Acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex encephalitis in a patient treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor-α monoclonal antibodies

Herpes simplex virus is the most common cause of severe sporadic encephalitis. We report a case of herpes simplex type 1-encephalitis in a 50-year-old woman receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-α monoclonal antibodies adalimumab. Although she was an acyclovir naïve patient, a mixed viral population (wild-type and acyclovir-resistant bearing a thymidine-kinase mutation) was identified in the cerebrospinal fluid. The virus in cerebrospinal fluid evolved and a second thymidine-kinase mutant virus emerged. Combined foscavir and acyclovir treatment resolved the herpes simplex encephalitis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex encephalitis in a patient treated with adalimumab.     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in cancer patients at a tertiary care cancer center in Japan

The characteristics of active tuberculosis in cancer patients in Japan and the effects of this infection on cancer treatment have not yet been clarified. The records of all consecutive patients with microbiologically documented Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection diagnosed between September 2002 and March 2008 at Shizuoka cancer center (a 557-bed tertiary care cancer center in Japan) were reviewed. There were 24 cancer patients with active tuberculosis during the study period. Of these, 23 had solid-organ tumors, and the most common site of the underlying malignancy was the lung. Most of the patients had pulmonary tuberculosis. Among 15 patients followed up for more than 2 months prior to the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, 12 had healed scars suggestive of old tuberculosis lesions, as shown by chest imaging obtained at the time of the initial evaluation. Discontinuation of cancer therapy or more than a month's delay in surgery occurred in 10 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Development of active tuberculosis can delay cancer treatment in Japanese centers. Cancer patients with scars suggestive of old tuberculosis disease lesions as shown by chest imaging should be screened for active tuberculosis and carefully followed up. In some cases, prophylactic treatment should be considered.     

Herpes simplex induced necrotizing tonsillitis in an immunocompromised patient with ulcerative colitis

We here present the case of a 22-year-old female of Suriname ethnicity with ulcerative colitis who received treatment with mercaptopurine and infliximab. She presented herself with a severe necrotizing tonsillitis due to herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1). Combination therapy consisting of immunomodulators and anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents is increasingly being used. Anti-TNF therapy is associated with an increased risk of developing serious infections, and especially patients receiving combination treatment with thiopurines are at an increased risk. We here show that HSV infections can cause a severe tonsillitis in immunocompromised patients. Early recognition is essential when there is no improvement with initial antibiotic therapy within the first 24 to 72 h. HSV infections should be in the differential diagnosis of immunocompromised patients presenting with a necrotizing tonsillitis and can be confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Early treatment with antiviral agents should be considered especially if antibiotic treatment fails in such patients.     

砂生槐种子水提物的S180小鼠体内抗肿瘤及免疫调节作用

目的研究砂生槐种子水提取物(SMSWE)的小鼠体内抗瘤作用,探讨其抗癌及免疫调节的意义。方法以S180荷瘤小鼠为研究对象,分别观察SMSWE各剂量组对S180荷瘤小鼠的抑瘤率、生存期、胸脾指数、T淋巴细胞增殖活性以及白细胞介素-2(IL-2)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)等血清细胞因子的影响和变化。结果SMSWE 1.2~2.4 g.kg-1均可抑制肿瘤的生长和延长小鼠带瘤生存时间(P<0.05),高剂量组的抑瘤率高达41.4%。SMSWE 0.6~2.4 g.kg-1可促进Con A诱导的T淋巴细胞增殖反应,中、高剂量药物组与荷瘤对照组比较具有统计学意义(P<0.05),其血清中IL-2、TNF-α的含量明显高于荷瘤对照组(P<0.05)。结论SMSWE能明显抑制S180小鼠体内肿瘤生长,具有提高荷瘤小鼠细胞免疫功能的作用。     

藤茶双氢杨梅树皮素诱导人肺癌A549细胞凋亡及其机制研究

目的：探讨藤茶双氢杨梅树皮素（ampelopsin,APS）抗人肺癌A549细胞的作用。方法：以MTT法和集落形成法观察APS对人肺癌A549细胞的体外抑制作用;采用RT-PCR技术测定APS对人肺癌细胞株A549抑瘤基因p53表达的影响。结果：APS能明显抑制体外培养的A549细胞的生长,MTT法中IC50为9.8μg·mL^-1;细胞生长曲线法提示其对A549细胞的生长也有明显的抑制作用;集落形成试验中,当药物浓度为14.84,9.90,6.60,4.40μg·mL^-1时,抑制率分别为100%,91.6%,64.5%和23.4%;当浓度为25μg·mL^-1时,APS能显著增强p53基因的表达水平。结论：APS对体外培养的人肺癌A549细胞的生长有明显的抑制作用,对抑癌基因p53表达的影响是其抗肿瘤的作用机制之一。     

紫雪花水提液抗肿瘤的初步研究

目的观察紫雪花水提液对小鼠移殖性肿瘤S180的抑瘤作用,及其对免疫器官的影响。方法采用昆明种小鼠,随机分组进行实验,观察不同剂量紫雪花水提液(6.8,13.5,27 g/kg)3种剂量、紫雪花水提液与氟脲嘧啶(5-FU)合用以及单用氟脲嘧啶对小鼠移殖性肿瘤S180的抑瘤率的差别以及对胸腺、脾脏、肝脏的影响。结果紫雪花水提液3种剂量和紫雪花水提液与氟脲嘧啶合用及氟脲嘧啶单用对小鼠S180均有不同程度的抑制肿瘤生长的作用,抑瘤率分别为22.35%(P>0.05),40.01%(P<0.05),26.45%(P>0.05),50.5%(P<0.01),56%(P<0.01)。紫雪花水提液在发挥抑瘤作用的同时,可降低肝脏和脾脏的重量,但对胸腺有明显的保护作用。与5-Fu(0.025 g/kg)合用有抑瘤作用,并可明显的对抗5-Fu抑制胸腺的作用。结论3种剂量紫雪花水提液均有抑制小鼠移殖性肿瘤S180的生长作用。紫雪花水提液与5-Fu合用对小鼠移殖性肿瘤S180有抑瘤作用,同时,具有明显的对抗5-Fu抑制胸腺的作用。     

参虫颗粒体内抗肿瘤实验研究

目的了解参虫颗粒的体内抑瘤作用和对比化疗药物的影响。方法体内抑瘤率和生命延长率观察分别用S180、人肝癌H22荷瘤小鼠进行;增效减毒实验采用S180小鼠,环磷酰胺作为化疗药物毒性模型。结果2,4,8 g/kg的参虫颗粒对小鼠S180实体瘤的平均抑瘤率为18.05%,21.24%和27.28%;对H22实体瘤的平均抑瘤率分别为17.35%,20.34%和27.26%;S180和H22具有一定的抗肿瘤作用,对化疗药物环磷酰胺有明显的减毒增效作用。结论参虫颗粒对移植性小鼠S180和H22具有一定的抗肿瘤作用,对化疗药物环磷酰胺有明显的减毒增效作用。     

水团花属水杨梅的研究进展

目的介绍水杨梅的研究概况和研究进展,为水杨梅的研究开发提供参考。方法查阅近年来国内外发表的文献,并以之为依据,综述了水杨梅的化学成分、药理作用的研究进展。结果水杨梅具有多类活性成分,多种药理作用。结论对水杨梅进行研究开发,具有广阔的前景。