Evaluation of NMU-Induced Breast Cancer Treated with Sirolimus and Sunitinib on Breast Cancer Growth

Objective: To analyze the effect of sirolimus and sunitinib in blocking the tumor growth and to evaluate the expressions of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2/neu) after treated with sirolimus and sunitinib. Methods: Thirty-two female Sprague Dawley rats at age 21-days old were administered intraperitoneally with N-Methyl-N-Nitroso Urea (NMU), dosed at 70mg/kg body weight. The rats were divided into 4 groups; Group 1 (Control, n=8), Group 2 (Sirolimus, n=8), Group 3 (Sunitinib, n=8) and Group 4 (Sirolimus+Sunitinib, n=8), being treated twice when the tumor reached the size of 14.5±0.5 mm and subsequently sacrificed after 5 days. The protein expressions of ER, PgR and HER2/neu of the tumor tissues were evaluated by using immunohistochemistry analysis. Results: Treatment with sirolimus alone lowered expressions of ER and PgR of breast cancer and reduced tumor size. There was no significant difference of ER and PgR expressions between control and sunitinib treated tumor. Sunitinib treated tumors reduce in diameter after the first treatment, however the diameter increases after the second treatment. Histologically, sunitinib treated tumor did not show any aggressive invasive carcinoma of no special type (NST) histological subtypes. In addition, all NMU-induced tumors are HER2/neu-negative scoring. Conclusion: Sirolimus is neither synergistic nor additive with sunitinib for breast cancer treatment.     

Interaction of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors with dopamine receptors in synaptic plasticity of the mouse insular cortex

The insular cortex plays essential roles in nicotine addiction. However, much is still unknown about its cellular and synaptic mechanisms responsible for nicotine addiction. We have previously shown that in layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the mouse insular cortex, activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) suppresses synaptic potentiation through enhancing GABAergic synaptic transmission, although it enhances both glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission. In the present study, we examined whether dopamine receptors might contribute to the nicotine‐induced inhibition of synaptic potentiation. The nicotine‐induced inhibition of synaptic potentiation was decreased in the presence of a D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH23390 irrespective of the presence of a D2 dopamine receptor antagonist sulpiride, suggesting that D1 dopamine receptors are involved in nicotine‐induced inhibition. We also investigated how dopamine receptors might contribute to the nAChR‐induced enhancement of glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission. The nAChR‐induced enhancement of GABAergic synaptic transmission was decreased in the presence of SCH23390 irrespective of the presence of sulpiride, whereas that of glutamatergic synaptic transmission was not altered in the presence of SCH23390 and sulpiride. These results suggest that D1 dopamine receptors are involved in the nAChR‐induced enhancement of GABAergic synaptic transmission while dopamine receptors are not involved in that of glutamatergic synaptic transmission. These observations indicate that the interaction between nAChRs and D1 dopamine receptors plays critical roles in synaptic activities in layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the mouse insular cortex. These insular synaptic changes might be associated with nicotine addiction.     

沙库巴曲缬沙坦在心力衰竭治疗中的应用

心力衰竭是一种慢性疾病，是心脏无法泵出足够的血液为其他身体器官提供氧气，从而引发呼吸短促、疲劳和水肿等症状。目前其治疗包括病因治疗、一般治疗、药物治疗及非药物治疗等，其中血管紧张素受体脑啡肽酶抑制剂（ARNI）是当前新研发出的一类抗心衰药物，沙库巴曲缬沙坦是其代表药物，具有阻断肾素-血管紧张-醛固酮系统（RAAS）及抑制脑啡肽酶（NEP）的双重作用，新的欧美指南均推荐用于射血分数降低心力衰竭（HFrEF）的治疗。本文现就沙库巴曲缬沙坦在心力衰竭治疗中的作用机理、临床试验、药物安全性作一综述，旨在为该病的临床治疗提供参考。     

麦芽4个化学部位通过多巴胺D2受体对产后缺乳模型大鼠催乳作用研究

目的基于多巴胺D2受体(DRD2),考察小剂量麦芽4个化学部位的催乳作用,初步探讨小剂量麦芽生物碱对产后缺乳模型大鼠泌乳素(PRL)分泌的调节机制。方法采用ig甲磺酸溴隐亭方法制备缺乳大鼠模型,造模成功后,各给药组均ig给予相应的药物,应用ELISA法检测各组大鼠血清PRL、雌二醇(E_2)、孕酮(P)水平;HE染色观察各组大鼠乳腺组织病理改变;采用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)法检测各组大鼠脑垂体中泌乳素受体及DRD2 mRNA表达。结果与对照组比较,模型组大鼠血清中PRL、P及E_2水平、脑垂体PRL mRNA表达水平显著降低;脑垂体DRD2 mRNA表达水平显著升高。与模型组比较,麦芽总生物碱组大鼠乳腺小叶体积明显增加,导管明显扩张,且导管及腺泡内含有大量乳汁。麦芽总生物碱明显增加模型大鼠血清中PRL、P、E_2水平及脑垂体PRL mRNA表达水平,降低脑垂体DRD2 mRNA表达水平。结论麦芽催乳的主要药效物质为总生物碱,其作用机制可能与促进PRL分泌,增加脑垂体PRL受体、降低DRD2 mRNA表达水平有关。     

