Unmasking antibiotic-associated neurological disorders: The underminer in Intensive Care Unit

Psychosis is a common and intractable disorder of hospitalization, especially in patients hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Along with the widely use of multiple antibiotics in community-acquired infection and hospital-acquired infection, the occurrence of antibiotic-associated neurological disorders has become more frequently. However, antibiotic neurotoxicity is often overlooked or misinterpreted. In this review, we summarized the neurological disorders caused by antibacterial agent usage and firstly systematically formulated the pathogenesis of antibiotic-associated neurotoxic reactions. Precautions of the complications are critical in preventing serious clinical outcome as the inducement is curable. Regular neurological physical examination, electroencephalogram (EEG) examination, lumbar puncture and therapeutic drug monitoring closely are essential for early diagnosis and differential diagnosis.     

FcγR interaction is not required for effective anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy but can add additional benefit depending on the tumor model

Immunomodulatory antibodies blocking interactions of coinhibitory receptors to their ligands such as CTLA-4, PD1 and PD-L1 on immune cells have shown impressive therapeutic efficacy in clinical studies. The therapeutic effect of these antibodies is mainly mediated by reactivating antitumor T cell immune responses. Detailed analysis of anti-CTLA4 antibody therapy revealed that an optimal therapeutic efficacy also requires binding to Fc receptors for IgG, FcγR, mediating depletion of intratumoral regulatory T cells. Here, we investigated the role of Fc binding in anti-PD-L1 antibody therapy in the MC38 C57BL/6 and CT26 BALB/c colon adenocarcinoma tumor models. In the MC38 tumor model, all IgG subclasses anti-PD-L1 showed similar therapeutic efficacy when compared to each other in either wild-type mice or in mice deficient for all FcγR. In contrast, in the CT26 tumor model, anti-PD-L1 mIgG2a, the IgG subclass with the highest affinity for activating FcγR, showed stronger therapeutic efficacy than other IgG subclasses. This was associated with a reduction of a myeloid cell subset with high expression of PD-L1 in the tumor microenvironment. This subclass preference for mIgG2a was lost in C57BL/6 × BALB/c F1 mice, indicating that the genetic background of the host may determine the additional clinical benefit of the high affinity antibody subclasses. Based on these data, we conclude that FcγR are not crucial for anti-PD-L1 antibody therapy but might play a role in some tumor models.     

Age-dependent effects of dopamine receptor inactivation on cocaine-induced behaviors in male rats: Evidence of dorsal striatal D2 receptor supersensitivity

N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ), which irreversibly inactivates dopamine (DA) receptors, causes pronounced age-dependent behavioral effects in rats. For example, EEDQ either augments or does not affect the DA agonist-induced locomotor activity of preweanling rats while attenuating the locomotion of adolescent and adult rats. The twofold purpose of this study was to determine whether EEDQ would: (a) potentiate or attenuate the cocaine-induced locomotor activity of preweanling, adolescent, and adult rats; and (b) alter the sensitivity of surviving D2 receptors. Rats were treated with vehicle or EEDQ (2.5 or 7.5 mg/kg) on postnatal day (PD) 17, PD 39, and PD 84. In the behavioral experiments, saline- or cocaine-induced locomotion was assessed 24 hr later. In the biochemical experiments, dorsal striatal samples were taken 24 hr after vehicle or EEDQ treatment and later assayed for NPA-stimulated GTPγS receptor binding, G protein-coupled receptor kinase 6 (GRK6), and β-arrestin-2 (ARRB2). GTPγS binding is a direct measure of ligand-induced G protein activation, while GRK6 and ARRB2 modulate the internalization and desensitization of D2 receptors. Results showed that EEDQ potentiated the locomotor activity of preweanling rats, while attenuating the locomotion of older rats. NPA-stimulated GTPγS binding was elevated in EEDQ-treated preweanling rats, relative to adults, indicating enhanced functional coupling between the G protein and receptor. EEDQ also reduced ARRB2 levels in all age groups, which is indicative of increased D2 receptor sensitivity. In sum, the present results support the hypothesis that D2 receptor supersensitivity is a critical factor mediating the locomotor potentiating effects of EEDQ in cocaine-treated preweanling rats.     

The co-expression characteristics of LAG3 and PD-1 on the T cells of patients with breast cancer reveal a new therapeutic strategy

Many studies have shown a special interaction between LAG3 and PD-1 in T cell inhibition, while the co-expression and effect of LAG3 and PD-1 on T cells in breast cancer patients are still not very clear. Here, with strict exclusion criteria, 88 patients with breast cancer and 18 healthy controls were enrolled. The percentages of LAG3⁺PD-1⁺ T cells in their peripheral blood (PBL) and tumor infiltrating T cells (TIL) were analyzed by flow cytometry, which showed an increase in TILs but no difference in PBLs and presented differences in TILs in different molecular subtypes (P < 0.05). In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the highest percentages were observed, while in ER+/PR+ breast cancer, the lowest percentages were observed; however, these percentages were not different in different clinical stages (P > 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of their ligands, PD-L1, MHC class II molecular and FGL1, was inconsistent in different molecular subtypes and clinical stages. Analysis of the functions of T cells with different phenotypes showed that the proliferation and secretion capacity of LAG3⁺PD-1⁺ T cells was obviously exhausted, with more than a two-fold of decrease compared with the groups of single positive LAG3 or PD-1 (P < 0.05). Finally, in a mouse model of TNBC, the dual blockade of LAG3 and PD-1 was indicated to achieve a better anti-tumour effect than either one alone (P < 0.05), which may provide a new strategy for the immunoregulatory treatment of patients with TNBC in the future.     

