Multicenter Retrospective Study Research Articles

Late results of surgery for pilonidal disease with an assessment of the cosmetic effect after various options for wound closure

AIM: to improve late results of pilonidal disease treatment.PATIENTS AND METHODS: a multicenter retrospective cohort study included patients with pilonidal disease using the original new method — the main group (n = 31) and patients with Karidakis method as controls (n = 70). The recurrence rate was estimated. Six months after surgery, ultrasound, the Vancouver Scale and the SF-36 questionnaire assessed the postoperative scar, cosmetic result and quality of life.RESULTS: the cosmetic effect of the postoperative scar was evaluated and significant differences between groups were obtained. According to the Vancouver Scale, 12 (41.4%) patients of the main group and 11 (16.9%) patients from the control group had a normal color of the postoperative scar (0 points) (p = 0.02). When assessing the pigmentation of the scar, it was found that normal pigmentation (0 points) was found in 8 (28.0%) patients of the main group, and in the control group this indicator was only 5 (8.0%) cases (p = 0.02). The pressure-resistant scar density (2 points) was 17 (59.0%) patients in the main group and 22 (34.0%) patients in the control group (p = 0.04). The scar width in the group using the new method was 1–2 mm (1 point) in 20 cases (69%), whereas in the control group, a similar scar width was recorded in 18 (28.0%) patients (p < 0.001). When evaluating the results of ultrasound of the soft tissue infiltration zone (p = 0.26) and the volume of infiltration (p = 0.36), as well as assessing the quality of life, no significant differences were found. There were no significant differences in the recurrence rate: in the main group it was 2 (6.45%), in the comparison group — 5 (7.14%) cases (p = 0.77).CONCLUSIONS: a new original method for pilonidal disease in comparison with the Karydakis method provides a better cosmetic result

Does a surgical access for rectal cancer in older patients affect postoperative morbidity and oncological safety?

AIM: to evaluate the effect of a surgical access on postoperative morbidity and oncological safety in older patients.PATIENTS AND METHODS: a multicenter retrospective study included 179 patients aged 60–74 years who underwent surgery for middle and low rectal cancer (T1-3N0-N2bM0) in 2021-2023. The patients were divided into 3 groups: the first ones underwent robotic (ROB) surgery (n = 62), the second — laparoscopic (LAP) surgery (n = 55), and the third — open (OPEN) surgery (n = 62). Parameters of pre-, intra-, and postoperative periods and histopathological findings were evaluated. Neural network modeling was used to predict anastomotic leakage (AL).RESULTS: the blood loss was 150 (100; 200) ml with OPEN versus 100 (50; 100) with ROB and LAP, the operation time was 255 (210; 300) min with ROB versus 180 (150; 240) min with LAP and 140 (120; 150) min with OPEN. In ROB and LAP groups, anastomoses were formed in 61 (98.4%) and 54 (98.2%) cases compared with 45 (72.6%) cases in the OPEN group (p = 0.00001). The splenic flexure was mobilized in 54 (98.2%) cases in the LAP group, 55 (88.7%) cases in the OPEN group, and 50 (80.7%) cases in the ROB group (p = 0.01). Conversion rates were 10.9% (6/55) and 1.6% (1/62) in LAP and ROB groups, respectively (p = 0.00001). Postoperative complications in the OPEN group occurred in 48 (77.4%) cases compared with 31 (50%) and 12 (21.8%) in ROB and LAP groups (p = 0.02). Inflammatory complications predominated in the OPEN group. Distal and lateral margins, the quality of mesorectal excision, and the number of examined and affected lymph nodes did not differ. However, the good quality of mesorectal excision prevailed in ROB and OPEN groups, where as the satisfactory quality was more common in the LAP group. The most important predictors of AL were American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status II, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, stage I and IIa cancer, end-to-end anastomosis, Charlson Comorbidity Index scores of 3–4, and surgeon’s experience (20–40 operations for rectal cancer per year). The least important predictors were the level of mesenteric vessel ligation and the access.CONCLUSIONS: the surgical access does not affect the AL rate. The histology revealed that all the 3 approaches ensure compliance with principles of oncological safety. Compared with open surgery, robotic and laparoscopic surgery result in less blood loss and faster recovery of intestinal function; however, the operation time increases.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of patients with monocarboxylate transporter-8 deficiency: a multicentre retrospective study.

