An evaluation of anti-TNF-alpha-therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: imbalanced activation of NF kappa B subunits in lymphocytes and modulation of serum cortisol concentration

The aim of this study was to analyse patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) during the course of infliximab therapy. The molecular effects were evaluated using lymphocytes and sera that were isolated before therapy began, then again after 2 and 12 weeks from 17 AS patients and compared to those of 24 healthy control individuals. All 17 AS patients responded to treatment with infliximab as assessed using BASDAI. Elevated serum levels of IL-6, CRP and cortisol were reduced to normal levels by the 12 weeks time point. The level of DNA-binding p65 was decreased during the course of infliximab therapy whereas the level of DNA-binding p50 remained elevated until the 12 weeks time point. Taken together, Infliximab is an effective treatment for AS and results in decreased levels of the inflammation markers IL-6 and CRP, and of endogenous cortisol concentration. Unequal alterations in the levels of activated NF-κB subunits p50 and p65 might provide insights into the mechanisms of NF-κB action and anti-TNF-α therapy in AS.     

Post-eclosion odor experience modifies olfactory receptor neuron coding in Drosophila

Olfactory responses of Drosophila undergo pronounced changes after eclosion. The flies develop attraction to odors to which they are exposed and aversion to other odors. Behavioral adaptation is correlated with changes in the firing pattern of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). In this article, we present an information-theoretic analysis of the firing pattern of ORNs. Flies reared in a synthetic odorless medium were transferred after eclosion to three different media: (i) a synthetic medium relatively devoid of odor cues, (ii) synthetic medium infused with a single odorant, and (iii) complex cornmeal medium rich in odors. Recordings were made from an identified sensillum (type II), and the Jensen–Shannon divergence (D_JS) was used to assess quantitatively the differences between ensemble spike responses to different odors. Analysis shows that prolonged exposure to ethyl acetate and several related esters increases sensitivity to these esters but does not improve the ability of the fly to distinguish between them. Flies exposed to cornmeal display varied sensitivity to these odorants and at the same time develop greater capacity to distinguish between odors. Deprivation of odor experience on an odorless synthetic medium leads to a loss of both sensitivity and acuity. Rich olfactory experience thus helps to shape the ORNs response and enhances its discriminative power. The experiments presented here demonstrate an experience-dependent adaptation at the level of the receptor neuron.     

Adjuvant chemotherapy for high-grade appendiceal cancer after cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

IntroductionThere are no available data on the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in stage IVA/B high-grade mucinous appendiceal cancer treated with CRS/HIPEC. We evaluated the association between ACT and survival in this cohort.Materials and methodsA single-institution retrospective cohort study using a prospective database was conducted. Stage IVA/B high-grade mucinous appendiceal cancer patients who underwent CRS/HIPEC with CC-0/1 were included. Survival was compared between ACT and no chemotherapy (NoCT) patients. Subgroup analysis was performed with adjustment for confounding variables.ResultsWe identified 180 patients: 77 ACT and 103 NoCT. ACT regimens included 5-FU/capecitabine (13%), oxaliplatin-based (63%), and irinotecan-based (21%), combined with bevacizumab in 27% of cases. Median number of cycles was 9 (IQR: 6–12). Median overall survival (OS) did not significantly differ between ACT and NoCT (53 vs 75 months, p = 0.566). Multivariable Cox regression showed no OS benefit for ACT vs NoCT in patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR 1.14; 95%CI: 0.38–3.39) or without it (HR 1.33; 95%CI: 0.69–2.57), with signet ring cell (HR 0.89; 95%CI: 0.38–2.06) or other histologies (HR 1.11; 95%CI: 0.50–2.46), positive lymph nodes (HR 1.60; 95%CI: 0.74–3.49), or peritoneal cancer index ≥20 (HR 1.08; 95%CI: 0.55–2.11) after adjusting for other factors.ConclusionsIn our cohort, colon-type ACT was not associated with better OS in stage IVA/B mucinous appendiceal cancer after CRS/HIPEC, even after adjusting for confounders. This may be due to different tumor biology than colon cancer or small sample size. Prospective collaborative studies are needed.     

