Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy between Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists

Background@#To compare risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) between patients taking sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and those taking glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) in routine care. @*Methods@#This retrospective cohort study emulating a target trial included patient data from the multi-institutional Chang Gung Research Database in Taiwan. Totally, 33,021 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using SGLT2is and GLP1-RAs between 2016 and 2019 were identified. 3,249 patients were excluded due to missing demographics, age <40 years, prior use of any study drug, a diagnosis of retinal disorders, a history of receiving vitreoretinal procedure, no baseline glycosylated hemoglobin, or no follow-up data. Baseline characteristics were balanced using inverse probability of treatment weighting with propensity scores. DR diagnoses and vitreoretinal interventions served as the primary outcomes. Occurrence of proliferative DR and DR receiving vitreoretinal interventions were regarded as vision-threatening DR. @*Results@#There were 21,491 SGLT2i and 1,887 GLP1-RA users included for the analysis. Patients receiving SGLT2is and GLP-1 RAs exhibited comparable rate of any DR (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79 to 1.03), whereas the rate of proliferative DR (SHR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.68) was significantly lower in the SGLT2i group. Also, SGLT2i users showed significantly reduced risk of composite surgical outcome (SHR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.70). @*Conclusion@#Compared to those taking GLP1-RAs, patients receiving SGLT2is had a lower risk of proliferative DR and vitreoretinal interventions, although the rate of any DR was comparable between the SGLT2i and GLP1-RA groups. Thus, SGLT2is may be associated with a lower risk of vision-threatening DR but not DR development.

Therapeutic observation of arthrolysis under brachial plexus anesthesia for adhesivecapsulitis of the shoulder / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To objectively evaluate the short-term and long-term efficacies of arthrolysis under brachial plexus anesthesia in treating adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder (ACS). Methods: One hundred patients diagnosed with ACS were divided into two groups using the random number method. The two groups both received same active rehabilitation exercises. Besides, 55 cases in the treatment group were given one session of arthrolysis under brachial plexus anesthesia, and 45 cases in the control group were given tuina treatment. Changes in the visual analog scale (VAS) score, Melle score and pressure pain index were observed 1 month and 3 months after treatment. The therapeutic efficacies were also compared. Results: The total effective rate was 96.4％ at the 1-month follow-up and 96.4％ at the 3-month follow-up in the treatment group. The total effective rate was 33.3％ at the 1-month follow-up and 28.9％ at the 3-month follow-up in the control group. There were significant differences between the two groups comparing the total effective rate at the two time points (both P<0.05). The scores of VAS, Melle and pressure pain were significantly different at the 1-month and 3-month follow-ups from those before treatment in the treatment group (all P<0.05); the three scores did not show significant differences at the 1-month and 3-month follow-ups compared with those before treatment in the control group (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Based on the active rehabilitation exercises, one session of arthrolysis under brachial plexus anesthesia can release the adhesion and restore the range of motion and function of shoulder joint in ACS patients. It is superior to rehabilitation exercises plus tuina treatment comparing both short-term and long-term efficacies.

PM

BACKGROUND@#Particulate matter (PM) < 2.5 μm (PM@*METHODS@#We obtained DNA methylation and exercise data of 496 participants (aged between 30 and 70 years) from the Taiwan Biobank (TWB) database. We also extracted PM@*RESULTS@#DLEC1 methylation and PM@*CONCLUSIONS@#We found significant positive associations between PM

Urodynamic and Bladder Diary Factors Predict Overactive Bladder-wet in Women: A Comparison With Overactive Bladder-dry / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

PURPOSE: To identify factors predicting the presence of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB)-wet, compared with OAB-dry. METHODS: Between September 2007 and September 2013, the medical records of 623 women with OAB who completed a 3-day bladder diary and underwent urodynamic studies in a medical center were retrospectively reviewed. OAB-wet was diagnosed in patients who complained of at least one episode of urgency incontinence in the previous month; otherwise, OAB-dry was diagnosed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to predict the presence of OAB-wet. RESULTS: Age (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; P<0.001), maximal flow rate (Qmax) (OR,1.06; P<0.001), voided volume (OR, 0.996; P=0.001), detrusor pressure at maximal flow rate (PdetQmax) (OR, 1.02; P=0.003), urgency episodes (OR, 1.04; P<0.001) and urodynamic stress incontinence (OR,1.78; P=0.01) were independent predictors for the presence of OAB-wet vs. OAB-dry. If we use bladder contractility index as a variable for multivariable logistic regression analysis, bladder contractility index (OR, 1.012; P<0.001) become an independent predictor for OAB-wet. CONCLUSIONS: A smaller bladder capacity and more frequent urgency episodes were predictors of OAB-wet, and the above findings indicate that OAB-wet and OAB-dry might be a continuum of OAB. Old age, high Qmax, high PdetQmax and urodynamic stress incontinence were also predictors for OAB-wet, and the above results reveal that OAB-wet and OAB-dry have partially different clinical and urodynamic features. Further studies might be performed to elucidate whether different treatment strategies between OAB-dry and OAB-wet can improve treatment efficacy.

