Survival Analysis Using Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) Grade for Patients Treated with Drug-Eluting Embolic Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PurposeThe albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade has been established as an improved predictor of survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with conventional transarterial chemoembolization and yttrium-90 radioembolization. The purpose of the study was to investigate the utility of ALBI grade in prognosticating outcomes in patients with HCC treated with drug-eluting embolic (DEE) transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).Materials and MethodsA single-center retrospective review was performed to compare the efficacy of ALBI grade and Child-Pugh (CP) classification in predicting the survival of patients with HCC receiving DEE-TACE. A total of 303 patients with HCC were identified who had received DEE-TACE without concomitant locoregional therapy within 30 days. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier methods and censored for curative therapy. Survival curves were stratified based on the ALBI grade, CP class, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, and presence of ascites. The discriminatory ability of survival curves was calculated by C-Index.ResultsKaplan-Meier survival curves stratified by the ALBI grade produced distinct, nonoverlapping curves (P < .001), showing greater discriminatory ability than the CP classification (C-index = 0.568 and 0.545, respectively). The substratification of the BCLC stage by the ALBI grade yielded greater discriminatory ability than the substratification by the CP classification (C-index = 0.573 and 0.565, respectively). For patients with BCLC stage B, the substratification by the ALBI grade yielded distinct curves, whereas the substratification by the CP classification did not (P = .011 and P = .379, respectively).ConclusionsALBI grade showed improved discriminatory ability compared with CP classification in differentiating overall survival among patients with HCC receiving DEE-TACE. Furthermore, ALBI grade was effective in substratifying survival among patients categorized as CP class A and patients with BCLC stage B, whereas CP classification was not effective.     

Comparison between Antegrade versus Retrograde Ureteral Stent Placement for Malignant Ureteral Obstruction

PurposeTo compare the technical success of antegrade uteral stent (AUS) and retrograde ureteral stent (RUS) placements in patients with malignant ureteral obstruction (MUO) and to determine the predictors of technical failure of RUS.Materials and MethodsThis study retrospectively included 61 AUS placements (44 patients) performed under fluoroscopic guidance and 76 RUS placements (55 patients) performed under cystoscopic guidance in patients with MUO from January 2019 to December 2020. Technical success rates of the 2 techniques were compared using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis. Logistic regression was used to identify predictive factors for technical failures.ResultsTechnical success was achieved in 98.4% of the AUS group and 47.4% of the RUS group. After stabilized IPTW, the technical success rate was higher in the AUS group than in the RUS group (adjusted risk difference, 49.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 35.4%–63.1%). The independent predictors for technical failure of the RUS procedure were age of ≥65 years (odds ratio [OR], 5.56; 95% CI, 1.73–21.27), ureteral orifice invasion (OR, 4.21; 95% CI, 1.46–13.46), and extrinsic cancer (OR, 15.58; 95% CI, 2.92–111.81).ConclusionsThe technical success rate of AUS placement was higher than that of RUS placement in patients with MUO. RUS failure was associated with age of ≥65 years, cancer with ureteral orifice invasion, and extrinsic ureteral obstruction.     

Percutaneous thermal ablation of sacral metastases: Assessment of pain relief and local tumor control

PurposeTo retrospectively report on safety, pain relief and local tumor control achieved with percutaneous ablation of sacral bone metastases.Materials and methodsFrom February 2009 to June 2020, 23 consecutive patients (12 women and 11 men; mean age, 60 ± 8 [SD] years; median, 60; range: 48-80 years) with 23 sacral metastases underwent radiofrequency (RFA) or cryo-ablation (CA), with palliative or curative intent at our institution. Patients’ demographics and data pertaining to treated metastases, procedure-related variables, safety, and clinical evolution following ablation were collected and analyzed. Pain was assessed with numerical pain rating scale (NPRS).ResultsSixteen (70%) patients were treated with palliative and 7 (30%) with curative intent. Mean tumor diameter was 38 ± 19 (SD) mm (median, 36; range: 11-76). External radiation therapy had been performed on five metastases (5/23; 22%) prior to ablation. RFA was used in 9 (39%) metastases and CA in the remaining 14 (61%). Thermo-protective measures and adjuvant bone consolidation were used whilst treating 20 (87%) and 8 (35%) metastases, respectively. Five (22%) minor complications were recorded. At mean 31 ± 21 (SD) (median, 32; range: 2-70) months follow-up mean NPRS was 2 ± 2 (SD) (median, 1; range: 0–6) vs. 5 ± 1 (median, 5; range: 4–8; P < 0.001) at the baseline. Three metastases out of 7 (43%) undergoing curative ablation showed local progression at mean 4 ± 4 (SD) (median, 2; range: 1-8) months follow-up.ConclusionPercutaneous ablation of sacral metastases is safe and results in significant long-lasting pain relief. Local tumor control seems sub-optimal; however, further investigations are needed to confirm these findings due to paucity of data.     

