Canadian experience with high intensity focused ultrasound for the treatment of BPH

INTRODUCTION: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) ablates benign prostatic tissue in a minimally invasive manner with low morbidity. The safety and effectiveness of treating of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) with HIFU using 3 different protocols are reported. METHODS: Forty six male patients with a mean age of 65 (range 47-84) were treated using the Sonablate HIFU device (Focus Surgery, Indianapolis IN) with 3 different protocols at 3 centres (LDS n=20, PJP n=12, RWC n=14). Baseline and outcome measures included AUA symptom score, peak urinary flow rate (Qmax) and quality of life (QOL) score. Early and long term complications were recorded. RESULTS: At 12 months post-HIFU, patients showed improvements in AUA symptom scores of 35% (LDS), 43% (PJP) and 59% (RWC). Qmax improved by 30% (LDS), 37% (PJP) and 63% (RWC). QOL scores improved by 63% (LDS) and 58% (RWC). Minor complications included hematospermia (13%), mild to moderate hematuria (9%), acute retention (4%), perineal pain (11%) and epididymitis (9%). Recatheterization occurred in up to 16% of patients. Eleven patients in the LDS and PJP series required a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for symptoms of urinary obstruction after HIFU treatment. There were no TURP's following HIFU in the RWC series. CONCLUSIONS: HIFU is safe, produces acceptable complications and effectively relieves BPH symptoms.     

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-controlled study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) currently is used as a palliative treatment for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its efficacy still is debated. Our aim was to assess the impact of TACE on patient survival and to identify prognostic factors for survival. METHODS: Fifty-six cirrhotic patients with unresectable HCC undergoing at least 1 course of TACE were matched 1:1 for sex, age (in 5-year periods), parameters of Child-Pugh score, Okuda stage, and tumor type with a control group who had received only supportive care. RESULTS: The 2 groups were comparable for cause of cirrhosis, alpha-fetoprotein serum levels, and Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) score. The 56 patients in the TACE group received a total of 123 treatment courses. The median follow-up period was 16 months (range, 1-67 mo) in the TACE group and 5 months (range, 1-77 mo) in the supportive care group. Survival rates at 12, 24, and 30 months in patients receiving TACE were 74.3%, 52.1%, and 38.8%, respectively, with a median survival time of 25 months, whereas in supportive care patients the rates were 39.4%, 25.4%, and 19%, respectively, with a median survival time of 7 months (P = .0004). At univariate analysis, TACE, tumor type, presence of ascites, alpha-fetoprotein serum level, CLIP score, and Okuda stage were associated significantly with survival. Only TACE and CLIP score proved to be independent predictors of survival at multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: TACE is an effective therapeutic option for cirrhotic patients with unresectable HCC and a CLIP score of 3 or less.     

Low-dose intermittent interferon-alpha therapy for HCV-related liver cirrhosis after curative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To assess the efficacy of low-dose intermittent interferon (IFN) therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related compensated cirrhosis who had received curative treatment for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We performed a prospective case controlled study. Sixteen patients received 3 MIU of natural IFN- alpha intramuscularly 3 times weekly for at least 48 wk (IFN group). They were compared with 16 matched historical controls (non-IFN group). RESULTS: The cumulative rate of first recurrence of HCC was not significantly different between the IFN group and the non-IFN group (0% vs 6.7% and 68.6% vs 80% at 1- and 3-year, P = 0.157, respectively). The cumulative rate of second recurrence was not also significantly different between the IFN group and the non-IFN group (0% vs 6.7% and 35.9% vs 67% at 1- and 3-year, P = 0.056, respectively). Although the difference in the Child-Pugh classification score between the groups at initial treatment of HCC was not signifi cant, the score was signifi cantly worse at the time of data analysis in the non-IFN group than IFN group (7.19 ± 1.42 vs 5.81 ± 0.75, P = 0.0008). The cumulative rate of deviation from objects of any treatment for recurrentHCC was also higher in the non-IFN group than IFN group (6.7% and 27% vs 0 and 0% at 1- and 3-year, P = 0.048, respectively). CONCLUSION: Low-dose intermittent IFN-alpha therapy for patients with HCV-related compensated cirrhosis after curative HCC treatment was effective by making patients tolerant to medical or surgical treatment for recurrent HCC in the later period of observation.     

