Influences of simulated gastrointestinal environment on physicochemical properties of gold nanoparticles and their implications on intestinal epithelial permeability

Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) hold great promise in food, industrial and biomedical applications due to their unique physicochemical properties. However, influences of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), a likely route for Au NPs administration, on the physicochemical properties of Au NPs has been rarely evaluated. Here, we investigated the influence of GIT fluids on the physicochemical properties of Au NPs (5, 50, and 100?nm) and their implications on intestinal epithelial permeability in vitro. Au NPs aggregated in fasted gastric fluids and generated hydroxyl radicals in the presence of H₂O₂. Cell studies showed that GIT fluids incubation of Au NPs affected the cellular uptake of Au NPs but did not induce cytotoxicity or disturb the intestinal epithelial permeability.     

Estimation of phase signal change in neuronal current MRI for evoke response of tactile detection with realistic somatosensory laminar network model

Magnetic field generated by neuronal activity could alter magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals but detection of such signal is under debate. Previous researches proposed that magnitude signal change is below current detectable level, but phase signal change (PSC) may be measurable with current MRI systems. Optimal imaging parameters like echo time, voxel size and external field direction, could increase the probability of detection of this small signal change. We simulate a voxel of cortical column to determine effect of such parameters on PSC signal. We extended a laminar network model for somatosensory cortex to find neuronal current in each segment of pyramidal neurons (PN). 60,000 PNs of simulated network were positioned randomly in a voxel. Biot–savart law applied to calculate neuronal magnetic field and additional phase. The procedure repeated for eleven neuronal arrangements in the voxel. PSC signal variation with the echo time and voxel size was assessed. The simulated results show that PSC signal increases with echo time, especially 100/80 ms after stimulus for gradient echo/spin echo sequence. It can be up to 0.1 mrad for echo time = 175 ms and voxel size = 1.48 × 1.48 × 2.18 mm³. With echo time less than 25 ms after stimulus, it was just acquired effects of physiological noise on PSC signal. The absolute value of the signal increased with decrease of voxel size, but its components had complex variation. External field orthogonal to local surface of cortex maximizes the signal. Expected PSC signal for tactile detection in the somatosensory cortex increase with echo time and have no oscillation.     

乳腺密度对浸润性小叶癌术前MRI评估的影响

目的:探讨MRI在浸润性小叶癌(ILC)术前诊断中的应用价值，并评估乳腺密度对其影响。方法:选取75例术前30天内行MRI检查的I-Ⅲ期ILC患者列入本项研究，根据腺体含量评估乳腺密度，在MRI下测量肿瘤大小，并对比其与病理大小的一致性。结果:75例入组患者中26例（34.7%）患者经MRI评估发现新的可疑病灶，20例（26.7%）患者改变了手术方式。高密度乳腺型患者额外病灶检出率明显高于低密度乳腺型患者（51.6% vs 22.7%，P=0.010）。MRI评估肿瘤大小在低密度乳腺型患者中容易被低估（36.4% vs 12.9%，P=0.024），在高密度乳腺型患者中容易被高估（6.8% vs 29.0%，P=0.010），但两组患者与病理大小一致性的比例无明显差异。结论:ILC患者术前乳腺MRI检查能够提高额外恶性肿瘤的检出率，而乳腺密度是影响MRI评估的重要因素。     

Simeprevir added to peginterferon and ribavirin lessens time with fatigue,depressive symptoms and functional limitations in patients with chronic hepatitis C compared with peginterferon and ribavirin: results from 1161 patients in the QUEST‐1, QUEST‐2 and PROMISE studies

The value of adding simeprevir (SMV) vs placebo (PBO) to peginterferon and ribavirin (PR) for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection was examined using patient‐reported outcomes (PROs); further, concordance of PROs with virology endpoints and adverse events (AEs) was explored. Patients (n = 768 SMV/PR, n = 393 PBO/PR) rated fatigue (FSS), depressive symptoms (CES‐D) and functional impairment (WPAI: Hepatitis C Productivity, Daily Activity and Absenteeism) at baseline and throughout treatment in three randomised, double‐blind trials comparing the addition of SMV or PBO during initial 12 weeks of PR. PR was administered for 48 weeks (PBO group) and 24/48 weeks (SMV group) using a response‐guided therapy (RGT) approach. Mean PRO scores (except Absenteeism) worsened from baseline to Week 4 to the same extent in both groups but reverted after Week 24 for SMV/PR and only after Week 48 for PBO/PR. Accordingly, there was a significantly lower area under the curve (baseline–Week 60, AUC₆₀) and fewer weeks with clinically important worsening of scores in the SMV/PR group at any time point. Incidences of patients with fatigue and anaemia AEs were similar in both groups, but FSS scores showed that clinically important increases in fatigue lasted a mean of 6.9 weeks longer with PBO/PR (P < 0.001). PRO score subgroup analysis indicated better outcomes for patients who met the criteria for RGT or achieved sustained virological response 12 weeks post‐treatment (SVR12); differences in mean PRO scores associated with fibrosis level were only observed with PBO/PR. Greater efficacy of SMV/PR enabled reduced treatment duration and reduced time with PR‐related AEs without adding to AE severity.     

郭军教授治疗特发性男性不育症的经验

男性不育症中,精液分析多种参数异常且无法找到明确病因的称为特发性男性不育症,其发病率不断提高,给国内甚至全球范围内家庭带来精神及经济负担。由于病因不明确,目前现代医学尚无有效治疗方法。传统中医药通过辨证论治在治疗特发性男性不育症时具有优势,郭军教授认为该病以肾脾两虚为本,为体内湿热形成奠定基础,患者久病无子嗣,肝气不畅则郁结,气血津液运行不通则夹血瘀湿热等有形实邪,另外怪病多痰。故对于特发性男性不育症,治法注重补泻兼施,扶正祛邪,补益脾肾为主,对于湿热、痰湿、瘀血则清热祛湿化痰,活血化瘀等,并举验案1例。