ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with sorafenib and TACE only treating the intermediate or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Chinese people. MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang Data for randomized controlled trials (RCT) on TACE combined with sorafenib (TACE combined with sorafenib group) and TACE (TACE alone group) from inception to December 2014 were searched. The literatures and data were screened and extracted. The meta analysis was performed using RevMan 5.1 software. ResultsSix RCTs involving 498 patients with HCC were included. The results of meta analysis showed that the objective response rate[OR=2.28, 95% CI (1.52-3.42), P < 0.000 1] and the disease control rate[OR=6.62, 95% CI (4.12-10.65), P < 0.000 01] were higher, the 1-year survival rate[OR=3.27, 95% CI (2.06-5.22), P < 0.000 01] and 2-year survival rate[OR=4.55, 95% CI (2.28-9.07), P < 0.000 1] were longer, the safety and tolerability of adverse reactions were better in the TACE combined with sorafenib group as compared with the TACE alone group. ConclusionsIn Chinese people, compared with TACE alone group, TACE combined with sorafenib group have higher objective response rate, disease control rate, 1-year survival rate, and 2-year survival rate. However, due to the lower quality of included literatures, these conclusions should be treated cautiously.
ObjectiveTo assesse the association of an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (ACE) with the risk and the mortality of acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). MethodsWe searched electronic databases through April 2014 for the terms "angiotensin-converting enzyme gene", "acute lung injury" and "acute respiratory distress syndrome", and reviewed all studies that reported the relationship of the I/D polymorphism in ACE with ALI/ARDS in adults. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 498 ALI/ARDS patients, 3220 healthy controls and 1137 patients without ALI/ARDS. Three genetic models were used: the allele, dominant and recessive models. The meta-analysis was performed with RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsThe ACE I/D polymorphism was not associated with susceptibility to ALI/ARDS compared with the healthy controls and the patient controls for any genetic model. The ACE I/D polymorphism was associated with the mortality risk of ALI/ARDS in Asian subjects, and OR was 2.99 (95% CI 1.87-4.76, P < 0.05), 0.36 (95% CI 0.20-0.67, P < 0.05), 4.62 (95% CI 1.71-12.45, P < 0.05) for allele I/D, genotype II/II+ID and genotype DD/II+ID, respectively. ConclusionThere is a possible association between the ACE I/D polymorphism genotype and the mortality risk of ALI/ARDS in Asians.
ObjectiveTo analyze risk factors associated with prognosis of appendiceal adenocarcinoma using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. MethodsThe patients pathologically diagnosed with appendiceal adenocarcinoma from 2005 to 2015 were extracted from the SEER database and then randomly divided into a training cohort and validation cohort in a 7∶3 ratio. The univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed in the training cohort to identify the independent risk factors for overall survival and cancer-specific survival. Based on these factors, a nomogram prediction model was constructed and subsequently internally validated. The statistical significance was defined as α=0.05. ResultsA total of 749 patients with appendiceal adenocarcinoma were enrolled, with 524 in the training cohort and 225 in the validation cohort. The multivariate Cox regression analysis identified that the T, N, M stages, and surgery as the independent prognostic factors for both overall survival and cancer-specific survival. Additionally, the age was identified as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival, and tumor size for cancer-specific survival. Based on these factors, the nomogram prediction models for the overall survival rate and cancer-specific survival rate were developed. The nomogram of overall survival rate achieved a C-index of 0.716 [95%CI=(0.689, 0.743)] in the training cohort and 0.695 [95%CI=(0.649, 0.740)] in the validation cohort, while the nomogram of cancer-specific survival rate showed C-index values of 0.749 [95%CI=(0.716,0.782)] and 0.746 [95%CI=(0.699, 0.793)], respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) for 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 0.780 [95%CI=(0.739, 0.821)] and 0.773 [95%CI=(0.732, 0.814)] respectively in the training cohort, were 0.789 [95%CI=(0.726, 0.852)] and 0.776 [95%CI=(0.715, 0.837)] respectively in the validation cohort, which for 3- and 5-year cancer-specific survival rates were 0.813 [95%CI=(0.768, 0.858)] and 0.796 [95%CI=(0.753, 0.839)] respectively in the training cohort, were 0.813 [95%CI=(0.750, 0.876)] and 0.811 [95%CI=(0.750, 0.872)] respectively in the validation cohort. The calibration curves demonstrated good agreements between predicted and observed outcomes for both overall survival rate and cancer-specific survival rate. ConclusionsThrough analysis results of appendiceal adenocarcinoma patients from the SEER database reveal that advanced T, N, and M stages, as well as lack of surgery are significant risk factors for both overall survival and cancer-specific survival. The constructed nomograms for predicting overall survival and cancer-specific survival rates, which incorporate these risk factors, demonstrate strong predictive accuracy.
