Is there an abnormal fasting duodenogastric reflux in nonulcer dyspepsia?

A quantitatively and/or qualitatively abnormal duodenogastric reflux (DGR) could be involved in the pathogenesis of nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD). The aims of this prospective study were to look for (1) a pathological DGR profile during fasting and (2) an eventual correlation between DGR profile and clinical symptoms. Twenty-six NUD patients were investigated. Seven other operated patients with a surgical procedure facilitating DGR episodes and 27 healthy volunteers served as control groups. A clinical score was determined for each patient from a standardized questionnaire. Gastric aspiration was performed for 6 hr in fasting subjects. The aspirates were pooled into 17 samples. In each sample the concentration and the output of total bile acids was determined. If the concentration was larger than 30 mol/liter in pooled samples, the concentrations of free bile acids and the distribution of the conjugated bile acids was determined. The percentage of aliquots with a total bile acid concentration larger than 50 mol/liter (without upper limit), and the percentage with a concentration larger than 2500 mol/liter was also obtained. No significant difference was demonstrated between the healthy volunteers and NUD patients, whatever the parameter considered. However, there was a significant increase in each of the quantitative parameters for the group of operated patients in comparison with the NUD patient group. No significant correlation was found between the clinical score and the DGR profile in NUD patients. Apparently, DGR episodes do not play a primary role in the pathogenesis of NUD.Part of this work was presented at the 4th European Symposium on Gastrointestinal Motility, Krakow, Poland. September 22–24, 1988.Hepatogastroenterology, 35:178, 1988 (abstract).     

Cancer patients who refuse treatment

The value of cancer treatment was assessed using a natural experiment where patients who refused treatment served as no-treatment controls in a situation where withholding treatment to form a control group is unethical. Each cancer patient who refused treatment in Alberta, Canada between 1975 and 1988 was compared with five subjects who accepted treatment, matched on cancer site, age, number of cancers, and time period. Variables associated with treatment-refusal were included in Cox's proportional hazards model of survival, with death from cancer as the endpoint and deaths from other causes as censored observations. Treatment was refused at a rate of 7.5 per 1,000. One-third of patients who refused treatment had lung cancer and most had unstaged disease. Treatment refusal was associated with a difference in median survival of approximately nine months. Site-specific analyses showed a range of effects. Case fatality among the treated patients fell by approximately 10 percent during the 14-year study period. Even in advanced disease, treatment can result in improved survival. However, the results of this study must be interpreted with caution and cannot be generalized to all cancer patients.Dr Huchcroft and Mr Snodgrass are with the Alberta Cancer Board, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Address correspondence to Dr Shirley Huchcroft, Senior Scientist, Division of Epidemiology and Preventive Oncology, Alberta Cancer Board, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N2.     

Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in the patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors

Objective To evaluate the long-term therapeutic effects of autologous peripheral blood st em cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT) on the treatment of hematological and soli d tumors. Methods Fifty-one patients were recruited in this auto-PBSCT study, in which several p otentially important parameters were studied including the optimal time for stem cell co llection, the dose of stem cell reinfusion, the time of hematopoietic reconsti tution, the disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), complication s related to transplantation, and maintenance chemotherapy after auto-PBSCT. Results After APBSCT, 3-year and 5-year survival rates of NHL were 83.3%; those of AM L were 74.7%; those of MM were 37.9% and 19%; those of ALL were 40% and 0% res pectively. Hematopoietic reconstitution was greatly promoted by granulocyte col ony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The mean time for patients’ neutrophil to reco ver up to >0.5×10(9) /L after APBSCT was 11.14 days in the group of the patien ts receiving G-CSF in contrast to 17.6 days in the group receiving no G-CSF. The most common complications of transplantation were fever, liver dysfunction and hypokalaemia, which were curable. No death was due to transplantation related complications.Conclusion Comparing with conventional chemotherapy, our study suggests that auto-PBSCT i s a very important therapeutic option that can significantly improve the prognos is in the patients with hematological and solid tumors, especially in the patien ts with AML and NHL.     

