Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for resectable esophageal cancer:an in-depth study of randomized controlled trials and literature review

Surgery following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(NCRT) is a common multidisciplinary treatment for resectable esophageal cancer(EC). After analyzing 12 randomized controlled trials(RCTs), we discuss the key issues of surgery in the management of resectable EC. Along with chemoradiotherapy, NCRT is recommended for patients with squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) and adenocarcinoma(AC), and most chemotherapy regimens are based on cisplatin, fluorouracil(FU), or both(CF). However, taxane-based schedules or additional studies, together with newer chemotherapies, are warranted. In nine clinical trials, post-operative complications were similar without significant differences between two treatment groups. In-hospital mortality was significantly different in only 1 out of 10 trials. Half of the randomized trials that compare NCRT with surgery in EC demonstrate an increase in overall survival or disease-free survival. NCRT offers a great opportunity for margin negative resection, decreased disease stage, and improved loco-regional control. However, NCRT does not affect the quality of life when combined with esophagectomy. Future trials should focus on the identification of optimum regimens and selection of patients who are most likely to benefit from specific treatment options.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography associated pancreatitis:A 15-year review

The aim of this article is to review the literature regarding post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) pancreatitis.We searched for and evaluated all articles describing the diagnosis,epidemiology,pathophysiology,morbidity,mortality and prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis(PEP) in adult patients using the PubMed database.Search terms included endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography,pancreatitis,ampulla of vater,endoscopic sphincterotomy,balloon dilatation,cholangiography,adverse events,standards and utilization.We limited our review of articles to those published between January 1,1994 and August 15,2009 regarding human adults and written in the English language.Publicat ions from the reference sections were reviewed and included if they were salient and fell into the time period of interest.Between the dates queried,seventeen large(> 500 patients) prospective and four large retrospective trials were conducted.PEP occurred in 1-15 in the prospective trials and in 1-4 in the retrospective trials.PEP was also reduced with pancreatic duct stent placement and outcomes were improved with endoscopic sphincterotomy compared to balloon sphincter dilation in the setting of choledocholithiasis.Approximately 34 pharmacologic agents have been evaluated for the prevention of PEP over the last f ifteen years in 63 trials.Although 22 of 63 trials published during our period of review suggested a reduction in PEP,no pharmacologic therapy has been widely accepted in clinical use in decreasing the development of PEP.In conclusion,PEP is a well-recognized complication of ERCP.Medical treatment for prevention has been disappointing.Proper patient selection and pancreatic duct stenting have been shown to reduce the complication rate in randomized clinical trials.

Effect of Aidi injection plus chemotherapy on gastric carcinoma:a Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a Meta-analysis of studies on the effect of Aidi injectioncombined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in the treatment of gastric cancer(GC).METHODS: Nine electronic databases and six gray literature databases were comprehensively searcheduntil April 20,2013. Two reviewers independently selected and assessed included trialsaccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The risk of bias tool from the Cochrane Handbook version 5.1.0was used to assess trial quality. All calculations were performed using Review Manager 5.0.RESULTS: Thirty-two studies including 1927 participants met the inclusion criteria,most of which were low quality. Compared with chemotherapy alone,Aidi injection plusthe same chemotherapy significantly improved the effective rate [OR = 1.52,95% CI(1.24,1.86),P < 0.0001],clinical beneficial rate [OR = 1.77,95% CI(1.33,2.36),P < 0.0001],and quality of life [OR = 3.02,95% CI(2.39,3.82),P <0.000 01]. There was a significant improvement in nausea and vomiting incidence [OR = 0.34,95%CI(0.24,0.47),P < 0.000 01],diarrhea [OR = 0.47,95%CI(0.33,0.69),P < 0.000 01],leukopenia( 3,0.51),P = 0.05],hemⅢ-ogⅣ)[OR = 0.34,95%CI(0.2lobin decrease(thromⅢ-boⅣ) [OR = 0.42,95%CI(0.18-1.00),P = 0.05],cytopenia(4],and Ⅲ-damⅣ) [OR = 0.46,95%CI(0.22,0.96),P = 0.0age to liver function [OR = 0.36,95%CI(0.24,0.54),P < 0.000 01].CONCLUSION: Aidi injection combined with chemotherapy significantly improved the clinical effect of chemotherapy,reducing the incidence of adverse events. Use of the CONSORT statement for randomized controlled trials is recommended for stricter reporting.

Knee osteoarthritis treated with acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation:a randomized controlled trial

Objective To compare the efficacy differences between acupuncture and western medicine in treating osteoarthritis of knee joints.Methods One hundred and twenty cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a western medication group with 60 cases in each group.In the acupuncture group,acupuncture was applied mainly at Nèixīyǎn（内膝眼 EX-LE 4）,Dúbí（犊鼻 ST 35）,Yīnlíngquán（阴陵泉 SP 9） and Yánglíngquán（阳陵泉 GB 34） plus other acupoints selected according to syndrome differentiation.In the medication group,Glucosamine Hydrochloride capsules were orally given 3 times daily with 2 capsules each time.Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index（WOMAC）,Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey（SF-36,Chinese version） were used to assess therapeutic effects before treatment,after 4 weeks treatment and 9 weeks after treatment,respectively.Results After 4 weeks of treatment,the total effective rates were 86.7%（52/60） and 88.3%（53/60） in the acupuncture group and the western medication group,respectively,without significant difference（P〈0.05）.In 9 weeks after treatment,the total effective rates were 83.3%（50/60） and 61.7%（37/60） in the acupuncture group and the western medication group,respectively,with significant difference between the two groups（P〈0.05）.According to WOMAC and SF-36,the scores were all improved in both groups（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,with significant difference in follow-up visit of 9 weeks after treatment between the two groups（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,but not after 4 weeks of treatments（both P〈0.05）.Conclusion Short-term of therapeutic effects of acupuncture and oral administration of Glucosamine Hydrochloride on osteoarthritis of knee joints are similar,but long-term efficacy in the acupuncture group is better than that in the western medication group.

Brain arousal dysfunction induced by severe craniocerebral trauma treated with acupuncture

Objective To observe the early rehabilitation effects of acupuncture on brain arousal in patients with severe craniocerebral injury. Methods One hundred and two patients with severe craniocerebral injury were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and an electrical stimulation （ES） group with 51 cases in each group. In addition to conventional treatment and nursing in neurosurgery, acupuncture at Shuigou （水沟 GV 26）, Neiguan （内关PC 6） and Sanyingjiao （三阴交 SP 6）, as the main aeupoints, were applied for the cases in acupuncture group, and functional electrical stimulation （FES） was applied at selected muscles in the affected upper limb for the cases in ES group. The awaken rate, time for arousal and clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups after 30 days of treatments. Results The awaken rate was 82.4%（42/51） in acupuncture group, which was significantly higher than 56.9%（29/51） in ES group （P〈0.01）, and the arousal time was significantly shorter and therapeutic effects were better in acupuncture group than those in ES group （both P〈0.01）. Conclusion On the basis of conventional treatment, early application of acupuncture provides better effects on restoration of arousal function of the brain in patients with severe craniocerebral injury than functional electrical stimulation.