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of the chitosan/polyethylene glycols-succinate/ mitomycin C (CH/PEG-SA/MMC) film on epidural scarring tissues. Methods According to a specific proportion of respective materials, the film of CH/PEG-SA/MMC was developed under some condition. Thirty SD rats were selected and randomized into 6 groups with 5 rats in each group. A rat model of lumbar laminectomy was used. The amount of 20 mg of the CH film was implanted into the animals in group I, 20 mg of CH/PEG film in group II, 20 mg of CH/PEGSA film in group III, 0.05 mg/mL of the MMC soaking for 5 minutes in group IV, 20 mg of CH/PEG-SA/MMC film in group V, and nothing was done in group VI. Specimens were harvested 4 weeks after the above procedures and were then subjected to immunohistochemical and histological examinations to compare their therapeutic effects on epidural cicatricial tissues. Results All rats were in good conditions after operation, without gait abnormal ity, restlessness, infection and death. There was no significant difference among the 6 groups in the postoperative Rydell score (P lt; 0.05). The content of hydroxyprol ine in groups I, II, III, IV, V and VI was (0.570 8 ± 0.345 0), (0.728 6 ± 0.150 6), (0.553 4 ± 0.122 3), (0.313 3 ± 0.106 4), (0.261 9 ± 0.102 1)and (1.020 1 ± 0.120 6) μg/ mg, respectively. There was a significant difference between groups IV, V and groups I, II, III (P lt; 0.05), and there was significant difference between group VI and the rest 5 groups (P lt; 0.05). According to the histological observation, group V had less collagenous fiber parallel ing the dura mater, with few inflammatory cells infiltration, with few capillary vessels and no reaction of macrophages. Conclusion CH/PEG-SA/MMC films can effectively reduce the amount of Hyp in epidural scarring tissues after lumbar laminectomy and therefore is a good treating method in preventing scarring tissue adhesion.
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the efficacy of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) in post-extubation intensive care unit (ICU) patients.MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, VIP Databases were searched for all published available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or cohort studies about HFNC therapy in post-extubation ICU patients. The control group was treated with conventional oxygen therapy (COT) or non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), while the experimental group was treated with HFNC. Two reviewers separately searched the articles, evaluated the quality of the literatures, extracted data according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RevMan5.3 was used for meta-analysis. The main outcome measurements included reintubation rate and length of ICU stay. The secondary outcomes included ICU mortality and hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) rate.ResultsA total of 20 articles were enrolled. There were 3 583 patients enrolled, with 1 727 patients in HFNC group, and 1 856 patients in control group (841 patients with COT, and 1 015 with NIPPV). Meta-analysis showed that HFNC had a significant advantage over COT in reducing the reintubation rate of patients with postextubation (P<0.000 01), but there was no significant difference as compared with that of NIPPV (P=0.21). It was shown by pooled analysis of two subgroups that compared with COT/NIPPV, HFNC had a significant advantage in reducing reintubation rate in patients of postextubation (P<0.000 01). There was no significant difference in ICU mortality between HFNC and COT (P=0.38) or NIPPV (P=0.36). There was no significant difference in length of ICU stay between HFNC and COT (P=0.30), but there had a significant advantage in length of ICU stay between HFNC and NIPPV (P<0.000 01). It was shown by pooled analysis of two subgroups that compared with COT/NIPPV, HFNC had a significant advantage in length of ICU stay (P=0.04). There was no significant difference in HAP rate between HFNC and COT (P=0.61) or NIPPV (P=0.23).ConclusionsThere is a significant advantage to decrease reintubation rate between HFNC and COT, but there is no significant difference in ICU mortality, length of ICU stay or HAP rate. There is a significant advantage to decrease length of ICU stay between HFNC and NIPPV, but there is no significant difference in ICU mortality, reintubation rate or HAP rate.