MCT8 deficiency is a rare and devastating disorder characterized by central hypothyroidism and peripheral thyrotoxicosis. The fT3/fT4 ratio can be used as a useful diagnostic indicator of MCT8 deficiency in males with mental and motor retardation. There is a need to raise clinicians' awareness of this potentially treatable condition with the emergence of new and promising treatments. • Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome, also known as MCT8 deficiency is a rare and devastating disorder characterized by central hypothyroidism and peripheral thyrotoxicosis. • In this study, seventeen different variants were detected in the SLC16A2 gene, eleven of which (c.1456delC; c.439G>T; c.949C>A; c.1392dupC; c.1612C>T; c.407dup; c.781del; c.589C>A; c.712G>A; c.311T>A; c.1461del) have not been reported before. • The fT3/fT4 ratio can be used as a useful diagnostic indicator of MCT8 deficiency in males with mental and motor retardation.

Novel pressure- and temperature-controlled flexible ureteroscope system with a suction ureteral access sheath: a multicenter retrospective feasibility study.

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of a pressure-controlled and temperature-controlled flexible ureteroscope system (PT Scope™) during flexible ureteroscopy. We developed the PT Scope™, a novel ureteroscope system with capabilities for monitoring and controlling intrarenal pressure and temperature to maintain them within set parameters. Data were retrospectively collected from 48 consecutive patients diagnosed with upper urinary tract stones who underwent flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy using the PT Scope™ across five centers in China. Analyses focused on 24-h postoperative stone-free rates, intrarenal pressure and temperature measurements, and other procedural data. Among the 48 patients treated with the PT Scope™ system, a significant stone-free rate of 89.6% was achieved within 24h postoperation, without any instances of intraoperative complications such as perforation or mucosal hemorrhage. Only two patients reported mild postoperative pain and were managed with NSAIDs, and there were no cases of postoperative fever or sepsis. The average maximum intrarenal pressure and temperature were recorded at 30.2 ± 4.20mmHg and 36.6 ± 4.27°C, respectively. Notably, during lithotripsy, both the pressure and temperature were maintained below 30mmHg and 43°C for 99% of the procedure duration, respectively. This preliminary investigation indicates that the PT Scope™ is a safe and effective tool for the treatment of upper urinary tract stones, offering the benefit of regulating intrarenal pressure and temperature within predetermined limits. These findings support the feasibility of the system for clinical application.

Impact of postoperative radiography on the management of humeral condylar fractures in immature dogs.

To evaluate the impact of postoperative radiographs on treatment decisions for skeletally immature dogs undergoing repair of a fractured humeral condyle. Retrospective observational multicenter study. A total of 139 dogs (<12 months of age). Medical records of dogs who underwent humeral condylar fracture repair were retrieved and analyzed. Data collected included dog's signalment, fixation method, reported client's concerns, follow-up clinical examination findings, radiographic assessment, and any documented changes to the postoperative plan. Out of the 139 cases, 23 dogs (17%) required a change in their postoperative plan. Owner concerns (OR: 7.6), prolonged use of analgesic drugs (OR: 7.9), presence of lameness (OR: 5.9), abnormal clinical findings at the time of follow-up examination (OR: 44.8) and radiographic abnormalities (OR: 51.9) significantly increased the likelihood of a change in the postoperative plan. Most importantly, none of these postoperative plan changes were solely attributed to radiographic abnormalities at the time of the follow-up examination. Follow-up radiographs did not influence the postoperative management plan in cases where clients reported no concerns, the dogs did not require prolonged analgesic treatment, showed no lameness on examination, and had unremarkable clinical findings CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In the absence of client concerns, prolonged use of analgesic drugs, lameness on examination, and clinical abnormalities, the necessity of follow-up radiographs in immature dogs that underwent humeral condylar fracture repair is debatable.

Routine preoperative blood group and save is unnecessary for adult emergency appendicectomies: A retrospective multicentre study.

