Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of Hydrogel Rectal Spacer in Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy

Purpose

A hydrogel rectal spacer (HRS) is a medical device that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to increase the separation between the prostate and rectum. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of HRS use for reduction in radiation therapy (RT) toxicities in patients with prostate cancer (PC) undergoing external beam RT (EBRT).

快速检测汉滩病毒新型实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法的建立与应用

目的建立一种汉滩型汉坦病毒(Hantaan virus,HTNV)荧光定量(RT-PCR)的检测方法,以便快速准确地检测HTNV。方法利用Beacon Designer7.0设计引物和探针,以HTNV的S基因片段为模板,进行实时荧光定量RT-PCR,评价此方法的特异性及灵敏度。结果建立的RT-PCR方法对HTNV的最低检出限为4.08copies/μL,模板Ct值与稀释浓度的对数之间具有良好的线性关系,标准曲线方程为Y=-3.4118X+41.997,扩增效率为96.4%,R2=0.994。结论所建立的实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测方法灵敏度高、特异性好,可应用于HTNV的快速检测。     

Alterations in cortical and thalamic connections of somatosensory cortex following early loss of vision

Early loss of vision produces dramatic changes in the functional organization and connectivity of the neocortex in cortical areas that normally process visual inputs, such as the primary and second visual area. This loss also results in alterations in the size, functional organization, and neural response properties of the primary somatosensory area, S1. However, the anatomical substrate for these functional changes in S1 has never been described. In the present investigation, we quantified the cortical and subcortical connections of S1 in animals that were bilaterally enucleated very early in development, prior to the formation of retino-geniculate and thalamocortical pathways. We found that S1 receives dense inputs from novel cortical fields, and that the density of existing cortical and thalamocortical connections was altered. Our results demonstrate that sensory systems develop in tandem and that alterations in sensory input in one system can affect the connections and organization of other sensory systems. Thus, therapeutic intervention following early loss of vision should focus not only on restoring vision, but also on augmenting the natural plasticity of the spared systems.     

Co-targeting bromodomain and extra-terminal proteins and MCL1 induces synergistic cell death in melanoma

The treatment of melanoma has been markedly improved by the introduction of targeted therapies and checkpoint blockade immunotherapy. Unfortunately, resistance to these therapies remains a limitation. Novel anticancer therapeutics targeting the MCL1 anti-apoptotic protein have shown impressive responses in haematological cancers but are yet to be evaluated in melanoma. To assess the sensitivity of melanoma to new MCL1 inhibitors, we measured the response of 51 melanoma cell lines to the novel MCL1 inhibitor, S63845. Additionally, we assessed combination of this drug with inhibitors of the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) protein family of epigenetic readers, which we postulated would assist MCL1 inhibition by downregulating anti-apoptotic targets regulated by NF-kB such as BCLXL, BCL2A1 and XIAP, and by upregulating pro-apoptotic proteins including BIM and NOXA. Only 14% of melanoma cell lines showed sensitivity to S63845, however, combination of S63845 and I-BET151 induced highly synergistic apoptotic cell death in all melanoma lines tested and in an in vivo xenograft model. Cell death was dependent on caspases and BAX/BAK. Although the combination of drugs increased the BH3-only protein, BIM, and downregulated anti-apoptotic proteins such as BCL2A1, the importance of these proteins in inducing cell death varied between cell lines. ABT-199 or ABT-263 inhibitors against BCL2 or BCL2 and BCLXL, respectively, induced further cell death when combined with S63845 and I-BET151. The combination of MCL1 and BET inhibition appears to be a promising therapeutic approach for metastatic melanoma, and presents opportunities to add further BCL2 family inhibitors to overcome treatment resistance.     

The microbiome in pediatric oncology

The human microbiome comprises a diverse set of microorganisms, which play a mostly cooperative role in processes such as metabolism and host defense. Next-generation genomic sequencing of bacterial nucleic acids now can contribute a much broader understanding of the diverse organisms composing the microbiome. Emerging evidence has suggested several roles of the microbiome in pediatric hematology/oncology, including susceptibility to infectious diseases, immune response to neoplasia, and contributions to the tumor microenvironment as well as changes to the microbiome from chemotherapy and antibiotics with unclear consequences. In this review, the authors have examined the evidence of the role of the microbiome in pediatric hematology/oncology, discussed how the microbiome may be modulated, and suggested key questions in need of further exploration.     

清热化瘀汤对急性脑出血患者血清hs-CRP、血浆S100β蛋白和NSE的影响

目的:探究清热化瘀汤联合依达拉奉对急性脑出血患者血清超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)、血浆S100β蛋白和神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)的影响。方法:选择2017年5月—2019年5月在我院神经内科就诊符合纳入标准的80例急性脑出血患者,随机分为联合组(40例)和依达拉奉组(40例),两组均给予基础治疗和依达拉奉静脉滴注治疗,联合组则在此基础上加用清热化瘀汤。观察并比较两组的临床疗效、神经功能缺损程度评分(NIHSS)、格拉斯哥昏迷评分(GCS)、hs-CRP、S100β蛋白和NSE水平及脑血肿量。结果:联合组的总有效率为95%(38/40),显著高于依达拉奉组的总有效率75%(30/40)(P<0.05)。治疗后,两组NIHSS评分降低,GCS评分升高,且联合组NIHSS评分明显低于依达拉奉组(P<0.05),GCS评分高于依达拉奉组(P<0.05)。治疗后,两组hs-CRP、S100β蛋白和NSE水平及均脑血肿量均低于治疗前,且联合组hs-CRP、S100β蛋白和NSE水平及脑血肿量明显低于依达拉奉组(P<0.05)。结论:清热化瘀汤联合依达拉奉对急性脑出血患者具有良好的疗效,可显著改善其神经缺损,降低hs-CRP、S100β蛋白和NSE水平及脑血肿量。