Budesonide versus mesalamine for maintaining remission in patients refusing other immunomodulators for steroid-dependent Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To compare the efficacy of controlled-release budesonide capsules with that of mesalamine for maintaining remission and improving quality of life (QOL) in patients with steroid-dependent Crohn's disease. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients (25 men; mean age, 32 +/- 10.1 yr) with quiescent steroid-dependent Crohn's ileitis, ileocolitis, or colitis (Crohn's disease activity index <150) entered a prospective, investigator-blind trial. Patients were eligible for treatment with azathioprine but had not consented or had developed side effects. Patients were randomized to receive budesonide 6 mg/day (n = 29) or mesalamine 1 g 3 times/day (n = 28). Follow-up assessments were made every 2 months for up to 1 year or until relapse. At each visit, quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics between the study groups. The 1-year relapse rate was significantly lower in the budesonide group than in the mesalamine group (55% vs. 82%; 95% confidence interval, 12.4%-41%; P = 0.045). Patients assigned to budesonide also remained in remission longer (241 +/- 114 days vs. 147 +/- 117 days; 95% confidence interval, 32.7-155.3 days; P = 0.003). Compared with mesalamine, budesonide treatment also was associated with a better QOL throughout the study (mean total IBDQ scores 165 +/- 36 vs. 182 +/- 28, respectively; 95% confidence interval, -0.4 to 34.4, P = 0.0001). This advantage was confirmed in patients' self-assessed QOL scores. CONCLUSIONS: Over a 1-year period, controlled-release budesonide was significantly more effective than mesalamine for maintaining remission and improving the QOL of patients with steroid-dependent Crohn's disease.     

强度聚焦超声治疗老年胰腺癌的疗效观察

目的观察高强度聚焦超声（high intensity focused ultrasound,HIFU）对老年中晚期胰腺癌患者的治疗作用。方法52例老年中晚期胰腺癌患者,年龄60～83岁,平均年龄（70．8±5．1）岁,按随机表法分为HIFU＋化疗组和单纯化疗组。HIFU＋化疗组应用HIFU及吉西他滨静脉滴注;对照组单纯化疗组给予吉两他滨静脉滴注。观察治疗后2个月肿瘤体积变化、患者疼痛缓解程度和不良反应发生率,记录治疗后3个月和6个月的生存率。结果HIFU＋化疗组根据实体肿瘤疗效的客观评判标准（肿瘤消长）,完全缓解率（CR）＋部分缓解率（PR）为55．1％,高于单纯化疗组的26．1％（P=0．037）;HIFU＋化疗组疼痛缓解阳性改善率为69．O％,高于单纯化疗组的21．7％（P=0．001）;两组并发症无统计学差异;HIFU＋化疗组患者的3个月生存率为100％（29／29）,单纯化疗组为91．3％（21／23）,两组无统计学差异（P=0．109）;HIFU＋化疗组6个月生存率为72．4％（21／29）,较单纯化疗组的30．4％（7／23）增加（P=0．025）。结论HIFU作为一种绿色的治疗手段,联合吉西他滨化疗可以更有效地控制晚期胰腺癌的肿瘤生长,缓解患者疼痛．延长患者生存期,且无明显不良反应．是一种有效、安全的治疗方法。     

