Effect of Yinqi Ointment on Wound Morphology and Growth Factor in Treating Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Objective: To investigate the effect of Yinqi ointment on wound morphology and growth factor in treating diabetic foot ulcer(DFU).Methods: From December 2016 to December 2017, 92 cases of DFU with deficiency of both Qi and Yin syndrome were randomly divided into treatment group and control group(44 cases in each group). The treatment group was treated with Yinqi ointment, while the control group was treated with mupirocin ointment. After 4 weeks of treatment, the ulcer healing effect, ulcer area, granulation tissue, epithelial tissue coverage,pain score, and dynamic analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), epidermis growth factor(EGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) in local granulation tissue were statistically analyzed before and after treatment in both groups. Results: The total effective rate was 88.37% in the treatment group and 74.42% in the control group. The wound reduction rate, epithelial tissue coverage rate, granulation tissue growth rate, and local pain relief rate in the treatment group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P 0.05). Through the local granulation detection, the treatment group and the control group have increased VEGF, EGF, and bFGF, but the treatment group increased the role of growth factor than the control group. Conclusion: Yinqi ointment can promote the healing of DFU, and its mechanism may be related to the increase of the content of growth factor in granulation tissue.     

A retrospective study of ABI and TBI during the healing of ulcer among diabetic patients

ObjectiveTo assess the role of ABI and TBI in the detection of ulcer wounds among diabetic patients.MethodsA retrospective approach is used to enroll 192 diabetic patients to detect their ulcer wounds using ABI and TBI index. HbA1c and lipid profile were other important variables in determining the efficacy of screening test. Frequency analysis and Pearson Correlation were used to analyze the data through SPSS.FindingsThe results have shown that 57.1% male and 42.9% female were treated in <0.60 ABI group; 67.4% male and 32.6% female were treated in 0.60–0.90 ABI group; 65.9% male and 34.1% female were treated in 0.90–1.30 ABI group; and 63.8% male and 36.2% female were treated in >1.30 ABI group. The correlation showed insignificant association between ABI and ulcer outcomes, but significant association between TBI and ulcer outcomes at 5% level of significance.ConclusionThe study concluded that ABI should be based on standardized normal values to be used as an effective biomarker in screening diabetic foot ulcer patients.     

Prevalence of HER2 Expression and Its Correlation with Clinicopathological Parameters in Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma in North-East Indian Population

Objective: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (erbb2/HER2) overexpression, has now been implicatedin advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers. The study was conducted to determine the rate of HER2positivity in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma in North-EastIndia and to assess the impact of various demographic and clinical parameters on HER2 positivity. Methods: A total of68 patients of age >18 years of gastric and gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma diagnosed on histopathological examinationfrom September 2016 to February 2018 at Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute, Assam were enrolled for the observational(epidemiological) study. All patients were subjected to the HER2 immunohistochemistry test using a FDA-approved,standardized test kit. HER2 expression was correlated with various demographic and clinicopathological parameters.Results: The overall rate of HER2 positivity in the population studied was 56% (n=38). The rate was non-significantlyhigher in male, older age group (>60 years) and Hindu population. Similarly, HER2 positivity rate was higher in patientswith well differentiated histology and was more common in patients with stage II and III diseases, but neither of theassociations is statistically significant. HER2 positivity rate was significantly higher in proximal and in GEJ tumours(56% versus 44%, P=0.002). Conclusion: HER2 overexpression was evident in 56% of the North-East Indian patientswith locally advanced and metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. The overexpression correlatedsignificantly with primary tumour site. Routine testing of gastric and gastroesophageal tumours for HER2 expressionis recommended to provide a therapeutic advantage in Indian patients.     

Incidence of pressure ulcers in intensive care units and direct costs of treatment: Evidence from Iran

Background and objective

Pressure ulcer (PU) is one of the important and frequent complications of hospitalization, associated with high treatment costs. The present study was conducted to determine the incidence of PU and its direct treatment costs for patients in intensive care unit (ICU) in Iran.

Can adiponectin have an additional effect on the regulation of food intake by inducing gastric motor changes?

