Breast Conservation After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Background Tumor downstaging by preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast tumors allows breast conservation in women who were previously candidates for mastectomy. Nevertheless, lumpectomy success in such cases cannot be fully achieved. The aim of this study was to create a quantitative tool for preoperative evaluation of the success of breast conservation in such patients.Methods The study population included 100 consecutive patients with stage II and III breast cancer who were designated for lumpectomy and 19 patients who were designated for mastectomy. All patients received neoadjuvant therapy. Breast-conserving surgery was offered in accordance with clinical and esthetic criteria. Demographic details and clinical, imaging, and pathologic information were collected from medical files. A decision protocol for classifying patients to lumpectomy or mastectomy was built by using the Classification and Regression Trees procedure based on preoperative characteristics.Results Three factors were found to be the main predictors for successful breast conservation: absence of diffuse microcalcifications as seen in the pretreatment mammogram, a postchemotherapy tumor size of < 25 mm, and the existence of a circumscribed lesion on mammography.Conclusions The use of these criteria as a basis for decision on the type of surgery may decrease the performance of unnecessary procedures.     

联合应用氯沙坦和氨氯地平治疗单纯收缩期高血压的疗效

目的观察氨氯地平单用或与氯沙坦联合应用治疗单纯收缩期高血压的疗效及其对靶器官的保护作用。方法将60例中老年原发性高血压病患者随机分为氨氯地平组（A组）和氨氯地平加氯沙坦组（B组），分别予以氨氯地平5mg／d口服和氨氯地平5mg／d加氯沙坦50mg／d口服，观察治疗前、后尿微量蛋白、血钾、血尿素氮、血肌酐、血尿酸及血压的变化。结果治疗8周，两组血压均有明显下降，A组总有效率为53．33％，B组总有效率为83．33％。两组差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。两组治疗前、后的尿微量蛋白，肾功能的差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论CCB（氨氯地平）和ARB（氯沙坦）联合应用可用于单纯收缩期高血压的治疗。     

实验性大鼠急性心肌梗塞模型的制备及对血流变影响的研究

目的 观察实验性心肌梗塞大鼠血流变等指标的变化规律，探讨缺血性心脏病的发病机理。方法 采用乙醚浅麻醉下结扎大鼠冠状动脉制备急性心梗模型，并与对照组比较，观察心肌酶及血流变等指标的变化规律。结果 急性心梗模型组较正常组心肌酶水平和血流变指标升高，血液粘滞度加大。结论 血液粘滞度的变化在缺血性心脏病的发生发展中起着至关重要的作用，如何降低缺血性心脏病患者血液粘滞度是治疗冠心病保护急性心梗时正常的心肌细胞，预防再发心梗的关键。     

孤独症儿童的训练个案报告

目的通过个案探讨儿童孤独症的训练方法和治疗效果。方法对1例典型孤独症进行综合治疗。结果孤独症行为明显减少，社会生活能力显著提高。结论早期干预、个别化的综合治疗对于儿童孤独症有较好效果。     

国外循证医学的问题及借鉴意义

文章介绍了国外学者在循证医学中发现的一些问题,并举出了具体的实例说明这些问题,提出了循证医学进一步完善和发展的思路和看法,以期对我国循证医学的发展有所借鉴。     

Mutational analysis of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">hMsh6</Emphasis> in Israeli HNPCC and HNPCC-like Families

Germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (DNA-MMR) genes, mainly hMlh1 and hMsh2, underlie Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC). Germline hMSH6 gene mutations have been reported in a small subset of HNPCC families. In the present study, ethnically diverse individuals with HNPCC and HNPCC-like features were genotyped for hMsh6 germline mutations using exon-specific PCR, DGGE, and DNA sequencing. The study encompassed 92 individuals representing 88 unrelated families who were previously analyzed for Msh2 and Mlh1 mutations: Jewish Ashkenazim (n = 44), non-Ashkenazim (n = 27), Israeli Moslem-Arab (n = 15), Druze (n=3), and Cypriot non-Jews (n = 3). Of the study population, 71 had colon cancer (CRC), mean age at diagnosis was 50.9±13.2 years (range16–73 years), 5 had endometrial cancer (two with concurrent CRC), (mean 43.6±3.26 years, range 38–45 years), and unaffected individuals (n = 18) were first degree relatives within HNPCC families and were genotyped at a mean age of 48.3±11.7 years (range 30–69 years). Of the 92 individuals analyzed, none showed a truncating hMsh6 mutation, and 6 (6.6%) harbored one of three germline missense mutations: a previously reported one (V878A), and two novel mutations (V509A, S227I). The pathogenic significance of these three missense mutations is yet unclear. In addition, 5 polymorphisms were detected, 2 of which were novel. We conclude that the rate of pathogenic hMsh6 mutations in HNPCC families of Jewish and Mediterranean origin is low, and that mutations in other genes probably account for the phenotype in these families.     

