Arenobufagin-loaded PEG-PLA nanoparticles for reducing toxicity and enhancing cancer therapy.

Arenobufagin (ArBu) is a natural anticancer drug with good anti-tumor effects, but its clinical applications and drug development potential are limited due to its toxicity. The purpose of this study is to reduce the toxic side effects of ArBu and improve the efficacy of tumor treatment by incorporating it into poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly (lactide) co-polymer (PEG-PLA). ArBu@PEG-PLA micelles were prepared by a thin film hydration method. The optimized micelles were characterized by size, stability, drug loading, encapsulation rate, and drug release. The tumor-inhibition efficacy of the micelles was evaluated on A549 cells and tumor-bearing mice. The ArBu@PEG-PLA micelles have good drug-loading capacity, release performance, and stability. They can accumulate at the tumor site through the EPR effect. The micelles induce apoptosis through a mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Compared with the free ArBu, the ArBu@PEG-PLA micelles had lower toxicity and higher safety in the acute toxicity evaluation experiment. The in vivo anti-tumor experiment with tumor-bearing mice showed that the tumor-inhibition rate of ArBu@PEG-PLA micelles was 72.9%, which was 1.28-fold higher than that of free ArBu (57.1%), thus showing a good tumor treatment effect. This study indicates that ArBu@PEG-PLA polymeric micelles can significantly improve the toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of ArBu. These can lead to a new therapeutic strategy to reduce the toxicity of ArBu and enhance tumor treatment.

Clinical effect of minimally invasive catheterization based on computer 3D-Slicer software system in the treatment of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of minimally invasive catheterization based on computer 3D-Slicer software system in the treatment of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH).Methods:Three hundred and fifty patients with HICH treated in People′s Hospital of Lanling County in Shandongfrom June 2019 to June 2020 were selected as the research object. According to the operation method, they were divided into 3D-Slicer group (175 cases) and CT group (175 cases). They were treated with 3D-Slicer software-assisted minimally invasive catheterization and minimally invasive soft-channel drainage under CT localization, respectively. The general conditions of the surgery, hematoma clearance rate and laboratory indexes, oxidative stress index and prognosis were compared between the two groups.Results:The intraoperative blood loss, the hospitalizationtimein the 3D-Slicer group were lower than those in the CT group: (81.42 ± 12.33) ml vs. (101.54 ± 11.71) ml, (15.67 ± 3.71) d vs. (17.22 ± 3.52) d; the success rate of one-time successful puncture to preset position in the 3D-Slicer group was higher than that in the CT group: 100.00%(175/175) vs. 81.14%(142/175), there were statistical differences ( χ 2 = 34.26, P<0.05). The hematoma clearance rate after the surgery for 1, 3 and 7d in the 3D-Slicer group were higher than those in the CT group:(87.93 ± 8.54)% vs. (66.43 ± 7.99)%, (92.48 ± 10.31)% vs. (89.52 ± 11.74)%, (96.37 ± 10.22)% vs. (94.30 ± 9.25)%, there were statistical differences( P<0.05). After the surgery for 7 d, the levels of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the 3D-Slicer group were higher than those in the CT group: (121.36 ± 10.59)U/L vs. (109.14 ± 9.05) U/L, (92.80 ± 8.63) μg/L vs. (81.45 ± 9.11) μg/L, (24.64 ± 5.43) U/L vs. (20.84 ± 3.47) U/L; while the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was lower than that in the CT group: (4.42 ± 0.57)μmol/L vs. (5.19 ± 0.51) μmol/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). After the surgery for 3 months, the rate of favorable prognosis in the 3D-Slicer group was higher than that in the CT group 73.71%(129/175) vs. 62.29%(199/175), there was statistical difference ( χ2 = 5.25, P<0.05). Conclusions:Minimally invasive catheterization based on 3D-Slicer software system in the treatment of HICH can not only improve the clinical efficacy, but also shorten the hospitalization time, reduce intraoperative blood loss, and improve the prognosis.

