Cost-Effectiveness of Empagliflozin and Metformin Combination Versus Standard Care as First-Line Therapy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

ObjectiveSodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors have been shown to reduce cardiovascular events but are currently not used as the first-line therapy. This study was conducted to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of first-line empagliflozin plus metformin versus metformin monotherapy among Australians with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and existing cardiovascular disease (CVD).MethodsA Markov model with 1-year cycles and a 5-year time horizon was constructed to simulate the occurrence of recurrent cardiovascular events among Australians aged 50 to 84 years with T2DM and CVD. Efficacy results were derived from the Empagliflozin Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients-Removing Excess Glucose trial. Costs and utilities were drawn from published sources. The evaluation adopted both health care and societal perspectives, with the latter ascribing the Australian government’s “value of statistical life year” (A$213 000) to each year lived by a person. Future outcomes were discounted at 5% annually. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to enhance the robustness of conclusions.ResultsCompared with metformin monotherapy, first-line empagliflozin plus metformin reduced overall cardiovascular events by 0.82% and overall deaths by 7.72% over 5 years. There were 0.2 years of life saved per person and 0.16 quality-adjusted life years gained, at a net health care cost of A$4408. These equated to incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of A$22 076 per year of life saved and A$28 244 per quality-adjusted life year gained. The gains in the value of statistical life year equated to A$42 530 per person, meaning that from a societal perspective, the intervention was cost-saving.ConclusionFirst-line empagliflozin plus metformin may represent a cost-effective strategy for the management of T2DM and CVD in Australia.     

Cost-Effectiveness of Extended-Release Methylphenidate in Children and Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Sub-Optimally Treated with Immediate Release Methylphenidate

BackgroundAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric disorder in children and adolescents. Immediate-release methylphenidate (IR-MPH) is the medical treatment of first choice. The necessity to use several IR-MPH tablets per day and associated potential social stigma at school often leads to reduced compliance, sub-optimal treatment, and therefore economic loss. Replacement of IR-MPH with a single-dose extended release (ER-MPH) formulation may improve drug response and economic efficiency.ObjectiveTo evaluate the cost-effectiveness from a societal perspective of a switch from IR-MPH to ER-MPH in patients who are sub-optimally treated.MethodsA daily Markov-cycle model covering a time-span of 10 years was developed including four different health states: (1) optimal response, (2) sub-optimal response, (3) discontinued treatment, and (4) natural remission. ER-MPH options included methylphenidate osmotic release oral system (MPH-OROS) and Equasym XL/Medikinet CR. Both direct costs and indirect costs were included in the analysis, and effects were expressed as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Univariate, multivariate as well as probabilistic sensitivity analysis were conducted and the main outcomes were incremental cost-effectiveness ratios.ResultsSwitching sub-optimally treated patients from IR-MPH to MPH-OROS or Equasym XL/Medikinet CR led to per-patient cost-savings of €4200 and €5400, respectively, over a 10-year treatment span. Sensitivity analysis with plausible variations of input parameters resulted in cost-savings in the vast majority of estimations.ConclusionsThis study lends economic support to switching patients with ADHD with suboptimal response to short-acting IR-MPH to long-acting ER-MPH regimens.     

