Immunotherapy has been widely used in cancer treatment in recent years and functions by stimulating the immune system to kill tumor cells. Radiation therapy (RT) uses radiation to induce DNA damage and kill tumor cells. However, this activates the body's immune system, promoting the release of tumor-related antigens from inactive dendritic cells, which stimulates the recurrence and metastasis of tumors in immune system tissues. The combination of RT and immunotherapy has been increasingly evaluated in recent years, with studies confirming the synergistic effect of the two antitumor therapies. Particularly, the combination of RT by dose adjustment with different immunotherapies has positive implications on antitumor immunity as well as disease prognosis compared with respective monotherapies. This review summarizes the current research status, progress, and prospects of RT combined with immunotherapy in cancer treatment. It additionally discusses the prevalent concerns regarding the dose, time window, and toxicity of this combination therapy.
Humans ; Neoplasms/radiotherapy* ; Immunotherapy/methods* ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Radiotherapy/methods*

AIM: To explore the intervention effect of Dahuangtang pellets (DHT) on diabetic nephropathy (DN) based on the AMP-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin/unc-51-like kinase 1 (AMPK/mTOR/ULK1) signaling pathway. METHODS: Eight mice were randomly assigned to the model group, the dapagliflozin group, and the DHT (high, medium, and low dosage) group out of a total of 40 C57BL/KSJ-db/db (hereafter referred to as db/db) mice; another 10 C57BL/KSJ-db/dm mice were used as the normal group, saline was provided to the normal and model groups, and the mice in the treatment group received the appropriate medications. The medications were given for 10 consecutive weeks, once per day, to the mice in the treatment group. At weeks 0, 4, 8, and 10 of administration, fasting blood glucose (FBG) was assessed by drawing blood at a predetermined time from the tail vein; Urine samples were taken at 0, 5, and 10 weeks after treatment to evaluate the levels of albumin and creatinine, and the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) was computed. After 10 weeks, mice in each group were assayed for 24 h total urine protein, serum creatinine (Scr), urea nitrogen (BUN) levels; Western blotting analysis was conducted to detect the expression of p-AMPK, p-mTOR, and p-ULK1, as well as the expression of autophagy related proteins homolog of yeast Atg6 (Beclin-1), autophagy-related proteins microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), P62 in renal tissue; Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of podocyte lacunar membrane proteins (Nephrin, Podocin) in renal tissues; The pathological morphology of renal tissue was observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, FBG, ACR, and 24 h total urine protein were reduced in the dapagliflozin group and DHT groups of mice, and there was no statistically significant difference in Scr and BUN; In renal tissues, there is increased expression of p-AMPK and p-ULK1, decreased expression of p-mTOR, increased expression of LC3II / LC3I and Beclin-1, and decreased expression of P62 (P<0.01, P< 0.05); differentially upregulated in glomeruli are the podocyte lacunar membrane proteins Nephrin and Podocin (P<0.01, P<0.05); renal pathologic damage was reduced to varying degrees; transmission electron microscopy showed an increase in the number of autophagic vesicles and autophagic lysosomes. CONCLUSION: DHT can delay the development of DN by regulating the AMPK / mTOR / ULK1 signaling pathway, enhancing podocyte autophagy, and protecting glomeruli.

Objective:To explore the organizational and operational models of collaborative construction of Research and Development (R&D) platforms by innovative hospitals and enterprises, aiming to provide support and a guarantee for accelerating scientific and technological innovation and the transformation of achievements.Methods:Taking the co-construction of a joint R&D platform by Beijing Tiantan Hospital with enterprise as a case study, this study discussed the necessity of platform construction, and from the perspective of management practices, focusing on analyzing construction models, operational management, achievement attribution, and profits distribution, as well as other critical issues in platform construction.Results:Hospitals and enterprises agreed on the cooperation and co-construction model by signing an agreement. The management committee system and the centre director responsibility system were important operation and management mechanisms. The intellectual property rights of the outcomes generated by the cooperative R&D based on the joint R&D platform were co-owned by the cooperative parties. Data security, close communication, and high-quality research output were the critical issues for the sustainable cooperation between hospitals and enterprises. At the same time, this article proposed optimized management measures to address existing problems in the cooperation of the hospital-enterprise joint R&D platform.Conclusions:The hospital-enterprise joint R&D platform, as a new model of innovative collaboration between hospitals and businesses, held significant importance for tackling ″bottleneck″ technologies in medical science, the implementation of medical scientific and technological outcomes, and the cultivation of interdisciplinary talents.