泛昔洛韦和拉米夫定治疗慢性乙肝的短期疗效对比研究

比较和评价泛昔洛韦和拉米夫定短期治疗慢性乙肝的疗效.将101例慢性乙肝患者,随机分为泛昔洛韦组(A组)1500mg/日分三次(4个月)、拉米夫定组(B组)100mg/日和对照组(C组).结果显示,治疗4个月时①A、B和C组ALT的复常率分别为74.0%、82.5%和63.3%.②A和B组HBV DNA的阴转率为64.5%和90.0%均显著高于C组(16.5%),P＜0.001;B组明显高于A组,P=0.017.③A和B组HBeAg血清转化率达27.3%和25.8%,高于C组(13.0%),但P＞0.05.④A组HBV DNA阴转的20例患者,在停药后2、4和6月时其持续应答率分别为65.0%、45.0%和25.0%.表明泛昔洛韦和拉米夫定对慢性乙肝均有治疗效果,拉米夫定的抗病毒作用和疗效明显优于泛昔洛韦.     

Effect of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization on proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

AIM To evaluate the effect of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.METHODS A total of 136 patients with HCC underwent liver resection. Of 136 patients, 79 patients received 1 to 5 courses of TACE prior to liver resection (TACE group),who were further subdivided into four groups Group A (n = 11) who received 1 to 4 courses of chemotherapy alone; Group B (n = 33) who received 1 to 5 courses of chemotherapy combined with iodized oil; Group C (n = 23) who received 1 to 3 courses of chemotherapy combined with iodized oil and gelatin sponge; and Group D (n = 12) who received 1 to 3 courses of chemotherapy combined with iodized oil, ethanol and gelatin sponge.The other 57 patients only received liver resection (nonTACE group). The expressions of Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein were detected in the liver cancer tissues by immunohistochemical method.RESULTS The Ki-67 protein expression was significantly lower in Groups C and D as compared with non-TACE group (31.35% ± 10.85% vs 44.43% ± 20.70%,30.93% ± 18.10% vs 44.43% ± 20.70%, respectively, P ＜ 0.05). The PCNA protein expression was significantly lower in Groups C and D as compared with non-TACE group (49.61% ± 15.11% vs 62.92% ± 17.21%, 41.16% ± 11.83% vs 62.92% ± 17.21%, respectively, P ＜ 0.05).The Ki-67 protein expression was significantly higher in Group A as compared with non-TACE group (55.44% ± 13.72% vs 44.43% ± 20.70%, P ＜ 0.05). The PCNA protein expression was significantly higher in Groups A and B as compared with non-TACE group (72.22% ± 8.71% vs 62.92% ± 17.21%, 69.91% ± 13.38% vs 62.92% ± 17.21%, respectively, P ＜0.05).CONCLUSION Preoperative multi-material TACE suppresses the proliferation of HCC cells, while a single material embolization and chemotherapy alone enhance the proliferation of HCC cells.     

细胞因子缓释微球免疫激活剂预防肝细胞癌术后复发

目的观察肿瘤免疫激活剂预防肝细胞癌（HCC）切除术后复发的效果。方法1999年3月2003年6月80例HCC根治切除术后患者采用随机、对照的方法分为免疫激活剂组和对照组，进行肿瘤免疫激活剂注射，该免疫激活剂成分包括同定的HCC细胞或组织碎片、粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子和白细胞介素2的生物可降解缓释微球和免疫辅助物。观察肿瘤免疫激活剂皮内接种激发的迟发型超敏反应（DTH）和预防HCC切除术后复发的效果。结果免疫激活剂组中8例和对照组中5例失访，平均随访34．3个月（15～55个月）。在HCC免疫激活剂治疗中未见不良反应。32例患者中23例出现抗HCC DTH阳性。免疫激活剂组术后l、2、3年复发率分别为l2．6％、35．9％、54．0％；而对照组HCC切除术后1、2、3年复发率分别为31．6％、61．3％、72．1％，免疫激活剂组的复发率低于对照组（P〈0．05）。结论这种细胞因子缓释微球的肿瘤免疫激活剂具有很强的抗肿瘤和预防肝癌切除术后复发的效果。     

