Systemic Inflammatory Biomarkers, Especially Fibrinogen to Albumin Ratio, Predict Prognosis in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#Systemic inflammatory response is a critical factor that promotes the initiation and metastasis of malignancies including pancreatic cancer (PC). This study was designed to determine and compare the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) in resectable PC and locally advanced or metastatic PC. @*Materials and Methods@#Three hundred fifty-three patients with resectable PC and 807 patients with locally advan-ced or metastatic PC were recruited in this study. These patients were classified into a training set (n=758) and a validation set (n=402). Kaplan-Meier survival plots and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze prognosis. @*Results@#Overall survival (OS) was significantly better for patients with resectable PC with low preoperative PLR (p=0.048) and MLR (p=0.027). Low FAR, MLR, NLR (p < 0.001), and PLR (p=0.003) were significantly associated with decreased risk of death for locally advanced or metastatic PC patients. FAR (hazard ratio [HR], 1.522; 95% confidential interval [CI], 1.261 to 1.837; p < 0.001) and MLR (HR, 1.248; 95% CI, 1.017 to 1.532; p=0.034) were independent prognostic factors for locally advanced or metastatic PC. @*Conclusion@#The prognostic roles of FAR, MLR, NLR, and PLR in resectable PC and locally advanced or metastatic PC were different. FAR showed the most prognostic power in locally advanced or metastatic PC. Low FAR was positively correlated with OS in locally advanced or metastatic PC, which could be used to predict the prognosis.

Effect of Shen warming Pi strengthening method on the expression of serum T cell subsets in IBS-D rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Shen warming Pi strengthening method on expressions of serum T cell subsets (C045+%, C03+%, and C04 +/COB+) in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-0) rats. Methods An IBS-0 rat model was established referring to AL-Chaer's modeling method combined with tail clamp and intragastric administration of sanna leaf. After modeling 30 SO rats were randomly divided into 6 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the model group, the high, middle, low dose Wenshen Jianpi Recipe (WJR) groups, and the Sishen Pill control group, 6 in each group. A normal control group consisting of 6 SO rats were also set up. Rats in high, middle, low dose WJ R groups were administered by gastrogavage with boil-free WJ R at the daily dose of 3. 100, 1. 550, 0. 775 g/kg, respectively. Rats in the Sis hen Pill control group were administered by gastrogavage with boil-free Sis hen Pill at the daily dose of 0. 736 g/kg. Equal volume of normal saline was given by gastrogavage to rats in the model group and the normal control group. All medication lasted for 2 successive weeks. Rats' general state, expressions of T cell subsets (CD45+%, CD3+%, and CD4+ /CDB+) changes were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal control group, expressions of CD45+% and CD3+% increased, but CD4+ /CDB+ decreased with statistical difference (P < 0. 05). Compared with the model group, expressions of CD45+% and CD3+% decreased, but CD4+ ICDB+ increased with statistical difference in high, middle, low dose WJR groups, and the Sis hen Pill control group (P <0. 05). Compared with the Sis hen Pill control group, there was statistical difference in all indices except CD45+ value in the low dose SWPSM group (P <0. 05). Compared with the low dose WJ R group, the expression of CD3+% decreased in high and middle dose WJR groups, and the Sis hen Pill control group; CD4+ /CD8+ increased in the Sishen Pill control group and the high dose SWPSM group (all P < 0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>WJR showed better treatment effect. The mechanism of Shen warming Pi strengthening method might be achieved by regulating expressions of CD45+% and CD3+%, and CD4+ /CD8+ ratios.</p>

Shen warming Pi strengthening method intervened IBS-D rats: an efficacy assessment / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>IBS-D rat model was established to assess the effect of Shen warming Pi strengthening method (SWPSM) for intervening diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) by observing rats' general state, stool properties, AWR ranking, and histopathological changes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 72 rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e. the normal group, the model group, the high, middle, low dose SWPSM groups, and the control group, 12 in each group. The IBS-D rat model was successfully established referring to AL-Chaer ED's modeling method. After modeling high, middle, and low dose SWPS Recipe boil-free granules were given by gastrogavage to rats in corresponding treatment groups. Sishen Pill boil-free granule was given by gastrogavage to those in the control group. Equal volume of normal saline was given by gastrogavage to rats in the model group. The medication lasted for 2 weeks. Rats' general state, stool properties, abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) ranking, and histopathological changes were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the general state of all rats got im- provement to various degrees. The improvement in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups were superior to that in the low dose SWPS Recipe group and the control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the growth rate between after and before treatment in each group (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group and the low dose SWPS Recipe group, the defecation amount within 4 h was less in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups and the control group (P < 0.05). The Bristol ranking score, average ranking of loose stool, ratio of dry stool and wet stool were lower in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups than in the control group and the low dose SWPS Recipe group (P < 0.05). The AWR ranking score was lower in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups than in the control group when the volume of balloon dilation was 1.5 mL. There was no organic change of histological or morphological observation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>High sensitive IBS-D model was proved to be reliable. SWPSM could reduce the quantity of stools, lower Bristol ranking score, average ranking of loose stools as well as ratios of dry stool and wet stool, contributing to reducing the high sensitivity of rats' visceral organs to some extent.</p>

Outcomes of different surgical procedures in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis in adults

To investigate surgical methods and outcomes in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis [TB] in adults. One hundred and eighty-one patients [average age 39 years] without multiple-level noncontiguous spinal TB were followed up for 22-72 months. The patients were divided into four groups according to surgical procedure on the basis of the position and extension of the foci: group A [74 cases]: anterior radical debridement and strut grafting with instrumentation; group B [83 cases]: posterior instrumentation and bone grafting with anterior radical debridement and strut grafting in a single- or two-stage procedure; group C [10 cases]: extrapleural anterolateral decompression and strut grafting with posterior instrumentation in thoracic or thoracolumbar spine, and group D [27 cases]: single-stage transforaminal decompression and posterior instrumentation and fusion. There was a significant decrease [p < 0.05] in mean preoperative [81%] Oswestry's Disability Index. Except for 24 patients with lumbosacral TB who were only instrumented posteriorly, kyphosis degrees were corrected by a mean of 11.5°C in the anterior instrumentation group and 12.6°C in the posterior instrumentation group [p < 0.01]. The correction loss was 6.8°C in the anterior instrumentation group and 6.1°C in the posterior instrumentation group at the last follow-up [p < 0.01]. The four surgical procedures obtained good results for correction and maintenance of the correction, clearance of the foci, decompression of the spinal cord and pain relief in the treatment of spinal TB in adults, providing that the operative indication is accurately identified. However, the posterior approach was superior to anterior instrumentation for correcting deformity and maintaining the correction

Is allograft a procedure with high-risk in anterior cervical fusion / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The anterior cervical autograft or allograft interbody fusion had become an accepted fusion technique for treating patients with degenerative disorders of the cervical spine. In this retrospective review, a comparison of allograft and autograft of bone was presented.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective review of 103 patients who had undergone allograft fusion and 145 patients with autograft fusion between 1997 and 2003, was conducted. Demographics, early complications and length of stay of patient were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Longer time on operation with the use of autograft (P < 0.001) and significant increase in length of stay were observed after autograft (P < 0.001). Complication of infections in autograft group was higher than allograft (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both autograft and allograft were effective during fusion procedures. Allograft did not appear to be a high risk factor and could decrease medical cost thus could be used clinically for anterior cervical fusion.</p>