Multi-walled carbon nanotube-induced inhalation toxicity: Recognizing nano bis-demethoxy curcumin analog as an ameliorating candidate

Human beings and ecosystems are being possibly exposed to CNTs, as there is a rise in global production rate of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). This may affect the health of humans and increases the environmental risk. We have already reported the pulmonary toxicity due to the inhalation of MWCNTs. We claim that a compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity may ameliorate the CNT-induced toxic effect. With this view, we have investigated the ameliorative effect of intravenously-administered nano bis-demethoxy curcumin analog (NBDMCA) against MWCNTs-induced inhalation toxicity by examining the lung histopathology for inflammatory cell dynamics, pulmonary remodeling and estimating the inflammatory biomarkers in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid. We observed that NBDMCA could ameliorate the injury as evidenced by the decline in the levels of markers of inflammation, cell damage, and the histopathological changes induced by MWCNTs. We conclude that NBDMCA may be used to reduce the risk of MWCNTs-induced inhalation toxicity.     

Building a blood system: the view from Saudi Arabia

Despite the significant advances in the transfusion medicine field, maintaining an adequate and safe blood supply remains challenging for some areas of the world. Data from the World Health Organization reveal that many developing countries continue to have low rates of blood collections per capita, and many suffer from chronic shortage of blood and components. An effective way to improve access to affordable and quality assured blood and blood products, and their appropriate use is through the establishment of an effective, sustainable and appropriately regulated blood system. At the current time, Saudi Arabia continues to operate in an institution‐based model, with a blood collection and processing centre affiliated with almost all individual hospitals. Given the high number of sectors that hospitals belong to, challenges are faced in communication and collaboration among blood centres despite the possibility of being in geographic proximity. Building a national blood system is expected to result in positive outcomes in many aspects, including donor motivation strategies and planning, standardization of policies and processes, and effective utilization of resources and supplies. A hybrid model where motivation efforts, management of financial resources, creation of policies and standards are shared nationally, while blood collection and processing, testing and storage are performed in multiple sites may be the most suitable approach for the country. Steps are being taken towards achieving this goal in the Kingdom.     

下肢静脉曲张的腔内激光治疗

目的 评价下肢静脉曲张腔内激光治疗(EVLT)的疗效及并发症。方法 对53例下肢静脉曲张患者计67条肢体施行了EVLT,其中7条肢体因原发性深静脉瓣膜功能不全同时施行了股浅静脉壁环形缩窄术。全部患者手术前后均行光电容积描记(PPG)和彩色多普勒超声检查进行对比。结果 经0．5～1年随访,所有患者无疼痛、酸胀感、肢体肿胀、曲张静脉消失,经光电容积描记检查均无返流,彩色多普勒超声检查曲张静脉全部闭塞、无血流信号。其中2例出现术后皮肤轻度灼伤。结论 EVLT治疗下肢静脉曲张具有创伤小、疗效好、恢复快、副作用少、操作简单、无瘢痕等优点。     

Automated FRET quantification shows distinct subcellular ERK activation kinetics in response to graded EGFR signaling in Drosophila

Threshold responses to an activity gradient allow a single signaling pathway to yield multiple outcomes. Extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) is one such signal, which couples receptor tyrosine kinase signaling with multiple cellular responses in various developmental processes. Recent advances in the development of fluorescent biosensors for live imaging have enabled the signaling activities accompanying embryonic development to be monitored in real time. Here, we used an automated computational program to quantify the signals of a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) reporter for activated ERK, and we used this system to monitor the spatio‐temporal dynamics of ERK during neuroectoderm patterning in Drosophila embryos. We found that the cytoplasmic and nuclear ERK activity gradients show distinct kinetics in response to epidermal growth factor receptor activation. The ERK activation patterns implied that the cytoplasmic ERK activity is modulated into a threshold response in the nucleus.     

