Severe cerebral edema induced by watershed shift after bypass in a patient with chronic steno-occlusive disease: a case report and short literature review.

Background: Carotid occlusive disease is a type of progressive disease resulting in ischemic stroke. Extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery represents a valid therapeutic option when medical treatment does not make effects. The appearance of cerebral edema following bypass is common during acute stage.

Irreversibility of arsenic trioxide induced PML/RARα fusion protein solubility changes.

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is one of the most effective drugs for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), and induces the degradation of chimeric oncoprotein PML/RARα (P/R) and APL cell differentiation. Recent evidence has suggested that P/R fusion protein degradation by arsenic occurs through two steps, namely, rapid solubility change/shift of the P/R fusion protein following arsenic treatment (i.e.

Involvement of PML-I in reformation of PML nuclear bodies in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells by leptomycin B.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 15 and 17, t(15;17), resulting in the expression of PML-RARα fusion protein, which disrupts the normal PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) to micro-speckled pattern, leading to loss of their original functions. Moreover, reformation of PML-NBs in APL by arsenic is considered as one of the important step for APL treatment. Leptomycin B (LMB), a nuclear export inhibitor, is commonly used to inhibit the proteins exporting from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.

Dimethyl fumarate attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced mitochondrial injury by activating Nrf2 pathway in cardiomyocytes.

Aims: To determine whether dimethyl fumarate (DMF) can protect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -induced myocardial injury.

Main Methods: H9c2 cells pretreated with or without DMF were stimulated with LPS. Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated.

Integrity of zinc finger motifs in PML protein is necessary for inducing its degradation by antimony.

Antimony (Sb) belongs to the same group as arsenic (As) in the periodic table, and both share similar characteristics. However, SbO (Sb) has no methylation capacity, unlike arsenic trioxide (AsO). In the present study, we determined the effect of Sb on NB4 cells and found that antimony could induce PML-RARα fusion protein degradation, reorganization of PML-NBs, and NB4 cell differentiation with low cytotoxicity.

Effective targeted therapy for drug-resistant infection by ICAM-1 antibody-conjugated TPGS modified β-GaO:Cr nanoparticles.

The prevalence of antibiotic resistance and lack of alternative drugs have posed an increasing threat to public health. Here, we prepared β-GaO:Cr nanoparticles modified with ICAM1-antibody-conjugated TPGS (I-TPGS/GaO) as a novel antibiotic carrier for the treatment of drug-resistant infections. : I-TPGS/GaO were firstly characterized by measuring particle size, morphology, crystal structure, drug loading capacity, and drug release behaviors.

Tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate-modified hollow silver nanoparticles for combating bacteria-resistance.

Multiple drug resistance and the increase in the appearance of superbugs together with the exceedingly scant development of new potent antibiotic drugs pose an urgent global medical threat and imminent public security crisis. In the present study, we fabricated well-dispersed tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS)-capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of about 10 nm in size. The hollow structure of the TPGS-capped AgNPs (TPGS/AgNPs) was confirmed and applied to load antibiotics.

Effectiveness of the Chronic Care Model in Type 2 Diabetes Management in a Community Health Service Center in China: A Group Randomized Experimental Study.

Objective: The Chronic Care Model, based on core elements of team-centered care in chronic diseases, has widely been accepted. This study was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the Chronic Care Model in type 2 diabetes management.

Methods: A group randomized experimental study was conducted.

Enhancement of oral bioavailability of salmon calcitonin through chitosan-modified, dual drug-loaded nanoparticles.

Because numerous challenges limit the effective oral delivery of protein and peptide drugs, we developed promising chitosan (CS)-modified, dual drug-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) simultaneously containing salmon calcitonin (sCT) and puerarin (PR) (CS-sCT/PR-NPs), and to explore the potential of PR as a protease inhibitor. This oral delivery system showed efficient encapsulation of sCT (75.7%) and PR (50.

Novel multimodal analgesia regimen improves post-TACE pain in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Backgroud: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the primary palliative treatment for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it is often accompanied by postoperative pain which hinder patient recovery. This study was to examine whether preemptive parecoxib and sufentanil-based patient controlled analgesia (PCA) could improve the pain management in patients receiving TACE for inoperable HCC.

Off-label prescriptions in intensive care unit: the Chinese experience.

Background And Purpose: Off-label prescriptions for critically ill patients pose several ethical and legal dilemmas for intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians. Yet, few data are available on the prevalence of this practice in critical care environment in China. This nationwide survey was performed to evaluate the conditions of off-label prescriptions in ICU within China.

Effectiveness of continuous improvement by a clinical pharmacist-led guidance team on the prophylactic antibiotics usage rationality in intervention procedure at a Chinese tertiary teaching hospital.

Background: Irrational prophylactic antibiotics usage (PAU) during intervention procedures is common in China. A clinical pharmacist-led guidance team (CPGT) was established and participated in medical teams to advise on the rational usage of antibiotics.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of CPGT intervention for the rationality of PAU during intervention procedures.

pH-Responsive carriers for oral drug delivery: challenges and opportunities of current platforms.

