卒中溶栓绿色通道优化研究及实施效果分析

目的探讨卒中溶栓绿色通道的构建、整改对发病到实施溶栓的时间（onset to treatment time,OTT）、院内溶栓时间（door to needle time，DNT）、临床疗效及预后的影响。 方法收集通过绿色通道溶栓患者118例的临床资料，以时间为界分为对照组57例和观察组61例。比较2组OTT、DNT、DNT≤60 min比率、临床疗效、并发症发生情况、美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表（the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale,NIHSS）评分、Barthel指数（Barthel index，BI）评分、改良Rankin量表（Modified Rankin Scale,mRS）评分等。 结果观察组OTT、DNT短于对照组，DNT≤60 min比例高于对照组（P＜0.01）。经过溶栓治疗72 h后，观察组临床疗效优于对照组，总有效率高于对照组（P＜0.01）。2组总并发症发生率和病死率差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。2组NIHSS评分均呈逐渐降低趋势，观察组NIHSS评分低于对照组，组间、时点间、组间·时点间交互作用差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.01）。2组BI评分均呈逐渐升高趋势，观察组BI评分高于对照组，组间、时点间、组间·时点间交互作用差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.01）。治疗3个月以后，观察组mRS评分明显低于对照组，≤2分比例高于对照组（P＜0.01）。 结论卒中溶栓绿色通道的建立，能够显著缩短OTT、DNT，提高临床疗效，减轻残障程度，取得良好的社会效益。     

The impact of current treatment modalities on the outcomes of patients with melanoma brain metastases: A systematic review

Patients with melanoma brain metastases (MBM) still have a very poor prognosis. Several treatment modalities have been investigated in an attempt to improve the management of MBM. This review aimed to evaluate the impact of current treatments for MBM on patient- and tumor-related outcomes, and to provide treatment recommendations for this patient population. A literature search in the databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane was conducted up to January 8, 2019. Original articles published since 2010 describing patient- and tumor-related outcomes of adult MBM patients treated with clearly defined systemic therapy were included. Information on basic trial demographics, treatment under investigation and outcomes (overall and progression-free survival, local and distant control and toxicity) were extracted. We identified 96 eligible articles, comprising 95 studies. A large variety of treatment options for MBM were investigated, either used alone or as combined modality therapy. Combined modality therapy was investigated in 71% of the studies and resulted in increased survival and better distant/local control than monotherapy, especially with targeted therapy or immunotherapy. However, neurotoxic side-effects also occurred more frequently. Timing appeared to be an important determinant, with the best results when radiotherapy was given before or during systemic therapy. Improved tumor control and prolonged survival can be achieved by combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy or targeted therapy. However, more randomized controlled trials or prospective studies are warranted to generate proper evidence that can be used to change the standard of care for patients with MBM.     

Outcome of Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia With FLT3-ITD Mutation: The Experience of Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt, 2007-17

IntroductionThe presence of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with high rates of induction failure and worse survival. Its presence places the patient into a high-risk group. We aimed to describe the outcome of pediatric AML with FLT3-ITD mutation.Patients and MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of cases of AML from July 2007 till July 2017 at Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt.ResultsSeventy-one patients had FLT3 gene mutation out of 687 patients with AML. Sixty-five patients had FLT3 gene mutation with allelic ratio > 0.4; 43 (66.1%) of 65 patients experienced complete remission (CR). Of the 43 patients, 16 patients maintained CR, 18 patients relapsed after first CR, 8 patients died, and 1 patient was lost to follow-up. Patients with relapsing disease died after salvage chemotherapy, except for one patient, who was alive after second CR. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) was performed for 9 (13.8%) of 65 patients in first CR, of whom 8 were alive and in CR, and 1 patient experienced disease relapse and died. Seven patients (10.7%) were alive without allo-BMT. Three years’ overall and event-free survival for patients with FLT3-ITD mutation with high allelic ratio was 26.9% and 22.8%, respectively. Three years’ overall and event-free survival for patients treated with allo-BMT was 77.8% and 78.8%, respectively, versus patients treated without allo-BMT, 16.3% and 12.8%, respectively.ConclusionFLT3-ITD mutation in pediatric AML was associated with poor treatment outcomes, and the survival of relapsing patients was extremely poor. Allo-BMT in first remission was the best treatment option. Alternative donor transplants and FLT3 inhibitors are needed to improve outcome in developing countries.     