Effects of short-term moderate exercise training on sexual function in male patients with chronic stable heart failure

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) have sexual dysfunction that impairs quality of life. Recent trials have demonstrated that exercise training (ET) improves quality of life (QOL) of CHF patients, but it is not established whether this benefit may be associated with an improvement in sexual dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ET can improve sexual dysfunction in patients with CHF. METHODS: We prospectively studied 59 male patients (57+/-9 years) with stable CHF in sinus rhythm and without prostatic disease. Patients were randomized into two groups. A group (T, n = 30) underwent supervised cycle ergometer ET at 60% of peak VO2, three times a week, 60 min each session, for 8 weeks. A group (NT, n = 29) was not exercised. Medications were not changed during the study. On study entry and at 8 weeks all patients underwent a symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing, brachial artery endothelium-dependent (ED) and endothelium-independent (EI) vasomotor responses, QOL and sexual activity profile assessment (SAP) by questionnaire. RESULTS: At 8 weeks, no changes were observed in control patients. In trained patients, however, peak VO2 improved by 18% (P < 0.005) and was correlated with QOL (r = 0.80; P < 0.001). Flow-mediated dilation improved in trained patients (from 2.29+/-1.13% to 5.04+/-1.7%, P = 0.0001), while EI dilation (after 0.3 mg sublingual NTG) did not. In group T, all three domains (i.e. Domain 1=relationship with the partner; Domain 2 = quality of penile erection; Domain 3 = personal wellness) were significantly improved from baseline (total score patients: from 3.49+/-3.4 to 6.17+/-3.2, P < 0.001; partners: from 2.47+/-2.7 to 4.87+/-2.5, P < 0.001). Pre-post training change in SAP total score was correlated with changes in coronary risk profile (r = -0.49; P = 0.01), peak VO2 (r = 0.67; P < 0.001) and QOL (r = 0.73; P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis selected the improvement in ED-vasomotor response as the strongest independent predictor of SAP improvement (r = 0.63, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In stable CHF, cycle ergometer ET significantly improves brachial artery endothelial dysfunction, suggesting a systemic effect of leg exercise. This benefit was correlated with improvements in sexual activity.     

树突状细胞诱导的肿瘤特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞对裸鼠人肝癌转移的预防和治疗

目的探讨肿瘤抗原特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)对裸鼠人肝癌转移模型LCI-D20的治疗作用。方法从健康人外周血单个核细胞中诱导树突状细胞,用重组人粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子和白细胞介素-4刺激活化,经人肝癌细胞株MHCC97-H肿瘤抗原致敏后,诱导肿瘤抗原特异性CTL,经腹腔注射,以自然杀伤样T淋巴细胞(CIK)和磷酸盐缓冲液为对照,研究其对LCI-D20肝癌治疗和预防转移作用。结果肿瘤抗原特异性CTL组、CIK 组和对照组肝癌肿块重量、血清甲胎蛋白含量、肝癌肝内转移率和存活期依次为(1．11±0．63)g、(1．12±0．36)g 和(2．68±0．53)g;(52．1±9．7)μg／L、(48．6±5．2)μg／L和(82．2±7．2)μg/L;16．7％、16．7％和58．3％; (79．0±5．0)d、(73．3±7．0)d和(52．3±5．2)d。对照组与前两组比较差异均有统计学意义(P值均<0．01)。结论肿瘤抗原特异性CTL可以预防LCI-D20模型肝癌发生转移,延长动物存活时间。     

Comprehensive treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in major portal vein

