ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of resectable esophageal small cell carcinoma after surgical resection.MethodsA retrospective study of patients with resectable esophageal small cell carcinoma undergoing surgical resection from January 2009 to June 2015 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan Provincial Fourth People's Hospital and Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University was performed. Survival analysis was conducted by Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test. Cox regression model was used for identifying independent prognostic factors.ResultsA total of 53 patients with resectable esophageal small cell carcinoma were included for analysis. The mean age was 58.4 ± 8.3 years and there were 42 male patients and 11 female patients. Forty-two patients were diagnosed as pure esophageal small cell carcinoma while 11 patients were diagnosed with mixed esophageal small cell carcinoma, who were all mixed with squamous cell carcinoma. Most of the esophageal small cell carcinomas were located in the middle (58.5%) and lower (32.1%) segments of the esophagus. Thirty patients (56.6%) were found to have lymph node metastasis, and 7 patients (13.2%) were found to have lymphovascular invasion. According to the 2009 TNM staging criteria for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, there were 12 patients with stage Ⅰ disease, 19 patients with stage Ⅱ disease, and 22 patients with stage Ⅲ disease. Most of the patients underwent left thoracotomy with two-field lymphadenectomy. Postoperatively, only twenty-two patients (41.5%) received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The median survival time of these patients was 20.1 months, and the 1- and 3-year survival rate was 75.5% and 33.1%, respectively. For prognosis, age, gender, pathological type, tumor location, and lymphovascular invasion had no significant impact on long-term survival of these patients. However, TNM stage (1 year survival rate: stage Ⅰ: 91.7%; stage Ⅱ: 78.9%; stage Ⅲ: 63.6%; P=0.004) and postoperative adjuvant therapy (1 year survival rate: 81.8% vs. 71.0%; P=0.005) had significant impact on the survival of patients with esophageal small cell carcinoma. In multivariate analysis, TNM stage and postoperative adjuvant therapy were independent prognostic factors for long-term prognosis of patients with esophageal small cell carcinoma.ConclusionEsophageal small cell carcinoma is very rare, with high malignancy and poor prognosis. For patients with resectable esophageal small cell carcinoma, the TNM staging system of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma can be used to direct the choice of treatment options. For early stage esophageal small cell carcinoma (stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ), surgery plus postoperative adjuvant chemoradiotherapy can be the prior therapeutic choice, while for locally advanced esophageal small cell carcinoma (stage Ⅲ), chemoradiotherapy should be the preferred treatment.
Objective To explore the clinical and inflammatory characteristics and risk factors of severe asthma to improve clinicians' awareness of the disease. Methods The general information of patients with asthma who visited the Department of Respiratory Medicine, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from May 2018 to May 2021, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of asthma, personal history, comorbidities, auxiliary examination, asthma control test (ACT) score were collected. A total of 127 patients were included, including 40 in the severe asthma group and 87 in the mild-to-moderate asthma group. Chi-square test, independent sample t test and logistic regression were used to analyze the clinical characteristics, inflammatory markers and risk factors of severe asthma. Results Compared with the patients with mild to moderate asthma, the patients with severe asthma were more older (51.0±12.0 years vs 40.7±12.8 years, P<0.05), had more smokers (32.5% vs. 14.9%, P<0.05), and more males (67.5% vs. 40.2%, P<0.05). The patients with severe asthma got poor FEV1%pred [(56.1±23.8)% vs. (93.2±18.0)%, P<0.05] and FEV1/FVC [(56.7±13.2)% vs. (75.8±9.0)%, P<0.05)], and more exacerbations in the previous year (2.7±3.1 vs. 0.1±0.4, P<0.05), lower ACT score (14.4±3.7 vs. 18.0±5.0, P<0.05), and higher blood and induced sputum eosinophil counts [(0.54±0.44)×109/L vs. (0.27±0.32)×109/L, P<0.05; (25.9±24.2)% vs. (9.8±17.5)%, P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in the proportion of neutrophils in the induced sputum or FeNO between the two groups (P>0.05). Analysis of related risk factors showed that smoking (OR=2.740, 95%CI 1.053 - 7.130), combined with allergic rhinitis (OR=14.388, 95%CI 1.486 - 139.296) and gastroesophageal reflux (OR=2.514, 95%CI 1.105 - 5.724) were risk factors for severe asthma. Conclusions Compared with patients with mild to moderate asthma, patients with severe asthma are characterized by poor lung function, more exacerbations, and a dominant eosinophil inflammatory phenotype, which is still poorly controlled even with higher level of treatment. Risk factors include smoking, allergic rhinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux, etc.
