Journal of Translational Internal Medicine

Open Access Published by De Gruyter Open Access

Volume 2 Issue 2

June 2014

Issue of Journal of Translational Internal Medicine

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Contents
Journal Overview

Open Access April 24, 2015

HER2 mutations in Moroccan lung adenocarcinoma patients

Ibrahim Elghissassi, Saber Boutayeb, Hanane Inrhaoun, Fouad Kettani, Lamia Gamra, Amina Mestari, Lamia Jabri, Youssef Bensouda, Hind Mrabti, Hassan Errihani

Page range: 1-3

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Abstract

Introduction: Mutations in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene have been reported in lung adenocarcinoma, mainly in East Asian, American and Caucasian patients. There are no data available on the frequency of HER2 mutations in North African and Arab lung cancer patients. Materials and Methods: The mutational status of the HER2 gene was evaluated in 88 Moroccan lung adenocarcinoma patients. HER2 mutations in exon 20 were analyzed using conventional DNA sequencing. Results: One HER2 mutation was found in this series of 88 patients (1.1%). This patient was male and a heavy smoker. Conclusion: This study, the first to date dedicated to HER2-mutated North African lung adenocarcinoma patients, revealed that HER2 mutations are relatively infrequent in Moroccan lung adenocarcinomas and thus a probably limited interest of HER2 inhibitors.

Open Access April 24, 2015

Steroid pharmacokinetics: An “overlooked” issue of steroid metabolism in acute and chronic disease

Patrick M. Honoré, Rita Jacobs, Elisabeth De Waele, Jouke De Regt, Thomas Rose, Herbert D. Spapen

Page range: 51-52

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Open Access April 24, 2015

Optimal use of corticosteroids in gastroenterology and hepatology

Xavier Verhelst, Martine De Vos, Hans Van Vlierberghe

Page range: 53-58

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Abstract

Although they have been introduced a long time ago, corticosteroids are still extensively used for the treatment of several gastroenterological and hepatological diseases. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of current indications for the optimal use of corticosteroids in this field. For a growing number of indications, budesonide can be an interesting alternative for systemic corticosteroids due to its rapid first-pass hepatic metabolism. Furthermore, topical corticosteroids are increasingly used, e.g., for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis and selected patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We conclude that corticosteroids remain of great importance in gastroenterology and hepatology, but the balance between benefit and side-effects use should be evaluated cautiously.”

Open Access April 24, 2015

Optimal use of corticosteroids in nephrology

Ben Sprangers

Page range: 59-69

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Abstract

The usage of corticosteroids is widespread in nephrology both in the treatment of patients with native kidney diseases and of patients who have received a kidney transplant. In glomerular diseases, steroids are part of most immunosuppressive regimens applied nowadays, and only few steroid-free immunosuppressive regimens have been reported on. It is my hope that - with the introduction of more targeted therapies - corticosteroid dosage can be reduced or eliminated completely in the future. Although corticosteroids have been the mainstay in the immunosuppressive treatment of patients who received a kidney transplant, there has been a long-standing interest in steroid avoidance and withdrawal (SAW). However, there is an ongoing debate whether SAW can be considered to be the standard of care in kidney transplantation at this moment.

Open Access April 24, 2015

Systemic use of corticosteroids in neurological disorders

Miguel D’haeseleer

Page range: 70-72

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Abstract

Corticosteroids have been used for almost 60 years in medicine and their roles in patients have always been discussed by researchers and clinicians dedicated in the related field. Now they are still used in treatment of patients with neurological disorders. Usually Corticosteroids are used to decrease inflammations. In this review, we present five key indications, i.e., bacterial meningitis, myasthenia gravis, Bell’s palsy and giant cell (temporal) arteritis for the systemic use of corticosteroids in neurology based on a mix of prevalence, quality of evidence and impact on disease management.

Open Access April 24, 2015

Steroids in critically ill-patients with septic shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome: A limited review of current knowledge

Jouke De Regt

Page range: 73-75

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Abstract

The role of corticosteroids in critically ill patients has always been discussed by researchers and clinicians dedicated in the related field. Despite several decades of clinical studies exploring their role in both sepsis and treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), their use remains controversial. This short review highlights current knowledge and opinions.

Open Access April 24, 2015

Corticosteroids in cardiac anesthesia

Christian Verborgh

Page range: 76-77

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Abstract

To suppress the inflammatory responses induced by cardiopulmonary bypass and its associated procedures, corticosteroids have been administered routinely by the majority of anesthesiologists involved in cardiac surgery, although some controversy remained. This short review discusses the role of corticosteroids in cardiac anesthesia.

Open Access April 24, 2015

Corticosteroids in oncology: An overview

Moretti Luigi

Page range: 78-80

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Abstract

Corticosteroids play an important role in clinical oncology, and they may be used alone or in combination with other treatments in the therapy of cancer patients. Commonly they may be used to decrease inflammations. In this overview, by discussions on the applications of corticosteroids that are mainly used in oncology, we suggest that careful use of Corticosteroids is required and the balance between risks and benefits should always be considered in clinical oncology.

