Post-neoadjuvant strategies in breast cancer: From risk assessment to treatment escalation

The post-neoadjuvant setting in early breast cancer represents an attractive scenario for adjuvant clinical trials, offering the opportunity to test new drugs or combinations in high-risk patients who did not achieve pathologic complete response after primary treatment. No standard therapies are routinely proposed to patients with residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and few trials have explored this setting. To date, only one randomized phase III study showed the benefit of additional capecitabine after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and international guidelines recommend at least to consider its use, particularly for triple negative breast cancer. Therefore, the management of these patients is still a clinical challenge, with limited data supporting the use of an additional adjuvant non-cross-resistant chemotherapy. Escalation strategies are currently under evaluation, with new agents proposed as supplementary post-neoadjuvant treatment (e.g. platinum salts, capecitabine, poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors). Based on these premises, selection criteria are critical to identify patients who may benefit from post-neoadjuvant therapies, through the validation of prognostic and predictive biomarkers for a reliable risk assessment and estimation of benefit.The present review summarizes the efforts in introducing new therapeutic options for patients with breast cancer and residual disease after neoadjuvant treatment, with a particular focus on the ongoing clinical trials and useful biomarkers for risk stratification.     

Factors influencing development of residual stresses during crystallization firing in a novel lithium silicate glass-ceramic

ObjectiveDevelopment of residual stresses is a potential source of premature fractures in glassy materials, being of special interest in novel lithium silicate glass-ceramics that require a crystallization firing to achieve their final mechanical properties. The aim of this work was to assess the influence of various firing tray systems and the application of different cooling protocols on the development of residual stresses in Suprinity PC crowns. Their effect on the in vitro lifetime of the restorations was also studied.MethodsThirty crowns were milled out of Suprinity PC blocks and crystallized using one of five different commercial firing tray systems (n = 6). Samples in each group were cooled following a fast (FC = 5.5 °C/s), a slow (SC = 0.4 °C/s) or the manufacturer’s reference cooling (REF ). Obtained crowns were sagittally or transversally sectioned and the magnitude and distribution of residual stresses was determined using the light birefringence method. Extra crowns of three of the subgroups (n = 8) were produced and submitted to chewing simulation for 10⁶ cycles or until fracture ensued.ResultsAverage residual stresses ranged between 0 and 1.5 MPa (peaks of 5 MPa). Highest stress magnitudes were observed at the support areas of groups using firing pins, leading to thermal cracks in FC samples and premature failures in the REF subgroup. The use of fibrous pads and firing pastes limited the development of residual stresses, whereas application of SC regimes extended the lifetime of the restorations.SignificanceDevelopment of residual stresses during crystallization firing in lithium silicate glass-ceramics results critical for their mechanical performance and should be therefore avoided by ensuring a homogenous cooling of the structures.     

牙冠延长术在残根残冠修复中的临床疗效

目的评价牙冠延长术在牙体缺损达龈下的残根残冠修复中的临床疗效。方法自2004年5月至2005年6月,对32例患者的36颗牙体缺损达龈下的患牙,术前按断端位于龈下最深距离分为A组(20颗患牙,距离<3.0mm)和B组(16颗患牙,3.0mm≤距离≤4.0mm),均采用牙冠延长术暴露龈下牙体断面,术后6周行桩冠修复。分别记录和比较手术前、后牙周探诊深度(PD)、菌斑指数(PLI)、龈沟出血指数(SBI)和牙齿松动度,以观察临床疗效。结果术后随访患者6个月,两组病例术后6周牙体断端均暴露较好、龈缘颜色正常,术后修复效果有效率为100%,满意率为77.78%。A组术后无松动,修复效果满意;B组术后50.00%出现Ⅰ度松动,修复效果欠佳,两组修复效果比较差异有显著意义(P<0.05)。术后各阶段两组的PD、PLI、SBI均明显优于术前(P<0.05),但两组术后牙周指数比较差异无显著意义(P>0.05)。结论牙冠延长术有利于残根残冠的保存和修复,但要注意适应证的选择。     

胆管残余结石的内镜治疗(附306例分析)

