可弯曲胸腔镜和硬质胸腔镜诊断不明原因胸腔积液的对比临床研究

目的对比可弯曲胸腔镜和硬质胸腔镜在不明原因胸腔积液诊断中的准确性和安全性。方法采用前瞻性随机对照研究,连续筛选四川大学华西医院2012年3月至2014年3月期间不明原因胸腔积液住院患者,患者年龄18~75岁。经知情同意后,患者随机进入可弯曲胸腔镜组或硬质胸腔镜组进行检查。结果可弯曲胸腔镜组入组49例患者,硬质胸腔镜组入组48例患者。两组共有44例患者通过胸腔镜检查确诊为恶性疾病,48例确诊为良性疾病。两组诊断不明原因胸腔积液总体准确性分别为93.9%和95.8%,可弯曲胸腔镜组诊断肿瘤的敏感性为96.0%,硬质胸腔镜组诊断肿瘤的敏感性为95.2%,两组诊断肿瘤的特异性均为100.0%,两组之间差异无统计学意义。两种胸腔镜技术并发症多数轻微,患者均耐受良好。结论对于不明原因胸腔积液,可弯曲胸腔镜诊断的准确性与硬质胸腔镜相当。尽管可弯曲胸腔镜取材组织小,但是通过多点多次取材,所获得的组织标本能满足病理科医生进行包括免疫组织化学检测在内的疾病诊断。     

Increased LDL electronegativity in chronic kidney disease disrupts calcium homeostasis resulting in cardiac dysfunction

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is associated with abnormal lipoprotein metabolism. We examined whether electronegative low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is mechanistically linked to cardiac dysfunction in patients with early CKD. We compared echocardiographic parameters between patients with stage 2 CKD (n = 88) and normal controls (n = 89) and found that impaired relaxation was more common in CKD patients. Reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate was an independent predictor of left ventricular relaxation dysfunction. We then examined cardiac function in a rat model of early CKD induced by unilateral nephrectomy (UNx) by analyzing pressure–volume loop data. The time constant of isovolumic pressure decay was longer and the maximal velocity of pressure fall was slower in UNx rats than in controls. When we investigated the mechanisms underlying relaxation dysfunction, we found that LDL from CKD patients and UNx rats was more electronegative than LDL from their respective controls and that LDL from UNx rats induced intracellular calcium overload in H9c2 cardiomyocytes in vitro. Furthermore, chronic administration of electronegative LDL, which signals through lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1), induced relaxation dysfunction in wild-type but not LOX-1^−/− mice. In in vitro and in vivo experiments, impaired cardiac relaxation was associated with increased calcium transient resulting from nitric oxide (NO)-dependent nitrosylation of SERCA2a due to increases in inducible NO synthase expression and endothelial NO synthase uncoupling. In conclusion, LDL becomes more electronegative in early CKD. This change disrupts SERCA2a-regulated calcium homeostasis, which may be the mechanism underlying cardiorenal syndrome.     

Limited benefit of CT scans in tuberculosis contact tracing

ObjectiveThe detection of abnormal findings on computed tomography (CT) scans of tuberculosis contacts combined with normal plain radiographs contributes to the early detection of tuberculosis. However, the benefit of the early detection of abnormalities for the prevention of active tuberculosis during follow-up requires evaluation.MethodWe conducted retrospective comparison of the existence of CT scans of tuberculosis contacts without findings of active tuberculosis on plain radiographs at a hospital in Japan. Results: Among 243 contacts without CT scans, five developed tuberculosis during follow-up. Among 229 contacts with CT scans, 24 were judged as targets of multi-drug therapy since their CT findings were suggestive of active tuberculosis at the time of the CT screening. Among 205 contacts judged as having latent tuberculous infection with CT screening, three developed tuberculosis diseases during follow-up. Conclusion: CT scans detected abnormal findings among contacts without abnormalities of plain radiographs but there were some contacts that developed tuberculosis diseases among those with contact investigation including CT scan. The value of CT is equivocal considering the balance of true treatment, overtreatment and harm of radiation.     

Bronchial Artery Embolization in Pediatric Pulmonary Hemorrhage: A Single-Center Experience

PurposeTo explore the safety and effectiveness of bronchial artery (BA) embolization (BAE) in children with pulmonary hemorrhage.Materials and MethodsBetween February 2016 and February 2019, 41 patients (median age, 4 y; interquartile range, 2.3-8 y; median weight, 17.6 kg; interquartile range, 12.3–23.6 kg) underwent BAE. The indication of BAE included massive hemoptysis in 10 patients (24.4%), recurrent hemoptysis in 18 patients (43.9%), and refractory anemia in 13 patients (31.7%). The main etiology of pulmonary hemorrhage included pulmonary hemosiderosis (58.5%), congenital heart disease (17.1%), and infection (14.6%). A retrospective review was conducted of clinical outcomes of BAE.ResultsThere were 44 embolization sessions, with a total of 137 embolized vessels. Pulmonary hemorrhage was caused by BAs in 30 cases, nonbronchial systemic arteries plus BAs in 10, and nonbronchial systemic arteries in 1. Embolic particles were used in 30 cases (24 polyvinyl alcohol [PVA] and 6 microsphere), coils in 9 cases, and particles plus coils in 5 cases (4 PVA and 1 microsphere). Technical success (ability to embolize abnormal vessel) was achieved in 97.6% of patients (40 of 41), and clinical success (complete or partial resolution of hemoptysis within 30 days of embolization) was achieved in 90.2% (37 of 41). There was 1 procedure-related complication (2.4%) of cerebral infarction and 1 death from multiple-organ dysfunction (2.4%). Bleeding-free survival rates at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 92.5%, 83.9%, 83.9%, and 70.8%, respectively.ConclusionsBAE is a safe and effective procedure in children with pulmonary hemorrhage.     

Fractal dimension in CT low attenuation areas is predictive of long-term oxygen therapy initiation in COPD patients: Results from two observational cohort studies

BackgroundSome chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients develop hypoxemia with disease progression, with some even requiring long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT). Lung function, especially diffusing capacity, and the annual decline in PaO₂, are reported to be predictive factors of chronic respiratory failure. However, the association between lung morphometry evaluated using computed tomography (CT) images and LTOT initiation is unknown.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated the relationship between clinical indices, including pulmonary function, body mass index (BMI), and CT parameters, at baseline and LTOT initiation in two prospective COPD cohorts. In the Nara Medical University cohort (n = 76), the low attenuation area (LAA) and its fractal dimension (fractal D) were adapted as the indices for parenchymal destruction in CT images. The association between these CT measurements and LTOT initiation was replicated in the Kyoto University cohort (n = 130).ResultsIn the Nara Medical University cohort, lower BMI (hazard ratio [HR]:0.70, p = 0.006), lower % diffusing capacity (%DLCO) (HR: 0.92, p = 0.006), lower %DLCO/VA (HR, 0.90, p = 0.008), higher RV/TLC (HR, 1.26, p = 0.012), higher LAA% (HR: 1.18, p = 0.001), and lower fractal D (HR: 3.27 × 10^?8, p < 0.001) were associated with LTOT initiation. Multivariate analysis in the Kyoto University cohort confirmed that lower %DLCO and lower fractal D were independently associated with LTOT initiation, whereas LAA% was not.ConclusionFractal D, which is the index for morphometric complexity of LAA in CT analysis, is predictive of LTOT initiation in COPD patients.