RESUMEN
The diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy (DS) for scabies, a highly contagious parasitic disease, remains disputed. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of DS in scabies, analyze the factors influencing DS, and explore its role in post-treatment evaluation. Patients with suspected scabies were randomly divided into 2 groups: 71 patients in the skin scraping (SS) group and 73 patients in the DS group. The diagnostic efficiencies of SS and DS in these groups were calculated. We also analyzed the influence of body part and investigator competence on the accuracy of DS. Then 16 body parts with typical signs of scabies were monitored by DS 2 and 4 day after sulfur ointment treatment. The sensitivity and specificity of DS were 98.3% and 88.5%, respectively. Hands, arms, and the abdomen had higher positivity rates than other body parts (P<0.001). The accuracy of dermatologists’ interpretations of images negative for scabies in the intermediate- and high-level groups was higher than that in the low-level group (P<0.001). At follow-up, the mites were still visible on 43.8% to 62.5% of the skin lesions 2 and 4 day after sulfur ointment treatment. These results showed that DS could significantly increase the accuracy of diagnosing scabies owing to its high sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, it may be useful for monitoring clinical responses to anti-parasitic treatment.
RESUMEN
The diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy (DS) for scabies, a highly contagious parasitic disease, remains disputed. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of DS in scabies, analyze the factors influencing DS, and explore its role in post-treatment evaluation. Patients with suspected scabies were randomly divided into 2 groups: 71 patients in the skin scraping (SS) group and 73 patients in the DS group. The diagnostic efficiencies of SS and DS in these groups were calculated. We also analyzed the influence of body part and investigator competence on the accuracy of DS. Then 16 body parts with typical signs of scabies were monitored by DS 2 and 4 day after sulfur ointment treatment. The sensitivity and specificity of DS were 98.3% and 88.5%, respectively. Hands, arms, and the abdomen had higher positivity rates than other body parts (P<0.001). The accuracy of dermatologists’ interpretations of images negative for scabies in the intermediate- and high-level groups was higher than that in the low-level group (P<0.001). At follow-up, the mites were still visible on 43.8% to 62.5% of the skin lesions 2 and 4 day after sulfur ointment treatment. These results showed that DS could significantly increase the accuracy of diagnosing scabies owing to its high sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, it may be useful for monitoring clinical responses to anti-parasitic treatment.
RESUMEN
In this study, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of lobaplatin (LBP) when it was combined with docetaxel (TXT) for the treatment of solid tumours that had progressed following chemotherapy was determined, and toxicities to this regimen were evaluated. A modified Fibonacci method was used for the dose escalation of LBP. The patients received TXT (at a fixed dose of 60 mg/m2) on day one (d1) and LBP (at an initial tested dose of 30 mg/m2) on day two (d2) of a treatment cycle that was repeated every 21 days. Each dose group consisted of at least three cases. In the absence of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), we proceeded to the next dose group, with a dose increment of 5 mg/m2 between groups, until DLT occurred. The dose immediately below the dose that produced DLT was regarded as the MTD. The 17 patients examined in this study completed a total of 58 cycles of chemotherapy, and a total of three dose-escalation groups (30 mg/m2 LBP, 35 mg/m2 LBP, and 40 mg/m2 LBP) were established. The main adverse event that was observed was myelosuppression. DLT occurred in four patients, including three patients in the 40 mg/m2 LBP group and one patient in the 35 mg/m2 LBP group. In total, three out of the four patients in the 40 mg/m2 LBP group exhibited DLT. We determined that the treatment administered to the 35 mg/m2 LBP group represented the MTD. Thus, our phase I trial revealed that the MTD for the tested LBP combination regimen was 35 mg/m2 LBP and 60 mg/m2 TXT. This regimen resulted in mild adverse reactions and favourable patient tolerance. Therefore, we recommend the use of these dosages in phase II clinical trials.
RESUMEN
Gastric cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer globally and accounts for the second highest cancer-associated mortality rate in the world. Current treatment strategies for gastric cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy may increase the IP concentrations of chemotherapy drugs and reduce the systemic toxicity. At present, IP chemotherapy is used to treat patients with advanced gastric cancer, which has a high rate of peritoneal recurrence. The present study evaluated the feasibility of using docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil (DCF) in an IP and intravenous (IV) dual chemotherapy regimen for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. The treatment-associated adverse reactions and preliminary efficacy were reported. The first dose level utilized the full dose of DCF: Docetaxel, day one, 45 mg/m2 (IP) and day eight, 30 mg/m2 (IV); cisplatin (DDP), day one, 75 mg/m2 (IP); and fluorouracil (FU), days one to five, 750 mg/m2 (continuous IV). A total of six patients were treated at this level and two patients withdrew due to serious adverse reactions. Taking into account that the the tolerated doses used in combination regimens for Eastern populations are lower than that of the corresponding doses for Western populations, the dosages of the three drugs were all reduced by 20% in the application of the second dose level: Docetaxel, day one, 30 mg/m2 (IP) and day eight, 30 mg/m2 (IV); DDP, day two, 60 mg/m2 (IP); and FU, days one to five, 600 mg/m2 (continuous IV). A total of 26 patients were treated at this level. The main adverse reaction was bone marrow suppression, with grade III/IV neutropenia, leukopenia and febrile neutropenia accounting for 61.5, 53.8 and 19.2% of reactions, respectively, and grade III/IV anemia and thrombocytopenia accounting for 19.2 and 15.4% of reactions, respectively. Gastrointestinal adverse reactions primarily consisted of abdominal pain, with grade III/IV abdominal pain accounting for 30.8% of reactions. Only 7.7% of the patients withdrew from the treatment. The median time to progression (TTP) was five months [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0-9.0 months], and the median overall survival (OS) was nine months (95% CI, 7.4-10.6 months). It was concluded that the DCF regimen with reduced dosage should be applied. IP and IV dual chemotherapy for the treatment of unresectable advanced gastric cancer is tolerated and demonstrated a good initial efficacy. Strategies for mitigating and reducing the adverse gastrointestinal reactions, particularly abdominal pain, may be the focus of future studies.
