Relationship between rosacea and dietary factors: A multicenter retrospective case–control survey

Although patients with rosacea often consult dermatologists for dietary factors that might be related to their skin disorders, few studies have been conducted to research the relationship between rosacea and dietary factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential relationship between rosacea and diet among the large Chinese population with rosacea, which would provide dietary guidelines for patients with rosacea. A multicenter case–control study was conducted. The feeding frequency 2 years before the occurrence of rosacea was collected by standardized questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to calculate risks related to the diet. One thousand three hundred and forty‐seven patients with rosacea and 1290 controls were enrolled in our study. We found that high‐frequency intake of fatty food and tea presented a positive correlation with rosacea, while high‐frequency dairy product intake showed significant negative correlation with rosacea. Sweet food, coffee and spicy food appeared to be independent of any subset of rosacea in our study. However, high‐frequency dairy product intake showed a borderline beneficial effect on rosacea severity. We further analyzed the correlation between diet and the subtype of rosacea. We found that high‐frequency fatty intake was associated with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR) and phymatous rosacea, while high‐frequency tea intake was only associated with ETR. In addition, high‐frequency dairy product intake showed negative correlations with ETR and papulopustular rosacea. Rosacea is associated with some dietary factors, and our study is valuable in establishing dietary guidelines to prevent and improve rosacea.     

Fasting glucose and its association with 20-year all-cause and cause-specific mortality in Chinese general population

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the relationship between fasting glucose levels and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in Chinese population.MethodsThe role of fasting blood glucose levels as a predictor of all-cause and cause-specific mortality was estimated in 9930 participants from four Chinese general populations with a 20-year follow-up. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify the relationship between fasting glucose and mortality.ResultsThere were 1471 deaths after a median follow-up of 20.2 years (a total of 187,374 person-years), including 310 cardiovascular deaths, 581 cancer deaths, and 580 other-cause deaths. After adjustment for age, sex, urban or rural, northern or southern of China, types of work, education level, physical exercise, smoking status, drinking status, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and serum total cholesterol at baseline, the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality in the fasting blood glucose categories of <60, 60–69, 70–79, 90–99, 100–109, 110–125, and ≥126 mg/dl were 1.38 (1.04–1.84), 1.20 (1.01–1.43), 1.18 (1.03–1.36), 1.18 (0.99–1.41), 1.48 (1.16–1.88), 1.17 (0.84–1.62), and 2.23 (1.72–2.90), respectively, in contrast to the reference group (80–89 mg/dl). The HRs and 95% CIs for cardiovascular disease mortality in these groups were 2.58 (1.44–4.61), 1.41 (0.95–2.10), 1.56 (1.15–2.11), 1.29 (0.88–1.89), 1.36 (0.78–2.37), 1.05 (0.52–2.11), and 2.73 (1.64–4.56), respectively.ConclusionsBoth low and high fasting glucose were significantly associated with increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in Chinese general population.     

清热解毒、散风除翳法对细菌性角膜炎的作用机制研究

目的:观察清热解毒、散风除翳法对细菌性角膜炎模型鼠的疗效及其作用机制。方法:将60只Wistar大鼠随机分为5组,即模型组、小剂量组、大剂量组、对照组以及空白组，每组12只大鼠。采用细菌性角膜炎动物模型症状评定观察清热解毒、散风除翳法的疗效,通过细菌清除率、角膜细菌菌落计数,光学显微镜观察大鼠角膜的病理组织学改变,并采用流式细胞仪检测CD4+,CD8+及CD4+/CD8+的水平讨论清热解毒、散风除翳法的作用机制。结果:1)清热解毒、散风除翳法可降低细菌性角膜炎性反应状评分,提高细菌清除率,改善角膜基质层的病理结构;2)清热解毒、散风除翳法可提高细菌性角膜炎模型鼠外周血血CD4+、CD8+的表达水平,具有剂量依赖性(P<0.05),CD4+/CD8+比值相对稳定,各组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:清热解毒,散风除翳法能有效改善细菌性角膜炎,其作用机制可能与上调大鼠外周血中CD4+,CD8+含量有关。     

芪参补气胶囊治疗稳定期慢性阻塞性肺疾病肺气虚证的疗效观察

目的：探索芪参补气胶囊治疗稳定期慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）肺气虚证的临床疗效与安全性。方法：选取2017年10月16日至2018年11月20日在新疆维吾尔族自治区克州人民医院呼吸内科门诊随诊的COPD稳定期肺气虚证患者480例作为研究对象，随机分为观察组和对照组，每组240例，进行为期52周的观察。2组患者均给予健康指导、家庭氧疗、沙美特罗替卡松粉吸入剂、竹沥胶囊等基础治疗；对照组在基础治疗上给予玉屏风胶囊口服，2粒/次，3次/d；观察组在基础治疗上给予芪参补气胶囊口服，3粒/次，3次/d。观察比较2组患者的相关指标。结果：观察组平均急性加重次数（1.62±0.93）次，对照组（1.83±0.97）次，观察组发作次数显著减少（t=2.262，P=0.012）。观察组相对于对照组的急性加重风险RR=0.869（0.763~0.988，P=0.032），降低了13.1%。伴有咳嗽、喘息、便秘或吸烟的患者，观察组急性加重风险更低（P<0.05）。观察组CAT评分、FEV1显著优于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组炎性反应指标（TNF-α、IL-6、IL-8）改善情况显著优于对照组。观察组不良事件发生率显著低于对照组。结论：芪参补气胶囊与玉屏风散均具有良好的提高免疫功能，改善COPD属肺气虚证者咳痰喘症状的作用。其中芪参补气胶囊减少急性加重风险的效果较玉屏风胶囊更好，且安全性良好，值得推广使用。     

Phase 1 Study of Erlotinib and Metformin in Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

BackgroundEpidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is frequently overexpressed in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). One strategy for overcoming resistance to EGFR inhibition is concomitant inhibition of downstream signaling. The antidiabetic drug metformin inhibits both MAPK and PI3K/mTOR pathway signaling. We evaluated the combination of erlotinib and metformin in a phase 1 study of patients with mTNBC.Patients and MethodsPatients with mTNBC who had received at least one prior line of therapy for metastatic disease were eligible. Erlotinib dose was fixed at 150 mg daily. Metformin dose escalation was planned according to a 3 + 3 design. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) were assessed during the first 5 weeks of therapy. The primary objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose of metformin with fixed-dose erlotinib. Secondary endpoints were response rate, stable disease rate, and progression-free survival.ResultsEight patients were enrolled. The median number of prior therapies for metastatic disease was 2.5 (range, 1-6). No DLT events were reported during the DLT assessment period. Most adverse events were grade 1/2. Grade 3 diarrhea despite maximum supportive care required dose reduction of metformin in one patient. Grade 3 rash led to study withdrawal in one patient. No grade 4 adverse events were reported. The best observed response was stable disease in 2 patients (25%). Median progression-free survival was 60 days (range, 36-61 days).ConclusionErlotinib and metformin were well tolerated in a population of pretreated mTNBC patients but did not demonstrate efficacy in this population.