Medicine
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Bladder cancer (BC) is a common tumor in the urinary system with a high recurrence rate. The individualized treatment and follow-up after surgery is the key to a successful outcome. Currently, the surveillance strategies are mainly depending on tumor stage and grade. Previous evidence has proved that tumor grade was a significant and independent risk factor of BC recurrence. Exploring the grade-related genes may provide us a new approach to predict prognosis and guide the post-operative treatment in BC patients. ⋯ We identified 8 core genes that revealed a significant correlation with the tumor grade as well as the recurrence of BC. Finally, we proved the value of a novel prognostic nomogram for predicting the relapse-free survival of BC patients after surgery, which could guide their treatment and follow-up.
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Case Reports
Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm ventilation-dependent neonates: A case series report.
Surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has been considered the only way to rescue preterm neonates following nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs closure failure. However, PDA closure by catheter-based interventions has become another therapeutic choice. The aim of this report was to investigate the timing and treatment methods for hemodynamically significant PDA (hsPDA) in preterm neonates. ⋯ Transcatheter closure could be an acceptable alternative to surgical ligation when medication treatment fails to close hsPDAs in ventilator-dependent preterm neonates. This intervention should be considered to minimize mechanical ventilation duration, reduce the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and improve the prognoses of these infants.
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a specific neurodegenerative disease, imposed increased economic and utilizations burden on the healthcare system, especially with the progress of the diseases severity. However, the economic burden on Chinese ALS patients remained unclear. This study therefore was aimed to investigate medical cost and healthcare utilization for Chinese ALS patients. ⋯ The highest increase in utilizations may account for medical costs on ALS patients, which was represented by hospitalizations (Odd Ratio (OR) = 4.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.52, 5.15), electromyography (OR = 4.14, 95% CI 2.37, 7.22), nerve conduction velocity (OR = 3.26, 95% CI 2.23, 4.77). This study is the first one reporting direct economic burden on Chinese ALS patients. Efforts should be made to develop cost-effective diagnostic tools in order that sources of medical cost were more effectively allocated, and this disease was detected earlier.
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This retrospective study aimed to define the morphological characteristics of the distal femur in patients with hemophilia-related knee arthritis (HA) and develop precise femoral component installation during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using a reference axis. Computed tomography (CT) was performed in 75 patients [HA group: 34 patients, 48 knees; osteoarthritis (OA group): 41 patients, 48 knees] during 2017-2019. CT scans were constructed into three-dimensional models. ⋯ ML, ML/LAP, X2, MAP, and LAP showed no significant differences between the 2 groups. ML, ML/LAP, and PCA showed no significant differences between the 2 groups. During TKA in hemophilia-related knee arthritis patients, the femoral component can be installed with PCL as the reference axis, although individual differences should be considered.
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Observational Study
Prevalence and the predictive performance of the dynamic CT-angiography spot sign in an observational cohort with intracerebral hemorrhage.
The CT-angiography (CTA) spot sign is a predictor of hematoma expansion (HE). We have previously reported on the use of dynamic CTA (dCTA) to detect spot sign, and to study its formation over the acquisition period. In this study, we report the frequency of dCTA spot sign in acute intracerebral hemorrhage, its sensitivity and specificity to predict HE, and explore the rate of contrast extravasation in relation to hematoma growth. ⋯ Patients with significant HE had a higher rate of extravasation as compared to those without (0.12 mL/min vs 0.04 mL/min, P = .03). Dynamic CTA results in a higher frequency of spot sign positivity, but with modest sensitivity and specificity to predict expansion. Extravasation rate is likely related to HE, but a single measurement may be insufficient to predict the magnitude of expansion.