Objective To investigate the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with localized epithelioid sarcoma (ES).Methods From January 2000 to September 2006, 11 patients with ES weretreated. There were 7 males and 4 females aged 14-41 years. The patients’ agesat the initial onset were 9-41 years, averaged 27.7 years. The ES was located in the upper extremity in 7 patients，lower extremity in 3, and abdomen in 1. Among the patients, 10 had a recurrence. Tumor lt; 2cm was seen in 7 patients, 2-5cm in 1, and gt;5 cm in 3. One patient underwent an operation of local resection at another hospital. Seven patients underwent an expanding resection surgery, and the tumors with the surrounding normal tissues 3 cm above were removed. Three patients underwent a radical surgery, including extremity amputation or finger amputation. All the patients underwent routine radiotherapy and chemotherapy after operation. Results All the wounds had a healing at the firstintention without complications. All the flaps survived and the grafted bone had a fusion. Among the 11 patients followed up for 5-54 months averaged 23.2 months, 8 had a recurrence 2-20 months (average, 8.9 months) after operation, witha recurrence rate of 73%. And among the patients, 3 had a further radical surgery of extremity amputation. Four patients had a metastasis in the axillary lymphnodes 6-24 months after operation, and 1 patient had a lung metastasis 10 months after operation. They did not have a further surgical treatment. Four patients died of systemic failure 6-14 months after operation. Conclusion An early expanding resection surgery combined with postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the therapy of choice for treating ES.
At present, coronavirus disease 2019 has become the most serious public health emergency in the world. The disease is still spreading around the world. The disease progresses rapidly and is highly contagious, causing great harm to the public health security of the world. Based on the research evidence published at home and abroad, this article systematically summarizes the biological structure of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and the pathogenesis, transmission routes and susceptible populations, clinical features and treatment methods of coronavirus disease 2019. It aims to help medical workers understand coronavirus disease 2019 in order to better diagnose and treat the disease, and provide references for future research.
Objective To improve the knowledge of pulmonary mucormycosis through summarizing the clinical features and treatment of the disease. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on two cases of mucormycosis. The literature review was carried out with " pulmonary mucormycosis” as the research terms respectively in CNKI and Pubmed database. Search time ranged from January 2000 to June 2016. Results The first case was a 61-year-old male patient complained of cough, expectoration and dyspnea for 5 days. Chest computerized tomography (CT) showed lung nodules in the right upper lobe and bronchial cut off sign of apical bronchus. The patient received bronchoscopic examination and pathological findings indicated mucormycosis. Amphotericin B was recommended for the treatment. The patient recovered after treatment and was discharged. The second case was a 44-year-old female patient admitted to our hospital due to cough accompanied with expectoration and fever for over 10 days. Chest CT scan showed multiple double-pulmonary circular nodules and cavities with different sizes and clear boundary. The maximum cavity diameter was about 1.8cm, and the density of soft tissue was found in the part of the cavity. The patient received CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy and pathological findings indicated fungal hyphae which was accorded with mucor infection. The patient received amphotericin B, voriconazole and posaconazole treatment, but with bad curative effect. She gave up therapy and died one week later after discharged. A total of 6 literatures were reviewed in above-mentioned databases. The clinical manifestations were nonspecific and the patients were likely to accompany with other diseases. The duration from the onset of symptoms to exact diagnosis was 37.5 days. Chest CT scan and pathological examination played important roles in the diagnosis of mucormycosis. Proper antifungal treatment could improve the prognosis. Conclusions Mucormycosis is a rare invasive fungal disease with high mortality. The clinical manifestations are nonspecific. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment contribute to better prognosis.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical and pathological features of choroidal malignant melanoma (CM). MethodsA retrospective case study. From 2011 to 2021, paraffin specimens from 15 eyes of 15 CM patients diagnosed by pathological examination in the Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were included in the study. The age, gender, clinical manifestations, treatment plan and pathological examination results of patients were collected retrospectively through the hospital information system. The clinical characteristics, immunohistochemical staining and molecular pathological characteristics were analyzed. ResultsAmong the 15 cases, 8 males and 7 females. The average age was 61. All patients were monocular paroxysm. There were 8 cases of decreased vision, blurred vision and dark shadow in front of the eyes; 1 case had red eye, lacrimation and purulent secretion; 2 cases had visual loss and no light perception; 4 cases had retinal detachment. The average diameter of the tumors was 1.4 cm. The general appearance of the tumor was hemispherical, “mushroom-shaped” or flat diffuse. Most of the tumor cells were arranged in solid, flaky and cross clusters, and some of them were arranged in false “chrysanthemum form” around the blood vessels with necrosis. In 15 eyes, spindle-cell type, epithelioid type and mixed cell type were 6, 2 and 7 eyes, respectively. The cytoplasm was partly double stained or eosinophilic, partly clear, and partly rich in pigment. The cells had poor adhesion, marked atypia, rough chromatin, frequent mitotic figures, and prominent nucleoli . Immunohistochemical staining was positive for HMB45, SOX10, S100 and Melan-A in 15 patients, but negative for epithelial markers AE1/3, lymphatic markers LCA, neuroendocrine markers CgA and Syn. Genetic testing results showed that none of the patients found C-KIT, BRAF, NRAS gene mutations. Fifteen patients were followed up for 8-96 months, of which 12 survived and 3 died after recurrence and/or metastasis. ConclusionCM has no specific clinical clinical manifestations, and he diagnosis depends on histological morphology and immunohistochemical staining.