Tracking Study on the Relapse and Aftercare Effect of Drug Patients Released From a Compulsory Isolated Detoxification Center

Background and AimsThere are no accurate statistical data on the relapse rate of drug abstainers after compulsory detoxification in China. This study aimed to collect relapse data for drug abstainers through follow-up visits, verify the effectiveness of professional social worker services and explore significant factors affecting relapse.Design and SettingThe drug abstainers released from Guangzhou T Compulsory Isolated Detoxification Center were randomly divided into two groups. The difference between the experimental group and the control group is that assistance services were provided by social workers to the former.ParticipantsThe study included 510 drug abstainers released from T Center, including 153 in the experimental group and 357 in the control group.MeasurementsDemographic information, history of drug abuse, and motivation for drug rehabilitation (SOCRATES) were collected 1 month prior to drug abstainer release from compulsory detoxification. Then, the relapse situation after their release was tracked according to fixed time points.FindingsThe overall relapse rate of 510 drug abstainers after their release from compulsory detoxification was 47.6%. The average survival time to relapse based on survival analysis was 220 days (N = 486), as calculated with Bayesian estimation by the MCMC method. The average survival times to relapse of the experimental group and control group were 393 and 175 days, respectively. By taking the specific survival time as the dependent variable and the group as the control variable (OR = 25.362), logistic regression analysis showed that marital status (OR = 2.666), previous compulsory detoxification experience (OR = 2.329) and location of household registration (OR = 1.557) had a significant impact on the survival time to relapse.ConclusionsThe occurrence of relapse among drug patients released from compulsory detoxification can be delayed effectively through the intervention of professional social worker services. Regardless of whether patients receive aftercare after compulsory detoxification, drug-using patients who are single, have multiple detoxification experiences and whose households are registered in other provinces deserve special attention. Relevant suggestions to avoid relapse are provided.

Altered Elemental Distribution in Male Rat Brain Tissue as a Predictor of Glioblastoma Multiforme Growth—Studies Using SR-XRF Microscopy

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a particularly malignant primary brain tumor. Despite enormous advances in the surgical treatment of cancer, radio- and chemotherapy, the average survival of patients suffering from this cancer does not usually exceed several months. For obvious ethical reasons, the search and testing of the new drugs and therapies of GBM cannot be carried out on humans, and for this purpose, animal models of the disease are most often used. However, to assess the efficacy and safety of the therapy basing on these models, a deep knowledge of the pathological changes associated with tumor development in the animal brain is necessary. Therefore, as part of our study, the synchrotron radiation-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy was applied for multi-elemental micro-imaging of the rat brain in which glioblastoma develops. Elemental changes occurring in animals after the implantation of two human glioma cell lines as well as the cells taken directly from a patient suffering from GBM were compared. Both the extent and intensity of elemental changes strongly correlated with the regions of glioma growth. The obtained results showed that the observation of elemental anomalies accompanying tumor development within an animal’s brain might facilitate our understanding of the pathogenesis and progress of GBM and also determine potential biomarkers of its extension. The tumors appearing in a rat’s brain were characterized by an increased accumulation of Fe and Se, whilst the tissue directly surrounding the tumor presented a higher accumulation of Cu. Furthermore, the results of the study allow us to consider Se as a potential elemental marker of GBM progression.

Small Particle DEBIRI TACE as Salvage Therapy in Patients with Liver Dominant Colorectal Cancer Metastasis: Retrospective Analysis of Safety and Outcomes

The aim of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of 40 µm and 75 µm calibrated irinotecan-eluting beads (DEBIRI-TACE) for the treatment of colorectal cancer metastases. We conducted a retrospective review of 36 patients with unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer who were treated with DEBIRI-TACE between 2017 to 2020. Patients who received at least one session of DEBIRI were included in our analysis. A total of 105 DEBIRI sessions were completed. 86% of patients (n = 31) underwent one round of treatment, 14% of patients (n = 5) underwent two distinct rounds of treatment. The majority of patients were discharged the next day (92%, n = 33 patients) with no 30-day post-DEBIRI mortality. Five high-grade adverse events occurred, including longer stay for pain management (n = 2), postembolization syndrome requiring readmission (n = 2), and liver abscess (n = 1). The average survival from diagnosis of metastatic disease was 33.3 months (range 11–95, median 28). Nine of 36 patients are still alive (December 2020) and have an average follow-up time of 36.8 months from T0 (range 12–63, median 39). Small particle DEBIRI is safe and well-tolerated in the salvage setting, with outcomes comparable to that of larger bead sizes.

