Comparison of the safety and prognosis of sequential regorafenib after sorafenib and lenvatinib treatment failure in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundThere is lack of studies on sequential regorafenib after sorafenib and lenvatinib treatment failure in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was to explore the safety and prognosis of sequential regorafenib after sorafenib and lenvatinib failure in HCC patients.MethodsThis study was a retrospective, real-world study that included 50 HCC patients who received sequential regrafinib after sorafenib and lenvatinib failure. The safety and prognosis of two groups were compared.ResultsThe incidence of all grade and III/IV adverse events were 68% and 24%. According to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) 1.1 and modified (m) RECIST standards, the objective response rates (ORRs) after receiving regorafenib were 14.0% and 22.0%, respectively. The disease control rates (DCRs) were 62.0% and 60.0%, respectively. Based on different first-line targeted drugs, 50 patients were divided into sorafenib (n=22) and lenvatinib group (n=28). There was no differences between two groups except age and bilirubin. And there was no differences in other treatments before or after regorafenib. The baseline between two groups was basically same and had good comparability. There was no difference in incidence of all grade and III/IV adverse events, ORR and DCR between two groups (P>0.05). On long-term prognosis, total overall survival (TOS) in sorafenib and lenvatinib group were 23.0 (95% CI: 15.1–30.9) vs. 29.7 (95% CI: 21.4–38.1) months. The difference was statistically significant (P=0.041). Besides, regorafenib overall survival (ROS) in sorafenib and lenvatinib group were 11.7 (95% CI: 7.1–16.3) vs. 15.9 (95% CI: 8.3–23.5) months. The difference was statistically significant ( P=0.045). The regorafenib progression-free survival (RPFS) was 5.6 (95% CI: 1.9–9.2) vs. 8.0 (95% CI: 5.1–10.9) months in sorafenib and lenvatinib group, respectively, and difference was not statistically significant (P=0.380).ConclusionsRegorafenib is an effective drug for second-line treatment of HCC, with fewer severe adverse events, ORR and DCR was 14–22% and 62–60%, respectively. Both TOS and ROS in lenvatinib group were better than those in sorafenib group. For HCC patients whose first-line targeted drug is lenvatinib, it is safe and effective to accept regorafenib after disease progresses.     

CONSORT-Characteristics and metabolic phenotype of gut microbiota in NAFLD patients

Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have symptoms of a gut microbiota disorder with abnormal amino acid and glycolipid metabolism. This study was designed to analyze the characteristics of gut microbiota in patients with NAFLD, predict the gut microbiota phenotype, explore its role in the diagnosis of NAFLD, and establish its significance in disease progression.The characteristics of the gut microbiota in NAFLD patients (n = 28, 45.8 ± 14.2 years, male/female = 18/10) and healthy subjects (n = 20, 49.6 ± 4.8 years, male/female = 14/6) during March–May 2020 were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing technology and the phenotypes with large differences were predicted using the Tax4Fun method. The metabolites in the fecal samples of the patients were analyzed using mass spectrometry, and their correlation with different microorganisms was examined. The accuracy of the gut microbiota in diagnosing NAFLD was investigated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.We found that the microbial diversity and Bacteroides/Firmicutes (BF) ratio changed significantly (P < .05) in the feces of NAFLD patients. Phenotypic prediction showed that there were significant differences in the phenotypes of amino acid, glucose, and lipid metabolism of gut microbiota in the NAFLD group (P < .05). receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that combination of Bacteroides and the BF ratio resulted in 88% and 100% sensitivity and specificity, respectively, when used for NAFLD diagnosis. Metabolomics and bioinformatics analysis revealed changes in the metabolism of nicotinate, nicotinamide, and pyrimidine; signaling pathways of calcium and oxytocin; pancreatic secretion with metabolites such as uracil, xanthine, and biliverdin; and enzymes such as xanthine dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase (P < .05).Therefore, the phenotypic changes may be a potential marker for NAFLD and we considered that a combined analysis of Bacteroides and BF ratio had good diagnostic accuracy for NAFLD.     