Routine group and save (G&S) is commonly performed before appendicectomy despite limited evidence. This study aims to evaluate the necessity of preoperative G&S by determining perioperative blood transfusion rates. A multicentre retrospective observational study of adult patients who had emergency appendicectomy across four hospitals between August 2018 and November 2020. Data analysed included demographics, operative details, G&S, crossmatching and perioperative blood transfusion. 1105 patients were identified, 635 (57.4%) were male. Median age was 37 years (IQR 26-52). 1012 (91.6%) were ASA 1 or 2. Surgical approach: 890 (80.5%) laparoscopic, 79 (7.1%) converted to open, 119 (10.8%) open and 17 (1.5%) laparotomy. Severity of appendicitis: 804 (72.8%) inflamed, 56 (5.1%) gangrenous, 235 (21.3%) perforated and 10 (0.9%) normal. 921 (83.3%) patients had preoperative G&S. 42 (3.8%) patients also had crossmatch. No patients required blood transfusion in 30 days post appendicectomy. The cost of G&S is estimated to be £40,164 in this cohort. The need for perioperative blood transfusion is rare in patients undergoing appendicectomy. It has a significant cost impact and can cause unnecessary delays. Our study suggests that a routine G&S policy is not necessary, and we suggest a more 'selective' G&S policy.

Fungal infection-related conditions and outcomes in severe COVID-19: a nationwide case-control study

BackgroundFungal infections are significant complications of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although various risk factors for poor outcomes in patients with COVID-19 have been identified, clinical and treatment factors associated with fungal infections in patients with severe COVID-19 remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate clinical factors associated with fungal infections during severe COVID-19 treatment.MethodsThis was a post hoc analysis of the J-RECOVER study, a multicenter retrospective observational study involving patients with COVID-19 who required admission at 66 hospitals between January and September 2020. Inclusion criteria were ages ≥ 18 years, COVID-19 diagnosis with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and treatment with mechanical ventilation (MV). Patients who received antifungal drugs before MV were excluded. Potential predictors were identified through univariate analysis of patient and treatment characteristics between patients with- and those without fungal infection, which was defined as antifungal agent use for ≥ 5 days. To account for facility-specific data clustering, generalized estimating equations (GEE) were employed as adjusted analyses to calculate the relative risks of potentially associated factors. Two sensitivity analyses were performed with modified definitions for the two groups: patients who received antifungal drugs for ≤ 4 days were excluded, and fungal infection was re-defined as antifungal drug use for ≥ 14 days.ResultsAmong 4,915 patients in the J-RECOVER study, 559 adults with COVID-19 who required MV were included. Fungal infections occurred in 57 (10.2%) patients. Univariate analyses identified age, age ≥ 65 years, D-dimer level, remdesivir use, steroid use, and duration of steroid therapy as potential predictors of fungal infections. Multivariate analysis using GEE on these six factors revealed that only the duration of steroid use was significantly associated with an increased risk of fungal infection (odds ratio [OR] for a day increase: 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.01; p < 0.001). The two sensitivity analyses similarly showed that the duration of steroid use was associated with fungal infection (odds ratio for a day increase: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00–1.01; p < 0.001 for both).ConclusionsIn patients with severe COVID-19 requiring MV, each additional day of steroid use was associated with prolonged use of antifungal medications for ≥ 5 days.

Preoperative assessment of tertiary lymphoid structures in stage I lung adenocarcinoma using CT radiomics: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

ObjectiveTo develop a multimodal predictive model, Radiomics Integrated TLSs System (RAITS), based on preoperative CT radiomic features for the identification of TLSs in stage I lung adenocarcinoma patients and to evaluate its potential in prognosis stratification and guiding personalized treatment.MethodsThe most recent preoperative chest CT thin-slice scans and postoperative hematoxylin and eosin-stained pathology sections of patients diagnosed with stage I LUAD were retrospectively collected. Tumor segmentation was achieved using an automatic virtual adversarial training segmentation algorithm based on a three-dimensional U-shape convolutional neural network (3D U-Net). Radiomic features were extracted from the tumor and peritumoral areas, with extensions of 2 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm, and 8 mm, respectively, and deep learning image features were extracted through a convolutional neural network. Subsequently, the RAITS was constructed. The performance of RAITS was then evaluated in both the train and validation cohorts.ResultsRAITS demonstrated superior AUC, sensitivity, and specificity in both the training and external validation cohorts, outperforming traditional unimodal models. In the validation cohort, RAITS achieved an AUC of 0.78 (95% CI, 0.69–0.88) and showed higher net benefits across most threshold ranges. RAITS exhibited strong discriminative ability in risk stratification, with p < 0.01 in the training cohort and p = 0.02 in the validation cohort, consistent with the actual predictive performance of TLSs, where TLS-positive patients had significantly higher recurrence-free survival (RFS) compared to TLS-negative patients (p = 0.04 in the training cohort, p = 0.02 in the validation cohort).ConclusionAs a multimodal predictive model based on preoperative CT radiomic features, RAITS demonstrated excellent performance in identifying TLSs in stage I LUAD and holds potential value in clinical decision-making.

