Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Efficacy and Safety of UDCA-Based Therapies in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Major ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-based therapies for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) include UDCA only, or combined with either methotrexate (MTX), corticosteroids (COT), colchicine (COC), or bezafibrate (BEF). As the optimum treatment regimen is unclear and warrants exploration, we aimed to compare these therapies in terms of patient mortality or liver transplantation (MOLT) and adverse events (AE).PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus were searched for randomized controlled trials up to August 31, 2014. We estimated the hazard ratios (HRs) for MOLT and odds ratios (ORs) for AE. A sensitivity analysis based on the dose of UDCA was also executed.Thirty-one eligible articles were included. Compared with COT plus UDCA, UDCA (HR 0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09–1.39), BEF plus UDCA (HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.02–4.83), COC plus UDCA (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.07–2.25), MTX plus UDCA (HR 0.28, 95% CI 0.05–1.63), or OBS (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.11–2.01) all provided an increased risk of MOLT. With respect to drug AE profile, although not differing appreciably, BEF plus UDCA was associated with more AEs compared with UDCA (OR 3.16, 95% CI 0.59–20.67), COT plus UDCA (OR 2.27, 95% CI 0.15–33.36), COC plus UDCA (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.09–12.16), MTX plus UDCA (OR 2.03, 95% CI 0.23–17.82), or OBS (OR 3.00, 95% CI 0.53–20.75). The results of sensitivity analyses were highly consistent with previous analyses.COT plus UDCA was the optimal UDCA-based regimen for both MOLT and AEs. BEF plus UDCA was most likely to cause AEs, whereas monotherapy with UDCA and coadministriation of COT plus UDCA appeared to be associated with the fewest AEs for PBC treatment.     

Clinical Diagnostic Implications of Body Fluid MiRNA in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis

Oral cancer, predominantly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is one of the most leading causes of cancers worldwide. Due to a low 5-year survival rate, highly effective methods for the early detection of OSCC are totally needed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as promising biomarkers, can bring insights into tumorigenesis of oral cancers. However, studies on the accuracy of miRNAs detection in OSCC have inconsistent conclusions, leading us to conduct this meta-analysis. The aim of this study was to systematically review the articles investigating the diagnostic value of miRNAs in OSCC.The PubMed, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Web of Science were searched (updated to June 11th, 2015) to identify all articles evaluating the diagnostic yield of miRNAs for OSCC. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and other diagnostic parameters were used to assess the performance of miRNAs assays on OSCC detection. Statistical analysis was conducted by employing the R software.The present meta-analysis comprised 23 studies from 10 articles, including 598 OSCC patients and 320 healthy individuals, available for analysis. The summary receiver operator characteristic (SROC) curve was plotted. Meanwhile, the pooled diagnostic parameters and the area under curve (AUC) were calculated based on all included studies. The pooled diagnostic parameters calculated from all 23 studies were as follows: pooled sensitivity of 0.759 (95% CI: 0.701–0.809), pooled specificity of 0.773 (95% CI: 0.713–0.823) and AUC of 0.832, which indicates a relatively high diagnostic accuracy of miRNAs in differentiating OSCC patients from healthy controls. Meanwhile, In addition, subgroup analyses were conducted to access the heterogeneity between studies, which is based on specimen (serum/plasma/blood/saliva/ tissue) and ethnicity (Asian/Caucasian).In summary, our meta-analysis suggests that miRNAs might be used in noninvasive screening tests for OSCC, which needs further large-scale studies to be validated.     

A randomized study on the effect of modified behavioral activation treatment for depressive symptoms in rural left-behind elderly

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified behavioral activation treatment (MBAT) intervention on reducing depressive symptoms in rural left-behind elderly.

Method: This is a randomized study registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-17011289). Eighty rural left-behind elderly people who had a Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score between 11 and 25 were randomly assigned to the intervention (n?=?40) and control group (n?=?40). The intervention group received both MBAT and regular treatment for 8 weeks while the control group received regular treatment. Both groups were assessed with the GDS, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3 months post-intervention.

Results: There were a total of 73 participants that completed the intervention. The scores of GDS and BAI decreased significantly, but the scores of OHQ increased significantly in the intervention group after 8 sessions of MBAT (P?<?.01). The reduction in depression symptoms after the intervention was maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Significant differences in GDS, BAI, and OHQ scores were observed between the intervention group and the control group (P?<?.01).

Conclusion: MBAT produced a significantly greater reduction in depressive symptoms than regular care in rural left-behind elderly.

Clinical or methodological significance of this article: A modified behavioral activation (BA) psychotherapy can significantly reduce the recurrence and seriousness of depression symptoms in the left-behind elderly with mild to moderate depression. This study also suggests that further study of the MBAT as an intervention will provide a direction for the management of mental health in rural left-behind elders.     