Quantifying the rebound of influenza epidemics after relaxing nonpharmaceutical interventions during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in China

The co-existence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and seasonal influenza epidemics has become a potential threat to human health, particularly in China in the oncoming season. However, with the relaxation of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, the rebound extent of the influenza activities is still poorly understood. In this study, we constructed a susceptible-vaccinated-infectious-recovered-susceptible (SVIRS) model to simulate influenza transmission and calibrated it using influenza surveillance data from 2018 to 2022. We projected the influenza transmission over the next 3 years using the SVIRS model. We observed that, in epidemiological year 2021-2022, the reproduction numbers of influenza in southern and northern China were reduced by 38.6% and 30.2%, respectively, compared with those before the pandemic. The percentage of people susceptible to influenza virus increased by 138.6% and 57.3% in southern and northern China by October 1, 2022, respectively. After relaxing NPIs, the potential accumulation of susceptibility to influenza infection may lead to a large-scale and early influenza outbreak in the year 2022-2023, the scale of which may be affected by the intensity of the NPIs. And later relaxation of NPIs in the year 2023 would not lead to much larger rebound of influenza activities in the year 2023-2024. To control the influenza epidemic to the pre-pandemic level after relaxing NPIs, the influenza vaccination rates in southern and northern China should increase to 56.2% and 47.3%, respectively. Vaccination for influenza should be advocated to reduce the potential reemergence of the influenza epidemic in the next few years.

Metabolic outcomes of type 2 diabetes patients with different diabetic durations under the standardized metabolic disease management model / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective:To explore the metabolic outcomes of type 2 diabetes patients with different durations after 1 year treatment under the standardized metabolic disease management model.Methods:(1)From September 2017 to September 2018, 345 type 2 diabetes patients in the Standardized Metabolic Management Center(MMC) of Shanghai General Hospital were recruited and included in this research. They were divided into newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes(duration≤1 year) and long-term groups(duration>1 year). The general characteristics, blood pressures, glycemic levels, lipids levels, control rates and comprehensive compliance rates(blood glucose, pressure and lipids all reached targets) were compared at baseline between 2 groups.(2)All patients underwent one year standardized management, and metabolic indicators mentioned above and control rates at the time were compared as well.Results:(1) At baseline, compared with long-term group, patients in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes group were younger ( P<0.01), and 2 h blood glucose level after glucose loading were higher [(15.20±5.26 vs 13.68±4.94) mmol/L, P<0.01]. (2) After one year standardized management, body weight, blood pressure, glucose and lipids metabolism in all patients were significantly improved. Compared with patients in long-term group, newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients achieved better glycemic level [fasting blood glucose(6.27±1.56 vs 7.63±2.08) mmol/L, P<0.01; glycated hemoglobin(6.33±0.96 vs 7.23±1.37) %, P<0.01] , and had higher HOMA-β [(74.01±56.45 vs 40.17±37.07) %, P<0.01]. The glycemic control, blood pressure and blood lipids control rates in both groups increased significantly in one year. Comprehensive compliance rate of the whole patients increased from 5.80% to 24.06%. The metabolism indexes of the newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes group were better than those of the long-term group[comprehensive compliance rate: (24.73% vs 17.18%, P=0.087, glycemic control rate(84.62% vs 53.37%, P<0.01)]. Conclusion:Standardized metabolic disease management promoted the overall improvement in blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipids levels in type 2 diabetes patients, especially in terms of blood glucose and those of the newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes. In the future, we should focus on the early diagnosis and treatment of type 2 diabetes, actively promote the MMC model and stress the integrated management of blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels. We should pay more attention to the long-term patients, to improve their awareness and treatment compliance.

Theoretical construction of competency model for rural family physicians on contract / 中华医院管理杂志

Family physicians on contract for rural families play an important role in primary medical and health services. This research raises for the first time the practical function and position of rural family physicians on contract. On this basis, a theoretical competency model of rural family physicians was constructed by referring to McClelland′s competency dictionary, relevant policy documents in China and literatures at hand. The model included six level-1 dimension indicators: achievement, management, service, cognition, influence, and self-efficacy, as well as 17 level-2 dimension indicators. At the same time, the paper explained in detail these indicators and compared them with the international indicators of family physicians, highlighting the working characteristics and practical needs of family physicians on contract in rural China.

Approach to the patient with lymphocytic hypophysitis during postpartum who presented with pituitary crisis / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Lymphocytic hypophysitis(LYH) is a rare autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the pituitary gland, usually affecting young women in late pregnancy or postpartum period. To enhance the knowledge of LYH, herein we reported a case of LYH in a female during postpartum who presented with pituitary crisis.

