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Objective:To investigate the effects of pre-treatment Naples prognostic score (NPS), including inflammation-related and nutrition-related indicators, on the treatment efficacy and prognosis of patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) receiving chemoradiotherapy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted for 123 patients diagnosed with thoracic ESCC. These patients were treated either with standard curative radiotherapy (RT) alone or with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in the Affiliated Taixing People's Hospital of Yangzhou University between January 2014 and December 2017. The patients were divided into NPS 0 group (18 cases), NPS 1 or 2 group (60 cases), and NPS 3 or 4 group (45 cases). The responsiveness to treatment was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were adopted to calculate and compare the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates. Meanwhile, Cox proportional hazards models were used for the multivariate analyses.Results:The overall effective rate across the entire cohort was 65.0%, and the effective rates of the NPS 0 group, NPS 1 or 2 group, and NPS 3 or 4 group were 88.9%, 73.3%, and 44.4%, respectively. As indicated by the univariate logistic analysis, the treatment responses in patients with ESCC were highly associated with TNM stage, treatment method, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR), and NPS (1 or 2 group and 3 or 4 group) ( HR =1.633, 0.225, 4.002, 0.320, 2.909, 6.591, P<0.05). Subsequently, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that treatment strategy alone ( HR =0.214, 95% CI 0.105-0.436, P=0.001), NLR ( HR =2.547, 95% CI 1.248-5.199, P=0.010), and NPS (1 or 2 group: HR=1.193, 95% CI 1.377-9.691, P=0.033; 3 or 4 group: HR =3.349, 95% CI 1.548-10.499, P=0.003) were independent risk factors for tumour response. In addition, the univariate analysis indicates that TNM stage, treatment modality, NLR, LMR, and NPS were significantly associated with PFS and OS( HRPFS=1.480, 0.364, 2.129, 0.635, 3.316, 6.599, P < 0.05; HROS=1.149, 0.308, 2.306, 0.609, 3.316, 6.599, P < 0.05). Furthermore, multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis showed that TNM stage ( HR =1.408, 95% CI 1.069-1.854, P=0.015), treatment modality ( HR =0.367, 95% CI 0.261-0.516, P=0.015), NLR ( HR =1.518, 95% CI 1.078-2.139, P=0.017), and NPS (1 or 2 group: HR=3.279, 95% CI 1.405-7.653, P=0.006; 3 or 4 group: HR =6.233, 95% CI 2.439-15.875, P < 0.001) were considered independent prognostic factors for PFS. Additionally, these parameters were also independent prognostic factors for OS. Conclusions:Using inflammation-related and nutrition-related biomarkers, this study demonstrated that NPS is promising as a predictive indicator for the therapeutic effects and survival prognosis in patients with ESCC receiving CRT or RT alone.
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Objective:To investigate the symptom clusters and influencing factors among breast cancer patients receiving aromatase inhibitor treatment and to provide a theoretical basis for the symptom clusters management.Methods:From April 2020 to January 2021, 253 breast cancer patients were recruited in Peking University Cancer Hospital by convenient sampling method. All the patients were cross-sectional investigated by the demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire, the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The principal component analysis was used to extract the symptom clusters and the multiple linear regression was used to analyze the risk factors.Results:During the period of breast cancer patients receiving aromatase inhibitor treatment, three symptom clusters were identified: sick symptom cluster, treatment related-psychological symptom cluster, digestive symptoms cluster. The prevalence of the three symptom clusters was 49.4%(125/253), 45.1%(114/253), 22.5%(57/253), respectively. The median severity of the three symptom clusters was 2.80, 2.00, 0.67, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that anxiety and education level were the influencing factors of sick symptom cluster ( β=0.25, -0.25, all P<0.05), anxiety, depression and educational level were the influencing factors of treatment related-psychological symptom cluster ( β = 0.34, 0.20, -0.16, all P<0.05), anxiety, depression and chemotherapy history were the influencing factors of digestive symptom cluster ( β= 0.17, 0.18, -0.13, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Breast cancer patients with aromatase inhibitor treatment are affected by symptom clusters. In order to relieve the symptom clusters, we need pay attention to the mentation, the education level and prerious treatment of the patients.
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Objective:To observe the efficacy of apatinib combined with capecitabine in the treatment of advanced esophageal cancer.Methods:A total of 101 patients with advanced esophageal cancer in Taixing People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province from June 2017 to February 2018 were enrolled, and all the patients were divided into the control group (50 cases) and the observation group (51 cases) according to the random number table. The control group was treated with capecitabine combined with radiotherapy, and the observation group was treated with apatinib on the basis of the control group. The therapeutic effects, adverse reactions and progression-free survival (PFS) time of the two groups were compared.Results:The overall response rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group [90.2% (46/51) vs. 72.0% (36/50)], and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 5.473, P = 0.019). There were no significant differences in leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, proteinuria and hypertension between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The median PFS time in the observation group was 18.49 months (95% CI 15.35-25.03 months), and that in the control group was 13.33 months (95% CI 10.36-18.24 months), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2 = 5.995, P < 0.01). Conclusions:The therapeutic effect of apatinib combined with capecitabine in the treatment of advanced esophageal cancer is accurate. No obvious adverse reaction occurs, and the PFS time is prolonged.
