Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling in Regulatory Science: An Update From the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Clinical Pharmacology

This commentary provides an update on the status of physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Office of Clinical Pharmacology. Limitations and knowledge gaps in integration of physiologically based pharmacokinetic approach to inform regulatory decision making, as well as the importance of scientific engagement with drug developers who intend to use this approach, are highlighted.     

左侧乳腺癌保乳术后ABC与Catalyst呼吸门控系统动态调强放疗的剂量学分析

目的 对比自主呼吸门控系统(ABC)和Catalyst呼吸门控系统在左侧乳腺癌保乳术后的剂量学差异。方法 回顾性选取深圳市人民医院放疗科2020年11月至2021年8月收治的左侧乳腺癌保乳术后女性患者48例,分成ABC和Catalyst组,设计动态调强放疗(IMRT)计划。分析2组计划的靶区和危及器官的剂量学差异。结果 2组呼吸门控IMRT计划在胸壁靶区的D_90%、D_98%、D_max、D_mean、适形指数、均匀性指数及机器跳数方面差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05)。2种呼吸门控深吸气屏气(DIBH)模式IMRT计划在患侧肺、心脏方面差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05)。ABC组和Catalyst组冠状动脉左前降支D_mean、D_max、D_2%依次为(1 047.72±1 401.84)vs.(454.48±206.26)、(1 619.28±809.05)vs.(1 068.53±419.63)、(1 405.85±798.30)vs.(1 016.54±592.00) cGy,Catalyst优于ABC呼吸门控组,差异有统计学意义(t=-2.07、-3.18、-2.07,P＜0.05)。结论 ABC和Catalyst呼吸门控系统均满足临床治疗要求,Catalyst较ABC呼吸门控可进一步降低冠状动脉左前降支受照射剂量。     

A Reappraisal of Exercise Electrocardiographic Indexes of the Severity of Ischemic Heart Disease: Angiographic and Scintigraphic Correlates

Objectives. We explored how the exercise electrocardiographic (ECG) indexes generally presumed to signify severe ischemic heart disease (IHD) correlate with coronary angiographic and scintigraphic myocardial perfusion findings.

Background. In exercise testing, it is generally assumed that the early onset of ST segment depression and its occurrence at a low rate–pressure product (ischemic threshold); the amount of maximal ST segment depression; and a horizontal or downsloping ST segment and its prolonged recovery after exercise signify more severe IHD. However, the relation of these indexes to coronary angiographic and exercise myocardial perfusion findings in patients with IHD is unclear.

Methods. We prospectively carried out a symptom-limited 12-lead Bruce protocol thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) exercise test in 66 consecutive subjects with stable angina, ≥70% stenosis of at least one coronary artery, normal rest ECG and left ventricular wall motion and a prior positive exercise ECG. The above ECG indexes, vessel disease (VD), a VD score and the quantitative thallium-SPECT measures of the extent, maximal deficit and redistribution gradient of the perfusion abnormality were characterized.

Results. Maximal ST segment depression could not differentiate the number of diseased vessels; was not related to VD score, maximal thallium deficit or redistribution gradient; but was related to the extent of perfusion abnormality (r = 0.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08 to 0.52, p = 0.02). Time of onset of ST segment depression correlated inversely only with VD (r = −0.22, 95% CI −0.44 to −0.05, p < 0.05), whereas the ischemic threshold had low inverse correlation only with VD score (r = −0.25, 95% CI −0.47 to −0.01, p < 0.05) and the redistribution gradient (r = −0.33, 95% CI −0.53 to −0.10, p < 0.01). A horizontal or downsloping compared with an upsloping ST segment did not demonstrate more severe angiographic and scintigraphic disease. Recovery time did not correlate with angiographic and scintigraphic findings, and correlations between angiographic and scintigraphic findings were also low or absent.

Conclusions. In this homogeneous study group, the exercise ECG indexes did not necessarily signify more severe IHD by angiographic and scintigraphic criteria. Lack of concordance between the exercise ECG, angiography and myocardial scintigraphy suggests that these diagnostic modalities examine different facets of myocardial ischemia, underscoring the need for caution in the interpretation of their results.

