Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel+ prednisone in the treatment of castrated resistant prostate cancer in patients over 75 years old.Methods:In this study, 118 metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients over 60 years old treated in Beijing Hospital from February 2013 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The median age of the patients was 72 (65, 77)years, ECOG scores ≤2. All 118 cases had bone metastasis, 5 cases had visceral metastasis. A total of 40 patients chose docetaxel as the first-line treatment of mCRPC, and the remaining 78 patients chose docetaxel as second-line or third-line treatment. The study included 53 patients >75 years old and 65 patients aged 60-75 years. The age of patients in the two groups were 67 (63, 71) years old and 78 (76, 83) years old, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Among them, there were 24 cases with Gleason score ≤7 and 41 cases with Gleason score >7 in 60-75 years old group, and 30 cases with Gleason score ≤7 and 23 cases with Gleason score >7 in the group of >75 years old, with significant difference between the two groups ( P = 0.034). Sixty-one patients received endocrine therapy and 4 received orchiectomy in the 60-75 years old group; 43 patients received endocrine therapy and 10 received orchiectomy in the group of >75 years old, the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.035). There were 37 cases with ECOG 0 score, 25 cases with 1 scores and 3 cases with 2 scores in the group of 60-75 years old; there were 5 cases with ECOG 0 score, 38 cases with 1 score and 10 cases with 2 score in the group of >75 years old, with significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in PSA level[ 90 (35.5, 258) ng/ml vs. 115 (60, 296) ng/ml], G8 scale score [(14.3±2.1 vs. 13.6±1.1)], Mini-Cog score[3(2, 3) vs. 3(1, 3)], and visceral metastasis [2 cases (3.1%) vs. 3 cases (5.7%)]( P>0.05). The efficacy and safety of docetaxel in the two groups were further observed. Results:The median follow-up time was 21.5 (6, 62) months. There was no significant difference in chemotherapy cycle [(6.1±1.3) vs. (6.8±1.7)] and chemotherapy dose [(70.3±4.3) mg/m 2 vs. (66.3±5.2) mg/m 2] between the 60-75 years old group and the >75 year old group ( P> 0.05). The PSA response rate [72.3%(47/65)vs.66.0%(35/53)], pain relief rate [45.0% (9/20) vs. 54.5% (6/11)], and median progression-free survival[6.1 (1.4, 11.2) months vs. 5.9 (2.0, 12.0) months] had no statistical significance ( P>0.05). There were no deaths in the two groups during chemotherapy. The median overall survival(OS) of patients aged 60-75 years and those >75 years old who received docetaxel as first-line treatment were 26.5 (16.1, 31.3) months and 24.8 (17.5, 28.4) months, respectively ( P=0.223). The median OS of the two groups were 17.3 (13.2, 20.5) months and 15.4 (12.3, 20.0) months with docetaxel treatment as second or third line treatment ( P=0.331). There were 3 cases (4.6%) and 5 cases (9.4%) of grade 3 adverse reactions in 60-75 years group and >75 years old group, respectively. Grade 3 leukopenia occurred in 1 case time (1.5%) and 2 cases (3.8%) respectively. Grade 3 neutropenia fever occurred in 1 case time in both groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of above complications between the two groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:The efficacy and safety of docetaxel + prednisone chemotherapy for mCRPC patients >75 years old were similar to those of 60-75 years old. Age should not be the absolute contraindication of docetaxel for prostate cancer chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND:Microencapsulated cels are commonly used as a tool to overcome immune rejection after subarachnoid transplantation. However, the effect of microencapsulation on the secretion of human pheochromocytoma cels is unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the growth and secretion of primarily microencapsulated cultured human pheochromocytoma cels in artificial cerebrospinal fluid.
METHODS: The human pheochromocytoma tissues were digested successively to isolate human pheochromocytoma cels that were then cultured in artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Primary cels were covered with alginate-polylysine-alginate microcapsules, and then the cel morphology was observed with inverted phase contrast microscope. Levels of met-enkephalin and norepinephrine in cel culture medium were detected by enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We used cel counting kit-8 colorimetric assay to obtain the growth curve of human pheochromocytoma cels in artificial cerebrospinal fluid.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Microcapsulated human pheochromocytoma cels were in suspension and the process outgrowth increased slowly. Compared with non-microcapsulated cels, the proliferation rate of microcapsulated cels increased significantly. ELISA results revealed a significant increase in the levels of met-enkephalin and norepinephrine secreted from the microencapsulated cels compared to the non-microcapsule group. There was a wide variation in contents of met-enkephalin and norepinephrine from different tumors. These findings indicate that microencapsulated human pheochromocytoma cels can survive wel and have good secretion function in artificial cerebrospinal fluid, and human pheochromocytoma cels from different tumor tissues have stable secretory function.

