Microwave Ablation as Bridging to Liver Transplant for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis

PurposeTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of microwave (MW) ablation as first-line locoregional therapy (LRT) for bridging patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to liver transplant.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study evaluated 88 patients who received percutaneous MW ablation for 141 tumors as first-line LRT for HCC and who were listed for liver transplantation at a single medical center between 2011 and 2019. The overall survival (OS) rate statuses after liver transplant, waitlist retention, and disease progression were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier techniques.ResultsAmong the 88 patients (72 men and 16 women; mean age, 60 years; Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, 11.2) who were listed for transplant, the median waitlist time was 9.4 months (interquartile range, 5.5–18.9). Seventy-one (80.7%) patients received transplant after a median waitlist time of 8.5 months. Seventeen (19.3%) patients were removed from the waitlist; of these, 4 (4.5%) were removed because of tumors outside of the Milan criteria (HCC-specific dropout). No difference in tumor size or alpha-fetoprotein was observed in the transplanted versus nontransplanted patients at the time of ablation (2.1 vs 2.1 cm and 34.4 vs 34.7 ng/mL for transplanted vs nontransplanted, respectively; P > .05). Five (5.1%) of the 88 patients experienced adverse events after ablation; however, they all recovered. There were no cases of tract seeding. The local tumor progression (LTP) rate was 7.2%. The OS status after liver transplant at 5 years was 76.7%, and the disease-specific survival after LTP was 89.6%, with a median follow-up of 61 months for all patients.ConclusionsMW ablation appears to be safe and effective for bridging patients with HCC to liver transplant without waitlist removal from seeding, adverse events, or LTP.     

不同年龄段勃起功能障碍患者的心理状况与人格特征分析

目的探讨不同年龄段勃起功能障碍(ED)患者心理状况的差异。方法回顾性分析郑州大学第三附属医院2018年7月至2019年7月收治的401例ED患者的临床资料。年龄20~60岁。将所有患者按年龄段分为4组:A组158例,年龄20~29岁;B组182例,年龄30~39岁;C组38例,年龄40~49岁;D组23例,年龄50~60岁。基于国际勃起功能评分表(IIEF-5)评估患者的勃起功能情况。采用症状自评量表(SCL-90)评估患者的敌对、焦虑、精神病性、恐怖、偏执、强迫、躯体化、人际关系、抑郁等9项心理状况。采用状态-特质焦虑量表(STAI)区分患者是否存在状态性或特质性的焦虑情绪。采用艾森克人格问卷(EPQ)分析患者的人格类型。分析患者组与文献报道的全国常模组SCL-90、STAI和EPQ量表的差异。分析不同年龄组患者各项指标的差异。结果患者组SCL-90量表的敌对(1.64±0.67,t=4.81,P<0.001)、焦虑(1.58±0.66,t=6.83,P<0.001)、精神病性(1.62±0.68,t=11.87,P<0.001)、偏执(1.55±0.66,t=3.58,P<0.001)、强迫(1.95±0.70,t=9.56,P<0.001)、躯体化(1.43±0.58,t=2.10,P=0.036)、人际关系/敏感(1.74±0.74,t=2.79,P=0.005)、抑郁(1.66±0.74,t=4.50,P<0.001)等因子分,以及总分(1.53±0.63,t=3.07,P=0.002)均显著高于全国常模组。A、B、C、D组的人际关系/敏感得分差异有统计学意义(1.72±0.78、1.65±0.69、1.58±0.92、1.43±0.59,F=2.84,P=0.038)。患者组STAI量表的状态焦虑(t=7.35,P<0.001)、特质焦虑(t=6.31,P<0.001)等因子分和总分(t=8.41,P<0.001)均显著高于全国常模组,不同年龄组的状态焦虑(F=5.29,P=0.001)、特质焦虑(F=5.54,P<0.001)因子分和总分(F=5.66,P<0.001)差异有统计学意义。患者组的精神质(t=30.56,P<0.001)、情绪(t=45.94,P<0.001)、外倾-内倾(t=11.72,P<0.001)、掩饰性(t=29.16,P<0.001)等因子分和总分(t=30.56,P<0.001)均显著高于全国常模组。401例的人格类型分别为抑郁质183例(45.64%),胆汁质94例(23.44%),黏液质66例(16.46%),多血质58例(14.46%)。不同年龄组的抑郁质、胆汁质、黏液质、多血质人格类型分布分别为A组76、35、26、21例,B组87、40、32、23例,C组14、10、6、8例,D组6、9、2、6例,组间比较差异无统计学意义(χ^2=10.65,P=0.30)。结论ED患者存在一系列异常的情绪、躯体化的不适感,敏感的人际关系以及内向、情绪不稳定的人格特征;年龄越小的患者其焦虑情绪越严重,人际关系越敏感,可能与其内向的个性特征及情绪的不稳定性相关。     

Could non-HDL-cholesterol be a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia in obstructive sleep apnea?

