Effect of diabetes mellitus on pregnancy and birth outcomes in Wolaita Zone,Southern Ethiopia: A retrospective cohort study

Background and aimsPresence of diabetes mellitus (DM) during pregnancy is important cause of maternal and fetal complications. Studies that address the effect of DM on pregnancy and birth outcome are scarce in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of DM on maternal and birth outcomes in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was done to compare maternal and birth outcomes of mothers with DM and non-DM who received maternity service in three hospitals and four health centers in Southern Ethiopia. A total of 136 exposed (with DM) and 272 unexposed (non-DM) mothers were included in the study. Data were extracted from medical records of mothers by experienced and trained data collectors. Means were compared for continuous variables. Logistic regression analysis model was used to check the effect of DM on pregnancy and birth outcome. Risk Ratio was calculated and p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsPregnancy of diabetic mothers was significantly complicated by pre-eclampsia when compared with non-diabetic mothers, (RR = 1.8: 95% CI; 1.2–2.7). The risk of macrosomia was higher for neonates of diabetic mothers than non-diabetic mothers, (RR = 1.9: 95% CI; 1.3–2.7). From multivariate analysis, mothers with DM were 2.9 times more likely to be delivered by caesarean section than non-diabetic mothers (RR = 2.9: 95%CI; 1.3–6.2) and the risk of pre-term delivery was 2.5 times higher among mothers with DM, (RR = 2.5: 95% CI; 1.1–6.2).ConclusionsDiabetes mellitus among pregnant mothers is associated with increased risk of pre-term delivery, macrosomia and maternal complications of pre-eclampsia and caesarian delivery. Early detection and management of DM should be one of the key activities to improve maternal and child mortality and morbidity.     

Lesion regression rate based on RECIST: prediction of treatment outcome in patients with head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy compared with FDG PET-CT

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the lesion regression rate (ΔLR) based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria could be used for the prediction of treatment outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) compared with FDG PET-CT. A total of 33 patients underwent MRI and PET-CT at pretreatment and at 8 weeks after CRT. We assessed the treatment outcome by analyzing the following parameters: the RECIST criteria, ΔLR, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) criteria, and pretreatment SUV_max of the primary tumor and node. The correlation between the analysis of the parameters and the results of the long-term follow-up of the patients was determined. The RECIST did not significantly correlate with locoregional control (LRC) or survival. The ΔLR was significantly lower for the lesions with locoregional failure (LRF) than for those with LRC. A threshold ΔLR of 48% revealed a sensitivity of 72.7% and specificity of 77.3% for the prediction of LRF. Progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with ΔLR ≥ 48% was significantly better than that of patients with ΔLR < 48% (P = 0.001), but not overall survival. There was a significant correlation between LRC and the EORTC (P = 0.02). The patients who achieved a complete response by the EORTC criteria showed significantly better PFS and overall survival (P = 0.01 and 0.04, respectively). The ΔLR was inferior to FDG PET-CT with respect to the prediction of patient survival; however, it may be useful for selecting patients in need of more aggressive monitoring after CRT.     

Patient Perspectives on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Surgery: A Focus on Sexual Health

BackgroundIn the last decade, many novel minimally invasive surgical techniques within benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) surgery were developed to reduce postoperative complications that often discourage patients from pursuing BPH surgery.AimTo assess perspective of future and past international BPH surgery patients regarding their postoperative complications, namely erectile and ejaculatory function.MethodsA survey was distributed randomly to 2 groups of BPH patients: one with 149 patients having undergone surgery in the last 2 years (group A), and the other cohort of 151 men seriously considering BPH surgery in the next year (group B). This survey consisted of 20 questions that assessed patients' motivating factors for undergoing elective BPH surgery and their perspectives regarding the potential postoperative complications attributed to BPH surgery.OutcomesThe perspective of future and past international BPH surgical patients towards the preservation of their erectile and ejaculatory functions was assessed with the help of a survey.ResultsResults indicated that in general BPH surgery patients considered the maintenance of erectile (95%, n = 284) and ejaculatory function (92%, n = 276) to be important preoperative considerations, regardless of their age. Patients aged 50–59 years were most concerned with the permanent impact on sexual function and patients aged >60 years were most concerned with urinary incontinence. In patients aged >70 years, 66% (n = 43) and 62% (n = 40) of the respondents indicated that maintaining erectile and ejaculatory function was important, respectively.Clinical ImplicationsPatient-centered care needs to be implemented in order to address the importance that past and future BPH surgery patients hold toward the maintenance of their postoperative sexual function.Strengths & LimitationsIn the group of patients having previously undergone BPH surgery, the possibility of recall bias should be taken into account when interpreting the study's findings. However, maintaining sexual function was also important for the group of patients seriously considering surgery in the next year suggesting that these considerations are not solely due to recall bias. Additionally, the results were limited by the small sample size of participants in groups A (n = 149) and B (n = 151).ConclusionIt was found that past and future BPH surgery patients attribute a significant importance toward the maintenance of their sexual function. Although novel approaches with better sexual outcomes such as Rezum and UroLift for prostates <80 mL, and Aquablation for any size prostate are available, more research is needed to investigate their long-term effects on sexual function before they can be recommended to patients.Bouhadana D, Nguyen D-D, Zorn KC, et al. Patient Perspectives on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Surgery: A Focus on Sexual Health. J Sex Med 2020;17:2108–2112.     

