A Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of The Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Polyethylene Glycol-Erythropoietin (PEG-EPO) in Healthy Subjects.

PURPOSE: This first-in-human trial aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics characteristics and safety and tolerability of single ascending doses of subcutaneous polyethylene glycol-erythropoietin (PEG-EPO) in healthy subjects. METHODS: In this phase I, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalating trial, subjects were sequentially enrolled into 7 cohorts with 12 subjects in each cohort and randomized in a 5:1 ratio to receive a single dose of 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 2.4, 3.6, or 4.8 µg/kg PEG-EPO or matching placebo. Safety and tolerability including dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were assessed. Pharmacokinetics parameters, including Cmax, AUC0-inf, Tmax, and t1/2, and pharmacodynamics parameters, including reticulocyte count and hemoglobin content, were evaluated. FINDINGS: Eighty-four subjects (median age 30.4 years and 77.4% male) were enrolled. No subjects developed DLTs. Any grade treatment-related adverse events occurred in 66.7% of the subjects, but most (92.9%) were mild. No serious adverse events and no death occurred. Forty percent of the subjects receiving PEG-EPO had iron decreased, 27.1% reported ferritin decreased, 25.7% showed unsaturated iron binding capacity increased, and 17.1% had neutrophil count decreased. Cmax exhibited a dose-disproportionate rise from a geometric mean of 525 pg/mL with 0.2 µg/kg PEG-EPO to 23196 pg/mL with 4.8 µg/kg PEG-EPO. The mean t1/2 ranged between 82.4 ± 21.3 h with 0.4 µg/kg PEG-EPO and 160.6 ± 65.7 h with 1.6 µg/kg PEG-EPO. AUC0-inf displayed a largely dose-proportional rise from 226264.5 pg*h/mL with 0.2 µg/kg PEG-EPO to 5206434.0 pg*h/mL with 4.8 µg/kg PEG-EPO. The absolute reticulocyte count increased with escalating doses of PEG-EPO, with the mean maximal change from baseline between 3.2 ± 1.5*10^10/L (Q1,Q3 1.8-3.6*10^10/L) with PEG-EPO 0.2 µg/kg and 9.3 ± 4.0*10^10/L (Q1,Q3 6.2-13.5*10^10/L) with 3.6 µg/kg PEG-EPO. The mean maximal change from baseline in the mean hemoglobin content ranged between 5.9 ± 4.4 g/L (Q1,Q3 3.5,7.0) with 0.2 µg/kg PEG-EPO and 15.4 ± 8.7 g/L (Q1,Q3 10.5,20.0) with 2.4 µg/kg PEG-EPO. IMPLICATIONS: This trial demonstrated that PEG-EPO was safe and tolerable in healthy subjects. The subcutaneous route of administration allows outpatient treatment and the pharmacokinetics characteristics of PEG-EPO support less frequent dosing regimens and effective treatment for chronic kidney disease patients with anemia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03657238.

Synaptic Vesicle-Related Proteins and Ubiquilin 2 in Cortical Synaptosomes Mediate Cognitive Impairment in Vascular Dementia Rats.

Synaptic dysfunction is considered the best neuropathological correlate of cognitive decline in vascular dementia (VaD). However, the alterations of synaptic proteins at the synaptosomal level in VaD remain unclear. In this study, a VaD model was established in male rats using bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO). We performed a novel object recognition task to evaluate cognitive impairment. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the expression of neuron-specific nuclear binding protein (NeuN). Brain synaptosomes were isolated and subjected to label-free proteomic analysis to quantify and identify the synaptic features of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Synaptic and hub protein expression was detected in synaptosomes using western blotting. We found that male rats with VaD presented impaired memory and decreased NeuN protein expression in the cortex. Synaptosome proteomic analysis revealed 604 DEPs, with 493 and 111 markedly downregulated and upregulated proteins, respectively. KEGG analysis and SynGO annotation revealed that the synaptic vesicle (SV) cycle may be a key signaling pathway in VaD. Hub protein analysis of the main nodes in the protein network identified UBQLN2 and SV-related proteins, including CLTC, SNAP91, AP2S1, CLTA, VAMP2, EPN1, UBQLN2, AP2B1, AP2A2, and AP2M1. Western blotting showed that the levels of SV2A, CLTC, AP2S1, and VAMP2 decreased in the synaptosomes of 2VO rats, while UBQLN2 expression significantly increased. Our results suggest that the disruption in the presynaptic SV cycle is a key event in male rats with VaD, which could be characterized by the aberrant SV2A expression. SV-related proteins and UBQLN2 may be essential in synaptopathy. Thus, targeting the specific molecular markers in synaptosomes may be critical for the development of mechanism-directed therapies against VaD.