(J Am Coll Cardiol 1997;29:1497–504)     

孕妇自控吸入笑气在人流术中的镇痛效果观察

目的:通过孕妇在人工流产手术中自控吸入笑气的方法,发挥笑气的镇痛作用,达到人工流产镇痛的目的。方法:将300例早期妊娠,年龄在18~44岁的孕妇,随机分为两组,观察组让术者自己双手紧握面罩进行笑气吸入,时间掌握在人工流产手术扩宫前30s开始至手术结束,对照组予无菌棉签浸2%利多卡因2m l涂布宫颈粘摸,并在宫颈内口留置2~3m in取出,按常规进行手术。观察两组在手术中的镇痛情况、术中出血、人流综合征等情况。结果:观察组较对照组镇痛效果显著(P<0.01),同时能明显降低人流综合征的发生率(P<0.01),不增加手术出血量。结论:孕妇在手术中自控笑气的吸入,可以随时调整面罩的位置,控制吸入时间,操作简单、方便,镇痛作用迅速,效果明显,同时不增加手术出血量,人工流产综合症发生率低,对呼吸、循环系统无明显不良影响,精神反应轻微,是一种理想的人工流产镇痛方法。     

Autonomic nervous system mediates the cardiovascular effects of Rhodiola sacra radix in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Rhodiola sacra (Crassulaceae) exhibits cardiovascular bioactivities and is used in Tibetan medicine for promoting circulation and preventing hypertension. However, the underlying mechanisms of its cardiovascular effects are poorly understood. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the cardiovascular activity of water-soluble fraction (WtF) and n-butanol-soluble fraction (BtF) of Rhodiola sacra radix and to explore its mechanism of action in propofol anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The changes of blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac contractility after systemic administration of the extracts (10-75mg/kg) were examined for at least 40min. Different antagonists were used to evaluate the mechanisms of cardiovascular effects of the extracts. RESULTS: Intravenous injection of the WtF (10, 25, 35, 50 or 75mg/kg) exhibited dose-dependent hypotension and increases in heart rate and cardiac contractility. In contrast, mild alterations in the same cardiovascular parameters were detected only at high dose (75mg/kg) BtF. The WtF-induced hypotensive, positive inotropic and chronotropic effects were significantly abolished by pretreatment with hexamethonium (30mg/kg, i.v.) or reserpine (5mg/kg, i.v.), whereas the hypotensive, but not the positive inotropic or chronotropic effect was potentiated by captopril (2.5mg/kg, i.v.). Pretreatment with methylatropine (1mg/kg, i.v.), on the other hand, reversed the positive inotropic and chronotropic but not the hypotensive effects of WtF. The WtF-induced cardiovascular responses were not affected in rats pretreated with N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (20mg/kg, i.v.). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that systemic administration of the WtF of Rhodiola sacra radix elicited a potent hypotensive effect that was mediated by the withdrawal of sympathetic vasomotor tone and interaction with the circulatory angiotensin system. The positive inotropic and chronotropic effects of WtF may result from a direct vagal inhibition on the heart.     

Temporal effect of Guanxin No. 2 on cardiac function, blood viscosity and angiogenesis in rats after long-term occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery

AIM: Cardiac infarction is one of the main causes of death in both developing and developed countries over past decades. Currently available approaches for treating patients with this disease are not satisfactory. Traditional Chinese medicines have been increasingly paid attention to. The aim of this study was to characterize the dynamic protective effects of Guanxin No. 2 decoction (GX II) on cardiac dysfunction combined with the blood viscosity and myocardial hypertrophy parameters in myocardial infarction (MI) rats. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (180-200 g) were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated, coronary artery ligation (CAL), and CAL plus GX II (GX II, 10.0 g raw materials/kg/d, bid, p.o.). The experiment was carried out at 4 time points as the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 28th day after ligation. RESULT: It was found that on the one hand, GX II could significantly improve the heart function, and remarkably decrease infarct size and inhibit ventricular remodeling. On the other hand, GX II showed some unique effects such as angiogenesis which was induced in the left ventricular tissue. This result was consistent with the finding of an augmented vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in this area. CONCLUSIONS: The studies demonstrated that GX II exerted extensively beneficial cardioprotective effect on CAL rats, it might stimulate angiogenesis of ischemic region to compensate blood supply to the heart via upregulated VEGF expression.     

Anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalcoholic extract and two biflavonoids from Garcinia gardneriana leaves in mouse paw oedema

Garcinia gardneriana (Planch. & Triana) Zappi (Clusiaceae) is widely distributed in Brazil and used in folk medicine to treat inflammation, pain, and urinary tract and other infections. However, very few studies have analyzed these therapeutic effects. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of the hydroalcoholic extracts from Garcinia gardneriana (HEGG) and some of its isolated biflavonoids were evaluated. The results showed that HEGG from the leaves, bark and seeds reduced carrageenan-induced mouse paw inflammation, in addition to diminishing the myeloperoxidase activity in the stimulated tissues. The reduction of neutrophil infiltration by treatment with the HEGG from leaves was confirmed by histology. The leaf extract also reduced the paw oedema evoked by bradykinin, histamine, prostaglandin E2 and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol acetate. However, it partially decreased substance P and compound 48/80-caused paw oedema, without any influence on the arachidonic acid-induced oedema. Both of the isolated compounds, fukugetin and GB-2a, prevented the carrageenan-induced paw oedema. In conclusion, this study showed important anti-inflammatory effects of HEGG through its interaction with different intracellular signaling pathways, without interfering with the formation of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites. These characteristics, in addition to the wide distribution and culturing ease of the plant, confirm its popular use and highlight its promise in the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs.     

米非司酮调控乳腺癌细胞增殖的研究

目的研究米非司酮对乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7和T47D的增殖抑制作用。方法采用四甲基偶氮唑盐(MTT)法检测米非司酮对乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7和T47D的半数抑制浓度(IC50)。不同浓度米非司酮(0.25、2.5、25和50μmol/L)分别处理人乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7和T47D1、2、3d后,观察细胞形态变化,以及检测各组细胞生长曲线。结果米非司酮对乳腺癌MCF-7和T47D细胞均有抑制作用,其抑制率均随着米非司酮浓度的增加而变化,存在明显的量效关系。通过对两种细胞抑制率(IR)值直线回归分析,米非司酮对MCF-7细胞的IC50为51.21μmol/L,对T47D细胞的IC50为54.29μmol/L。形态学观察发现,各组细胞体积变小,细胞间的链接消失,细胞内明显有黑色小颗粒聚集。25和50μmol/L浓度米非司酮对MCF-7乳腺癌细胞株生长抑制作用明显,特别是50μmol/L干预24h后在高倍镜下可见明显的核质浓缩。结论米非司酮对病理分型、激素受体型不同的乳腺癌MCF-7和T47D细胞均具有抑制增殖的作用,并呈时间和剂量依赖效应。     

Effects of a marine serine protease inhibitor on viability and morphology of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease

It has been reported that serine peptidase activities of Trypanosoma cruzi play crucial roles in parasite dissemination and host cell invasion and therefore their inhibition could affect the progress of Chagas disease. The present study investigates the interference of the Stichodactyla helianthus Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor (ShPI-I), a 55-amino acid peptide, in T. cruzi serine peptidase activities, parasite viability, and parasite morphology. The effect of this peptide was also studied in Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes and it was proved to be a powerful inhibitor of serine proteases activities and the parasite viability. The ultrastructural alterations caused by ShPI-I included vesiculation of the flagellar pocket membrane and the appearance of a cytoplasmic vesicle that resembles an autophagic vacuole. ShPI-I, which showed itself to be an important T. cruzi serine peptidase inhibitor, reduced the parasite viability, in a dose and time dependent manner. The maximum effect of peptide on T. cruzi viability was observed when ShPI-I at 1 × 10⁻⁵ M was incubated for 24 and 48 h which killed completely both metacyclic trypomastigote and epimastigote forms. At 1 × 10⁻⁶ M ShPI-I, in the same periods of time, reduced parasite viability about 91–95% respectively. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrated the formation of concentric membranar structures especially in the cytosol, involving organelles and small vesicles. Profiles of endoplasmic reticulum were also detected, surrounding cytosolic vesicles that resembled autophagic vacuoles. These results suggest that serine peptidases are important in T. cruzi physiology since the inhibition of their activity killed parasites in vitro as well as inducing important morphological alterations. Protease inhibitors thus appear to have a potential role as anti-trypanosomatidal agents.