Factors influencing choice of medical vs. surgical treatment of pediatric appendicitis

PurposeTo examine what proportion of caregivers, if given a choice, would choose medical versus surgical treatment of appendicitis and what factors would be important in their decision.MethodsA survey was devised and given to the caregivers of children presenting to the pediatrician for a routine visit in community and academic pediatric clinics. The survey presented a summary of outcomes after medical (non-operative) and surgical treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis. Participants were then asked to choose medical versus surgical treatment if their child were to develop appendicitis. They were also asked to rate the importance of certain factors in their decision ? 1 being “not important” and 5 being “very important”.ResultsFour hundred surveys were distributed with an 86.2% (345/400) response rate. Six percent (21/342) of respondents reported a history of appendicitis and 49.4% (168/340) reported having known someone who had appendicitis. The majority of respondents, 85.3% (284/333), were mothers. A minority of respondents, 41.7% (95% CI: 36.7, 47.0), chose medical treatment over surgery for appendicitis. There was no statistical difference in the proportion of mothers (41.6%) versus fathers who chose medical treatment (41.3%). Caregivers who chose medical treatment were more likely to rate time in hospital (p = .008) and time out of school (p = 05) as important in decision making when compared with those who chose surgery. Those who chose surgical treatment were more likely to rate risk of recurrent appendicitis (p < .001) as important to decision making. In the multivariate analysis, those who rated time in hospital as very important had more than twice the odds of choosing medical therapy (OR 2.20, p = 0.02) when compared with those who rated it as less important. Not knowing someone who has had appendicitis was significantly associated with choosing medical therapy when compared with those who do know someone who has had appendicitis, OR 2.3, p = .002. Rating pain as very important was also significantly associated with choosing medical therapy, when compared to those rating pain 1–3, OR 3.38, p = .03.ConclusionsIn this survey of caregivers of children presenting for routine care, 41.7% would choose medical, or non-operative, therapy for their children with acute appendicitis. The risk of recurrence, time in hospital, and time out of school, pain, and knowing someone who has had appendicitis were all important factors that families may consider when making a decision. These data may be useful for surgeons counseling patients on which treatment to pursue.     

Antibiotic prophylaxis in orthognathic surgery: an overview of systematic reviews

The purpose of this overview was to assess different antibiotic regimens used in orthognathic surgery and to establish an evidence-based protocol so that beneficial and adverse effects can be determined. A comprehensive literature search for systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library until March 2020. Grey literature was investigated in Google Scholar, and a manual search was done of references lists. Two meta-analyses and four systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. The AMSTAR-2-tool was used to ascertain the potential risk of bias in the included studies, which presented moderate to high methodological quality. Lower infection rates were associated with long-term therapies of penicillin, cefazolin-cephalexin, and amoxicillin-clavulanic-acid, with rates varying from 0% - 3.13%. Higher rates were reported in placebo groups (52.6%) and short-term penicillin therapy (60%). Side effects were reported with cefazolin, clindamycin, and penicillin therapies, including nausea, pain, swelling, headache, vomiting, and skin rash. Evidence suggests that long-term antibiotics can reduce the risk of a surgical site infection (SSI) in orthognathic surgery, but there is uncertainty regarding the effects of one dose of antibiotics preoperatively versus short-term antibiotics. In the same way, intravenous penicillin, cefazolin, clindamycin, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid kept the infection rates associated with bimaxillary procedures under 3.5%.     

