Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia. Methods From January 2020 to March 2023, 21 cases of Psittacosis from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were diagnosed via metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). They were divided into a severe group (n=10) and a non-severe group (n=11) based on diagnostic criteria for severe pneumonia, and the clinical presentation, secondary examination, treatment, and prognosis of the two groups were analyzed retrospectively. Results Among the 21 patients, there were 11 males and 10 females, with a mean age of (51.7±11.6) years. All patients had an acute onset and 12 had a confirmed history of exposure to poultry. The onset of the disease occurred in the autumn and winter seasons in 18 patients. All the patients were suffering from high fevers. Other symptoms included coughing, phlegm, tightness in the chest and fatigue. Laboratory examinations showed that the levels of leukocytes, neutrophil counts, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactic dehydrogenase, brain natriuretic peptide precursors and D-dimer were significantly higher in the severe group than those in the non-severe group. Chest CT scans revealed varying levels of consolidation and spot shadowing with peripheral exudate in all patients. The patients in the severe group were more likely to have bilateral lung involvement, bilateral pleural effusion, cavity and mediastinal lymph node enlargement. Eleven patients received tetracycline alone, three received laudanum alone, two received respiratory quinolones alone, and five received a combination of two drugs including tetracycline. Chest CT at clinical follow-up showed absorption of lung lesions. Conclusions Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia usually occurs in the fall and winter, and most patients have a history of contact with poultry. Clinical presentation and imaging are not specified. The technology of mNGS enables early diagnosis of the disease, and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and lactic dehydrogenase levels help assess the risk of severe disease.
Objective To investigate the effects of component blood transfusion combined with heparin therapy on coagulation function and clinical outcomes in pregnant women with acute disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 65 pregnant women with acute DIC who were treated in Obstetrics Department of Luzhou People’ s Hospital between March 2020 and March 2022. Pregnant women treated with component blood transfusion were included in the control group, while those treated with component blood transfusion combined with heparin were included in the observation group. Before and after treatment, the DIC scoring system was used for score evaluation. Coagulation function indicators and routine blood indicators were compared between the two groups of pregnant women. Adverse clinical outcomes and adverse reactions were observed in both groups of pregnant women. Results The study enrolled 65 pregnant women, comprising 30 in the observation group and 35 in the control group. Before treatment, there was no statistical difference in DIC score, coagulation function indicators, or routine blood indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the DIC score, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and D-dimer significantly decreased in both groups (P<0.05), and the above indicators in the observation group [3.39±0.48, (13.28±2.28) s, (24.68±2.06) s, (14.27±1.82) s, and (2.23±0.88) mg/L, respectively] were lower than those in the control group [4.11±1.56, (15.02±2.45) s, (26.79±3.18) s, (15.61±1.91) s, and (2.87±0.74) mg/L, respectively] (P<0.05). The levels of fibrinogen, platelet count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit significantly increased in both groups (P<0.05), and the levels in the observation group [(4.29±1.05) g/L, (175.36±20.46)×109/L, (84.09±7.27) g/L, and (25.49±3.13)%, respectively] were higher than those in the control group [(3.44±1.27) g/L, (145.77±21.12)×109/L, (76.58±7.13) g/L, and (23.03±3.05)%, respectively] (P<0.05). The observation group had a lower incidence rate of adverse clinical outcomes compared to the control group (33.3% vs. 74.3%, P<0.05). The incidence rates of adverse reactions were not statistically different between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions Component blood transfusion combined with heparin therapy for pregnant women with acute DIC can effectively improve their coagulation function, reduce the risk of bleeding, and further improve adverse clinical outcomes such as postpartum hemorrhage and hysterectomy. Additionally, this treatment approach demonstrates a high safety profile.
