A Phase I Trial of Trametinib in Combination with Sorafenib in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Cancer

Lessons Learned

• The combination of trametinib and sorafenib has an acceptable safety profile, albeit at doses lower than approved for monotherapy.
• Maximum tolerated dose is trametinib 1.5 mg daily and sorafenib 200 mg twice daily.
• The limited anticancer activity observed in this unselected patient population does not support further exploration of trametinib plus sorafenib in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BackgroundThe RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway is associated with proliferation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Preclinical data suggest that paradoxical activation of the MAPK pathway may be one of the resistance mechanisms of sorafenib; therefore, we evaluated trametinib plus sorafenib in HCC.MethodsThis was a phase I study with a 3+3 design in patients with treatment‐naïve advanced HCC. The primary objective was safety and tolerability. The secondary objective was clinical efficacy.ResultsA total of 17 patients were treated with three different doses of trametinib and sorafenib. Two patients experienced dose‐limiting toxicity, including grade 4 hypertension and grade 3 elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/bilirubin over 7 days. Maximum tolerated dose was trametinib 1.5 mg daily and sorafenib 200 mg twice a day. The most common grade 3/4 treatment‐related adverse events were elevated AST (37%) and hypertension (24%). Among 11 evaluable patients, 7 (63.6%) had stable disease with no objective response. The median progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 3.7 and 7.8 months, respectively. Phosphorylated‐ERK was evaluated as a pharmacodynamic marker, and sorafenib plus trametinib inhibited phosphorylated‐ERK up to 98.1% (median: 81.2%) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.ConclusionTrametinib and sorafenib can be safely administered up to trametinib 1.5 mg daily and sorafenib 200 mg twice a day with limited anticancer activity in advanced HCC.     

Evaluation of neurobehavioral abnormalities and immunotoxicity in response to oral imidacloprid exposure in domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

ABSTRACT

Domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) were exposed to imidacloprid by gavage once daily for 7 consecutive days at 0, 0.03, 0.34, 3.42, 10.25, and 15.5 mg/kg/day (n = 20 per group; 5 6-week-old males, 5 6-week-old females, 5 9-week-old males, and 5 9-week-old females). The severity and duration of neurobehavioral abnormalities were recorded. Components of the innate and adaptive immune system were assessed with 7 standard functional assays. Temporary neurobehavioral abnormalities were observed in a dose-dependent manner, including muscle tremors, ataxia, and depressed mentation. Based upon mean clinical severity scores, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 3.42 mg/kg/day, and the lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) was 10.25 mg/kg/day. The effective dose value for the presence of any neurobehavioral abnormalities in 50% of the test group (ED₅₀) was 4.62 ± 0.98 mg/kg/day. The ED₅₀ for an adjusted score that included both severity and duration of neurobehavioral abnormalities was 11.24 ± 9.33 mg/kg/day. These ED₅₀ values are equivalent to a 1 kg bird ingesting 29 or 70 imidacloprid treated soybean seeds respectively. Immunotoxicity was not documented, possible causes include the assays were insensitive, relevant immune functions were not examined, or imidacloprid is not immunotoxic at this dosing schedule in this species. Neurobehavioral abnormalities were a more sensitive indicator of the sublethal effects of imidacloprid than immunotoxicity.     

TQA数据趋势与TomoTherapy输出稳定性的联系

目的:探讨TomoTherapy QualityAssurance（TQA）数据趋势与螺旋断层放疗（Helical Tomotherapy，HT）系统输出的 联系。方法:回顾性分析了本院HT系统近3年内TQA各个模块的参数和数据趋势，探讨其与HT系统的静态输出剂量和 输出能量（D20/D10）变化的相关性。结果:楔形阶梯静态模块的z轴偏移参数与HT的静态输出剂量的相关性最强（r=0.883, P<0.01）。基本剂量测定模块的出口检测器平整度值对能量变化最敏感（r=0.902），其次是楔形阶梯静态模块的能量差异 （r=0.897）和楔形阶梯螺旋模块的能量差异（r=0.852），灵敏度分别为2.3×10-4、3.1×10-4和5.7×10-4。结论:TQA有助于用户 追踪HT输出剂量和能量变化，及早进行必要的机器维护或剂量校准。     

