Application of deep learning to auto-delineation of target volumes and organs at risk in radiotherapy

The technological advancement heralded the arrival of precision radiotherapy (RT), thereby increasing the therapeutic ratio and decreasing the side effects from treatment. Contour of target volumes (TV) and organs at risk (OARs) in RT is a complicated process. In recent years, automatic contouring of TV and OARs has rapidly developed due to the advances in deep learning (DL). This technology has the potential to save time and to reduce intra- or inter-observer variability. In this paper, the authors provide an overview of RT, introduce the concept of DL, summarize the data characteristics of the included literature, summarize the possible challenges for DL in the future, and discuss the possible research directions.     

Characteristics of inappropriate multiple medication use in older urological outpatients

ObjectivesTo investigate polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in elderly patients visiting the urology department for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed digital medical records of individuals over the age of 65 who visited the urology department for LUTS. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 hospitals located in South Korea, between September 2017 and December 2017. All prescribed medications were analyzed using electronic medical records. The updated 2015 Beers criteria were used to identify and assess the appropriateness of the prescribed drugs in elderly patients.ResultsWe analyzed a total of 2143 patients aged over 65 years from 10 institutions. The mean age was 74.2 ± 6.26 years (65–97), 1634 (76.2%) were men. Patients took a mean of 6.48 ± 2.46 medications (range 0–18), and polypharmacy was found in 1762 patients (82.2%). The number of patients who received PIMs at least once was 1579 (73.7%). The average number of PIMs used per patient was 1.31 ± 1.25 (0–7). PIM use ratio was 18.9 ± 0.15% (0–67%). The number of chronic diseases, and concurrent medication and polypharmacy were predictive factors associated with PIM use.ConclusionOur multi-institutional results show that a substantial proportion of elderly patients took PIMs when visiting the urology department. Factors associated with PIMs were the number of chronic diseases and polypharmacy. Medication use in elderly patients, especially in urology, should be monitored carefully.     

冠心病“热”相关证诊断要素文献分析＊

目的 通过对冠心病“热”相关证的临床研究文献中的四诊信息分析，总结冠心病热证临床表征，为构建临床冠心病热证诊断标准提供基础。方法 检索1980-2019年中国期刊全文数据库（CNKI）、万方数据知识服务平台（WANFANG）、中文科技期刊数据库（CQVIP）、中国生物医学文献数据库（CBM）发表的冠心病“热”相关证的临床研究文献，对冠心病热相关证诊断标准中的临床表征进行综合分析。结果 纳入冠心病热相关证临床研究文献40条，主要症状为胸痛（85.00%）、胸闷（80.00%）、烦躁（60.00%）、口干（55.00%）、心悸（55.00%）、口苦（45.00%）、大便秘结（45.00%）、气短（40.00%）；主要舌象为红舌(45.00%)、紫舌（35.00%）、舌生瘀斑（32.50%）为主；舌苔以黄苔（67.50%）、腻苔（42.50%）为主，脉象以数脉（47.50%）、滑脉（45.00%）、弦脉（30.00%）为主。结论 冠心病热证临床症状以胸痛、胸闷、烦躁、口干、心悸、口苦、大便秘结、气短为主；舌象以舌质红、苔黄腻为主；脉象以数脉、滑脉为主，可作为构建冠心病热证诊断标准的基础。     

综合ICU导尿管相关性尿路感染目标性监测数据分析与探讨

目的分析重症监护病房（ICU）导尿管相关性尿路感染目标性监测数据,探讨ICU导尿管相关性尿路感染现状,分析发展趋势,为制订干预措施提供参考。同时,分析现行的导尿管相关性尿路感染（CAUTIs）诊断标准对ICU患者的临床适用性。方法 2012年9月~2013年8月所有收住ICU〉48h的留置导尿患者,进行导尿管相关性尿路感染目标性监测,收集临床资料,计算导尿管使用率及导管相关性感染发病率。结果 2012年9月~2013年8月综合ICU共收住患者357例,留置导尿患者336例;留置时间最长172d,最短2d;共留取386份尿培养标本,细菌培养结果阳性10份,阳性率2.59%;总住院天数2 969d,总留置导尿管日数2 831d,尿道插管使用率95.35%,千日感染率0.353%。结论尿培养结果阳性率与留置导尿管时间长短无相关性;重症监护病房导尿管相关性尿路感染目标性监测有助于规范医疗护理行为,按标准要求进行操作与护理,但使用目前推行的导尿管相关性尿路感染诊断标准（以生物学检查结果为准）会降低感染病例的诊断率,对重症监护病房患者的临床适用性有待进一步考量和验证。     

Tailored prophylaxis in children with severe hemophilia: A four-year Iranian study

