Predicting three-month and 12-month post-fitting real-world hearing-aid outcome using pre-fitting acceptable noise level (ANL)

Objective: Determine the extent to which pre-fitting acceptable noise level (ANL), with or without other predictors such as hearing-aid experience, can predict real-world hearing-aid outcomes at three and 12 months post-fitting. Design: ANLs were measured before hearing-aid fitting. Post-fitting outcome was assessed using the international outcome inventory for hearing aids (IOI-HA) and a hearing-aid use questionnaire. Models that predicted outcomes (successful vs. unsuccessful) were built using logistic regression and several machine learning algorithms, and were evaluated using the cross-validation technique. Study sample: A total of 132 adults with hearing impairment. Results: The prediction accuracy of the models ranged from 61% to 68% (IOI-HA) and from 55% to 61% (hearing-aid use questionnaire). The models performed more poorly in predicting 12-month than three-month outcomes. The ANL cutoff between successful and unsuccessful users was higher for experienced (～18 dB) than first-time hearing-aid users (～10 dB), indicating that most experienced users will be predicted as successful users regardless of their ANLs. Conclusions: Pre-fitting ANL is more useful in predicting short-term (three months) hearing-aid outcomes for first-time users, as measured by the IOI-HA. The prediction accuracy was lower than the accuracy reported by some previous research that used a cross-sectional design.     

Prediction of perinatal outcome in preeclampsia using middle cerebral artery and umbilical artery pulsatility and resistance indices

Objective: In preeclampsia, changes in fetal hemodynamics can be detected 2–3 weeks earlier than any changes in cardiotocogram. Thus, these Doppler changes can be used to predict perinatal outcome. The present study is planned to assess the accuracy of the middle cerebral artery to umbilical artery (UA) pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) in predicting adverse perinatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Methods: Total of 115 and 108 pregnant women were included in preeclampsia and control group, respectively. Weekly Doppler study was done in both groups starting from 30 weeks till 36 weeks or delivery, whichever is later. Results: Mean gestational age at delivery was 250 ± 13 and 273 ± 8 days, respectively, in preeclampsia and control group (p < 0.01). Thirty-four babies in preeclampsia group had been admitted to nursery; out of which three died (p < 0.01). On receiver operating characteristic analysis, MCA /UmA PI ratio and MCA /UmA RI ratio had sensitivity of 9% and 9.7% and specificity of 98% and 96.6%, respectively, for predicting adverse perinatal outcome. Conclusion: Doppler indices of MCA and Um A are significantly abnormal in preeclampsia. But on diagnostic statistical analysis they have good specificity but low sensitivity for detecting adverse perinatal outcome.     

Determinants of the competing outcomes of intrauterine infection,abruption, or spontaneous preterm birth after preterm premature rupture of membranes*

Objective: Patients with PPROM are at risk for a variety of outcomes, including chorioamnionitis (CA), placental abruption (PA), or preterm labor (PTL). Competing risk regression can analyze a cohort’s risk of individual outcomes while accounting for ongoing deliveries secondary to competing events.

Methods: A secondary analysis of the subjects from MFMU BEAM study of neuroprotection after preterm birth (BEAM) with conservative PPROM management. Deliveries were categorized as: PA, CA, PTL, “elective” or “indicated”. The association between outcomes of PA, CA or PTL and clinical predictors of twins, ethnicity, parity, gestational age at rupture, bleeding, contractions, cervical dilation, preterm birth history, weight, and genitourinary infections were evaluated via competing risk regression.

Result: 1970 subjects were included. The significance and directionality of predictors varied according to specific outcomes. Patients with twins had an increased PTL hazard (1.85) though reductions in CA- (0.66) or PA-specific (0.56) hazards. Decreased latency in African-Americans was almost entirely due to an increased CA hazard (1.44) without a significant association with PTL. Increasing gestational age at membrane rupture was associated with a decreasing hazard of CA although increasing hazard of PTL.

Conclusions: For patients with PPROM, the hazards associated with different clinical predictors vary according to exact outcomes.     

Castleman病65例诊治分析

目的 总结Castleman病的临床特点和治疗手段.方法 回顾2005-2012年连续收治的65例Castleman病患者的临床资料,总结分析局灶型Castleman病和多中心型Castleman病在临床表现、发病部位、实验室检查及治疗上的不同.结果 本组42例局灶型Castleman病多见于中青年,常为单发肿瘤,表现为无症状的局部淋巴结增大,病理分型以透明血管型(33/42,78.6％)为主,本组42例患者发现44枚肿瘤,以腹膜后腔(10/44,22.7％)、腹腔(10/44,22.7％)等深部多见,通过手术治疗可治愈.本组23例多中心型Castleman病多见于中年,表现为多发淋巴结肿大,无局部淋巴结疼痛及表面破溃,常伴有发热(9/23,39.1％)、贫血(9/23,39.1％)、脾大,实验室检查多见异常,病理分型主要为浆细胞型(14/23,60.9％)和昆合型(5/23,21.7％),本组23例患者发现66枚肿瘤,以颈部(16/66,24.2％)和股沟区(12/66,l8.2％)等浅表部位多见,主要采用CHOP化疗方案或手术联合CHOP化疗方案,本组21例患者获得完全或部分缓解,2例因化疗引起肺部感染死亡,能否耐受长期化疗是影响预后的重要因素.结论 局灶型和多中心型Castleman病临床特点不同,治疗方法也有差异.局灶型Castleman病通过手术可达到治愈目的;多中心型Castleman病则主要采用CHOP化疗方案,多数预后较好.     

