Glucose starvation induces resistance to metformin through the elevation of mitochondrial multidrug resistance protein 1

Metformin, a drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus, has shown therapeutic effects for various cancers. However, it had no beneficial effects on the survival rate of human malignant mesothelioma (HMM) patients. The present study was performed to elucidate the underlying mechanism of metformin resistance in HMM cells. Glucose‐starved HMM cells had enhanced resistance to metformin, demonstrated by decreased apoptosis and autophagy and increased cell survival. These cells showed abnormalities in mitochondria, such as decreased ATP synthesis, morphological elongation, altered mitochondrial permeability transition pore and hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Intriguingly, Mdr1 was significantly upregulated in mitochondria but not in cell membrane. The upregulated mitochondrial Mdr1 was reversed by treatment with carbonyl cyanide m‐chlorophenyl hydrazone, an MMP depolarization inducer. Furthermore, apoptosis and autophagy were increased in multidrug resistance protein 1 knockout HMM cells cultured under glucose starvation with metformin treatment. The data suggest that mitochondrial Mdr1 plays a critical role in the chemoresistance to metformin in HMM cells, which could be a potential target for improving its therapeutic efficacy.     

Pseudocystic pilomatricoma: A new variant and review of the literature

A classic pilomatricoma, which usually presents with an asymptomatic, solitary, firm, subcutaneous nodule in the head, neck, or extremities of the paediatric population, is easily diagnosed based on its characteristic clinical and histopathological features. However, its variants often pose particular diagnostic challenges to clinicians due to their rarity and diverse clinicopathological features. We present a new pseudocystic variant, manifesting as solid lesions floating in a fluid‐filled sac.     

Improvements in epidermal function prevent relapse of psoriasis: a self‐controlled study

While therapeutic approaches for psoriasis are widely available, preventive regimens are lacking. We aimed to determine whether improvements in epidermal function could prevent psoriasis relapse. Two self‐controlled cohort studies were designed, enrolling two cohorts of patients with psoriasis (n = 30 and n = 60) to be treated topically with an in‐house‐prepared emollient or ATOPALM^® cream applied twice daily to one forearm for 20 and 30 days, respectively, while the same sites on the contralateral arm served as the untreated control. Epidermal function on both arms was assessed prior to and at the end of the trials. Delayed relapse on the treated arm was seen in 54.5% and 71% of patients in the first and second cohort, respectively. The time of psoriatic relapse correlated with the extent of abnormalities in baseline epidermal function. These results suggest that improvements in epidermal function with topical emollients can prevent/attenuate the development of psoriasis.     

阿戈美拉汀联合乙哌立松治疗青年慢性紧张性头痛的疗效分析

目的 探讨阿戈美拉汀联合乙哌立松治疗青年慢性紧张性头痛(Chronictention-typeheadache,CTTH)的疗效及安全性.方法 80例青年慢性紧张性头痛患者依据是否倒班随机分为对照组和治疗组,对照组口服乙哌立松治疗,治疗组在对照组基础上联合阿戈美拉汀治疗,评估2组患者治疗前匹兹堡睡眠量表评分(PSQI)评估治疗6周后两组的头痛疗效以及不良反应.结果 倒班人员的入组前PSQI的总评分、睡眠质量、入睡时间、催眠药物及睡眠障碍因子分高于非倒班人员;治疗组的疗效优于对照组,有统计学意义(P＜0.05);治疗组内,倒班患者疗效优于非倒班患者(P＜0.05).两组不良反应无明显差异.结论 阿戈美拉汀联合乙哌立松治疗慢性紧张性头痛的的疗效确切,安全性高.