Objective To describe the disease characteristics of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who experiencing prolonged glucocorticoid (GC) exposure. Methods Between January 2016 and June 2019, 449 SLE patients meeting the criteria were recruited from multiple centers. Hip MRI examinations were performed during screening and regular follow-up to determine the occurrence of ONFH. The cohort was divided into ONFH and non-ONFH groups, and the differences in demographic baseline characteristics, general clinical characteristics, GC medication information, combined medication, and hip clinical features were compared and comprehensively described. ResultsThe age at SLE diagnosis was 29.8 (23.2, 40.9) years, with 93.1% (418 cases) being female. The duration of GC exposure was 5.3 (2.0, 10.5) years, and the cumulative incidence of SLE-ONFH was 9.1%. Significant differences (P<0.05) between ONFH and non-ONFH groups were observed in the following clinical characteristics: ① Demographic baseline characteristics: ONFH group had a higher proportion of patients with body mass index (BMI)<20 kg/m2 compared to non-ONFH group. ② General clinical characteristics: ONFH group showed a higher proportion of patients with cutaneous and renal manifestations, positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) and anticardiolipin antibodies, severe SLE patients [baseline SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score ≥15], and secondary hypertension. Fasting blood glucose in ONFH group was also higher. ③ GC medication information: ONFH group had higher initial intravenous GC exposure rates, duration, cumulative doses, higher cumulative GC doses in the first month and the first 3 months, higher average daily doses in the first 3 months, and higher proportions of average daily doses ≥15.0 mg/d and ≥30.0 mg/d, as well as higher full-course average daily doses and proportion of full-course daily doses ≥30.0 mg/d compared to non-ONFH group. ④ Combined medications: ONFH group had a significantly higher rate of antiplatelet drug use than non-ONFH group. ⑤ Hip clinical features: ONFH group had a higher proportion of hip discomfort or pain and a higher incidence of hip joint effusion before MRI screening than non-ONFH group. Conclusion The incidence of ONFH after GC exposure in China’s SLE population remains high (9.1%), with short-term (first 3 months), medium-to-high dose (average daily dose ≥15 mg/d) GC being closely associated with ONFH. Severe SLE, low BMI, certain clinical phenotypes, positive aPLs, and secondary hypertension may also be related to ONFH.
Objective To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). MethodsThe clinical and imaging data of 681 patients with thoracolumbar OVCF treated with PVP between January 2017 and December 2021 were collected. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the patients with thoracolumbar OVCF in single center were summarized from the aspects of demographic distribution (mainly including gender, age), fracture characteristic analysis [including pathological segments, bone mineral density, and body mass index (BMI)], and operation related results (including the distribution of unilateral and bilateral puncture and bone cement injection, postoperative effectiveness analysis and refracture). ResultsOf the 681 patients, 134 (19.68%) were male and 547 (80.32%) were female, with a male-to-female ratio of 1∶4.08. The age ranged from 53 to 105 years, with an average of 75.3 years. The age group of 60-90 years old had the largest number of patients (91.04%); the high incidence age group of men was 70-90 years old (13.95%), and that of women was 60-80 years old (72.98%). A total of 836 vertebrae were involved, and the morbidity of thoracolumbar vertebrae (T11-L1) was the highest (56.34%, 471/836). The main type of fracture was compression fracture (92.58%, 774/836) and Kümmell disease (7.42%, 62/836). There were 489 cases (71.81%) of osteoporosis, including 66 males and 423 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1∶6.42. There was significant difference in distribution of bone mineral density between male and female groups (Z=–5.810, P<0.001). BMI showed 206 cases (30.25%) of underweight, 347 (50.95%) cases of normal, 58 cases (8.52%) of overweight, 42 cases (6.17%) of obese, and 28 cases (4.11%) of extremely obese. The difference in BMI distribution between male and female groups was significant (Z=–2.220, P=0.026). Of 836 vertebral bodies, 472 (56.46%) were punctured unilaterally and 364 (43.54%) bilaterally. Most of the vertebral bodies (49.88%, 417/836) were injected with 5.0-6.9 mL bone cement, and most of them were distributed in thoracolumbar and lumbar vertebral bodies (T11-L3). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) of patients with unilateral puncture and bilateral puncture significantly improved at 6 months after operation (P<0.001), and also the difference was significant between the two groups in the difference of pre- and post-operation (P<0.001). There were 628 cases (92.22%) with the first occurrence of OVCF, and 53 cases (7.78%) with two or more times of OVCF, all of which were female patients, and 26 cases (49.06%) occurred in the adjacent segment of the previous PVP operation. ConclusionFemale were more than male in OVCF patients. Thoracolumbar vertebral body has the highest morbidity. Patients with low BMI are more likely to have osteoporosis, and patients with high BMI have a higher risk of compression fracture. The amount of bone cement injected through bilateral puncture was greater than that through unilateral puncture.