The regulation of food intake is a complex mechanism, and the hypothalamus is the main central structure implicated. In particular, the arcuate nucleus appears to be the most critical area in the integration of multiple peripheral signals.Among these signals, those originating from the white adipose tissue and the gastrointestinal tract are known to be involved in the regulation of food intake.The present paper focuses on adiponectin, an adipokine secreted by white adipose tissue, which is reported to have a role in the control of feeding by acting centrally. The recent observation that adiponectin is also able to influence gastric motility raises the question of whether this action represents an additional peripheral mechanism that concurs with the central effects of the hormone on food intake. This possibility, which represents an emerging aspect correlating the central and peripheral effects of adiponectin in the hunger-satiety cycle, is discussed in the present paper.     

An analysis of the cost and impact of cosmetic tourism and its associated complications: A multi institutional study

Background and purposeThe increasing cost of cosmetic procedures, long elective waiting times in the public system and affordability of procedures offered abroad has driven the rapid growth of cosmetic tourism. The incidence and cost of patients presenting to the Irish health service with complications related to cosmetic procedures carried out in overseas institutions is largely unknown. This heterogenous group of patients is challenging to identify. Limited data exists for this patient group in the Irish context.We aimed to perform a multicentre audit and cost analysis of patients presenting to Irish health services with complications related to cosmetic procedures performed in overseas institutions over a 2 year period.MethodsPatients presenting to two University Hospitals from March 2019–April 2021 with complications after a cosmetic surgical procedure was performed abroad were studied. The HPO ABF 2020 price list data was used to calculate the inpatient and procedure cost for each subject.Main findings14 (13/92.8% female, mean age 43 ± 11.85 years) patients presented during the study period. Countries of cosmetic operation included: Belgium (6/46.2%), the UK (2/15.4%), Latvia, Turkey, Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia (1 patient/7.7% each country). All required a re-operative procedure. These interventions included: removal of infected implant (n = 1), adjustment or removal of a gastric band (n = 9) and debridement of an infected/necrotic wound (n = 3). Mean length of stay was 9.14 ± 7.48 (range 2–28) days. Five (38.4%) patients required vac dressing. The mean cost of the cohort for the interventional procedure and in-patient stay was €15912.53 (+/? €6388). The sum total of all the costs for the cohort was €231038.60.ConclusionsSignificant costs were associated with prolonged hospital admissions, operative interventions, intravenous antibiotics, VAC dressing application and follow up visits. Complications from procedures performed in overseas institutions account for a significant cost burden to health services in Ireland.     

黄芪建中汤加减对胃溃疡脾胃虚寒证患者临床疗效及机制研究

目的:探讨黄芪建中汤治疗胃溃疡脾胃虚寒型的可能作用机理。方法:将2013年1月至2016年1月收治的符合入组标准的虚寒型胃溃疡患者分为对照组和观察组各100例,对照组给予常规四联疗法(奥美拉唑+阿莫西林+克拉霉素+替硝唑),观察组在此基础上服用加味黄芪建中汤加减,2组均以8周为1个疗程,比较2组患者的总有效率、血清胃泌素(GAS)、胃动素(MTL)、血清白介素-6(IL-6)、白介素-8(IL-8)、白介素-4(IL-4)、白介素-17(IL-17)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-a)水平变化及复发率。结果:观察组总有效率98.0%高于对照组,治疗后观察组患者血清IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-a水平值均低于治疗前,且低于对照组治疗后,而观察组IL-4水平值明显高于治疗前及对照组治疗后;治疗后观察组GAS和MTL水平值均明显低于治疗前及对照组治疗后,观察组中医症状积分低于对照组治疗后。结论:黄芪建中汤加减联合常规四联疗法治疗虚寒型胃溃疡效果确切,并能够提高IL-4表达水平,降低IL-6、IL-8、IL-17及TNF-a水平。     