3种方法去除老年根面龋腐质的效果观察

目的对传统高速牙钻法、Carisolv（伢典）微创化学机械法、Er,Cr：YSGG激光法去腐后牙本质表面微观形态及去腐时间进行评估。方法30颗根面龋患牙按不同去腐方法分为传统高速牙钻组（牙钻组）、Carisolv（伢典）微创化学机械组（机械组）和Er,Cr：YSGG激光组（激光组）,每组各10颗牙。去龋过程中计时,去腐后观察牙本质表面。结果牙钻组与激光组去腐时间（（6．8±1．2）rain、（7．1±0．9）min）明显低于机械组（（17．4±0．9）min）（P％0．05）,牙钻组与激光组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;扫描电镜下,牙钻组玷污层大量分布,牙本质小管栓塞率91．1％;机械组玷污层较少,牙本质小管栓塞率65．6％;激光组有极少量玷污层存在,牙本质小管栓塞率13．3％;3组栓塞率比较差异有统计学意义（P〈O．05）,其中激光组栓塞率最低。结论Er,Cr：YSGG激光法去腐可高效去龋、清除牙本质玷污层。     

同步放化疗治疗术后复发性直肠癌的近期疗效观察

目的评价三维适形放疗同步化疗治疗术后复发性直肠癌的近期疗效及毒副反应。方法 15例术后复发性直肠癌采用同步放化疗,先盆腔适形放疗46Gy,后缩野继续适形放疗肿瘤补量,使肿瘤总量达到60～70Gy;化疗采用XELOX方案,于放疗第1、21、42天开始同步进行3周期。结果患者中位随访时间为1年,治疗后3个月、1年复查,局部控制率达到86.7%,症状缓解率达到93.3%,1年生存率为86.7%。不良反应主要有胃肠道反应、骨髓抑制、神经毒性,多为1～2级。结论三维适形放疗同步化疗可提高术后复发性直肠癌的控制率,改善患者生活质量,延长生命,不良反应可以耐受。     

Phase 2 trial of chronic low-dose oral etoposide as salvage therapy of platinum-refractory ovarian cancer

Summary Eighteen previously treated patients with advanced ovarian cancer were entered into a phase 2 trial of chronic low-dose oral etoposide (50 mg/day for 20 days, repeated every 28 days) to determine the activity of this therapeutic strategy in organoplatinum-refractory disease. The treatment program was generally well tolerated, with mild neutropenia the most common side-effect encountered. One patient (6%; 95% confidence interval=0–17%) achieved a partial response, which lasted for 11 months. Three additional patients (17%), who failed to meet the criteria of a partial response, demonstrated objective evidence of antineoplastic activity. Chronic low-dose oral etoposide administration is associated with definite, although modest, activity in platinumrefractory ovarian cancer.Supported in part by the Avon Program in Ovarian Cancer, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NCI grant 52477, and a grant from the Bristol-Myers Oncology Division     

胸段食管鳞癌术后局部区域复发患者放疗剂量研究

目的:探讨不同放疗剂量对接受放(化)疗的食管癌术后局部区域复发患者的影响。方法:收集2009—2014年间河北医科大学第四医院收疗的331例食管癌术后局部区域复发患者资料,回顾性分析其复发部位、不同放疗剂量对患者预后影响及其独立性预后影响因素等。 Kaplan- Meier法计算生存率并 ...     

MF tricyclic and sulindac retard tumor formation in an animal model

New selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors offer the benefit of cancer protection with less gastrointestinal toxicity associated with nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). We hypothesize that MF tricyclic and sulindac can retard all stages of tumor formation in nude mice. In a blinded placebo controlled study, 3 types of experiments were performed: 1) 2.5 x 10(6) cells were injected into 2 flanks of nude mice subcutaneously, as a model for in situ cancer (n = 192); 2) 1 x 10(6) cells were injected into the cecum of mice as a model for in situ colorectal cancer (n = 78) and 3) 0.5 x 10(6) cells were implanted into the splenic subcapsule to establish a colorectal cancer liver metastasis model (n = 78). The animals were fed with standard chow containing either placebo, MF tricyclic (67 mg/kg of chow) or sulindac (150 mg/kg of chow). Mice that were given MF tricyclic or sulindac, at clinical anti-inflammatory plasma concentrations, were significantly more tumor free and had significantly smaller primary tumors and fewer metastases, as compared to mice that consumed placebo. The mortality and the latency period were significantly better in the treatment groups. These findings suggest that selective COX-2 inhibitors may serve as an adjunct to standard therapy in colorectal cancer.