Lung signet ring cell carcinoma (LSRCC) is a very rare type of lung cancer, the clinical characteristics, and prognosis of which remain to be clarified. In order to explore the clinicopathological and survival-related factors associated with LSRCC, we performed a large population-based cohort analysis of data included in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry from 2001- 2015. A total of 752 LSRCC and 7518 lung mucinous adenocarcinoma (LMAC) patients were incorporated into our analysis, with respective mean ages of 63.8 and 67.5 years at the time of diagnosis. LSRCC patients were significantly more likely than LMAC patients to have distant-stage disease (72.1% vs. 45.8%, p<0.0001), tumors of a high pathological grade (40.6% vs. 10.8%, p<0.0001), have undergone chemotherapy (62.1% vs. 39.9%, p<0.0001), be male (52.7% vs. 48.5%, p=0.03), and be < 40 years old (3.3% vs. 1.3%, p=0.022), whereas they were less likely to have undergone surgical treatment (52.4% vs. 77.0%, p<0.0001). LSRCC and LMAC patients exhibited median overall survival (OS) duration of 8 and 18 months (p<0.0001), respectively, although these differences were not significant after adjusting for confounding variables. Independent factors associated with a favorable patient prognosis included a primary site in the middle or lower lung lobe, underwent surgery and underwent chemotherapy. However, age ≥ 80 years, higher grade, distant summary stage disease, and T4 stage disease were linked to poor prognosis. Patient age, tumor grade, primary tumor site, summary stage, T stage, surgery, and chemotherapy were all significantly associated with LSRCC patient prognosis.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common, X-linked genetic, skeletal muscle disease, with various regimens of treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of a novel treatment regimen for this disease. Thirty boys with DMD were administered prednisone according to the following regimen: in the first year, 1.5 mg/kg/day for the first 3 months, 1.0 mg/kg/day for the next 3 months, 0.75 mg/kg/day for the next 3 months, and 0.5 mg/kg/day for the last 3 months. In the second year, prednisone was administered 0.5 mg/kg on the alternate day for 12 months. The muscle strength (Medical Research Council sum score and Gower's sign), serum enzymes (creatine kinase, creatine kinase isoenzyme-2, and lactate dehydrogenase), pulmonary function (forced vital capacity, maximum voluntary ventilation), body weight, height, and BMI were determined before treatment and 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months after treatment. The results showed that the patients' mean Medical Research Council sum score increased from 46.1 at the baseline to 53.6 at 12 months and was maintained at 24 months. Gower's sign disappeared in 22 (73.3%) patients at 12 months and 21 (70.0%) at 24 months. The serum levels of creatine kinase, creatine kinase isoenzyme-2, and lactate dehydrogenase decreased and pulmonary function improved after 24 months of treatment. Significantly increased weight gain, osteoporosis, and cushingoid features were not observed. Our results suggested that this novel prednisone regimen for DMD has similar efficacy and safety as other regimens.

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