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1.
Sorafenib may enhance antitumour efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients by modulating the proportions and functions of natural killer cells.
Hu, J, Wang, E, Liu, L, Wang, Q, Xia, D, Bai, W, Tie, J, Li, X, Yuan, J, Yang, S, et al
Investigational new drugs. 2020;(5):1247-1256
Abstract
Dysfunction of natural killer (NK) cells is associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We explored the phenotypic and functional characteristics of peripheral blood NK cells in HCC patients following sorafenib treatment.Peripheral blood samples were collected from 60 HCC patients in a single centre (2015~2017) and 45 healthy donors. The percentage and cytoplasmic granule production of NK cells were analysed. Subset proportions were evaluated for their associations with the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST), time to progression, and median overall survival (OS).Compared with baseline, the percentages of total and CD56dimCD16+ NK cells increased after two months of treatment, while the percentage of CD56brightCD16- NK cells decreased, leading to a dramatically reduced ratio of CD56bright and CD56dim NK cells (ratiobri/dim). Patients with low ratiobri/dim exhibited better mRECIST responses and longer median OS than those with high ratiobri/dim. The expression levels of granzyme B and perforin in total NK cells and in both subsets of cells were increased after treatment.This study showed that sorafenib could affect the proportions and functions of peripheral CD56brightCD16- and CD56dimCD16+ NK cells, which was associated with the outcomes including OS of HCC patients.
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2.
Clinical effect of total thyroidectomy combined with radioactive iodine in thyroid cancer treatment.
Yin, X, Li, Z, Zhang, Z, Song, L, Wang, X
Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences. 2018;(4(Special)):1675-1678
Abstract
Aim of this research work is to observe and analyze the clinical effect of total thyroidectomy combined with radioactive iodine in thyroid cancer treatment. The 120 thyroid cancer patients treated in our hospital were enrolled as study subjects and assigned to study group (treated with total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine) and reference group (treated with conventional total thyroidectomy). The overall treatment efficacy was compared between the two groups. Comparison of overall treatment efficacy of the two groups showed that the study group has superior results to the reference group (P<0.05). Comparison of incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in the two groups revealed no significant differences, P>0.05. However, in life quality assessment, the study group was significantly superior to the reference group in terms of physiological function, psychological function, social function, and overall life quality scores, P<0.05. Total thyroidectomy combined with radioactive iodine can well improve the overall treatment efficiency and enable patients to have higher quality of life at the same time.
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Differences in the metabolic status of healthy adults with and without active brown adipose tissue.
Zhang, Q, Ye, H, Miao, Q, Zhang, Z, Wang, Y, Zhu, X, Zhang, S, Zuo, C, Zhang, Z, Huang, Z, et al
Wiener klinische Wochenschrift. 2013;(21-22):687-95
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have proven the existence of active brown adipose tissue (BAT) in adults; however, its effect on systematic metabolism remains unclear. AIM: The current study was designed to investigate the differences in the metabolic profiles of healthy adults with and without active BAT using positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scans in the un-stimulated state. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis was performed to assess the health of adults using PET-CT whole-body scans at Huashan Hospital Medical Centre between November 2009 and May 2010. A total of 62 healthy adults with active BAT were enrolled in the BAT-positive group. For each positive subject, a same-gender individual who underwent PET-CT the same day and who had no detectable BAT was chosen as the negative control. Body composition was measured, and blood samples were collected for assays of metabolic profiles and other biomarkers. RESULTS In both the male and female groups, BAT-positive individuals were younger and had lower body mass indexes, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, and leptin, but a greater level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with the negative controls. In the male group, body fat content and levels of tumor necrosis factor-α were significantly lower in the BAT-positive than in the negative control group. CONCLUSIONS The healthy adults with active BAT in an un-stimulated state had favorable metabolic profiles suggesting that active BAT may be a potential target for preventing and treating obesity and other metabolic disorders.
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4.
[Effects of non-bioartificial liver support system on Gc-globulin in patients with liver failure].