VSD结合外固定支架在西藏高原地区胫腓骨开放性骨折分期治疗中应用

目的：探讨负压吸引敷料结合外固定支架技术在西藏高原地区胫腓骨开放性骨折分期治疗中的应用及临床疗效。方法2014年8月-2015年8月收治16胫腓骨开放性骨折患者,其中男性12例,女性4例,年龄19~66岁,平均年龄39.4岁(19~66岁);胫腓骨中上段骨折4例,下段骨折12例。待患者病情稳定后患者生命体征稳定后,无继发性损伤,予行清创、外固定支架固定骨折端,并采用负压吸引敷料覆盖创面或创腔。7 d后更换VSD或予行二期缝合或软组织覆盖。 X线检查明确骨折愈合时间并记录相关并发症。结果本组16例创面均二期愈合,未见感染、皮肤或皮瓣坏死等软组织并发症。本组共随访患者12例(电话通知来院复诊),4例失访,平均随访18个月(12~24个月)。影像学检查明确平均骨折愈合时间为5.5个月(3~7个月),其中骨折一期临床愈合9例(75%),延迟愈合3例(25%)。随访期间除2例出现钉道感染,经保守治疗后治愈,余患者未见深部感染、植皮或皮瓣坏死、畸形愈合、骨不连或骨髓炎发生。结论负压吸引敷料结合外固定支架治疗西藏高原地区胫腓骨开放性骨折,在迅速有效地稳定骨折的同时,能安全有效地封闭创面,缩短二期创面修复时间,促进骨折愈合,减少并发症。     

内镜辅助半椎板入路下椎管内肿瘤手术治疗的临床疗效观察

目的 分析椎管内肿瘤患者在神经内镜下行肿瘤切除术的疗效及并发症,总结内镜下椎管内肿瘤手术的治疗体会.方法 回顾性分析山西省人民医院神经外科2008年1月-2015年9月收治的24例椎管内肿瘤患者的病例资料,术前经MRI检查均确诊为椎管内占位,应用神经内镜行肿瘤切除手术治疗,术后对患者进行长期随访,观察疗效与并发症.结果 全部患者术后症状均有不同程度的改善,感觉障碍程度减轻,肢体肌力增强,神经电生理学损害减轻.术后未见严重并发症出现.24例患者中,肿瘤全切除17例,大部分切除7例.伴有脊髓栓系者术中同时行栓系松解术.结论 内镜辅助半椎板入路椎管内肿瘤切除术,对周围结构损伤轻微,对脊椎解剖结构影响小,方法可行,疗效明确,定位准确,且术后恢复快,是一种新型、安全、有效的手术途径.     

替吉奥联合胰十二指肠切除术治疗胰腺癌88例临床疗效观察

目的 研究替吉奥联合胰十二指肠切除术治疗胰腺癌的临床效果,为胰腺癌的治疗提供更多的选择.方法 对2009年2月-2015年1月在南京医科大学附属南京医院肝胆外科入院治疗的176例胰腺癌患者的病例资料进行了研究,数值随机化法分为观察组和对照组,每组各88例,两组患者均首先采用胰十二指肠切除术进行手术切除治疗,然后给予后续治疗方案,其中对照组给予吉西他滨进行治疗,观察组患者给予替吉奥进行治疗,两组方案均以3周为一个治疗周期,于2个治疗周期后比较两组治疗方案的总有效率,两组患者的临床受益反应情况、两组患者治疗后的生存情况,以及两组治疗方案的不良反应,并比较两组患者的生活质量.结果采用t检验或者x2检验.结果 观察组患者临床受益反应率明显高于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);观察组临床总有效率为90.9％,对照组临床总有效率为61.4％,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);观察组患者平均生存期为(33.7 ±7.7)个月,对照组平均生存期为(21.4±5.6)个月,并且观察组患者2年及3年的生存率均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);两组患者不良反应以血液学和消化道反应为主,其中观察组患者恶心和呕吐、白细胞减少和消化道溃疡发病率明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);观察组患者化疗后4 ～12周的生活质量评分明显高于同期对照组生活质量评分,两组比较差异明显,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 替吉奥联合胰十二指肠切除术治疗胰腺癌临床效果显著,可以显著延长患者的生存时间、降低不良反应,患者临床受益率和临床总有效率更高,且可以改善患者的生活质量,优于吉西他滨联合治疗方案,值得临床推广应用.