Multicenter Retrospective Study Research Articles

Prognostic Significance of Hemodynamics in Patients With Transposition of the Great Arteries and Systemic Right Ventricle.

Patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and systemic right ventricle often confront significant adverse cardiac events. The prognostic significance of invasive hemodynamic parameters in this context remains uncertain. Our hypothesis is that the aortic pulsatility index and hemodynamic profiling utilizing invasive measures provide prognostic insights for patients with TGA and a systemic right ventricle. This retrospective multicenter cohort study encompasses adults with TGA and a systemic right ventricle who underwent cardiac catheterization. Data collection, spanning from 1994 to 2020, encompasses clinical and hemodynamic parameters, including measured and calculated values such as pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, aortic pulsatility index, and cardiac index. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and cardiac index values were used to establish 4 distinct hemodynamic profiles. A pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of ≥15 mm Hg indicated congestion, termed wet, while a cardiac index <2.2 L/min per m2 signified inadequate perfusion, labeled cold. The primary outcome comprised a composite of all-cause death, heart transplantation, or the requirement for mechanical circulatory support. Of 1721 patients with TGA, 242 individuals with available invasive hemodynamic data were included. The median follow-up duration after cardiac catheterization was 11.4 (interquartile range, 7.5-15.9) years, with a mean age of 38.5±10.8 years at the time of cardiac catheterization. Among hemodynamic parameters, an aortic pulsatility index <1.5 emerged as a robust predictor of the primary outcome, with adjusted hazard ratios of 5.90 (95% CI, 3.01-11.62; P<0.001). Among the identified 4 hemodynamic profiles, the cold/wet profile was associated with the highest risk for the primary outcome, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 3.83 (95% CI, 1.63-9.02; P<0.001). A low aortic pulsatility index (<1.5) and the cold/wet hemodynamic profile are linked with an elevated risk of adverse long-term cardiac outcomes in patients with TGA and systemic right ventricle.

981P Tyrosine kinase inhibitors vs anti-VEGF antibody, combined with anti-PD-1 inhibitors and TACE in the conversion therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: A retrospective multicenter real-world study

981P Tyrosine kinase inhibitors vs anti-VEGF antibody, combined with anti-PD-1 inhibitors and TACE in the conversion therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: A retrospective multicenter real-world study

Association of gastrointestinal symptoms with mortality in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome

BackgroundThe clinical significance of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in patients with severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is poorly characterized. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and effect of GI symptoms on the prognosis of patients with SFTS. MethodsThis was a retrospective multi-center cohort study that included hospitalized patients with SFTS from three institutions between October 2010 and August 2022. The risk factors for mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admission were identified by Cox and logistic regression analyses, respectively. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze the cumulative mortality risk. ResultsAmong 304 patients, the median age was 62.0 years and 51.0 % of the patients were male. A total of 202 patients (66.4 %) had at least one GI symptom on admission. Diarrhea (69.8 %) and nausea (57.4 %) were the most common symptoms. Patients with GI symptoms had lower male proportion (46.0 % vs. 60.8 %, P = 0.015), higher aspartate aminotransferase (177.5 U/L vs. 118.0 U/L, P = 0.010) and lactic dehydrogenase (771.0 U/L vs. 666.5 U/L, P = 0.017) levels than that of patients without GI symptoms. However, there was no significant difference in mortality rates (23.8 % vs. 21.6 %, P = 0.668) and ICU admission (14.4 % vs. 12.7 %, P = 0.701) between SFTS patients with and without GI symptoms. Multivariate analysis suggested that GI symptoms at admission were not associated with mortality and ICU admission. ConclusionsGI symptoms are common in patients with SFTS. However, the presence of GI symptoms was not an independent risk factor for poor prognosis.

