Bayesian consensus clustering for multivariate longitudinal data

In clinical and epidemiological studies, there is a growing interest in studying the heterogeneity among patients based on longitudinal characteristics to identify subtypes of the study population. Compared to clustering a single longitudinal marker, simultaneously clustering multiple longitudinal markers allow additional information to be incorporated into the clustering process, which reveals co-existing longitudinal patterns and generates deeper biological insight. In the current study, we propose a Bayesian consensus clustering (BCC) model for multivariate longitudinal data. Instead of arriving at a single overall clustering, the proposed model allows each marker to follow marker-specific local clustering and these local clusterings are aggregated to find a global (consensus) clustering. To estimate the posterior distribution of model parameters, a Gibbs sampling algorithm is proposed. We apply our proposed model to the primary biliary cirrhosis study to identify patient subtypes that may be associated with their prognosis. We also perform simulation studies to compare the clustering performance between the proposed model and existing models under several scenarios. The results demonstrate that the proposed BCC model serves as a useful tool for clustering multivariate longitudinal data.     

未来提高胰腺癌临床诊治效果的十大方向

胰腺癌是恶性程度极高的消化系统肿瘤。近10年来, 由于治疗理念的更新和有效治疗方案的普及, 其治疗效果有所提高。然而, 胰腺癌总体疗效仍不尽如人意, 患者5年生存率仍仅为10%左右。如何进一步提高胰腺癌诊治水平, 是未来肿瘤学研究和临床实践的头等大事。作者团队基于既往临床和科研经验, 针对胰腺癌早期预防、早诊早治、分子分型、精准治疗、新药开发、方案联合、手术技术和策略改变、模型建立和数据库开发、传统中医药的创新和治疗理念的突破等, 提出十大热点和未来方向供大家参考。期待未来十年中, 胰腺癌诊治研究有突破性进展, 真正做到"可防可控"。     

治疗性腹腔镜胃癌腹主动脉旁淋巴结清扫术的操作技巧及临床意义

目的探讨治疗性腹腔镜胃癌腹主动脉旁淋巴结清扫术的安全性和有效性。方法回顾性分析2017年1月至2018年12月就诊广东省中医院胃肠外科实施治疗性腹腔镜胃癌腹主动脉旁淋巴结术的6例病人基线资料、术中及术后短期结果。结果6例病人术前经影像学评估均存在第16组淋巴结转移,无其他远处转移,经转化治疗后,均达到部分缓解并顺利完成腹腔镜胃癌D2根治并腹主动脉旁淋巴结清扫术,术中1例因合并胰腺侵犯而联合行胰体尾+脾切除术,无中转开腹、腹腔出血、脏器损伤等并发症发生;中位手术时长482.5(445,510)min;中位淋巴结清扫总数、腹主动脉旁淋巴结(para-aortic lymph nodes,PALN)清扫总数及PALN阳性数目分别为50(16,80)枚、18(3,31)枚、3.5(0,15)枚,其中5例PALN病理阳性,1例阴性;术后1例出现胰瘘,1例胸腔积液,1例腹泻,Clavien-Dindo分级均为2级,经对症治疗后均好转出院;术后中位住院时间17(6,30)天,术后30天内无二次手术及死亡发生;中位随访时间13.25(10~18)月,3例病人因肿瘤复发死亡,术后存活时间10~18月,余3例均未见肿瘤复发转移。结论治疗性腹腔镜腹主动脉旁淋巴结清扫术在技术上是可行的,对于胃癌合并PALN转移的患者。     

The elevation of the mucosal flap without additional anterior canal wall incisions for repairing anterior perforations using endoscopic cartilage tympanoplasty

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology -     

社区“5+1”糖尿病分阶段达标管理对2型糖尿病患者生存质量干预效果分析

目的 分析社区"5+1"糖尿病分阶段达标管理对2型糖尿病患者生存质量的干预效果及其影响因素，为提高患者生存质量提供依据。方法 采用分层整群抽样的方法在山西省、江苏省和宁夏回族自治区选择12个社区卫生服务中心，分别作为干预组（管理方式：社区"5+1"糖尿病分阶段达标管理）、对照组[管理方式：依据《国家基本公共卫生服务规范（2011年版）》的相关要求]，进行为期2年的随访观察。采用面对面问卷调查的方式，收集患者的人口学信息等基本信息；采用健康调查简表（SF-36）对患者在干预前后测量生存质量。采用SAS 9.4软件进行双重差分法以及多重线性回归模型分析。结果 基线时共纳入2 467名研究对象，终末时共1 924人接受了为期2年完整的随访管理。干预后，干预组、对照组患者生理健康维度（PCS）、心理健康维度（MCS）评分变化净差值分别为13.6分、29.8分。多重线性回归分析结果显示，影响患者PCS得分的主要因素有年龄、医保类型、基线PCS得分以及所在地区，影响患者MCS得分的主要因素有年龄、医保类型、基线MCS得分、是否合并高血压以及所在地区。结论 社区"5+1"糖尿病分阶段达标管理对2型糖尿病患者生存质量的干预效果较好。     

Racial differences in characteristics and prognoses between Asian and white patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer receiving atezolizumab: An ancillary analysis of the POPLAR and OAK studies

This study aimed to compare the differences in characteristics and prognoses between Asian and white patients receiving immunotherapy for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We studied 390 patients who received atezolizumab as part of the POPLAR or OAK trial, and analyzed the differences in baseline characteristics, outcomes and genetic mutations in blood samples between Asian and white patients. Overall survival (OS) was longer in Asian compared to white patients (median OS: 18.7 vs. 11.1 months; p = 0.005). Race was identified as an independent prognostic factor for OS (Asian vs. white: hazard ratio 0.647, 95% confidence interval 0.447–0.936, p = 0.021), together with performance status, histology, baseline sum of the longest tumor diameters (BLSLD) and number of metastatic sites. The two groups also differed in terms of characteristics including smoking history, BLSLD, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation frequency, programmed death-ligand 1 expression and blood-based tumor-mutation burden. Blood mutations of STK11, EGFR, KEAP1, POLE, GRM3, ATM and STAG2 were associated with treatment response, and TP53, KEAP1, APC, RB1, CREBBP, EPHA5 and STAG2 mutations were associated with OS. The blood-based mutation profiles differentiated between Asian and white patients, especially in relation to EGFR (23.8 vs. 8.5%), TP53 (30.2 vs. 46.9%) and STK11 (1.6 vs. 12.3%) mutations (all p < 0.05). The different clinicopathological features and mutation profiles in Asian and white patients may explain the superior outcome following atezolizumab treatment in Asian patients with NSCLC. The results of this study have important implications for further studies on racial disparities in relation to immunotherapy.