OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression of IGF-1R protein and its clinical signification in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHOD: SP immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of IGF-1R in 63 cases of NPC and 21 inflammatory nasopharyngeal mucosa; and the expression of IGF-1R in three NPC cell lines and chronic nasopharyngitis tissues was examined by western blots. RESULT: The positive rates of IGF-1R were 82.5% and 14.3% respectively in 63 cases of NPC and 21 inflammatory nasopharyngeal mucosa; it also showed stronger positive expression in Stage III-IV of NPC than that in stage I-II (P < 0 01); IGF-1R positive expression in cases of NPC with cervical lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that of NPC without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05); it more often appears in recurrent cases than in primary cases (P < 0.05); IGF-1R positive expression had a significantly stronger in patients whose survival time less than 5 years than that in patients whose survival time over 5 years (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Over-expression of IGF-1R is related to poor differentiation of NPC, also may be linked with oncogenesis and development of NPC. The over-expression of IGF-1R may be one of a prognostic factors in NPC. The IGF-1R might be a potential therapeutic target in nasopharyngeal cancer.
Adult ; Aged ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptor, IGF Type 1 ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Drug allergy (DA) is one of the most important contributors to iatrogenic morbidity and mortality. Currently DA remains a major challenge for healthcare practitioners (HCPs). OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of DA among HCPs in Central China. METHODS: A 25-item self-administered DA questionnaire were developed and applied in our study. The questionnaire covered 3 domains: knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns. From July 2015 to October 2015, HCPs in 7 cities of Central China anonymously participated in the cross-sectional study. RESULTS: A total of 350 HCPs participated the study, 91 questionnaires uncompleted and 259 were analyzed. Among the respondents, 166 (64.1%) were doctors, 55 (21.2%) were nurses and 38 (14.7%) were medical students. The mean knowledge precision was 59.8%. HCPs agreed that drug induced immediate allergic reactions were IgE mediated (83.4%) and happened within 6 hours after drug administration (89.6%), and epinephrine was the first choice for drug induced anaphylaxis (79.5%). They also agreed that penicillin skin test was valuable to predict allergic reaction (88.4%). However, high proportion of HCPs (66.0%) believed glucocorticoids had an impact on drug skin test rather than antihistamines (4.2%), 47.1% never performed positive and negative control during skin test. More than 90% of the respondents would take patients' allergic history before drug administration, 98.8% agreed that they should receive advanced training of DA knowledge and practice. CONCLUSION: The HCPs demonstrated a low level of knowledge regarding DA. Advanced education is urgently needed for better understanding and filling the gaps exist in knowledge and clinical practice of DA.
Anaphylaxis ; Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Education ; Epinephrine ; Glucocorticoids ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mortality ; Penicillins ; Skin Tests ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires