ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics of 40 patients with ocular toxocariasis (OT) on the first attendance.
MethodsA total of 40 consecutive patients who were clinically and serologically diagnosed with OT were retrospectively reviewed.
ResultsThe mean age of patients was (12.12±10.42) years. There were 29 males and 11 females. 29 cases presented with decreased vision, 4 children with leukocoria, 2 cases with strabismus and 5 cases was found abnormal during regular eye examination. Initially 8 eyes (20%) were misdiagnosed as retinoblastoma (1 eye), Coat's disease(1 eye), cataract (2 eyes), iridocyclitis (2 eyes) and retinal detachment (2 eyes). 23 eyes had retinal detachment, 19 eyes had cataract. OT was the initial diagnosis for 15 patients (37.5%). The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were NLP to 0.7. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) were performed in 29 eyes, and identified peripheral granulomas in 23 eyes and adjacent tractional retinal detachment in 12 eyes. We also identified 17 cases (68.0%) with elevated IgE level among 25 patients with positive serological antibody test.
ConclusionsTractional retinal detachment, vitreous opacities and cataract are the common clinical findings at the first attendance of OT patients. The adjunctive test of serum total IgE level may be helpful for the diagnosis. The application of UBM and specific IgG detection in serum and intraocular fluid, can also improve the diagnosis.
ObjectiveTo analyze the sensitivity and specificity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests in the detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the diagnosis of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), using aqueous humor samples.
Methods25 AIDS patients (including 21 men and 4 women) were studied. The age of the patients varied from 24 to 59 years, with an average of (39.2±9.3) years. The CD4+ T cell count was from 1 to 523 cells/μl, with a medium of 40 cells/μl. They were infected with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)for a period from 15 days to 9 years with a median of 10 months. They were divided into three groups according to the fundus and treatment, including untreated cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR), treated CMVR and control group. There were 10 patients without anti-CMV treatment and 7 patients treated previously with foscarnet or ganciclovir whose eyes were diagnosed CMVR. Control group has 8 patients who had normal fundus or minor retinopathy excluded from CMVR. Approximately 100 μl of aqueous humor was obtained by anterior-chamber paracentesis and PCR was performed in all cases.
ResultsThere were CMV DNA in 9 of 10 eyes with untreated CMVR (90.0% sensitivity). Of 7 specimens from eyes with treated CMVR, 3 were CMV PCR positive (42.9% sensitivity). All 8 samples of the control group were negative for CMV DNA, indicating the clinical specificity of our PCR was greater than 99.9% for CMVR. The anterior chamber paracentesis did not cause any complications in our patients except for a patient with subconjunctival hemorrhage.
ConclusionsThe assay had an estimated sensitivity of 90.0% in detecting untreated CMVR and a sensitivity of 42.9% in detecting CMVR that had been treated. The specificity of this assay was greater than 99.9%.
ObjectiveTo discuss the impact of health education for the patients with decompensated cirrhosis and their family members on patients' family life quality, psychological conditions, medication compliance, and re-admission rates.
MethodsWe selected 100 decompensated cirrhosis patients between December 2012 and December 2013, and randomized them into two groups with 50 patients in each. One week prior to discharge, we conducted a comprehensive nursing assessment for the patients and developed hospital care regimen. Patients were followed up after discharge for six months. The control group underwent routine health education and extended care, while the experimental group had an addition of health education and extended care intervention on their family members.
ResultsAnxiety and depression were alleviated in both the two groups. The psychological conditions of patients in the experimental group were significantly better than the control group (P<0.01). The total scores of quality of life was significantly different compared with the scores before intervention (P<0.01). Medication compliance improved more significantly in the experimental group after intervention (P<0.05). Re-admission rates decreased more significantly in the experimental group than the control group (P<0.01).
ConclusionHealth education and extended care intervention for patients and their family members can improve patients' psychological conditions, promote medication compliance, reduce readmission rates, and improve patients' quality of family life.
ObjectiveTo investigate factors associated with postoperative complications after laparoscopic radical surgery in rectal cancer.MethodsThe clinical data of patients with rectal cancer performed by the laparoscopic radical resection from February 2013 to December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. All the data were analyzed by the t test, chi-square test or logistic regression analysis.ResultsThere were 343 patients with rectal cancer performed by the laparoscopic radical resection. The postoperative complications occurred in the 97 (28.3%) patients. The result of univariate analysis showed that the postoperative complications rate was associated with the gender, age, body mass index, preoperative anemia, preoperative comorbidity, location and diameter of tumor, operative time, and surgeon experience (all P<0.050). The results of logistic regression analysis revealed that the gender, age, body mass index, preoperative anemia, preoperative comorbidity, location of tumor, operative time, and surgeon experience were the independent risk factors for the postoperative complications (all P<0.050).ConclusionGender, age, body mass index, preoperative anemia, preoperative comorbidity, location of tumor, operative time, and surgeon experience are independent risk factors for postoperative complications in laparoscopic radical rectal surgery for rectal cancer.