295. SAFETY OF SURVEILLANCE GASTROSCOPY AND ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE OESOPHAGUS AFTER NEOADJUVANT CHEMORADIOTHERAPY: RESULTS FROM THE SANO COHORT

Abstract Background An organ sparing strategy has been proposed for patients with oesophageal cancer and a clinically complete response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). This active surveillance strategy involves (repeated) oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) with bite-on-bite biopsies and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). The preSANO trial and preliminary results of the SANO trial concluded that these procedures are safe to identify those with a clinically complete response. However, the safety of these procedures beyond that timeframe remains unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the safety of endoscopic procedures after nCRT, extending beyond three months. Methods This is a retrospective multicentre cohort study. All patients who participated in the pre-SANO and SANO studies were included. All were treated with CROSS nCRT for oesophageal cancer and underwent (repeated) endoscopic response evaluations (OGD with bite-on-bite biopsies and/or EUS with fine needle aspiration, as indicated). Primary outcome was serious adverse events (SAE) as defined by Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CCMO) associated with endoscopic procedures which include (but are not limited to) bleeding, infection and perforation. Secondary outcome included mechanical injury. Results A total of 919 patients underwent at least one endoscopic response evaluation. Some 2355 endoscopic procedures (61% OGD with EUS combined, 33% OGD and 6% EUS) were performed. Of these, 819 (35%) were performed more than three months after nCRT. SAEs were reported for five endoscopic procedures (0.2%) and included three cases of gastrointestinal bleeding after OGD with biopsies and two cases with infection secondary to the endoscopic procedures. No significant difference in SAEs was found between the procedures conducted before and more than three months after nCRT (2 vs. 3, OR 2.8, 95% CI, 0.3 – 33.7, P = 0.35). Conclusion OGD with biopsies and EUS are both procedures which can be safely performed after nCRT during an active surveillance strategy.

Effect of abatacept versus conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs on rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.

To compare the effects of abatacept and conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) on the progression and development of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD). This multi-center retrospective study included RA patients receiving abatacept or csDMARDs who underwent at least two pulmonary function tests and/or chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). We compared the following outcomes between the groups: progression of RA-ILD, development of new ILD in RA patients without ILD at baseline, 28-joint Disease Activity Score with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), and safety. Longitudinal changes were compared between the groups by using a generalized estimating equation. The study included 123 patients who were treated with abatacept (n = 59) or csDMARDs (n = 64). Nineteen (32.2%) and 38 (59.4%) patients treated with abatacept and csDMARDs, respectively, presented with RA-ILD at baseline. Newly developed ILD occurred in one patient receiving triple csDMARDs for 32 months. Among patients with RA-ILD at baseline, ILD progressed in 21.1% of cases treated with abatacept and 34.2% of cases treated with csDMARDs during a median 21-month follow-up. Longitudinal changes in forced vital capacity and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide were comparable between the two groups. However, the abatacept group showed a more significant decrease in DAS28-ESR and glucocorticoid doses than csDMARDs group during the follow-up. The safety of both regimens was comparable. Abatacept and csDMARDs showed comparable effects on the development and stabilization of RA-ILD. Nevertheless, compared to csDMARDs, abatacept demonstrated a significant improvement in disease activity and led to reduced glucocorticoid use.

389. WILL SYNCHRONOUS ESOPHAGEAL AND LUNG RESECTION INCREASE THE INCIDENCE OF ANASTOMOTIC LEAKS? A MULTICENTER RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract Background Reports on combined resection for synchronous lung lesions and esophageal cancer (CRLE) cases are rare and mostly individual cases. Furthermore, the feasibility of CRLE has always been a controversial topic. In the current study, we retrospectively analyzed the feasibility of CRLE and established an individualized prediction model for esophageal anastomotic leaks after CRLE by performing a multicenter retrospective study. Methods Patients who underwent esophagectomy between January 2009 and June 2021 were extracted from a 4-centre retrospectively maintained database, and those with CRLE at the same setting were matched in a 1:2 propensity score matched (PSM) ratio to esophagectomy alone (EA) patients. A nomogram was then established based on the variables involved in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Internal validation of the nomogram was conducted utilizing Bootstrap resampling. Decision and clinical impact curve analysis were computed to assess the practical clinical utility of the nomogram. A prognosis analysis for CRLE and EA patients by Kaplan-Meier curves was conducted. Results Of the 7152 esophagectomies, 216 cases of CRLE were eligible, and 1:2 ratio PSM EA patients were matched. The incidence of anastomotic leaks following CRLE increased significantly (P=0.035). The results of the multivariate analysis indicated the leaks varied according to the type of lung resection (anatomic &amp;gt; wedge resection, P=0.016) and site of resected lobe (upper &amp;gt; middle/low lobe; P=0.027), and a nomogram was established to predict the occurrence of leaks accurately (AUC=0.786). Although no statistically significant difference in overall survival (OS) was observed in the CRLE group (P=0.070), a trend toward lower survival rates was noted. Further analysis revealed that combined upper lobe anatomic resection was significantly associated with reduced OS (P=0.027). Conclusion Our study confirms that CRLE is feasible but comes with a significantly increased risk of anastomotic leaks and a concerning trend of reduced survival, particularly when upper lobe anatomic resections are performed. These findings highlight the need for careful patient selection and surgical planning when considering CRLE.

Does the number of loops affect the results of barbed pharyngoplasties? A retrospective comparison in two techniques

IntroductionThe use of barbed sutures for pharyngoplasty techniques is a new trend in sleep apnea surgery, but little is known about its short-term results depending on the different techniques. The purpose of this study was to analyze the surgical results in two different centers using barbed sutures with different barbed pharyngoplasty techniques. Material and methodsThis is a multicenter retrospective study of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) undergoing surgery, all of whom underwent pharyngoplasty with barbed suture using a classic or modified technique, which may or may not be associated with other surgical techniques. A univariate and multivariate statistical analysis were performed to assess the relationship of these surgical techniques with surgical success and with different descriptive variables. ResultsThe final sample size was 126 patients. A surgical success rate of 39.7% was obtained for a postoperative AHI < 10/h and a 51.6% success rate according to Sher's criteria. A greater proportion of success was observed in the modified barbed pharyngoplasty technique that was not maintained after the multivariate analysis, as with other factors such as age, ODI or the presence of nasal surgery. ConclusionNon-resective pharyngoplasty with barbed sutures is an effective technique for the treatment of OSA in selected patients, with both the classic technique and the modified alternatives having good postoperative results, with no differences observed in relation to surgical success between both. More studies are necessary to evaluate the differences between both techniques in more homogeneous groups.

DIAGNOSTIC YIELD OF AN INHERITED RETINAL DISEASE GENE PANEL IN RETINOPATHY OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN.

Evaluating the presence of class 3, 4, and 5 genetic variants in inherited retinal disease (IRD) genes in patients with retinopathy of unknown origin (RUO). Multicentric retrospective study of RUO cases diagnosed between January 2012 and February 2022. General and ophthalmologic history, complete ophthalmologic examination, antiretinal antibodies, and IRD gene panel results were analyzed in every patient. Four RUO categories were defined: nonparaneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy, unilateral pigmentary retinopathy, asymmetrical pigmentary retinopathy, and acute zonal occult outer retinopathy. The authors included 12 patients (9 females) across these four RUO categories. Mean age at inclusion was 45.6 years (20-68 years). Seven patients demonstrated class 3 variants in IRD genes. Of these, two also demonstrated class 5 variants in other IRD genes. The remaining five patients had negative panel results. IRD gene panel analysis allowed diagnosis refinement in 1 (8.3%) nonparaneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy patient in the RUO cohort. When considering the nonparaneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy subpopulation only, a higher diagnostic yield of 20% (1/5 patients) was achieved. Every suspected nonparaneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy patient should benefit from gene panel testing to not overlook undiagnosed IRDs. By contrast, unilateral pigmentary retinopathy, asymmetrical pigmentary retinopathy, and acute zonal occult outer retinopathy subpopulations did not benefit from genetic testing in this study.

The efficacy of diazepam administration during embryo transfer: a retrospective multicenter cohort study on reproductive outcomes.

