Gefitinib in elderly and unfit patients affected by advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Elderly and poor performance status advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients often tolerate chemotherapy poorly. Special approaches are needed for these patient populations. Gefitinib (Iressa) was used in 59 elderly and/or unfit NSCLC pretreated patients participating in a compassionate use programme showing some activity and good tolerability.     

Induction of apoptosis in estrogen dependent and independent breast cancer cells by the marine terpenoid dehydrothyrsiferol

Breast cancer (BCA) represents the highest incidence of death in 35- to 60-year-old women. Above all, hormone unresponsive BCA is still associated with poorer prognosis than hormone receptor expressing malign, mammary tumors. There is a consistent need for effective compounds to treat especially the first variant of this disease. Therefore, we investigated the cytotoxic effects of the marine polyether triterpenoid dehydrothyrsiferol (DT) in four BCA cell lines. Annexin V labeling revealed higher rates of DT-induced apoptosis in hormone insensitive than in estrogen receptor expressing cells. Flow cytometric analysis of combined DNA fragmentation and total DNA labeling allowed us to ascribe apoptotic cells to their cell cycle stage. Although, high cell mortality was detected in mitogen dependent G(1)-phase, time, concentration, and cell line dependent populations of apoptotic cells were also found to be of S-phase and G(2)/M-phase origin. These results suggest that the induction of apoptosis by DT might be transduced through more than one effector pathway. Cell cycle distributions and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation varied in a treatment dependent manner and differed from control experiments with colchicine and doxorubicin which exclude that DT functions as a mitosis inhibitor. In summary, we propose that DT might be an interesting candidate for an antitumor drug development regimen.     

Genetic studies in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia in aged populations, is believed to be caused by both environmental factors and genetic variations. Extensive linkage and association studies have established that a broad range of loci are associated with AD, including both causative and susceptibility (risk factor) genes. So far, at least three genes, APP, PS1, and PS2, have been identified as causative genes. Mutations in these genes have been found to cause mainly early-onset AD. On the other hand, APOE has been identified to be the most common high genetic risk factor for late-onset AD. Polymorphisms in the coding region, intron, and promoter region of certain genes constitute another kind of genetic variation associated with AD. A number of other genes or loci have been reported to have linkage with AD, but many show only a weak linkage or the results are not well reproduced. Currently, the measurable genetic associations account for about 50% of the population risk for AD. It is believed that more new loci will be found to associate with AD, either as causative genes or genetic risk factors, and that eventually the understanding of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of AD will be important for our efforts to cure this illness.     

Metabolism of Presenilins

Understanding mechanisms involved in the production of Aβ has long been the central focus of cell biologists engaged in molecular AD research. The discovery of two genes that encode homologous polytopic membrane proteins termed Presenilins (PS), has lead to several exciting recent findings on the proteolytic processes responsible for generating the COOH-terminus of Aβ. What we now know is that PS proteins play an important role in Aβ production and are considered one of the therapeutic targets. Here I have reviewed the vast literature on the biology of PS, especially focusing on PS endoproteolysis and the accumulation of stable PS derivatives that are likely the functional units.     

Segmental Yttrium-90 Radioembolization versus Segmental Chemoembolization for Localized Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Results of a Single-Center,Retrospective, Propensity Score–Matched Study

Purpose

To compare segmental radioembolization with segmental chemoembolization for localized, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) not amenable to ablation.

Effects of nitrogen dioxide on red blood cells of rats: Changes in components of red cell membranes during in vivo exposure to NO2

Red cell membranes, prepared from red blood cells of rats exposed to 4, 10, or 20 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) for 1 to 10 days, were examined for evidence of changes in membrane components. Appreciable changes were not found in contents of phospholipid and cholesterol during exposure to 10 ppm NO₂. By contrast, protein content altered with the time of exposure. Moreover, changes in protein composition were observed by employing sodium dodecyl sulfate — polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Twenty-four-hour exposure to NO₂ at the concentration above 10 ppm resulted in a marked increase in the percentage of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE) to the total phospholipids. The prolonged exposure to 10 ppm NO₂ gave rise to a further increase in LysoPE, whereas the percentage of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) showed a gradual decrease. A 1-day exposure to 4.0 ppm NO₂ also caused an increase in sialic acid content and decreases in those of PE and hexose. In addition to contents of these components the percentage of LysoPE increased 5 days after exposure and the elevated values were maintained up to the end of exposure period. These results demonstrate that red blood cells in circulation exhibit different membrane properties in terms of lipid and carbohydrate composition during 10 days of exposure to 4.0 ppm NO₂.     

