Investigation of the Properties of Polyphenylene Sulfone Blends

Polyphenylene sulfones (PPSU) blends with different viscosities have been studied. It is shown that the blends have a single-phase structure, regardless of the viscosities of the mixed polymers. It was found that blends having close values of the melt flow index (MFR) are also characterized by a similar melt viscosity in a wide range of shear rates, regardless of the viscosities of its constituent components. It has been found that PPSU blends with smaller MFR differences exhibit higher heat resistance and stability of mechanical properties, while blends with similar viscosity containing oligomers exhibit a broader molecular weight distribution (MWD) and have lower thermal and mechanical properties.     

Assessment of Vitamin D Metabolism in Patients with Cushing’s Disease in Response to 150,000 IU Cholecalciferol Treatment

In this study we aimed to assess vitamin D metabolism in patients with Cushing’s disease (CD) compared to healthy individuals in the setting of bolus cholecalciferol treatment. The study group included 30 adults with active CD and the control group included 30 apparently healthy adults with similar age, sex and BMI. All participants received a single dose (150,000 IU) of cholecalciferol aqueous solution orally. Laboratory assessments including serum vitamin D metabolites (25(OH)D₃, 25(OH)D₂, 1,25(OH)₂D₃, 3-epi-25(OH)D₃ and 24,25(OH)₂D₃), free 25(OH)D, vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) as well as serum and urine biochemical parameters were performed before the intake and on Days 1, 3 and 7 after the administration. All data were analyzed with non-parametric statistics. Patients with CD had similar to healthy controls 25(OH)D₃ levels (p > 0.05) and higher 25(OH)D₃/24,25(OH)₂D₃ ratios (p < 0.05) throughout the study. They also had lower baseline free 25(OH)D levels (p < 0.05) despite similar DBP levels (p > 0.05) and lower albumin levels (p < 0.05); 24-h urinary free cortisol showed significant correlation with baseline 25(OH)D₃/24,25(OH)₂D₃ ratio (r = 0.36, p < 0.05). The increase in 25(OH)D₃ after cholecalciferol intake was similar in obese and non-obese states and lacked correlation with BMI (p > 0.05) among patients with CD, as opposed to the control group. Overall, patients with CD have a consistently higher 25(OH)D₃/24,25(OH)₂D₃ ratio, which is indicative of a decrease in 24-hydroxylase activity. This altered activity of the principal vitamin D catabolism might influence the effectiveness of cholecalciferol treatment. The observed difference in baseline free 25(OH)D levels is not entirely clear and requires further study.     

瘦素上调乳腺癌细胞端粒酶的活性及其分子机制研究

  目的  观察瘦素(leptin)对乳腺癌细胞端粒酶的活性影响, 并探讨其可能的分子机制。  方法  采用ELISA检测瘦素对人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7端粒酶活性的影响。应用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot法测定瘦素对MCF-7细胞人端粒酶逆转录酶(hTERT)及STAT3 mRNA和蛋白表达水平的影响。  结果  瘦素可增加MCF-7端粒酶的活性, 且呈剂量依赖性, 当浓度是10 nmol/L时, 活性增加2.8倍; 而采用瘦素受体单克隆抗体ZMC-2时则可明显抑制端粒酶的活性; 端粒酶的活性与hTERT紧密相关, 瘦素不仅增强了端粒酶的活性, 同时也增加了hTERTmRNA的表达水平, 且呈剂量依赖性, 经瘦素10 nmol/L处理后, hTERT蛋白表达水平增加2.9倍; 在瘦素处理MCF-7细胞后, hTERT的表达水平与磷酸化STAT3的水平呈现相关性上升, 提示STAT3途径可能参与了瘦素诱导hTERT的表达。  结论  在乳腺癌MCF-7细胞中, 瘦素可能通过STAT3途径促进hTERT的表达, 并最终上调端粒酶的活性。      