Objective To describe the disease characteristics of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who experiencing prolonged glucocorticoid (GC) exposure. Methods Between January 2016 and June 2019, 449 SLE patients meeting the criteria were recruited from multiple centers. Hip MRI examinations were performed during screening and regular follow-up to determine the occurrence of ONFH. The cohort was divided into ONFH and non-ONFH groups, and the differences in demographic baseline characteristics, general clinical characteristics, GC medication information, combined medication, and hip clinical features were compared and comprehensively described. ResultsThe age at SLE diagnosis was 29.8 (23.2, 40.9) years, with 93.1% (418 cases) being female. The duration of GC exposure was 5.3 (2.0, 10.5) years, and the cumulative incidence of SLE-ONFH was 9.1%. Significant differences (P<0.05) between ONFH and non-ONFH groups were observed in the following clinical characteristics: ① Demographic baseline characteristics: ONFH group had a higher proportion of patients with body mass index (BMI)<20 kg/m2 compared to non-ONFH group. ② General clinical characteristics: ONFH group showed a higher proportion of patients with cutaneous and renal manifestations, positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) and anticardiolipin antibodies, severe SLE patients [baseline SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score ≥15], and secondary hypertension. Fasting blood glucose in ONFH group was also higher. ③ GC medication information: ONFH group had higher initial intravenous GC exposure rates, duration, cumulative doses, higher cumulative GC doses in the first month and the first 3 months, higher average daily doses in the first 3 months, and higher proportions of average daily doses ≥15.0 mg/d and ≥30.0 mg/d, as well as higher full-course average daily doses and proportion of full-course daily doses ≥30.0 mg/d compared to non-ONFH group. ④ Combined medications: ONFH group had a significantly higher rate of antiplatelet drug use than non-ONFH group. ⑤ Hip clinical features: ONFH group had a higher proportion of hip discomfort or pain and a higher incidence of hip joint effusion before MRI screening than non-ONFH group. Conclusion The incidence of ONFH after GC exposure in China’s SLE population remains high (9.1%), with short-term (first 3 months), medium-to-high dose (average daily dose ≥15 mg/d) GC being closely associated with ONFH. Severe SLE, low BMI, certain clinical phenotypes, positive aPLs, and secondary hypertension may also be related to ONFH.
Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis with acute kidney injury (AKI) as the first manifestation, and provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of this disease. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 144 patients diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis in Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University between August 2013 and March 2020. The patients were divided into AKI group and non-AKI group according to whether they were complicated with AKI at admission, and the differences in clinical characteristics were analyzed. The risk factors were screened by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results Among the 144 patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis, 30 cases (20.8%) were complicated with AKI at admission, and 70 cases (48.6%) died by the end of follow-up. There were 16 death cases (53.3%) in the AKI group, and 54 death cases (47.4%) in the non-AKI group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Single-factor analyses showed that in the AKI group, the pre-admission incidence of hematuria, neutrophil count, serum creatinine, systolic blood pressure, and Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score were higher than those in the non-AKI group, while the red blood cell count and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were lower than those in the non-AKI group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the neutrophil count [odds ratio (OR)=1.172, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.003, 1.371), P=0.046] and eGFR [OR=0.942, 95%CI (0.907, 0.979), P=0.002] were independent influencing factors for AKI. Conclusions Elevated neutrophil count is an independent risk factor for ANCA-associated vasculitis complicated with AKI. It has certain guiding significance for clinical work. Early identification and intervention of these patients may contribute to reduce the case fatality rate and improve prognosis.