OCTA对青少年近视人群视网膜微血管密度的观察

目的：基于光学相干断层扫描血管成像（OCTA）技术探讨青少年儿童近视与视网膜表层微血管密度 及视网膜厚度的相关性。方法：横断面研究。共纳入2018年5─11月于四川大学华西医院眼科门 诊就诊的7～14岁青少年近视患者105例（193眼）。对所有受检者进行光学相干断层扫描（OCT）和 OCTA检查，量化分析黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度和各部位视网膜表层微血管密度。单因素方差分析比 较低、中、高度近视组各部位视网膜微血管密度及视网膜厚度的差异。采用Pearson相关系数探讨视 网膜厚度与各部位视网膜表层微血管密度的相关性。Spearman相关系数用于探讨等效球镜与中心凹、 旁中心凹视网膜表层微血管密度以及视网膜厚度的关系；分段多项式函数分析等效球镜度与外环及 直径6 mm完整视网膜表层微血管密度的关系。结果：旁中心凹、外环、直径6 mm完整区域视网膜 表层微血管密度在低、中、高度近视组间比较差异均具有统计学意义（F=11.651、14.499、14.232， 均P<0.001）。年龄与中心凹视网膜厚度之间有较弱正相关关系（r=0.187，P=0.011），与各部位微血管 密度均无相关性。等效球镜度与旁中心凹视网膜微血管密度有相关性（r=-0.301，P<0.001），与外环、 直径6 mm完整区域视网膜表层微血管密度呈曲线相关（r=-0.319，P<0.001；r=-0.307，P<0.001）。 但与中心凹视网膜表层微血管密度及视网膜厚度无显著相关性。此外，中心凹处视网膜厚度与微血 管密度呈正相关（r=0.691，P<0.001），与其余部位微血管密度无相关性。结论：青少年近视程度数 与旁中心凹、外环及直径6 mm完整区域视网膜表层微血管密度呈负相关；中心凹处视网膜厚度与年 龄、微血管密度呈正相关。     

In Vivo Kinematics of Functional Ankle Instability Patients and Lateral Ankle Sprain Copers During Stair Descent

Patients with mechanic ankle instability experience increased tibiotalar and subtalar joint laxity. However, in vivo joint kinematics in functional ankle instability (FAI) patients and lateral ankle sprain (LAS) copers, especially during dynamic activities, are poorly understood. Ten FAI patients, 10 LAS copers, and 10 healthy controls were included in this study. A dual fluoroscopic imaging system was used to analyze the tibiotalar and subtalar joint kinematics during stair descent. Five key poses of stair descent were analyzed. Kinematic data from six degrees of freedom were calculated utilizing a solid modeling software. The range of motion and joint positions in each degree of freedom were compared among the three groups. The tibiotalar joints of FAI patients and LAS copers were significantly more inverted than those of healthy controls during the foot strike (p = 0.016, = 0.264). The subtalar joints of FAI patients were significantly more anteriorly translated (pose 2, p = 0.003, = 0.352; pose 3, p < 0.001, = 0.454; pose 4, p = 0.004, = 0.334), inverted (pose 4, p = 0.027, = 0.234; pose 5,p = 0.034, = 0.221), and externally rotated (pose 4, p = 0.037, = 0.217; pose 5; p = 0.004, = 0.331) than those of healthy controls during the mid‐stance and the heel off. The FAI patients showed excessive tibiotalar inversion and subtalar joint hypermobility during stair descent. Meanwhile, the LAS copers maintained subtalar joint stability, and only showed excessive tibiotalar inversion in foot strike. These data provide insight into the mechanisms behind the development of FAI after initial LAS. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:1860–1867, 2019     

抑郁症大鼠模型海马区及前额叶组织BDNF因子、Trkb蛋白表达的实验研究

目的:观察抑郁症大鼠模型脑组织不同部位神经营养因子水平的变化及抗抑郁药物使用后改变。方法:将成年SD大鼠30只分为正常对照组、模型对照组、药物干预组,每组10只,雌雄对半;正常组正常养殖,模型组采用慢性不可预知应激结合孤养方式制备抑郁模型大鼠4周。药物干预组采用模型组造模过程4周后给予药物(氟西汀)给入,自实验开始之后每周观察大鼠体重、糖水消耗、旷场实验指标的变化,最后采用荧光定量PCR法观察大鼠脑部BDNF因子及Trkb的表达。结果:与正常对照组大鼠相比,模型组大鼠体重增加缓慢、糖水消耗减少、旷场试验各项指标较正常组间差异具有统计学意义;荧光定量PCR结果显示:模型组较对照组各脑区BDNF及Trkb受体表达减少,药物干预组脑区BDNF及Trkb受体表达显著高于模型对照组。结论:脑部BDNF因子及Trkb的表达在抑郁症发生与治疗中有所改变。