Comparison of high-and standard-dose radiotherapy during definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of high- and standard-dose radiotherapy (HD-RT vs. SD-RT) during definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (dCCRT) for esophageal cancer (EC), aiming to assess the advantages and disadvantages of these two radiotherapy doses when using modern radiotherapy techniques. Methods:Literature review was conducted from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang database, and abstracts of the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the European Society of Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO). Randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing high-dose radiotherapy (HD-RT: ≥59.4 Gy,1.8 Gy per time) with standard-dose radiotherapy (SD-RT: 50 Gy, 2 Gy per time, or 50.4 Gy, 1.8 Gy per time) during dCCRT for EC were included. The retrieval time was from the establishment of the database to January 1, 2023. The meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 software.Results:A total of 1 158 patients from 5 RCT that meet the inclusion criteria were finally included. In 4 RCT, subgroup analysis of 940 patients using modern radiotherapy techniques were performed. Patients in the HD-RT and SD-RT groups had similar 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival (OS)( RR=1.03, 95% CI=0.86-1.22, P=0.757; RR=1.05, 95% CI=0.94-1.17, P=0.433; RR=1.05, 95% CI=0.96-1.14, P=0.314; respectively) and 2- and 3-year locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS) ( RR=0.94, 95% CI=0.82-1.08, P=0.390; RR=0.96, 95% CI=0.86-1.09, P=0.560; respectively). Patients in the HD-RT group had a higher incidence of grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse reactions rates ( OR=1.35, 95% CI=1.03-1.77, P=0.029) and treatment-related death rates ( OR=1.66, 95% CI=0.97-2.83, P=0.062) compared with their counterparts in the SD-RT group. In the subgroup analysis using modern radiotherapy techniques, HD-RT did not improve LRPFS compared to SD-RT, but increased the incidence of adverse reactions, and yielded no OS benefit. Conclusions:Whether modern precision radiation therapy is employed or not, SD-RT yields similar LRPFS and OS, and lower grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse reactions rates compared with HD-RT. Therefore, standard-dose (50 Gy, 2 Gy per time, or 50.4 Gy, 1.8 Gy per time) should be considered as the recommended dose in dCCRT for EC. Further RCT are needed to verify our conclusions.

Computed tomography with low-dose radiation versus standard-dose radiation for diagnosing fractures: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) accounts for 13% of all radiological examinations in the United States and 40-70% of the radiation that patients receive. Even with the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT continues to be the gold standard for diagnosing bone fractures. There is uncertainty as to whether CT with a low radiation dose has a fracture detection rate similar to that of standard-dose CT. OBJECTIVE: To determine the detection rate of low-dose radiation CT and standard-dose radiation CT for fractures, in patients with suspected fractures. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review of comparative studies on diagnostic accuracy within the evidence-based health program at a federal university in São Paulo (SP), Brazil. METHODS: We searched the electronic databases Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE and LILACS up to June 29, 2020, for studies evaluating the detection rates of low-dose CT and standard-dose CT for diagnosing bone fractures. The Research Triangle Institute (RTI) item bank tool was used for methodological quality evaluation. RESULTS: The fracture detection rate according to the number of bones evaluated, using CT with low-dose radiation was 20.3%, while with standard-dose radiation it was 19.2%, and the difference between the methods was not significant. The fracture detection rate according to the number of patients, using CT with low-dose radiation was 56.0%, while with standard-dose radiation it was 58.7%, and this difference between the methods was not significant, either. CONCLUSION: CT with low-dose radiation presented detection rates similar to those of CT with standard-dose radiation, regardless of the bones evaluated. REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019148491 at the PROSPERO database.