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical presentations and radiological characteristics of pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation. MethodsClinical and radiological data of 2 patients with pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation were retrospectively analyzed and literatures were reviewed. ResultsBoth patients had undergone circumferential pulmonary vein isolation. The symptoms appeared approximately 2 months after the operation. The major symptoms were cough, hemoptysis, exacerbation of dyspnea and chest pain. Both patients were misdiagnosed as other diseases such as pneumonia in other hospitals, and the anti-infection therapy was invalid. Both CT scans showed parenchymal exudative consolidation with varying degrees of interstitial septal thickening and small nodules. Both patients were confirmed as pulmonary vein stenosis by CT angiography. Literature review identified 21 cases of pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation. The main clinical features are hemoptysis, chest pain, shortness of breath and cough. The most common features of thoracic radiological imaging are consolidation, groud-glass attenuation, pleural effusion and interstitial septal thickening. ConclusionsIf a patient presents with hemoptysis, dyspnea, chest pain or other clinical manifestations after ablation therapy and image findings show parenchymal exudative consolidation with interstitial septal thickening and multiple small nodules, the possibility of pulmonary vein stenosis should be considered. Contrast-enhanced CT combined with pulmonary vein imaging technology can clearly show the opening diameter of each pulmonary vein and its branches, so it is an important non-invasive examination method for the evaluation and diagnosis of pulmonary vein stenosis.
ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between morning symptoms and other clinical characteristics in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to look for related risk factors affecting morning symptoms.MethodsThis cross-sectional observational study included 153 patients with stable COPD. Morning symptoms were evaluated with the Chinese-version of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Morning Symptom Diary (Ch-COPD-MSD). And modified version of the British medical association respiratory questionnaire (mMRC), COPD assessment test (CAT), questionnaire clinical COPD questionnaire (CCQ) score were scored, and the BODEx index was calculated.ResultsA total of 153 stable COPD patients were included. The patients aged 59.6±7.6 years with a mean forced expiratory volume in one second of (52.0±20.7)% predicted (FEV1%pred). The median score of morning symptoms was 31.00. Morning symptoms severity was different between GOLD groups A to D: median (interquartile range) score in GOLD A was 23.50 (20.00 - 27.25), in GOLD B was 31.00 (26.00 - 38.00), in GOLD C was 30.00 (23.75 - 35.75), and in GOLD D was 36.50 (27.00 - 47.50) (P<0.001). Meanwhile, under different mMRC, CAT, CCQ scores, the difference in the median score of morning symptoms was statistically significant (all P=0.000). Score of morning symptoms was negatively correlated with the FEV1%pred (r=–0.24, P<0.001), and positively correlated with the score of mMRC, CAT, CCQ, and the BODEx index (r value was 0.50, 0.60, 0.53, 0.40, respectively, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that CAT score was the important factor associated with morning symptoms severity in COPD (B=0.829, P<0.001).ConclusionsMorning symptoms are associated with multiple clinical indicators for assessing the severity of COPD, and health status is the most strongly associated with morning symptoms. Clinical evaluation of morning symptoms in patients with COPD can be helpful in comprehensive assessment of the patient’s condition.
ObjectiveTo make a better understanding of potassium channel-complex autoimmune antibodies associated limbic encephalitis, we studied in details with patients of this autoimmune disease accompanying without tumors. MethodsDiagnosis of 3 patients were confirmed by antibody detection in serum or CSF. All the clinical data, including history, CSF data, cranial MRI, EEG, pelvic ultrasound and treatment strategy, were carefully gathered. Two to eleven months follow-up were carried out. Results3 female adult patients showed common initial manifestation of seizures, and changes of consciousness, mental disorder and cognitive impairment. Hyponatremia was found in one LGI1-Ab+ patient. Cranial MRI showed unilateral or bilateral signal changes with limbic system. Changes of CSF and EEG were nonspecific. All 3 patients became recovery in different levels after two to eleven months. ConclusionsPotassium channel-complex antibodies associated encephalitis may be a common type of limbic encephalitis in adults without tumors. Seizures may be the first sign of the disease. Hyponatremia is one of characteristics of LGI1-Ab+ patient. Patients may have a fairly good short outcome.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features of Pulmonary Langerhans' cells histiocytosis (PLCH). MethodsFour cases of PLCH diagnosed by histopathologic examination between August 2004 and September 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsFour male patients aged from 19 to 46 year old, including three smokers. The main symptoms were chest tightness, cough, and dyspnea. Pneumothorax was presented in two cases, and tuberculosis was in one. The chest high resolution CT (HRCT) revealed lung cysts, nodles, and reticular changes predominantly in the upper and middle lung fields. The pathological Langerhans' cells infiltration were found in the histological biopsy of lesions of the 4 cases. All of the patients were positive in the immuno-histological staining for the S-100 and CD1a antigens. Two cases were positive in Langrin staining (other two patients didn't underwent the staining). Two of the 4 patients were given oral steroid, and the symptoms were improved in one of them. The case with pulmonary tuberculosis improved in symptoms and CT results showed the absorption of the lesion after anti-tuberculosis therapy. Three cases were not followed up. ConclusionPLCH patients were mainly young adults, often presented with chest tightness, cough, and dyspnea. The clinical features of chest HRCT are bilateral cysts, nodules and reticular changes. The disease may be defined by the finding of pathologic Langerhans' cells or the positive staining for CD1a antigens or Langerin.
