Disparities in the treatment of patients with IL-2 for metastatic renal cell carcinoma

ObjectivesThe incidence of metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) is rising. To date, interleukin-2 (IL-2) is the only treatment offering a complete response rate for mRCC. We wish to test the hypothesis that the combination of restricted availability and expense associated with IL-2 administration results in differential access to the medication based on race and sex, despite similar clinical indications for its use.MethodsWe used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program and the Centers for Medicare Services (CMS) to clinically characterize subjects with mRCC diagnosed from 1992 through 2002. We linked these subjects to claims identified in the CMS databases. We then assigned subjects to cohorts receiving radical nephrectomy, IL-2, both, or neither. A logistic model was created to identify factors that had significant independent effects on the receipt of IL-2.ResultsThree thousand seven hundred thirty individuals were identified with mRCC. After controlling for other variables, female subjects were less likely to receive IL-2 (O.R. 0.80). African American subjects were also less likely to receive IL-2 (O.R 0.55). Married individuals were much more likely to receive IL-2 (O.R 1.9).ConclusionsAfrican Americans and women were much less likely to be treated with IL-2 after controlling for relevant clinical variables. These data document that the only therapy offering a complete response to patients with mRCC is less frequently given to those who are African American or female. It is possible that the racial and gender-based disparities in treatment with IL-2 will be replicated with newer, expensive treatment options for mRCC. Further prospective investigation into mitigating barriers to receipt of effective care for mRCC is urgently needed.     

Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease: Two cases of dopa‐responsive juvenile parkinsonism with drug‐induced dyskinesia

There are very few conditions that present with dopa‐responsive juvenile parkinsonism. We present two such children with neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) who had an initial good levodopa response that was soon complicated by disabling dopa‐induced dyskinesia. One child was diagnosed by rectal biopsy in life, and the other diagnosis was confirmed at postmortem. In this patient, dopamine transporter imaging showed severely decreased binding of the radiotracer in the striatum on both sides. Bilateral subthalamic deep brain stimulation in this patient produced initial improvement, but this was not sustained. Both patients died within 10 years of symptom onset. As well as levodopa responsiveness with rapid onset of dyskinesia, clues to the diagnosis of NIID in patients presenting with parkinsonism include the presence of gaze‐evoked nystagmus, early onset dysarthria and dysphagia and oculogyric crises. Differential diagnosis of clinical symptoms and neuropathological findings are discussed including the approach to rectal biopsy for early diagnosis. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society     

hTree-dimensional histology:new visual approaches to morphological changes during neural regeneration

Three-dimensional (3D) histology utilizes tissue clearing techniques to turn intact tissues transparent, allowing rapid interrogation of tissue architecture in three dimensions. In this article, we summarized the available tissue clearing methods and classiifed them according to their physicochemical principles of op-eration, which provided a framework for one to choose the best techniques for various research settings. Recent attempts in addressing various questions regarding the degenerating and regenerating nervous system have been promising with the use of 3D histological techniques.     

纽曼保健系统模式在老年高血压患者护理中的应用

目的探讨纽曼保健系统模式在老年高血压患者中的护理效果。方法将66例老年高血压患者随机分为对照组和观察组各33例。观察组采用纽曼保健系统模式，对照组采用常规护理，比较两组患者的血压及生活质量。结果观察组收缩压平均下降26．70mmHg，舒张压平均下降15．10mmHg，与对照组比较，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。观察组患者生活质量总体功能评分平均为16．70分，与对照组比较，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论对高血压病患者实施纽曼保健系统护理模式，可有效控制患者的血压，提高生活质量。     

广东地区变应性结膜炎变应原筛选及预防

目的 观察广东地区变应性结膜炎患者气源性变应原的分布情况,为预防方案提供科学依据.方法 采用17种吸入性变应原对广东地区138例患有变应性结膜炎的患者进行皮内试验.结果 138例符合条件的变应性结膜炎患者的变应原皮肤实验阳性率以螨(122/138,88.41%)最高,其次为屋尘(88/138,63.71%)、刺苋菜(87/138,63.04%)、蟑螂(79/138,57.24%)、秋季花粉(75/138,54.35%)、垫料(75/138,54.35%)、蚕蛹(74/138,53.62%)、蜜蜂(65/138,47.10%)等.结论 螨、屋尘是广东地区变应性结膜炎的最常见变应原,临床上应重视环境对其预防的重要意义.     

华西医院重症监护病房连续两年院内感染革兰阴性杆菌的耐药性监测

目的调查分析我院重症监护病房（ICU）医院感染革兰阴性杆菌的菌群分布和耐药现状及耐药变迁，指导临床合理使用抗生素。方法采用E—test药敏试验测定我院重症监护病房连续两年分离的200株院内感染革兰阴性杆菌对12种抗生素的最低抑菌浓度（MIC）。结果ICU病房分离率最高的院内感染革兰阴性杆菌依次为大肠埃希菌（34％），不动杆菌属细菌（18％）,铜绿假单胞菌（15．5％），克雷伯菌属细菌（15．5％），肠杆菌属细菌（13％）；两年中总耐药率最低的是亚胺培南；呼吸道标本中最常见的为不动杆菌属细菌（23％），铜绿假单胞菌（18．7％），克雷伯菌属细菌（18．7％），大肠埃希菌（17％）；尿标本中主要分离菌为大肠埃希菌（81％）；血液标本中主要分离菌为大肠埃希菌（73％）。呼吸道标本中,2004年铜绿假单胞菌的分离率25％明显高于2003年1．4％；大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌超广谱β-内酰胺酶（ESBLs）的发生率从2003年的47％和35．7％升高到2004年的50％和53％。结论亚胺培南对大肠埃希菌和肠杆菌属细菌均保持很高的敏感性，铜绿假单胞菌对头孢他啶和阿米卡星的敏感性最高，不动杆菌属细菌对头孢哌酮／舒巴坦、亚胺培南的敏感性最高,但对亚胺培南的耐药率呈上升趋势。因此，进行本医院、本地区的细菌耐药动态监测对指导临床抗感染经验用药是非常必要的。