Efficacy and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) created using covered stents of different diameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to make a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the stent diameter (8 mm vs. 10 mm) that conveys better safety and clinical efficacy for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).Materials and methodsFour databases were used to identify clinical trials published from inception until March 2020. Data were extracted to estimate and compare one-year and three-year overall survivals, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal rebleeding, and shunt dysfunction rates between patients with 8 mm covered stents and those with 10 mm covered stents.ResultsFive eligible studies were selected, which included 489 patients (316 men, 173 women). The 8 mm covered stent group had higher efficacy regarding one-year or three-year overall survival (odds ratio [OR], 2.88; P = 0.003) and (OR, 1.81; P = 0.04) and lower hepatic encephalopathy (OR, 0.69; P = 0.04) compared with 10 mm covered stent group. There were no significant differences in variceal rebleeding rate (OR 0.80; P = 0.67). However, shunt dysfunction was lower in 10 mm covered stent group (OR, 2.26; P = 0.003).ConclusionsOur results suggest that the use of 8 mm covered stents should be preferred to that of 10 mm covered stents for TIPS placement when portal pressure is frequently monitored.     

手术治疗结节性甲状腺肿合并甲状腺癌的临床效果

目的:分析手术治疗结节性甲状腺肿合并甲状腺癌的临床效果。方法:从2017年3月~2019年3月期间到我院接受治疗的结节性甲状腺肿合并甲状腺癌患者中选出60例完成此次研究,60例患者全部接受手术治疗,经1年的随访后对比两组患者接受治疗前后的生活质量变化情况及治疗效果。结果:接受治疗后患者的心理、身体、物质生活、社会关系等多项生活质量指标均优于治疗前,治疗前后的数据对比存在明显差异(P<0.05)。所有患者接受治疗后均为表现出较为明显的不良反应,其治疗存在较高安全性,总治疗有效率为87.50%(55/60)。结论:帮助结节性甲状腺肿合并甲状腺癌患者选择合理的手术方式,能够提高临床治疗效果,减少并发症。     

妊娠期疾病类型与甲状腺功能异常相关性分析

目的研究妊娠期疾病类型与甲状腺功能异常相关性。方法回顾性分析2015年1月-2017年1月期间在天津港口医院治疗的107例孕妇,根据妊娠期是否患病分为A组、B组与对照组。A组为22例确诊为妊娠期糖尿病的患者;B组为36例确诊为妊娠期高血压疾病的患者;对照组为49例妊娠期血糖与血压正常、无其他疾病的孕妇。所有研究对象妊娠期定期抽取静脉血检测甲状腺功能、血压及血糖水平。采用妊娠期高血压疾病诊断标准、妊娠期糖尿病诊断标准以及妊娠期甲状腺疾病诊断标准联合评价。结果此研究发现糖尿病组与对照组在孕中期游离T4值、A组与对照组在孕晚期、B组与对照组在孕中期和孕晚期的促甲状腺激素(TSH)值对比,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05);3组孕妇不同妊娠时期临床甲状腺功能亢进、减退的发病情况各组别数据对比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);A组、B组与对照组在孕中期与孕晚期亚临床甲状腺功能减退发病情况数据对比,A组、B组与对照组在不同妊娠时期低T4血症发病情况数据对比,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05);孕早期仅甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体(TPOAb)阳性与甲状腺正常数据对比,B组发生率高于对照组、A组发生率低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论与正常孕妇相比,妊娠期高血压疾病与妊娠期糖尿病患者在不同妊娠期的游离T4水平更低、TSH水平更高,且随着妊娠期的增长,变化趋势不断增大;妊娠期疾病类型与甲状腺功能异常存在着联系,妊娠期高血压疾病和糖尿病患者甲状腺功能异常发病率明显更高。     

脑后部可逆性脑病综合征(PRES)的临床MR诊断

目的：探讨MR对PRES的临床诊断价值。方法应用3.0 T MR对30例PRES患者进行常规扫描，其中19例同时行MRA检查，13例行MRV检查。结果 PRES病变主要累及顶枕叶，双侧基本对称；病变主要位于脑白质内，也可累及其它部位。PRES病变的特点是呈长T 1长T 2信号，边缘不清，无明显占位效应。MRA及MRV均无异常发现。结论 MR对PRES可以作出准确诊断，对临床有重要的指导意义。     

Gender,race and socioeconomic influence on diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

Thyroid diseases are common, and use of levothyroxine is increasing worldwide. We investigated the influence of gender, race and socioeconomic status on the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders using data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), a multicenter cohort study of civil servants (35-74 years of age) from six Brazilian cities. Diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction was by thyrotropin (TSH), and free thyroxine (FT4) if TSH was altered, and the use of specific medications. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed using overt hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism and levothyroxine use as dependent variables and sociodemographic characteristics as independent variables. The frequencies of overt hyper- and hypothyroidism were 0.7 and 7.4%, respectively. Using whites as the reference ethnicity, brown, and black race were protective for overt hypothyroidism (OR=0.76, 95%CI=0.64-0.89, and OR=0.53, 95%CI=0.43-0.67, respectively, and black race was associated with overt hyperthyroidism (OR=1.82, 95%CI=1.06-3.11). Frequency of hypothyroidism treatment was higher in women, browns, highly educated participants and those with high net family incomes. After multivariate adjustment, levothyroxine use was associated with female gender (OR=6.06, 95%CI=3.19-11.49) and high net family income (OR=3.23, 95%CI=1.02-10.23). Frequency of hyperthyroidism treatment was higher in older than in younger individuals. Sociodemographic factors strongly influenced the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders, including the use of levothyroxine.     

Searching for Serum Antibodies to Neuronal Proteins in Patients With Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

PurposeA role for the immune system in causing myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is long suspected, but few studies have looked for specific autoantibodies that might contribute to the symptoms. Our aim was to look for evidence of antibodies to neuronal proteins in patients with ME/CSF.MethodsSera samples from 50 patients and 50 healthy individuals were sent coded to the Neuroimmunology Laboratory in Oxford. Screening for antibody binding to neuronal tissue was performed on brain tissue and neuronal cultures. Specific serum antibodies were assessed by antigen-specific cell-based assays and radioimmunoassays. After antibody testing, the associations between seropositive status and clinical data were investigated.FindingsOverall, 8 patients and 11 participants were found to have some serum immunoreactivity toward neuronal or neuromuscular junction proteins, but only 1 patient and 2 participants had specific serum antibodies. Nevertheless, seropositive status in patients with ME was associated with shorter duration since onset and a more severe disease.ImplicationsThe results indicate no overall increased frequency of antibodies to neuronal proteins in ME/CSF and no evidence of a specific antibody that might be causative or contribute to clinical features in patients. However, the association of seropositive status with shorter duration of disease and more severe symptoms suggests a possible role of antibodies at onset in some patients and should be the focus of future studies.