Single-center Study Research Articles

Clinical significance of appendicoliths in elderly patients over eighty years old undergoing emergency appendectomy: A single-center retrospective study

BACKGROUND Acute appendicitis with an appendicolith is one of the most common abdominal emergencies in elderly patients and is more likely to progress to gangrene and perforation. AIM To analyze the clinical data of elderly patients undergoing emergency appendectomy for acute appendicitis, aiming to improve treatment strategies. METHODS The clinical data of 122 patients over 80 years old who underwent emergency appendectomy for acute appendicitis at the Department of Emergency Surgery of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from January 2016 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of an appendicolith or not, and clinicopathological and surgery-related features were compared between the two groups. RESULTS The duration of abdominal pain in all 122 patients ranged from 5 to 168 h. All patients underwent emergency appendectomy: 6 had an open appendectomy, 101 had a laparoscopic appendectomy, and 15 required conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery, resulting in a conversion rate of 12.9% (15/116). The patients were divided into two groups: Appendicolith group (n = 46) and non-appendicolith group (n = 76). Comparisons of clinicopathological features revealed that patients with appendicoliths were more likely to develop appendiceal gangrene (84.8% vs 64.5%, P = 0.010) and perforation (67.4% vs 48.7%, P = 0.044), and had a lower surgical conversion rate (2.2% vs 19.7%, P = 0.013). The median length of hospital stay was 5.0 d for both groups and there was no significant difference between them. All patients were successfully discharged. CONCLUSION Around 40% of patients over 80 years old with acute appendicitis have an appendicolith, increasing their risk of developing appendiceal gangrene and perforation, and therefore should receive timely surgical treatment.

How to preserve the native or reconstructed esophagus after perforations or postoperative leaks: A multidisciplinary 15-year experience

BACKGROUND Esophageal perforation or postoperative leak after esophageal surgery remain a life-threatening condition. The optimal management strategy is still unclear. AIM To determine clinical outcomes and complications of our 15-year experience in the multidisciplinary management of esophageal perforations and anastomotic leaks. METHODS A retrospective single-center observational study was performed on 60 patients admitted at our department for esophageal perforations or treated for an anastomotic leak developed after esophageal surgery from January 2008 to December 2023. Clinical outcomes were analyzed, and complications were evaluated to investigate the efficacy and safety of our multidisciplinary management based on the preservation of the native or reconstructed esophagus, when feasible. RESULTS Among the whole series of 60 patients, an urgent surgery was required in 8 cases due to a septic state. Fifty-six patients were managed by endoscopic or hybrid treatments, obtaining the resolution of the esophageal leak/perforation without removal of the native or reconstructed esophagus. The mean time to resolution was 54.95 ± 52.64 days, with a median of 35.5 days. No severe complications were recorded. Ten patients out of 56 (17.9%) developed pneumonia that was treated by specific antibiotic therapy, and in 6 cases (10.7%) an atrial fibrillation was recorded. Seven patients (12.5%) developed a stricture within 12 months, requiring one or two endoscopic pneumatic dilations to solve the problem. Mortality was 1.7%. CONCLUSION A proper multidisciplinary approach with the choice of the most appropriate treatment can be the key for success in managing esophageal leaks or perforations and preserving the esophagus.

Diagnostic value of tissue plasminogen activator-inhibitor complex in sepsis-induced liver injury: A single-center retrospective case-control study

BACKGROUND Sepsis often causes severe liver injury and leads to poor patient outcomes. Early detection of sepsis-induced liver injury (SILI) and early treatment are key to improving outcomes. AIM To investigate the clinical characteristics of SILI patients and analyze the associated risk factors, to identify potential sensitive biomarkers. METHODS Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 546 patients with sepsis treated in the intensive care unit of the 908th Hospital of Chinese People’s Liberation Army Joint Logistic Support Force between May 2018 and December 2022. The patients were divided into the sepsis group (n = 373) and SILI group (n = 173) based on the presence of acute liver injury within 2 hours of admission. We used the random forest algorithm to analyze risk factors and assessed potential diagnostic markers of SILI using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, subgroup analysis and correlation analysis. RESULTS Compared with the sepsis group, tissue plasminogen activator-inhibitor complex (t-PAIC) levels in serum were significantly higher in the SILI group (P < 0.05). Random forest results showed that t-PAIC was an independent risk factor for SILI, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.862 (95% confidence interval: 0.832-0.892). Based on the optimal cut-off value of 11.9 ng/mL, patients at or above this threshold had significantly higher levels of lactate and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score. The survival rate of these patients was also significantly worse (hazard ratio = 2.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.584-3.119, P < 0.001). Spearman’s correlation coefficients were 0.42 between t-PAIC and lactate, and 0.41 between t-PAIC and aspartate transaminase. Subgroup analysis showed significant differences in t-PAIC levels between patients with different severity of liver dysfunction. CONCLUSION T-PAIC can serve as a diagnostic indicator for SILI, with its elevation correlated with the severity of SILI.

Relationship between perceived stress and levels of blood pressure: single center study

<p><strong>Introduction. </strong>High blood pressure (HBP) is a significant cardiovascular risk factor, with hypertension recognized as a leading cause of global mortality. This study aims to investigate the correlation between perceived stress and <br />blood pressure levels among patients diagnosed with hypertension. <br /><strong>Methods.</strong> A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 80 hypertensive patients at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases “Dedinje”. Comprehensive clinical examinations, including 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) assessments were performed. <br /><strong>Results.</strong> The results revealed a significant positive correlation between PSS scores and blood pressure levels (r = 0.65, p < 0.001), indicating that higher perceived stress is associated with elevated blood pressure. Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was found between stress levels and sex or smoking status. <br /><strong>Conclusion.</strong> These findings underscore the importance of stress management interventions in hypertension treatment, suggesting that addressing perceived stress could enhance therapeutic outcomes for patients.</p>

Incidence and risk factors of adverse events after distal radius fracture fixation with volar locking plates: retrospective analysis of 2,790 cases

Background and purpose: 12–18% of patients encounter adverse events after distal radius fracture (DRF) surgery with volar locking plates (VLPs). Risk factors for which preventive measures could be administered are currently scarce. We aimed to examine the incidence of postoperative adverse events and assess the causes and risk factors for the adverse events after VLP fixation of DRFs.Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study evaluating all adult DRF patients treated with VLP fixation between 2009 and 2019 at Helsinki University Hospital. Patients with previous disabilities or ulnar fractures, other than styloid process fractures, in the affected extremity were excluded. We examined each patient’s treatment using the electronic medical records system and identified postoperative adverse events defined as any deviation from the ordinary postoperative course, showcasing clinical symptoms. We used multivariable binary logistic regression to assess the risk for adverse events.Results: 2,790 cases of DRF were included. The incidence of adverse events was 16%. Hardware complications (8.3%), predominantly intra-articular screws (4.9%), were the most commonly encountered adverse events. Other frequent adverse events included carpal tunnel syndrome (2.8%), tendon complications (2.8%), and surgical site infections (1.5%). In the multivariable analysis, smoking, higher body mass index (BMI), alcohol abuse, C-type fractures, residual intra-articular displacement, and dorsal tilt were found as risk factors for adverse events.Conclusion: The incidence of adverse events was 16% after VLP fixation of DRFs. We identified several new risk factors for adverse events, which included residual dorsal tilt, intra-articular dislocation, insufficiently corrected inclination, smoking, alcohol abuse, and higher BMI.

Retrograde urethrography (RUG) combined with voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) versus surgical findings in assessment of urethral strictures length

