Recent Update on Bacteria as a Delivery Carrier in Cancer Therapy: From Evil to Allies

Pharmaceutical Research - Cancer is associated with a comprehensive burden that significantly affects patient’s quality of life. Even though patients’ disease condition is improving...     

A mutation in SART3 gene in a Chinese pedigree with disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis

BACKGROUND: Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) is an uncommon autosomal dominant chronic disorder of keratinization, characterized by multiple superficial keratotic lesions surrounded by a slightly raised keratotic border. Thus far, although two loci for DSAP have been identified, and the genetic basis and pathogenesis of this disorder have not been elucidated. OBJECTIVES: To determine the locus of DSAP and identify the candidate gene(s) of the disease. METHODS: Genome-wide scan and linkage analysis were performed in a six-generation Chinese family with DSAP. The coding exons of the candidate genes were sequenced to analyse and detect the nucleotide variations. RESULTS: Linkage analysis showed that the maximum two-point lod score of 5.56 was obtained with the marker D12S79 at a recombination fraction theta of 0.00. Haplotype analysis defined the critical region for DSAP between D12S330 and D12S1612 on 12q24.1-24.2. By sequence analysis, we found a Val591Met mutation in SART3 in all affected individuals of the family. CONCLUSION: SART3 is a candidate gene for DSAP, and is possibly involved in the pathogenesis of DSAP.     

防蓝光眼镜对成人色觉影响的评估

目的：评估长期配戴2种类型的防蓝光眼镜对成人色觉的影响。方法：前瞻性随机对照研究。收集2017年1月至2018年6月期间于温州医科大学附属眼视光医院就诊的长期戴镜成年人144例,年龄?20～39岁,等效球镜度-6.00~-0.50 D,随机分为A组（45例,配戴普通眼镜）、B组[49例,配戴无底防蓝光眼镜（15%蓝光滤过功能）]和C组[50例,配戴琥珀色基片防蓝光眼镜（30%蓝光滤过功能）]。?在初始戴镜、戴镜后1、3、6个月时分别进行FM-100色棋检查和色觉相关生活问卷检查,比较3组的色棋错误总分平方根（Sqrt TES）、4个色区（红-黄绿、黄绿-蓝绿、蓝绿-蓝紫、蓝紫-红）的错误分值平方根（Sqrt PES）和3个问卷条目得分。采用重复测量方差分析进行统计分析。结果：6个月内,3组间的Sqrt TES比较差异无统计学意义（F=0.82,P=0.411）,3组间在同个色区的Sqrt PES数值上比较差异均无统计学意义（F红-黄绿=0.28,?P=0.758;F黄绿-蓝绿=0.95,?P=0.390;F蓝绿-蓝紫=0.62,?P=0.539;F蓝紫-红=0.43,P=0.653）,3组间在同个条目（颜色辨别困难度、衣服搭配困难度、整体满意度）的问卷得分上比较差异均无统计学意义（F=0.25,?P=0.777;F=0.10,?P=0.905;F=0.63,?P=0.533）。结论：6个月内,与配戴普通眼镜相比,配戴2种类型的防蓝光眼镜均不影响成年人的正常色觉。蓝光滤过比例控制在30%以内的防蓝光眼镜均不会影响成人色觉。     

The long-term effect of autologous endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood implantation on infarcted myocardial contractile force

This study was designed to evaluate the long-term effect of endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) implantation in acute myocardial infarction in Sprague-Dawley rats after ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Autologous EPCs from peripheral blood were purified and implanted into an acute myocardial infarct site. Specimens and muscle strip were harvested at 3 and 6 weeks, and at 6, 8 and 12 months for contractile force assessment and, by immunohistology, for expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and factor VIII. Expression of VEGF and bFGF, and microvessel counts and contractile force in the cell implantation group were significantly higher than in the control group up to 8 months after implantation. Beyond 8 months following implantation, however, no further improvement occurred. The EPCs showed an ability to improve contractile performance in infarcted myocardium by means of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, and the results seemed to persist long-term.     

Establishing a renal management clinic in China: initiative,challenges, and opportunities

Background  Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been identified as a growing global burden and traditional health care systems are inadequate for the management of CKD patients. This paper describes an initiative to establish a renal management clinic (RMC) in China and discusses the challenges and opportunities in the management of CKD patients. Subjects and methods  We collected and analyzed the data for the first 1,000 CKD patients treated since the establishment of the RMC (from April 2006 to April 2007). They had CKD stages 1–4 and stage 5 (before dialysis), as described by the Kidney Outcome Quality Initiatives (KDOQI). They were managed at the RMC established at the Peking University Third Hospital, by a multidisciplinary team (nephrologists, nurses, and dietitians) who developed care plans, clinical pathways, and a multidimensional patient-education program. Results  The most frequent causes of CKD among these 1,000 patient were glomerulonephritis (35%), hypertensive nephrosclerosis (19%), chronic interstitial nephritis (13%), and diabetic nephropathy (11%). Six percent of the patients had stage 1 CKD, 27% stage 2, 33% stage 3, 20% stage 4, and 13% had stage 5. Five hundred and fifty-four were male and 446 were female; mean age was 55 ± 18.9 years (range 18–92 years). Seven hundred and seventy patients (77%) had hypertension; 400 patients (40%) had body mass index (BMI) equal to or higher than 25 kg/m²; 180 (18%) had overt cardiovascular disease; 726 (72.6%) had low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol higher than 2.6 mmol/l; 440 patients (44%) had hyperuriemia; and 274 patients (27.4%) had anemia (hemoglobin <110 g/l). Although the team is multidisciplinary, management of the patients in the RMC is undertaken mainly by nephrologists, whereas nurses and dietitians still do not play an important role. There are no family doctors in China and nephrologists are responsible for management of these patients’ kidney disease and related complications. Conclusions  Our findings show that the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, overweight. and hyperuricemia is high among Chinese CKD population. Nurses and dietitians do not yet play an important role in the present pattern of RMC. We believe that the present medical care model should be revised because it does not address the concerns of CKD patients and their need for lifestyle changes that would help them to cope with their chronic condition.     

