Rucaparib in the landscape of PARP inhibition in ovarian cancer

Introduction: The landscape of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition in ovarian cancer is rapidly evolving and becoming increasingly complex. Ovarian cancer is leading therapeutic innovation by providing the proof of concept for DNA repair as a target. Three different PARP inhibitors have now received approvals in the US and Europe in different indications. Subtle but crucial differences can be found among the licensed indications for each PARP inhibitor in terms of histology, type of BRCA mutation (germline and/or somatic), number of prior lines of chemotherapy and whether the indication is in the treatment or maintenance settings.

Areas covered: We review the latest clinical data regarding the PARP inhibitor rucaparib in ovarian cancer, provide an update on the evolving landscape of PARP inhibition in ovarian cancer, and summarize avenues of ongoing and future research.

Expert opinion: All eligible patients should be offered a PARP inhibitor. SOLO1 trial results demonstrated an unprecedented benefit maintenance with PARP inhibitors in first line. Results from trials evaluating PARP inhibitors as maintenance in first line regardless of BRCA status and from trials evaluating combinatorial strategies are eagerly awaited.     

MicroARN: la biología molecular como herramienta de predicción en preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a disease with a significant incidence worldwide that is directly associated with 15% of maternal deaths. This is usually characterized by the presence of hypertension and proteinuria, which manifests itself from the middle of pregnancy. MicroRNAs are single-stranded RNA molecules that act primarily by degrading transcribed messenger RNA or inhibiting microRNA translation. Placental microRNAs play a role in the growth and function of the placenta, their potential use as diagnostic biomarkers is considered feasible due to the ability to enter the maternal circulation and be detectable in maternal plasma.     

双环[1.1.1]戊烷衍生物的合成研究进展

双环[1.1.1]戊烷（BCP）是一种具有三维立体结构的桥环骨架，其作为苯环、叔丁基和炔烃的生物电子等排体，已经在药物化学领域得到广泛的应用。随着BCP应用范围的扩大，BCP及其衍生物的合成日益成为研究的热点。本文对BCP衍生物的主要合成策略和方法进行总结，旨在为新药研发人员提供参考。     

搞好"病原生物学"教学及促进学科发展的实践与体会

将“医学微生物学”和“人体寄生虫学”整合为“病原生物学”符合现代医学教育的取向。中国医科大学是将两个教研室从形式到实质性合并为“病原生物学”教研室，并且将两门课完全融合成一门课程和一套教师队伍进行教学的少数院校之一。本文总结了在这一新学科教学和促进学科发展中的经验和体会。     

In vivo induction of CD4+ T cell responses by antigens covalently linked to synthetic microspheres does not require adjuvant

Macrophages, dendritic cells or B lymphocytes have been shownto play a major role in the presentation of soluble antigensto CD4⁺ T cells. In contrast, the capacity of these cells topresent particulate antigens such as bacterial or parasiticantigens to T cells remains controversial. To investigate thisquestion, well defined particulate antigens were prepared bycovalent linkage of proteins or peptides to 1 µm in diametersynthetic microspheres. The T cell immunogenicity of such particulateantigens was analyzed in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, a solubleprotein such as hen egg lysozyme (HEL) coupled to beads stimulateda strong proliferative T cell response of lymph node cells fromHEL-primed mice or of specific T cell hybridomas. HEL coupledto beads was presented to the specific T cell hybridomas bysplenocytes or by peritoneal macrophages, but not by lymphomaB cells. Immunization of mice with several different proteinantigens or with a synthetic peptide covalently linked to beadsinduced strong CD4⁺ T cell responses in the absence of adjuvant.The strong in vivo immunogenicity of proteins coupled to beadsdid not result from a non-specific adjuvant effect of beadssince covalent linkage of the antigen to beads was strictlyrequired to induce T cell responses in the absence of adjuvant.In vivo treatment by carrageenan showed that macrophages arerequired for the in vivo stimulation of T cell responses bythese particulate antigens. Thus, these results demonstratedthe role of phagocytic cells, especially macrophages, for invivo presentation of particulate antigens. These particulateantigens represent an interesting approach for the developmentof new vaccines, and for the in vivo analysis of the role ofvarious antigen presenting cells in T cell activation and differentiation.     