食管鳞癌血管生成拟态的组织学和细胞学研究

目的:探讨血管生成拟态(vasculogenic mimicry,VM)与食管鳞癌临床病理特征的关系及其对患者预后的影响,并分析食管癌血管生成拟态的形成机制。方法:收集57例食管鳞癌石蜡包埋样本,进行过碘酸雪夫氏(PAS)及CD34免疫组织化学双重染色,结合HE染色,观察食管鳞癌血管生成拟态的发生情况。对患者临床病理和预后信息进行单因素分析,Kaplan-Meier生存比较和Cox风险模型分析。通过食管鳞癌细胞株Eca-109三维培养建立,观察RNAi沉默VE-cadherin对食管鳞癌Eca109血管生成拟态形成的影响。结果:食管鳞癌中VM表达的阳性率为54.3%,显著高于正常食管黏膜组织;VM在病理分型为低分化食管鳞癌的阳性表达率为78.9%,显著高于中高分化组(P0.05);III-Ⅳ期食管鳞癌患者VM阳性率显著高于Ⅰ-Ⅱ期食管鳞癌患者(P0.05);有淋巴结转移的食管鳞癌者VM阳性率明显高于无淋巴结转移者(P0.05)。单因素分析结果显示食管鳞癌VM的发生率与肿瘤的分化程度、TNM分期和淋巴转移显著相关。Kaplan-Meier生存分析显示有VM组食管鳞癌患者的生存期明显短于无VM组(P0.05);Cox分析显示VM是影响食管鳞癌患者预后的独立危险因素(RF=0.67)。三维培养结果显示Eca-109细胞在基质胶上形成典型的血管网状样结构,VE-cadherin-siRNA可有效抑制VE-cadherin在Eca109的表达,抑制体外培养的Eca109细胞VM的形成。结论:血管生成拟态是食管鳞癌一种独特的血液供应模式,与食管鳞癌的分化程度、TNM分期、淋巴转移密切相关,是食管鳞癌患者术后生存期的独立危险因素。     

NFE2L1在食管鳞癌中的表达及临床意义

目的:通过检测食管鳞癌标本中核因子E2相关因子1(NFE2L1)的表达情况,探究NFE2L1在食管鳞癌发生发展中的作用,为食管鳞癌的诊治以及预后评估提供新的思路。方法:收集我校附院2016-2017年经病理组织学检查诊断为食管鳞癌的手术标本40例及其对应的癌旁组织并从NCBI数据库下载GEO测序数据,应用定量PCR、免疫组化和生物信息分析等方法检测分析NFE2L1基因的表达情况。结果:在食管鳞癌组织中,NFE2L1表达阳性31例(77.5%),癌旁组织阳性表达17例(42.5%),两组比较差异显著有统计学意义(P0.001);进一步发现NFE2L1的阳性表达与肿瘤分化程度和淋巴转移相关(P0.05)。但在不同年龄、性别、浸润深度及不同部位之间差异无统计学意义。GEO数据分析结果显示NFE2L1在食管鳞癌组织显著高表达(P0.01),只是未达到显著差异表达的阈值标准(即变化倍数小于2倍)。结论:NFE2L1在食管鳞癌中高表达,表达的高低与食管鳞癌的发生进展密切相关。     

Is Adding HCV Screening to the Antenatal National Screening Program in Amsterdam,The Netherlands,Cost-Effective?

Introduction

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to severe liver disease. Pregnant women are already routinely screened for several infectious diseases, but not yet for HCV infection. Here we examine whether adding HCV screening to routine screening is cost-effective.

Methods

To estimate the cost-effectiveness of implementing HCV screening of all pregnant women and HCV screening of first-generation non-Western pregnant women as compared to no screening, we developed a Markov model. For the parameters of the model, we used prevalence data from pregnant women retrospectively tested for HCV in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and from literature sources. In addition, we estimated the effect of possible treatment improvement in the future.

Results

The incremental costs per woman screened was €41 and 0.0008 life-years were gained. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was €52,473 which is above the cost-effectiveness threshold of €50,000. For screening first-generation non-Western migrants, the ICER was €47,113. Best-case analysis for both scenarios showed ICERs of respectively €19,505 and €17,533. We estimated that if costs per treatment were to decline to €3,750 (a reduction in price of €31,000), screening all pregnant women would be cost-effective.

Conclusions

Currently, adding HCV screening to the already existing screening program for pregnant women is not cost-effective for women in general. However, adding HCV screening for first-generation non-Western women shows a modest cost-effective outcome. Yet, best case analysis shows potentials for an ICER below €20,000 per life-year gained. Treatment options will improve further in the coming years, enhancing cost-effectiveness even more.     

Routine HIV Screening in Portugal: Clinical Impact and Cost-Effectiveness

Objective

To compare the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of routine HIV screening in Portugal to the current practice of targeted and on-demand screening.

Design

We used Portuguese national clinical and economic data to conduct a model-based assessment.