Glycemic control of newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes with different baseline body mass index under the standardized metabolic disease management model / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective@#To explore the glycemic control of newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes with different levels of baseline body mass index (BMI) after 6 months treatment under the standardized metabolic disease management model.@*Methods@#(1) 163 patients of newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes were divided into normal weight (BMI 18.5-23.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 24.0-27.9 kg/m2), and obese (BMI≥28 kg/m2) groups according to baseline BMI, the blood glucose and lipids levels were compared among 3 groups. (2) The blood glucose levels were compared among 3 groups after 6 months of standardized management. (3) The overweight and obese patients were divided into group weight loss≥5% and group weight loss<5% or weight gain in 6 months. The blood glucose levels were compared.@*Results@#(1) At baseline, overweight and obese groups had higher homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance and lower high density lipoprotein-cholesterol compared with normal weight group. (2) After 6 months of treatment, HbA1C and HbA1C reduction showed no difference among 3 groups (normal, overweight and obese) after adjusted by baseline HbA1C. The rate of HbA1C<7% among 3 groups were 77.78%, 83.95%, and 80.43% (P>0.05). (3) After 6 months of treatment, 32.28% overweight and obese patients lost weight by ≥ 5%, while HbA1Cand HbA1Creduction showed no difference between 2 groups (weight loss≥5% and weight gain or weight loss<5%) after adjusted by baseline HbA1C. Both groups achieved good glycemic control [(6.27±1.38 vs 6.43±0.66)%], but have no significantly(P>0.05). Group weight loss≥5% had better glucose control (92.68% vs 77.91%, P<0.05).@*Conclusions@#As BMI increased, insulin resistance and lipid disorders were more serious in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes. After 6 months of standardized metabolic management, newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes with different baseline BMI and weight changes both achieved good glycemic control. In addition, patients losing weight equal to or more than 5% achieved higher attainment of HbA1C targets.

Glycemic control of newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes with different baseline body mass index under the standardized metabolic disease management model / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To explore the glycemic control of newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes with different levels of baseline body mass index ( BMI ) after 6 months treatment under the standardized metabolic disease management model. Methods ( 1) 163 patients of newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes were divided into normal weight (BMI 18.5-23.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 24.0-27.9 kg/m2), and obese (BMI≥28 kg/m2) groups according to baseline BMI, the blood glucose and lipids levels were compared among 3 groups. ( 2) The blood glucose levels were compared among 3 groups after 6 months of standardized management. ( 3) The overweight and obese patients were divided into group weight loss≥5％and group weight loss<5％ or weight gain in 6 months. The blood glucose levels were compared. Results ( 1) At baseline, overweight and obese groups had higher homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance and lower high density lipoprotein-cholesterol compared with normal weight group. ( 2) After 6 months of treatment, HbA1C and HbA1C reduction showed no difference among 3 groups ( normal, overweight and obese) after adjusted by baseline HbA1C. The rate of HbA1C<7％among 3 groups were 77.78％, 83.95％, and 80.43％(P>0.05). (3) After 6 months of treatment, 32.28％ overweight and obese patients lost weight by ≥5％, while HbA1C and HbA1C reduction showed no difference between 2 groups ( weight loss≥5％and weight gain or weight loss<5％) after adjusted by baseline HbA1C. Both groups achieved good glycemic control [(6.27±1.38 vs 6.43±0.66)％], but have no significantly(P>0.05). Group weight loss≥5％ had better glucose control (92.68％ vs 77.91％, P<0.05) . Conclusions As BMI increased, insulin resistance and lipid disorders were more serious in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes. After 6 months of standardized metabolic management, newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes with different baseline BMI and weight changes both achieved good glycemic control. In addition, patients losing weight equal to or more than 5％achieved higher attainment of HbA1C targets.

Preoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization cannot improve the long term outcome of radical therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Combinations of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radical therapies (pretransplantation, resection and radiofrequency ablation) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been reported as controversial issues in recent years. A consecutive sample of 1560 patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A/B HCC who underwent solitary Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), resection or liver transplantation (LT) or adjuvant pre-operative TACE were included. The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates and tumor-free survival rates were comparable between the solitary radical therapy group and TACE combined group in the whole group and in each of the subgroups (RFA, resection and LT) (P > 0.05). In the subgroup analysis, according to BCLC stage A or B, the advantages of adjuvant TACE were also not observed (P > 0.05). A Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) more than 4, multiple tumor targets, BCLC stage B, and poor histological grade were significant contributors to the overall and tumor-free survival rates. In conclusions, our results indicated that preoperative adjuvant TACE did not prolong long-term overall or tumor-free survival, but LT should nevertheless be considered the first choice for BCLC stage A or B HCC patients. Radical therapies should be performed very carefully in BCLC stage B HCC patients.

Ethics Anomie in Network Media Report of Medical Disputes and Its Countermeasures / 中国医学伦理学

At present,the network media reports of Chinese medical disputes appeared blowout growth,and also brought the loss of propriety,the loss of balance,the loss of justice and other ethical issues while it played the role of public opinion supervision in the medical disputes.In view of these,from the concept definition of ethics anomie in network media report of medical disputes,this paper analyzed and interpreted the ethics anomie in network media report of medical disputes,pointed out existing problems and further put forward creating the network media professional ethics norms,establishing a social supervisory system which integrates self-discipline and heteronomy,building a doctor-patient docking platform and other perfecting countermeasures.

Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage B hepatocellular carcinoma: transarterial chemoembolization or hepatic resection?

According to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) guidelines, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is recommended for BCLC stage B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, an investigation of the use of resection for BCLC stage B is needed. Therefore, we compared the efficacy and safety of hepatic resection (HR) with that of TACE in treating intermediate HCC.We retrospectively enrolled 923 patients with BCLC stage B HCC who underwent TACE (490 cases) or HR (433 cases). The baseline characteristics, postoperative recoveries, and long-term overall survival rates of the patients in these 2 groups were compared. Subgroup analyses and comparisons were also performed between the 2 groups.The baseline demographic and tumor characteristics, in-hospital mortality rate, and 30-day mortality rate were comparable between the 2 groups. However, the patients in the resection group suffered from more serious complications compared with those in the TACE group (11.1% vs 4.7%, respectively, P < 0.01) as well as longer hospital stays (P < 0.05). The resection patients had significantly better overall survival rates than the TACE patients (P < 0.01). In the TACE group, patients with Lipiodol retention showed much higher 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates than those in the noncompact Lipiodol retention group (P < 0.01). Subgroup analyses revealed that patients with 1 to 3 tumor targets showed much better 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates in the resection group (P < 0.01), but no difference was observed for the patients with >3 targets.Our clinical analysis suggests that patients with BCLC stage B HCC should be recommended for resection when 1 to 3 targets are present, whereas TACE should be recommended when >3 targets are present.

Preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a single center analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The effect of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on the short- and long-term outcome of resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is controversial. We conducted a retrospective evaluation of this aspect using data from our center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 656 consecutive patients who underwent curative resection of HCC were divided into two groups based on the preoperative TACE: the liver resection (LR) group (405 cases) and the TACE-LR group (183 cases). Overall and disease-free survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. The significance of differences in survival was tested using a log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the factors that best predicted overall survival or tumor free survival. RESULTS: Although the cost of LR showed no difference between groups, the overall cost was significantly higher in the combined group than in the LR group (P < 0.001). The complication rate after resection was also comparable between the two groups. In regard to long-term outcome, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 83.7, 68.9 and 57.5%, respectively, after direct liver resection and 80.9, 65.0 and 54.1%, respectively, after combined TACE and resection (P = 0.739). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence- free survival rates were also comparable between two groups (P = 0.205). Both univariate analysis and multivariate analysis showed that macro-vascular invasion was the factor that best predicted overall survival or tumor-free survival rate. CONCLUSION: Preoperative TACE has comparable intraoperative and short-term outcomes but more overall cost due to repeated TACE, and the procedure did not significantly improve the overall or tumor-free survival rate. Preoperative TACE should not, therefore, be recommended as a routine procedure before resection for resectable HCCs particularly in cases due to underlying hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Clinical characters of elderly patients with ulcerative colitis in Shenyang district / 中国综合临床

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics between elderly and non-elderly patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in order to provide the base for diagnosis and management of the disease.Methods Two hundred and four patients with UC admitted to Shengjing Hospital from January 2009 to December 2011 were enrolled in this study.The patients were divided into elderly group (≥60 years of age) and non-elderly group(＜ 60 years of age).The clinical manifestation,laboratory examination indices and endoscopic feature were recorded and analyzed.Results Among the 204 cases with UC,33 (16.2％,33/204) were elderly patients,and 171 (83.8％,171/204) were non-elderly patients.Onset peak of U C was ranged from 30-39 years old.There was no significant difference in terms of other indices of clinical presentations,extraintestinal manifestations,complications,clinical and endoscopic score between two groups.The rate of abdominal distension,constipation,difficult defecation,alteration of intestinal flora,hypokalemia and hypoproteinemia in elderly group were 36.4％,9.1％,6.1％,66.7％,45.5％,36.4％ respectively,higher than that in in nonelderly group (14.6％,1.2％,0.6％,48.0％,14.0％,20.5％ respectively),and there was significant differences between groups (x2 =8.808,7.260,5.724,3.876,17.660 and 3.942 respectively,P ＜ 0.05).Endoscopic examination revealed that the colonic lesion parts in elderly patients was limited in left-side colon and protosigmoid,which was different from that of no-elderly group (P =0.044).Conclusion The elderly patients showed a similar clinical manifestation with non-elderly patients.However,the colonic lesion parts in elder group was limited to left-side colon and protosigmoid.They also had the higher rate of hypoproteinemia,hypokalemia and alteration of intestinal flora,which needed to pay more attention.