Prophylactic Clip Closure in Preventing Delayed Bleeding After Colorectal Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection on anticoagulants: A multicenter retrospective cohort study in Japan.

Prophylactic clip closure after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) among patients on anticoagulants is of uncertain effectiveness in reducing delayed bleeding (DB) risk. We aimed to assess the effect of prophylactic clip closure in preventing DB after colorectal ESD among patients on anticoagulants. We used the ABCD-J study database, a large-scale multicenter study analyzing DB among 34,455 colorectal ESD cases from 47 Japanese institutions. DB rates among the no/partial and complete closure groups were compared in patients on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and warfarin. Propensity score matching for baseline characteristics was used to reduce the effects of selection bias. Overall, 1,478 cases receiving colorectal ESD on anticoagulants were examined. After propensity score matching, the complete and no/partial closure groups were compared in 212 patients on DOACs and 82 on warfarin. The complete closure group showed a significantly lower DB rate in patients receiving DOACs (10.8% vs. 5.2%, absolute risk reduction (ARR): 5.7%, P = 0.048) and warfarin (17.1% vs. 6.1%, ARR: 11.0%, P = 0.049). Additionally, complete closure significantly reduced the risk of DB among patients taking DOACs for right-sided lesions (ARR: 6.7%, P = 0.041), whereas no risk reduction was observed for left-sided (P = 1) or rectal lesions (P = 0.498). A similar trend was observed among patients on warfarin. Prophylactic complete clip closure after colorectal ESD significantly reduced the DB rate in patients receiving both DOACs and warfarin. It should be performed after ESD, particularly for right-sided lesions.

The Value of Infrapyloric Lymph Nodes Dissection in Right Hemicolectomy for Hepatic Flexure Colon Cancer: A Multicenter Analysis Based on Propensity Score Matching.

There is dispute regarding the necessity of infrapyloric lymph nodes dissection in right hemicolectomy for hepatic flexure colon cancer. To evaluate the risk factors for infrapyloric lymph nodes metastasis and prognostic role of infrapyloric lymph nodes dissection in patients with hepatic flexure colon cancer and identify the population who would benefit from infrapyloric lymph nodes dissection. Retrospective multi-center propensity score matching study to minimize heterogenity between 2 groups. This study was conducted at three medical centers. A total of 531 patients who underwent curative resection for hepatic flexure colon cancer were included. Logistic analysis was used to evaluate risk factors for infrapyloric lymph nodes metastasis and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate overall survival. The metastasis rate of infrapyloric lymph nodes among patients undergoing infrapyloric lymph nodes dissection was 11.8% (26/221). Cox multivariate analysis confirmed that infrapyloric lymph nodes dissection was an independent prognostic factor after propensity score matching (hazard ratio 0.60, 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.84; p = 0.007). A proposed flow chart for infrapyloric lymph nodes dissection based on preoperative factors was created. Based on the proposed flow chart, patients with preoperative serum CEA level ≤5.0 ng/ml, cN+, and tumor size ≥5 cm, and patients with preoperative serum CEA level >5.0 ng/ml were defined as high-priority infrapyloric lymph nodes dissection group. The metastasis rate of infrapyloric lymph nodes in the high-priority group was 16.0% (20/125). In the high-priority group, patients undergoing infrapyloric lymph nodes dissection had better survival outcomes than those not undergoing infrapyloric lymph nodes dissection (p = 0.005). This study is limited by its retrospective nature. This study suggests that infrapyloric lymph nodes dissection should be performed in specific patients with hepatic flexure colon cancer. See Video Abstract.

