Efficacy and safety of dual versus mono antiplatelet therapy in patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack: An updated meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials.

The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) as a routine treatment in stroke patients is still controversial. The efficacy and safety of DAPT may vary with different regiments, initiating treatment time and race. Our study assessed the efficacy and safety of DAPT in patients with stroke and to determine the factors influencing the efficacy and safety of DAPT. Relevant studies published up to May 2019 from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library. Randomized controlled trials comparing DAPT with mono antiplatelet therapy (MAPT) for stroke secondary prevention were included. The primary endpoints were stroke recurrence, ischemic stroke recurrence and all-cause death. Subgroup analysis was made according to regiment, initiating treatment time and race. Eighteen studies (n=33353) were included. Comparing with MAPT, short-term DAPT reduced stroke recurrence (RR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.60-0.77) and ischemic stroke recurrence (RR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.59-0.77) but increased major bleeding (RR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.11-2.98). Long-term DAPT had no superiority compared with MAPT. Aspirin plus clopidogrel comparing with aspirin and early initiating treatment time comparing with MAPT decreased stroke recurrence (RR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.67-0.83; RR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.61-0.78) and ischemic stroke recurrence ( RR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.64-0.79; RR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.59-0.77) but also increased major bleeding (RR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.38-2.09; RR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.07-2.85). DAPT reduced stroke and ischemic stroke recurrence in non-Asian group but only reduced ischemic stroke recurrence in Asian group. As stroke secondary prevention, short-term DAPT rather than long-term DAPT could be a better choice. Patients could benefit more from aspirin plus clopidogrel or given DAPT within 72 h after symptoms onset. Race may be a factor influencing the efficacy of DAPT.

Comparative study on effect of crude and different processed products of epimedium on pharmacokinetics characteristics in mice / 中国中药杂志

To study different impacts of crude epimedium and extracts from different processed epimedium on pharmacokinetic characteristic parameters in mice. To explore the rationality of its processed products, mice were orally administered with crude epimedium and extracting solutions from heated epimedium and processed epimedium. With increased SOD value as an indicator, the relationship between time and equivalent body dose was obtained by using the pharmacological effect method. DAS 2.0 software was adopted to compare their pharmacokinetic parameters. The results showed significant differences in such pharmacokinetic parameters as Cmax and AUC of processed epimedium, heated epimedium and crude epimedium, namely processed epimedium > heated epimedium > crude epimedium. We could come to the conclusion that heated epimedium showed increased bioavailability, while epimedium processed with sheep oil could further promote in vivo absorption.

Construction and identification of blood type B antigen mimetic polypeptide-Mip3beta double expression recombinant plasmid / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct and identify blood type B antigen mimetic polypeptide-macrophage inflammatory protein 3beta (Mip3beta) double expression recombinant plasmid.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The positive phage clone P1 was obtained using phage random 12-mer peptide library. Specific primers were designed to amplify the phage DNA of P1 and transmembrane domain and inner segment of PBluscript-Fas gene. The products of the amplification were linked into Mip3betav21 to construct blood type B antigen mimetic polypeptide-Mip3beta double expression recombinant plasmid. The recombinant plasmid was transfected into human melanoma cell line B16 to identify its expression.</p><p><b>RESULTS AND CONCLUSION</b>Blood type B antigen mimetic polypeptide-Mip3beta double expression recombinant plasmid is successfully obtained and expressed in human melanoma cell line B16.</p>

Study on the prevalence of depression among cancer patients and its influencing factors in Shanghai / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the prevalence of depression among cancer patients and its influencing factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We investigated 7967 cancer patients who lived in communities with cluster sampling based on 'Shanghai Cancer Patient Database'. They were investigated through questionnaires and completed the Zung Self-rating Scale. 6694 questionnaires were identified as 'qualified'. We calculated the prevalence of depression and determined the factors with logistic regression model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence rate of depression among cancer patients in communities was 24.74% (95% CI: 23.71% - 25.79%). Results from multi-factor analysis showed that duration since diagnosis, stages at diagnosis, metastasis, therapeutics, KPS scores, and pain VAS scores were the important factors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Early detection, improving the curative effect and providing community health services could reduce the prevalence of depression.</p>

Percutaneous microballoon compression for trigeminal neuralgia / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Percutaneous microballoon compression (PMC) for trigeminal neuralgia is an important therapeutic method. The aim of this study was to review the effects of PMC for trigeminal neuralgia in 276 patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From December 2000 to May 2003, 276 patients with trigeminal neuralgia were treated with PMC. The course of the disease ranged from 3 months to 38 years. Under the guidance of C-arm X-ray, 14# needle was placed into the foramen ovale using the classical Hakanson's technique. Fogarty balloon catheter was navigated into the Meckel's cave tenderly. A small amount of Omnipaque was slowly injected to inflate the balloon and compress the trigeminal ganglion for 3 to 10 minutes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 290 PMC were performed on the 276 patients. Among them, 252 had immediate relief from pain. The patients were followed up for a mean of 18.7 months (range, 4 to 32), 14 of them had a recurrence. Of the 14 patients, 12 were re-operated with PMC, and the pain was all controlled successfully.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PMC is an effective and technically simple method for trigeminal neuralgia. For older patients with trigeminal neuralgia, it may be the first choice.</p>

Study on factors affecting the quality of life to cancer patients at the community level in Shanghai / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>A survey on cancer patients at the community level in Shanghai was performed, in order to study the factors affecting the quality of life (QOL) on them.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To evaluate the QOL of cancer patients, self-administered Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) questionnaire and personal interview methods were used. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software (SPSS,Chicago, IL), including one-way ANOVA and linear regression methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 7580 valid questionnaires retrieved. Many factors were certificated to have significant relationship with QOL of cancer patients,such as family incomes, education, occupation, awareness of disease, physical exercise, cost of health care and pain (P < 0.01). Some factors however, only affecting certain aspects of the QOL, of which age, marriage state, type of tumor and stage were also noticed. KPS had strong Linear correlation with every aspect of FACT-G (P < 0.000).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Patients having a poor KPS, metastasis, low educational level, divorced or lost of spouse, pain, poor income, little exercise and old age would tend to have a poor QOL outcome.</p>