Cardioprotective effects of sinomenine in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model

BackgroundIschemia reperfusion (I/R) play an imperative role in the expansion of cardiovascular disease. Sinomenine (SM) has been exhibited to possess antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anticarcinogenic properties. The aim of the study was scrutinized the cardioprotective effect of SM against I/R injury in rat.MethodsRat were randomly divided into normal control (NC), I/R control and I/R + SM (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg), respectively. Ventricular arrhythmias, body weight and heart weight were estimated. Antioxidant, inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory mediators and plasmin system indicator were accessed.ResultsPre-treated SM group rats exhibited the reduction in the duration and incidence of ventricular fibrillation, ventricular ectopic beat (VEB) and ventricular tachycardia along with suppression of arrhythmia score during the ischemia (30 and 120 min). SM treated rats significantly (P < 0.001) altered the level of antioxidant parameters. SM treatment significantly (P < 0.001) repressed the level of creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), creatine kinase (CK) and troponin I (Tnl). SM treated rats significantly (P < 0.001) repressed the tissue factor (TF), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and plasma fibrinogen (Fbg) and inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators.ConclusionOur result clearly indicated that SM plays anti-arrhythmia effect in I/R injury in the rats via alteration of oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction.     

Diabetic foot ulcers: A devastating complication of diabetes mellitus continues non-stop in spite of new medical treatment modalities

Diabetic foot ulcer is a devastating complication of diabetes mellitus and significant cause of mortality and morbidity all over the world and can be complex and costly. The development of foot ulcer in a diabetic patient has been estimated to be 19%-34% through their lifetime. The pathophysiology of diabetic foot ulcer consist of neuropathy, trauma and, in many patients, additional peripheral arterial disease. In particular, diabetic neuropathy leads to foot deformity, callus formation, and insensitivity to trauma or pressure. The standard algorithms in diabetic foot ulcer management include assessing the ulcer grade classification, surgical debridement, dressing to facilitate wound healing, off-loading, vascular assessment (status and presence of a chance for interventional vascular correction), and infection and glycemic control. Although especially surgical procedures are sometimes inevitable, they are poor predictive factors for the prognosis of diabetic foot ulcer. Different novel treatment modalities such as nonsurgical debridement agents, oxygen therapies, and negative pressure wound therapy, topical drugs, cellular bioproducts, human growth factors, energy-based therapies, and systematic therapies have been available for patients with diabetic foot ulcer. However, it is uncertain whether they are effective in terms of promoting wound healing related with a limited number of randomized controlled trials. This review aims at evaluating diabetic foot ulcer with regard to all aspects. We will also focus on conventional and novel adjunctive therapy in diabetic foot management.     