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation(TACE) compared with surgical intervention and sorafenib for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in patients with tumor thrombus extending to the main portal vein.METHODS: From 2009 to 2013, a total of 418 HCC patients with tumor thrombus extending to the main portal vein were enrolled in this study and divided into four groups. These groups underwent different treatments as follows: TACE(n = 307), surgical intervention(n = 54), sorafenib(n = 15) and palliativetreatment(n = 42). Overall survival rates were determined by Kaplan-Meier method, and differences between the groups were identified through log-rank analysis. Cox's proportional hazard model was used to identify the risk factors for survival.RESULTS: The mean survival periods for patients in the TACE, surgical intervention, sorafenib and palliative treatment groups were 10.39, 4.13, 5.54 and 2.82 mo, respectively. For the TACE group, the 3-, 6-, 12-and 24-mo survival rates were 94.1%, 85.9%, 51.5% and 0.0%, respectively. The corresponding rates were 60.3%, 22.2%, 0.0% and 0.0% for the surgical intervention group and 50.9%, 29.5%, 0.0% and 0.0% for the sorafenib group. Evidently, the results in the TACE group were significantly higher than those in the other groups(P 0.0001). Furthermore, no significant difference among survival rates was observed between TACE with/without sorafenib(10.22 mo vs 10.52 mo, P = 0.615). No significant difference in survival rates was also found among the surgical intervention, sorafenib and palliative treatment groups(P 0.05). These values significantly increased after TACE with/without sorafenib compared with other treatments(P 0.05).CONCLUSION: For HCC patients with tumor thrombus extending to the main portal vein, TACE can yield a higher survival rate than surgical intervention or sorafenib treatment.     

Uracil-tegafur as an adjuvant for hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomized trial

Frequent recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgery remains a major clinical problem. This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether postoperative adjuvant therapy with oral uracil-tegafur (UFT) prevents recurrence of HCC. A total of 160 patients who underwent curative hepatic resection for HCC were randomly assigned to receive either 300 mg/day of UFT for 1 year after surgery (n = 79, UFT group) or surgery alone (n = 80, control group). The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival, and the secondary endpoint was overall survival. Other study variables included liver function and type of recurrence. During a median follow-up of 4.8 years (range: 0.5-7.9), recurrence-free survival curves in the groups were similar (P = .87). Overall survival was slightly but not significantly worse in the UFT group than in the control group (P = .08). The rates of recurrence-free and overall survival at 5 years were 29% and 58%, respectively, in the UFT group, as compared with 29% and 73%, respectively, in the control group. The hazard ratio for recurrence in the UFT group, relative to the control, was 1.01 (95% confidence interval: 0.84-1.22, P = .87). The proportion of patients with advanced recurrence (i.e., multiple, extrahepatic, or associated with vascular invasion) was significantly higher in the UFT group (74%, 43 of 58 patients with recurrence) than in the control group (53%, 30 of 57) (P = .02). In conclusion, our results offer no evidence to support potential benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy with UFT after surgery in patients with HCC and suggest that such treatment may even worsen overall survival.     

经动脉化学栓塞和经皮冷冻序贯治疗肝细胞癌

目的 评价经动脉化学栓塞(TACE)和经皮冷冻序贯治疗无法切除的肝细胞肝癌(HCC)的疗效.方法 将420例无法手术切除的HCC患者分为TACE-冷冻序贯治疗组290例(序贯组)和单纯冷冻组130例(冷冻组).TACE按常规操作,术后2～4周行经皮冷冻治疗.1个月及以后每2～3个月随访1次,包括肝脏超声和(或)腹部CT,并检测血清甲胎蛋白(AFP).结果 平均随访(42±17)个月(范围24～70个月),所有患者消融灶局部复发率为17%,序贯组和冷冻组分别为11%和24%(P=0.001).1、2、3、4和5年平均存活率分别为72%、57%、47%、39%和31%.序贯组1年和2年存活率(71%和61%)与冷冻组(73%和54%)相似(P值分别=0.69和0.147);而4年和5年存活率,序贯组(49%和39%)高于冷冻组(21%和23%,P=0.001).序贯组有18例肿瘤直径＞5cm的患者存活逾5年,而冷冻组无一例.全组并发症发生率为24%,序贯组和冷冻组分别为21%和26%(P=0.06).冷冻组肝出血的发生率显著高于序贯组(P=0.02),且有2例发生肝破裂.结论 冷冻治疗前先行TACE能提高冷冻消融的疗效,减少其并发症,特别是肝出血.TACE和冷冻序贯疗法可能是治疗不能切除性HCC,特别是大肝癌的较好方法 .     