Improved ROSC rates in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients after introduction of a text message alert system for trained volunteers

Objective To evaluate whether a text message (TM) alert system for trained volunteers contributed to early cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in a region with above-average survival rates. Design Data on all OHCA patients in 2012 (non-TM group) were compared with those of all OHCA patients in 2018 (TM group). The association of the presence of a TM alert system with ROSC and survival was assessed with multivariate regression analyses. Results TM responders reached 42 OHCA patients (15.9%) earlier than the first responders or ambulance. They connected 31 of these 42 OHCA patients (73.8%) to an AED before the ambulance arrived, leading to a higher percentage of AEDs being attached in 2018 compared to the 2012 non-TM group (55% vs 46%, p = 0.03). ROSC was achieved more often in the TM group (61.0% vs 29.4%, p < 0.01). Three-month and 1‑year survival did not differ significantly between the two groups (29.3% vs 24.3%, p = 0.19, and 25.9% vs 23.5%, p = 0.51). Multivariate regression analyses confirmed the positive association of ROSC with the TM alert system (odds ratio 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.02‑2.19, p = 0.04). Conclusion A TM alert system seems to improve the chain of survival; because TM responders reached patients early, AEDs were attached more often and more OHCA patients achieved ROSC. However, the introduction of a TM alert system was not associated with improved 3‑month or 1‑year survival in a region with above-average survival rates.

Analyzing Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms Using Artificial Neural Network Methodologic Triangulation

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are a type of mucinous pancreatic cyst. IPMN have been shown to be pre-malignant precursors to pancreatic cancer, which has an extremely high mortality rate with average survival less than 1 year. The purpose of this analysis is to utilize methodological triangulation using artificial neural networks and regression to examine the impact and effectiveness of a collection of variables believed to be predictive of malignant IPMN pathology. Results indicate that the triangulation is effective in both finding a new predictive variable and possibly reducing the number of variables needed for predicting if an IPMN is malignant or benign.

Frontiers in Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery: Challenges and Perspectives of Metformin as Anti-Angiogenic Add-On Therapy in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is the most common primitive tumor in adult central nervous system (CNS), classified as grade IV according to WHO 2016 classification. Glioblastoma shows a poor prognosis with an average survival of approximately 15 months, representing an extreme therapeutic challenge. One of its distinctive and aggressive features is aberrant angiogenesis, which drives tumor neovascularization, representing a promising candidate for molecular target therapy. Although several pre-clinical studies and clinical trials have shown promising results, anti-angiogenic drugs have not led to a significant improvement in overall survival (OS), suggesting the necessity of identifying novel therapeutic strategies. Metformin, an anti-hyperglycemic drug of the Biguanides family, used as first line treatment in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), has demonstrated in vitro and in vivo antitumoral efficacy in many different tumors, including glioblastoma. From this evidence, a process of repurposing of the drug has begun, leading to the demonstration of inhibition of various oncopromoter mechanisms and, consequently, to the identification of the molecular pathways involved. Here, we review and discuss metformin’s potential antitumoral effects on glioblastoma, inspecting if it could properly act as an anti-angiogenic compound to be considered as a safely add-on therapy in the treatment and management of glioblastoma patients.

Conversion of little value forest stands in Republic of Belarus: their state and problems

The article provides data on the assessment of the state of broad-leaved forest crops created during the reconstruction of low-value forest stands in the forest fund. The effectiveness of various methods of reconstruction of measures depending on the share of broad-leaved species in the composition of forest crops is analyzed. It was found that during the period 2006–2018 reconstruction was carried out on an area of 3628 hectares in the Republic of Belarus using corridor (69 %), curtin-group (22 %) and continuous (9 %) methods. It is shown that the average survival rate of forest crops in the continuous reconstruction method was 84, corridor — 71 %, and preservation, respectively, — 61 and 63 %. The sub-topological forest crops created during the curtin-group reconstruction had an unsatisfactory condition (average survival and preservation — 40 %). It is recommended when creating broadleaf forest crops during the reconstruction of low-value forest stands to take into account their age, composition, forest growing conditions, as well as the biogroup placement of plantings, which ensures faster closing of crops in rows, and contributes to their favorable growth and formation, and to create an optimal width of corridors 4...6 meters, which will ensure uniform and sufficient distribution of light in forest crops.

Frontiers in Anti-cancer Drug Discovery: Challenges and Perspectives of Metformin as Anti-angiogenic Add-on Therapy in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primitive tumor in adult central nervous system (CNS), classified as grade IV according to WHO 2016 classification. GBM shows a poor prognosis with an average survival of approximately 15 months, representing an extreme therapeutic challenge. One of its distinctive and aggressive features is aberrant angiogenesis, which drives tumor neovascularization, representing a promising candidate for molecular target therapy. Although several pre-clinical studies and clinical trials have shown promising results, anti-angiogenic drugs have not led to a significant improvement in overall survival (OS), suggesting the necessity of identifying novel therapeutic strategies. Metformin, an anti-hyperglycemic drug of the Biguanides family, used as first line treatment in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), demonstrated in vitro and in vivo antitumoral efficacy in many different tumors, including GBM. From this evidence, a process of repurposing of the drug has begun, leading to the demonstration of the inhibition of various oncopromoter mechanisms and, consequently, to the identification of the molecular pathways involved. Here, we review and discuss the potential metformin&rsquo;s antitumoral effects on GBM, inspecting if it could properly act as an anti-angiogenic compound to be considered as a safely add-on therapy in the treatment and management of GBM patients.

Nanotherapeutics Overcoming the Blood-Brain Barrier for Glioblastoma Treatment

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor with a poor prognosis. The current standard treatment regimen represented by temozolomide/radiotherapy has an average survival time of 14.6 months, while the 5-year survival rate is still less than 5%. New therapeutics are still highly needed to improve the therapeutic outcome of GBM treatment. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the main barrier that prevents therapeutic drugs from reaching the brain. Nanotechnologies that enable drug delivery across the BBB hold great promise for the treatment of GBM. This review summarizes various drug delivery systems used to treat glioma and focuses on their approaches for overcoming the BBB to enhance the accumulation of small molecules, protein and gene drugs, etc. in the brain.

Isolating and culturing of single microbial cells by laser ejection sorting technology

Single cell isolation and cultivation play an important role in studying physiology, gene expression and functions of microorganisms. A series of single-cell isolation technologies have been developed, among which single-cell ejection technology is one of the most promising. Single cell ejection technology has applied Laser Induced Forward Transfer Technique (LIFT) to isolate bacteria but the viability (or recovery rate) of cells after sorting has not been clarified in the current research progress. In this work, to keep the cells alive as much as possible, we propose a three-layer LIFT system (top layer: 25-nm aluminum film; second layer: 3 μm agar media; third layer: liquid containing bacterial) for the isolation and cultivation of single Gram-negative ( E. coli ), Gram-positive ( Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, LGG), and eukaryotic microorganisms ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ). The experiment results showed that the average survival rates for ejected pure single cells were 63% for Saccharomyces cerevisiae , 22% for E. coli DH5α, and 74% for LGG. In addition, we successfully isolated and cultured the GFP expressing E. coli JM109 from the mixture containing complex communities of soil bacteria by fluorescence signal. The average survival rate of E. coli JM109 was demonstrated to be 25.3%. In this study, the isolated and cultured single colonies were further confirmed by colony PCR and sequencing. Such precise sorting and cultivation technique of live single microbial cells could be coupled with other microscopic approaches to isolate single microorganisms with specific functions, revealing their roles in the natural community. Importance We developed a laser induced forward transfer (LIFT) technology to accurately isolate single live microbial cells. The cultivation recovery rates of the ejected single cells were 63% for Saccharomyces cerevisiae , 22% for E. coli DH5α, and 74% for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). Coupled LIFT with fluorescent microscope, we demonstrated that single cells of GFP expressing E. coli JM109 were sorted according to fluorescence signal from a complex community of soil bacteria, and subsequently cultured with 25% cultivation recovery rate. This single cell live sorting technology could isolate single microbes with specific functions, revealing their roles in the natural community.