Gastrointestinal symptoms and associated factors in Chinese patients with functional dyspepsia

AIM:To study the evolution of gastrointestinal symptoms and associated factors in Chinese patients with functional dyspepsia(FD).METHODS:From June 2008 to November 2009,a total of 1049 patients with FD(65.3%female,mean age42.80±11.64 years)who visited the departments of gastroenterology in Wuhan,Beijing,Shanghai,Guangzhou,and Xi’an,China were referred for this study.All of the patients fulfilled the RomeⅢcriteria for FD.Baseline demographic data,dyspepsia symptoms,anxiety,depression,sleep disorder,and drug treatment were assessed using self-report questionnaires.Patients completed questionnaires at baseline and after1,3,6 and 12 mo follow-up.Comparison of dyspepsia symptoms between baseline and after follow-up was explored using multivariate analysis of variance of repeated measuring.Multiple linear regression was done to examine factors associated with outcome,both longitudinally and horizontally.RESULTS:Nine hundred and forty-three patients(89.9%of the original population)completed all four follow-ups.The average duration of follow-up was12.24±0.59 mo.During 1-year follow-up,the mean dyspeptic symptom score(DSS)in FD patients showed a significant gradually reduced trend(P<0.001),and similar differences were found for all individual symptoms(P<0.001).Multiple linear regression analysis showed that sex(P<0.001),anxiety(P=0.018),sleep disorder at 1-year follow-up(P=0.019),weight loss(P<0.001),consulting a physician(P<0.001),and prokinetic use during 1-year follow-up(P=0.035)were horizontally associated with DSS at 1-year followup.No relationship was found longitudinally between DSS at 1-year follow-up and patient characteristics at baseline.CONCLUSION:Female sex,anxiety,and sleep disorder,weight loss,consulting a physician and prokinetic use during 1-year follow-up were associated with outcome of FD.

Developments in metastatic pancreatic cancer:Is gemcitabine still the standard?

In the past 15 years, we have seen few therapeutic advances for patients with pancreatic cancer, which is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Currently, only about 6% of patients with advanced disease respond to standard gemcitabine therapy, and median survival is only about 6 mo. Moreover, phase Ⅲ trials have shown that adding various cytotoxic and targeted chemotherapeutic agents to gemcitabine has failed to improve overall survival, except in cases in which gemcitabine combined with erlotinib show minimal survival benefi t. Several metaanalyses have shown that the combination of gemcitabine with either a platinum analog or capecitabine may lead to clinically relevant survival prolongation, especially for patients with good performance status. Meanwhile, many studies have focused on the pharmacokinetic modulation of gemcitabine by fi xed-dose administration, and metabolic or transport enzymes related to the response and toxicity of gemcitabine. Strikingly, a phase Ⅲ trial in 2010 showed that, in comparison to gemcitabine alone, the FOLFIRINOX regimen in patients with advanced disease and good performance status, produced better median overall survival, median progression-free survival, and objective response rates. This regimen also resulted in greater, albeit manageable toxicity.

Prospects of a comprehensive evaluation system for traditional Chinese medicine services

Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） is a unique health resource in China and one of the main representative traditional medicines globally. TCM has formed a new way of looking at medical practices, health care, scientific research, education, industry and culture. It focuses on promoting and safeguarding the health of people, with an increasing contribution to economic and social development. Establishing a comprehensive evaluation system in accordance with the characteristics of TCM services could promote the scientific merit and the standardization of services management. This would improve health service quality and the social and economic benefits of TCM. It would broaden the field of TCM services research. It would also provide the basis for the formulation of relevant government policies. This study estimates the prospect of establishing a comprehensive evaluation system of TCM services.