Effect of music therapy on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in gastrointestinal cancer:A systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer,but it has many adverse reactions,particularly nausea and vomiting.Music therapy can reduce anxiety symptoms,avoid the response to the human body under various stress conditions through psychological adjustment,and improve the adverse reactions of chemotherapy.AIM To investigate the impact of music therapy on relieving gastrointestinal adverse reactions in chemotherapy for patients with digestive tract cancer by metaanalysis.METHODS EMBASE,PubMed,OVID,WoS,CNKI,CBM,and VIP database were all used for searching relevant literature,and the efficacy after treatment was combined for analysis and evaluation.RESULTS This study included seven articles.The results of meta-analysis indicated that music therapy could reduce the nausea symptom score of patients after chemotherapy[mean difference(MD)=-3.15,95%confidence interval(CI):-4.62 to-1.68,Z=-4.20,P<0.0001].Music therapy could reduce the vomiting symptom score of patients after chemotherapy(MD=-2.28,95%CI:-2.46 to-2.11,Z=-25.15,P<0.0001).Furthermore,music therapy could minimize the incidence of grade I and above nausea or vomiting in patients after chemotherapy(odds ratio=0.38,95%CI:0.26-0.56,Z=-4.88,P<0.0001).Meta-regression analysis found that publication year was not a specific factor affecting the combined results.There was no significant publication bias(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Music therapy can significantly improve the scores of nausea and vomiting symptoms in patients with digestive system cancer during chemotherapy and reduce the incidence of grade I and above nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy,making it an effective psychological intervention method worthy of clinical promotion.

Comprehensive interventions for adult cyclic vomiting syndrome complicated by superior mesenteric artery syndrome:A case report

BACKGROUND Cyclic vomiting syndrome(CVS)is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder involving the gut–brain interaction that is characterized by recurring episodes of nausea,vomiting,abdominal pain,and interspersed complete normal periods.Superior mesenteric artery(SMA)syndrome(SMAS)is a vascular condition in which the horizontal portion of the duodenum is compressed due to a reduced angle between the aorta and the SMA.This condition presents with symptoms similar to CVS,posing challenges in distinguishing between the two and often resulting in misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment.CASE SUMMARY A 20-year-old female patient presented with recurrent episodes of vomiting and experienced a persistent fear of vomiting for the past 2 years.She adopted conscious dietary restrictions,which led to severe malnutrition.Initially,she was diagnosed with SMAS,as revealed by computed tomography angiography.Despite efforts to increase the angle between the aorta and the SMA through weight gain,her vomiting did not improve.Finally,she was diagnosed with comorbidities including CVS,SMAS and anxiety disorder.She underwent comprehensive interventions,including enteral and parenteral nutritional supplementation,administration of antiemetic and anti-anxiety agents,and participation in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.The patient eventually experienced a notable improvement in both body weight and clinical symptoms.CONCLUSION We present a rare case of CVS in an adult complicated with SMAS and propose additional treatment with nutritional support,pharmacological intervention,and psychotherapy.

Propofol with Varied Functions: A Potential Therapeutic Opportunity for Postoperative Nausea, Vomiting and Pruritus—A Narrative Review

Background: Despite the advances in anesthetics and non-pharmacological techniques, the prevalence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in all patients remains high. It is one of the most common distressing symptoms that cause dissatisfaction among patients after anesthesia and surgery. A sub-hypnotic dose of propofol has been shown to reduce morphine-induced postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pruritus. This review article will provide sufficient knowledge on the role of propofol in minimizing opioid-induced postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pruritus by providing detailed information on propofol antiemetic and antipruritic effects, as well as discussions based on empirically available data. Method: We conducted a narrative review of the literature published between 1990 and 2023 from a range of databases;PubMed, BioMed Central, Biosis Previews, Nature, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Springer-Link, and Elsevier. Discussion and Conclusion: The literatures reviewed in this study have demonstrated that propofol may have diverse therapeutic effects including antiemetic and antipruritic. The antiemetic effect of propofol may be an effective therapeutic approach for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The literature also demonstrated that the use of propofol for sedation during surgery may as well ameliorates opioids induced postoperative pruritus, which may be beneficial to surgical patients. Also, it was demonstrated that prophylactic use of propofol may be an effective way of preventing nausea and vomiting and pruritus during opioid use.

