Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for metastatic breast cancer

We reviewed 66 women with poor-risk metastatic breast cancer from 15 centers to describe the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Median follow-up for survivors was 40 months (range, 3-64). A total of 39 patients (59%) received myeloablative and 27 (41%) reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens. More patients in the RIC group had poor pretransplant performance status (63 vs 26%, P=0.002). RIC group developed less chronic GVHD (8 vs 36% at 1 year, P=0.003). Treatment-related mortality rates were lower with RIC (7 vs 29% at 100 days, P=0.03). A total of 9 of 33 patients (27%) who underwent immune manipulation for persistent or progressive disease had disease control, suggesting a graft-vs-tumor (GVT) effect. Progression-free survival (PFS) at 1 year was 23% with myeloablative conditioning and 8% with RIC (P=0.09). Women who developed acute GVHD after an RIC regimen had lower risks of relapse or progression than those who did not (relative risk, 3.05: P=0.03), consistent with a GVT effect, but this did not affect PFS. These findings support the need for preclinical and clinical studies that facilitate targeted adoptive immunotherapy for breast cancer to explore the benefit of a GVT effect in breast cancer.     

心身疾病“刚柔辨证”四种常见证型焦虑抑郁状态的特征研究

目的探究心身疾病"刚柔辨证"四种常见证型心肝火旺证、心肝阴虚证、肝郁气滞证和肝郁脾虚证焦虑和抑郁状态的特征。方法以"证病结合""以方测证"为研究方法,把经显效方剂对应治疗2~8周后,疗效为显效和临床痊愈的"刚柔辨证"主证为心肝火旺、心肝阴虚、肝郁气滞、肝郁脾虚证的患者治疗前Zung氏焦虑自评量表(Self-Rating Anxiety Scale,SAS)和抑郁自评量表(Self-Rating Depression Scale,SDS)进行对照分析。共纳入100例患者,其中心肝火旺证20例,心肝阴虚证32例,肝郁气滞证27例和肝郁脾虚证21例。结果焦虑程度以心肝火旺证最为突出,与肝郁气滞证、肝郁脾虚证比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.008);在抑郁程度方面,心肝阴虚证较其他3个证型低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论四种证型患者心理状态特征存在差异,可能与性格因素、体质因素、病程因素、负性生活事件等相关。     

骆驼蓬生物碱乳膏剂的质量标准研究

摘 要 目的： 初步建立骆驼蓬生物碱乳膏剂的质量控制方法。方法: 按照《中国药典》2010年版一部附录有关制剂通则要求,对制剂进行一般质量检查。以去氢骆驼蓬碱和骆驼蓬碱为指标,采用薄层色谱法对乳膏剂进行薄层色谱鉴别。以去氢骆驼蓬碱、骆驼蓬碱、鸭嘴花碱为指标,采用高效液相色谱法对制剂进行含量测定。结果: 检查项目均符合《中国药典》要求。薄层色谱中供试品在与对照品相同位置上显相同颜色斑点。去氢骆驼蓬碱、骆驼蓬碱和鸭嘴花碱分别在3.440～110.000 μg·ml^-1、3.340～107.000 μg·ml^-1和1.380～22.000 μg·ml^-1浓度范围内线性关系良好,平均回收率分别为98.1% (RSD=1.75%, n=6)、99.8% (RSD=1.78%,n=6)和99.3% (RSD=1.95%,n=6)。结论:所建立的质量控制方法符合方法学要求,为最终制定骆驼蓬生物碱乳膏剂质量标准奠定了试验基础。     

The implementation of a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point management system in a peanut butter ice cream plant

To ensure the safety of the peanut butter ice cream manufacture, a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan has been designed and applied to the production process. Potential biological, chemical, and physical hazards in each manufacturing procedure were identified. Critical control points for the peanut butter ice cream were then determined as the pasteurization and freezing process. The establishment of a monitoring system, corrective actions, verification procedures, and documentation and record keeping were followed to complete the HACCP program. The results of this study indicate that implementing the HACCP system in food industries can effectively enhance food safety and quality while improving the production management.     

Crystallization scale purification of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from mammalian cells using a BacMam expression system

Aim:

To report our methods for expression and purification of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR), a ligand-gated pentameric ion channel and an important drug target.

Methods:

α7-nAChRs of 10 different species were cloned into an inducible BacMam vector with an N-terminal tag of a tandem maltose-binding protein (MBP) and a TEV cleavage site. This α7-nAChR fusion receptor was expressed in mammalian HEK293F cells and detected by Western blot. The expression was scaled up to liters. The receptor was purified using amylose resin and size-exclusion chromatography. The quality of the purified receptor was assessed using SDS-PAGE gels, thermal stability analysis, and negative stain electron microscopy (EM). The expression construct was optimized through terminal truncations and site-directed mutagenesis.

Results:

Expression screening revealed that α7-nAChR from Taeniopygia guttata had the highest expression levels. The fusion receptor was expressed mostly on the cell surface, and it could be efficiently purified using one-step amylose affinity chromatography. One to two milligrams of the optimized α7-nAChR expression construct were purified from one liter of cell culture. The purified α7-nAChR samples displayed high thermal stability with a Tm of 60 °C, which was further enhanced by antagonist binding but decreased in the presence of agonist. EM analysis revealed ring-like structures with a central hydrophilic hole, which was consistent with the pentameric assembly of the α7-nAChR channel.

Conclusion:

We have established methods for crystallization scale expression and purification of α7-nAChR, which lays a foundation for high-resolution structural studies using X-ray crystallography or single particle cryo-EM analysis.     

Cadmium Exposure in Young Adulthood Is Associated with Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Midlife

Digestive Diseases and Sciences - Studies have suggested that cadmium (Cd) may be involved in the etiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but available data in human is sparse. We...     

The clinical pattern differentiates ANCA-positive infective endocarditis patients from ANCA-associated vasculitis patients: a 23 years’ retrospective cohort study in China and follow-ups

Clinical Rheumatology - Patients with infective endocarditis (IE) may present rheumatic manifestations concurrent with various autoantibodies and thus mimic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody...