Head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma: follow-up results of four cases and review of the literature

Head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma (HNRMS) is exceedingly rare and poorly documented. The difficult diagnosis often causes a poor prognosis and high mortality. Hence, we report 4 cases of HNRMS and their follow-up outcomes, and review the clinicopathological features of this rare tumor. The 4 patients ranged in age from 5 to 29 years. Among them, 3 patients had a good prognosis after combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy or surgery alone. Another patient survived for only 3 months after diagnosis without therapy. Deeply insight into HNRMS might improve the ability of diagnosis and treatment for this disease.     

Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules: does the size limit its efficiency?

Purpose: The management criterion of thyroid nodules is to evaluate the risk of malignancy, based on cytological examinations. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB) has a highly diagnostic value for thyroid nodules. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of US-FNAB for thyroid nodules with different sizes. Material and methods: From August 2013 to November 2013, 344patients with thyroid nodules who had undergone US-FNAB were divided into three groups, according to the largest diameter of their nodules (group A, ≤ 5.0 mm; group B, 5.1-10.0 mm; group C, > 10.0 mm). All the nodules were subsequently verified by histology or follow-up findings. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of aspiration cytology in each group was compared. Results: Among 344 thyroid nodules diagnosed by cytology, the cytology was classified as nondiagnostic or unsatisfactory for 53 (15.4%) lesions, benign for 144 (41.9%) lesions, atypia of undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance for 20 (5.8%) lesions, follicular neoplasm or suspicious for a follicular neoplasm for 26 (7.6%) lesions, suspicious for malignancy for 36 (10.5%) lesions, malignant for 65 (18.9%) lesions. There were 243 benign and 101 malignant nodules confirmed by the pathological or follow-up ultrasound. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were confirmed to be 87.5% (14/16), 92.5% (37/40), 91% (51/56), 82.3% (14/17), and 94.8% (37/39) in group A; 92.3% (36/39), 96.9% (94/97), 95.5% (130/136), 92.3% (36/39), and 96.9% (94/97) in group B; and 91.3% (42/46), 93.4% (99/106), 92.7% (141/152) 85.7% (42/49), and 96.1% (99/103), in group C. There were no statistical differences in accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, false positive accuracy, false negative rate of fine needle aspiration of thyroid nodules with different sizes (P > 0.05). Conclusion: US-FNAB has similar diagnostic efficacy to thyroid nodules with different sizes.     

糖尿病视网膜病变随访管理系统的研发与应用

目的:探索基于移动终端的糖尿病视网膜病变随访管理系统在眼科的临床应用。方法:眼科医师根据疾病诊疗特点设计数据库结构,与软件工程师合作研发糖尿病视网膜病变随访管理系统。糖尿病患者在医师指导下使用随访软件,完成随访计划。结果:糖尿病视网膜病变随访管理系统以移动App及微信公众号的形式呈现,包含个人信息、病史、系统体检、眼科专科检查、眼科治疗、系统治疗六大数据采集模块,具备移动办公、医患交流、病历管理、随访提醒、科研管理、安全防护等功能。投入临床应用,运行稳定。结论:利用随访系统跟踪管理糖尿病患者,一方面可为糖尿病视网膜病变临床诊疗决策提供参考,帮助患者明确病情并有效预防其发展;另一方面可为糖尿病视网膜病变的科学研究提供优质数据资料,具有广阔应用前景和社会效益。     

Echocardiographic evolution of pulmonary artery pressure after acute pulmonary embolism. Results from IPER registry

Aims

The aim of the study is to describe the course of the echocardiographically measured pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PAsP) in a series of patients included in the Italian Pulmonary Embolism Registry (IPER).

Methods

Patients with confirmed PE received an echo-Doppler evaluation within 24 hours from hospital admission and after one year. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was considered “likely” , “possible” or “unlikely” with a right ventricular-right atrial (RV-RA) pressure gradient > 45 mm Hg, between 32 and 45 mm Hg and ≤ 31 mm Hg and no additional echocardiographic variables suggestive of PH, respectively.

Results

We studied 286 patients (169 females and 117 males, mean age 67 ± 15; mean follow-up 387 ± 45 days): 240 had a baseline tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and a RV-RA gradient of variable degree. PH was considered likely, unlikely and possible in 97, 93 and 50 patients respectively. At FU echocardiography, 6 patients (2.1%) had a likely PH and all of them were part of the group of 97 patients with a baseline likely PH; 24 patients (8.4%) had a possible PH, and 67% of them had an initial likely PH. No patients with a baseline unlikely PH or without TR developed a follow-up PH (both likely or possible). The probability to show a likely PH at FU echocardiography for patients with a baseline RV-RA gradient > 45 mm Hg was 6.2%, while the probability not to have a likely PH for patients with a baseline RV-RA gradient ≤ 45 mm Hg was 100%.

Conclusion

In our study population of patients with acute PE, we observed that those presenting with a baseline echocardiographic RV-RA pressure gradient ≤ 45 mm Hg were completely free from a likely PH after 1-year.     