Kuang, YL, Yuan, WJ, Zhang, Z, Xing, TH, Yu, Q, Liu, J, Chen, L, Liu, ZH, Peng, ZH
Zhonghua gan zang bing za zhi = Zhonghua ganzangbing zazhi = Chinese journal of hepatology. 2011;(3):196-200
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of artificial liver support system(plasma exchange combined with continuous veno - venous hemodiafiltration, PE + CVVHDF) on Gc globulin in patients with liver failure. METHODS 81 patients with liver failure were divided into 4 groups according to the treatment protocols and indicators such as liver function and clinical symptoms. Totally 29 effective cases and 14 ineffective cases in the ALSS group versus 15 effective cases and 23 ineffective cases in the medical group were included. Finally the changes of Gc globulin were observed in four subgroups before and after treatment. The correlation between Gc globulin and IL-10, IL-4, IL-18, TNFa, endotoxin, NO, sVCAM-1and sICAM-1were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS The effectiveness rate was 67.44% in ALSS group and 34.21% in the medical treatment (P less than 0.01). Gc globulin, one of liver cell protection proteins was notably increased following the artificial liver treatment as compared with the increase in the medical treatment (P less than 0.01). The time-response curve of Gc globulin level had a significant upward trend in the effective group as compared to no significant rise in the ineffective group. Moreover, the Gc globulin was negatively correlated with IL-4, IL-18, TNFa, SVCAM-1, SICAM-1 and NO. In contrast, no correlation existed between Gc globulin and IL-10. The treatment with artificial liver can improve the outcome of the patients with liver failure. The level of Gc globulin was correlated with the curative effect and thus may be used as a potential indicator for curative effect forcast in the patients with liver failure.
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Skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes.
Bajpeyi, S, Pasarica, M, Moro, C, Conley, K, Jubrias, S, Sereda, O, Burk, DH, Zhang, Z, Gupta, A, Kjems, L, et al
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 2011;(4):1160-8
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the role of maximum mitochondrial capacity on the variation in insulin sensitivity within a population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Fifty-eight participants enrolled in a cross-sectional design: eight active controls [maximum aerobic capacity (VO(2max)) > 40 ml/kg · min], 17 healthy sedentary controls without a family history (FH-) and seven with a family history (FH+) of diabetes, four obese participants, and 21 patients with T2DM. Mitochondrial capacity was measured noninvasively using (31)P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the vastus lateralis. Maximal ATP synthetic rate (ATP(max)) was determined from the rate of phosphocreatine (PCr) recovery after short-term isometric exercise. RESULTS ATP(max) was lower (P < 0.001) in T2DM and higher (P < 0.001) in active as compared with healthy sedentary FH- (active, 1.01 ± 0.2; FH-, 0.7 ± 0.2; FH+, 0.6 ± 0.1; obese, 0.6 ± 0.1; T2DM, 0.5 ± 0.2 mm ATP/sec; ANOVA P < 0.0001). Insulin sensitivity, measured by euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic (80 mIU/m(2) · min) clamp was also reduced in T2DM (P < 0.001) (active, 12.0 ± 3.2; FH-, 7.8 ± 2.2; FH+, 6.8 ± 3.5; obese, 3.1 ± 1.0; T2DM, 3.4 ± 1.6; mg/kg estimated metabolic body size · min; ANOVA P < 0.0001). Unexpectedly, there was a broad range of ATP(max) within the T2DM population where 52% of subjects with T2DM had ATP(max) values that were within the range observed in healthy sedentary controls. In addition, 24% of the T2DM subjects overlapped with the active control group (range, 0.65-1.27 mm ATP/sec). In contrast to the positive correlation between ATP(max) and M-value in the whole population (r(2) = 0.35; P < 0.0001), there was no correlation between ATP(max) and M-value in the patients with T2DM (r(2) = 0.004; P = 0.79). CONCLUSIONS Mitochondrial capacity is not associated with insulin action in T2DM.
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Efficacy and tolerability of a medicinal product containing an isopropanolic black cohosh extract in Chinese women with menopausal symptoms: a randomized, double blind, parallel-controlled study versus tibolone.
