Decompression status of the spinal cord after cervical laminoplasty in various body positions and neck postures observed using percutaneous ultrasonography: Relationship with neurological recovery

BackgroundPercutaneous ultrasonography (PUS) is used to evaluate the status of the spinal cord after cervical laminoplasty (CLP). This technique helps assess real-time movements of the spinal cord and provides immediate information regarding the decompression status. Additionally, it can also be utilized to evaluate the status of the spinal cord in various body positions and neck postures. This study aimed to examine changes in the decompression status of the spinal cord after CLP for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) in different body positions and neck postures using PUS and to assess whether these decompression statuses are related to clinical outcomes at each time point.MethodsThe study included 66 consecutive participants with CSM who underwent double-door CLP with suture anchors. PUS was performed postoperatively at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year in sitting [neck flexion (Flexion), neutral (Neutral), and extension (Extension)] and supine (Supine) positions. The decompression status was classified into grade I (noncontact), grade II (contact and apart), and grade III (contact). Clinical outcomes were evaluated using Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores.ResultsThe decompression status improved until 3 months postoperatively in all body positions and neck postures and was stable onwards. It changed depending on body positions and neck postures and was worse in Flexion and better in Supine at all postoperative time points. Participants with grade I decompression status in Supine had a significantly better recovery rate of JOA scores after 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively than those with grade II + III decompression status. However, this significant relationship was not observed in each sitting position.ConclusionsThe spinal cord after CLP is most decompressed in Supine. Sufficient and continuous restoration of the anterior subarachnoid space in supine position may indicate positive clinical outcomes after CLP.     

The reference intervals of intraoperative posterior tibial nerve somatosensory evoked potentials

BackgroundA reference interval exists for posterior tibial nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (PTN-SEPs) in awake. However, the reference interval for intraoperative- PTN-SEPs (I-PTN-SEPs) remains unclear. As a substitute for PTN-SEPs in awake, we considered I-PTN-SEPs can provide functional information about the dorsal somatosensory system. No report evaluated the physiologic and analytical issues in the measurement of I-PTN-SEPs. We investigated the sources of variation and reference intervals for I-PTN-SEPs.MethodsWe studied 143 patients with unilateral radiculopathy and without neurologic deficit who underwent surgery. Stimulation was delivered to the PTN at the ankle. The scalp recording electrode was placed at the Cz with a reference electrode located on the forehead at the Fz. SEPs were recorded from patients during electrical stimulation of the I-PTN.ResultsP1 and N1 latencies showed significant positive linear correlations with age (P1 latency = 36.52 + 0.0814 × age, P = 0.00003; N1 latency = 46.21 + 0.081 × age, P = 0.00022), and body height (P1 latency = 16.94 + 14.91 × body height, P = 0.00000; N1 latency = 25.42 + 15.64 × body height, P = 0.00002). In contrast, I-PTN-SEPs amplitude showed no correlation with age or body height. The 95% confidence interval for I-PTN-SEPs amplitude, or the reference interval, was determined as 0.31–5.91 μV.ConclusionsThe lower normal limit value was 0.31 μV, and this reference interval may be useful to evaluate function of the posterior funiculus, such that as during surgery for patients with intramedullary tumor.     

虎口掌侧动脉背侧穿支蒂跨区供血皮瓣的解剖基础

目的　探讨虎口掌侧动脉背侧穿支形态学特征,为虎口掌侧动脉背侧穿支皮瓣设计提供解剖学基础。 方法　用30侧灌注红色乳胶的成尸手标本,通过巨微解剖、血管铸型等方法,重点观测：①虎口背侧营养血管的起源、走行与分布;②虎口掌侧动脉背侧穿支与虎口背侧血管的吻合特点。另1侧灌注红色乳胶的新鲜标本进行摹拟手术设计。 结果　虎口背侧血供属多源性,由虎口掌侧动脉（示指桡掌侧固有动脉、拇指尺掌侧固有动脉）背侧穿支和虎口背侧动脉（第1掌背动脉）分支供养。①第1掌背动脉恒定起自桡动脉,走行于第1掌骨间隙,分出桡侧、尺侧和中间3个终支,有桡神经浅支发出的同名指背皮神经伴行;②虎口掌侧动脉向虎口背侧发出尺侧、中间和桡侧穿支,与第1掌背动脉分支形成恒定的吻合,营养虎口背侧皮肤。 结论　以虎口掌侧动脉背侧穿支为蒂,可形成跨区域供血虎口背侧皮瓣转位修复示指近侧段、鱼际部和拇指软组织缺损。     