Effect of Efavirenz on the Pharmacokinetics of SHR6390 in Healthy Volunteers.

Purpose: SHR6390 is an oral, potent and selective small-molecule CDK4/6 inhibitor for the treatment of human breast, ovarian and colon cancer. Previous studies have shown that SHR6390 in combination with rifampicin, a potent inducer of CYP3A4, significantly reduces exposure levels. Therefore, we further investigated the effect of efavirenz, a moderate CYP3A4 inducer, on a single oral dose of SHR6390 in healthy volunteers. Patients and Methods: Twenty healthy subjects were enrolled in this single-center, open, single-dose, self-controlled DDI study. On Day 1, subjects received a single oral dose of 150mg SHR6390; on Day 8-26, subjects received 600 mg efavirenz orally at night, with a single dose of 150 mg SHR6390 on Day 22. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic analyses were collected. Results: The geometric mean ratios of the maximum concentration(Cmax) and the area under the concentration curve from zero to infinity (AUC0-inf) between combination therapy and SHR6390 monotherapy (combination therapy/SHR6390 monotherapy) and their 90% confidence intervals were 0.562 (0.482, 0.654) and 0.328 (0.278, 0.386), respectively. This indicates that the Cmax and AUC0 inf of SHR6390 decreased by approximately 43.8% and 67.2%, respectively. Oral administration of 150 mg SHR6390 alone or together with efavirenz was safe and tolerable in healthy subjects. Conclusion: It is suggested that under the action of the moderate CPY3A4 inducer efavirenz, the exposure AUC of SHR6390 exhibits a moderate level of induction. It is recommended to avoid concomitant administration of moderate inducers of CYP3A4 during treatment with SHR6390. Trial Registration: http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/index.html, CTR20211571/ https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04973020.

Research progress on the quality control of mRNA vaccines.

INTRODUCTION: The mRNA vaccine technologies have progressed rapidly in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the application of mRNA vaccines, with research and development and clinical trials underway for many vaccines. Application of the quality by design (QbD) framework to mRNA vaccine development and establishing standardized quality control protocols for mRNA vaccines are essential for the continued development of high-quality mRNA vaccines. AREAS COVERED: mRNA vaccines include linear mRNA, self-amplifying mRNA, and circular RNA vaccines. This article summarizes the progress of research on quality control of these three types of vaccines and presents associated challenges and considerations. EXPERT OPINION: Although there has been rapid progress in research on linear mRNA vaccines, their degradation patterns remain unclear. In addition, standardized assays for key impurities, such as residual dsRNA and T7 RNA polymerase, are still lacking. For self-amplifying mRNA vaccines, a key focus should be control of stability in vivo and in vitro. For circular RNA vaccines, standardized assays, and reference standards for determining degree of circularization should be established and optimized.

Amplifying mRNA vaccines: potential versatile magicians for oncotherapy.

Cancer vaccines drive the activation and proliferation of tumor-reactive immune cells, thereby eliciting tumor-specific immunity that kills tumor cells. Accordingly, they possess immense potential in cancer treatment. However, such vaccines are also faced with challenges related to their design and considerable differences among individual tumors. The success of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 has prompted the application of mRNA vaccine technology platforms to the field of oncotherapy. These platforms include linear, circular, and amplifying mRNA vaccines. In particular, amplifying mRNA vaccines are characterized by high-level and prolonged antigen gene expression at low doses. They can also stimulate specific cellular immunity, making them highly promising in cancer vaccine research. In this review, we summarize the research progress in amplifying mRNA vaccines and provide an outlook of their prospects and future directions in oncotherapy.

Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) oncolysis using coxsackievirus B5 and synergistic DNA-damage response inhibitors.