目的：探讨内镜治疗肝内外胆管残余结石的效果。方法：对1994年1月～2004年1月间306例胆道残余结石的治疗效果进行回顾性分析，采用十二指肠镜127例，胆道镜116例，经皮经肝胆道镜(PTCS)63例。结果：306例．1中有286例成功(93．46％)。十二指肠镜治疗127例成功125例；胆道镜经T管窦道治疗116例，成功109例；PTCS治疗肝内结石63例，成功52例。结论：内镜治疗肝内外胆道结石效果显著，可使绝大多数患者避免再次手术。     

异丙酚对慢性神经痛大鼠脊髓诱导型一氧化氮合酶表达的影响

目的 研究不同剂量异丙酚对慢性神经痛大鼠触诱发痛痛阈及其脊髓组织诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)mRNA的影响。方法 Wistar大鼠40只,随机分为四组,Ⅰ组为空白对照;Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组结扎左侧坐骨神经。术后第7天,Ⅰ、Ⅱ组腹腔注射生理盐水50 ml·kg-1,Ⅲ、Ⅳ组腹腔注射异丙酚50 ml·kg-1或75ml·kg-1,每天一次共6 d。在术后第6、10和12天,使用Von Frey法分别测定各组大鼠触诱发痛痛阈,比较不同剂量的异丙酚对大鼠痛阈的影响。术后第12天取L4-5和L5-6节段脊神经节和脊髓组织,采用半定量RT-PCR法,对各组大鼠脊髓组织iNOS mRNA表达进行检测。结果 术后第10和12天,Ⅲ、Ⅳ组大鼠双侧的痛阈值高于Ⅱ组(P<0.05);术后第12天,Ⅲ、Ⅳ组大鼠脊髓组织iNOS mRNA表达低于Ⅱ组(P<0.05)。结论 异丙酚通过抑制脊髓组织iNOS mRNA转录,降低其表达,而起到一定的抗伤害作用。     

78例胃窦癌的治疗分析

自１９８８年２月至１９９２年８月期间手术治疗的７８例胃窦癌患者进行了回顾性分析，手术后肿瘤复发的情况，与十二指肠断端有无癌细胞残存密切相关，并发现于幽门环下切断十二指肠少于３ｃｍ者有癌细胞残存达３４％，切除十二指肠达３ｃｍ者，无论肿瘤分化程度如何，恶性程度高低，切除断端均无癌细胞残存，手术后辅以化疗，对于病人的预后有一定提高。本组随访到的５９例病人中，接受化疗的３３例，在２年３个月至６年１个月内死亡７例（２１．２％），未接受化疗的２６例，在５个月至３年８个月内死亡的２６例，在５个月至３年８个月内死亡９例（３５％）。     

Combined open and laparoscopic approach to chronic pain following open inguinal hernia repair

Introduction: Chronic groin pain is the most common long-term complication after open inguinal hernia repair. Traditional surgical management of the associated neuralgia consists of injection therapy followed by groin exploration, mesh removal, and nerve transection. The resultant hernia defect may be difficult to repair from an anterior approach. We evaluate the outcomes of a combined laparoscopic and open approach for the treatment of chronic groin pain following open inguinal herniorrhaphy. Methods: All patients who underwent groin exploration for chronic neuralgia after a prior open inguinal hernia repair were prospectively analyzed. Patient demographics, type of prior hernia repair, and prior nonoperative therapies were recorded. The operation consisted of a standard three trocar laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair, followed by groin exploration, mesh removal, and nerve transection. Outcome measures included recurrent groin pain, numbness, hernia recurrence, and complications. Results: Twelve patients (11 male and 1 female) with a mean age of 41 years (range 29–51) underwent combined laparoscopic and open treatment for chronic groin pain. Ten patients complained of unilateral neuralgia, one patient had bilateral complaints, and one patient complained of orchalgia. All patients failed at least two attempted percutaneous nerve blocks. Prior repairs included Lichtenstein (n=9), McVay (n=1), plug and patch (n=1), and Shouldice (n=1). There were no intraoperative complications or wound infections. With a minimum of 6 weeks follow up, all patients were significantly improved. One patient complained of intermittent minor discomfort that required no further therapy. Two patients had persistent numbness in the ilioinguinal nerve distribution but remained satisfied with the procedure. Conclusions: A combined laparoscopic and open approach for postherniorrhaphy groin pain results in good to excellent patient satisfaction with no perioperative morbidity. It may be the preferred technique for the definitive management of chronic neuralgia after prior open hernia repair.     

