小儿复合先天性心脏病的介入治疗

目的:探讨小儿复合先天性心脏病(先心病)经导管介入治疗的策略及评价其疗效和安全性.方法:55例复合先心病患儿,先心病类型包括:肺动脉瓣狭窄(PS)合并房间隔缺损(ASD);PS合并动脉导管未闭(PDA);PS合并室间隔缺损(VSD);ASD合并PDA;ASD合并VSD;PDA合并VSD;室间隔完整的肺动脉闭锁(PA/IVS)合并PDA和卵圆孔未闭(PFO);主动脉瓣狭窄合并PDA;PDA合并肺隔离症.分别行射频打孔,经皮球囊肺动脉瓣成形术(PBPV),经皮球囊主动脉瓣成形术(PBAV),VSD封堵术,PDA封堵术,ASD封堵术,侧支血管堵塞术.结果:55例患儿经导管介入治疗均获得成功,术中未发生严重并发症,55例行介入堵闭均未见残余分流,堵闭器位置良好;30例行PBPV术,跨肺动脉瓣压差由术前平均(63.4±36.3)mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),下降到术后平均(18.1±13.0)mmHg(P<0.01);1例行PBAV术,跨主动脉瓣压差由术前90 mmHg下降到术后50 mmHg;3例PA/IVS行射频打孔和PBPV术,术后肺动脉瓣开放满意,血氧饱和度维持良好.结论:复合先心病经导管介入治疗疗效确切、安全有效,但手术操作难度大,技术要求高,应该在较大心血管医院开展,并由有较丰富导管操作经验的医师施行.     

同期介入治疗先天性心脏病多发畸形疗效分析

目的:探讨经导管同期介入治疗先天性心脏病多发畸形的可行性、安全性和疗效,并分析其治疗策略。方法:选择136例先天性心脏病多发畸形患者,其中房间隔缺损(ASD)合并肺动脉瓣狭窄(PS)46例,ASD合并室间隔缺损(VSD)32例,ASD合并动脉导管未闭(PDA)20例,VSD合并PDA 20例,PDA合并PS 12例,VSD合并PS 4例,PDA合并PS及ASD 1例,VSD合并PS及ASD 1例,所有患者均在导管室行同期介入治疗,治疗顺序为:肺动脉瓣狭窄球囊扩张术、室间隔缺损封堵术、动脉导管未闭封堵术、房间隔缺损封堵术。术后连续心电监护5天,并定期随访心电图(ECG)及经胸超声心动图(TTE)检查。结果:136例患者介入治疗均获成功,术后心导管造影及TTE提示封堵器固定好,未见残余分流。定期随访无严重并发症发生。结论:严格掌握适应证,正确选择手术操作顺序与方法,经导管同期介入治疗先天性心脏病多发畸形成功率高,疗效可靠。     

57例先天性心脏病复合畸形介入治疗临床评价

目的:研究先天性心脏病复合畸形经导管介入治疗策略并评价其疗效。方法:先天性心脏病复合畸形57例,复合类型为:膜部室间隔缺损(VSD)并房间隔缺损(ASD)21例,VSD并动脉导管未闭(PDA)4例,ASD并PDA8例,ASD并肺动脉瓣狭窄(PS)22例,VSD并PS2例。复合畸形同期介入治疗顺序依次为:PS球囊扩张术,VSD封堵术,PDA封堵术,最后行ASD封堵术。结果:57例患者中,除1例因PDA过小,导丝无法通过未闭导管,在VSD成功封堵后放弃PDA封堵。56例患者同期经导管介入治疗均获成功,术中未发生任何重要并发症。术后造影及超声检查VSD、ASD及PDA均无残余分流,封堵器固定好。并发PS的24例患者,跨肺动脉瓣压差由术前(96.0±30.0)mmHg(1mmHg=0.133kPa)下降到术后平均(15.6±3.3)mmHg(P<0.01)。术后3d、1个月、6个月及1年分别行经胸超声心动图、心电图、X线检查,全部患者无残余分流,封堵器位置固定良好,跨瓣压差均在正常范围内,无任何并发症发生。结论:先天性心脏病复合畸形经导管介入治疗安全有效,值得推广。     

