Ethyl lactate as a potential green solvent to extract hydrophilic (polar) and lipophilic (non-polar) phytonutrients simultaneously from fruit and vegetable by-products

Phytonutrients extracted from natural resources are receiving much attention among researchers due to their highly antioxidative characteristics which prevent several degenerative diseases including cardiovascular diseases and cancers. These nutraceutical compounds can be used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products as natural antioxidants, preservatives, colourants and functional foods. Huge volume of food wastes are generated from the processing industry and these low-value food residues are rich in various phytonutrients worth recovering. This approach of valorisation reduces the generation of food wastes and is cost-effective considering the cheap feedstock, reduced waste management expenses and high market value of extracted compounds. In light of the health and safety risks posed by commonly used organic extraction solvents derived from the petrochemical industry, there is a need to recover the phytonutrients using green, sustainable and efficient solvents that are safe for human consumption. This work discusses ethyl lactate as a safe, green, efficient and potentially cheap solvent to recover phytonutrients from fruit and vegetable by-products. Ethyl lactate is compared with other organic solvents commonly used from the aspects of safety, environmental impacts and efficiency. Current challenges when employing ethyl lactate are also discussed.     

Molecular profiling of Chinese R-CHOP treated DLBCL patients: Identifying a high-risk subgroup

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a clinically aggressive and heterogenous disease. Although most patients can be cured by immunochemotherapy, 30% to 40% patient will ultimately develop relapsed or refractory disease. Here, we investigated the molecular landscapes of patients with diverse responses to R-CHOP. We performed capture-based targeted sequencing on baseline samples of 105 DLBCL patients using a panel consisting of 112 lymphoma-related genes. Subsequently, 81 treatment-naïve patients with measurable disease and followed for over 1 year were included for survival analysis. Collectively, the most commonly seen mutations included IGH fusion (69%), PIM1(33%), MYD88 (29%), BCL2 (29%), TP53 (29%), CD79B (25%) and KMT2D (24%). Patients with TP53 mutations were more likely to have primary refractory disease (87.0% vs 50.0%, P = .009). For those with TP53 disruptive mutations, 91.7% patients were in the primary refractory group. Interestingly, BCL-2 somatic hypermutation was only seen in patients without primary refractory disease (P = .014). In multivariate analysis, BCL-2 amplification (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.94, P = .022), B2M mutation (HR = 2.99, P = .017) and TP53 mutation (HR = 3.19, P < .001) were independently associated with shorter time to progression (TTP). Furthermore, TP53 mutations was correlated with worse overall survival (P = .049). Next, we investigated mutation landscape in patients with wild-type (WT) TP53 (n = 58) and found that patients harboring MYD88 L265P had significantly inferior TTP than those with WT or non-265P (P = .046). Our study reveals the mutation spectrum of treatment-naive Chinese DLBCL patients. It also confirms the clinical significance of TP53 mutations and indicates the prognostic value of MYD88 L265P in TP53 WT patients.     

Aloe‐emodin: A review of its pharmacology,toxicity, and pharmacokinetics

Aloe‐emodin is a naturally anthraquinone derivative and an active ingredient of Chinese herbs, such as Cassia occidentalis, Rheum palmatum L., Aloe vera, and Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Emerging evidence suggests that aloe‐emodin exhibits many pharmacological effects, including anticancer, antivirus, anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial, antiparasitic, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities. These pharmacological properties lay the foundation for the treatment of various diseases, including influenza virus, inflammation, sepsis, Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, malaria, liver fibrosis, psoriasis, Type 2 diabetes, growth disorders, and several types of cancers. However, an increasing number of published studies have reported adverse effects of aloe‐emodin. The primary toxicity among these reports is hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, which are of wide concern worldwide. Pharmacokinetic studies have demonstrated that aloe‐emodin has a poor intestinal absorption, short elimination half‐life, and low bioavailability. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the pharmacology, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of aloe‐emodin reported to date with an emphasis on its biological properties and mechanisms of action.     

黄芪活血功效及现代药理学研究进展

黄芪始载于《神农本草经》,有补气升阳、益卫固表,利水消肿,托毒生肌之效。被誉为补气健脾之要药,临床上常用于气虚乏力、脾虚泄泻等疾病,已为医者所熟知。近年来,研究学者围绕其补气、健脾、利水功效机制已有较全面的认识。然陶弘景在《本草经集注》首载黄芪"逐五脏间恶血",表明本品兼有活血作用。目前,对于本品活血作用机制阐释,中医常基于"补气活血""气行血行"理论进行论证,但并不等同于本品无活血作用。通过梳理历代本草文献中对黄芪的记载,发现其活血作用应用广泛。综合传统方剂与现代方剂中有关其活血作用的应用,本品在方中行活血通络、活血利水、活血扶正作用,尤能体现其活血作用。且现代药理学研究在有关瘀血病理指标的分子机制中,黄芪有很好的调控作用,表明黄芪有活血作用,但未深入探究,存在研究价值。该文从历代文献对黄芪活血功效的论述、黄芪活血作用的临床应用及现代药理学研究深入探讨其活血作用机制,以期扩展黄芪的临床应用范围,为临床治疗提供理论指导。     