Methods

We compared current HIV detection practices to strategies of increasingly frequent routine HIV screening in Portuguese adults aged 18-69. We considered several subpopulations and geographic regions with varying levels of undetected HIV prevalence and incidence. Baseline inputs for the national case included undiagnosed HIV prevalence 0.16%, annual incidence 0.03%, mean population age 43 years, mean CD4 count at care initiation 292 cells/μL, 63% HIV test acceptance, 78% linkage to care, and HIV rapid test cost €6 under the proposed routine screening program. Outcomes included quality-adjusted survival, secondary HIV transmission, cost, and incremental cost-effectiveness.

Results

One-time national HIV screening increased HIV-infected survival from 164.09 quality-adjusted life months (QALMs) to 166.83 QALMs compared to current practice and had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of €28,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Screening more frequently in higher-risk groups was cost-effective: for example screening annually in men who have sex with men or screening every three years in regions with higher incidence and prevalence produced ICERs of €21,000/QALY and €34,000/QALY, respectively.

Conclusions

One-time HIV screening in the Portuguese national population will increase survival and is cost-effective by international standards. More frequent screening in higher-risk regions and subpopulations is also justified. Given Portugal’s challenging economic priorities, we recommend prioritizing screening in higher-risk populations and geographic settings.     

Comparison of a Concurrent Fluorouracil-Based Regimen and a Taxane-Based Regimen Combined with Radiotherapy in Elderly Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Elderly patients with esophageal carcinoma may benefit from concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). However, the optimal concurrent chemotherapy regimen has not been determined. The aim of our study was to assess the efficiency and tolerance of treatment with a concurrent 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu)–based regimen and a taxane-based regimen combined with radiotherapy in elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A total of 46 patients with ESCC aged older than 65 years were included in this study. The patient population was divided into two treatment groups: 24 patients who received CCRT with a 5-Fu–based regimen were allocated to the PF group, and 22 patients who received CCRT with a taxane-based regimen were allocated to the DP group. The median overall survival (OS), median progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate, and treatment-related toxicity were assessed. For patients in the PF group, the median OS time was 27.8 ± 9.1 months, and the median PFS time was 12.5 ± 2.7 months. Patients in the DP group had comparable survival outcomes, with a median OS time of 34.4 ± 6.4 months and a median PFS time of 21.1 ± 6.4 months (P = .296 and P = .115, respectively). Grade ≥3 leukocytopenia and grade ≥2 anemia occurred in 63.6% and 59.1% of patients in the DP group, respectively, and in 25.0% and 16.7% of patients in the PF group, respectively. Our results suggest that CCRT with a taxane-based regimen results in a higher incidence of treatment-related toxicity than CCRT with a 5-Fu–based regimen but comparable survival outcomes.     

Difference in Restricted Mean Survival Time for Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Using Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis: Evidence from a Case Study

Objective

In economic evaluation, a commonly used outcome measure for the treatment effect is the between-arm difference in restricted mean survival time (rmstD). This study illustrates how different survival analysis methods can be used to estimate the rmstD for economic evaluation using individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis. Our aim was to study if/how the choice of a method impacts on cost-effectiveness results.

Methods

We used IPD from the Meta-Analysis of Radiotherapy in Lung Cancer concerning 2,000 patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, included in ten trials. We considered methods either used in the field of meta-analysis or in economic evaluation but never applied to assess the rmstD for economic evaluation using IPD meta-analysis. Methods were classified into two approaches. With the first approach, the rmstD is estimated directly as the area between the two pooled survival curves. With the second approach, the rmstD is based on the aggregation of the rmstDs estimated in each trial.

Results

The average incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and acceptability curves were sensitive to the method used to estimate the rmstD. The estimated rmstDs ranged from 1.7 month to 2.5 months, and mean ICERs ranged from € 24,299 to € 34,934 per life-year gained depending on the chosen method. At a ceiling ratio of € 25,000 per life year-gained, the probability of the experimental treatment being cost-effective ranged from 31% to 68%.

Conclusions

This case study suggests that the method chosen to estimate the rmstD from IPD meta-analysis is likely to influence the results of cost-effectiveness analyses.     