Objective To analyze the prognosis and indications of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). MethodsPatients with primary BCS who received TIPS in the Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University between February 2009 and February 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The medical history, preoperative imaging, surgical records, and postoperative outpatient follow-up medical records were recorded. The laboratory indexes before and after operation were compared, and the cumulative free from hepatic encephalopathy rate, stent patency rate, and cumulative survive rate were calculated. Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the independent risk factors of hepatic encephalopathy, shunt dysfunction and death. Results A total of 48 patients were included. The main indications for TIPS included variceal bleeding (16 cases), refractory ascites (24 cases), and diffuse obstruction of hepatic vein with acute liver function impairment (8 cases). The cumulative 1 year, 2 years and 3 years of free from hepatic encephalopathy rates were 92.3%, 89.2% and 85.3%, respectively. The stent patency rates were 89.7%, 72.2% and 54.8% at postoperative 1 year, 3 years and 5 years, respectively. The cumulative survival rates were 86.0%, 79.5% and 71.4% at postoperative 1 year, 3 years and 5 years, respectively. Conclusion TIPS can achieve good efficacy in patients with BCS, and most patients receive TIPS for portal hypertension complications rather than acute liver function impairment.
Objective To critically appraise and systematically reviewe the economic evaluations of all alternative interventions for hepatitis B in China. Methods We searched MEDLINE and the four largest Chinese electronic databases. The references of eligible studies were also screened. Economic evaluations of any type, which studied interventions for hepatitis B, were eligible for inclusion. A 25-item quality checklist modified from a BMJ checklist was used to appraise the quality of studies. The overall quality score was calculated against 100 points to indicate the risk of bias. Quality appraisal and data extraction were conducted by two independent reviewers. Results Nineteen full economic evaluations and two cost studies were included of which fourteen studies were scored 25-44 points, and seven scored 45-61 points. Most studies adequately documented effectiveness of interventions. However, the costs of interventions were not well reported in over 50% of studies. Many studies inadequately conducted data analysis, particular in sensitivity analysis and discounting. Ten studies compared lamivudine with interferon or conventional therapy for 1-year (or 6-month) effects, which indicated that lamivudine was generally cost-effective. Three evaluations studied 30-year outcomes of interferon compared with conventional therapy, which suggested that interferon usually saved additional costs and years of life. Another three studies compared interferon with less frequently used antiviral agents, however the comparative cost-effectiveness varied. Two cost studies showed the total costs and the percentage of medical costs increased rapidly in proportion to disease severity.Conclusions Of alternative interventions, lamivudine is cost effective for short-term effects. Interferon is superior to conventional therapy for long-term outcomes. However, the long-term economic outcomes cannot be justified by the current evidence. Quality of methods, particularly, that of costing and analytical methods, is a major limitation. There remains a b need to improve the quality of reporting. Careful considerations should be paid before applying the results to decision making.
Corticosteroids, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, antibiotics and antiviral were the main 4 classes of drugs for intravitreal injection. Depending on the class and volume of medication, age and gender of patients, ocular axial lengths or vitreous humour reflux, intraocular pressure (IOP) can be elevated transiently or persistently after intravitreal injection. Transient IOP elevation occurred in 2 weeks after intravitreal injection, and can be reduced to normal level for most patients. Only a small portion of such patients have very high IOP and need intervention measures such as anterior chamber puncture or lowering intraocular pressure by drugs. Long term IOP elevation is refers to persistent IOP increase after 2 weeks after intravitreal injection, and cause optic nerve irreversible damage and decline in the visual function of patients. Thus drug or surgical intervention need to be considered for those patients with high and long period of elevated IOP. Large-scale multicenter clinical trials need to be performed to evaluate the roles of the drug and patients factors for IOP of post-intravitreal injection, and to determine if it is necessary and how to use methods reducing IOP before intravitreal injection.
ObjectiveTo investigate the role of Aspergillus in the severe refractory exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsThe clinical data of two COPD patients suffering from refractory acute exacerbations were analyzed and the relevant literature were reviewed.ResultsTwo patients were male, aging 72 and 64 years respectively. Both of them had a history of frequent acute exacerbations with severe COPD recently. Meanwhile, they received intravenous use of antibiotics repeatedly, one of them took oral corticosteroids to control wheezing, but failed. Their serum Aspergillus-specific IgG antibody was weakly positive. Besides traditional treatment, they received additional antifungal therapy, and the symptoms alleviated. There was no acute exacerbation in the half a year follow-up period after appropriate therapy.ConclusionsAspergillus colonization, sensitization, infection should be considered in patients with severe COPD. When Aspergillus-associated evidence are acquired, antifungal therapy will be unexpected helpful.
