Phase II trial of sorafenib in combination with 5-fluorouracil infusion in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract  

     

MR imaging features of solitary plasmacytoma of the spine

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the MR imaging features of solitary plasmacytomas of the spine. METHODS The MR images of 7 patients with histologically proven solitary plasmacytomas of the spine were reviewed. RESULTS All tumors showed predominantly isoto hypointensity relative to muscle on Tl-weighted MR images and intermediate signal intensity between muscle and fat on T2- weighted images. Curvilinear low signal intensity structures were seen within the lesions on T1 and T2-weighted images in five tumors. Moderate to strong enhancement was seen in all 6 tumors that underwent contrast enhanced MR examination. All tumors showed areas of high signal intensity on T2-weighted images and heterogeneous enhancement, except the 2 largest tumors without pathologic fracture in the sacrum. Intervertebral discs were preserved in all tumors. CONCLUSION The MR imaging features that suggest plasmacytorna of the spine include predominant intermediate signal intensity on T2-weighted images, curvilinear low signal intensity structures, moderate to strong enhancement, relatively homogeneous appearance if there are no pathologic fracture and preservation of the intervertebral discs.     

Health care costs of depression in patients diagnosed with cancer

Objective

Depression is common among patients diagnosed with cancer. Patients with cancer and depression use more health care services compared with nondepressed cancer patients. The current study seeks to estimate the added cost of depression in cancer patients in the first year after cancer diagnosis.

Methods

Health care charges were obtained for 2051 depressed and 11 182 nondepressed patients with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, diagnosis of cancer in the 2014 calendar year from the University of California San Diego Healthcare System. The annual health care charges for cancer patients with and without depression were analyzed using generalized linear models with a log‐link function and gamma distribution, covarying for age, sex, race/ethnicity, comorbid diseases, and presence of metastatic disease. Total cost data were broken down into several categories including ambulatory care, emergency department visits, and hospital visits.

Results

Depressed cancer patients had total annual health care charges that were 113% higher than nondepressed cancer patients (B = 0.76; P < .001). The estimated mean charges for depressed patients were $235 337 compared with $110 650 for nondepressed patients. Depressed cancer patients incurred greater charges than nondepressed patients in ambulatory care (B = 0.70; P < .001), emergency department charges (B = 0.31; P < .001), and hospital charges (B = 0.39; P < .001).

Conclusions

Depressed cancer patients incur significantly higher health care charges across multiple cost categories including ambulatory care, emergency department visits, and hospital visits. Future research should investigate if interventions for detecting and treating depression are effective for reducing health care use and costs in cancer patients.

     

Anti-tumor efficacy of gene vaccine expressing PSMA

Objective  

To observe anti-tumor eff ects of PVAX-PSMA gene vaccine.     

Prospective evaluation of the drug-metabolizing enzyme polymorphisms and toxicity profile of docetaxel in Korean patients with operable lymph node-positive breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy

Background  

Inter-individual variability of pharmacokinetics may account for unpredictable toxicities of docetaxel.     

Spontaneous regression of bone metastasis from renal cell carcinoma; A case report

Background  

Spontaneous regression of metastatic renal cell carcinoma is rarely observed.     

Low-grade extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the chest wall: case report and review of literature

Background  

Low-grade extraskeletal osteosarcomas (ESOS) are extremely rare.     

Recreational physical activity and the risk of adult leukemia in Canada

Objective  

To examine the association between adult onset leukemia and recreational physical activity.     

Value of c-Met for predicting progression of precancerous gastric lesions in rural Chinese population

Objective:To investigate the value of c-Met in predicting progression of precancerous gastric lesions.Methods:A population-based study was conducted to detect the overexpression of c-Met by immunohisto-chemical analysis in 124 subjects with precancerous gastric lesions.Odds ratio(OR) and 95% confidence interval(95% CI) were calculated for the association of c-Met overexpression with the risk of advanced gastric lesions.Results:The positive rates of c-Met were 55.7% in intestinal metaplasia(IM) and 64.8% in dysplasia(DYS),respectively.Stratified analysis indicated that the proportion of c-Met overexpression was 71.4% for IM progressive group,significantly higher than that for IM persistent group(40.0%,P<0.05).Compared to the IM persistent group,unconditional logistic regression showed that OR of c-Met overexpression for the IM progressive group was 7.416(95% CI:2.084-26.398).Conclusion: c‐Met plays an important role in gastric carcinogenesis. Detection of c‐Met is of value in predicting progression of precancerous gastric lesions from IM to DYS.     

Perinatal markers of estrogen exposure and risk of testicular cancer: follow-up of 1,333,873 Danish males born between 1950 and 2002

Objective  

To examine whether indicators of an increased prenatal estrogen exposure correlate with risk of testicular cancer.     

