Radiation dose reduction during hysterosalpingography: an application of scanning-beam digital radiography

Hysterosalpingography was performed in 31 patients by means of a low-dose scanning-beam digital radiographic system. The technique permits adequate evaluation of gynecologic abnormalities while allowing significant reduction in radiation: 2.4-mR (6.1 X 10(-7) C/kg) exposure to the skin and 0.7-mrad (7 X 10(-6) Gy) mean dose to the ovaries per image obtained. Sixteen patients demonstrated readily recognizable and documented abnormalities, corroborated by laparoscopy, laparotomy, or other supportive evidence.     

Merkel Cell Carcinoma Arising from the Subcutaneous Fat of the Arm with Intact Skin

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare malignant neuroendocrine neoplasm characteristically arising from the dermis of sunlight-exposed skin. It rarely arises outside the skin. OBJECTIVE: We present a patient with primary Merkel cell carcinoma arising from subcutaneous fat, with no involvement of the overlying skin. We describe the clinical manifestations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. METHODS: We report a 63-year-old woman with a primary lesion of Merkel cell carcinoma that arose from the subcutaneous fat layer of the left arm. The lesion presented as a subcutaneous nodule with intact overlying skin. MRI showed that the nodular lesion was located entirely in the subcutaneous fat layer, with no involvement of the dermis. Peritumoral infiltration around the lesion and enlarged lymph nodes deep to the lesion were noted. The patient received wide excision of the lesion with dissection of the regional lymph nodes and adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma with local lymphatic metastasis, and the lesion was completely located in the subcutaneous fat, with no involvement of the dermis. These findings were well correlated with MRI findings. CONCLUSION: Primary Merkel cell carcinoma may arise from the subcutaneous fat and present as an entirely subcutaneous lesion with intact skin. MRI is helpful to evaluate the local extension of the lesion and regional lymphatic metastasis.     

表小檗碱对α受体的作用

表小檗碱(epiberberine,EB)是从湖北产黄连(Coptis chinensis Franch)中提取的一种生物碱,属苯喹嗪类原小檗碱,对其药理作用的研究资料甚少,未见其对α肾上腺素体作用的报道。资料表明,许多原小檗碱类化合物有α受体阻滞作用,为从该类化合物中选择     

Pain and faulty breathing: a pilot study

The purpose of this pilot study was to observe both relaxed and deep breathing patterns in a convenience sample to determine the incidence of normal versus faulty patterns of respiration. These observations were then combined with respondent answers to a survey on pain history to determine if there is any correlation between faulty breathing and musculo-skeletal pain patterns. If such a correlation can be made, then we propose that clinicians working with chronic pain patients may have improved outcomes if they address and correct faulty breathing patterns. Based on this study, it is suggested to include the evaluation and treatment of faulty respiration in the rehabilitation of chronic musculo-skeletal conditions, most notably cervical pain.     

Operative morbidity and risk factor assessment in melanoma patients undergoing inguinal lymph node dissection.

A series of 168 patients who underwent 177 inguinal lymph node dissections from 1979 to 1989 were retrospectively reviewed to determine the incidence and severity of postoperative complications as well as the perioperative risk factors associated with them. Operative mortality was 0%, whereas the incidence of moderate to severe wound infection was 11%, skin flap problems 0%, seromas 6%, and hemorrhage 3%. The occurrence of a wound complication increased the average hospital stay from 11 to 12 days. Multivariate risk factor analysis revealed age older than 50, male sex, and smoking to be significant risk factors for developing a wound infection. The use of prophylactic antibiotics and the duration of closed suction catheter drainage were not predictive of wound complications. Overall, 44% of patients experienced some postoperative edema, with only 7% of patients having 1+ edema that lasted longer than 6 months. Combined ilioinguinal lymph node dissection increased the chance of developing moderate to severe edema. These risk factors identify patients at high risk for morbidity, which should lead to improved perioperative care.     

Surgical management and prognostic factors in patients with subungual melanoma.

OBJECTIVE: Forty-six cases of subungual melanoma were reviewed to identify significant clinicopathologic prognostic factors, determine the role of DNA content analysis in the biologic assessment of these tumors, and evaluate the effectiveness of amputation level, lymph node dissection (LND), and regional limb perfusion on the survival of these patients. BACKGROUND: Subungual melanoma is a unique and rare subtype of melanoma, constituting only 1% to 3% of cases. Thus, little is known about prognostic factors and optimal management of patients with this disease. Moreover, the appropriate level of amputation and LND and limb perfusion in the management of subungual melanoma remain controversial. METHODS: Forty-six patients underwent amputation alone or in combination with LND and/or regional limb perfusion for primary subungual melanoma. The effects of these treatment modalities and the prognostic significance of patient and tumor-related variables, including DNA flow cytometric data, on overall survival were assessed. RESULTS: Univariate statistical analysis identified six factors that significantly affected patient survival. They were stage at diagnosis (p = 0.0001), percentage of aneuploid cells (p = 0.01), presence of ulceration (p = 0.02) or bone invasion (p = 0.02), thickness of the primary lesion (p = 0.03), and percentage of cells in S-phase (p = 0.03). Multivariate analyses identified tumor stage and S-phase fraction as independent prognostic factors in these patients. Survival did not differ among patients who received amputation alone or those who underwent amputation in combination with LND or perfusion (p = 0.90); however, the use of limb perfusion reduced the incidence of locally recurrent disease. The level of amputation did not affect patient survival (p = 0.74) or the incidence of local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified several significant prognostic factors, including DNA flow cytometric parameters, in patients with subungual melanoma. In addition, it showed that conservative amputation of the affected digit at the level of the proximal interphalangeal or metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal joint appears to be safe, provided that clear margins are obtained. Although isolated limb perfusion may reduce the incidence of local recurrence, LND, or limb perfusion in the routine management of subungual melanoma remains controversial.     

Predicting survival and recurrence in localized melanoma: A multivariate approach

Several clinical and pathologic factors appear to affect melanoma recurrence and survival. While much attention has been directed at identifying prognostic factors, few researchers have developed predictive models for survival and recurrence. Two major clinical questions are of interest in the management of melanoma: 1) what is the patient's chance of surviving for a given period, e.g., 5 or 10 years, after diagnosis of melanoma; and 2) after a patient has been disease free for a period of time, e.g., 5 years, what is his or her chance of melanoma recurrence or death in the following interval, e.g., 5 years or 10 years. In this paper, a generalized multivariate prognostic model to address both of these clinical questions is presented.Tables of the estimated probabilities of melanoma recurrence and death for prognostic subgroups are shown to facilitate prediction of an individual patient's outcome. The model was based on a database of 4,568 patients with localized melanoma, one of the largest melanoma databases in the world with detailed clinical and pathologic information, and long-term follow-up. Tumor thickness at diagnosis was the single most important prognostic factor for all outcomes. Tumor ulceration, Clark's level, lesion location, and sex had an impact on overall survival from diagnosis for some of the subgroups defined by tumor thickness. Tumor thickness at diagnosis was strongly indicative of melanoma recurrence and death even after a disease free interval of 2, 5, or 10 years. Lesion location and ulceration were of prognostic importance after disease free intervals up to 5 years, but their impact on melanoma recurrence and death diminished after longer disease free intervals.Prediction models for melanoma outcome at diagnosis and after a disease free period can provide useful information to clinicians in the management of melanoma patients. Utilization of the model will be valuable in identifying patients at high risk for melanoma recurrence and death.