Objective To improve accuracy of clinical diagnosis through analyzing the CT characteristics and clinical manifestations of patients with benign lung diseases whose CT manifestations initially led to a suspicion of lung cancer. Methods This study collected 2 239 patients of benign lung disease verified by postoperative pathology in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Chao-yang Hospital from June 2006 to December 2016. Lesions of 173 patients (101 males and 72 females with a mean age of 56.0 years) were considered very likely to be malignant on preoperative contrast CT scan, which were sorted to 20 types of lung diseases, and the 20 types of diseases contained 907 patients diagnosed or misdiagnosed. Statistical analyses were performed using the CT and clinical characteristics of the 173 patients. Results Among the 907 patients with benign lung disease, the benign pathologies that were most commonly misdiagnosed by preoperative enhanced CT were pulmonary leiomyoma (100.0%), pulmonary actinomycosis (75.0%), pulmonary cryptococcosis (71.4%), sclerosing hemangioma (50.0%) and organizing pneumonia (44.2%). Among the 173 patients with benign diseases, the most common diseases were tuberculosis (29.5%), organizing pneumonia (28.9%), pulmonary hamartoma (6.4%) and pulmonary abscess (6.4%). In the 173 patients, 17.3% had fever, 56.6% coughing, 8.7% yellow sputum, 28.9% hemoptysis, 16.2% chest pain, 18.5% elevated leukocyte counts and 4.6% elevated carcinoembryonic antigen levels. Most of the CT manifestations consisted of nodular or mass shadows, 70.5% of which had foci≤3 cm and manifestations were similar to those of lung cancer, such as a spiculated margin (49.1%), lobulation (33.5%), pleural indentation (27.2%) and significant enhancement (39.3%). Furthermore, some patients had uncommon tumor signs, such as calcification (12.7%), central liquefactive necrosis (18.5%), satellite foci (9.8%) and multiple pulmonary nodules (42.2%). Moreover, 24.3% of the patients had enlarged lymph nodes of the mediastinum or hilum. Conclusion As the CT manifestations of some benign lung conditions are similar to those of lung cancer, careful differential diagnosis is necessary to identify the basic characteristics of the disease when the imaging results are ambiguous, and the diagnosis of a lung disease need incorporate the patients' clinical characteristics and a comprehensive analysis.
Objective To analyze the clinical features and etiologic of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among the elderly aged 80 and over, and provide evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods The clinical characteristics and etiology of the elderly CAP (≥80 years old) were analyzed by collecting and comparing the clinical characteristics and etiology between the very elderly CAP group (≥80 years old, 94 cases) and control group (65 to 79 years old, 100 cases). Results On clinical symptoms, there were statistical differences in dyspnea and gastrointestinal symptoms, systemic symptoms, and mental status (P<0.05) between the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference in upper respiratory tract symptoms, fever, cough, sputum, hemoptysis and chest pain between the two groups (P>0.05). On the complications, the very elderly CAP group was more prone to respiratory failure, sepsis, urinary tract infection and electrolyte metabolism than the control group (P<0.05). On the experimental indicators, anemia and abnormal renal function in the elderly CAP group were high (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups of inflammation indicators (white blood count, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophil alkaline phosphatase score). The pneumonia severity index score and CURB-65 score of the very elderly CAP group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.001). On pathogen analysis, in the very elderly CAP group the number of bacterial infections (23/94), viral infections (21/94) and bacterial mixed virus infections (21/94) were probably equivalent, and the proportion of bacterial infections of two or more types accounted for 17.0% (16/94); The bacteria detection rate was Streptococcus pneumoniae (22.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.4%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (16.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (14.9%). Viral infection mainly focused on influenza A virus (23/94) and human cytomegalovirus (21/94). Bacterial mixed virus infection was mainly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza A virus infection. Comparing the two groups, the most common bacterial pathogen both of them was Streptococcus pneumoniae, but the overall proportion was dominated by gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae were more common; the gram-positive bacteria in the two groups were mainly Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. There was no significant difference in the detection rate of above Gram-positive bacteria between the two groups (P>0.05). The two groups of virus infections were mainly influenza A virus, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The two groups of single bacteria rate, single virus infection rate, double virus infection rate and bacterial mixed virus infection rate were similar, the difference had not been found (P>0.05). Conclusions The elderly (aged 80 and over) CAP group is prone to dyspnea, often presents with extrapulmonary atypical symptoms such as digestive tract symptoms, systemic symptoms and psychiatric symptoms, and usually accompanied with many complications. The etiological treatment mainly covers gram-negative bacteria, and we must pay attention to the possibility of combined virus infection.