Photodynamic therapy to control microbial biofilms

Microorganisms thrive in well-organized biofilm ecosystems. Biofilm-associated cells typically show increased resistance to antibiotics and contribute significantly to treatment failure. This has prompted investigations aimed at developing advanced and novel antimicrobial approaches that could effectively overcome the shortcomings associated with conventional antibiotic therapy. Studies are ongoing to develop effective curative strategies ranging from the use of peptides, small molecules, nanoparticles to bacteriophages, sonic waves, and light energy targeting various structural and physiological aspects of biofilms. In photodynamic therapy, a light source of a specific wavelength is used to irradiate non-toxic photosensitizers such as tetrapyrroles, synthetic dyes or, naturally occurring compounds to generate reactive oxygen species that can exert a lethal effect on the microbe especially by disrupting the biofilm. The photosensitizer preferentially binds to and accumulates in the microbial cells without causing any damage to the host tissue. Currently, photodynamic therapy is increasingly being used for the treatment of oral caries and dental plaque, chronic wound infections, infected diabetic foot ulcers, cystic fibrosis, chronic sinusitis, implant device-associated infections, etc. This approach is recognized as safe, as it is non-toxic and minimally invasive, making it a reliable, realistic, and promising therapeutic strategy for reducing the microbial burden and biofilm formation in chronic infections. In this review article, we discuss the current and future potential strategies of utilizing photodynamic therapy to extend our ability to impede and eliminate biofilms in various medical conditions.     

前房注射卡波姆建立大鼠高眼压模型的观察

目的　前房注射卡波姆建立大鼠高眼压模型，观察卡波姆升眼压效果及对大鼠眼前节和视网膜的影响。方法　随机选取30只SD大鼠，注射前3 d早晚测量基线眼压。右眼定为实验眼，左眼定为对照眼，右眼放出房水后将30 μL的5 g·L^-1卡波姆混悬液注入前房，每日早10时、晚22时在大鼠清醒状态下测量眼压。每周进行双眼眼前节照相并对比。4周末处死26只大鼠（另4只持续观察眼压变化至注射后9周）并取双眼眼球行HE染色，观察实验眼与对照眼视网膜形态，对比视网膜厚度及房角形态。结果　注射前，实验眼白天和夜间眼压分别为（11.10±0.90）mmHg（1 kPa=7.5 mmHg）和（11.92±1.07）mmHg，对照眼分别为（11.22±1.07）mmHg和（11.76±1.08）mmHg；实验眼与对照眼相比，白天、夜间眼压差异均无统计学意义（均为 P＞0.05）；白天与夜间眼压相比，实验眼、对照眼差异均有统计学意义（均为P<0.05）。卡波姆在前房中呈现出弥散型和沉积型两种存在方式，弥散型和沉积型大鼠1周内眼压分别为（17.83±3.54）mmHg和（13.00±1.55）mmHg，两者相比差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。注射后第1天至第19天，实验眼与对照眼白天眼压相比差异均具有统计学意义（均为P＜0.05）；注射后第1天至第27天，实验眼与对照眼夜间眼压相比差异均具有统计学意义（均为P＜0.05）。实验眼视网膜形态发生改变，注射后4周视网膜厚度为（254.70±21.80）μm，与对照眼的（346.73±24.63）μm相比，差异有统计学意义（P=0.00）。实验眼前房充满卡波姆及虹膜的混合成分，紧贴角膜内皮并延伸至房角，堵塞小梁网结构，正常虹膜形态消失；对照眼房角形态正常。结论　前房注射卡波姆建立大鼠高眼压模型，可维持高眼压4周以上，昼夜眼压差异较为明显，夜间眼压较白天更高，4周后视网膜出现高眼压损伤后的表现。     

Outcomes and risk management in type B aortic dissection patients with acute kidney injury: a concise review

PurposeType B aortic dissection is a rare but life-threatening disease. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was widely used for Type B aortic dissection patients in the last decade due to the lower mortality and morbidity compared with open chest surgical repair (OCSR). AKI in type B aortic dissection is a well-recognized complication and indicates poor short-term and long-term outcome. The objective of this concise review was to identify the risk factors and the impact of AKI on type B aortic dissection patients.Methods and resultsA literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library with the search terms ‘type B aortic dissection’ and ‘acute kidney injury’ (AKI), and all English-language literatures published in print or available online from inception through August 2020 were thoroughly reviewed. Studies that reported relative AKI risks and outcomes in type B aortic dissection patient were included. Major mechanisms of AKI in type B aortic dissection included renal hypoperfusion, inflammation response, and the use of contrast medium. Type B aortic dissection patients with AKI significantly had increased hospital stay duration, need of renal replacement therapy, and 30-d and 1-year mortality.ConclusionsAKI in type B aortic dissection is a well-recognized complication and associated with poor short-term and long-term outcome. Early identification of high-risk patients, early diagnosis of AKI, stabilization of the hemodynamic parameters, avoidance of nephrotoxic drugs, and optimization of the use of contrast agents are the major strategies for the reduction of AKI in type B aortic dissection patients.     

