Objective To preliminarily explore the potential efficacy of Xuesaitong Soft Capsule(XST)against post-stroke depression(PSD),and to investigate the material basis of XST's anti-PSD effect based on the metabolomics results to analyze its related pharmacokinetic(PK)characteristics and further analyze the pharmacodynamic(PD)equation of representative ingredients.Methods The initial evaluation of drug effica-cy was conducted by detecting the depressive-like behavior and neurotransmitter levels in rats.The Pearson correlation analysis was employed to analyze the correlation between the main metabolites regulated by XST and the saponin components entering the bloodstream.At various time points after drug administration,the blood concentration of ginsenoside Re and the concentration of norepinephrine(NE)in the serum of PSD rats were measured,and the compartment model was fitted accordingly.Furthermore,the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was utilized to determine the content of ginsenoside Re in the liver,spleen,kidney,prefron-tal cortex,hippocampus and striatum of PSD rats.Results Ginsenoside Re showed the optimal correlation by the Pearson correlation analysis.Based on its pharmacokinetic parameters,the pharmacodynamic equation with NE was E=160.462 × Ce/(38.663+Ce).The contents of ginsenoside Re in the liver,spleen,kidney,prefron-tal cortex,hippocampus and striatum of rats were(17.23+11.90),(19.05+5.67),(1.95+0.79),(70.13+6.75),(57.03+3.11),and(72.45+5.45)ng/g,respectively.Conclusion XST could improve the depressive-like behaviors in PSD rats by regulating the expression levels of neurotransmitter NE and 5-HT.Ginsenoside Re may be the pharmacodynamical material foundation for XST's preventative treatment of PSD.

Objective To observe the effect of Bushen Huoxue Decoction(BSHX)on PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and explore its possible mechanism in improving synaptic plasticity in a vascular dementia(VD)rat model.Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(Sham group),model group(VD group),Bushenhuoxue decoction group(BSHXD group),nimodipine group(NMDP group),with 10 rats in each group.The VD model of rats was established by two-vessel(2-VO)occlusion method.Rats in BSHXD group were given BSHXD at a weight of 10.14 g·kg-1,while rats in the NMDP group were given nimodipine decoction at 11 mg·kg-1.The SHAM group and the VD group were given saline at a weight of 10 mL·kg-1 once a day for 4 weeks.Morris water maze was used to observe the spatial learning and memory ability of rats in each group.Nissl staining was used to observe the damage of Nissl bodies and neurons in CA1 area of hippocampus of rats.The expression of synaptophysin(SYN)and postsynaptic density protein 95(PSD-95)in hippocampal CA1 region was detected by immunohistochemistry.Golgi-Cox staining method was used to observe the number changes of dendritic branches and spines of hippocampal neurons.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)observed the ultrastructural change of synapses.The protein and mRNA expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K),serine-threonine kinase(AKT)and mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)in rat hippocampus were detected by Western blot and Reverse transcription quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR).Results Compared with the control group,the learning and memory ability of VD rats decreased.These rats showed abnormal synaptic ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons and neuronal cell damage,and this was accompanied by a decrease in the density of dendrite branches and dendritic spines of neurons.The expression of both SYN and PSD-95 proteins in the hippocampus decreased(P<0.05),and synaptic plasticity was damaged.Both mRNA and protein expression of PI3K,Akt,and mTOR in the hippocampus decreased in the VD rats(P<0.05).Also observed in VD rats was that administration of BHSX mitigated the learning and memory impairment observed in these animals,improved the morphology and synaptic ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons,increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of PI3K,Akt,mTOR,and increased the protein levels of SYN and PSD-95(P<0.05).Conclusion BSHX can alleviate the learning and memory impairment of VD rats and increase the protein expression levels of synapse-related proteins.These effects may be related to the promotion of synaptic plasticity by BSHX through activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling.