With the continuous in-depth study of the interaction mechanism between viruses and hosts, the virus has become a promising tool in cancer treatment. In fact, many oncolytic viruses with selectivity and effectiveness have been used in cancer therapy. Human enterovirus is one of the most convenient sources to generate oncolytic viruses, however, the high seroprevalence of some enteroviruses limits its application which urges to exploit more oncolytic enteroviruses. In this study, coxsackievirus B5/Faulkner (CV-B5/F) was screened for its potential oncolytic effect against non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) through inducing apoptosis and autophagy. For refractory NSCLCs, DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) or ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein (ATM) inhibitors can synergize with CV-B5/F to promote refractory cell death. Here, we showed that viral infection triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related pro-apoptosis and autophagy signals, whereas repair for double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) contributed to cell survival which can be antagonized by inhibitor-induced cell death, manifesting exacerbated DSBs, apoptosis, and autophagy. Mechanistically, PERK pathway was activated by the combination of CV-B5/F and inhibitor, and the irreversible ER stress-induced exacerbated cell death. Furthermore, the degradation of activated STING by ERphagy promoted viral replication. Meanwhile, no treatment-related deaths due to CV-B5/F and/or inhibitors occurred. Conclusively, our study identifies an oncolytic CV-B5/F and the synergistic effects of inhibitors of DNA-PK or ATM, which is a potential therapy for NSCLCs.

Itraconazole interferes in the pharmacokinetics of fuzuloparib in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: Fuzuloparib is an orally administered poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP1) inhibitor and has potential anti-tumor effect on ovarian cancer (such as fallopian tube cancer and primary peritoneal cancer) in China. As fuzuloparib is metabolized mainly by CYP3A4, we explored the effect of itraconazole, a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, on a single oral dose of fuzuloparib in healthy male subjects. METHODS: An open-label, single-arm, fixed sequence study was conducted. Twenty healthy adult males received one single dose of fuzuloparib (20 mg) with one dose administered alone and the other dose coadministered with itraconazole. Subjects received 200 mg QD itraconazole for 6 days during the study. Serials of blood samples were collected pre-dose of each fuzuloparib capsule administration and 48 h post-dose, and were used to analyze the PK parameters of fuzuloparib. RESULTS: Coadministration of repeated 200 mg QD oral doses of itraconazole for 6 days increased fuzuloparib exposure by 1.51-fold and 4.81-fold for peak plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), respectively. Oral administration of 20 mg fuzuloparib alone or together with itraconazole was safe and tolerable in healthy male subjects. CONCLUSION: The CYP3A4 inhibitor itraconazole has a significant influence on the PK behavior of fuzuloparib, suggesting to avoid using strong CYP3A4 inhibitors simultaneously with fuzuloparib. If it is necessary to use a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, fuzuloparib would be discontinued and be restored to the original dose and frequency of administration after 5-7 half lives of CYP3A4 inhibitor stopped. TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/index.html , CTR20191271.

Icariin ameliorates behavioral deficits and neuropathology in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a systemic inflammatory illness of the central nervous system that involves demyelinating lesions in the myelin-rich white matter and pathology in the grey matter. Despite significant advancements in drug research for MS, the disease's complex pathophysiology makes it difficult to treat the progressive forms of the disease. In this study, we identified a natural flavonoid compound icariin (ICA) as a potent effective agent for MS in ameliorating the deterioration of symptoms including the neurological deficit score and the body weight in a murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. These improvements were associated with decreased demyelination in the corpus callosum and neuron loss in the hippocampus and cortex confirmed by immunohistochemistry analysis. Meanwhile, it was observed that the activation of microglia in cerebral cortex and hippocampus were inhibited followed by the neuroinflammatory cytokines downregulation such as IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α after ICA treatment, which was probably attributable to the suppression of microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Additionally, molecular docking also revealed the binding force of ICA to NLRP3 inflammasome protein complexes in vitro. Taken together, our findings have demonstrated that ICA, as pleiotropic agent, prevents EAE-induced MS by improving demyelination and neuron loss, which interferes with the neuroinflammation via microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Chinese- and French-Manufactured Immediate-Release Glucophage® Bioequivalence: A Randomized, Open-Label, Crossover Study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the bioequivalence, safety, and tolerability of Chinese- and French-manufactured Glucophage® immediate-release (GIR) tablets under fasted and fed conditions in healthy volunteers. A bioequivalence study was proposed to support the manufacturing transfer. METHODS: This was an open-label, randomized, two-period, two-sequence, crossover study. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive the test product (one 500 mg GIR tablet manufactured in China) or reference product (one 500 mg GIR tablet manufactured in France). The primary study endpoint was the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to the last sampling time (AUCt) and maximum observed concentration (Cmax). RESULTS: In total, 96 subjects were screened and 44 subjects were randomly assigned to treatment (fasted group, 26 subjects; fed group, 18 subjects). All 44 subjects received the study drug, completed the study, and were included in the pharmacokinetic (PK) and safety analysis sets. Under fasted or fed conditions, the mean AUCt and Cmax (primary PK parameters) were comparable between the test and reference products. Point estimates for both parameters were close to 100% and the corresponding 90% confidence intervals were within the specified 80-125% bioequivalence boundary. There were no hypoglycemia-related adverse events (AEs) in either treatment group. All AEs in the present study were mild in severity. CONCLUSIONS: Bioequivalence between the test and reference GIR tablets was demonstrated under fasted and fed conditions and both were safe and well tolerated. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifying number NCT03393208.

