Short-term intermittent prophylactic administration of recombinant human thrombopoietin attenuates chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in lung cancer patients / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy of short-term intermittent prophylactic use of a recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) in chemotherapy-induced severe thrombocytopenia in lung cancer patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>24 advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who experienced severe thrombocytopenia in the last chemotherapy cycle received prophylactic rhTPO treatment in the next chemotherapy cycle (prophylactic treated cycle, PTC). rhTPO was given subcutaneously 300 U×kg(-1)×d(-1) on days 2, 4, 6, and 9 after the initiation of chemotherapy. Platelet count was monitored and compared with that in the previous treatment cycle (control cycle, CC).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The lowest platelet count in the prophylactic rhTPO cycle was significantly higher than that in control cycle [(56 ± 16) × 10(9)/L vs. (28 ± 13) × 10(9)/L, P < 0.001]. The duration of thrombocytopenia was also shortened by the prophylactic rhTPO [(8 ± 2) d vs. (12 ± 3) d, P < 0.001]. The area under curve (AUC) of platelet count (21 days) was significantly increased [(3517 ± 685) × 10(9)/L vs. (2063 ± 436) × 10(9)/L, P < 0.001]. The time to platelet nadir and peak was not affected.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prophylactic use of rhTPO can attenuate the severity and shorten the duration of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in lung cancer patients.</p>

Evaluation of recombinant human thrombopoietin in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in lung cancer patients / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) in treatment for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-one lung cancer patients with platelet count < 100 x 10(9)/L after chemotherapy were enrolled into this study. They were divided into three groups: mild, moderate and severe thrombocytopenia groups according to the platelet count. rhTPO was subcutaneously administered at a dosage of 300 microg kg(-1) d(-1) until the platelet count >or= 100 x 10(9)/L or absolute value of platelet count >or= 50 x 10(9)/L. Laboratory tests included routine blood count, serum biochemistry, and blood coagulation test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The duration of the chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia was significantly shorter in the mild group than that in the moderate and severe groups (P < 0.01). After administration of rhTPO, the time of declined platelet count beginning to recover was also significantly shorter in the mild group than that in the moderate and severe groups (P < 0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in platelet transfusion needed among the three groups (P < 0.01). However, no significant difference was found among the three groups in the time of rhTPO treatment (P > 0.05) and platelet count improvement (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Recombinant human thrombopoietin can be effectively and safely administered to deal with grade III/IV chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in lung cancer patients with mild adverse effects.</p>

Screening by maternal serum markers for Down's syndrome / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the optimal method of screening for Down's syndrome (DS) with maternal serum mankers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Screening by maternal serum markers for Down's syndrome was offered to all 2886 pregnant women in Peking Union Medical Hospital during 1996.11-2001.3. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (free beta-HCG) were used as markers during the first year of pregnancy. Alpha-fetoprotein, free human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) were used as mid pregnancy and first-trimester markers in next three years. Amniocentesis and (CVS) were done in those defined as risk cases.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The detection rate of Down's syndrome by maternal serum markers was 3.8% (11/2886). The proportion of false positive results in group of triple markers (alpha FP, free beta-HCG, PAPP-A) was 5%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The PAPP-A was a good marker to detect Down's syndrome in early pregnancy and may be used to predict the outcome during mid trimester of pregnancy. The AFP and free beta-HCG can be useful markers to detect Down's syndrome and fetal abnormality. While prenatal diagnostics can be shifted to an early pregnant period.</p>

A technique of continuous medical image digital restoration / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To set up a new technique of continuous medical image digital restoration for electronic record management.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to Freeman's chain-code principle, 92 fetal cardiotocography were scanned, thinned, trailed, and chain-coded by computer system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>92 paper-recorded cardiotocography, were transformed to digital data and saved by computer, 23 parameters were produced, which could be used in further study.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Capacity of a restoring instrument can be greatly saved since the using of digitalized restoration, so that more useful data can be stored in doctor's workstation. Digitalized data can be much easier used in electronic record management, for convenient studies research.</p>