Objective To summarize the research progress of stem cell transplantation in treating spinal cord injury (SCI) at different stages based on the pathophysiological mechanism of SCI. Methods The relevant research literature at home and abroad was extensively reviewed to explore the impact of transplantation timing on the effectiveness of stem cell transplantation in treating SCI. Results Researchers performed different types of stem cell transplantation for subjects at different stages of SCI through different transplantation approaches. Clinical trials have proved the safety and feasibility of stem cell transplantation at acute, subacute, and chronic stages, which can alleviate inflammation at the injured site and restore the function of the damaged nerve cells. But the reliable clinical trials comparing the effectiveness of stem cell transplantation at different stages of SCI are still lacking. Conclusion Stem cell transplantation has a good prospect in treating SCI. In the future, the multi-center, large sample randomized controlled clinical trials are needed, with a focus on the long-term effectiveness of stem cell transplantation.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of homemade domestic breast palpation imaging (BPI) instead of clinical breast palpation examination (CBE) for screening breast masses. MethodsThe patients who received breast ultrasonography (BUS), BPI examinations and CBE in the Sichuan Cancer Hospital from March 2022 to September 2022 were retrospectively collected. The result of BUS examination was used as the criteria to compare the efficiency and difference between the BPI examination and CBE in detecting breast masses. The effects of the patients’ body mass index, breast volume, tumor location, benign and malignant tumor, and maximum tumor diameter on the accuracy of breast tumor detection by BPI system were further analyzed. ResultsA total of 102 patients were included in this study. Among the 90 patients with breast mass detected by BUS, 76 cases were detected by BPI and 51 cases were detected by CBE. In the 12 patients without tumor mass detected by BUS, only 11 cases patients without tumor mass were detected by BPI and CBE. The sensitivity and accuracy of breast tumor mass screening by the BPI were higher than those by the CBE (84.4% vs. 56.7%, 85.2% vs. 60.7%, respectively), and the specificity was similar (91.6%, both). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95% confidence interval, 95%CI) of BPI and CBE for screening breast masses were 0.903 (0.791, 0.970) and 0.799 (0.747, 0.851), respectively. The former was higher than the latter (Z=2.494, P=0.013). The consistencies were moderate (Kappa=0.518, P<0.001), general (Kappa=0.204, P=0.002), moderate (Kappa=0.518, P<0.001) between the BPI and BUS, between CBE and BUS, and between BPI and CBE for screening breast masses, respectively. The results of multivariate analysis of binary logistics regression indicated that the benign tumor mass was not easily detected [OR (95%CI） was 9.600（1.328, 69.400), P=0.025] and the tumor mass with breast volume ＜350 mL was easily detected [OR (95%CI） was 0.157 (0.030, 0.818), P=0.028], the diameter of tumor mass had no obvious influence on breast tumor mass screening by the BPI. ConclusionAccording to the preliminary results of this study, BPI can improve the sensitivity of detecting breast masses and make up for the lack of objective records of CBE, but BPI cannot replace CBE at present.
ObjectiveTo elucidate the clinical and pathological features and review the progress of diagnosis and treatment in patients with brain metastasis (BM) from colorectal cancer (CRC), so as to provide a reference for the whole process management for patients with BM from CRC in China.MethodThe latest research results and previous literatures about patients with BM from CRC were reviewed.ResultsThe prognosis of BM from CRC was poor, its molecular pathological mechanism was complex and diverse, and some risk factors associated with the occurrence of BM had been identified. Typical imaging features of BM from CRC were helpful to the diagnosis of patients. At present, radiotherapy was still the main treatment. Bevacizumab treatment or immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy was expected to improve the survival of BM from CRC.ConclusionScientific and standardized prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are beneficial to reduce incidence of BM from CRC and improve survival.
Objectives To assess the relationship between subclinical hyperthyroidism and the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data and CBM databases were searched for studies on the relationship between subclinical hyperthyroidism and the incidence of CHD from inception to October 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 12.0 software. Results In total, 14 cohort studies were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that subclinical hyperthyroidism was associated with the incidence of coronary heart disease (RR=1.19, 95%CI 1.01 to 1.40, P=0.04) and all-cause mortality (RR=1.36, 95%CI 1.11 to 1.67, P=0.003). Conclusions Subclinical hyperthyroidism is associated with an increased risk of CHD and all-cause mortality. Due to the limitation of quality and quantity of the studies, the above conclusions are required to be verified by large-scale and high quality research.
