A novel technique to measure severity of pediatric pectus excavatum using white light scanning.

Background/purpose

Computed tomography (CT) derived Haller Index (HI) remains the standard for quantifying severity in patient with pectus excavatum (PE). Optical scanning described in literature reports optimistic results and new indices that correlate with HI. This study assessed the feasibility of a handheld White Light Scanner (WLS) to obtain 3D measurements and indices of PE deformity.

Quantification of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor Binding in Depressed Suicide Attempters and Non-Attempters

Objective: To determine serotonin system abnormalities related to major depression or previous suicidal behavior.

Methods: [¹¹C]WAY100635, [¹⁸F]altanserin and positron emission tomography were used to compare 5-HT_1A and 5-HT_2A binding in MDD patients divided into eight past suicide attempters (>4yrs prior to scanning) and eight lifetime non-attempters, and both groups were compared to eight healthy volunteers.

Results: The two receptor types differed in binding pattern across brain regions from each other, but there were no differences in binding between healthy volunteers and the two depressed groups or between depressed suicide attempters and non-attempters. No effects of depression severity or lifetime aggression were observed for either receptor.

Conclusion: Limitations of this study include small sample size and absence of high lethality suicide attempts in the depressed attempter group. No trait-like binding correlations with past suicide attempt or current depression were observed. Given the heterogeneity of nonfatal suicidal behavior, a larger sample study emphasizing higher lethality suicide attempts may find the serotonin biological phenotype seen in suicide decedents.     

肝移植术后认知与脑改变的多模态神经成像

肝性脑病是终末期肝硬化的重要并发症,导致病人出现一系列神经及认知功能改变。肝移植术后病人在肝功能恢复的同时其认知功能也可明显改善。MRI可以从脑代谢、结构及功能方面更进一步揭示肝硬化病人移植术后认知及脑改变情况。综述肝移植术后认知改变的研究现状以及最新的多模态MRI技术在术后脑改变中的应用,及其在揭示术后认知恢复及残存损害的神经机制中的价值。     

改良单图像法手工测量髌骨不稳患者胫骨结节-股骨滑车沟间距的可行性分析

目的 探讨改良单图像法手工测量髌骨不稳患者胫骨结节-股骨滑车沟（tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove，TT-TG）间距的可行性。 方法 选取髌骨不稳患者30例。高年资手术医师A、B，使用改良单图像法手工测量髌骨不稳患者TT-TG间距，对比高资年影像学医师C，使用双图法测量髌骨不稳患者TT-TG间距。应用Cronbach′s alpha系数评价结果的可信度。应用组内相关系数（intraclass correlation coefficient，ICC）评价结果的可重复性。使用Bland-Altman分析图评价结果的一致性。 结果 高年资手术医师A、B使用改良单图像法手工测量髌骨不稳患者TT-TG间距分别和高年资影像学医师C使用双图法测量髌骨不稳患者TT-TG间距比较，Cronbach′s alpha系数分别为0.913和0.959，组内相关系数分别为0.913和0.958。Bland-Altman分析图显示，TT-TG间距差值（mm）的均值为-0.276（95%CI：-3.526~2.974）和0.143（95%CI：-3.110~3.397）。A、B医师之间使用改良单图像法手工测量髌骨不稳患者TT-TG间距比较，Cronbach′s alpha系数为0.891，组内相关系数为0.891。Bland-Altman分析图显示TT-TG间距差值（mm）的均值为-0.276（95%CI：-3.526~2.974）。 结论 改良单图像法手工测量髌骨不稳患者TT-TG间距操作简单，可以准确测量出髌骨不稳患者的TT-TG间距，该方法和双图法可以相互替换使用。     

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced inflammatory arthritis: identification and management

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have proved to be groundbreaking in the field of oncology. However, immune system overactivation from ICIs has introduced a novel medical entity known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs), that can affect any organ or tissue. ICI-induced inflammatory arthritis (ICI-IIA) is the most common musculoskeletal irAE and can lead to significant morbidity and limitation in anti-cancer therapy.     