Comparison of the Effectiveness and Safety of Intensified Dose and Standard Dose of Mycophenolic Acids for Adult Renal Transplant Recipients ：A Meta-analysis / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE：To compare the effectiveness and safety of int ensified dose and standard dose of mycophenolic acids （MPA）for kidney transplant recipients ，and to provide evidence-based reference for clinical use of drugs. METHODS ：Retrieved from Embase ，PubMed，Cochrane library ，Clinical trials ，CNKI，Wanfang database and CBM ，randomized controlled trial （RCT） and cohort study about intensified dose and standard dose of clinical commonly used Mycophenotate mofetil （MMF） and Mycophenolate sodium enteric-coated tablet （EC-MPS）for adult kidney transplant recipients were collected during the inception to Mar. 2020. After literature screening and data extraction ，the quality of RCTs were evaluated with bias risk evaluation tool recommended by Cochrane system evaluator manual 5.0. The quality of cohort study was evaluated by NOS scale. Meta-analysis was performed by using Rev Man 5.3 software，and sensitivity analysis was conducted. RESULTS ：A total of 8 studies were included，involving 6 RCTs，2 cohort studies ，with 1 637 patients involved. Meta-analysis results showed that ，the incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection （BPAR）[RR＝0.65，95％CI（0.48，0.89），P＝0.007] and cytomegalovirus （CMV）infection [RR ＝ 0.39，95％CI（0.17，0.91），P＝0.03] in intensified dose groupwere significantly lower than control group. Subgroup analysis by drug showed that the incidence of BPAR in MMF intensive dose group [RR ＝0.72，95％CI（0.53，0.99），P＝0.04] and EC-MPS intensive dose group [RR ＝0.19，95％ CI （0.04， 0.81），P＝0.03] was significantly lower than that in standard zhaorongsheng@bjmu.edu.cn dose group ； there was n o statistical significance in the incidence of CMV infection in MMF intensive dose group [RR ＝0.16，95％CI（0.02，1.33），P＝0.09] and EC-MPS intensive dose group [RR ＝0.51，95％CI（0.20，1.30），P＝0.16]，compared with standard dose group （P＞0.05）. There was no significant difference in the incidence of rejection，treatment failure ，graft loss ，termination of treatment ，death，overall adverse events ， infection（overall），BK virus infection ，urinary tract infection ，hematological adverse events （overall），leucopenia，anemia， thrombocytopenia，gastrointestinal adverse events （overall），nausea，vomiting or diarrhea between 2 groups（P＞0.05）. Sensitivity analysis showed that the incidence of rejection ，CMV infection and leukopenia were generally stable. CONCLUSIONS ：The efficacy and safety of early intensive dose of MPA in adult renal transplant recipients were similar to those of standard dose ，but the incidence of rejection ，CMV infection and leucopenia should be carefully interpreted.

Different doses ofearly enteral nutrition for patients with ac ute gastrointestinal dysfunction / 医学研究生学报

Objective Acute gastrointestinal dysfunction (AGD) is a common problem in critically ill patients, for whomearly enteral nutrition ( EN) is widely used, but its application dosage remains controversial.This study aimed to observe the influence of dif-ferent doses of early EN on acute gastrointestinal tolerance, new infections and other complications, inflammation indexes, and prognosis in AGD patients. Methods We selected 120 critically ill patients that met thecriteria of class-ⅡAGD and needed EN support andequal-ly randomized them intoa standard-dose and a low-dose ENgroup.The former group received EN at 20 mL/h, with an addition of 10 mL/h every 12 hours according to the tolerance and supplemented byparenteral nutrition (PN) to achieve the target calories(60%) on the 3 rd day, while the latterat 20 mL/h for 7 days, supplemented by PN to achieve the target calories on the 3 rd day and from the 7 th day gradu-ally increased to the full volume.We recorded the patients′ICUdays, hospitaldays, mortality rate, organ function support days, incidence of feeding intolerance within 7 days, incidence of new infections within 7 and 28 days, and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalci-tonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and compared these indexes between the two groups. Resulst There were no statistically significant differences between the low -and standardd-ose EN groups in the patients′ICU days, hospital days, mortality rate,organ function support days, or incidence of new infections within 7 and 28 days ( P>0.05) .The incidence of feeding intol-erance on the 7 th day was significantly lower in the low-dose than in the standard-dose EN group ( 13.3 vs 36.7%, P<0.05).On the 1st, 3rd, and 7 th day, the level of CRP was (5.90±0.72), (16.52± 3.09) , and ( 32.11 ±4.33 ) ng/L, respectively, in the low-dose groupversus(5.83±0.59), (15.83±1.19), and (33.16±4.51)ng/L in the standard-dose group, while that of PCTwas (4.71±1.25), (10.63± 2.21), and ( 16.89±3.39) ng/mL, respectively, in the former versus (4.55±0.67), (10.41±1.99), and (17.49±3.87)ng/mL in the latter, both increased in a time-dependent manner and with significant differ-ences among the three time points within the same group ( P<0.05) .The levels of TNF-αand IL-6 were elevated in the same manner and also with significant differences among the three time points within the same group ( P<0 .05) . Conc lusion Lowdose of early enteral nutrition can improve the feeding tolerance of AGDpatients, but does not influence the incidence of new infections and prognosis.