Optimization of ventricular catheter placement via posterior approaches: a virtual reality simulation study

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate 2 commonly used posterior approach entry points for ventricular cannulation and the ideal trajectories using 3-dimensional virtual reality technology. METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging data of 10 patients without gross ventricular dilatation or distortion were retrieved and reconstructed. A stereoscopic 3-dimensional preoperative planning system was used to designate the entry points. Various trajectories were simulated. The ideal trajectory was determined as the one that provided direct entry into the atrium or body of the lateral ventricle en route to the ipsilateral frontal horn. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging data sets from 10 patients were used. For the entry point 6 cm above and 4 cm lateral to the inion (Frazier's point), ideal cannulation was achieved for all 10 patients when the selected target was 4 cm above the contralateral medial canthus. When the contralateral medial canthus was targeted, 5 patients had successful outcomes. There were only 3 satisfactory outcomes each when the ipsilateral medial canthus and glabella were targeted. The target 2 cm above the glabella yielded 2 satisfactory outcomes. The entry point 3 cm above and 2 cm lateral to the inion (Dandy's point) had 10 satisfactory outcomes when the target point was 2 cm above the glabella. All the other target points, namely, ipsilateral medial canthus, contralateral medial canthus, 4 cm above the contralateral medial canthus and glabella yielded poor results. CONCLUSIONS: For satisfactory placement when entering via Frazier's point, the best trajectory target would be 4 cm above the contralateral medial canthus. When entering via Dandy's point, the best target would be 2 cm above the glabella.     

The treatment for multilevel noncontiguous spinal fractures

We report the outcome of 30 patients with multilevel noncontiguous spinal fractures treated between 2000 and 2005. Ten cases were treated conservatively (group A), eight cases were operated on at only one level (group B), and 12 cases were treated surgically at both levels (group C). All cases were followed up for 14-60 months (mean 32 months). Initial mobilisation with a wheelchair or crutches in group A was 9.2 +/- 1.1 weeks, which was significantly longer than groups B and C with 6.8+/-0.7 weeks and 3.1 +/- 0.4 weeks, respectively. Operative time and blood loss in group C were significantly more than group B. The neurological deficit improved in six cases in group A (60%), six in group B (75%) and eight in group C (80%). Correction of kyphotic deformity was significantly superior in groups C and B at the operated level, and increasing deformity occurred in groups A and B at the non-operated level. From the results we believe that three treatment strategies were suitable for multilevel noncontiguous spinal fractures, and individualised treatment should be used in these patients. In the patients treated surgically, the clinical and radiographic outcomes are much better.     

Polyomavirus nephropathy in renal allograft: prevalence and correlation of histology with graft failure

BACKGROUND: While polyomavirus nephropathy (PVN) is recognized as an emerging cause of graft loss in renal transplants, the prevalence rate of PVN in renal grafts is unclear in Taiwan. METHODS: Biopsies (n = 412) from 323 Taiwanese renal transplant patients were retrospectively analysed. PVN was diagnosed by the characteristic viropathic change in epithelial cells under light microscopic examination and a positive immunohistochemistry staining of anti-SV40 large T antigen. The viral cytopathic changes, interstitial inflammation, fibrosis and tubular atrophy were semiquantitatively assessed, based on the Banff 1997 classification and scoring for renal allograft. RESULTS: Seventeen cases were identified with evidence of PVN; the prevalence rate is 5.26%. Compared with non-PVN patients, they were more likely to have had previous rejection episodes, higher graft loss and shorter graft survival. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study showed that we have similar findings to other reports with at least 5% prevalence of PVN and that patients diagnosed early do better, while those diagnosed with severe inflammation or damage do worse or are likely to lose their grafts.     

全程系统化护理干预对前列腺癌雄激素撤除治疗不良事件的影响

[目的]探讨全程系统护理干预对前列腺癌撤除雄激素治疗后不良事件的影响。[方法]将80例接受去雄激素治疗的前列腺癌病人随机分为两组,全程护理组40例采用全程系统跟踪护理干预,常规护理组采用常规方法进行护理,比较两组不良事件的发生情况。[结果]两组不良事件发生情况比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05或P<0.01)。[结论]全程系统护理干预可减少前列腺癌去雄激素治疗后的不良事件,提高前列腺癌病人生活质量。     

急性创伤性脑损伤后凝血病患者的血糖水平与预后的相关性研究

目的探讨急性创伤性脑损伤后凝血病患者的血糖水平与预后的相关性。方法对120例急性创伤性脑损伤患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析,观察血糖水平对其凝血功能及其预后的影响。结果血糖水平与凝血病发病率呈正相关(P<0.01),凝血病患者的血糖水平与生存率呈负相关(P<0.01),与其病残程度呈正相关(P<0.01)。结论血糖水平可为创伤性凝血病的早期诊治提供新的方法和思路,并对患者的预后评价具有重要参考价值。