Clinical profile of cutaneous adverse drug reactions: a retrospective study of 1883 hospitalized patients from 2007 to 2016 in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADRs) are drug-induced skin reactions with or without systemic involvement, ranging from mild maculopapular exanthema (MPE) to life-threatening severe CADRs (S-CADRs). Due to their unpredictability and severity, early recognition of suspected causative drugs is highly recommended. However, the profile of CADRs remains unknown in China. OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical profile, predominant causative drugs, and cost associated with CADRs in Shanghai, China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical records of inpatients admitted with a diagnosis of CADRs to the dermatology ward of Huashan Hospital from January 2007 to December 2016 were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: A total of 1,883 patients (1,231 female and 652 male), admitted with a diagnosis of CADR, were investigated. S-CADRs made up 21.99% of all cases (n=414), and urticaria (27.19%) was the most frequent reaction. Of the patients, 53.43% suffered from multiple drug-induced drug eruptions and the rest (45.83%) from single drug-induced drug eruptions. Overall, antimicrobials (28.85%) was the main drug group involved, and for S-CADRs, this was antiepileptic drugs (36.15%). The total cost for CADRs was RMB23,718,788.83 ($3,588,319.04). Both age and sex were related to admission cost (p=0.005 and p=7.84E-8, respectively). Antimicrobials were the most common treatment causing CADRs. CONCLUSION: The management of CADRs requires considerable medical cost. CADRs are not only a health problem but also a significant financial burden for affected individuals.

Skin ulcers infected with conditional pathogenic strains treated with local hydrogen water packing in two pemphigus vulgaris patients: Case reports with follow-up for 2 months.

We are the first to report on a new, safe, and effective treatment of infections induced by conditional pathogenic strains with local wet packing with hydrogen water. The new treatment method may also shed light on the therapy of chronic, inflammatory skin ulcers.

Lycopene Consumption and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

A number of epidemiological studies have explored the association between lycopene or lycopene-rich food intake and the risk of colorectal cancer, but the results of these studies have not been consistent. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published in the PubMed and EMBASE databases to quantitatively assess the association between lycopene consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer. A total of 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis, and the summary relative risk (RR) for highest versus lowest category indicated no significant association between lycopene consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer [RR = 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.80-1.10]. However, a significant inverse association was observed between lycopene consumption and the site of cancer in the colon (RR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.81-0.96). We also found that the incidence of colon cancer and lycopene intake did not exhibit dose-response relationships. The Grades of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) quality in our study was very low. In conclusion, this meta-analysis indicates that lycopene consumption is not associated with the risk of colorectal cancer. Further research will be needed in this area to provide conclusive evidence.

Expression levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and multidrug resistance-associated protein-1 indicate poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) displays a key role in tumor transformation and metastasis. It also makes tumor cells more resistant to chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between IGF-1R and multidrug resistance-associated protein-1 (MRP-1), and the clinical significance of their expression in gastric carcinoma (GC). METHODS: IGF-1R and MRP-1 expressed in 113 specimens were detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between IGF-1R and MRP-1 expression was determined. In addition, the association of their expression with clinicopathological features and survival data of GC was also analyzed. RESULTS: IGF-1R (75.2%) and MRP-1 (69.0%) were frequently expressed in GC. IGF-1R was associated with tumor size, quantity of stroma, depth of wall invasion, lymph node metastasis, TNM stages and differentiation status of GC (p < 0.05). MRP-1 was associated with tumor size, quantity of stroma, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and TNM stages (p < 0.05). IGF-1R over-expression positively correlated with MRP-1 over-expression (rp = 0.39, p < 0.01). IGF-1R and MPR-1 over-expression were correlated with poor prognosis of GC (p < 0.01). 102 patients receiving adjuvant FOLFOX-4 chemotherapy who co-expressed IGF-1R/MRP-1 had poor prognosis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The levels of co-expression of IGF-1R/MRP-1 in GC may predict the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy and prognosis of GC.

[Effect of the change of caspase-3 activity on the neoadjuvant chemotherapy-induced apoptosis of large-intestinal carcinoma cells].

OBJECTIVES: To study the change of caspase-3 activity on the neoadjuvant chemotherapy-induced apoptosis by hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu)/leucovorin (CF) in large-intestinal carcinoma, and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: HCPT 100 mg/dt-5, 5-Fu 500 mg/dt-5 and CF 200 mg/dt-5 were administered intravenously to 20 pre-operation patients. Samples were obtained during the operation. The changes of apoptotic cells and caspase-3 activity in large-intestinal carcinoma were evaluated with the optical microscopy and the colorimeteric assay respectively and were compared with non-chemotherapy group and normal intestinal tissue group. RESULTS: 1. The obvious cell apoptotic change could be observed under the optical microscopy in the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy group; 2. The level of caspase-3 activity was significantly higher in the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy group than in the non-chemotherapy and normal intestinal tissue group(P < 0.05); 3. The change of caspase-3 activity was closely correlated with the tumor differentiation and Dukes stage after the induction of pre-operative chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: HCPT combined with 5-Fu/CF may induce the apoptosis of large-intestinal carcinoma cells and caspase-3 takes part in the apoptotic process. The change of caspase-3 activity was closely correlated with the degree of the tumor differentiation and Dukes stage.