BackgroundProphylaxis the current standard care for patients with severe hemophilia should be planned to optimize the replacement therapy and minimize bleeding. We report our single-center experience of tailored prophylaxis in children affected by hemophilia A (HA) and hemophilia B (HB).MethodsThis study was conducted on 55 patients, under 15 years, with HA (PWHA, n: 46) and HB (PWHB, n: 9) between 2015 and 2019. According to the phenotype, three prophylaxis regimens: 25−50 unit/kg once, twice, or three-times a week for PWHA, and two: 30−50 unit/kg once or twice a week for PWHB were administered. Following the occurrence of > 3 joint bleeding, or > 4 soft tissue bleeding, or one spontaneous major bleeding in the last 3 months, the prophylaxis regimen is changed. Annualized bleeding rate (ABR), annualized joint bleeding rate (AJBR), target joints development, inhibitor development, and hemophilia joint health score (HJHS) also were assessed.ResultsA mean ± SD of 2520 ± 1045 IU/kg/yr coagulation factor (F) VIII was used to reduce ABR and AJBR from 1.02 ± 1.11 and 0.8 ± 1.3 (in the first year of the study) to 0.27 ± 0.44 (P < 0.001) and 0.19 ± 0.38 (P = 0.004) (at the end of the study) in PWHA, respectively. Furthermore, in PWHB, in the first year of the study, with using 2168 ± 1216 IU/kg coagulation FIX, ABR and AJBR were 0.19 ± 0.39 and 0.06 ± 0.1. At the end of the study, ABR and AJBR were 0.02 ± 0.05 (p = 0.156) and 0.01 ± 0.03 (p = 0.361), respectively. During the study period, the mean number of the target joints and mean HJHS were 0.25 ± 0.57 and 7.6 ± 2.1 for PWHA and 0 and 6.3 ± 1.8 for PWHB, respectively.Finally, 5 PWHA (11 %) did not need dose-escalation in their prophylaxis regimen, whereas 31 (67 %) and 10 (21 %) PWHA needed two and three infusions a week, respectively. In PWHB, 7 (78 %) and 2 (22 %) were adjusted to receive a once and twice weekly regimen, respectively.ConclusionOur results suggest that tailored prophylaxis is an effective strategy to reduce the rate of bleeding and optimize the replacement therapy in children with hemophilia.     

某校大学生饮食习惯对肠易激综合征的影响

目的 了解饮食对肠易激综合征的影响。方法 对2018年10月—2019年4月来校医院就诊的1 207名在校本科生进行问卷调查,问卷依据罗马Ⅳ诊断标准,数据分析采用SPSS 22.0卡方检验、单因素分析、Logistic多因素回归分析。结果 来校医院就诊的在校大学生中,肠易激综合征的患病率为5.1%(60/1207)。在单因素分析中,进食生冷(P=0.070)、高纤维(P=0.367)、乳制品(P=0.414)、果蔬(P=0.784)与肠易激综合征的患病差异无统计学意义。进食辛辣(P=0.002)、高脂饮食(P<0.001)与肠易激综合征的患病差异有统计学意义。进一步Logistic多因素回归分析显示,高频率进食高脂食物比低频率(≤1次/周)进食高脂食物更容易引起肠易激综合征。P值为0.003,OR:1.545。结论 本调查样本中,肠易激综合征的患病率为5.1%。肠易激综合征的患病与进食辛辣、高脂饮食有关。高频率的进食高脂食物是肠易激综合征患病的危险因素。基层医生应着重做好相关病人的饮食指导,尽量减少肠易激综合征被诱发。     

Peculiar lifespan changes of periodic leg movements during sleep in restless legs syndrome

The objective of this observational cohort study was to analyse the age‐related changes of periodic leg movements during sleep using the newest international scoring rules, to expand past analyses, including patients in the paediatric age range, and also to analyse the changes of short‐interval and isolated leg movements during sleep throughout the lifespan. One hundred and sixty‐five patients (84 women) with restless legs syndrome were recruited in the following age groups: 16 preschoolers (≤5 years of age), 29 school‐age children (6–12 years), 19 adolescents (13–17 years), 17 young adults (19–40 years), 47 adults (41–60 years) and 37 seniors (>60 years). Total, periodic, short‐interval and isolated leg movements during sleep and periodicity indexes were obtained by polysomnography. The total index showed (quartic polynomial interpolation) a decrease before 10 years, followed by a steady increase up to 30 years, a relatively stable period until 60 years, and a final increase up to 80 years. This course was almost entirely due to changes in periodic movements. Isolated movements did not change significantly and short‐interval movements showed only an increase in seniors. Our study indicates that, in restless legs syndrome, the total index shows a peculiar and unique course throughout the lifespan, mainly due to periodic movements. These age‐related changes may mirror developmental changes in network complexity known to occur in dopaminergic circuits. These data further confirm the need to better assess the periodicity of leg movements in sleep during the human development period, in order to obtain clinically useful information.