Optimal combination of antiangiogenic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

The success of sorafenib in prolonging survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) makes therapeutic inhibition of angiogenesis a component of treatment for HCC. To enhance therapeutic efficacy, overcome drug resistance and reduce toxicity, combination of antiangiogenic agents with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other targeted agents were evaluated. Nevertheless, the use of antiangiogenic therapy remains suboptimal regarding dosage, schedule and duration of therapy. The issue is further complicated by combination antiangiogenesis to other cytotoxic or biologic agents. There is no way to determine which patients are most likely respond to a given form of antiangiogenic therapy. Activation of alternative pathways associated with disease progression in patients undergoing antiangiogenic therapy has also been recognized. There is increasing importance in identifying, validating and standardizing potential response biomarkers for antiangiogenesis therapy for HCC patients. In this review, biomarkers for antiangiogenesis therapy including systemic, circulating, tissue and imaging ones are summarized. The strength and deficit of circulating and imaging biomarkers were further demonstrated by a series of studies in HCC patients receiving radiotherapy with or without thalidomide.     

The Effect of Helicobacter pylori on Gastric Cancer Treated with Adjuvant Chemotherapy After Curative Resection

Helicobacter pylori has been associated with diverse pathologies of varying severity. We investigated the H. pylori infection status and its association with the pathologic features and clinical outcomes in stage III gastric cancer patients treated with adjuvant therapy after curative resection. Between 2004 and 2009, the records of 76 consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed. H. pylori infection was confirmed by examination of pathological specimen. The relationship between H. pylori and the clinicopathological features was analyzed by Fisher exact test, Student’s t test, and Kaplan-Meier method. Of the 76 patients, 16 patients (21.1 %) were confirmed for H. pylori infection. The median age was 59 years. Twenty-three patients received chemotherapy and remainder received chemoradiotherapy. H. pylori status did not correlate with the clinicopathologic features. It was greater in non-neoplastic tissue than the tumor tissue (21.1 vs 7.9 %). Median follow-up was 21 months. During this period, 88.2 % patients had experienced tumor recurrence, and 85.5 % patients had died. Recurrence was observed in 87.5 % patients and in 88.3 % patients in H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative patients, respectively (P = 0.92). Disease-free survival was 28.4 ± 7.9 months and overall survival was 31.5 ± 7.4 months in H. pylori-positive patients compared with 28.3 ± 3.7 and 33.2 ± 3.4 months, respectively, in H. pylori-negative patients. H. pylori infection status did not have effect on the overall or disease-free survival (p = 0.85 and P = 0.86), respectively. H. pylori status might not be useful as a prognostic and predictive factor for clinical outcomes.     

SEROPOSITIVITY FOR ASCARIOSIS AND TOXOCARIOSIS AND CYTOKINE EXPRESSION AMONG THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE VENEZUELAN DELTA REGION

The present study aimed at measuring seropositivities for infection by Ascaris suum and Toxocara canis using the excretory/secretory (E/S) antigens from Ascaris suum (AES) and Toxocara canis (TES) within an indigenous population. In addition, quantification of cytokine expressions in peripheral blood cells was determined. A total of 50 Warao indigenous were included; of which 43 were adults and seven children. In adults, 44.1% were seropositive for both parasites; whereas children had only seropositivity to one or the other helminth. For ascariosis, the percentage of AES seropositivity in adults and children was high; 23.3% and 57.1%, respectively. While that for toxocariosis, the percentage of TES seropositivity in adults and children was low; 9.3% and 14.3%, respectively. The percentage of seronegativity was comparable for AES and TES antigens in adults (27.9%) and children (28.6%). When positive sera were analyzed by Western blotting technique using AES antigens; three bands of 97.2, 193.6 and 200.2 kDas were mostly recognized. When the TES antigens were used, nine major bands were mostly identified; 47.4, 52.2, 84.9, 98.2, 119.1, 131.3, 175.6, 184.4 and 193.6 kDas. Stool examinations showed that Blastocystis hominis, Hymenolepis nana and Entamoeba coli were the most commonly observed intestinal parasites. Quantification of cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-4 expressions showed that there was only a significant increased expression of IL-4 in indigenous with TES seropositivity (p < 0.002). Ascaris and Toxocara seropositivity was prevalent among Warao indigenous.     