The frequency of serious bacterial infection in febrile infants less than 90 days infected with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viral pathogens

BackgroundThe primary aim of this study was to compare the groups, SARS-CoV-2-positive and -negative patients, in terms of the frequency of SBI. The SARS-CoV-2-positive group was compared with the other-RVPs-positive group as a secondary evaluation in terms of serious bacterial infection (SBI).MethodsThis retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted at four university hospitals from March 2020 to December 2021. Patients under 90 days old, with a measured fever of ≥ 38 °C, who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and had blood and urine cultures taken, were included in the study. The patient groups who tested positive and negative for SARS-CoV-2 were compared regarding clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and the frequency of serious bacterial infections. As a secondary analysis, among patients tested for other respiratory viruses, the SARS-CoV-2-positive group and other respiratory virus-positive groups were compared in terms of the frequency of SBI.ResultsA total of 208 patients met the inclusion criteria. Two distinct comparisons were conducted among the patients included in the study: the first between the SARS-CoV-2-positive and SARS-CoV-2-negative patient groups, and the second between the SARS-CoV-2-positive and other RVPs-positive patient groups. In the first comparison, fifty-five patients were SARS-CoV-2-positive and 153 were SARS-CoV-2-negative. The rate of SBI in the SARS-CoV-2-positive patients was 16.4%, whereas that in the SARS-CoV-2-negative patients was 47.1%. The laboratory parameters for infection suspicion were significantly lower in the SARS-CoV-2-positive group than the SARS-CoV-2-negative group. In the second comparison, 90 patients who were tested for both SARS-CoV-2 and other RVPs were evaluated. The mean WBC, ANC and CRP levels were significantly lower in the SARS-CoV-2-positive group than the other RVPs-positive group, however, there was no significant difference in the mean ALC, NLR and PCT levels and the frequency of SBI between the SARS-CoV-2-positive and other RVPs-positive patient groups.ConclusionsThese results suggest that febrile infants younger than 90 days with SARS-CoV-2 have lower rates of SBI than patients without SARS-CoV-2. These data are consistent with previous studies describing lower risks of SBI in febrile infants with RVPs.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Challenging the narrative of alport syndrome spectrum: no link with cystic phenotype.

Alport Syndromes (AS) are the second leading genetic cause of Kidney Failure (KF). Whether multiple kidney cysts (MKC) phenotype belongs to the AS spectrum remains debated. This multicenter retrospective study focused on patients genotyped with pathogenic COL4A3, COL4A4, or COL4A5 variants (classified as ACMG-AMP 4 or 5) between January 2011 and January 2023 across four French university hospitals. The study aimed to compare characteristics between two groups based on the presence or absence of MKC, defined by three or more cysts per kidney. The MKC group was compared to a control group with negative exome sequencing results for undetermined kidney disease (ES-UKD) to assess the association between MKC and AS. Among the 257 AS patients included, 38 (14.8%) presented MKC without variation from hereditary cystic kidney panel. MKC showed a significant association with male gender (p=0.004), cardiovascular risk factors, and loss of function variants (p=0.012). KF onset appeared significantly later, by 6 years, in MKC patients (p=0.035). Comparison with ES-UKD (n=990) control group showed no significant association between AS and MKC by univariate and multivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis identified patient age and male gender (p<0.001) as factors linked to MKC. A 14.8% prevalence of MKC was found in our cohort of 257 patients with AS. MKC-AS patients exhibited clinical and histological characteristic akin to nephroangiosclerosis. Our comprehensive analysis, incorporating a sizable ES-UKD cohort, revealed no significant association between MKC and AS, thus questioning the inclusion of MKC within the spectrum of AS.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in HIV-associated HHV8-positive multicentric castleman disease.

The clinical and laboratory characteristics of HHV8-associated Multicentric Castleman Disease (MCD) in people living with HIV (PLWH) overlap with those of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) disease and indeed the two diagnoses may co-exist. A risk-stratified treatment approach to MCD based on Rituximab immunotherapy for mild cases and chemo-immunotherapy for severe cases has been shown to yield excellent outcomes in PLWH. In contrast, HLH disease, previously known as secondary HLH, has a dismal prognosis even when promptly treated according to guidelines. A retrospective multicentre cohort study. Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected clinical and pathological data on patients with biopsy proven HIV-associated MCD at the National Centre for HIV Malignancy at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London between 2008 and 2024 and at the Department of Infectious Diseases at St. Joseph Hospital Berlin-Tempelhof, Germany between 2020 and 2024. In our UK-German cohort including 113 PWLH with MCD, we confirmed that HLH disease secondary to MCD is common (30%) and we demonstrated that HLH disease in this context does not adversely influence survival or risk of MCD relapse. We suggest that a high HScore in MCD should not lead to a change in the treatment in this specific setting.