Cancer still has elevated morbidity and mortality, which undoubtedly impacts the life quality of affected individuals. Remarkable advances have been made in cancer therapy, although the toxicities of traditional therapies remain an obvious challenge. Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DHZCP), developed by Zhongjing Zhang in the Synopsis of the Golden Chamber, represents an effective anticancer traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In this review, it was found that DHZCP is therapeutically utilized in liver, lung, gastric, pancreatic and other cancers in clinic. Pharmacological evidence showed that its anti-tumor mechanisms mainly involve induced cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagy, as well as suppressed tumor cell proliferation, obstructed angiogenesis and metastasis, enhanced immunity, and reversal of multidrug resistance. The present review provides a solid basis for the clinical application of DHZCP and may promote the wide use of TCM in clinical antitumor application.

To explore the optimal therapy time for the treatment of severe coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)by traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and its influence on the therapeutic effect and prognosis. The clinical data,laboratory findings,and outcomes of 64 patients with severe COVID-19 treated with TCM and western medicine in Chongqing from January 20,2020, to March 11,2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into early intervention group[TCM was initiated within 3 days (including day 3) after the first diagnosis of severe type/critical type COVID-19]and late intervention group[TCM was initiated after 7 days (including day 7) after the first diagnosis of severe type /critical type COVID-19].The changes in clinical parameters during the course of disease were compared between the two groups. On day 14,the oxygenation index was 292.5(252.0,351.0)mmHg in the early intervention group,which was significantly higher than that in the late intervention group [246.0(170.0,292.5)mmHg](=0.005).The length of hospital stay [(18.56±1.11)d (24.87±1.64)d,=0.001],duration of ICU stay [(14.12±0.91)d (20.00±1.53)d,=0.000] and time to negativity [(16.77±1.04)d (22.48±1.66)d,=0.001] in the early intervention group were significantly shorter than those in the late intervention group.The intubation rate(7.3%)in the early intervention group was significantly lower than that in the late intervention group(30.4%)(=0.028). Early TCM therapy within three days after a diagnosis of severe COVID-19 can shorten the length of hospital stay,duration of ICU stay,and time to negativity and decrease intubation rate.
Betacoronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; drug therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE： To investigate the changes of extraction rates of forsythiaside A and forsythin in Forsythia suspensa compatible with other medicinal material of Menshi huwei formula before and after decoction. METHODS： HPLC method was used to determine the extraction amounts and to calculate the extraction rates of forsythiaside A and forsythin in F. suspensa （5 g×7 doses）， F. suspensa （5 g×7 doses） compatible with Pinelliae rhizoma praeparatum cum zingibere et alumine （PRZA）， Menshi huwei formula [including 6 ingredients as F. suspense （5 g×7 doses）， PRZA] after decocted with water. The determination was performed on Diamonsil C18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.2％ formic acid solution （gradient elution）. The detection wavelength was set at 278 nm， and the column temperature was 30 ℃. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. RESULTS： The linear range of forsythiaside A and forsythin were 0.61-6.1， 0.246-2.46 μg （r＝0.999 7， 0.999 9）， respectively； RSDs of precision， stability （within 20 h） and reproducibility tests were all lower than 2％ （n＝6）. Average recovery rates were 96.10％-99.37％ （RSD≤2.36％，n＝6） respectively. In F. suspensa， extraction rates of forsythiaside A and forsythin were 96.90％ and 66.67％. In F. suspensa compatible with PRZA， extraction rates of them were 101.61％ and 54.55％. In Menshi huwei formula， extraction rates of them were 98.39％ and 84.85％. CONCLUSIONS： After F. suspensa is compatible with PRZA， the extraction rates of forsythiaside A is increased while forsythin is decreased. After compatible with other medicinal material in Menshi huwei formula， extraction rates of both are increased slightly.

OBJECTIVE To study the in virto interaction of allicin combined with cefoperazone against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.METHODS The protocol was designed by checkerboard method and the MICs of allicin combined with cefoperazone against the 17 strains of sensitive and 14 strains of drug-resistant P.aeruginosa were determined by broth dilution method,the FIC index was calculated according to MIC results.The combined effects were confirmed by FIC index.RESULTS The percentage of the FIC index less than 0.5,from 0.5 to 1,from 1 to 2,and more than 2 was 41.2-64.3% 35.7-41.2% 0-17.6%,and 0%,respectively.CONCLUSIONS Synergism and additivity of allicin combined with cefoperazone against P.aeruginosa are their main action,there are little autonomy and no antagonism.Allicin can significantly improve the antibacterial activity of cefoperazone against drug-resistant P.aeruginosa.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the resistance phenotype of acinetobacter baumannii and the expression of ade efflux pump gene. METHODS: Non-repetitive 51 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii were collected in Peking Union Medical Hospital between Feb. 2004 and Feb. 2005. The active efflux system adeB structural gene and sequence were identified by PCR. RESULTS: The tested strains were not susceptible to common broad-spectrum antibiotics. Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii carried adeB active efflux pump gene. CONCLUSION: The multiple-drug resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii is independent of ?-lactamase. It maybe related to other drug resistance mechanism. The effect of active efflux system is possibly one of the major mechanisms of multidrug resistance of acinetobacter baumannii.