Prevalence and risk factors for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in systemic sclerosis: a multi-center study of CRDC cohort in China

Clinical Rheumatology - Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is a common manifestation of cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc), which is associated with increased mortality, but...     

基于数据挖掘、网络药理学及临床观察探究贾跃进治疗女性失眠症用药规律及机制

目的结合数据挖掘、网络药理学、分子对接方法及临床观察,探究贾跃进临床治疗女性失眠症的用药规律及作用机制。方法首先使用古今医案云平台V2.2.3将贾跃进门诊近5年中药治疗女性失眠症的处方进行药物频次、属性统计以及关联、聚类和复杂网络分析,得出核心组方;再将核心组方运用TCMSP、GEO等数据库得到各药物有效成分的靶点与疾病靶点并取交集,利用CytoscapeV3.8.0及其插件构建疾病-药物-成分-靶点、蛋白互作网络,并进行基因本体论(gene ontology,GO)和京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG)通路富集分析;然后通过分析以上所得的2个网络获取其关键成分及靶点并进行分子对接;最终以核心组方为治疗组,网络药理学预测结果为主要观察指标进行临床研究验证。结果数据挖掘纳入验案221例,方剂258首,涉及中药139味;药性以平、温、微寒为多;药味以甘、辛、苦为主;药物主要归肝、脾经;通过药物关联、聚类和复杂网络分析综合得出11味药物的核心组方。网络药理学共获得核心组方有效成分65种,相关靶点490个,交集靶点142个,关键成分有β-谷甾醇和豆甾醇等,关键靶点聚类有神经递质类及细胞因子类等。GO功能富集分析结果显示,可能与代谢过程、免疫系统过程和信号过程有关;KEGG通路富集分析结果显示,可能与神经活性配体-受体相互作用、血清素能突触、多巴胺能突触等有关;分子对接较好的靶点为蛋白激酶Bα(protein kinase Bα,AKT1)、5-羟色胺受体1A(5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A,HTR1A)、多巴胺受体D2(dopamine receptor D2,DRD2)。临床研究显示,核心组方治疗组患者血清中褪黑素(melatonin,MT)水平显著升高,5-羟色胺(5-hydroxytryptamine,5-HT)、多巴胺(dopamine,DA)水平显著降低(P0.05)。结论贾跃进治疗女性失眠症的核心组方包括茯苓、白术、合欢皮、柴胡、香附、白芍、龙骨、当归、牡丹皮、栀子、白茅根,其主要通过多成分、多靶点调控MT、5-HT、DA而实现,对临床相关研究及对女性失眠症的治疗有一定指导意义。     

The organochlorine p,p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane induces colorectal cancer growth through Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), an organochlorine pollutant, is associated with several types of cancer. However, the relationship between DDT and colorectal cancer is uncertain. In this study, the impact of p,p′-DDT on colorectal cancer growth was evaluated using both in vitro and in vivo models. Our results indicated that the proliferation of human colorectal adenocarcinoma DLD1 cells was significantly promoted after exposed to low concentrations of p,p′-DDT ranging from 10⁻¹² to 10⁻⁷ M for 96 h. Exposure to p,p′-DDT from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁸ M led to upregulation of phospho-GSK3β (Ser9), β-catenin, c-Myc and cyclin D1 in DLD1 cells. RNA interference of β-catenin inhibited the proliferation of DLD1 cells stimulated by p,p′-DDT. Inhibiting of estrogen receptors (ERs) had no significant effect on the action of p,p′-DDT. Treatment with p,p′-DDT induced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibited superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in DLD1 cells. Treatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a ROS inhibitor, suppressed the induction of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and DLD1 cell proliferation by p,p′-DDT. Moreover, in a mouse xenograft model, 5 nmol/kg p,p′-DDT resulted in increased tumor size, oxidative stress and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. These results indicated that low concentrations of p,p′-DDT promoted colorectal cancer growth through Wnt/β-catenin signaling, which was mediated by oxidative stress. The finding suggests an association between low concentrations of p,p′-DDT exposure and colorectal cancer progression.     

Short-term orlistat therapy improves fatty infiltration indices and liver fibrosis scores in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome

Background and study aimsPatients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) exhibit features of metabolic syndrome, including a high body mass index, central obesity, high blood pressure, and abnormal lipid profile values. Orlistat, an intestinal lipase enzyme inhibitor, improves insulin resistance. We aimed to investigate the effects of short-term therapy with orlistat on the components of metabolic syndrome associated with NAFLD and explore its effect on liver fibrosis scores.Patients and methodsAn open-label placebo-controlled clinical study using orlistat for 12 weeks was carried out on 50 patients with NAFLD. They were divided into a placebo group (Group I) and an orlistat treatment group (120 mg per day, Group II). The diagnosis of NAFLD was made by ultrasonography and laboratory investigations. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements and hepatic liver enzymes, fasting lipids, and blood glucose levels were determined before and after treatment. Lipid indices including cholesterol (Chol-I), triglyceride (TG-I), triglyceride-glucose (TYG-I), and the scores for lipid fibrosis using the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) and Fibrosis-4 score (Fib-4) were also determined.ResultsOrlistat significantly improved the anthropometric and metabolic indices (TG-I, TYG-I) and liver enzymes. Orlistat demonstrated a favorable impact on the NAS and Fib-4 scores for liver fibrosis.ConclusionOrlistat improves the components of metabolic syndrome, leading to the improvement of insulin resistance and thereby improves fatty infiltration of the liver. To a lesser extent, orlistat improved the liver fibrosis scores.     