老年人胃癌的围手术期处理

目的 探讨老年人胃癌围手术期的处理。方法 回顾性分析了１９９１年１月至１９９９年１月１３２例７０岁以上胃癌病人的外科处理。结果 老年人胃癌起病隐匿,以上腹饱胀、隐痛、梗阻及贫血为主要临床表现,绝大多数有其他合并症。根治切除７６例,姑息性切除３１例,切除率８１．１％。手术并发症发生率１９．７％,围手术期病死率５．３％。结论 对老年人胃癌,应争取早期诊断,及时治疗。除加强围手术期营养支持外,充分的术前     

4-硒硫酸酯多糖的体内抗瘤作用

目的　观察 4-硒硫酸酯多糖 (Se-carra)的体内抗瘤作用。方法　于小鼠右腋皮下接种瘤细胞 2 4h后开始给药 ,连续 10天 ,观察其抑瘤率 ;小鼠腹腔接种肿瘤细胞前或接种后连续给药 10天 ,观察动物的生存时间。结果　 4-硒硫酸酯多糖能明显抑制肿瘤细胞的生长 ,延长小鼠的生存期。结论　 4-硒硫酸酯多糖体内给药有良好的抗瘤效果 ,值得进一步研究。     

Pretreatment prognostic factors for survival in small-cell lung cancer: A new prognostic index and validation of three known prognostic indices on 341 patients

Aims: a) To identify which pretreatment clinical or blood parameters werepredictive of patient survival in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in aretrospective analysis. b) To validate three known prognostic indices: RoyalMarsden Model (index 1), London Group (index 2) and Manchester Score (index3).Patients and methods: From 1981 to 1993, 341 SCLC patients were treatedwith chemotherapy with or without surgery or radiotherapy. Univariate andmultiple regression analyses of survival were performed and the feasibilityof these models was explored, index 1: Karnofsky index, albumin, sodium andalkaline phosphatase; index 2: ECOG performance status (PS), albumin andalanine transaminase; and index 3: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), diseaseextent, sodium, Karnofsky index, alkaline phosphatase and bicarbonate.Results: Significant prognostic factors for survival after univariate andmultiple regression analysis were: disease extent, PS, creatine kinase,neutrophilia, LDH, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglycemia and bicarbonate. A newprognostic index was performed that included LDH, hypoalbuminemia,neutrophilia, disease extent and PS. It defined three prognostic groups (PG).Median survival and two-year survival for these PG were 12.3, 8 and 3.4 monthsand 16.5%, 2.3% and 0%, respectively. The following PGwere identified after application of the three models proposed: Index 1identified two PG with 0% and 16.6% two-year survival (P <0.001); index 2 detected three PG with 0%, 5% and 15.7%two-year survival (P < 0.001) and index 3 detected three PG with 0%,2.5% and 16.2% two-year survivals, respectively (P < 0.001).Conclusion: A new prognostic index is proposed allowing identification ofthree different PG. The feasibility of three known prognostic models wasvalidated and demonstrated. Variables other than disease extent or PS (albuminor LDH) should be taken into account in designing future clinical trials.     

Cost-benefit analysis of transesophageal echocardiography in cardiac surgery

This article evaluates the costs and outcomes associated with TEE during and after cardiac surgery. The costs include the direct and indirect costs--the complications of TEE. The outcomes include the positive consequences or the benefits: money and lives saved. The article uses liberal (high) estimates of the direct and indirect costs of TEE and conservative (low) estimates of the benefits. The exact cost or benefit depends on the number of cases performed. The analysis shows that patients having surgery for congenital heart disease derive the greatest overall benefit: around $600 per case studied. Patients having valvular repair surgery derive the next greatest benefit: around $450 per case studied. In contrast patients having valve replacement have an overall cost of around $150 per case studied. Patients having surgery for coronary artery disease also derive an overall benefit: around $100-$300 per case studied, depending upon assumptions regarding TEE's role in prevention of intraoperative strokes. This analysis indicates that the financial benefits of TEE are substantial and frequently outweigh costs in patients requiring cardiac surgery.