OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to investigate the efficiency and toxicity of the FOLFOX regimen, the combination of oxaliplatin (L-OHP), 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) and calcium folinate (CF), for patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer.

METHODSNinety-six patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma, including 72 males and 24 females, were treated with FOLFOX regimen: L-OHP 85 mg/m(2) iv in 2 hours on D1, CF 200 mg/m(2) iv in 2 hours on D1 and D2, 5-Fu 400 mg/m(2) iv on D1 and D2, and then continuous infusion of it at a dose of 600 mg/m(2) for 44 hours. This regimen was repeated every 2 weeks. The first evaluation was done after four cycles. The median cycle of the chemotherapy was 6 (range: 1 to 12 cycles).

RESULTSOf the 96 patients with gastric cancers, 21 underwent R0 resection and afterward received adjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy. Ten of those were still alive, while the other 11 died of the disease, with a median disease free survival time of 24.0 months and 3-year survival rate of 51.8%. The other 75 received only palliative chemotherapy due to non-operable advanced disease. Thirty of those achieved partial response (PR), the other 20 had a stable disease (SD), but the remaining 25 experienced disease progression (PD), with an overall response rate of 40.0%. The median TTP and overall survival in those 75 patients was 5.9 and 12.0 months, respectively. All 96 patients were evaluable for toxicity according to NCI criteria. The patients of grade 3 vomiting and neural toxicity were 6 and 4, respectively.

CONCLUSIONIn terms of efficacy and safety, the FOLFOX regimen is effective and well tolerable for patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancers either as adjuvant or palliative chemotherapy.

Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; drug therapy ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neutropenia ; chemically induced ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Palliative Care ; Remission Induction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Vomiting ; chemically induced

Objective To investigate the safty and proper concentration of using the sufentanil combined with ropivacaine in patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) under lower limb surgery in elderly. Methods Eighty patients scheduled for lower limb surgery were divided into 4 groups by random digits table with 20 cases in each. The concentration of the sufentanil were 0.1,0.2,0.3 and 0.4 μ g/ml in group A, B, C, D respectively. The concentration of the ropivacaine were 0.125% in each group for the PCEA.R-VAS, C-VAS , Bromage score, Ramsay score, press times ,dosage and side effects were monitored and recorded at 4,10,24 and 48 h after operation. Results Compared with those in group C, D, C-VAS,dosage of the analgesia,press times of PCEA were higher in group A,B (P＜0.01 or ＜ 0.05),the efficacy of press was lower in group A, B(P＜0.05), but there was no significant difference between group C and group D(P＞0.05 ).The Ramsay score 10,24 h after operation in group D[(4.5 ± 0.5 ), (4.6 ± 0.6) scores] was higher than that in group A,B,C [(2.7 ±0.8), (2.7 ±0.8) scores vs.(2.9 ± 0.9), (2.7 ± 0.9) scores vs. (3.0 ±0.7), (2.9 ±0.5) scores] (P ＜0.05). There were no case with hypotension and respiratory depression.Conclusion PCEA of four methods are safe and effective in elderly which 0.3 μ g/ml sufentanil combined with 0.125% ropivacaine have good analgesic effect and less side effect.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at "Ganshu" (BL 18) on liver furiction and morphology in rat with precancerous lesion of hepatic cellular cancer MCC).

METHODSA total of 60 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group (10 rats), a model group (20 rats), a 20-day treatment group (15 rats) and a 40-day treatment group (15 rats). HCC model was established by intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Rats in the normal group received no treatment. Rats in the model group were treated with fixation. Rats in the 20-day treatment group and 40-day treatment group were treated by moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at "Ganshu" (BL 18), once every other day, for 20 days and 40 days, respectively. Blood sample in each group was collected 1 d before model establishment, 20 d, 40 d and 84 d after model establishment. Chemical method was applied to test the activity of ALT (alamine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate transaminase) and GGT (glutamyl transpeptidase); at the end of model establishment, all the rats were sacrificed to observe the liver morphology changes.

RESULTSAfter the first therapeutic course, the. content of ALT and AST in the 20-day treatment group was significantly lower than that in the model group (all P<0. 05); after the second therapeutic course, the content of ALT, AST and GGT in the 40-day treatment group was insignificantly lower than that in the model group (all P>0. 05). Under light microscope, the slice of liver tissue indicated that primary tumor was induced in the model group, and the tumor cells were stained and irregular; the cytoplasm in the 20-day treatment group was even, and the tumor cells were few with several nodules alone. In the 40-day treatment group the liver morphology was normal and the staining was even; the tumor cells were few without nodules or a few. Conclusion Moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at "Ganshu" (BL 18) could reduce the serum content of ALT, AST and GGT in rats with HCC, which could protect the liver and: delay the DEN-induced precancerous lesion on some levels.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

BACKGROUNDSacral neuromodulation (SNM) has become an effective method for treating lower urinary tract voiding dysfunction during the past 20 years. Because of the expensive cost, the number of implantable pulse generator (IPG) implantations per year in China is far lower than that in Western developed countries since 2012. This study was to summarize the effects of the appropriate prolonged SNM testing time in improving the implantation rate of a permanent IPG in patients with refractory lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in mainland China.

