Special topic: Emerging role of transporters in drug interaction and delivery

To date,over 400 membrane transporters have been identified and characterized in human cells at both the molecular level and functional level.These transporters are classified into two families:ATP-binding cassette(ABC)transporters and solute carrier(SLC)transporters.They are well-recognized determinants of drug disposition and metabolism,even in the development of some diseases.Due to the biological function and tissue-specific expression,transporters play a potent role not only in drug disposition but also in drug-drug/drug-food interaction,and hold great potential to be utilized as targets for drug delivery.In 2019,we published a printed book entitled Drug Transporters(PMPH 2019;ISBN 978-7-117-28219-2)in Chinese.The content of the PMPH 2019 book included the basic transporter information and its role in diseases,drug-drug interaction,and drug delivery.However,the printed PMPH 2019 book was started in 2015.The field is growing so fast that several new emerging areas were uncovered in the book,which motivated us to propose a special issue that focuses on the latest advances of drug transporters in drug interaction and delivery.In this issue,we would like to invite several contributors to discuss the emerging findings regarding transporters and drugs.     

Advantages of Anti-Inflammatory Acupuncture in Treating Sepsis of Coronavirus Disease 2019

Background: Sepsisis one of the mostserious complications and a leading cause of death in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In general, it isthe result of an unregulated inflammatory cascade such as a postinfection “cytokine storm.” The conventional treatment mainly relies on glucocorticoids, of which curative effects are not ideal, as they come with significant side effects. It is critical to seek or develop other effective therapeutics in dealing cytokine storm to fight COVID-19 with sepsis. Aims and Objectives: Raise awareness of the significance applying anti-inflammatory acupuncture in dealing COVID-19 patients with sepsis and provide an appropriate acupuncture protocol that can be easily integrated into existing medical guideline. Materials and Methods: Current evidences from animal experiments and clinical trials about acupuncture in treating infectious sepsis are reviewed, and a detailed discussion on advantages of anti?inflammatory acupuncture is followed, then the rationality on the point selection and stimulation parameters of acupuncture is analyzed to propose an appropriate acupuncture protocol. Results: Current experiments have shown that acupuncture can play a significant role to improve inflammation reaction and reduce mortality in infectious animal and patients with sepsis and its mechanisms are mainly achieved by stimulating the vagus?cholinergic anti?inflammatory pathways.Applying acupuncture in treating COVID-19 patients with sepsis hasfour aspects of advantages. Moreover, a simple and convenient clinical acupuncture protocol including point selection and appropriate stimulation parameters is proposed. Conclusion: Acupuncture, especially electroacupuncture, has shown potentials in effectively treating infectious sepsis of animal models and critically ill patients in small sample studies by stimulating the nervous system, but has been largely overlooked in the clinic so far. It is advised that acupuncture should be integrated into the existing medical guidelines in dealing with COVID-19 complicated with sepsis.     

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1:a novel potential therapeutic target for intracerebral hemorrhage

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1(OLR1)is upregulated in neurons and participates in hypertension-induced neuronal apoptosis.OLR1 deletion exerts protective effects on cerebral damage induced by hypertensive-induced stroke.Therefore,OLR1 is likely involved in the progress of intracerebral hemorrhage.In this study,we examined the potential role of OLR1 in intracerebral hemorrhage using a rat model.OLR1 small interfering RNA(10μL;50 pmol/μL)was injected into the right basal ganglia to knock down OLR1.Twenty-four hours later,0.5 U collagenase type VII was injected to induce intracerebral hemorrhage.We found that knockdown of OLR1 attenuated neurological behavior impairment in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage and reduced hematoma,neuron loss,inflammatory reaction,and oxidative stress in rat brain tissue.We also found that silencing of OLR1 suppressed ferroptosis induced by intracerebral hemorrhage and the p38 signaling pathway.Therefore,silencing OLR1 exhibits protective effects against secondary injury of intracerebral hemorrhage.These findings suggest that OLR1 may be a novel potential therapeutic target for intracerebral hemorrhage.     

Predictive factors for central lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC)measures 1 cm or less in its longest dimension.The incidence of PTMC is increasing worldwide.Surgery is the primary treatment;however,prophylactic central lymph node dissection is controversial,and discrepancies between different guidelines have been noted.Routine prophylactic central lymph node dissection may result in hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in some patients without lymph node metastasis,while simple thyroidectomy may leave metastatic lymph nodes in high-risk patients.To selectively perform prophylactic lymph node dissections in high-risk patients,it is important to identify predictive factors for lymph node metastases in patients with PTMC.Several studies have reported on this,but their conclusions are not entirely consistent.Several clinicopathologic characteristics have been identified as risk factors for central lymph node metastases,and the most commonly reported factors include age,gender,tumor size and location,multifocality,bilaterality,extrathyroidal extension,and abnormal lymph node found using ultrasound.Here,we provide an overview of previous studies along with a favorable opinion on or against these factors,with the aim of increasing the understanding of this topic among the medical community.In addition,current opinions about prophylactic central lymph node dissection are reviewed and discussed.     