This retrospective multicenter cohort study aimed to investigate the impact of diazepam administration during embryo transfer on reproductive outcomes, focusing primarily on the live birth rate. Secondary outcomes included the positive beta-hCG rate, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, and preterm birth rate. Data from 5607 embryo transfers, encompassing 465 cases with diazepam administration, were retrospectively analyzed. The study included single blastocyst transfers from 12 clinics in Portugal and Spain between January 2015 and December 2022. Comparison of reproductive outcomes between patients receiving diazepam and those who did not showed no statistically significant differences. Positive beta-hCG rates (60.8% non-diazepam vs. 60.4% diazepam, p = 0.92, adjusted p = 0.32) and clinical pregnancy rates (45.6% non-diazepam vs. 46.2% diazepam, p = 0.81, adjusted p = 0.11) were comparable. Miscarriage rates (11.0% diazepam vs. 9.3% non-diazepam, p = 0.25, adjusted p = 0.26) and ectopic pregnancy rates (0.9% diazepam vs. 0.1% non-diazepam, p = 0.1, adjusted p = 0.20) were similar. Live birth rates (36.3% non-diazepam vs. 35.3% diazepam, p = 0.69, adjusted p = 0.82) and prematurity rates (0.3% non-diazepam vs. 0% diazepam, p > 0.99, adjusted p = 0.99) also exhibited no statistically significant differences. Based on the results, diazepam administration during embryo transfer did not show a discernible impact on reproductive outcomes, including live birth rates, suggesting its limited effectiveness in enhancing success.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of bacterial meningitis in China from 2017 to 2021: a multicenter retrospective study.

This study aims to investigate the changing epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the Shandong region. We conducted a retrospective analysis of bacterial distribution and resistance patterns in CSF samples, utilizing data from the SPARSS network and analyzed with WHONET 5.6 software. A total of 3968 pathogenic bacterial strains were isolated, consisting of 70.6% Gram-positive bacteria, 27.2% Gram-negative bacteria, and 0.2% fungi. The six most commonly detected bacteria were coagulase-negative staphylococcus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and staphylococcus aureus. Analysis revealed gender and seasonal variations in the distribution of CSF pathogens, with a higher incidence observed in males and during autumn compared to other seasons. The susceptibility profiles of these bacterial species varied significantly, with many exhibiting multidrug resistances. A. baumannii showed a high resistance rate to cephalosporins and carbapenems but was sensitive to tigecycline and polymyxins. For treating multidrug-resistant A. baumannii infections, polymyxin-based combinations with tigecycline or sulbactam are recommended for adults, while tigecycline combined with meropenem is suggested for children. Enterobacteriaceae species were generally sensitive to carbapenems, such as meropenem and other carbapenems that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier can be recommended. Linezolid and vancomycin are the first choice for treating common gram-positive bacterial infections. The high resistance rates observed among common CSF isolates and their varied distributions across different demographics highlight the necessity for customized treatment strategies.

Brivaracetam use in children with epilepsy: A retrospective multicenter study

PurposeThis retrospective multicenter study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of brivaracetam (BRV) in pediatric epilepsy. MethodsOur cohort consisted of 93 children (mean age 11.5 ± 7.5 years) with a wide spectrum of pediatric epilepsy, including epileptic encephalopathy and generalized epilepsy. Of these, 61 (60.4%) were diagnosed with focal epilepsy, 19 (15.8%) with generalized epilepsy, and 16 (15.8%) with combined epilepsy, while 8 patients (7.9%) had an unknown epilepsy type. The cohort included rare epilepsy syndromes: 8 patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, 3 with Dravet syndrome, and 1 with Rasmussen syndrome. Patients had a history of various antiseizure medications (ASMs) (6.42 ± 3.15), and on average, were being treated with more than two (2.57 ± 1.16) drugs at the time of BRV deployment. ResultsRetention rates were high, with 80.6% of patients adhering to treatment at 3 months, 66.7% at 6 months, and 45.2% at 12 months. In 29 patients (30.1%), BRV was added in an overnight switch from levetiracetam (LEV), resulting in a reduction of behavioral adverse effects (AEs) in 5 patients (17.2%). The response rate was 25.8% at 3 months, 16.1% at 6 months, and 17.2% at 12 months, with no responders in the epileptic encephalopathy group. Therapy tolerance was notable, with 70 patients (75.3%) reporting no AEs. Transient AEs occurred in 10 patients (10.7%), and in 13 cases (14.0%), the AEs warranted dose adjustment or discontinuation of BRV. ConclusionApproximately one-fifth of pediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy responded to BRV, with the best response observed in patients with focal seizures. However, the impact on patients with epileptic encephalopathy was limited.

