复方丹参滴丸联合熊去氧胆酸片治疗残留黄疸的成本效益分析

目的分析复方丹参滴丸联合熊去氧胆酸片治疗残留黄疸的成本效益。方法将100例符合诊断条件的残留黄疸患者随机分为两组,基础治疗相同,针对残留黄疸,治疗组应用复方丹参滴丸270mg,含服,每天3次,熊去氧胆酸片200mg,口服,每天3次;对照组应用丁二磺酸腺苷蛋氨酸肠溶片(思美泰)500mg,口服,每天3次,每1个月复查肝功能,3个月为一疗程,观察胆红素的变化,分析两者退黄药物的成本效益。结果治疗组与对照组均有明显退黄效果,并且随着治疗时间延长,退黄效果越明显。统计学分析:两组退黄效果相当,无显著差异(P>0.05),但两组人均药品费用差异明显,复方丹参滴丸联合熊去氧胆酸片治疗残留黄疸性价比高于丁二磺酸腺苷蛋氨酸肠溶片。结论复方丹参滴丸联合熊去氧胆酸片治疗残留黄疸,效果确切,价格低廉,性价比较高,适应基层医院推广应用。     

Taurine: The comeback of a neutraceutical in the prevention of retinal degenerations

Taurine is the most abundant amino acid in the retina. In the 1970s, it was thought to be involved in retinal diseases with photoreceptor degeneration, because cats on a taurine-free diet presented photoreceptor loss. However, with the exception of its introduction into baby milk and parenteral nutrition, taurine has not yet been incorporated into any commercial treatment with the aim of slowing photoreceptor degeneration. Our recent discovery that taurine depletion is involved in the retinal toxicity of the antiepileptic drug vigabatrin has returned taurine to the limelight in the field of neuroprotection. However, although the retinal toxicity of vigabatrin principally involves a deleterious effect on photoreceptors, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are also affected. These findings led us to investigate the possible role of taurine depletion in retinal diseases with RGC degeneration, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. The major antioxidant properties of taurine may influence disease processes. In addition, the efficacy of taurine is dependent on its uptake into retinal cells, microvascular endothelial cells and the retinal pigment epithelium. Disturbances of retinal vascular perfusion in these retinal diseases may therefore affect the retinal uptake of taurine, resulting in local depletion. The low plasma taurine concentrations observed in diabetic patients may further enhance such local decreases in taurine concentration. We here review the evidence for a role of taurine in retinal ganglion cell survival and studies suggesting that this compound may be involved in the pathophysiology of glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy. Along with other antioxidant molecules, taurine should therefore be seriously reconsidered as a potential treatment for such retinal diseases.     

Accuracy of distinguishing between dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors and other epileptogenic brain neoplasms with [11C]methionine PET

Background

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNTs) represent a prevalent cause of epileptogenic brain tumors, the natural evolution of which is much more benign than that of most gliomas. Previous studies have suggested that [¹¹C]methionine positron emission tomography (MET-PET) could help to distinguish DNTs from other epileptogenic brain tumors, and hence optimize the management of patients. Here, we reassessed the diagnostic accuracy of MET-PET for the differentiation between DNT and other epileptogenic brain neoplasms in a larger population.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of 77 patients with focal epilepsy related to a nonrapidly progressing brain tumor on MRI who underwent MET-PET, including 52 with a definite histopathology. MET-PET data were assessed by a structured visual analysis that distinguished normal, moderately abnormal, and markedly abnormal tumor methionine uptake and by semiquantitative ratio measurements.

Results

Pathology showed 21 DNTs (40%), 10 gangliogliomas (19%), 19 low-grade gliomas (37%), and 2 high-grade gliomas (4%). MET-PET visual findings significantly differed among the various tumor types (P < .001), as confirmed by semiquantitative analyses (P < .001 for all calculated ratios), regardless of gadolinium enhancement on MRI. All gliomas and gangliogliomas were associated with moderately or markedly increased tumor methionine uptake, whereas 9/21 DNTs had normal methionine uptake. Receiver operating characteristics analysis of the semiquantitative ratios showed an optimal cutoff threshold that distinguished DNTs from other tumor types with 90% specificity and 89% sensitivity.

Conclusions

Normal MET-PET findings in patients with an epileptogenic nonrapidly progressing brain tumor are highly suggestive of DNT, whereas a markedly increased tumor methionine uptake makes this diagnosis unlikely.     

Neurotransmitter segregation: functional and plastic implications

Synaptic cotransmission is the ability of neurons to use more than one transmitter to convey synaptic signals. Cotransmission was originally described as the presence of a classic transmitter, which conveys main signal, along one or more cotransmitters that modulate transmission, later on, it was found cotransmission of classic transmitters. It has been generally accepted that neurons store and release the same set of transmitters in all their synaptic processes. However, some findings that show axon endings of individual neurons storing and releasing different sets of transmitters, are not in accordance with this assumption, and give support to the hypothesis that neurons can segregate transmitters to different synapses. Here, we review the studies showing segregation of transmitters in invertebrate and mammalian central nervous system neurons, and correlate them with our results obtained in sympathetic neurons. Our data show that these neurons segregate even classic transmitters to separated axons. Based on our data we suggest that segregation is a plastic phenomenon and responds to functional synaptic requirements, and to 'environmental' cues such as neurotrophins. We propose that neurons have the machinery to guide the different molecules required in synaptic transmission through axons and sort them to different axon endings. We believe that transmitter segregation improves neuron interactions during cotransmission and gives them selective and better control of synaptic plasticity.     

