A second individual with rhizomelic spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia and homozygous variant in GNPNAT1

Spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasias (SEMDs) belong to a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of inherited skeletal disorders defined by a defect in the growth and shape of vertebrae, epiphyses and metaphyses. Rhizomelic SEMD is characterized by a disproportionate small stature caused by severe shortening and deformation of the limbs’ proximal bones, with the cranio-facial sphere unaffected. We report a second individual, an 8-year-old girl, with autosomal recessive rhizomelic SEMD associated with a homozygous exonic missense variant, c.226G > A p.(Glu76Lys), in GNPNAT1 identified by trio genome sequencing. Our data corroborate the recent findings of Ain et al. and further delineate the clinical and radiographic features of this form of SEMD associated with rhizomelic dysplasia while outlining a potential hotspot in this newly described genetic disorder.     

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.     

Evodiamine-inspired dual inhibitors of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and topoisomerase 2 (TOP2) with potent antitumor activity

A great challenge in multi-targeting drug discovery is to identify drug-like lead compounds with therapeutic advantages over single target inhibitors and drug combinations. Inspired by our previous efforts in designing antitumor evodiamine derivatives, herein selective histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and topoisomerase 2 (TOP2) dual inhibitors were successfully identified, which showed potent in vitro and in vivo antitumor potency. Particularly, compound 30a was orally active and possessed excellent in vivo antitumor activity in the HCT116 xenograft model (TGI = 75.2%, 150 mg/kg, p.o.) without significant toxicity, which was more potent than HDAC inhibitor vorinostat, TOP inhibitor evodiamine and their combination. Taken together, this study highlights the therapeutic advantages of evodiamine-based HDAC1/TOP2 dual inhibitors and provides valuable leads for the development of novel multi-targeting antitumor agents.     

硫酸镁、硝苯地平和酚妥拉明治疗妊高症

目的探讨对妊娠高血压综合征患者给予硫酸镁联合硝苯地平以及酚妥拉明治疗的临床效果。方法抽取医院在2018年2月-2019年2月所接收的156例妊娠高血压综合征患者,将其按照数字随机表的方法分为单纯组和联合组,每组分别为78例。单纯组给予单纯的硫酸镁进行治疗,联合组在单纯组给予硝苯地平以及酚妥拉明进行联合治疗,比较患者的治疗效果。结果联合组的治疗有效率显著高于单纯组,治疗前血压水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),治疗后联合组的收缩压和舒张压水平均低于单纯组,P<0.05,两组差异有统计学意义。结论对妊娠高血压综合征患者给予硫酸镁联合硝苯地平和酚妥拉明进行联合治疗,有效改善患者的血压水平。     

基于“证治代谢组学”假说探讨中药（单体/复方）药效物质基础的研究思路与实践＊

中药(单体/复方)药效物质基础研究是中医药现代研究的关键问题之一。然而,目前运用的生化和分子生物学方法很难诠释其多靶点、整体性和动态性的整合调节作用。课题组提出的"证治代谢组学"假说理论指出,不同的证候存在"证相关代谢谱群"和"证相关生物标志物",这可能是中药药效物质基础所在,辨证论治后偏离的代谢网络功能呈现回归趋势。基于"证治代谢组学"假说开展中药(单体/复方)药效物质基础研究,这将为阐释中药(单体/复方)防病治病和养生保健的科学内涵及其对疾病个体的整合调节作用提供新的思路。本文以冠心病为研究载体、气阴虚血瘀证为切入点、活血保心丸为干预措施,就该研究思路的内涵与总体模式、提出的背景与依据、实践的方式与可行性、创新与特色及其研究意义等进行了简要介绍。     

Low Molecular Weight Dextran Sulfate: A Strong Candidate Drug to Block IBMIR in Clinical Islet Transplantation

The instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) is triggered in clinical islet transplantation when human pancreatic islets come in contact with blood and may explain the initial tissue loss associated with this procedure. Low molecular weight dextran sulfate (LMW-DS; MM 5000), today available for clinical use, inhibits both complement and coagulation activation. In a tubing loop model, LMW-DS at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1 g/L showed a dose-dependent inhibition of IBMIR with an inhibition of coagulation and complement activation and less consumption of platelets and other blood cells. In blood or plasma APTT was demonstrated to be an excellent method for monitoring the LMW-DS concentration both in vitro and in vivo in a nonhuman primate model. The toxicity was assessed using a glucose challenge test and the pharmacokinetics was tested in the nonhuman primate model. Here, we present a tentative protocol for using LMW-DS in clinical islet transplantation.     

复方碘酊消毒液中和剂试验研究

复方碘酊消毒液是含有20 g/L碘和1 g/L三氯羟基二苯醚的酒精溶液,为选择出合适的中和剂,采用化学中和法的悬液定量试验和滤膜冲洗及中和剂加滤膜冲洗法进行了试验研究。结果,硫代硫酸钠、硫代乙醇酸钠、吐温80、卵磷脂及其复方中和剂经悬液定量试验法和滤膜冲洗法,均不能中和复方碘酊消毒液对试验菌的残留作用。采用中和剂加滤膜冲洗法证明,用含5000 mg/L硫代硫酸钠+5000 mg/L吐温80+2000 mg/L硫代乙醇酸钠的磷酸盐缓冲液作为中和剂,均可有效去除复方碘酊消毒液对试验菌的残留作用;各中和剂及其中和产物对试验菌及培养基无不良影响。结论,选择复方碘酊消毒液的中和剂,不适宜用悬液定量试验法;宜采用滤膜过滤冲洗法。     

The effect of MS-818, a pyrimidine compound,on the regeneration of peripheral nerve fibers of mice after a crush injury

One of the pyrimidine compounds, 2-piperadino-6-methyl-5-oxo-5,6-dihydro(7H)pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (MS-818), has neurotropic effects in vitro. Therefore, we studied the effect of MS-818 on the regeneration of the peroneal nerve in C57BL/6J mice after a crush injury. Two test groups, which received a daily intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg MS-818, respectively, were compared with controls, which received daily intraperitoneal injections of physiological saline, over a 14-day period. The maximum foot-width ratio (crushed side/uncrushed side) was obtained on days 1, 8 and 14 after the crush injury, and the various morphometric parameters were evaluated at both 5 and 10 mm distal to the proximal portion of the crush site. The significant effects of MS-818 included a larger maximum foot width (P<0.04) and a greater number of unmyelinated axons per nerve at both levels (P<0.003) in both test groups than in controls. MS-818 had no significant effects on body weight, the increase of total transverse fascicular area after the crush injury, the total number of myelinated fibers with their size distributions, or the number of nuclei of Schwann cells and macrophages. Therefore, we conclude that MS-818 promotes axonal sprouting and elongation after a crush injury in mice.