Hepatotoxicity of cantharidin is associated with the altered bile acid metabolism

Cantharidin (CTD) is an effective antitumor agent. However, it exhibits significant hepatotoxicity, the mechanism of which remains unclear. In this study, biochemical and histopathological analyses complemented with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS)-based targeted metabolomic analysis of bile acids (BAs) were employed to investigate CTD-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sixteen male and female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: control and CTD (1.0 mg/kg) groups. Serum and liver samples were collected after 28 days of intervention. Biochemical, histopathological, and BA metabolomic analyses were performed for all samples. Further, the key biomarkers of CTD-induced hepatotoxicity were identified via multivariate and metabolic pathway analyses. In addition, metabolite–gene–enzyme network and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were used to identify the signaling pathways related to CTD-induced hepatotoxicity. The results revealed significantly increased levels of biochemical indices (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bile acid). Histopathological analysis revealed that the hepatocytes were damaged. Further, 20 endogenous BAs were quantitated via UHPLC-MS/MS, and multivariate and metabolic pathway analyses of BAs revealed that hyocholic acid, cholic acid, and chenodeoxycholic acid were the key biomarkers of CTD-induced hepatotoxicity. Meanwhile, primary and secondary BA biosynthesis and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism were found to be associated with the mechanism by which CTD induced hepatotoxicity in rats. This study provides useful insights for research on the mechanism of CTD-induced hepatotoxicity.     

改良三点式重睑成形术的临床应用研究

目的:探讨改良三点式重睑术的临床应用疗效。方法:2012年6月-2019年6月,共165例单睑患者采用了改良三点式重睑术,沿术前标记线将三点处皮肤切开,剪刀将切口下唇的眼轮匝肌适当去除,同时将切口与切口在皮下层打通,剪除切口与切口之间的眼轮匝肌,6-0可吸收线挂睑板前筋膜或提上睑肌腱膜及切口下唇皮下组织缝合,三点切口各缝1针。再用6-0单丝尼龙线按照常规重睑线缝合方法挂切口下唇皮肤、睑板前筋膜或提上睑肌腱膜及切口上唇皮肤缝合打结,三点切口各缝1针。伴内眦赘皮者同时行内眦赘皮矫正术。结果:152例患者获得随访,随访患者大部分获得了比较满意的重睑,睁眼重睑流畅、自然,闭眼刀口痕迹不明显。2例患者出现内侧重睑线变浅,1例患者出现外侧重睑线变浅,所有患者均未出现重睑消失。5例患者双侧重睑线有轻度不对称。患者总体满意率为94.7%(144/152)。结论:改良三点式重睑术具有创伤小、并发症少、效果逼真、不易脱落、手术痕迹不明显等优点,值得推广应用。     

Myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) key genes analysis in rat anti-CD28-induced immune tolerance kidney transplantation

BackgroundIn the field of transplantation, inducing immune tolerance in recipients is of great importance. Blocking co-stimulatory molecule using anti-CD28 antibody could induce tolerance in a rat kidney transplantation model. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) reveals strong immune suppressive abilities in kidney transplantation. Here we analyzed key genes of MDSCs leading to transplant tolerance in this model.MethodsMicroarray data of rat gene expression profiles under accession number {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE28545","term_id":"28545"}}GSE28545 in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were analyzed. Running the LIMMA package in R language, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found. Enrichment analysis of the DEGs was conducted in the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) database to explore gene ontology (GO) annotation and their Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Their protein-protein interactions (PPIs) were provided by STRING database and was visualized in Cytoscape. Hub genes were carried out by CytoHubba.ResultsThree hundred and thirty-eight DEGs were exported, including 27 upregulated and 311 downregulated genes. The functions and KEGG pathways of the DEGs were assessed and the PPI network was constructed based on the string interactions of the DEGs. The network was visualized in Cytoscape; the entire PPI network consisted of 192 nodes and 469 edges. Zap70, Cdc42, Stat1, Stat4, Ccl5 and Cxcr3 were among the hub genes.ConclusionsThese key genes, corresponding proteins and their functions may provide valuable background for both basic and clinical research and could be the direction of future studies in immune tolerance, especially those examining immunocyte-induced tolerance.     