Epiretinal Membrane and Senile Cataract: Combined vs Sequential Surgery.

To evaluate the outcomes of combined phacovitrectomy versus sequential phacoemulsification and vitrectomy in patients with both senile cataract and epiretinal membrane (ERM). A retrospective multicenter study was conducted between 2014 and 2022 at two hospitals in Italy. Patients with idiopathic ERM and senile cataract in the same eye were enrolled and underwent either combined (n=38) or sequential surgery (n=38), performed by a single surgeon. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were measured at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Both surgical approaches significantly improved BCVA and reduced CMT after 6 months. However, sequential surgery showed faster visual recovery, with significant improvements in BCVA (P=0.008) and CMT (P<0.0001) observed as early as 1-month post-surgery, compared to the combined group. Although both surgical approaches yielded significant improvements in visual acuity and central macular thickness at 6 months, the sequential approach offered a faster recovery in the early postoperative period. According to the literature, the sequential approach also allows some patients to be satisfied after cataract surgery alone, potentially avoiding unnecessary vitrectomy and reducing the risk of overtreatment.

Use of non-specific immunoglobulins in Catalonia in three third-level hospitals: a descriptive analysis of a hospital-prescribed medication registry

BackgroundThe increasing use of non-specific immunoglobulins (NSIGs) and their current shortage show a need for NSIGs’ use prioritization. Data from a clinical perspective are necessary, mainly for pediatric patients.ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to assess the level of clinical evidence (LoE) of the indications that NSIGs are used for, the reasons for discontinuation, and the costs invested.MethodsA retrospective multicentric study was conducted on NSIG incident users between September 2019 and December 2021 retrieved from the Registry of Patients and Treatments (RPT) from Catalonia (Spain). LoE was categorized as A) authorized indications, B) unauthorized with scientific support, C) unauthorized without support, and D) unknown (UNK), following local and the United Kingdom’s guidelines as a sensitivity analysis. We also estimated overall spending and costs per patient visit.ResultsA total of 400 patients were included (17.3% pediatric), with a mean follow-up of 122.1/person-years for adults. The most frequent indications were nervous system and blood diseases. Almost all pediatric patients (56; 81.2%) were treated under A-level indications, as for 217 (65.6%) adults. In the sensitivity analysis, the A-level usage rate decreased to one-third and the B-level usage rate increased by 2–3 times. Furthermore, 37.8% (151) of individuals discontinued. This was predominantly due to remission or no response. The total costs were 868,462.6€/year, with median spending per visit amounting to 1,500€ for adults and 700€ for pediatric patients.ConclusionNSIGs are used in clinical practice mainly for approved indications; however, non-approved indications are still an important issue. This could represent a significant economic burden on the healthcare system, focusing on the pediatric population and those at risk for discontinuation with alternative therapeutic options.

Cutaneous ulcers in anti-MDA5-positive dermatomyositis with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease: a multicentre retrospective cohort study

IntroductionTo identify the clinical characteristics and risk factors for cutaneous ulcers in patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis (anti-MDA5+ DM) combined with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RPILD).Material and methodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study on the medical records of patients enrolled from the Nanjing Medical University Myositis-associated ILD cohort (NMMI). The clinical characteristics of patients in the ulcer-positive group were compared with those in the ulcer-negative group by chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess risk factors for the development of cutaneous ulcers.ResultsA total of 246 patients with anti-MDA5+ DM were retrospectively enrolled in the study, including 176 females (176/246, 71.54%) and 70 males (70/246, 28.46%), with a female-to-male ratio of 2.51 : 1. Among the 246 patients, a total of 88 cases (88/246, 35.77%) with anti-MDA5+ DM combined with RPILD were further studied, including 55 females (55/88, 62.5%) and 33 males (33/88, 37.5%), with a female-to-male ratio of 1.67 : 1. Twelve patients (12/88, 13.64%) had cutaneous ulcers. In terms of clinical characteristics, patients in the ulcer-positive group had significantly more proximal muscle involvement (83.33% vs. 38.16%, p = 0.003) and more heliotrope rash (83.33% vs. 43.42%, p = 0.010) than in the ulcer-negative group. In univariate analysis, cutaneous ulcers were associated with proximal muscle involvement (OR = 8.103; 95% CI: 1.657–39.625; p = 0.010) and heliotrope rash (OR = 6.515; 95% CI: 1.336–31.773; p = 0.020). In multivariate analysis, cutaneous ulcers were associated with proximal muscle involvement (OR = 6.436; 95% CI: 1.274–32.524; p = 0.024), and proximal muscle involvement was an independent risk factor for cutaneous ulcers.ConclusionsWe confirmed the association between cutaneous ulcers and proximal muscle involvement and heliotrope rash in patients with anti-MDA5+ DM combined with RPILD. Proximal muscle involvement is an independent risk factor for cutaneous ulcers.