阿帕替尼联合曲妥珠单抗对胃癌细胞的协同增敏作用

目的观察阿帕替尼联合曲妥珠单抗杀伤胃癌NCI-N87细胞的协同增敏作用并探讨可能作用机制。方法CCK-8法检测空白对照组、曲妥珠单抗组(0.1、1、10μg/ml)、阿帕替尼组(1μmol/L)及曲妥珠单抗(0.1、1、10μg/ml)+阿帕替尼(1μmol/L)组对NCI-N87细胞的增殖抑制作用,流式细胞术检测NCI-N87细胞凋亡,Western blotting检测HER-2、VEGFR2、Bax、Bcl-2蛋白表达。结果CCK-8检测提示曲妥珠单抗、阿帕替尼能够抑制NCI-N87细胞增殖,在一定浓度范围内作用呈浓度依赖性和时间依赖性(P<0.01);q值计算提示曲妥珠单抗与阿帕替尼具有协同抑制NCI-N87细胞增殖的作用。流式细胞术检测显示联合组NCI-N87胃癌细胞凋亡较单药组明显升高(P<0.05),其中空白对照组、阿帕替尼组(1μmol/L)、曲妥珠单抗(0.1μg/ml)组及曲妥珠单抗(0.1μg/ml)+阿帕替尼(1μmol/L)组的凋亡率分别为(3.0±1.28)%、(5.8±1.63)%、(8.0±3.92)%和(21.6±6.85)%。曲妥珠单抗+阿帕替尼组与空白对照组、曲妥珠单抗及阿帕替尼单药组比较,HER-2蛋白表达显著下调(P<0.05);曲妥珠单抗+阿帕替尼组与空白对照组比较,Bcl-2蛋白表达、Bcl-2/Bax比值明显降低(P<0.01)。结论阿帕替尼联合曲妥珠单抗可能通过下调HER-2蛋白及调控凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2、Bax的表达,协同抑制NCI-N87细胞增殖和促进细胞凋亡。     

Redox state of adipose tissue for patients with gastric cancer and its connection with the body mass index and distance from the tumor

Excess body weight has been causally linked to an increased risk of different cancer types, including gastric cancer but the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. Superoxide generation rate, activity of complex I in electron transport chain of mitochondria, activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2 and 9) of adipose tissues (AT) of patients with gastric cancer in AT located adjacent to tumor (ATAT) and at a distance of 3 cm (ATD) are measured to follow the connection of the redox state with some of the microenvironment indicators (HIF-1α, CD68, Plin5), body mass index (BMI) and cancer metastasis.Superoxide generation rate in ATAT positively correlates with BMI (r = 0.59, p < 0.05) being 4 times higher than in control (p < 0.05). MMP-2, 9 activities in ATAT positively correlate with BMI (r = 0.67, p < 0.05) being 3.3-4.0 higher than in control (p < 0.05). In ATD a statistically significant increase of MMP-2 activity is found. In ATAT for the group of patients with distant metastasis (M1) the superoxide generation rate, MMP-2, 9 activities are about 2 times higher (p < 0.05) than in the subgroup without distant metastases (M0). M1 is also characterized by the increased values of HIF-1α+ (factor 1.25), CD68+ (factor 1.4) and Plin5+ (factor 2.1) compared to M0 category in tumor tissues (p < 0.05). The results can be used for better understanding the mechanism(s) of symbiosis of tumor and adipose tissues as well as serve as a basis for new therapeutic approaches.     

安徽省肿瘤登记地区2015年胃癌发病与死亡

目的 分析安徽省肿瘤登记地区2015年胃癌的发病和死亡情况,为制定胃癌防治措施提供基础数据。方法 经过质量审核后,22个肿瘤登记处数据被纳入分析,按照地区(城乡)、性别分层计算胃癌发病率、死亡率,采用2000年中国标准人口和Segi′s世界人口构成分别计算中国人口和世界人口年龄标化发病/死亡率。结果 安徽省肿瘤登记地区报告胃癌新发病例9 383例,死亡病例6 681例。全省胃癌死亡发病比(M/I)为0.71,病理诊断率(MV%)为64.19%,只有死亡让明书比例(DCO%)为2.59%。安徽省肿瘤登记地区2015年胃癌发病粗率为43.85/10万(男性60.94/10万,女性25.78/10万),中国人口标化率为30.99/10万,世界人口标化率为30.86/10万;城市地区发病粗率为35.82/10万,中国人口标化率为25.00/10万;农村地区发病粗率为49.79/10万,中国人口标化率为35.52/10万。安徽省肿瘤登记地区2015年胃癌死亡粗率为31.22/10万(男性43.74/10万,女性17.99/10万),中国人口标化率为21.33/10万,世界人口标化率为21.04/10万;城市地区死亡粗率为25.55/10万,中国人口标化率为17.25/10万;农村地区死亡粗率为20.51/10万,中国人口标化率为24.44/10万。结论 必须将农村人口以及男性人口作为胃癌防治的重点对象,推进上消化道癌的早诊早治,提高早期胃癌的检出率,减少胃癌发病与死亡造成的疾病负担。