Over expression of brain and acute leukemia,cytoplasmic and ETS-related gene is associated with poor outcome in acute myeloid leukemia

The high expression of brain and acute leukemia, cytoplasmic (BAALC) and ETS-related gene (ERG) has been reported to influence the outcome in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but due to limited prospective studies, their role as prognostic factors is unclear. At diagnosis, the prognostic value of BAALC and ERG expression with respect to other cytogenetic and molecular markers was analyzed in 149 AML patients. Patients were divided into quartiles which resulted in the formation of four groups (G1–G4) based on expression values of BAALC and ERG and clinical response defined across groups. Groups with similar survival probabilities were merged together and categorized subsequently as high versus low expressers. Patients with high BAALC and ERG expression had significantly lower overall survival (OS; BAALC: p = 0.001 at 5 years 29.4% vs. 69.8%; ERG: p < 0.0001 at 5 years 4% vs. 50.4%) and disease-free survival (BAALC: p = 0.001 at 5 years 19.5% vs. 69.8%; ERG: p < 0.0001 at 5 years 4.2% vs. 47%). Patients were further stratified combining BAALC and ERG expression in an integrative prognostic risk score (IPRS). After a median follow-up of 54 months (95% CI 45–63 months) among survivors, IPRS for high versus low expressers was a significant predictor for OS (BAALC + ERG: 4% vs. 71.6%, p < 0.0001) and DFS (BAALC + ERG: 4.5% vs. 74.1%, p < 0.0001). In a multivariate model, IPRS of BAALC + ERG expression retained prognostic significance for OS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.96, 95%CI 1.91–4.59, p < 0.001) and DFS (HR 3.61, 95%CI 2.26–5.76, p < 0.001).     

MRI characteristics of MOG-Ab associated disease in adults: An update

Our knowledge of the radiological spectrum of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody associated disease (MOGAD) is growing rapidly. An update on the radiological features of the disease, and its evolution is thus necessary. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has an increasingly important role in the differential diagnosis of MOGAD particularly from aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-NMOSD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Differentiating these conditions is of prime importance because the management is different between the three inflammatory diseases, and thus could prevent further attack-related disability. Therefore, identifying the MRI features suggestive of MOGAD has diagnostic and prognostic implications. We herein review optic nerve, spinal cord and the brain MRI findings from MOGAD adult patients, and compare them to AQP4-NMOSD and MS.     

Normative Data of the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score,JR in a Healthy United States Population

BackgroundPatient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) play a vital role in the care we provide our patients. To help understand the application of PROMs in arthroplasty, normative and benchmark data to serve as a comparison to patients presurgery and postsurgery would be extremely valuable. We collected normative data of the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), JR on a healthy population, greater than 17 years of age, in the United States devoid of hip injury and/or surgery.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study, where hard copy surveys were administered to 1140 patients, being seen for an orthopedic issue unrelated to their hip, and nonpatient visitors in July 2018 at an outpatient orthopedic clinic in a suburban metropolitan city. Participants were eligible if they self-reported a medical history negative for hip arthroplasty, current hip pain/disability, or hip procedure (surgery or injection) within the past year. Mean, standard deviation, 95% confidence intervals, and ranges on the HOOS, JR interval scores were calculated by sex, age decade, body mass index (BMI), reason for visit, history of orthopedic procedure, and medical history.ResultsWe included 425 men and 575 women in the final study cohort. Women aged between 70+ years reported the lowest mean interval score (mean = 89.8). Overall women scored lower as well (93.3 vs 95.7, P = .001). There was not a statistical difference between the interval scores by tobacco consumption (93.5 vs 94.4, P = .49) and between patients versus nonpatient visitors (94.2 vs 94.5, P = .672). Lower scores were observed in participants with a past nonhip orthopedic procedure (92.6 vs 94.9, P = .016), with a medical history of a chronic illness (92.5 vs 95.9, P = <.001), and classified as obese (BMI > 30) (91.7 vs 95.2, P < .001). On regression analysis, there was a decrease of 0.3 and 0.1 in the interval score for each unit of BMI and age by year, respectively (P < .001).ConclusionThis study provides normative reference values for the HOOS, JR in a US population from a suburban metropolitan city for individuals greater than 17 years of age. These scores can facilitate physician-patient shared decision-making to help patients understand expectations after hip arthroplasty in respect to PROMs.     

Narrative review of the psychometric properties of language tests used in anomia treatment for primary progressive aphasia (PPA)

Background: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative dementia in which language decline is the first and most prominent symptom. Among several interventions for PPA, language rehabilitation has been the most frequently used.

Aims: This narrative review aimed to evaluate existing standardised language tests used in the assessment of PPA, in order to determine whether they are appropriate and psychometrically adequate to detect change over time in the treatment of anomia.

Main Contribution: The present findings highlight the scarcity of psychometrically robust instruments used to measure therapy-induced gains in PPA. Additionally, most of these instruments were not validated for use with the PPA population, which consequently might bias the results. There is a need for population-based norms for existing instruments.

Conclusions: The accurate assessment of lexico-semantic deficits in PPA should rely on objective, reliable, valid, and responsive outcome measures. Psychometric studies are needed to evaluate and eventually improve the quality of language tests used in clinical practice.     

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.