Comparing the outcomes of radiofrequency ablation and surgery in patients with a single small hepatocellular carcinoma and well-preserved hepatic function

GOALS: To compare the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and surgical resection in a group of patients with a Child-Pugh score of 5 and a single HCC less than 4 cm in diameter. BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has become a popular method for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has been applied as an alternative primary therapy to surgical resection. STUDY: We compared outcomes for 148 patients treated with RFA (n = 55) and those treated surgically (n = 93). RESULTS: The rate of local recurrence among patients in the RFA group was significantly higher than in the surgery group (P = 0.005), while the incidence of remote recurrence was similar between the two groups (P = 0.30). The cumulative 1- and 3-year overall survival rates (P = 0.24) and the cumulative 1- and 3-year recurrence-free survival rates (P = 0.54) were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a higher rate of local recurrence, RFA was found to be as effective as surgical resection for the treatment of single small HCC in patients with well-preserved liver function, in terms of the incidence of remote recurrence and the patients' likelihood of achieving overall and/or recurrence-free survival.     

Efficacy of different treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of different treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) and investigate factors influencing prognosis. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-nine HCC patients with macroscopic PVTT were enrolled in this study. They were divided into four groups and underwent different treatments: conservative treatment group (n = 18), chemotherapy group (n = 53), surgical resection group (n = 24) and surgical resection with postoperative chemotherapy group (n = 84). Survival rates of the patients were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. A log-rank analysis was performed to identify group differences. Cox's proportional hazards model was used to analyze variables associated with survival. RESULTS: The mean survival periods of the patients in four groups were 3.6, 7.3,10.1, and 15.1 mo respectively. There were significant differences in the survival rates among the groups. The survival rates at 0.5-, 1-, 2-, and 3-year in surgical resection with postoperative chemotherapy group were 55.8%, 39.3%, 30.4%, and 15.6% respectively, which were significantly higher than those of other groups (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the strategy of treatment (P<0.001) and the number of chemotherapy cycles (P = 0.012) were independent survival predictors for patients with HCC and PVTT. CONCLUSION: Surgical resection of HCC and PVTT combined with postoperative chemotherapy or chemoembolization is the most effective therapeutic strategy for the patients who can tolerate operation. Multiple chemotherapeutic courses should be given postoperatively to the patients with good hepatic function reserve.     

Growth inhibition of high-intensity focused ultrasound on hepatic cancer in vivo

AIM: To investigate the damaging effect of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on cancer cells and the inhibitory effect on tumor growth. METHODS: Murine H22 hepatic cancer cells were treated with HIFU at the same intensity for different lengths of time and at different intensities for the same length of time in vitro, the dead cancer cells were determined by trypan blue staining. Two groups of cancer cells treated with HIFU at the lowest and highest intensity were inoculated into mice. Tumor masses were removed and weighed after 2 wk, tumor growth in each group was confirmed pathologically. RESULTS: The death rate of cancer cells treated with HIFU at 1 000 W/cm2 for 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 s was 3.11±1.21%, 13.37±2.56%, 38.84±3.68%, 47.22±5.76%, 87.55±7.32%, and 94.33±8.11%, respectively. A positive relationship between the death rates of cancer cells and the length of HIFU treatment time was found (r=0.96, P<0.01). The death rate of cancer cells treated with HIFU at the intensity of 100,200,400,600,800, and 1 000 W/cm2 for 8 s was 26.31±3.26%, 31.00±3.87%, 41.97±5.86%, 72.23±8.12%, 94.90±8.67%, and 99.30±9.18%, respectively. A positive relationship between the death rates of cancer cells and the intensities of HIFU treatment was confirmed (r= 0.98, P<0.01). The cancer cells treated with HIFU at 1 000 W/cm2 for 8 s were inoculated into mice ex vivo. The tumor inhibitory rate was 90.35% compared to the control (P<0.01). In the experimental group inoculated with the cancer cells treated with HIFU at 1 000 W/cm2 for 0.5 s, the tumor inhibitory rate was 22.9% (P<0.01). By pathological examination, tumor growth was confirmed in 8 out of 14 mice (57.14%, 8/14) inoculated with the cancer cells treated with HIFU at 1 000 W/cm2 for 8 s, which was significantly lower than that in the control (100%, 15/15, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: HIFU is effective on killing or damage of H22 hepatic cancer cells in vitro and on inhibiting tumor growth in mice ex vivo.     

