Risk factors associated with postoperative prosthetic graft patency in Leriche syndrome

Background

In Leriche syndrome, postoperative graft thrombosis remains one of the most significant clinical challenges.

Hair shaft miRNA‐221 levels as a new tumor marker of malignant melanoma

miRNA‐221 (miR‐221) is known to be abnormally expressed in many human cancers. The serum levels of miR‐221 have been reported as a tumor marker for malignant melanoma (MM). We hypothesized that the hair shaft miR‐221 levels may be increased in patients with MM. We therefore assessed the possibility that hair shaft miR‐221 levels could be a marker for MM. The hair shaft miR‐221 levels were significantly higher in patients with MM than controls. The rates of increased hair shaft miR‐221 levels above the cut‐off value were comparable to those of serum 5‐S‐CD, which is a tumor marker commonly used for MM. Measurements of the hair shaft miR‐221 levels could have potential clinical value in the detection of MM. This is the first report investigating the hair shaft levels of an miRNA in patients with MM. Our investigations offer new insight into the relationship between miR‐221 and MM, and may provide a new, non‐invasive way to screen for melanoma.     

尿干化学法和离心沉渣镜检法检测穿刺羊水母体细胞污染的应用

目的　探讨一种快速简便鉴别羊水母血污染的方案。方法　选取30 例2019 年6~10 月羊水穿刺样本, 检测 羊水及母血DNA，将母血DNA 污染量换算对应体积全血量建立羊水母血DNA 污染梯度模型，运用尿干化学法及离 心沉渣镜检法检测母血污染情况。结果　羊水母血DNA 污染率为5%，10%，20% 和30%，尿干化学法检出率分别为 16.67%，60%，100% 和100%；离心沉渣镜检法检出率分别为60%，100%，100% 和100%。结论　尿干化学法及离心 沉渣镜检法联合检测可更简便快捷地进行羊水母血污染鉴定，检出率与母血DNA 污染率呈正比关系。     

Cancer/health communication and breast/cervical cancer screening among Asian Americans and five Asian ethnic groups

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This paper is an examination of cancer/health communication factors (i.e. cancer/health information seeking, patient-provider communication (PPC), cancer screening information from providers) and screening for breast and cervical cancer among Asian Americans and five Asian ethnic groups (Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese) in comparison to Whites. Additionally, the relationship between cancer/health communication disparity and cancer screening gaps between Asian Americans and Whites was investigated.

Design: Data comes from a nationally representative sample of 2011–2014 Health Information National Trends Surveys (HINTS).

Results: Asian Americans and most Asian ethnic-groups reported significantly lower rates of cancer/health information seeking and lower evaluations for PPC as compared to Whites, though differences within Asian ethnic groups were observed (Koreans’ greater cancer/health information seeking, Japanese’ higher PPC evaluation). When the cancer/health communication factors were controlled, Asian Americans’ odds of cancer screening were increased. Especially, Asian Americans’ odds of adhering to the breast cancer screening guideline became nearly 1.4 times greater than Whites.

Conclusion: This research demonstrates that health organizations, providers, and Asian American patients’ collaborative efforts to increase the access to quality cancer information, to make culturally competent but straightforward screening recommendations, and to practice effective communication in medical encounters will contribute to diminishing cancer disparities among Asian Americans.     

Clinical clues for differential diagnosis between verruca plana and verruca plana‐like seborrheic keratosis

Sometimes the clinical differentiation between verruca plana (VP) and VP‐like seborrheic keratosis (SK) could be challenged. However, there have been no studies on this issue to date. The aim of this study was to elucidate clinical and dermoscopic differences between these two diseases, and also to suggest a diagnostic algorithm of VP and VP‐like SK without skin biopsy. The patients who had lesions clinically considered as VP or VP‐like SK were the target of our study. We took clinical and dermoscopic photos with informed consent and conducted a questionnaire. All patients had their diagnoses confirmed by biopsy. Thirty‐three patients were enrolled in our study. Seventeen patients were finally diagnosed with VP (51.5%) and 16 patients with VP‐like SK (48.5%). In clinical findings, VP‐like SK showed significantly more scattered distribution than VP (P = 0.039), which exhibited more clustered or grouped distribution (P = 0.039). In dermoscopic findings, brain‐like appearance was more commonly observed in VP‐like SK (P = 0.003) whereas VP showed more red dots or globular vessels (P = 0.017) and even‐colored light brown to yellow patch (P < 0.001). Sex, onset age, the size of each lesion, location, color and shape showed no significant differences between them (P > 0.05). Based on our results, we suggest a diagnostic algorithm using Koebner's phenomenon, dermoscopic findings, distribution of each lesion and biopsy for multiple VP‐like lesions in adults, and we think it will be a very useful diagnostic tool in daily clinical dermatological practice.     

Comparison Between Phenylephrine and Dopamine in Maintaining Cerebral Oxygen Saturation in Thoracic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Fluid is usually restricted during thoracic surgery, and vasoactive agents are often administered to maintain blood pressure. One-lung ventilation (OLV) decreases arterial oxygenation; thus oxygen delivery to the brain can be decreased. In this study, we compared phenylephrine and dopamine with respect to maintaining cerebral oxygenation during OLV in major thoracic surgery.Sixty-three patients undergoing lobectomies were randomly assigned to the dopamine (D) or phenylephrine (P) group. The patients’ mean arterial pressure was maintained within 20% of baseline by a continuous infusion of dopamine or phenylephrine. Maintenance fluid was kept at 5 mL/kg/h. The depth of anesthesia was maintained with desflurane 1MAC and remifentanil infusion under bispectral index guidance. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO₂) and hemodynamic variables were recorded using near-infrared spectroscopy and esophageal cardiac Doppler.The rScO₂ was higher in the D group than the P group during OLV (OLV 60 min: 71 ± 6% vs 63 ± 12%; P = 0.03). The number of patients whose rScO₂ dropped more than 20% from baseline was 0 and 6 in the D and P groups, respectively (P = 0.02). The D group showed higher cardiac output, but lower mean arterial pressure than the P group (4.7 ± 1.0 vs 3.9 ± 1.2 L/min; 76.7 ± 8.1 vs 84.5 ± 7.5 mm Hg; P = 0.02, P = 0.02). Among the variables, age, hemoglobin concentration, and cardiac output were associated with rScO₂ by correlation analysis.Dopamine was superior to phenylephrine in maintaining cerebral oxygenation during OLV in thoracic surgery.