Novel non-operative treatment and treatment strategies in pancreatic cancer

Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer have traditionally been treated with palliative care only. The last decade has seen significant improvements in the surgical treatment of this disease but until the late 1990s there was no effective non-surgical treatment for these tumours. The introduction of gemcitabine has given clinicians treating patients with pancreatic cancer a new option. The published randomised data of gemcitabine in patients with pancreatic cancer has shown both a small survival advantage and significant improvements in quality of life indicators in these patients. These data have stimulated a resurgence of interest in pancreatic tumours and several studies have been or are currently investigating novel treatments or treatment strategies. The explosion in the molecular knowledge of cancer has led to the development of several ‘molecular designer drugs’ that have been tested in pancreatic cancer. The furthest advanced of these is a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor called marimastat. The first randomised data using this new class of agents is increasing and suggests that marimastat may have a role in the future treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer. Other agents such as gastrimmune, are about to enter Phase III studies and several other molecular treatment strategies are progressing from the in vitro stage towards the clinical arena. Each of these treatments and treatment regimens are discussed along with their current progress.     

Interpreting treatment effects when cases are institutionalized after treatment

Drug treatment clients are at high risk for institutionalization, i.e., spending a day or more in a controlled environment where their freedom to use drugs, commit crimes, or engage in risky behavior may be circumscribed. For example, in recent large studies of drug treatment outcomes, more than 40% of participants were institutionalized for a portion of the follow-up period. When longitudinal studies ignore institutionalization at follow-up, outcome measures and treatment effect estimates conflate treatment effects on institutionalization with effects on many of the outcomes of interest. In this paper, we develop a causal modeling framework for evaluating the four standard approaches for addressing this institutionalization confound, and illustrate the effects of each approach using a case study comparing drug use outcomes of youths who enter either residential or outpatient treatment modalities. Common methods provide biased estimates of the treatment effect except under improbable assumptions. In the case study, the effect of residential care ranged from beneficial and significant to detrimental and significant depending on the approach used to account for institutionalization. We discuss the implications of our analysis for longitudinal studies of all populations at high risk for institutionalization.     

十二指肠憩室手术治疗12例

目的：探讨十二指肠憩室的手术治疗。方法：对本院1998年1月～2010年6月收治的12例十二指肠憩室手术治疗患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果：十二指肠憩室手术治疗12例中,憩室切除术4例,憩室内翻缝合3例,十二指肠转流手术5例（远端胃切除BillrothⅡ式2例,胃空肠Roux-en-Y吻合术3例）。术后随访1年,除1例远端胃切除BillrothⅡ式术后患者右上腹疼痛无明显缓解外,其他的均获得较为满意的效果。结论：憩室切除、憩室内翻缝合和十二指肠转流术均可以有效治疗十二指肠憩室,应根据憩室部位合理选择手术方式。     

Novel non-operative treatment and treatment strategies in pancreatic cancer

Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer have traditionally been treated with palliative care only. The last decade has seen significant improvements in the surgical treatment of this disease but until the late 1990s there was no effective non-surgical treatment for these tumours. The introduction of gemcitabine has given clinicians treating patients with pancreatic cancer a new option. The published randomised data of gemcitabine in patients with pancreatic cancer has shown both a small survival advantage and significant improvements in quality of life indicators in these patients. These data have stimulated a resurgence of interest in pancreatic tumours and several studies have been or are currently investigating novel treatments or treatment strategies. The explosion in the molecular knowledge of cancer has led to the development of several 'molecular designer drugs' that have been tested in pancreatic cancer. The furthest advanced of these is a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor called marimastat. The first randomised data using this new class of agents is increasing and suggests that marimastat may have a role in the future treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer. Other agents such as gastrimmune, are about to enter Phase III studies and several other molecular treatment strategies are progressing from the in vitro stage towards the clinical arena. Each of these treatments and treatment regimens are discussed along with their current progress.     

Domestic violence treatment referrals for men seeking alcohol treatment

The annual prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in samples of men seeking alcohol treatment has been estimated at 50% or higher. One proposed approach to these co-occurring problems is the provision of IPV screening and treatment referrals within alcohol treatment programs. The current study found that alcohol treatment providers infrequently referred men with a pretreatment year history of IPV to domestic violence treatment programs, and that men receiving such referrals rarely followed the recommendation and sought additional treatment. These findings suggest future research is necessary to identify factors that may act as barriers to IPV assessment or referral in alcohol treatment settings, factors that may limit client follow-through on such referrals, and new strategies for addressing IPV in substance abusing populations.     

Buprenorphine treatment of opium-dependent outpatients seeking treatment in Iran

The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 1-, 3-, and 8-mg per day doses of buprenorphine in the maintenance treatment of opium-dependent patients over a 6-month treatment period. Participants were 513 opium-dependent individuals who were seeking treatment in an urban outpatient clinic, offering a 1-hr weekly individual counseling session. Overall, 305 patients (59.5%) completed the 6-month study. Completion rates by dosage group were 33.9% for the 1-mg dose group, 64.3% for the 3-mg dose group, and 80.1% for the 8-mg dose group—each significantly different from the other two groups. The results support the efficacy and safety of buprenorphine for outpatient treatment of opium dependence and seem to indicate that the highest dose (8 mg) of buprenorphine was the best of the three doses for Iranian opium-dependent patients to increase their retention in treatment.     