介入治疗心脏复合畸形疗效及安全性研究

目的评估介入治疗心脏复合畸形的可行性,安全性及疗效。方法心脏复合畸形患者10（男6,女4）例,年龄5～53岁。其中房间隔缺损（ASD）并发肺动脉瓣狭窄（PS）2例、室间隔缺损（VSD）2例和动脉导管未闭（PDA）1例,PDA并发主动脉瓣关闭不全和PS各1例;VSD修补术后遗留ASD2例,ASD修补术后遗留PDA1例和刀刺伤致左室前侧术后遗留VSD1例。ASD或PDA并发PS者,先扩张肺动脉瓣,再行ASD或PDA封堵治疗。ASD并发VSD者,先封堵VSD,再封堵ASD。结果10例患者介入手术均1次成功。5例ASD封堵器的直径为8～38mm,2例膜部对称性VSD封堵器的直径为14mm和6mm,1例用10mm肌部VSD封堵器。2例PDA均用弹簧圈封堵。封堵PDA或VSD后造影无残余分流。封堵ASD后超声心动图示无残余分流。3例并发PS者,肺动脉瓣扩张术后即刻肺动脉跨瓣压差明显下降,由术前50、38、40mmHg分别降低为20、15和21mmHg。有1例PDA封堵弹簧圈脱落至肺动脉远端未能取出。随访1年肺功能正常,无肺不张。全部患者随访3个月～1年,无任何并发症发生。结论经导管介入治疗心脏复合畸形安全可行,近期疗效肯定。     

先天性心脏病介入治疗临床效果分析

目的观察介入治疗先天性心脏病(CHD)的临床疗效,总结治疗经验。方法选取2004—2012年我院收治的行介入治疗的CHD患者76例,其中继发孔型房间隔缺损(ASD)33例、室间隔缺损(VSD)18例、ASD合并VSD 1例、动脉导管未闭(PDA)21例、肺动脉瓣狭窄(PS)3例。ASD、VSD及PDA封堵术均采用国产蘑菇伞Amplatzer法。观察患者治疗效果。结果患者均无严重并发症发生,无死亡。封堵成功73例患者(除1例ASD患者,1例VSD患者和1例PDA患者)。随访1~24个月无残余分流及严重心脏事件。结论介入治疗CHD创伤小、安全、可靠、成功率高,值得进一步推广。     

先天性心脏病介入治疗术中及围术期严重并发症分析

目的探讨先天性心脏病(先心病)介入治疗术中及围术期严重并发症发生率、发生原因及治疗经验。方法回顾性分析北部战区总医院2013年1月至2017年12月接受介入治疗的先心病患者4704例,其中,动脉导管未闭(PDA)组1219例、房间隔缺损(ASD)组2170例、室间隔缺损(VSD)组948例、卵圆孔未闭(PFO)组103例、肺动脉瓣狭窄(PVS)组240例、主动脉瓣狭窄(AVS)组6例、主动脉缩窄(CoA)组14例及肺动脉狭窄(PS)组4例。分析患者介入治疗术中及围术期严重并发症发生情况。结果本研究共出现术中及围术期严重并发症46例,总发生率0.98%(46/4704),死亡率0.02%(1/4704),急诊手术率0.34%(16/4704)。PDA组并发症发生率0.98%(12/1219),ASD组0.55%(12/2170),VSD组2.00%(19/948),PVS组0.42%(1/240),AVS组16.67%(1/6),CoA组7.14%(1/14),PFO及PS组未发生严重并发症。VSD组并发症发生率显著高于ASD组(P0.001)。上述患者中,16例接受急诊手术治疗,包括介入治疗4例、外科手术10例、介入治疗合并外科手术2例,除1例死亡外,其余患者经积极治疗后均预后良好。结论先心病介入治疗并发症发生率低,安全性好,但仍应严格把握介入治疗适应证,预防并发症的发生,对于VSD等并发症发生率相对较高的疾病,应注意提高介入操作技术水平,加强术前及术中评估,术后严密观察,进一步降低介入治疗相关并发症的发生风险。     

同期介入治疗先天性心脏病复合畸形30例的疗效观察

目的探讨经导管同期介入治疗先天性心脏病复合畸形的方法及疗效。方法先心病复合畸形30例,男性14例,女性16例,平均年龄（17．9±13．5）岁,平均体重（38．8±22．0）kg。复合类型为：房间隔缺损（ASD）并动脉导管未闭（PDA）7例,ASD并室间隔缺损（VSD）10例,ASD并肺动脉瓣狭窄（PS）6例,VSD并PDA5例,PDA并PS1例,VSD并PDA并ASD1例。经导管治疗原则：先行瓣膜球囊扩张术纠正瓣膜狭窄,其次行VSD封堵术,再行PDA封堵术,最后行ASD封堵术,可根据具体情况相应调整。术后2d、1个月、3个月、6个月、1年复查超声心动图及心电图。结果30例复合型先天性心脏病患者均一次治疗成功。7例合并PS患者,跨肺动脉瓣压差由术前（46．1±15．1）mmHg下降到术后（17．6±3．8）mmHg（P〈0．01）,1例室间隔缺损术后心电图提示不完全右束支传导阻滞,1例室间隔缺损术后心电图提示完全右束支传导阻滞,1例室间隔缺损术后心电图提示不完全左束支传导阻滞,给予地塞米松治疗后,心电图复查正常。1例VSD并ASD患者术前心电图提示双束支传导阻滞,术后观察10d仍存在,给予置人心脏永久起搏器。2例VSD并PDA患者术后超声心动图提示心室水平微量分流,6个月时随访分流消失。所有患者随访无不良并发症发生。结论对先天性心脏病复合畸形,严格掌握介人治疗适应证,选择正确的操作顺序和方法,可以取得良好的效果。     

经导管介入治疗复合型先天性心脏病八例分析

目的　研究复合型先天性心脏病经导管介入治疗策略并评价其疗效。方法　本文包括1997年 7月至 2 0 0 1年 10月共 8例适合经导管介入治疗的复合型先天性心脏病患儿 ,其中男 7例 ,女 1例 ,平均年龄 (5 0± 4 3)岁。复合类型为 :肺动脉瓣狭窄 (PS)伴动脉导管未闭 (PDA) 3例 ,房间隔缺损(ASD)伴PDA 2例 ,主动脉缩窄 (COA)伴主动脉瓣狭窄 (AS) 1例 ,COA伴PDA 2例。经导管介入治疗原则为 :PS伴PDA者 ,先行PS瓣膜成形术 ,然后堵塞PDA ;ASD伴PDA者 ,先后分别行PDA及ASD堵塞术 ;COA伴AS者 ,先行AS瓣膜成形术 ,然后再行COA血管成形术 ;COA伴PDA者 ,先行COA血管成形术 ,2个月以后再行PDA堵塞术 (PDA直径 3 5mm用AmplatzerPDA堵塞装置堵塞 ) ,或COA血管成形术与PDA堵塞术同时进行 (PDA直径 1 7mm用弹簧圈堵塞 )。小于 2 5mm的PDA用弹簧圈堵塞 ,大于等于 2 5mm的PDA用AmplatzerPDA堵塞装置堵塞。球囊 /瓣膜比 (或球囊 /缩窄段比 )、AmplatzerASD堵塞装置、AmplatzerPDA堵塞装置及弹簧圈大小的选择按常规。术后 1个月、3个月、6个月、1年 ,以后每年定期随访。结果　 8例复合型先天性心脏病患儿经导管介入治疗均获成功。术后即刻已堵塞之ASD及PDA均无残余分流 ,跨肺动脉瓣压差由术前的 (95 0± 34 6 )mmHg (1mmHg=     

Down综合征并发先天性心脏病的临床分析

目的:总结分析Down综合征(Down’s syndrome)并发的先天性心脏病畸形及血流动力学资料。方法:2008年7月~2012年10月,采用经胸二维超声心动图并彩色多普勒显像及右心导管/心血管造影检查方法,诊断36例并发先心病的Down综合征患者,本文通过36例临床资料分析,探讨Down综合征并发的先心病畸形及其血流动力学。结果:36例患者中室间隔缺损(VSD)10例,房室间隔缺损(AVSD)6例,动脉导管未闭(PDA)6例,房间隔缺损(ASD)2例,ASD+PDA 2例,ASD+VSD 1例,ASD+PDA+VSD 1例,VSD+PDA 4例,PDA+二叶主动脉瓣(BAV)1例,法洛四联症(TOF)2例,TOF+ASD 1例,18例有肺动脉高压者,其中5例为阻力型肺动脉高压。结论:①Down综合征并发的心血管畸形中,以VSD、AVSD和PDA最为常见,并常并发ASD、TOF。②在无肺动脉狭窄的患者中,约50%并发有肺动脉高压。     

经导管同期治疗复合型先天性心脏病的安全性及疗效观察

目的:研究经导管同期治疗复合型先天性心脏病的可行性、方法及疗效.方法:2001-07-2007-10共30例复合型先天性心脏病患者,男11例,女19例.复合类型为:房间隔缺损(ASD)伴室间隔缺损(VSD)、动脉导管未闭(PDA)、肺动脉瓣狭窄(PS)分别为13例、7例、3例,伴二尖瓣狭窄(Lutembacher综合征)3例;VSD伴PDA 2例;PS伴PDA 2例;经导管治疗的原则:先行瓣膜球囊扩张术纠正瓣膜狭窄,其次行VSD封堵术,再次行PDA封堵术,最后行ASD封堵术.术后48 h、1个月、6个月分别行经胸超声心动图(TTE)、X线及心电图检查评价治疗效果.结果:30例复合型先天性心脏病患者均一次性介入治疗成功,术中未发生任何重要并发症.术后即刻TTE和造影示ASD、VSD、PDA所有封堵器位置良好,无残余分流.ASD和PDA伴肺动脉瓣狭窄(PS) 5例,跨肺动脉瓣平均压差由术前(56.4±15.2)mmHg(1 mmHg=0. 133 kPa)下降至术后(13.1±8 9) mmHg,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).3例Lutembacher综合征患者,超声心动图测量二尖瓣口面积分别由二尖瓣球囊扩张术术前0.98、1.1和1.26 cm2增加到1.7、1.92和2.0 cm2,平均左房压分别由31、28和27降至9、8.5和7 mmHg.术后48 h、1个月、6个月经TTE检查示所有患者各水平分流均消失,扩大的房室内径进行性缩小,所有封堵器位置固定良好,无移位及脱落;同时X线检查,肺血明显减少,房室内径明显恢复;心电图检查无房室传导阻滞及左右束支阻滞;无其他并发症.结论:只要严格掌握适应证,术中采取适当的治疗策略,操作规范,复合型先天性心脏病同期介入治疗是可行的、安全的,可获得满意的临床效果.     

Is intraoperative adjuvant therapy effective for satellite lesions in patients undergoing reduction surgery for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The effectiveness of intraoperative adjuvant therapy for satellite lesions of nonresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was investigated. METHODOLOGY: We randomly assigned 30 eligible patients with advanced-stage HCC with multiple intrahepatic lesions who underwent reduction hepatectomy in conjunction with either intraoperative adjuvant therapy (hepatectomy plus microwave coagulonecrotic therapy or radiofrequency ablation) or postoperative adjuvant therapy (transcatheter arterial embolization). The cumulative survival rates were obtained for both groups using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. To evaluate whether the intraoperative adjuvant therapy significantly influenced the prognosis, we reviewed changes in clinical factors by multiple regression analysis using the Cox's proportional hazard model. Ap value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The 3- and 5-year cumulative survival rates in patients who underwent intraoperative adjuvant therapy were 35.7% and 7.7%, while those in patients who underwent postoperative adjuvant therapy were 35.0% and 0%, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant. The level of a-fetoprotein, maximum tumor size, number of tumors, and clinical stage were found to be independent factors affecting survival after diagnosis. Intraoperative adjuvant therapy was not an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: The survival rates did not differ between the patients who underwent intraoperative adjuvant therapy and postoperative adjuvant therapy for satellite lesions of non-resectable HCC.     

