Evaluation of Prostate Cancer Stage Groups Updated in the 8th Edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Tumor–Node–Metastasis Staging Manual

Introduction

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor, node, metastasis classification system (TNM) staging manual has been updated and provides more specified stage grouping for prostate cancer (PCa). We aimed to validate the updated AJCC stage groups for PCa using a radical prostatectomy (RP) cohort.

Brachytherapy: An emblematic example of extreme hypofractionated regimen

In order to provide more convenient irradiation regimens for patient comfort, radiation facility organization and health expenses, new hypofractionated protocols have been evaluated. Moderately (dose/fraction: 2.3 to 3 Gy), then ultra (dose/fraction: 5.2 to 6.1 Gy) hypofractionated irradiations were first validated. The current question is: is it possible to go forward using extreme hypofractionated regimens (EHR) based on 1 to 3 fractions. Different irradiation techniques are under investigation. However, brachytherapy remains the smartest way to deliver a high dose in a small volume. We report prospective and retrospective study results which evaluated EHR for breast and prostate brachytherapy. While oncological outcome and toxicity profile appear extremely encouraging for low-risk breast cancer after a 1 to 4 fractions (6.25 to 20 Gy/fraction), the use of a single fraction of 19 to 23 Gy appears debatable for prostate cancer. Brachytherapy represents an emblematic example of EHR but longer follow-up and more mature results are awaited in order to specify the right indications and refine the EQD2 calculation method including new biological and technical factors.     

Serum vitamin D status in type 2 diabetic patients from Gaza Strip

ObjectiveTo assess serum vitamin D status and its relations to other biochemical parameters in type 2 diabetic patients from Gaza Strip.Materials and methodsThis case-control study included 58 type 2 diabetic patients as well as 58 non-diabetic controls. Patients and controls were matched for age and gender. Data were obtained from questionnaire interview, and biochemical analysis of blood samples.ResultsSerum vitamin D was significantly lower in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic controls (25.9 ± 11.0 versus 34.6 ± 13.8 ng/dl, % difference = 28.8%, P < 0.001). The number of patients having vitamin D deficient, insufficient and sufficient were 6 (10.4%), 35 (60.3%) and 17 (29.3%) compared to controls of 3 (5.2%), 16 (27.6%) and 39 (67.2%), respectively (χ² = 14.672, P < 0.001). Serum glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and triglycerides were significantly higher in patients than in controls whereas serum insulin, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and calcium were significantly lower in patients. Serum vitamin D showed significant negative correlations with HbA1c (r = ? 0.186, P = 0.046), ALT (r = ? 192, P = 0.040) and AST (r = ? 0.188, P = 0.044) whereas significant positive correlations were found with HDL-C (r = 0.188, P = 0.044) and calcium (r = 0.239, P = 0.010).ConclusionThe significant negative and positive correlations of vitamin D with HbA1c and calcium, respectively suggests that vitamin D supplementation would be of potential therapeutic value in clinical settings for controlling of type 2 diabetes and more importantly its complications. However, a well-designed clinical trials are needed to define the contribution of vitamin D status and therapy in the global diabetes problem.     

桂枝芍药知母汤对类风湿性关节炎患者实验室指标和免疫功能的影响

目的:探讨桂枝芍药知母汤对类风湿性关节炎患者实验室指标和免疫功能的影响。方法:选取2014年12月至2016年12月南京中医药大学附属南京市中西医结合医院收治的类风湿关节炎患者110例作为研究对象，按照随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组，每组55例。对照组采用常规西医治疗，观察组在对照组的基础上联合桂枝芍药知母汤治疗，2组均治疗1个月。比较2组临床效果、临床症状改善情况、实验室指标及免疫功能指标水平；统计2组不良反应发生率。结果:观察组总有效率为92.73%，高于对照组（78.18%，P<0.05）。与治疗前比，治疗1个月后，2组握力均增大，且观察组大于对照组（P<0.05）；2组晨僵时间、20 m步行时间均缩短，且观察组短于对照组（P<0.05）；2组关节压痛数、关节肿胀数、ESR、MPV、PDW及血清CRP、血浆IgA、IgG、IgM、RF水平均降低，且观察组低于对照组（P<0.05）；2组血清C3水平均升高，且观察组高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗期间，观察组不良反应发生率为0.00%，低于对照组（10.91%，P<0.05）。结论:桂枝芍药知母汤治疗类风湿性关节炎，可改善患者实验室指标，增强免疫功能，提高疗效，安全性较高。     

热咳散治疗痰热内蕴型哮喘患儿的临床研究

目的:探讨痰热内蕴型哮喘婴幼儿西医常规治疗基础上使用自拟热咳散治疗的临床疗效，为其临床应用提供理论依据。方法:选取2017年3月至2018年9月中山市中医院收治的痰热内蕴型哮喘婴幼儿112例作为研究对象，根据治疗方式的不同分为对照组与观察组，每组56例。对照组采用常规治疗，观察组在对照组基础上加用自配热咳散，比较2组患儿肺功能指标（FEF25%、FEF50%、IgE）；血清生化指标（IL-6、TNF-α、CRP、Cal-3）和C-ACT和MARS-A评分的差异。结果:对照组FEF25%、FEF50%显著低于观察组，对照组IgE含量显著高于观察组，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。2组患儿治疗有效率和治疗效果构成差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。治疗后观察组IL-6、TNF-α、CRP、Cal-3含量低于对照组，观察组C-ACT评分、MARS-A评分高于对照组，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论:相比于西医常规治疗的治疗手段，在其基础上连用自拟热咳散的治疗效果更佳，患者症状改善时间也相对较短。     