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Resumen Diversos factores clínicos y patológicos parecen afectar las tasas de recurrencia y mortalidad del melanoma. En tanto que se ha dispensado bastante atención en cuanto a identificar factores de pronóstico, pocos investigadores han desarrollado modelos de predicción de sobrevida y de recurrencia. Dos interrogantes principales son de interés en cuanto al manejo del melanoma: 1) cual es la probabilidad del paciente de sobrevivir un determinado período, por ejemplo 5 o 10 años, después del diagnóstico de melanoma; y 2) después de que el paciente se ha mantenido libre de enfermedad por un período de tiempo, por ejemplo 5 años, cual es su probabilidad de recurrencia del melanoma o de muerte en el siguiente período de tiempo, por ejemplo 5 o 10 años. En este artículo se presenta un modelo generalizado y multivariable de pronóstico para enfrentar estos interrogantes clínicos.Se presentan tablas para estimar las probabilidades de recurrencia y de muerte en divesos subgrupos de pronóstico que facilitan la predicción del destino final de un individuo. El modelo se fundamentó en una base de datos de 4568 pacientes con melanomas localizado, una de las más grandes bases de datos de melanoma existentes en el mundo, con detallada información clínica y patológica y con seguimiento a largo plazo. El espesor del tumor en el momento del diagnóstico apareció como el factor individual de pronóstico de mayor importancia. La ulceración del tumor, el nivel de Clark, la ubicación de la lesión y el sexo exhibieron importancia en cuanto a la sobrevida para algunos de los subgrupos definidos según el espesor del tumor. El espesor del tumor en el momento del diagnóstico fue un factor fuertemente indicativo de recurrencia y de muerte, aún después de un intervalo libre de enfermedad de 2, 5 o 10 años. La ubicación de la lesión y la ulceración aparecieron como de importancia en cuanto el pronóstico después de intervalos libres de enfermedad hasta de 5 años, pero tal importancia disminuyó después de intervalos libres de enfermedad de mayor duración.Los modelos de predicción del resultado final en el melanoma aplicados en el momento del diagnóstico y después de un período libre de enfermedad pueden proveer información útil para el manejo clínico de pacientes con melanomas. La utilización del modelo es de valor en la identificación de pacientes con mayor riesgo de recurrencia y muerte por melanoma.

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Résumé Plusieurs facteurs cliniques et anatomopathologiques semblent déterminer la récidive et la survie des mélanomes. De nombreux auteurs se sont intéressés à l'identidification des facteurs de pronostic, mais peu d'équipes ont essayé d'élaborer un modèle permettant de prédire survie et récidive. Deux problèmes restent à résoudre dans le traitement des mélanomes: 1) quelles sont les chances de survie après le diagnostic de mélanome pour un patient donné, pendant une période donnée, par exemple 5 à 10 ans et 2) quels sont les risques de récidive ou de décès dans les 5 à 10 ans qui suivent une période donnée (par exemple 5 ans) où un patient semblait en rémission. Dans cet article, nous avons créé un modèle d'évaluation pronostique multifactorielle pour tenter de répondre à ces 2 questions.Des tables montrant les probabilités de récidive et de décès par mélanome, calculées à partir de sous groupes différents, peuvent aider à déterminer le pronostic. Ce modèle repose sur une banque de données de 4568 patients atteints de mélanome non disséminé. Il s'agit d'une des plus grandes banques de données au monde contenant des informations cliniques, anatomopathologiques et sur l'évolution à long terme. L'épaisseur de la tumeur au moment du diagnostic était le facteur pronostic le plus important pour déterminer l'évolution. Le caractère ulcéré, le stade de Clark, la localisation de la lésion et le sexe avaient tous une importance pronostique, influant sur la survie globale liée à l'épaisseur de la tumeur. L'importance de l'épaisseur de la tumeur au moment du diagnostic était un facteur de récidive et mortalité même après un intervalle long de 2, 5 ou 10 ans. Le site de la tumeur et son caractère ulcéré étaient également des facteurs associés à un risque de récidive tumorale ou de décès après une rémission de 5 ans. L'influence de ces facteurs diminuait en cas de rémission plus prolongée.Les modèles permettant d'évaluer l'évolution du mélanome malin au moment du diagnostic et apreès un intervalle de rémission sont utiles au cours du traitement du mélanome. Ils doivent permettre d'identifier les patients à risque de récidive et de décès.

     

36例踝关节骨折合并下胫腓联合分离的治疗体会

0 引言 踝关节骨折是临床上较常见的关节内骨折,包含了腓骨骨折,内踝骨折,后踝骨折和下胫腓联合的损伤. 处理不当可导致踝穴的变形,下胫腓联合分离后期出现创伤性关节炎.