同型半胱氨酸及蛋氨酸合成酶基因多态性与颅内动脉瘤的关系

目的 探讨同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)及其代谢关键酶蛋氨酸合成酶(methionine synthase,MS)基因多态性与颅内动脉瘤的关系.方法 采用化学发光技术检测76例颅内动脉瘤患者和77例健康成人的血浆Hcy水平,并利用聚合酶链式反应技术检测其MS基因多态性.结果 颅内动脉瘤组血浆Hcy水平为(16.14±6.72)...     

口服蛋氨酸饲料致大鼠心室重塑的研究

目的:探讨口服蛋氨酸饲料致大鼠心力衰竭模型的机制，及程序性死亡因子4（PDCD4）通路在此过程中的作用。方法:5周龄健康Wistar雄性大鼠30只，适应性喂养1周后，随机分为实验组与对照组，实验组给予3%蛋氨酸饲料喂养，对照组标准饲料喂养。12周后进行血流动力学检测，采用酶联免疫法测定血清同型半胱氨酸（HCY）及N端前脑钠肽（NT-proBNP）水平，心脏彩超进行心功能评估，病理染色明确有无细胞肥大、纤维化，Western blot检测心肌组织中PDCD4蛋白的表达。结果:3%蛋氨酸饲料喂养组HCY水平较对照组升高（均P＜0.05）,心脏彩超提示3%蛋氨酸饲料喂养组大鼠左室射血分数、缩短分数、室间隔厚度显著减低（均P＜0.05），左室收缩末内径及舒张末内径较对照组显著增加（均P＜0.05），Western blot结果显示, PDCD4蛋白表达降低（P＜0.05）。结论:通过口服蛋氨酸饲料造成大鼠高HCY血症可导致大鼠出现心室重塑，并造成心功能受损，其机制可能与PDCD4信号通路的下调有关。     

Low-dose naltrexone inhibits the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of cervical cancer cells in vitro and effects indirectly on tumor-associated macrophages in vivo

The metastasis of cervical cancer has always been a clinical challenge. We investigated the effects of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) on the epithelial mesenchymal transition of cervical cancer cells in vitro as well as its influence on macrophage polarization and associated cytokines in vivo. The results suggested that LDN supressed the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities and promote their apoptosis in Hela cells, whereas the opioid growth factor receptor (OGFr) silenced significantly reversed these effects in vitro. Knockdown the expression of OGFr, the inhibitory of LDN on EMT was weakened. LDN could inhibit cervical cancer progression in nude mice. In additon, LDN indirectly reduced the number of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), mainly M2 macrophages, and decreased expression of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 in the serum of nude mice. These findings demonstrate that LDN could be a potential treatment for cervical cancer.     

LINC00205 promotes proliferation,migration and invasion of HCC cells by targeting miR-122-5p

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as crucial regulators in the tumorigenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 205 (LINC00205) has been identified as a prognostic biomarker in HCC. However, the biological role of LINC0205 and its potential molecular mechanism are poorly investigated. Here, we found that the expression of LINC00205 was dramatically up-regulated in HCC tissues compared to adjacent nontumor tissues. Furthermore, the level of LINC00205 in both Hep3B and Huh7 cells was prominently higher than that in normal hepatic cell line LO2. Notably, the high expression of LINC00205 was strongly correlated with tumor size ≥5 cm, venous infiltration and advanced tumor stages. Functionally, LINC00205 knockdown obviously repressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of Hep3B and Huh7 cells in vitro. An inverse correlation between LINC00205 and miR-122-5p was detected in HCC tissues. Interestingly, LINC00205 knockdown increased the level of miR-122-5p in both Hep3B and Huh7 cells. Mechanistically, luciferase reporter assay demonstrated LINC00205 acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by directly interacting with miR-122-5p. More importantly, miR-122-5p overexpression significantly restrained the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Collectively, our study provides solid evidence to support the oncogenic role of LINC00205 in HCC, which may be benefit for the improvement of HCC therapy.     

An Injectable ROS‐Responsive Self‐Healing Hydrogel Based on tetra‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐oligo(l‐methionine)

Abnormal physiological conditions provide an ideal stimulus for the design of responsive hydrogels which function as controlled and site‐specific release of drugs. Here, an injectable reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsive self‐healing hydrogel based on tetra‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐oligo (l ‐methionine) (t‐PEG₅₆‐b‐OMeth_n) synthesized by a novel and facile method is reported. The hydrophobic interactions between the side chains of l ‐methionine make the polymer chains crosslinked and lead to the formation of hydrogels which can be injected and self‐healed, meanwhile, the cross‐linker also provides a hydrophobic domain to encapsulate Dox. In presence of ROS, the side chain of l ‐methionine can be oxidized to methionine sulfoxide. The side chain of l ‐methionine is changed accordingly from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. As a result, both the hydrophobic domain and the hydrogel itself are destroyed. The controlled release of Dox by ROS at site‐specific is realized. The excellent biocompatibility of hydrogel based on t‐PEG₅₆‐b‐OMeth_n indicates the door of the potential application in controlled release of drug in a truly physiological environment.