BACKGROUND: Exercise has been proved to accelerate the proliferation of intervertebral disc cells and extracellular matrix production in healthy rats. For the degenerative intervertebral disc, whether exercise also has positive effects on its cell proliferation, extracellular matrix production or pain relief remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of exercise on the extracellular matrix production in a rat model of intervertebral disc degeneration.METHODS: A rat model of intervertebral disc degeneration was prepared by Freund's complete adjuvant injection into the intervertebral disc at L5-6 levels. Then, the model rats were allowed to have a rest for 2 weeks. All rats were then randomly divided into exercise and control groups. Rats in the exercise group were forced to run every day, while the controls allowed free activities in the cage. The behavioral tests were performed at 7, 14, 28, 42, 56 and 70 days after modeling; meanwhile, the intervertebral disc samples were collected used for alcian blue staining and immunohistochemical staining to detect the levels of proteoglycan, aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ in the intervertebral disc cells, respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Vocalization threshold on the rat back of punctured disc was significantly decreased, while grooming and wet-dog shaking were significantly increased at 7 days after modeling compared with the baseline (P < 0.05), suggesting that Freund's complete adjuvant injection successfully induces disc degeneration, hyperalgesia and abnormal behaviors. Further, the vocalization threshold and wet-dog shaking in the exercise group showed significant improvement compared with the control group after 14 days of exercise (P < 0.05), while the grooming was significantly reduced until the 28th day (P < 0.01), indicating that exercise can alleviate pain caused by disc degeneration in model rats. At 21 days after modeling, the levels of proteoglycan, aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ in the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus were significantly decreased compared with the baseline (P < 0.01), indicating the occurrence of disc degeneration. After 14 days of training, the levels of proteoglycan, aggrecan, and collagen type Ⅱ in the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus in the exercise group were significantly increased compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Moreover, after 8-week exercise, the level of proteoglycan in the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus in the exercise group was increased by 4-5 times compared with the control group, and levels of aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ in the nucleus pulposus in the exercise group also was increased by 3-4 times compared with the control group. To conclude, exercise can promote extracellular matrix increased by production by increasing the levels of proteoglycan, aggrecan, and collagen type II in the degenerative intervertebral disc.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of scalp-acupuncture on intelligence in patients with vascular dementia (VaD). METHODS: A total of 108 VaD patients were randomly divided into two groups: scalp-acupuncture group and Western medicine group. The scores of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Blesse Dementia Scale (BDS), Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS), Abilities of Daily Life (ADL) before and after treatment in the two groups were detected. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients completed the treatment. The scores of MMSE, BDS and HDS in the two groups were significantly increased, and the ADL scores significantly declined (P<0.05). There was no difference in the scores of MMSE, BDS, HDS and ADL between the two groups before and after the treatment. There was no difference in the total effectiveness between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Scalp-acupuncture therapy could improve the clinical intelligence level of VaD patients.

BACKGROUND:Lumbar spine MRI and electrophysiological test are reliable methods for evaluating nerve root injury caused by lumbar disc herniation.
OBJECTIVE:To analyze the correlation between the MRI-based grading system and the latency and frequency of F wave as wel as latency and amplitude of H-reflex in patients with lumbar disc herniation.
METHODS:MRI imaging of the lumbar spine was performed with a 3.0-T imager and a dedicated TCL coil to classify lumbar disc herniation and nerve root compression. F wave and H reflex were detected on the patient bilateral tibial nerves using Oxford myoelectricity evoked potential instrument.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Spearman correlation analysis showed that the MRI-based grading of patients with lumbar disc herniation had a negative correlation with F wave frequency (r=-0.594 0, P<0.000 1), and a positive correlation with F wave latency (r=0.825 6, P<0.000 1) and H-reflex latency (r=0.875 0, P<0.000 1), but no correlation with H-reflex amplitude (R=0.117 4, P=0.257 3). With MRI grading increased, F wave frequency was decreased, and F wave and H-reflex latency were prolonged gradual y, indicating aggravating nerve root compression.