Open Access April 24, 2015

Systemic corticosteroids in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Vincent Ninane

Page range: 81-82

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Abstract

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) lead to a significant decrease in pulmonary function and quality of life and an increase in mortality. However, systemic use of corticosteroids is able to improve the conditions of patients in AECOPD. By a short review of several clinical trials, we suggest that 40 mg prednisone per day for 5 days should be recommended for the treatment of AECOPD with a preference for oral prednisolone.

Open Access April 24, 2015

Long-term survivors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated sequentially with cytostatic drugs and erlotinib: A retrospective study

Alexandru Calin Grigorescu

Page range: 83-86

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Abstract

Objectives: This retrospective study analyzed long-term survivor patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) stage IIIB and IV with the aim to find the common characteristics of this group of patients. Materials and Methods: Clinical records of 76 long-term survivor patients with advanced NSCLC who took over three series of chemotherapy and had Erlotinib in one therapeutic lines. The main criterion for selection for this study was survival over 2 years. We sought to establish some features of long-term survivors, survival according to the number of lines of chemotherapy, survival by administration of Erlotinib. The Student t-test was used for calculation of P value when the data allowed this calculation and Kaplan Mayer curve was used for survival calculation. Discussions and conclusions: Relatively small number of patients cannot afford to obtain results with a high confidence interval and very heterogeneous patient characteristics were not in the favor of the creation a prototype of long-term survivors. We have found that the trend of longer survival of our patients with advanced NSCLC may be due to using multiple lines of chemotherapy and Erlotinib in the treatment strategy for these patients. Some of our conclusions are similar to other retrospective study.

Open Access April 24, 2015

Endoscopic ultrasound of asymptomatic descending thoracic aorta thrombosis

Ahmed Youssef Altonbary, Gamal Elsayed Shiha, Monir Hussein Bahgat, Seham Mohamed Seif

Page range: 90-92

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Abstract

Thoracic aortic thrombus is a rare condition with only approximately 100 cases reported. Typically, this phenomenon is only diagnosed after symptomatic embolization. A 70 years old male was presented to our hospital with obstructing pancreatic head mass for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). At the time of hospitalization there were no symptoms or signs suggesting thrombo-embolism or organ ischemia. During EUS examination, asymptomatic descending thoracic aorta thrombosis was discovered accidentally.

Open Access April 24, 2015

Interpretation of the Chinese expert consensus: Recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia complicated with cardiovascular diseases

Li-xin Guo

Page range: 93-96

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Abstract

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a metabolic disease with close links to a number of cardiovascular diseases. The present study interpreted the Chinese expert consensus recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic HUA complicated with cardiovascular diseases and illustrated the risk factors for HUA, diagnostic criteria, epidemiology of the causal relationship between HUA and cardiovascular diseases, clinical studies and recommendations on medical treatment of asymptomatic HUA.

About this journal

Print ISSN 2450-131X
Online ISSN 2224-4018

Journal of Translational Internal Medicine (JTIM), launched in Dec 2013, is an open access journal publishing articles in all areas of translational internal medicine. The journal focuses on information derived from human disease-related experimentations so as to optimize the communication between basic scientific research and clinical science. It has a cycling nature, namely from basic research to clinical practice and then from clinical practice back to basic research.

Aims and Scope

Journal of Translational Internal Medicine (JTIM) is devoted to promoting science and practice in translational medicine and internal medicine in the world. To this end, JTIM publishes articles from all areas of internal medicine. The journal publishes original articles, rapid communications, editorials, reviews, highlights, perspective and other information closed relevant to translational medicine, internal medicine and related fields. Other types of articles include advanced experience, ideological highlights, and Q&A from scholars and scientists in related fields. JTIM will also launch Special Issues in rapid response to the newest development directions of scientific research fields.

JTIM has the ambition to and will become the EXCELLENT international platform for the publication of outstanding studies from all over the world. JTIM is designed to report research progress and the most recent findings in Translational Internal Medicine field, accelerating successful transformation from basic research results to clinically practical theories，diagnosis and treatment techniques, methodologies and drug discovery. With the aims of health care delivery and policy making, JTIM will help to best balance benefits, qualities and costs of medications. At JTIM, we have a challenging mission: to improve the quality of human life and enable people live longer by facilitating disease prevention, treatment and eventually the CURE.

Journal of Translational Internal Medicine is academically supported by:

International Society of Translational Sciences,
Infectious Diseases Society of China,
Chinese Hypertension Committee of Chinese Medical Doctors Association,
China Alliance of COPD, China RTI Optimal Treatment Committee,
Drug Clinical Assessment Committee of Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.