Impact of infliximab therapeutic drug level monitoring on outcomes of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A real-world experience from a Middle Eastern cohort

Background and study aimTherapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) through measurement of infliximab (IFX) trough levels and antibodies to infliximab (ATI) is performed to guide IFX intensification strategies and improve its efficacy. We conducted this study to explore the relationship between clinical and endoscopic/radiological remission and IFX and ATI levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with IFX and to evaluate the appropriateness of treatment decision post TDM.Patients and methodsThis was a cross-sectional study of a cohort of adult patients with IBD. Serum IFX trough concentrations and ATI were measured.ResultsA total of 129 patients [104] with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 25 with Crohn’s disease (CD)] were included in this study, of whom 61.2% were men. The mean disease duration was 6.7 years, and 72% of patients with UC had extensive colitis. The mean serum IFX trough level was 4.1 µg/mL; the IFX trough levels were subtherapeutic in 75 patients (58%), therapeutic in 37 patients (29%), and supratherapeutic in 17 patients (13%). Positivity to ATI was found in 16 patients (12.4%). Only 43 patients (33.3%) underwent an appropriate change in therapy after TDM, patients with penetrating CD disease had low IFX levels and higher C-reactive protein levels at 12 months before TDM.ConclusionsPatients with IBD with therapeutic IFX levels tend to have increased endoscopic/radiological remission rates. However, an appropriate change in management based on TDM was absent in the majority of patients, potentially reflecting the need to have a dashboard to support and guide clinicians in decision-making.     

PNPLA3基因多态性与原发性肝癌遗传易感性的相关性研究

目的：评估PNPLA3 I148M基因多态性与原发性肝细胞癌（HCC）相关性,并探讨其机制。方法：本研究纳入HCC患者67例和健康对照组69例,对照组无肝癌家族史及肝病病史。通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）及基因测序法检测PNPLA3 rs738409基因表型,通过Hardy-weinbeurg遗传平衡定律分析HCC组与对照组各基因型是否具有群体代表。通过χ2检验分析HCC组rs738409各基因型的频率分布有无差异。结果：对HCC组及对照组经吻合度检验,各组基因多态性分布均符合Hardy-Weinberg（H-W）平衡法则（P〉0.05）。HCC组与对照组148 GG、148 CG、148 CC基因型频率分布差异均有统计学意义（χ2=6.30,P〈0.05）。结论：rs738409基因表型与原发性肝癌发病风险具有相关性。     

Risk-based,response-adapted therapy for early-stage extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma in the modern chemotherapy era: A China Lymphoma Collaborative Group study

We aimed to determine the survival benefits of chemotherapy (CT) added to radiotherapy (RT) in different risk groups of patients with early-stage extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL), and to investigate the risk of postponing RT based on induction CT responses. A total of 1360 patients who received RT with or without new-regimen CT from 20 institutions were retrospectively reviewed. The patients had received RT alone, RT followed by CT (RT + CT), or CT followed by RT (CT + RT). The patients were stratified into different risk groups using the nomogram-revised risk index (NRI). A comparative study was performed using propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis. Adding new-regimen CT to RT (vs RT alone) significantly improved overall survival (OS, 73.2% vs 60.9%, P < .001) and progression-free survival (PFS, 63.5% vs 54.2%, P < .001) for intermediate-risk/high-risk patients, but not for low-risk patients. For intermediate-risk/high-risk patients, RT + CT and CT + RT resulted in non-significantly different OS (77.7% vs 72.4%; P = .290) and PFS (67.1% vs 63.1%; P = .592). For patients with complete response (CR) after induction CT, initiation of RT within or beyond three cycles of CT resulted in similar OS (78.2% vs 81.7%, P = .915) and PFS (68.2% vs 69.9%, P = .519). For patients without CR, early RT resulted in better PFS (63.4% vs 47.6%, P = .019) than late RT. Risk-based, response-adapted therapy involving early RT combined with CT is a viable, effective strategy for intermediate-risk/high-risk early-stage patients with ENKTCL in the modern treatment era.     

不同剂量磷酸肌酸钠对瓣膜置换患者的心肌保护作用比较

目的：观察术前给予不同剂量的磷酸肌酸钠（CP）对瓣膜置换患者心肌的保护作用。方法：将30例行单瓣瓣膜置换患者随机分成两组,实验组术前2天给予 CP 4 g/ d,对照组术前2天给予 CP 2 g/ d。观察两组术中及术后心脏复跳情况、阻断时间、并行循环时间及监护室停留情况,并于手术前、开放后1 h,24 h 采集患者外周静脉血检测肌酸激酶（CK）、肌酸激酶同工酶（CK - MB）、心肌钙蛋白 I（cTnI）。结果：实验组心脏复跳率较对照组高,术后正性肌力药用量较对照组少,实验组术后查心肌酶浓度较对照组低。结论：术前给予4 g/ d CP 的患者比给予2 g/ d CP 的患者心肌保护作用更强。