Vascular endothelial growth factor expression correlates with serum CA125 and represents a useful tool in prediction of refractoriness to platinum-based chemotherapy and ascites formation in epithelial ovarian cancer

There is an increasing need for the identification of novel biological markers and potential therapeutic targets in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Given the critical role of growth factors in the biology of EOC, we aimed in the present study to evaluate the intratumoral expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) proteins and their clinical relevance in a cohort of 100 patients with EOC. All patients received platinum-based chemotherapy after surgery. A comparative immunohistochemical study of normal ovarian and EOC tissues showed that both growth factors were expressed at higher levels in tumor samples. In our statistical analysis, while no association existed between the FGF expression status and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients, intratumoral VEGF was identified as a potential biomarker for the prediction of ascites formation. In addition, the expression status of VEGF appeared to independently predict overall survival and response to chemotherapy. Furthermore, a direct association was demonstrated between the pre-treatment VEGF expression and serum CA125 after three cycles of chemotherapy. In sum, we report for the first time to our knowledge the correlation between intratumoral VEGF and serum CA125 in EOC. Our data also shows the prognostic value of VEGF expression in EOC. These results suggest the potential value of intratumoral VEGF in patient stratification. Dual inhibition of VEGF and CA125 might bring about a better outcome for patients with EOC.     

北京市某社区3～6年级小学生视力不良影响因素分析

目的了解北京市某社区3～6年级小学生的视力状况及其影响因素,为学生视力不良的防治提供科学依据。方法采用问卷调查方式对北京市某社区内4所小学3～6年级的所有学生进行视力状况及其影响因素的调查,共获有效问卷722份。采用χ2检验和Logistic回归进行视力不良单因素和多因素分析。结果女生（55.7%）发生视力不良的危险性是男生（44.8%）的1.51倍、父母一方有近视、父母双方均近视的学生发生视力不良的危险性是父母视力正常的1.98和2.17倍;看书距离〈30 cm的学生发生视力不良的危险性是看书距离≥30 cm的1.89倍;每天使用电脑时间0.5～1 h的学生发生视力不良的危险性是使用电脑时间〈0.5 h的2.23倍;每周活动60 min不足5 d的学生发生视力不良的危险性是每周活动5 d及以上的1.49倍;偶尔感觉视物模糊和经常感觉视物模糊者视力不良的危险度分别是未感觉视物模糊者的1.92和4.74倍。结论视力不良的发生与遗传和环境因素有关。及早预防,注意用眼卫生,养成良好的视觉行为习惯,锻炼身体增强体质将有助于保护青少年视力。     

Therapeutic potential of the intestinotropic hormone,glucagon-like peptide-2

Glucagon-like peptide-2 (6LP-2) is a newly discovered growth factor that has been demonstrated to enhance intestinal growth and function in normal rodents and to prevent damage and facilitate intestinal repair in various animal models of intestinal insufficiency. A recent study has demonstrated that GLP-2 also acts as an intestinotropin in humans with short-bowel syndrome. The high degree of specificity of GLP-2 for induction of intestinal growth, without affecting growth of other peripheral tissues, is determined by the highly localized expression of the GLP-2 receptor in the intestinal epithelium. In this article, we review the regulation of GLP-2 in physiology, from synthesis to metabolism, with a particular emphasis on potential targets in this pathway for therapeutic manipulation of GLP-2 actions. We also discuss the various animal models of intestinal insufficiency that have been used to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of this intestinotropic hormone, including short bowel, intestinal atrophy, enteritis and colitis. The results of these studies indicate that GLP-2 is a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of various forms of intestinal insufficiency in humans.     

Pelvic insufficiency fracture after definitive radiotherapy for uterine cervical cancer: retrospective analysis of risk factors

The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics and risk factors of postradiation pelvic insufficiency fracture (PIF) in women with uterine cervical cancer. We reviewed the medical records of 126 patients who received definitive radiotherapy (RT) for uterine cervical cancer between 2003 and 2009 at our institution. Among them, 99 patients who underwent at least one computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis during their follow-up at more than 6 months were included in this analysis. The relationship between the incidence of PIF and several patient- and treatment-related factors was analyzed. The median follow-up period was 21 months. Of the 126 patients, 33 (with a total of 50 lesions) were diagnosed with PIF. The 2-year cumulative incidence was 32%. Univariate analysis showed that age ≥70 years (P= 0.0010), postmenopausal state (P = 0.0013), and lower CT density of bone and bone marrow (P= 0.020) significantly related to PIF. In a multivariate analysis, of the 59 patients whose CT densities were evaluable, lower CT density was the only significant factor associated with PIF (P = 0.0026). In conclusion, postradiation PIFs were detected in a considerable number of patients after definitive RT for cervical cancer. Predisposing factors were older age, postmenopausal state, and decreased density of bone and bone marrow on CT.     

氟尿嘧啶植入剂在原发性晚期上皮性卵巢癌术中的应用效果

目的 探讨氟尿嘧啶植入剂在原发性晚期上皮性卵巢癌（PAEOC）肿瘤细胞减灭术中的临床疗效。方法 回顾性分析安徽医科大学第一附属医院2007年6月至2012年12月收治并成功随访的162例PAEOC患者的临床资料，根据手术关腹前是否植入缓释氟脲嘧啶植入剂将患者分为试验组（术中腹腔植入缓释氟尿嘧啶600 mg）80例和对照组（术中未植入氟尿嘧啶植入剂）82例。观察两组患者的化疗副反应、术后并发症及生存率。结果 术后两组化疗副反应差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）；试验组与对照组近期生存率差异无统计学意义（χ²=2.865，P=0.091），而生存率的远期效应，试验组高于对照组，差异有统计学意义（χ²=4.911，P=0.027）。结论 术中植入氟尿嘧啶植入剂是一种安全、有效的腹腔局部化疗方法，可提高患者的远期生存率。