Quantitative comparison of the efficacies and safety profiles of three first-line non-platinum chemotherapy regimens for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the efficacies and safety profiles of the three first-line non-platinum chemotherapy regimens recommended in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. The PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were searched comprehensively, and clinical trials involving patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with one of three first-line non-platinum regimens (gemcitabine combined with vinorelbine, gemcitabine combined with docetaxel, or gemcitabine alone) were included in the analysis. A parametric proportional hazard survival model was established to analyze the time course of overall survival (OS).

Development and Application of the Placebo Response Model in Clinical Trials for Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

This study aimed to develop a placebo response model for pharmaceutical clinical trials of primary Sjogren's syndrome,and to quantitatively analyze the distribution and related factors influencing the placebo response to further optimize the design of clinical trials and evaluate the results of single-arm clinical trials. Public databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for reports on randomized placebo-controlled trials for Sjögren's syndrome which used the change from baseline in ESSDAI score as the primary outcome. The model-based meta-analysis method was used to evaluate the time course and the related influencing factors of the placebo response for ESSDAI in such clinical trials.

Pyrroloquinoline quinone promotes mitochondrial biogenesis in rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease model via AMPK activation.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered to be one of the important pathogenesis in Parkinson's disease (PD). We previously showed that pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) could protect SH-SY5Y cells and dopaminergic neurons from cytotoxicity and prevent mitochondrial dysfunction in rotenone-induced PD models. In the present study we investigated the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of PQQ in a mouse PD model, which was established by intraperitoneal injection of rotenone (3 mg·kg·d, ip) for 3 weeks.

Analysis of soluble components in coals and interpretations for the complex mass spectra.

Rationale: The deduction of useful information from the mass spectra of a complex mixture like coals remains difficult, which limits the clean and efficient utilization of coals. It is necessary to explore the data interpretation methods for mass spectra and visualize the analytical data of coals for industrial utilization such as feedstock selection.

Methods: Coal sample and methanol were mixed and heated to 310 °C and kept at that temperature for 2 h.

Random sparse sampling strategy using stochastic simulation and estimation for a population pharmacokinetic study.

The purpose of this study was to use the stochastic simulation and estimation method to evaluate the effects of sample size and the number of samples per individual on the model development and evaluation. The pharmacokinetic parameters and inter- and intra-individual variation were obtained from a population pharmacokinetic model of clinical trials of amlodipine. Stochastic simulation and estimation were performed to evaluate the efficiencies of different sparse sampling scenarios to estimate the compartment model.

Bioequivalence evaluation of two formulations of pidotimod using a limited sampling strategy.

The aim of this study was to develop a limited sampling strategy (LSS) to assess the bioequivalence of two formulations of pidotimod. A randomized, two-way, cross-over study was conducted in healthy Chinese volunteers to compare two formulations of pidotimod. A limited sampling model was established using regression models to estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters and assess the bioequivalence of pidotimod.

[Comparative pharmacokinetic analysis based on nonlinear mixed effect model].

Comparative pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis is often carried out throughout the entire period of drug development, the common approach for the assessment of pharmacokinetics between different treatments requires that the individual PK parameters, which employs estimation of 90% confidence intervals for the ratio of average parameters, such as AUC and Cmax, these 90% confidence intervals then need to be compared with the pre-specified equivalent interval, and last we determine whether the two treatments are equivalent. Unfortunately in many clinical circumstances, some or even all of the individuals can only be sparsely sampled, making the individual evaluation difficult by the conventional non-compartmental analysis. In such cases, nonlinear mixed effect model (NONMEM) could be applied to analyze the sparse data.

[In vitro pharmacodynamic interactions of antitumor effect of the combination of adriamycin and curcumin evaluated by the parameter method and the response surface].

The paper aimed to find the optimal combination and evaluation of the interactions of antitumor effect of the curcumin (Cur) and adriamycin (ADM) in vitro. According to the factorial design and data characteristics, the parameter method combined with the response surface approach were used to analyze the pharmacodynamic interactions of in vitro antitumor effects of the combination of Cur and ADM at different dosages. The results showed that the dose-effect relationship of the combination with the ratio of ADM-Cur 1:3 showed significant differences in comparison with either used alone.

Population pharmacokinetics of rhTNFR-Fc in healthy Chinese volunteers and in Chinese patients with Ankylosing spondylitis.

Aim: To investigate the population pharmacokinetics of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor-Fc fusion protein (rhTNFR-Fc) administered via subcutaneous (SC) injection in healthy Chinese volunteers and in Chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: Thirty-two healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to receive a single SC injection of 12.5, 25, 37.

[Study on esterified modification of anthocyanins by FTIR].

Anthocyanins are relatively abundant in vegetables and fruits, which have potential positive health effects. The role of anthocyanins as food coloring agents becomes very important because they can provide attractive bright color of many food products. Nevertheless, the instability of natural anthocyanins was a big obstacle for its usage in food as colorants.

[Study of intra-operative radiotherapy in primary liver cancer].

Objective: To study the feasibility of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) in primary liver cancer.

Methods: Based on the target of dose curves, the dose-volume histogram (DVH) and cost of radiation equipment and radiation therapy, IORT was compared with protonbeam therapy (PBT) and 3DCRT in 16 patients with primary liver cancer using the therapy plan system (TPS).

Results: IORT had significantly better performance than 3DCRT to allow a target region surrounded by 90% of the dose lines.

Differential alteration of heat shock protein 90 in mice modifies glucocorticoid receptor function and susceptibility to trauma.

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), encoded by the murine hsp84 and hsp86 genes in mice, is a pivotal regulator of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) function in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and affords stress protection. To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of strain susceptibility to traumatic stress, we investigated the alteration by Hsp90 of the function of the glucocorticoid-glucocorticoid receptor (GC-GR) pathway in attenuating stress responses in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice using the whole-body blast injury (WBBI) model. We found that C57BL/6 mice had a lower WBBI-induced mortality, higher nuclear GR level, and higher glucocorticoid-response element (GRE) binding activity than BALB/c mice.

[Anti-inflammatory effects and quantitative study of the combinations of active ingredients of Painong powder in mice].

Objective: To study the anti-inflammatory effects of the combinations of active components of Painong powder, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and the quantitative analysis of their interactions.

Methods: The mouse model of acute inflammation with increase of capillary permeability was induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid. An orthogonal design with 2 levels (used and unused) was applied to assign the combinations groups of active ingredients including naringin and neohesperidin, peoniflorin, and platycodin.

[Clinical pharmacokinetic study of cisplatin in enhancing cervical cancer radiosensitivity].

Objective: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of cisplatin in enhancing the radiosensitivity of stage IIa-IIb bulky cervical cancer.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with stage IIa-IIb bulky cervical cancer were treated intravenously with cisplatin (30 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin levels were measured in tumor tissues and serum of the patients at the random time points of 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 18, and 24 h following the injection. Cisplatin levels were also measured in the tissues following administration of different radiation doses by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry.