In recent years, hypersensitivity reactions to the Shuanghuanglian injection have attracted broad attention. However, the componential chief culprits inducing the reactions and the underlying mechanisms involved have not been completely defined. In this study, we used a combination of approaches based on the mouse model, human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayer, real-time cellular monitoring, immunoblot analysis, pharmacological inhibition, and molecular docking. We demonstrated that forsythoside A and forsythoside B contributed to Shuanghuanglian injection-induced pseudoallergic reactions through activation of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway. Forsythoside A and forsythoside B could trigger dose-dependent vascular leakage in mice. Moreover, forsythoside A and forsythoside B slightly elicited mast cell degranulation. Correspondingly, treatment with forsythoside A and forsythoside B disrupted the endothelial barrier and augmented the expression of GTP-RhoA, p-MYPT1, and p-MLC2 in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, the ROCK inhibitor effectively alleviated forsythoside A/forsythoside B-induced hyperpermeability in both the endothelial cells and mice. Similar responses were not observed in the forsythoside E-treated animals and cells. These differences may be related to the potential of the tested compounds to react with RhoA-GTPγS and form stable interactions. This study innovatively revealed that some forsythosides may cause vascular leakage, and therefore, limiting their contents in injections should be considered.
The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical–biological factors which could predict the sensitivity to chemoradiotherapy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). One hundred eighty-one patients with stages I–IV ESCC were evaluated. The cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (CYFRA21-1), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), albumin (A) as well as hemoglobin (HB) concentration were measured before the initiation of chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The cutoff values of CYFRA21-1, CEA, and A were defined as 3.4 ng/ml, 3.3 ng/ml, 3.5 g/dl, respectively. HB was divided into three levels: <12.0, 12.0–14.0, and >14.0 g/dl. Clinical factors such as sex, age, tumor location, primary cancer length, and tumor–node–metastasis stage were also evaluated. The effective rate (complete response + partial response) of the primary tumor estimated by computed tomography was 60.71% (17 out of 28) in patients with CEA high group while 92.54% (62 out of 67) in patients with CEA low group (P = 0.000) and 62.50% (20 out of 32) in patients with CYFRA21-1 high group while 92.98% (53 out of 57) in patients with CYFRA21-1 low group (P = 0.000). HB levels before and during CRT were also associated with the effectiveness (P = 0.005, 0.033, respectively). HB levels before CRT at 12.0–14.0 g/dl were associated with the best effectiveness, followed by >14.0 and <12.0 g/dl (effective rates 88.89% vs. 83.75%, 62.07%, respectively, P = 0.005). HB levels during CRT also showed similar results (effective rates 87.80% vs. 85.41%, 70.59%, respectively, P = 0.033). Furthermore, according to numbers of the above risk factors, the sensitivity of CRT was higher in patients with zero to one risk factors than those with two to four risk factors (P = 0.023). CYFRA21-1 and CEA as well as HB and their combination may be helpful in predicting the sensitivity to CRT of ESCC. However, the results should be further confirmed in larger, more homogeneous studies.
Objective
To evaluate the clinical significance of prenatal ultrasonography in diagnosis of retroaortic left innominate vein(LINV).
Methods
Thirty fetus with retroaortic LINV were involved,including 17 cases of isolated retroaortic LINV and 13 cases of complicated retroaortic LINV. Three-vessel and trachea (3VT) view was focused in the routine second trimester ultrasound screening to observe whether LINV existing or not. And then the transducer was rotated to the fetal sagittal view to assess the relationship between LINV and aortic arch and the convergence of left subclavian vein and left internal jugular vein into the LINV.
Results
The characteristic feature of retroaortic LINV was the LINV converge into right superior vena cava (SVC) under the aortic arch,not above the aortic arch. The most important plane to detect the retroaortic LINV was the 3VT view,which revealed the abnormal vein lying to the left of pulmonary artery. The abnormal vein then could be traced and revealed its connection with the right SVC beneath the aortic arch on the transverse plane inferior to the 3VT view and on the fetal sagittal plane.
Conclusions
The whole course of retroaortic LINV can be revealed by ultrasound prenatally,which can not only account for the abnormal vein to the left of pulmonary artery on 3VT view,but also play an important role in surgery decision and future cardiac intervention treatment.
Key words:
Echocardiography; Fetus; Heart defects,congenital; Retroaortic left innominate vein
Objective: To explore the feasibility of shrinking field technique after 40 Gy radiation through 18F-FDG PET/CT during treatment for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: In 66 consecutive patients with local-advanced NSCLC, 18F-FDG PET/CT scanning was performed prior to treatment and repeated after 40 Gy. Conventionally fractionated IMRT or CRT plans to a median total dose of 66Gy (range, 60-78Gy) were generated. The target volumes were delineated in composite images of CT and PET. Plan 1 was designed for 40 Gy to the initial planning target volume (PTV) with a subsequent 20-28 Gy-boost to the shrunken PTV. Plan 2 was delivering the same dose to the initial PTV without shrinking field. Accumulated doses of normal tissues were calculated using deformable image registration during the treatment course. Results: The median GTV and PTV reduction were 35% and 30% after 40 Gy treatment. Target volume reduction was correlated with chemotherapy and sex. In plan 2, delivering the same dose to the initial PTV could have only been achieved in 10 (15.2%) patients. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed regarding doses to the lung, spinal cord, esophagus and heart. Conclusions: Radiotherapy adaptive to tumor shrinkage determined by repeated 18F-FDG PET/CT after 40 Gy during treatment course might be feasible to spare more normal tissues, and has the potential to allow dose escalation and increased local control.
Since the safety re-evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) injections began in 2009, some TCM injection companies and research institutes have done a lot of work. And with the increase of drug development and drug production technology levels in China, the safety of some TCM injections has been greatly improved. There are safety risks in TCM injections, which are mainly reflected in unclear basis of medicinal materials, simple production process, poor controllability of quality standards, nonstan-dard drug instructions and irrational medication in the use process. This paper describes the research progress of the above-mentioned aspects of TCM injections. In addition, the author team found that adverse reactions of TCM injections are mainly pseudo-allergic reactions. Therefore, a lot of work has been done in detection of pseudo-allergic reactions, mechanism research and risk control. This part of the work is also described in this article.
The present study assessed the safety/toxicity of Senecio scandens, a well-known Chinese herb that is used as an anti-inflammatory, antibiosis, and antipyretic drug. A 90-d subchronic oral toxicity study of S. scandens was performed in Wistar rats. The extract of S. scandens was administered orally to male and female rats at a single dose of 225, 450, and 900 mg/kg/d. There was no obvious toxicity. Certain changes in hematology and coagulation parameters (red cell distribution width (RDW), platelet count (PLT), monocyte percentage (Mo%), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT)) were observed in some administration groups. In regards to the blood biochemical parameters, the levels of creatinine (CRN), potassium, and chloride were increased in a number of the treated rats. There were no significant changes in other hematology, coagulation, or biochemical parameters in rats orally administered S. scandens. S. scandens has a slight effect on rat coagulation and metabolism systems. The herb was safe at all doses tested, but caution should be taken when administering S. scandens at higher doses.
To identify the risk factors associated with postoperative hypoxemia in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), providing evidence-based recommendations for its prevention.