A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Swedish Universal Parenting Program All Children in Focus

Objective

There are few health economic evaluations of parenting programs with quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) as the outcome measure. The objective of this study was, therefore, to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of the universal parenting program All Children in Focus (ABC). The goals were to estimate the costs of program implementation, investigate the health effects of the program, and examine its cost-effectiveness.

Methods

A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted. Costs included setup costs and operating costs. A parent proxy Visual Analog Scale was used to measure QALYs in children, whereas the General Health Questionnaire-12 was used for parents. A societal perspective was adopted, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated. To account for uncertainty in the estimate, the probability of cost-effectiveness was investigated, and sensitivity analyses were used to account for the uncertainty in cost data.

Results

The cost was €326.3 per parent, of which €53.7 represented setup costs under the assumption that group leaders on average run 10 groups, and €272.6 was the operating costs. For health effects, the QALY gain was 0.0042 per child and 0.0027 per parent. These gains resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for the base case of €47 290 per gained QALY. The sensitivity analyses resulted in ratios from €41 739 to €55 072. With the common Swedish threshold value of €55 000 per QALY, the probability of the ABC program being cost-effective was 50.8 percent.

Conclusion

Our analysis of the ABC program demonstrates cost-effectiveness ratios below or just above the QALY threshold in Sweden. However, due to great uncertainty about the data, the health economic rationale for implementation should be further studied considering a longer time perspective, effects on siblings, and validated measuring techniques, before full scale implementation.     

Cost-Effectiveness of Physical Activity among Women with Menopause Symptoms: Findings from a Randomised Controlled Trial

Menopause is a period that may predispose one to a decrease in muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, and quality of life. A study was carried out to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of physical activity among women displaying symptoms of menopause. The cost-effectiveness analysis was based on data from a six-month randomised controlled trial (n = 151). The women in the intervention group engaged in an unsupervised session of at least 50 minutes of physical activity four times a week. The control group continued their physical activity as before. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated in terms of maximal oxygen consumption, lean muscle mass, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. A bootstrap technique was utilised to estimate uncertainty around the point estimate for ICER associated with the intervention. The mean total cost in the intervention group was €1,307 (SEM: €311) and in the control group was €1,253 (SEM: €279, p = 0.10) per person. The mean intervention cost was €208 per person. After six months of the behaviour-change intervention, the ICER was €63 for a 1 ml/kg/min improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness, the additional cost per one-gram increase in lean muscle mass was €126, and the cost per QALY gained was €46. According to the findings, physical activity among menopausal women was cost-effective for cardiorespiratory fitness, for lean muscle mass, and for QALYs gained, since the intervention was more effective than the actions within the control group and the additional effects of physical activity were gained at a very low price. From the societal perspective, the intervention used may promote ability to work and thereby save on further costs associated with early retirement or disability pension if the physical-activity level remains at least the same as during the intervention.     

Cost Attributable to Nosocomial Bacteremia. Analysis According to Microorganism and Antimicrobial Sensitivity in a University Hospital in Barcelona

AimTo calculate the incremental cost of nosocomial bacteremia caused by the most common organisms, classified by their antimicrobial susceptibility.MethodsWe selected patients who developed nosocomial bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These microorganisms were analyzed because of their high prevalence and they frequently present multidrug resistance. A control group consisted of patients classified within the same all-patient refined-diagnosis related group without bacteremia. Our hospital has an established cost accounting system (full-costing) that uses activity-based criteria to analyze cost distribution. A logistic regression model was fitted to estimate the probability of developing bacteremia for each admission (propensity score) and was used for propensity score matching adjustment. Subsequently, the propensity score was included in an econometric model to adjust the incremental cost of patients who developed bacteremia, as well as differences in this cost, depending on whether the microorganism was multidrug-resistant or multidrug-sensitive.ResultsA total of 571 admissions with bacteremia matched the inclusion criteria and 82,022 were included in the control group. The mean cost was € 25,891 for admissions with bacteremia and € 6,750 for those without bacteremia. The mean incremental cost was estimated at € 15,151 (CI, € 11,570 to € 18,733). Multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa bacteremia had the highest mean incremental cost, € 44,709 (CI, € 34,559 to € 54,859). Antimicrobial-susceptible E. coli nosocomial bacteremia had the lowest mean incremental cost, € 10,481 (CI, € 8,752 to € 12,210). Despite their lower cost, episodes of antimicrobial-susceptible E. coli nosocomial bacteremia had a major impact due to their high frequency.ConclusionsAdjustment of hospital cost according to the organism causing bacteremia and antibiotic sensitivity could improve prevention strategies and allow their prioritization according to their overall impact and costs. Infection reduction is a strategy to reduce resistance.     

