Medicine
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Observational Study
Does the position or contact pressure of the stethoscope make any difference to clinical blood pressure measurements: an observational study.
This study aimed to investigate the effect of stethoscope position and contact pressure on auscultatory blood pressure (BP) measurement. Thirty healthy subjects were studied. Two identical stethoscopes (one under the cuff, the other outside the cuff) were used to simultaneously and digitally record 2 channels of Korotkoff sounds during linear cuff pressure deflation. ⋯ There was no significant SBP difference between the 2 stethoscope positions at the 2 lower stethoscope pressures (P = 0.23 and 0.45), but there was a small (0.4 mm Hg, clinically unimportant) significant difference (P = 0.005) at the highest stethoscope pressure. The key result was that, DBP from the stethoscope under the cuff was significantly lower than that from outside the cuff by 2.8 mm Hg (P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval -3.5 to -2.1 mm Hg). Since it is known that the traditional Korotkoff sound method, with the stethoscope outside the cuff, tends to give a higher DBP than the true intra-arterial pressure, this study could suggest that the stethoscope position under the cuff, and closer to the arterial occlusion, might yield measurements closer to the actual invasive DBP.
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Unresectable cholangiocarcinoma is poorly responded to chemotherapy, especially for the case refractory to gemcitabine and cisplatin. Here, we tested whether high expression of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) can be a predictive biomarker for the indicator for gemcitabine and doxifluridine combination chemotherapy in the cholangiocarcinoma refractory to gemcitabine and cisplatin. ⋯ We accepted the result as positive when more than 10% of cancer cells were stained with moderate intensity. Here, we report 2 cases of TP-positive cholangiocarcinoma well controlled with gemcitabine and doxifluridine combination chemotherapy, which had been refractory to the first line treatment with gemcitabine and cisplatin combination chemotherapy.
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Recent biomechanics studies have revealed distinct kinematic behavior of different lumbar segments. The mechanisms behind these segment-specific biomechanical features are unknown. This study investigated the in vivo geometric characteristics of human lumbar intervertebral discs. ⋯ Although the lengths of the lower lumbar discs were similar, the geometry of the AF and NP showed segment-dependent properties. These data may provide insight into the understanding of segment-specific biomechanics in the lower lumbar spine. The data could also provide baseline knowledge for the development of segment-specific surgical treatments of lumbar diseases.
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Retrospective radiographic analysis. To determine the fusion rate of stand-alone lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF). Biomechanical studies have indicated that LLIF may be more stable than anterior or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. ⋯ While our study population was relatively low, a non-union rate of 19% to 27% is concerning for modern spine surgery. Currently in our practice, we occasionally still perform stand-alone LLIF utilizing 22 mm wide grafts in low-demand levels in non-smoking and non-osteoporotic patients. However, in a majority of patients, we provide supplemental fixation: bilateral pedicle screws in most patients and unilateral pedicle screws or spinous process plates in some patients.
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Observational Study
Prolonged B cell depletion with rituximab is effective in treating refractory pulmonary granulomatous inflammation in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).
Pulmonary nodule formation is a frequent feature of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Traditional induction therapy includes methotrexate or cyclophosphamide, however, pulmonary nodules generally respond slower than vasculitic components of disease. Efficacy of rituximab (RTX) solely for the treatment of pulmonary nodules has not been assessed. ⋯ Repeated RTX treatment in these 3 and persistent B cell depletion in the whole cohort was associated with further significant radiological improvement. Radiographic scoring at each time interval showed reduction in both number of nodules (P = <0.0001) and largest nodule diameter (P = <0.0001) in all patients for at least 18 months following B cell depletion. In summary, RTX therapy induces resolution of pulmonary granulomatous inflammation in GPA following prolonged B cell depletion.