Oral administration is a desirable alternative of parenteral administration due to the convenience and increased compliance to patients, especially for chronic diseases that require frequent administration. The oral drug delivery is a dynamic research field despite the numerous challenges limiting their effective delivery, such as enzyme degradation, hydrolysis and low permeability of intestinal epithelium in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. pH-Responsive carriers offer excellent potential as oral therapeutic systems due to enhancing the stability of drug delivery in stomach and achieving controlled release in intestines.

Effect of statins on the mortality and mechanical ventilation duration of acute lung injury patients: a meta-analysis of five randomized controlled trials.

Background: Statins have been reported to exert anti-inflammatory effects, but the association between statins and acute lung injury (ALI) remains controversial. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis of all published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aiming to summarize and evaluate the current evidence about the potential use of statins in ALI patients.

Method: We searched for articles that focused on the association between statins and ALI-related outcomes through electronic databases until December 10th, 2014.

Implementation of pharmacists' interventions and assessment of medication errors in an intensive care unit of a Chinese tertiary hospital.

Background: Pharmacist interventions and medication errors potentially differ between the People's Republic of China and other countries. This study aimed to report interventions administered by clinical pharmacists and analyze medication errors in an intensive care unit (ICU) in a tertiary hospital in People's Republic of China.

Method: A prospective, noncomparative, 6-month observational study was conducted in a general ICU of a tertiary hospital in the People's Republic of China.

Improving antimicrobial dosing in critically ill patients receiving continuous venovenous hemofiltration and the effect of pharmacist dosing adjustment.

Background: Appropriate antimicrobial dosing for patients receiving continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) is complex. Pharmacist participation in antimicrobial dosing adjustment for patients receiving CVVH may be advantageous.

Methods: A comparative study was performed in a China hospital intensive care unit (ICU).

Efficacy and safety of thrombolysis for stroke of unknown onset time: a meta-analysis.

Current stroke treatment guidelines exclude unknown onset stroke (UOS) patients from thrombolytic therapy even though several studies have reported significant treatment efficacy and safety. We performed a meta-analysis of relevant studies retrieved by systematic searches of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases up to December 31, 2013. Dichotomized modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores 0-1 at 90 days, mRS 0-2 at 90 days, overall mortality, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) incidence were collected as primary outcome measures.

Effectiveness of pharmacist dosing adjustment for critically ill patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy: a comparative study.

Background: The impact of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) on drug removal is complicated; pharmacist dosing adjustment for these patients may be advantageous. This study aims to describe the development and implementation of pharmacist dosing adjustment for critically ill patients receiving CRRT and to examine the effectiveness of pharmacist interventions.

Methods: A comparative study was conducted in an intensive care unit (ICU) of a university-affiliated hospital.

Epirubicin-loaded superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles for transdermal delivery: cancer therapy by circumventing the skin barrier.

The transdermal administration of chemotherapeutic agents is a persistent challenge for tumor treatments. A model anticancer agent, epirubicin (EPI), is attached to functionalized superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (SPION). The covalent modification of the SPION results in EPI-SPION, a potential drug delivery vector that uses magnetism for the targeted transdermal chemotherapy of skin tumors.

Impact of a clinical pharmacist-led guidance team on cancer pain therapy in China: a prospective multicenter cohort study.

Context: Cancer treatment capacity in China is severely limited relative to the enormous size of the population; and many aspects of treatment, such as opioid protocols for pain control, are not standardized. To improve the quality of drug treatment, clinical pharmacists are taking a more active role in patient care.

Objectives: This study compared the effectiveness of opioid treatment between cancer patients receiving interventions from Clinical Pharmacist-Led Guidance Teams (CPGTs) and a comparable control group.

Impact of pharmacist antimicrobial dosing adjustments in septic patients on continuous renal replacement therapy in an intensive care unit.

Background: Correct dosing of antimicrobial drugs in septic patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is complex. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dosing adjustments performed by pharmacists on the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, ICU cost, and antimicrobial adverse drug events (ADEs).

Methods: A single-center, 2-phase (pre-/post-intervention) study was performed in an ICU of a university-affiliated hospital.

Preparation and characteristics of lipid nanoemulsion formulations loaded with doxorubicin.

Purpose: Safe and effective lipid nanoemulsion (LNE) formulations for the antitumor delivery of doxorubicin is designed.

Methods: LNEs composed of medium-chain triglyceride, soybean oil, lecithin, and doxorubicin are prepared by a solvent-diffusion method in an aqueous system. The effects of lipid material composition and polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylation on the size, drug encapsulation efficiency, and stability of LNEs are investigated.

Effectiveness of pharmaceutical care in an intensive care unit from China. A pre- and post-intervention study.

Objective: To describe the development and implementation of pharmaceutical care services in an in-patient setting, and to examine the effectiveness of pharmacist interventions.

Methods: A single-center, 2-phase (pre-/post-intervention phase) design was performed in an intensive care unit (ICU) of a university-affiliated hospital. Patients in the post-intervention phase (March 2011 to June 2011) received pharmaceutical care from a clinical pharmacist, while patients in the pre-intervention phase (December 2010 to March 2011) received routine medical care.