Bioequivalence of China- and Germany-Manufactured Metformin Extended-Release Tablets Under Fed and Fasted Conditions in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Open-Label, 2-Way Crossover Study.

We compared the bioequivalence, pharmacokinetics, and safety of metformin extended-release (MXR) tablets manufactured by Merck Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd (Nantong, China) and Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany) after a single oral dose under fasted/fed conditions. In this open-label phase 1 study, 54 healthy volunteers (fasted, n = 38; fed, n = 16) were randomly assigned to receive one 500-mg MXR tablet that was manufactured by Merck Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing (Jiangsu) Co. or Merck KGaA. Respectively, the mean terminal half-life was 7.5 and 6.8 hours in the fasted group, and 6.7 and 9.1 hours in the fed group. Median times to maximum observed concentration were 3 and 4 hours (fasted group) and 6 hours (both products, fed group). No significant differences were observed in the metformin plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) from time 0 to the last sampling time and maximum observed concentration between products. Geometric least square mean ratios for maximum observed concentration, AUC from time 0 to the last sampling time, and AUC from time 0 to infinity were nearly 100%; the corresponding 90%CIs for bioequivalence were within 80% to 125%. Diarrhea (26.4%), abdominal pain (5.7%), and nausea (3.8%) were the most common adverse events (AEs); AEs were mild. The mean AUC from time 0 to infinity (test and reference) was substantially increased by ≈45% in the fed condition (equivalent to a 1.5-fold dose increase); this means food increased net systemic availability but had no impact on AE incidence. This was considered in the study design, which included MXR administration with evening meals. MXR tablets were bioequivalent under fasted/fed conditions and were safe and well tolerated.

Analgecine protects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion through apoptosis inhibition and anti-neuroinflammation in rats.

Stroke influence the quality of life of patients and leave big public health issues as acute cerebrovascular disease all over the world. Analgecine (AGC) relieves pain and accelerates repair of nerve injury. This current study aims to observe the pharmacological effects and related mechanisms of AGC in cerebral ischemic stroke among middle cerebral artery ischemia-reperfusion (MCAO) rats. After seven days of AGC administration, motor function was enhanced as evidenced by the prehensile traction test. Morphological ameliorations were observed by immunohistochemistry analysis. The protein expression levels of HSP70, Bcl-2, Bax, TRAF-6, MyD88, BDNF, NGF, pCREB, CREB, pTrkB, TrkB, pAKT and AKT were estimated by western blot. Meanwhile, AGC alleviated MCAO-induced inflammation chiefly by decreasing inflammatory cytokines in rat brain tissues. These results above suggested that MCAO-caused brain infarction was obviously alleviated by AGC. The immunohistochemistry data showed that AGC reduced neuronal injury and apoptosis, and inhibited microglia and astrocytes activation. The protein results suggested the expression of apoptosis-relevant proteins decreased among AGC treated groups and the neurotrophin related proteins were obviously enhanced by CREB/BDNF/TrkB/AKT and HSP70/Bcl-2/Bax pathways. Collectively, the results demonstrated that AGC primarily promoted neuro-nutrition, reduced the injury of nerve apoptosis and ameliorated neuroinflammation. In summary, AGC played a neuroprotective role, which had provided reliable evidence for AGC to be a potential drug in treating stroke.