黄芪丹参对多囊卵巢综合征大鼠雄激素/胰岛素受体表达影响的研究

目的：研究黄芪联合丹参对多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）模型大鼠雄激素(AR)及胰岛素受体（INSR）表达的影响。方法：通过对大鼠注射外源性雄激素建立高雄激素无排卵模型，将建模成功的大鼠随机分为黄芪组、丹参组、黄芪＋丹参联合组以及模型组，每组10只，分别以黄芪、丹参、黄芪＋丹参联合用药行不同干预治疗，模型组用生理盐水灌胃。比较各组大鼠血清雄激素、胰岛素水平；卵巢AR、INSR mRNA及蛋白水平。结果：1）与模型组比较，黄芪组血清睾酮水平明显下降，丹参组血清胰岛素水平明显下降；联合组血清睾酮及胰岛素水平均明显下降。2）与模型组比较，黄芪组INSR蛋白水平明显下降，丹参组INSR蛋白水平明显上升；黄芪＋丹参联合组AR蛋白水平明显下降，同时INSR蛋白水平明显升高。3）与模型组比较，黄芪组AR mRNA水平明显下降，丹参组INSR mRNA水平明显上升；黄芪＋丹参联合组AR mRNA水平明显下降，同时卵巢INSR mRNA水平明显升高。结论：黄芪可改善PCOS的高雄激素状态，丹参可改善PCOS的高胰岛素状态，联合用药兼具抗雄激素及降低胰岛素的作用，AR、INSR表达的改变是其可能的作用机制之一。     

Sensory evoked potentials in patients with Rett syndrome through the lens of animal studies: Systematic review

ObjectiveSystematically review the abnormalities in event related potential (ERP) recorded in Rett Syndrome (RTT) patients and animals in search of translational biomarkers of deficits related to the particular neurophysiological processes of known genetic origin (MECP2 mutations).MethodsPubmed, ISI Web of Knowledge and BIORXIV were searched for the relevant articles according to PRISMA standards.ResultsERP components are generally delayed across all sensory modalities both in RTT patients and its animal model, while findings on ERPs amplitude strongly depend on stimulus properties and presentation rate. Studies on RTT animal models uncovered the abnormalities in the excitatory and inhibitory transmission as critical mechanisms underlying the ERPs changes, but showed that even similar ERP alterations in auditory and visual domains have a diverse neural basis. A range of novel approaches has been developed in animal studies bringing along the meaningful neurophysiological interpretation of ERP measures in RTT patients.ConclusionsWhile there is a clear evidence for sensory ERPs abnormalities in RTT, to further advance the field there is a need in a large-scale ERP studies with the functionally-relevant experimental paradigms.SignificanceThe review provides insights into domain-specific neural basis of the ERP abnormalities and promotes clinical application of the ERP measures as the non-invasive functional biomarkers of RTT pathophysiology.     

Host MyD88 signaling protects against acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Recent experimental strategies to reduce graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) have focused largely on modifying innate immunity. Toll-like receptor (TLR)-driven myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88)-dependent signalling pathways that initiate adaptive immune function are also critical for the pathogenesis of GVHD. This study aimed to delineate the role of host MyD88 in the development of acute GVHD following fully major histocompatibility complex-mismatched allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). When myeloablated BALB/c MyD88 knock-out recipients were transplanted with C57BL/6 (B6) donor cells, they developed significantly more severe GVHD than wild-type (WT) BALB/c hosts. The increased morbidity and mortality in MyD88^–/– mice correlated with increased serum levels of lipopolysaccharide and elevated inflammatory cytokines in GVHD target organs. Additionally, MyD88 deficiency in BMT recipients led to increased donor T cell expansion and more donor CD11c⁺ cell intestinal infiltration with apoptotic cells but reduced proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells compared with that in WT BMT recipients. Decreased expression of tight junction mRNA in epithelial cells of MyD88^–/– mice suggested that MyD88 contributes to intestinal integrity. Cox-2 expression in the GVHD-targeted organs of WT mice is increased upon GVHD induction, but this enhanced expression was obviously inhibited by MyD88 deficiency. The present findings demonstrate an unexpected role for host MyD88 in preventing GVHD after allogeneic BMT.