METHODSFrom January 2013 to June 2016, 51 patients with refractory LUTS received SNM therapy. In this study, we compared the conversion rate 2 weeks after the Stage I test and final actual conversion rate. We also observed the complications (such as pain, infection, and electrode displacement) and effectiveness. We tried to improve an appropriate prolonged test time which was favorable for improving the SNM conversion rate while ensuring safety and effectiveness.

RESULTSAmong 51 patients receiving SNM therapy, 19 patients (mean age 45.0 ± 16.9 years) had poor Stage I test results, and on an average, the electrode was removed 27.4 ± 9.6 days after the surgery. In one patient, the electrode was removed within 2 weeks; when the remaining 18 patients were questioned 2 weeks after testing, none of the patients wanted to terminate the test, and all the 18 patients desired to prolong the testing time to further observe the treatment effect. The remaining 32 patients (mean age 46.7 ± 15.3 years) received Stage II permanent implantation at 19.6 ± 10.4 days after the surgery. The overall Stage I-II conversion was 62.7% (32/51) in this study. Within 2 weeks after the surgery, only eight patients received Stage II permanent implantation, and the conversion rate was only 15.7% (8/51), which was much lower than the overall conversion rate of 62.7%. Nearly 84.4% (27/32) of the patients received Stage II implantation within 4 weeks. None of the patients had incision infections. In one patient, the entire system was removed 1 month after Stage II implantation due to pain in the implantation site.

CONCLUSIONSAppropriate extension of the Stage I testing time of an SNM-barbed electrode could significantly improve the Stage II permanent implantation rate in Chinese refractory LUTS patients; there were no wound infections, and the postoperative complication rate was low. This study recommended that Stage I period of SNM therapy should be 4 weeks according to safety and successful conversion rate.

Adult ; China ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacrum ; innervation ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge ; therapy

The methods of conservative surgery for adenomyosis include laparotomy and laparoscopic surgery.Conservative surgery is mainly used for young women with uterine preservation requirements and fertility desire.Laparoscopic conservative surgery for adenomyosis is more recommended for local adenomyosis.Laparoscopic surgery often involves wedgeshaped excision of uterine wall,H-shaped incision of uterine wall,double-flap and triple-flap.There are advantages and disadvantages for various methods of volume reduction surgery.In any treatment,attention should be paid to the therapeutic effect of clinical symptoms,reduction of recurrence after operation,pregnancy outcome and prevention of uterine rupture after operation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; therapeutic use ; Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome ; drug therapy ; surgery ; China ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male

OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts of eye acupuncture on neurological deficit and Barthel index in the patients of infarction hemiplegia and explore its function mechanism.

METHODSNinety-six patients of infarction hemiplegia were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 48 cases in each one. In the control group, the routine western medicines such as thrombolysis and antiplatelet aggregation were used. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment as the control group, eye acupuncture was added atandareas bilaterally, once a day, 5 times a week. Separately, before treatment and after 2 weeks' treatment the score changes of the modified Edinburgh Scandinavia stroke scale (MESSS) and the activity of daily life scale (ADL, Barthel index, BI) were observed and the efficacy was compared between the two groups. The plasma endothelin was determined and compared before and after treatment in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the effective rate was 93.8% (45/48) in the observation group and was 79.2% (38/48) in the control group. The effective rate in the observation group was higher apparently than that in the control group (<0.05). The scores of neurological deficit were (13.29±1.45) and (18.24±1.33) in the observation group and control group respectively after treatment, which all lower apparently than (28.44±1.45) and (28.14±1.89) before treatment (both<0.05). Additionally, the difference was significant between the two groups after treatment (<0.05). The scores of Barthel index were (82.33±1.56) and (63.34±2.14) in the observation group and control group respectively, which all higher apparently than (38.53±1.54) and (38.14±2.56) before treatment (both<0.05), and the difference was significant between the two groups after treatment (<0.05). The levels of plasma endothelin were (54.55±11.48)ng/L and (62.44±9.88)ng/L in the observation group and the control group after treatment respectively, which were all lower apparently than (78.24±9.25)ng/L and (78.14±10.78)ng/L before treatment (both<0.05). Additionally, the difference was significant between the two groups after treatment (<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEye acupuncture effectively improves the neurological deficit and Brathel index in the patients of infarction hemiplegia and comprehensively improves the efficacy. The effect mechanism is possibly relevant with reducing plasma endothelin.

