小儿慢性乙型肝炎干扰素治疗引起的抗纤维化效应

目的观察儿童慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）应用α-干扰素（IFN-α）治疗引起的抗纤维化效应。方法30例小儿CHB应用IFN-α治疗24周以上,且停药后随访36周,其中5例治疗前后均行肝活体组织检查。所有患儿均在治疗前、治疗后24周和36周,应用放射免疫法检测患儿血清肝纤维化标志物：透明质酸（HA）、层连蛋白（LN）、Ⅳ型胶原（Ⅳ-C）。结果应用IFN-α治疗前（0周）、治疗后24周和36周,小儿CHB血清肝纤维化标志物HA值分别为（243.6±70.5）ng/mL、（145.2±51.6）ng/mL、（85.1±40.3）ng/mL;LN值分别为（180.5±61.3）ng/mL、（102.7±40.6）ng/mL、（62.8±32.6）ng/mL;Ⅳ-C值分别为（137.1±48.6）ng/mL、（108.9±40.3）ng/mL、（70.5±30.7）ng/mL,治疗后血清肝纤维化标志物较治疗前显著下降（P〈0.05）。肝活体组织病理检查显示,治疗后肝组织纤维化分期比治疗前有明显降低（P〈0.01）。结论IFN-α在治疗小儿CHB时,不仅有抗病毒作用,在改善肝纤维化方面,也具有一定疗效。     

Quantitative assessment of hepatic blood flow in the diagnosis and management of necrotizing enterocolitis

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most important gastrointestinal emergency in the neonatal period and early detection is very important for its management. Bowel ischemia-hypoperfusion is one of the main etiological factors. In the literature, a few studies have focused on arterial Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) features of splanchnic arteries; however, their clinical implications are not clear.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to quantitatively evaluate the blood flow features in the hepatic portal vein (PV) and hepatic veins (HVs) by using DUS in newborns with NEC.

Patient-Method: Enrolled subjects were divided into two groups as patient (suspected/confirmed NEC, n?=?24), and control group (n?=?25). Daily serial DUS examinations were performed after the onset of the suspicion of NEC and continued until the initial day of the enteral feeding. Portal blood flow (PBF) and “hepatic blood flow ratio” (RHBF) were calculated manually by using DUS findings. Two groups were compared with respect to their PBF and RoHBF values.

Results: PBF and RHBF levels were significantly lower in patient group than those in control group. Clinical improvement in patients with NEC was associated with improvement in the PBF and RHBF. Cut-off level of the RHBF for the diagnosis of NEC was 0.66.

Conclusion: DUS seems to be useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of NEC by providing quantitative information on liver blood flow. Daily measurements of the PBF and RoHBF in newborns with NEC may be beneficial to make the decision of starting enteral feeding.     

The use of magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of malignant vaginal fistulas

The objective of this study was to determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could reliably demonstrate fistulas and any associated mass and to see whether these findings were beneficial in the management of the fistula. Twelve consecutive patients presenting with suspected vaginal fistulas were examined prospectively with MRI, using a combination of sequences, for the presence, extent and configuration of fistulas and any associated mass. Comparison was made with CT when available. All patients underwent examination under anesthesia (EUA) and the findings compared. Of the 12 women presenting, seven had vesico-vaginal fistulas (VVF) and seven had recto-vaginal fistulas (RVF). Four women had both types of fistulas. The underlying pathology was cervical cancer (seven cases), colonic cancer (three cases), breast cancer (one case) and ovarian cancer (one case). Vaginal fistulas were unequivocally seen on MRI in eight of 10 cases with fistulas. In the two cases with a difference between the MRI and EUA findings, the MRI was interpreted as showing more than was found at EUA. In the seven women with VVF, MRI detected five of the cases. In the seven women with RVF, MRI detected all seven cases. Magnetic resonance imaging was correct in determining the presence of recurrent disease in the pelvis when an associated mass was seen (seven cases). Computer-assisted tomography was compared in 10 cases and in six cases, the results were comparable and in four cases, more information was obtained from the MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging appears to be accurate in detecting and defining complex gynecologic fistulas and should be considered the investigation of choice to aid the planning of restorative, salvage or palliative surgery.     

The efficacy of alum-containing ferrous thermal water in the management of chronic inflammatory gynaecological disorders--a randomized controlled study

Objectives

Treatment of gynaecological disorders is a frequent, but only barely substantiated application of balneotherapy. This study investigated potential differences between the clinical symptoms, pelvic blood flow and specific laboratory parameters of patients undergoing balneotherapy with two different types of immersion: alum-containing and tap water.