HIV-negative children’s experiences and opinions towards parental HIV disclosure: a qualitative study in China

In HIV/AIDS research, few studies to date have evaluated ways to improve parental HIV disclosure practices using feedback from HIV-negative children who have recently experienced this event. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 20 children (aged 6–15) who were partially to fully aware of their parents’ HIV status in rural Guangxi, China. Of the 20 children, eight children who were of older age (11.38 years in average) endorsed parental HIV disclosure, five discouraged it and seven expressed uncertainty. Children’s different experiences and attitudes towards disclosure were seen to be associated with their family dynamics (especially the parent–child relationship), social support and care, experiences of stigma and discrimination, psychosocial suffering, comprehension of the disease and the children’s age. Our study contributes to building a child-centered comprehensive understanding for Chinese parental HIV disclosure. It is imperative that counselors and community advocates assess and help parents achieve optimal readiness preceding disclosure of their illness to their HIV-negative children.     

基于调控肠道菌群探讨中药防治脑卒中

肠道菌群是一个独特的生态系统,被称为人体"被遗忘的器官",被誉为人类的"第二基因组"。肠道菌群失调与许多中枢神经系统疾病相关,例如帕金森病、阿尔茨海默症、精神分裂症及多发性硬化等。脑卒中具有高的发病率、复发率、死亡率和致残率的特点。肠道菌群在脑卒中的发生、发展中起着关键的作用,可通过影响机体的吸收、代谢、血压、血糖、血脂及动脉粥样斑块等因素,进一步影响脑卒中的发病。中医认为脾胃气血流注失度、阴阳盛衰失衡,机体生理功能失调,化生"风、火、痰、虚、瘀"等病理产物,可致中风的发生。脾胃主腐熟运化水谷,肠道菌群影响饮食的消化吸收,现代研究的肠道菌群功能与中医之脾胃功能失调相关。因此,调整肠道菌群的稳态,可作为一个潜在的干预靶点预防和治疗缺血性脑卒中。中药干预脑卒中已经取得了很好的疗效,是否与调节肠道菌群有关,值得未来做进一步的研究。同时对中药有效成分(小檗碱、黄芩苷、白藜芦醇等),中药单方(丹参、红景天等)和中药组方(补阳还五汤、脑心通胶囊、补中益气汤等)防治脑缺血的研究进展进行综述,为缺血性脑卒中的预防和开发提供新的途径和思路。     

Health-Related Quality of Life in KEYNOTE-010: a Phase II/III Study of Pembrolizumab Versus Docetaxel in Patients With Previously Treated Advanced,Programmed Death Ligand 1–Expressing NSCLC

Introduction

In the phase II/III KEYNOTE-010 study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01905657), pembrolizumab significantly prolonged overall survival over docetaxel in patients with previously treated, programmed death ligand 1–expressing (tumor proportion score ≥ 1%), advanced NSCLC. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) results are reported here.

Outcomes and risk management in type B aortic dissection patients with acute kidney injury: a concise review

PurposeType B aortic dissection is a rare but life-threatening disease. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was widely used for Type B aortic dissection patients in the last decade due to the lower mortality and morbidity compared with open chest surgical repair (OCSR). AKI in type B aortic dissection is a well-recognized complication and indicates poor short-term and long-term outcome. The objective of this concise review was to identify the risk factors and the impact of AKI on type B aortic dissection patients.Methods and resultsA literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library with the search terms ‘type B aortic dissection’ and ‘acute kidney injury’ (AKI), and all English-language literatures published in print or available online from inception through August 2020 were thoroughly reviewed. Studies that reported relative AKI risks and outcomes in type B aortic dissection patient were included. Major mechanisms of AKI in type B aortic dissection included renal hypoperfusion, inflammation response, and the use of contrast medium. Type B aortic dissection patients with AKI significantly had increased hospital stay duration, need of renal replacement therapy, and 30-d and 1-year mortality.ConclusionsAKI in type B aortic dissection is a well-recognized complication and associated with poor short-term and long-term outcome. Early identification of high-risk patients, early diagnosis of AKI, stabilization of the hemodynamic parameters, avoidance of nephrotoxic drugs, and optimization of the use of contrast agents are the major strategies for the reduction of AKI in type B aortic dissection patients.