The Relationship Between Air Pollution and Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers in Taiwan

Introduction

For never-smokers (smoked <100 lifetime cigarettes), lung cancer (LC) has emerged as an important issue. We aimed to investigate the effects of prevalence changes in tobacco smoking and particulate matter (PM) 2.5 (PM_2.5) levels on LC in Taiwan, in relation to contrasting PM_2.5 levels, between Northern Taiwan (NT) and Southern Taiwan (ST).

Clinical clues for differential diagnosis between verruca plana and verruca plana‐like seborrheic keratosis

Sometimes the clinical differentiation between verruca plana (VP) and VP‐like seborrheic keratosis (SK) could be challenged. However, there have been no studies on this issue to date. The aim of this study was to elucidate clinical and dermoscopic differences between these two diseases, and also to suggest a diagnostic algorithm of VP and VP‐like SK without skin biopsy. The patients who had lesions clinically considered as VP or VP‐like SK were the target of our study. We took clinical and dermoscopic photos with informed consent and conducted a questionnaire. All patients had their diagnoses confirmed by biopsy. Thirty‐three patients were enrolled in our study. Seventeen patients were finally diagnosed with VP (51.5%) and 16 patients with VP‐like SK (48.5%). In clinical findings, VP‐like SK showed significantly more scattered distribution than VP (P = 0.039), which exhibited more clustered or grouped distribution (P = 0.039). In dermoscopic findings, brain‐like appearance was more commonly observed in VP‐like SK (P = 0.003) whereas VP showed more red dots or globular vessels (P = 0.017) and even‐colored light brown to yellow patch (P < 0.001). Sex, onset age, the size of each lesion, location, color and shape showed no significant differences between them (P > 0.05). Based on our results, we suggest a diagnostic algorithm using Koebner's phenomenon, dermoscopic findings, distribution of each lesion and biopsy for multiple VP‐like lesions in adults, and we think it will be a very useful diagnostic tool in daily clinical dermatological practice.     

Sex Disparities in Risk of Mortality Among Children With ESRD

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Deep Brain Stimulation Compared With Contingency Management for the Treatment of Cocaine Use Disorders: A Threshold and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

ObjectivesCocaine is the second most frequently used illicit drug worldwide (after cannabis), and cocaine use disorder (CUD)-related deaths increased globally by 80% from 1990 to 2013. There is yet to be a regulatory-approved treatment. Emerging preclinical evidence indicates that deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens may be a therapeutic option. Prior to expanding the costly investigation of DBS for treatment of CUD, it is important to ensure societal cost-effectiveness.AimsWe conducted a threshold and cost-effectiveness analysis to determine the success rate at which DBS would be equivalent to contingency management (CM), recently identified as the most efficacious therapy for treatments of CUDs.Materials and MethodsQuality of life, efficacy, and safety parameters for CM were obtained from previous literature. Costs were calculated from a societal perspective. Our model predicted the utility benefit based on quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental-cost-effectiveness ratio resulting from two treatments on a one-, two-, and five-year timeline.ResultsOn a one-year timeline, DBS would need to impart a success rate (ie, cocaine free) of 70% for it to yield the same utility benefit (0.492 QALYs per year) as CM. At no success rate would DBS be more cost-effective (incremental-cost-effectiveness ratio <$50,000) than CM during the first year. Nevertheless, as DBS costs are front loaded, DBS would need to achieve success rates of 74% and 51% for its cost-effectiveness to exceed that of CM over a two- and five-year period, respectively.ConclusionsWe find DBS would not be cost-effective in the short term (one year) but may be cost-effective in longer timelines. Since DBS holds promise to potentially be a cost-effective treatment for CUDs, future randomized controlled trials should be performed to assess its efficacy.     

低位直肠癌保留神经的腹膜外侧方扩大清扫的效果分析

目的 探讨低位直肠癌保留神经的腹膜外侧方扩大清扫对患者术后生存率、排尿功能和性功能的影响。方法 回顾性分析我院1996年1月至2000年6月期间收治的392例进展期低位直肠癌实施保留神经的根治性切除术患者的临床资料，其中行腹腔内清扫173例，腹腔内加腹膜外侧方清扫219例，2组患者在年龄、性别、浸润肠壁深度及肿瘤病理组织学类型方面差异无统计学意义。结果 腹腔内加腹膜外侧方清扫组侧方淋巴结转移率为17．8％（39／219），侧方盆壁非连续性癌灶转移率为5，9％（13／219）。术后发生排尿功能障碍：腹腔内清扫组7例（4．0％），腹腔内加腹膜外侧方清扫组113例（51．6％），2组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）；性功能障碍：腹腔内清扫组93例男性患者中有12例（12．9％），腹腔内加腹膜外侧方清扫组119例男性患者中有62例（52．1％），2组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）；局部复发率：腹腔内清扫组为16．2％（28／173），腹腔内加腹膜外侧方清扫组为9．6％（21／219），2组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；5年生存率：腹腔内清扫组为49．1％（85／173），腹腔内加腹膜外侧方清扫组为59．4％（130／219），2组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论 低位直肠癌保留神经的腹膜外侧方扩大清扫，可以减少局部复发，提高患者5年生存率，但也会影响患者术后排尿和男性性机能。     

