Cyclodipeptide (CDP) composed of two amino acids is the simplest cyclic peptide. These two amino acids form a typical diketopiperazine (DKP) ring by linking each other with peptide bonds. This characteristic stable ring skeleton is the foundation of CDP to display extensive and excellent bioactivities, which is beneficial for CDPs' pharmaceutical research and development. The natural CDP products are well isolated from actinomycetes. These bacteria can synthesize DKP backbones with nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) or cyclodipeptide synthase (CDPS). Moreover, actinomycetes could produce a variety of CDPs through different enzymatic modification. The presence of these abundant and diversified catalysis indicates that actinomycetes are promising microbial resource for exploring CDPs. This review summarized the pathways for DKP backbones biosynthesis and their post-modification mechanism in actinomycetes. The aim of this review was to accelerate the genome mining of CDPs and their isolation, purification and structure identification, and to facilitate revealing the biosynthesis mechanism of novel CDPs as well as their synthetic biology design.
Actinobacteria/metabolism* ; Actinomyces/metabolism* ; Biological Products/metabolism* ; Bacteria/metabolism* ; Diketopiperazines/metabolism* ; Amino Acids

Objective To investigate the safety and short-term efficacy of π-shaped anastomosis and circular anastomosis(reverse puncture device)in reconstruction of esophagojejunostomy after laparoscopic total gastrectomy.Methods A retrospective study was used to collect the clinical and pathological data of 75 cases of gastric cancer from January 2019 to March 2021.According to the different reconstruction methods of esophagojejunal anastomosis,the patients were divided into a linear cutting obturator group(π-shaped anastomosis group,n = 27)and a circular anastomat anastomosis group(reverse puncture device group,n = 48).The general information of the two groups,operation time,esophagojejunostomy time,intraoperative bleeding volume,number of intraoperative lymph node dissection,intraoperative complications,and postoperative complications were compared and analyzed.Results The operation time and esophagojejunostomy time in the π-shaped anastomosis group were(221.5±8.8)and(34.7±3.7)min,and the reverse puncture device group were and(246.9±5.6)and(47.2±4.6)min,respectively,the differences were statistically significant(t = 15.19,t = 11.81,P＜0.05).There were no statistical significance in the comparison of intraoperative bleeding volume and number of intraoperative lymph node dissection between the two groups(P＞0.05).In the reverse puncture device group,there were two intraoperative complications,including one case of esophageal jejunal anastomosis atresia and one case of anastomosis tear,postoperative complications occurred in 3 cases,postoperative anastomotic stenosis occurred in 2 case,and anastomotic bleeding occurred in 1 case.Conclusion Laparoscopic total esophagojejunostomy with π-shaped anastomosis and reverse puncture device are safe and feasible.In terms of esophagojejunostomy time,π-shaped anastomosis reconstruction time is shorter.When the small intestine diameter is relatively small and it is difficult to extend into the 25 mm stapler,the advantage of π-shaped anastomosis is more obvious.When the tumor is Siewert type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ adenocarcinoma of gastroesophageal junction,which infiltrates into above the dentate line,reverse puncture device method is recommended for reconstruction.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mitoxantrone hydrochloride liposome injection in the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) in a real-world setting.Methods:This was a real-world ambispective cohort study (MOMENT study) (Chinese clinical trial registry number: ChiCTR2200062067). Clinical data were collected from 198 patients who received mitoxantrone hydrochloride liposome injection as monotherapy or combination therapy at 37 hospitals from January 2022 to January 2023, including 166 patients in the retrospective cohort and 32 patients in the prospective cohort; 10 patients in the treatment-na?ve group and 188 patients in the relapsed/refractory group. Clinical characteristics, efficacy and adverse events were summarized, and the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed.Results:All 198 patients were treated with mitoxantrone hydrochloride liposome injection for a median of 3 cycles (range 1-7 cycles); 28 cases were treated with mitoxantrone hydrochloride liposome injection as monotherapy, and 170 cases were treated with the combination regimen. Among 188 relapsed/refractory patients, 45 cases (23.9%) were in complete remission (CR), 82 cases (43.6%) were in partial remission (PR), and 28 cases (14.9%) were in disease stabilization (SD), and 33 cases (17.6%) were in disease progression (PD), with an objective remission rate (ORR) of 67.6% (127/188). Among 10 treatment-na?ve patients, 4 cases (40.0%) were in CR, 5 cases (50.0%) were in PR, and 1 case (10.0%) was in PD, with an ORR of 90.0% (9/10). The median follow-up time was 2.9 months (95% CI 2.4-3.7 months), and the median PFS and OS of patients in relapsed/refractory and treatment-na?ve groups were not reached. In relapsed/refractory patients, the difference in ORR between patients with different number of treatment lines of mitoxantrone hydrochloride liposome injection [ORR of the second-line, the third-line and ≥the forth-line treatment was 74.4% (67/90), 73.9% (34/46) and 50.0% (26/52)] was statistically significant ( P = 0.008). Of the 198 PTCL patients, 182 cases (91.9%) experienced at least 1 time of treatment-related adverse events, and the incidence rate of ≥grade 3 adverse events was 66.7% (132/198), which was mainly characterized by hematologic adverse events. The ≥ grade 3 hematologic adverse events mainly included decreased lymphocyte count, decreased neutrophil count, decreased white blood cell count, and anemia; non-hematologic adverse events were mostly grade 1-2, mainly including pigmentation disorders and upper respiratory tract infection. Conclusions:The use of mitoxantrone hydrochloride liposome injection-containing regimen in the treatment of PTCL has definite efficacy and is well tolerated, and it is a new therapeutic option for PTCL patients.

Chalcone is a common scaffold in natural products with optimal properties and biological activities.In this study, we designed and prepared eight new coumarin-chalcone derivatives (5a-5h), and confirmed their structures by 1H NMR and 13C NMR. Their in vitro antifungal activity combined with fluconazole (FLC) against drug-resistant Candida albicans was tested by microdilution method.The results indicated that most chalcone derivatives showed good antifungal activity against drug resistant Candida albicans with FLC, particularly with compound 5g displaying better antifungal activity (MIC50 = 5.60 μg/mL) than FLC (MIC50 = 200 μg/mL) when combined with FLC, so, these derivatives could be used as synergists of antifungal drugs.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of concurrent and asynchronous radiochemotheray for early extranodal nasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL).Methods:From 2007 to 2020, 278 patients with early NKTCL treated with comprehensive treatment in the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guizhou Medical University were recruited. According to the adjusted Nomogram-revised risk index (NRI) prognostic model, there were 49 cases in the good prognostic group without adverse prognostic factors (age>60 years old, increased serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ECOG score ≥2, primary tumor invasion (PTI), Ann Arbor stage Ⅱ, and 229 cases in the poor prognostic group with any adverse prognostic factors. 145 of these cases were treated with concurrent radiochemotherapy, and 133 of them were treated with asynchronous radiochemotherapy.Results:The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of the whole group was 71.0%, and the progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 67.6%. The 5-year OS rate in the good prognostic group was 95.6%, and 65.4% in the poor prognostic group ( P<0.001). In the poor prognostic group, the 5-year OS rates of patients with NRI=1(low-and moderate-risk group), NRI=2(moderate-and high-risk group), NRI≥3(high-risk group) were 72.1%, 61.1% and 47.7%, respectively ( P=0.007). There was no significant difference in curative effect between the concurrent and asynchronous radiochemotherapy groups. The 5-year OS rates were 70.6% and 69.8%( P=0.783), and the 5-year PFS rates were 67.6% and 65.2%( P=0.631). Further stratified analysis showed that the 5-year OS rates of patients with NRI=1 receiving concurrent and asynchronous radiochemotherapy were 73.1% and 76.5%( P=0.576), 62.6% and 69.3%( P=0.427) for those with NRI=2, and 58.1% and 42.3% for those with NRI≥3( P=0.954). Conclusions:Comprehensive treatment can significantly improve the prognosis of early NKTCL in the poor prognostic group. In the sequence of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, there is no significant difference in 5-year OS and PFS rates between concurrent and asynchronous radiochemotherapy. Sequential treatment with better tolerance can be adopted for early NKTCL with poor prognosis.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy(DCM)is a serious cardiovascular complication of diabetes.Mitochondrial dysfunction constitutes an important pathological basis of diabetic cardiomyopathy.Since DCM usually coexists with dysfunction of mitophagy, elucidating the relationship between them will help find new therapeutic targets for DCM.Mitochondrial autophagy includes two processes, the initiation of autophagy and degradation, and can selectively remove damaged mitochondria to achieve a balance in myocardial homeostasis and metabolic regulation in diabetes.Therefore, it is necessary to understand the role of mitochondrial autophagy in the pathophysiology underlying DCM, the influence of diabetes on mitochondria autophagy in cardiomyocytes and related molecular mechanisms.