Analgecine regulates microglia polarization in ischemic stroke by inhibiting NF-κB through the TLR4 MyD88 pathway.

Therapeutic strategies used to attenuate inflammation and to increase recovery of neurons after a stroke include microglia anti-inflammatory (M2) polarization and repression of proinflammatory (M1). Extracts isolated from Vaccina variola-inoculated rabbit skin, for example analgecine (AGC), have been used as a therapy for patients experiencing lower back pain associated with degenerative diseases of the spine for about twenty years. In the study presented here, neuroprotective effect associated with AGC was analyzed as well as the anti-inflammatory mechanism linked to AGC in terms of attenuating microglia-mediated neuronal damage. Rats were intravenously injected with AGC after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), which showed to suppress neuronal loss and reduce neurological deficits. In addition, AGC inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine release and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, this study revealed that treatment with AGC supported microglia transition from M1 to M2 in both oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) and LPS/IFN-γ induced microglia cells, as well as indirectly inhibited LPS/IFN-γ-induced neuronal damage through the modulation of microglial polarization. It is also important to note that AGC inhibited NF-κB p65 phosphorylation through repressing TLR4/Myd88/TRAF6 signaling pathway. In addition, we found that TLR4 inhibition by AGC depended on Myd88. Altogether, this work supports that AGC inhibits M1 microglial polarization and promotes anti-inflammation independently and dependently on TLR4/MyD88. Since it is shown to have neuroprotective effects in this study, AGC has great potential to be used in the clinic to reduce inflammation and aid in recovery after stroke.

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Two Formulations of Pegylated Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor in Healthy Chinese Subjects: An Open-Label, Randomized, Parallel-Design Bioavailability Study.

Pegylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (PEG-rhG-CSF, pegfilgrastim) is a long-acting derivative of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor with limited renal clearance and a longer half-life. It is used for the prevention of febrile neutropenia, owing to its capacity to promote neutrophil recovery. In this study, the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and immunogenicity of 2 formulations of PEG-rhG-CSF were evaluated in healthy Chinese subjects. Twenty-four male subjects who received a single dose of subcutaneous PEG-rhG-CSF 100 µg/kg were randomized to either treatment A (3 mg/mL) or treatment B (1 mg/mL). Noncompartmental pharmacokinetic parameters of PEG-rhG-CSF were derived from serum concentration-time data. In addition, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) as a pharmacodynamic maker, immunogenicity through antidrug antibody testing, and safety were evaluated. The mean area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to the last quantifiable concentration (AUC0-t ) and the mean maximum concentration (Cmax ) of PEG-rhG-CSF after treatment A were 5070 ng·h/mL and 125 ng/mL, respectively; these values were comparable to those measured after treatment B (5340 ng·h/mL and 123 ng/mL, respectively). The mean value of area under the △ANC (baseline-adjusted ANC)-time curve and the maximum △ANC values were 4380 × 109  h/L and 33.1 × 109 /L, respectively, in the treatment A group, and 5170 × 109  h/L and 38.6 × 109 /L, respectively, in the treatment B group. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles were similar for the 2 PEG-rhG-CSF formulations following a single dose of 100 µg/kg. The safety and immunogenicity profiles were also similar, with no significant differences. The dose adjustment of PEG-rhG-CSF was not considered necessary for formulation transformation.

Bioequivalence study of 20-mg and 100-mg temozolomide capsules (TOZ309 and Temodal®) in glioma patients in China.