Background and objective: Retrograde urethrography (RUG) combined with voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) is the most common and preferred imaging modality for evaluating urethral strictures, despite its well-known limitations and disadvantages. In this study, we assessed the clinical relevance of RUG + VCUG, along with intraoperative assessment in measuring male urethral strictures. Method: This study was a single-center retrospective study involving 134 male patients diagnosed with urethral stricture disease. All participants underwent RUG + VCUG before the intervention, and the results were interpreted by a single radiologist. The location and length of urethral strictures were assessed. The accuracy of urethral stricture measurements obtained from combined VCUG and RUG imaging was compared to intraoperative measurements, which served as the reference standard. Urethral strictures were classified into three types: membranous and bulbomembranous, bulbar, and penile. Results: A total of 130 patients were included (38.14 ± 12.05 years) in the study. For patients with membranous and bulbar strictures, there were statistically significant differences in stricture length measurements between VCUG + RUG and surgical evaluation ( p < 0.05). However, for patients with penile strictures, the differences in stricture length measurements between VCUG + RUG and surgical evaluation were not statistically significant ( p = 0.448). Conclusion: This study suggests that RUG + VCUG may underestimate urethral stricture, particularly in the membranous and bulbar regions.

The Utility of Pre-Procedural Blood Tests in Neuraxial Blocks: A Retrospective Study in High-Risk Patients

Background/Objectives: The necessity and clinical utility of routine pre-procedural blood tests (PBTs) before neuraxial blockade remain controversial. This study evaluates the effectiveness of PBTs in identifying clinically significant conditions in an outpatient setting. Methods: This single-center retrospective study involved patients who received neuraxial blockades from January 2020 to August 2023. We extracted medical information and laboratory data from the electronic medical records during the pre-procedural period. Through a multivariate regression analysis, we identified patient factors associated with abnormal laboratory results. Results: Advanced age (OR, 1.021; p = 0.026) and a history of cancer (OR, 2.359; p = 0.016) were significantly associated with elevated CRP levels (>0.30 mg/dL). Severe hyperglycemia (≥200 mg/dL) was found in 24 patients (3.88%), with a history of cancer being a strong predictor (OR, 6.764; p < 0.001). No significant abnormalities were observed in PT or PTT. Reduced eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m2) was detected in 8.62% of patients, despite no prior history of renal dysfunction. A multivariate analysis revealed that advanced age, hypertension, cancer, and coronary artery disease were significant predictors of abnormal PBT results, highlighting the importance of selective testing in high-risk patients. Conclusions: Routine PBTs are not universally required for all patients undergoing neuraxial blockade but can provide crucial information in high-risk populations. A selective testing approach based on individual risk factors is recommended to optimize patient safety and resource utilization. Future studies should aim to establish clear guidelines for targeted PBT use.

Predictors of Mortality and Neurological Complications in a Large Cohort of Patients With COVID-19

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between the baseline clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and their risk of subsequent development of neurological complications and mortality. Methods: This retrospective, single-center cohort study included patients with COVID-19 who presented to the Emergency Department of Razi Hospital. Patients’ charts were reviewed to collect baseline clinical and laboratory data. Results: Of 2205 patients with COVID-19, 1473 (66.8%) developed various neurological complications in addition to other symptoms. Among the 168 patients who died, 66.66%, 43.5%, and 25% had a history of neurological disorders, encephalopathy, and stroke, respectively. Disease severity was significantly associated with comorbidities, hypoxemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypophosphatemia, elevated ESR, hypomagnesemia, stroke, and encephalopathy (P<0.05). The risk of death remained strongly linked to older age, comorbidities, severe infection, ICU admission, and extended hospitalization (P<0.05), even after adjustments, indicating they are potential confounders for other variables. More importantly, in non–critically ill patients, there was no significant association between the risk of death and hypoxemia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypomagnesemia, stroke, and encephalopathy (P>0.05). Moreover, the association between encephalopathy and other factors was greatly influenced by disease severity. Nonetheless, older age, comorbidities, and anemia remained significant predictors of stroke even after adjusting for confounders (P<0.05). Conclusions: The high rates of neurological disorders among deceased patients with COVID-19 underscores the need for early prediction and management of these complications. Moreover, neurological disorders were linked to an increased risk of death because they tend to be present in critically ill patients admitted to the ICU with extended hospitalization.

