Observation versus radiotherapy with or without temozolomide in postoperative WHO grade II high-risk low-grade glioma: a retrospective cohort study

The optimal adjuvant treatment of high-risk low-grade glioma (LGG) is controversial. We performed this retrospective cohort study to compare three treatments including observation, radiotherapy (RT) alone, and radiotherapy combined with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy (STUPP regimen) in patients with high-risk LGG. Patients with high-risk (age > 40 or undergoing subtotal resection or biopsy) LGG treated with observation or radiotherapy alone or STUPP regimen after operation were retrospectively analyzed. Survival rates were evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method; the log-rank test was applied to compare differences between groups. A total of 250 patients met the inclusion criteria. Median follow-up for living people was 70 months. Overall, patients who received radiotherapy with or without temozolomide had better progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) when compared with observation (median PFS: observation, 59 months; RT, 82 months; STUPP, not reached; median OS: observation, 96 months; RT, not reached; STUPP, not reached), whereas STUPP regimen did not further prolong PFS or OS than RT alone (PFS, P = 0.203; OS, P = 0.146). In oligodendroglioma (IDH mutant and 1p/19q codeleted) subtype, only STUPP regimen brought longer PFS when compared with observation (P = 0.008). The incidence of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (P < 0.001) and nausea or vomiting (P = 0.004) was higher in the STUPP group than the figure for the RT alone group. PFS and OS were similarly improved in patients with high-risk LGG receiving RT alone or STUPP regimen. However, only STUPP regimen was able to bring better PFS for oligodendroglioma (IDH mutant and 1p/19q codeleted) subgroup. Longer follow-up time is needed to determine an association with treatment effect in different histological and molecular subgroups.

     

Resumen ejecutivo del Documento de Consenso de la Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica (SEIMC) y de la Asociación Española de Cirujanos (AEC) en profilaxis antibiótica en cirugía

Antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery is one of the most effective measures for preventing surgical site infection, although its use is frequently inadequate and may even increase the risk of infection, toxicities and antimicrobial resistance. As a result of advances in surgical techniques and the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms, the current guidelines for prophylaxis need to be revised.The Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas (Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology) (SEIMC) together with the Asociación Española de Cirujanos (Spanish Association of Surgeons) (AEC) have revised and updated the recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery to adapt them to any type of surgical intervention and to current epidemiology. This document gathers together the recommendations on antimicrobial prophylaxis in the various procedures, with doses, duration, prophylaxis in special patient groups, and in epidemiological settings of multidrug resistance to facilitate standardized management and the safe, effective and rational use of antibiotics in elective surgery.     

Changes in humoral immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection in liver transplant recipients compared to immunocompetent patients

The protective capacity and duration of humoral immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection are not yet understood in solid organ transplant recipients. A prospective multicenter study was performed to evaluate the persistence of anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies in liver transplant recipients 6 months after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resolution. A total of 71 liver transplant recipients were matched with 71 immunocompetent controls by a propensity score including variables with a well-known prognostic impact in COVID-19. Paired case–control serological data were also available in 62 liver transplant patients and 62 controls at month 3 after COVID-19. Liver transplant recipients showed a lower incidence of anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies at 3 months (77.4% vs. 100%, p < .001) and at 6 months (63.4% vs. 90.1%, p < .001). Lower levels of antibodies were also observed in liver transplant patients at 3 (p = .001) and 6 months (p < .001) after COVID-19. In transplant patients, female gender (OR = 13.49, 95% CI: 2.17–83.8), a longer interval since transplantation (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03–1.36), and therapy with renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors (OR = 7.11, 95% CI: 1.47–34.50) were independently associated with persistence of antibodies beyond 6 months after COVID-19. Therefore, as compared with immunocompetent patients, liver transplant recipients show a lower prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and more pronounced antibody levels decline.     

Efficacy and tolerability of anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention in adult patients with moderate-severe allergic asthma