不同手术方案对脊髓型颈椎病合并椎管狭窄症患者术后疗效及颈椎矢状位参数的影响

目的探讨前路椎体次全切除术和后路椎管扩大椎板成形术对脊髓型颈椎病(CSM)合并椎管狭窄症患者术后疗效及颈椎矢状位参数的影响。方法回顾性分析2010年3月—2015年8月收治的147例CSM合并椎管狭窄症患者的临床资料,其中80例行前路椎体次全切除术治疗(A组),67例行后路椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗(B组)。比较2种手术方法治疗前后日本骨科学会(JOA)评分、Cobb角及矢状位垂直距离(SVA)。将2组患者根据T_1倾斜角分别分为高T_1倾斜角(≥25°)亚组和低T_1倾斜角( 25°)亚组,对不同亚组之间的疗效及手术安全性进行比较。结果 2组术后JOA评分和Cobb角均高于术前,差异有统计学意义(P 0.05)。A组术后SVA低于术前,差异有统计学意义(P 0.05),B组术后SVA与术前相比差异无统计学意义(P 0.05)。A组术后JOA评分和Cobb角均高于B组,SVA低于B组,差异均有统计学意义(P 0.05)。A组中,高T_1倾斜角亚组和低T_1倾斜角亚组JOA评分改善效果和后凸畸形发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P 0.05);B组中,低T_1倾斜角亚组JOA评分改善效果和后凸畸形发生率优于高T_1倾斜角亚组,差异均有统计学意义(P 0.05)。结论相较于后路椎管扩大椎板成形术,前路椎体次全切除术治疗CSM合并椎管狭窄症临床疗效更佳,且有助于改善颈椎矢状位平衡;在高T_1倾斜角水平下,应尽可能选择前路椎体次全切除术。     

Morphological imaging and CT histogram analysis to differentiate pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor grade 3 from neuroendocrine carcinoma

PurposeTo compare morphological imaging features and CT texture histogram parameters between grade 3 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (G3-NET) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC).Materials and methodsPatients with pathologically proven G3-NET and NEC, according to the 2017 World Health Organization classification who had CT and MRI examinations between 2006-2017 were retrospectively included. CT and MRI examinations were reviewed by two radiologists in consensus and analyzed with respect to tumor size, enhancement patterns, hemorrhagic content, liver metastases and lymphadenopathies. Texture histogram analysis of tumors was performed on arterial and portal phase CT images. images. Morphological imaging features and CT texture histogram parameters of G3-NETs and NECs were compared.ResultsThirty-seven patients (21 men, 16 women; mean age, 56 ± 13 [SD] years [range: 28-82 years]) with 37 tumors (mean diameter, 60 ± 46 [SD] mm) were included (CT available for all, MRI for 16/37, 43%). Twenty-three patients (23/37; 62%) had NEC and 14 patients (14/37; 38%) had G3-NET. NECs were larger than G3-NETs (mean, 70 ± 51 [SD] mm [range: 18 - 196 mm] vs. 42 ± 24 [SD] mm [range: 8 - 94 mm], respectively; P = 0.039), with more tumor necrosis (75% vs. 33%, respectively; P = 0.030) and lower attenuation on precontrast (30 ± 4 [SD] HU [range: 25-39 HU] vs. 37 ± 6 [SD] [range: 25-45 HU], respectively; P = 0.002) and on portal venous phase CT images (75 ± 18 [SD] HU [range: 43 - 108 HU] vs. 92 ± 19 [SD] HU [range: 46 - 117 HU], respectively; P = 0.014). Hemorrhagic content on MRI was only observed in NEC (P = 0.007). The mean ADC value was lower in NEC ([1.1 ± 0.1 (SD)] × 10⁻³ mm²/s [range: (0.91 - 1.3) × 10⁻³ mm²/s] vs. [1.4 ± 0.2 (SD)] × 10⁻³ mm²/s [range: (1.1 - 1.6) × 10⁻³ mm²/s]; P = 0.005). CT histogram analysis showed that NEC were more heterogeneous on portal venous phase images (Entropy-0: 4.7 ± 0.2 [SD] [range: 4.2-5.1] vs. 4.5 ± 0.4 [SD] [range: 3.7-4.9]; P = 0.023).ConclusionPancreatic NECs are larger, more frequently hypoattenuating and more heterogeneous with hemorrhagic content than G3-NET on CT and MRI.     

