《临证指南医案》痹证用药特点分析

目的探讨《临证指南医案》痹证用药特点。方法 运用数据挖掘技术统计药物使用频次、性味归经并进行关联规则、聚类、复杂网络分析等。结果 筛选出83首处方,共涉及中药125味，使用频次前5位依次为桂枝、茯苓、白术、当归、苦杏仁，功效类别以补虚药为主，性味以甘温最多，归经主要涉及肺、脾、肝、心、肾、胃；关联规则得到10对常见组合，高频中药聚为4类，复杂网络分析得到1个核心组合。结论 叶氏常从络病角度治痹，或通、或补、或通补皆施，重视肺脾，注重调和气血营卫，擅长通补奇经治法。     

Exploratory Study of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Histogram Metrics in Assessing Pancreatic Malignancy

PurposeTo evaluate whole-lesion 3D-histogram apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) metrics for assessment of pancreatic malignancy.MethodsForty-two pancreatic malignancies (36 pancreatic adenocarcinoma [PDAC], 6 pancreatic neuroendocrine [PanNET]) underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion-weighted imaging before endoscopic ultrasound biopsy or surgical resection. Two radiologists independently placed 3D volumes of interest to derive whole-lesion histogram ADC metrics. Mann-Whitney tests and receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to assess metrics’ diagnostic performance for lesion histology, T-stage, N-stage, and grade.ResultsWhole-lesion ADC histogram metrics lower in PDACs than PanNETs for both readers (P ≤ .026) were mean ADC (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.787-0.792), mean of the bottom 10th percentile (mean_0-10) (AUC = 0.787-0.880), mean of the 10th-25th percentile (mean_10-25) (AUC = 0.884-0.917) and mean of the 25th-50th percentile (mean_25-50) (AUC = 0.829-0.829). For mean_10-25 (metric with highest AUC for identifying PDAC), for reader 1 a threshold > 0.94 × 10^?3 mm²/s achieved sensitivity 94% and specificity 83%, and for reader 2 a threshold > 0.82 achieved sensitivity 97% and specificity 67%. Metrics lower in nodal status ≥ N₁ than N₀ for both readers (P ≤ .043) were mean_0-10 (AUC = 0.789-0.822) and mean_10-25 (AUC = 0.800-0.822). For mean_10-25 (metric with highest AUC for identifying N₀), for reader 1 a threshold <1.17 achieved sensitivity 87% and specificity 67%, and for reader 2 a threshold <1.04 achieved sensitivity 87% and specificity 83%. No metric was associated with T-stage (P > .195) or grade (P > .215).ConclusionVolumetric ADC histogram metrics may serve as non-invasive biomarkers of pancreatic malignancy. Mean_10-25 outperformed standard mean for lesion histology and nodal status, supporting the role of histogram analysis.     

Successful Distal Urethral Stone Removal in the Emergency Department

Nephrolithiasis is a common pathology encountered in the primary care and emergency department (ED) setting. In 2009 alone, there were over one million ED visits related to nephrolithiasis Higa et al. (2017) [1]. Emergent treatment options range from non-invasive pain control and patient education to lithotripsy and other invasive urologic procedures depending on stone location and related pathology. Urethral calculi are estimated to represent 0.3% of all urinary stone diseases Verit et al. (2006) [2]. There are very few case reports documenting distal urethral stone removal in the ED. Here we present a case of distal urethral stone impaction and the removal of this stone by ED providers, leading to expedited care and prevention of consultation and possible admission.