Apixaban removal during emergency surgery for type a acute aortic dissection. a prospective cohort study

Background: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) has a high mortality, and acute aortic repair is the only curative treatment. In patients treated with factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors, the risk of severe disease-related complications such as cardiac tamponade and hemodynamic shock must be balanced against the potential for severe perioperative bleeding. The aim was to study intraoperative changes in plasma levels of the FXa inhibitor apixaban when using hemoadsorption during acute thoracic aortic repair. Materials and Methods: This is a single-center prospective cohort study. Eight apixaban-treated patients presenting with ATAAD underwent acute thoracic aortic repair with intraoperative hemoadsorption with CytoSorb®. Apixaban concentrations were measured at the start of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and after 5, 15, 30, 60 and 90 minutes of CPB, at CPB weaning, 30 minutes after CPB weaning and 24 hours postoperatively, using ultraperformance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Results: After 30 minutes of CPB with hemoadsorption, mean apixaban concentration (± SD) was reduced by 59% from 108 (± 69) µg/L to 44 (± 20) µg/L (P = 0.009). There was a further reduction to 37 (± 17) µg/L at CPB weaning (P = 0.008). Apixaban concentration displayed an increase to 56 (± 29) µg/L 24 hours postoperatively (P = 0.01). In-hospital mortality was 25%. Mean 24H chest tube drainage volume was 621 (± 136) mL. Conclusion: Intraoperative hemoadsorption lowers apixaban levels in patients undergoing emergency surgery for ATAAD. Further research is needed to determine its impact on perioperative bleeding complications and mortality.

Drainless Uniportal VATS Wedge Resection for Early Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Propensity Analysis of the Effect of Polyglycolic Acid Sheet (NeoveilTM)

Objectives: Absorbable biomaterials as adjuvant therapy after thoracoscopy are sometimes used in clinical scenarios. With the prevalence of enhanced rapid recovery in thoracic surgery, drainless video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS) is often adopted by thoracic surgeons. Here, we discuss utilizing an absorbable biomaterial, NeoveilTM (Polyglycolic Acid sheet), for drainless VATS to treat early lung cancer. Methods: This single-center retrospective study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2022 at the National Taiwan University Hospital. We included patients who underwent drainless VATS for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in our institute. Propensity analysis was used to minimize selection bias. Outcome measurements were in-hospital stay, operation time, rate of thoracocentesis or chest drain re-insertion, complication rate, and perioperative course. Results: During the study period, 158 lung cancer patients were performed with drainless VATS wedge resection. Among them, Neoveil for stapling line coverage was done in 72 patients, while 86 patients did not receive Neoveil. After propensity analysis, we had 58 patients using Neoveil after drainless thoracoscopic lung resection, compared fairly with 58 patients without Neoveil after the same procedure. The basic characteristics are comparable regarding age, gender, BMI, operation methods, and lung cancer stage after propensity matching. The in-hospital stay (3.2 days in the Neoveil group and 5.6 days in the non-Neoveil group) and operation time (95.7 min in the Neoveil group and 59.3 min in the non-Neoveil group) are significantly different (p = 0.0001). One versus four patients was noted for postoperative conversion chest drainage insertion in each group (p = 0.17). Neither late complications nor recurrence/metastasis occurred in both groups during the following. Conclusions: Based on our 5-year retrospective study, which is balanced with propensity analysis, drainless thoracoscopic surgery treating early lung cancer can be enhanced by Neoveil with faster recovery by reducing the hospital stay, though with longer operation time.

Risk Assessment and Recommended Approaches to Optimize Infection Control and Antibiotic Stewardship to Reduce External Ventricular Drain Infection: A Single-Center Study

