To investigate if ginkgo biloba extract (Egb-761) can improve tardive dyskinesia (TD) symptoms through increasing the activity of plasma MnSOD. Methods We enrolled a total of 384 schizophrenia patients including 157 TD patients and 227 non-TD patients, as well as 280 normal subjects. The difference of MnSOD level in plasma among these groups were compared. TD patients were then randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group (n=77) and the placebo group (n=75) were treated with 240 mg of Egb-761 or placebo per day for 12 weeks, respectively. The abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS) and the positive and negative symptoms scale (PANSS) were used to evaluate the severity of the symptoms in baseline, the sixth week and the twelfth week after treatment. The level of MnSOD activity in plasma was also detected before and after the treatment. Results The level of MnSOD activity was lower in schizophrenia groups than in healthy control group (P＜0.01). In addition, the level of MnSOD activity was significantly lower in TD group than in non-TD group (P＜0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that group effect (F=4.00, P=0.05), time effect (F=32.17, P＜0.01) and interactive effect of group and time (F=39.04, P＜0.01) were significant in AIMS total score. The AIMS total score of treatment group was significantly lower than that of placebo group at 6-week and 12-week time points (all P＜0.01). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that time effect (F=23.04, P＜0.01) and interactive effect of group and time (F=6.41, P＜0.05) were significant in the level of MnSOD activity. In addition, the level of MnSOD at baseline was significantly correlated with the reduction of AIMS total score during the treatment period (r=0.27, P=0.018). Conclusion Treatment of Egb-761 can improve symptoms of TD and activity of MnSOD.

BACKGROUND:Tendinopathy is a musculoskeletal disorder characterized by pain and decreased mobility,with pathological changes of disturbed collagen and hyperplasia of the vasculature.Tendinopathy tends to occur in athletes,physical workers,and the elderly.One of the mechanisms of tendinopathy is the"failed healing response",and part of what causes the failed healing response is the erroneous differentiation of tendon stem/progenitor cells. OBJECTIVE:By reviewing the relevant literature,we introduce the characteristics of tendon stem/progenitor cells,summarize the factors that affect the differentiation of tendon stem/progenitor cells to tendon cells and those that lead to mis-differentiation of tendon stem/progenitor cells(differentiation to adipocytes,osteocytes and chondrocytes),and also describe the limitations of tendon stem/progenitor cells in clinical applications. METHODS:PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for the terms"tendon stem/progenitor cells,tendinopathy,tendon injury,differentiation".The relevant literature was screened by reading and 109 articles were included for the analysis of the results. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Tendon stem/progenitor cells are a type of stem cells that can spontaneously differentiate into tendons and have the ability to self-renew,clone,and multi-differentiate.Various external conditions acting on tendon stem/progenitor cells can lead them to differentiate in diverse directions.The specific factors that regulate the fate of tendon stem/progenitor cells are not known with certainty.When stem cell renewal and differentiation in tendons becomes abnormal,it can lead to failure of tendon healing and consequently to tendinopathy.(2)Aging,changes in extracellular matrix composition,excessive mechanical stimulation,prostaglandin E2 and interleukin-6 as well as interleukin-10 and some systemic diseases may be important in regulating the mis-differentiation of tendon stem/progenitor cells.(3)Possible favorable factors that promote the differentiation of tendon stem/progenitor cells to tenocytes are:some growth factors and cytokines,moderate mechanical stimulation and topography of the extracellular matrix,low oxygen tension,drugs,and several transcriptional genes and proteins.(4)The most desirable therapeutic tools are the regulation of endogenous tendon stem/progenitor cells or the stimulation of endogenous tendon stem/progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation by exogenous tendon stem/progenitor cells.(5)Understanding the factors that regulate mis-differentiation of tendon stem/progenitor cells may provide insight into the pathogenesis of tendinopathy and identify therapeutic targets.Elaborating on the induction of tendon stem/progenitor cell differentiation into tendons could facilitate their use in tissue engineering.