Objective To improve accuracy of clinical diagnosis through analyzing the CT characteristics and clinical manifestations of patients with benign lung diseases whose CT manifestations initially led to a suspicion of lung cancer. Methods This study collected 2 239 patients of benign lung disease verified by postoperative pathology in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Chao-yang Hospital from June 2006 to December 2016. Lesions of 173 patients (101 males and 72 females with a mean age of 56.0 years) were considered very likely to be malignant on preoperative contrast CT scan, which were sorted to 20 types of lung diseases, and the 20 types of diseases contained 907 patients diagnosed or misdiagnosed. Statistical analyses were performed using the CT and clinical characteristics of the 173 patients. Results Among the 907 patients with benign lung disease, the benign pathologies that were most commonly misdiagnosed by preoperative enhanced CT were pulmonary leiomyoma (100.0%), pulmonary actinomycosis (75.0%), pulmonary cryptococcosis (71.4%), sclerosing hemangioma (50.0%) and organizing pneumonia (44.2%). Among the 173 patients with benign diseases, the most common diseases were tuberculosis (29.5%), organizing pneumonia (28.9%), pulmonary hamartoma (6.4%) and pulmonary abscess (6.4%). In the 173 patients, 17.3% had fever, 56.6% coughing, 8.7% yellow sputum, 28.9% hemoptysis, 16.2% chest pain, 18.5% elevated leukocyte counts and 4.6% elevated carcinoembryonic antigen levels. Most of the CT manifestations consisted of nodular or mass shadows, 70.5% of which had foci≤3 cm and manifestations were similar to those of lung cancer, such as a spiculated margin (49.1%), lobulation (33.5%), pleural indentation (27.2%) and significant enhancement (39.3%). Furthermore, some patients had uncommon tumor signs, such as calcification (12.7%), central liquefactive necrosis (18.5%), satellite foci (9.8%) and multiple pulmonary nodules (42.2%). Moreover, 24.3% of the patients had enlarged lymph nodes of the mediastinum or hilum. Conclusion As the CT manifestations of some benign lung conditions are similar to those of lung cancer, careful differential diagnosis is necessary to identify the basic characteristics of the disease when the imaging results are ambiguous, and the diagnosis of a lung disease need incorporate the patients' clinical characteristics and a comprehensive analysis.
Objective To explore the clinical features, treatment methods and prognostic factors of primary appendiceal tumors. Methods The clinicopathologic data of 82 patients with primary appendiceal tumor who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2013 to November 2022 were retrospectively collected, and the clinicopathologic characteristics of the patients were summarized. Log-rank and Cox proportional hazard regression models were further used for univariate and multivariate survival analysis for patients without other malignant tumors. Results Among the 82 patients with primary appendiceal tumor, 9 cases (11.0%) were complicated with other malignant tumors. Low-grade mucinous tumors were the most common (51.2%, 42/82), 25 cases were complicated with appendicitis and 12 cases were complicated with intestinal obstruction. Common clinical manifestations included abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, abdominal distension, vomiting, nausea, etc. Among the patients without other malignancies, 69 patients were followed up for a median of 32 months (4–106 months), 18 of whom died. The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 91.1%, 87.5%, 80.5% and 60.7%, respectively. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (P=0.004), anemia (P=0.015), tumor metastasis (P=0.007) and diabetes mellitus (P=0.011) were prognostic factors. Among them, patients with platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio >190.1, anemia, tumor metastasis and diabetes mellitus had poor prognosis. Conclusions The main pathological type of primary appendiceal tumors is low grade mucinous tumors. It lacks characteristic clinical manifestations, with abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits as the main manifestations, and can be accompanied by appendicitis and intestinal obstruction. There is no unified standard for treatment. For patients characterized by prognostic risk factors including platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio >190.1, anemia, tumor metastasis and diabetes, further monitoring and intervention are required.