Background: An external ventricular drain (EVD) is used to release elevated intracranial pressure by draining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain’s ventricles. The establishment of an EVD is one of the most commonly performed neurosurgical procedures to treat intracranial pressure in patients. Nevertheless, infections are very frequent complications. Identifying the risk factors for EVD-related infections is a key to improving patient safety and outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of patients who underwent EVD implantation between January 2022 and March 2024. Patients were classified into infected and non-infected groups based on their clinical symptoms, as well as laboratory and microbiological results. Patient characteristics and possible risk factors for infection were compared between the two groups. Results: In total, 123 patients treated with 156 EVDs were included in this study, with a mean age of 55.8 (range: 25–84) years. EVD-associated infections were observed in 37 patients (30%). We found no significant association between infection risk and patient characteristics, including gender, primary diagnosis, craniotomy, or immunosuppression. There was no significant difference in terms of EVD insertion, i.e., whether the insertion took place in the operating room (OR) with antibiotic prophylaxis or outside the OR with no periprocedural antibiotic treatment. However, within the intensive care unit (ICU), EVD infection was much lower (13%) if EVD insertion took place in a single-bed room compared to multiple-bed room insertions (34%). Furthermore, there were significant differences in terms of the duration of first EVD (both single and multiple catheterizations) (p < 0.0001) and the total catheterization time (p = 0.0001). Additionally, there was a significant association with patient days in the ICU and EVD catheterization. Conclusions: Revisiting infection control measures is necessary, with special attention to the replacement of EVDs in single-bed ICU rooms, to introduce antibiotic prophylaxis in the ICU. Minimizing unnecessary EVD manipulation during catheterization is crucial in order to decrease the risk of EVD infection.

Predictive value of qSOFA and hypothermia combined with PT for prognosis in patients with severe trauma: a single-center retrospective cohort study

Predictive value of qSOFA and hypothermia combined with PT for prognosis in patients with severe trauma: a single-center retrospective cohort study

A multicentric survey and single-centre observational study of usage behaviour of sinks in intensive care: training is needed to minimize risk

Abstract Introduction Sinks have been introduced near patients to improve hand hygiene as part of infection prevention and control measures. However, sinks are a known reservoir for gram-negative bacterial pathogens in particular and their removal to prevent bacterial infections in intensive care patients is currently recommended by several international guidelines. Methods Healthcare workers (HCWs) in 15 intensive care units (ICUs) in Germany were given the opportunity to complete an anonymous survey on the use of sinks between August 2022 and January 2023. Observations were then made in three participating ICUs to determine the frequency and reason for contact with the sink. Results 258 questionnaires were returned (nurses 87%). 90% found it useful to very useful to have a sink in the patient room, and 56% reported using it daily for hand hygiene. We observed 33 contacts between nurses and sinks over 17 h. In 20/33 (60%) cases, the sink was used for waste disposal. In 3/33 (10%) it was used for hand washing. Discussion Sinks are still used for daily care in intensive care units. Educational Interventions in existing buildings to minimise risk through “sink hygiene” (i.e. separation of sinks for water disposal and uptake) can make an important contribution to infection prevention.

COVID-19 in children with somatic pathology

The coronavirus infection is a pressing issue in modern healthcare, yet the characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 infection course in children with comorbidities remain insufficiently studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical form, severity, and duration of SARS-CoV-2 virus shedding in pediatric patients with somatic diseases, depending on the comorbid pathology. Materials and Methods. A comprehensive single-center retrospective study was conducted, analyzing 314 medical records of patients hospitalized in the infectious diseases department of the Russian Children’s Clinical Hospital in Moscow over 11 months in 2022. The inclusion criterion was the presence of a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Results. Children with comorbidities were found to be predisposed to a more severe course of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the pediatric population in general. Children with hematological diseases were at the highest risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19. Patients with oncological and hematological diseases and primary immunodeficiencies shed the SARS-CoV-2 virus significantly longer than patients with other somatic pathologies. The duration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in patients with severe COVID-19 was significantly longer, which also correlated with the severity of the underlying somatic disease. Conclusion. Children with comorbidities are at risk for a more severe and prolonged course of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Effects of clindamycin and amoxycillin as prophylaxis against early implant failure: double-blinded randomized clinical trial.

