Redox active or thiol reactive? Optimization of rapid screens to identify less evident nuisance compounds

Compounds that exhibit assay interference or undesirable mechanisms of bioactivity are routinely encountered in assays at various stages of drug discovery. We observed that assays for the investigation of thiol-reactive and redox-active compounds have not been collected in a comprehensive review. Here, we review these assays and subject them to experimental optimization to improve their reliability. We demonstrate the usefulness of our assay cascade by assaying a library of bioactive compounds, chemical probes, and a set of approved drugs. These high-throughput assays should complement the array of wet-lab and in silico assays during the initial stages of hit discovery campaigns to pursue only hit compounds with tractable mechanisms of action.     

Focal hole versus screw stimulation to prevent false negative results in detecting pedicle breaches during spinal instrumentation

ObjectiveWe describe a stimulus-evoked EMG approach to minimize false negative results in detecting pedicle breaches during lumbosacral spinal instrumentation.MethodsIn 36 patients receiving 176 lumbosacral pedicle screws, EMG threshold to nerve root activation was determined using a focal probe inserted into the pilot hole at a depth, customized to the individual patients, suitable to position the stimulating tip at the point closest to the tested nerve root. Threshold to screw stimulation was also determined.ResultsMean EMG thresholds in 161 correctly fashioned pedicle instrumentations were 7.5 mA ± 2.46 after focal hole stimulation and 21.8 mA ± 6.8 after screw stimulation. Direct comparison between both thresholds in individual pedicles showed that screw stimulation was always biased by an unpredictable leakage of the stimulating current ranging from 10 to 90%. False negative results were never observed with hole stimulation but this was not true with screw stimulation.ConclusionsFocal hole stimulation, unlike screw stimulation, approaches absolute EMG threshold as shown by the lower normal limit (2.6 mA; p < 0.05) that borders the upper limit of threshold to direct activation of the exposed root.SignificanceThe technique provides an early warning of a possible pedicle breakthrough before insertion of the more harmful, larger and threaded screw.     

复方丁香开胃帖减轻胃癌术后腹胀的临床观察与护理

目的观察使用复方丁香开胃贴对胃癌术后患者减轻腹胀的临床效果及护理。方法将101例胃癌术后且均为胃大部分切除术的患者,将其随机分为对照组50例,治疗组51例,2组患者均被告知和协助术后第一天离床活动,治疗组的患者使用复方丁香开胃贴外贴于患者的脐部即神阙穴,密切观察患者的腹胀情况,比较2组患者术后腹胀的程度及肛门排气情况和住院时间。结果治疗组病例术后腹胀程度、肛门排气情况与对照组相比,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论胃癌术后的患者使用复方丁香开胃贴可以有效的减轻腹胀,缩短肛门排气时间,减少住院时间,使患者早日康复出院。     

参芪复方对2型糖尿病GK大鼠胰岛β细胞功能的影响

目的:以自发性2型糖尿病GK大鼠为研究对象,应用全基因组表达谱芯片技术,旨在探讨参芪复方调节胰岛细胞功能的分子机制,为中医药防治2型糖尿病提供理论依据。方法:GK大鼠每日给予高脂饲料喂养,连续4周,随机从GK大鼠中选取大鼠检测随机血糖,验证2型糖尿病模型成功。实验分为4组,空白组,模型组,参芪复方组(1.44 g?kg~(-1)),西格列汀组(16 mg·kg~(-1)),于灌胃前、灌胃4周、灌胃8周测早上8:00各组大鼠尾尖血糖;灌胃8周后,运用酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)检测大鼠血清胰岛素(INS)水平;采用原位末端标记(TUNEL)荧光法定量检测并观察胰岛β细胞凋亡情况;运用全基因组表达谱芯片技术对各组大鼠胰腺组织进行差异基因检测;采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(Real-time PCR)检测关键差异基因的mRNA转录水平。结果:与空白组比较,灌胃前、灌胃4周、灌胃8周,GK大鼠各组血糖显著升高(P0.01);灌胃4,8周,与模型组比较,各药物干预组大鼠血糖均显著较低(P0.01)。灌胃8周,与空白组比较,模型组大鼠INS水平显著较低(P0.01);与模型组比较,参芪复方组具有INS水平更高的趋势,西格列汀组INS水平显著较高(P0.01)。灌胃8周,与空白组比较,模型组大鼠胰岛β细胞凋亡数明显升高(P0.05);与模型组比较,参芪复方组、西格列汀组大鼠胰岛β细胞凋亡数均明显较低(P0.05,P0.01)。基因芯片及Real-time PCR检测均显示磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶受体1(PIK3R1)在参芪复方组/模型组中表达上调,在西格列汀组/模型组、模型组/空白组中表达下调;蛋白激酶B1(Akt1)在参芪复方组/模型组、西格列汀组/模型组中表达上调,在模型组/空白组中表达下调。结论:参芪复方可减少胰岛β细胞凋亡,增加胰岛素分泌,上调基因PIK3R1,Akt1的表达,推测具有养阴益气活血功效的参芪复方可能通过上调基因PIK3R1,Akt1的表达,抑制胰岛β细胞凋亡,改善胰岛β细胞功能,调节胰岛素分泌,从而防治2型糖尿病。     

