Cerebrovascular inflammation promotes the formation of brain metastases

Brain metastases are the most prevalent intracranial malignancy. Patient outcome is poor and treatment options are limited. Hence, new avenues must be explored to identify potential therapeutic targets. Inflammation is a known critical component of cancer progression. Intratumoral inflammation drives progression and leads to the release of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Inflammation at distant sites promotes adhesion of CTCs to the activated endothelium and then initiates the formation of metastases. These interactions mostly involve cell adhesion molecules expressed by activated endothelial cells. For example, the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) is known to promote transendothelial migration of cancer cells in different organs. However, it is unclear whether a similar mechanism occurs within the specialized environment of the brain. Our objective was therefore to use molecular imaging to assess the potential role of VCAM-1 in promoting the entry of CTCs into the brain. First, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological analyses revealed that cerebrovascular inflammation induced by intracranial injection of lipopolysaccharide significantly increased the expression of VCAM-1 in the Balb/c mouse brain. Next, intracardiac injection of 4T1 mammary carcinoma cancer cells in animals with cerebrovascular inflammation yielded a higher brain metastasis burden than in the control animals. Finally, blocking VCAM-1 prior to 4T1 cells injection prevented this increased metastatic burden. Here, we demonstrated that by contributing to CTCs adhesion to the activated cerebrovascular endothelium, VCAM-1 improves the capacity of CTCs to form metastatic foci in the brain.     

PBL联合CBL教学法在中医院校影像教学中应用的优势

随着影像技术的快速发展,影像检查已发展为临床诊断疾病的主要手段之一。所以作为未来医疗工作者的医学生,学好影像学变得越来越重要。目前影像教学大多采用传统的“满堂灌”的授课方式,学生处于学习的被动状态,效果并不尽人意。如何才能让学生真正掌握影像学知识,是值得每位任教老师深思的问题。作者结合多年的教学经验与实践,并针对中医院校医学生西医知识相对薄弱,课时少这一特点,认为PBL联合CBL教学法不但可以激发学生学习的主观能动性,培养学生的自学能力,增强学生解决问题的能力,提升临床思维能力,还可以提高课堂效率,有利于学生更好地学习、掌握影像知识,并学会将所学理论知识应用于临床实践。     

基于网络药理学和分子对接技术的抗病毒颗粒治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）的潜在物质基础研究

目的通过网络药理学及分子对接技术探寻抗病毒颗粒治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的潜在物质基础。方法借助TCMSP检索抗病毒颗粒中板蓝根、连翘、石膏、知母、芦根、地黄、广藿香、石菖蒲、郁金的化学成分和作用靶点。通过Uni Prot数据库查询靶点对应的基因,进而运用Cytoscape3.6.1构建药材-化合物-靶点(基因)网络,通过DAVID进行基因本体(GO)功能富集分析和KEGG通路富集分析,预测其作用机制,将药材-化合物-靶点网络中排名前15的成分与新型冠状病毒(SARS-Co V-2)3CL水解酶进行分子对接,同时将比枯枯灵、木犀草素、槲皮素与血管紧张素转化酶Ⅱ(ACE2)进行分子对接。结果药材-化合物-靶点(基因)网络包含药材8个、化合物75个、靶点255个。GO功能富集分析得到GO条目161个(P0.05),其中生物过程(BP)条目65个,细胞组成(CC)条目36个,分子功能(MF)条目60个。KEGG通路富集筛选得到131条信号通路(P0.05)。分子对接结果显示抗病毒颗粒中比枯枯灵、木犀草素、槲皮素等核心活性化合物与SARS-Co V-23CL水解酶的亲和力与临床推荐化学药相似。结论抗病毒颗粒中的活性化合物比枯枯灵、木犀草素、槲皮素等能通过与ACE2结合作用于PTGS2、HSP90AB1、PTGS1等靶点调节多条信号通路,从而可能发挥对COVID-19的治疗作用。     

Near-infrared fluorescence imaging improves the nodal yield in neck dissection in oral cavity cancer – A randomized study

