Animal Models of Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma–Past,Present, and Future

Esophageal adenocarcinoma is the fastest rising cancer in the United States. It develops from long‐standing gastroesophageal reflux disease which affects >20% of the general population. It carries a very poor prognosis with 5‐year survival <20%. The disease is known to sequentially progress from reflux esophagitis to a metaplastic precursor, Barrett''s esophagus and then onto dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, only few patients with reflux develop Barrett''s esophagus and only a minority of these turn malignant. The reason for this heterogeneity in clinical progression is unknown. To improve patient management, molecular changes which facilitate disease progression must be identified. Animal models can provide a comprehensive functional and anatomic platform for such a study. Rats and mice have been the most widely studied but disease homology with humans has been questioned. No animal model naturally simulates the inflammation to adenocarcinoma progression as in humans, with all models requiring surgical bypass or destruction of existing antireflux mechanisms. Valuable properties of individual models could be utilized to holistically evaluate disease progression. In this review paper, we critically examined the current animal models of Barrett''s esophagus, their differences and homologies with human disease and how they have shaped our current understanding of Barrett''s carcinogenesis.     

PD-L1高表达晚期非小细胞肺癌患者单纯免疫治疗与免疫联合化疗疗效比较

背景与目的以免疫检查点抑制剂（immune checkpoint inhibitors, ICIs）为代表的免疫治疗越来越广泛地应用于肺癌治疗。然而，对于程序性死亡受体配体1（programmed cell death-ligand 1, PD-L1）高表达，即肿瘤比例评分（tumor proportion score, TPS）≥50%的晚期非小细胞肺癌（non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC）患者，采用单纯免疫治疗还是免疫联合化疗在临床上仍存争议。本研究旨在评估PD-L1高表达的晚期NSCLC患者接受单纯免疫治疗与免疫联合化疗的疗效。方法本研究回顾性分析了49例PD-L1高表达晚期NSCLC患者的临床资料。PD-L1表达采用22C3抗体行免疫组化染色，按TPS判读PD-L1表达水平。比较不同临床特征分组患者的客观缓解率（objective response rate，ORR）和无进展生存时间（progression free survival, PFS）。结果免疫单药与免疫联合化疗组的ORR分别为47.1%（8/17）和43.8%（14/32），差异无统计学意义（P=0.825）。免疫单药与免疫联合化疗组的中位PFS分别为8.0个月和6.8个月，差异无统计学意义（P=0.502）。并对本组PD-L1高表达患者免疫治疗的预测因素进行了分析，结果显示，一线免疫治疗ORR（12/19, 63.2%）显著优于二线及以上免疫治疗（10/30, 33.3%），差异有统计学意义（P=0.041），二者间PFS无差异。年龄、性别、吸烟史、功能状态评分（performance status, PS）、病理类型、肿瘤大小、肿瘤淋巴结转移（tumor node metastasis, TNM）分期与ORR和PFS不相关。结论PD-L1高表达的晚期NSCLC患者接受免疫单药和免疫联合化疗的疗效相近。PD-L1高表达患者一线免疫治疗的ORR更佳。对此类人群的最佳治疗方案有待于前瞻性临床研究进一步探索。     

A modality-specific somatosensory evoked potential test protocol for clinical evaluation: A feasibility study

ObjectiveWe aimed to establish an objective neurophysiological test protocol that can be used to assess the somatosensory nervous system.MethodsIn order to assess most fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system, repetitive stimuli of seven different modalities (touch, vibration, pinprick, cold, contact heat, laser, and warmth) were synchronized with the electroencephalogram (EEG) and applied on the cheek and dorsum of the hand and dorsum of the foot in 21 healthy subjects and three polyneuropathy (PNP) patients. Latencies and amplitudes of the modalities were assessed and compared. Patients received quantitative sensory testing (QST) as reference.ResultsWe found reproducible evoked potentials recordings for touch, vibration, pinprick, contact-heat, and laser stimuli. The recording of warm-evoked potentials was challenging in young healthy subjects and not applicable in patients. Latencies were shortest within Aβ-fiber-mediated signals and longest within C-fibers. The test protocol detected function loss within the Aβ-fiber and Aδ-fiber-range in PNP patients. This function loss corresponded with QST findings.ConclusionIn this pilot study, we developed a neurophysiological test protocol that can specifically assess most of the somatosensory modalities. Despite technical challenges, initial patient data appear promising regarding a possible future clinical application.SignificanceEstablished and custom-made stimulators were combined to assess different fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system using modality-specific evoked potentials.     

