PD-1 antibody in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of SMARCA4-deficient advanced undifferentiated carcinoma of the duodenum:Two case reports

BACKGROUND SMARCA4 is a component of chromatin remodeling of SWItch/sucrose-nonfermenting(SWI/SNF)complexes and plays an essential role in oncogenesis.SMARCA4-deficient malignancies arising from the gastrointestinal tract are rare and have a poor prognosis.There is no standard treatment for advanced and undifferentiated SMARCA4-deficient duodenal malignancies.Programmed death 1(PD-1)antibodies,known as immune checkpoint inhibitor antibodies,potentially play a role in treating gastrointestinal tract malignancies.CASE SUMMARY We present two patients with SMARCA4 deficiency and TP53 gene mutation in advanced undifferentiated carcinomas of the duodenum.For both patients,SMARCA4 deficiency was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining for the BRG1 protein,while TP53 gene mutations were observed via next-generation sequencing.Both patients were administered chemotherapy in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody.The two patients exhibited completely different responses to treatment and had different prognoses.Case 1 experienced rapid progression after PD-1 infusion and chemotherapy,case 2 experienced a remarkable response after treatment,and the progression-free survival was more than 6 months.CONCLUSION This study described our clinical and pathological observations of SMARCA4-deficient advanced undifferentiated carcinoma of the duodenum.PD-1 combined with chemotherapy showed a certain efficacy in select patients,providing options for treating these highly malignant tumors.Patients with liver metastases had a worse prognosis than did those with only lymph node metastasis.

Morphology of Kaloula rugifera and K. borealis Tadpoles(Anura: Microhylidae: Kaloula verrucosa Group) in China

The external morphology and internal oral features of the tadpoles of Kaloula rugifera and K. borealis are described in this paper. Similarities between these two larvae include external morphology, oral disc, internal oral features(floor and roof), terminal mouth, lateral eyes, single midventral spiracle, absence of keratinized jaw sheaths and labial teeth, absence of lingual papillae and postnarial arena, while the body of K. rugifera is bigger than that of K. borealis at stages from 36 to 39 and the number of papillae in the buccal cavity is 12–19 and 9–16, respectively in the two species. All the similarities and differences of the two species illustrate that the tadpoles within the family Microhylidae could be attributed to assistance in clarifying a certain taxonomic treatment in Microhylidae.

The neuroprotection of electro-acupuncture via the PGC-1α/TFAM pathway in transient focal cerebral ischemia rats

ATP depletion is one of the pathological bases in cerebral ischemia.Electro-acupuncture(EA)is widely used in clinical practice for ischemia.However,the mechanism of EA remains unclear.The purpose of this study was to investigate whether EA could activate the AMPK/PGC-1α/TFAM signaling pathway and,consequently,increase the preservation of ATP in rats with ischemia.In this study,48 rats were randomly divided into four groups as a sham-operation control group(sham group),a middle cerebral artery occlusion group(MCAO group),an EA group,and an EA group blocked by the AMPK inhibitor compound C(EA+CC group)(N=12/group).The rats of the EA group and EA+CC group received the EA treatment for 7 days.The rats that belonged in the two remaining groups were only grasped in the same condition.Then,their brain tissues were collected for further detection.When compared with other groups,EA significantly reduced neurological deficits score and increased motor function.The cerebral infarction volume was significantly reduced in the EA group according to TTC staining.With western blot,we found that EA improved the ratio of p-AMPKα/AMPKα(P<0.05),however,there is no difference between the MCAO group and sham group(P>0.05).In addition,EA also increased the expression of PGC-1αand TFAM(all P<0.05).By Elisa,we observed that EA increased the preservation of ATP(P<0.05)and mitochondrial respiratory enzymes,including Complex I(P<0.05),Complex IV(P<0.05),but not Complex III(P>0.05).In summary,we conclude that EA may protect against ischemic damage in MCAO rats,improve the preservation of ATP and mitochondrial respiratory enzymes.This effect may be positively regulated by the activation of the PGC-1α/TFAM signaling pathway.

不同溶氧量与残氧量对硫辛酸注射液质量的影响

目的通过测定不同来源的硫辛酸注射液中的顶空残氧量和溶解氧量以及有关物质和主成分的含量,分析数据变化趋势,为硫辛酸注射液的质量控制提供技术参考。方法以原研制剂、自研3批不同溶氧量与残氧量的样品以及市售不同厂家样品为试验对象,采用高效液相色谱法测定不同样品的有关物质[杂质A(6,8-上硫辛烷酸)、杂质B(氧化杂质)、杂质C(降解杂质)]、含量和聚合物,X-325i顶空残氧/溶氧分析仪测定溶氧量与残氧量,进行高温、光照、低温、冻融循环等影响因素试验,以及加速试验、长期试验考察稳定性。结果较高溶氧残氧产品在高温条件下杂质B、C和杂质总量增长趋势明显;光照无外包装条件下,样品中溶氧量与残氧量均显著降低,杂质A和聚合物增长显著;光照带外包装条件下各样品均稳定;低温条件下各样品均稳定;冻融条件下低溶氧量样品不受影响,高溶氧量样品聚合物增加明显;加速条件下,所有自研制剂样品中杂质B和C增加趋势明显,所有样品中溶氧量呈下降趋势,残氧量基本无变化;长期条件下,高溶氧残氧样品杂质C和聚合物有增长趋势。结论越低的氧含量越有利于质量控制,建议在中间产品中控制溶解氧<2μg/mL,残氧量<2.0%,产品较稳定。

Fate and degradation of nonylphenolic compounds during wastewater treatment process

In order to explore the biodegradation behavior of nonylphenolic compounds during wastewater treatment processing, two full-scale wastewater treatment plants were investigated and batch biodegradation experiments were conducted. The biodegradation pathways under the various operational conditions were identified from batch experiments： shortening of ethoxy-chains dominated under the anaerobic condition, whereas oxidizing of the terminal alcoholic group prevailed over the other routes under the aerobic condition. Results showed that the anoxic condition could accelerate the biodegradation rates of nonylphenolic compounds, but had no influence on the biodegradation pathway. The biodegradation rates of nonylphenol （NP） and short-chain nonylphenol polyethoxylates （NPnEOs, n： number of ethoxy units） increased from the anaerobic condition, then the anoxic, finally to the aerobic condition, while those of long-chain NPnEOs and nonylphenoxy carboxylates （NPECs） seemed similar under the various conditions. Under every operational condition, long-chain NPnEOs showed the highest biodegradation activity, followed by NPECs and short-chain NPnEOs, whereas NP showed relatively recalcitrant characteristics especially under the anaerobic condition. In addition, introducing sulfate and nitrate to the anaerobic condition could enhance the biodegradation of NP and short-chain NPnEOs by supplying more positive redox potentials.