Protection of subjects' legal rights, welfare and safety in clinical trials of COVID-19 / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

Since December 2019, COVID-19 has been found in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China, which has spread in many countries and regions around the world. A large number of clinical trials have been launched in China aiming to find safe and effective drugs and treatments.The protection of subjects' legal rights, welfare and safety should be superior to the consideration of scientific and social benefits. Therefore, all parties involved in clinical trials should take corresponding measures to protect subjects' legal rights, welfare and safety. This paper discussed about the protection of subjects' legal rights, welfare and safety in clinical trials of COVID-19 from all aspects of the clinical trials, aiming to provide reference for all parties involved in clinical trials and basic ideas for the protection of subjects' legal rights, welfare and safety in clinical trials of emergencies.

Effects of embolic agents with different particle sizes on interventional treatment of uterine fibroids

Objective: To compare the effects of embolic agents with different particle sizes on interventional treatment of uterine fibroids [UFs]

Methods: One-hundred and thirty patients with UFs were divided into a treatment group and a control group [n=65] by random draw. All patients were treated by uterine artery embolization, with the treatment group using 200 Micro m polyvinyl alcohol [PVA] particles and the control group using 500 Micro m PVA particles

Results: The success rate of embolization was 100%. After intervention, the treatment group was significantly less prone to complications such as lower abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting and bleeding than the control group [P<0.05]. The follicle-stimulating hormone levels of both groups were similar before and after intervention, and there were also no significant inter-group differences. The uterine and UF volumes of both groups significantly decreased six months after intervention [P<0.05], and those of the treatment group were significantly lower [P<0.05]. The two groups had similar physical function, role-physical, bodily pain and general health scores before intervention, but the treatment group scored significantly higher than the control group did six months after intervention [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Interventional embolization can well treat UFs, without apparently affecting ovarian functions. Small-sized PVA particles can improve the quality of life by shrinking the uterus and UFs as well as by reducing the risks of complications

Roles of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway in silicon dioxide-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human pulmonary epithelial cells / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) on the expression of E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor β₁(TGF-β₁) in human pulmonary epithelial cells (A549) with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and to study the roles of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway in SiO₂-induced EMT in A549 cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Alveolar macrophages (AMs) were stimulated with 50 µg/ml SiO₂for 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, or 36 h, and the supernatants were collected to measure the expression of TGF-β₁protein by ELISA. The AM supernatant in which TGF-β₁reached the highest expression (T=18 h) was used as AM-conditioned supernatant. A549 cells were cultured in AM-conditioned supernatant and stimulated with indicated doses of SiO₂(0, 50, 100, and 200 µg/ml) for 48 h. The cell morphological changes were observed using an inverted microscope. The cells were collected at different times, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of E-cadherin, α-SMA, and EGFR were measured by RT-PCR and immunocytofluorescence, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After stimulation by SiO₂, the expression level of TGF-β₁protein at each time point was significantly higher in the presence of AM supernatants than in the absence of AM supernatants (P<0.05). With the action time, the expression level of TGF-β₁protein increased at first and then decreased, and the highest level was reached at 18 h. After exposure to SiO₂, A549 cells exhibited mesenchymal characteristics, such as a spindle shape, pseudopodia change, and fibroblast-like morphology, as observed by inverted microscope, especially in the 200 µg/ml group. With increased concentration of SiO₂, the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin was down-regulated gradually, especially in the 200 µg/ml group, whereas the mRNA and protein expression of α-SMA and EGFR was up-regulated gradually, especially in the 200 µg/m1 group. There were significant differences between the SiO₂-treated groups (50, 100, and 200 µg/ml SiO₂) and the control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>After being stimulated by SiO₂in vitro, AMs have significantly increased expression level of TGF-β₁protein. The AM supernatant together with SiO₂can induce the transition of pulmonary epithelial cells to mesenchymal cells, and its mechanism may be related to the EGFR signaling pathway.</p>

Recent efficacy of uterine artery intervention and systemic intravenous chemotherapy respectively combined with radiotherapy for advanced cervical cancer / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To research the recent efficacy of advanced cervical cancer treated with two different ways of uterine artery intervention and systemic intravenous chemotherapy respectively combined with radiotherapy.Methods Eighty-two patients with stage Ⅱ B-ⅣA cervical cancer confimed by pathology were given systemic intravenous chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy(vein group,S0 cases)and uterine artery intervention chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy(intervention group,32 cases).The therapeutic effect and remission rate of parametrium were compared.Results The total therapeutic effect rate in vein group was 90.0％(45/50),and intervention group was 93.8％(30/32),there was no significant difference between two groups(P ＞ 0.05).The remission rate of parametrium in vein group was 50.0％ (25/50),and intervention group was 75.0％(24/32),there was significant difference between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The effect of uterine artery intervention chemotherapy for parametrium is better than that of systemic intravenous chemotherapy.

Screen for natural benzylisoquinoline alkaloids against tumor / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for natural benzylisoquinoline alkaloids against tumor.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>In this study, taken DNA as target, a method was developed for screening of natural benzylisoquinoline alkaloids against tumor from traditional Chinese medicine by the use of centrifugal ultrafiltration combined with HPLC technology. The anti-tumor activity for the compounds screened was evaluated in vitro.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Nine compounds interacted with DNA were discovered and identified from Macleaya cordata, Chelidonium majus, Coptis chinensis, and the proliferation of four types of human solid cancer cell lines was markedly inhibited by these compounds.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The developed method was considered to be suitable for screening of natural benzylisoquinoline alkaloids against tumor from traditional Chinese medicine.</p>