Nanoparticles as potential clinical therapeutic agents in Alzheimer’s disease: focus on selenium nanoparticles

Introduction: In etiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), involvement of amyloid β (Aβ) plaque accumulation and oxidative stress in the brain have important roles. Several nanoparticles such as titanium dioxide, silica dioxide, silver and zinc oxide have been experimentally using for treatment of neurological disease. In the last decade, there has been a great interest on combination of antioxidant bioactive compounds such as selenium (Se) and flavonoids with the oxidant nanoparticles in AD. We evaluated the most current data available on the physiological effects of oxidant and antioxidant nanoparticles.

Areas covered: Oxidative nanoparticles decreased the activities of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in the brain of rats and mice. However, Se-rich nanoparticles in small size (5–15 nm) depleted Aβ formation through decreasing ROS production. Reports on low levels of Se in blood and tissue samples and the low activities of GSH-Px, catalase and SOD enzymes in AD patients and animal models support the proposed crucial role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of AD.

Expert commentary: In conclusion, present literature suggests that Se-rich nanoparticles appeared to be a potential therapeutic compound for the treatment of AD.     

Treatment sequence network meta-analysis in Crohn’s disease: a methodological case study

Objective: Several biologic therapies are available for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Crohn’s disease (CD). This network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to assess the comparative efficacy of ustekinumab, adalimumab, vedolizumab and infliximab in the maintenance of clinical response and remission after 1?year of treatment.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Key outcomes of interest were clinical response (CD activity index [CDAI] reduction of 100 points; CDAI-100) and remission (CDAI score under 150 points; CDAI < 150). A treatment sequence Bayesian NMA was conducted to account for the re-randomization of patients based on different clinical definitions, the lack of similarity of the common comparator for each trial and the full treatment pathway from the induction phase onwards.

Results: Thirteen RCTs were identified. Ustekinumab 90?mg q8w was associated with statistically significant improvement in clinical response relative to placebo and vedolizumab 300?mg. For clinical remission, ustekinumab 90?mg q8w was associated with statistically significant improvement relative to placebo and vedolizumab 300?mg q8w. Findings from sub-population analyses had similar results but were not statistically significant.

Conclusions: The NMA suggest that ustekinumab is associated with the highest likelihood of reaching response or remission at 1?year compared with placebo, adalimumab and vedolizumab. Results should be interpreted with caution because this is a novel methodology; however, the treatment sequence analysis may be the most methodologically sound analysis to derive estimates of comparative efficacy in CD in the absence of head-to-head evidence.     

左旋门冬酰胺酶在儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病临床应用的安全性分析

左旋门冬酰胺酶(L-ASP)作为儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病治疗联合化疗方案中的最基本药物之一,在对维持患儿长期处于带病生存状态中起着极为重要的作用。但长期以来其在儿童临床应用的安全性也一直是人们关注的重点。就近些年L-ASP在国内外儿童临床应用引起不良反应的类型、原因以及发展方向等方面的研究进展进行综述。     

甲状腺乳头状微小癌合并桥本甲状腺炎的临床病理分析

目的研究甲状腺乳头状微小癌（PTMC）合并桥本甲状腺炎（HT）的临床病理特点,为临床诊治提供参考。方法：收集我院2010年10月-2013年9月收治并经手术病理证实为PTMC患者的临床病理资料,以是否合并HT分组比较,并进行回顾性分析。结果 119例PTMC中,男女比例1：2.6,年龄（44.4±12.4）岁,术前甲状腺功能正常者97例（81.5%）,肿瘤平均最大径（6.8±2.3）mm,有颈部淋巴结转移36例（30.3%）,合并HT 41例（34.5%）。与未合并HT组相比,合并HT组中女性更多,发病年龄较小,术前促甲状腺激素（TSH）较高,肿瘤最大径较小,相互比较存在统计学差异（P〈0.05）。合并HT组的颈部淋巴结转移率（36.6%）稍高于未合并HT组（26.9%）,且与年龄、肿瘤最大径显著相关。结论 PTMC合并HT在较年轻的女性、术前血TSH水平偏高者中较常见。起病年龄较小、癌灶最大径≥7.0 mm时更易发生颈淋巴结转移。     

Specular microscopic and histologic observations in nonguttate corneal endothelial degeneration

Six phakic patients with unilateral corneal edema and clinically normal-appearing fellow eyes were examined with specular microscopy and found to have endothelial pleomorphism and reduced cell counts in the nonedematous cornea. None of these patients had any previous eye disease, trauma, inflammation, or surgery. Clinically unrecognized endothelial disease was proposed as a cause for the unilateral corneal edema and was verified by light and electron microscopic studies in five patients. These pathologic findings vary somewhat from those found in Fuchs' dystrophy and may represent either a variant or a form of endothelial cell degeneration of as yet undetermined etiology. Our studies suggest that this condition is not detectable in the nonedematous cornea by standard high magnification biomicroscopy and requires the use of the clinical specular microscope to confirm the diagnosis in suspected cases.     

半夏白术天麻汤加味治疗美尼尔氏病临床观察

[目的]观察半夏白术天麻汤加味治疗美尼尔氏病的临床疗效。[方法]将40例患者随机分为两组。治疗组22例口服加味半夏白术天麻汤治疗,对照组18例在维持营养及水电解质平衡的基础上,加服脑益嗪片、西比灵片治疗。两组治疗1个疗程(14d)进行疗效判定。[结果]治疗组临床治愈6例,显效9例,有效5例,无效2例,总有效率90.90%。对照组临床治愈3例,显效6例,有效4例,无效5例,总有效率72.20%。临床疗效治疗组优于对照组(P<0.05)。[结论]加味半夏白术天麻汤治疗美尼尔氏病疗效较好。     

复方海蛇胶囊联合盐酸多奈哌齐治疗阿尔茨海默病临床观察

目的探讨复方海蛇胶囊(RSC)联合盐酸多奈哌齐治疗阿尔茨海默病(AD)的有效性及安全性。方法 96例AD患者随机分为RSC组30例、盐酸多奈哌齐组32例和联合用药组34例,RSC组给予复方海蛇胶囊口服;盐酸多奈哌齐组给予盐酸多奈哌齐口服;联合用药组同时口服复方海蛇胶囊和盐酸多奈哌齐;连续用药6个月。观察3组患者治疗前后智能状态量表(MMSE)、日常生活能力量表(ADL)、认知次级量表(ADAS-Cog)、痴呆程度评定量表(CDR)以及副反应量表(TESS)评定情况。结果治疗后各组MMSE评分均大于治疗前(P<0.05),ADL、ADAS-Cog、CDR评分均小于治疗前(P均<0.05);3组不良反应发生率比较无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论复方海蛇胶囊联合盐酸多奈哌齐治疗AD安全、有效,疗效优于单一药物,且不良反应发生率低。     

周士源治疗不孕症经验拾零

不孕症已成为世界范围内广泛关注的问题。不孕症发病率不断升高,世界卫生组织预测,不孕症将成为仅次于肿瘤和心脑血管病的第三大疾病[1]。周士源教授是第四批全国老中医药专家学术经验继承人指导老师,从事妇科临床、科研、教学工作40余年。     

抗癌扶正方对人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721的Bcl-2基因表达的调控作用

目的:研究与分析抗癌扶正方对人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721的Bcl-2基因表达的调控作用.方法:首先培养人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721,然后使用噻唑蓝比色法(MTT比色法)检测抗癌扶正方对人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721增殖能力,使用流式细胞仪检测人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721抑制能力和Bcl-2基因表达水平.结果:通过检测发现...