Morphological,Functional, and Tissue Characterization of Silent Myocardial Involvement in Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis

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Stereotactic body radiotherapy for Stage I lung cancer with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: special reference to survival and radiation-induced pneumonitis

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate radiation-induced pneumonitis (RIP) and a related condition that we define in this report—prolonged minimal RIP (pmRIP)—after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for Stage I primary lung cancer in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We assessed 136 Stage I lung cancer patients with COPD who underwent SBRT. Airflow limitation on spirometry was classified into four Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grades, with minor modifications: GOLD 1 (mild), GOLD 2 (moderate), GOLD 3 (severe) and GOLD 4 (very severe). On this basis, we defined two subgroups: COPD-free (COPD −) and COPD-positive (COPD +). There was no significant difference in overall survival or cause-specific–survival between these groups. Of the 136 patients, 44 (32%) had pmRIP. Multivariate analysis showed that COPD and the Brinkman index were statistically significant risk factors for the development of pmRIP. COPD and the Brinkman index were predictive factors for pmRIP, although our findings also indicate that SBRT can be tolerated in early lung cancer patients with COPD.     

西药联合穴位贴敷中西医结合治疗复治肺结核疗效观察

目的评价西药联合穴位贴敷中西医结合治疗复治肺结核的临床疗效。方法选择本院2017年1月～2018年1月收治的60例复治肺结核患者进行分组研究,全部患者根据治疗方法不同随机分为两组,每组各30例。两组均采取西药进行治疗,采用2HRZE/6HRZ标准化疗方案,实验组同时联合穴位贴敷中西医结合进行治疗,治疗后对比分析两组病灶吸收情况及两组临床症状改善情况。结果实验组病灶恶化9例,其病灶显著吸收率达50.0%,总有效率达70.0%,对照组病灶恶化6例,不变5例,其病灶显著吸收率达33.3%,总有效率达63.3%,两组病灶吸收总有效率组间比较,差异具有显著性(P0.05);实验组的疗效指数治疗6个月后显著高于对照组,组间比较,差异具有显著性(P0.05)。结论西药联合穴位贴敷中西医结合治疗复治肺结核疗效确切,可以显著促进病灶吸收,改善临床症状,安全性好,且还可以扶助人体正气,提高机体免疫力,调节全身状态,以达到治疗目的,是治疗复治肺结核的有效方法之一,值得临床广泛推广和应用。     

Pyramidal and posterior osseous release for maxillary superior/posterior mobilization using an ultrasonic bone-cutting device after Le Fort I osteotomy

AimThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of pyramidal and posterior osseous release (PPOR) for maxillary impaction using an ultrasonic bone-cutting device after Le Fort I (LFI) osteotomy.Materials and methodsIn total, 31 Japanese adults with jaw deformities, diagnosed as having maxillary excess with mandibular prognathism or deficiency, underwent LFI osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split osteotomy. The patients were divided into two groups: a trimming group (15 patients, four men and 11 women; mean age 24.8 years) and a PPOR group (16 patients, seven men and nine women; mean age 22.8 years). In the trimming group, osseous interference around the descending palatine artery (DPA) was removed using forceps, rounding bur, and reciprocating rasp. The PPOR technique was used to remove osseous fragments created by V-shaped osteotomy around the DPA following vertical osteotomy behind the DPA using an ultrasonic bone-cutting device (Variosurg 3; NSK, Tochigi, Japan). The operative times for maxillary osteotomy, total operative times (including bilateral sagittal split osteotomy), and total blood loss were assessed.ResultsThe mean planned amounts of maxillary impaction were 4.37 ± 1.27 mm in the trimming group and 4.38 ± 1.36 mm in the PPOR group (p = 0.98). The mean maxillary operative time for the PPOR group was significantly shorter, by 25.5% (p < 0.001). Total operative time for the PPOR group was also significantly shorter, by 24.3% (p < 0.001). Mean blood loss was significantly lower in the PPOR group than in the trimming group (p = 0.003).ConclusionThe PPOR technique for maxillary impaction after LFI osteotomy shortened the operative time and enabled secure reduction of the maxilla in patients who required the treatment of maxillary impaction with preservation of the DPA bundle.     

Animal Models of Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma–Past,Present, and Future

Esophageal adenocarcinoma is the fastest rising cancer in the United States. It develops from long‐standing gastroesophageal reflux disease which affects >20% of the general population. It carries a very poor prognosis with 5‐year survival <20%. The disease is known to sequentially progress from reflux esophagitis to a metaplastic precursor, Barrett''s esophagus and then onto dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, only few patients with reflux develop Barrett''s esophagus and only a minority of these turn malignant. The reason for this heterogeneity in clinical progression is unknown. To improve patient management, molecular changes which facilitate disease progression must be identified. Animal models can provide a comprehensive functional and anatomic platform for such a study. Rats and mice have been the most widely studied but disease homology with humans has been questioned. No animal model naturally simulates the inflammation to adenocarcinoma progression as in humans, with all models requiring surgical bypass or destruction of existing antireflux mechanisms. Valuable properties of individual models could be utilized to holistically evaluate disease progression. In this review paper, we critically examined the current animal models of Barrett''s esophagus, their differences and homologies with human disease and how they have shaped our current understanding of Barrett''s carcinogenesis.     

A modality-specific somatosensory evoked potential test protocol for clinical evaluation: A feasibility study

ObjectiveWe aimed to establish an objective neurophysiological test protocol that can be used to assess the somatosensory nervous system.MethodsIn order to assess most fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system, repetitive stimuli of seven different modalities (touch, vibration, pinprick, cold, contact heat, laser, and warmth) were synchronized with the electroencephalogram (EEG) and applied on the cheek and dorsum of the hand and dorsum of the foot in 21 healthy subjects and three polyneuropathy (PNP) patients. Latencies and amplitudes of the modalities were assessed and compared. Patients received quantitative sensory testing (QST) as reference.ResultsWe found reproducible evoked potentials recordings for touch, vibration, pinprick, contact-heat, and laser stimuli. The recording of warm-evoked potentials was challenging in young healthy subjects and not applicable in patients. Latencies were shortest within Aβ-fiber-mediated signals and longest within C-fibers. The test protocol detected function loss within the Aβ-fiber and Aδ-fiber-range in PNP patients. This function loss corresponded with QST findings.ConclusionIn this pilot study, we developed a neurophysiological test protocol that can specifically assess most of the somatosensory modalities. Despite technical challenges, initial patient data appear promising regarding a possible future clinical application.SignificanceEstablished and custom-made stimulators were combined to assess different fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system using modality-specific evoked potentials.     

Surgical Technique Notes of Arterial Vascular Reconstruction During Kidney Transplantation: Personal Experience and Literature Review

Background

Arterial vascular anomalies in patients undergoing kidney transplantation (KT) are correlated with a higher incidence of early surgical complications, potentially causing graft loss. Arterial reconstruction allows patients to overcome these surgical challenges, thus minimizing the risk of poor outcomes. The aim of the present study is to retrospectively investigate the safety and effectiveness of the multiple arterial reconstruction technique with a Teflon patch in case of an unavailable aortic patch: to do so, surgical complications, graft function, and patient survival were evaluated.