Adjuvant modern radiotherapy in resected pN2 NSCLC patients: results from a multicentre retrospective analysis on acute and late toxicity on behalf of AIRO thoracic oncology study group: the RAC-TAC study.

Recently, the PORT-C and LUNG-ART trials, which evaluated the role of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT), have significantly altered the treatment landscape for NSCLC pN2 patients who previously underwent surgery. In response, the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Oncology Thoracic Oncology study group has initiated an observational multicenter trial to assess both acute and late toxicities of PORT in pN2 NSCLC patients treated with modern techniques. Data on NSCLC patients submitted to PORT after radical surgery treated between 2015 and 2020 in six Italian Centers were collected. Heart, lung, and esophageal acute and late toxicities have been retrospectively analyzed and related to radiation therapy dosimetric parameters. Furthermore, loco-regional control, distant metastasis and overall survival have been analyzed. A total of 212 patients with a median age of 68years from six different centers were included in this analysis (142 males and 70 females). Prior to undergoing PORT, 96 patients (45.8%) had a history of heart disease, 110 patients (51.9%) had hypertension, and 51 patients (24%) had COPD. Acute toxicity was observed in 147 patients (69.3%), with lung toxicity occurring in 93 patients (G1 in 70 patients, G2 in 17 patients, and G3 in 4 patients), esophageal toxicity in 114 patients (G1 in 89 patients, G2 in 23 patients, and G3 in 1 patient), and cardiac toxicity in 4 patients (G1 in 2 patients and G3 in 2 patients). Late side effects were found in 60 patients (28.3%), predominantly involving the lungs (51 patients: 32 G1, 11 G2, and 1 G3) and the esophagus (11 patients: 8 G1 and 3 G2), with no reported late cardiac side effects. Various clinical and dosimetric parameters were found to correlate with both acute and chronic toxicities. Over a median follow-up period of 54months, 48 patients (22.6%) showed locoregional disease relapse, 106 patients (50%) developed distant metastases, and 66 patients (31.1%) died. RAC-TAC retrospective multicentric study showed the low toxicity of PORT when advanced technology is used. At the same time, it's noteworthy to underline that 50% of the patients develop distant recurrences in the follow up.

High-grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified: CNS involvement and outcomes in a multi-institutional series

AbstractLittle is known about the central nervous system (CNS) risk in high-grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (HGBL NOS). Hence, we sought to describe the rates of baseline CNS involvement, risk of CNS recurrence after primary therapy, and management strategies in HGBL NOS. In this multicenter retrospective study, we included 160 adults with newly diagnosed HGBL NOS treated between 2016 and 2021 at 20 US institutions. Eleven patients (7%) had baseline CNS involvement at diagnosis (leptomeningeal = 6, parenchymal = 4, and both = 1). Baseline CNS involvement was significantly associated only with MYC rearrangement (OR = 3.5) and testicular (in men) or female pelvic (in women) involvement (OR = 8.1). There was no significant difference in survival outcomes between patients with HGBL NOS with (median PFS = 4 years) or without (median PFS = 2.4 years) baseline CNS involvement (P = 0.45). The cumulative incidence of CNS recurrence at 3 years was 11%. Patients with baseline CNS involvement were at the highest risk (48.5% vs 8% for those without baseline CNS involvement) and were excluded from the risk factors analysis for CNS recurrence. The risk for CNS recurrence was significantly associated with blood or bone marrow involvement, CD5 expression, non–germinal center B-cell subtype, and “dual-expresser lymphoma” phenotype, however, high CNS IPI was not. The prognosis of relapsed HGBL NOS was poor, regardless of whether recurrence was systemic or limited to the CNS, and with currently available salvage strategies, including autologous transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell modalities, almost all patients with CNS recurrence ultimately succumbed to their disease.

1814: First line CT-IT followed by thoracic RT in ES-SCLC:a retrospective multicenter study on safety

1814: First line CT-IT followed by thoracic RT in ES-SCLC:a retrospective multicenter study on safety

Are the tumor microenvironment characteristics of pretreatment biopsy specimens of colorectal cancer really effectively predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy: A retrospective multicenter study.