重组人表皮生长因子凝胶联合CO2点阵激光治疗增生性瘢痕的效果观察

目的观察重组人表皮生长因子凝胶联合CO₂点阵激光治疗烧伤及创伤后增生性瘢痕的临床效果。 方法选择2020年12月至2021年10月安徽医科大学第一附属医院烧伤与创面修复外科收治的20例增生性瘢痕患者，按照随机数字表法将患者分为联合治疗组及单纯激光治疗组，每组10例。术前均对2组患者术区进行拍照存像、消毒、擦干，局部均匀涂抹5%复方利多卡因乳膏后以无菌薄膜封闭保护60 min，擦去乳膏后再次消毒术区。术中使用CO₂点阵激光治疗仪对患者瘢痕部位进行扫描，根据患者增生性瘢痕厚度选定合适的机器参数，维持机器频率300 Hz及密度5%，在20～30 J调整能量参数的大小，时间间隔1 s，保证点阵矩形完全覆盖增生瘢痕，允许2次激光形成的热损伤矩阵之间存在25%面积的重叠。术后即刻冷敷创面60 min，冷敷结束至术后1周，单纯激光治疗组不外用任何药物，联合治疗组术区加用重组人表皮生长因子凝胶外用，3次/d。术后3 d治疗部位不碰水，若出现感染情况，可以加用抗生素软膏，点状损伤创面外痂皮未掉落完全时禁止擦洗创面，禁止直接剥除痂皮，禁止术区涂抹化妆品等，避免接受阳光直射。于第1次激光治疗后2个月进行第2次激光治疗，以2次CO₂点阵激光治疗为1个疗程，1个疗程治疗后间隔2个月待术区稳定后行疗效判断，计算2组患者治疗的总有效率；根据温哥华瘢痕量表(VSS)与患者与观察者瘢痕评估量表(POSAS)对患者治疗前、第1次激光治疗后2个月、第2次激光治疗后2个月瘢痕的各项指标进行评分。数据比较采用重复测量方差分析和χ²检验。 结果(1)治疗1个疗程后2个月，单纯激光治疗组与联合治疗组患者治疗的总有效率分别为80%(8/10)、90%(9/10)，2组间比较差异无统计学意义(χ²＝2.40，P＝0.49)。(2)对2组VSS评分的各项指标进行比较，其中疼痛、瘙痒、柔软度及厚度评分的组内及组间各时相点比较，差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗前、第1次激光治疗后2个月及第2次激光治疗后2个月，单纯激光治疗组VSS评分中色泽评分分别为(1.9±0.7)、(1.9±0.1)、(1.8±1.0)分，联合治疗组分别为(2.9±0.7)、(2.8±0.6)、(1.9±0.7)分，2组在不同时相点组内比较，差异有统计学意义(F＝ 26.143，P<0.05)；2组组间不同时相点比较，差异有统计学意义(F＝6.753，P＝0.018)。治疗前、第1次激光治疗后2个月及第2次激光治疗后2个月，单纯激光治疗组VSS评分中血管分布评分分别为(1.8±1.0)、(1.7±0.7)、(1.5±1.0)分，联合治疗组分别为(2.6±0.5)、(2.5±0.5)、(1.7±0.8)分，2组在不同时相点组内比较，差异有统计学意义(F＝17.603，P<0.05)，2组组间不同时相点比较，差异无统计学意义(F＝ 2.538，P＝0.129)。(3)对2组POSAS评分的各项指标进行比较，其中厚度、粗糙度、柔软度和表面积评分的组内及组间各时相点比较，差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗前、第1次激光治疗后2个月及第2次激光治疗后2个月，单纯激光治疗组POSAS评分中色泽评分分别为(4.9±2.6)、(4.1±0.8)、(3.5±2.0)分，联合治疗组分别为(7.6±1.1)、(6.8±1.4)、(5.4±1.8)分，2组在不同时相点组内比较，差异有统计学意义(F＝ 26.509，P<0.05)，2组组间不同时相点比较，差异有统计学意义(F＝ 8.973，P＝0.008)。治疗前、第1次激光治疗后2个月及第2次激光治疗后2个月，单纯激光治疗组POSAS评分中血管分布评分分别为(4.4±2.1)、(3.9±0.9)、(3.5±1.6)分，联合治疗组分别为(6.3±1.1)、(5.7±2.0)、(4.5±1.6)分，2组在不同时相点组内比较，差异有统计学意义(F＝ 20.118，P<0.05)，2组组间不同时相点比较，差异有统计学意义(F＝ 5.744，P＝0.028)。 结论重组人表皮生长因子凝胶联合CO₂点阵激光及单独使用CO₂点阵激光治疗增生性瘢痕均效果明确，但联合使用重组人表皮生长因子凝胶能有效促进创面愈合、改善瘢痕组织血管分布和减少局部色素沉着。     

Phase 0 Study of Vandetanib-Eluting Radiopaque Embolics as a Preoperative Embolization Treatment in Patients with Resectable Liver Malignancies