磁锚定技术辅助腹腔镜阑尾切除术的实验研究

目的:验证自行设计加工的磁锚定装置在减戳孔腹腔镜阑尾切除术中应用的可行性。方法:设计加工适用于辅助减戳孔腹腔镜阑尾切除术的磁锚定装置,该装置包括内置抓钳和锚定磁体2个部分。以6只健康雄性Beagle犬为模型,用磁锚定装置代替传统腹腔镜阑尾切除术中的副操作孔抓钳,经主操作孔置入磁锚定内置抓钳并钳夹于阑尾尖部,体外放置锚定磁体,锚定磁体与内置抓钳的靶磁体相吸,移动锚定磁体即可改变内置抓钳的牵拉方向,从而有效牵拉暴露手术术野,完成减戳孔腹腔镜阑尾切除手术。记录手术操作时间、术中出血量,评价利用磁锚定装置进行阑尾切除时操作的安全性和可行性。结果:6只Beagle犬均顺利完成磁锚定技术辅助减戳孔腹腔镜阑尾切除,手术时间27~38 min,出血量均小于10 ml,术后实验犬状态良好,未出现并发症。结论:磁锚定装置用于减戳孔腹腔镜阑尾切除手术操作简单、安全可行,在相关设计进一步优化基础上,可尝试或试验性用于临床。     

二维斑点追踪技术评价低温兔左室纵向功能

目的:探讨应用二维斑点追踪技术评价低温条件下兔左心室纵向功能的价值。方法:30只新西兰兔随机分成对照组(n=10),低温组A(n=10),低温组B(n=10)。先行常规心脏数据测量,然后采用组织多普勒(TDI),之后应用斑点追踪成像(STI)中的获取基底段、中间段、心尖段及整体水平SL、SrLs.SrL E,SrL A及分层应变技术获取3个长轴切面心内膜下、中层和心外膜下心肌收缩期纵向峰值应变(SL)。结果:①与对照组相比,A组心内膜下心肌LS值的减低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),B组3层心肌SL值的减低明显,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)②与对照组相比,A组大部分纵向应变及应变率减低(P<0.05);B组基底段、中间段、心尖段及整体水平SL,SrL S、SrLE、SrLA均减低(P<0.01)结论:随低温时间延长,左室壁3层心肌SL值受累程度不同,心内膜应变较心外膜更加敏感,二维班点追踪技术比LVEF及TDI更早发现左室功能减低。     

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Breast Cancer Care in the Netherlands: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put a strain on regular healthcare worldwide. In the Netherlands, the national screening programs, including for breast cancer, were halted temporarily. This posed a challenge to breast cancer care, because ∼40% of cases are detected through national screening. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the surgical care of patients with breast cancer in the Netherlands.Materials and MethodsThe present multicenter retrospective cohort study investigated the effects of COVID-19 on patients with breast cancer who had undergone surgery from March 9 to May 17, 2020. The primary endpoints were the number of surgical procedures performed during the study period, tumor characteristics, surgery type, and route of referral. The secondary endpoint was the incidence of postoperative complications during the study period.ResultsA total of 217 consecutive patients with breast cancer requiring surgery were included. We found an overall decrease in the number of patients with breast cancer who were undergoing surgery. The most significant decline was seen in surgery for T1-T2 and N0 tumors. A decline in the number of referrals from both the national screening program and general practitioners was observed. The incidence of postoperative complications remained stable during the study period.ConclusionsThe temporary halt of the national screening program for breast cancer resulted in fewer surgical procedures during the study period and a pronounced decrease in surgery of the lower tumor stages.     

New and important changes in breast cancer TNM: incorporation of biologic factors into staging

Introduction: Cancer staging has historically been based solely on the anatomic extent of the tumor (T), spread to lymph nodes (N), and the presence of distant metastases (M). More recently biologic factors have been added to modify TNM stage groups to provide more accurate prognosis for patients.

Areas covered: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) updated breast cancer staging in 2016 to include T, N, M, tumor grade and expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER2. Addition of these factors changed the stage group for a large fraction of cases compared to prior TNM stage groupings. This updated ‘prognostic stage’ provides more robust and precise prognosis information.

Expert opinion: Inclusion of biological information in staging changes the meaning and the use of stage in clinical practice. This paper reviews the evidence supporting these changes, limitations affecting staging, and discusses the implications for clinical practice and the future of breast cancer staging.