Bai, W, Henneicke-von Zepelin, HH, Wang, S, Zheng, S, Liu, J, Zhang, Z, Geng, L, Hu, L, Jiao, C, Liske, E
Maturitas. 2007;(1):31-41
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy-safety balance of the isopropanolic extract of Actaea (=Cimicifuga) racemosa (iCR, Remifemin) in comparison with tibolone in Chinese women with climacteric complaints. METHOD The randomized, double-blind, controlled 3-month study in 5 centers of 3 cities in China enrolled 244 menopausal patients aged 40-60 years and with a Kupperman Menopause Index (KMI)>or=15. The participants were assigned to either iCR corresponding to 40 mg crude drug/day (N=122) or tibolone 2.5mg/day (N=122) orally. The primary endpoint was the combination of the Mann-Whitney values (MWV) of the KMI and the frequency of adverse events (benefit-risk balance) at end of treatment (MWV>0.5 shows superiority; MWV>0.36 shows non-inferiority). RESULTS KMI decreased from 24.7+/-6.1 to 11.2+/-6.2 and 7.7+/-5.8 (iCR) and to 11.2+/-7.2 and 7.5+/-6.8 (tibolone) at 4 and 12 weeks. This remarkable and clinically relevant improvement was similar in both treatment groups (MWV=0.47; 95% CI=0.39-0.54; p(non-inferiority)=0.002) showing statistical significant non-inferiority of iCR to tibolone. The KMI-responder rate was similar in both groups (84% and 85%). The safety evaluation showed for both groups a good safety and tolerability profile, however, there is a significant lower incidence of adverse events (p<0.0001) in favor of the herbal treatment. None of the postmenopausal iCR patients experienced vaginal bleeding in contrast to tibolone (17 cases). Breast and abdominal pain as well as leukorrhea was mostly observed in the tibolone group (p=0.015, p=0.008, p=0.002). No serious adverse event was observed in the iCR-group, however, two occurred in the tibolone-group. The benefit-risk balance for iCR was significantly (p=0.01) superior to tibolone (MWV=0.56; 95% confidence interval [0.51-0.62]). CONCLUSION The efficacy of iCR (medicinal product Remifemin) is as good as tibolone for the treatment of climacteric complaints, even for moderate to severe symptoms, whereby iCR is clearly superior regarding the safety profile. This iCR containing medicinal product is an excellent option for treatment of climacteric complaints which has now for the first time been verified in Asian women.
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[Effect of shuxuetong in preventing restenosis after intracoronary stenting].
Li, AH, Gong, KZ, Yan, JF, Sun, X, Feng, Y, Zhang, Z
Zhongguo Zhong xi yi jie he za zhi Zhongguo Zhongxiyi jiehe zazhi = Chinese journal of integrated traditional and Western medicine. 2004;(10):879-81
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of shuxuetong (SXT) in preventing restenosis after intracoronary stenting. METHODS Sixty-eight patients, accepted intracoronary stenting, were divided into two groups, the SXT group and the control group, both of them were treated with conventional treatment, and to the SXT group, SXT was given additionally. The condition of treated coronary artery restenosis in the two groups was compared by way of quantitative coronary angiography and a 6-month follow-up study was adopted. RESULTS Follow-up study was completed in 43 patients (23 cases in the SXT group, and 20 in the control group). The angina recurrence rate in the SXT group (3 cases, 13%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (7 cases, 35%, P < 0.05). Quantitative coronary angiography showed the restenosis degree of operated artery in the SXT group was significantly milder than that in the control group, with the last lumen losing and index in the SXT group (0.46 +/- 0.25 mm, 24.26 +/- 8.64%) less than those in the control group (0.75 +/- 0.33 mm, 31.25 +/- 11.03%). The net gain lumen and the net gain index in the SXT group (1.23 +/- 0.30 mm, 58.96 +/- 24.68%) were greater than those in the control group (0.98 +/- 0.33 mm, 42.68 +/- 29.51%), all P < 0.05. But the restenosis rate in the two groups was insignificantly different (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION SXT might has some definite effect in preventing restenosis after intracoronary stenting.
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[The plasma levels of proinsulin and true insulin and the effects of ramipril in hypertension].
Zang, G, Yang, Y, Shi, X, Zhang, Z, Zhu, Z, Gao, L, Wang, H, Yin, G
Zhonghua nei ke za zhi. 2002;(2):117-9
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the dynamic changes of plasma proinsulin (PI) and true insulin (TI) and their relation with essential hypertension (EH) as well as to evaluate the therapeutic effect of ramipril. METHODS PI, TI and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) were measured in 44 cases of EH, 24 normal subjects and 21 cases of EH before and after treatment with ramipril. RESULTS The mean plasma level of PI and IRI in EH was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01); there was no significant difference in the level of TI (P > 0.05). PI was positively related to TI, There was no significant relation between PI with SBP and DBP. Plasma concentration of IRI and PI (P < 0.05), decreased remarkably, but the level of TI remained unchanged after therapy with ramipril (n = 21). CONCLUSION The plasma concentration of PI is elevated in patients with EH due probably to impaired function of beta-cells of the pancreatic islets. Ramipril can decrease the level of PI and improve pancreatic beta cell function.