Resiniferatoxin reduces cardiac sympathetic nerve activation to exert a cardioprotective effect during myocardial infarction

Background and objective: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a common critical disease of the cardiovascular system. The process of MI is often accompanied by the excessive activation of cardiac sympathetic nerves, which leads to arrhythmia. Resiniferatoxin (RTX) is a transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), involved in the cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex. However, whether RTX can reduce the occurrence of arrhythmia and exert a cardioprotective effect by inhibiting the sympathetic reflex during MI is still unknown. Methods: The left anterior descending artery of cardiac was clamped to construct a model of MI. RTX (50 μg/ml) was used by epicardial application in MI rats. Ventricular electrophysiologic properties were continuously monitored by a body surface ECG. Yrosine hydroxylase (TH) and growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) were detected by Immunofluorescence staining. Connexin43 and transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGF-β1) were detected by western blot. Norepinephrine (NE) and BNP levels in blood and tissue were determined by ELISA. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. Results: The ERP, APD90, QRS, QT and the Tend-Tpeak intervals in MI rats were all prolonged, but decreased after RTX treatment (n = 3, P<0.05). In contrast, the RR interval was shortened in the MI group, but prolonged in the MI+RTX group (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX treatment significantly reduced ventricular arrhythmias after MI. TH- and GAP43-positive nerve densities and TGF-β1, and cx-43 protein expression were up-regulated in the MI group compared to the sham group, and they were decreased in the MI+RTX group compared to the MI group (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX can decrease serum and tissue NE and BNP levels (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX pretreatment significantly decreased heart rate, HW/BW ratio and LVIDS, and increased LVEF andLVFS values (n = 3, P<0.05). Conclusion: RTX improved cardiac dysfunction, ventricular electrophysiologic properties, and sympathetic nerve remodeling in rats with MI by inhibiting the excessive cardiac sympathetic drive.     

Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of SCB01A,a Microtubule Inhibitor with Vascular Disrupting Activity,in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

Lessons Learned

• SCB01A is a novel microtubule inhibitor with vascular disrupting activity.
• This first‐in‐human study demonstrated SCB01A safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary antitumor activity.
• SCB01A is safe and well tolerated in patients with advanced solid malignancies with manageable neurotoxicity.

BackgroundSCB01A, a novel microtubule inhibitor, has vascular disrupting activity.MethodsIn this phase I dose‐escalation and extension study, patients with advanced solid tumors were administered intravenous SCB01A infusions for 3 hours once every 21 days. Rapid titration and a 3 + 3 design escalated the dose from 2 mg/m² to the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) based on dose‐limiting toxicity (DLT). SCB01A‐induced cellular neurotoxicity was evaluated in dorsal root ganglion cells. The primary endpoint was MTD. Safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and tumor response were secondary endpoints.ResultsTreatment‐related adverse events included anemia, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, and peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy. DLTs included grade 4 elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) in the 4 mg/m² cohort; grade 3 gastric hemorrhage in the 6.5 mg/m² cohort; grade 2 thromboembolic event in the 24 mg/m² cohort; and grade 3 peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy, grade 3 elevated aspartate aminotransferase, and grade 3 hypertension in the 32 mg/m² cohort. The MTD was 24 mg/m², and average half‐life was ~2.5 hours. The area under the curve‐dose response relationship was linear. Nineteen subjects were stable after two cycles. The longest treatment lasted 24 cycles. SCB01A‐induced neurotoxicity was reversible in vitro.ConclusionThe MTD of SCB01A was 24 mg/m² every 21 days; it is safe and tolerable in patients with solid tumors.     

