沙鼠肝泡球蚴组织中微血管密度、血管内皮生长因子的表达及意义

目的研究沙鼠肝泡球蚴组织中微血管密度(MVD)-CD34及血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的表达及意义。方法将60只健康的长爪沙鼠随机平均分为2组,即实验组和对照组。实验组沙鼠采用开腹肝穿刺法,每只鼠接种原头节悬混液0.1 m L,对照组以相同的方法接种等量的PBS。分别于接种后第20、40、60、80、100 d时每组各处死6只沙鼠,实验组分别取泡球蚴组织和泡球蚴周围肝组织,对照组取正常肝组织。免疫组织化学法观察各时间点沙鼠肝泡球蚴组织中MVD-CD34及VEGF的表达情况。结果感染泡球蚴沙鼠肝脏中均见大小不等的团块状囊泡组织,部分播散至腹腔。在感染的各时间点,泡球蚴组织中均可见到MVD-CD34和VEGF的表达,定位于肝泡球蚴组织"外囊"囊壁内皮细胞的细胞浆。在感染后第20 d、40 d、60 d、80 d和100 d时,泡球蚴组织中MVD分别为(9.83±3.87)/HP、(25.33±6.71)/HP、(34.50±5.50)/HP、(37.67±5.71)/HP和(44.67±4.93)/HP,与泡球蚴周围肝组织〔0/HP、(1.17±0.98)/HP、(3.50±1.38)/HP、(5.83±2.71)/HP、(8.83±2.48)/HP〕和正常肝组织(均为0)相比,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。各时间点泡球蚴组织中VEGF免疫组织化学评分分别为(2.95±0.46)分、(3.90±0.68)分、(4.27±1.05)分、(5.33±0.95)分和(4.50±0.81)分,与泡球蚴周围肝组织〔(1.07±0.63)分、(1.38±0.75)分、(1.55±0.83)分、(1.67±0.47)分、(2.10±0.55)分〕和正常肝组织〔(1.02±0.83)分、(1.12±0.63)分、(1.26±0.26)分、(1.20±0.74)分、(1.21±0.28)分〕相比,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论血管生成可能是泡球蚴浸润性生长的机制之一,VEGF可能促进沙鼠肝泡球蚴组织血管新生。     

Porocarcinoma coexisting at a site of Bowen disease in a 63‐year‐old woman

Porocarcinoma is an unusual, locally aggressive and potentially fatal neoplasm. Several cutaneous malignancies have been described in association with porocarcinoma, including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and tricholemmal carcinoma. Previous reports have indicated that the occurrence of malignant tumours in combination with porocarcinoma is extremely rare, in particular with regard to Bowen disease (BD). We report an uncommon case of porocarcinoma occurring synchronously in a single BD lesion in a 63‐year‐old woman with multiple BD lesions. The clinical and histological findings confirmed this diagnosis.     

Sensitivity of the environmental costs of air pollution caused by SOx,NOx, and PM from power plants applied to the power mix configuration in South Korea

In the 6th Basic Plan for Long-Term Electricity Supply and Demand (6th BPE) for Korea, for the first time, the environmental costs of air pollution caused by oxides of sulfur (SOx), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and particulate matters (PM) from power plants were estimated and included. However, several deficiencies in evaluating the environmental costs were found. In this study, (1) the validity of the environmental costs used in the 6th BPE was assessed, (2) a systematic approach was suggested and used to improve the environmental costs estimation, and (3) the sensitivity of the cost of generating electricity to the environmental costs by fuel type with the proposed approach was discussed. We found that the applied environmental costs used in the 6th BPE did not fully include the demographic characteristics of Korea. By applying more realistic parameter values, it was found that the newly estimated environmental cost was about 23 times higher than the cost estimated in the original 6th BPE for coal-fired power plants and about 1.5 times higher for liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fired power plants, suggesting that LNG-fired power plants are more economical if using more realistic environmental costs. Thus, it is critical to check the validity of parameter values when calculating environmental costs.     

Lifitegrast clinical efficacy for treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease across three randomized controlled trials

Objective: Report efficacy findings from three clinical trials (one phase 2 and two phase 3 [OPUS-1, OPUS-2]) of lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5.0% for treatment of dry eye disease (DED).

Research design and methods: Three 84-day, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trials. Adults (≥18 years) with DED were randomized (1:1) to lifitegrast 5.0% or matching placebo. Changes from baseline to day 84 in signs and symptoms of DED were analyzed.

Main outcome measures: Phase 2, pre-specified endpoint: inferior corneal staining score (ICSS; 0–4); OPUS-1, coprimary endpoints: ICSS and visual-related function subscale (0–4 scale); OPUS-2, coprimary endpoints: ICSS and eye dryness score (EDS, VAS; 0–100).

Results: Fifty-eight participants were randomized to lifitegrast 5.0% and 58 to placebo in the phase 2 trial; 293 to lifitegrast and 295 to placebo in OPUS-1; 358 to lifitegrast and 360 to placebo in OPUS-2. In participants with mild-to-moderate baseline DED symptomatology, lifitegrast improved ICSS versus placebo in the phase 2 study (treatment effect, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.05–0.65; p?=?0.0209) and OPUS-1 (effect, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.10–0.38; p?=?0.0007). Among more symptomatic participants (baseline EDS ≥40, recent artificial tear use), lifitegrast improved EDS versus placebo in a post hoc analysis of OPUS-1 (effect, 13.34; 95% CI, 2.35–24.33; nominal p?=?0.0178) and in OPUS-2 (effect, 12.61; 95% CI, 8.51–16.70; p?<?0.0001).

Limitations: Trials were conducted over 12 weeks; efficacy beyond this period was not assessed.

Conclusions: Across three trials, lifitegrast improved ICSS in participants with mild-to-moderate baseline symptomatology in two studies, and EDS in participants with moderate-to-severe baseline symptomatology in two studies. Based on the overall findings from these trials, lifitegrast shows promise as a new treatment option for signs and symptoms of DED.