Objective:To investigate the performance of W2 plastic scintillator in megavolt photon and electron beams.Methods:The photon and electron beam energy provided by linear accelerator was used to collect data of the W2 scintillator. The parameters include the electrometer reading stability, W2 dose and dose rate linearity, and angular response. And the dose uncertainty of the W2 correction factors was also investigated.Results:The standard deviation of the electrometer reading stability was between 0.03 and 0.47. The linear regression factors of W2 dose were all 1.0; the maximum deviation of the dose rates was 0.61%. The Cerenkov light radiation correction factor(CLR) for 6 and 10 MV were 0.741 and 0.746, respectively, and the CLR for 6, 9, 12 and 15 MeV were 0.750, 0.753, 0.757 and 0.757, respectively. The maximum deviation of dose uncertainty for 15 MeV was 3.15%.Conclusions:The signal obtained by the blue and green channel was no angular dependence, the same as the high-energy electron beam, which verified that the Cerenkov radiation correction factor has good linearity. W2 plastic scintillator can be applied to non-coplanar radiotherapy dosimetry.

Objective:To understand the components, performance, acceptance test and quality assurance (QA) protocols of the new Varian Halcyon accelerator through the procedures of installation product acceptance (IPA).Methods:Per Varian IPA protocol, TG-142 for LINAC and TG-148 for tomotherapy QA protocols, the software license, safety interlock, mechanical accuracy, dosimetric performance and imager system were checked thoroughly. Some parameters were benchmarked to the conventional TrueBeam system.Results:The system has been fully licensed. Safety interlock was normal. Mechanical accuracy: The maximum deviation of beam stability per gantry rotation was 1.13%. The size of isocenter was>0.59mm. The offsets of MV imager, collimation rotation and absolute gantry rotation were 0.09mm, -0.21° and 0.11°, respectively. The maximum offsets of couch, virtual-to-isocenter were 0.15mm (vertical) and -0.04mm (vertical), respectively. Beam performance: The depth deviation of maximum dose was 0.1cm. The offset of percentage depth dose at 10cm was 0.5%. The maximum deviations of off-axis-intensity, symmetry, and repeatability were 0.9%, 0.94% and -0.44%, respectively. MV imager: The dark field mean pixel value, noise, corrected pixels, defective lines, sensitivity and linearity disparity of dose were 614, 4.4, 3626, 0, 19177, and 0.47%, respectively. All values were within the range of tolerance. Visual check of contrast resolution and small object detection was all satisfactory.Conclusions:Without Halcyon-specific TG report or guidelines, manufacture-provided IPA manual can be helpful with the installation of acceptance and QA protocols. IPA has been successfully performed for Halcyon at Peking University Cancer Hospital. The automated workflow improves the clinical efficiency by simplifying the operations.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of first-line treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy and non-platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with lung metastases from triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

METHODSSixty-five eligible patients were divided into platinum-treated group and non-platinum-treated group according to the first-line therapy. Factors predicting the chemotherapeutic efficacy included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response (OR).

RESULTSIn the platinum-treated group of 32 patients, 2 cases (6.3%) achieved CR, 16 cases (50.0%) achieved PR, 11 (34.4%) cases achieved SD, and 3 patients (9.4%) achieved PD. In the non-platinum-treated group of 33 patients, 2 cases (6.1%) achieved CR, 6 cases (18.2%) achieved PR, 16 cases (48.5%) achieved SD, and 9 cases (27.3%) achieved PD. Median PFS was significantly longer in the platinum-treated group than in the non-platinum-treated group (10 months vs. 6.0 months, P = 0.012), and OS was also improved (32 months vs. 22 months, P = 0.006). Multivariate analysis of several factors including local-regional lymph node involvement, lung metastasis-related symptoms, first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, disease-free interval, size and number of lung lesions, showed that first-line platinum-based chemotherapy was an independent prognostic factor for TNBC patients with lung metastases.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with non-platinum-based chemotherapy, the first-line platinum-based chemotherapy can improve PFS and OS in TNBC patients with metastases confined to the lungs.

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; Platinum ; therapeutic use ; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy