Mutation status and burden can improve prognostic prediction of patients with lower‐risk myelodysplastic syndromes

Patients with lower‐risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR‐MDS) as defined by the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) have more favorable prognosis in general, but significant inter‐individual heterogeneity exists. In this study, we examined the molecular profile of 15 MDS‐relevant genes in 159 patients with LR‐MDS using next‐generation sequencing. In univariate COX regression, shorter overall survival (OS) was associated with mutation status of ASXL1 (P = .001), RUNX1 (P = .031), EZH2 (P = .049), TP53 (P = .016), SRSF2 (P = .046), JAK2 (P = .040), and IDH2 (P = .035). We also found significantly shorter OS in patients with an adjusted TET2 variant allele frequency (VAF) ≥18% versus those with either an adjusted TET2 VAF <18% or without TET2 mutations (median: 20.4 vs 47.8 months; P = .020; HR = 2.183, 95%CI: 1.129‐4.224). After adjustment for IPSS, shorter OS was associated with mutation status of ASXL1 (P < .001; HR = 4.306, 95% CI: 2.144‐8.650), TP53 (P = .004; HR = 4.863, 95% CI: 1.662‐14.230) and JAK2 (P = .002; HR = 5.466, 95%CI: 1.848‐16.169), as well as adjusted TET2 VAF ≥18% (P = .008; HR = 2.492, 95% CI: 1.273‐4.876). Also, OS was increasingly shorter as the number of mutational factors increased (P < .001). A novel prognostic scoring system incorporating the presence/absence of the four independent mutational factors into the IPSS further stratified LR‐MDS patients into three prognostically different groups (P < .001). The newly developed scoring system redefined 10.1% (16/159) of patients as a higher‐risk group, who could not be predicted by the currently prognostic models. In conclusion, integration of the IPSS with mutation status/burden of certain MDS‐relevant genes may improve the prognostication of patients with LR‐MDS and could help identify those with worse‐than‐expected prognosis for more aggressive treatment.     

Anxiety sensitivity as a mediator of the association between asthma and smoking

Objective: Despite its negative effects, smoking is more common among individuals with asthma compared to those without. Anxiety sensitivity (fear of arousal-related sensations) is associated with both smoking and asthma; however, no research, to date, has examined the interplay between these three factors. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the mediating role of anxiety sensitivity in the association between asthma diagnosis and smoking status. Methods: The current study was a secondary analysis of data from three existing datasets of non-smokers and smokers with and without asthma (n?=?433; 56.3% female, M_age?=?34.01 years, SD?=?13.9). Participants provided information on their asthma diagnosis status and smoking status and completed self-report measures. Results: As hypothesized, after controlling for gender, race and age, there was a significant indirect effect of asthma diagnosis on smoking status through anxiety sensitivity (95% CI?=?0.07–0.48). Conclusions: These results indicate that the association between asthma diagnosis and smoking status appears to be driven, in part, by anxiety sensitivity and suggest that anxiety sensitivity may serve as an important target for prevention and intervention efforts for smokers with asthma.     

呼吸专科护士慢性呼吸疾病管理现状调查

目的调查呼吸专科护士慢性呼吸疾病管理现状,为提高慢性呼吸疾病的管理水平提供参考。方法依据《中国成人慢性呼吸疾病患者护理管理指南》设计调查问卷,对重庆、四川、贵州、陕西、河北、湖北、海南7省市的205名呼吸专科护士进行问卷调查。结果呼吸专科护士慢性呼吸疾病管理总分为(140.72±23.90)分。慢性呼吸疾病管理得分最低的3个条目有评估工具应用、个性化管理计划的实施、慢阻肺随访的次数及指导哮喘患者使用峰流速仪;呼吸专科护士所在单位慢性呼吸疾病管理平台建设均低于50%。结论呼吸专科护士慢性呼吸疾病管理处于中等偏下水平,评估是慢性呼吸疾病管理的薄弱点。需加强呼吸专科护士专业能力培养,规范慢性呼吸疾病全程管理,强化医院平台建设等,提高慢性呼吸疾病的管理水平。     

Lung Ultrasound for the Emergency Diagnosis of Pneumonia,Acute Heart Failure,and Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/Asthma in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Lung ultrasound can accelerate the diagnosis of life-threatening diseases in adults with respiratory symptoms.

The intracranial correlate of the 14&6/sec positive spikes normal scalp EEG variant

ObjectiveTo investigate the intracranial correlate of the 14&6/sec positive spikes normal variant of scalp EEG.MethodsOut of 35 adult refractory focal epilepsy patients who underwent intracranial electrode implantation with simultaneous scalp EEG electrodes, the 14&6/sec positive spikes variant was found in 4. We used three methods to identify and quantify intracranial correlates to the variant: visual inspection, time-referenced waveform averaging and 3D brain volume spectrum-based statistical parametric mapping (SPM).ResultsWe discovered a novel and robust relationship between the scalp variant and an atypical hippocampal discharge. This intracranial correlate is an ipsilateral hippocampal burst of highly synchronized high-amplitude paroxysmal-like spikes of negative polarity, with a ramping up amplitude profile, which often ramps down and is accompanied by an underlying sequence of low-amplitude negative slow waves. The 14/sec positive spikes of the variant are time-locked to the negative peak of the hippocampal spikes, while the 6/sec positive spikes are time-locked to the negative spikes overlying the low-amplitude slow waves.ConclusionsThe 14&6/sec positive spikes variant correlates with bursts of negative polarity spikes in the ipsilateral hippocampus.SignificanceThe identification of the hippocampal correlate of the 14&6/sec positive spikes variant fills a gap in our knowledge of normal intracranial variants. In clinical practice, this knowledge should reduce the chance that this electrophysiological signature is misinterpreted as epileptiform activity, which could inappropriately influence the interpretation of the intracranial study and subsequent surgical recommendation.