Gemcitabine in brief versus prolonged low-dose infusion, both combined with carboplatin for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Gemcitabine in low-dose prolonged infusion is a treatment with documented activity against a variety of tumors. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of gemcitabine at a low-dose prolonged infusion in comparison with standard dose gemcitabine with carboplatin in chemonaive patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: Sixty chemonaive patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC were included. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive 350mg/m 2 gemcitabine in a 6-h infusion on days 1 and 8 and carboplatin area under the serum concentration time curve (AUC) 5 on day 1 versus gemcitabine 1000mg/m 2 on days 1 and 8 and carboplatin AUC 5 on day 1 (3-week cycle both). A total of 118 chemotherapy cycles, with a median of 4 cycles per patient (range 2-6), and 134 chemotherapy cycles, with a median of 4.47 cycles per patient (range 3-6) were administered in standard and low infusional dose arm, respectively. Results: Among patients in the standard arm, 40% had overall response rate (ORR), 33.3% had stable disease and 26.6% had progressive disease, while in low-dose infusional arm, 36.6% had ORR, 36.3% had stable disease and 26.6% had progressive disease (P = 0.992). Median progression-free survival was 5.5 months and 5.4 months, median overall survival was 9.7 months and 10.7 months, and 1-year survival was 33.7% and 36.6% in standard arm and low-dose infusion arm, respectively. Grade 3/4 toxicity was rare. Conclusion: In NSCLC, gemcitabine low-dose prolonged infusion with carboplatin has low toxicity, especially thrombocytopenia, and has an activity comparable with gemcitabine given in higher dose in standard infusion.

The Diagnostic Value of a Low Dose (1ug) Rapid ACTH Stimulation Test to Assess the Adrenocortical Function / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: Insulin induced hypoglycemia has been used to assess the adrenocortical function, but may be hazardous. The standard rapid ACTH stimulation test has been advocated as a substitute but is sometimes insensitive. In this study, low dose (1ug) rapid ACTH stimulation test was compared to insulin induced hypoglycemia and standard dose (250ug) rapid ACTH stimulation. METHODS: 27 patients (14 men and 13 women) with pituitary disease and definite adrenocortical dysfunction (14 patients were confirmed by insulin induced hypoglycemia) and 23 controls (pituitary control: 3 men and 7 women, confirmed by insulin induced hypoglycemia, normal control: 8 men and 5 women) were studied. All subjects underwent rapid ACTH stimulation test with 2 different level of stimulation (1 and 250ug). Serum cortisol levels were measured at 0, 30 and 60 min after each dose of ACTH injection. A normal response was defined as a peak cortisol value of 497nrnol/L (18ug/dL) or above, RESULTS: During rapid ACTH stimulation study in controls, the peak serum cortisol level was significantly lower (690+-25lnmol/L (25.0+-9.1ug/dL) vs. 933+-257nmol/L (33.8+-9.3ug/dL); p0.1). None of these 27 patients showed normal response to low dose stimulation, but 2 of 27 did to standard dose. In controls, 19 of 23 showed normal response to low dose, and all of 23 did to standard dose (sensitivity 100% vs 92.5%, specificity 82.5% vs 100%). The results of low and high dose stimulation test agreed with those of insulin induced hypoglycemia (Kendalls g= 0.50 vs 0.92, p<0.01 vs 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of a low dose (1ug) rapid ACTH stimulation test showed good correlation with those of the standard dose (250ug) rapid ACTH stimulation test and insulin induced hypoglycemia. Thus it may be used in screening for the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency.