Medicine
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The treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has now changed dramatically in recent years and anaplastic lymphoma receptor tyrosine kinase (ALK) inhibitors are developing rapidly. ⋯ Ceritinib may be a good choice for ALK-positive NSCLC patients with brain metastases who acquire resistance to crizotinib.
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This study aimed to investigate the influence of polymorphisms in chemokine genes, including MCP1, CCR2, and CCR5 with psoriasis vulgaris (PV) risk in a Chinese population. The genotyping of studied polymorphisms through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing was conducted in 142 PV patients and 147 healthy controls. The genotype distribution of the polymorphisms in the control group was checked to determine whether it conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). ⋯ CCR2 rs1799864 polymorphism was associated with significantly elevated risk of PV (AA+AG vs GG: OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.02-2.59; A vs G: OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.02-2.16). In the meanwhile, CCR5 rs1800024 polymorphism also exhibited significant differences in genotype and allele distribution (P < .05), demonstrating its promoting effect on the risk of PV under heterozygous model (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.06-2.82), dominance model (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.14-2.94), and allele model (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.13-2.48). CCR2 rs1799864 and CCR5 rs1800024 polymorphisms may function as independent risk factors for PV in Chinese population.
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Acinar cell carcinomas (ACCs) and mixed acinar-endocrine carcinomas (MAECs) of the pancreas are rare, accounting for only 1% of pancreatic tumors. Although both typically present at an advanced stage, chemotherapeutic regimes have not yet been standardized. ⋯ Given the previous studies suggested that S-1 is more effective for ACCs than gemcitabine, MAECs may also respond to S-1 chemotherapy, similar to ACCs. Another potential interpretation is that S-1 was effective when the condition was ACC, and eventually showed decreased effectiveness when the condition shifted to MAEC. Future studies are needed to conclude whether S-1 chemotherapy truly works against MAECs or induces endocrine differentiation in ACCs as a part of the drug-resistance process.
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Case Reports
Recurrent spinal primitive neuroectodermal tumor with brain and bone metastases: A case report.
Primary spinal primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is relatively rare in all age groups, and the prognosis in most cases of spinal PNETs appears to be poor, with a median patient survival of 1 to 2 years. We present a case with recurrent spinal PNET with brain and bone metastases that was successfully treated by multimodality treatment. ⋯ Multimodality treatments including operation, RT, and chemotherapy should be considered in the initial treatment planning, and salvage chemotherapy was useful in this case.
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Endocarditis with Abiotrophia defectiva represents 4.3% to 6% of all streptococcal endocarditis. The article presents diagnosis issues and the complexity of the treatment. ⋯ The use of antibiotics administered in association, in the management of infective endocarditis, is mandatory.