Migration of Medical Image Data Archived Using Mini-PACS to Full-PACS

This study evaluated the migration to full-PACS of medical image data archived using mini-PACS at two hospitals of the Yonsei University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. A major concern in the migration of medical data is to match the image data from the mini-PACS with the hospital OCS (Ordered Communication System). Prior to carrying out the actual migration process, the principles, methods, and anticipated results for the migration with respect to both cost and effectiveness were evaluated. Migration gateway workstations were established and a migration software tool was developed. The actual migration process was performed based on the results of several migration simulations. Our conclusions were that a migration plan should be carefully prepared and tailored to the individual hospital environment because the server system, archive media, network, OCS, and policy for data management may be unique.     

高精度红外光点位置检测分析系统

高精度红外光点位置检测分析系统是基于光电位置敏感器件、立体测量学研制而成的运动物体分析系统。它能快速、准确地测出运动物体各特征点的瞬时位置，并在此基础上进行分析计算，给出三维坐标及针对具体应用领域的特征曲线和参数。该系统可应用于人体运动检测、外科手术定位等领域。     

Levels of soluble FasL and FasL gene expression during the development of graft-versus-host disease in DLT-treated patients

Three patients with different clinical symptoms of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) who had received donor lymphocyte transfusion (DLT) for the treatment of relapsed leukaemia after an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from HLA-matched sibling donors were analysed for the presence of soluble FasL (sFasL) in the sera and for the expression of the Fas ligand (FasL) gene in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC). Two patients who demonstrated liver damage with increased levels of serum bilirubin showed significantly increased levels of serum sFasL. The increase in the sFasL level was observed prior to the increase in the bilirubin during the clinical courses of both patients. The high dose of methyl predonisolone administered to one of these patients greatly reduced the levels of sFasL in the serum. The bilirubin levels were also reduced thereafter. The third patient (without liver damage) did not show any increase in the serum sFasL level. The expression of the FasL gene in the PBMNC of these three patients was examined. All three patients showed increased levels of the FasL gene expression during their clinical courses. However, only one patient showed a parallel alteration of FasL gene expression with sFasL in the serum. These cases provide evidence that the Fas/FasL system is closely associated with human GVHD, especially in the development of liver GVHD.     

Design Issues in Dose-Finding Phase I Trials for Combinations of Two Agents

Combination therapy of two antitumor agents may provide treatment additivity or synergy. Phase I trials for combination therapy search for the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for combined agents. The conventional approach is to preselect an escalation path, usually increasing the dose of one agent and then another, and to use the standard 3 + 3 design. However, this procedure may miss the optimum dose combination, prolong the time it takes, and increase the number of patients necessary to reach the MTD. In this study, we present strategies for a comprehensive search for MTD for a two-agent combination therapy. We evaluate algorithms based on two-stage and three-stage design as well as variations in cohort size. A two-dimensional isotonic estimation method for toxicity rate is provided. We use simulation methods to compare 2 + 1 + 3 vs. 3 + 3 cohort sizes. We conclude that the comprehensive search proposed in our study can be more practical and efficient in identifying the MTD in combination-therapy of two agents.     

Phase I study of icotinib hydrochloride (BPI-2009H), an oral EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced NSCLC and other solid tumors

Purpose

The goal of this study was to assess the safety and tolerability of icotinib hydrochloride (BPI-2009H), a new selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR TKI), and to explore its pharmacokinetics (PK) and clinical activity in patients with advanced solid tumors, mainly those with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after the failure of the prior platinum-based chemotherapy.

Experimental design

Different doses of oral icotinib were administered once every 8 h (Q8H) for a 28-continuous-day cycle until disease progression and or undue toxicity was observed. PK studies of subjects’ blood were performed during cycle one (day 1 through 28). Patients aged ≥18 and ≤70 years with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0-1 and adequate organ functions eligible for the study. Tumor responses were assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). K-ras and EGFR mutations in the extracted DNA of fourteen specimens were examined using PCR-based direct sequencing assay.