BACKGROUND: Chinese herbal medicine has a long history of human use. A novel herbal formula, anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention (ASHMI), has been shown to be an effective therapy in a murine model of allergic asthma. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy, safety, and immunomodulatory effects of ASHMI treatment in patients with moderate-severe, persistent asthma with prednisone therapy. METHODS: In a double-blind trial, 91 subjects underwent randomization. Forty-five subjects received oral ASHMI capsules and prednisone placebo tablets (ASHMI group) and 46 subjects received oral prednisone tablets and ASHMI placebo capsules (prednisone group) for 4 weeks. Spirometry measurements; symptom scores; side effects; and serum cortisol, cytokine, and IgE levels were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: Posttreatment lung function was significantly improved in both groups as shown by increased FEV(1) and peak expiratory flow findings (P<.001). The improvement was slightly but significantly greater in the prednisone group (P<.05). Clinical symptom scores, use of beta(2)-bronchodilators, and serum IgE levels were reduced significantly, and to a similar degree in both groups (P<.001). T(H)2 cytokine levels were significantly reduced in both treated groups (P<.001) and were lower in the prednisone-treated group (P<.05). Serum IFN-gamma and cortisol levels were significantly decreased in the prednisone group (P<.001) but significantly increased in the ASHMI group (P<.001). No severe side effects were observed in either group. CONCLUSION: Anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention appears to be a safe and effective alternative medicine for treating asthma. In contrast with prednisone, ASHMI had no adverse effect on adrenal function and had a beneficial effect on T(H)1 and T(H)2 balance.     

国人男性椎管的测量与观察

本文对广西出土的113例男性干燥椎骨的椎孔,进行了矢径、横径的测量和形态观察。椎孔的矢、横径在壮族(30例),汉族(57例)间无显著差异(P>0.05)。在C_(3～6)椎骨水平,推管的矢径和形态与脊髓的外形不一致,矢径于该处形成生理性狭窄,以C_4处为最小(12.92mm)。除C_1外,椎管的形态可分为4型:Ⅰ型圆型;Ⅱ型三角型;Ⅲ型过渡型;Ⅳ型不整型。 C_(1,2)椎管的形状为圆型,向下至C_6,通过半圆形逐步过渡到三角形(C_6占81.31％);再向下至T_6,三角形通过蛤形和多边形又逐渐过渡为圆形(T_6占84.76％);再向下至L_5,又通过蛤形逐渐过渡为三角型(L_5占99％)。从L_3至L_5,三角形椎孔有逐步通过钟形向三叶形过渡的趋势。三叶形腰椎管占5.02％。本文结果支持Eisenstein的观点,认为三叶形结构是一种普通的、非病理性的现象,与年龄增长、骨赘或椎孔狭窄无关,这或许是一种正常的发育性变异。     

应用彩色多普勒超声诊断结节性甲状腺病变

目的 探讨彩色多普勒超声鉴别诊断结节性甲状腺病变的意义。方法 回顾性分析病理或细胞学证实的结节性甲状腺病变74例二维超声和彩色多普勒超声（CDFI）表现。结果 结节性甲状腺肿、甲状腺腺瘤和腺癌超声和血流图像表现有一定规律性,定位准确,敏感性强。结论 彩色多普勒超声是诊断结节性甲状腺病变首选检查方法。     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMAN PARVOVIRUS B19 INFECTION AND APLASTIC ANEMIA

Objective. To explore the relationship between human parvovirus B19 (HPV B19) infection and aplastic anemia (AA) and to investigate the role of HPV B19 in the occurrence of AA. Methods. The presence of HPV B19 DNA was detected in the peripheral blood samples of 60 patients with AA (children 38 and adults 22) by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, and 30 healthy persons were selected as control. Results. Sixteen (26. 7 % ) of 60 AA cases were HPV B19 DNA positive, while all the samples in the control group were negative for HPV B19 (P = 0. 000914). Among the case group, the positive rates of HPV B19 DNA were21.4% (6 /28), 30.0% (3 / 10), 20.0% (1 /5) and 35.3% (6 / 17) in children acute AA (AAA), children chronic AA (CAA), adults AAA and adults CAA patients respectively, which were significant-ly higher than that in the control group, Furthermore, there was no remarkable difference between children AA and adults AA in the 16 HPV B19 DNA positive patients; neither was there between AAA and CAA. Conclusions. HPV B19 infection is not only correlated with the occurrence of children AAA and CAA, but also with adults AAA and CAA, and might be an important viral cause for AA in humans.     

直视下行大鼠气管插管的改良方法

目的 提高大鼠气管插管的成功率;方法 对比传统闭式法与改良直视法的成功率;结果传统闭式法的成功率为50％,改良直视法的成功率为100％。结论 改良直视法优于传统闭式法,值得推广应用。     

半导体激光穴位照射的镇痛作用及其机制初探

目的　探讨半导体激光穴位照射镇痛效应及其镇痛的机制。方法　大鼠随机分成照射组、模拟照射组和纳洛酮预处理组。采用半导体激光照射大鼠“足三里”穴位 ,用电刺激鼠尾 -嘶叫法测定激光照射前后的痛阈。结果　照射后大鼠的痛阈明显提高 ,这种镇痛作用可被纳洛酮预处理所翻转。结论　半导体激光穴位照射产生镇痛效应机制可能与激光照射促进内源性阿片物质释放有关。