Observations on the Efficacy of Scalp Acupuncture with Strong Stimulation in Treating Intractable Hiccup / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the efficacy of scalp acupuncture with strong stimulation plus oral hiccup decoction in treating intractable hiccup. Method One hundred patients with intractable hiccup were allocated, using a random number table, to treatment and control groups, 50 cases each. In addition to oral hiccup decoction in the two groups, the treatment group received scalp acupuncture with strong stimulation at the stomach and chest areas and the control group, electroacupuncture, for two courses of treatment. The times to produce the effect and the symptom frequency scores were compared between the two groups. Result After one course of treatment, the cure rate, the cure and marked efficacy rate and the total efficacy rate were 42％, 66％ and 78％, respectively, in the treatment group and 24％, 40％ and 68％, respectively, in the control group. There were statistically significant difference in the cure rate and the cure and marked efficacy rate (P<0.05) but no in the total efficacy rate (P>0.05) between the two groups. After two courses of treatment, the cure rate, the cure and marked efficacy rate and the total efficacy rate were 68％, 78％ and 88％, respectively, in the treatment group and 40％, 60％ and 74％, respectively, in the control group. There were statistically significant difference in the cure rate (P<0.05) but no in the cure and marked efficacy rate and the total efficacy rate (P>0.05) between the two groups. After one and two courses of treatment, there was a statistically significant difference in the hiccup frequency score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). The time to produce the effect was 2-5 hrs in the treatment group and 5-8 hrs in the control group. Conclusion The total efficacy rate of scalp acupuncture with strong stimulation for intractable hiccup is not significantly different from that of electroacupuncture, but the cure rate of the former was significantly higher than that of the latter. Scalp acupuncture with strong stimulation can produce a quick effect, reduce the frequency of hiccups and relieve symptoms accompanying hiccup.

СОНСГОЛЫН ХҮНД ХЭЛБЭРИЙН БУУРАЛТТАЙ ХҮНД CONNEXIN 26 ГЕНИЙН МУТАЦИЙГ ТОДОРХОЙЛСОН ТӨСӨЛТ АЖЛЫН ЗАРИМ ҮР ДҮН / Шинэ санаа Шинэ нээлт

@#BACKGROUND. Sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI) is the most common inherited sensory defect, affecting about 3 per 1000 children. More than 50% of these patients have a genetic cause (i.e. hereditary hearing impairment; HHI). Mutations in certain genes were noted to be extraordinarily popular in the deaf patients across different populations, making molecular screening feasible for these common deafness genes. One of the most important characteristics that we have learned concerning hereditary hearing loss is that common deafness genes and their mutations are usually different according to the ethnic background. As demonstrated in our previous studies performed in Taiwanese patients, the mutation spectrums of common deafness genes, such as the GJB2 gene and the SLC26A4 gene, are different from those in the Caucasian or even other Asian populations. These findings further underscore the indispensability of the collection of local data in terms of genetic counseling. In the collaborative project, we have successfully established a cohort of >100 hearingimpaired families, and clarified the genetic epidemiology of deafness in the Mongolian population. We identified several special deafness mutations such as GJB2 c.23+1G>A, c.559_604dup, and SLC26A4 c.919-2A>G, and our results revealed that Mongolian patients demonstrate a unique genetic profile in deafness as compared to other East Asian populations (paper in preparation). Meanwhile, by organizing a seminar at National Taiwan University Hospital in March 2017, we have transferred crucial concepts and techniques regarding how to perform genetic testing for deafness to the Mongolian colleagues. In the future, we plan to strengthen the mutual collaboration by expanding the clinical cohort and upgrading the genetic examination platform using the NGS techniques.