计算机辅助设计与辅助制作种植体上部全瓷冠的六年临床随访

目的:对Cerec3计算机辅助设计与辅助制作(CAD-CAM)系统制作的种植体上部全瓷冠进行6年随访,评价其远期效果,以期为临床提供参考。方法:使用Cerec3 CAD-CAM系统对植入36例患者的缺牙区的40颗种植体进行上部全瓷冠的CAD-CAM修复,定期随访,末次随访时参照改良美国加州牙科协会评价标准对CAD-CAM全瓷冠进行评价,同时对患者进行满意度问卷调查,并进行Kapl an-Mei er生存率分析。结果:除7件CAD-CAM全瓷冠失败外,其余33件CAD-CAM全瓷冠随访70个月-80个月。除费用外,患者对其余指标的满意度达100%。Ka-pl an-Mei er生存率分析显示,CAD-CAM全瓷冠的6年留存率为82.5%。结论:Cer ec3 CAD-CAM系统制作的种植体上部全瓷冠可在口腔环境中长期保存并行使功能。     

Sociodemographic and Psychopathological Risk Factors for Repetition of Attempted Suicide: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study

The present study examines the association between repetition of suicide attempts and sociodemographic and psychopathological characteristics of patients during a 5-year follow-up period. Participants were 874 suicide attempters referred to the University Hospital of Ghent, among whom 361 (41.3%) patients were available for follow-up analysis. Within 5 years, 29.2% of those admitted for an index suicide attempt repeated non-fatal suicidal behavior. Repetition of suicidal behavior was associated with high scores on measures of psychopathology. In addition, the risk of repetition was increased if the patient was female, aged between 20 and 49, and had a lower education. Multivariate analysis showed significant results for age, the Buglass & Horton Risk of Repetition Scale and for anxiety. Repetition of suicidal behavior is associated with high anxiety, severe depression, more psychiatric symptoms and is increased in young patients.     

Life-Time Adversities,Reported Thirteen Years After a Suicide Attempt: Relationship to Recovery, 5HTTLPR Genotype,and Past and Present Morbidity

In this study, we investigated how adversities related to past and present morbidity, and genotype. Forty-two, suicide attempters and 22 matched control patients were followed-up after 13 years. Life-time adversities were explored in an interview, and the patients were reassessed psychiatrically. The serotonin-transporter-linked promotor region (5-HTTLPR) was typed. More adversities were reported by suicide attempters than controls, and by still-ill than recovered suicide attempters. Adversities reported at follow-up were related to psychiatric morbidity at follow-up, but not to morbidity 13 years earlier. The 5-HTTLPR, genotype was associated with reported adversities, but not chances of recovery. Adversities potentially affected chronic morbidity. 5-HTTLPR genotype did not affect long-term recovery.     

Patients' choice of dental treatment following examination at a specialty unit for adverse reactions to dental materials

The Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit in Bergen, Norway, is a national unit for the examination of patients with suspected adverse reactions to dental materials. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with suspected adverse reactions to dental materials experienced improvement in health after dental restorations had been replaced, and whether they had acted according to the recommendations of the Unit. A questionnaire was sent to 358 patients who had been examined at the Unit 18 months to 7 years earlier. Of the 207 patients who completed the questionnaire, 85 had had restorative materials replaced with other types of materials. A majority had had amalgam fillings replaced. After replacement, 51 patients reported an improvement in health. Twelve patients reported that they felt worse after replacement. The Unit recommended replacement of materials in 31 patients, of whom 24 followed the recommendation. Among 176 patients who were not given specific recommendations as to replacement of dental materials, 67 had had their restorations replaced, and 40 had started to have them replaced. It appears that the examination at the Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit is one of several inputs that influence a person's decision to replace dental materials.     

术中超声辅助下行孤立肾肾癌保留肾单位手术效果观察

目的：探讨术中超声辅助下孤立肾肾癌保留肾单位手术对选择性肾动脉阻断以及确定肿瘤切缘的作用。方法：回顾2004-2011年先天性或获得性孤立肾肾细胞癌行保留肾单位手术患者资料,共7例术中采用超声多普勒确认肾段动脉阻断效果,并对肿瘤包膜边缘行超声检测从而进一步确定肿瘤切缘。术后1个月、6个月以及1年随访对比术前肾功能变化,并规律随访患者预后至今。结果：7例手术均成功行保留肾单位手术,超声引导检测下行选择性肾段动脉阻断5例,另2例采用单纯肾动脉于阻断下手术,术中超声发现肿瘤可疑卫星灶2例并指导切缘。术后6个月及1年随访肾功能与术前相比无明显下降,所有患者随访至今,平均随访45．4个月,均未见肿瘤复发或转移。结论：术中超声辅助下行保留肾单位手术是治疗孤立肾肾癌的理想方法,有助于肿瘤的准确切除和肾功能保护。