Closed loop stimulation helps with weaning from chronotropic incompetence-related ventilator dependence

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology -     

L-glutamic acid-g-poly hydroxyethyl methacrylate nanoparticles: acute and sub-acute toxicity and biodistribution potential in mice

The aim of this safety study in mice was to determine in vivo toxicity and biodistribution potential of a single and multiple doses of L-glutamic acid-g-p(HEMA) polymeric nanoparticles as a drug delivery system. The single dose did not cause any lethal effect, and its acute oral LD₅₀ was >2.000 mg/kg body weight (bw). Multiple doses (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg bw) given over 28 days resulted in no significant differences in body and relative organ weights compared to control. These results are supported by biochemical and histological findings. Moreover, nanoparticle exposure did not result in statistically significant differences in micronucleus counts in bone marrow cells compared to control. Nanoparticle distribution was time-dependent, and they reached the organs and even bone marrow by hour 6, as established by ex vivo imaging with the IVIS^® spectrum imaging system. In conclusion, L-glutamic acid-g-p(HEMA) polymeric nanoparticles appear biocompatible and have a potential use as a drug delivery system.KEY WORDS: biocompatibility, blood biochemistry, genotoxicity, histology, in vivo toxicity, micronucleus test, polymers     

Confounded association between proton pump inhibitor use and risk of biliary tract cancer: Result from three cohorts

Recent epidemiological studies suggested that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use was associated with an increased risk of biliary tract cancer (BTC), however, confounders were not adequately controlled. Our study aimed to evaluate PPI use and subsequent risk of BTC and its subtypes in three well-established cohorts. We conducted a pooled analysis of the subjects free of cancers in UK Biobank (n = 463 643), Nurses' Health Study (NHS, n = 80 235) and NHS II (n = 95 869). Propensity score weighted Cox models were used to estimate marginal HRs of PPIs use on BTC risk, accounting for potential confounders. We documented 284 BTC cases in UK Biobank (median follow-up: 7.6 years), and 91 cases in NHS and NHS II cohorts (median follow-up: 15.8 years). In UK biobank, PPI users had a 96% higher risk of BTC compared to nonusers in crude model (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.44-2.66), but the effect was attenuated to null after adjusting for potential confounders (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.60-1.49). PPI use was not associated with risk of BTC in the pooled analysis of three cohorts (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.60-1.43). We also observed no associations between PPI use with risk of intrahepatic (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.49-2.04), extrahepatic bile duct (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.52-2.27) and gallbladder cancers (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.26-1.66) in UK Biobank. In summary, regular use of PPIs was not associated with the risk of BTC and its subtypes.     

基于细胞因子的人参败毒散治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的网络药理学研究

目的从细胞因子角度,探究人参败毒散多成分、多靶点、多途径抗新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的作用机制。方法应用中药系统药理分析平台(TCMSP)收集人参败毒散中活性化合物,结合药物靶点数据库收集细胞因子风暴相关靶点,利用Cytoscape构建"药材-化合物-疾病靶点"网络。通过String和DAVID数据库对靶点的互作网络、GO功能和KEGG通路进行分析。结果人参败毒散"药材-活性化合物-疾病靶点"网络包括10种药材,211个活性成分和151个疾病靶点。互作网络发现人参败毒散抑制细胞因子风暴治疗COVID-19的靶点可能包含STAT3、MAPK1、NFκB1、PIK3CA、MAPK3、TNF、CXCR4、VEGFA、IL-6、IL-2等。GO功能分析发现上述靶点在生物功能方面涉及趋化性、类固醇代谢过程等;在分子功能方面涉及血红素结合、铁离子结合、氧结合等;在细胞组成方面涉及细胞表面、细胞膜等。KEGG通路富集发现上述靶点参与查加斯病通路、HIF-1信号通路、肿瘤坏死因子信号通路等的调控。结论人参败毒散可能通过调节趋化性细胞因子,增加血氧饱和度,抑制STAT、MAPK、NFκB、PIK3K、IL-6等炎症相关信号通路,实现多成分-多靶点-多途径抑制细胞因子风暴形成的抗COVID-19作用。     

Epidermal growth factor‐induced COX‐2 regulates metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma through upregulation of angiopoietin‐like 4

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and activation are the major causes of metastasis in cancers such as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the reciprocal effect of EGF‐induced COX‐2 and angiopoietin‐like 4 (ANGPTL4) on HNSCC metastasis remains unclear. In this study, we revealed that the expression of ANGPTL4 is essential for COX‐2‐derived prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂)‐induced tumor cell metastasis. We showed that EGF‐induced ANGPTL4 expression was dramatically inhibited with the depletion and inactivation of COX‐2 by knockdown of COX‐2 and celecoxib treatment, respectively. Prostaglandin E₂ induced ANGPTL4 expression in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manners in various HNSCC cell lines through the ERK pathway. In addition, the depletion of ANGPTL4 and MMP1 significantly impeded the PGE₂‐induced transendothelial invasion ability of HNSCC cells and the binding of tumor cells to endothelial cells. The induction of molecules involved in the regulation of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition was also dependent on ANGPTL4 expression in PGE₂‐treated cells. The depletion of ANGPTL4 further blocked PGE₂‐primed tumor cell metastatic seeding of lungs. These results indicate that the EGF‐activated PGE₂/ANGPTL4 axis enhanced HNSCC metastasis. The concurrent expression of COX‐2 and ANGPTL4 in HNSCC tumor specimens provides insight into potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of EGFR‐associated HNSCC metastasis.