Seven-Day Triple Therapy with Omeprazole,Amoxycillin and Clarithromycin for Helicobacter pylori Infection in Haemodialysis Patients

Background: Triple therapy is accepted as the treatment of choice for Helicobacter pylori eradication, but there is no consensus on how long the therapy should be maintained in haemodialysis (HD(+)) patients. Our aims in this study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the 7-day triple therapy in HD(+) patients. Method: Forty-seven HD(+) and 55 HD(-) patients with dyspepsia underwent endoscopy. The prevalence of H. pylori was detected by Giemsa stain, followed by the urea breath test (UBT). H. pylori (+) patients were scheduled to undergo 7-day triple therapy and the success of eradication was investigated by UBT. Results: Forty-five (44%) patients were positive for H. pylori. Forty of them underwent triple therapy and 39 (98%) patients completed the treatment. Eradication was successful in 32 (82%) and unsuccessful in 7 (18%) patients. There was no significant difference between these groups in age, gender, endoscopic findings or HD, and only previous treatment was significant for eradication failure by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Side effects were observed in 2 (15%) of 13 HD(+) and 3 (11%) of 27 HD(-) patients, and one HD(-) patient had to stop medication because of severe nausea and vomiting. The eradication rate was 93% (28/30) in patients without previous treatment. The triple therapy was unsuccessful in 7 patients, and 4 of them again underwent 7-day triple therapy, but all resulted in failure. Conclusions: Seven-day triple therapy is safe and effective for primary treatment of H. pylori infection in both HD(+) and HD(-) patients, but a new treatment is necessary for patients with previous treatment.     

Age-dependent eradication of Helicobacter pylori in Japanese patients

AIM:To determine the general risk factors affecting the failure rate of first-line eradication therapy in Japanese patients with Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection.METHODS:The present study enrolled 253 patients who had an H.pylori infection,underwent gastroendoscopy,and were treated with H.pylori eradication therapy.Eradication therapy consisted of 30 mg lansoprazole plus 750 mg amoxicillin and 400 mg clarithromycin twice daily for 7 d.All of the patients underwent a 13 C urea breath test at least 1 mo...     

Percutaneous coronary intervention in patients receiving enoxaparin or unfractionated heparin after fibrinolytic therapy for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in the ExTRACT-TIMI 25 trial.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate whether enoxaparin (ENOX) is superior to unfractionated heparin (UFH) as adjunctive therapy for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who receive fibrinolytic therapy and subsequently undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by analyzing data from the ExTRACT-TIMI 25 (Enoxaparin and Thrombolysis Reperfusion for Acute Myocardial Infarction Treatment-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 25) trial. BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the use of ENOX compared with UFH as adjunctive therapy in STEMI patients treated with fibrinolytic therapy and subsequent PCI. METHODS: A total of 20,479 STEMI patients who received fibrinolytic therapy were randomized to a strategy of ENOX throughout index hospitalization or UFH for at least 48 h, with blinded study drug to continue if PCI was performed. The primary end point of death or recurrent MI through 30 days was compared for ENOX versus UFH among the patients who underwent subsequent PCI (n = 4,676). RESULTS: After initial fibrinolysis, fewer patients underwent PCI through 30 days in the ENOX versus the UFH group (22.8% vs. 24.2%; p = 0.027). Among patients who underwent PCI by 30 days, the primary end point occurred in 10.7% of ENOX and 13.8% of UFH patients (0.77 relative risk; p < 0.001). There were no differences in major bleeding for ENOX versus UFH (1.4% vs. 1.6%; p = NS). Results were similar when PCI was carried out in patients receiving blinded study drug during PCI (n = 2,178). CONCLUSION: Among patients treated with fibrinolytic therapy for STEMI who underwent subsequent PCI, ENOX administration was associated with a reduced risk of death or recurrent MI without difference in the risk of major bleeding. The strategy of ENOX support for fibrinolytic therapy followed by PCI is superior to UFH and provides a seamless transition from the medical management to the interventional management phase of STEMI without the need for introducing a second anticoagulant in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.     

