Out of the boxes,out of the silos: The need of interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce poor-quality medical products in the supply chain

In this paper, we argue that understanding and addressing the problem of poor-quality medical products requires a more interdisciplinary approach than has been evident to date. While prospective studies based on rigorous standardized methodologies are the gold standard for measuring the prevalence of poor-quality medical products and understanding their distribution nationally and internationally, they should be complemented by social science research to unpack the complex set of social, economic, and governance factors that underlie these patterns. In the following sections, we discuss specific examples of prospective quality surveys and of social science studies, highlighting the value of cross-sector partnerships in driving high-quality, policy-relevant research in this area.     

Hcy、LPA及TGF-β1在创伤性骨折下肢静脉栓塞中的预测价值

目的分析同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)、溶血磷脂酸(LPA)及转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)在创伤性骨折下肢静脉栓塞中的预测价值。方法选取2019年3月至2020年2月商丘市第一人民医院收治的104例创伤性骨折者(观察组),根据有无DVT:有DVT组33例,无DVT组71例;根据创伤严重程度:轻度组61例,重度组43例。另选取本院同期92例健康体检者设为对照组。比较不同人群、不同病情程度以及有无DVT者血浆Hcy、LPA及血清TGF-β1水平,分析Hcy、LPA及TGF-β1对DVT的预测价值。结果观察组Hcy、LPA及TGF-β1表达水平均明显高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。重度组Hcy、LPA及TGF-β1表达水平明显高于轻度组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。有DVT组者Hcy、LPA及TGF-β1表达水平明显高于无DVT组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。依据ROC曲线分析可知,Hcy+LPA+TGF-β1三者联合预测创伤性骨折后发生DVT敏感度和特异度分别为88.90%、8130%,明显高于三者单独检测(P<0.05)。结论Hcy、LPA及TGF-β1在创伤性骨折发生下肢静脉栓塞时水平均明显升高,三者联合检测对下肢静脉栓塞早期诊断有重要的临床价值。     

Predicting Survival for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy: A Validation of Survival Models Using Follow-Up Data From ZUMA-1

ObjectivesSurvival extrapolation for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies is challenging, owing to their unique mechanistic properties that translate to complex hazard functions. Axicabtagene ciloleucel is indicated for the treatment of relapse or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after 2 or more lines of therapy based on the ZUMA-1 trial. Four data snapshots are available, with minimum follow-up of 12, 24, 36, and 48 months. This analysis explores how survival extrapolations for axicabtagene ciloleucel using ZUMA-1 data can be validated and compared.MethodsThree different parametric modeling approaches were applied: standard parametric, spline-based, and cure-based models. Models were compared using a range of metrics, across the 4 data snapshot, including visual fit, plausibility of long-term estimates, statistical goodness of fit, inspection of hazard plots, point-estimate accuracy, and conditional survival estimates.ResultsStandard and spline-based parametric extrapolations were generally incapable of fitting the ZUMA-1 data well. Cure-based models provided the best fit based on the earliest data snapshot, with extrapolations remaining consistent as data matured. At 48 months, the maximum survival overestimate was 8.3% (Gompertz mixture-cure model) versus the maximum underestimate of 33.5% (Weibull standard parametric model).ConclusionsWhere a plateau in the survival curve is clinically plausible, cure-based models may be helpful in making accurate predictions based on immature data. The ability to reliably extrapolate from maturing data may reduce delays in patient access to potentially lifesaving treatments. Additional research is required to understand how models compare in broader contexts, including different treatments and therapeutic areas.     

Immunotherapy: A new standard in the treatment of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell cancer (RCC) represents 2%-3% of all adulthood cancers and is the most common malignant neoplasm of the kidney (90%). In the mid-nineties of the last century, the standard of treatment for patients with metastatic RCC was cytokines. Sunititib and pazopanib were registered in 2007 and 2009, respectively, and have since been the standard first-line treatment for metastatic clear cell RCC (mccRCC). Renal cell cancer is a highly immunogenic tumor with tumor infiltrating cells, including CD8+ T lymphocytes, dendritic cells, natural killer cells (NK) and macrophages. This observation led to the design of new clinical trials in which patients were treated with immunotherapy. With the growing evidence that proangiogenic factors can have immunomodulatory effects on the host’s immune system, the idea of combining angiogenic drugs with immunotherapy has emerged, and new clinical trials have been designed. In the last few years, several therapeutic options have been approved [immunotherapy and immunotherapy/tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI)] for the first-line treatment of mccRCC. Nivolumab/ipilimumab is approved for the treatment of patients with intermediate and poor prognoses. Several checkpoint inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, avelumab) in combination with TKI (axitinib, lenvatinib, cabozantinib) are approved for the treatment of patients regardless of their International mRCC Database Consortium prognostic group and PD-L1 expression. There is no specific and ideal biomarker that could help in selecting the ideal patient for the appropriate first-line treatment.     