Unusual morphologic features of low‐grade endometrial stromal sarcoma: A case report

BackgroundEndometrial stromal tumours are uncommon tumours of the uterus. They mainly occur in perimenopausal women. Tumours with typical clinicopathological features do not usually pose diagnostic problems. However, rare clinicopathological features can occur, and clinicians without significant experience may have difficulty diagnosing these tumours and managing these patients.MethodsHerein, we report a case of endometrial stromal sarcoma that occurred in a 25‐year‐old woman. The pathological features, immunophenotype, treatment and prognosis were discussed.ResultsThe tumour revealed morphological heterogeneity, and there were similar proliferative‐type endometrial stromal cells, an extensive amount of mature adipose tissue, and prominent rhabdomyoblastic and smooth muscle cells. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies confirmed low‐grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with smooth muscle, adipocytic and rhabdomyoblastic differentiation (approximately 60% were differentiated tissues). The final treatment of the tumour was total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy. There was no evidence of recurrence for 109 months postoperatively.ConclusionsWe found that low‐grade endometrial stromal tumours with extensive adipocytic and prominent rhabdomyoblastic differentiation are misdiagnosed because they are infrequent. They must be differentiated from rhabdomyosarcoma with accurate identification of adipocytes, and long‐term follow‐up is needed.     

Causes of death in primary plasma cell leukemia differ from multiple myeloma: A STROBE-compliant descriptive study based on SEER database

The primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) is a rare but aggressive variant of multiple myeloma (MM). Few studies have focused on the differences in the causes of death between pPCL and MM. This study aimed to compare and evaluate the causes of death of patients with pPCL and MM.The data were collected from the Surveillance Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The demographic characteristics, survival, and causes of death in pPCL and MM patients were evaluated and compared. The competing risk regression model was performed to predict the cause of death.Between 1975 and 2009, the overall mortality rate was 96.13% and 88.71% for pPCL and MM, and the median survival was 9 and 26 months, respectively. In pPCL, leukemia caused 45.05% of the deaths, followed by myeloma (38.83%). In MM, myeloma was the leading cause of death, accounting for 74.89% of the deaths. Older age at diagnosis was a risk factor for dying of leukemia in pPCL patients (HR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.16–1.91), while older age at death was associated with reduced risk (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.52–0.86). Although the survival of pPCL patients increased with time periods of diagnosis since 1975 to 2009, the risk of dying of leukemia increased with the periods. For MM, most of the demographic characteristics were found to have independently predicting influence on the cause of death.Patients with pPCL and MM had distinct causes of death. Leukemia was the leading and the most serious cause of death in pPCL patients. The demographic factors could not predict the causes of death in pPCL. More large-scale and multi-center studies are needed to evaluate the effect of novel agents in pPCL patients, especially for patients who have progressed to leukemia.     

脑源性神经营养因子和神经生长因子对顺铂诱导的内耳毒性的保护作用

目的研究豚鼠耳蜗内脑源性神经营养因子(brain-derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF)和神经生长因子(nerve growthfactor,NGF)在顺铂致耳中毒后的表达,并探讨其对内耳的保护作用。方法将豚鼠分成对照组、顺铂组,分别给生理盐水、顺铂腹腔注射,于注射后3、5、7天取豚鼠耳蜗行石蜡切片,进行BDNF和NGF免疫组织化学染色,观察螺旋神经节BDNF和NGF蛋白表达。结果对照组耳蜗螺旋神经节细胞中BDNF几乎不表达,NGF呈中度阳性表达。顺铂组BDNF在3天时达到高峰,以后减弱;NGF在5天时达到高峰,以后减弱。结论正常豚鼠耳蜗有中度NGF的表达,表明NGF可能对内耳的正常生理功能起重要作用。顺铂干预后螺旋神经节BDNF和NGF出现高表达,提示BDNF和NGF对顺铂诱导的螺旋神经元损伤有保护作用。     