Construction of ARID1A gene mutants and identification of the overexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

Objective@#To construct the mutants of ARID1A gene, which is an important component in human chromosomal remodeling complex Switch/Sucrose Non Fermentable (SWI/SNF), and identify their overexpression in liver cancer HepG2 cells.@*Methods@#Overlap PCR was used to construct domain truncated mutantss pcDNA6-ARID1A/ΔARID and pcDNA6-ARID1A/ΔD UF3518 based on wild type plasmids pcDNA6-ARID1A. Lipofectionmethod was used to transfect the wild type and mutants into HepG2. Real-time PCR and western blotting were used to confirm the overexpression of ARID1A and the mutants.@*Results@#SDS-PAGE and sequencingresult confirmed the successful construction of pcDNA6-ARID1A/ΔARID and pcDNA6-ARID1A/ΔDUF3518. Real-time PCR and western blottingresult confirmed the overexpression of both mRNA and protein of wild type ARID1A and ARID1A/ΔARID. The mRNA levels indicated that ARID1A/Δ DUF3518 were overexpressed, but the protein levels were quite low.@*Conclusions@#Functional domain truncated mutants of ARID1A were successfully constructed. Overexpression of wild type ARID1A and ARID1A/ΔARID in liver cancer HepG2 cells was successful. Loss of ARID1A/ΔDUF3518 protein suggest that DUF3518 may contribute to the protein structure stability.

МОНГОЛ ХҮНИЙ ТӨРӨЛХИЙН БОЛОН ОЛДМОЛ ХЭЛБЭРИЙН ДҮЛИЙН ҮЕИЙН CONNEXIN 26 ГЕНИЙН МУТАЦИЙГ ТОДОРХОЙЛСОН СУДАЛГААНЫ АЖЛЫН ЗАРИМ ҮР ДҮН / Шинэ санаа Шинэ нээлт

@#BACKGROUND. Sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI) is the most common inherited sensory defect, affecting about 3 per 1000 children. More than 50% of these patients have a genetic cause (i.e. hereditary hearing impairment; HHI). Mutations in certain genes were noted to be extraordinarily popular in the deaf patients across different populations, making molecular screening feasible for these common deafness genes. One of the most important characteristics that we have learned concerning hereditary hearing loss is that common deafness genes and their mutations are usually different according to the ethnic background. As demonstrated in our previous studies performed in Taiwanese patients, the mutation spectrums of common deafness genes, such as the GJB2 gene and the SLC26A4 gene, are different from those in the Caucasian or even other Asian populations. These findings further underscore the indispensability of the collection of local data in terms of genetic counseling. In the collaborative project, we have successfully established a cohort of >100 hearing-impaired families, and clarified the genetic epidemiology of deafness in the Mongolian population. We identified several special deafness mutations such as GJB2 c.23+1G>A, c.559_604dup, and SLC26A4 c.919-2A>G, and our results revealed that Mongolian patients demonstrate a unique genetic profile in deafness as compared to other East Asian populations (paper in preparation). Meanwhile, by organizing a seminar at National Taiwan University Hospital in March 2017, we have transferred crucial concepts and techniques regarding how to perform genetic testing for deafness to the Mongolian colleagues. In the future, we plan to strengthen the mutual collaboration by expanding the clinical cohort and upgrading the genetic examination platform using the NGS techniques.

TNF-α，IL-1β induce mechano growth factor expression in human fibroblast-like synoviocytes through the PKA pathway / 医用生物力学

Objective To investigate the effects of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 on expression of mechano growth factor (MGF). Methods In the experimental group, TNF-α and IL-6 at concentration of 25, 50, 100 ng/mL, or IL-1β at concentration of 2.5, 5.0, 10 ng/mL were applied to fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) for 12 hours. The inhibitor groups were pretreated with PKA pathway inhibitor KT5720 at concentration of 1.0 mmol for 1 hour. The control group remained under the same culture condition as the experimental group, but without any growth factor. Real-time PCR was used to measure the gene expression of MGF. Results Treated with TNF-α at concentration of 25 ng/mL and IL-1β at concentration of 10 ng/mL, the MGF expression in FLSs was significantly increased (P＜0.05). IL-6 had no effect on MGF expression. A specific inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, at concentration of 1.0 mmol significantly decreased the activation of MGF synthesis by TNF-α and IL-1β in FLSs (P＜0.05). Conclusions TNF-α at concentration of 25 ng/mL and IL-1β at concentration of 10 ng/mL significantly induce the MGF expression in FLSs, which activate MGF synthesis via the PKA pathway. This study is of significance in improving the application of MGF used in tissue repair area to make up the insufficient stress stimulation.