Objective This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) with positive anti melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody. Methods The clinical data of 91 patients with IIM in Shanxi Bethune Hospital from Jan 2019 to Mar 2022 were collected. Then various comparisons and analyzed retrospectively in the clinical symptoms, laboratory indicators and imaging characteristics between the negative MDA5-IIM and the positive anti-MDA5-IIM. ResultsCompared with the negative anti-MDA5-IIM patients, the significantly higher incidences of Gottron sign (71.0% vs. 38.3%), ulcerative rash (45.2% vs.16.7%), dyspnea (64.5% vs. 36.7%), and ILD (71.0% vs. 43.3%), in the positive anti-MDA5-IIM patients (P<0.05). Compared with the negative anti-MDA5-IIM patients, the more ground-glass opacification (GGO) in the positive anti-MDA5-IIM patients on high resolution computed tomography (81.8% vs.53.8%, P<0.05). Compared with the positive anti-MDA5-IIM patients without ILD, the positive anti-MDA5-IIM patients with ILD had significantly higher incidence of Gottron sign (77.3% vs. 33.3%), the increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase [(525.20±203.09) IU/L vs. (321.73±188.88) IU/L], Krebs von den Lungen-6 [(1399.55±869.64) U/mL vs. (371.56±128.92) U/mL], and D-dimer [(1226.65±902.31) U/L vs. (703.73±160.11) U/L], as well as higher positive rate of anti-Ro-52 antibody (68.2% vs. 22.2%) and the higher case fatality rate (54.5% vs. 0.0%), with all P<0.05. The triple treatment of high-dose glucocorticoid (GC) combined with intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCY) and another immunosuppressive agent (tacrolimus or tofacitinib) was found to be effective in the MDA5-IIM associated ILD group, with a lower case fatality rate (28.6%) than high-dose GC combined with IVCY group (47.1%). Conclusions The positive anti-MDA5-IIM with ILD of patients have the higher incidence of rash and dyspnea, with GGO as the most common imaging manifestation. When rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RPILD) is combined, the case fatality rate higher. Meanwhile, early intensive immunosuppressive therapy may improve the survival rate of RPILD patients with positive anti-MDA5 antibody.
ObjectiveTo summarize the advances in research on Cage subsidence following lumbar interbody fusion, and provide reference for its prevention.MethodsThe definition, development, clinical significance, and related risk factors of Cage subsidence following lumbar interbody fusion were throughout reviewed by referring to relevant domestic and doreign literature in recent years.ResultsAt present, there is no consensus on the definition of Cage subsidence, and mostly accepted as the disk height reduction greater than 2 mm. Cage subsidence mainly occurs in the early postoperative stage, which weakens the radiological surgical outcome, and may further damage the effectiveness or even lead to surgical failure. Cage subsidence is closely related to the Cage size and its placement location, intraoperative endplate preparation, morphological matching of disk space to Cage, bone mineral density, body mass index, and so on.ConclusionThe appropriate size and shape of the Cage usage, the posterolateral Cage placed, the gentle endplate operation to prevent injury, the active perioperative anti-osteoporosis treatment, and the education of patients to control body weight may help to prevent Cage subsidence and ensure good surgical results.
