Predictive factors for determination of menopausal age

In western Europe the average age at menopause is 52 years. This means that a woman spends approximately 30 years of her life in the postmenopausal status. The possibility to predict the actual age AT menopause would have major implications for family planning, sterility treatment and for the decision to apply HRT. There are numerous associations between socio-economic factors and the age at menopause. A positive correlation has been shown between cigarette smoking and menopausal age. Furthermore several lifestyle factors have an influence on the onset of menopause. However it is not clear in how far generative and socio-economic factors such as marital status interfere with ovarian function.     

颅内动脉瘤破裂的危险因素分析

目的 探讨未破裂颅内动脉瘤发生破裂的危险因素.方法 回顾性分析承德医学院附属医院2008年1月至2010年5月确诊为颅内动脉瘤的患者,依据动脉瘤是否破裂分为破裂组(n=326)和未破裂组(n=90),收集患者临床资料及动脉瘤特征相关资料.结果 对两组临床资料和颅内动脉瘤特征的各变量单因素分析筛选后进行logistic回归分析,结果显示,吸烟史[优势比(OR)=18.226,95%可信区间(CI)=4.427～75.033]、动脉瘤家族史(OR=14.334,95%CI=3.171～64.786)、后交通动脉瘸(OR=4.265,95%CI=1.643～11.072)、中等动脉瘤(OR=5.641,95%CI=2.332～13.641)发生动脉瘤破裂风险高.结论 吸烟史、动脉瘤家族史、中等动脉瘤、后交通动脉瘤均是未破裂颅内动脉瘤发生破裂的危险因素.     

Predictive medicine: severe trauma and burns

Severe trauma and burn injury are often associated with a life-threatening systemic inflammatory response, only to be followed by severe infections. Although many parameters of the immune system are depressed or altered, only the innate immune system has been directly correlated with infections in these patients. The innate immune system plays an important role in both the inflammatory response and defense against infections. These types of sequelae suggest that at any particular point in time, depending upon the patient status, either a hyperactive or suppressed polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) response may be detected. In fact, this dichotomy has been shown to occur in numerous published studies.     

Predictive factors for acute esophageal toxicity in thoracic radiotherapy

Acute esophageal toxicity (AET) is a common complication and dose-limiting toxicity in thoracic radiotherapy. Previous studies demonstrated several clinical and dosimetric parameters of AET in patients with lung cancer. However, there are few reports dealing with these variables in intra-thoracic malignancies, including lung cancer and other thoracic malignancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and dosimetric factors associated with AET in patients with intra-thoracic malignancies. We examined 61 patients with intra-thoracic malignancies treated with radiotherapy: 34 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (55%), 9 cases with small-cell lung cancer (15%), 7 cases with thymic cancer (11%), 4 thymomas (7%), 2 malignant lymphomas (3%), one seminoma (2%), one liposarcoma (2%), and 3 cases of other malignancies (5%). Radiotherapy was performed with a median dose of 60 Gray (Gy) (range 40-67 Gy). AET was graded according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria. The following parameters were analyzed with respect to associations with AET by univariate and multivariate analyses: age, gender, thoracic surgery before radiotherapy, concurrent chemotherapy, duration of radiotherapy, maximum esophageal dose, mean esophageal dose, and percentage of esophageal volume receiving from 10 Gy (V10) to 65 Gy (V65), in 5-Gy increments. 43 patients (70%) developed AET: 36 patients (59%) with AET of RTOG Grade 1, 7 patients (11%) with Grade 2, and no patients (0%) with Grade 3 or worse. On multivariate analysis, V35 > 30% was the most statistically significant factor associated with mild AET (p = 0.013). Our findings provide a better understanding of the factors related to AET, and might be useful in designing a treatment plan to prevent severe esophageal toxicity.     

Predictive value of liver transaminases levels in abdominal trauma

Introduction

We aimed to evaluate whether hepatic transaminase levels could predict the presence and severity of liver injury following abdominal trauma.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 75 surgically treated patients and 21 non-surgically treated patients with liver injury who were managed between 2004 and 2012. We retrieved demographic, laboratory, radiologic, and intraoperative data, as well as surgical procedures and the outcome from the patients’ medical records. We compared the findings between patients divided into 2 groups according to the severity of liver injury: group 1, including patients with Grade 1 or 2 liver injuries; and group 2, including patients with grade 3 to 5 liver injury.

Results

There were 87 (90.6%) males and 9 (9.4%) females. The mean age was 34 years (range, 17-90 years). The overall mortality rate was 14.6% (n = 14). The injury was blunt in 83 patients (86.5%) and penetrating in 13 patients (13.5%). There were multiple traumas in 60 patients (62.5%). Overall, 43 patients (44.8%) had a total of 61 coexisting intraabdominal injuries. The circulating aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1.

Conclusions

In patients with abdominal trauma, abnormal hepatic transaminase and LDH levels are associated with liver injury. Alanine aminotransferase ≤ 76 U/L, aspartate aminotransferase < 130 U/L, and LDH ≤ 410 U/L are predictive of low-grade liver injury, and patients with serum liver levels below these levels can be managed conservatively.     

Predictive prognostic factors in severe patients

International classification of heat illness including heat stroke, heat exhaustion, the others is well known. However, the new classification from the grade III(severe) to the grade I(mild) is more common in Japan. There is a good correlation between the two classifications. The Heatstroke Surveillance Committee of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine has collected the data using the new classification. The outcome of patients who were mechanically ventilated due to heat illness was not affected by cooling procedures but independently associated with systolic blood pressure and SpO2 at the scene, and arterial base excess on admission.     

Predictive factors and correlates for pain in postpoliomyelitis syndrome patients

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictive and associated factors for muscle and joint pain in postpoliomyelitis syndrome (PPS). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design. SETTING: Postpolio clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Baseline data on 126 PPS patients entered into a multicentered clinical trial. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adjusted odds ratios were computed by using logistic regression modeling. Patients with or without muscle or joint pain were compared with regard to predictors and associated factors. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses for muscle pain, significant predictive and associated factors were female gender (P=.0006), longer duration of general fatigue (P=.019), and a lower score on the general health scale (P=.009) of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-From Health Survey (SF-36). In multivariate analyses for joint pain, significant predictive and associated factors were female gender (P<.003), longer latency (duration of stability after polio; P=.008), younger age at interview (P<.002), greater weakness at acute polio (P<.07), weaker lower-extremity muscle strength (P<.04), and a lower SF-36 general health scale score (P<.02). CONCLUSIONS: Women are more likely to report muscle and joint pain in PPS. Greater initial motor unit involvement and lower-extremity weakness may be additional important factors for determining joint pain. Both muscle and joint pain are associated with reductions in quality of life.     

Predictive factors for psychological distress in ambulatory lung cancer patients

Although there is a need for systematic research on the psychosocial issues faced by lung cancer patients, there have been few studies in this area. The objective of the present study was to investigate potential predictors of psychological distress among ambulatory lung cancer patients. The variables examined included the patients' characteristics, coping responses, and social support factors. Lung cancer patients completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale (MAC scale), and information pertaining to demographic variables and social support factors was obtained from them at a structured interview. Evaluable data were obtained from 87 patients. The results of multiple regression analysis indicated that female gender, living alone, no children in the role of confidant, nurses as confidants, and helplessness/hopelessness as a coping style were predictive for psychological distress. Information on patients' demographic variables and psychosocial correlates of psychological distress may later be useful in developing interventions to facilitate their adjustment to lung cancer.     