Validation of ACR TI-RADS performance in transition age: results from a multicenter retrospective study by the TALENT study group.

Although thyroid nodules are less common in the pediatric population, the risk of malignancy is higher than in adult patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrasonographic predictive factors of malignancy in thyroid nodules and to validate American College of Radiologists (ACR) TI-RADS performance in transition age patients. One hundred forty-two patients aged between 14 and 21 years referred to the participating centers for FNA biopsy of a thyroid nodule between 2007 and 2022 were included and ultrasound reports and sonographic images were retrospectively analyzed. Nodule features were defined according to the ACR-TIRADS lexicon. Two reference standards were applied: FNA cytology and surgical histology. The diagnostic performance of single sonographic features was estimated. Significant predictors were then included in a multivariate regression model. Nodules included in ACR-TIRADS categories TR4 or TR5 had 10-fold increased risk of indeterminate or suspicious/malignant cytology [p < 0.001]. In univariate analysis, solid composition [p = 0.016] and presence of hyperechoic foci [p = 0.040] significantly increased the likelihood of malignant histology. In multivariate regression analysis, irregular margins [p = 0.011] and hyperechoic foci [p = 0.019] were independent predictors of indeterminate or suspicious/malignant cytology. Nodules included in ACR-TIRADS categories TR4 or TR5 had 10-fold increased risk of indeterminate or suspicious/malignant cytology in transition age. ACR-TIRADS was not able to rule-out malignancy compared to FNAB alone, suggesting the need to reconsider recommendations in the transition age group.

The multi-center mid-term clinical outcomes of combined complete preservation of chordal structure mitral valve replacement with total anatomic complete arterial myocardial revascularization for coronary patients with moderate-to-severe or severe ischemic mitral regurgitation

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of combined complete preservation of chordal structure mitral valve replacement (C-MVR) with total anatomical arterial myocardial revascularization (TACR) in coronary patients with moderate-to-severe or severe ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). Methods: This is a retrospective multi-center case series study. Data were retrospectively collected from 127 patients with coronary artery disease with moderate to severe or severe IMR who received TACR with C-MVR from July 2015 to April 2024 in 13 hospitals in China. There were 90 males and 37 females, aged (56.5±10.7) years (range: 33 to 74 years). Perioperative data and follow-up data including left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and patency rate of arterial grafts of patients were collected. Comparisons were made using paired sample t-test or χ2 test. Results: In this cohort of 127 patients, 67 underwent concurrent tricuspid valve repair. During surgery, 113 grafts of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA), 127 grafts of the left radial artery, 80 grafts of the right radial artery, and 110 grafts of the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) were harvested. The number of the distal anastomosis was 4.2±0.4 (range: 3 to 5). The aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were (97.5±23.4) minutes (range: 90 to 161 minutes) and (145.4±19.2) minutes (range: 101 to 210 minutes), respectively. There was one operative death. Intraoperative placement of an intra-aortic balloon pump was performed in 21 patients to improve the left ventricular ejection. No sternal ischemic occurred. All patients completed follow-up, with a mean follow-up period of (64.3±7.5) months (range: 4 to 110 months). No major cerebrovascular events occurred during the follow-up period, and all patients survived. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved postoperatively (55.0%±5.3% vs. 41.0%±15.3%, t=17.23, P<0.01). The proportion of patients with New York Heart Association functional class ≤2 increased postoperatively (23.6% (30/127) vs. 87.3% (110/126), χ²=103.77, P<0.01). The proportion of patients with Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Classification ≤3 decreased postoperatively (4.8% (6/126) vs. 78.7% (100/127), χ²=142.19, P<0.01). The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased postoperatively ((5.70±4.50) cm vs. (6.10±0.23) cm, t=12.15, P<0.01). Coronary multi-detector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) follow-up was conducted for (60.5±11.7) months (range: 6 to 109 months) postoperatively. MDCTA confirmed the patency rates of the grafts: 96.4% (108/112) for the LIMA grafts, 88.9% (112/126) for the left radial artery grafts, 93.7% (74/79) for the right radial artery grafts, and 90.9% (100/110) for the free RIMA grafts. No significant differences in graft patency rates were observed between the arterial grafts (χ²=5.24, P=0.155). Conclusion: The results of this multi-centre study demonstrate satisfactory mid-term results of C-MVR with TACR for the treatment of coronary artery disease with moderate to severe or severe IMR.