Capsaicin facilitates carotid sinus baroreceptor activity in anesthetized rats

AIM: To study the effect of capsaicin on carotid sinus baroreceptor activity (CBA). METHODS: The functional curve of carotid baroreceptor (FCCB) was constructed and the functional parameters of carotid sinus baroreceptor were measured by recording sinus nerve afferent discharge in anesthetized rats with perfused isolated carotid sinus. RESULTS: Low-concentration of capsaicin (0.2 μmol/L) had no significant effect on CBA, while perfusion of the isolated carotid sinus with middle-concentration of capsaicin (1 μmol/L) could shift FCCB to the left and upward, with peak slope (PS) increased from (2.47 %±0.14 %)/mmHg to (2.88 %±0.10 %)/mmHg (P<0.05) and peak integral value of carotid sinus nerve discharge (PIV) enhanced from 211 %±5 % to 238 %±6 % (P<0.01). The threshold pressure (TP) and saturation pressure (SP) were significantly decreased from 68.0±1.1 to 62.7±1.0 mmHg (P<0.01) and from 171.0±1.6 to 165.0±0.6 mmHg (P<0.01). By perfusing with high-concentration of capsaicin (5μmol/L), FCCB was shi     

The changes of antioxidant defense system caused by quercetin administration do not lead to DNA damage and apoptosis in the spleen and bone marrow cells of rats.

Quercetin may have the opposite effect, namely anti- as well as pro-oxidant. The aim of this study was to assess the results of quercetin anti- and/or pro-oxidant activity in the bone marrow and spleen cells of rats. The experimental rats were treated daily, with quercetin in a dose of 8 or 80mg/kg b.w. by gavage for 40 days. The intracellular redox state in cells were assessed by measuring the ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) level and malonodialdehyde concentration. HO-1 mRNA expression was examined with real-time PCR. The extent of DNA damage was determined by the alkaline-labile comet assay. A potential pro-apoptotic quercetin action was determined using the FITC-Annexin V kit. The quercetin and isorhamnetin concentrations in serum were analyzed by HPLC-ECD. MDA concentration and FRAP values, were significantly decreased in the spleen and bone marrow cells of rats treated with quercetin, in a dose of 80mg/kg b.w. in comparison with the control rats; no significant changes were observed after quercetin was administered in a dose ten times as low. Treatment with quercetin dose-dependently upregulated the expression of HO-1 mRNA in the bone marrow cells. Quercetin administration to the rats did not induce either DNA damage or apoptosis in the examined cells. The results of our study prove that changes in the antioxidant state, caused by quercetin, do not lead to DNA damage or exert any pro-apoptotic activity in vivo.     

Safety assessment for octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionate (CAS Reg. No. 2082-79-3) from use in food contact applications

Octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (CAS Reg. No. 2082-79-3), currently marketed as Irganox 1076 (I-76), is a sterically hindered phenolic antioxidant used in a variety of organic substrates, including those used in the manufacture of food contact articles. In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), Office of Food Additive Safety (OFAS), initiated a post-market re-evaluation of the food contact applications of I-76. This project aimed to ensure that current dietary exposures from the use of I-76 in food contact articles are accurately captured and the safety assessment considered all relevant and available toxicological information. To accomplish these aims, the USFDA reviewed the available toxicological studies and chemistry information on food contact applications of I-76. Based on this in-depth analysis, a NOAEL of 64 mg/kg-bw/d (female rats) from a chronic rat study and a cumulative estimated dietary intake (CEDI) of 4.5 mg/p/d, was used to calculate a margin of exposure (MOE) of ∼850. We concluded that the previous and current exposure levels provide an adequate margin of safety (MOS) and remain protective of human health for the regulated uses.     

不同剂量 PS治疗新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征的临床研究

目的：比较不同剂量牛肺表面活性物质（ PS）治疗新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征（ NRDS）的疗效。方法选择2009年1月至2014年9月西电集团医院新生儿科收治的44例NRDS患儿,随机分为3组,均予国产牛肺表面活性物质治疗,首剂大剂量组100mg／kg为15例,中剂量组70mg／kg为14例,小剂量组40mg／kg为15例。比较3组的动脉血氧分压（PaO2）、肺泡动脉氧分压差[P（A－a）O2]、动脉血二氧化碳分压（PaCO2）、氧合指数（OI）、用药后通气时间、总用氧时间、肺部X线改变及常见并发症的发生率等。结果3组患儿治疗前一般情况无差异,应用PS治疗1h后,PaO2、P（ A－a） O2较使用前明显好转,且组间比较差异有统计学意义（F值分别为5．752、7．184,均P＜0．05）;用药6h后,各组血气分析指标均出现显著改变,大剂量组PaCO2和OI均低于中、小剂量组（F值分别为6．215、8．341,均P＜0．05）;用药12h及24h后X线评分,大剂量组亦明显优于中、小剂量组（F值分别为8．233、6．865,均P＜0．05）。应用PS次数、氧疗时间、通气时间、住院时间、治愈率3组比较差异均有统计学意义（χ2＝7．325;F值分别为8．295、4．598、7．155;χ2＝5．126,均P＜0．05）。各组均无严重不良反应发生。结论用PS治疗NRDS时,尽可能满足首剂≥70mg／kg是安全有效的。