Safety of repeated hyperpolarized helium 3 magnetic resonance imaging in pediatric asthma patients

Background

Hyperpolarized helium 3 magnetic resonance imaging (³He MRI) is useful for investigating pulmonary physiology of pediatric asthma, but a detailed assessment of the safety profile of this agent has not been performed in children.

Objective

To evaluate the safety of ³He MRI in children and adolescents with asthma.

Materials and methods

This was a retrospective observational study. ³He MRI was performed in 66 pediatric patients (mean age 12.9 years, range 8–18 years, 38 male, 28 female) between 2007 and 2017. Fifty-five patients received a single repeated examination and five received two repeated examinations. We assessed a total of 127 ³He MRI exams. Heart rate, respiratory rate and pulse oximetry measured oxygen saturation (SpO₂) were recorded before, during (2 min and 5 min after gas inhalation) and 1 h after MRI. Blood pressure was obtained before and after MRI. Any subjective symptoms were also noted. Changes in vital signs were tested for significance during the exam and divided into three subject age groups (8–12 years, 13–15 years, 16–18 years) using linear mixed-effects models.

Results

There were no serious adverse events, but three minor adverse events (2.3%; headache, dizziness and mild hypoxia) were reported. We found statistically significant increases in heart rate and SpO₂ after ³He MRI. The youngest age group (8–12 years) had an increased heart rate and a decreased respiratory rate at 2 min and 5 min after ³H inhalation, and an increased SpO₂ post MRI.

Conclusion

The use of ³He MRI is safe in children and adolescents with asthma.

     

生长抑素及其类似物联合质子泵抑制剂应用于急性非静脉曲张性上消化道出血的循证分析

目的 系统评价生长抑素及其类似物联合质子泵抑制剂（proton pump inhibitor，PPI）治疗急性非静脉曲张性上消化道出血（acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding，ANVUGIB）的有效性和安全性，并分析其用药经济性。方法 采用循证医学方法搜集生长抑素及其类似物联合PPI治疗ANVUGIB的RCT、队列研究进行meta分析，得到相应的有效性及安全性分析结果，并进行成本-效果分析。结果 最终纳入6个RCT均未接受内镜治疗，共610例受试者。Meta分析结果显示，生长抑素及其类似物联合高、中、低剂量PPI治疗在以下方面均优于单用高、中、低剂量PPI治疗，差异有统计学意义，总有效率[OR=3.34，95%CI（2.03，5.47），P<0.000 01]、止血时间[MD=-9.04，95%CI（-11.69，-6.38），P<0.000 01]、输血量[MD=-1.10，95%CI（-1.46，-0.74），P<0.000 01]；在不良反应发生率方面，2组差异无统计学意义[OR=0.49，95%CI（0.11，2.12），P=0.34]。ANVUGIB患者予生长抑素联合高、中、低剂量奥美拉唑与单用高、中、低剂量奥美拉唑进行成本-效果分析，增量成本效果比分别为172.28，217.26，330.37，敏感性分析后显示结果稳定。而接受内镜治疗后应用生长抑素及其类似物联合PPI治疗仅1个队列研究，研究结果显示内镜治疗成功后联合治疗并不优于PPI单药治疗。结论 现有证据表明，生长抑素及其类似物联合PPI治疗未经内镜治疗的ANVUGIB患者为较有效的方案，两者安全性相当、耐受性较好，从药品直接成本考虑，高剂量PPI组联合治疗较中、低剂量PPI组联合治疗更具有成本效果性。而对于经内镜下止血治疗的患者两者疗效相当，可考虑单用PPI。     

Elevated Serum Cytokines and Trichomonas vaginalis Serology at Diagnosis Are Not Associated With Higher Gleason Grade or Lethal Prostate Cancer

Background

Inflammation and infections have been associated with prostate cancer progression. We assessed whether elevated serum cytokines or T. vaginalis seropositivity at the time of diagnosis was associated with higher grade or lethal prostate cancer.

Fixator-assisted nailing of tibial fractures: New surgical technique and presentation of first 30 cases

Background

Intramedullary nailing is considered a “gold standard” for treatment of tibial shaft fractures. However, some types of fractures are typically considered as “difficult for nailing”. This group includes the periarticular fractures, fractures of both bones at the same level, comminuted and segmental fractures of the tibia. Fixator-assisted nailing (FAN) is an effective method treatment of these types of fractures. The main requirements for the ideal reduction device are an ease of its installation and an ability of multiplanar fracture reduction. Fixator-assisted nailing (FAN) with the use of two perpendicular to each other monolateral tubular frames perfectly meets these requirements. In this study we present this new surgical technique and the analysis of first 30 cases.