Incidence of Finding Residual Disease for Incidental Gallbladder Carcinoma: Implications for Re-resection

Re-resection for gallbladder carcinoma incidentally discovered after cholecystectomy is routinely advocated. However, the incidence of finding additional disease at the time of re-resection remains poorly defined. Between 1984 and 2006, 115 patients underwent re-resection at six major hepatobiliary centers for gallbladder carcinoma incidentally discovered during cholecystectomy. Data on clinicopathologic factors, operative details, TNM tumor stage, and outcome were collected and analyzed. Data on the incidence and location of residual/additional carcinoma discovered at the time of re-resection were also recorded. On pathologic analysis, T stage was T1 7.8%, T2 67.0%, and T3 25.2%. The median time from cholecystectomy to re-resection was 52 days. At the time of re-resection, hepatic surgery most often consisted of formal segmentectomy (64.9%). Patients underwent lymphadenectomy (LND) (50.5%) or LND + common bile duct resection (43.3%). The median number of lymph nodes harvested was 3 and did not differ between LND alone (n = 3) vs LND + common duct resection (n = 3) (P = 0.35). Pathology from the re-resection specimen noted residual/additional disease in 46.4% of patients. Of those patients staged as T1, T2, or T3, 0, 10.4, and 36.4%, respectively, had residual disease within the liver (P = 0.01). T stage was also associated with the risk of metastasis to locoregional lymph nodes (lymph node metastasis: T1 12.5%; T2 31.3%, T3 45.5%; P = 0.04). Cystic duct margin status predicted residual disease in the common bile duct (negative cystic duct, 4.3% vs positive cystic duct, 42.1%) (P = 0.01). Aggressive re-resection for incidental gallbladder carcinoma is warranted as the majority of patients have residual disease. Although common duct resection does not yield a greater lymph node count, it should be performed at the time of re-resection for patients with positive cystic duct margins because over one-third will have residual disease in the common bile duct. Presented at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract at Digestive Week 2007, Plenary Session, Washington, DC, March 23, 2007.     

肾衰合剂对维持性腹膜透析患者残余肾功能的影响

目的：观察肾衰舍剂对连续不卧床腹膜透析（CAPD）患者残余肾功能的影响，探讨中药治疗对CAPD患者残余肾功能的保护作用及其机制。方法：将56例脾肾气（阳）虚型的CAPD患者随机分为常规腹膜透析对照组，及加服中药肾衰合剂治疗组。治疗6个月，比较残余肾KT／V、残余肾CCr的变化及下降速率。结果：在维持总体透析效能的前提下，治疗组残余肾KT／V、残余肾CCr下降速度较对照组明显缓慢。结论：肾衰合荆能有效延缓PD患者的RRF的下降。     

神经病理性疼痛老年大鼠海马CA1区突触长时程增强的变化

目的观察神经病理性疼痛老年大鼠海马CA1区突触长时程增强(LTP)的变化。方法老年雄性Wistar大鼠15只,随机均分为三组。模型组,结扎左侧L4/L5脊神经;D-2-氨基-5-磷酸戊酸(AP5)组,侧脑室输注AP5,余同模型组;假手术组,操作同模型组,但不结扎。观察大鼠行为变化,连续3周测定大鼠电痛阈值,1次/周;记录海马CA1区树突层兴奋性突触后膜电位(EPSP)、输入/输出曲线及LTP的变化。结果模型组与AP5组大鼠术后行为异常,术后各时点电痛阈值低于术前值及假手术组相应时点值(P<0.05);三组基础EPSP幅值稳定,最大基础EPSP幅值的50%组间比较差异无统计学意义;模型组LTP高于其他两组(P<0.05)。结论结扎老年大鼠L4/L5脊神经所致的神经病理性疼痛,不干扰海马CA1区突触及锥体细胞兴奋性,但可易化该区突触LTP。