Introduction: Novel Frontiers in Cancer Metastasis

Clinical & Experimental Metastasis -     

Effect of pneumatic leg compression on post-induction hypotension in elderly patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: a double-blind randomised controlled trial

Post-induction hypotension is common and associated with postoperative complications. We hypothesised that pneumatic leg compression reduces post-induction hypotension in elderly patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. In this double-blind randomised study, patients were allocated randomly to the pneumatic leg compression group (n = 50) or control (n = 50). In the intervention group, pneumatic leg compression was initiated before induction of anaesthesia. In the control group, pneumatic leg compression was initiated 20 min after anaesthesia induction. The primary outcome was the incidence of post-induction hypotension in these groups. Post-induction hypotension was defined as systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg during the first 20 min after induction. Haemodynamic variables and area under the curve of post-induction systolic blood pressure over time were assessed. Complications associated with pneumatic leg compression were recorded, including: peripheral neuropathy; compartment syndrome; extensive bullae beneath the leg sleeves; and pulmonary thromboembolism. The incidence of post-induction hypotension decreased in the pneumatic leg compression group compared with that in the control group; 5 (10%) vs. 29 (58%), respectively, p < 0.001. In the pneumatic leg compression group, the lowest systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures 20 min after induction of anaesthesia were significantly greater than the control group. Pneumatic leg compression resulted in an increased area under the curve of systolic blood pressure in the first 20 min after induction, p = 0.001. There were no pneumatic leg compression-related complications. Pneumatic leg compression reduced post-induction hypotension in elderly patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, suggesting that it is an effective and safe intervention to prevent post-induction hypotension among elderly patients undergoing general anaesthesia.     

Effects of tamoxifen on normal breast tissue histological composition: Results from a randomised six-arm placebo-controlled trial in healthy women

Tamoxifen prevents recurrence of breast cancer and is suggested for preventive risk-reducing therapy. Tamoxifen reduces mammographic density, a proxy for therapy response, but little is known about its effects in remodelling normal breast tissue. Our study, a substudy within the double-blinded dose-determination trial KARISMA, investigated tamoxifen-specific changes in breast tissue composition and histological markers in healthy women. We included 83 healthy women randomised to 6 months daily intake of 20, 10, 5, 2.5, 1 mg of tamoxifen or placebo. The groups were combined to “no dose” (0-1 mg), “low-dose” (2.5-5 mg) or “high-dose” (10-20 mg) of tamoxifen. Ultrasound-guided biopsies were collected before and after tamoxifen exposure. In each biopsy, epithelial, stromal and adipose tissues was quantified, and expression of epithelial and stromal Ki67, oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) analysed. Mammographic density using STRATUS was measured at baseline and end-of-tamoxifen-exposure. We found that different doses of tamoxifen reduced mammographic density and glandular-epithelial area in premenopausal women and associated with reduced epithelium and increased adipose tissue. High-dose tamoxifen also decreased epithelial ER and PR expressions in premenopausal women. Premenopausal women with the greatest reduction in proliferation also had the greatest epithelial reduction. In postmenopausal women, high-dose tamoxifen decreased the epithelial area with no measurable density decrease. Tamoxifen at both low and high doses influences breast tissue composition and expression of histological markers in the normal breast. Our findings connect epithelial proliferation with tissue remodelling in premenopausal women and provide novel insights to understanding biological mechanisms of primary prevention with tamoxifen.     

公立医院养老保险改革现状、困境及对策研究△

目的：通过调研江苏省公立医院编内及非在编人员参加养老保险的现状，分析其存在的困境，提出相应的对策建议。方法：对江苏省内公立医院发放调研问卷，收集数据整理后运用统计分析和比较分析法描述其运营概况、编内及非在编人员参加养老保险的情况，运用公平理论分析公立医院养老保险存在的问题。结果：江苏省公立医院编内人员参加机关事业单位养老保险，非在编人员参加城镇职工养老保险；省属公立医院非在编人员占比最高；编内人员缴费基数及养老待遇均显著高于非在编人员；编内人员参加职业年金，非在编人员尚未建立年金计划。结论：树立底线公平理念，完善养老保险制度体系；改革完善非在编人员年金计划政策；建立健全参保成本财政分担机制。     

老年人生命晚期获知疾病信息意向及影响因素CSCD

目的了解老年人生命晚期获知疾病相关信息意向及影响因素。方法2016年10月至2017年6月,采用生命晚期疾病信息意向问卷,利用方便抽样法对福州市中心城区7所养老机构及15个社区的414例年龄≥60岁的老年人进行横断面调查,采用单因素分析、多元线性回归与有序多分类logistic回归分析老年人对疾病相关信息的需求水平、获知程度意向及其影响因素。结果414例老年人疾病相关信息需求得分为(17.1±4.9)分;48.8%(202/414)希望详尽知晓,30.7%(127/414)希望选择性了解,20.5%(85/414)不想知道任何信息;多元线性回归分析显示,年龄、文化程度、是否接受/见过其他生命维持治疗(LSTs)是影响老年人疾病相关信息需求水平的主要因素(标准化回归系数分别为-0.141、0.116、0.115,均P<0.05);有序多分类logistic分析显示,年龄(以60~69岁为参照,70~79岁:OR=0.544,95%CI:0.310~0.957;80~89岁:OR=0.526,95%CI:0.289~0.956)、文化程度(以小学及以下为参照,大专及以上:OR=2.166,95%CI:1.093~4.290)、主要生活费来源(以其他补贴为参照,家人支持:OR=7.303,95%CI:1.157~46.108;退休金:OR=9.288,95%CI:1.502~57.415;公积金/储蓄:OR=15.676,95%CI:2.122~115.793)、是否接受/见过其他LSTs(以是为参照,OR=1.985,95%CI:1.150~3.425)是影响老年人疾病相关信息获知程度意向的主要因素。结论老年人生命晚期获知疾病相关信息的意向程度较高,年龄、文化程度、主要生活费来源、是否接受/见过其他生命维持治疗等是其主要影响因素。