Effect of Exposure to Agent Orange on the Risk of Monoclonal Gammopathy and Subsequent Transformation to Multiple Myeloma: A Single-Center Experience From the Veterans Affairs Hospital,Detroit

BackgroundMonoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is an indolent, premalignant plasma cell disorder with the potential of transforming into symptomatic multiple myeloma (MM). There are multiple risk factors that contribute to transformation. Agent Orange (AO) has been linked with multiple malignant and nonmalignant conditions.Patients and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with monoclonal gammopathy who were seen at John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Detroit, Michigan) between 2005 and 2015 with MGUS, smoldering multiple myeloma, and MM. We explored baseline patient characteristics and explored AO exposure. Dates of diagnosis, dates of progression, and expiration dates were recorded to time to progression and overall survival (OS).ResultsWe identified 211 patients with monoclonal gammopathy; 96% were male and 122 were African American. Eleven patients had reported AO exposure. Cumulative risk of progression in the overall population was 1.4% at 1 year. Risk of transformation in the population exposed to AO was significantly higher with a hazard ratio (HR) of 11.19 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.10-59.47; P = .005). OS was numerically shorter in AO-exposed patients with a median OS of 7 years compared with 11.1 years in those not exposed. However, AO exposure was not associated with OS in multivariable analysis (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.07-3.83; P = .508).ConclusionMonoclonal gammopathy is a premalignant condition with the risk of progressing to MM. Exposure to AO has been implicated in multiple conditions including MM. Our study demonstrates an increased risk of progression in exposed patients.     

The Effect of Prostate Cancer Educational Program on the level of Knowledge and Intention to Screen among Jordanian Men in Amman

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of prostate cancer educational program on the level of knowledge and intention to screen for prostate cancer among Jordanian men in Amman. Methods: A quasi-experimental, with nonequivalent control group design was used. 154 participants were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups.  Level of Knowledge and intention to screen were measured at baseline and at 1 month after the application of the prostate cancer educational program. Independent sample t-test was used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed statistically significant change in the mean knowledge scores (8.7), p < 0.001 and the mean of intention to screen scores (3.71), p < 0.001, after 1 month from the application of the educational program in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Implementing prostate cancer educational programs help enhance knowledge and intention to screen among Jordanian men.     

Does delayed initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy following the curative resection affect the survival outcome of gastric cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundAdjuvant chemotherapy(AC) following the curative resection could improve the survival outcome of advanced gastric cancer(GC) patients. However, there is no specific timing interval from radical surgery to initiation of AC. Whether delayed initiation of AC could affect the survival outcome of these patients remains unclear. In this study, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between delaying AC and the survival outcome of GC patients.MethodsPubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for eligible studies that evaluated the relationship between time to AC and survival outcome. Survival data for HR and 95% CI were extracted and converted to a regression coefficient(β) corresponding to a continuous representation per 4-week delay of AC. Individual adjusted β were combined using a fixed-effects or random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed by I² statistic and publication bias was detected using standard error-based funnel plots.ResultsA total of 11 eligible studies involving 6,017 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Eight studies evaluated the impact of delaying AC on overall survival(OS) and five evaluated the impact of delaying AC on disease-free survival(DFS). The pooled results demonstrated that the initiation of AC per 4-week delay was associated with a significant decrease in OS(HR:1.05, 95% CI: 1.03–1.08, P < 0.001; I² = 18.5%) and DFS (HR:1.06, 95% CI: 1.02–1.10, P = 0.001; I² = 40.6%).ConclusionThe initiation of AC per 4-week delay was associated with worse survival outcomes in GC patients. If physical status and postoperative recovery were appropriated, GC patients should be recommended to receive adjuvant chemotherapy timely.     

甘欣锦辨治滤泡性淋巴瘤经验

甘欣锦主任医师认为,滤泡性淋巴瘤乃本虚标实之证,以正气不足为本,痰毒瘀邪为标。在临床上,针对未达到西医治疗指征的滤泡性淋巴瘤患者,甘老师以“养正积自消”为治疗原则,扶正贯穿于治疗的始终,并加用抗肿瘤药物,以达扶正抗瘤之效。甘老师多采用补益药物充养先后天之本,从而改善肿瘤患者的虚损,以达阴平阳秘、气血调畅、正气充足的状态。甘老师常以主方为基础结合治疗变证的方法改善局部症状,并减轻放化疗、靶向治疗所带来的不良反应。临证时,在中医辨证的基础上结合辨病分层治疗,调节扶正与解毒的主次。另外,对于出现的各种变证当灵活化裁以改善症状,通过中医的治疗手段改善患者生活质量,延长患者生存时间。     

骨科大手术患者中医体质类型与静脉血栓栓塞症相关性研究

目的:探讨骨科大手术患者中医体质类型分布特点及其与静脉血栓栓塞症(VTE)的相关性。方法:选取220例骨科大手术患者,其中术后3个月内并发VTE患者102例为观察组,术后3个月内未发生VTE患者118例为对照组。对两组患者进行中医体质判定并分析。结果:220例骨科大手术患者中,平和质64例(29.09%),偏颇体质156例(70.91%)。骨科大手术患者最常见体质类型为气虚质、血瘀质、平和质。观察组最常见体质类型为气虚质、血瘀质,对照组最常见体质类型为平和质、气虚质。Logistic回归分析发现气虚质、血瘀质与VTE具有显著相关性(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:偏颇体质是骨科大手术患者的中医体质类型特征;气虚质、血瘀质是骨科大手术并发VTE患者的危险因素。     

不同介入方案治疗急性下肢静脉血栓的临床效果与安全性比较

目的 探讨不同介入方案治疗急性下肢静脉血栓(DVT)的临床效果与安全性。方法 选取我院2015年1月～2019年12月介入科收治的急性DVT患者54例作为研究对象,按照治疗方式的不同分为研究组27例和对照组27例。研究组采用血管腔内综合治疗,对照组采用导管介导溶栓治疗,比较两组患者疗效评价、治疗前后膝上、下15 cm与患肢周径差、治疗前后皮肤肿胀张力、静脉通畅率、住院时间和并发症发生情况。结果 经治疗后研究组患者膝上、下15 cm与患肢周径差均短于对照组(P0.05);经治疗后研究组患者皮肤肿胀张力恢复程度显著优于对照组(P0.05);经治疗后研究组患者静脉通畅率显著高于对照组(P0.05);研究组治疗有效率显著高于对照组(P0.05);研究组患者住院时间明显少于对照组,且其并发症发生率显著低于对照组(P0.05)。结论 血管腔内综合介入治疗能够有效改善患者下肢症状,提高DVT恢复情况,降低并发症的发生,从而有效提高患者生活质量,为临床治疗DVT提供重要参考。     

住院医师规范化培训制度对临床医学生就业的影响

目的通过对2019年2月-2019年6月在西安交通大学第二附属医院实习的大学四年级及大学五年级的临床医学专业的医学生就业意向及就业情况的分析,研究住院医师规范化培训制度对医学生就业的影响。方法运用自制的问卷进行匿名填写的方式对大学四年级、大学五年级的临床医学本科生及5+3模式的规范化培训医学生进行调查。结果大部分医学生选择继续升学,选择就业的学生多愿意留在大城市就业,选择住院医师规范化培训的学生只占极少数。结论做好住院医师规范化培训政策的宣传,落实各项优惠政策,鼓励学生进行住院医师规范化培训及到基层工作,引导学生理性考研,是目前社会及医学院校就业指导中的重要内容。