Development and validation of artificial intelligence models for preoperative prediction of inferior mesenteric artery lymph nodes metastasis in left colon and rectal cancer

BackgroundDissection of lymph nodes at the roots of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMAN) should be offered only to selected patients at a major risk of developing IMAN involvement. The aim of this study is to present the first artificial intelligence (AI) models to predict IMAN metastasis risk in the left colon and rectal cancer patients.MethodsA total of 2891 patients with descending colon including splenic flexure, sigmoid colon and rectal cancer undergoing major primary surgery and IMAN dissection were included as a study cohort, which was then split into a training set (67%) and a testing set (33%). Feature selection was conducted using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model. Seven AI algorithms, namely Support Vector Machine (SVM), Logistic Regression (LR), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), Light Gradient Boosting (LGB), Decision Tree Classifier (DTC), Random Forest (RF) classifier, and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), as well as traditional multivariate LR model were employed to construct predictive models. The optimal hyperparameters were determined with 5 fold cross-validation. The predictive performance of models and the expert surgeon was assessed and compared in the testing set independently.ResultsThe IMAN involvement incidence was 4.6%. The optimal set of features selected by LASSO included 10 characteristics: neoadjuvant treatment, age, synchronous liver metastasis, synchronous lung metastasis, signet ring adenocarcinoma, neural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, CA199, endoscopic obstruction, T stage evaluated by MRI. The most accurate model derived from MLP showed excellent prediction power with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.873 and produced 81.0% recognition sensitivity and 82.5% specificity in the testing set independently. In contrast, the judgment of IMAN metastasis by expert surgeon yield rather imprecise and unreliable results with a significantly lower AUROC of 0.509. Additionally, the proposed MLP had the highest net benefits and the largest reduction of unnecessary IMAN dissection without the cost of additional involved IMAN missed.ConclusionMLP model was able to maintain its prediction accuracy in the testing set better than other models and expert surgeons. Our MLP model could be used to help identify IMA nodal metastasis and to select candidates for individual IMAN dissection.     

三维CT血管造影诊断血管性疾病的临床价值

目的 探讨三维CT血管造影（CTA）的应用范围及临床价值.方法 回顾性分析284例确诊为血管疾病的CTA资料,包括头颈血管组141例和躯干四肢血管组143例.扫描层厚为0.625 ～3.0 mm、螺距1.0～1.5,造影剂总量1.5 ～2.0 ml/kg.成像方法包括容积重建法（VR）、多层面重建法（MPR）、曲面重建法（CPR）、表面遮盖法（SSD）、最大强度投影法（MIP）及仿真内窥镜（VE）.诊断结果与数字减影血管造影（DSA）和/或手术对比.结果 进行2期CT螺旋扫描,实现心脏及全身血管三维成像,图像质量符合诊断要求.本组CTA诊断血管性疾病的敏感性、特异性、准确率分别为97.28％、82.35％、96.48％.CTA显示动脉瘤瘤体大小与DSA基本一致（P＞0.05）,但较手术测量小（P＜0.05）.结论 三维CTA适用于心脏及全身血管检查,可弥补常规CT检查的不足,具有诊断准确率高、无创伤的特点和部分替代创伤性DSA的潜力.     