术前血浆D-二聚体水平及血小板计数与局部晚期食管鳞癌临床病理特征的关系

目的:探讨术前D-二聚体(D-dimer)和血小板(PLT)计数与局部晚期食管鳞状细胞癌(esophageal squamous cell carcinoma,ESCC)临床病理特征的相关性及预后价值。方法:测定99例局部晚期ESCC患者(食管癌组)及30例健康体检者(对照组)血浆D-dimer和PLT水平并进行比较,并分析其与ESCC临床病理因素之间关系及预后价值。结果:食管癌组血浆D-dimer、PLT水平高于健康对照组(P0.05)。食管癌组D-dimer与淋巴结转移、TNM分期有关,而PLT与ESCC临床病理特征无关。单因素分析提示D-dimer、淋巴结转移、TNM分期与无疾病进展时间(disease free survival,DFS)和总体生存时间(overall survival,OS)相关,而多因素分析仅提示D-dimer是局部晚期ESCC患者的独立危险预后因素。结论:D-dimer增高与淋巴结转移和TNM分期有关,D-dimer可作为评判局部晚期ESCC预后的独立指标,为ESCC个体化治疗提供参考价值。     

Cost-effectiveness of insulin analogues for diabetes mellitus

Background

Insulin analogues may be associated with fewer episodes of hypoglycemia than conventional insulins. However, they are costly alternatives. We compared the cost-effectiveness of insulin analogues and conventional insulins used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults.

Methods

We conducted a cost-effectiveness evaluation of insulin analogues versus conventional insulins using the Center for Outcomes Research Diabetes Model. We compared rapid-acting analogues (insulin aspart and insulin lispro) with regular human insulin, and long-acting analogues (insulin glargine and insulin detemir) with neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin. We derived clinical information for the comparisons from meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. We obtained cost and utility estimates from published sources. We performed sensitivity analyses to test the robustness of our results.

Results

For type 1 diabetes, insulin aspart was more effective and less costly than regular human insulin. Insulin lispro was associated with an incremental cost of Can$28 996 per quality-adjusted life-year. The incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year was Can$87 932 for insulin glargine and Can$387 729 for insulin detemir, compared with neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin. For type 2 diabetes, insulin aspart was associated with an incremental cost of Can$22 488 per quality-adjusted life-year compared with regular human insulin. For insulin lispro, the incremental cost was Can$130 865. Compared with neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin, insulin detemir was less effective and more costly. Insulin glargine was associated with an incremental cost of Can$642 994 per quality-adjusted life-year. The model was sensitive to changes in the effect size of hemoglobin A_1c and to decrements applied to utility scores when fear of hypoglycemia was included as a factor.

Interpretation

The cost-effectiveness of insulin analogues depends on the type of insulin analogue and whether the patient receiving the treatment has type 1 or type 2 diabetes. With the exception of rapid-acting insulin analogues in type 1 diabetes, routine use of insulin analogues, especially long-acting analogues in type 2 diabetes, is unlikely to represent an efficient use of finite health care resources.Insulin agents available for the treatment of diabetes mellitus include conventional insulins and insulin analogues. Insulin analogues were developed to mimic more closely the separate bolus and basal components of insulin secretion.¹ Rapid-acting (bolus or mealtime) and long-acting (basal or background) analogue formulations are available. This new class of drugs has been promoted as providing more flexible treatment schedules and a reduced risk of hypoglycemia relative to conventional insulins.¹The cost of insulin analogues exceeds that of conventional insulins.^2,3 More than US$7.3 billion was spent globally on the purchase of insulin products in 2005 — an increase of 19% over the previous year.⁴ It has been suggested that the increased expenditure was due to both the increasing prevalence of diabetes and the increased use of insulin analogues.⁵We performed an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of insulin analogues compared with conventional insulins in the management of type 1 or type 2 diabetes in adults.     

Ezrin Ser66 phosphorylation regulates invasion and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells by mediating filopodia formation

BackgroundEzrin, links the plasma membrane to the actin cytoskeleton, and plays an important role in the development and progression of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the roles of ezrin S66 phosphorylation in tumorigenesis of ESCC remain unclear.MethodsDistribution of ezrin in membrane and cytosol fractions was examined by analysis of detergent-soluble/-insoluble fractions and cytosol/membrane fractionation. Both immunofluorescence and live imaging were used to explore the role of ezrin S66 phosphorylation in the behavior of ezrin and actin in cell filopodia. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion of ESCC cells were investigated by proliferation and migration assays, respectively. Tumorigenesis, local invasion and metastasis were assessed in a nude mouse model of regional lymph node metastasis.ResultsEzrin S66 phosphorylation enhanced the recruitment of ezrin to the membrane in ESCC cells. Additionally, non-phosphorylatable ezrin (S66A) significantly prevented filopodia formation, as well as caused a reduction in the number, length and lifetime of filopodia. Moreover, functional experiments revealed that expression of non-phosphorylatable ezrin (S66A) markedly suppressed migration and invasion but not proliferation of ESCC cells in vitro, and attenuated local invasion and regional lymph node metastasis, but not primary tumor growth of ESCC cells in vivo.ConclusionEzrin S66 phosphorylation enhances filopodia formation, contributing to the regulation of invasion and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells.     

Cost-Effectiveness of Dapagliflozin versus Acarbose as a Monotherapy in Type 2 Diabetes in China

ObjectiveTo estimate the long-term cost-effectiveness of dapagliflozin versus acarbose as monotherapy in treatment-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China.MethodsThe Cardiff Diabetes Model, an economic model designed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of comparator therapies in diabetes was used to simulate disease progression and estimate the long-term effect of treatments on patients. Systematic literature reviews, hospital surveys, meta-analysis and indirect treatment comparison were conducted to obtain model-required patient profiles, clinical data and costs. Health insurance costs (2015¥) were estimated over 40 years from a healthcare payer perspective. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.ResultsThe model predicted that dapagliflozin had lower incidences of cardiovascular events, hypoglycemia and mortality events, was associated with a mean incremental benefit of 0.25 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and with a lower cost of ¥8,439 compared with acarbose. This resulted in a cost saving of ¥33,786 per QALY gained with dapagliflozin. Sensitivity analyses determined that the results are robust.ConclusionDapagliflozin is dominant compared with acarbose as monotherapy for Chinese T2DM patients, with a little QALY gain and lower costs. Dapagliflozin offers a well-tolerated and cost-effective alternative medication for treatment-naive patients in China, and may have a direct impact in reducing the disease burden of T2DM.     

Aberrant Expression of Osteopontin and E-Cadherin Indicates Radiation Resistance and Poor Prognosis for Patients with Cervical Carcinoma

Radiotherapy is the first-line treatment for all stages of cervical cancer, whether it is used for radical or palliative therapy. However, radioresistance of cervical cancer remains a major therapeutic problem. Consequently, we explored if E-cadherin (a marker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition) and osteopontin could predict radioresistance in patients with locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma (LACSCC). Patients were retrospectively reviewed and 111 patients divided into two groups (radiation-resistant and radiation-sensitive groups) according to progression-free survival (PFS). In pretreated paraffin-embedded tissues, we evaluated E-cadherin and osteopontin expression using immunohistochemical staining. The percentage of patients with high osteopontin but low E-cadherin expression in the radiation-resistant group was significantly higher than those in the radiation-sensitive group (p<0.001). These patients also had a lower 5-year PFS rate (p<0.001). Our research suggests that high osteopontin but low E-cadherin expression can be considered as a negative, independent prognostic factor in patients with LACSCC ([Hazard ratios (95% CI) 6.766 (2.940, 15.572)], p<0.001).     

DcR3蛋白在人食管鳞状细胞癌中的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨诱骗受体(Decoy receptor 3,Dc R3)蛋白在人食管鳞状细胞癌中的表达和临床意义。方法:通过免疫组化的方法,在人食管鳞状细胞癌组织和正常食管粘膜组织各112例中检测Dc R3蛋白的表达差异,并分析Dc R3蛋白表达与食管鳞状细胞癌临床病理学特征间的相关性。结果:在组织标本中检测发现,Dc R3蛋白在食管鳞状细胞癌组织中的阳性表达为72.3%,在正常食管粘膜组织中的阳性表达为25.9%。卡方检验分析表明,Dc R3蛋白在食管鳞状细胞癌组织中的阳性表达与食管鳞状细胞癌的临床分级(P=0.002)、淋巴结转移(P0.001)、组织学分级(P=0.01)具有显著相关性,而与患者的年龄(P=0.673)、性别(P=0.378)、抽烟史(P=0.392)、饮酒史(P=0.093)等均无关。Spearman相关性分析检测发现,Dc R3蛋白高表达与高临床分级(r=-0.213,P=0.024)、高组织学分级(r=-0.285,P=0.002)、淋巴结转移(r=-0.568,0.001)呈正相关,而与食管鳞状细胞癌患者的年龄、性别、吸烟史、饮酒史等均无相关性(P0.05)。结论:Dc R3蛋白在食管鳞状细胞癌组织中表达更高,且与食管鳞状细胞癌疾病的进展、转移呈正相关。Dc R3蛋白表达可用来检测食管鳞状细胞癌疾病严重程度。     

General treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer: From KEYNOTE 177 study

In the palliative treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), doublet chemotherapy (FOLFOX or FOLFIRI) or triplet chemotherapy (FOLFOXIRI) combined with targeted drugs (cetuximab or bevacizumab) is the main regimen. Recently, microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or DNA mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) was discovered as a biomarker to distinguish immunotherapy-benefited populations. In this context, recently published randomized phase III clinical trials tested the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy and traditional chemotherapy with or without targeted drugs as first-line treatment for patients with MSI-H/dMMR mCRC.Here, we briefly analyze this article and further discuss immune monotherapy or double immunotherapy for patients with MSI-H/dMMR mCRC, the immunotherapy for patients with BRAF V600E mutant mCRC, and the immunotherapy for patients with microsatellite stable mCRC.     

Cost-Effectiveness of Collaborative Care for Depression in UK Primary Care: Economic Evaluation of a Randomised Controlled Trial (CADET)

Background

Collaborative care is an effective treatment for the management of depression but evidence on its cost-effectiveness in the UK is lacking.

Aims

To assess the cost-effectiveness of collaborative care in a UK primary care setting.

Methods

An economic evaluation alongside a multi-centre cluster randomised controlled trial comparing collaborative care with usual primary care for adults with depression (n = 581). Costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) were calculated over a 12-month follow-up, from the perspective of the UK National Health Service and Personal Social Services (i.e. Third Party Payer). Sensitivity analyses are reported, and uncertainty is presented using the cost-effectiveness acceptability curve (CEAC) and the cost-effectiveness plane.

Results

The collaborative care intervention had a mean cost of £272.50 per participant. Health and social care service use, excluding collaborative care, indicated a similar profile of resource use between collaborative care and usual care participants. Collaborative care offered a mean incremental gain of 0.02 (95% CI: –0.02, 0.06) quality-adjusted life-years over 12 months, at a mean incremental cost of £270.72 (95% CI: –202.98, 886.04), and resulted in an estimated mean cost per QALY of £14,248. Where costs associated with informal care are considered in sensitivity analyses collaborative care is expected to be less costly and more effective, thereby dominating treatment as usual.

Conclusion

Collaborative care offers health gains at a relatively low cost, and is cost-effective compared with usual care against a decision-maker willingness to pay threshold of £20,000 per QALY gained. Results here support the commissioning of collaborative care in a UK primary care setting.