Association between operative position and postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

BACKGROUND Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective ways to treat morbid obesity,and postoperative nausea and vomiting(PONV)is one of the common complications after bariatric surgery.At present,the mechanism of the high incidence of PONV after weight-loss surgery has not been clearly explained,and this study aims to investigate the effect of surgical position on PONV in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.AIM To explore the effect of the operative position during bariatric surgery on PONV.METHODS Data from obese patients,who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy(LSG)in the authors’hospital between June 2020 and February 2022 were divided into 2 groups and retrospectively analyzed.Multivariable logistic regression analysis and the t-test were used to study the influence of operative position on PONV.RESULTS There were 15 cases of PONV in the supine split-leg group(incidence rate,50%)and 11 in the supine group(incidence rate,36.7%)(P=0.297).The mean operative duration in the supine split-leg group was 168.23±46.24 minutes and 140.60±32.256 minutes in the supine group(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that operative position was not an independent risk factor for PONV(odds ratio=1.192,95%confidence interval:0.376-3.778,P=0.766).CONCLUSION Operative position during LSG may affect PONV;however,the difference in the incidence of PONV was not statistically significant.Operative position should be carefully considered for obese patients before surgery.

The Effects of Acupressure on Vomiting, Stress, and Anxiety in Chinese Pregnant Women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Objective:To investigate the role of acupressure therapy in helping pregnant women with HG reduce the frequency or severity of vomiting and relieve stress and anxiety.Method:A quantitative study with a quasi-experimental design and non-equivalent group design was used.Sixty-six valid data points were obtained from pregnant mothers diagnosed with HG in a general hospital in Linyi City.These pregnant women received either acupressure(n=33)or general therapeutic care(n=33).They completed standardized questionnaires designed to assess vomiting,anxiety,and stress levels.Results:Data showed no differences between the experimental and control groups before the intervention.After the intervention,there were significant differences in anxiety(P≤0.05)and stress(P≤0.05)scores between the two groups.However,there was no significant difference in vomiting scores(P>0.05)between the two groups after the intervention.The anxiety and stress scores of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group post-intervention,while the vomiting scores of the two groups were similar.Conclusion:The findings suggest that acupressure significantly reduces anxiety and stress in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum(HG)and also helps reduce vomiting.Acupressure presents a viable clinical option for pregnant women seeking relief from HG symptoms.

Non-pharmacological management for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer:a scoping review

Objective:This review aimed to map and summarize published studies that tested non-pharmacological management for chemotherapyinduced nausea and vomiting(CINV).Methods:We searched for eligible studies in 5 electronic databases and screened the retrieved studies using the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Data were then collated according to the types of interventions,measurement tool,and outcomes.Results:The search yielded 2343 records,of which 11 were included.Four categories of non-pharmacological CINV management were made;manipulative and body-based therapy(n=5 studies);mind–body therapy(n=3 studies);biologically based practice(n=1 study),and energy therapy(n=2 studies).Seven different scales were used to measure CINV.Nine studies repor ted improvement in CINV.Conclusions:This scoping review demonstrates the breadth of non-pharmacological management to address CINV.Various types of CINV scales were used to measure CINV severity.The management and scale can be utilized to improve nursing care,par ticularly in cancer care.

Summary of the Best Evidence for the Evaluation and Management of Chemotherapy-Related Nausea and Vomiting in Cancer Patients

Objective: To summarize the best evidence for the evaluation and management of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, so as to promote the standardized management of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. Methods: A computer search was conducted for all evidence on chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting interventions, including guidelines, expert consensus, best clinical practice information booklet, recommended practice, evidence summary, and systematic review. The search period is from April 30, 2022. After the literature quality evaluation, the evidence extraction and summary of the literature meeting the quality standards. Results: A total of 16 literatures were included, including 9 guidelines, 5 systematic reviews and 2 expert consensus papers. 46 pieces of best evidence on the assessment and management of chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients were summarized, including 6 aspects including risk assessment and management, non-drug management, drug management, multidisciplinary cooperation, education and training, and health education. Conclusion: This study summarized the current best evidence on the assessment and management of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. Clinical staff should apply evidence according to specific clinical scenarios, professional skills and patients’ wishes in order to reduce the degree and incidence of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients and improve the quality of care.

