Ginsenoside Rg1 prevents acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis via Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway

Inappropriate use of acetaminophen (APAP) can lead to morbidity and mortality secondary to hepatic necrosis. Ginsenoside Rg1 is a major active ingredient in processed Panax ginseng, which is proved to elicit biological effects. We hypothesized the beneficial effect of Rg1 on APAP-mediated hepatotoxicity was through Nrf2/ARE pathway. The study was conducted in cells and mice, comparing the actions of Rg1. Rg1 significantly improved cell survival rates and promoted the expression of antioxidant proteins. Meanwhile, Rg1 reduced the excessive ROS and the occurrence of cell apoptosis, which were related to Nrf2/ARE pathway. Expression of Nrf2 has a certain cell specificity.

     

Innovative Thinking on Endpoint Selection in Clinical Trials

ABSTRACT

In clinical trials, selection of appropriate study endpoints is critical for an accurate and reliable evaluation of safety and effectiveness of a test treatment under investigation. In practice, however, there are usually multiple endpoints available for measurement of disease status and/or therapeutic effect of the test treatment under study. For example, in cancer clinical trials, overall survival, response rate, and/or time to disease progression are usually considered as primary clinical endpoints for evaluation of safety and effectiveness of the test treatment under investigation. Once the study endpoints have been selected, sample size required for achieving a desired power is then determined. It, however, should be noted that different study endpoints may result in different sample sizes. In practice, it is usually not clear which study endpoint can best inform the disease status and measure the treatment effect. Moreover, different study endpoints may not translate one another although they may be highly correlated one another. In this article, we intend to develop an innovative endpoint namely therapeutic index based on a utility function to combine and utilize information collected from all study endpoints. Statistical properties and performances of the proposed therapeutic index are evaluated theoretically. A numerical example concerning a cancer clinical trial is given to illustrate the use of the proposed therapeutic index.     

Outcomes after neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy for cT2-4N0-1 non–small cell lung cancer: A propensity-matched analysis

Objective

Comparative survival between neoadjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with cT2-4N0-1M0 non–small cell lung cancer has not been extensively studied.

Specific alterations in plasma proteins during depressed,manic, and euthymic states of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common psychiatric mood disorder affecting more than 1-2% of the general population of different European countries. Unfortunately, there is no objective laboratory-based test to aid BD diagnosis or monitor its progression, and little is known about the molecular basis of BD. Here, we performed a comparative proteomic study to identify differentially expressed plasma proteins in various BD mood states (depressed BD, manic BD, and euthymic BD) relative to healthy controls. A total of 10 euthymic BD, 20 depressed BD, 15 manic BD, and 20 demographically matched healthy control subjects were recruited. Seven high-abundance proteins were immunodepleted in plasma samples from the 4 experimental groups, which were then subjected to proteome-wide expression profiling by two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight/time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Proteomic results were validated by immunoblotting and bioinformatically analyzed using MetaCore. From a total of 32 proteins identified with 1.5-fold changes in expression compared with healthy controls, 16 proteins were perturbed in BD independent of mood state, while 16 proteins were specifically associated with particular BD mood states. Two mood-independent differential proteins, apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 and Apo L1, suggest that BD pathophysiology may be associated with early perturbations in lipid metabolism. Moreover, down-regulation of one mood-dependent protein, carbonic anhydrase 1 (CA-1), suggests it may be involved in the pathophysiology of depressive episodes in BD. Thus, BD pathophysiology may be associated with early perturbations in lipid metabolism that are independent of mood state, while CA-1 may be involved in the pathophysiology of depressive episodes.     

学龄期近视进展儿童调节功能的客观检查和分析

目的　对学龄期近视进展儿童进行调节功能的客观检查与分析，观察调节功能与近视进展之间的相关性。方法　选取2017年至2018年在首都医科大学附属北京同仁医院视光学门诊定期就诊的71名学龄期儿童为研究对象，根据受试者近年的屈光度进展速度，按≤0.50 D·a^-1、>0.50~1.00 D·a^-1、>1.00~1.50 D·a^-1、>1.50 D·a^-1分为4组，使用人眼调节分析仪对受试者进行调节功能的客观测量与分析，记录不同调节刺激视标下4组的客观调节反应值和客观调节微波动值，并作对比。结果　在所有调节视标上，各组随着调节刺激幅度增加，客观调节反应值也逐渐增加，4组在不同调节刺激视标下的客观调节反应值及平均的客观调节反应值差异均无统计学意义（均为P＞0.05）。≤0.50 D·a^-1、>0.50~1.00 D·a^-1、>1.00~1.50 D·a^-1、>1.50 D·a^-1近视进展速度组调节微波动值分别为（62.2±5.6）D、（62.5±5.3）D、（66.5±6.0）D和（58.0±6.5）D，4组间差异有统计学意义（F=6.424，P=0.001），在+0.50~-0.50 D、-2.00 D调节刺激视标下，4组的客观调节微波动值比较差异均有统计学意义（均为P＜0.05），在其余调节刺激视标下差异均无统计学意义（均为P＞0.05）。结论　对于学龄期儿童的近视进展速度，客观调节微波动值相对于客观调节反应值可能是一个更为敏感的相关指标。     

Severe lumbar spinal stenosis combined with Guillain-Barré syndrome: A case report

BACKGROUNDGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder that typically presents with ascending weakness, pain, paraesthesias, and numbness, which mimic the findings in lumbar spinal stenosis. Here, we report a case of severe lumbar spinal stenosis combined with GBS.CASE SUMMARYA 70-year-old man with a history of lumbar spinal stenosis presented to our emergency department with severe lower back pain and lower extremity numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of severe lumbar spinal stenosis. However, his symptoms did not improve postoperatively and he developed dysphagia and upper extremity numbness. An electromyogram was performed. Based on his symptoms, physical examination, and electromyogram, he was diagnosed with GBS. After 5 d of intravenous immunoglobulin (0.4 g/kg/d for 5 d) therapy, he gained 4/5 of strength in his upper and lower extremities and denied paraesthesias. He had regained 5/5 of strength in his extremities when he was discharged and had no symptoms during follow-up.CONCLUSIONGBS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal disorder, even though magnetic resonance imaging shows severe lumbar spinal stenosis. This case highlights the importance of a careful diagnosis when a patient has a history of a disease and comes to the hospital with the same or similar symptoms.