Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - The pathophysiology of uremic pruritus (UP), which is characterized by systemic and intractable itching, remains unclear. As interleukin (IL)-31 may be... 相似文献
BACKGROUND CONTEXTThe indication to perform a fusion and decompression surgery as opposed to decompression alone for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS) remains controversial. A variety of factors are considered when deciding on whether to fuse, including patient demographics, radiographic parameters, and symptom presentation. Likely surgeon preference has an important influence as well.PURPOSEThe aim of this study was to assess factors associated with the decision of a Canadian academic spine surgeon to perform a fusion for LDS.STUDY DESIGN/SETTINGThis study is a retrospective analysis of patients prospectively enrolled in a multicenter Canadian study that was designed to evaluate the assessment and surgical management of LDS.PATIENT SAMPLEInclusion criteria were patients with: radiographic evidence of LDS and neurogenic claudication or radicular pain, undergoing posterior decompression alone or posterior decompression and fusion, performed in one of seven, participating academic centers from 2015 to 2019.OUTCOME MEASURESPatient demographics, patient-rated outcome measures (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], numberical rating scale back pain and leg pain, SF-12), and imaging parameters were recorded in the Canadian Spine Outcomes Research Network (CSORN) database. Surgeon factors were retrieved by survey of each participating surgeon and then linked to their specific patients within the database.METHODSUnivariate analysis was used to compare patient characteristics, imaging measures, and surgeon variables between those that had a fusion and those that had decompression alone. Multivariate backward logistic regression was used to identify the best combination of factors associated with the decision to perform a fusion.RESULTSThis study includes 241 consecutively enrolled patients receiving surgery from 11 surgeons at 7 sites. Patients that had a fusion were younger (65.3±8.3 vs. 68.6±9.7 years, p=.012), had worse ODI scores (45.9±14.7 vs. 40.2±13.5, p=.007), a smaller average disc height (6.1±2.7 vs. 8.0±7.3 mm, p=.005), were more likely to have grade II spondylolisthesis (31% vs. 14%, p=.008), facet distraction (34% vs. 60%, p=.034), and a nonlordotic disc angle (26% vs. 17%, p=.038). The rate of fusion varied by individual surgeon and practice location (p<.001, respectively). Surgeons that were fellowship trained in Canada more frequently fused than those who fellowship trained outside of Canada (76% vs. 57%, p=.027). Surgeons on salary fused more frequently than surgeons remunerated by fee-for-service (80% vs. 64%, p=.004). In the multivariate analysis the clinical factors associated with an increased odds of fusion were decreasing age, decreasing disc height, and increasing ODI score; the radiographic factors were grade II spondylolisthesis and neutral or kyphotic standing disc type; and the surgeon factors were fellowship location, renumeration type and practice region. The odds of having a fusion surgery was more than two times greater for patients with a grade II spondylolisthesis or neutral and/or kyphotic standing disc type (opposed to lordotic standing disc type). Patients whose surgeon completed their fellowship in Canada, or whose surgeon was salaried (opposed to fee-for-service), or whose surgeon practiced in western Canada had twice the odds of having fusion surgery.CONCLUSIONSThe decision to perform a fusion in addition to decompression for LDS is multifactorial. Although patient and radiographic parameters are important in the decision-making process, multiple surgeon factors are associated with the preference of a Canadian spine surgeon to perform a fusion for LDS. Future work is necessary to decrease treatment variability between surgeons and help facilitate the implementation of evidence-based decision making. 相似文献
Common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is an index of subclinical atherosclerosis that is associated with ischemic stroke and coronary artery disease (CAD). We undertook a cross-sectional epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of measures of cIMT in 6400 individuals. Mendelian randomization analysis was applied to investigate the potential causal role of DNA methylation in the link between atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk factors and cIMT or clinical cardiovascular disease. The CpG site cg05575921 was associated with cIMT (beta?=??0.0264, p value?=?3.5?×?10–8) in the discovery panel and was replicated in replication panel (beta?=??0.07, p value?=?0.005). This CpG is located at chr5:81649347 in the intron 3 of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor gene (AHRR). Our results indicate that DNA methylation at cg05575921 might be in the pathway between smoking, cIMT and stroke. Moreover, in a region-based analysis, 34 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified of which a DMR upstream of ALOX12 showed the strongest association with cIMT (p value?=?1.4?×?10–13). In conclusion, our study suggests that DNA methylation may play a role in the link between cardiovascular risk factors, cIMT and clinical cardiovascular disease.
