BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate programmed death-ligand 1 tumor proportion score in predicting the safety and efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 antibody-based therapy in treating patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a real-world setting. METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter, observational study enrolled adult patients who received PD-1/PD-L1 antibody-based therapy in China and met the following criteria: (1) had pathologically confirmed, unresectable stage III-IV NSCLC; (2) had a baseline PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS); and (3) had confirmed efficacy evaluation results after PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. Logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox regression were used to assess the progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) as appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 409 patients, 65.0% ( n = 266) with a positive PD-L1 TPS (≥1%) and 32.8% ( n = 134) with PD-L1 TPS ≥50%, were included in this study. Cox regression confirmed that patients with a PD-L1 TPS ≥1% had significantly improved PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.747, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.573-0.975, P = 0.032). A total of 160 (39.1%) patients experienced 206 irAEs, and 27 (6.6%) patients experienced 31 grade 3-5 irAEs. The organs most frequently associated with irAEs were the skin (52/409, 12.7%), thyroid (40/409, 9.8%), and lung (34/409, 8.3%). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that a PD-L1 TPS ≥1% (odds ratio [OR] 1.713, 95% CI 1.054-2.784, P = 0.030) was an independent risk factor for irAEs. Other risk factors for irAEs included pretreatment absolute lymphocyte count >2.5 × 10 9 /L (OR 3.772, 95% CI 1.377-10.329, P = 0.010) and pretreatment absolute eosinophil count >0.2 × 10 9 /L (OR 2.006, 95% CI 1.219-3.302, P = 0.006). Moreover, patients who developed irAEs demonstrated improved PFS (13.7 months vs. 8.4 months, P <0.001) and OS (28.0 months vs. 18.0 months, P = 0.007) compared with patients without irAEs. CONCLUSIONS A positive PD-L1 TPS (≥1%) was associated with improved PFS and an increased risk of irAEs in a real-world setting. The onset of irAEs was associated with improved PFS and OS in patients with advanced NSCLC receiving PD-1/PD-L1-based therapy.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism* ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Lung Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Aged ; B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism* ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/metabolism* ; Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use*

This study aims to explore the effects and action mechanisms of the active ingredients in Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BYHWD), namely tetramethylpyrazine(TMP) and hydroxy-safflor yellow A(HSYA), on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reglucose-reoxygenation(OGD/R)-induced inflammation and oxidative stress of microglia(MG). Network pharmacology was used to screen the effective monomer ingredients of BYHWD and determine the safe concentration range for each component. Inflammation and oxidative stress models were established to further screen the best ingredient combination and optimal concentration ratio with the most effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. OGD/R BV2 cell models were constructed, and BV2 cells in the logarithmic growth phase were divided into a normal group, a model group, an HSYA group, a TMP group, and an HSYA + TMP group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-6(IL-6). Oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase(SOD), nitric oxide(NO), and malondialdehyde(MDA), were also measured. Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression of both inflammation-related pathway [Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)] and oxidative stress-related pathway [nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)]. Immunofluorescence was used to assess the expression of proteins such as inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and arginase-1(Arg-1). The most effective ingredients for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in BYHWD were TMP and HSYA. Compared to the normal group, the model group showed significantly increased levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA, along with significantly higher protein expression of NF-κB, TLR4, Nrf2, and HO-1 and significantly lower SOD levels. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant. Compared to the model group, both the HSYA group and the TMP group showed significantly reduced levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA, lower expression of NF-κB and TLR4 proteins, higher levels of SOD, and significantly increased protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. Additionally, the expression of the M1-type MG marker iNOS was significantly reduced, while the expression of the M2-type MG marker Arg-1 was significantly increased. The results of the HSYA group and the TMP group had statistically significant differences from those of the model group. Compared to the HSYA group and the TMP group, the HSYA + TMP group showed further significant reductions in IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA levels, along with significant reductions in NF-κB and TLR4 protein expression, an increase in SOD levels, and elevated Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression. Additionally, the expression of the M1-type MG marker iNOS was reduced, while the M2-type MG marker Arg-1 expression increased significantly in the HSYA + TMP group compared to the TMP or HSYA group. The differences in the results were statistically significant between the HSYA + TMP group and the TMP or HSYA group. The findings indicated that the combined use of HSYA and TMP, the active ingredients of BYHWD, can effectively inhibit OGD/R-induced inflammation and oxidative stress of MG, showing superior effects compared to the individual use of either component.
Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Mice ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; Inflammation/genetics* ; Oxygen/metabolism* ; Pyrazines/pharmacology* ; Microglia/metabolism* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/immunology* ; NF-kappa B/immunology* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/immunology* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Humans

