Acute-phase response predicts erythropoietin resistance in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients

We defined erythropoietin (EPO) resistance by the ratio of the weekly EPO dose to hematocrit (Hct), yielding a continuously distributed variable (EPO/Hct). EPO resistance is usually attributed to iron or vitamin deficiency, hyperparathyroidism, aluminum toxicity, or inflammation. Activation of the acute-phase response, assessed by the level of the acute-phase C-reactive protein (CRP), correlates strongly with hypoalbuminemia and mortality in both hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. In this cross-sectional study of 92 HD and 36 PD patients, we examined the contribution of parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, iron indices, aluminum levels, nutritional parameters (normalized protein catabolic rate [PCRn]), dialysis adequacy (Kt/V), and CRP to EPO/Hct. Albumin level serves as a measure of both nutrition and inflammation and was used as another independent variable. Serum albumin level (deltaR2 = 0.129; P < 0.001) and age (deltaR2 = 0.040; P = 0.040) were the best predictors of EPO/Hct in HD patients, and serum albumin (deltaR2 = 0.205; P = 0.002) and ferritin levels (deltaR2 = 0.132; P = 0.015) in PD patients. When albumin was excluded from the analysis, the best predictors of EPO/Hct were CRP (deltaR2 = 0.105; P = 0.003) and ferritin levels (deltaR2 = 0.051; P = 0.023) in HD patients and CRP level (deltaR2 = 0.141; P = 0.024) in PD patients. When both albumin and CRP were excluded from analysis in HD patients, low transferrin levels predicted high EPO/Hct (deltaR2 = 0.070; P = 0.011). EPO/Hct was independent of PTH and aluminum levels, PCRn, and Kt/V. High EPO/Hct occurred in the context of high ferritin and low transferrin levels, the pattern expected in the acute-phase response, not in iron deficiency. In well-dialyzed patients who were iron replete, the acute-phase response was the most important predictor of EPO resistance.     

Combination of quinine as a potential reversing agent with mitoxantrone and cytarabine for the treatment of acute leukemias: a randomized multicenter study

A phase III prospective randomized multicenter study was performed to determine whether quinine could improve the response rate of poor-risk acute leukemias (ALs) to standard chemotherapy including a multidrug resistance (MDR)-related cytotoxic agent. The rationale of the study was based on the negative prognostic value of MDR phenotype in ALs and the ability of quinine to reverse this phenotype both in vitro and ex vivo. Three hundred fifteen patients (median age, 49 years; range, 16 to 65) with relapsed (n = 108) or refractory (n = 32) acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), relapsed (n = 27) or refractory (n = 9) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), secondary AL (n = 22) or blastic transformation of myelodysplastic syndrome ([MDS] n = 74) or myeloproliferative syndrome ([MPS] n = 43) were randomly assigned to receive mitoxantrone ([MXN] 12 mg/m2/d, days 2 to 5) and cytarabine ([Ara-C] 1 g/m2/12 h, days 1 to 5) alone or in combination with quinine (30 mg/kg/d, days 1 to 5; continuous intravenous infusion beginning 24 hours before MXN infusion). Side effects of quinine were observed in 56 of 161 quinine-treated patients and disappeared in all but four cases after one or two 20% dose decreases. Sera from quinine-treated patients showed increased MXN uptake in an MDR-positive cell line compared with matched sera obtained before quinine infusion. Quinine induced a significant increase in the incidence of nausea, vomiting, mucositis, and cardiac toxicity. A complete response (CR) was observed in 85 of 161 patients (52.8%) from the quinine-treated group versus 70 of 154 patients (45.5%) in the control group (P = .19). The most important differences between quinine and control group CR rates were observed in patients with refractory AMLs and blastic transformation of MDS and MPS. The CR rate was higher in P-glycoprotein-positive cases, although the difference was not significant. Failure of the regimen due to blastic persistence or blast number increase was higher in the control group (61 of 154 patients) than in the quinine group (45 of 161, P = .04). Early death was observed in eight cases (four in each arm) and death in aplasia in 27 cases (20 in quinine group v seven in control group, P = .01). The significant increase of toxicity in the quinine arm could have masked the clinical benefit of MDR reversion in poor- risk ALs.     

