PSA time to nadir as a prognostic factor of first-line docetaxel treatment in castration-resistant prostate cancer: evidence from patients in Northwestern China / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Docetaxel-based chemotherapy remains the first-line treatment for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in China; however, the prognostic factors associated with effects in these patients are still controversial. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the data from 71 eligible Chinese patients who received docetaxel chemotherapy from 2009 to 2016 in our hospital and experienced a reduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level ≥50% during the treatment and investigated the potential role of time to nadir (TTN) of PSA. TTN was defined as the time from start of chemotherapy to the nadir of PSA level during the treatment. Multivariable Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to predict overall survival (OS). In these patients, the median of TTN was 17 weeks. Patients with TTN ≥17 weeks had a longer response time to chemotherapy compared to TTN <17 weeks (42.83 vs 21.50 weeks, P < 0.001). The time to PSA progression in patients with TTN ≥17 weeks was 11.44 weeks compared to 5.63 weeks when TTN was <17 weeks. We found several factors to be associated with OS, including TTN (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.937, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.502-10.309, P = 0.005), PSA level at the diagnosis of cancer (HR: 4.337, 95% CI: 1.616-11.645, P = 0.004), duration of initial androgen deprivation therapy (HR: 2.982, 95% CI: 1.104-8.045, P = 0.031), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (HR: 3.963, 95% CI: 1.380-11.384, P = 0.011), and total PSA response (Class 1 [<0 response] compared to Class 2 [0-50% response], HR: 3.978, 95% CI: 1.278-12.387, P = 0.017). In conclusion, TTN of PSA remains an important prognostic marker in predicting therapeutic outcome in Chinese population who receive chemotherapy for mCRPC and have >50% PSA remission.

Expression and significance of B cell-activating factor of TNF family (BAFF) and B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (BCL-2) in multiple myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to explore the expression of B cell-activating factor of TNF family (BAFF) and B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (BCL-2) in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) of multiple myeloma (MM) and the significance of BAFF and BCL-2 for occurrence, development and prognosis of MM. The bone marrow of 40 cases of MM and 10 healthy persons was collected, the mononuclear cells (MNC) were isolated, the expression of BAFF and BCL-2 mRNA in BMMNC was detected by real-time PCR; the plasma was simultaneously collected and the β2-MG level was determined; the clinical staging of MM patients was performed according to Durie-Salmon (D-S) staging criterion. The results indicated that the expression level of BAFF and BCL-2 mRNA in MM patients increased, as compared with normal controls, the difference was statistical significant (p < 0.05); the expression level of BAFF and BCL-2 mRNA in plateau stage after treatment obviously decreased. The expression level of BAFF and BCL-2 mRNA in relapsed/refractory MM patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls and patients reached plateau stage (p < 0.05), there was no statistically significant difference between newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory MM patients (p > 0.05). The expression of BAFF and BCL-2 mRNA related with D-S staging and β2-MG level. It is concluded that the expression levels of BAFF and BCL-2 mRNA increase, moreover the expression levels of BAFF and BCL-2 mRNA in newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory MM patients are higher than those in patients reached plateau stage, which suggest the BAFF and BCL-2 may be involved in occurrence and development of MM; the relation of expression level of BAFF and BCL-2 mRNA to MM load is positive, which indicates the expression level of BAFF and BCL-2 mRNA may be a new indicator for evaluating the prognosis of MM patients.

Job burnout psychology of medical interns / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To analyze the relations between medical students' burnout and some related factors for providing some suggestions for educational practice. Methods A total of 80 medical students were investigated and assessed by organizational justice questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey(MBI-GS). Results Some subjects were found to experience job burnout.Means of total distributive justice were significantly lower than medians.Means of participation and complaint mechanism were not discrete to medians.Means of motional exhaustion and cynicism were significantly lower than medians.Means of reduced professional efficacy were significantly higher than medians.Conclusion Job burnout existed among interns from non-211 and 211 Project universities.Medical students should establish scientific view of profession through psychological lessons,lectures,simulated diagnosis,clinical practice and self-sentience.

Migraine as a sex-conditioned inherited disorder: evidences from China and the world / 神经科学通报·英文版

Migraine is a complex and heterogeneous disorder. Although several genetic models has been proposed including autosomal-dominant/autosomal recessive, sex-linked, sex-limited, mitochondrial, and multi-gene, none of these models can well-explain the transmission of the disease. We hypothesied that migraine is a sex-conditioned inherited disorder (autosomal dominant in females and autosomal recessive in males). This hypothesis is supported by the evidence such as the locations of genes associated with familial hemiplegic migraine, possibly "typical" migraine as well (dominantly on chromosome 19p, 1q, and 2q), male:female ratio of prevalence (1:2-1:4), the mostly youth-onset, the provocation by the contraceptives, the induction by menstruation, and the self-limitation after menopause. Female sex-hormones appear to be the key contributor to a higher prevalence of migraine in female. Socio-environmental factors may also play an important role.

Study on the status of cell differentiation in nasal NK/T-cell lymphomas / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the status of cell differentiation in nasal NK/T cell lymphomas.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 88 cases of NK/T cell lymphomas were collected. Antibodies to the following antigens were used in the immunohistochemical study: T cell differentiation antigens (CD3epsilon, CD5 and CD1a); NK cell associated antigens (CD56, CD57) and antibodies of CD34 and CD38.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Clinicopathology: clinically, frequently involved sites were the nasal cavity and the pharynx. Ulceration and erosion of the mucosa were common signs. Pathologically, diffuse infiltration of the tumor cells was observed in 68 of 88 (70.45%) cases of nasal NK/T cell lymphomas. In 71 (80.68%) cases infiltrated cells were predominantly medium to large sized; (2) Differentiation status of tumor cells: the tumor cells expressed CD3epsilon in 78/88 (88.64%); CD5 in 56/88 (63.63%), CD56 in 25/88 (28.41%) and no positivity for CD1a, CD57, CD34 and CD38.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Status of tumor cell differentiation in nasal NK/T cell lymphoma may have passed the stage of progenitor cell differentiation but not yet to the stage of mature T or NK cells.</p>

Preliminary Observation of Ketogenic Diet Therapy for Children with Intractable Epilepsy / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of ketogenic diet therapy for children with intractable epilepsy and its safety.Methods Fifteen patients with intractable epilepsy were treated with ketogenic diet that was modified specifically for Chinese people.The compliance,seizure frequency and side effects were followed up.Results Twelve patients maintained on the treatment for 1 month.Among them,the reduction of seizure frequency in 10 patients exceed 50%.Ten patients maintained on the treatment for 3 months.Among them,the reduction of seizure frequency in 8 patients exceed 50%.Five patients maintained on the treatment for more than 6 months.The reduction of seizure frequency all exceed 50%.The reduction of seizure frequency in 4 patients exceed 90%.The seizures of 3 patients were controlled completely.Ten patients among all cases had various adverse effect,such as nausea,vomiting,diarrhea,constipation,hypoglycemia(nonsymptomatic),hyperlipemia and damage of liver function and so on,which could eliminate by anti-symptomatic treatment.Conclusions Ketogenic diet is effective and safe in Chinese children with intractable epilepsy with modified methods specifically for Chinese.The effect is unrelated with seizure types obviously.