A new simplified comorbidity score as a prognostic factor in non-small-cell lung cancer patients: description and comparison with the Charlson's index

Treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) might take into account comorbidities as an important variable. The aim of this study was to generate a new simplified comorbidity score (SCS) and to determine whether or not it improves the possibility of predicting prognosis of NSCLC patients. A two-step methodology was used. Step 1: An SCS was developed and its prognostic value was compared with classical prognostic determinants in the outcome of 735 previously untreated NSCLC patients. Step 2: the SCS reliability as a prognostic determinant was tested in a different population of 136 prospectively accrued NSCLC patients with a formal comparison between SCS and the classical Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Prognosis was analysed using both univariate and multivariate (Cox model) statistics. The SCS summarised the following variables: tobacco consumption, diabetes mellitus and renal insufficiency (respective weightings 7, 5 and 4), respiratory, neoplastic and cardiovascular comorbidities and alcoholism (weighting=1 for each item). In step 1, aside from classical variables such as age, stage of the disease and performance status, SCS was a statistically significant prognostic variable in univariate analyses. In the Cox model weight loss, stage grouping, performance status and SCS were independent determinants of a poor outcome. There was a trend towards statistical significance for age (P=0.08) and leucocytes count (P=0.06). In Step 2, both SCS and well-known prognostic variables were found as significant determinants in univariate analyses. There was a trend towards a negative prognostic effect for CCI. In multivariate analysis, stage grouping, performance status, histology, leucocytes, lymphocytes, lactate dehydrogenase, CYFRA 21-1 and SCS were independent determinants of a poor prognosis. CCI was removed from the Cox model. In conclusion, the SCS, constructed as an independent prognostic factor in a large NSCLC patient population, is validated in another prospective population and appears more informative than the CCI in predicting NSCLC patient outcome.     

Attitudes and roles of general practitioners in the treatment of schizophrenia compared with community mental health staff and patients

Abstract. Background: Most general practitioners (GPs) are currently treating a small number of patients with schizophrenia; however, little is known about GPs experiences in this area. This paper examines the attitudes and roles of Australian GPs in the treatment of schizophrenia and their relationships with specialist services. Methods: A total of 192 GPs ratings of possible sources and forms of help for patients with schizophrenia were compared with the ratings of 50 mental health services (MHS) staff and 129 patients. Comparisons within the health professionals were also made in relation to diagnostic and treatment confidence, perceived roles, and typical problems encountered. Results: Perceived helpfulness ratings were reasonably consistent across groups. However, patients tended to rank close family members as more helpful. GPs and MHS staff reported complementary roles, with a shared responsibility for early detection and relapse prevention. Treatment compliance, and communication and accessibility to specialist agencies were identified as major problems. Conclusions: GPs fulfil a valuable role in the treatment of schizophrenia, which could be enhanced through improved training. Mental health services need to work more effectively with GPs in treating schizophrenia and acknowledge their complementary roles.     

The reversibility of reduced cortical vein compliance in normal-pressure hydrocephalus following shunt insertion

Superficial cortical venous compression secondary to alterations in craniospinal compliance is implicated in the pathogenesis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). A reduction in the pulsation in the outflow of the cortical veins would be expected to occur following compression of these veins and this has been shown in NPH. If cortical vein compression is a causative factor in NPH, it would be expected that cortical vein compliance as measured by pulsatility would be significantly altered by a curative procedure i.e. shunt tube insertion. My purpose is to compare the blood flow pulsatility characteristics in a group of patients with NPH before and after shunt tube insertion. I initially studied 18 subjects without pathology with MRI flow quantification studies of the cerebral arteries and veins to define the range of normality. The main study involved 18 patients with idiopathic dementia and mild leukoaraiosis who served as controls and seven patients with NPH studied before and after shunt insertion. Arterial, superior sagittal and straight sinus pulsatility was not significantly different between the patients with idiopathic dementia and those NPH patients before or after shunting. Cortical vein pulsatility before shunting in the patients with NPH was 43% lower than in those with idiopathic dementia ( P=0.006). Following shunting, cortical vein pulsatility increased by 186% ( P=0.007). There is thus reduced compliance in cortical veins in NPH which is significantly increased in patients who respond to insertion of a shunt tube. These findings suggest that reversible elevation in cortical vein pressure and reversal of the normal absorption pathway for cerebrospinal fluid may be behind the pathophysiology of NPH.