ObjectiveTo investigate the expressions and clinical significance of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA and γglutamyl transpeptidase mRNA-H (GGT mRNA-H) in the peripheral blood of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. MethodsThe expressions of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H were detected in the peripheral blood of thirty patients with small HCC by RT-PCR, eighteen patients with benign liver diseases, and twelve normal volunteers. ResultsThe positive rate of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H expression in patients with small HCC were 80.0% (24/30) and 46.7%(14/30), respectively. In patients with hepatitic cirrhosis the positive rate of hTERT mRNA expression was 33.3% (6/18), while the expression of GGT mRNA was not detected. Both the expressions of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H were negative in all normal volunteers. The combination analysis of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H expression achieved positive rate of 86.7% in the diagnosis of small HCC, which was significantly higher than the positive rate of AFP (26.7%)， Plt;0.05. ConclusionThe hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H are significantly expressed in small HCC patients, the combination analysis of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H seems to be useful in the early diagnosis of small HCC.
Objective To investigate the changes of small airway function and diffusing capacity in patients with mild asthma before and after bronchial provocation test (BPT).Methods BPT was performed in suspected asthma patients with chief complaints of paroxysmal wheeze,chest tightness and cough，but with normal chest X-ray and baseline pulmonary function.BPT positive group was regarded as asthma group，while BPT negative group as control group.Lung volume，ventilatory function and diffusing capacity were measured before and after BPT and compared between the asthma and control groups.Results （A）No statistical differences were found in FEV1%，FEV1/FVC，FVC%，VC%，TLC%，FRC%，RV%，RV/TLC between the asthma and control groups before BPT.FEV1/FVC and FVC% were significantly decreased (all Plt;0.01)，while FRC% (Plt;0.05)，RV% (Plt;0.01) and RV/TLC (Plt;0.01) increased significantly in the asthma group after BPT compared with the control group.The decline rate of FEV1/FVC and FVC% and the increase rate of TLC%，RV%，RV/TLC were significantly higher in the asthma group than those in the control group (all Plt;0.01).（B）Compared with the control group，FEF25%-75% (Plt;0.05)，Vmax75% (Plt;0.01) and Vmax50% (Plt;0.05) were significantly lowered before BPT，while the above parameters and Vmax25% were significantly decreased after BPT in the asthma group (all Plt;0.01).The decline rate of FEF25%-75%，Vmax75%，Vmax50% and Vmax25% was significantly higher in the asthma group than those in the control group (all Plt;0.01).（C）There was no statistical difference in DLCO in both groups before and after BPT.Conclusions Patients with mild asthma had small airways impairment before BCT which further declined after BPT.However,no impairment of diffusion capacity was found before or after BPT.
Objective To investigate the relationship of small airway function with airway sensitivity and reactivity and assess the factors influencingairway hyperresponsiveness (AHR).Methods Data of consecutive subjects with suspected asthma who had a≥20% reduction in FEV1 after ≤12.8 mmol/L cumulative doses of methacholine were analyzed from January 2005 to April 2006.Airway sensitivity was assessed by the cumulative dose of methacholine required to cause 20% reduction in FEV1 (PD20).Airway reactivity was analyzed using the slope of the dose-response curve (DRS).The DRS was defined as the reduction in FEV1 from baseline after the final dose of methacholine inhaled divided by the cumulative dose inhaled.Because of their highly skewed distribution，DRS was logarithmically transformed (log10) for all analysis.Results A total of 184 consecutive subjects aged 16 to 80 years was enrolled.There were 70 male (38.0%) and 114 female (62.0%) subjects.Subjects with higher airway sensitivity，indicated by lower PD20，also had a lower Vmax50% and Vmax25%，and vise versa.PD20 was negatively correlated wit log10DRS (r=-0.874，Plt;0.01).In a simple linear regression model，log10DNS was significantly correlated with FEV1%，Vmax50% or Vmax25% respectively (the determinant r2 were 0.062，0.097 and 0.085，respectively，all Plt;0.01).In a multiple linear regression model that included age，height，and percentage of predicted FEV1，Vmax50% and Vmax25% accounted for 3.9% and 2.6%，respectively，of variability in airway reactivity.The association between Vmax50% and log10DNS was significant in both male and female subjects.The r2 was higher in male subjects.The subjects were divided into three age groups and the association between Vmax50% or Vmax25% and log10DNS was higher in female than in male for age≤25 years，higher in male than in female for 25 -45 years.No association was found for agegt;45 years in both males and females.Conclusions Impaired small airway function is associated with higher airway sensitivity and reactivity to methacholine in subjects with suspected asthma.
Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment for Type II pulmonary vascular anomaly ( pulmonary arteriovenous malformations) of hepatopulmonary syndrome ( HPS)presenting with hemothorax. Methods A case of Type II pulmonary vascular anomaly of HPS presenting with recurrent hemothorax was described. The clinical data was analyzed and the related literature was reviewed. Results A 72-year-old male patient with Type II pulmonary vascular dilatations of HPS was described to present with recurrent dyspnea and encapsulated pleural effusions. After 4 procedures of thoracentesis, a total of 2510 mL of bloody pleural effusions was drained. The routine analysis of pleural fluid showed the count of red cells exceeded 100 ×109 / L, whereas cytologic examination and tumor biomarkers were negative. Then CTPA and pulmonary angiogramrevealed a Type II pulmonary vascular anomaly of HPS combined with hemothorax. The PaO2 of arterial blood in upright and supine position was 58. 3 mm Hg and 66. 3 mm Hg, respectively. Hypoxemia was alleviated and hemothorax was controlled after embolization of malformed blood vessels. Fromliterature review, similar cases of hemothorax resulted fromrupture of Type II pulmonary vascular anomaly of HPS were not reported. The primary clinical manifestations of HPS were dyspnea and cyanosis. Orthodeoxia and platypnea were most consistent with HPS. The best screening tool for hypoxemia in patients with HPS was P( A-a) O2. The characteristic findings of HPS on chest CT was a lesion or reticulonodular opacities occurring predominantly in the bases of the lungs, which could be enhanced by contrast medium. Pulmonary angiogram was necessary to identify the types of pulmonary vascular dilatations. Hepoxemia of patients with Type II HPS often responded poorly to oxygen therapy, whereas embolization of the pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas was helpful to improve anoxia. Conclusions Rupture ofType II pulmonary vascular malformations in HPS was a rare cause of hemothorax. Thrombosis of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations may result in significant improvement in oxygen saturations as well as control of hemothorax. In the setting of liver disease, intrapulmonary vascular dilatations and hypoxemia often suggestthe existence of HPS.
ObjectiveTo analyze the factors influencing the hungry bone syndrome (HBS) in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) after parathyroidectomy. MethodsThe clinical data of patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for SHPT in the 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force from January 2016 to May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The risk factors for HBS were analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis. The cut-off value of risk factors for predicting postoperative HBS was analyzed by using recieve operating characteristic (ROC) curve. ResultsA total of 89 patients were included in this study, including 44 males and 45 females, with (47±11) years old. There were 42 (47.2%) patients with HBS. Compared with the patients without HBS, the patients with HBS was younger and had higher levels of preoperative parathyroid hormone, potassium, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), the differences were statistically different (P<0.05). The multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that the higher preoperative ALP level was a risk factor for the HBS [OR (95%CI) = 1.014 (1.007, 1.020), P<0.001]. The area under the ROC curve (95%CI) of the preoperative ALP level in distinguishing the patients with HBS from without HBS was 0.957 (0.919, 0.996), and the optimal cut-off value of ALP for predicting postoperative HBS was 278.90 U/L. ConclusionsFrom the preliminary results of this study, it can be concluded that bone conversion status can be differentiated according to preoperative ALP level in patients with SHPT. When preoperative ALP level is higher than cut-off value, it is recommended that calcium supplementation should be given as soon as possible and blood calcium level should be closely monitored.