Excitability of motor and sensory axons in multifocal motor neuropathy

ObjectiveTo assess excitability differences between motor and sensory axons of affected nerves in patients with multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN).MethodsWe performed motor and sensory excitability tests in affected median nerves of 20 MMN patients and in 20 age-matched normal subjects. CMAPs were recorded from the thenar and SNAPs from the 3rd digit. Clinical tests included assessment of muscle strength, two-point discrimination and joint position.ResultsAll MMN patients had weakness of the thenar muscle and normal sensory tests. Motor excitability testing in MMN showed an increased threshold for a 50% CMAP, increased rheobase, decreased stimulus-response slope, fanning-out of threshold electrotonus, decreased resting I/V slope, shortened refractory period, and more pronounced superexcitability. Sensory excitability testing in MMN revealed decreased accommodation half-time and S2-accommodation and less pronounced subexcitability. Mathematical modeling indicated increased Barrett-Barrett conductance for motor fibers and increase in internodal fast potassium conductance for sensory fibers.ConclusionsExcitability findings in MMN suggest myelin sheath or paranodal seal involvement in motor fibers and, possibly, paranodal detachment in sensory fibers.SignificanceExcitability properties of affected nerves in MMN differ between motor and sensory nerve fibers.     

复方苦参注射液联合化疗对结直肠癌患者术后营养状况、免疫功能、炎性因子水平及生活质量的影响

目的:探讨复方苦参注射液联合化疗对结直肠癌术后患者免疫功能改善的影响。方法:将我院收治的136例大肠癌术后患者随机分为对照组和观察组各68例,对照组使用Xelox化疗方案治疗,观察组在对照组的基础上联合应用复方苦参注射液,比较两组患者的术后营养状况,观察多种免疫功能指标T淋巴细胞亚群、补体C3、C4等水平变化,监测血清中表皮生长因子(EGF)、胰岛素样生长因子1(IGF-1)、白细胞介素-17(IL-17)水平;通过EORTC制定的QLQ-C30调查表评价两组患者术后的生活质量。结果:两组患者在术后1天的营养指标、免疫功能及生活质量无显著差异(P0.05);术后7天,观察组患者血清中大部分营养指标水平明显高于术后1天及对照组患者(P0.05);免疫功能血清指标CD4~+、CD4~+/CD8~+、IgG等水平与对照组相比明显增加;血清EGF、IGF-1、IL-17水平较对照组显著降低(P0.05);观察组患者的生活质量评分显著高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:复方苦参注射液联合化疗利于改善患者的营养状况,增强CRC术后患者的机体免疫水平,显著提高患者的生存质量,其起效机制可能在于通过抑制血清中EGF、IGF-1、IL-17水平而抑制肿瘤生长。     

中药调节肠道菌群在溃疡性结肠炎治疗中的应用概述

有研究表明,肠道微生态失衡是导致溃疡性结肠炎的一个重要因素。笔者从肠道微生态角度出发,对近年来关于中药单体、活性成分、复方及制剂调节肠道菌群、治疗溃疡性结肠炎的实验与临床研究进行总结。发现中药治疗溃疡性结肠炎疗效好,不良反应少,能有效减少病情复发;无论是单味中药及其活性成分,还是中药复方均能有效调节肠道益生菌、减少有害菌群数量,使肠道菌群恢复平衡状态,从而间接调节肠道黏膜免疫功能,促进结直肠黏膜的修复。但中药通过调节肠道菌群治疗溃疡性结肠炎的疗效目前尚缺乏循证医学证据,今后应加强相关中药药理作用研究,为中药调节肠道菌群在溃疡性结肠炎治疗中的应用提供更加有力的证据。参考文献35篇。