β-thalassemia is a single-gene genetic disease caused by β globin gene mutations leading to the fact that red blood cells are unable to form normal adult hemoglobin, and then patients develop hemolytic anemia. Current treatment regimens mainly include allogenetic hematologic stem cell transplantation, symptomatic regular blood transfusions and the use of iron removers to reduce iron load. Some severe patients have quite poor prognoses and deadly consequences if not treated timely. Genetically modified autohematopoietic stem cells can provide a new treatment option for patients with β thalassemia, which may achieve a long-term and stable increase in hemoglobin level through a single dose, making one-time cure β-thalassemia possible. This paper reviews the key elements of clinical trial design for β-thalassemia gene therapy from the aspects of efficacy evaluation endpoints, clinical trial design, enrollment population, and subject monitoring in order to provide a reference for pharma-therapeutic research and development enterprises.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy and prognostic factors of radiotherapy combined with asparaginase/peaspartase-based chemotherapy regimen in the treatment of early stage extranodal natural-killer/T cell lymphoma of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT ENKTCL).Methods:267 early stage UADT ENKTCL patients were treated in Guizhou Cancer Hospital from October 2003 to February 2020. Among them, 229 patients received radiotherapy or radiotherapy combined with menpartaminase/permenidase-based chemotherapy regimen and 38 patients were treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy alone. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated by Kaplan- Meier method, log-rank test was conducted for univariate analysis and Cox regression model was performed for multivariate analysis. Results:The 5-year OS and PFS were 67.2% and 61.5% in all patients. The 5-year OS and PFS in patients treated with radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy alone and chemotherapy alone were 71.7%, 35% and 49%(all P<0.001), and 66.4%, 35% and 28%(all P<0.001), respectively. According to the NRI risk stratification, 246 patients treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy were divided into the favourable and the unfavourable prognosis groups. The 5-year OS was 93.3% and 64.3%( P<0.001) and the 5-year PFS was 91.1% and 56.7%( P<0.001) in two groups. For patients receiving radiotherapy with a dose ≥50 Gy and<50 Gy, the 5-year OS was 72.4% and 55.7%( P<0.001), and the 5-year PFS was 68.3%, and 36.5%( P<0.001). In the unfavourable prognosis group, the 5-year OS of patients receiving ≥ 4 and<4 cycles of chemotherapy was 65.5% and 59.2%( P=0.049), and the 5-year PFS was 60.7% and 50.6%( P=0.018). Univariate analysis showed that stage Ⅱ, ECOG≥2, primary tumor invasion, radiotherapy alone, NRI≥1(Nomogram-revised risk index), EBV-DNA≥2 750 copies/ml, radiotherapy dose < 50 Gy, and<4 cycles of chemotherapy were associated with unfavorable 5-year OS and PFS (all P<0.05), and CHOP-like regimen was the risk factor of unfavorable 5-year PFS ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that primary tumor invasion, ECOG≥2, and radiotherapy dose <50 Gy were associated with unfavorable OS and PFS (all P<0.05), and stage Ⅱ was the risk factor of unfavorable 5-year OS ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The prognosis of early stage low-risk UADT ENKTCL of is favourable. Sufficient dose of extended involved-field radiotherapy is an important curative modality in early stage UADT ENKTCL. Compared with radiotherapy alone, radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy can significantly improve the prognosis of early stage UADT ENKTCL patients in the unfavourable prognosis group. Full-course chemotherapy can significantly prolong the long-term survival in the unfavorable prognosis group. The chemotherapy containing asparaginase can significantly enhance the prognosis of patients with early stage UADT ENKTCL.