A Very Long-term Longitudinal Study on the Evolution and Clinical Outcomes of Persistent Iatrogenic Atrial Septal Defect After Cryoballoon Ablation

Background

Persistent iatrogenic atrial septal defect (iASD) is a common but poorly characterized complication after cryoballoon (CB) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) procedures. We therefore investigate its prevalence, evolution, risk factors, and clinical outcomes in a prospective longitudinal study.

Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture Prevalence in Elderly Chinese Men and Women: A Comparison of Endplate/Cortex Fracture–Based and Morphometrical Deformity–Based Methods

This study aims to evaluate endplate/cortex fracture (ECF)-based method for detecting osteoporotic vertebral fracture (VF) in elderly Chinese population (age ≥ 65 years). The radiographs of 1954 elderly Chinese men (mean: 72.3 years) and 1953 elderly Chinese women (mean: 72.5 years) were evaluated according to Genant's morphometrical vertebral deformity (VD) severity criteria, as well as identified VF according to ECF without necessary requirement of VD. According to ECF, grade-1, -2, and -3 VF prevalence was 1.89%, 1.74%, and 2.25% in men, and 3.33%, 3.07%, and 5.89% in women, respectively. In men and women, 15.7% (35 of 223) and 34.5% (48 of 139) of vertebrae with VD grade-1 deformity were ECF(+, with fracture), respectively. In men and women, 89.7% (35 of 39) and 66.7% (48 of 72) of vertebrae with ECF grade-1 fracture had VD grade-1 deformity. For grade-1 change, ECF(+) subjects tended to have a lower BMD than the VD(+) subjects. In subjects with VD grade-2 deformity, those who were also EC (+) tended to have a lower BMD than those were ECF(?). In all grades, VD(?) and ECF(?) subjects tended to have highest BMD, whereas VD(+) and ECF(+) subjects tended to have lowest BMD. ECF may be more specific for assessing mild VF than the criteria based on vertebral deformity.     

Genotypes and Phenotypes of Chinese Pediatric Patients With Idiopathic and Heritable Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension—A Single-Center Study

BackgroundThe relationship between clinical outcomes and gene mutations in Chinese pediatric patients with idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is unclear.MethodsWe retrospectively studied the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients who visited Beijing Anzhen Hospital from September 2008 to December 2018.ResultsEighty-two pediatric patients were included. Forty-two gene mutations were identified in 41 patients (50%), including 25 mutations in BMPR2, 5 mutations in ACVRL1, 3 mutations each in ABCA3 and NOTCH3, 2 mutations each in KCNK3 and HTR2B, 1 mutation in ENG, and 1 mutation in EIF2AK4. The mean age at diagnosis of PAH was 86.4 ± 55.1 months. Forty-eight patients (twenty-eight mutation carriers) underwent cardiac catheterization examinations, with acute vasodilator testing performed simultaneously. Results showed that mutation carriers demonstrated a higher pulmonary vascular resistance index (P = 0.037). Patients with gene mutations responded poorly to vasodilators (P = 0.001). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates of mutation noncarriers were 95.1%, 87.8%, and 82.5% respectively; while for mutation carriers, the proportions were 86.6% (P = 0.216), 63.8% (P = 0.021), and 52.2% (P = 0.010), respectively. Cardiac index was an independent predictor of death (P = 0.005; odds ratio [OR] 2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.258-3.704), as well as RAP (P = 0.01; OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.056-1.503).ConclusionsIn our cohort of Chinese pediatric patients, those with an identified gene mutation demonstrated worse clinical outcomes. Therefore, early gene screening for pediatric patients with idiopathic and heritable PAH is recommended, and more aggressive treatment for mutation carriers may be advisable.     

基于巴塞罗那分期与香港分期肝细胞肝癌患者不同治疗方案生存率的比较

 目的 比较接受巴塞罗那临床肝癌分期系统（BCLC）或香港的分期系统（HKLC）推荐治疗方案对肝细胞肝癌（HCC）患者生存率的影响。方法 回顾性分析436例初治肝癌患者的临床资料，根据HKLC和BCLC进行肿瘤分期，按是否最终接受两个分期系统推荐的治疗方案分组。比较患者是否接受BCLC或HKLC分期推荐方案治疗对生存率的影响，并评估拒绝BCLC或HKLC推荐方案对预后可能产生的影响。 结果 接受BCLC推荐治疗方案的患者5年生存率显著高于拒绝推荐治疗方案的患者（48% vs. 30%, P<0.001）。与拒绝推荐治疗方案的患者相比，接受HKLC推荐治疗方案的患者亦有较高的5年生存率（41% vs. 29%, P<0.001）。对BCLC和HKLC交叉亚组分析，BCLC-B/HKLC-Ⅰ+Ⅱa+Ⅱb、BCLC-B/HKLC-Ⅲa+Ⅲb和BCLC-C/HKLC-Ⅲa+Ⅲb亚组中，接受手术切除的HCC患者显著高于接受TACE、索拉非尼或最佳支持治疗的患者5年生存率均较高（均P<0.05）。 结论 接受BCLC和HKLC分期系统推荐治疗方案可以提高HCC患者的存活率，但对于中晚期肝癌患者指导作用减弱。部分BCLC-B/HKLC-Ⅰ+Ⅱa+Ⅱb、BCLC-B/HKLC-Ⅲa+Ⅲb和BCLC-C/HKLC-Ⅲa+Ⅲb的患者通过积极的根治性治疗可以获得更好的生存。     

Contrasting Some Differences in Managing Advanced Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Between the East and the West

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy worldwide, although its aetiologies vary significantly between the East and the West. About a half of HCC cases present with advanced unresectable HCC at the time of diagnosis, leading to a worse prognosis. Over the past 20 years, the treatment paradigm for advanced unresectable HCC has shifted from an entirely palliative approach to a multidisciplinary treatment, with continuous reassessment and possible repeat treatment attributed to the advent of novel and improved local, regional and systemic therapeutic options, contributed by both the East and the West. An individualised treatment plan should be determined for each patient, as there can be substantial differences in the decision-making and treatment response to the same treatment for different patients and different patient populations. This review provides a summary of the recent advances in management and compares Eastern and Western strategies for HCC.     

沈洪教授运用六经辨证治疗溃疡性结肠炎经验探析

溃疡性结肠炎是一种慢性非特异性炎症性肠病,中医病名为"久痢""肠澼"。沈洪教授认为本病病位在大肠,属阳明腑病,但与伤寒六经均关系密切。本病初起正盛邪实,首犯三阳经;病久正虚邪恋,病入三阴经。疾病分期可按六经传变并提出分经辨治,确立以开阖阳明、宣利枢机、升发少阳、温阳化湿、培元固本、平调寒热的治法,验之临床,收效颇多。