Melatonin reduces oxidative stress and improves vascular function in pulmonary hypertensive newborn sheep

Pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PHN) constitutes a critical condition with severe cardiovascular and neurological consequences. One of its main causes is hypoxia during gestation, and thus, it is a public health concern in populations living above 2500 m. Although some mechanisms are recognized, the pathophysiological facts that lead to PHN are not fully understood, which explains the lack of an effective treatment. Oxidative stress is one of the proposed mechanisms inducing pulmonary vascular dysfunction and PHN. Therefore, we assessed whether melatonin, a potent antioxidant, improves pulmonary vascular function. Twelve newborn sheep were gestated, born, and raised at 3600 meters. At 3 days old, lambs were catheterized and daily cardiovascular measurements were recorded. Lambs were divided into two groups, one received daily vehicle as control and another received daily melatonin (1 mg/kg/d), for 8 days. At 11 days old, lung tissue and small pulmonary arteries (SPA) were collected. Melatonin decreased pulmonary pressure and resistance for the first 3 days of treatment. Further, melatonin significantly improved the vasodilator function of SPA, enhancing the endothelial‐ and muscular‐dependent pathways. This was associated with an enhanced nitric oxide‐dependent and nitric oxide independent vasodilator components and with increased nitric oxide bioavailability in lung tissue. Further, melatonin reduced the pulmonary oxidative stress markers and increased enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant capacity. Finally, these effects were associated with an increase of lumen diameter and a mild decrease in the wall of the pulmonary arteries. These outcomes support the use of melatonin as an adjuvant in the treatment for PHN.     

Evolution of neuropsychological profile in motor subtypes of multiple system atrophy

IntroductionCognitive deficits and neuropsychiatric symptoms occur in parkinsonian and cerebellar subtypes of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA-P and MSA-C). These symptoms have been investigated mainly in cross-sectional studies. The present 1-year follow-up study aimed at evaluating the evolution of cognitive and neuropsychiatric profile in patients with MSA-C and MSA-P.MethodsTwenty-nine patients with MSA-P, 21 with MSA-C and 30 healthy subjects (HCs) underwent a neuropsychological battery and questionnaires assessing depression and apathy (T0). After 1 year (T1), patients with MSA-C and MSA-P underwent the same neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric tools employed at T0.ResultsAt T0, MSA-P and MSA-C groups were more depressed and apathetic and performed worse on tests assessing repetition abilities, executive and attentive functions than HCs. MSA-P and MSA-C groups did not differ on cognitive variables and neuropsychiatric scales. At T1, a significant worsening in spatial planning and psychomotor speed in MSA-C group and a significant worsening in memory, spatial planning, repetition abilities and functional autonomy in MSA-P group were found. The prevalence of apathy increased in both subtypes, whereas the prevalence of depression was reduced in MSA-C and relatively consistent in MSA-P.ConclusionsThe finding revealed a wide-ranging worsening of cognitive functions in MSA-P and a significant decline in processing speed in MSA-C. These results underline the relevance of evaluating cognitive and psychiatric features of MSA over the course of the disease in the daily clinical practice.     

桃红四物汤化学成分、药理作用、临床应用的研究进展及质量标志物的预测分析

桃红四物汤,活血祛瘀之经典名方。该文对近年来桃红四物汤的化学成分、药理作用以及临床应用研究进展进行总结与分析。目前,桃红四物汤不同提取部位化学成分的研究较为系统,其药理作用研究主要集中在活血化瘀、调经镇痛、促进骨折愈合等方面,临床可应用于多系统、多脏腑疾病的治疗,例如妇科疾病、内科疾病、骨伤科疾病、皮肤科疾病等。在此基础上,依照质量标志物(Q-marker)有效、特有、传递与溯源、可测和处方配伍的"五原则"对桃红四物汤Q-marker进行预测分析,提示阿魏酸、芍药苷、苦杏仁苷、芍药内酯苷、梓醇、没食子酸、羟基红花黄色素A可作为该复方的Q-marker,后续可选择这些Q-marker为指标,根据药材、饮片、中间体、对应实物的量值传递进行桃红四物汤全程质量控制并创建其质量可溯源体系。     

普通变异型免疫缺陷病合并肝硬化1例并文献复习

目的:讨论普通变异型免疫缺陷病(common variable immunodeficiency disease,CVID)的发病机制、临床表现及治疗方法。方法:报道1例普通变异型免疫缺陷病合并肝硬化患者并复习相关文献。结果:普通变异型免疫缺陷病是临床少见病,易误诊,病因不清,临床表现复杂,部分患者病程中可出现肝功能异常,甚至并发肝硬化。结论:临床反复感染的患者应考虑CVID的可能,须进一步作血浆免疫球蛋白的检测确诊。对已经确诊患者定期补充静脉丙种球蛋白,同时还应定期检查肝功能。     

