Do effects of propranolol on the skeletal system depend on the estrogen status?

BackgroundPropranolol, a nonselective β-adrenergic receptor antagonist, was reported to favorably affect the skeletal system in different animal models. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the effects of propranolol on the skeletal system depend on the estrogen status.MethodsThe in vivo experiments were carried out on the following groups of mature female Wistar rats: sham-operated control rats, sham-operated rats receiving propranolol, ovariectomized (OVX) control rats, OVX rats receiving propranolol, OVX rats receiving estradiol, OVX rats receiving estradiol and propranolol. Propranolol hydrochloride (10 mg/kg po) and/or estradiol (0.1 mg/kg po) were administered daily for 4 weeks. Bone mass, mineral and calcium content, macrometric and histomorphometric parameters, and mechanical properties were examined. In vitro, effects of estradiol and propranolol on the formation of mouse osteoclasts and on the mRNAexpression of genes related to osteoclastogenesis, bone formation and mineralization, as well as adrenergic and estrogen signalling in mouse osteoblasts were investigated.Results and conclusionPropranolol exerted some favorable effects on the rat skeletal system in vivo, independently of the estrogen status. However, in vitro studies indicated a possibility of some antagonistic relations between the estradiol and propranolol effects.     

Update on the effects of the sodium pump α1 subunit on human glioblastoma: from the laboratory to the clinic

Introduction: Glioblastoma is a debilitating disease that is associated with poor prognosis and a very limited response to therapies; thus, molecularly targeted therapeutics and personalized therapy are urgently needed. The Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase sodium pump is a transmembrane protein complex that has recently been recognized as an important transducer and integrator of various signals. The sodium pump α1 subunit, which is highly expressed in most glioblastomas compared with that in normal brain tissues, is an emerging cancer target that merits further investigation.

Area covered: The purpose of this narrative review is to explore the important roles of the sodium pump α1 subunit in glioblastoma and analyze its potential therapeutic applications.

Expert opinion: Expression of the sodium pump α1 subunit in glioblastoma tissues is generally higher than that in normal tissues. Sodium pump α1 subunit-mediated pivotal antiglioblastoma signaling pathways have been reviewed, and their impact on the sensitivity of glioblastoma cells to anticancer drugs has recently been clarified. In addition, various pharmacologically optimized sodium pump inhibitors have recently reached early clinical trials, and explorations of sodium pump α1 subunit inhibitors may hold promise for the development of stratification strategies in which patients are treated based on their isoform expression status.     

Study on the Equivalent Conformation of Retinoids

具有诱导细胞分化作用及癌和皮肤病化学治疗作用的维甲类化合物，不仅要求分子一端有疏水性、另一端为极性羧基和整个分子的共轭性，而且分子的构象也起重要作用。本文合成的Ｎ（４羧基苯基）３，５双叔丁基４羟基苯甲酰胺（２）具有与全反式维甲酸（ＡＴＲＡ，１）相似性质的基团配置和构象，表现有维甲酸的生物活性。然而Ｎ甲基化合物３，由于构象的完全不同，丧失了活性。用Ｘ线晶体学、紫外和核磁共振等方法研究了化合物２、３和ＡＴＲＡ的结构异同。     

 Simulation Study on the Entrance of

d fund industries.The research indicates that the entrance of commercial banks into the property insurance and fund industries can increase their revenue and return per unit of risk,and significantly reduce their probability of bankruptcy.The results also indicate that appropriate proportion of nonbanking assets is indispensable for achieving the optimal effect of diversification.In addition,a comparative study shows that the simultaneous diversification into the property insurance and fund industries generates higher divers2;P<0.01)C与胰岛素水平、C反应蛋白、类风湿因子(RF)、肿胀指数、压痛指数、晨僵时间、病程、年龄、性别等无关;瘦素及瘦素受体在RA患者滑膜中的表达明显高于正常对照组。结论:瘦素可能通过在靶器官的高表达而起到调节炎症的作用;可能在炎性反应中参与急性时相蛋白的合成与调节而影响疾病的发展过程。     

Blooming of Irganox 3114(®) antioxidant onto a medical grade elastomer. Impact of the recrystallization conditions on the antioxidant polymorphism, on the film wettability and on the antioxidant leachability