Expression and clinical significance of TAp73α, p53, PCNA and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To study the prognostic role of TAp73α, p53,proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and apoptosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgical tumor ablation.METHODS: Forty-seven human resected HCC tissues and 42 adjacent non-cancerous tissues were studied with 10 normal liver tissues as control group. TAp73α, p53, and PCNA were detected with Elivision immunohistochemistry.Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated d-UTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method was used to detect the apoptosis cells. All clinical and pathological materials were analyzed by SPSS10.0statistical package.RESULTS: TAp73α overexpressed in HCC tissues (36.2%)when compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues(2.38%, P&lt;0.005) and normal liver tissues (0, P&lt;0.01).Mutant type p53 (rot-p53) overexpressed in HCC tissues(38.3%) when contracted with adjacent non-cancerous tissues (16.7%, P&lt;0.05) and normal liver tissues (0,P&lt;0.01). Proliferation index (PI) level in HCC tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent non-cancerous tissues (30.34%&#177;4.46% vs27.88%&#177;5.89%, t, P= 0.028).Apoptosis index (AI) level in HCC tissues was higher than that in adjacent non-cancerous tissues (8.62%&#177;2.28%vs7.38%&#177;2.61%, t, P = 0.019). Expression of TAp73α was associated with lymph node metastasis and rot-p53,with r = 0.407 and 0.265, respectively. Expression of rot-p53 was associated with Edmondson‘s stage and AFP,with r = 0.295 and -0.357, respectively. In Kaplan-Meier univariant analysis, TAp73α, AFP, TNM stage, portal vein invasion, liver membrane invasion and HBsAg correlated with prognosis (log rank, P= 0.039, 0.012, 0.002, 0.000,0.014, 0.007, respectively). Multivariant Cox regression analysis showed that TAp73α, AFP, TNM stage, portalve in invasion, liver membrane invasion and age were independent factors of prognosis.CONCLUSION: These results suggest that TAp73α can be used as a prognostic indicator of patients with HCC undergoing surgical tumor ablation. AFP, TNM, portal vein invasion, liver membrane invasion and age also have a potency of predicting the prognosis of HCC.     