Seven-day triple therapy with omeprazole,amoxycillin and clarithromycin for Helicobacter pylori infection in haemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND: Triple therapy is accepted as the treatment of choice for Helicobacter pylori eradication, but there is no consensus on how long the therapy should be maintained in haemodialysis (HD(+)) patients. Our aims in this study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the 7-day triple therapy in HD(+) patients. METHOD: Forty-seven HD(+) and 55 HD(-) patients with dyspepsia underwent endoscopy. The prevalence of H. pylori was detected by Giemsa stain, followed by the urea breath test (UBT). H. pylori(+) patients were scheduled to undergo 7-day triple therapy and the success of eradication was investigated by UBT. RESULTS: Forty-five (44%) patients were positive for H. pylori. Forty of them underwent triple therapy and 39 (98%) patients completed the treatment. Eradication was successful in 32 (82%) and unsuccessful in 7 (18%) patients. There was no significant difference between these groups in age, gender, endoscopic findings or HD, and only previous treatment was significant for eradication failure by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Side effects were observed in 2 (15%) of 13 HD(+) and 3 (11%) of 27 HD(-) patients, and one HD(-) patient had to stop medication because of severe nausea and vomiting. The eradication rate was 93% (28/30) in patients without previous treatment. The triple therapy was unsuccessful in 7 patients, and 4 of them again underwent 7-day triple therapy, but all resulted in failure. CONCLUSIONS: Seven-day triple therapy is safe and effective for primary treatment of H. pylori infection in both HD(+) and HD(-) patients, but a new treatment is necessary for patients with previous treatment.     

Are beta-blockers effective in elderly patients who undergo coronary revascularization after acute myocardial infarction?

BACKGROUND: Although randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that beta-blocker therapy is effective in reducing mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), many of these studies excluded patients who undergo coronary revascularization. However, the clinical practice guidelines established by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend that beta-blocker therapy be considered for patients who underwent successful revascularization after AMI. METHODS: Using data from the Cooperative Cardiovascular Project, we compared the initiation of beta-blocker therapy at discharge in patients aged 65 years or older who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) during their hospitalization for AMI with that of patients who did not undergo revascularization. We then examined whether beta-blocker therapy was associated with lower 1-year mortality between revascularized and nonrevascularized groups. RESULTS: After excluding patients with contraindications to beta-blocker therapy, 84 457 patients remained in the study sample. Of these, 8482 patients underwent CABG, and 13 997 patients underwent PTCA. After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, we found that these patients were less likely to initiate beta-blocker therapy after CABG (odds ratio [OR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-0.47) or PTCA (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.85-0.93) relative to the nonrevascularized group. After adjusting for potential confounders, beta-blockers were significantly associated with lower 1-year mortality in patients who underwent CABG (hazard ratio [HR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.55-0.89) or PTCA (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-1.00), similar to that of the non-revascularized group (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.80-0.87). CONCLUSIONS: Therapy after AMI with beta-blockers appears to be as effective in reducing 1-year mortality for elderly patients who have undergone CABG or PTCA as for a nonrevascularized group. Our findings suggest that routine use of beta-blockers should be considered for patients who undergo revascularization after AMI.     

Induction therapy for non-small cell lung cancer with involved mediastinal nodes in multiple stations