Studying the blooming and recrystallization of additives onto the surface of polymer medical devices is of a great interest because it can affect the biocompatibility of the material. The polymorphism of a phenolic antioxidant (Irganox 3114(?)) used as an additive in medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging was studied: two different polymorphs were characterized by differential scanning measurements, FTIR and X-ray diffraction analyses. Then, the behavior of the additive in medical grade polyurethane films was described: a recrystallization into the stable polymorphic form was observed onto the polymer surface after annealing at different temperatures. The morphology observed depends not only on the additive/polymer ratio but also on the whole amount of additive in the polymer film. Depending on the recrystallization morphology, the wettability with water could be lowered and the leachability of the additives into aqueous media could be favored.     

Studies on the SOD-like Activity in the Stool of Trogopterus Xanthipes Milne-Edwards

实验表明给小鼠五灵脂提取液，小鼠血液ＳＯＤ活性增强。测定五灵脂有类ＳＯＤ活性，在ｐＨ４５～８５，温度２５～１００℃条件下活性稳定     

Study on effects of cinobufagin on the immunologic function of mice in vitro

华蟾毒精对小鼠免疫功能影响的体外研究@宋宇$College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Jilin University!Changchun 130062,Jilin,China;National Standard Laboratory of Pharmacology for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jilin Natural Pharmatech Co.Ltd, Chang     

Studies on the Antitumour Activities of 8-Chloroadenosine

（Ｓｐ）－８－氯腺苷３′，５′环磷酸辛酯（ＯＣＣ）是８－氯腺苷３′，５′环磷酸的新衍生物，对人白血病细胞ＨＬ－６０有很强的抑制作用和诱导分化作用。用细胞流式光度术发现ＯＣＣ阻断ＨＬ－６０细胞周期于Ｇ１期。ＯＣＣ对ＨＬ－６０细胞ＤＮＡ合成有显著抑制作用，但不影响ＲＮＡ和蛋白质合成。ＯＣＣ能激活ＨＬ－６０细胞浆中蛋白激酶Ａ。８－氯腺苷是ＯＣＣ的活性代谢产物，能在体外和体内实验中明显抑制肿瘤的生长。８－氯腺苷也能诱导人胃癌ＭＧｃ８０－３细胞分化和人Ｔ淋巴母细胞ＭＯＴＬ－４的凋亡。本文讨论了８－氯腺苷抗肿瘤作用的机理。     

Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis: on the horizon?

The launch of the genomics and postgenomics era has greatly expanded our understanding of the genetic basis of many diseases. In conjunction with the sociocultural trend to delay childbirth and to maintain smaller family units, extra demand may be placed on the existing prenatal diagnostic services. The inherent risk of fetal loss associated with current prenatal diagnostic procedures, such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, has spurred research into non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. Much research has been conducted on the exploitation of fetal genetic material present in the maternal circulation. The initial focus was on the isolation of intact fetal cells and subsequently, the existence of extracellular fetal DNA in maternal plasma was realized. Exciting developments have been achieved in recent years. A large-scale trial to evaluate the clinical utility of fetal cell isolation from maternal blood for fetal aneuploidy diagnosis was launched and data were recently published. Much has taken place in the research of fetal DNA analysis in maternal plasma and in one example, namely prenatal RhD determination, this type of analysis has been used in the clinical setting. This paper reviews the technological developments in non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.     

What modulates the impacts of acid rain on the allelopathy of the two Asteraceae invasives?

Most of the allelopathic studies have focused on the independent allelopathy of one invasive plant, but have ignored the co-allelopathy of the two invasives. The variations in the type of acid rain can modulate the invasiveness of invasives via the changes in the allelopathy. Thus, it is vital to elucidate the allelopathy of invasives, particularly the co-allelopathy of the two invasives, under acid rain with different types, to illuminate the mechanisms driving the co-invasion of two invasives under diversified acid rain. However, little progress has been finished in this aspect presently. This study aimed to evaluate the co-allelopathy of two Asteraceae invasives Solidago canadensis L. and Erigeron annuus L. treated with acid rain with different nitrogen-to-sulfur ratios on seed germination and seedling growth of the horticultural Asteraceae species Lactuca sativa L. via a hydroponic experiment. Aqueous extracts of the two Asteraceae invasives generated obvious allelopathy on L. sativa. S. canadensis aqueous extracts caused stronger allelopathy. There may be an antagonistic effect for the co-allelopathy of the two Asteraceae invasives. Nitric acid at pH 5.6 weakened the allelopathy of the two Asteraceae invasives, but the other types of acid rain strengthened the allelopathy of the two Asteraceae invasives. The allelopathy of the two Asteraceae invasives increases with the increasing acidity of acid rain, but the allelopathy of the two Asteraceae invasives decreases with the increasing nitrogen-to-sulfur ratio of acid rain. Accordingly, the species number of invasives, and the acidity and type of acid rain modulated the impacts of acid rain on the allelopathy of the two Asteraceae invasives.