Acceptability of nonabstinence treatment goals among alcoholism treatment programs

The main objective of this study was to identify the number and type of alcoholism programs in the province of Ontario, Canada, which endorse treatment goals other than complete abstinence. A survey of all alcoholism programs in the province revealed that 36.7% of the programs found nonabstinence goals appropriate for at least some clients. Endorsement of nonabstinence goals was lowest for detoxication centers and residential treatment services, and highest for nonresidential programs and assessment-referral services. Endorsement of nonabstinence goals was higher among programs aimed at young people and those associated with the criminal justice system. Within a treatment program, the use of various kinds of assessment methods and treatment modalities did not appear to be closely associated with the endorsement of abstinence vs nonabstinence treatment goals.     

Older adult treatment outcome following elder-specific inpatient alcoholism treatment

This study examined multidimensional 6-month outcomes of elder-specific inpatient alcoholism treatment for 90 participants over the age of 55. At baseline, physical health functioning was similar to that reported by seriously medically ill inpatients in other studies while psychosocial functioning was worse, and nearly one third of the sample had comorbid psychiatric disorders. Based on 6-month outcomes, participants were classified into the following groups: Abstainers, Non-Binge Drinkers, and Binge Drinkers. The groups did not differ on any baseline measures (demographics, drinking history, alcohol symptoms and age of onset, comorbidity, or length of treatment). General health improved between baseline and follow-up for all groups. Psychological distress decreased for Abstainers and Non-Binge Drinkers, but did not change for Binge Drinkers. Results suggest that a large percentage of older adults who receive elder-specific treatment attain positive outcomes across a range of outcome measures.     

Consumer and treatment provider perspectives on reducing barriers to opioid substitution treatment and improving treatment attractiveness

In New Zealand approximately 4600 people receive opioid substitution treatment (OST) for opioid dependence, primarily methadone maintenance treatment. This study explored ways in which OST could be improved, given the significant waiting times for treatment. Two parallel surveys were conducted: 1) peer interviews with 85 regular daily or almost daily opioid drug users (51.8% receiving OST, 18.8% not currently receiving OST, and 29.4% never received OST) and; 2) a census of all 18 specialist OST service providers. When asked how OST might be improved, the four categories most commonly cited by the opioid users were 'better treatment by staff', 'more flexibility', 'better takeaway arrangements', and 'decreased waiting time'. Both opioid users and specialist services rated 'restricted takeaways' and 'having to go on a waiting list' in the top three perceived barriers to OST. Almost all services reported significant resource issues and barriers to the transfer of stable clients from specialist services to continuing treatment in primary care. The findings from this study indicate how OST can be made more accessible and attractive and thus achieve better uptake and retention.     

胃溃疡不同术式治疗与保守治疗比较

目的观察胃溃疡不同术式治疗与保守治疗的疗效及临床症状改善情况。方法以胃溃疡患者为观察对象,手术组56例,对照组56例。对照组给予常规内科保守治疗。手术组按照不同的分型给予手术治疗。比较两组疗效、临床症状改善情况及6、12个月后复发率。结果两组患者症状均有不同程度的缓解,胃镜检查级别均有所提高;与对照组相比,手术组疼痛、上腹饱胀、出血、穿孔和梗阻发生率明显降低（P〈0．05）;与对照组相比,手术组溃疡6、12个月复发率均明显降低（P〈0．05）。结论根据胃溃疡不同分型选择术式,术后疗效、临床症状改善显著,复发率低。     

红外治疗仪联合手术治疗痔的临床研究

目的：分析并总结多功能医用红外治疗仪配合手术疗法对各类痔的治疗效果。方法：对本院使用多功能医用红外治疗仪配合手术疗法对2010年1～12月入本院肛肠科诊治的336例各类痔患者进行治疗,同时与通过单纯手术治疗各类痔的112例患者进行对照。结果：治疗组336例患者的创面愈合时间比对照组要短,两组比较差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;治疗组与对照组术中出血发生率以及术后肛缘水肿发生率相比,差异显著,治疗组均要明显低于对照组（P〈0.05）。治疗组共治愈332例,其中各类外痔136例,治愈率为99.27%,混合痔101例,治愈率为99.02%,Ⅲ期内痔为95例,治愈率为97.94%,这些痔类型均明显高于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论：本组研究表明红外治疗仪联合手术疗法的操作简单,易于掌握,是目前治疗各类痔比较简便且高效的治疗手段之一,该方法具有安全可靠以及术后痛苦小的优点,值得基层医院广泛推广应用。     

Intensive treatment of persistent microalbuminuria: determinants of treatment resistance

Aims

Persistent microalbuminuria after treatment is a common finding. This study tried to evaluate the causes of treatment resistance.

Patients and methods

Sample: 204 patients treated with renina-angiotensin-axis (RAA) blocking drugs that showed positive microalbuminuria. Treatment was increased during three months to reach a BP < 130/80 mmHg and to obtain maximal RAA blockade. Then patient were classified as normoalbuminuric after treatment (N group) and microalbuminuric in spite of treatment (M).

Results

Mean microalbuminuria at recruitment was 48.5±25.6 mg/24h in N group and 90.0±140.3 mg/24h in M group. It was reduced to 16.1±10.0 mg/day in N group and to 83.5±138.2 mg/day in M group. At start, mean SBP and mean DBP were not different between groups. After treatment SBP and DBP pressure were reduced in both groups (differences between groups were not significant). Combined control of BP showed a slight increase in the two groups but it have only statistical significance in the N group (p = 0.031, McNemar test).

Conclusions

Persistent microalbuminuria seems to be associated to poor blood pressure control. Effective blood pressure reduction was followed by urinary albumin excretion decrease. Baseline severity of microalbuminuria was the only clear predictor of remission after treatment.