Objective:To compare the diagnostic accuracy between multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) and biparametric magnetic resonance imaging (bp-MRI) in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).Methods:The clinical data of 195 patients with bladder cancer at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July 2020 to June 2022, were retrospectively reviewed. There were 160 males and 35 females, with the median age of 68(61, 76)years old. Mp-MRI was performed on each patient within 6 weeks before transurethral resection of bladder tumor or radical cystectomy. Each patients’ images were divided into two sets. Set 1 (bp-MRI) included the axial, sagittal, coronal T2-weighted images (T2WI), and axial diffusion-weighted images (DWI) or apparent diffusion coefficient maps. Set 2 (mp-MRI) included Set 1 images in addition to dynamic contrast-enhanced images. All images were independently reviewed and evaluated by two radiologists. Mp-MRI was evaluated according to the Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS)guideline, and bp-MRI was evaluated according to two types of criteria. Bp-MRI (Criterion A): VI-RADS scoring is determined 2 when T2WI 3-point with DWI 2-point. Bp-MRI (Criterion B): VI-RADS scoring is determined 3 when T2WI 3-point with DWI 2-point. VI-RADS scoring ≥ 3 or ≥ 4 was used as the cut-off value to predict MIBC. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of mp-MRI, bp-MRI (Criterion A), and bp-MRI (Criterion B) were calculated, as well as receiver operating characteristic curves and the areas under the curve (AUC).Results:Of 195 patients, 135 patients (69.2%) were pathologically confirmed as NMIBC and 60 patients (30.8%) were MIBC. When the VI-RADS cut-off value was ≥ 3, the sensitivity of mp-MRI, bp-MRI (Criterion A), and bp-MRI (Criterion B) were identical, all at 88.3% (53/60). The specificity of bp-MRI (Criterion A), bp-MRI (Criterion B), and mp-MRI were 88.9% (120/135), 73.3% (99/13), and 86.7% (117/135), respectively. When the VI-RADS cut-off value was ≥ 4, both bp-MRI (Criterion A) and bp-MRI (Criterion B) were classified as the same criterion. The sensitivity of bp-MRI and mp-MRI were 70.0% (42/60) and 75.0% (45/60), respectively. The specificity of bp-MRI and mp-MRI were identical, at 95.6% (129/135). The AUC for bp-MRI (Criterion A), bp-MRI (Criterion B), and mp-MRI were 0.927 (95% CI 0.881-0.959), 0.904 (95% CI 0.853-0.941), and 0.927 (95% CI 0.881-0.959), respectively. The AUC for bp-MRI (Criterion A) and mp-MRI were significantly higher than that of bp-MRI (Criterion B) ( P<0.001). There was no significant difference in AUC between bp-MRI (Criterion A) and mp-MRI ( P=0.939). Conclusions:Bp-MRI (Criterion A), VI-RADS scoring is determined 2 when T2WI 3-point with DWI 2-point, shows comparable diagnostic accuracy in predicting MIBC with mp-MRI. Compared to bp-MRI (Criterion B), the corresponding situation when VI-RADS scoring is determined 3, bp-MRI (Criterion A) may have better diagnostic accuracy than bp-MRI (Criterion B) in predicting MIBC.