Objective To study the clinical and CT findings of bronchiolar adenoma. Methods Patients diagnosed with bronchiolar adenoma confirmed by surgical pathology at Linyi People's Hospital and Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital from 2016 to 2021 were collected. Their clinical and CT imaging features were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsFinally, 25 patients were collected, including 6 males and 19 females, aged 32-73 (58.6±10.1) years. The immunohistochemical Ki-67 (MIB1) of all lesions was <5%. The lesions were located in the upper and middle lobe of both lungs in 9 patients, lower lobes in 16 patients, extrapulmonary zone in 22 patients, intrapulmonary middle zone in 3 patients, round in 11 patients, irregular in 14 patients, well-defined in 22 patients, pure ground-glass/mixed ground-glass nodules in 6 patients, solid nodules in 19 patients. There were 11 patients with central small cavity, 18 patients with single bronchioles sign, 19 patients without adhesion with adjacent pleura, and 24 patients without mediastinal lymph node enlargement. ConclusionBronchiolar adenomas usually occur in the middle-aged and elderly, mostly in the lower lobe of both lungs and the distribution of the peripheral lung field, most of the patients do not have any clinical symptoms, and the postoperative prognosis is good. CT may show large nodules or masses, pure ground-glass/mixed ground-glass nodules, irregular solid nodules and central small cavities. Irregular stellate nodules, central small cavity shadow, and single bronchiolar vascular bundle connected with the lesions are relatively specific imaging findings of bronchiolar adenoma.
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disease caused by mutations in the NF1 gene. The disease is characterized by neurofibromatosis, which simultaneously affects multiple systems such as nerves, skin, and bone, and has complex clinical manifestations. Since the National Institutes of Health (NIH) established diagnostic criteria in 1988, the diagnosis and treatment of NF1 have progressed significantly. However, due to the complexity of the disease and the lack of effective treatments, the diagnosis and treatment of NF1 still face many challenges. Strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration, improving and popularizing disease diagnosis and treatment strategies, and developing more effective drugs and treatment methods are the keys to further improve the treatment level of NF1 diseases.
ObjectiveTo analyze the factors influencing the occurrence of subclinical leaflet thrombosis (SLT) after percutaneous aortic valve replacement using balloon-expandable valve (Sapien3, S3). Methods Retrospective analysis was made on 62 patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing percutaneous aortic valve replacement using S3 in our center from September 2020 to June 2022. Patients with a history of vascular atherosclerosis or with significant increase or insignificant decrease of aortic valve flow or gradient pressure during follow-up were selected for CT examination. Results A total of 26 patients were finally included, with an average age of 70.31±8.90 years, and the male proportion was higher (n=15, 57.69%). Among them, 5 patients had SLT. Compared with the non-SLT group, patients in the SLT group were older (68.52±8.80 years vs. 77.80±4.66 years, P=0.007). The age factor (≥75 years) and the diameter of the ascending aorta were associated with SLT (both P<0.05). Conclusion The incidence of SLT is higher in the elderly patients. It is speculated that SLT is related to the characteristics of short balloon dilation valves and low blood flow dynamics of valve racks.
Surgical innovation is an important part of surgical research and practice. The evaluation of surgical innovation through the stages is similar to those for drug development, but with important differences. The Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, and Long-term follow-up (IDEAL) Framework and Recommendations represent a new paradigm for the evaluation of surgical intervention and devices which was developed in 2009. The IDEAL is a five-stage framework involving the nature stages of surgical innovation, together with recommendations for surgical research pathway. The Framework and Recommendations were updated and published in 2019, which added a pre-IDEAL stage if necessary. The updated IDEAL also underlines the purpose, key question and ethical issues for each stage. In the first paper of IDEAL Framework and Recommendations series, we conducted a comprehensive introduction of IDEAL (e.g. the development, updates and application of IDEAL) to promote the dissemination and application of IDEAL in China.