Background/objectiveObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with dyslipidemia, a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is accepted as a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol is a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia and recommended as a target of lipid lowering therapy. We aimed to assess the prevalence of atherogenic dyslipidemia, and relationship between OSA severity and serum LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol levels in OSA patients.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated treatment naïve 2361 subjects admitted to the sleep laboratory of a university hospital for polysomnography. All subjects’ lipid profile including total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and non-HDL-cholesterol were measured.ResultsOut of 2361 patients (mean age 49.6 ± 11.9 years; 68.9% male, apnea-hypopnea index 36.6 ± 28.4/h), 185 (7.8%) had no OSA and 2176 (92.2%) had OSA. Atherogenic dyslipidemia prevalence was high (57–66%) in OSA patients, and especially increased in severe OSA compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Though total and LDL-cholesterol did not differ between those with and without OSA, non-HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.020), and triglycerides (p = 0.001) were higher and HDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.018) were lower in OSA patients than non-OSA. Non-HDL-cholesterol was significantly correlated with OSA severity (p < 0.001) and hypoxia parameters (p < 0.01), whereas LDL-cholesterol showed no correlation.ConclusionsAtherogenic dyslipidemia is highly prevalent and non-HDL-cholesterol levels are significantly increased, predominantly in severe OSA patients. Non-HDL-cholesterol but not LDL-cholesterol, is significantly correlated with OSA severity and hypoxia parameters. Therefore, it could be better to use non-HDL-cholesterol, which is a guideline recommended target of lipid therapy, as a marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in OSA patients.     

HSP90β干扰和过表达慢病毒载体的构建及其在骨肉瘤细胞Saos-2中的表达

目的:获得热休克蛋白90β(HSP90β)基因干扰和过表达慢病毒表达系统，并检测其在人骨肉瘤细胞株Saos-2中的表达水平。方法:设计合成shRNA，以慢病毒表达质粒构建HSP90β干扰和过表达载体，酶切电泳、测序技术鉴定载体构建是否成功。重组病毒转染H1299细胞，以嘌呤霉素筛选稳定转染的Saos-2细胞，通过荧光显微镜观察计数获得转染效率。将感染好的细胞分为干扰NC组（NEG-shRNA）、干扰组（shRNA-HSP90β）、过表达NC对照组（NEG-pEZ）及过表达组（pEZ-HSP90β）。通过qRT-PCR 与Western blotting 分别从mRNA 和蛋白表达水平验证目的基因的干扰和过表达水平。结果:插入慢病毒表达载体的基因片段与目的基因的碱基序列完全一致。病毒包装成功后，嘌呤霉素最小致死浓度1 μg/ml，感染复数200，感染人Saos-2的感染效率达80%，其中shRNA-HSP90β组干扰效率为86.35%，pEZ-HSP90β组的mRNA相对表达量增加2.8倍。进一步研究发现，shRNA-HSP90β组较NEG-shRNA组中HSP90β蛋白表达明显降低，pEZ-HSP90β组较NEG-pEZ组HSP90β蛋白表达增加。结论:HSP90β基因干扰和过表达慢病毒载体构建成功，并能够在Saos-2中稳定表达。     

Excitability of motor and sensory axons in multifocal motor neuropathy

ObjectiveTo assess excitability differences between motor and sensory axons of affected nerves in patients with multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN).MethodsWe performed motor and sensory excitability tests in affected median nerves of 20 MMN patients and in 20 age-matched normal subjects. CMAPs were recorded from the thenar and SNAPs from the 3rd digit. Clinical tests included assessment of muscle strength, two-point discrimination and joint position.ResultsAll MMN patients had weakness of the thenar muscle and normal sensory tests. Motor excitability testing in MMN showed an increased threshold for a 50% CMAP, increased rheobase, decreased stimulus-response slope, fanning-out of threshold electrotonus, decreased resting I/V slope, shortened refractory period, and more pronounced superexcitability. Sensory excitability testing in MMN revealed decreased accommodation half-time and S2-accommodation and less pronounced subexcitability. Mathematical modeling indicated increased Barrett-Barrett conductance for motor fibers and increase in internodal fast potassium conductance for sensory fibers.ConclusionsExcitability findings in MMN suggest myelin sheath or paranodal seal involvement in motor fibers and, possibly, paranodal detachment in sensory fibers.SignificanceExcitability properties of affected nerves in MMN differ between motor and sensory nerve fibers.     

Evaluation of the Safety and Feasibility of Same-Day Holmium-166 -Radioembolization Simulation and Treatment of Hepatic Metastases

PurposeTo evaluate the safety and feasibility of same-day treatment, including the simulation procedure for assessment of intrahepatic and extrahepatic distribution of the microspheres, with holmium-166 (¹⁶⁶Ho)-radioembolization.Materials and MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of patients included in the 4 prospective studies (HEPAR I, HEPAR II, HEPAR PLuS, and SIM) on ¹⁶⁶Ho-radioembolization. The technical success rate of the same-day treatment protocol, defined as the number of patients who completed the same-day treatment, was measured. Total in-room time, duration of the scout procedure, time to imaging, and duration of the treatment procedure were recorded. Reasons for discontinuation or adjustment of treatment were identified. Adverse events that occurred during the treatment day were recorded.ResultsOne hundred five of 120 scheduled patients completed the same-day treatment with ¹⁶⁶Ho-radioembolization (success rate, 88%). After the simulation procedure, treatment was cancelled in 15 patients because of extrahepatic deposition (n = 8), suboptimal tumor targeting (n = 1), unanticipated vascular anatomy (n = 5), and dissection (n = 1). In another 14 patients, the treatment plan was adjusted. The median total procedure time (ie, simulation, imaging, and treatment) was 6:39 hours:minutes (range, 3:58–9:17 hours:minutes). Back pain was a major same-day treatment-related complaint (n = 28).Conclusion¹⁶⁶Ho-radioembolization as a same-day treatment procedure is feasible in most selected patients, although treatment was adjusted in 12% of patients and cancelled in 12% of patients. This approach might be beneficial for a select patient population, such as patients needing a radiation segmentectomy.