Interpersonal Factors in the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Voriconazole: Are CYP2C19 Genotypes Enough for Us to Make a Clinical Decision?

Background: Invasive mycoses are serious infections with high mortality and increasing incidence. Voriconazole, an important drug to treat invasive mycosis, is metabolized mainly by the cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 19 enzyme (CYP2C19) and is affected by the genotypes of CYP2C19.

Objective: We reviewed studies on how genotypes affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of voriconazole, and attempted to determine a method to decide on dosage adjustments based on genotypes, after which, the main characteristic of voriconazole was clarified in details.

Value of the Oxford classification of IgA nephropathy in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis.

Background: The widely used International Study of Kidney Disease in Children (ISKDC) classification for Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) does not completely correlate with the clinical presentation and long-term prognosis of this disease. Primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and HSPN share common features; thus, the Oxford classification of IgAN might be useful in predicting the long-term outcomes of HSPN. However, its value has not been confirmed in children with HSPN.

MIAT promotes proliferation and hinders apoptosis by modulating miR-181b/STAT3 axis in ox-LDL-induced atherosclerosis cell models.

Background: Plenty of lncRNAs and microRNAs have been identified to be critical mediators in the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) were aberrantly high expressed and closely associated with the pathogenesis of AS. However, its molecular mechanism has not been well characterized.

Vector-independent transmembrane transport of oligodeoxyribonucleotides involves p38 mitogen activated protein kinase phosphorylation.

The main roles of equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENTs) and concentrative nucleoside transporters (CNTs) are to transfer single nucleosides and analogues for the nucleic acid salvage pathway. Oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) can be transported into the cytoplasm or nucleus of cells under certain conditions. Among ODNs composed of a single type of nucleotide, the transport efficiency differs with the length and nucleotide composition of the ODNs and varies in different types of leukaemia cells; among the 5 tested random sequence ODNs and 3 aptamers with varying sequences, the data showed that some sequences were associated with significantly higher transport efficiency than others.

Bisoprolol protects myocardium cells against ischemia/reperfusion injury by attenuating unfolded protein response in rats.

Bisoprolol (B) exerts potential cardioprotective effects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Unfolded protein response (UPR) attenuates I/R injury induced apoptosis by reducing oxidative damage and inflammation response. The current study investigated whether the protective effects of bisoprolol resulted from modulating UPR and anti-inflammatory during myocardial I/R condition and elucidated its potential mechanisms.

Importance of maintaining body weight for prevention of distant metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: An alternative workflow for cancer-risk assessment.

To design an alternative workflow for cancer-risk assessment to predict distant metastasis (DM) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We enrolled 234 patients with non-disseminated NPC and a family history of cancer who underwent intensity-modulated radiotherapy and concurrent chemo-radiotherapy with/without induction chemotherapy in our primary cohort. We conducted univariate and multivariate analyses of the associated prognostic factors, built a nomogram model for distant-metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and confirmed the prognostic value of weight-loss ratio (WTratio).

Effect of HA330 resin-directed hemoadsorption on a porcine acute respiratory distress syndrome model.

Background: Blood purification is an emerging approach to dampening the cytokine storm. This study aims to assess the efficacy of HA330 resin-directed hemoadsorption (HA) on endotoxin-induced porcine acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) model.

Methods: Twenty-four Chinese domestic pigs were allocated into saline group receiving intravenous infusion of saline (N = 6) and endotoxin group receiving intravenous infusion of LPS (N = 18).

Coverage and factors associated with influenza vaccination among kindergarten children 2-7 years old in a low-income city of north-western China (2014-2016).

Influenza vaccination has been shown to be the most effective preventive measure to reduce influenza virus infection and its related morbidity and mortality. Young children aged 6-59 months are recommended as one of the priority groups for seasonal influenza vaccination in China. Our study was conducted to evaluate the level of influenza vaccination coverage during 2014-15 and 2015-16 influenza seasons among kindergarten children aged 2-7 years in Xining, a low-income city of north-western China, and to explore potential factors for noncompliance associated with influenza vaccination.

Inflammatory potential of diet and risk of cardiovascular disease or mortality: A meta-analysis.

Inconsistent findings have reported on the inflammatory potential of diet and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality risk. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association between the inflammatory potential of diet as estimated by the dietary inflammatory index (DII) score and CVD or mortality risk in the general population. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and Embase databases through February 2017.

Unfolded protein response plays a critical role in heart damage after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

The unfolded protein response (UPR) plays a critical role in cell death mediated by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, little is known about the exact mechanism of UPR signaling pathways after myocardial I/R injury in rats. An attempt was therefore made to assess whether the myocardial I/R induced UPR, and which branch of UPR (ATF6, IRE1 and PERK) signal pathway was activated.

Transcriptomics Analyses Reveal Wheat Responses to Drought Stress during Reproductive Stages under Field Conditions.

Drought is a major abiotic stress that limits wheat production worldwide. To ensure food security for the rapidly increasing world population, improving wheat yield under drought stress is urgent and relevant. In this study, an RNA-seq analysis was conducted to study the effect of drought on wheat transcriptome changes during reproductive stages under field conditions.

Research progress on liquid biopsy in oncology and its clinical applications.

Liquid biopsy is an emerging and promising detection tool for cancer, with the benefit of being non-invasive and convenient. It analyzes tumor-derived information in the blood or other body fluids including circulating tumour cells (CTCs), circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) and exosomes. Nowadays, with the expansion of liquid biopsy research contents and the development of capture and detection technologies, liquid biopsy is increasingly utilized in clinical applications, promoting the development of tumor precision medicine.

The mechanism and clinical significance of long noncoding RNA-mediated gene expression via nuclear architecture.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of non-protein coding transcripts exceeding 200 nucleotides in length. Accumulating evidence achieved by several sophisticated techniques such as chromatin conformation capture and RNA-seq has led to new questions concerning correlations between lncRNAs and chromatin structures. Many studies have revealed that lncRNAs exert great influences on gene expression through regulating chromatin 3D structures.

AT1 Receptor Modulator Attenuates the Hypercholesterolemia-Induced Impairment of the Myocardial Ischemic Post-Conditioning Benefits.

Background And Objectives: Ischemic post-conditioning (PostC) has been demonstrated as a novel strategy to harness nature's protection against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Hypercholesterolemia (HC) has been reported to block the effect of PostC on the heart. Angiotensin II type-1 (AT1) modulators have shown benefits in myocardial ischemia.

Gefitinib single drug in treatment of advanced esophageal cancer.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and toxicity of gefitinib single drug in treatment of advanced esophageal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Forty-one case of advanced esophageal cancer were included from February 2012 to June 2016 in the Department of Oncology, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University. All of the included 41 cases were pathology or cytology confirmed of esophageal cancer with advanced stage with previously chemotherapy regimen of cisplatin or fluorouracil.

A new type of two-dimensional carbon crystal prepared from 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene.

A new two-dimensional (2D) carbon crystal, different from graphene, has been prepared from 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene, consisting of 4-carbon and 6-carbon rings in 1:1 ratio, named 4-6 carbophene by authors, in which all carbon atoms possess sp hybrid orbitals with some distortion, forming an extensive conjugated π-bonding planar structure. The angles between the three σ-bonds of the carbon sp orbitals are roughly 120°, 90°, and 150°. Each of the three non-adjacent sides of a 6C-ring is shared with a 4C-ring; and each of the two opposite sides of a 4C-ring is shared with a 6C-ring.

Subtype I Is Associated With Clarithromycin Resistance in China.

is the second most common cause of slowly growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria diseases in China. The aim of the present study was to analyze subtypes isolated from patients in China, and to explore the antimicrobial susceptibility of the differentiation among these diverse subtypes. A total of 78 strains from 16 provinces of China were enrolled in this study.

High diversity of airborne fungi in the hospital environment as revealed by meta-sequencing-based microbiome analysis.

Invasive fungal infections acquired in the hospital have progressively emerged as an important cause of life-threatening infection. In particular, airborne fungi in hospitals are considered critical pathogens of hospital-associated infections. To identify the causative airborne microorganisms, high-volume air samplers were utilized for collection, and species identification was performed using a culture-based method and DNA sequencing analysis with the Illumina MiSeq and HiSeq 2000 sequencing systems.

Surfactant-Mediated Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly of Crystalline/Ionic Complexed Block Copolymers in Aqueous Solution.

A series of crystalline/ionic complexed block copolymers (BCPs) with various compositions have been prepared by sequential reactions. The BCPs with different hydrophilic fractions can self-assemble into various morphologies, such as spindlelike, rodlike, and spherical micelles with different crystallinity of the core. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT) is added as a surfactant to induce the morphological transition of BCPs in aqueous media.

In silico epitope prediction, expression and functional analysis of Per a 10 allergen from the American cockroach.

Cockroach (CR) allergies caused by the American cockroach hyave been recognized to be repsonsible for IgE-mediated type I hypersensitivity worldwide. Per a 10 is one of the recognized main allergens of the American CR. In a previous study, we examined another American CR allergen, Per a 9 in patients with CR allergies and examined epitope sequences in this allergen.

Novel identified associations of RGS1 and RASGRP1 variants in IgA Nephropathy.

Known susceptibility loci together can only explain about 6-8% of the disease heritability of IgA nephropathy (IgAN), suggesting that there are still a large number of genetic variants remained to be discovered. We previously identified IgAN and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)/lupus nephritis (LN) shared many loci based on GWAS on Chinese populations. The more recent study with high-density genotyping of immune-related loci in individuals with Asian ancestry identified 10 new and 6 suggestive loci in SLE.

miR-19a correlates with poor prognosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients via promoting cell proliferation and suppressing PTEN/SMAD4 expression.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were reported to be involved in the development of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). However, the study on miRNAs in ccRCC is far from complete. The present study identified miRNAs which could act as potential novel prognostic markers for ccRCC, and analyzed its possible mechanism.

MicroRNA 200a inhibits erythroid differentiation by targeting PDCD4 and THRB.

Previous studies on erythropoiesis revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in erythroid differentiation. Given the abundance of identified miRNAs and the limited understanding of erythroid miRNAs, additional examination is required. Here, two sets of erythroid differentiation miRNome data were analysed to screen for novel erythroid-inhibiting miRNAs.

Mass Spectrometry-based Proteomics in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Powerful Modality for Pulmonary Precision Medicine.

Objective: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an acute and lethal clinical syndrome that is characterized by hypoxemic respiratory failure and diffuse alveolar inflammatory damage. This review aimed to search and discuss the mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic studies on different subsets of ARDS patients.

Data Sources: Original research articles were collected from the PubMed database published in English up to December 2015.