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceutical applications. Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent globally while the impact of AITC on toxoplasmosis is unclear. We explored the effect of AITC on acute toxoplasmosis. We infected C57BL/6 mice with T. gondii type I RH strain following AITC administration. On the 4th day after infection, which corresponds to the initial stage of infection, we collected serum for the determination of inflammatory cytokine levels. The mice serum of the AITC-administered group contained significantly lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-23 subunit p19, IL-4, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The lifespan of the mice in the AITC-administered group was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that AITC promoted the proliferation of intracellular T. gondii accompanied by the inhibition of IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that AITC facilitated T. gondii infection in the early stage by inhibiting the production of several inflammatory cytokines.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceutical applications. Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent globally while the impact of AITC on toxoplasmosis is unclear. We explored the effect of AITC on acute toxoplasmosis. We infected C57BL/6 mice with T. gondii type I RH strain following AITC administration. On the 4th day after infection, which corresponds to the initial stage of infection, we collected serum for the determination of inflammatory cytokine levels. The mice serum of the AITC-administered group contained significantly lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-23 subunit p19, IL-4, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The lifespan of the mice in the AITC-administered group was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that AITC promoted the proliferation of intracellular T. gondii accompanied by the inhibition of IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that AITC facilitated T. gondii infection in the early stage by inhibiting the production of several inflammatory cytokines.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

Objective:To investigate two cases of rare pathogenic genes,initiation codon mutations in HBA2 gene,combined with Southeast Asian deletion and their family members to understand the relationship of HBA2:c.2T＞C and HBA2:c.2delT mutations with clinical phenotype.Methods:The peripheral blood of family members was obtained for blood cell analysis and capillary electrophoresis hemoglobin analysis.Gap-PCR and reverse dot blotting(RDB)were used to detect common types of mutations in α-thalassaemia gene.Sanger sequencing was used to analyze HBA1 and HBA2 gene sequence.Results:Two proband genotypes were identified as--SEA/αα with HBA2:c.2T＞C and--SEA/αα with HBA2:c.2delT.HBA2:c.2T＞C/WT and HBA2:c.2delT/WT was detected in family members.They all presented with microcytic hypochromic anemia.Conclusion:When HBA2:c.2T＞C and HBA2:c.2delT are heterozygous that can lead to static α-thalassemia phenotype,and when combined with mild α-thalassemia,they can lead to the clinical manifestations of hemoglobin H disease.This study provides a basis for genetic counseling.

Objective:To perform molecular diagnosis and pedigree analysis for one case with α-thalassemia who does not conform to the genetic laws,and explore the effects of a newly discovered rare mutation(HBA2:c.*12G＞A)on clinical phenotypes.Methods:Blood samples of the proband and her family members were collected for blood routine analysis,and the hemoglobin components were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis.The common α-and β-globin gene loci in Chinese population were detected by conventional techniques(Gap-PCR,RDB-PCR).The α-globin gene sequences(HBA1,HBA2)were analyzed by Sanger sequencing.Results:By analyzing the test results of proband and her family members,the genotype of the proband was-α3,7/HBA2:c.*12G＞A,her father was HBA2:c.*12G＞A heterozygous mutation carrier.Conclusion:This study identifies a rare α-globin gene mutation(HBA2:c.*12G＞A)that has not been reported before.It is found that heterozygous mutation carriers present with static α-thalassemia.