胰腺癌冷冻治疗及冷冻免疫

胰腺癌是预后极差的肿瘤, 当前各种治疗手段效果均不佳。冷冻在各种实体瘤的治疗中已取得较好效果, 但在胰腺癌治疗中的作用报道甚少。体内外实验表明冷冻可毁损肿瘤细胞, 安全性好。临床研究显示: 冷冻为主综合治疗中晚期胰腺癌, 中位生存期达13.4~16个月, 1年生存率57.5%~63.6%;安全性好, 主要并发症为: 胃排空障碍的发生率为0~40.9%;胰漏发生率为0~6.8%;胆漏的发生率为0~6.8%。更为重要的是, 肿瘤冷冻消融后, 以坏死肿瘤细胞和细胞碎片的形式, 释放大量肿瘤抗原, 诱导冷冻后免疫, 可抑制肿瘤的生长和转移。将局部冷冻消融治疗与全身免疫治疗相结合, 可为中晚期肿瘤综合治疗提供新的治疗技术与方法。      

The mismatch repair protein Msh6 influences the in vivo AID targeting to the Ig locus

Somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch recombination (CSR) are initiated by activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), which preferentially deaminates deoxycytidines at WRC (W = A/T, R = A/G) motifs in vitro. The mechanisms responsible for targeting AID and for organizing the queue of enzymes involved in vivo have been elusive. Here, we examined point mutant knockin Msh6 mice (Msh6(TD/TD)), which lack the second phase of SHM but retain all the proteins involved, and found that AID was frequently targeted to non-WRC motifs. Unexpectedly, by comparing SHM and CSR in wild-type, Msh6(TD/TD), and age-matched Msh6(-/-) mice, we discovered that the presence of Msh6 protein influenced the AID targeting in phase one of SHM and mediated the proper targeting of recombination sites in CSR in vivo. Our data suggest that Msh6 plays a scaffolding role in the first phase of SHM, in addition to its enzymatic role in the second phase of SHM.     

紫杉醇脂质体联合铂类新辅助化疗对Ⅱa~Ⅳ期宫颈癌患者的近期疗效观察

目的 观察紫杉醇脂质体联合顺铂新辅助化疗治疗Ⅱa~Ⅳ期宫颈癌的临床疗效和安全性.方法 回顾性分析120例Ⅱa~Ⅳ期宫颈癌患者的临床资料,根据化疗方案不同将患者分为观察组(n=67)和对照组(n=53),观察组接受紫杉醇脂质体联合顺铂新辅助化疗治疗,对照组接受紫杉醇联合顺铂化疗治疗,两组均持续化疗2个疗程,期间均给予对症支持治疗.观察两组患者的近期疗效及不良反应发生情况,并对治疗前后两组患者的Karnofsky(KPS)功能状态评分进行比较.结果 观察组和对照组患者的临床有效率分别为82.1%、77.4%,差异无统计学意义(P﹥0.05).治疗后,两组患者的KPS评分均较本组治疗前明显提高(P﹤0.001);而观察组患者治疗后的KPS评分明显高于对照组治疗后(P﹤0.001).观察组患者的肌肉酸痛、过敏反应总发生率均低于对照组(P﹤0.05);但两组骨髓抑制、胃肠道反应及脱发的总发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P﹥0.05).结论 紫杉醇脂质体联合顺铂新辅助化疗对Ⅱa~Ⅳ期宫颈癌具有良好的疗效,相比于紫杉醇联合顺铂化疗,其耐受性更好,不良反应更轻.     

Hypertension in Russia: Changes Observed After 4 Years of a Comprehensive Health System Improvement Program in the Yaroslavl Region

Rates of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in Russia have been among the highest in Europe. A comprehensive health system improvement program targeting better diagnosis and control of hypertension was undertaken in the Yaroslavl Region of Russia. This initiative was a joint program between clinicians, the Department of Health and Pharmacy of the Yaroslavl Region, and Novartis Pharma LLC. From 2011 to 2014, the blood pressure control rate improved substantially (94% relative improvement), the percentage of patients with a systolic blood pressure ≥180 mm Hg decreased (from 10% to 5%), and there was a reduction in stroke incidence rate from 4.6 to 3.7 per 1000 population. During this same period, significant changes were made to the way hypertension was diagnosed and treated across all regional government polyclinics, and the use of antihypertensive therapies increased.