During the automatic reconstruction of panoramic images, the effect of dental arch curve fitting will affect the integrity of the content of the panoramic image. Metal implants in the patient’s mouth usually lead to a decrease in the contrast of the panoramic image, which affects the doctor’s diagnosis. In this paper, an automatic oral panoramic image reconstruction method was proposed. By calculating key image areas and image extraction fusion algorithms, the dental arch curve could be automatically detected and adjusted on a small number of images, and the intensity distribution of teeth, bone tissue and metal implants on the image could be adjusted to reduce the impact of metal on other tissues, to generate high-quality panoramic images. The method was tested on 50 cases of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data with good results, which can effectively improve the quality of panoramic images.
ObjectiveTo study the anatomical characteristics of blood vessels in the lateral segment of the vertebral body through the surgical approach of oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) using MRI imaging, and evaluate its potential vascular safety zone. Methods The lumbar MRI data of 107 patients with low back and leg pain who met the selection criteria between October 2019 and November 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The vascular emanation angles, vascular travel angles, and the length of vessels in the lateral segments of the left vertebral body of L1-L5, as well as the distance between the segmental vessels in different Moro junctions of the vertebral body and their distances from the edges of the vertebrae in the same sequence (bottom marked as I, top as S) were measured. The gap between the large abdominal vessels and the lateral vessels of the vertebral body was set as the lateral vascular safe zones of the lumbar spine, and the extent of the safe zones (namely the area between the vessels) was measured. The anterior 1/3 of the lumbar intervertebral disc was taken as the simulated puncture center, and the area with a diameter of 22 mm around it as the simulated channel area. The proportion of vessels in the channel was further counted. In addition, the proportions of segmental vessels at L5 without a clear travel and with an emanation angel less than 90° were calculated. Results Except for the differences in the vascular emanation angles between L4 and L5, the vascular travel angles between L1, L2 and L4, L5, and the length of vessels in the lateral segments of the vertebral body among L1-L4 were not significant (P>0.05), the differences in the vascular emanation angles, vascular travel angles, and the length of vessels between the rest segments were all significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the distance between vessels of L1, L2 and L2, L3 at Moro Ⅰ-Ⅳ junctions (P>0.05), in L3, L4 and L4, L5 at Ⅱ and Ⅲ junction (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the vascular distance of L2, L3 between Ⅱ, Ⅲ junction and Ⅲ, Ⅳ junction, and the vascular distance of L3, L4 between Ⅰ, Ⅱ junction and Ⅲ, Ⅳ junction (P>0.05). The vascular distance of the other adjacent vertebral bodies was significant different between different Moro junctions (P<0.05). Except that there was no significant difference in the distance between L2I and L3S at Ⅰ, Ⅱ junction, L3I and L4S at Ⅱ, Ⅲ junction, and L2I and L3S at Ⅲ, Ⅳ junction (P>0.05), there was significant difference of the vascular distance between the bottom of one segment and the top of the next in the other segments (P<0.05). Comparison between junctions: Except for the L3S between Ⅰ, Ⅱ junction and Ⅱ, Ⅲ junction, and L5S between Ⅰ, Ⅱ junction and Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅲ, Ⅳ junctions had no significant difference (P>0.05), there were significant differences in the distance between the other segmental vessels and the vertebral edge of the same sequence in different Moro junctions (P<0.05). The overall proportion of vessels in the simulated channels was 40.19% (43/107), and the proportion of vessels in L1 (41.12%, 44/107) and L5 (18.69%, 20/107) was higher than that in the other segments. The proportion of vessels in the channel of Moro zone Ⅰ (46.73%, 50/107) and zone Ⅱ (32.71%, 35/107) was higher than that in the zone Ⅲ, while no segmental vessels in L1 and L2 were found in the channel of zone Ⅲ (χ2=74.950, P<0.001). Moreover, 26.17% (28/107) of the segmental vessels of lateral L5 showed no movement, and 27.10% (29/107) vascular emanation angles of lateral L5 were less than 90°. Conclusion L1 and L5 segmental vessels are most likely to be injured in Moro zones Ⅰ and Ⅱ, and the placement of OLIF channels in L4, 5 at Ⅲ, Ⅳ junction should be avoided. It is usually safe to place fixation pins at the vertebral body edge on the cephalic side of the intervertebral space, but it is safer to place them on the caudal side in L1, 2 (Ⅰ, Ⅱ junction), L3, 4 (Ⅲ, Ⅳ junction), and L4, 5 (Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ junctions).