BACKGROUND: Temozolomide is an alkylating agent approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1999 for the treatment of patients with primary brain tumors. The aim of this study was to confirm the bioequivalence and safety of two strengths (20-100 mg) of generic temozolomide in the form of TOZ039 and Temodal® capsules administered to brain tumor patients. STUDY DESIGN: An open-label, randomized, two-phase, two-period, crossover pharmacokinetic study was performed in a single institution. The reference and test drugs were prescribed at a dose of 150 mg/m2 daily from days 1 to 5 of a 28-day cycle in the first phase; in the second phase, either a 150- or 200-mg/m2 dose was prescribed, depending on patient tolerance. On days 1 and 2 of each phase, a fixed 200-mg dose was administered either as ten 20-mg capsules in the first cycle or two 100-mg capsules in the second cycle. Drug administration in the first two days was randomized, i.e., if TOZ309 was administered on day 1, Temodal® was administered on day 2, and vice versa. The rest of the prescribed dose was administered in the form of Temodal® and spread equally over days 3-5. Blood samples were obtained for pharmacokinetic evaluation on days 1 and 2. Bioequivalence was demonstrated if the geometric means ratio of the three main pharmacokinetic parameters (mean maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) 0-t, AUC 0-∞) fell within the equivalence boundary of 80-125%. RESULTS: Twenty-nine glioblastoma multiforme or anaplastic astrocytoma patients were enrolled and dosed with the test and reference formulations under fasting conditions. The 90% confidence interval of the geometric means ratio for Cmax (91.08%, 106.18%), AUC0-t (98.62%,102.18%), and AUC0-∞ (98.65%, 102.21%) was well within the 80%-125% range for the 20-mg capsule, as was the Cmax (90.49%, 113.32%), AUC0-t (99.89%, 104.63%) and AUC0-∞ (99.99%, 104.67%) for the 100-mg capsule drug product. Additionally, all the secondary pharmacokinetic parameters were not significantly different. After two cycles of treatment, there was no mortality among the 29 patients, treatment-related severe adverse events, or events that would require study discontinuation; however, one significant adverse effect (life-threatening seizures) occurred and was related to disease progression. Adverse events were reported in 82.8% (24/29) patients, and treatment emergent adverse events were reported in 72.4% (21/29) patients. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that 20-mg and 100-mg capsules of TOZ309 are bioequivalent to Temodal® capsules of the same strength under fasting conditions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/index.html , CTR2017 0122.

Tetrahydroxy stilbene glycoside alleviated inflammatory damage by mitophagy via AMPK related PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative brain disorder with complex pathogenesis. The fibrillar peptide ß-amyloid (Aß) has a chief function in the pathogenesis of AD. Emerging evidence has indicated that there is a tight relationship between inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and Aß formation. 2,3,5,4'-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-ß-D-glucoside (TSG) is one of the main active components extracted from Polygonum multiflorum. Recent research corroborated the beneficial roles of TSG in alleviating the learning and memory of AD models. Unfortunately, the underlying mechanism of TSG remains poorly elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of TSG on LPS/ATP and Aß25-35-induced inflammation in microglia and neurons and its underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results found that treatment with TSG significantly attenuated the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, reduced NLRP3 inflammasome, and regulated mitophagy. TSG efficiently alleviated LPS-induced inflammatory response by inhibiting the NLRP3 signaling pathway both in microglia and neuron. Meanwhile, TSG promoted autophagy involved in the AMPK/PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway, which may contribute to the protective activity. Additional mechanistic investigations to evaluate the dependence of the neuroprotective role of TSG on PINK1 revealed that a lack of PINK1 inhibited autophagy, especially mitophagy in microglia. Importantly, knockdown of PINK1 or Parkin by siRNA or CRISPR/Cas9 system abolished the protective effects of TSG. In conclusion, these phenomena suggested that TSG prevented LPS/ATP and Aß-induced inflammation via AMPK/PINK1/Parkin-dependent enhancement of mitophagy. We found the neuroprotective effect of TSG, suggesting it may be beneficial for AD prevention and treatment by suppressing the activation of inflammation.

Pharmacokinetics and Bioequivalence of Clopidogrel Hydrogen Sulfate Tablets in Fed and Fasted Conditions: An Open-Label, Randomized, Semireplicated Crossover Study in Healthy Chinese Volunteers.

Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet drug with high intraindividual variability in systemic exposure and efficacy. It has been used for treating atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndrome and in preventing stent restenosis and thrombotic complications after stent implantation in clinical practice for nearly 20 years. In this study we aimed to evaluate the bioequivalence of 2 clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate formulations (75-mg tablets) under fed (n = 66) and fasted (n = 66) conditions by using the reference-scaled average bioequivalence method. An open-label, randomized, 3-sequence and 3-period crossover (3×3), semireplicated study was designed and conducted. Clopidogrel concentration of plasma samples was measured by high-precision liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The pharmacokinetic parameters were derived by a noncompartmental model. In the fed condition the geometric least-squares mean ratios of peak concentration (Cmax ) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-t ) were, respectively, 103.38% and 98.97%, and the corresponding 90%CIs were 95.68% to 111.70% and 94.67% to 103.47%. In the fasted condition the geometric least squares mean ratios of Cmax and AUC0-t were, respectively, 106.53% and 105.77%, and the corresponding 90%CIs were 97.62% to 116.25% and 96.96% to 115.38%. According to the criteria for bioequivalence (80.00% to 125.00%), the test formulations of clopidogrel and Plavix were determined to be bioequivalent.

A Two-Sequence, Four-Period, Crossover, Replicate Study to Demonstrate Bioequivalence of Warfarin Sodium Tablet in Healthy Chinese Subjects Under Fasting and Fed Conditions.

Warfarin is a narrow therapeutic index anticoagulant drug, and several generic formulations have been approved worldwide. However, there has been no report evaluating the bioequivalence of warfarin sodium according to US Food and Drug Administration draft guidance. We designed a 2-sequence and 4-period crossover study to compare the pharmacokinetic profile and assess bioequivalence between the test warfarin sodium tablet and reference product Coumadin (2.5 mg) in 56 healthy Chinese subjects under fasting and fed conditions. The plasma concentration of warfarin was analyzed by a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay, and the reference-scaled procedure was used to determine bioequivalence for the pharmacokinetics parameters. The results showed that the point estimate of geometric mean ratios of Cmax and AUC0-t for warfarin were 103.21% and 99.31%, respectively, in the fasting condition and 100.62% and 98.98%, respectively, in the fed condition, and the 90% confidence intervals were all within the range of 90.00%-111.11%. The upper limit of the 90% confidence interval of estimated within-subject variation ratios of the test and reference products was 1.33 for Cmax and 2.22 for AUC0-t under the fasting condition and 1.68 for Cmax and 2.15 for AUC0-t under the fed condition. Overall, bioequivalence of the 2 warfarin sodium products was demonstrated.

Trends and Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Children Aged 2-7 Years from 2011 to 2017 in Xiamen, China.

BACKGROUND: Childhood overweight and obesity have become some of the most serious public health problems in the 21st century and have a significant impact on affected children as they grow into adulthood. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the overweight and obesity status and their main influencing factors in preschool children aged 2-7 years in urban areas of China between 2011 and 2017. METHODS: A stratified cluster random sampling method was used to conduct a sample survey of children aged 2-7 years in Xiamen, one of China's five special economic zones. The 56,738 participants (29,444 boys, 27,294 girls) were examined at three time points (15,757 in 2011, 19,098 in 2014, and 21,883 in 2017), and were analyzed for factors influencing obesity. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2017, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in preschool children between 2 and 7 years old was 10.91 and 5.66%, respectively. The overweight and obesity rates were higher in boys (11.85 and 7.11%) than in girls (9.90 and 4.09%), and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). In the past 7 years, the overweight and obesity rates showed a downward trend in both boys and girls (p < 0.01). The peak ages for overweight were 6 years in boys and 2 years in girls, while the obesity rate peaked at 6 years. In those children with obesity, the proportion of those with moderate to severe obesity decreased from 40.70% in 2011 to 32.80% in 2017. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that children who were averse to sports activities preferred greasy foods and had earlier introduction of solid foods as infants, as well as those who were born at a high birth weight, ate fast, and those with parents with obesity were more likely to have obesity themselves (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although preventative and control measures for childhood obesity have achieved initial results, Chinese preschool children remain to have high levels of overweight and obesity. It is therefore necessary to strengthen monitoring of overweight and obesity in preschool-aged children and implement appropriate interventions when necessary.