PurposeTo assess the safety and tolerability of a vandetanib-eluting radiopaque embolic (BTG-002814) for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with resectable liver malignancies.Materials and MethodsThe VEROnA clinical trial was a first-in-human, phase 0, single-arm, window-of-opportunity study. Eligible patients were aged ≥18 years and had resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (Child-Pugh A) or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Patients received 1 mL of BTG-002814 transarterially (containing 100 mg of vandetanib) 7–21 days prior to surgery. The primary objectives were to establish the safety and tolerability of BTG-002814 and determine the concentrations of vandetanib and the N-desmethyl vandetanib metabolite in the plasma and resected liver after treatment. Biomarker studies included circulating proangiogenic factors, perfusion computed tomography, and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsEight patients were enrolled: 2 with HCC and 6 with mCRC. There was 1 grade 3 adverse event (AE) before surgery and 18 after surgery; 6 AEs were deemed to be related to BTG-002814. Surgical resection was not delayed. Vandetanib was present in the plasma of all patients 12 days after treatment, with a mean maximum concentration of 24.3 ng/mL (standard deviation ± 13.94 ng/mL), and in resected liver tissue up to 32 days after treatment (441–404,000 ng/g). The median percentage of tumor necrosis was 92.5% (range, 5%–100%). There were no significant changes in perfusion imaging parameters after TACE.ConclusionsBTG-002814 has an acceptable safety profile in patients before surgery. The presence of vandetanib in the tumor specimens up to 32 days after treatment suggests sustained anticancer activity, while the low vandetanib levels in the plasma suggest minimal release into the systemic circulation. Further evaluation of this TACE combination is warranted in dose-finding and efficacy studies.     

Systemic therapy for hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative early stage and metastatic breast cancer

Hormone receptor (HR)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer is defined by the presence of the estrogen receptor and/or the progesterone receptor and the absence of HER2 gene amplification. HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer accounts for 65%–70% of all breast cancers, and incidence increases with increasing age. Treatment varies by stage, and endocrine therapy is the mainstay of treatment in both early stage and late-stage disease. Combinations with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors have reduced distant recurrence in the early stage setting and improved overall survival in the metastatic setting. Chemotherapy is used based on stage and tumor biology in the early stage setting and after endocrine resistance for advanced disease. New therapies, including novel endocrine agents and antibody-drug conjugates, are now changing the treatment landscape. With the availability of new treatment options, it is important to define the optimal sequence of treatment to maximize clinical benefit while minimizing toxicity. In this review, the authors first discuss the pathologic and molecular features of HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer and mechanisms of endocrine resistance. Then, they discuss current and emerging therapies for both early stage and metastatic HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer, including treatment algorithms based on current data.     

Age-related changes of lens thickness and density in different age phases

AIM: To explore the changes in lens thickness and density with age. METHODS: A Chinese population-based retrospective study was performed. A total of 497 individuals (490 right eyes and 495 left eyes), ranging from 3 to 69 years old were included. Lens images obtained from IOL Master 700 were used to measure lens thickness and density. Piecewise regression model was chosen to illustrate the relationship of lens thickness and density with age. RESULTS: The proportion of people aged 3-18, 19-40, over 40 was 38.6%, 50.9% and 10.5% respectively. The whole lens thickness decreased with age during the first 7 years of life, kept stable from 8 to 16 years old, and then increased at the rate of about 27 µm per year. The thickness of the lens cortex and nucleus tended to decrease first and then increase with age, which was dependent on age stages. The whole lens density also decreased with age until 7 years old. The increasing rate of lens density was different in different age groups. The whole lens density increased rapidly from 7 to 22 years old and slowed down after 22 years old. Similarly, the changing tendency of lens cortical and nuclear density differed in different age phases. CONCLUSION: Both lens thickness and density are significantly associated with age, whereas they do not change linearly with age. Moreover, it is necessary to increase the population over 40 years old and conduct further research.     

Local economic growth and infant mortality

We estimate the effect of local economic growth on infant mortality. We use geo-referenced data for non-migrating mothers from 46 developing countries and a total of 128 DHS survey rounds and combine it with nighttime luminosity data at a granular level. Using mother fixed effects we show that an increase in local economic activity significantly reduces the probability that the same mother loses a child before its first birthday.     