     

Managing community acquired pneumonia in the elderly – the next generation of pharmacotherapy on the horizon

Introduction: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, especially among the elderly. Antibiotic treatment for CAP in the elderly is particularly challenging for many reasons, including compliance issues, immunosuppression, polypharmacy and antimicrobial resistance. There are few available antibiotics that are able to address these concerns.

Areas covered: After a systematic review of the current literature, we describe seven novel antibiotics that are currently in advanced stages of development (phase 3 and beyond) and show promise for the treatment of CAP in those over the age of 65. These antibiotics are: Solithromycin, Pristinamycin, Nemonaxacin, Lefamulin, Omadacycline, Ceftobiprole and Delafloxacin. Using a novel conceptual framework designed by the present authors, known as the ‘San Antonio NIPS model’, we evaluate their strengths and weaknesses based on their ability to address the unique challenges that face the elderly.

Expert opinion: All seven antibiotics have potential value for effective utilization in the elderly, but to varying degrees based on their NIPS model score. The goal of this model is to reorganize a clinician’s focus on antibiotic choices in the elderly and bring attention to a seldom discussed topic that may potentially become a health-care crisis in the next decade.     

Binding of the antiretroviral drug, d-aspartate-β-hydroxamate on the NMDA receptor

d-Aspartate-β-hydroxamate (d-A β H) exhibits antiretroviral properties in vitro and in vivo. It has glutamate agonist properties at the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in neuronal cell cultures. This study characterizes its binding properties to the NMDA receptor by measuring its stimulating effect on N-(1-(2-thienyl)[(3)H]cyclohexyl)piperidine ([(3)H]TCP) binding to the ionic channel in rat brain membranes. d-A β H stimulated [(3)H]TCP binding in a dose-dependent manner but to a lower extent than glutamate, suggesting only partial glutamate agonist properties. In the presence of antagonists of the different effector sites of the NMDA receptor the affinity of d-A β H was competitively decreased by CGS-19755 and 7-chlorokynurenate and unaffected by arcaine. Among several d-A β H analogues VHS.125 behaved as a full NMDA agonist, but l- or d-glutamate γ-monohydroxamate (d-GH or l-GH) were without effect. This study shows that d-A β H has potential neurotoxic effects due to its direct interaction with the NMDA receptor and that analogues such as d-GH or l-GH may rather be used in humans.     

New Aspects for the Treatment of Cardiac Diseases Based on the Diversity of Functional Controls on Cardiac Muscles: Diversity in the Excitation–Contraction Mechanisms of the Heart

The waveform of the myocardial action potential (AP) triggering contraction differs among the species, developmental stage, and pathological state. The species difference in heart rate, which inversely correlates with body size, originates in the ion-channel mechanisms responsible for diastolic depolarization of the sinoatrial node. In some cases, such as the chronically AV-blocked dog and 11- to 13-day chick embryo, the repolarization reserve is decreased making the heart useful for drug evaluation. The degree of dependence of contraction on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function increases during development. The large SR dependence and short AP of the adult mouse and rat support their rapid contraction under high heart rate. The function of the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger is affected by AP waveform and ion concentrations; its major role is Ca²⁺ extrusion, but under pathological conditions such as ischemia-reperfusion, it allows Ca²⁺ influx and leads to myocardial injury, including loss of mitochondrial function. The role of mitochondria in ATP supply is less in the fetus where glycolysis plays a greater role. The pharmacological properties of the myocardium are affected by all of these factors and also by autonomic innervation and the hormonal status. Such comprehensive understanding is indispensable for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.