位内膜组织及正常子宫内膜组织(P<0.001),在位内膜组织及正常内膜组织中E-cadherin阳性表达率显著高于异位内膜组织(P<0.001),且异位内膜组织中RON mRNA及RON蛋白的表达与临床分期有关(P<0.001)。在同一标本中RON蛋白和E-cadherin表达呈负相关关系(r=-0.497,P<0.05)。结论RON的过度表达与EMs的发生发展密切相关,联合检测RON和E-cadherin的异常对判断EMs的发生发展有一定的参考价值,RON可能成为诊断治疗EMs的新靶点。