Marine biodiversity as a source of chemical diversity

Total global biodiversity is estimated at between 3 and 500 × 10⁶ species of prokaryote and eukaryote organisms spread across 70 or more phyla. The marine macrofauna alone are estimated between 0.5 and 30 × 10⁶ species and represents a broader range of taxonomic diversity than that found in the terrestrial environment, which has been the traditional source of natural products. With a typical eukaryote possessing 50,000 genes, the global marine macrofauna are the source of 2.5 × 10¹⁰ to 1.5 × 10¹² primary products and an associated extensive range of secondary products. However, only a few thousand novel compounds from marine organisms have been described. These compounds have proven unique in chemical and pharmacological terms but, as yet, no therapeutic agents have resulted. Given a broader drug discovery strategy, and facilitated by technological advances, it is predicted that the characterisation of marine chemical diversity will be accelerated. Strategies for drug discovery from the virtually untapped chemical diversity of marine organisms are discussed. © 1994 Wiley-Less, Inc.     

人工合成成骨生长肽对辐射损伤小鼠造血功能的保护作用

目的　探讨人工合成成骨生长肽 (sOGP)对辐射损伤小鼠造血功能的保护作用 ,阐明其剂量 效应关系。方法　以 4 .0和 7.5Gy13 7Csγ射线照射小鼠为模型 ,采用皮下注射和肌肉注射 2种给药途径连续 8d给予sOGP ,剂量范围为 0 .0 39～ 6 4 0nmol/(kg·d) ,观察外周血象、骨髓有核细胞数、骨髓粒系造血祖细胞集落形成(CFU G)、骨髓细胞分类和骨髓切片组织学等的变化。结果　sOGP能加快受照小鼠外周血白细胞、骨髓有核细胞数的恢复 ,在一定的剂量范围内呈明显的剂量依赖性 ,并能刺激髓外造血 ;促进 (CFU G)形成作用显著高于重组人粒系集落刺激因子 (rhG CSF)约 2倍 ;骨髓病理学观察显示sOGP能加快受照小鼠骨髓造血组织损伤的恢复 ,刺激骨髓粒系增生。结论　sOGP可明显促进受照射小鼠造血功能的恢复 ,其机制可能是通过作用于早期造血阶段或 (及 )改善微环境进而促进造血。     

海生多糖肽对亚急性辐射损伤小鼠的防护作用

目的 研究海生多糖肽对小鼠亚急性辐射损伤的防护作用。方法 给小鼠饲以海生多糖肽制剂，用^60Coγ射线进行全身性亚急性照射，检测外周血白细胞、脾淋巴细胞转化率、红细胞超氧化物歧化酶、丙二醛和过氧化酶含量、精子畸形率、睾丸精母细胞染色体畸变率和肝细胞半胱氨酸蛋白酶-3等指标。结果 海生多糖肽高、低剂量组小鼠的血白细胞数量、脾淋巴细胞转化率、红细胞超氧化物歧化酶值和过氧化酶值均高于照射对照组，红细胞丙二醛值、精子畸形率、睾丸精母细胞染色体畸变率和肝细胞半胱氨酸蛋白酶-3阳性表达率则低于照射对照组，差异有显著性。结论 海生多糖肽对亚急性辐射损伤有良好的防护作用。     

Synthesis of a new carrier for immunization: polytuftsin

Sequential poly(Arg-Thr-Lys-Pro) consisting mainly of the repeat of tuftsin Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg was synthesized by condensing the p-nitrophenyl ester of Arg(HCI)-Thr-Lys-(2-CI-Z)-Pro in the presence of HOBt . Two haptenic sequences of the Pre-S region of hepatitis B virus antigen (10–26 and 39–55) were prepared by solid phase and coupled to polytuftsin via glutaraldehyde. The peptides, either free or coupled to polytuftsin, were administrated to mice and the antisera were assayed by ELISA . Coupling the peptides to the polypeptide significantly improved the anti-peptide antibody titer in Freund complete adjuvant or in NaCI 0.9%. Cross-reaction between antibodies induced by the peptides and the native protein was also improved. Polytuftsin alone is very poorly immunogenic.