ObjectiveTo investigate and analyze the clinical manifestations and imaging features of the eyes with bullous retinal detachment. MethodsRetrospective case series study. Eleven eyes of 11 patients with bullous retinal detachment diagnosed in Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University People's Hospital from July 2015 to September 2021 were enrolled. There were 10 males and 1 female, with the mean age of (39.27±6.81) years. All patients had monocular bullous retinal detachment, with mean duration ranged from 3 months to 14 years. The basic information and medical history of all patients were collected. All patients underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), indirect ophthalmoscopy, color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and B-scan ultrasonography. BCVA was performed using a standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, which was converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity. The clinical data and imaging features of BCVA, OCT, FFA and ICGA were retrospectively analyzed and summarized. ResultsThe mean logMAR BCVA of the 11 eyes was 0.91±0.45. Nine patients had bilateral disease, but bullous retinal detachment occurred in only 1 eye, and CSC manifestations were present in the contralateral eye. Six patients had received systemic or topical hormone therapy prior to onset. Yellowish-white material was observed in 6 eyes and retinal folds were observed in 5 eyes. OCT examination showed serous retinal detachment in the macular area with granular or patchy hyperreflective signals in the subretinal area in all eyes, and a few granular hyperreflective substances in the neuroretina in 6 eyes. Neuroretina cystoid degeneration was observed in 6 eyes, adhesion between the detached neuroretina and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) was observed in 6 eyes, RPE tear was observed in 6 eyes, and different forms of retinal pigment epithelial detachment (PED) were observed in 6 eyes. FFA showed multiple fluorescence leakage spots in 10 eyes, and the average number of fluorescence leakage spots in all eyes was 3.82±2.44. There were multiple diffuse RPE lesions in 9 eyes. The results of ICGA examination showed that choroidal vessels were dilated and multiple hyperfluorescent leaks were observed in all eyes. B-scan ultrasonography examination of all affected eyes showed retinal detachment. Retinal reattachment can be achieved at (2.0±1.0) months after photodynamic therapy (PDT), while SRF can be completely absorbed at (2.36±0.81) months. The mean logMAR BCVA can be improved to 0.50±0.33, and no recurrence was found in the follow-up period up to 6 months. ConclusionsBullous retinal detachment is often associated with the use of hormones, while yellow-white material in the subretina and hyperreflective material in the OCT are common. It is characterized by neuroretina cystoid degeneration in the macular area, adhesion between the neuroretina and RPE, RPE tear and PED, with multiple fluorescence leakage spots and diffuse RPE lesions. PDT is an effective treatment for bullous retinal detachment.
Objective To investigate the different clinical features of chronic cough induced by rhinitis /sinusitis or gastro-esophageal reflux, and its significance for etiological diagnosis of chronic cough.Methods Chronic cough patients were recruited from respiratory medicine clinic in Chongqing Xinqiao Hospital from December 2009 to December 2010. Medical history, symptoms and signs were recorded from all selected patients. The patients with chronic rhinitis / sinusitis, but without gastro-esophageal reflux symptoms were suspected upper airway cough syndrome ( UACS) , and given chlorpheniramine, nasal decongestant, and corticosteroid treatment for 1 week. The patients with clinical symptoms associated with gastroesophageal reflux or with history of gastric diseases were suspected gastroesophaged reflux-related cough ( GERC) , were given esomeprazole ( 40 mg, bid) , combined prokinetic agent for 2 weeks. The patients were confirmed the diagnosis of UACS or GERC when their cough was relieved after the above targeted treatment.Results 114 patients were enrolled in this study. 47 patients were suspected GERC, of which 32 were confirmed, and 67 patients were suspected UACS, of which 43 were confirmed. There was no significant difference in age, duration of disease, severity of cough, proportion of night cough, proportion of clear throat symptom, or proportion of cobblestone sign between the UACS patients and the GERC patients ( P gt;0. 05) .There were more females in the GERC patients and more males in the UACS patients ( P lt; 0. 05) . Cough with sputum, throat symptoms and signs were more common in the UACS patients ( P lt;0. 05) . The hoarseness and sore throat symptoms were found only in the GERC patients, but postnasal drip symptoms were found only in the UACS patients. Conclusions Throat signs and symptoms are not completely similiar in the GERC and the UACS patients. Comprehensive judgments combining with patient history,characteristics of concurrent cough, throat symptoms, and signs can provide important references for the clinical diagnosis of chronic cough caused by rhinitis/ sinusitis or gastro-esophageal reflux.