子宫发育异常妊娠结局94例分析

目的探讨子宫发育异常妊娠对围生结局的影响。方法对福建医科大学教学医院莆田市第一医院2006年10月至2010年10月收治的子宫发育异常晚期妊娠孕妇94例进行回顾性分析。结果资料显示94例子宫畸形组,流产率33%,早产率20.7%,均显著高于正常子宫组。胎位异常率达50%,剖宫产率达86.2%。结论子宫发育异常患者妊娠为妊娠高危因素,应提高产前诊断率,适当放宽剖宫产指征以减少母婴的不利影响,提高围生质量。     

临床神经外科教学中多媒体技术的应用体会

目的:运用多媒体教学的直观教学模式,改善教学效果?方法:应用成绩考核及调查问卷的形式对两种教学的效果进行评估?结果:使用多媒体教学的班级学生考核成绩及调查反馈明显优于传统教学的班级学生?结论:在神经外科教学中科学应用多媒体技术,可以取得良好效果?     

Glaucoma drainage device implantation and cyclophotocoagulation in the management of refractory glaucoma after Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty

AIM: To compare the surgical outcomes of glaucoma drainage device implantation (GDI) and trans-scleral neodymium:YAG cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) in the management of refractory glaucoma after Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). METHODS: This retrospective study on observational case series enrolled 29 patients who underwent DSAEK and posterior anti-glaucoma surgery (15 with GDI and 14 with CPC). The main outcome measures were intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma surgery success rate (defined as IOP of 6–21 mm Hg without additional anti-glaucoma operation), number of glaucoma medications, endothelial graft status, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 34.1 and 21.0mo for DSAEK or glaucoma surgeries, both for the GDI and CPC groups. Both groups showed significant IOP reduction after glaucoma surgery. The GDI group presented a significantly higher success rate in IOP control than the CPC group (60% vs 21.4%, P=0.03). Both procedures significantly decreased the number of glaucoma medications (P=0.03). Forty percent and 57% of cases in the GDI and the CPC group, respectively, experienced endothelial graft failure during follow-up (P=0.36). Significantly worse BCVA after surgery was observed in the CPC group but not in the GDI group. CONCLUSION: Both GDI and CPC significantly decrease IOP in eyes with glaucoma after DSAEK. GDI is preferable to CPC in refractory glaucoma cases after DSAEK, as it manifests a significantly higher success rate for IOP control, similar endothelial graft failure rate, and relatively preserves BCVA than CPC.     

Decoding the Evolutionary Response to Ensartinib in Patients With ALK-Positive NSCLC by Dynamic Circulating Tumor DNA Sequencing

IntroductionBy implementing dynamic circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis, we explored the impact of TP53 mutations on tumor evolution and resistance mechanisms to ensartinib in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC.MethodsIn a multicenter phase 2 trial, patients with ALK-positive NSCLC who progressed on crizotinib were treated with ensartinib. Blood samples for ctDNA analysis were collected at baseline, cycle 3 day 1, and progression disease (PD) and analyzed with a 212-gene panel.ResultsA total of 440 samples were collected from 168 patients. Baseline TP53 mutations (20.2%) significantly correlated with inferior progression-free survival (4.2 mo versus 11.7 mo, p < 0.0001). Patients with TP53 mutations had higher mutation load than those without TP53 mutations at baseline (13.79 ± 3.72 versus 4.67 ± 0.39, p < 0.001). Although there was no significant difference in mutation load between these groups at cycle 3 day 1 (5.89 ± 2.25 versus 3.72 ± 0.62, p = 0.425), patients with mutated TP53 developed more mutations at PD (7.07 ± 1.25 versus 3.20 ± 0.33, p = 0.003). Frequency and abundance of secondary ALK mutations G1269A, G1202R, and E1210K increased markedly at PD than baseline. In patients without secondary ALK mutations, we identified ALK-independent resistance mechanisms including bypass signaling activation, downstream effector protein reactivation, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, and epigenetic dysregulation.ConclusionsOur study highlighted the advantage of ctDNA analysis for monitoring tumor evolution. TP53 mutations promoted genetic evolution and accelerated occurrence of resistance. We also unveiled ALK-dependent resistance mechanisms, mainly by G1269A, G1202R, and E1210K mutations, and ALK-independent resistance mechanisms to ensartinib.