Sequential use of transarterial chemoembolization and percutaneous cryosurgery for hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM： To evaluate the efficacy of sequential use of transarterial chemoembolization （TACE） and percutaneous cryosurgery for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. METHODS： Four hundred and twenty patients were enrolled in this study. The patients, who were considered to have unresectable tumors due to their location or size or comorbidity, were divided into sequential TACE-cryosurgery （sequential） group （n = 290） and cryosurgery alone （cryoalone） group （n = 130）. Patients in the sequential group tended to have larger tumors and a greater number of tumors than those in the cryo-alone group. Tumors larger than 10 cm in diameter were only seen in the sequential group. TACE was performed with the routine technique and percutaneous cryosurgery was conducted under the guidance of ultrasound 2-4 wk after TACE. RESULTS： During a mean follow-up period of 42 ± 17 mo （range, 24-70 mo）, the local recurrence rate at the ablated area was 17% for all patients, 11% and 23% for patients in sequential group and cryoalone groups, respectively （P = 0.001）. The overall 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year survival rate was 72%, 57%, 47%, 39% and 31%, respectively. The 1- and 2-year survival rates （71% and 61%） in sequential group were similar to those （73% and 54%） in cryo-alone group （P = 0.69 and 0.147）, while the 4- and 5-year survival rates were 49% and 39% in sequential group, higher than those （29% and 23%） in cryo-alone group （P = 0.001）. Eighteen patients with large HCC （〉 5 cm in diameter） survived for more than 5 years after sequential TACE while no patient with large HCC （〉 5 cm in diameter） survived more than 5 years after cryosurgery. The overall complication rate was 24%, and the complication rates were 21% and 26% for the sequential and cryo-alone groups, respectively （P = 0.06）. The incidence of hepatic bleeding was higher in cryo-alone group than in sequential group （P = 0.02）. Liver crack only occurred in two patients of the cryoalone group. CONCLUSION： Pre-cryosurgical TACE can increase the cryoablation efficacy and decrease its adverse effects, especially bleeding. Sequential TACE and cryosurgery may be the better procedure for unresectable HCC, especially for large HCC.     

红景天注射液联合化疗治疗非小细胞肺癌的疗效评价

目的：探讨红景天注射液联合化疗治疗非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)的临床效果。方法选取2012年3月至2015年1月于我院诊治的晚期 NSCLC 患者共117例进行研究,随机原则分为研究组(n =59)和对照组(n =58)。对照组实施长春瑞滨联合顺铂常规化疗,研究组采用常规化疗联合红景天注射液治疗。比较2组患者治疗前后细胞免疫功能、生活质量评分、药物毒性反应,并评定临床疗效。结果对照组患者在化疗1个周期后的细胞免疫功能指标(自然杀伤细胞、CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/CD8+)均明显下降(P <0.05),研究组的细胞免疫功能明显优于对照组(t 值分别为4.265、3.052、2.816、2.017,P 值均<0.05);研究组和对照组的生活质量评分总稳定率分别为89.83%和75.86%,近期总有效率分别为67.80%和46.55%,研究组均高于对照组(χ2值分别为4.034、5.398, P 值均<0.05);研究组的骨髓抑制发生情况低于对照组(χ2=5.341,P <0.05)。结论对晚期NSCLC 患者行红景天注射液联合化疗治疗,患者细胞免疫功能、生活质量明显改善,药物毒性反应低,效果显著,值得推广。     

Long-acting octreotide versus placebo for treatment of advanced HCC: a randomized controlled double-blind study

Although numerous treatment modalities have been explored in patients with advanced HCC, the therapeutic options are still limited. Somatostatin has been shown to have antimitotic activity in endocrine as well as in a variety of nonendocrine tumors. Expression of somatostatin receptors is found in HCCs, but the efficacy of the somatostatin analogue octreotide remains controversial. Therefore, a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter trial was performed to assess the efficacy of long-acting octreotide for the treatment of advanced HCC. One hundred twenty untreated patients with histologically confirmed HCC were randomized to receive either long-acting octreotide (Sandostation LAR 30 mg) intramuscularly every 4 weeks or placebo. The study groups were comparable with respect to clinical characteristics. There was no difference in the cumulative survival. The median survival time was 4.7 months in the octreotide group compared with 5.3 months in the control group. Six-month survival rates were 41% for octreotide patients and 42% for control patients, respectively. The unadjusted relative risk for mortality in the octreotide group compared with patients in the control group was 1.11 (95% CI 0.76-1.63; P = 0.59). When adjusted for Okuda, CTP, and Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) scores, the relative risk for octreotide did not change markedly and was 1.05 (95% CI 0.71-1.55; P = 0.83). The CLIP score seems to predict survival better than both Okuda and CTP score. CONCLUSION: The randomized controlled double-blind HECTOR trial showed no survival benefit for HCC patients treated with long-acting octreotide compared with placebo.