Preoperative comprehensive malignancy risk estimation for thyroid nodules: Development and verification of a network-based prediction model

BackgroundIn order to avoid excessive treatment of thyroid nodules in the clinic, it is necessary to find a simple and practical analysis method to comprehensively and accurately reflect benign or malignant thyroid nodules. This study aimed to construct and validate a comprehensive and reliable network-based predictive model using a variety of imaging and laboratory criteria for thyroid nodules to stratify the risk of malignancy prior to surgery.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data from patients who underwent surgical treatment for thyroid nodules at the Thyroid and Breast Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2018 and December 2020. Binary logical regression analysis was performed to predict whether nodules were malignant or benign. The developmental dataset included 457 patients (January 2018–December 2020). The validation set included separate data points (n = 225, January 2018–December 2020).ResultsIn this study, criteria that showed significant predictive value for malignant nodules included TI-RADS: 4b (p = 0.065); Bethesda IV, Bethesda V, Bethesda VI (P < 0.0001); BRAF^V600E mutation (P < 0.0001); Calcitonin>5 pg/ml (p = 0.0037); and FNA-Tg>30 ng/ml (p = 0.0003). A 10-grade risk scoring system was developed. The risk of malignancy risk ranged from 2.06% to 100% and was positively associated with increasing risk grade. The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of the development and validation sets were 0.972 and 0.946, respectively.ConclusionA simple, comprehensive and reliable web-based predictive model was designed using a variety of imaging and laboratory criteria to stratify thyroid nodules by probability of malignancy.     

尿液外泌体lncRNA PCAT-1评估非浸润性膀胱癌患者复发的价值

目的探究尿液外泌体长链非编码RNA前列腺癌相关转录本1（lncRNA PCAT-1）评估非浸润性膀胱癌患者复发的价值。方法随机选取2015年1月—2016年3月进行治疗的非浸润性膀胱癌患者50例作为非浸润性膀胱癌组，选取同期在进行健康体检的健康受检者50例作为对照组。测定两组尿液外泌体中lncRNA PCAT-1表达情况。分析尿液外泌体lncRNA PCAT-1表达与临床病理参数的相关性、尿液外泌体lncRNA PCAT-1与尿液脱落细胞学对非浸润性膀胱癌的诊断价值、影响非浸润性膀胱癌患者复发的相关因素，评估非浸润性膀胱癌复发的价值及尿液外泌体lncRNA PCAT-1表达与非浸润性膀胱癌患者预后的关系。结果与对照组比较，非浸润性膀胱癌组患者尿液外泌体lncRNA PCAT-1表达水平明显升高（P<0.01）。尿液外泌体lncRNA PCAT-1表达与病理分期具有明显相关性（P<0.01）。尿液外泌体lncRNA PCAT-1诊断非浸润性膀胱癌的曲线下面积明显高于尿液脱落细胞学。采用Cox比例风险因素回归模型分析，病理分期及lncRNA PCAT-1均为影响非浸润性膀胱癌患者复发的独立危险因素。以尿液外泌体lncRNA PCAT-1相对表达量5.14±1.04分为高表达组（23例）与低表达组（27例），Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析结果显示，lncRNA PCAT-1低表达量组生存期明显高于lncRNA PCAT-1高表达组。结论外泌体lncRNA PCAT-1在非浸润性膀胱癌患者尿液中的表达水平较健康受检者明显升高，且其表达水平与患者病理分期明显相关。尿液外泌体lncRNA PCAT-1对评估非浸润性膀胱癌患者的复发具有重要作用。     

无创呼吸机辅助通气对重症哮喘患者的临床效果观察

目的:探讨无创呼吸机辅助通气对重症哮喘患者的临床疗效。方法:选择2018年1月~2019年5月本院收治的86例重症哮喘患者作为研究对象,根据随机数字表法将86例患者分为观察组(n=43例)和对照组(n=43例),对照组患者采用β2受体激动药、糖皮质激素、茶碱类药物、鼻导管吸氧、纠正水电解质及酸碱失衡等对症处理,观察组在对照组对照对症处理基础上加以无创呼吸机辅助通气治疗,对比分析两组患者的咳嗽、胸闷、喘息缓解时间,测定治疗前后两组患者的肺功能指标[第1秒用力呼气量(FEV1)、第1秒呼气容积与用力肺活量比值(FEV1/PVC)]变化情况,同时比较两组患者的治疗疗效。结果:观察组的咳嗽缓解时间、胸闷缓解时间、喘息缓解时间均明显短于对照组,P<0.05。治疗前,观察组及对照组的FEV1、FEV1/PVC比较,P>0.05。治疗后,观察组的FEV1、FEV1/PVC均明显高于对照组,P<0.05。观察组总有效率为90.70%(39/43),对照组总有效率为67.44%(29/43),两组比较,P<0.05。结论:在重症哮喘患者中应用无创呼吸机辅助通气治疗,可有效改善患者的临床症状及肺功能,并能有效提高药物治疗效果,具有重要的临床意义。     

基于"心肺交互"的无创循环监测指标评估容量反应性研究进展

基于"心肺交互"的动态血流动力学指标是目前指导液体复苏的金标准,但这些指标的监测往往通过有创方法且操作较复杂。近年来,随着每搏连续无创血压监测系统(continuous non-invasive arterial pressure,CNAP)、血流动力学监测系统和超声测量血流动力学指标等无创手段在临床的出现,这些指标在容量治疗中的应用开辟了新的前景。文章描述了CNAP和超声测量的基于"心肺交互"的动态血流动力学指标及其评估患者容量反应性的临床应用。两种手段在临床上的应用存在一定的争议。CNAP评估患者容量反应性是临床液体治疗的新趋势,但其应用条件有限,故目前不提倡完全采用无创的方法来指导液体治疗。但是,其可以作为有创监测的补充,帮助临床医师进行正确的液体管理,减少不良事件的发生。     

Comparative study on the manually-controlled variable-rate versus fixed-rate infusion of norepinephrine for preventing hypotension during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery

Study objectivePrevious studies have shown that prophylactic norepinephrine infusion is superior to intermittent bolus administration in preventing post-spinal hypotension. Nevertheless, it is still controversial whether manually-controlled variable-rate infusion is more effective than fixed-rate infusion. The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacy of variable-rate infusion and fixed-rate infusion of norepinephrine for prophylaxis against maternal hypotension and maintaining hemodynamic stability during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery to determine more effective mode for clinical practice.DesignA prospective randomized, controlled study.SettingOperating room, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.PatientsA total of 161 parturients scheduled for elective cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia were randomized into Group F (fixed-rate infusion) and Group V (variable-rate infusion).InterventionsParturients received prophylactic norepinephrine infusion concurrent with the intrathecal injection at rate started at 0.05 μg/kg/min. In Group F, norepinephrine was administered continuously at a fixed (on-off) rate, and a bolus of norepinephrine 5 μg or 10 μg was given when systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased by 20% or more of baseline. In Group V, manually adjusted norepinephrine infusion within the range 0–0.14 μg/kg/min, according to SBP at 1-min intervals until delivery, aim to maintain values close to the baseline.MeasurementsDuring the study period, the incidence of maternal hypotension, hemodynamic performance, the number of physician interventions, reactive hypertension, bradycardia, nausea, vomiting, norepinephrine cumulative dose (before delivery), and neonatal outcomes were recorded.Main resultsThe incidence of maternal hypotension was significantly lower in Group V than that in Group F (9% versus 30%) (P < 0.001). No significant difference was found in the serial changes in SBP and heart rate (HR) for the first 15 min. Group V showed higher frequency of physician interventions compared with the Group F (P < 0.001). The incidence of hypertension, severe hypotension, nausea, vomiting, bradycardia, norepinephrine cumulative dose, and neonatal outcome were comparable between the two groups.ConclusionWhen norepinephrine was infused at an initial dose of 0.05 μg/kg/min for preventing hypotension during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery, due to technical limitations of inadequate dose design in this study, neither a variable-rate infusion (need more physician intervention) nor a fixed-rate infusion regimen (experience more transient hypotension) was optimal. However, in terms of clinical importance, how to prevent the parturients from experiencing more incidence of hypotension might be a greater concern for anesthesiologists.     

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the intensive care unit

The prevalence of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is increasing worldwide. Patients who require intensive care management for acute exacerbations of these conditions represent a particular challenge. The requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation is associated with many pitfalls, as evidenced by the higher mortality rate of patients undergoing this intervention. This article describes the initial management, as well as escalating respiratory support and advanced pharmacological therapies, and the current evidence supporting these. In particular, the concept of dynamic hyperinflation is addressed as well as ventilation strategies that should be employed to prevent the development of complications.