Objective To explore the value of serum microRNAs-145(miR-145)and P53 antibody detection in the evaluation of therapeutic effect and prognosis in the treatment of breast cancer with Long Bei Xiaoyao Powder.Methods Ninety cases of breast cancer patients admitted to Beijing Aerospace General Hospital from January 2020 to January 2021 were selected as the study subjects.The patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group by random number table method,with 45 cases in each group.All of the patients in the two groups received individualized comprehensive treatment,and additionally the observation group was treated with Long Bei Xiaoyao Powder.The course of treatment covered three months.Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR)method was used to detect serum miR-145 expression level,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect serum P53 antibody expression level.The differences in the pre-and post-treatment expression levels of serum miR-145 and P53 antibodies in the two groups were compared,the relationship between the serum miR-145 and P53 antibody expression level and the poor prognosis of the patients in the observation group was explored by logistic regression analysis,and receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)was drawn to analyze the value of the serum miR-145 and P53 antibody detection in the prediction of poor prognosis in the observation group.Results(1)After treatment,the detection value of serum miR-145 in the two groups of patients showed an increasing trend(P＜0.05),while that of the P53 antibody showed a decreasing trend(P＜0.05).The intergroup comparison showed that the detection value of serum miR-145 in the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group,while the detection value of P53 antibody was significantly lower than that of the control group,the differences being all statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)In the observation group,the detection value of serum miR-145 in the patients with good prognosis was significantly higher than that in the patients with poor prognosis,and the detection value of serum P53 antibody in the patients with good prognosis was significantly lower than that in the patients with poor prognosis,the differences being all statistically significant(P＜0.05).(3)Logistic regression analysis showed that high expression of miR-145 was a protective factor for the patients with poor prognosis in the observation group,and high expression of P53 antibody was a risk factor for the patients with poor prognosis in the observation group(P＜0.05).(4)The area under the ROC curve(AUC)for the prediction of prognosis of the patients in the observation group by the combination of serum miR-145 and P53 antibody was the largest(0.877,95%CI:0.769-0.985),and its sensitivity and specificity were 93.75%and 93.10%,respectively,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Conclusion Low expression of serum miR-145 and high expression of serum P53 antibody are presented in the breast cancer patients with poor prognosis,and Long Bei Xiaoyao Powder exerts satisfactory therapeutic effect in treating breast cancer,which is conducive to enhancing the expression level of serum miR-145 and reducing the expression level of serum P53 antibody.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of brexpiprazole in treating acute schizophrenia.Methods Patients with schizophrenia were randomly divided into treatment group and control group.The treatment group was given brexpiprozole 2-4 mg·d-1 orally and the control group was given aripiprazole 10-20 mg·d-1orally,both were treated for 6 weeks.Clinical efficacy of the two groups,the response rate at endpoint,the changes from baseline to endpoint of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS),Clinical Global Impression-Improvement(CGI-S),Personal and Social Performance scale(PSP),PANSS Positive syndrome subscale,PANSS negative syndrome subscale were compared.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events in two groups were compared.Results There were 184 patients in treatment group and 186 patients in control group.After treatment,the response rates of treatment group and control group were 79.50％(140 cases/184 cases)and 82.40％(150 cases/186 cases),the scores of CGI-I of treatment group and control group were(2.00±1.20)and(1.90±1.01),with no significant difference(all P＞0.05).From baseline to Week 6,the mean change of PANSS total score wese(-30.70±16.96)points in treatment group and(-32.20±17.00)points in control group,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).The changes of CGI-S scores in treatment group and control group were(-2.00±1.27)and(-1.90±1.22)points,PSP scores were(18.80±14.77)and(19.20±14.55)points,PANSS positive syndrome scores were(-10.30±5.93)and(-10.80±5.81)points,PANSS negative syndrome scores were(-6.80±5.98)and(-7.30±5.15)points,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of treatment-related adverse events between the two group(69.00％vs.64.50％,P＞0.05).Conclusion The non-inferiority of Brexpiprazole to aripiprazole was established,with comparable efficacy and acceptability.

Objective To retrospectively investigate the efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training(PFMT)using APP-based home device in the real-world scenario.Methods A retrospective survey was conducted among 171 000 Chinese female users over 18 years old who freely registered APP and performed PFMT using a domestic manufactured home device from Oct 1,2019 to Mar 31,2021.The Patient Global Impression of Improvement(PGI-I)questionnaires concerning pelvic floor general condition,sexual satisfaction and other three major symptoms related to pelvic floor muscle laxity such as stress urinary incontinence(SUI),pelvic organ prolapse(POP),and vaginal laxity(VL)were broadcast public online for users to self-assess the improvement.The vaginal muscle strength values prior and post training recorded by APP were also reported.All data were collected anonymously for further stratified analysis.Results A total of 984 valid questionnaires were collected by systematic sampling.The PGI-I scores of pelvic floor general condition(P=0.000 1),sexual satisfaction(P=0.009),SUI(P=0.000 1),POP(P=0.044)and VL(P=0.034)were statistically significant in users who reported to use the device for 3 months or more compared with those less than 3 months.In addition,the increase of vaginal muscle strength was related to the improvement of PGI-I scores in SUI and POP with statistical significance.There were no significant difference in subgroups such as age,education,parity,and delivery mode.Conclusion The subjective benefit of pelvic floor function-related symptoms and the improvement of vaginal muscle strength could be observed after PFMT for three months or more using APP-based home device in Chinese women in the real-world scenario.