乙酰紫草素通过PI3K/Akt信号通路诱导前列腺癌PC-3细胞凋亡的研究

目的：研究乙酰紫草素（ASK）对人前列腺癌PC-3细胞的诱导凋亡作用及相关的分子机制。方法：利用CCK-8实验检测ASK对体外培养PC-3细胞的杀伤作用；利用流式细胞术实验检测ASK处理后PC-3细胞凋亡情况；利用Western blotting检测凋亡蛋白和AKT信号通路蛋白的表达。结果：CCK-8实验证明ASK能够以时间和浓度依赖性抑制前列腺癌PC-3细胞的增殖；流式细胞术实验证明ASK能够诱导人前列腺癌PC-3细胞线粒体依赖性凋亡；Western blotting证明ASK能够有效抑制前列腺癌PC-3细胞中的AKT信号通路。结论：ASK能够有效抑制人前列腺癌PC-3细胞增殖，并能够有效诱导PC-3细胞发生线粒体依赖性凋亡，其机制可能是通过调控PI3K/Akt信号通路来实现，说明ASK具有一定的抗前列腺癌的潜力。     

Dr PK Sen TAI gold medal oration

The current write-up is for Dr P.K.Sen TAI Gold Medal Oration Award for 2020 conferred to Dr Rupak Singla and delivered on 19 th December 2020. The title chosen for the oration was “Introduction and scale up of new anti-TB drugs in India: role of NITRD.? However, in the oration the role this institute has played for overall scale up of Drug-resistant TB services in India under National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) at different times from the beginning of national TB programme has also been presented. National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases has travelled with our country from beginning of DR-TB care. It demonstrated for the first time use of a Standardized Treatment Regimen with second line drugs for MDR-TB in field conditions. NITRD assisted NTEP for the concept of DST guided treatment. This institute guided NTEP for the management of MDR-TB failure patients with Pre-XDR and XDR-TB. Also, NITRD assisted India for the introduction of newer DR-TB drugs and scale up of newer drugs across the country. The strength of NITRD include clinical expertise, laboratory support and training division. NITRD commitment is strong and will continue to support NTEP for all endeavors in future also.     

The effect of level of injury and physical activity on heart rate variability following spinal cord injury

Objective/Background: To assess frequency domain heart rate variability (HRV) parameters at rest and in response to postural autonomic provocations in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and investigate the autonomic influences on the heart of different physical activities.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Ten subjects with complete cervical SCI and fourteen subjects with complete low thoracic SCI were prospectively recruited from the community and further divided in sedentary and physically active groups, the latter defined as regular weekly 4 hour physical activity for the preceding 3 months. Sixteen healthy individuals matched for sex and age were recruited to participate in the control group. The Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF) powers and the LF/HF ratio of HRV were measured from continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings at rest and after sitting using a fast Fourier transformation.

Outcome measures: The LF,HF, and the LF/HF ratio at rest and after sitting.

Results: A significant decrease in all HRV parameters in patients with SCI was found compared to controls. The change in HF, LF and LF/HF following sitting maneuver was significantly greater in controls as compared with the SCI group and greater in subjects with paraplegia as compared to subjects with tetraplegia. Better HRV values and enhanced vagal activity appears to be related to the type of physical activity in active subjects with paraplegia.

Conclusion: In this cohort of subjects spectral parameters of HRV were associated with the level of the injury. Passive standing was associated with higher HRV values in subjects with paraplegia.     

Comparison of survival rate and crestal bone loss of narrow diameter dental implants versus regular dental implants: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

The aim of the present study was to establish survival rates, as well as crestal bone loss (CBL) of narrow diameter implants (NDI), compared to regular diameter implants (RDI). The current review followed the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research guidelines and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses statement. We searched main databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register) for articles addressing the focused question up to and including May 2018. Meta‐analyses were conducted for CBL and survival rates. Qualitatively, three clinical studies showed comparable CBL and survival rates between NDI and RDI at follow up. Only one study showed increased CBL around NDI compared to RDI. The overall weighted mean difference (WMD) for CBL (WMD = .06, 95% confidence interval [CI] = ‐.38‐.51, P=.76) and risk difference for survival rate (risk difference = .88, 95% CI = .22‐3.50, P=.85) were not significant between the NDI and RDI groups at follow up. NDI and RDI showed comparable CBL and survival rates. However, the findings of the present study should be interpreted with caution due to significant heterogeneity and the low number of included studies. Further randomized, controlled trials should be performed in order to obtain strong conclusions.