核因子κB受体活化因子配体和肿瘤坏死因子α经炎性牙周膜干细胞外泌体促进破骨细胞分化

目的　慢性牙周炎表现的病理性骨吸收非常常见，牙周膜干细胞（PDLSCs）的外泌体（Exo）对骨吸收的作用和影响尚不明确，本研究分析了该Exo蛋白组分对破骨细胞分化的影响。方法　分别从正畸前拔牙患者和慢性牙周炎患者的牙周膜组织中提取PDLSCs，通过流式细胞术检测表面标记物；通过差速离心分别提取2种细胞的Exo，即Exo-WT和Exo-CP，并通过Western blot、透射电子显微镜（TEM）、蛋白浓度检测、纳米粒径追踪检测Exo特征；通过蛋白质谱检测2种Exo的蛋白组分；通过酶联免疫吸附（ELISA）验证了差异表达蛋白肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）、核因子κB受体活化因子配体（RANKL）、白细胞介素（IL）-1α、转化生长因子β（TGF-β）、骨形态发生蛋白2（BMP-2）表达水平；将10、100、1 000 μg·mL^-1的Exo-CP或Exo-WT加入RAW264.7培养基中并于5 d时通过实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）、Western blot、抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶（TRAP）染色检测破骨分化相关指标表达情况；采用SPSS 24.0软件对实验数据进行统计学分析。结果　Exo-CP富集的差异表达蛋白主要与破骨细胞分化的TNF信号通路、核转录因子κB（NF-κB）信号通路相关；ELISA实验证实了Exo-CP中高表达TNF-α、RANKL、IL-1α，低表达TGF-β1、BMP-2（P<0.05）；Exo-CP作用于RAW264.7，显著提高了细胞的破骨分化相关基因及蛋白的表达水平，TRAP染色可见分化的破骨细胞，且呈现浓度依赖性，100、1 000 μg·mL^-1浓度Exo-CP对破骨细胞分化的促进作用显著高于10 μg·mL^-1浓度组（P<0.05）。结论　慢性牙周炎的病理性骨吸收可能由炎性PDLSCs所分泌的Exo通过促进破骨细胞分化引起，Exo中主要的作用蛋白可能为RANKL和TNF-α，本研究为慢性牙周炎骨吸收的发病机制提供了新视角。     

基于网络药理学和实验验证探讨香菇多糖抑制三阴乳腺癌的作用机制

目的 基于网络药理学研究香菇多糖抑制三阴乳腺癌（TNBC）的作用机制并采用细胞和动物实验进行验证。方法 通过GeneCards数据库和DisGeNET数据库筛选与TNBC相关基因靶点，利用TCMID、PubChem、SwissTargetPrediction和GeneCards数据库查询香菇多糖相关基因靶点。使用Sangerbox软件进行基因本体论（GO）富集和京都基因与基因组百科全书（KEGG）通路富集分析。结合STRING数据库与Cytoscape 3.7.0软件将共同靶点进行可视化处理，筛选核心靶点，构建"化合物-靶点-通路"网络。利用Metascape软件进行转录因子及相关调控基因特异富集。体外培养小鼠TNBC细胞4T1和人TNBC细胞MDA-MB-231，磺酰罗丹明B染色法观察香菇多糖（31.25、62.5、125、250、500、1 000μg·mL^-1）对细胞存活率的影响；健康雌性BABLC小鼠sc接种1×10⁶个4T1-Luc细胞构建TNBC模型，通过小动物活体成像系统观察香菇多糖（100、200 mg·kg^-1）对肿瘤生长的影响，实时荧光定量PCR （qRT-PCR）技术检测肿瘤组织信号转导和转录活化因子3（STAT3）和血管内皮生长因子A （VEGFA） mRNA表达。结果 数据库及软件分析得到香菇多糖治疗TNBC关键靶点52个，靶点主要涉及PI3K-Akt、AGE-RAGE、HIF-1、MAPK信号通路和肿瘤蛋白多糖相关通路，PPI分析得到VEGFA、STAT3、MAPK1、IL2、TNF、RELA、AKT1、MAPK3、BCL2L1和HSP90AA1 10个hub基因。与对照组比较，香菇多糖对4T1和MDA-MB-231细胞存活率均有显著抑制作用（P<0.05、0.01），且作用呈浓度相关性；在给药14、21d后，与模型组比较，香菇多糖能够剂量相关性地抑制小鼠TNBC肿瘤的生长，高剂量组差异显著（P<0.05、0.01），21 d抑制率达到（91.9±4.7）%；与对照组比较，香菇多糖给药后能够剂量相关性抑制STAT3和VEGFA的mRNA表达，高剂量组差异显著（P<0.05、0.01）。结论 香菇多糖可通过多靶点、多途径协同作用抑制TNBC的生长。