深圳市宝安区梅毒血清固定孕妇的筛查及规范性治疗对妊娠结局和新生儿影响

目的对深圳市宝安区梅毒血清固定的妊娠期孕妇的状况进行筛查及了解规范性治疗对妊娠结局和新生儿的影响。方法选取2015年1月至2017年12月深圳市宝安区医疗单位进行免费梅毒保健筛查的妊娠期孕妇作为观察对象。对妊娠期梅毒患者的数量及梅毒血清固定的人数比例进行分析。梅毒血清固定孕妇,根据第一疗程、第二疗程同时驱梅用药患者作为治疗组,而两疗程没有同时进行药物治疗或两疗程均没有驱梅用药的患者作为未治疗组,选取同期正常孕妇作为对照组,观察规范性治疗对妊娠结局和新生儿影响。结果 2015年1月至2017年12月深圳市宝安区梅毒筛查中,3年的梅毒确诊分别为204例、154例和195例;血清固定孕妇占比分别为5.39%、9.74%和3.07%;在血清固定组患者中不良结局妊娠上三组之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);梅毒血清固定患者中治疗组新生儿血清梅毒阳性率和不良事件发生率均显著低于未治疗组,差异具有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论本次研究结果显示,在梅毒血清固定患者中采取药物治疗对于提高新生儿的存活率、降低新生儿血清感染率和不良疾病发生率上均具有较好帮助,值得在梅毒血清型固定妊娠妇女中推荐应用。     

全直肠系膜切除并单吻合器在低位直肠癌根治术中的应用

目的 探讨全直肠系膜切除联合单吻合器在低位直肠癌中的应用效果。方法在全直肠系膜切除（TME）基础上，对56例低位直肠癌应用单管状吻合器与荷包钳做保肛手术。随访2年，回顾性分析其根治性、术后排便功能、手术并发症、局部复发率。结果全组无手术死亡，术后病理学检查无切端癌残留，无大便失禁，无吻合口漏发生，吻合口狭窄2例，发生率4％（2／56），术后随访2年，局部复发3例，复发率为5％（3／56），患者术后肛门功能恢复较满意。结论全直肠系膜切除应用单吻合器与荷包钳用于低位直肠癌可提高保肛率，且该方法经济、实用、安全。     

腹部恶性纤维组织细胞瘤28例临床分析

目的探讨腹部恶性纤维组织细胞瘤的诊治方法。方法回顾性分析28例腹部恶性纤维组织细胞瘤的临床表现、影像学特征、病理学特点、治疗方法、疗效和预后。结果28例中17例来源于腹膜后，6例来源于腹腔脏器，3例来源于肠系膜，2例来源于腹壁，主要临床表现为明显消瘦，体重减轻、腹痛和腹部肿块。B超和CT扫描提示腹部占位性病变。肿瘤≥2个24例，单发4例。根治性切除17例，部分切除11例，术后联合化疗16例，联合放疗14例。术后1、3、5年生存率分别为76．9％，26．9％和3．9％。结论腹部恶性纤维组织细胞瘤主要来源于腹膜后，常多发，手术切除是首选的治疗方法，术后联合放化疗，可能改善患者预后。     

异常灌注评分法评价肺血栓栓塞症患者治疗效果的价值

目的 分析异常灌注评分法对肺血栓栓塞症（PTE）疗效的评估价值。方法 选择明确诊断为急性PTE的患者46例，在治疗前及治疗后14d行肺灌注显像，2位核医学科医师分别对肺灌注显像图进行定性分析，随后采用异常灌注评分法和Parker创建的肺段评分法进行肺灌注显像结果判读，比较两者在判读结果方面的一致性及其相关性，并比较2种方法所示的治疗后灌注改善率。结果 2位医师对左肺灌注结果判读的一致性为100％（Kappa值为1．0），对右肺灌注结果判读的一致性为91．3％（Kappa值为0．69）。治疗前后2种灌注评分结果均有较高度的一致性（Kappa值分别为0．657和0．665，P均〈0．001）。在治疗前和治疗后通过2种评分方法所计算的联合评分均呈显著正相关（r值分别为0．770和0．771，P均〈0．001）。肺灌注改善率在2种评分方法之间无显著差异（P=0．128）。结论 异常灌注评分法判读简单，是评价PTE治疗效果的较好方法。