Early imaging in heart failure: Exploring novel molecular targets

Conclusions  Noninvasive imaging of neurohumoral upregulation in remodeled myocardium suggests that an imaging strategy can be developed for predicting the rate of remodeling and likelihood of HF development. This should allow a more judicious use of neurohumoral antagonists especially in subjects who do not have manifest HF.⁷⁴ In others specific targeted imaging may allow timely selection of individualized treatment strategies and ensure optimization of therapeutic intervention. Similar to ACE and AII receptors, multiple other targets in the hormonal cascades can identify the likelihood of adverse and favorable remodeling.⁷⁴     

Definition of An Optimal First-line Chemotherapy in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Single-agent chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer is the treatment of choice in patients with slow tumor progression and asymptomatic disease. In this patient group, the choice of drugs is based more on good tolerability than on efficacy. By contrast, symptomatic or rapidly progressing disease requires the use of highly active regimens where more weight is put on reliable antitumor activity. While anthraycline-based combination regimens have set the standard of effective treatment, the addition of docetaxel (and to a lesser extent paclitaxel) has improved tumor response, but failed to induce a consistent prolongation of survival. Based on retrospective analyses, it is hypothesised that the combined use of anthracyclines and taxanes in first-line therapy may be most beneficial in defined subgroups: after adjuvant chemotherapy, in patients with HER-2 gene amplification, possibly also in patients with rapidly progressing visceral disease.     

Antegrade interlocking nailing of humeral shaft fractures

The results of 39 humeral shaft fractures (37 patients) treated with antegrade locked nailing using a Russell–Taylor nail were reviewed. There were 30 acute fractures, 6 fractures malaligned in a hanging cast or brace, and 3 pathological fractures. Patient age ranged from 26 to 80 years (average, 59.7 years) and average follow-up was 25.7 months (range, 6–48 months). Fracture union was achieved in 92.3% of our cases, while shoulder function was excellent or good in 87.2% of cases. Antegrade locked nailing offers a dependable solution for the treatment of humeral shaft fractures, especially in polytrauma patients and cases of segmental or pathological fractures. Far less satisfactory results were obtained in comminuted fractures of the proximal third in the humerus, especially in osteoporotic patients, and we therefore advocate caution with the use of intramedullary nailing in this type of fracture. Certain technical aspects such as avoiding nailing the fracture in distraction, properly countersinking the tip of the nail, and achieving adequate fixation stability have been found to be of paramount importance to reduce the incidence of delayed union/non-union rate and to obtain better functional results from the shoulder joint.     

Studies on the chemical constituents of the roots of Rhododendron molle G. don

Summary The compounds from the root ofRhododendron molle G. Don were isolated, purified by various chromatographic techniques, and their structures were identified according to the physical and chemical features and spectral data. Three compounds were separated from the root ofRhododendron molle G. Don and identified as Rhodojaponin-III,taraxerol, β-sitosterol for the first time. XIANG Yanni, female, born in 1976, Postgraduate student     

Hyperfractionated radiation therapy combined with concomitant chemotherapy for inoperable stage III non-small cell lung cancer: clinical analysis of 70 cases]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of hyperfractionated radiation therapy and concomitant chemotherapy for inoperable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Seventy patients were randomized equally into two group. The therapy group received radiotherapy with hyperfractionated radiation therapy combined with concomitant chemotherapy, and the control group was treated with chemotherapy only. RESULT: The overall response rate, including the rate of both complete (CR) and partial responses (PR), in the therapy group was 60.0% with a CR rate of 8.6%. The overall response rate in the control group was 40.0% with a CR rate of 5.7%. The difference in overall response rate was statistically significant between the two groups (P<0.05). The median survival time, 1- and 2-years survival rate were 12.8 months, 48.6%, and 25.7%, respectively, in the hyperfractionated radiotherapy group, and 9.4 months, 34.3%, and 17.1%, respectively, in the chemotherapeutic group (P 0.031). The major toxic effects of the chemotherapy were myelosuppression and radiation esophagitis. CONCLUSION: Hyperfractionated radiation therapy plus concomitant chemotherapy with paclitaxel for inoperable stage III NSCLC improves the short-term response of the patients, but fail to raise the survival rate.