中医药干预新型冠状病毒肺炎临床研究方案分析

对中医药防治新型冠状病毒肺炎临床研究方案注册情况进行分析,为提高相关研究设计质量提供参考和建议。检索中国临床试验注册中心网站(www.chictr.org.cn)以及美国临床试验注册中心网站(clinicaltrials.gov),以新型冠状病毒肺炎、2019-nCoV等为检索词,检索新型冠状病毒肺炎中医药相关临床研究方案。按照纳入排除标准筛选文献,并提取研究注册时间、研究目的、研究类型、申办单位、研究对象、样本量、干预措施、评价指标等数据,采用描述性分析方法。共纳入新型冠状病毒肺炎中医药相关研究方案49个,研究负责单位以湖北、北京、浙江等地医院或高等院校为主。研究具体实施单位属地集中在湖北、广东、浙江、河南等地医院。研究设计以干预性试验研究为主(共40个),其中随机平行对照研究30个,非随机对照试验7个,单臂研究2个,连续入组1个;观察性研究6个;卫生服务研究2个;预防性研究1个。总样本量30562例,单个研究样本量最大20000例,最小30例。49个方案的研究对象包括健康人群(3个)、隔离观察人群(1个)、疑似病例(10个)、确诊病例(31个)、康复期病例(4个)。31个拟纳入确诊病例的研究方案中,有16个研究未明确病情分级,3个研究明确排除危重症,4个研究纳入普通型,2个研究纳入轻型、普通型或重型,1个研究纳入轻型和普通型,1个研究纳入普通型或重型,3个研究纳入重型,1个研究纳入重症或危重症。评价的干预措施包括中成药(连花清瘟胶囊/颗粒、藿香正气滴丸/口服液、八宝丹、固表解毒灵、金蒿解热颗粒、复方鱼腥草合剂、金叶败毒颗粒、疏风解毒胶囊、双黄连口服液、痰热清注射液、血必净注射液、热毒宁注射液、喜炎平注射液)、汤药、太极拳疗法。主要疗效指标以退热时间、临床症状缓解、新型冠状病毒核酸转阴、重症转化率、胸部CT影像为主。结果表明中医药防治新冠肺炎的临床研究响应快速,当前注册方案涵盖了疾病预防、治疗和康复全过程。但存在人群定义不清,研究目标不明确,干预方案需要细化,疗效评价指标需要优化等问题;另外,需要考虑疫情救治的实际困难和工作负担,在符合医学伦理条件下,优化流程,提高研究方案的可操作性。     

国内外安宁疗护准入标准的研究进展

安宁疗护可提高患者在生命终末阶段的生活质量，减轻患者和家属的身心痛苦。科学合理的安宁疗护准入标准可帮助医护人员识别出需要安宁疗护服务的患者，使其及时获得安宁疗护服务，因此明确安宁疗护的准入标准是推进安宁疗护发展的基础。本文就国内外安宁疗护准入标准的制定方法、具体内容及优缺点进行综述，以期为我国安宁疗护准入标准的构建提供参考。     

Direct insertion of an ultra‐slim upper endoscope for cholangioscopy in patients undergoing choledochoduodenostomy

Direct peroral cholangioscopy (POC) using an ultra‐slim upper endoscope is one modality of POC for intraductal endoscopic evaluation and treatment of the bile duct. Choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) is one modality of biliary bypass surgery that provides a new route to the bile duct. We carried out direct POC using an ultra‐slim upper endoscope without the use of accessories in 10 patients (four sump syndromes, three bile duct strictures and three intrahepatic duct stones) previously undergoing surgical CDS. Direct POC was successful in all patients. The use of an intraductal balloon catheter was required in one patient for advancement of the endoscope into the bile duct. Distal bile ducts with sump syndromes were cleared using baskets and water irrigation under direct POC. Cholangiocarcinoma was diagnosed in one patient with hilar bile duct stricture after cholangioscopic evaluation and a targeting forceps biopsy under direct POC. Intrahepatic duct stones were successfully extracted after intraductal fragmentation under direct POC. Oozing bleeding occurred during intraductal lithotripsy but stopped spontaneously. Direct POC using an ultra‐slim upper endoscope without the assistance of accessories can easily be carried out in patients undergoing CDS.     

Utility of Tissue Similarity Maps Based on Relative Cerebral Blood Volume for Grading Gliomas as Validated by Histological Results

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Optimal tracking control for non-zero-sum games of linear discrete-time systems via off-policy reinforcement learning

In this article, a model-free off-policy reinforcement learning algorithm is applied to address the optimal tracking problem based on multiplayer non-zero-sum games for discrete-time linear systems. In contrast to the traditional method and the policy iteration method for solving the optimal tracking problems, the proposed algorithm operates with the system data rather than the knowledge of the system dynamics. For performing the proposed algorithm, an auxiliary augmented system is constructed via assembling the original system and the reference trajectory while a discount factor is introduced into the performance indexes. It is analyzed that the solutions of the proposed algorithm converge to the Nash equilibrium and the result is not influenced by the probing noise. Two simulations are presented to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.     

Hypocholesterolaemic mechanism of bitter melon aqueous extracts via inhibition of pancreatic cholesterol esterase and reduction of cholesterol micellar solubility

This study investigated the hypocholesterolaemic effects of bitter melon aqueous extracts (BMAE) in vitro, the inhibitory effects of BMAE on pancreatic cholesterol esterase (CEase) and incorporation of cholesterol into micelles were investigated. BMAE decreased the in vitro micellar solubility of cholesterol in a dose-dependent manner. The conformation of CEase was investigated by means of circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence. The result revealed the decrease of α-helix contents, increase of β-sheet and exposure of aromatic amino acid residuals. The incorporation of cholesterol into micelles was inhibited by BMAE. A complex was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which indicated interaction between cholesterol and BMAE. The result revealed that BMAE can play a role in decreased intestinal cholesterol absorption via inhibition of CEase, and of micelle formation.