Colon may provide new therapeutic targets for treatment of chronic kidney disease with Chinese medicine / 中国结合医学杂志

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a worldwide health and social problem. Retarding its progression to end-stage renal disease is beneficial both to the patients and the healthcare system. Plenty of clinical trials have indicated that enema with Chinese medicine could effectively prevent chronic renal failure, and was widely used in the clinical practice. However, studies on mechanism were still nearly blank, which may prevent further improvement of therapeutic efficacy. Recent studies had discovered that colon was an important organ where uremic toxins were generated. The uremic toxins involved could not only promote CKD progression, but also was closely correlated with CKD mortality. Reducing production and promoting excretion of toxins were confirmed to reduce renal tubule interstitial fibrosis and delay renal progression. On the basis of the theory of gut-kidney axis above, we had conducted pilot clinical researches to evaluate the effect of enema with Chinese medicine on the intestinal flora, gut barrier, enterogenous uremic toxins and renal protection. The preliminary results revealed that rheum enema through colon could accelerate intestinal dynamics, improve intestinal barrier function, regulate intestinal flora and reduce production and absorption of intestine-derived uremic toxins such as indoxyl sulfate, which may reduce renal fibrosis and delay renal progression. Further studies could provide more evidence for colon as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of CKD with Chinese medicine.

Effects of electroacupuncture on muscle state and electrophysiological changes in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on force-displacement value (FDV) of muscle state and electrophysiology of the muscle in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a control, a model, an electro-acupuncture acupoints (EAA), a medication, and an electro-acupuncture un-acupoints (EAU) group. All rabbits except those in the control group were subject to modeling (surgical lumbar nerve root compression). The control group was sham-operated without nerve root compression. The EAA group received electro-acupuncture at bilateral Shenshu (BL23) and Dachangshu (BL25) that were located 1.5 cun lateral to the posterior midline on the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd and 4th lumbar vertebra, respectively. The EA was 15 mm deep and the frequency was 2 Hz. Each session lasted for 20 min per day for a total of 14 times. The medication group was treated with Loxoprofen sodium by gastrogavage at 4 mg/kg per day for 14 days. The EAU group received electro-acupuncture identical to the EAA group with regard to the treatment frequency and duration except a different acupoint at the tip of rabbit tail. Muscle states were determined by measuring FDVs of the bilateral biceps femoris using the Myotonometer® fast muscle state detector. Meanwhile, the prolonged and non-prolonged insertion potentials were measured by electromyography before and after modeling and after treatment. Latency, amplitude (Amp) of evoked potential, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were also determined after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) After modeling, FDVs of right side activation (RSA, P=0.003) and right side relaxation (RSR) in the model group (P=0.000) were significantly decreased in comparison to the control group. The number of rabbits with non-prolonged insertion potentials in the model group was also significantly decreased (P=0.015) in comparison to the control group. (2) After treatment, FDVs of RSR were significantly increased in the EAA (P=0.000) and medication groups (P=0.018) in comparison to the model group. The increase in FDVs of RSR in the EAA group was significantly higher than that in EAU (P=0.000) and medication groups (P=0.002). MNCV in the model group was reduced compared with the control group (P=0.000). The reduction in MNCV after modeling was reversed in the EAA group (P=0.000) and medication group (P=0.008) after treatment and the increases were significant in both treatment groups in comparison to the model group. The EAA group had a greater MNCV recovery than the medication group (P=0.022).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electro-acupuncture could improve the rehabilitation and regeneration of FDVs and the electrophysiology index of the muscle with nerve control impairment.</p>