Measuring the appropriateness of carbamazepine and valproic acid prescribing and utilization using a newly implemented online system in the Tabuk Region of Saudi Arabia

Epilepsy is a common neurologic disorder, which is efficiently treated with carbamazepine and valproic acid. Moreover, Saudi Ministry of Health implemented a new E-system for Poison Control Centers called Awtar to enhance technology utilization in ensuring patients’ satisfaction and to improve treatment outcomes. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess appropriateness of indication of requests and therapeutic levels of carbamazepine and valproic acid in Tabuk area, North West Saudi Arabia. This is a retrospective observational study conducted in Poison Control & Forensic Chemistry Center, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Patients’ data were obtained for years 2018 and 2019. The blood levels of carbamazepine and valproic acid were measured by Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) Unit. We selected patients treated with either valproic acid or carbamazepine alone without any history of drug allergy. Data of 264 patients were extracted from Awtar E-system. Serum carbamazepine levels were within therapeutic range in 114 patients (75.50%), above-therapeutic range in 13 patients (8.61%) and sub-therapeutic levels in 24 patients (15.89%). Regarding serum valproic acid, it is within therapeutic range in 62 patients (54.87%), above-therapeutic range in 11 patients (9.73%) and sub-therapeutic levels in 40 patients (35.40%). In conclusion, this study gives information about partial appropriateness of usage of carbamazepine and low level of appropriateness of valproic acid. However, more efforts are needed to improve results of appropriateness of indication of antiepileptic drugs.     

Macroporous thin membranes for cell transplant in regenerative medicine

The aim of this paper is to present a method to produce macroporous thin membranes made of poly (ethyl acrylate-co-hydroxyethyl acrylate) copolymer network with varying cross-linking density for cell transplantation and prosthesis fabrication. The manufacture process is based on template techniques and anisotropic pore collapse. Pore collapse was produced by swelling the membrane in acetone and subsequently drying and changing the solvent by water to produce 100 microns thick porous membranes. These very thin membranes are porous enough to hold cells to be transplanted to the organism or to be colonized by ingrowth from neighboring tissues in the organism, and they present sufficient tearing stress to be sutured with surgical thread. The obtained pore morphology was observed by Scanning Electron Microscope, and confocal laser microscopy. Mechanical properties were characterized by stress–strain experiments in tension and tearing strength measurements. Morphology and mechanical properties were related to the different initial thickness of the scaffold and the cross-linking density of the polymer network. Seeding efficiency and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells inside the pore structure were determined at 2 h, 1, 7, 14 and 21 days from seeding.     

通鼻消涕颗粒对慢性鼻窦炎鼻黏膜功能的影响*

目的对医院制剂通鼻消涕颗粒对慢性鼻窦炎鼻黏膜功能是否有调控作用进行临床研究。方法 收集慢性鼻窦炎不伴鼻息肉患者，采用单盲方法随机将患者分为治疗组（通鼻消涕颗粒组）和对照组（克拉霉素片组）。分别给予口服通鼻消涕颗粒和克拉霉素片治疗4周，并对治疗前、治疗2周后、治疗4周后的患者进行糖精试验、鼻部症状VAS评分与鼻内镜Lund Kennedy评分。并采用t检验统计分析。比较服药前、服药后的评分变化。结果 VAS评分提示：治疗组中，治疗2周后、治疗4周后与治疗前相比差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05），对照组在治疗后的各个阶段与治疗前相比均无明显差异（P＞0.05）。Lund Kennedy评分提示：治疗组在治疗2周后与治疗前无明显差异，但在治疗4周后有明显改善（P＜0.05），对照组则在治疗后各个阶段无明显变化（P＞0.05）。糖精试验提示2组在治疗后2周患者糖精清除时间差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05），但治疗组在治疗4周后患者糖精清除时间低于对照组（P＜0.05）。结论 通鼻消涕颗粒对慢性鼻窦炎的鼻黏膜形态与传输功能有明显改善作用，可以促进鼻黏膜纤毛功能的恢复，并优于克拉霉素片组，且无毒副作用，值得临床上推广应用。     

中医药对淋巴管新生与回流功能的作用研究进展＊

淋巴管作为循环系统的重要组成部分之一，具有调节机体体液稳态，协助免疫监视和肠道脂质吸收等重要作用。淋巴管新生是机体生理和病理过程中维持脉管系统结构和功能正常的重要手段，淋巴管新生调控对于防治肿瘤、心血管等诸多疾病有着潜在的临床转化意义；淋巴回流功能则与关节炎症等疾病发病机制关系密切。在循环系统中，相较于中医药调控血管相关疾病的发病机制已取得很大进展，近年来对于淋巴管的研究则明显相对滞后。本文从中医药作用于淋巴管新生及回流功能角度对这一领域的研究进展作一综述，以期为临床上中医药治疗相关疾病提供新的思路与方法。