Point-of-care measured serum cholinesterase activity predicts patient outcome following severe burns

Risk stratification is of utmost importance in burn therapy. However, suitable bedside biomarkers to evaluate the emerging inflammatory response following burn injuries are missing. Serum cholinesterase (butyrylcholinesterase, BChE) has been shown to be a clinically relevant biomarker in acute inflammatory diseases including burns.In this observational cohort study BChE activity was measured by using point-of-care testing (POCT), a novel method in acute burn care. POCT measurements were performed at emergency room admission (ERA) of 35 patients and repeated 12, 24 and 48 h later. All patients or their legal designees gave informed consent.Patients with burn injuries showed sustained BChE activity reduction following hospital admission. BChE activity correlated negatively with burn injury severity, organ failure severity and intensive care unit resource requirements. BChE activity measured at ERA and 12 h later identified survivors and predicted 28-day patient outcome with noninferior efficacy compared to the abbreviated burn severity index (ABSI) scoring. Finally, POCT-measured BChE activity might complement ABSI scoring and possibly improve early risk stratification in acute burn care therapy.     

The role of CDK4/6 inhibitors in early breast cancer

The use of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) has proven to be a successful strategy in the treatment of advanced hormone receptor-positive (HR⁺) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2^-) breast cancer (BC), leading to a strong interest in their possible role in the treatment of early luminal BC. In this review we collect the most relevant and recent information on the use of CDK4/6i for the treatment of early BC in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings. Specifically, we evaluate the results of the large phase 3 adjuvant trials recently released, which have yielded apparently divergent results. We also examine the relevance of biomarkers as response predictive factors for CDI4/6i, the combination between radiotherapy and CDK4/6i, and provide a critical discussion on the evidence that we have so far and future directions of the role of these drugs in the treatment of early BC.     

SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies after first vaccination dose in breast cancer patients receiving CDK4/6 inhibitors

Undoubtedly, the development of COVID-19 vaccines displays a critical step towards ending this devastating pandemic, considering their protective benefits in the general population. Yet, data regarding their efficacy and safety in cancer patients are limited. Herein we provide the initial analysis of immune responses after the first dose of vaccination in 21 breast cancer patients receiving cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors. The levels of neutralizing antibodies post vaccination were similar to the matched healthy controls, whereas no safety issues have been raised. Further exploration is needed to reduce the uncertainty of SARS-CoV-2 immunity among cancer patients under treatment.     

Fifty years of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier: New insights into its structure,function, and inhibition

The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) resides in the mitochondrial inner membrane, where it links cytosolic and mitochondrial metabolism by transporting pyruvate produced in glycolysis into the mitochondrial matrix. Due to its central metabolic role, it has been proposed as a potential drug target for diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, neurodegeneration, and cancers relying on mitochondrial metabolism. Little is known about the structure and mechanism of MPC, as the proteins involved were only identified a decade ago and technical difficulties concerning their purification and stability have hindered progress in functional and structural analyses. The functional unit of MPC is a hetero-dimer comprising two small homologous membrane proteins, MPC1/MPC2 in humans, with the alternative complex MPC1L/MPC2 forming in the testis, but MPC proteins are found throughout the tree of life. The predicted topology of each protomer consists of an amphipathic helix followed by three transmembrane helices. An increasing number of inhibitors are being identified, expanding MPC pharmacology and providing insights into the inhibitory mechanism. Here, we provide critical insights on the composition, structure, and function of the complex and we summarize the different classes of small molecule inhibitors and their potential in therapeutics.     

索拉非尼联合免疫检查点抑制剂治疗TACE抵抗的中晚期肝癌的疗效及安全性

目的 探讨索拉非尼联合免疫检查点抑制剂（immune checkpoint inhibitors,ICIs）治疗经肝动脉化疗栓塞术（transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,TACE）抵抗的中晚期肝癌的疗效及安全性。方法 回顾性分析2017年1月至2021年3月期间在温州医科大学附属第五医院确诊为TACE抵抗的中晚期肝癌患者的资料,共54例,年龄28～82（56.1±11.8）岁,其中BCLC B期24例,C期30例;Child-Pugh A级34例,B级20例。根据治疗方法不同,分为对照组和联合组,对照组接受单一索拉非尼治疗（n=33）,联合组接受索拉非尼联合ICIs治疗（n=21）;比较两组患者的一般情况、肿瘤反应性、肿瘤无进展生存时间（progression-free survival,PFS）及不良反应的发生情况。结果 联合组（2例CR、11例PR、4例SD和4例PD）的肿瘤反应性明显优于对照组（2例CR、8例PR、10例SD、13例PD）（P=0.041）。联合组的中位PFS明显长于对照组（13.5个月 vs 6.8个月,P=0.010）;多因素分析显示Child-Pugh B级（HR 2.202,95%CI 1.059～4.581,P=0.035）、BCLC C期（HR 4.077,95%CI 1.902～8.742,P<0.001）、AFP≥400 ng/mL（HR 5.728,95%CI 2.227～14.729,P＜0.001）是TACE抵抗肝癌PFS的独立危险因素,索拉非尼联合ICIs（HR 0.180,95%CI 0.082～0.392,P<0.001）是肝癌患者的保护因素。联合组并发皮炎、腹泻的发生率明显多于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 索拉非尼联合ICIs治疗提高TACE抵抗中晚期肝癌的肿瘤反应性,延长患者PFS,是一种有效、安全的治疗方案。     

兔中性粒细胞防御素对HL—60细胞毒性及对病毒的直接灭活作用

本研究从新西兰家兔腹腔渗出中性粒细胞溶酶体内提取酸溶性组分，经制备性ＡＵ－ＰＡＧＥ获得纯化的防御素（ＮＰ１和ＮＰ２），ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ测定分子量为３ｋｄ左右。以ＨＬ－６０细胞作靶细胞，当ＮＰ１或ＮＰ２在１００μｇ／ｍｌ浓度时，可杀死６０％以上的ＨＬ－６０细胞。ＮＰ１（２６０μｇ／ｍｌ）还可直接灭活单纯疱疹病毒Ｉ型和乙型流感病毒，分别使病毒感染滴度降度９８．２％和９０％。本研究结果提示，中性粒细胞可