Bacterial adhesion and host cell factors leading to effector protein injection by type III secretion system

Type III secretion systems (T3SS) play a crucial role for virulence in many Gram-negative bacteria. After tight bacterial contact to host cells, the T3SS injects effector proteins into the host cells, which leads to cell invasion, tissue destruction and/or immune evasion. Over the last decade several attempts were made to characterize the host-cell interactions which precede and determine effector protein injection during infection. The development of the TEM-β-lactamase reporter was an important breakthrough to achieve this goal. By this means it was demonstrated that during infection with many Gram-negative pathogens such as Salmonella, Pseudomonas or Yersinia the main targets of T3SS are leukocytes of the myeloid lineage such as neutrophils, macrophages or dendritic cells. This is due to the recruitment of these cells to the site of infection, but also due to the specific interplay between bacterial and host cells. Comprehensive studies on Yersinia pestis, Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis effector translocation show that adhesins such as Invasin (Inv), Yersinia adhesin A (YadA) and attachment and invasion locus (Ail) are critical for effector translocation. Here, mainly the complex interaction of YadA and Ail with various host cell receptor repertoires on leukocytes and the modulatory effects of serum factors direct effector translocation predominantly towards myeloid cells. The current understanding suggests that mostly protein based interactions between bacteria and host determine host cell specific effector translocation during Yersinia infection. However, for Shigella dysenteriae infection it was shown that glycan-glycan interactions can also play a critical role for the adhesion preceding effector translocation. In addition, the Shigella infection model revealed that the activation status of cells is a further criterium directing effector translocation into a distinct cell population. In this review the current understanding of the complex and species-specific interaction between bacteria and host cells leading to type III secretion is discussed.     

全自动透析液集中供应系统的改进及应用

目的降低血液透析机桶装液耗材成本,提高工作效率,保证透析液浓度要求。方法研制出了安全、稳定、高效、节能的DCS-200型全自动透析液集中供应系统,此系统能自动配液、自动消毒、自动清洗、自动排放和定时循环。结果本系统为临床节省了很大的成本,提高了工作效率和效益,并且提供了稳定无污染的透析原液,保证临床治疗需要。结论全自动透析液集中供应系统有非常高的临床应用价值,比传统的A/B桶装液和分散开放供液有非常显著的优势。     

多中心评价银杏内酯注射液治疗重症缺血性脑卒中药物经济学

目的 研究多中心银杏内酯注射液治疗重症缺血性脑卒中的临床疗效、经济性、安全性,评价药物经济价值。方法 采用前瞻性队列研究方法,纳入了2013年8月-2013年12月各中心重症缺血性脑卒中患者共119例,以银杏内酯注射液加常规治疗的患者为治疗组,共78例;对照组41例,患者在常规治疗基础上可使用其他活血化瘀类药物。在出院后3、6、12个月对两组患者进行电话随访,获取药效指标：日常生活活动能力评价（ADL）评分、生活自理患者比例、痊愈率、复发率、全因死亡率;经济学指标：成本效果比（CER）;以及不良事件发生情况,评估患者采用不同治疗方案的远期获益差异。结果 出院后3、6、12个月,治疗组ADL评分、痊愈率和自理率均优于对照组,且差异显著（P<0.05）;出院后6个月,治疗组复发率优于对照组,且差异显著（P<0.05）;出院后12个月,治疗组复发率和死亡率优于对照组,且差异显著（P<0.05）;出院后3、6、12个月,治疗组的CER均明显小于对照组;两组不良反应发生率均较低。结论 远期评估发现,经银杏内酯注射液治疗患者较未接受其治疗患者临床效果更佳,CER更优,证明了银杏内酯注射液治疗重症脑卒中的有效性及经济性。     

白果内酯对脑缺血损伤保护作用的研究进展

白果内酯是从银杏叶中提取到的倍半萜内酯,是银杏类制剂抗脑缺血作用的重要活性成分之一。白果内酯对脑缺血损伤保护的作用具有一定的量效关系和时效关系,作用机制主要包括：改善缺血后脑组织的能量代谢,抗炎症免疫损伤,抗兴奋性氨基酸神经毒性,抑制神经细胞的凋亡、促进神经元的增殖分化,并能减轻脑水肿的发生和脑部循环障碍,能全面针对脑缺血损伤的各种病理过程。简述白果内酯对脑缺血损伤保护的药效作用及其作用机制的研究进展。