Connectivity measures suggest a sub-cortical generator of myoclonus in Angelman syndrome

ObjectiveThe clinical and neurophysiological characteristics of myoclonus in Angelman syndrome (AS) have been evaluated in single case or small cohorts, with contrasting results. We evaluated the features of myoclonus in a wide cohort of AS patients.MethodsWe performed polygraphic EEG-EMG recording in 24 patients with genetically confirmed AS and myoclonus. Neurophysiological investigations included jerk-locked back-averaging (JLBA), cortico-muscular coherence (CMC) and generalised partial directed coherence (GPDC). CMC and GPDC analyses were compared to those obtained from 10 healthy controls (HC).ResultsTwenty-four patients (aged 3–35 years, median 20) were evaluated. Sequences of quasi-continuous rhythmic jerks mostly occurred at alpha frequency or just below (mean 8.4 ± 1.4 Hz), without EEG correlate. JLBA did not show any clear transient preceding the jerks. CMC showed bilateral over-threshold CMC in alpha band that was prominent on the contralateral hemisphere in the patient group as compared to HC group. GPDC showed a significantly higher alpha outflow from both hemispheres toward activated muscles in the patient group, and a significantly higher beta outflow from contralateral hemisphere in the HC group.ConclusionsThese neurophysiological findings suggest a subcortical generator of myoclonus in AS.SignificanceMyoclonus in AS has not a cortical origin as previously hypothesised.     

PDCA循环在消化道肿瘤伴糖尿病患者营养全程管理中的效果观察

目的 探讨PDCA 循环在消化道肿瘤伴糖尿病患者营养全程管理中的效果观察。方法 运用PDCA循环对80例不同程度营养不良的消化道肿瘤伴糖尿病患者实施营养全程管理,比较干预前后患者的体重、BMI指数、糖化血红蛋白、血红蛋白、总蛋白、白蛋白及球蛋白水平。结果 患者血红蛋白、总蛋白、白蛋白及球蛋白水平均有提高,比较差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。结论 PDCA循环管理在消化道肿瘤伴糖尿病患者营养全程管理中有较大的优势, 值得推广。     

Surgical Technique Notes of Arterial Vascular Reconstruction During Kidney Transplantation: Personal Experience and Literature Review

Background

Arterial vascular anomalies in patients undergoing kidney transplantation (KT) are correlated with a higher incidence of early surgical complications, potentially causing graft loss. Arterial reconstruction allows patients to overcome these surgical challenges, thus minimizing the risk of poor outcomes. The aim of the present study is to retrospectively investigate the safety and effectiveness of the multiple arterial reconstruction technique with a Teflon patch in case of an unavailable aortic patch: to do so, surgical complications, graft function, and patient survival were evaluated.

中国精神分裂症患者不同家庭干预措施效果比较的meta分析

目的对中国精神分裂症患者采取家庭干预的研究文献进行综合回顾和系统评价, 比较不同条件下家庭干预效果的差异。方法在中国知网、维普、万方、中国生物医学文献数据库四大中文数据库及OVID Medline、Science Direct、Web of Science、EBSCO四大英文数据库中, 检索各数据库建库至2015年1月为止使用社会功能缺陷筛选量表(SDSS)、简明精神病(科)量表(BPRS)、阳性与阴性症状量表(PANSS)研究中国精神分裂症患者家庭干预效果的文献, 以标准化加权均数差( SMD)作为效应量, 采用meta分析比较不同干预时间、不同干预类型、对不同病程和不同严重程度的精神分裂症患者的家庭干预效果差异。 结果共纳入57篇符合标准的文献。SDSS、PANSS分析结果显示:① 干预时间越长干预效果越好( P < 0.0001、 P=0.0025);② 单独家庭干预比多个家庭合并单独家庭干预的效果更明显( P < 0.0001、 P=0.0131);③ 干预对于病情较重患者效果较好( P < 0.0001、 P=0.0280)。SDSS量表还显示家庭干预对于病程短的患者效果更好( P < 0.0001)。 结论家庭干预更适合病程较短的精神分裂症患者, 干预应实施较长时间; 单独家庭干预更有利于患者阴性症状的改善和社会功能的康复, 且对于病情较轻患者的阴性症状改善效果更好。     

Effect of lower leg compression during cesarean section on post-spinal hypotension and neonatal hemodynamic parameters: nonrandomized controlled clinical trial

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the effect of lower leg compression during cesarean section (CS) on post-spinal hypotension (PSH) and neonatal hemodynamic parameters.MethodsThis study is a nonrandomized controlled clinical trial conducted in the cesarean delivery unit of the National Medical institute, Damanhour, Egypt. The sample included 120 parturients (60 intervention and 60 control). The researchers developed three tools for data collection: sociodemographic data and reproductive history interview schedule, electronic monitoring of maternal hemodynamic parameters, and neonatal hemodynamic assessment sheet. All parturients received ordinary pre-operative care. For the intervention group, a long elastic stocking (ordinary pressure 20–30 mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) was applied on both legs during cesarean section. The control group received the same care without the elastic stocking.ResultsSystolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial blood pressure were significantly higher in the intervention group throughout the entire operation period except in the last 5–15 min. Heart rate was significantly lower in the intervention group. Only 13.3% of the intervention group took ephedrine compared with 45% of the control group. Apgar score was higher among neonates of intervention group compared with the control group at 1 min. Neonatal acidosis was significantly higher in the control group than in the contral group.ConclusionLower leg compression technique can effectively reduce PSH and neonatal acidosis.