Patterns of antiemetic prophylaxis for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in China

Background： Few studies have attempted to evaluate the use of antiemetic therapy for chemotherapyinduced nausea and vomiting （CINV） at a national level in China or to assess how treatment regimens adhere to current guidelines. Methods： We searched the China Health Insurance Research Association （CHIRA） Database to identify patients with cancer who were 〉 18 years old and received either moderately or highly emetogenie chemotherapy （MEC and HEC, respectively） between 2008 and 2012. Patients＇ characteristics as well as usage of specific antiemetic regimens were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results： Of the 14,548 patients included in the study, 6,477 received HEC while 8,071 were treated with MEC. Approximately 89.9% used antiemetics prophylactically to prevent acute CINV and 71.5% for delayed CINV while 9.0% were prescribed antiemetics as rescue therapy. A significantly lower proportion of patients treated with HEC received prophylactic antiemetic therapy for delayed CINV as compared to those treated with MEC （59.4% vs. 81.3 %; P〈0.001）. The HEC group had a slightly lower proportion of patients using a mixed regimen containing a 5-HT3 antagonist to prevent both acute and delayed CINV than the MEC group （P〈0.012）; however, a higher proportion received a mixed regimen containing eorticosteroids （P≤0.007）. Although more than half of the patients in the HEC group took three antiemeties to prevent acute and delayed CINV, these rates were significantly lower than those of the MEC group （both P〈0.001）. Finally, analysis of the regimens used revealed that there is over-utilization of drugs within the same class of antiemetic. Conclusions： These findings indicate that more attention is needed for treatment of delayed CINV, in terms of both overall use and the components of a typical treatment regimen.

Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with palonosetron on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a single.blind,randomized, controlled trial

Background: Chemotherapy?induced nausea and vomiting adversely affects the quality of life of patients who receive chemotherapy via intravenous infusion or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE). This study aimed to investigate the clinical effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS) on nausea and vomiting after TACE.Methods: A total of 142 patients who received TACE with cisplatin for primary or metastatic liver cancer were assigned to the active?acupuncture(n = 72) or placebo?acupuncture(n Hegu(LI4), Neiguan(P6), an= 70) groups using a covariate?adaptive randomization at a ratio of 1:1. The acupointsd Zusanli(ST36) were stimulated twice daily for 6 days. The effects of TEAS on nausea and vomiting were assessed by using occurrence rate and severity of these symptoms. Anorexia scale and M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory(MDASI) scores were secondary endpoints and were used to assess the effect of TEAS on patient appetite and quality of life. The safety of the treatments was also monitored.Results: Between the two groups, the differences in occurrence rates and severities of nausea and vomiting after TACE were not significant(all P > 0.05). From the second day after TACE, anorexia scores were significantly lower in the active?acupuncture group than in the placebo?acupuncture group and continued to decrease over time with treat?ment(all P values less than 0.01). On days 0, 1, and 2, the mean MDASI scores for the active?acupuncture group were slightly lower than those for the placebo?acupuncture group, but the differences were not statistically significant(all P > 0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups in the occurrence rate of any adverse event(P > 0.05).Conclusion: TEAS appears to be a safe and effective therapy to relieve patients' gastrointestinal discomfort after chemotherapy.

Revolutionizing gastric cancer treatment:The potential of immunotherapy

Gastric cancer,a prevalent malignancy worldwide,ranks sixth in terms of frequency and third in fatality,causing over a million new cases and 769000 annual deaths.Predominant in Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia,risk factors include family medical history,dietary habits,tobacco use,Helicobacter pylori,and Epstein-Barr virus infections.Unfortunately,gastric cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage,leading to a grim prognosis,with a 5-year overall survival rate below 5%.Surgical intervention,particularly with D2 Lymphadenectomy,is the mainstay for early-stage cases but offers limited success.For advanced cases,the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends chemotherapy,radiation,and targeted therapy.Emerging immunotherapy presents promise,especially for unresectable or metastatic cases,with strategies like immune checkpoint inhibitors,tumor vaccines,adoptive immunotherapy,and nonspecific immunomodulators.In this Editorial,with regards to the article“Advances and key focus areas in gastric cancer immunotherapy:A comprehensive scientometric and clinical trial review”,we address the advances in the field of immunotherapy in gastric cancer and its future prospects.

