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Schinifoline (SF), a 4-quinolinone derivative, was found in Zanthoxylum schinifolium for the first time. 4-Quinolinone moieties are thought to have cytotoxic activity and are often used as a tubulin polymerization inhibitors, heterogeneous enzyme inhibitors and antiplatelet agents. However, very little information respect to radiosensitization has focused on SF. This work aimed to investigate the radiosensitizing effect of SF on A549 cells. The cell viability results indicated cytotoxicity of SF on A549 cells, with IC50 values of 33.7 ± 2.4, 21.9 ± 1.9 and 16.8 ± 2.2 μg/mL, respectively, after 6, 12, 24 h treatment with different concentrations, and the 10% or 20% IC50 concentration during 12 h was applied in later experiments. The results of cell proliferative inhibition and clonogenic assay showed that SF enhanced the radiosensitivity of A549 cells when applied before 60Co γ-irradiation and this effect was mainly time and concentration dependent. The flow cytometric data indicated that SF treatment before the irradiation increased the G2/M phase, thus improving the radiosensitivity of A549, leading to cell apoptosis. This paper is the first study that describes the in vitro radiosensitising, cell cycle and apoptotic-inducing effects of schinifoline.

Abstract. Background. Super-responders (SRs) to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) regain near-normal or normal cardiac function. The extent of cardiac synchrony of SRs and whether continuous biventricular (BIV) pacing is needed remain unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiac electrical and mechanical synchrony of SRs. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed CRT recipients between 2008 and 2016 in 2 centers to identify SRs, whose left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction was increased to ≥50% at follow-up. Cardiac synchrony was evaluated in intrinsic and BIV-paced rhythms. Electrical synchrony was estimated by QRS duration and LV mechanical synchrony by single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging. Results. Seventeen SRs were included with LV ejection fraction increased from 33.0 ± 4.6% to 59.3 ± 6.3%. The intrinsic QRS duration after super-response was 148.8 ± 30.0 ms, significantly shorter than baseline (174.8 ± 11.9 ms, P = 0.004, t = −3.379) but longer than BIV-paced level (135.5 ± 16.7 ms, P = 0.042, t = 2.211). Intrinsic LV mechanical synchrony significantly improved after super-response (phase standard deviation [PSD], 51.1 ± 16.5° vs. 19.8 ± 8.1°, P

Background: The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and platelet reactivity in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been defined. The present prospective, single-center study explored the relationship between platelet reactivity and OSA in patients with PCI. Methods: A total of 242 patients were finally included in the study. OSA was screened overnight by polysomnography. Platelet reactivity was assessed with a sequential platelet counting method, and the platelet maximum aggregation ratio (MAR) and average aggregation ratio were calculated. All patients were assigned per apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) to non-OSA (n = 128) and OSA (n = 114) groups. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the accuracy of AHI for high platelet reactivity (HPR) on aspirin and clopidogrel, and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors of HPR on aspirin and clopidogrel. Results: Median AHI was significantly higher in the OSA group than in the non-OSA group (34.5 events/h vs. 8.1 events/h, Z = −13.422, P < 0.001). Likewise, median arachidonic acid- and adenosine diphosphate-induced maximum aggregation rate (MAR) in the OSA group was significantly higher than those in the non-OSA group (21.1% vs. 17.7%, Z = −3.525, P < 0.001 and 45.8% vs. 32.2%, Z = −5.708, P < 0.001, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression showed that OSA was the only independent predictor for HPR on aspirin (odds ratio [OR]: 1.055, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.033–1.077, P < 0.001) and clopidogrel (OR: 1.036, 95% CI: 1.017–1.056, P < 0.001). The cutoff value of AHI for HPR on aspirin was 45.2 events/h (sensitivity 47.1% and specificity 91.3%), whereas cutoff value of AHI for HPR on clopidogrel was 21.3 events/h (sensitivity 68.3% and specificity 67.7%). Conclusion: Platelet reactivity appeared to be higher in OSA patients with PCI despite having received a loading dose of aspirin and clopidogrel, and OSA might be an independent predictor of HPR on aspirin and clopidogrel.

OBJECTIVES: Phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT), constitutive activation of AKT, is a potentially interesting prognostic marker and therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the available results of p-AKT expression in NSCLC are heterogeneous. Therefore, a meta-analysis of published researches investigating the prognostic relevance of p-AKT expression in patients with NSCLC was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search via PubMed, EMBASE and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases was conducted. Data from eligible studies were extracted and included into meta-analysis using a random effects model. RESULTS: A total of 1049 patients from nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. Nine studies investigated the relationship between p-AKT expression and overall survival using univariate analysis, and five of these undertook multivariate analysis. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival was 1.49 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-2.20) by univariate analysis and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.54-1.95) by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that positive expression of p-AKT is associated with poor prognosis in patients with NSCLC. However, adequately designed prospective studies need to perform.