Closing the gap: Novel therapies in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adolescents and young adults

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the most common cancer diagnoses identified in adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Although most children with ALL are cured of their disease, AYAs have experienced much worse outcomes over time, with event-free survival ranging from 30 to 45%. This survival disparity is likely due to differences in tumor biology, treatment-related toxicities, and nonmedical issues. This review summarizes these differences as well as focusing on the various trials that have demonstrated superior outcomes with pediatric protocols in AYAs with ALL. Even with the widespread use of these protocols, a treatment gap remains, and novel therapies are one way to address this problem. Still, these therapies also have significant toxicities and unique issues that need to be tested further, especially in the AYA population. The development of more AYA-specific trials will be an important way to examine novel therapies and interventions designed to reduce treatment-related toxicities and improve long-term outcomes.     

CT诊断原发性周围型小肺癌的临床应用价值

目的探讨CT诊断原发性周围型小肺癌的价值。方法回顾性分析44例原发性周围型小肺癌的临床资料,经X线平片检查后行常规CT平扫,同时病灶处行2 mm薄层及动态增强扫描后分析影像征像。结果该病基本征象有分叶征、毛刺征、空泡征、胸膜凹陷征、血管束集征等,病灶呈中等强化。结论 CT薄层扫描与动态增强扫描相结合,能清晰显示病灶内部细微征像,有助于提高诊断准确率。     

颅内破裂动脉瘤夹闭术和栓塞术后分流依赖性脑积水的系统评价

目的系统评价颅内破裂动脉瘤夹闭术和栓塞术后分流依赖性脑积水发生率。方法以脑积水、夹闭、介入、栓塞、颅内动脉瘤、脑动脉瘤、蛛网膜下腔出血/蛛网膜下隙出血,以及hydrocephalus、shunt、clipping、coiling、surgical、endovascular、embolization、treatment、intracranial aneurysm、cerebral aneurysm、subarachnoid hemorrhage等中英文词组,计算机检索1990年1月-2015年9月美国国立医学图书馆生物医学信息检索系统、荷兰医学文摘、Cochrane临床对照试验中心注册库、中国知网中国知识基础设施工程、万方数据库,辅助手工检索《中华神经外科杂志》、《中国现代神经疾病杂志》和《中国脑血管病杂志》等相关杂志,查阅关于颅内破裂动脉瘤夹闭术和栓塞术后分流依赖性脑积水发生率的临床研究。采用Jadad量表和Newcastle-Ottawa量表评价文献质量,Rev Man 5.3和Stata 13.1统计软件进行Meta分析。结果共获得731篇文献,经剔除重复和不符合纳入标准者,最终纳入18项临床试验共计15 920例颅内破裂动脉瘤患者,行夹闭术者10 038例、行栓塞术5882例。Meta分析显示:两种治疗方式术后分流依赖性脑积水发生率差异无统计学意义(OR=0.860,95%CI:0.720~1.030;P=0.110);分析结果的稳定性较差,但不存在发表偏倚(Egger法:P=0.795)。结论颅内破裂动脉瘤夹闭术和栓塞术后分流依赖性脑积水发生率无显著差异,但尚待进一步的高质量临床研究加以证实。     

microRNA-622 acts as a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma

microRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of tumor development and progression. In this study, we aimed to explore the expression and role of miR-622 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We found that miR-622 was significantly downregulated in human HCC specimens compared to adjacent noncancerous liver tissues. miR-622 downregulation was significantly associated with aggressive parameters and poor prognosis in HCC. Enforced expression of miR-622 significantly decreased the proliferation and colony formation and induced apoptosis of HCC cells. In vivo studies demonstrated that miR-622 overexpression retarded the growth of HCC xenograft tumors. Bioinformatic analysis and luciferase reporter assays revealed that miR-622 directly targeted the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of mitogen-activated protein 4 kinase 4 (MAP4K4) mRNA. Ectopic expression of miR-622 led to a significant reduction of MAP4K4 expression in HCC cells and xenograft tumors. Overexpression of MAP4K4 partially restored cell proliferation and colony formation and reversed the induction of apoptosis in miR-622-overexpressing HCC cells. Inhibition of JNK and NF-κB signaling phenocopied the anticancer effects of miR-622 on HCC cells. Taken together, miR-622 acts as a tumor suppressor in HCC and restoration of miR-622 may provide therapeutic benefits in the treatment of HCC.     

Methods for development of a core outcome set for clinical trials integrating traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine

Clinical trial outcome reporting differs between studies integrating traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine, so that some clinical trials are not eligible for inclusion in a systematic review. The excluded studies are therefore less widely disseminated, and even valid studies are less likely to yield impact. This problem may be addressed by developing core outcome sets (COSs) for integrative medicine in specific healthcare areas. The first stage of development is to define the scope of the COS for integrative medicine, the second stage is to establish the need for such a COS, and the third stage is to develop a protocol and register the COS. The final stage involves three steps: (i) development of a comprehensive list of outcomes (including efficacy outcomes and safety outcomes and TCM syndromes) using systematic review, qualitative or cross-sectional research, and reviews of package inserts and medical records; (ii) merging and grouping of outcomes within domains; (iii) conducting two rounds of Delphi survey and consensus meetings with a range of stakeholders. The final COS will include a general COS and core TCM syndrome- set. Development of COSs for clinical trials of integrative medicine may help to standardize outcome reporting and reduce publication bias in the future.