The objective of this randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) was to compare the frequency of early implant failure, postoperative infection, and pain/inflammation and the degree of implant stability between healthy non-penicillin-allergic individuals receiving a single prophylactic dose of 600mg clindamycin versus 2g amoxicillin at 1h before implant surgery. A single-center double-blinded RCT study with parallel groups was undertaken. Eighty-two patients fulfilled study inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to the amoxicillin (n = 41) or clindamycin (n = 41) group. The primary outcome variable was early implant failure. The presence of infection was evaluated immediately after surgery and on days 7, 14, 30, and 90, and postoperative pain/inflammation was assessed daily on days 1 to 7 post-surgery. Resonance frequency analysis was used to measure primary and secondary implant stability. One early implant failure was observed (1/81), in a patient from the amoxicillin group. No statistically significant between-group differences were observed in early implant failure rate, postoperative infection rate up to 90 days, pain/inflammation scores during the first week post-surgery, or primary or secondary stability values. A single dose of 600mg clindamycin before implant surgery does not increase the risk of early implant failure or infection. These findings suggest that a single dose of 600mg clindamycin at 1h before implant surgery is a safe antibiotic prophylactic approach; however, when a more prolonged antibiotic therapy is required, it appears advisable to prescribe an alternative antibiotic to avoid adverse effects.

A large single-center propensity score-matched cohort study on outcomes and complications based on the number of corrective bars used in the Nuss procedure.

The Nuss procedure is the most common corrective surgery for pectus excavatum. We analyzed treatment outcomes and complication rates in 1238 patients treated with the Nuss procedure from 2002 to 2021, focusing on the number of corrective bars used. Using Propensity Score Matching based on age, sex, BMI, pre-operative FEV1, and the Haller index, we created two groups: 546 patients with a single bar and 546 with two bars. Both groups achieved similar correction effects (Haller index: single bar = 2.58 vs. two bars = 2.56; p = 0.65). In the univariate analysis, in the two-bar group, the postoperative complications were observed more often (28.6% vs. 15.4%, p < 0.001), including pneumothorax (11.2% vs. 6.2%, p < 0.001), hemothorax (3.7% vs. 0.7%, p < 0.001), additional drainage (13.7% vs. 5.3%, p < 0.001), the need for thoracentesis (8.6% vs. 2.9%, p < 0.001), bar displacement (3.8% vs. 0.7%, p < 0.001), pleural effusion (10.6% vs. 3.1%, p < 0.001), and fever (6.6% vs. 3.8%, p < 0.041). In the logistic regression, two bars significantly increased the risk of postoperative complications (p = 0.019), including hematoma (p = 0.036), pleural effusion (p = 0.002), and the need for thoracentesis (p = 0.013). Using two corrective bars during the Nuss procedure is associated with a higher rate of postoperative complications but similar corrective results.

Circulating collagen breakdown products as a biomarker for presence and instability of human intracranial aneurysms.

There is an unmet need for improved detection of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and distinction between stable and unstable (high rupture risk) IAs. Within the IA wall, synthesis and degradation of type I collagen as the main molecular constituent balance each other to maintain IA stability. We hypothesized that collagen breakdown products could serve as molecular markers for IA presence and instability. This prospective, cross-sectional, single-center study included patients with unstable (growing/symptomatic/ruptured) and stable IAs and controls. We determined C-telopeptide (CTx) and c-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) as breakdown products of type I collagen in arterial and venous blood. We included 107 participants with IAs (52 stable/44 unstable) and 41 controls. The correlation between intra-aneurysmal and venous levels was r = 0.63 (p < 0.001) for ICTP, r = 0.55 (p = 0.001) for CTx. The odds of harboring an IA were five times higher for participants with high compared to low venous levels of collagen breakdown products (ICTP: odds ratio (OR) 4.9 (95% CI 1.1-22.7); CTx: OR 5.3 (95% CI 1.4-20.0)). The OR for having an unstable IA was 9.3 (95% CI 2.1-41.5) for patients with high compared to low venous ICTP levels. The area under the curve for ICTP levels as a marker for IA instability was 0.75. Increased levels of venous collagen breakdown products, especially ICTP levels, could serve as a biomarker for IA presence and instability and complement current data for management of unruptured IAs on an individual patient level. Future studies with longitudinal data are needed to validate ICTP as a biomarker for high risk IAs.