Objective:To investigate the value of serum IL-23 in predicting the progression of prostate cancer at different stages of treatment.Methods:A total of 124 patients with metastatic prostate cancer diagnosed in Beijing Hospital from June 2018 to March 2019 were collected.Patients were TNM-staged according to the Prostate Cancer Guidelines of the European Association of Urology.Serum IL-23 levels were measured in patients with metastatic castration resistance prostate cancer(mCRPC), metastatic castration sensitive prostate cancer(mCSPC)and benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH), respectively.Patients with mCRPC were subgrouped based on disease stability, and serum IL-23 levels were compared between the subgroups.Serum IL-23 levels in the groups were analyzed and compared with the Gleason score and the prostate-specific antigen(PSA)level.Results:The median value of serum IL-23 in the mCRPC group was 79.73(45.61, 95.63)μg/L, which was higher than that in the BPH group[30.88(15.01, 44.94)μg/L, Z=22.66, P=0.000]and the mCSPC group[46.10(35.27, 80.92)μg/L, Z=11.46, P=0.001]. Serum IL-23 levels were higher in the mCSPC group than in the BPH group( Z=7.17, P=0.007). Analysis for the subgroups showed that the median value of serum IL-23 was 110.25(88.47, 159.09)μg/L in mCRPC patients with unstable disease, which was higher than that in mCRPC patients with stable disease[46.52(44.97, 80.33)μg/L, Z=33.99, P=0.000]. There was no significant difference in serum IL-23 levels between mCRPC patients with stable disease and mCSPC patients[46.10(35.27, 80.92)μg/L]( Z=0.35, P=0.554). Conclusions:Serum IL-23 can be used as a potential biological indicator to predict the therapeutic effect of mCSPC and to predict tumor metastasis.

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of scrub typhus in Anhui Province from 2008 to 2017, so as to provide scientific evidence for the development of control strategies and control measures. Methods Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to describe and analyze the cases of scrub typhus in Anhui Province from 2008 to 2017. Results The overall incidence of scrub typhus in Anhui Province showed an upward trend from 2008 to 2017 ( χ2=3 522.49, P<0.001). The highest incidence rate in 2016 was 3.98/100 000. The cases were concentrated from September to November. It was a typical “autumn and winter type” and peaked in October. It had the phenomenon of “high incidence in October”; the cases were mainly concentrated in the age group of 40-79 years old, accounting for 76.64% of the total reported cases. The cumulative number of cases in the 60-69 age group was the largest, and the incidence was mainly farmers. Conclusions In recent years, the incidence of scrub typhus in Anhui Province has shown an upward trend. It is necessary to strengthen the routine monitoring of scrub typhus in key areas and the detection of scrub typhus pathogens, and actively carry out prevention and health education of scrub typhus.

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of the DNA repair gene ERCC2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs13181, rs1618536, and rs1799793 on male idiopathic infertility in Ningxia, China.

METHODSUsing MassArray, we conducted a case-control study and genotyped three ERCC2 SNPs rs13181, rs1618536, and rs1799793 for 351 males (aged 31.0 +/- 4.2 years) with idiopathic infertility and another 327 normal fertile men (aged 33.0 +/- 5.9 years) as controls.

RESULTSThe ERCC2 AnyG-anyA-anyA genotypes were significantly associated with an increased risk of idiopathic infertility (OR 0.414, 95% CI 0.176 - 0.970), while the three single ERCC2 SNPs rs13181, rs1618536, and rs1799793 showed no significant differences between the cases and controls (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe ERCC2 SNPs rs13181, rs1618536, and rs1799793 play a role of interaction in male idiopathic infertility in Ningxia, contributing to the risk of the disease.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; DNA Repair ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group D Protein ; genetics

Objective To investigate the radiation dose levels to the adults examined from diagnostic exposure in Beijing. Methods The radiation doses to the examined individuals were measured by using individual diagnostic radiology equipments in 30 random hospitals from a total of 10 districts and suburban areas, including 1 182 samples of X-ray photography,542 samples of mammography and 410 samples of CT examination. Results 2 134 samples were measured in this study. The dose ranges of X-ray photography, CR, and DR were 0?4 -24?1, 0?3 -13?9 and 0?1 -15?9 mGy, respectively. The average dose range of glandular breast was 0?3-5?4 mGy. In 410 CT samples the value of CTDIw , CTDIvol and DLP were 28?1 - 96?3 mGy, 7?0 - 23?4 mGy, and 162?2 - 898?1 mGy·cm, respectively. Conclusions Several dose levels from diagnostic examination were higher than guidance level for medical exposure in GB 18871-2002,which should be noted.

Objective To explore the predictive value of ventricle late potential (LP) for arrhythmic events in the patients with Brugada syndrome. Methods Totally 43 patients with Brugada syndrome were divided into symptom group (n=24) and asymptom group (n=19).Signalaveraged electrocardiography(SAECG) was performed to analyze characteristics of LP in all subjects.The occurrence of arrhythmic events was observed in all patients during the dynamic follow-up for (33.8±9.0) months.Results There were 22 cases (91.7％) and 7 cases (36.8％) with LP positive in patients with symptom and asymptom,respectively.The incidences of arrhythmic events were 72.4％ in Brugada syndrome patients with positive LP and 14.3％ in patients with negative LP,respectively.The relative risk (RR,95％ CI) for LP prediction of the arrhythmic events was [5.1,(1.4～ 18.6)] (P =0.002). ConclusionsLP may be one of effective factors predicting arrhythmic events in the patients with Brugada syndrome.