持续性颅内压监测在颅脑外伤治疗的效果探讨

目的对急性重型颅脑外伤患者在临床治疗中实施持续性颅内压监测的价值进行研究。方法选择本院在2017年8月—2018年8月期间收治的确诊为重型颅脑外伤的患者共计28例作为研究对象,按照硬币法将这些患者划分为两个小组,对照组14例,实验组14例。采用常规治疗方式对对照组加以治疗,采用持续性颅内压监测对实验组加以治疗,对两组患者的治疗效果进行比较。结果对照组的预后神经功能NHISS评分为(15.83±0.31)分、预后GOS评分为(3.19±0.15)分,实验组的预后神经功能NHISS评分为(11.18±0.45)分、预后GOS评分为(4.90±0.17)分。实验组预后神经功能NHISS评分、GOS评分均明显优于对照组,且差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论在急性重型颅脑外伤患者的临床治疗中应用持续性颅内压监测具有重要作用,其能够对患者的治疗予以有效指导,提升患者的治疗效果。     

The prognostic and predictive role of 21-gene recurrence scores in hormone receptor-positive early-stage breast cancer

Over the past two decades, gene expression profiling of breast cancer has emerged as an important tool in early-stage breast cancer management. The approach provides important information on underlying biological mechanisms, breast cancer classification, future risk potential of developing recurrent metastatic disease, and provides beneficial clues for adjuvant chemotherapy in hormone receptor (HR) positive breast cancer. Of the commercially available genomic tests for breast cancer, the prognostic and predictive value of 21-gene recurrence score tests have been validated using both retrospective data and prospective clinical trials. In this paper, we reviewed the current evidence on 21-gene expression profiles for HR-positive HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer management. We show that current evidence supports endocrine therapy alone as an appropriate adjuvant systemic therapy for approximately 70% of women with HR-positive, HER2-negative, node-negative breast cancer. Evolving evidence also suggests that 21-gene recurrence scores have predictive values for node-positive breast cancer and that chemotherapy can be avoided in more than half of women with nodes 1 to 3 positive HR-positive breast cancer. Furthermore, retrospective data also supports the predictive role of 21-gene recurrence scores for adjuvant radiation therapy. A prospective trial in this area is ongoing.     

针刀松解寰枕筋膜治疗颈源性眩晕的疗效研究

目的:研究针刀松解寰枕筋膜治疗颈源性眩晕的疗效。方法:选取2017年1月至2018年1月佛山市健翔医院收治的颈源性眩晕患者96例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法随机分为对照组和观察组,每组48例。对照组患者给予3次/周针灸、局部按摩治疗,观察组患者给予1次/周的针刀松解寰枕筋膜治疗,均治疗3周。依照《颈性眩晕评估量表(ESCV)》分析2组患者治疗前后颈性眩晕评分变化、椎动脉血流动力学变化,比较2组患者血清中内皮源性超极化因子(EDHF)的含量和一氧化氮(NO)水平,统计2组患者的治疗有效率、眩晕症状缓解时间及生命质量变化。结果:观察组患者治疗后总有效率为97.92%高于对照组的81.25%(P<0.05),眩晕有效缓解时间明显缩短,眩晕评分显著高于对照组(P<0.05);观察组患者治疗后椎动脉的平均血流、收缩期血流、舒张期血流速度、血清中NO及EDHF水平明显上升,血管搏动指数显著下降(P<0.05);生命质量评分显著升高(P<0.05)。结论:针刀松解寰枕筋膜能够通过改善颈源性眩晕患者的椎动脉血流动力学,有效治疗患者的颈源性眩晕。     

Prognostic Utility of the IPS 3 Score for Predicting Outcomes in Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma

Background

The International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) consisting of 7 parameters (IPS7) has been the standard prognostic model used in advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (aHL). However, recent studies have questioned its discriminatory power. For retrospective analyses, its utility might be limited by missing parameters. A recent study has shown that the IPSS consisting of only 3 high-risk features (IPS3; stage IV, age 45 years or older, and hemoglobin <105 g/L) is a simple predictor of survival in aHL. However, there are limited data validating the IPS3.