Microsurgical resection of pituitary adenoma via single-nostril transsphenoidal approach

OBJECTIVE To explore the methods and experience of the single-nostril transsphenoidal approach for treating pituitary adenomas. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 46 patients who had pituitary tumors and received surgery via the singlenostril transsphenoidal approach and observed the effects and complications of surgery. The specific surgical methods are： a nasal speculum is inserted slowly through the right nostril towards the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus. A 1.5 cm incision is made into the nasal mucosa in the right nasal cavity at the level of the middle nasal turbinate. By fracturing the bony septum, a space is formed between the bilateral nasal mucosa and the bony septum of the sphenoid sinus. Then, the inside of the sphenoid sinus is exposed. The remaining part of the bony septum, the anterior sphenoid sinus wall, and the sphenoid mucosa are gradually removed. The anterior sphenoidotomy is less than 1.5 cm wide. After confirming the tumor by dural puncture, a cross incision of the dura is made, and the tumor is slowly removed by curette. The sella is usually collapsed and visible after the total tumor removal. When the tumor is resected satisfactorily, gelatin sponges are placed into the operative cavity to stop bleeding. RESULTS Postoperative MRI scans revealed that among the 46 cases, total resection of the tumor was achieved in 34 cases and subtotal in 12. No deaths or disability occurred, and the hormone levels of almost all patients improved. Signs of diabetes insipidus occurred in 17, electrolyte disturbances in 5, and there were no reports of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. CONCLUSION The direct single nostril transsphenoidal approach of continuous improvement has the advantages of a convenient approach, simplified operation, safety and high efficiency.     

65例患者结肠肝曲癌侵犯十二指肠的外科治疗及预后

Objective  

The aim of the study was to discuss surgical treatment of right colon carcinoma of hepatic flexure invading the duodenum.     

Coffee, black tea and risk of gastric cancer

Background  

To provide information about the association of coffee, black tea with gastric cancer risk.     

Mediators and moderators of the effects of a year-long exercise intervention on endogenous sex hormones in postmenopausal women

Objective  

To identify factors that mediate or moderate the effects of exercise on postmenopausal sex hormone concentrations.     

隐睾下降固定术后睾丸恶变临床分析

Objective  

We summarized the relationship between the descent of a testicle into the scrotum and testicular cancer.     

A systematic approach to the management of patients with brain metastases of known or unknown primary site

Purpose  

To establish an empirical systematic approach for the management of brain metastases from a variety of cancers.     

A drug interaction study evaluating the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of sorafenib in combination with capecitabine

Purpose  

To address tolerability and a possible pharmacologic interaction of capecitabine with sorafenib.     

Calcitonin-producing well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (carcinoid tumor) of the urinary bladder: case report

Background  

The occurrence of calcitonin-secreting primary carcinoid tumor of the urinary bladder is extremely rare.     

Thrombosis of abdominal aorta during cisplatin-based chemotherapy of testicular seminoma - a case report

Background  

Vascular complications occurring during cisplatin-based chemotherapy of germ cell tumours are inadequately recognized to date.     

Study on inhibition of growth of ACHN cells via shRNA expression vector-mediated cyclinE1 gene silencing

OBJECTIVE To explore the inhibition of ACHN cells via shRNA expression vector mediated cyclinE1 gene silencing. METHODS The shRNA targeting at cyclinE1 gene was designed and synthesized. By ligation, the fragment was inserted into pGenesil-1-U6 to construct the recombinant plasmid pGenesil-1- U6-cyclinE1. The identified recombinant plasmid was introduced into ACHN cells with lipofectamine 2000. The inhibition of cyclinE1 mRNA and protein expression were analyzed by RT-PCR and western-blotting. MTT method was used for observing cell proliferation and drawing growth curve. The cell cycle and ratios of apoptotic cell were assessed by flow cytometric detection. The ability of invasion and speed of cell migration were detected by transwell chamber invasive models and cell scratch method. RESULTS The inhibition of expression of cyclinE1 in ACHN cells mediated by recombinant vector （0.0933 ± 0.05） was significantly lower than that in the group of transfected with empty vector （0.8827 ± 0.04） and the control group （0.9021±0.03） （P 〈 0.05）. Flow cytometry showed that recombinant cells were blocked in the G1 phase and the apoptotic ratio was increased significantly （11.15 ± 4.00）% （P 〈 0.05）. The curves of cell growth indicated that the proliferation of cell transfected with recombinant plasmid was inhibited significantly compared with that in control group （P 〈 0.05）. The results of transwell and cell scratch suggested that the abilities of invasion and migration of the cells transfected with recombinant plasmid were decreased conspicuously （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION The expression of cyclinE1 could be inhibited successfully by RNA interference induced by shRNA expression vector. This consequently inhibits the cell growth and induces apoptosis. Our study provided a preliminary result in searching of RNA interference （RNAi） therapy for renal cell carcinoma.