Comparative evaluation of acute toxicity and antitumor activity of IF-XXV preparation and holoxan

The alkylating agent ifosfamide synthesized according to own method at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Warsaw, was compared in biological evaluations with Holoxan (Asta-Werke's ifosfamide). No significant differences between tested compounds were found in respect of acute toxicity and antitumor activity in experimental systems in mice.     

竹林区村庄白纹伊蚊孳生特点的调查

白纹伊蚊在竹林里孳生的阳性比为75.4%;而在竹林包围的居民区阳性比为15.3%。白纹伊蚊在居民区孳生密度布雷图指数为19.4,容器指数为6.2%。居民区孳生蚊虫的主要场所是泡菜坛,泡菜坛主要孳生蚊种是骚扰阿蚊,阳性比为73.7%,其次是淡色库蚊为20.2%,贪食库蚊为14.0%,白纹伊蚊最低,为9.1%。     

胰腺癌扩大根治术中的血管处理

目的 探讨联合门静脉-肠系膜上静脉切除的胰腺癌扩大根治术的临床意义和手术方法 ,以及术中医源性血管损伤的处理方法 .方法 回顾性分析242例胰腺癌扩大根治术患者临床资料,所有患者分为三组,A组为门静脉/肠系膜上静脉切除组(n=51),B组为术中发生医源性血管损伤组(n=5),C组为未行血管处理组(n=186),比较三个组的手术时间、术中输血量、血管阻断时间、平均住院天数、术后并发症及术后生存分析.结果 三个组手术时间分别为(442.85±102.32)min、(348.62±92.31)min和(315.00±83.43)min,术中平均输血量为(1430.83±1092.43)ml、(1420.22±794.41 ml)和(928.19±571.57)ml,手术时间和术中输血量相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),平均住院天数、术后并发症发生率差异无统计学意义(P 0.05).合并门静脉/肠系膜上静脉切除的胰腺腺癌患者术后中位生存期18.4个月,不合并门静脉/肠系膜上静脉切除组的胰腺腺癌患者术后中位生存期16.1个月,生存分析两者无明显差异(P 0.05).51例联合血管切除的患者中,行血管壁部分切除7例,行血管节段切除44例,44例血管节段切除患者中38例行端端吻合,6例行间置移植物,血管切除长度平均(2.92±1.35)cm;5例术中医源性动脉损伤的血管分别为肝动脉1例,肠系膜上动脉1例,腹腔干3例,处理方式为4例行端端吻合,1例行局部修补.结论 积极合理的开展联合门静脉/肠系膜上静脉切除的胰腺癌扩大根治术可以提高手术切除率,改善患者生活质量.由于局部的解剖关系复杂,术中较易发生医源性血管损伤,应引起术者重视并加以正确处理.     

4例SRY阳性的46,XX男性综合征患者临床及细胞分子遗传学研究

目的:探讨SRY阳性的46,XX男性综合征患者的临床及细胞分子遗传学特征。方法:分析4例SRY阳性的46,XX男性综合征患者的临床特点,并进行染色体核型分析、荧光原位杂交(FISH)、SRY基因检测、Y染色体微缺失等细胞和分子遗传学检测。结果:4例患者社会性别均为男性,身材低于正常男性均值。均因不育就诊,双侧睾丸体积小、质地软,精液检查均为无精子症。阴茎发育正常。性激素检查示高促性腺激素性性腺功能不全。染色体核型均为46,XX,Y染色体微缺失检测示AZFa,b,c区域均缺失。SRY基因均存在,FISH结果3例患者显示SRY基因易位于X染色体短臂。结论:SRY阳性的46,XX男性综合征患者常为男性表型,但睾丸发育不良,多伴有身材矮小和不育。患者的男性表型是由于基因组中存在SRY基因。无精子表型是由于缺失AZF。Y染色体长臂上可能存在与身高相关的基因。深入进行细胞、分子遗传学研究有助于揭示46,XX男性综合征基因型-表型的关系。