Exploring the potential of exosomes in diagnosis and drug delivery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a cancer of the digestive system, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) accounts for approximately 90% of all PC cases. Exosomes derived from PDAC (PDAC-exosomes) promote PDAC development and metastasis. Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles secreted by most cells, which can carry biologically active molecules and mediate communication and cargo transportation among cells. Recent studies have focused on transforming exosomes into good drug delivery systems (DDSs) to improve the clinical treatment of PDAC. This review considers PDAC as the main research object to introduce the role of PDAC-exosomes in PDAC development and metastasis. This review focuses on the following two themes: (a) the great potential of PDAC-exosomes as new diagnostic markers for PDAC, and (b) the transformation of exosomes into potential DDSs.     

Comparison between Antegrade versus Retrograde Ureteral Stent Placement for Malignant Ureteral Obstruction

PurposeTo compare the technical success of antegrade uteral stent (AUS) and retrograde ureteral stent (RUS) placements in patients with malignant ureteral obstruction (MUO) and to determine the predictors of technical failure of RUS.Materials and MethodsThis study retrospectively included 61 AUS placements (44 patients) performed under fluoroscopic guidance and 76 RUS placements (55 patients) performed under cystoscopic guidance in patients with MUO from January 2019 to December 2020. Technical success rates of the 2 techniques were compared using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis. Logistic regression was used to identify predictive factors for technical failures.ResultsTechnical success was achieved in 98.4% of the AUS group and 47.4% of the RUS group. After stabilized IPTW, the technical success rate was higher in the AUS group than in the RUS group (adjusted risk difference, 49.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 35.4%–63.1%). The independent predictors for technical failure of the RUS procedure were age of ≥65 years (odds ratio [OR], 5.56; 95% CI, 1.73–21.27), ureteral orifice invasion (OR, 4.21; 95% CI, 1.46–13.46), and extrinsic cancer (OR, 15.58; 95% CI, 2.92–111.81).ConclusionsThe technical success rate of AUS placement was higher than that of RUS placement in patients with MUO. RUS failure was associated with age of ≥65 years, cancer with ureteral orifice invasion, and extrinsic ureteral obstruction.     

三阴性乳腺癌治疗的研究进展

三阴性乳腺癌（triple negative breast cancer，TNBC）是雌激素受体(estrogen receptor，ER)、孕激素受体（progesterone receptor，PR）及人类表皮生长因子受体（human epidermal growth factor-2,HER-2）均不表达的乳腺癌。按其功能特征可归纳为5类分子分型:以DNA修复缺陷或生长因子为途径的基底细胞样三阴性乳腺癌；以上皮-间充质转化和肿瘤干细胞为特征的间质样三阴性乳腺癌；免疫调节型三阴性乳腺癌；雄激素受体过表达的管腔／分泌型三阴性乳腺癌；HER-2富集型三阴性乳腺癌。三阴性乳腺癌恶性程度高且异型性较大，其治疗困难且预后较差，内分泌治疗及靶向治疗不敏感。目前很多学者对于三阴性乳腺癌的治疗各有研究，并有临床试验证实下述治疗有效。     

“阳化气，阴成形”：卵巢癌的中医证治

卵巢癌属于妇科恶性肿瘤之一,其发病率逐年上升趋势,属中医的"癥瘕"范畴。秉承《素问》"阳化气,阴成形"之旨来探讨卵巢癌的病机及治疗,认为"阳化气"不足,"阴成形"太过为卵巢癌发病的一个重要原因,并由此提出温补阳气的卵巢癌治疗原则,指出该原则应贯穿整个卵巢癌治疗的始终。     