The aim of this study was to survey the present status and patterns of reirradiation (Re-RT) practice using external beam radiotherapy in Japan. We distributed an e-mail questionnaire to the Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology partner institutions, which consisted of part 1 (number of Re-RT cases in 2008–2012 and 2013–2018) and part 2 (indications and treatment planning for Re-RT and eight case scenarios). Of the 85 institutions that replied to part 1, 75 (88%) performed Re-RTs. However, 59 of these 75 institutions (79%) reported difficulty in obtaining Re-RT case information from their databases. The responses from 37 institutions included the number of Re-RT cases, which totaled 508 in the period from 2009 to 2013 (institution median 3; 0–235), and an increase to 762 cases in the period from 2014 to 2018 (12.5; 0–295). A total of 47 physicians responded to part 2 of the survey. Important indications for Re-RT that were considered were age, performance status, life expectancy, absence of distant metastases and time interval since previous radiotherapy. In addition to clinical decision-making factors, previous total radiation dose, volume of irradiated tissue and the biologically equivalent dose were considered during Re-RT planning. From the eight site-specific scenarios presented to the respondents, >60% of radiation oncologists agreed to perform Re-RT. Re-RT cases have increased in number, and interest in Re-RT among radiation oncologists has increased recently due to advances in technology. However, several problems exist that emphasize the need for consensus building and the establishment of guidelines for practice and prospective evaluation. 相似文献
The aim of this study was to compare the estimated public medical care cost of measures to address metallic dental restorations (MDRs) for head and neck radiotherapy using high-energy mega-voltage X-rays. This was considered a first step to clarify which MDR measure was more cost-effective. We estimated the medical care cost of radiotherapy for two representative MDR measures: (i) with MDR removal or (ii) without MDR removal (non-MDR removal) using magnetic resonance imaging and a spacer. A total of 5520 patients received head and neck radiation therapy in 2018. The mean number of MDRs per person was 4.1 dental crowns and 1.3 dental bridges. The mean cost per person was estimated to be 121 720 yen for MDR removal and 54 940 yen for non-MDR removal. Therefore, the difference in total public medical care cost between MDR removal and non-MDR removal was estimated to be 303 268 800 yen. Our results suggested that non-MDR removal would be more cost-effective than MDR removal for head and neck radiotherapy. In the future, a national survey and cost-effectiveness analysis via a multicenter study are necessary; these investigations should include various outcomes such as the rate of local control, status of oral mucositis, frequency of hospital visits and efforts of the medical professionals. 相似文献
Changes of circulating blood volume (CB volume) measured by the dual indicator dilution method were observed in 33 chronically instrumented mongrel dogs following either alpha-chloralose-urethane (C group), additive isoflurane (I group) or sevoflurane anesthesia (S group). These anesthetic groups were each divided into two subgroups with regard to respiratory care, namely Cp, Ip and Sp for those with intermittent positive pressure ventilation (six animals per subgroups), and Cs, Is and Ss for those with spontaneous breathing (five animals per subgroups).The CB volume under positive pressure ventilation remained unchanged in the Ip and Sp groups at both 0.5 and 1.0 MAC, and in the Cp group. The CB volume remained essentially unchanged in the Cs and Is groups at both 0.5 or 1.0 MAC, but the plasma volume tended to increase slightly in the Is group at 1.0 MAC.In the Ss group under spontaneous breathing, however, the CB volume increased from 84.4 ± 7.0 to 91.4 ± 7.7 at 0.5 MAC, and to 91.4 ± 10.2ml·kg–1 at 1.0 MAC (0.01 P 0.05). These increases were caused by an increase in the plasma volume.The above data suggests that a concomitant increase in the venous pressure associated with an increase in the intrathoracic pressure produced by positive pressure ventilation would attenuate changes in the CB volume during sevoflurane anesthesia.(Hamada H, Takaori M, Kimura K, et al.: Changes in circulating Blood volume following isoflurane or sevoflurane anesthesia. J Anesth 7: 316–324, 1993) 相似文献
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common types of cancer in the world and has a 5-year survival rate of ~20%. Immunotherapies have shown promising results leading to durable responses, however, they are only effective for a subset of patients. To determine the best therapeutic approach, a thorough and in-depth profiling of the tumour microenvironment (TME) is required. The TME is a complex network of cell types that form an interconnected network, promoting tumour cell initiation, growth and dissemination. The stroma, immune cells and endothelial cells that comprise the TME generate a plethora of cytotoxic or cytoprotective signalling pathways. In this review, we discuss immunotherapeutic targets in NSCLC tumours and how the TME may influence patients' response to immunotherapy. 相似文献
We studied the brain uptake of amino acid in a patient with acute cerebral infarction with L-[2-(F-18)] fluorophenylalanine and positron emission tomography. The increased accumulation of the ligand was specifically found in the peri-infarct area where oxygen metabolism was still maintained but decreased later in the 72-day follow-up period. The kinetic analysis revealed that increased accumulation was not due to increased transport from the blood to the brain but to delayed washout from the brain to the blood. Although the mechanism is still unknown, abnormally high accumulation of L-[F-18]fluorophenylalanine may predict delayed neuronal changes after ischemic insults of the brain. 相似文献