Objective To improve the knowledge of pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma ( PSH)especially with bilateral multiple lesions of the lung. Methods The clinical data of 3 cases of PSH ( 1 case with bilateral multiple lesions in the lung) were analyzed, and the related literatures were reviewed. Results All of the 3 cases were females. A 22-year-old female patientwith bilateral multiple nodules in the lungs was complicated with thyroid multiple nodular goiter ( with hypothyroidism) , dysfunctional uterine bleeding ( with anemia) , nodular hyperplasia of the breast, and arteriovenous malformation over forearm. Thoracoscopicbiopsy of left lung and resection of the right pulmonary mass were performed and both the lesions were confirmed as PSH. The clinical manifestations of multiorgan diseases and the presence of PSH suggested Cowden syndrome in this patient. The other 2 cases aged 50 and 53 were asymptomatic with solitary pulmonary nodules identified incidentally. The accessory examinations for malignancies, infections, and autoimmune diseases showed no specific findings. Resection of the lesions were performed by thoracoscopic surgery and thoracotomy respectively, and the histopathological results proved to be PSH. Literature review showed that PSH typically occurred in middle-aged women without clinical symptoms and signs, often presenting as a pulmonary solitary nodule/mass identified incidentally. The differential diagnosis should include peripheral carcinoma, hamartoma, inflammatory pseudotumor and tuberculoma. Multiple PSH, which mainly presented as multiple well-defined nodules /masses of different size in the lungs, was rather rare, but easily confused with metastatic neoplasm. Lung biopsy by surgical operation was a common way to confirm the diagnosis, while FDP-PET and fine needle aspiration biopsy showed some defects. Surgical resection was an effective method of treatment, the residual lesions of multiple PSH should be monitored. Cowden syndrome may be considered if a PSH coexisting with abnormity of multiple organs such as thyoid, breast and vessels. Conclusions PSH should be considered during the differential diagnosis for solitary or multiple nodules /masses in the lung. Surgical biopsy is a common way to confirm the diagnosis. Local excision andnecessary follow-up are effective methods of treatment.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical significance of promoter hypermethylation of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) in cholangiocarcinoma. MethodsPromoter methylation status of MGMT gene and expression of MGMT protein were detected in cholangiocarcinoma by methylationspecific PCR and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. ResultsAberrant methylation of MGMT gene was detected in 17 patients (47.2%). Twentyone cases showed negative immunoreactivities. Of 21 patients with negative MGMT expression, 14 patients had aberrant methylation of MGMT gene. In 15 patients with positive MGMT expression, aberrant methylation of MGMT gene was only found in three cases. There was a negative correlation between promoter methylation status of MGMT gene and the expression of MGMT protein (rs=-0.816, Plt;0.05). Promoter methylation status of MGMT gene was related to depth of invasion, degree of differentiation, and TNM stage (Plt;0.05), but not to age of patient, gender, pathological type, and lymph node metastasis (Pgt;0.05). ConclusionsHypermethylation of MGMT promoter is a frequency molecular event in cholangiocarcinoma and may be involved in carcinogenesis. Methylation status of MGMT gene may be used to evaluate malignant degree of cholangiocarcinoma.
ObjectiveTo explore the selection and application value of preoperative stereotactic localization in the surgical treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism.MethodsThe preoperative ultrasound, CT, and methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) scan data of 54 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism confirmed by pathological examination in the Department of General Surgery of the 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team from September 2016 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, to explore the localization accuracy of the three methods alone or in combination.ResultsIn this study, a total of 207 parathyroids were detected, 1 was misdiagnosed (ectopic thymus),9 were missed, and 216 parathyroids were removed. The preoperative localization accuracy of CT, ultrasound, and MIBI was the highest (95.39%, 207/217), followed by ultrasound and MIBI (93.55%, 203/217) and CT+MIBI (89.40%, 194/217), compared with other single or two methods, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The accuracy of CT combined with ultrasound localization (82.49%, 179/217) was slightly higher than that of MIBI scan alone (78.80%, 171/217), but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.060). Although the location accuracy of MIBI scan was slightly higher than that of ultrasound localization (77.88%, 169/217), the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.084).ConclusionIn order to maximize the accuracy of preoperative stereotactic localization of secondary hyperparathyroidism, ultrasound, CT, and MIBI should be combined.
ObjectiveTo explore the current situation, progress and hot spots of hospital-based health technology assessment (HB-HTA) at home and abroad. MethodsThe China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science databases were electronically searched to collect publications on HB-HTA. The bibliographic item co-occurrence mining system and VOSviewer software were used to extract and visually analyze HB-HTA literature. ResultsA total of 6 016 publications were included. Research on HB-HTA started late in China, however, it gradually increased in recent years. The Chinese research topics mainly focused on the application of hospital health technology evaluation in the management of medical equipment and consumables, and the English research topics mainly focused on the evaluation of the effectiveness, safety and cost of hospital health technology, especially information technology. ConclusionIn recent years, increasing attention has been given to HB-HTA. Related research topics have mainly focused on hospital technology access, management, and hospital health decision management.