Mortality and cost of radiation therapy for oesophageal cancer according to hospital accreditation level: a nationwide population‐based study

This study examined and analysed the relationship between the cost‐effectiveness and outcome of radiotherapy for oesophageal cancer among hospitals with varying accreditation levels. We selected 428 oesophageal cancer patients from medical and non‐medical centres using the National Health Insurance Research Database, which is maintained by the Taiwanese National Health Research Institutes, and compared their medical expenditure and the outcome of their radiotherapy treatment. In this study cohort of patients with oesophageal cancer, 278 patients were treated in medical centres (mean age: 60.1 years) and 150 patients were treated in non‐medical centres (mean age: 62.0 years, P = 0.16). The medical centre group exhibited significantly lower medical expenses, mortality and risk of death compared with the non‐medical centre group (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.38, 95% confidence interval = 1.11–1.71). Our study determined that radiotherapy for oesophageal cancer costs significantly less, and medical centres had lower mortality rates than non‐medical centres. These findings could provide professional organisations and healthcare policy makers with essential information for allocation of resources.     

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with CT-guided percutaneous thermal ablation versus hepatectomy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Introduction:Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus thermal ablation has been widely used recently in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we aimed to compare r...     

Positive impact of adding No.14v lymph node to D2 dissection on survival for distal gastric cancer patients after surgery with curative intent

Background

D2 lymphadenectomy has been increasingly regarded as standard surgical procedure for advanced gastric cancer (GC), while the necessity of No.14v lymph node (14v) dissection for distal GC is still controversial.

Methods

A total of 920 distal GC patients receiving at least a D2 lymph node dissection in Department of Gastric Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital were enrolled in this study, of whom, 243 patients also had the 14v dissected. Other 677 patients without 14v dissection were used for comparison.

Results

Forty-five (18.5%) patients had 14v metastasis. There was no significant difference in 3-year overall survival (OS) rate between patients with and without 14v dissection. Following stratified analysis, in TNM stages I, II, IIIa and IV, 14v dissection did not affect 3-year OS; in contrast, patients with 14v dissection had a significant higher 3-year OS than those without in TNM stages IIIb and IIIc. In multivariate analysis, 14v dissection was found to be an independent prognostic factor for GC patients with TNM stage IIIb/IIIc disease [hazard ratio (HR), 1.568; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.186-2.072; P=0.002]. GC patients with 14v dissection had a significant lower locoregional, especially lymph node, recurrence rate than those without 14v dissection (11.7% vs. 21.1%, P=0.035).

Conclusions

Adding 14v to D2 lymphadenectomy may be associated with improved 3-year OS for distal GC staged TNM IIIb/IIIc.     

Incidence and mortality rate of esophageal cancer has decreased during past 40 years in Hebei Province,China

Background

Hebei province is located in North of China with of approximately 6% of whole national population. It is known as a high-risk area for esophageal cancer in China and worldwide. The aim of our study was to estimate the esophageal cancer burden and trend in Hebei Province.

Methods

Eight cancer registries in Hebei Province submitted cancer registry data to the Hebei Provincial Cancer Registry Center. All data were qualified and compiled for cancer statistics in 2011. The pooled data were stratified by gender and age group (0, 1-4, 5-9, 10-14…80+). Incidence and mortality rates were age-standardized to World Segi’s population standard and expressed per 100,000 persons. In addition, proportions and cumulative incidence/mortality rates for esophageal cancer were calculated. Esophageal cancer mortality data during the periods 1973-1975, 1990-1992, and 2004-2005 were extracted from the national death surveys. Mortality and incidence rate data from Cixian and Shexian were obtained from population-based cancer registries in each county.

Results

The estimated number of newly diagnosed esophageal cancer cases and deaths in 2011 in Hebei Province was 24,318 and 18,226, respectively. The crude incidence rate of esophageal cancer was 33.37/100,000 (males, 42.18/100,000 and females, 24.31/100,000). The age-standardized rate by world standard population (ASRW) was 28.09/100,000, ranking third among all cancers. The esophageal cancer mortality rate was 25.01/100,000 (males, 31.40/100,000 and females, 18.45/100,000), ranking third in deaths among all cancers. The mortality rates of esophageal cancer displayed a significant decreasing trend in Hebei Province from 1973-1975 (ASRW =48.69/100,000) to 2004-2005 (ASRW =28.02/100,000), with a decreased rate of 42.45%. In Cixian, the incidence of esophageal cancer decreased from 250.76/100,000 to 106.74/100,000 in males and from 153.86/100,000 to 75.41/100,000 in females, with annual percentage changes (APC) of 2.13 and 2.16, while the mortality rates declined with an APC of 2.46 for males and 3.10 for females from 1988 to 2011. In Shexian, the incidence rate decreased from 116.90/100,000 to 74.12/100,000 in males and from 46.98/100,000 to 40.64/100,000 in females, while the mortality rates declined, with an APC of 4.89 in males from 2003 to 2011.

