Efficacy evaluation of nilotinib treatment in different genomic subtypes of gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A meta-analysis and systematic review

Nilotinib has been used as a third-line drug for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) after a failure of sunitinib. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of nilotinib in different genomic subtypes of GISTs. We searched the English articles through EMBASE, Cochrane Library and PubMed Database regarding to the use of nilotinib on GISTs, which published up to February 15, 2019. Inclusion criteria were: GISTs patients received nilotinib in a clinical trial and had detailed genetic subtype records (such as KIT exon 9, KIT exon 11, or PDGFRA mutations, or wild-type). The clinical benefit rate was used to assess the efficacy of nilotinib. A total of 3 studies involving 218 GISTs were included in this meta-analysis. The overall OR (KIT group vs WT group) was 3.26 (95% CI: 1.14-9.28; P = 0.027, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.613). The overall OR in KIT exon 11 group vs WT group was 5.30 (95% CI: 1.79-15.68; P = 0.003, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.409). The overall OR in KIT exon 9 group vs WT group was 0.13 (95% CI: 0.02-0.86; P = 0.035, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.229). The overall OR in KIT exon 11 group vs exon 9 group was 9.96 (95% CI: 0.39-254.66; P < 0.0001, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.024). Different genotypes of GISTs showed different responses to nilotinib, and KIT exon 11-mutant GISTs mostly benefited from nilotinib, followed by KIT exon 9-mutant or WT one.     

Association between physical activity levels and depressive symptoms in patients with minor ischemic stroke

ObjectivePost-stroke depression is associated with stroke recurrence and it is necessary to identify its influencing factors. The study aims to determine whether physical activity during hospitalization, as measured by accelerometer, was associated with depression after discharge in patients with minor ischemic stroke.Materials and methodsThis prospective observational study assessed 76 patients with minor ischemic stroke (aged 71.2 years) admitted to an acute care hospital. Depressive symptoms 3 months after discharge from the hospital was assessed using a questionnaire sent by mail. Baseline was set during hospitalization, and accelerometers were used to measure sedentary behavior, light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities during hospitalization.ResultsThree months after hospital discharge, 14 patients (18.4%) were placed in the depressive symptom group, with significantly more sedentary behavior (p = 0.021), less light physical activity (p = 0.016) and more depressive symptoms during hospitalization (p = 0.005) than in the non-depressive symptom group. Logistic regression analysis showed that sedentary behavior (odds ratio = 1.130, 95% confidence interval = 1.013?1.281, p = 0.028) and light-intensity physical activity (odds ratio = 0.853, 95% confidence interval = 0.746?0.976, p = 0.021) were independent factors for depressive symptoms at three months after discharge. Moderate to vigorous physical activity was not an independent factor.ConclusionsSedentary behavior and light-intensity physical activity during hospitalization were associated with depressive symptoms in patients with minor ischemic stroke after discharge. Reducing sedentary behavior and increasing light-intensity physical activity as part of inpatient rehabilitation may help prevent post-stroke depression.     

Protective effect of cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris on alcoholic hepatotoxicity in Sprague–Dawley rats

This study was to investigate the protective effect of cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague–Dawley rats. Alcohol-feeding rats were fed diets with Paecilomyces japonica as CPJ group, C. militaris as CCM group, cordycepin-enriched C. militaris as CCMα group at the 3% (w/w) level and silymarin at the 0.1% (w/w) level for 4 weeks. Alcohol administration resulted in a significant increase in the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the levels of blood alcohol and acetaldehyde in serum. However, CCMα group markedly prevented from alcohol-induced elevation of these parameters in serum. CCMα group showed the increased both hepatic activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Unlike the action of alcohol treatment on alcoholic fatty liver, CCMα group was also attenuated lipid droplet accumulation in the hepatocytes. Present study was also confirmed the beneficial roles of silymarin (hepatoprotective agent) against alcohol-induced liver injury in rats. Therefore, cordycepin-enriched C. militaris can be a promising candidate to prevent from alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity.     

Urinary levoglucosan levels in Austrian communities differing in agrarian quota

Levoglucosan is a sugar anhydride produced by combustion of carbohydrates. In ambient monitoring it serves as an indicator for wood smoke. Its use in human biomonitoring, however, is not yet widespread. This study investigated whether levoglucosan in urine is a suitable biomarker for regional differences in wood smoke exposure in the winter season.Within the first Austrian biomonitoring survey, pooled urine samples from mothers as well as children of five communities of different size (two-stage random stratified sampling) were analysed by HPLC. As an indicator of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that are also prevalent in wood smoke, 1-hydroxypyrene was determined.In each town levoglucosan was found in higher levels in the pooled children's samples than in the pooled mothers’ samples. It correlated well with the agrarian quota. 1-Hydroxypyrene concentrations were higher in areas with higher population density.Correlation of urinary levoglucosan concentrations with the agrarian quota may be explained by higher wood smoke exposure in communities with higher agrarian quota.To our knowledge this study is the first investigation on this issue in Europe. It indicates that human biomonitoring of levoglucosan may be suitable to detect differences in regional exposure to wood smoke.     

CA-1500全自动血凝分析仪常见故障及排除

本文主要分析Sysmex CA-1500全自动血凝仪的基本原理、常见故障及使用体会。     

Without insight accompanied with deteriorated brain functional alterations in healthy individuals with auditory verbal hallucinations: a pilot study

Brain Imaging and Behavior - Few studies have reported on brain functional differences between healthy individuals with auditory verbal hallucinations (Hi-AVH) with and without insight, so we...