Antioxidant imbalance and genotoxicity detected in fish induced by titanium dioxide nanoparticles (NpTiO2) and inorganic lead (PbII)

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (NpTiO₂) are the most widely-used nanoparticle type and the adsorption of metals such as lead (PbII) onto their surface is a major source of concern to scientists. This study evaluated the effects of the associated exposure to both types of contaminant, i.e., lead (a known genotoxic metal) and NpTiO₂, in a freshwater fish (Astyanax serratus) through intraperitoneal injection for an acute assay of 96 h. The effects of this exposure were evaluated using the comet assay, DNA diffusion assay and piscine micronucleus test, as well as the quantification of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GST) and metallothioneins. Our findings indicate that co-exposure of PbII with NpTiO₂ can provoke ROS imbalances, leading to DNA damage in the blood and liver tissue of A. serratus, as well as modifying erythropoiesis in this species, inducing necrosis and changing the nuclear morphology of the erythrocytes.     

隔药灸崔氏四花穴治疗小儿咳嗽变异性哮喘疗效观察及对机体免疫功能的影响

目的观察隔药灸崔氏四花穴治疗小儿咳嗽变异性哮喘的疗效及对机体免疫功能的影响。方法选择小儿咳嗽变异性哮喘患者90例,随机分为观察组和对照组,每组45例。观察组给予隔药灸崔氏四花穴治疗,对照组给予口服孟鲁斯特钠咀嚼片治疗,治疗6周后观察咳嗽症状评分、肺气道功能指标、血清嗜酸性粒细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞阳离子蛋白、免疫球蛋白E及CD^3﹢、CD^4﹢、CD^8﹢、CD^4﹢/CD^8﹢的变化,并统计临床疗效。结果观察组治疗后咳嗽症状评分,血清EOS、ECP及IgE水平,CD^4﹢、CD^8﹢、CD^4﹢/CD^8﹢水平均明显低于对照组(P<0.05);血清CD8﹢水平明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。观察组治疗后在肺气道功能指标(MEF75%,MEF50%,MEF25%)方面明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。观察组、对照组临床疗效总有效率分别为91.1%、75.6%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论隔药灸崔氏四花穴可以有效改善小儿咳嗽变异性哮喘患者的咳嗽症状,提高小儿咳嗽变异性哮喘患者的免疫功能。     

多肽药物专家共识

中国生化制药工业协会多肽分会日前召开多肽药物专家共识研讨会,专家们就中国多肽药物发展现状,发展重点方向及对相关部门的建议达成共识。     

细辛碎补汤联合米诺环素对慢性牙周炎患者牙周指标及 龈沟液炎症因子的影响

目的 探讨细辛碎补汤联合米诺环素对慢性牙周炎患者牙周指标及龈沟液炎症因子的影响。方法 选取 2019 年 1 月~2021 年 8 月杭州市萧山区中医院接诊的 96 例慢性牙周炎患者作为研究对象。以双色球法将患者 分为对照组和试验组，每组各 48 例。对照组患者在常规治疗基础上加用米诺环素，试验组患者在对照组治疗 基础上加用细辛碎补汤。比较两组患者的临床疗效、牙周指标、龈沟液炎症因子及不良反应发生情况。结果 试 验组患者总有效率显著高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗后两组患者的探诊深度、菌斑指数、探诊出血指数、龈沟 液 C–反应蛋白、肿瘤坏死因子–α 及白介素–6 水平均显著低于本组治疗前（均 P<0.05），且试验组以上指标均 显著低于对照组（均 P<0.05）。两组患者不良反应发生率比较差异无统计学意义（χ2 =0.154，P=0.695）。结论 细 辛碎补汤联合米诺环素可有效提高慢性牙周炎患者疗效，改善牙周指标，其作用机制可能与降低龈沟液炎症 因子有关。     

Characteristics of children and adolescents with newly diagnosed Fibrocalculous pancreatitis diabetes (FCPD) and type 1 diabetes: A study from Eastern India

Background and aimsWe aimed to identify clinical characteristics and biochemical parameters at presentation in newly diagnosed children and adolescents with Fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) and compare them with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) children.MethodologyA retrospective chart review yielded 226 patients (below 18 years) who presented and fulfilled diagnostic criteria of diabetes mellitus. Classification of diabetes was based on American Diabetes Association (ADA), World Health Organization (WHO), International Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD), and Mohan's criteria and all patients underwent abdominal X-ray.ResultsA total of 31 (13.7%) patients fulfilled criteria of FCPD and 63 (27.9%) of autoantibody positive T1D. When comparing FCPD with T1D at presentation, FCPD patients were older, 14.23 years vs 11.32 years. Fewer FCPD patients presented with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (3.2% vs 34.9%), osmotic symptoms (54.8% vs 93.7%) with significantly longer median duration of symptoms (4.0 vs 1.0 months) and had more abdominal pain (58.06% vs 6.3%) & diarrhoea (38.71% vs 1.6%) as compared to patients with T1D”. FCPD patients had higher c-peptide levels (median-0.85 vs 0.61) and required higher mean dose of insulin compared to T1D (1.16 U/kg vs 1.01 U/kg). At presentation fasting plasma glucose was significantly higher in T1D than FCPD, but no difference was noted in post prandial glucose and HbA1c.ConclusionThere is a significant difference in clinical characteristics and biochemical parameters at presentation between FCPD and T1D patients with a longer symptom duration but insidious course in the former. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report suitable cut-offs for age, c-peptide, duration of symptoms and insulin dose requirement which could be helpful for differentiating FCPD from T1DM patients.