Conclusions

Although the incidence and mortality rates of esophageal cancer remain high, an obvious decreasing trend has been observed in Hebei Province, as well as in high-risk regions, such as Cixian and Shexian, over the past 40 years.     

TRAIL通过降低EGFR的表达水平抑制乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞的侵袭

目的：探讨肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体（tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand,TRAIL）抑制乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞侵袭能力的可能机制。方法：Western blotting、Real-time PCR分别检测rsTRAIL处理对MDA-MB-231细胞内EGFR、磷酸化转录因子IκBα（p-IκBα）和 miR-146a表达的影响。向MDA-MB-231细胞转染miR-146a mimics、miR-146a inhibitor,Western blotting检测miR-146a对MDA-MB-231细胞中EGFR表达水平的影响。Transwell实验检测rsTRAIL、miR-146a和EGFR对MDA-MB-231细胞侵袭能力的影响。结果：20 ng/ml rsTRAIL显著抑制MDA-MB-231细胞中EGFR的表达（6 h, t=4.35, P<0.05; 12 h, t=8.609, P<0.01; 24 h, t=10.84, P<0.01）,提高p-IκBα（6 h, t=-4.201, P<0.05; 12 h, t=-15.805, P<0.01; 24 h, t=-35.921, P<0.01）和miR-146a的表达水平（6 h, t=-4.67, P<0.05; 12 h, t=-11.635, P<0.01; 24 h, t=-15.8, P<0.01）,并且呈时间依赖性。在MDA-MB-231细胞中转染miR-146a mimics显著抑制EGFR的表达（t=6.25, P<0.01）;反之,转染miR-146a inhibitor则促进细胞内EGFR的表达（t=-3.674, P<0.05）。rsTRAIL处理（t=7.108, P<0.01）、转染miR-146a mimics或siEGFR（t=6.051, P<0.01; t=5.245, P<0.01）均导致细胞的侵袭能力显著下降。结论：rsTRAIL通过特异性增加miR-146a的表达水平靶向降低EGFR的表达从而抑制乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞的侵袭能力。     

关节整复手法治疗急性骶髂关节半脱位46例临床观察

[目的]观察关节整复手法治疗急性骶髂关节半脱位疗效。[方法]使用前瞻性设计方法,对46例门诊患者关节整复手法(准备放松,整复向前半脱位,整复向后半脱位,结束手法,注意事项),治疗1~5次。观测临床症状、骨盆分离试验、"4"字试验、髋关节外展抗阻试验、不良反应。治疗1~5次,判定疗效。随访3个月,观测复发情况。[结果]治愈38例,有效8例,无效0例,总有效率100%。[结论]整复关节手法治疗急性骶髂关节半脱位,疗效满意,无副作用,值得推广。     

桂枝茯苓复方中桂枝挥发油提取及其包合工艺研究

目的:优选桂枝茯苓复方中挥发油提取及其β-环糊精包合的最佳工艺。方法:采用正交试验法,以挥发油提取率为评价指标,加水量、浸泡时间、蒸馏时间为考察因素筛选桂枝茯苓复方中挥发油最佳提取工艺;以挥发油包合率为评价指标,挥发油与β-环糊精的投料比、包合温度、包合时间为考察因素优选其β-环糊精最佳包合工艺。结果:桂枝茯苓复方中挥发油最佳提取工艺为取药材适量,加8倍量水,浸泡4h,蒸馏提取5h;其最佳包合工艺为:挥发油与β-环糊精的投料比为1∶6(mL∶g),包合温度为70℃,搅拌包合2h。结论:该实验优选的挥发油提取及包合工艺稳定可行。     

Comparison of Fallers and Nonfallers on Four Physical Performance Tests: A Prospective Cohort Study of Community-Dwelling Older Indigenous Taiwanese Women

Background

In this study of older indigenous Taiwanese women, we sought to compare the scores of fallers and non-fallers on four tests of physical performance. Additionally, we aimed to establish cutoff scores that would be discriminate fallers from nonfallers.

南水北调东线江都泵站钉螺扩散情况现场观察

目的了解南水北调东线取水口抽调江水时钉螺能否进入输水河道孳生扩散。方法对泵站前水源河道、泵站拦污栅、泵站消力池滩地和渠首输水河道进行钉螺分布调查,采用打捞的方法检测水源河道漂浮物携带钉螺情况,结合水工建筑功能、调水量及有关河道水位资料,对钉螺通过泵站扩散可能性进行分析研究。结果江都泵站前水源河道查出钉螺面积185.28hm2,水源河道漂浮物调查发现钉螺主要在汛期吸附于漂浮物漂流扩散;泵站前拦污栅及泵站出水口消力池滩地及泵站后渠首输水河道均未发现钉螺。结论南水北调东线调水泵站水闸、拦污栅、水泵、消力池等水工建筑物具有阻挡、沉淀钉螺的作用,泵站消力池及输水河道因水体大,常年保持高水位运行,不适宜钉螺孳生。