The third-generation retinoid adapalene triggered DNA damage to induce S-phase arrest in HaCat cells

Epidermal proliferative diseases consisted of a series of common skin diseases, most of which were recurrent chronic skin diseases, and had greatly negative influence on the life quality of patient. Retinoids exhibited vital roles in the treatment of many skin diseases. Our recent study demonstrated that adapalene significantly inhibited the growth of HaCat cells, and the inhibitory activity was stronger than other retinoids, such as all-trans-retinoic acid, acitretin, isotretinoin, tazarotene, and bexarotene. Further study showed that adapalene suppressed the colony formation of HaCat cells, and it dramatically triggered S-phase arrest and apoptosis, rather than G1 phase arrest which was reported in other retinoids in several studies. Additionally, adapalene treatment greatly upregulated the protein expression of DNA damage marker γ-H2AX, which was in accord with the results of the elongation of tail moment by comet electrophoresis analysis. Moreover, DNA damage was triggered and DNA repair was suppressed synchronously with adapalene treatment, which accounted for the mechanism of S-phase arrest induced by adapalene. In summary, our recent work demonstrated that adapalene showed strong anti-proliferation activity in HaCat cells and could be an alternative agent for the epidermal proliferative disease.     

益气养阴解毒方联合环磷腺苷葡胺注射液治疗病毒性心肌炎35例

目的:探讨益气养阴解毒方联合环磷腺苷葡胺注射液对病毒性心肌炎患者心功能及外周血清肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)、转化生长因子-β1(transforming growth factor-β1,TGF-β1)和干扰素-γ(interferon-γ,IFN-γ)水平的影响。方法:将70例病毒性心肌炎患者按照随机数字法分为对照组和观察组,每组各35例。两组患者均给予常规治疗,对照组在常规治疗的基础上给予环磷腺苷葡胺注射液静脉滴注,观察组在对照组的基础上联合益气养阴解毒方治疗。比较两组患者的临床疗效及治疗前后左室短轴缩短分数(left ventricular shortening fraction,LVFS)、左心室射血分数(left ventricular ejection fraction,LVEF)、心脏指数(cardiac index,CI)、TNF-α、TGF-β1和IFN-γ水平。结果:观察组有效率为88.57%,对照组有效率为68.57%,两组患者有效率比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组患者治疗后LVEF、LVFS高于本组治疗前,且观察组高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组患者治疗后TGF-β1、TNF-α水平低于治疗前比较,IFN-γ高于治疗前,且观察组TGF-β1、TNF-α低于对照组,IFN-γ高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组患者不良反应发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:益气养阴解毒方联合环磷腺苷葡胺注射液治疗病毒性心肌炎疗效更显著,可减轻机体的炎症反应,恢复患者心功能。     

维生素D联合糠酸莫米松乳膏治疗婴幼儿中重度湿疹的临床分析

目的:分析维生素D联合糠酸莫米松乳膏治疗婴幼儿中重度湿疹的临床疗效并探究维生素D对患儿免疫功能的影响。方法:104例中重度湿疹婴幼儿随机分为对照组和治疗组各52例,对照组用0.1%糠酸莫米松乳膏治疗,治疗组在对照组基础上予维生素D制剂阿法骨化醇滴剂治疗。分析治疗后2组患儿治疗总有效率,同时检测患儿治疗前及治疗4周后血清25-(OH)D3、干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)、白细胞介素(IL-2)、IL-4、IL-13水平。结果:治疗组总有效率为92.31%,优于对照组(76.92%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组治疗后血清IFN-γ、IL-2水平较治疗前上升,并明显高于对照组,血清IL-4、IL-13水平较治疗前下降,并明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:维生素D能调节中重度湿疹婴幼儿免疫功能,因此维生素D联合糠酸莫米松乳膏能提高中重度湿疹婴幼儿治疗疗效,值得在临床上应用。     

Perilipin2 inhibits diabetic nephropathy-induced podocyte apoptosis by activating the PPARγ signaling pathway

Podocyte apoptosis plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of perilipin2 on high glucose (HG)-induced podocyte apoptosis and associated mechanisms. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in BTBR ob/ob mice vs. nondiabetic mice kidneys were obtained from GSE106841 dataset and picked out using the ‘limma’ package. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) and was visualized by Cytoscape. Perilipin2 was a hub gene using the cytoHubba plug-in from Cytoscape. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that the 126 overlapping DEGs were mainly enriched in ‘oxidation reduction’ [biological process, (BP)], metal ion binding’ [molecular function, (MF)] and ‘extracellular region’ [cellular component, (CC)]. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that perilipin2 was mainly involved in ‘PPAR signaling pathway’. DN inhibited perilipin2 expression and PPARγ expression, as by both in vitro and in vivo studies. In vitro experiments demonstrated that perilipin2 inhibition could not only reduced PPARγ expression in podocytes, it could also promote the apoptosis, and inhibit the viability in HG treated podocytes using western blot, CCK8 and flow cytometry assays. Perilipin2 overexpression reversed the effects of HG on inhibiting podocalyxin, nephrin, precursor (pro)-caspase-3/-9 and PPARγ protein expression and increasing cleaved caspase-3/-9 protein expression. Furthermore, the functions of perilipin2 overexpression reversing HG-induced podocyte apoptosis were inhibited by PPARγ inhibitor. In conclusion, the functions of DN-induced podocyte apoptosis were inhibited by activation of the PPARγ signaling pathway caused by perilipin2 overexpression.