抗眼组织纤维化药物的研究进展

纤维化是许多眼科手术失败的主要原因之一，应用抗纤维化药物能提高手术的成功率。如：5—氟尿嘧啶、丝裂霉素C、组织型纤溶酶原激活剂等已用于实验和临床研究，本文重点提出转化生长因子—β抑制剂核心蛋白多糖(Decorin)有可能作为抗眼组织纤维化的药物。     

近红外光谱法快速测定山银花中四种有机酸

目的：建立近红外光谱（Near-Infrared Spectroscopy,NIR）快速检测山银花提取过程中四种有机酸含量的方法。方法：采集山银花NIR图谱,以高效液相色谱法为参考方法测定绿原酸、异绿原酸A、异绿原酸B和异绿原酸C的含量。采用偏最小二乘法（Partial Least square,PLS）建立定量校正模型。结果：校正模型中绿原酸、异绿原酸A、异绿原酸B和异绿原酸C的相关系数R分别为0.997 6、0.997 0、0.979 2、0.998 9,内部交叉验证均方根误差（RMSECV）分别为0.039 4、0.014 4、0.007 3、0.007 8;预测结果中上述成分对应的相关系数分别为0.892 0、0.827 9、0.878 4、0.995 1,预测均方根误差（RMSEP）分别为0.045 0、0.013 5、0.007 8、0.008 0,相对预测 偏差（RSEP）分别为0.351 0%、0.018 0%、0.040 0%、0.005 7%。结论：所建近红外检测方法快速、准确,可用于山 银花四种有机酸的快速检测。     

胰腺癌CT临床分析(附31例报告)

对31例胰腺癌和其它胰腺病变术前CT误诊和漏诊病例进行回顾性分析。结果误诊25例，其误诊率为44．0％（11／25）。主要原因：一是CT表现不典型；二是对某些CT征象认识不足以及分析欠全面。漏诊6例，主要为胰头部直径≤3cm的小胰头癌。通过对误诊、漏诊原因的分析，作者认为，改进检查技术，如采用薄层连续动态CT扫描，结合临床资料对CT征象作全面分析及综合多种影像学方法优势，可减少误诊、温沙机率。     

Evaluation of protective effects of Chi-Zhi-Huang decoction on Phase I drug metabolism of liver injured rats by cocktail probe drugs

AIM OF THE STUDY: Chi-Zhi-Huang decoction (PGR) is one of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations with unique effect on withdrawing jaundice and has been used to treat icteric patients in China for many years. In this research, we aim at to evaluate the potential activity of PGR in restoring hepatic drug metabolism in a damaged liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cocktail approach with caffeine (10mg/kg), dapsone (10mg/kg) and chlorzoxazone (20mg/kg) respectively as probe drug of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoform of CYP 1A2, 3A4 and 2E1 was used to evaluate its possible effects on Phase I oxidative metabolism. Pretreated with three dosages of PGR water extract (0.75, 1.5 and 3g/kg, po) for 5 days, male Wistar rats (220-240 g) were intoxicated by phenylisothiocyanate (PITC, 100mg/kg, po) 24h before probes intravenous injection. The pharmacokinetics of the probes in the blood was determined simultaneously by HPLC, and their non-compartmental parameters were used to evaluate the metabolic difference among the groups. Moreover, the levels of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) and bilirubins were also measured for insight of liver function. RESULTS: The findings in this study suggest that PGR induces CYP 3A4, does not have much effect on CYP 2E1, and inhibits CYP 1A2 at high dosage. CONCLUSION: The current pharmacokinetic approach allowed the protective effects of PGR on oxidative drug metabolism in damaged liver to be systemically examined and will certainly help in the explanation of synergistic effect of the composites formula.