Study design

The study population comprised 40 patients (mean age: 39.4 years), randomized into two groups. All subjects took 20 min baths in 38 °C water every other day, for 10 occasions altogether. Study parameters were: pain relief, reduction in tissue growth, hormone levels, psychic status, and pelvic blood flow.

Results

Thermal water improved the clinical parameters of both groups significantly. In comparison with tap water, treatment with alum-containing water accomplished significantly greater progress, as reflected by the relief of pain elicited by handling the uterus and improvement of psychic status. Laboratory parameters (FSH, LH, prolactin, oestradiol and beta-endorphin serum levels) and the Doppler index did not change in either group.

Conclusions

As demonstrated by our results, 3-week balneotherapy is a potentially useful adjunct for the management of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, but further, long-term studies are notwithstanding necessary.     

不孕症合并代谢综合征患者的非酒精性脂肪肝患病率及临床特点分析

目的:探讨不孕症合并代谢综合征(MS)患者的非酒精性脂肪肝(NAFLD)的患病率及临床特点。方法:选取2003年5月至2010年3月在我院就诊且符合2004年CDS的MS诊断标准的不孕症女性。患者均行糖耐量及胰岛素释放试验、肝脏B超检查及肝脏功能测定。按肝脏B超结果将患者分为无NAFLD组、轻度NAFLD组、中重度NAFLD组,比较3组患者的一般情况、血糖、胰岛素水平、肝功能水平。结果:不孕症合并MS患者的NAFLD患病率为69%。与无NAFLD组比较,轻度NAFLD组和中重度NAFLD组的空腹胰岛素水平、服糖后2h胰岛素水平均显著升高(P0.01,P0.05),HOMA-IR显著增加(P0.01);但中重度NAFLD组与轻度NAFLD组比较,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。3组的空腹血糖、服糖后2h血糖及IGT的比例比较,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05),但NAFLD组服糖后2h的血糖中位数达到或接近糖耐量异常标准。无NAFLD组、轻度NAFLD组、中重度NAFLD组的肝功能异常的程度和比例依次增加,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:不孕症合并MS患者有较高的NAFLD患病率;该类患者合并脂肪肝时糖耐量受损、胰岛素抵抗程度加重。随着NAFLD程度的加重,空腹血糖及胰岛素水平并未发生明显变化,肝功能异常的程度和比例随着NAFLD程度的加重而增高。     

The assessment of time-dependent myocardial changes in infants with perinatal hypoxia

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess myocardial damage in infants due to perinatal hypoxia. Methods: The findings of 29 infants with perinatal hypoxia and 20 healthy infants were compared. Blood gas analysis, serum lactate, cardiac troponin I (cTnI), troponin T (cTnT), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) were evaluated. Echocardiography together with tissue Doppler imaging was performed. Results: cTnT, CK-MB and BNP were higher in patients at the first day. There were positive correlations between the left ventricular (LV) myocardial performance index (MPI) and cTnT at first day and also at first month. LV ejection fraction and fractional shortening were lower at first day and at first month in patients. Myocardial systolic (Sm) and diastolic (Em and Am) velocities at all segments were lower at first day, and interventricular septum Sm, LV Sm, LV Em, right ventricular Em and LV Am were still lower at first month in patients. Isovolumic relaxation time at all segments together with LV MPI was higher at first day, ejection time values were lower and MPI values were higher at all segments at first month in patients. Conclusions: These findings demonstrated that the signs of myocardial damage due to perinatal hypoxia still present at first month.     

The accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging for preoperative deep myometrium assessment in endometrial cancer

ObjectiveTo evaluate the accuracy of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect deep myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial cancer.Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 66 cases of women with endometrial cancer, who underwent preoperative MRI assessment and surgical staging between January 2006 and October 2010. The MRI findings were then compared with the pathology results. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of MRI in detecting deep myometrium invasion were evaluated.ResultsThe sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV results of MRI for the detection of deep myometrium invasion were 92.52%, 74.35%, 81.81%,71.42%, and 93.54%, respectively, with a kappa of 0.64. In the postmenopausal group, the values were 100%, 55.5%, 74.19%, 61.9%, and 100%. In the premenopausal women, they improved to 85.7%, 90.47%, 88.57%, 88.71%, and 90.47%. The sensitivity (100%) was better than the specificity (55.56%) in the postmenopausal women. The predictive value was markedly higher in the premenopausal women than the postmenopausal women (85.7% vs. 61.9%).ConclusionIn patients with endometrial cancer, a preoperative MRI contributes to accurate staging, allowing planning for the scale of surgery and preoperative counseling. In our study, the pretreatment identification of myometrium invasion provided the opportunity for small-scale surgery in the premenopausal women with early endometrial cancer. However, for the postmenopausal patients, the standard surgical procedure is indicated even if the degree of myometrium invasion is low.     

The effect of nigella sativa supplementation on cardiometabolic outcomes in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver: A randomized double-blind,placebo-controlled trial

Background and purposeNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the metabolic disturbances associated with liver cell inflammation. Nigella sativa (N.sativa) is a widely used medicinal plant known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and hepato-protective properties. This study aimed to assess the effect of supplementation of N. sativa oil on plasma levels of adiponectin, leptin, and blood pressure (BP) in patients diagnosed with NAFLD.Materials and methodsThis randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 44 NAFLD patients. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 22/group); the experimental group received 1000 mg of N. sativa oil per day, while the control group received a placebo for eight weeks. The primary outcome measures were serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured at the baseline and the end of the intervention.ResultsAfter eight weeks of supplementation with N. sativa oil, no statistically significant differences were found in serum levels of adiponectin (p = 0.40), leptin (p = 0.89), systolic BP (p = 0.13), and diastolic BP (p = 0.09) between the two groups. Furthermore, after supplementation with N. sativa, no significant changes were observed in leptin (p = 0.07), adiponectin (p = 0.13), systolic BP (p = 0.82), and diastolic BP (p = 0.38) within the two groups.ConclusionThese results indicate that administration of N. sativa oil 1000 mg/day for 8 weeks has no favorable effect on cardiometabolic measures in NAFLD patients. Further studies with higher dosage over a longer period are needed to investigate whether this effect is dose- and time-dependent.     

终末期肝病模型评分对妊娠合并重型肝炎短期预后的评价作用

目的探讨终末期肝病模型(MELD)评分对妊娠合并重型肝炎短期预后的评价作用。方法计算1994年1月至2007年6月中山大学附属第三医院等6家医院66例妊娠合并重型肝炎患者入院时MELD分值,以及其中26例行剖宫产术、5例阴道分娩的晚期妊娠患者分娩前后的MELD分值及其差值(ΔMELD),分析其与预后的关系,并应用c-统计值评价MELD评分对妊娠合并重型肝炎预后的预测价值。结果66例入院时MELD分值,死亡组(37.14±9.86)高于存活组(22.45±7.42),差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。31例院内分娩患者中,存活组与死亡组分娩前MELD分值分别为19.57±10.64、30.38±5.71,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);26例剖宫产患者中,术后存活组MELD分值逐渐下降,而死亡组MELD分值逐渐上升,两组间手术前后MELD分值差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。术后3dMELD分值同术前的差值(△MELD)在存活组与死亡组间差异有统计学意义。c-统计值均>0.8。结论MELD评分对妊娠合并重型肝炎的短期预后显示出非常好的预测价值。剖宫产术后3d同术前MELD分值的差值对于评价预后也有着...     

The diagnostic accuracy of 3D ultrasound compared to 2D ultrasound and MRI in the assessment of deep myometrial invasion in endometrial cancer patients: A systematic review

Endometrial cancer is a common malignancy in women worldwide, with myometrial invasion (MI) being an important prognostic factor, usually assessed via imaging techniques. The aim of this review is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of 3D transvaginal ultrasound (3D-TVUS), a relatively new imaging modality, to that of 2D transvaginal ultrasound (2D-TVUS) and MRI in the prediction of deep myometrial invasion. Relevant articles were sought on MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Wiley Online Library databases. Articles were included if they were primary studies comparing 3D-TVUS to 2D-TVUS and/or MRI in adult endometrial cancer patients, with histopathological confirmation of MI as a reference standard. Ultimately, 7 studies were included, with 714 participants, 242 with deep MI and a mean age of approximately 60 years. 3D-TVUS, 2D-TVUS, MRI and 3D-TVUS-MRI co-evaluation had a pooled sensitivity of 80.4%, 77.6%, 80.7% and 94.6% respectively and a specificity range of 82.8%, 81.6%, 87% and 69.1% respectively. Overall, no statistically significant differences were found in sensitivity and specificity among 3D-TVUS and the other methods, except for a significant increase in sensitivity (p = 0.038) when combined with MRI. This shows that 3D-TVUS is comparable to MRI as far as diagnostic accuracy is concerned, however remains cheaper, less time-consuming and more tolerable, while offering some advantages over 2D-TVUS as well. Therefore 3D-TVUS application in MI assessment seems promising, although more research is required to further assess this finding and ascertain 3D-TVUS's place in endometrial cancer MI assessment.