Objective To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). MethodsThe clinical and imaging data of 681 patients with thoracolumbar OVCF treated with PVP between January 2017 and December 2021 were collected. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the patients with thoracolumbar OVCF in single center were summarized from the aspects of demographic distribution (mainly including gender, age), fracture characteristic analysis [including pathological segments, bone mineral density, and body mass index (BMI)], and operation related results (including the distribution of unilateral and bilateral puncture and bone cement injection, postoperative effectiveness analysis and refracture). ResultsOf the 681 patients, 134 (19.68%) were male and 547 (80.32%) were female, with a male-to-female ratio of 1∶4.08. The age ranged from 53 to 105 years, with an average of 75.3 years. The age group of 60-90 years old had the largest number of patients (91.04%); the high incidence age group of men was 70-90 years old (13.95%), and that of women was 60-80 years old (72.98%). A total of 836 vertebrae were involved, and the morbidity of thoracolumbar vertebrae (T11-L1) was the highest (56.34%, 471/836). The main type of fracture was compression fracture (92.58%, 774/836) and Kümmell disease (7.42%, 62/836). There were 489 cases (71.81%) of osteoporosis, including 66 males and 423 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1∶6.42. There was significant difference in distribution of bone mineral density between male and female groups (Z=–5.810, P<0.001). BMI showed 206 cases (30.25%) of underweight, 347 (50.95%) cases of normal, 58 cases (8.52%) of overweight, 42 cases (6.17%) of obese, and 28 cases (4.11%) of extremely obese. The difference in BMI distribution between male and female groups was significant (Z=–2.220, P=0.026). Of 836 vertebral bodies, 472 (56.46%) were punctured unilaterally and 364 (43.54%) bilaterally. Most of the vertebral bodies (49.88%, 417/836) were injected with 5.0-6.9 mL bone cement, and most of them were distributed in thoracolumbar and lumbar vertebral bodies (T11-L3). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) of patients with unilateral puncture and bilateral puncture significantly improved at 6 months after operation (P<0.001), and also the difference was significant between the two groups in the difference of pre- and post-operation (P<0.001). There were 628 cases (92.22%) with the first occurrence of OVCF, and 53 cases (7.78%) with two or more times of OVCF, all of which were female patients, and 26 cases (49.06%) occurred in the adjacent segment of the previous PVP operation. ConclusionFemale were more than male in OVCF patients. Thoracolumbar vertebral body has the highest morbidity. Patients with low BMI are more likely to have osteoporosis, and patients with high BMI have a higher risk of compression fracture. The amount of bone cement injected through bilateral puncture was greater than that through unilateral puncture.
Objective To explore the risk factors, clinical characteristics and pathogenic bacteria of late-onset septicemia (LOS) in neonates, so as to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods Collect LOS in neonates admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University between January 2015 and February 2020, and set them as the observation group. The neonates born at the same time and hospitalized without septicemia were selected as the control group. The general situation and risk factors of the two groups of neonates were analyzed, and the clinical manifestations, complications and pathogenic bacteria of LOS in neonates were analyzed. Results 182 neonates were enrolled, 91 in each group. There were significant differences between the two groups in mechanical ventilation, indwelling peripherally inserted central catheter, parenteral nutrition, tracheal intubation, neonatal asphyxia, gestational age<37 weeks, birth weight<2.0 kg (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age<37 weeks [odds ratio (OR)=3.010, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.489, 6.085), P=0.002], parenteral nutrition [OR=3.506, 95%CI (1.681, 7.312), P=0.001] were independent risk factors for LOS. The main clinical manifestations of LOS were abnormal temperature, feeding difficulties, jaundice, apnea, hypersensitive C-reactive protein and procalcitonin increase. The neonates with LOS were prone to necrotizing enterocolitis and purulent meningitis. A total of 74 pathogenic bacteria were cultured from neonates with LOS, including 49 Gram-positive bacterium, 21 Gram-negative bacteria and 4 fungi. The critical and death cases were mainly infected by Gram-negative bacteria. Conclusions A number of factors are related to LOS. Gestational age<37 weeks and parenteral nutrition are independent risk factors for LOS. In order to avoid LOS, attention should be paid to prevention, aseptic concept should be strengthened, and drugs should be used reasonably.