Low-dose l-isoproterenol versus salbutamol in hospitalized pediatric patients with severe acute exacerbation of asthma: A double-blind,randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAlthough the guidelines in most countries do not recommend continuous inhalation of l-isoproterenol to treat pediatric patients with acute severe exacerbation of asthma, lower dose of l-isoproterenol has been widely used in Japan. To determine whether the efficacy of low-dose l-isoproterenol was superior to that of salbutamol, we conducted a double-blind, randomized controlled trial.MethodsHospitalized patients aged 1–17 years were eligible if they had severe asthma exacerbation defined by the modified pulmonary index score (MPIS). Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive inhalation of l-isoproterenol (10 μg/kg/h) or salbutamol (500 μg/kg/h) for 12 hours via a large-volume nebulizer with oxygen. The primary outcome was the change in MPIS from baseline to 3 hours after starting inhalation. Trial registration number UMIN000001991.ResultsFrom December 2009 to October 2013, 83 patients (42 in the l-isoproterenol group and 41 in the salbutamol group) were enrolled into the study. Of these, one patient in the l-isoproterenol group did not receive the study drug and was excluded from the analysis. Compared with salbutamol, l-isoproterenol reduced MPIS more rapidly. Mean (SD) changes in MPIS at 3 hours were −2.9 (2.5) in the l-isoproterenol group and −0.9 (2.3) in the salbutamol group (difference −2.0, 95% confidence interval −3.1 to −0.9; P < 0.001). Adverse events occurred in 1 (2%) and 11 (27%) patients in the l-isoproterenol and salbutamol groups, respectively (P = 0.003). Hypokalemia and tachycardia occurred only in the salbutamol group.ConclusionsLow-dose l-isoproterenol has a more rapid effect with fewer adverse events than salbutamol.     

Bypass Surgery or Stenting for Left Main Coronary Artery Disease in Patients With Diabetes

Background

The randomized EXCEL (Evaluation of XIENCE versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularization) trial reported a similar rate of the 3-year composite primary endpoint of death, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke in patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) and site-assessed low or intermediate SYNTAX scores treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Whether these results are consistent in high-risk patients with diabetes, who have fared relatively better with CABG in most prior trials, is unknown.

Synthetic MRI is not yet ready for morphologic and functional assessment of patellar cartilage at 1.5 Tesla

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare morphologic assessment and relaxometry of patellar hyaline cartilage between conventional sequences (fast spin-echo [FSE] T2-weighted fat-saturated and T2-mapping) and synthetic T2 short-TI inversion recovery (STIR) and T2 maps at 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MethodThe MRI examinations of the knee obtained at 1.5 T in 49 consecutive patients were retrospectively studied. There were 21 men and 28 women with a mean age of 45 ± 17.7 (SD) years (range: 18–88 years). Conventional and synthetic acquisitions were performed, including T2-weighted fat-saturated and T2-mapping sequences. Two radiologists independently compared patellar cartilage T2-relaxation time on conventional T2-mapping and synthetic T2-mapping images. A third radiologist evaluated the patellar cartilage morphology on conventional and synthetic T2-weighted images. The presence of artifacts was also assessed. Interobserver agreement for quantitative variables was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).ResultsIn vitro, conventional and synthetic T2 maps yielded similar mean T2 values 58.5 ± 2.3 (SD) ms and 58.8 ± 2.6 (SD) ms, respectively (P = 0.414) and 6% lower than the expected experimental values (P = 0.038). Synthetic images allowed for a 15% reduction in examination time compared to conventional images. On conventional sequences, patellar chondropathy was identified in 35 patients (35/49; 71%) with a mean chondropathy grade of 4.8 ± 4.8 (SD). On synthetic images, 28 patients (28/49; 57%) were diagnosed with patellar chondropathy, with a significant 14% difference (P = 0.009) and lower chondropathy scores (3.7 ± 4.9 [SD]) compared to conventional images. Motion artifacts were more frequently observed on synthetic images (18%) than on conventional ones (6%). The interobserver agreement was excellent for both conventional and synthetic T2 maps (ICC > 0.83). Mean cartilage T2 values were significantly greater on synthetic images (36.2 ± 3.8 [SD] ms; range: 29-46 ms) relative to conventional T2 maps (31.8 ± 4.1 [SD] ms; range: 26-49 ms) (P < 0.0001).ConclusionDespite a decrease in examination duration, synthetic images convey lower diagnostic performance for chondropathy, greater prevalence of motion artifacts, and an overestimation of T2 values compared to conventional MRI sequences.     

Use of the burn intervention score to calculate the charges of the care of burns

Background

To our knowledge this is the first published estimate of the charges of the care of burns in Sweden. The Linköping Burn Interventional Score has been used to calculate the charges for each burned patient since 1993. The treatment of burns is versatile, and depends on the depth and extension of the burn. This requires a flexible system to detect the actual differences in the care provided. We aimed to describe the model of burn care that we used to calculate the charges incurred during the acute phase until discharge, so it could be reproduced and applied in other burn centres, which would facilitate a future objective comparison of the expenses in burn care.

Comparative outcomes of vascular access in patients older than 70 years with end-stage renal disease

Objective

The advantage of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in older patients requiring dialysis is controversial. We reviewed our vascular access experience in patients ≥70 years of age (older group) compared with younger patients.