Combination of rituximab and low-dose glucocorticoids for idiopathic refractory nephrotic syndrome with MCD/FSGS: a single-center prospective cohort study

Background The treatment of idiopathic refractory nephrotic syndrome (IRNS) remains a difficult problem in clinical practice. This study aims to determine the efficacy and safety of combining low-dose glucocorticoids with rituximab in IRNS treatment. Methods This prospective, single-center cohort study enrolled 60 patients who were diagnosed with refractory IRNS with minimal change disease (MCD) or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and treated at First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. All patients received a treatment regimen consisting of rituximab (375 mg/m2/week × 4) and low-dose glucocorticoids. Results 46 complete remissions and 4 partial remissions were observed within 6 months of treatment. Within 12 months of treatment, 48 patients achieved complete remission, and 4 achieved partial remission. The complete remission rate for steroid-dependent/frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome was significantly higher than that for steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (88.24% vs. 33.33%, p < .01). Following up for 12 months, 16 patients relapsed, accounting for 30.76% of the total, with a mean time to relapse of 10.97 months. Compared with baseline data, 24-hour urine protein quantification, total cholesterol and triglycerides significantly decreased, while serum albumin, globulin and IgG significantly increased at 12 months after treatment. All follow-ups were without serious adverse events. Twenty-four patients experienced infusion-related adverse reactions, which could be relieved by slowing down the infusion rate or suspending the infusion. Nine patients experienced infection-related adverse reactions; six of them were relieved with antibiotic treatment, and 3 patients were controlled by symptomatic treatment. Conclusions Rituximab combined low-dose glucocorticoids therapy is effective and safe in idiopathic refractory nephrotic syndrome.

Metal stent versus plastic stent in endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction: Large single-center retrospective comparative study.

Whether metal stents (MS) or plastic stents (PS) yield better outcomes for malignant biliary obstruction in endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) is controversial. We aimed to compare outcomes of initial EUS-HGS performed with MS or PS. In this single-center retrospective study, we included patients (MS/PS groups: n = 151/72) with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction and performed multivariable analysis. The landmark date was defined as day 100 and used to evaluate the time to recurrent biliary obstruction (TRBO). The clinical success rate was similar in both groups. The mean total bilirubin percentage decrease at week 2 was significantly higher in the MS group than in the PS group (-45.1% vs. -23.7%, P = 0.016). Median TRBO was significantly different between the MS and PS groups (183 and 92 days, respectively; P = 0.017). TRBO within 100 days was comparable in both groups but was significantly shorter only after 100 days in the PS group (adjusted hazard ratio 12.8, P < 0.001). Adverse events were significantly more common in the MS group (23.8% vs. 9.7%, P = 0.012), although they occurred relatively frequently even with PS in the cholangitis subgroup (Pinteraction = 0.034). After endoscopic re-intervention, TRBO tended to be longer with revision PS (hazard ratio 0.40, P = 0.47). Although MS provided early improvement of jaundice and long stent patency, PS provided a better safety profile and comparable stent patency until 100 days. PS might also be an adequate and optimal palliation method in EUS-HGS.

Association of the Preoperative Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score with Clinicopathological Characteristics in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is an immunonutritional test tool based on serum albumin, total cholesterol, and lymphocyte counts. It has been studied as a simple prognostic predictor for various carcinomas. This study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative CONUT scores and the clinicopathological characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients. This study included 2,403 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy between 2012 and 2016 at a single tertiary medical center. The CONUT scores were calculated based on preoperative blood tests. The clinicopathological characteristics were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were categorized by the CONUT score (relatively low, 0-2; relatively high, 3-5). Among the 2,997 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy at Pusan National University Hospital between 2012 and 2016, those without preoperative blood test were excluded (n=149). Finally 2,403 patients were analyzed after excluding 439 patients taking lipid-lowering drugs and six patients without available T stage data after surgery. Based on the CONUT score, the relatively high score group had a lower body mass index (23.7±3.3 kg/m2 vs. 21.9±2.9 kg/m2, P<0.001), more advanced T stage (T stage 3/4, 5.9% vs. 11.4%, P=0.045), and higher extrathyroidal extension (2.1% vs. 7.6%, P=0.005). Patients included in this large, single-center study all had a preoperative CONUT score of 0-5, but this study demonstrated that higher preoperative CONUT scores were significantly associated with advanced T stage and extrathyroidal extension. The CONUT score, which can be easily used in clinical practice, is thought to be helpful in predicting the aggressiveness of PTC.