Medicine
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Observational Study
Long-term outcomes of percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation for glossopharyngeal neuralgia: A retrospective observational study.
The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term results of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation (PRT) for glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN). A retrospective review of medical records for patients with GPN who were treated with CT-guided PRT between 2003 and 2014 was performed to investigate baseline characteristics and immediate outcomes during the hospitalization. Long-term pain relief outcomes and complications were obtained via telephone survey. ⋯ Postprocedure complication included dysesthesias, dysphagia, and diminished gag reflex. No mortality was observed during or after PRT procedures. This study indicates that CT-guided PRT is a safe and effective method for patients with GPN and should be considered as an alternative treatment for these patients.
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Treatment algorithm has not been established for early gastric cancer with signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC), which has a reported low rate of lymph node metastasis (LNM) similar to differentiated cancer. A cohort of 256 patients with early gastric SRC at our center between January 2002 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent factors of LNM. ⋯ The model showed qualified discrimination ability both in internal validation (area under curve, 0.801; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.729-0.873) and in external dataset (area under curve, 0.707; 95% CI, 0.657-0.758). Based on the nomogram, treatment algorithm for early gastric SRC was proposed to assist clinicians in making better decisions. We developed a nomogram predicting risk of LNM for early gastric SRC, which should be helpful for patient counseling and surgical decision-making.
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Observational Study
Neurological, psychological, and cognitive disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease on conservative and replacement therapy.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a highly prevalent condition in the world. Neurological, psychological, and cognitive disorders, related to CKD, could contribute to the morbidity, mortality, and poor quality of life of these patients. The aim of this study was to assess the neurological, psychological, and cognitive imbalance in patients with CKD on conservative and replacement therapy. ⋯ Moreover, all NPZ5 scores showed a significant difference between the means of nephropathic patients and the means of the HC, and a positive correlation with eGFR, serum nitrogen, CRP, iPTH, and vitamin D. In CKD patients, simple and noninvasive instruments, as EEG, and cognitive-psychological tests, should be performed and careful and constant monitoring of renal risk factors, probably involved in neuropsychological complications (inflammation, disorders of mineral metabolism, electrolyte disorders, etc.), should be carried out. Early identification and adequate therapy of neuropsychological, and cognitive disorders, might enable a better quality of life and a major compliance with a probable reduction in the healthcare costs.
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Recently, 2 new anthropometric indices, the A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and Body Roundness Index (BRI), have been developed. Our study was to compare the associations between different anthropometric indices, including ABSI, BRI, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and hypertension in a rural population of northeast China. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural areas of northeast China from January 2012 to August 2013 using a multistage, stratified random cluster-sampling scheme. ⋯ BRI had the highest AROCs for hypertension (AROC: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.64-0.67 for men and AROC: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.67-0.70 for women), while ABSI had the lowest AROCs for hypertension (AROC: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.58-0.61 for men and AROC: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.58-0.61 for women). Our results showed that ABSI, BMI, BRI, WC, and WHR were all associated with hypertension. ABSI showed the weakest association with hypertension, while BRI showed potential for use as an alternative obesity measure in assessment of hypertension.
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Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is characterized by mucocutaneous telangiectasia and visceral vascular malformations (VMs). Liver involvement with VMs may lead to high-output cardiac failure, portal hypertension, and biliary disease. There is no curative treatment for the disease, and liver transplantation is indicated for life-threatening complications. Herein, we report a case of multiple hepatic artery aneurysms (HAAs) in a patient with HHT in which open arterial reconstruction was performed. There have only been a few case reports on HAA occurring with HHT. Thus, this case provides important information for the management of HHT-associated HAAs. ⋯ When treating HAAs, there are a variety of options. However, hepatic VMs might affect HHT patients in various ways postprocedurally. Ligation and embolization of the hepatic artery may lead to complications, such as massive hepatic necrosis. Hepatectomy should be avoided if possible, because a postoperative hyperperfusive state in the remaining liver can cause adverse events. We believe that arterial reconstruction of HHT-associated HAAs might reduce the risk of postprocedural complications with minimal hemodynamic changes in the liver, thus obviating the need for hepatectomy or liver transplantation.