Effects of CYP3A5*3 genetic polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of perampanel in Chinese pediatric patients with epilepsy.

PURPOSE: This study was the first to evaluate the effect of CYP3A5*3 gene polymorphisms on plasma concentration of perampanel (PER) in Chinese pediatric patients with epilepsy. METHODS: We enrolled 98 patients for this investigation. Plasma PER concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Leftover samples from standard therapeutic drug monitoring were allocated for genotyping analysis. The primary measure of efficacy was the rate of seizure reduction with PER treatment at the final checkup. RESULTS: The plasma concentration showed a linear correlation with the daily dose taken ( r  = 0.17; P  < 0.05). The ineffective group showed a significantly lower plasma concentration of PER (490.5 ±â€…297.1 vs. 633.8 ±â€…305.5 µg/ml; P  = 0.019). For the mean concentration-to-dose (C/D) ratio, the ineffective group showed a significantly lower C/D ratio of PER (3.2 ±â€…1.7 vs. 3.8 ±â€…2.0; P  = 0.040). The CYP3A5*3 CC genotype exhibited the highest average plasma concentration of PER at 562.8 ±â€…293.9 ng/ml, in contrast to the CT and TT genotypes at 421.1 ±â€…165.6 ng/ml and 260.0 ±â€…36.1 ng/ml. The mean plasma PER concentration was significantly higher in the adverse events group (540.8 ±â€…285.6 vs. 433.0 ±â€…227.2 ng/ml; P  = 0.042). CONCLUSION: The CYP3A5*3 gene's genetic polymorphisms influence plasma concentrations of PER in Chinese pediatric patients with epilepsy. Given that both efficacy and potential toxicity are closely tied to plasma PER levels, the CYP3A5*3 genetic genotype should be factored in when prescribing PER to patients with epilepsy.

LECT2 modulates dendritic cell function after Helicobacter pylori infection via the CD209a receptor.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori, a gram-negative bacterium persisting on the gastric mucosa, is involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of gastric diseases. Leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) treatment increased the phagocytic capacity of lymphocytes and improved immune function in bacterial infection. Whether the immune cells infected with H. pylori are affected by LECT2 is unclear. METHODS: Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) from wild-type C57BL/6 mice, CD209a knockout mice, or LECT2 knockout mice were exposed to H. pylori at a multiplicity of infection of 10 for 24 h. The maturity of DCs and the cytokines secreted by DCs were analyzed by flow cytometry, western blot, and real-time PCR. The signaling pathway underlying CD209a activation after LECT2 treatment were also detected. RESULTS: LECT2 treatment promoted H. pylori-induced BMDC maturation and produced a high level of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) but a low level of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-23p40). Moreover, LECT2-pretreated DCs shifted the development of pro-inflammatory Th1/Th17 cells to Treg cells. CD209a mediated LECT2-induced maturation and secretion of DC in H. pylori-primed BMDCs. LECT2 was further confirmed to induce the secretion of certain cytokines via CD209a-JNK/P38 MAPK pathway. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that LECT2 modulated the functions of H. pylori-primed DCs in a CD209a-dependent manner, which might hinder the clearance of H. pylori and contribute to its colonization.

Application of a WeChat-based mini-app as a patient reminder in Helicobacter pylori eradication: a prospective multi-center randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: To improve the eradication rate of H. pylori, researchers have investigated the role of WeChat-based mini-app as an electronic reminding system in H. pylori treatment. METHODS: Subjects from three medical centers were divided into two groups. Patients in the daily mini-app-based notification system group received daily notifications via the WeChat mini-app. Patients in the control group received one-time verbal education on the first clinical visit. Both groups received a 14-day quadruple therapy to eradicate H. pylori infection. Eradication rate, compliance, adverse events and satisfaction were evaluated. RESULTS: Both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses were conducted. The eradication rate in the daily mini-app-based notification system group was slightly higher compared with the control group (ITT analysis: 76.70% vs. 70.73%, p = 0.312; PP analysis: 85.87% vs. 82.86%, p = 0.562). The compliance was significantly higher in the daily mini-app-based notification system group (ITT analysis: 85.52% vs. 70.48%, p = 0.028; PP analysis: 92.39% vs. 81.90%, p = 0.030). The adverse event rates were similar between the two groups (PP analysis: 36.96% vs. 40.95%, p = 0.566). No significant difference in eradication rate was seen in each subgroup analysis by age, place of residence, grade of education, or endoscopic findings. CONCLUSION: The study showed that daily mini-app-based notification improved patient compliance but not H. pylori eradication rate. Trial registration The research was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000031011, 21/03/2020).

cFos-ANAB: A cFos-based Web Tool for Exploring Activated Neurons and Associated Behaviors.

cFos is one of the most widely-studied genes in the field of neuroscience. Currently, there is no systematic database focusing on cFos in neuroscience. We developed a curated database-cFos-ANAB-a cFos-based web tool for exploring activated neurons and associated behaviors in rats and mice, comprising 398 brain nuclei and sub-nuclei, and five associated behaviors: pain, fear, feeding, aggression, and sexual behavior. Direct relationships among behaviors and nuclei (even cell types) under specific stimulating conditions were constructed based on cFos expression profiles extracted from original publications. Moreover, overlapping nuclei and sub-nuclei with potentially complex functions among different associated behaviors were emphasized, leading to results serving as important clues to the development of valid hypotheses for exploring as yet unknown circuits. Using the analysis function of cFos-ANAB, multi-layered pictures of networks and their relationships can quickly be explored depending on users' purposes. These features provide a useful tool and good reference for early exploration in neuroscience. The cFos-ANAB database is available at www.cfos-db.net .

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of heavy- and light-chain variable region genes of anti-CD71 monoclonal antibody.

OBJECTIVE: To clone heavy-chain and light-chain variable region (VH and VL) gene of mouse-anti-human CD71 monoclonal antibody (mAb). METHOD: One-step method was used to extract total RNA, and a set of oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify the cDNAs with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the resultant products were respectively cloned into PMD18-T vector and their sequences analyzed. RESULTS: The PCR product obtained with the oligonucleotide primers for the variable region of mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain was about 350 bp and that with oligonucleotide primers for the light chain was about 320 bp, and their DNA sequences were determined. CONCLUSION: The length of the cloned heavy chain variable region was 348 bp, belonging to mouse heavy-chain subgroup II(A); the light-chain variable region was 336 bp that belongs to mouse kappa light-chain subgroup II.