Pathologically successful conversion hepatectomy for advanced giant hepatocellular carcinoma after multidisciplinary therapy:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the leading causes of death due to its complexity,heterogeneity,rapid metastasis and easy recurrence after surgical resection.We demonstrated that combination therapy with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE),hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC),Epclusa,Lenvatinib and Sintilimab is useful for patients with advanced HCC.CASE SUMMARY A 69-year-old man who was infected with hepatitis C virus(HCV)30 years previously was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain.Enhanced computed tomography(CT)revealed a low-density mass in the right lobe of the liver,with a volume of 12.9 cm×9.4 cm×15 cm,and the mass exhibited a“fast-in/fast-out”pattern,with extensive filling defect areas in the right branch of the portal vein and an alpha-fetoprotein level as high as 657 ng/mL.Therefore,he was judged to have advanced HCC.During treatment,the patient received three months of Epclusa,three TACE treatments,two HAIC treatments,three courses of sintilimab,and twenty-one months of lenvatinib.In the third month of treatment,the patient developed severe side effects and had to stop immunotherapy,and the Lenvatinib dose had to be halved.Postoperative pathological diagnosis indicated a complete response.The patient recovered well after the operation,and no tumor recurrence was found.CONCLUSION Multidisciplinary conversion therapy for advanced enormous HCC caused by HCV infection has a significant effect.Individualized drug adjustments should be made during any treatment according to the patient's tolerance to treatment.

Pyloric Stenosis and Nonbilious Vomiting in Infants: Negative Base Excess and Hypercapnia—Two Opposing Points of One Scale a Comparative Case Series

Background: Blood pH and bicarbonate estimations are basal acid-base laboratory tests that are performed in infants with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). This study aimed to define the clinical value of pCO2 and BE in infants suspected to have IHPS. Methods: We collected data from 80 “surgical” infants younger than 100 days with prolonged nonbilious vomiting who were suspected to have IHPS. In 65 infants, pyloric stenosis was confirmed, and 15 infants had nonsurgical conditions. Capillary blood was tested for standard acid-base parameters and lactate. The two groups were compared. Results: Eighty-eight percent of the IHPS infants had elevated standard bicarbonate levels (st bicarb) > 25 mmol/l, and 60% had BE > 3.5 mmol/l;12% of the infants showed hypercapnia (pCO2 ≥ 50 mmHg) associated with markedly increased standard bicarbonate and BE. Infants with nonsurgical vomiting were older at admission (p = 0.002), had a longer duration of vomiting (p < 0.001), were older (p = 0.002) and weighted more at admission (p = 0.004), had lower pCO2 (p = 0.021), lower st bicarb (p < 0.001) and lower BE (p = 0.001). In addition, nonsurgical infants showed a trend to anemia (p = 0.002). Conclusions: In infants with IHPS/nonbilious vomiting, acid-base analysis (ABA) is equivocal or inconclusive. These findings may be misleading and could result in a false clinical decision. Nonsurgical vomiting is associated with a lower degree of alkalosis, normocapnia to slight hypercapnia and a base deficit. However, even infants with IHPS may present with a negative BE. In infants with IHPS and severe alkalosis, hypercapnia carries a risk for respiratory depression. Monitoring the infant’s respiration allows for the early detection of respiratory deterioration.

Evaluation of Adherence to Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting Guidelines. An Observational Study

Objective: To describe the prescribing trends of antiemetics in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), assess adherence to American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines, and evaluate the effectiveness of prescribed antiemetics. Additionally, we also sought to explore barriers that hinder clinical practice guideline (CPG) implementation. Methods: One hundred fifty-five patients between the ages of 18 and 60 who were admitted to the haematology/oncology department/clinic to receive intravenous chemotherapy, either as in-patients or outpatients, were enrolled in a prospective observational study. Relevant patient demographic data, chemotherapy protocols and antiemetics were collected. Chemotherapies were classified according to their emetogenic potential. This information was used to assess whether the antiemetic prescribed matched the emetogenic risk of treatment. The analysis of outcomes was performed using the MASCC antiemetic assessment tool. Key Findings: The results showed that 95% of antiemetic prescription pre-chemotherapy regimens did not adhere to the guidelines. The findings were use of twice the recommended dose of granisetron (87.7%), overuse granisetron (16%) and metoclopramide (62.6%), and underuse dexamethasone (27%) and corticosteroid duplication (7.7%). With respect to post-chemotherapy antiemetic prescriptions, 91% of prescriptions were not adherent to guidelines, with overuse of granisetron (81.9%) and metoclpramide (34.2%) and underuse of dexamethasone (66.5%) being the most frequently reported trends. Conclusion: This study shows a lack of conformity to antiemetic guidelines, resulting mainly in overtreatment. Although vomiting was well-managed, nausea remains under controlled and requires additional medical attention. The lack of knowledge and motivation are considered barriers to CPG implementation.