临床医学专业“5+3”一体化本科全程导师制创新人才培养的实践与探索

以培养创新型人才为目标，大连医科大学制定实施了“5+3”创新人才培养改革方案，以导师制培养为载体，在医学本科教育全过程中，制定分阶段创新能力培养体系，涵盖课程、讲座、实验设计、论文等基本科研能力训练，强化本科生科研能力培养。通过对首届“5+3”学生阶段性培养成果的统计学分析发现，“5+3”学生发表中文期刊、SCI，主持国家级创新项目、省级创新项目的比例均显著高于普通5年制学生，差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。虽然实施过程中存在一些问题和不足，但以导师制为核心的科研基础训练对提高学生科研思维和创新能力效果显著，对培养医学创新型人才具有可实施性。     

硬膜外麻醉与椎旁神经阻滞非气管插管单孔胸腔镜手术效果比较

目的比较硬膜外麻醉与椎旁神经阻滞非气管插管单孔胸腔镜手术的效果。方法选择2017年11月至2019年6月锦州医科大学附属第一医院收治的45例采用非气管插管麻醉单孔胸腔镜手术的肺部良恶性肿瘤患者,采用随机数字表法分为椎旁神经阻滞组(22例)与硬膜外麻醉组(23例)。麻醉诱导前,椎旁神经阻滞组均于超声引导下阻滞胸3~6棘突旁神经根;硬膜外麻醉组均于胸6~7或7~8间隙行硬膜外穿刺置管麻醉。比较两组手术时间、术中出血量、术后定向力恢复时间、下床活动时间、带管时间、出院时间及相关并发症。结果两组患者手术时间、术中出血量差异均无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。与硬膜外麻醉组相比,椎旁神经阻滞组术后定向力恢复时间[(7.22±2.20)min比(18.80±5.06)min]、下床活动时间[(11.45±3.01)h比(21.90±4.61)h]、带管时间[(2.77±0.81)d比(5.47±1.31)d]、出院时间[(3.68±0.84)d比(6.17±1.03)d]均缩短,两组差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为-9.874、-8.763、-8.282、-7.594,均P<0.05)。椎旁神经阻滞组术后未发生低氧血症、低血压、肺部并发症、恶心、呕吐、尿潴留等相关并发症。结论非气管插管单孔胸腔镜手术中采用椎旁神经阻滞术后恢复快、并发症少,临床上可优先选择,有助于快速康复。     

理冲汤加减联合TC 方案治疗晚期卵巢癌临床研究

目的:观察理冲汤加减联合紫杉醇+卡铂(TC)方案治疗晚期卵巢癌的临床疗效及对患者血液流变学指标、免疫功能及肿瘤标志物水平的影响。方法:选取96例卵巢癌晚期患者,按随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组各48例。对照组给予TC方案治疗,观察组在对照组基础上给予理冲汤加减治疗,21 d为1个疗程,2组均治疗2个疗程。统计2组治疗前后的中医证候积分及治疗期间不良反应发生情况,检测血液流变学指标、T细胞亚群及肿瘤标志物水平,对比2组临床疗效。结果:治疗后,2组少腹包块、腹胀痛、面色无华及形体消瘦积分均较治疗前降低(P0.05),观察组上述4项中医证候积分均低于对照组(P0.05)。观察组疾病控制率77.08%,高于对照组的56.25%(P0.05)。观察组治疗有效率54.17%,对照组治疗有效率41.67%,2组比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,2组血液流变学指标(全血黏度高切、全血黏度中切、全血黏度低切、血浆黏度)水平均较治疗前降低(P0.05),观察组上述4项血液流变学指标水平均低于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后,观察组CD3+、CD4+、CD4+/CD8+水平均高于对照组(P0.05),CD8+水平低于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后,2组糖类抗原125 (CA125)、糖类抗原19-9 (CA19-9)、甲胎蛋白(AFP)含量均较治疗前降低(P0.05),观察组CA125、CA19-9、AFP含量均低于对照组(P0.05)。观察组白细胞减少发生率6.25%,低于对照组的27.08%(P0.05)。2组贫血、血小板减少、恶心呕吐、腹泻发生率比较,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:理冲汤加减联合TC方案治疗晚期卵巢癌,可以有效改善患者的临床症状、血液流变学指标、免疫功能,降低肿瘤标志物水平,减少化疗产生的不良反应。