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy and prognostic factors of induced chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy in the treatment of early stage extranodal natural-killer/T cell lymphoma (ENKTCL).Methods:Two hundred and eighty-seven early stage NKTCL patients were treated in Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from October 2003 to October 2021. All patients were aD ministrated with short courses of induced chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy. Clinical prognostic factors of early stage NKTCL were analyzed. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated by Kaplan- Meier method, log-rank test was conducted for univariate analysis and Cox models were performed for multivariate analysis. Results:The 5-year OS and PFS were 72.8% and 68.9% in all patients. According to Nomogram risk index (NRI) prognostic model, 286 patients were divided into the low risk (NRI=0), intermediate low risk (NRI=1), intermediate high risk (NRI=2), high risk (NRI=3) and very high risk (NRI≥4) groups. In these 5 groups, the 5-year OS were 95.6%, 76.3%, 69.5%, 61.0% and 23.3%(all P<0.001), and the 5-year PFS were 93, 2%, 69.8%, 64.6%, 60.2% and 23.3%(all P<0.001), respectively. In the radiotherapy with a dose of ≥50 Gy and<50 Gy groups, the 5-year OS were 73.8% and 65.9%( P=0.123) and the 5-year PFS were 72.8% and 45.3%( P=0.001). According to the response to induced chemotherapy of complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD), the 5-year OS were 85.4%, 74.0%, 61.8% and 28.5%(all P<0.001), and the 5-year PFS were 83.7%, 66.8%, 65.7% and 27.4%(all P<0.001), respectively. Univariate analyses showed that stage Ⅱ, ECOG≥2, primary tumor invasion, radiotherapy dose<50 Gy and short-term efficacy of induced chemotherapy were poor prognostic factors for the 5-year OS and PFS (all P<0.05). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that primary tumor invasion, ECOG≥2 and stage Ⅱ were poor prognostic factors for OS (all P<0.05), and primary tumor invasion and ECOG≥2 were poor prognostic factors for PFS (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Early stage NKTCL patients can obtain high efficacy after induced chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy. Complete response to induced chemotherapy is associated with favorable prognosis.

Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and side effects of P-Gemox regimen combined with intensity modulated radiotherapy in the treatment of extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL).Methods:The data of 60 patients with ENKTL confirmed by pathomorphology and immunohistochemistry in Guizhou Cancer Hospital from July 2014 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received P-Gemox chemotherapy combined with intensity modulated radiotherapy (at least 2 cycles), and the efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated.Results:The complete remission rate of 60 patients was 65.0% (39/60), the partial remission rate was 25.0% (15/60), and the total effective rate was 90.0% (54/60). The main side reactions were myelosuppression, transaminase elevation and radiation mucositis; most of them were mild to moderate, which were relieved after treatment or the withdrawal of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. No treatment-related death cases were found. The overall survival rate of 1-year, 2-year, 3-year was 91%, 75% and 69%; the progression-free survival rate of 1-year, 2-year, 3-year was 86%, 68% and 62%. During the treatment, 3 cases died due to the progress of the disease and infection. Multivariate analysis showed that with and without hemophagocytic syndrome and radiotherapy dose were related to prognosis (all P < 0.05). Conclusion:P-Gemox, as the first-line induction chemotherapy regimen combined with intensity modulated radiotherapy has good short-term efficacy and safety for patients with ENKTL.