More and more studies had pointed out that the tumor microenvironment characteristics based on colorectal cancer (CRC) pretreatment biopsy specimens could effectively predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy, but under hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, whether the tumor microenvironment characteristics observed by pathologists could predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy remains to be discussed. We collected 106 CRC patients who received neoadjuvant treatment and surgical resection from 3 hospitals. The number of mitosis, inflammation degree, desmoplastic reaction (DR), necrosis, tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) and tumor budding (TB) of CRC pretreatment biopsy specimens were observed under HE staining, and the degree of tumor pathological remission of CRC surgical specimens after neoadjuvant treatment was evaluated. According to the tumor regression grade (TRG), patients were divided into good-responders (TRG 0-1) and non-responders (TRG 2-3). All data were analyzed with SPSS software (version 23.0) to evaluate the correlation between the number of mitosis, inflammation degree, DR, necrosis, TSR and TB in pretreatment biopsy samples and the treatment effect. In univariate analysis, mitosis (P = .442), inflammation degree (P = .951), DR (P = .186), necrosis (P = .306), TSR (P = .672), and TB (P = .327) were not associated with the response to neoadjuvant therapy. However, we found that for colon cancer, rectal cancer was more likely to benefit from neoadjuvant therapy (P = .024). In addition, we further analyzed the impact of mitosis, inflammation degree, DR, necrosis, TSR and TB on neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer, and found that there was no predictive effect. By analyzing the characteristics of tumor microenvironment of CRC pretreatment biopsy specimens under HE staining, such as mitosis, inflammation degree, DR, necrosis, TSR and TB, it was impossible to effectively predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy for CRC.

Long-term Outcomes of Intramedullary Nails in Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Fewer Surgeries and Longer Survival Times With Telescoping Rods in Patients With Over Ten Years Follow-up.

Intramedullary rodding of lower extremity long bones in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a widely accepted technique for fracture treatment and prevention. Previous small studies with short to medium-term follow-up have shown that telescoping rods have longer survival times compared with static rods. However, there are no long-term studies (10 or more years) longitudinally evaluating the results of these procedures. The purpose of this study was to compare the rod survival duration and number of procedures in patients treated with static versus telescoping rods with 10 years minimum follow-up. This was a multicenter retrospective comparative study of patients with a diagnosis of OI who had intramedullary nailing of the femur and/or tibia. Each bone included in the study had a 10-year minimum follow-up, only one type of rod utilized over the follow-up period, and no rod replacement surgeries outside of the primary hospital system. Patient demographics, clinical data, and details of each procedure were obtained. Groups were compared using univariate analysis with a 2-independent samples t test for continuous variables, χ2 for categorical variables, and the Kaplan-Meier method for survival analysis. A total of 119 bones in 52 patients met inclusion criteria. Average follow up was 13.1 (range: 10.2 to 18.4) years. There were no differences between groups in follow-up length, Sillence type, bisphosphonate use, or age at first-rod placement. There were significantly more tibias treated in the static rod group compared with the telescopic rod group. The average survival length was significantly longer for telescopic rods, 5.8 ± 3.9 years versus 4.0±3.6 years for static rods. On average, bones treated with telescopic rods had significantly fewer surgeries compared with static rods (2.2 ± 0.8 vs 3.3 ± 1.6). At long term follow up, bone segments in patients with OI treated with telescopic rods required fewer surgeries and had longer implant survival times compared with those treated with static rods. When available, surgeons should consider telescopic rods as the initial implant choice in this patient population.

Does timing of tocilizumab administration affect mortality in COVID-19? A Scottish multicentre retrospective cohort study

BackgroundThe optimal timing of tocilizumab treatment during the disease course of COVID-19 has yet to be adequately defined in the context of randomised controlled trials and the effect of tocilizumab...