Results

Thirty-six patients were enrolled in the study. PK analysis demonstrated that the mean elimination half-life of icotinib was 6 h, and the T_max was around 2 h. The steady-state concentration of icotinib administered at a dose of 125 mg once every 8 h (Q8H) was significantly higher than that achieved by a dose of 100 mg Q8H. The most frequent treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were an acne-like (folliculitis) rash (16/36, 44.4%), diarrhea (8/36, 22.2%) and a decrease in white blood cells (4/36, 11.1%). The maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) was not reached. Among 33 patients with NSCLC, 7 patients exhibited a partial response, 7 showed stable disease at the 24 weeks. Among 14 patients undergoing DNA sequence for K-ras and EGFR mutations, 3 with K-ras mutation presented 2 stable disease (SD) and 1 partial response (PR), 5 with EGFR exon 19 or 21 mutation 2 PR and 3 SD within 4 weeks.

Conclusions

Oral icotinib was generally well tolerated, with manageable and reversible adverse events (AEs) and showed positive clinical anti-tumor activities in patients with advanced NSCLC. The recommended dose for phase II/III studies with icotinib is 125 mg or 150 mg Q8H.     

Old formula, new Rx: the journey of PHY906 as cancer adjuvant therapy

Ethnopharmacological relevance

PHY906, is a decoction of a mixture of the four herbs Scutellaria baicalensis Geori, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, Paeonia lactiflora Pall, and Ziziphus jujuba Mill. A combination of these four herbs has been in continuous use in traditional Chinese medicine for over 1800 years for treating a variety of gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting etc.

Aim of the study

Preclinical and clinical studies to find PHY906 enhances the therapeutic indices of a broad spectrum of anticancer agents.

Materials and methods

Using various mouse tumor xenograft and allograft models, PHY906 has been shown to enhance the chemotherapeutic efficacy of a variety of anticancer agents in various cancers. The PHY906 clinical program consists of five trials in three different types of cancers in both the United States and Taiwan. To date, approximately 150 subjects have received PHY906 in combination with chemotherapy in these five clinical studies.

Results

Preclinical studies have shown that PHY906 enhances the therapeutic indices of a broad spectrum of anticancer agents. These findings have been examined in clinical studies for colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers when PHY906 is used as an adjuvant to chemotherapy and the results were promising; i.e. PHY906 could reduce chemotherapy-induced toxicities and/or increase chemotherapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, PHY906 did not affect the pharmacokinetics of the chemotherapeutic agents used. Some information has been obtained regarding the mechanism of action of PHY906 in preclinical studies. A comprehensive platform, PhytomicsQC that integrates chemical and biological fingerprints together with a novel biostatistical methodology has been developed to assess the quality of different batches of PHY906.

Conclusions

Over a ten-year period, the multiplex technology “PhytomicsQC” has been used to show batch-to-batch consistency of PHY906 production. Advanced clinical trials are ongoing to demonstrate the effectiveness of PHY906 as adjuvant therapy for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.     

吸痰管畅通法联合听诊法定位双腔支气管导管的临床应用价值研究

目的:探讨吸痰管畅通法联合听诊法定位与单纯听诊定位法用于双腔支气管导管(DLT)的定位情况及准确率。方法:112例胸部手术患者分别采用吸痰管畅通法联合听诊法方案(A组)及单纯听诊定位法(B组),记录术中定位时间、定位准确率及术后并发症情况等指标并作统计学分析。结果:A、B组定位时间分别为(87±32)s、(132±47)s,准确率分别为87.50%、69.64%,两组具有显著差异(P<0.05);A组插管操作后局部损伤及咽喉部不适感发生率低于B组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:吸痰管畅通法联合方案定位DLT准确率较高,明显优势在于能够减少反复操作导致的局部损伤,并且操作简易,在基层医院易于推广。     

双腔支气管导管插管全麻中两路呼气末CO_2监测的临床观察

目的:探讨两路呼气末二氧化碳(ETCO2)监测在双腔支气管导管(DLT)插管时的价值。方法:选择右肺疾病的开胸手术40例,ASAI～Ⅲ级,均用左侧双腔支气管导管(L-DLT)插管麻醉,采用听诊法与纤维支气管镜检(FOB)相结合确定导管所处位置,并同时监测左、右支气管的呼气末CO2值(Pet-CO2)及波形的变化。结果:DLT在气管内位置改变,左、右呼吸音亦出现改变,同时所监测到的值及波形也出现相应的变化。结论:DLT插管全麻中两路ETCO2监测在引导DLT插管、定位具有一定的临床应用价值。