靶向MLL1-WDR5蛋白-蛋白相互作用抑制剂的研究进展

Mixed lineage leukemia 1(MLL1)是组蛋白甲基转移酶SET家族的成员之一。MLL1与WDR5、RbBP5、Ash2L和DPY-30组成MLL1甲基转移酶复合物调控组蛋白H3的第4位赖氨酸的甲基化水平，对造血系统的发育和血细胞的更新至关重要。部分白血病患者体内存在因MLL1基因易位而产生的致癌蛋白——MLL1融合蛋白，MLL1融合蛋白在发挥其致癌作用时需要功能完整的MLL1酶复合物，故靶向MLL1-WDR5的蛋白-蛋白相互作用成为治疗MLL1融合型白血病的潜在策略。本文对MLL1-WDR5蛋白-蛋白相互作用的生物学机制、结构信息以及抑制剂进行了系统的总结，并结合已报道数据对该领域进行了展望，以期为后续研究提供参考。     

嘌呤能受体X1与肺腺癌预后及免疫细胞浸润的相关性研究

目的：探索嘌呤能受体X1(purinergic receptor，P2RX1)与肺腺癌(LUAD)患者预后及免疫细胞浸润的相关性。方法：利用生物信息学技术分析非小细胞肺癌中P2RX1的表达及其甲基化与患者预后的关系，对P2RX1共表达基因进行富集分析并筛选核心基因。利用TIMER 2.0数据库、R软件等分析P2RX1与免疫细胞、免疫检查点、免疫基质评分等的相关性。结果：P2RX1在LUAD中表达下调，低表达P2RX1的患者预后较差(P<0.05)，且P2RX1与肿瘤纯度、分期等临床病理因素有关(P<0.05)。P2RX1的表达与肺鳞癌患者预后无明显相关。Cg06475633等P2RX1 CpG位点甲基化与患者预后相关。P2RX1共表达基因主要富集于免疫细胞活化、分化等通路和生物学进程，核心基因主要包括BTK、IKZF1等。P2RX1的表达与B细胞浸润、免疫/基质评分、PD-1、CTLA-4等多个免疫检查点显著相关(P<0.05)。结论：P2RX1有望成为LUAD诊断和免疫治疗的新靶点。     

原发性肺鳞癌中EGFR和ALK基因突变的临床研究北大核心

目的:探讨赣南地区原发性肺鳞癌患者EGFR和ALK基因突变的特点,科学指导此类患者优选靶向用药。方法:入组73例原发性肺鳞癌病例,采用ARMS-PNA技术检测EGFR基因第18、19、20、21外显子突变,应用不平衡法检测其中60例病例的ALK融合基因,回顾性分析EGFR和ALK基因突变患者的临床病理特征。结果:EGFR基因突变8例,阳性率为10.96%(8/73),4例为L858R突变,3例为19del突变,1例为G719X突变。女性患者突变率(66.67%,2/3)明显高于男性患者(8.57%,6/70)(P=0.030),EGFR基因突变在高龄(≥60岁)、进展期(N_(1-3)、Ⅲ+Ⅳ期)患者中相对较高,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。EGFR基因突变与吸烟史、T分期以及肿瘤分布位置均无相关性(P>0.05);ALK融合基因表达2例,阳性率3.33%(2/60),与患者性别、年龄、吸烟史、TNM分期及肿瘤分布类型等各临床病理特征均无相关性(P>0.05);未发现EGFR和ALK基因共存突变病例。结论:赣南地区原发性肺鳞癌患者EGFR和ALK基因突变率相对不高,EGFR基因突变以L858R和19del突变为主,且好发于女性患者,可能是患者病情进展的预测因子之一。     

利用酵母双杂交系统筛选NKD1结合蛋白质北大核心

目的:酵母双杂交技术筛选结肠癌细胞中与裸角质层同源蛋白1(naked cuticle homolog 1,NKD1)相互结合的蛋白质,从而进一步了解NKD1。方法:以结肠癌细胞SW480的cDNA为模板,克隆NKD1基因,并将其成功构建在pGBKT7诱饵载体上。利用酵母双杂交技术从结肠癌SW480细胞文库进行筛选。结果:初步筛选获得13个阳性克隆菌株。经测序,在数据库中BLAST比对后,共确定为8种不同基因编码的蛋白片段。回转实验进一步验证了这8种不同基因编码的蛋白均能够激活酵母双杂交系统中的His3、Ade2和LacZ报告基因。这8种不同基因中的4种基因编码的蛋白片段为YWHA蛋白家族成员,其中2种都是编码YWHAE蛋白片段。在结肠癌HCT116细胞中通过免疫共沉淀实验进一步验证,NKD1与YWHAE在结肠癌细胞中可以相互结合。结论:结肠癌细胞中,证实YWHAE是NKD1结合蛋白质,通过调控胰岛素的敏感性,进而调控结肠癌细胞对葡萄糖的摄入。