Peritumoral radiomics increases the efficiency of classification of pure ground-glass lung nodules: a multicenter study

PurposeWe aimed to evaluate the efficiency of computed tomography (CT) radiomic features extracted from gross tumor volume (GTV) and peritumoral volumes (PTV) of 5, 10, and 15 mm to identify the tumor grades corresponding to the new histological grading system proposed in 2020 by the Pathology Committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC).MethodsA total of 151 lung adenocarcinomas manifesting as pure ground-glass lung nodules (pGGNs) were included in this randomized multicenter retrospective study. Four radiomic models were constructed from GTV and GTV + 5/10/15-mm PTV, respectively, and compared. The diagnostic performance of the different models was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysisResultsThe pGGNs were classified into grade 1 (117), 2 (34), and 3 (0), according to the IASLC grading system. In all four radiomic models, pGGNs of grade 2 had significantly higher radiomic scores than those of grade 1 (P < 0.05). The AUC of the GTV and GTV + 5/10/15-mm PTV were 0.869, 0.910, 0.951, and 0.872 in the training cohort and 0.700, 0.715, 0.745, and 0.724 in the validation cohort, respectively.ConclusionsThe radiomic features we extracted from the GTV and PTV of pGGNs could effectively be used to differentiate grade-1 and grade-2 tumors. In particular, the radiomic features from the PTV increased the efficiency of the diagnostic model, with GTV + 10 mm PTV exhibiting the highest efficacy.

Tissue plasminogen activator for acute branch atheromatous disease exhibits transient improvement and worsening

BackgroundTissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is an effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Although initial improvement is observed when administered for branch atheromatous disease (BAD), some cases subsequently worsen. Clinical data on the characteristics of these patients is lacking, and the benefits of tPA are unclear. ObjectiveTo analyze rebound cases and elucidate the clinical characteristics and outcomes associated with tPA administration in BAD. MethodsThis multicenter retrospective study was conducted in Japan. Worsening after initial improvement of a condition is termed as rebound, and such cases were compared with other types of ischemic stroke in patients with and without rebound. The characteristics of patients with BAD who rebounded were examined. ResultsThe study included 93 patients. Among the patients who were administered tPA, the NIHSS scores at 24 h and 7 days post-tPA were significantly higher in patients with BAD than in patients with other types of infarcts. The group with BAD exhibited a significantly higher rate of rebound than other groups (37.5 % vs. 0 %, P < 0.001). However, no differences were observed in outcomes between patients who experienced rebound after tPA administration and those who did not. ConclusionsReevaluation and changing the strategy of tPA use in patients with BAD may be necessary. However, this study does not totally discourage its use, as specific patients can benefit.

The influence of peritumoral parenchyma on local tumor progression of hepatocellular carcinoma after thermal ablation: a retrospective multicenter study.

With the increasing importance of thermal ablation (TA) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, local tumor progression (LTP) has become a nonignorable recurrence type after ablation. To analyze the influence of peritumoral liver parenchyma on LTP and to explore the possible reasons for this influence. Ablated HCCs with peritumoral parenchymal biopsy and ablation margins greater than 5mm were included from two hospitals. The grade of necroinflammatory activity (G) and stage of fibrosis (S) of the parenchyma were evaluated by Scheuer staging system. Univariate/multivariate Cox model was used to analyze the possible factors influencing LTP. Peritumoral satellite focus rate, ablation energy, ablation volume after treatment, ablation volume after one-month, and volume reduction rate were collected and analyzed to explore the possible reasons for influence. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance baselines across different groups. 346 HCCs (64 with LTP, 282 without LTP) were enrolled from January 2013 to June 2022, with a median follow-up of 27 months. Univariate/multivariate analysis showed fibrosis was a protective factor in LTP (OR = 0.70, 95%CI: 0.55-0.89). The low-fibrosis group exhibited higher satellite focus rate (15.6% vs. 8.4%, p = 0.048), lower ablation energy (22637 ± 9424J vs. 33352 ± 13779J, p < 0.001) and higher volume reduction rate (0.33 ± 0.06 vs. 0.25 ± 0.06, p < 0.001) than the high-fibrosis group. Therefore, we speculated that the protective effect of fibrosis was due to its blocking of tumor invasion and reduction of sublethal zones. Fibrosis of the peritumoral liver parenchyma is a stable protective factor in LTP occurrence.