Medicine
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This paper aimed to analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of invasive ductal carcinoma with an invasive micropapillary carcinoma component (IDC + IMPC), invasive ductal carcinoma with a ductal carcinoma in situ component (IDC + DCIS), and compare the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis to those of IDC. A total of 1713 patients (130 IDC + IMPC cases, 352 IDC + DCIS cases, and 1231 pure IDC cases) who underwent appropriate surgery from June 2011 to September 2017 were retrospectively selected. Compared to the pure IDC and IDC + DCIS patients, the IDC + IMPC patients presented with more aggressive characteristics, such as a higher proportion of vascular invasion (P < .001), fewer progesterone receptor (PR)-positive patients (P < .001), a lower proportion of cases in American Joint Committee on Cancer stage I (P < .001), a higher recurrence risk (P < .001), more deaths (P < .001), and more metastatic cases (P < .001). ⋯ In multivariate analysis, coexisting IMPC (P = .04) was the only independent prognostic factor associated with OS. Compared to IDC and IDC + DCIS, IDC + IMPC had more aggressive characteristics and significantly worse DFS and OS. Compared to IDC and IDC + IMPC, IDC + DCIS had less aggressive characteristics and significantly better DFS and OS.
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Glucocorticoids are an important class of medication for patients with adult-onset Still disease (AOSD), however, relapse following glucocorticoid reduction and adverse events due to long-term effects of glucocorticoid are still problematic. It is of course essential to minimize the risk of treatment. Immunosuppressive therapies such as methotrexate and biologics including tocilizumab are used in glucocorticoid-dependent patients with AOSD, but no second-line treatments for patients with glucocorticoid dependence have been established yet. Given that these drugs also have the potential to cause adverse events, alternative treatments are sought. Recently, elevated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been reported in the serum of patients with AOSD, suggesting that HO-1 activity contributes to AOSD pathogenesis and may represent a new therapeutic target for the treatment of AOSD. The amino acid 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a non-proteinogenic δ amino acid in human body. An addition of ferrous iron to 5-ALA enhances heme biosynthesis. The increase in heme in vivo induces HO-1 production, a heme-degrading enzyme. Elevated HO-1 has been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of AOSD, and administration of 5-ALA and ferrous iron may be a potential treatment for AOSD. ⋯ This pilot intervention study will provide evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of 5-ALA/sodium ferrous citrate as a potential new therapeutic agent for glucocorticoid-dependent patients with AOSD.
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Comparative Study
A comparative study protocol of external fixation versus volar plate in treating distal radius fracture.
The superiority of the open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and external fixation remains uncertain owing to the limited sample size involved in the literature. This retrospective cohort research was implemented for the comparison of the efficiency of ORIF and external fixation utilizing the locked volar plating in treating the intra-articular fractures of distal radius. We hypothesized that compared with the external fixation, ORIF can improve the functional scores and reduce complications. ⋯ This study protocol will guide and clarify our assignments, and the final outcomes and conclusion will further enrich the clinical knowledge in the literature.
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Case Reports
Magnetic compression anastomosis for rectal atresia following necrotizing enterocolitis: A case report.
Rectal atresia caused by necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious and rare complication in children. Magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) has been effectively applied in children with congenital oesophageal atresia and biliary atresia. Herein, we reported a case of successfully application of MCA in an infant with rectal atresia following NEC. ⋯ MCA is a feasible and effective method for treating rectal atresia in infants.