Xenophagy in Helicobacter pylori‐ and Epstein–Barr virus‐induced gastric cancer

Helicobacter pylori and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) account for roughly 80% and 10%, respectively, of gastric carcinomas worldwide. Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved and intricately regulated cellular process that involves the sequestration of cytoplasmic proteins and organelles into double‐membrane autophagosomes that eventually fuse with lysosomes for degradation of the engulfed content. Emerging evidence indicates that xenophagy, a form of selective autophagy, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of H. pylori‐ and EBV‐induced gastric cancer. Xenophagy specifically recognizes intracellular H. pylori and EBV and physically targets these pathogens to the autophagosomal–lysosomal pathway for degradation. In this connection, H. pylori or EBV‐induced dysregulation of autophagy may be causally linked to gastric tumourigenesis and therefore can be exploited as therapeutic targets. This review will discuss how H. pylori and EBV infection activate autophagy and how these pathogens evade recognition and degradation by the autophagic pathway. Elucidating the molecular aspects of H. pylori‐ and EBV‐induced autophagy will help us better understand the pathogenesis of gastric cancer and promote the development of autophagy modulators as antimicrobial agents. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd     

44Sacral extracorporeal magnetic stimulation is an effective treatment for pelvic floor dyssynergia; Comparative study with biofeedback therapy

Background: Recent development of extracorporeal magnetic stimulation (ECMS) which uses current‐changing magnetic fields allows the induction of electrical stimulation in the desired deep tissue. Recent study showed the sacral nerve stimulation reduces corticoanal excitability that may play a functional role in anal continence mechanisms. Preliminary study shows that ECMS of sacral nerve can modify pelvic floor function and expel rectal balloon in patients with pelvic floor dyssynergia (PFD). Aims: To evaluate the effect of ECMS compared with biofeedback therapy (BF) in patients with PFD. Methods and Materials: Thirty‐eight patients who fulfilled Rome II criteria for PFD by colon transit time and anorectal function tests, were randomly treated with 8 sessions of ECMS (2/weeks; n = 19) at prone position or BF (2/weeks; n = 19) at sitting position. Stimulation parameters were set at 50–80% of maximum intensity, 10 and 50 Hz frequency, 3 s burst length with 3 and 6 s off using arm‐typed stimulator (BioCom‐1000, Mcube Co., Korea). Symptom scores for constipation with/without anorectal function test were repeatedly measured after each treatment. Response was defined as 50% or more decreased symptom score after treatment (partial response: 30–50%, poor: <30%). Results: Fifteen patients (age 49.1 ± 13.4 years, mean ± SD; 4 men) completed 8 session of BF and 14 patients (54.5 ± 17.6 years, 3 men) completed 8 session of ECMS. Four patients of BF group discontinued treatment due to unsatisfactory therapeutic effect (n = 1) and withdrew consent (n = 3) and 5 patients of ECMS group discontinued treatment because of same reasons (n = 1, 4). Total symptom scores were significantly decreased after treatment of 8 session in both treatment groups (13.4 ± 6.6 vs. 4.3 ± 4.0 for BF, p = 0.009; 14.9 ± 5.6 vs. 3.4 ± 4.0 for ECMS, p < 0.001). Bowel movements per week were also significantly increased after treatment in both groups (median 2 vs. 7 for BF, p = 0.035; median 2 vs. 7 for ECMS, p = 0.008). Thirteen out of 15 patients showed response in BF group and 12 out of 14 showed good response in ECMS group. No adverse effects in both groups. Conclusions: ECMS is as effective as BF for the treatment of PFD. Long‐term effect of ECMS for the patients with pelvic floor dyssynergia need to be evaluated in the near future.     

贴报-P2临床毒理学、药理学和疗效研究

5-Flourouracil（5-FU） is one of well known anti-cancer drugs, but its toxicity in normal lymphocytes remains a major problem in chemotherapy. The eastern traditional drug, Bupleuri radix（BR）, has been used for the treatment of liver diseases and contains series of triterpene saponins.     

Roxatidine versus ranitidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcers: A randomized double-blind controlled multicentre study in Singapore

Roxatidine acetate, a new H₂ receptor antagonist, was compared with ranitidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcers in a double-blind multicentre study. Eighty-four patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer were randomized to receive 150 mg roxatidine acetate or 300 mg ranitidine at bedtime. Repeat endoscopy was performed after 4 weeks (25–33 days) and if the ulcer had not healed, another endoscopy was performed after a further 4 weeks of treatment. Using per protocol analysis 73.6% of ulcers treated with roxatidine healed at 4 weeks compared to 72.2% of ulcers treated with ranitidine (P=NS). The healing rates at 8 weeks were 92% with roxatidine and 83.3% with ranitidine (P=NS). Using equivalence tests, the healing rate of roxatidine was found to be equivalent to that of ranitidine within a 20% region. Roxatidine users took significantly less antacids than ranitidine users (P < 0.05). There were no significant adverse effects due to roxatidine or ranitidine. Roxatidine is a safe effective drug in the treatment of duodenal ulcers with a healing rate comparable to that of ranitidine.