Pharmacokinetics and Tolerability of Budesonide/Glycopyrronium/Formoterol Fumarate Dihydrate and Glycopyrronium/Formoterol Fumarate Dihydrate Metered Dose Inhalers in Healthy Chinese Adults: A Randomized, Double-blind, Parallel-group Study.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess pharmacokinetic (PK) and safety profiles of 2 fixed-dose combinations in development for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): budesonide/glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate dihydrate metered-dose inhaler (BGF MDI; triple combination) and glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate dihydrate (GFF MDI; dual combination). The PK and safety profiles of BGF MDI and GFF MDI were assessed for the first time in healthy Chinese adults after single and repeated (7-day) dosing. METHODS: This Phase I, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study was conducted at a single site in Shanghai, China. Male or female Chinese subjects, 18-45 years of age and in good general health, were randomized 1:1:1 to receive BGF MDI 320/14.4/10 µg, BGF MDI 160/14.4/10 µg, or GFF MDI 14.4/10 µg. PK parameters were assessed after a single dose (day 1) and at steady state (day 8), and included AUC0-12, Cmax, and Tmax. Tolerability was assessed using physical examination findings, adverse events reporting, 12-lead ECG, vital signs, and clinical laboratory values. FINDINGS: Ninety-six subjects (mean age, 25.6 years; 83.3% male) were randomized and received treatment. All randomized subjects were included in the safety and PK populations. After single and repeated dosing, budesonide AUC0-12 and Cmax were increased dose proportionally from BGF MDI 160/14.4/10 µg to BGF MDI 320/14.4/10 µg, respectively (single dose: AUC0-12, 811.8 vs 1748 h · pg/mL; Cmax, 224.3 vs 459.3 pg/mL; repeated dosing: AUC0-12, 1250 vs 2510 h · pg/mL; Cmax, 315.4 vs 626.4 pg/mL). After single and repeated dosing, glycopyrronium AUC0-12 and Cmax were similar across all treatments (single dose: AUC0-12, 27.20-29.40 h · pg/mL; Cmax, 4.884-5.674 pg/mL; repeated dosing: AUC0-12, 69.49-77.08 h · pg/mL; Cmax, 11.30-13.12 pg/mL) and formoterol (single dose: AUC0-12, 46.49-53.58 h · pg/mL; Cmax 9.651-10.62 pg/mL; repeated dosing: AUC0-12, 81.94-85.32 h · pg/mL; Cmax, 16.13-17.71 pg/mL), suggesting that the addition of budesonide did not appreciably alter the PK properties of GFF MDI. All treatment-emergent adverse events were mild in severity and rates were similar across groups (range, 50.0%-56.3%). There were no new or unexpected findings on tolerability. IMPLICATIONS: Overall, all treatments were well tolerated and PK parameters were generally comparable to those previously reported in Western and Japanese healthy subjects, suggesting that the doses of BGF MDI and GFF MDI in development globally for COPD are also appropriate for Chinese patients with COPD. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03075267.

Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of generic and branded abiraterone acetate tablet: a single-dose, open-label, and replicate designed study in healthy Chinese male volunteers.

PURPOSE: Abiraterone acetate is a highly variable drug and has been approved for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in many countries. This study was conducted to compare the pharmacokinetic profile between the test product (abiraterone acetate tablet) and reference product ZYTIGA® (250 mg) mainly. METHODS: To overcome the high intra-subject variability of abiraterone, a two-sequence and four-period crossover study was designed to assess bioequivalence between the two products in 32 healthy male Chinese subjects under fasting conditions. The plasma concentration of abiraterone was analyzed by a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay and the reference-scaled procedure was used to determine bioequivalence for the pharmacokinetics parameters. RESULTS: The point estimate of geometric mean ratios with 90% confidence interval (CI) of maximum observed concentration (Cmax) and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0t) for abiraterone in the test and reference products were 100.19% (90% CI 87.05-115.32%) and 105.99% (90% CI 96.34-116.62%), respectively, and were both within the range of 80.00-125.00%. The 95% confidence upper limit bound for [Formula: see text] was - 0.1079 for Cmax and was - 0.0515 for AUC0t. CONCLUSIONS: Bioequivalence was demonstrated between the two abiraterone acetate products. The study also confirmed high intra-subject variability, for abiraterone: coefficient of variation (CV, %) of Cmax values for the test and reference products were 40.33% and 46.58%, while for AUC0t were 24.02% and 34.16%, respectively. TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/ : CTR20170997.