PRaG 3.0 therapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)is a highly fatal disease with limited effective treatment especially after first-line chemotherapy.The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER-2)immunohistochemistry(IHC)positive is associated with more aggressive clinical behavior and shorter overall survival in PDAC.CASE SUMMARY We present a case of multiple metastatic PDAC with IHC mismatch repair proficient but HER-2 IHC weakly positive at diagnosis that didn’t have tumor regression after first-line nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine and PD-1 inhibitor treatment.A novel combination therapy PRaG 3.0 of RC48(HER2-antibody-drug conjugate),radio-therapy,PD-1 inhibitor,granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-2 was then applied as second-line therapy and the patient had confirmed good partial response with progress-free-survival of 6.5 months and overall survival of 14.2 month.She had not developed any grade 2 or above treatment-related adverse events at any point.Percentage of peripheral CD8^(+) Temra and CD4^(+) Temra were increased during first two activation cycles of PRaG 3.0 treatment containing radiotherapy but deceased to the baseline during the maintenance cycles containing no radiotherapy.CONCLUSION PRaG 3.0 might be a novel strategy for HER2-positive metastatic PDAC patients who failed from previous first-line approach and even PD-1 immunotherapy but needs more data in prospective trials.

Immunotherapy for esophageal cancer:Where are we now and where can we go

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has dramatically improved patient prognosis,and thereby transformed the treatment in various cancer types including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)in the past decade.Monoclonal antibodies that selectively inhibit programmed cell death-1(PD-1)activity has now become standard of care in the treatment of ESCC in metastatic settings,and has a high expectation to provide clinical benefit during perioperative period.Further,anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated protein 4(CTLA-4)monoclonal antibody has also been approved in the treatment of recurrent/metastatic ESCC in combination with anti-PD-1 antibody.Well understanding of the existing evidence of immune-based treatments for ESCC,as well as recent clinical trials on various combinations with chemotherapy for different clinical settings including neoadjuvant,adjuvant,and metastatic diseases,may provide future prospects of ESCC treatment for better patient outcomes.

Present and future of new systemic therapies for early and intermediate stages of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a high mortality neoplasm which usually appears on a cirrhotic liver.The therapeutic arsenal and subsequent prognostic outlook are intrinsically linked to the HCC stage at diagnosis.Notwithstanding the current deployment of treatments with curative intent(liver resection/local ablation and liver transplantation)in early and intermediate stages,a high rate of HCC recurrence persists,underscoring a pivotal clinical challenge.Emergent systemic therapies(ST),particularly immunotherapy,have demonstrate promising outcomes in terms of increase overall survival,but they are currently bound to the advanced stage of HCC.This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the literature,encompassing studies up to March 10,2024,evaluating the impact of novel ST in the early and intermediate HCC stages,specially focusing on the findings of neoadjuvant and adjuvant regimens,aimed at increasing significantly overall survival and recurrence-free survival after a treatment with curative intent.We also investigate the potential role of ST in enhancing the downstaging rate for the intermediate-stage HCC initially deemed ineligible for treatment with curative intent.Finally,we critically discuss about the current relevance of the results of these studies and the encouraging future implications of ST in the treatment schedules of early and intermediate HCC stages.

Back to the drawing board:Overview of the next generation of combination therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is entering a potentially new era of combined therapeutics.Triantafillidis et al provide an insightful review of the current state of combination therapy,with a focus on the use of a combined biologic and immunomodulator,as well as emerging data on the future potential of dual-biologic therapy(DBT).While current evidence for DBT is limited,encouraging safety profiles and ongoing trials suggest a brighter future for this approach.The importance of controlled trials should be stressed in establishing new treatment paradigms.Ongoing prospective randomized trials of DBT and perhaps future combinations of biologics and small molecule therapies will hopefully guide the next generation of IBD care.

Adjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma:Dilemmas at the start of a new era

Approximately 50%-70%of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma experience recurrence within five years after curative hepatic resection or ablation.As a result,many patients receive adjuvant therapy after curative resection or ablation in order to prolong recurrence-free survival.The therapy recommended by national guidelines can differ,and guidelines do not specify when to initiate adjuvant therapy or how long to continue it.These and other unanswered questions around adjuvant therapies make it difficult to optimize them and determine which may be more appropriate for a given type of patient.These questions need to be addressed by clinicians and researchers.

A Stable Open-Shell Conjugated Diradical Polymer with Ultra-High Photothermal Conversion Efficiency for NIR-Ⅱ Photo-Immunotherapy of Metastatic Tumor

Massive efforts have been concentrated on the advance of eminent near-infrared(NIR) photothermal materials(PTMs) in the NIR-Ⅱ window(1000–1700 nm), especially organic PTMs because of their intrinsic biological safety compared with inorganic PTMs. However, so far, only a few NIR-Ⅱresponsive organic PTMs was explored, and their photothermal conversion efficiencies(PCEs) still remain relatively low. Herein, donor–acceptor conjugated diradical polymers with open-shell characteristics are explored for synergistically photothermal immunotherapy of metastatic tumors in the NIR-Ⅱ window. By employing side-chain regulation, the conjugated diradical polymer TTB-2 with obvious NIR-Ⅱ absorption was developed, and its nanoparticles realize a record-breaking PCE of 87.7% upon NIR-Ⅱ light illustration. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that TTB-2 nanoparticles show good tumor photoablation with navigation of photoacoustic imaging in the NIR-Ⅱ window, without any side-effect. Moreover, by combining with PD-1 antibody,the pulmonary metastasis of breast cancer is high-effectively prevented by the efficient photo-immunity effect. Thus, this study explores superior PTMs for cancer metastasis theranostics in the NIR-Ⅱ window, offering a new horizon in developing radical-characteristic NIR-Ⅱ photothermal materials.

Optimized sequential therapy vs 10- and 14-d concomitant therapy for eradicating Helicobacter pylori: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND A cure for Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)remains a problem of global concern.The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance is widely rising and becoming a challenging issue worldwide.Optimizing sequential therapy seems to be one of the most attractive strategies in terms of efficacy,tolerability and cost.The most common sequential therapy consists of a dual therapy[proton-pump inhibitors(PPIs)and amoxicillin]for the first period(5 to 7 d),followed by a triple therapy for the second period(PPI,clarithromycin and metronidazole).PPIs play a key role in maintaining a gastric pH at a level that allows an optimal efficacy of antibiotics,hence the idea of using new generation molecules.This open-label prospective study randomized 328 patients with confirmed H.pylori infection into three groups(1:1:1):The first group received quadruple therapy consisting of twice-daily(bid)omeprazole 20 mg,amoxicillin 1 g,clarith-romycin 500 mg and metronidazole 500 mg for 10 d(QT-10),the second group received a 14 d quadruple therapy following the same regimen(QT-14),and the third group received an optimized sequential therapy consisting of bid rabe-prazole 20 mg plus amoxicillin 1 g for 7 d,followed by bid rabeprazole 20 mg,clarithromycin 500 mg and metronidazole 500 mg for the next 7 d(OST-14).AEs were recorded throughout the study,and the H.pylori eradication rate was determined 4 to 6 wk after the end of treatment,using the 13C urea breath test.RESULTS In the intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis,the eradication rate was higher in the OST-14 group compared to the QT-10 group:(93.5%,85.5%P=0.04)and(96.2%,89.5%P=0.03)respectively.However,there was no statist-ically significant difference in eradication rates between the OST-14 and QT-14 groups:(93.5%,91.8%P=0.34)and(96.2%,94.4%P=0.35),respectively.The overall incidence of AEs was significantly lower in the OST-14 group(P=0.01).Furthermore,OST-14 was the most cost-effective among the three groups.CONCLUSION The optimized 14-d sequential therapy is a safe and effective alternative.Its eradication rate is comparable to that of the 14-d concomitant therapy while causing fewer AEs and allowing a gain in terms of cost.