OBJECTIVETo study the influences of carbon disulfide (CS2) exposureon fatty acid metabolism in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout mice and C57BL/6J mice.

METHODSTwenty-four male ApoE knockout mice were randomly and equally divided into four groups: a CS2-exposed normal diet group, a CS2-unexposed normal diet group, a CS2-exposed high-fat diet group, and a CS2-unexposed high-fat diet group. Twenty-four C57BL/6J male mice were divided into four groups in the same way. The CS2-exposed groups were exposed to CS2 (1 g/m³) by static inhalation for 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. After two weeks, the whole blood of mice was collected. Methyl ester derivatization of fatty acids was performed using an acid-catalyzed method. Fatty acid contents before and after exposure were compared by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in fatty acid contents of mice between the four groups. For the C57BL/6J mice, the arachidic acid contents in the CS2-exposed high-fat diet group were significantly lower than those in the CS2-unexposed high-fat diet group (P = 0.0450). For the ApoE knockout mice, the arachidonic acid contents in the CS2-exposed normal diet group were significantly lower than those in the CS2-unexposed control diet group (P = 0.0452). For the ApoE knockout mice, the γ-linolenic acid contents in the CS2-exposed high-fat diet group were significantly higher than those in the unexposed high-fat diet group (P = 0.0447).

CONCLUSIONExposure to CS2 can induce fatty acid metabolism disorder in mice, indicating that CS2 may increase the risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; drug effects ; Atherosclerosis ; Carbon Disulfide ; toxicity ; Diet, High-Fat ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Risk Factors

The risk of perioperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is pretty high in thoracic cancer patients. Perioperative VTE influences the recovery of patients after operation and quality of life in the future, even seriously leading to death. To strengthen the knowledge and attention of thoracic surgeons on perioperative VTE in thoracic cancer patients, China National Research Collaborative Group on VTE in Thoracic Surgery released the edition of VTE prophalaxis in thoracic cancer patients: Chinese experts consensus in 2018. This article is to interpret the diagnostic value and risk prediction value of D-dimer in VTE in detail, and briefly introduce the role of other biomarkers in VTE of tumor patients. The consensus interpretation aims to deepen the understanding of thoracic surgeons on the clinical significance of D-dimer in VTE.

BACKGROUNDPercutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the most widely recommended treatment for calyceal diverticular calculi, providing excellent stone-free results. However, its invasiveness is not negligible considering its major complication rates. Flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) is currently used to treat calyceal diverticula. However, the greatest drawback of FURS is locating the diverticulum since its neck is narrow and concealed. In such a case, the FURS procedure must be converted to PCNL. The aim of this study was to evaluate ultrasound-guided flexible ureteroscopy (UFURS) identifying diverticulum and the management of calyceal diverticular calculi.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted on 24 patients who had calyceal diverticular calculi. In all 12 patients in the UFURS group, direct FURS failed to find evidence of calyceal diverticula but were confirmed with imaging. The other 12 patients in the PCNL group received PCNL plus fulguration of the diverticular walls.

RESULTSPuncture of calyceal diverticulum was successful in all 12 UFURS patients. Two patients in this group had postoperative residual calculi and two patients developed fever. In the PCNL group, percutaneous renal access and lithotomy were successful in all 12 patients. One patient in this group had residual calculi, one had perirenal hematoma, and two patients developed fever. No significant difference was found in the operating time (UFURS vs. PCNL, 91.8 ± 24.2 vs. 86.3 ± 18.7 min), stone-free rate (UFURS vs. PCNL, 9/12 vs. 10/12), and rate of successful lithotripsy (UFURS vs. PCNL, 10/12 vs. 11/12) between the two groups (all P> 0.05). Postoperative pain scores in the FURS group were significantly lower than that in the PCNL group (2.7 ± 1.2 vs. 6.2 ± 1.5, P< 0.05). Hospital stay in the UFURS group was significantly shorter than that in the PCNL group (3.4 ± 0.8 vs. 5.4 ± 1.0 days, P< 0.05). All patients were symptom-free following surgery (UFURS vs. PCNL, 10/10 vs. 12/12).

CONCLUSIONUltrasound-guided puncture facilitates identification of calyceal diverticula during FURS and improves the success rate of FURS surgery.

Adult ; Diverticulum ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; methods ; Ureteroscopes ; Ureteroscopy ; instrumentation ; methods