Adult parameningial alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma: Case report and literature review

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) represents the most common childhood soft tissue sarcoma, but they are rarely seen among adults. Most of the protocols for adults are adapted from pediatric protocols. Here we report a case of a 53-year-old woman diagnosed with a nasal alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, stage IV at diagnosis, treated by chemotherapy (a regimen inspired from the pediatric protocole pEpSSG RMS 2005) which led to partial response followed by chemo-radiotherapy. We performed a systematic review of adult head and neck ARMS and found 29 cases. Primary chemotherapy with different protocols (VAC, VAI or VIE) should be done followed by surgery and/or external beam radiotherapy (preferably with IMRT). EBRT seems beneficial to every ARMS with a dose around 50 Gy in a conventional fractionation, eventually completed with a boost on residual tumor. The target volume must be defined on pre-chemotherapy imaging. Brachytherapy and proton therapy are under evaluation.     

The association of sleep quality and night sleep duration with coronary heart disease in a large-scale rural population

ObjectiveThe purposes of the present study were to explore independent and interactive associations between night sleep duration, night sleep quality and coronary heart disease (CHD) based on a rural population in China.MethodsA total of 27,935 participants (11,177 men and 16,758 women) were investigated from the Henan Rural Cohort. Information about sleep was assessed by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Restricted cubic splines and logistic regression were used to estimate the relationship between night sleep duration and quality with CHD.ResultAmong the 27,935 participants, 1506 participants with CHD were identified. Compared with participants with scores lower than 3, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of participants with score of 3–5, 6–8, ≥9 were respectively 1.42 (1.24–1.63), 1.99 (1.70–2.33), and 2.56 (2.13–3.08) with full adjustment of covariates. Compared with night sleep duration of 7 h, men and women who slept less than 5 h were 1.55 (1.11–2.17), 1.12 (0.59–2.12) and 1.80 (1.20–2.68), after being adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of the total. Moreover, the ORs and 95% CIs of CHD increased with the shortening of sleep duration at PSQI score above the highlighted levels.ConclusionPoor sleep quality and short night sleep duration were all associated with CHD in Chinese rural areas. Moreover, the association was more obvious in women. In addition, the strongest prevalence of CHD was found in short sleepers with poor sleep quality.     

改良前外侧小切口髋关节置换术的术中配合

目的了解改良前外侧小切口髋关节置换术的术中配合方法。方法总结41例46髋前外侧小切口髋关节置换术的手术过程,从术前准备、手术体位、术中配合等方面分析和总结与手术进程相关的护理步骤。结果通过充分的手术前器械准备,手术体位、搬放和术中根据手术进程进行细心的工具配合,所有手术患者术中手术进程顺利,术后效果满意。结论仔细的手术准备和熟练的术中护理配合是前外侧小切口髋关节置换术取得良好疗效的关键因素。     

北京市新农合大病保险实施效果分析与评价

目的:测算分析北京市新农合大病保险对患者疾病经济负担的减轻作用,对制度实施效果进行评价。方法:按照经济发展水平和大病保险承办方式选取北京市三个区县,再从中选择大病患者较多的2~3个乡镇。通过与大病保险管理者进行访谈,了解其运行现状;对样本乡镇全部大病患者进行问卷调查了解患者主观感受,收到有效问卷497份。利用新农合管理中心信息平台测算患者疾病经济负担。对定量和定性资料分别采用统计分析与主题框架法进行分析。结果:经大病保险报销,三个区县大病患者平均自付费用明显减轻,实际补偿比均有不同程度的提高,但灾难性卫生支出情况无显著改善。结论:应通过提高大病保险起付线与报销比例,拓宽报销目录等举措提高其补偿水平,重点缓解极重患者疾病经济负担。