IntroductionLymph node yield (LNY) in neck dissection has been identified as a prognostic factor in oral cavity cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of additional use of optical imaging on LNY in therapeutic ND in oral cancer.MethodsConsecutive patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma with clinical neck metastasis planned for primary tumor resection were randomized to conventional neck dissection or near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF)-guided neck dissection, respectively. In the intervention group, patients were injected with ICG-Nanocoll prior to surgery. Intraoperatively, an optical hand-held camera system was used for lymph node identification. Also, NIRF imaging of the neck specimen was performed, and optical signals were pinned with needle markings to guide the pathological examination. The endpoint of the study was LNY per neck side in levels Ib-III.Results31 patients were included with 18 neck sides in the control group and 18 neck sides in the intervention group for evaluation. During NIRF-guided ND, individual lymph nodes could be identified by a bright fluorescent signal and individual tumor-related drainage patterns could be observed in the neck. The LNY in the intervention group was significantly higher compared to the control group (p = 0.032) with a mean of 24 LN (range: 12–33 LN in levels Ib-III compared to 18 LN (range: 10–36 LN) in the control group, respectively.ConclusionsNIRF-guided ND significantly improved the nodal yield compared to the control group. Intraoperative real-time optical imaging enabled direct visualization of tumor-related drainage patterns within the neck lymphatics.     

“黄连-半夏”药对治疗胃癌的网络药理学研究和实验验证

基于系统药理学采用数据挖掘和分子对接的方法分析黄连-半夏药对治疗胃癌的作用机制。通过中药系统药理学数据库平台(TCMSP)和中国科学院上海有机化学研究所化学专业数据库进行数据挖掘获得黄连-半夏药对的化学组分;然后通过ADME筛选得到其有效成分;采用化学计量学方法对有效成分进行靶点预测,并使用分子对接和结合自由能分析对靶点进行验证和筛选,从而获得黄连-半夏药对治疗胃癌的作用靶点;进一步分析靶点对应的生物功能、疾病及相关的信号通路,进而阐述黄连-半夏药对治疗胃癌的多成分、多靶点、多通路作用机制;最终通过MTT试验、划痕试验、Transwell小室试验和Western blot试验验证黄连-半夏对人胃癌细胞MKN-45的抑制作用。研究共筛选出黄连-半夏药对的有效成分46个,对应靶点77个,与胃癌及其并发症相关靶点共38个,相关信号通路前8条,GO分析相关度前20个靶点分子功能。细胞实验证实了黄连-半夏水提物能有效抑制MKN-45细胞的增殖、侵袭迁移,并抑制转化生长因子-β1(transforming growth factor-β1,TGF-β1)诱导的Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的激活。黄连-半夏药对具有多种有效成分,能够调控神经和精神系统、细胞周期、细胞分化和转移,增强抗炎和免疫功能,在胃癌及其相关并发症发挥着多成分、多靶点、多通路协同抗癌作用,为后续临床治疗胃癌提供新的思路。     

外泌体在肿瘤转移前微环境形成中的作用

肿瘤的转移前微环境（pre-metastatic niche，PMN）特指原发肿瘤灶为肿瘤细胞远处播散和定植准备的微环境，此微环境的六个特征包括炎症、免疫抑制、血管生成/血管通透性、亲器官性、重编程和淋巴管生成。PMN形成的关键成分包括肿瘤源性分泌因子、细胞外囊泡（含外泌体）、骨髓源性细胞、免疫抑制细胞和宿主基质细胞等，其中，外泌体作为细胞间重要的信使，在肿瘤PMN的形成中具有重要作用。本综述就外泌体在肿瘤PMN形成中的作用进行探讨。     

基于二氧化硅纳米粒子的抗肿瘤药物递送系统研究进展CSCD

近年来癌症治疗受到广泛关注,二氧化硅纳米颗粒因其独特的理化性质在肿瘤诊疗领域展现巨大潜力。基于二氧化硅纳米粒子的药物输送系统可被动或主动靶向肿瘤组织,并通过刺激响应的方式实现药物在肿瘤部位的可控释放,有效提高抗肿瘤药物在肿瘤部位的浓度,提高治疗效率。同时,二氧化硅纳米粒子通过负载造影剂可实现生物成像功能,用于肿瘤组织定位及药物追踪,实现更高效的抗肿瘤治疗。本文介绍了二氧化硅纳米粒子的制备方式,并对二氧化硅纳米粒子在药物靶向递送系统及生物成像领域中的研究进展进行综述。