Medicine
-
Observational Study
Diagnostic value of fractional exhaled nitric oxide for asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome.
To examine the difference in the fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) and patients with Non-ACOS COPD (Non-ACOS) and to investigate the correlation between FeNO levels and the differential cell counts of eosinophils in induced sputum, in order to explore the diagnostic value of FeNO in ACOS. A prospective, case-control study was performed on 53 cases of ACOS group and 53 cases of Non-ACOS group in the Respiratory Medicine Outpatient of Zhangzhou Municipal TCM Hospital, Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The FeNO levels and induced sputum cell counts were determined and the correlation between FeNO levels and eosinophile percentage was analyzed by Pearson linear correlation analysis. ⋯ The area under the receiver operating curve of FeNO for the diagnosis of ACOS phenotype was 0.815 (P < .01), the sensitivity and specificity reach highest when the cut off value was 25.50 ppb. The FeNO in patients from the ACOS group were significantly higher than those in Non-ACOS group and were moderately correlated with the percentage of eosinophils in induced sputum. The results indicated that FeNO may be used as a diagnostic index for ACOS, in addition to the induced sputum.
-
IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic fibro-inflammatory disorder which is characterized by elevated levels of serum IgG4 and infiltration of IgG4-bearing plasma cells in the involved organs. Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) are both distinct from IgG4-related disease. We herein describe a Chinese patient with IgG4-related RPF overlapping with PBC and pSS. ⋯ This rare clinical condition has seldom been reported in the literature, which suggests that common immunogenetic factors may be involved in the development of IgG-related RPF, PBC and pSS.
-
Observational Study
Prevalence, risk factors, and prognosis of interstitial lung disease in a large cohort of Chinese primary Sjögren syndrome patients: A case-control study.
To determine the prevalence of pulmonary complications in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS), and to identify the risk factors and the prognosis associated with pulmonary involvement in pSS patients. A total of 1341 hospitalized patients (853 with pSS and 488 with secondary Sjögren syndrome [sSS]) were retrospectively reviewed. Of these, 165 hospitalized patients with pSS-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) were analyzed and recruited as a study group. ⋯ Age, RF, and CRP were independent predictors of ILD after adjustment for confounders. Lung involvement is a common and severe complication of Sjögren syndrome. Age and disease activity are correlated with pulmonary involvement in pSS patients.
-
Chordomas are malignant neoplasms derived from incomplete regression of notochordal tissue along the craniococcygeal axis.It is rare for Chordoma arising from the lumbar spine and the traditional long-term prognosis is typically poor. ⋯ So It is suggest that the diagnosis should be carried out accurately at the early stage, the lesions and source of lesions should be cut away as broadly as possible, also the radiation and chemotherapy should be carried out after the operation as necessary.
-
Penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU) and rupture of a superior mesenteric artery branch is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. ⋯ Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may be difficult to distinguish, particularly for elderly patients with extensive atherosclerotic disease. Antithrombotic agent administration should be carefully considered.