Comparable prognosis in different neonatal histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate dosage management / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) is a solution commonly used for organ transplantation. However, there is no certified fixed regimen for on-pump heart surgery in neonates. We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the outcomes related to different HTK dosages and to analyze the safety of high-dosage perfusion.@*METHODS@#A total of 146 neonates who underwent on-pump heart surgery with single-shot HTK perfusion were divided into two groups according to HTK dosages: a standard-dose (SD) group (n = 63, 40 mL/kg 60 mL/kg). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to control confounding bias.@*RESULTS@#The SD group had a higher weight (3.7 ± 0.4 vs. 3.4 ± 0.4 kg, P  0.05). The incidences of post-operative complications were not significantly different between the two groups. There were no significant differences in ventilation time, intensive care unit stay, and post-operative hospital stay (P > 0.05). Follow-up echocardiography outcomes at 1 month, 3 to 6 months, and 1 year showed that left ventricular ejection fraction and end-diastolic dimension were comparable between the two groups.@*CONCLUSIONS@#In neonatal on-pump cardiac surgery patients, single-shot HD (>60 mL/kg) HTK perfusion had a comparable heart protection effect and short-term post-operative prognosis as standard dosage perfusion of 40 to 60 mL/kg. Thus, this study provides supporting evidence of the safety of HD HTK perfusion.

Applications of mathematical statistics methods on compatibility researches of traditional Chinese medicines formulae / 中国中药杂志

The compatibility of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) formulae containing enormous information, is a complex component system. Applications of mathematical statistics methods on the compatibility researches of traditional Chinese medicines formulae have great significance for promoting the modernization of traditional Chinese medicines and improving clinical efficacies and optimizations of formulae. As a tool for quantitative analysis, data inference and exploring inherent rules of substances, the mathematical statistics method can be used to reveal the working mechanisms of the compatibility of traditional Chinese medicines formulae in qualitatively and quantitatively. By reviewing studies based on the applications of mathematical statistics methods, this paper were summarized from perspective of dosages optimization, efficacies and changes of chemical components as well as the rules of incompatibility and contraindication of formulae, will provide the references for further studying and revealing the working mechanisms and the connotations of traditional Chinese medicines.

Effect of the 5-HT4 receptor and serotonin transporter on visceral hypersensitivity in rats

Visceral hypersensitivity plays an important role in motor and sensory abnormalities associated with irritable bowel syndrome, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The present study was designed to evaluate the expression of the 5-HT4 receptor and the serotonin transporter (SERT) as well as their roles in chronic visceral hypersensitivity using a rat model. Neonatal male Sprague-Dawley rats received intracolonic injections of 0.5% acetic acid (0.3-0.5 mL at different times) between postnatal days 8 and 21 to establish an animal model of visceral hypersensitivity. On day 43, the threshold intensity for a visually identifiable contraction of the abdominal wall and body arching were recorded during rectal distention. Histological evaluation and the myeloperoxidase activity assay were performed to determine the severity of inflammation. The 5-HT4 receptor and SERT expression of the ascending colon were monitored using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses; the plasma 5-HT levels were measured using an ELISA method. As expected, transient colonic irritation at the neonatal stage led to visceral hypersensitivity, but no mucosal inflammation was later detected during adulthood. Using this model, we found reduced SERT expression (0.298 ± 0.038 vs 0.634 ± 0.200, P < 0.05) and increased 5-HT4 receptor expression (0.308 ± 0.017 vs 0.298 ± 0.021, P < 0.05). Treatment with fluoxetine (10 mg·kg-1·day-1, days 36-42), tegaserod (1 mg·kg-1·day-1, day 43), or the combination of both, reduced visceral hypersensitivity and plasma 5-HT levels. Fluoxetine treatment increased 5-HT4 receptor expression (0.322 ± 0.020 vs 0.308 ± 0.017, P < 0.01) but not SERT expression (0.219 ± 0.039 vs 0.298 ± 0.038, P = 0.654). These results indicate that both the 5-HT4 receptor and SERT play a role in the pathogenesis of visceral hypersensitivity, and its mechanism may be involved in the local 5-HT level.

Low expression of S100P associated with paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer cell line / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Recent studies indicate that S100P expression may be a biomarker that can predict the success of cancer chemotherapy. Whether it is relevant to chemotherapeutics in ovarian cancer is unknown. In this study, we investigated the association of S100P expression with paclitaxel sensitivity in ovarian cancer cell lines.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We measured S100P expression and paclitaxel resistance profiles in parent SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cell lines. Then, the two cell lines were transiently transfected with S100P siRNA. We also constructed an OVCAR3 cell clone that stably overexpressed S100P. The effect of S100P expression level on the survival of cells exposed to paclitaxel was measured using the MTT assay. S100P expression was evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. Significance of differences was calculated using independent samples t-test and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Lower S100P expression was associated with a survival advantage in OVCAR3 cells exposed to paclitaxel; the survival advantage in SKOV3 cells was smaller (P < 0.05). The survival advantage associated with decreased S100P expression was even greater for SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells that had been transfected with S100P siRNA before being exposed to paclitaxel (P < 0.05). Consistent with this, the OVCAR3 cell clone that was transfected to overexpress S100P was more sensitive to paclitaxel (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Low S100P expression contributes to drug resistance to paclitaxel in ovarian cancer cell lines. S100P expression thus might be a marker that can predict the effectiveness of paclitaxel based chemotherapy. Such a marker could be helpful in improving individual medication regimens for ovarian cancer patients.</p>

The genes associated with geldanamycin inhibiting replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 / 病毒学报

Geldanamycin (GA), an ansamycin antibiotic specifically binding heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), exhibits a broad-spectrum antiviral effect. Herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1) replication in vitro was significantly inhibited by GA treatment. To explore the antiviral mechanism of GA against HSV-1, the 7267-spot human long oligonucleotide microarrays were applied to investigate the genes which might involved in the antiviral activity of GA in HeLa cells infected by HSV-1. Meanwhile, the reverse regulation of GA and HSV-1 on ACTG1, RAN, SOD1, HYAL1 were validated by using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. It is the first report of gene expression profile in cells infected by virus with GA treatment. The general impact of GA on cellular transcription may help to gain an insight into mechanism of its antiviral effect.