Bronchogenic cyst of the stomach:A case report

BACKGROUND Gastric bronchogenic cysts(BCs)are extremely rare cystic masses caused by abnormal development of the respiratory system during the embryonic period.Gastric bronchial cysts are rare lesions first reported in 1956;as of 2019,only 37 cases are available in the MEDLINE/PubMed online databases.BCs usually have no clinical symptoms in the early stage,and their imaging findings also lack specificity.Therefore,they are difficult to diagnose before histopathological examination.CASE SUMMARY A 55-year-old woman presented at our hospital with intermittent epigastric pain.She had a slightly high level of serum carbohydrate antigen 72-4(CA 72-4).Endoscopic ultrasound found that a cystic mass originated from the submucosa of the posterior gastric wall near the cardia,indicating a diagnosis of cystic hygroma of the stomach.Furthermore,a computed tomography scan demonstrated a quasi-circular cystic mass closely related to the lesser curvature of the gastric fundus with a low density.Because the imaging examinations did not suggest a malignancy and the patient required complete resection,she underwent laparoscopic surgery.As an intraoperative finding,this cystic lesion was located in the posterior wall of the fundus and contained some yellow viscous liquid.Finally,the pathologists verified that the cyst in the fundus was a gastric BC.The patient recovered well with normal CA 72-4 levels,and her course was uneventful at 10 mo.CONCLUSION This is a valuable report as it describes an extremely rare case of gastric BC.Moreover,this is the first case of BC to present with elevated CA 72-4 levels.     

Characterisation of enamel white spot lesions using X-ray micro-tomography

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterise the mineral density (MD) of natural enamel white spot lesions (WSLs) using X-ray micro-tomography calibrated with different density hydroxyapatite phantoms. METHODS: Seven natural WSLs from four extracted non-carious premolar teeth were scanned at a voxel size of 7.6 microm using a desktop X-ray micro-tomography system. Five hydroxyapatite phantoms (sintered pellets of hydroxyapatite powder) with densities ranging from 1.52 to 3.14 g/cm(3) were used as calibration standards for each scan. Three-dimensional image reconstruction enabled MD gradients throughout the lesion to be quantified using an MD calibration equation derived from hydroxyapatite phantoms. Background noise generated during the measurement of MD was reduced using a Gaussian filter. RESULTS: Gaussian filter reduced the signal-to-noise ratio (standard deviation) significantly while the basic MD information (average value) remained intact. The mineral gradients through the WSLs examined were compared and are discussed in terms of existing literature. The MD of sound enamel, apparent intact surface layer of WSL, and lowest level of WSL was found to be 2.65-2.89 g/cm(3), 2.23-2.58 g/cm(3) and 1.48-2.03 g/cm(3), respectively. Our MD results are comparable with other studies. CONCLUSIONS: X-ray micro-tomography is a sensitive in vitro technique capable of characterising and quantifying MD of small non-cavitated WSLs. This method has a promising potential for future carious and quantitative remineralisation studies.     

Preauricular transcondylar approach for basal cell adenoma of parotid coexist with ganglion cyst of the ipsilateral temporomandibular joint

The concurrence of 2 independent neoplasias in the ipsilateral parotid and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region was infrequently reported. In this article, we present a unique case characterized by the coexistence of a rare salivary gland tumor, basal cell adenoma, of the parotid gland with a ganglion cyst in the ipsilateral TMJ region. A special surgical procedure was also presented here using a modified preauricular incision and transcondylar approach for extracapsular dissection of both lesions. Previously published literature are about the traditional treatment of benign parotid tumors using partial or total parotidectomy with the preservation of facial nerve mainly via an S-shaped submandibular incision and approach. Here, for the first time, a special surgical method using preauricular transcondylar approach for this unique case of synchronous occurrence of parotid tumor and TMJ cyst is reported.     

白假丝酵母菌对人脐静脉内皮细胞株ECV304细胞增殖的诱导作用

目的 研究白假丝酵母菌(S.albicans)对人脐静脉内皮细胞株ECV304细胞增殖及细胞周期的影响.方法 体外培养ECV304,实验分为S.albicans上清液组、S.albicans灭活菌液组、上清液和灭活菌液混合组、对照组.采用MTT法、细胞计数法、倒置显微镜及流式细胞术分别观察各组对ECV304细胞增殖及细...     

细胞周期素D1在口腔鳞状细胞癌组织中的表达及意义

目的 研究口腔鳞状细胞癌(OSCC)组织中细胞周期素D1(Cyclin D1)的表达及意义.方法 应用免疫组织化学Envosion法检测50例OSCC患者与10例正常黏膜组织中Cyelin D1蛋白在病理组织切片中的表达水平,并进行统计学分析.结果 在50例OSCC标本中Cyclin D1主要表达在细胞核,也有少量表达...