BACKGROUND: Metastasis to multiple stations of mediastinal nodes is associated with a poor prognosis. OBJECTIVE:: We prospectively examined the efficacy of induction therapy plus surgery in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and metastases at multiple stations of mediastinal (N2) lymph nodes. METHODS: Among the 1,085 patients who underwent surgery for primary non-small cell lung carcinoma from 1985 to 1997, those with clinical N2 disease of involved multiple stations, defined as bulky, mediastinal, lymph node metastases on CT scans, received induction therapy, consisting of cisplatin-based chemotherapy and radiation of 40 Gy. RESULTS: Of the 88 eligible patients entered into the study, 51 (58%) had multiple stations of N2 nodes affected preoperatively, as demonstrated by pathologic examination. Neither operative mortality nor fatal, treatment-related complications occurred during hospitalization. Patients who underwent complete resection had significantly longer survivals than did those who underwent incomplete resection (p = 0. 001). Among patients who underwent complete resection, the survival rate for patients with pathologically downstaged disease was significantly higher than that for patients whose disease was not downstaged (p = 0.009). Among patients with multiple stations of pN2 nodes involved who had undergone complete resection, those who received induction therapy for bulky N2 disease had a significantly better prognosis than did those undergoing surgery alone for nonbulky N2 disease (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Induction therapy prolonged the survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer and mediastinal nodes involved at multiple stations. Survival was better when complete resection and downstaging of the disease were achieved after induction therapy.     

Endoscopic treatment of high-grade dysplasia and early stage cancer in Barrett's esophagus

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate endoscopic resection (ER) combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of selected patients with early neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus. METHODS: Patients with Barrett's esophagus and neoplastic lesions <2 cm in diameter and no sign of submucosal infiltration, positive lymph nodes, or distant metastasis underwent diagnostic ER (cap technique). Patients with a T1sm tumor in the resection specimen were referred for surgery; those with a T1m or a less invasive tumor underwent additional endoscopic therapy (ER, PDT, and/or argon plasma coagulation [APC]), or they were followed. PDT was performed with 5-aminolevulinic acid and a light dose of 100 J/cm 2 at lambda = 632 nm. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients underwent diagnostic ER. Endoscopic treatment was not performed in 5 patients, who underwent surgery (4 T1sm; 1, patient preference). Five patients were immediately entered into a follow-up protocol, and 23 received additional endoscopic treatment (13 additional ER, 19 PDT, 3 APC). Endoscopic treatment was successful in 26/28 patients; no severe complication was observed. During follow-up (median 19 months, range 13-24 months), 5/26 patients had a recurrence of high-grade dysplasia: all were successfully re-treated with ER. At the end of follow-up, 26/33 originally enrolled patients (79%) and 26/28 endoscopically treated patients (93%) were in local remission. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic therapy is safe and effective for selected patients with early stage neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus.     

Acute myocardial infarction in the elderly. Is primary coronary angioplasty the treatment of choice? In-hospital follow-up results

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the main causes of death in the elderly, however, the optimal therapy of AMI in this age-group has not yet been established. AIM: To compare the early outcome of patients with AMI aged > or =75 years who underwent primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) or were treated conservatively. METHODS: In-hospital outcome of 180 patients aged > or =75 years, hospitalised due to AMI, was retrospectively analysed. Ninety two consecutive patients, admitted with AMI between May 2001 and October 2002, underwent primary PCI whereas 88 patients, treated for AMI between 1993 and 2002, received standard pharmacological therapy without thrombolysis. CONCLUSIONS: Primary PCI in the elderly with AMI is significantly more effective than conservative therapy, except with patients with cardiogenic shock in whom mortality is similar regardless of the therapy used.     

Evaluation of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test before and after eradication therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test is useful for initial diagnosis of H. pylori infection, but there is disagreement regarding its diagnostic accuracy after eradication therapy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the HpSA test before and after eradication therapy. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-six patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsies for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection using culture, histology and the rapid urease test. Fifty-four H. pylori-positive patients were treated with 1-week triple therapy. Six to 10 weeks after the end of therapy, the patients underwent re-endoscopy and received the same biopsy-based methods. In addition, the 13C-urea breath test was performed. The HpSA test was performed before and 6-10 weeks after the end of therapy. In 23 patients, the HpSA test was also performed at the end of therapy. RESULTS: Before therapy, the sensitivity and specificity of the HpSA test was 98.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 95.9-100%) and 95.0% (95% CI: 75.1-99.9%), respectively. At the end of therapy, the HpSA tests were all negative both for eradication and non-eradication patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the HpSA test after eradication therapy were 90% (95% CI: 55.5-99.7%) and 97.7% (95% CI: 93.3-100%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The HpSA test is a useful method for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection before and after eradication therapy.