肝内胆管癌多学科综合治疗优化选择

肝内胆管癌（ICC）作为第二常见的肝脏恶性肿瘤，虽然R0根治性切除是首选的可治愈方法，但ICC诊断时仅12%～40%病人可获得手术根治的机会，手术后5年存活率也仅为25%～40%。通过辅助化疗和区域治疗降期后可使部分晚期ICC病人获得行根治性手术或肝移植的机会。靶向药物和免疫治疗作为有益的补充，对于有基因突变作用靶点的选择性病人可能会延长生存期。以肝胆外科为主，包含影像科、病理科、肿瘤化疗科、放疗科和介入科的多学科诊疗团队，通过多学科讨论模式，结合病人具体病情，采取个体化、综合化的治疗手段，才能使ICC病人获得最优化的治疗选择。     

艾灸治疗原发性痛经作用机制研究进展

艾灸治疗原发性痛经应用广泛,通过热效应、光效应、艾烟及药物作用4种起效机制发挥治疗作用,艾灸治疗原发性痛经的机制集中在调节内分泌激素、调节免疫功能、调节神经相关因素、改善子宫微循环等方面,艾灸治疗原发性痛经的机制研究仍存在问题和不足,应当加强艾灸起效机制研究,重视灸法光效应之中的光谱范围及波峰治疗痛经的机制探索,完善艾灸治疗原发性痛经的机制研究,为临床治疗提供实验依据和循证医学证据。     

加味黄芪桂枝五物汤联合醒脑开窍针刺法治疗脑卒中后肩手综合征的临床观察

目的:观察加味黄芪桂枝五物汤联合醒脑开窍针刺法治疗脑卒中后肩手综合征(SHS)的临床疗效及对神经源性炎症介质和血液流变学指标的影响。方法:将148例患者随机按数字表法分为对照组和观察组各74例。两组口服双氯芬酸钠缓释片,75 min/次,1次/d,连续2～4周;肿胀明显,口服醋酸泼尼松片,10 min/次,1次/d,连续1～2周。并采用醒脑开窍针刺法,1次/d,6次/周;对照组口服脑心通胶囊,4粒/次,3次/d,观察组内服加味黄芪桂枝五物汤,1剂/d。两组疗程均为连续治疗4周。进行对治疗前后肩手综合征评估量表(SHSS)评分,记录疼痛、肿胀消失时间;进行治疗前后Fugl-Meyer功能量表上肢部分评分(U-FMA),日常生活活动能力(ADL)评分和气虚血瘀证评分;检测治疗前后降钙素基因相关肽(CGRP),P物质(SP),缓激肽(BK)水平和血液流变学指标。结果:观察组患者的临床疗效优于对照组(Z=2. 106,P0. 05);观察组SHSS量表的感觉、自主神经、运动3个维度评分和SHSS总分均低于对照组(P0. 01);观察组疼痛、肿胀消失时间均短于对照组(P0. 01);观察组患者U-FMA,ADL评分均高于对照组(P0. 01),气虚血瘀证评分低于对照组(P0. 01);观察组CGRP水平高于对照组(P0. 01),SP和BK水平均低于对照组(P0. 01);观察组的全血黏度(高切、低切)、血浆黏度、纤维蛋白原和血小板聚集率等均低于对照组(P0. 05)。结论:在西医常规治疗的基础上,内服加味黄芪桂枝五物汤配合醒脑开窍针刺疗法可减轻SHS严重程度和中医临床证候,缩短病程,改善上肢运动功能,并可抑制神经源性炎症反应,改善血液流性,提高患者的日常生活活动能力和临床疗效。     

新型冠状病毒肺炎危重症中医药干预的必要性思考

新型冠状病毒肺炎(NCP)是一种具有广泛传染、较强致病性的外感疫病,对公众健康造成极大威胁[1-2]。由于病邪侵入人体后传变迅速,疫毒易于弥漫三焦、充斥表里转为危重症,处于危重症时现代医学目前只能对症支持治疗,为恢复危重症患者脏器机能、改善危重症状,配合中医药辨证施治值得深入思考。现以中医整体辨证的视角对新型冠状病毒肺炎所致危重病症辨证梳理,为临床提供一定的借鉴。