Risk factors for acute renal failure in trauma patients

Abstract Objective: To elucidate the risk factors for the development of acute renal failure (ARF) in severe trauma. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: A general intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital. Patients: A cohort of 153 consecutive trauma patients admitted to the ICU over a period of 30 months. Results: Forty-eight (31 %) patients developed ARF. They were older than the 105 patients without ARF (p = 0.002), had a higher Injury Severity Score (ISS) (p < 0.001), higher mortality (p < 0.001), a more compromised neurological condition (p = 0.007), and their arterial pressure at study entry was lower (p = 0.0015). In the univariate analysis, the risk of ARF increased by age, ISS > 17, the presence of hemoperitoneum, shock, hypotension, or bone fractures, rhabdomyolysis with creatine phosphokinase (CPK) > 10 000 IU/l, presence of acute lung injury requiring mechanical ventilation, and Glasgow Coma Score < 10. Sepsis and use of nephrotoxic agents were not associated with an increased risk of ARF. In the logistic model, the need for mechanical ventilation with a positive end-expiratory pressure > 6 cm H₂O, rhabdomyolysis with CPK > 10 000 IU/l, and hemoperitoneum were the three conditions most strongly associated with ARF. Conclusions: The identified risk factors for post-traumatic acute renal failure may help the provision of future strategies. Received: 22 September 1997 Accepted: 14 May 1998     

Predictive factors of prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis leads the patients to severe physical disability and the mortality is significantly worse than general population. To predict the prognosis at first visit in hospital is difficult but there are several factors influence on the prognosis; disease activity and it's duration, high titer of rheumatoid factor, male and vasculitis. The most important factor is disease activity and it's duration. Recent advance of the treatment of RA improve the prognosis of either disability or mortality. Adverse effects of drugs for RA may threaten the life but their use leads statistically significant improvement of mortality.     

Predictive factors for central lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC)measures 1 cm or less in its longest dimension.The incidence of PTMC is increasing worldwide.Surgery is the primary treatment;however,prophylactic central lymph node dissection is controversial,and discrepancies between different guidelines have been noted.Routine prophylactic central lymph node dissection may result in hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in some patients without lymph node metastasis,while simple thyroidectomy may leave metastatic lymph nodes in high-risk patients.To selectively perform prophylactic lymph node dissections in high-risk patients,it is important to identify predictive factors for lymph node metastases in patients with PTMC.Several studies have reported on this,but their conclusions are not entirely consistent.Several clinicopathologic characteristics have been identified as risk factors for central lymph node metastases,and the most commonly reported factors include age,gender,tumor size and location,multifocality,bilaterality,extrathyroidal extension,and abnormal lymph node found using ultrasound.Here,we provide an overview of previous studies along with a favorable opinion on or against these factors,with the aim of increasing the understanding of this topic among the medical community.In addition,current opinions about prophylactic central lymph node dissection are reviewed and discussed.     

Predictive value of quick surgical airway assessment for trauma (qSAT) score for identifying trauma patients requiring surgical airway in emergency room

Background

A surgical airway is usually unpredictable in trauma patients. The aim of this study was to develop a predictable scoring system to determine the need for a surgical airway by using a database from a large multicenter trauma registry.

Methods

We obtained data from the nationwide trauma registry in Japan for adult blunt trauma patients who were intubated in the emergency department. Based on a multivariate logistic regression analysis in the development cohort, the Quick Surgical Airway Assessment for Trauma (qSAT) score was defined to predict the need for a surgical airway. The association of the qSAT with surgical airway was validated in the validation cohort.

Results

Between 2004 and 2014, 17,036 trauma patients were eligible. In the development phase (n?=?8129), the qSAT score was defined as the sum of the three binary components, including male sex, presence of a facial injury, and presence of a cervical area injury, for a total score ranging from 0 to 3. In the validation cohort (n?=?8907), the proportion of patients with a surgical airway markedly increased with increasing qSAT score (0 points, 0.5%; 1 point, 0.9%; 2 points, 3.5%; 3 points, 25.0%; P?<? 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that qSAT score was an independent predictor of surgical airway (adjusted OR, 3.19 per 1 point increase; 95% CI, 2.47–4.12; P?<? 0.0001). The qSAT score of ≥1 had a had a good sensitivity of 86.8% for predicting the requirement for surgical airway; while qSAT score of 3 had a good specificity of 99.9% in ruling out the need for surgical airway.

Conclusions

The qSAT score could be assessed simply using only information present upon hospital arrival to identify patients who may need a surgical airway. The utilize of qSAT score in combination with repeated evaluations on physical finding could improve outcomes in trauma patients.