Brachytherapy: An emblematic example of extreme hypofractionated regimen

In order to provide more convenient irradiation regimens for patient comfort, radiation facility organization and health expenses, new hypofractionated protocols have been evaluated. Moderately (dose/fraction: 2.3 to 3 Gy), then ultra (dose/fraction: 5.2 to 6.1 Gy) hypofractionated irradiations were first validated. The current question is: is it possible to go forward using extreme hypofractionated regimens (EHR) based on 1 to 3 fractions. Different irradiation techniques are under investigation. However, brachytherapy remains the smartest way to deliver a high dose in a small volume. We report prospective and retrospective study results which evaluated EHR for breast and prostate brachytherapy. While oncological outcome and toxicity profile appear extremely encouraging for low-risk breast cancer after a 1 to 4 fractions (6.25 to 20 Gy/fraction), the use of a single fraction of 19 to 23 Gy appears debatable for prostate cancer. Brachytherapy represents an emblematic example of EHR but longer follow-up and more mature results are awaited in order to specify the right indications and refine the EQD2 calculation method including new biological and technical factors.     

Confounded association between proton pump inhibitor use and risk of biliary tract cancer: Result from three cohorts

Recent epidemiological studies suggested that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use was associated with an increased risk of biliary tract cancer (BTC), however, confounders were not adequately controlled. Our study aimed to evaluate PPI use and subsequent risk of BTC and its subtypes in three well-established cohorts. We conducted a pooled analysis of the subjects free of cancers in UK Biobank (n = 463 643), Nurses' Health Study (NHS, n = 80 235) and NHS II (n = 95 869). Propensity score weighted Cox models were used to estimate marginal HRs of PPIs use on BTC risk, accounting for potential confounders. We documented 284 BTC cases in UK Biobank (median follow-up: 7.6 years), and 91 cases in NHS and NHS II cohorts (median follow-up: 15.8 years). In UK biobank, PPI users had a 96% higher risk of BTC compared to nonusers in crude model (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.44-2.66), but the effect was attenuated to null after adjusting for potential confounders (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.60-1.49). PPI use was not associated with risk of BTC in the pooled analysis of three cohorts (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.60-1.43). We also observed no associations between PPI use with risk of intrahepatic (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.49-2.04), extrahepatic bile duct (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.52-2.27) and gallbladder cancers (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.26-1.66) in UK Biobank. In summary, regular use of PPIs was not associated with the risk of BTC and its subtypes.     

Morphological,Functional, and Tissue Characterization of Silent Myocardial Involvement in Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis

1. Download : Download high-res image (419KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

单侧外固定治疗重度Pilon骨折的临床疗效探究

目的探讨单侧外固定治疗重度Pilon骨折的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析2017年6月-2018年12月南京中大医院江北院区骨科收治的重度Pilon骨折患者100例,男性54例,女性46例;年龄18~65岁,平均35.5岁;Ruedi-AllgowerⅡ型39例,Ⅲ型61例。按照不同固定方法分为常规固定组和单侧外固定组,各50例,比较两组患者住院时间、完全负重下地时间、骨折愈合时间,评价治疗前及治疗后3个月踝关节活动度、踝关节功能恢复情况、疼痛程度,并统计患者的治疗效果及并发症发生情况。结果单侧外固定组住院时间、完全负重下地时间、骨折愈合时间分别为(16.50±1.50)d、(132.56±10.25)d、(14.16±0.69)周,均短于常规固定组(19.25±2.35)d、(198.65±16.58)d、(17.58±1.50)周(t/P=6.975/0.001、23.970/0.001、14.650/0.001)。治疗后3个月,单侧外固定组踝关节Mazur评分为(85.67±6.59)分,显著高于常规固定组(62.78±3.45)分,VAS评分为(2.23±0.36)分,低于常规固定组(4.59±0.89)分(t/P=21.760/0.001、17.380/0.001);单侧外固定组患者踝关节活动度分别为(17.29±0.16)°、(28.36±1.23)°、(19.68±0.16)°、(16.89±2.12)°,均高于常规固定组(10.62±1.25)°、(21.57±2.58)°、(14.36±1.62)°、(14.25±0.57)°(t/P=37.430/0.001、16.800/0.001、23.110/0.001、8.503/0.001)。单侧外固定组治疗优良率为90.00%,显著高于常规固定组74.00%(χ^2/P=4.336/0.037)。单侧外固定组总并发症发生率为4.00%,显著低于常规固定组的18.00%(χ^2/P=5.005/0.025)。结论单侧外固定支架治疗重度Pilon骨折可有效减轻患者疼痛症状,提高患者踝关节活动度,恢复患者功能,治疗效果显著,安全性较高。     

Customized three-dimensionally printed mandibular external fixator

The advent of customized three-dimensional (3D) printing allows the affordable manufacturing of sophisticated medical devices, thereby providing swift and simple solutions to specific needs in modern healthcare. Meanwhile, certain devices such as industrial mandibular external fixators (EFs) have become less and less available from medical device companies because of decreased indications. What is more, their handling is often complex. The authors report, step by step, the original design and uneventful clinical use of a 3D-printed, customized mandibular EF. This device was designed together with a positioning and drilling guide for the fixation of a septic mandibular pseudarthrosis. It provided an adequate and satisfactory balance between lightness and rigidity. A simple, accurate and safe placement of the EF was achieved thanks to the skin-supported positioner and drilling guide, thereby making the procedure minimally invasive and time-efficient. To our knowledge, this is the first reported clinical use of a 3D-printed, customized mandibular EF to date. Because such 3D technology is becoming increasingly available to a large number of surgeons, the authors believe that the present innovation could become an alternative to reusable standard EFs.     

Connectivity measures suggest a sub-cortical generator of myoclonus in Angelman syndrome

ObjectiveThe clinical and neurophysiological characteristics of myoclonus in Angelman syndrome (AS) have been evaluated in single case or small cohorts, with contrasting results. We evaluated the features of myoclonus in a wide cohort of AS patients.MethodsWe performed polygraphic EEG-EMG recording in 24 patients with genetically confirmed AS and myoclonus. Neurophysiological investigations included jerk-locked back-averaging (JLBA), cortico-muscular coherence (CMC) and generalised partial directed coherence (GPDC). CMC and GPDC analyses were compared to those obtained from 10 healthy controls (HC).ResultsTwenty-four patients (aged 3–35 years, median 20) were evaluated. Sequences of quasi-continuous rhythmic jerks mostly occurred at alpha frequency or just below (mean 8.4 ± 1.4 Hz), without EEG correlate. JLBA did not show any clear transient preceding the jerks. CMC showed bilateral over-threshold CMC in alpha band that was prominent on the contralateral hemisphere in the patient group as compared to HC group. GPDC showed a significantly higher alpha outflow from both hemispheres toward activated muscles in the patient group, and a significantly higher beta outflow from contralateral hemisphere in the HC group.ConclusionsThese neurophysiological findings suggest a subcortical generator of myoclonus in AS.SignificanceMyoclonus in AS has not a cortical origin as previously hypothesised.