With widespread utilization of multi-slice helical computed tomography (CT) and low-dose CT in lung cancer screening, significantly greater incidence of patients with solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) has been found. Once SPN is discovered, it is very difficult to immediately determine whether it is benign or malignant in clinical practice. In this review, SPN etiology, epidemiological characteristics of SPN patients, nodule size, morphology, location and growth rate, mathematical models for predicting malignancy of SPN, and diagnostic value of positron emission tomography (PET) and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) are summarized to provide reference for differential diagnosis of SPN. Current management strategies for SPN are also discussed in this review. According to whether SPN diameter is greater than 8 mm, whether SPN patients are advanced aged, have smoking or malignancy history, different follow-up and treatment strategies can be chosen. The diagnostic and treatment value of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for SPN is also discussed.
The core idea of comparative effectiveness research (CER) refers to "study in the real-world" which can be considered as the extension of evidence-based medicine. So far CER has arouse wide concern. CER includes many intervention trials and observational studies, including systematic reviews/meta-analyses, effectiveness randomized controlled trials, and registry trials. Database is an important platform for CER. CER has better feasibility and can provide useful evidence for "real-world" decision-making. However, it also has limitations such as difficult control of confounding factors. It still needs to be further studied due to its immature methodological base. CER has been already applied in some neurological fields, with internationally-recommended research priorities for CER in neurology.
microRNA (miRNA) is a kind of RNAs which involves in the regulation of proliferation, invasion and metastasis of tumors. It also closely connects to the colorectal cancer. This article reviews the relationship between miRNA and proliferation, invasion, metastasis, diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the effectiveness and safety of argatroban for patients with acute ischemic stroke. MethodsPubMed (1966 to 2013.12), EMbase (1966 to 2013.12), CENTRAL (2013.12), CBM (1978 to 2013.12), VIP (1989 to 2013.12), CNKI (1980 to 2013.12) and CDFD (for masters and Phds, 1999 to 2013.12) were electronically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on argatroban for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Meanwhile, relevant data were retrieved by hand search and the data from pharmaceutical factories (TIPR Pharmaceutical Responsible Co. Ltd) were collected. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsA total of 11 RCTs involving 889 patients were finally included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the argatroban group was better than the control group in improving patients' neurologic impairment scores (SMD=0.71, 95%CI 0.56 to 0.88, P < 0.000 01), and the effectiveness of neurological function (total result:OR=2.65, 95%CI 1.84 to 3.80, P < 0.000 01; placebo-controlled trial:OR=2.18, 95%CI 1.27 to 3.72, P=0.004; non-placebo-controlled trial:OR=3.09, 95%CI 1.89 to 5.06, P < 0.000 01), all with significant differences. No significant difference was found between the argatroban group and the control group in the long/short-term motilities or dependence rates as well as in the incidence of adverse reaction (OR=1.55, 95%CI 0.60 to 4.01, P=0.37). ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that argatroban could improve neurologic impairment of patients with acute ischemic stroke without severe bleeding events or other adverse reaction. However, further studies are needed to confirm its effects on reducing rates of death and disability in treating acute ischemic stroke.
Abstract Precision medicine is an ideal medical paradigm which combines modern scientific methods with traditional medical methods to diagnose, treat and evaluate the physical function and nature of diseases more precisely, and to maximize health benefits and minimize the risk of individuals and society with the most effective, safest, and the most economical medical service. Evidence-based medicine is necessary to verify the precision of diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we clarified the conception of precision medicine and the relation between precision medicine and evidence-based medicine. Moreover, we reviewed the application of precision medicine in the field of cerebrovascular disease. We pointed out that such new technologies as genetics, bioinformatics, molecular imaging and management provided tools to realize the idea of precision medicine, and high-quality evidence-based studies provided a guarantee for the clinical practice of precision medicine. In summary, precision medicine is an individualized medical mode that based on the context of a patient's genetic information, living environment and clinical data, etc. to provide precise treatment strategies for the prevention and treatment of disease, but still the promotion of precision medicine should be based on clinical validation under the guidance of evidence-based medicine. Thus, long-term exploration and unremitting efforts are required to achieve the idea of precision medicine.
ObjectiveTo investigate the application and technical essentials of computer-assisted navigation in the surgical management of periacetabular fractures and pelvic fractures. MethodsBetween May 2010 and May 2011, 39 patients with periacetabular or anterior and posterior pelvic ring fractures were treated by minimally invasive fixation under computer-assisted navigation and were followed up more than 2 years, and the clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. There were 21 males and 18 females, aged 15-64 years (mean, 36 years). Fractures were caused by traffic accident in 23 cases, crush injury in 6 cases, and falling from height in 10 cases. Of them, 6 cases had acetabular fractures; 6 cases had femoral neck fractures; 18 cases had dislocation of sacroiliac joint; and 15 cases had anterior pelvic ring injuries. All patients were treated with closed or limited open reduction and screw fixations assisted with navigation. ResultsEighty-nine screws were inserted during operation, including 8 in the acetabulum, 18 in the neck of the femur, 33 in the sacroiliac joint, and 30 in the symphysis pubis and pubic rami. The mean time of screw implanted was 20 minutes (range, 11-38 minutes), and the average blood loss volume was 20 mL (range, 10-50 mL). The postoperative pelvic X-ray and three dimensional CT scan showed good reduction of fractures and good position of the screws. No incision infection, neurovascular injury, or implant failure occurred. All patients were followed up 27-33 months with an average of 29.6 months. The patients could walk with full weight loading at 6-12 weeks after operation (mean, 8 weeks); at last follow-up, the patients could walk on the flat ground, stand with one leg, and squat down, and they recovered well enough to do their job and to live a normal life. ConclusionMinimally invasive fixation under computer-assisted navigation may be an excellent method to treat some specific types of periacetabular and anterior and posterior pelvic ring fractures because it has the advantages of less trauma and blood loss, lower complication incidence, and faster recovery.