Management of Severe Pyogenic Spinal Infections: The 2SICK Study by the EANS Spine Section.

Spondylodiscitis management presents significant clinical challenges, particularly in critically ill patients, where the risks and benefits of surgical intervention must be carefully balanced. The optimal timing of surgery in this context remains a subject of debate. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of early surgery versus delayed surgery or conservative management in critically ill patients with de novo pyogenic spondylodiscitis. This is an international, multicenter retrospective cohort study involving 24 centers, primarily in Europe. The study included 192 critically ill patients (65.63% male) with a median age of 69 years, all severely affected by pyogenic spondylodiscitis characterized by an initial CRP level >200 mg/l or the presence of two out of four Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome criteria upon admission. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included length of ICU stay, length of hospital stay, and relapse rates of spondylodiscitis. Patients were divided into three groups: early surgery (within three days of admission), delayed surgery (after three days of admission), and conservative therapy. Propensity score matching and multivariate regression analyses were performed to adjust for baseline differences and assess the impact of treatment modalities on mortality and other clinical outcomes. Delayed surgery was associated with significantly lower 30-day mortality (4.05%) compared to early surgery (27.85%) and conservative therapy (27.78%) (p<0.001). Delayed surgery also resulted in shorter hospital stays (42.76 days) compared to conservative therapy (55.53 days) and early surgery (26.33 days) (p<0.001), and shorter ICU stays (4.52 days) compared to conservative therapy (16.48 days) and early surgery (7.92 days) (p<0.001). The optimal window for surgery, minimizing mortality, was identified as ten to fourteen days post-admission (p=0.02). Risk factors for increased mortality included age (p<0.05), multiple organ failure (p<0.05), and vertebral body destruction (p<0.05), whereas delayed surgery (p<0.05) and the presence of an epidural abscess were associated with reduced mortality (p<0.05). Delayed surgery, optimally between 10 to 14 days post-admission, was associated with lower mortality in critically ill spondylodiscitis patients. These findings highlight the potential benefits of considering surgical timing to improve patient outcomes.

Role of Minimally Invasive Reoperation for Postoperatively Diagnosed T2 Gallbladder Cancer: Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Although T2 gallbladder cancer (GBC) incidentally diagnosed after cholecystectomy requires additional resection, the surgical approaches are technically difficult due to inflammatory adhesion or fibrosis around the hepatoduodenal ligament and gallbladder bed. In this study, we sought to compare the surgical and oncologic outcomes of open and minimally invasive reoperation for postoperatively diagnosed T2 GBC. Patients who underwent open (n = 110) and laparoscopic (n = 38) reoperation for T2 GBC between November 2004 and October 2022 at five tertiary referral centers were included in this multicenter retrospective cohort study. The short- and long-term outcomes were compared between the two groups. There were no differences in clinicopathological characteristics between the open and laparoscopic groups. Liver resection was more frequent in the open group (101 [91.8%] vs. 21 [55.3%], P < 0.001). Compared with open surgery, laparoscopic reoperation was associated with shorter postoperative hospital stay (9.0 [8.0-10.0] vs. 6.0 [3.8-8.3] days, P < 0.001) and a lower postoperative complication rate (24 [21.8%] vs. 1 [2.6%], P = 0.013). Among patients who underwent liver resection, the postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the laparoscopic group (9.0 [8.0-10.0] vs. 6.0 [4.0-9.0] days, P = 0.004). The 5-year disease-free survival (66.7% vs. 76.1%, P = 0.749) and overall survival (75.2% vs. 73.7%, P = 0.789) rates were not significantly different between the two groups. The results indicate that laparoscopic reoperation for postoperatively diagnosed T2 GBC has favorable postoperative outcomes and similar oncologic safety compared with open surgery.