Effects of Chinese herbal enema therapy combined basic treatment on BUN, SCr, UA, and IS in chronic renal failure patients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the clearance role and safety of Chinese herbal enema therapy (CHET) in clearing enterogenic uremic toxins in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients, thus providing evidence for further optimizing the comprehensive treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using nonrandomized concurrent control trial, 96 CRF inpatients of Department of Nephropathy, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, from March 2010 to December 2010 were assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to their willingness. All patients were treated with basic treatment referring to clinical plans in the non-dialysis phase, while those in the treatment group were additionally treated with CHET, once daily, 2 weeks as one therapeutic course. The symptoms, serum enterogenic uremic toxin levels [including indoxyl sulfate (IS), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and uric acid (UA)], and serum creatinine (SCr) were observed in the two groups between and after treatment. The adverse reactions were also monitored during the treatment period. The clinical efficacy and safety were also assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 84 patients completed this clinical observation, 48 in the treatment group and 36 in the control group. The levels of SCr, BUN, and IS were obviously lower in the treatment group after treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with before treatment (P<0.01). There was no statistical difference in each index in the control group between before and after treatment (P>0.05). The post-treatment the IS level was lower in the treatment group than in the control group with statistical difference (P<0.05). Symptoms like fatigue, soreness of waist and knees, constipation and edema were partially relieved in both groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). The ratios of anorexia and nausea in patients of the treatment group was lowered after treatment (P<0.05). Besides, patients in the treatment group could defecate for more than once daily during the enema treatment period, dominated as rotten and soft feces. No severe adverse event occurred during the treatment period.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CHET combined basic treatment could lower the serum levels of enterogenic uremic toxins (IS and BUN) of CRF patients in a short period.</p>

Correlation study on effects of electroacupuncture on the muscle condition and MNCV in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on the muscle condition and electrophysiology of the muscle in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression and to explore potential mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a medication group and an electroacupuncture group. The rabbit model with lumbar nerve root compression was established in the model group, the medication group and the electroacupuncture group. The model and the treatment were not produced in the normal group. The medication group was treated with oral administration of Loxoprofen tablets at a dose of 30 mg each day for 14 days. The electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) of L5 and L6 for 14 days. The hibateral muscle condition before and after making model and after treatment was detected and the electromyogram and the nerve conduction velocity (NCV) were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The spontaneous potential and the insertion potential were increased in the model group, the medication group and the electroacupuncture group after making model. The value of the activation and the relaxed condition of the strength-creep (ARCSC) in the right muscle was significantly decreased. The motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and the wave amplitude of evoked potential (WAEP) were significantly decreased in the model group, the medication group and the electroacupuncture group after treatment, but the value of MNCV and WAEP in the electroacupuncture group, and ARCSC in the right muscle in the electroacupuncture group and the medicine group were closed to those level in the normal group, among them, the relaxed condition in the electroacupuncture group was more close to the level in the normal group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture can improve the strength-creep condition of the muscle that damage nerve place controls and the electrophysiology of the muscle can recover the MNCV and the wave amplitude of evoked potential in the compression nerve root.</p>

Effects of warm needle moxibustion on nerve root local inflammatory factors (NOS and CGRP) in the lumbar nerve root compress model rats / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism of acupuncture for treatment of lumbar nerve root compression injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, a normal group, a model group treated by saline, a medication group treated with Caerulein, an acupuncture group treated with acupuncture at L5, L6 Jiaji (EX-B 2) and a warm needle group treated with acupuncture and moxibustion at L5, L6 Jiaji (EX-B 2). The lumbar nerve root compress injury model was made by placing microsilica gel tablet. After they were treated for 14 days, the compressed nerve root was taken and the ultra-microstructure changes of the injured nerve root were observed by electron microscope and changes of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expressions were investigated by ELISA assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The changes of ultra-microstructure of the nerve root were the most obvious in the model group and the changes in the medication group, the acupuncture group and the warming needle group reduced in order; the NOS activity and CGRP content in the nerve root tissue of the compressed area in the warm needle group were significantly reduced as compared with the model group (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference as compared with those in the normal group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Warm needle treatment can effectively maintain cellular form, and ultra-microstructures of nerve root dorsal root ganglia, and effectively inhibit the release of inflammatory factors NOS and CGRP.</p>

Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture at pain points for treatment of myofascial pain syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture at pain points and massage combined with medicine on myofascial pain syndrome (MPS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifty cases were randomly divided into an observation group (n=90) and a control group (n=60). The observation group was treated with needle-sticking method combined with single-finger meditation pushing therapy at pain points, and the control group with local application of Votalin Emulgel combined with Tuina. All the patients were treated for 1 course and followed up after 3 months and their therapeutic effects were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant differences in cumulative scores of symptoms before and after treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.01), and there were no significant differences in the pain and pressure pain between the two groups (P > 0.05), and there were significant differences in the muscle spasm and joint range of motion between the two groups (P < 0.05); after treatment, the markedly effective rate and the total effective rate in the observation group were 57.8% and 94.4% respectively, and were 31.7% and 73.3% respectively in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Needle-sticking method combined with single-finger meditation pushing therapy at pain points can effectively alleviate pain and pressure pain in the patients with MPS and it has better therapeutic effect in the markedly effective rate and the total effective rate as well as improvement of muscle spasm and joint range of motion than local application of Votalin Emulgel combined with Tuina.</p>