An Evidence-Based Review of Total Body Irradiation

The purpose of this literature review is to investigate clinical treatment methods of total body irradiation within the context of a clinical department adopting a paediatric cohort with no existing technique. An extensive review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Clinicians Knowledge Network. Articles were limited to nonhelical tomotherapy, nonparticle therapies, and those using hyperfractionated regimes. Total marrow irradiation was excluded because of national treatment and trial limitations. Of the numerous patient positioning methods present within the literature, the most comfortable and reproducible positioning methods for total body irradiation include both supine and the supine and/or prone combination. These positions increased stability and patient comfort during treatment, while also facilitating computed tomography data acquisition at the simulation stage. Ideally, dose calculations should be performed using a three-dimensional treatment planning system and quality assurance procedures that include in vivo dosimetry measurements. The available literature also suggests inhomogeneity correction factors and intensity modulation are superior to conventional open field techniques and should be implemented within developing protocols. Dynamic machine dose modulation is suggested to reduce department impact, removing the need for tissue compensators and accessory shielding devices, while providing significant improvements to treatment time and dose accuracy. Further long-term survival and intensity modulation studies are warranted, including direct comparisons of both dose modulation and treatment efficiency.     

基于家庭的心理治疗对强迫障碍治疗的研究进展

强迫障碍(obsessive-compulsive disorder,OCD)是常见的难治性精神疾病,经过心理治疗和药物治疗仅有40%~60%患者获得缓解,患者残留各种症状和功能障碍。心理治疗是OCD治疗的重要组成部分,家庭因素在疾病的发生、维持和预后中起重要作用,以家庭为基础的心理治疗越来越受到重视。文章就对OCD采用基于家庭的心理治疗的必要性和进展进行综述,研究显示患者家属的精神心理状态和家庭顺应性等因素与OCD治疗效果密切相关,而家庭成员高度参与,针对家庭因素干预的基于家庭的心理治疗策略可以增强治疗效果,改善患者家庭功能。文章为强迫障碍的临床优化治疗提供了实践依据。     

Successful Use of Surgically Placed Impella 5.0 and Central Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Circuit in a Patient with Postcardiotomy Shock

The Impella 5.0, a percutaneously inserted left ventricular assist device, has been used to support patients who have severe heart failure or who are undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention. We report our surgical placement of the Impella 5.0, through a graft sewn to the aorta, to unload the left ventricle of a 59-year-old man who was undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for postcardiotomy shock. The patient underwent successful placement of a long-term left ventricular assist device before his discharge from the hospital. The versatility of the Impella 5.0 is exemplified in this patient who was successfully bridged to long-term support.     

探究培美曲塞与多西他赛在晚期非小细胞肺癌靶向治疗失败后挽救化疗中的临床疗效

目的 研究培美曲塞与多西他赛在晚期非小细胞肺癌靶向治疗失败后挽救化疗中的应用效果。方法 筛选2018 年1 月～2020 年1 月本院的60 例晚期非小细胞肺癌靶向治疗失败后挽救化疗的患者作为研究对象，依据患者选择的药物种类分为观察组和对照组，每组各30 例，对照组采用多西他赛治疗，观察组予以培美曲塞治疗，对比分析两组的近期治疗效果、生存质量评分和毒副反应发生情况。结果 观察组病症控制率为66.67%，对照组病症控制率为36.67%，观察组病症控制效果更好；观察组生存质量评分为（65.2±3.4）分，对照组生存质量评分为（51.7±4.6）分，两组比较差异有统计学意义（t=12.926，P=0.000）；观察组各项毒副反应发生率均低于对照组，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 在晚期非小细胞肺癌靶向治疗失败后进行挽救化疗中选用培美曲塞有更好的治疗效果，可以较好的进行临床治疗，改善患者的生活质量，且产生的毒副反应较少，在实际临床中的应用价值较高。