Objective:To discuss the inhibitory effect of chelerythrine(CHE)on the migration,invasion,and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)of the human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells,and to clarify the associated mechanism.Methods:The SKOV3 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control group and 2.5,5.0,10.0,20.0,and 40.0 μmol·L-1 CHE groups.Methylthiazolydiphenyl-tetrazolium(MTT)assay was used to detect the inhibitory rates of proliferation of the cells in various groups.The SKOV3 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control group,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)group,TGF-β1+5 μmol·L-1 CHE group,and TGF-β1+10 μmol·L-1 CHE group.Cell scratch assay was used to detect the migration rates of the cells in various groups;Transwell chamber assay was used to detect the numbers of migration and invasion cells in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of E-cadherin,N-cadherin,and Vimentin proteins in the cells in various groups;immunofluorescence staining method was used to detect the fluorescence intensities of E-cadherin and N-cadherin in the cells in various groups.Results:The MTT assay results showed that compared with control group,the inhibitory rates of proliferation of the cells in 5.0,10.0,20.0,and 40.0 μmol·L-1 CHE groups were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The cell scratch assay results showed that compared with control group,the migration rate of the cells in TGF-β1 group was increased(P<0.01);compared with TGF-β1 group,the migration rates of the cells in TGF-β1+5 μmol·L-1 CHE group and TGF-β1+10 μmol·L-1 CHE group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The Transwell chamber assay results showed that compared with control group,the numbers of migration and invasion cells in TGF-β1 group were significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with TGF-β1 group,the numbers of migration and invasion cells in TGF-β1+5 μmo·l L-1 CHE group and TGF-β1+10 μmo·l L-1 CHE group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The Western blotting results showed that compared with control group,the expression level of E-cadherin protein in the cells in TGF-β1 group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),while the expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins were increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);compared with TGF-β1 group,the expression levels of E-cadherin protein in the cells in TGF-β1+5 μmol·L-1 CHE group and TGF-β1+10 μmol·L-1 CHE group were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The immunofluorescence staining results showed that compared with control group,the fluorescence intensity of E-cadherin in the cells in TGF-β1 group was decreased,and the fluorescence intensity of N-cadherin was increased;compared with TGF-β1 group,the fluorescence intensities of E-cadherin in the cells in TGF-β 1+5 μmol·L-1 CHE group and TGF-β1+10 μmol·L-1 CHE group were significantly increased,and the fluorescence intensities of N-cadherin were decreased.Conclusion:CHE can inhibit the proliferation,migration,invasion,and EMT of the human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells.

Pharmacokinetics (PK) is the study of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) processes of a drug. Understanding PK properties is essential for drug development and precision medication. In this review we provided an overview of recent research on PK with focus on the following aspects: (1) an update on drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters in the determination of PK, as well as advances in xenobiotic receptors and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the modulation of PK, providing new understanding of the transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms that result in inter-individual variations in pharmacotherapy; (2) current status and trends in assessing drug-drug interactions, especially interactions between drugs and herbs, between drugs and therapeutic biologics, and microbiota-mediated interactions; (3) advances in understanding the effects of diseases on PK, particularly changes in metabolizing enzymes and transporters with disease progression; (4) trends in mathematical modeling including physiologically-based PK modeling and novel animal models such as CRISPR/Cas9-based animal models for DMPK studies; (5) emerging non-classical xenobiotic metabolic pathways and the involvement of novel metabolic enzymes, especially non-P450s. Existing challenges and perspectives on future directions are discussed, and may stimulate the development of new research models, technologies, and strategies towards the development of better drugs and improved clinical practice.

Blau syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the a mix of granulomatous arthritis, uveitis, and dermatitis. Patients typically manifest multisystem involvement, including ocular, skin, and skeletal abnormalities. Blau syndrome is extremely rare, with a global incidence of less than one in a million among children. In this multidisciplinary consultation, we present a case of a 21-year-old young female patient having multisystemic involvement since early childhood. She was presented with multiple joint swelling, skin lesions, increased eye discharge, and accompanied by hypertension and arterial abnormalities, and received a diagnosis of uveitis. The patient had been receiving steroid treatment since the age of 6 and has tried various medications, with some improvement in joint swelling and ocular symptoms. Through this rare disease multidisciplinary consultation, we aim to provide guidance in the molecular diagnosis of the patient, multisystem assessment, and the selection and formulation of treatment plans. Additionally, we hope that by reporting this case, clinical physicians can gain a better understanding of the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment strategies for Blau syndrome, thereby improving the management and treatment of rare diseases.