Gefitinib in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer with brain metastasis / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Brain metastasis is frequently found in patient with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Gefitinib is a inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor and can be used for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of Gefitinib in advanced NSCLC patients with brain metastasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-four consecutive NSCLC patients with brain metastases were treated with gefitinib, which was administered orally at daily dose of 250 mg. Of these patients, 30 had been treated with WBRT and 42 received chemotherapy one month before enrolled into the study.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Partial response (PR) was observed in 14 patients (31.8%), stable disease (SD) in 21 (47.7%) with an overall disease control rate of 79.5%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9 months and median overall survival (OS) was 13.0 months. The difference in disease control rate between the patients who had previous WBRT and those without was not significant (P = 0.566). The toxicity is mild and tolerable.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our data shows that Gefitinib is safe and may be effective on brain metastasis, which may become an alternative treatment option for the patient with advanced NSCLC.</p>

Expression and value of hnRNP B1 in sputum of patients with lung cancer by immunohistochemistry method / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The expression of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A2/B1 increases significantly in lung cancer tissues. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of hnRNP B1 in exfoliative cells in the sputum of patients with lung cancer and its sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of hnRNP B1 in sputum was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using anti-hnRNP B1 monoclonal antibody in 70 patients with lung cancer and 30 normal subjects (control group).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of sputum exfoliative cytology were 27 positive in 70 samples diagnosed with lung cancer, whose sensitivity and specificity were 38.6% and 100.0% respectively. The results of sputum immunohistochemistry were 50 positive in 70 samples, with 23 positive in 29 squamous cell carcinoma and 17 positive in 26 adenocarcinoma and 10 positive in 15 small cell lung carcinoma. Sputum IHC of hnRNP B1 gave a sensitivity of 71.4% and specificity of 93.3%. Sputum IHC of hnRNP B1 was more sensitive than sputum exfoliative cytology (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>hnRNP B1 overexpresses in sputum exfoliative cells and its sensitivity is better than sputum exfoliative cytology in diagnosis of lung cancer.</p>

Clinical Analysis of 30 Cases of Hypophosphatemic Rickets / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the causes,clinical characteristics and new measurements concerning with diagnosis and treatment of hypophosphatemic rickets.Methods Thirty children with hypophosphatemic rickets had been diagnosed and treated in our hospital from 1996 to 2005.Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed,including family history(the attack rates of parents and styles of inheritances),clinial characteristics(the attack ages and severity of skeletal developing malformation),serum biochemistry(plasma calcium,phosphate and alkaline phosphatase level),and X-ray in bones and treatment methods.Results All these patients presented with typical manifestations and signs of rickets.The minimum age of definitive diagnosis of hypophosphatemic rickets was 1.5 years old;the maximal age was 10 years old.All of 30 cases had failed to conventional treatment of vitamin D(VitD) deficient rickets for 6 months.Early supply of phosphate,VitD and calcium could effectively improve the outcomes of patients.Patients diagnosed and treated before 2 years old had better prognosis,while that diagnosed and treated later than 5 years old would be result in severe skeletal malformation.Conclusions It is difficult to distinguish hypophosphatemic rickets from VitD deficient rickets.It is very important that misdiagnosis of this disease usually leads to severe skeletal malformation.Early diagnosis and treatment can effectively improve the skeletal development of patients.

Expression of hnRNP A2/B1 in human lung cancer cell lines / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To explore the mRNA expression of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A2/B1 in human lung cancer cell lines.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Expression of hnRNP A2/B1 and hnRNP B1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR using specific primers. Expression of hnRNP B1 protein was examined by immunocytochemistry using specific anti-hnRNP B1 antibody.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>RT-PCR indicated that the hnRNP A2/B2 and hnRNP B1 mRNA existed in the lung adenocarcinoma cell lines SPC-A1 and Y-90, squamous cell carcinoma cell line A431 and small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H446. According to immunocytochemistry results, the expression of hnRNP B1 was observed in lung cancer cell lines, but the expression in squamous cell carcinoma cell line A431 and small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H446 was markedly higher than that in adenocarcinoma cell lines SPC-A1 and Y-90.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results suggest that the human lung cancer cell lines detected have overexpression of hnRNP A2/B1 and hnRNP B1.</p>