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Objective@#To apply Nutritional Risk Screening-2002(NRS-2002) to perform nutritional status score for the patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) receiving surgery, and to explore the prognostic impact of long-term survival.@*Methods@#A total of 117 patients who were diagnosed with ESCC from 2010 to 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. They recieved standard curative esophagectomy in the Yangzhou University Affiliated Taixing People′s Hospital. The nutritional status and risk score for recruited patients were assessed according to the standard of NRS-2002 tool prior to surgery, and these patients were grouped for further analysis according to the median values of NRS-2002 score. Finally, the relationship between NRS-2002 score and prognosis was analyzed.@*Results@#Patients were classified into two groups, with 45 in the NRS-2002<2.0 group, and 72 cases in the NRS-2002≥2.0, respectively. In the NRS-2002<2.0 group, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 75.6%, 44.4% and 40.0% separately, while in the NRS-2002≥2.0 group, the PFS rates were 61.1%, 6.9% and 4.2% respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.001). Correspondingly, in the NRS-2002< 2.0 group, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 97.8%, 66.7% and 57.8% separately, while in the NRS-2002≥2.0 group, the OS rates were 91.7%, 33.3% and 16.7% respectively, and the differences were also statistically significant (P<0.001). Univariate analysis showed that N stage, TNM stage and NRS-2002 score were closely related to PFS and OS (P<0.05), and T stage was only associated with OS in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.05). Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that N stage (RR=1.640, 95% CI 1.049-2.565, P=0.030) and NRS-2002 (RR=3.154, 95% CI 1.946-5.113, P<0.001) were independent prognostic factors for PFS in patients with ESCC after surgery. Additionally, pathological differentiation (RR=1.556, 95% CI 1.004-2.440, P=0.041), N stage (RR=1.624, 95% CI 1.017-2.593, P=0.042) and NRS-2002 (RR=3.906, 95% CI2.245-6.795, P<0.001) were independent prognostic factors for OS in ESCC patients following surgery.@*Conclusion@#Preoperative nutritional risk screening NRS-2002 score is an independent prognostic factor in patients with ESCC receiving surgery and could be used as a tool for primary screening for nutritional risk.
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Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Qilinxintongshu pill for treatment of critical patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) accompanied by upper alimentary tract damage.Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 60 critical outpatients or inpatients with confirmed diagnosis of UAP accompanied by upper alimentary tract damage in Cardiology Department of Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Qionghai City from November 2011 to January 2015 were enrolled in the study, and they were assigned to a therapy group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases) by table of random number. The conventional medical basic therapy was given to both groups, in addition, the patients in therapy group took Qilinxintongshu pill (made of notoginseng, dragon's blood, fruit of immature citron, etc.) 5 g once, three times a day, and the patients in control group orally administered clopidogrel 75 mg once a day, the therapeutic course being consecutive 30 days. After treatment, the rates of main cardiovascular events [including death, a newly-happened myocardial infarction (MI), and obstinate ischemia] and events of alimentary damage were compared between the two groups, and adverse effects were observed.Results There was no statistically significant difference in incidence of cardiovascular events between the therapy group and control group [6.7% (2/30) vs. 16.7% (5/30),P > 0.05]. The incidence of massive hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract was significantly lower in therapy group than that in control group [10.0% (3/30) vs. 36.7% (11/30),P < 0.05]. In the treatment process, there was no significant untoward side effect, and no abnormalities in routine blood and urine tests, liver and renal functions were found.Conclusion Qilinxintongshu pill for treatment of critical patients with UAP accompanied by upper alimentary damage is safe and effective, and does not enhance the incidence of massive hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract.
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Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of Qilin Xintongshu pill for treatment of patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes(NSTE-ACS)accompanied by gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 67 hospitalized patients in Cardiovascular Department of Qionghai City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were divided into therapy group(35 cases)and control group(32 cases). Both groups were given conventional medical treatment(except anti-coagulative agent). In the therapy group,the patients received Qilin Xintongshu pill(the ingredients consisting of panax pseudo-ginsen,dragon's blood,immature orange fruit,etc.)oral administration,once 5 mg and 3 times a day,while in the control group,the patients accepted clopidogrel orally,once 75 g and once a day,the therapeutic course in both groups being 30 days. The major cardiovascular events(such as death,a newly-happened myocardial infarction(MI),MI secondary,obstinately ischemia)and incidence of massive hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract were compared between the two groups,and the adverse events were observed. Results After treatment,the incidence of cardiovascular events and massive hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract in the therapy group were decreased significantly compared to those in the control group 〔incidence of cardiovascular events:8.57%(3/35)vs. 28.13%(9/32), incidence of massive hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract:2.86%(1/35)vs. 21.88%(7/32),both P<0.05〕. Adverse events were not observed in both groups,and the examinations of blood,urine,liver and renal functions were of no abnormalities before and after treatment. Conclusion Qilin Xintongshu pill can effectively reduce the incidences of cardiovascular events and massive hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract in patients with NSTE-ACS accompanied by GIB in the therapeutic course of 30 days,therefore this traditional Chinese herbal medicine is an ideal agent for treatment of such disease.