三种不同引流方式对食管癌术后颈部吻合口瘘引流效果的研究

目的:探讨三种不同引流方式对食管癌术后颈部吻合口瘘的引流效果。方法:收集从2013年1月到2016年9月在我科行食管癌手术并术后发生颈部吻合口瘘患者，比较入组患者所采用的不同颈部引流方式的优劣。结果:共有83例患者纳入研究，有34例进入A组，行纱布条引流组；28例进入B组，行造瘘袋引流组；21例进入C组，行胃管负压引流组。所有入组患者一般资料和手术资料对比无明显统计学差异（P>0.05）。观察指标对比结果显示，C组患者瘘口愈合时间较其他两组时间短［（15.90±4.18）天vs（14.60±4.41）天vs（9.65±3.80）天］，住院时间较其他两组短［（18.10±4.17）天vs（16.20±3.78）天vs（12.30±3.29）天］，换药次数较其他两组少［（37.55±8.75）天vs（14.5±3.23）天vs（10.00±2.05）天］，抗生素使用时间也较其他组明显减少［（13.10±2.49）天vs（10.85±1.84）天vs（7.20±1.74）天］。结论:颈部放置负压引流有助于食管癌术后颈部吻合口瘘愈合，值得临床推广与进一步研究。     

宣威地区与非宣威地区肺癌患者临床流行病学特征及病理类型特点分析

目的:分析宣威地区与非宣威地区的肺癌临床流行病学与病理特征。方法:以云南省肿瘤医院（昆明医科大学第三附属医院）2015年3月至2015年5月手术治疗的肺癌患者为研究对象，共295例，收集患者相关信息。将其分为宣威地区、非宣威地区进行统计。对患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析，包含病理类型、年龄、性别、吸烟史等。结果:宣威地区、非宣威地区肺癌患者男女比例为1.19∶1和1.69∶1。宣威地区患者平均年龄为［53.41±8.74(34~85)］岁，中位年龄53岁。非宣威地区肺癌患者平均年龄为［58.68±8.63(38~78)］岁，中位年龄59岁。宣威地区肺癌高发年龄为40~59岁段。宣威地区I期肺癌患者占比、T1期肺癌患者占比、N0期肺癌患者占比均高于非宣威地区。宣威地区男性腺癌鳞癌比远高于非宣威地区，差异有显著统计学意义。结论:宣威地区女性肺癌发病率更高，发病年龄更趋年轻化，腺癌比例高，吸烟与宣威地区男性腺癌高发关系不密切。     

弯刀综合征14例外科治疗结果分析

目的 探讨小儿弯刀综合征的诊断、外科治疗方法及治疗后的近、中期结果。方法 回顾性分析2010年1月到2017年12月手术治疗的14例弯刀综合征的临床资料。其中,男7例,女7例;年龄(18.23±28.55)个月,范围在23 d至9岁。合并其他心血管畸形10例,中位心8例,右肺发育不良7例,有侧支循环8例,合并肺动脉高压10例。用SPSS 16.0软件的寿命表(Life Table)做出本组患儿术后生存曲线,评估其近、中期生存状况。结果 9例异常肺静脉(scimitar vein,SV)从下腔静脉切下,端-侧吻合于左心房;SV分成2支2例,1例采用2支SV连同部分下腔静脉壁切下,另1例2支SV从下腔静脉从根部切下侧-侧吻合形成单根SV,均吻合于左心房;SV离左心房距离过大3例,2例将SV吻合在右心房右侧壁,再重建心房间隔,1例SV与自体心包卷管道连接再吻合于左心房。其他心血管畸形同期手术矫治。8例有侧支循环,3例心导管检查时被封堵,5例手术时切断缝合。本组14例手术死亡2例(14.29%),另有1例于术后1年2个月因肺炎、呼吸衰竭死亡。本组术后1、3、5年累积生存率分别为86%、73%和73%。术后出院时有1例移植的SV开口狭窄,血流速度为1.9 m/s;有3例随访期间发现移植SV狭窄,血流速度超过1.6 m/s。结论 弯刀综合征可合并其他心血管畸形、中位心、右肺发育不良等。一般将SV与左心房吻合;SV离左心房距离大或多条SV时,可采用个性化办法将SV吻合于左心房。侧支循环心导管检查时可封堵,或术中切断缝合。     

A Phase I Trial of Trametinib in Combination with Sorafenib in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Cancer

Lessons Learned

• The combination of trametinib and sorafenib has an acceptable safety profile, albeit at doses lower than approved for monotherapy.
• Maximum tolerated dose is trametinib 1.5 mg daily and sorafenib 200 mg twice daily.
• The limited anticancer activity observed in this unselected patient population does not support further exploration of trametinib plus sorafenib in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BackgroundThe RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway is associated with proliferation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Preclinical data suggest that paradoxical activation of the MAPK pathway may be one of the resistance mechanisms of sorafenib; therefore, we evaluated trametinib plus sorafenib in HCC.MethodsThis was a phase I study with a 3+3 design in patients with treatment‐naïve advanced HCC. The primary objective was safety and tolerability. The secondary objective was clinical efficacy.ResultsA total of 17 patients were treated with three different doses of trametinib and sorafenib. Two patients experienced dose‐limiting toxicity, including grade 4 hypertension and grade 3 elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/bilirubin over 7 days. Maximum tolerated dose was trametinib 1.5 mg daily and sorafenib 200 mg twice a day. The most common grade 3/4 treatment‐related adverse events were elevated AST (37%) and hypertension (24%). Among 11 evaluable patients, 7 (63.6%) had stable disease with no objective response. The median progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 3.7 and 7.8 months, respectively. Phosphorylated‐ERK was evaluated as a pharmacodynamic marker, and sorafenib plus trametinib inhibited phosphorylated‐ERK up to 98.1% (median: 81.2%) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.ConclusionTrametinib and sorafenib can be safely administered up to trametinib 1.5 mg daily and sorafenib 200 mg twice a day with limited anticancer activity in advanced HCC.