Retropharyngeal lipostructure in the treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency: A prospective study and update

IntroductionRetropharyngeal lipostructure is a recent procedure in velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), offering an effective alternative to heavier surgery.ObjectivesTo update and assess retropharyngeal lipostructure as a treatment for VPI in the University Hospital Center of Rouen (France).Type of studySingle-center prospective study, from May 2012 to May 2014.Patients and methodsSix patients (4 girls, 2 boys) presenting with VPI were treated by retropharyngeal lipostructure. Age at surgery ranged between 6 and 12 years. Four of the patients bore a 22q11 microdeletion. Treatment was indicated in case of Borel-Maisonny type 2b (n = 2) or 2 m (n = 4) despite well-conducted speech therapy and of ≥ 50% velopharyngeal sphincter closure on nasal endoscopy. Patients were assessed preoperatively and at 3 months, by a multidisciplinary team. Borel-Maisonny type was assessed by a speech therapist. Nasality was measured on assisted vocal evaluation (EVA^®). Sphincter closure was assessed on dynamic MRI.ResultsBetween 6 and 8 cm³autologous fat was injected. At 3 months, 4 children showed 1-grade improvement in Borel-Maisonny type. Nasality decreased systematically, from a mean 14.5% preoperatively to 10.5% postoperatively. MRI showed improvement in all cases, with complete closure in occlusive vowels in 3 children.ConclusionEVA^® and MRI provide precise objective assessment of VPI. Retropharyngeal lipostructure is a simple, relatively non-invasive, reproducible technique, providing good results in VPI.     

Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of Hydrogel Rectal Spacer in Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy

Purpose

A hydrogel rectal spacer (HRS) is a medical device that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to increase the separation between the prostate and rectum. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of HRS use for reduction in radiation therapy (RT) toxicities in patients with prostate cancer (PC) undergoing external beam RT (EBRT).

Minimum clinically important difference of the health-related quality of life scales in adult spinal deformity calculated by latent class analysis: is it appropriate to use the same values for surgical and nonsurgical patients?

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) parameters have been shown to be reliable and valid in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). Minimum clinically important difference (MCID) has become increasingly important to clinicians in evaluating patients with a threshold of improvement that is clinically relevant.

Expression of TRIM22 mRNA in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with direct-acting antiviral drugs

Hepatitis C is a global public health problem, and Pakistan is the second largest country in the globe with highest prevalence rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Until 2014, pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) has been the standard therapy for HCV, however, owing to its adverse side effects and very low sustained virologic response (SVR) rates therapeutics trend is shifted toward direct-acting antivirals. Tripartite motif containing 22 (TRIM22) is a dynamic antiviral protein that can inhibit multiple viruses in vivo. Expression of TRIM22 mRNA has been linked to outcome of PEG-IFN and ribavirin therapy, where its higher expression leads to rapid virus clearance. However, in terms of therapy with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) or double DAA, impact of TRIM22 expression is largely unknown. These new drugs show more than 90% of SVR rates and lesser side effects and have proven to be better than IFN therapy. Endogenous IFN system suppresses various pathogens through the induction of antiviral effectors termed as interferon-stimulating genes (ISGs). We have studied the expression levels of one of these antiviral effectors, TRIM22 in response to sofosbuvir (SOF) and daclatasvir (DAC) in combination with RBV, using quantitative PCR in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HCV-infected patients. We have observed sustained virus clearance in more than 90% of patients treated with DAA and double DAA and have seen the expression of TRIM22 to be higher in patients who attained SVR as compared to the untreated patients. We have also observed downregulation of TRIM22 in patients who failed to attain rapid virus clearance, and upregulation in those who achieved rapid clearance of virus. Genetic factors that determine the lower TRIM22 expression in these patients are needed to be explored that may also play a role in lower response to anti-HCV therapy. Endogenous IFN system and effects of antiviral proteins in response to DAA therapy is needed to be studied in order to better understand the host response toward these drugs to make them more effective.     

一腓骨肌萎缩症家系临床及基因分析

目的分析一腓骨肌萎缩症家系的临床表现及不同基因检测方法的特点。方法收集一CMT家系8名成员临床资料,并应用等位基因特异性PCR-双酶切方法及多重连接依赖的探针扩增技术(MLPA)检测PMP22基因突变情况,同时选择60名性别、年龄无明显差异的健康人做为对照组。结果该家系中患病者以行走不稳、跨阈步态,伴有弓形足为主要临床表现。该家系中5名成员经等位基因特异性PCR-双酶切及MLPA方法均检测出PMP22基因重复序列,其中出现临床症状的有4名(Ⅱ3、Ⅱ9、Ⅱ11、Ⅲ7),未出现临床症状但基因检测结果示PMP22基因重复序列的为携带者有1名(Ⅲ5),家系中余3名成员及对照组60名均未见重复序列。结论基因检测在明确CMT诊断中起重要作用,且MLPA法筛查基因时操作更简便、灵敏度更高、特异性更好。     

复方华蟾胶囊抗小鼠肿中瘤作用的实验研究

目的了解复方华蟾胶囊抗小鼠移植性肿瘤的作用.方法以小鼠肝癌22(H22)、小鼠肉瘤180(S180)为瘤株,应用动物移植性肿瘤的体内试验法对药物进行抗癌药效学试验.结果复方华蟾胶囊灌胃4,2 g/kg@d,连续14 d,对小鼠移植性肝癌实体型生长有明显的抑制作用,抑瘤率分别为38.09%,30.95%.对小鼠移植性S180实体型生长有明显的抑制作用,抑瘤率分别为34.7%,30.08%.复方华蟾胶囊对荷瘤小鼠的胸腺和脾脏重量无影响.结论复方华蟾胶囊在试验条件下有一定抗肿瘤作用.     

甘肃棘豆生物碱部位体内抗肿瘤作用及对免疫功能的影响

目的 研究甘肃棘豆生物碱部位对KM小鼠肝癌H22细胞抑制作用及其对KM小鼠免疫功能的影响。 方法 采用鼠源性肝癌细胞H22移植瘤法,将60只KM小鼠随机分为5组，其中高、中、低剂量组分别给予甘肃棘豆生物碱部位32、16、8 mg/kg体重灌胃，阴性对照组给予生理盐水（NS）20 mL/kg灌胃，5- 氟脲嘧啶（5-FU）组给予5-FU 15 mg/kg体重腹腔注射，每天1次，连续给药10天。检测平均瘤重和抑瘤率,计算脾指数、胸腺指数，MTT法测脾细胞增殖率。 结果 甘肃棘豆生物碱部位高、中、低剂量组对肝癌细胞H22实体移植瘤的抑制率分别为43%、29%、23%；各剂量组小鼠的脾指数和胸腺指数均明显高于阴性对照组，中、高剂量组明显高于5-FU 组（P＜0.05）；各剂量组在24、48、72 h的脾细胞增殖率也明显高于阴性对照组及5-FU 组（P＜0.01）。 结论 甘肃棘豆生物碱部位对KM小鼠肝癌H22移植瘤有抑制作用，并能增强KM小鼠免疫功能。