Differentiating autoimmune pancreatitis from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with CT radiomics features

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine whether computed tomography (CT)-based machine learning of radiomics features could help distinguish autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).Materials and MethodsEighty-nine patients with AIP (65 men, 24 women; mean age, 59.7 ± 13.9 [SD] years; range: 21–83 years) and 93 patients with PDAC (68 men, 25 women; mean age, 60.1 ± 12.3 [SD] years; range: 36–86 years) were retrospectively included. All patients had dedicated dual-phase pancreatic protocol CT between 2004 and 2018. Thin-slice images (0.75/0.5 mm thickness/increment) were compared with thick-slices images (3 or 5 mm thickness/increment). Pancreatic regions involved by PDAC or AIP (areas of enlargement, altered enhancement, effacement of pancreatic duct) as well as uninvolved parenchyma were segmented as three-dimensional volumes. Four hundred and thirty-one radiomics features were extracted and a random forest was used to distinguish AIP from PDAC. CT data of 60 AIP and 60 PDAC patients were used for training and those of 29 AIP and 33 PDAC independent patients were used for testing.ResultsThe pancreas was diffusely involved in 37 (37/89; 41.6%) patients with AIP and not diffusely in 52 (52/89; 58.4%) patients. Using machine learning, 95.2% (59/62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 89.8–100%), 83.9% (52:67; 95% CI: 74.7–93.0%) and 77.4% (48/62; 95% CI: 67.0–87.8%) of the 62 test patients were correctly classified as either having PDAC or AIP with thin-slice venous phase, thin-slice arterial phase, and thick-slice venous phase CT, respectively. Three of the 29 patients with AIP (3/29; 10.3%) were incorrectly classified as having PDAC but all 33 patients with PDAC (33/33; 100%) were correctly classified with thin-slice venous phase with 89.7% sensitivity (26/29; 95% CI: 78.6–100%) and 100% specificity (33/33; 95% CI: 93–100%) for the diagnosis of AIP, 95.2% accuracy (59/62; 95% CI: 89.8–100%) and area under the curve of 0.975 (95% CI: 0.936–1.0).ConclusionsRadiomic features help differentiate AIP from PDAC with an overall accuracy of 95.2%.     

Maîtrise des risques liés à la production des fluides de dialyse dans une unité de télédialyse

Objective

The “Centre Hospitalier Francois Dunan” is located on an isolated island and ensures patients care in hemodialysis thanks to telemedicine support. Many research studies have demonstrated the importance of hemodialysis fluids composition to reduce morbidity in patients on chronic hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to identify the risks inherent in the production of dialysis fluids in a particular context, in order to set up an improvement action plan to improve risk control on the production of dialysis fluids.

坐骨重叠征与发育性髋关节脱位手术后再脱位的相关性分析

目的提出坐骨重叠征(ischium overlap sign,IOS)的概念,并分析其与发育性髋关节脱位(developmental dysplasia of the hip,DDH)手术后再脱位的关系。方法回顾性分析2013年9月至2017年5月山东大学附属省立医院治疗的88例(105髋)DDH患儿病例资料,其中男童16例、女童72例;平均年龄12(5~24)个月,平均随访时间34(15~59)个月;双侧17例,左侧63髋,右侧42髋;1髋为髋臼发育不良,11髋半脱位,93髋全脱位。术中行髋关节造影检查,按照Bowen标准选择闭合或切开复位石膏固定术。IOS是指在人类位髋关节造影平片上股骨头软骨内缘与坐骨外缘的重叠关系,二者重叠为Ⅰ度,相接为Ⅱ度,分离为Ⅲ度。将93髋全脱位按照IOS分度进行分组,比较组间再脱位发生率。结果 1髋髋臼发育不良和11髋半脱位者IOS均为Ⅰ度。93髋全脱位中IOSⅠ度14髋,Ⅱ度39髋,此两组均行闭合复位石膏固定,无再脱位病例;Ⅲ度40髋中,闭合复位石膏固定17髋,6髋再脱位;切开复位石膏固定23髋,1髋再脱位。本研究发现Ⅲ度组的再脱位发生率(7/40,17.5%)高于其他两组(P=0.006)。IOS为Ⅲ度的40髋中,闭合复位的再脱位发生率(6/17,35.3%)高于切开复位(1/23,4.4%),差异有统计学意义(X^2=4.518,P=0.034)。结论 IOS与DDH术后再脱位有一定的关系,IOS为Ⅲ度的髋关节如行闭合复位,再脱位的风险较高。