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Objective To evaluate the value of the combination detection of serum amylase (AMY) and lipase(LPS) in the diag‐nose of acute pancreatitis .Methods Serum AMY and LPS were detected in 51 patients with acute pancreatitis ,418 patients with a‐cute abdomen disease and 78 healthy control subjects .Results The sensitivity of serum AMY and LPS increase in 51 patients with acute pancreatitis was 86 .3 % and 92 .2 % respectively .The specificity of serum AMY and LPS increase ,and both AMY and LAS increase in 418 non‐pancreatitis patients with acute abdomen disease was 90 .4% ,91 .7% and 100% respectively .Conclusion The combination detection of serum AMY and LPS can increase the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing acute pancreatitis and has an important significance for rapid diagnosis of acute pancreatitis .
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Chemotherapy completion rate can reflect the tolerance and compliance of patients to chemotherapy. Poor tolerance may result in delay or suspension of the comprehensive treatment plan, thus affect the efficacy of cancer treatment. Evaluating methods to improve the completion rate of chemotherapy and reduce the occurrence of delayed chemotherapy has gained increasing attention and is the significant area of study in the field of cancer treatment. Studies have shown that Chinese medicine combined with chemotherapy could improve the quality of life in patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
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Recently the maintenance therapy of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who completed required treatment cycles has caused widespread interests in the medical field. Traditional Chinese medicine may be a useful complement in maintenance treatment of mid-to-late stage NSCLC.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Recently chemoradiotherapy becomes a standard treatment for un- resectable advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) instead of radiotherapy alone. Superior sulcus tumor of the lung (Pancoast tumor) is a clinical subtype of NSCLC. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical effects and toxicities of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy with radiotherapy alone in patients with superior sulcus tumors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-six patients with superior sulcus tumors were divided randomly into two groups: twenty-six patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (chemoradiotherapy group), the other thirty patients received only radiotherapy (radiotherapy group). For both groups, the same radiation technic was given with the convention fraction. The total dose was 45Gy/25 fraction/5 weeks. For the chemoradiotherapy group, the patients were also given with concurrent chemotherapy (navelbine 15-18mg/m² on the 1st and 8th day, cisplatin 60mg/m² on the 1st day).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rate of complete resection in the chemoradiotherapy group was significantly higher than that in the radiotherapy group (92.3% vs 80.0%, P < 0.05); The complete pathological response rate and 2-year survival rate in the chemoradiotherapy group were significantly higher than those in the radiotherapy group (P < 0.01, P < 0.01). The incidences of grade III-IV radiation esophagitis and leukopenia in the chemoradiotherapy group were significantly higher than those in the radiotherapy group (23.1% and 23.1% vs 6.7% and 0, P < 0.01, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy has the potential of improving the survival rate of superior sulcus tumors. It can also increase the acute toxic effect, but all patients can tolerate this treatment regimen, so it might be a new "standard treatment" for superior sulcus tumor of the lung.</p>
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Lentinus edodes polysaccharide (Lentinan) has attracted great attention from both pharmacologists and clinicians as a biological response modifier, and is widely used as an anti-tumor agent in both China and Japan. The aim of this study is to observe the efficacy of Lentinan combined with chemotherapy in stage III-IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-one patients with stage III-IV NSCLC were randomly divided into two groups: (1)Lentinan + chemotherapy group (group A, 42 cases); (2)Simple chemotherapy group (group B, 39 cases). The peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8) and natural killer (NK) cell activity of patients in both groups were measured before and after treatment, while compared with healthy control (30 cases). The immune functions, the effect of treatment, quality of life, and adverse reactions were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment the objective response rate (CR+PR) was 50% in group A, compared to 33% in group B (P < 0.05). The blood T cell levels(CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8) and NK cell activity in group A increased (P < 0.01), CD8 reduced (P < 0.05), but in group B the value had no obvious change (P > 0.05). Quality of life in group A was higher than that in group B (P < 0.01). The incidence of grade II-IV leukopenia, nausea and vomiting in group B was much higher than those in group A (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The therapeutic effect of Lentinan combined with chemotherapy is better than that of chemotherapy alone.</p>
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The main treatment strategy of cancer patients with brain meta- stasis is irradiation, while so far there is few research concerning chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy for these patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect and toxicity of chemotherapy with VPC regimen combined with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with brain metastasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 60 SCLC patients with brain metastasis received a cycle of VPC regimen (teniposide 60mg/m² iv on days 1-5, cisplatin 35mg/m² iv on days 1-3, semustine 80mg/m² PO on day 1) every 3-4 weeks. WBRT was administered on day 6 of the first cycle of chemotherapy at a dose of 2Gy given in 5 fractions per week. Patients with less than 3 brain lesions received WBRT at a dose of 30Gy and then small field radiotherapy up to total dose of 50Gy, otherwise they received WBRT at a total dose of 40Gy. Response was evaluated by brain and chest CT or MRI after WBRT and at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy were completed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients completed WBRT combined with chemotherapy. Total response rate of primary pulmonary tumor was 46.7%, with 4 cases of CR. The objective brain response rate was 60.0%, with 11 cases of CR and 25 cases of PR. Symptom relief was observed in all 48 patients with neurological symptoms. Main adverse effects were myelotoxicity, nausea/vomiting, constipation and alopecia. The follow-up rate was 93.3% with a median survival duration of 11.3 months. The 1-, 2- and 5-year survival rate was 43.3%, 35.0% and 6.7%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Chemotherapy combined with WBRT can be safely performed for SCLC with brain metastasis and its short-term response is quite satisfactory. It may be worthy of further clinical investigation.</p>
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the factors related to sexual dysfunction among breast cancer patients so as to improve the prevention and treatment of the disorder as well as the life quality of the patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-five breast cancer patients during the rehabilitation period were interviewed by questionnaire on the sexual function before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Age and perception of sex were two important factors for the significant difference in the rate of sexual dysfunction among the patients. In the groups of 45-55 and 56-65 years, the rates of sexual dysfunction were 66.7% and 73.9%, respectively. Compared with the < 45-year group (33.3%), the findings were statistically significant (P < 0.01), and the difference was statistically significant between the incorrect perception group (70.3%) and the correct one (47.6%) (P < 0.05). Of all the factors analyzed in the research, the stage of cancer, treatment methods, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, dyspareunia and sex perception had significant correlation with newly developed sexual dysfunction (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The stage of cancer, treatment methods, sex perception, vaginal dryness et al had significant correlation with sexual dysfunction of breast cancer patients after treatment. To treat and prevent sexual dysfunction among breast cancer patients, oncology professionals should initiate communication about sexual difficulties, perform comprehensive assessments, and educate and counsel patients about the management of these difficulties.</p>
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Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Age Factors , Breast Neoplasms , Psychology , Incidence , Quality of Life , Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological , EpidemiologyABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the role of the expression of dephosphorylated RB protein for cell apoptosis in human breast cancer. Methods: In our works, human breast cell lines (MCF-7/S,the chemosensitive cell line and MCF-7/Adr, the chemoresistent cell line)were evaluated. The expressive levels of dephosphorylated RB protein were detected with immunocytochemistry. Apoptosis rates were determined by flow cytometry(FCM). Results: Before treatment of ADR, phosphorylated RB protein was positive in two cell lines, but dephosphorylated RB protein was negative; After treatment of different concentration ADR, when the concentration of ADR was increased, expression of dephosphorylated RB protein elevated accordingly in MCF-7/S, but no significant change in MCF-7/Adr. Apoptosis and cycle was detected by FCM assays shows ADR induced apoptosis of MCF-7/S more than MCF-7/Adr(P