Objective To explore the clinical and inflammatory characteristics and risk factors of severe asthma to improve clinicians' awareness of the disease. Methods The general information of patients with asthma who visited the Department of Respiratory Medicine, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from May 2018 to May 2021, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of asthma, personal history, comorbidities, auxiliary examination, asthma control test (ACT) score were collected. A total of 127 patients were included, including 40 in the severe asthma group and 87 in the mild-to-moderate asthma group. Chi-square test, independent sample t test and logistic regression were used to analyze the clinical characteristics, inflammatory markers and risk factors of severe asthma. Results Compared with the patients with mild to moderate asthma, the patients with severe asthma were more older (51.0±12.0 years vs 40.7±12.8 years, P<0.05), had more smokers (32.5% vs. 14.9%, P<0.05), and more males (67.5% vs. 40.2%, P<0.05). The patients with severe asthma got poor FEV1%pred [(56.1±23.8)% vs. (93.2±18.0)%, P<0.05] and FEV1/FVC [(56.7±13.2)% vs. (75.8±9.0)%, P<0.05)], and more exacerbations in the previous year (2.7±3.1 vs. 0.1±0.4, P<0.05), lower ACT score (14.4±3.7 vs. 18.0±5.0, P<0.05), and higher blood and induced sputum eosinophil counts [(0.54±0.44)×109/L vs. (0.27±0.32)×109/L, P<0.05; (25.9±24.2)% vs. (9.8±17.5)%, P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in the proportion of neutrophils in the induced sputum or FeNO between the two groups (P>0.05). Analysis of related risk factors showed that smoking (OR=2.740, 95%CI 1.053 - 7.130), combined with allergic rhinitis (OR=14.388, 95%CI 1.486 - 139.296) and gastroesophageal reflux (OR=2.514, 95%CI 1.105 - 5.724) were risk factors for severe asthma. Conclusions Compared with patients with mild to moderate asthma, patients with severe asthma are characterized by poor lung function, more exacerbations, and a dominant eosinophil inflammatory phenotype, which is still poorly controlled even with higher level of treatment. Risk factors include smoking, allergic rhinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux, etc.
Objective To explore the risk factors, clinical characteristics and pathogenic bacteria of late-onset septicemia (LOS) in neonates, so as to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods Collect LOS in neonates admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University between January 2015 and February 2020, and set them as the observation group. The neonates born at the same time and hospitalized without septicemia were selected as the control group. The general situation and risk factors of the two groups of neonates were analyzed, and the clinical manifestations, complications and pathogenic bacteria of LOS in neonates were analyzed. Results 182 neonates were enrolled, 91 in each group. There were significant differences between the two groups in mechanical ventilation, indwelling peripherally inserted central catheter, parenteral nutrition, tracheal intubation, neonatal asphyxia, gestational age<37 weeks, birth weight<2.0 kg (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age<37 weeks [odds ratio (OR)=3.010, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.489, 6.085), P=0.002], parenteral nutrition [OR=3.506, 95%CI (1.681, 7.312), P=0.001] were independent risk factors for LOS. The main clinical manifestations of LOS were abnormal temperature, feeding difficulties, jaundice, apnea, hypersensitive C-reactive protein and procalcitonin increase. The neonates with LOS were prone to necrotizing enterocolitis and purulent meningitis. A total of 74 pathogenic bacteria were cultured from neonates with LOS, including 49 Gram-positive bacterium, 21 Gram-negative bacteria and 4 fungi. The critical and death cases were mainly infected by Gram-negative bacteria. Conclusions A number of factors are related to LOS. Gestational age<37 weeks and parenteral nutrition are independent risk factors for LOS. In order to avoid LOS, attention should be paid to prevention, aseptic concept should be strengthened, and drugs should be used reasonably.
Objective To analyze the demographic and clinical characteristics of inpatients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) and provide a basis for clinical prevention and treatment. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 744 inpatients diagnosed with OVCF between January 2017 and December 2021 who met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 146 were male and 598 were female, with age ranging from 50 to 95 years (mean, 69.37 years). The demographic characteristics (gender, age, ethnicity, occupation, regional distribution, urban-rural distribution, and seasonal incidence) and clinical features [causes of injury, history of vertebral fractures, smoking and drinking history in males, comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, cerebral infarction), body mass index (BMI), blood lipid levels, menopausal age in females, vertebral bone mineral density T-value, number of vertebral fractures, and fracture segment distribution] of OVCF patients were analyzed. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of vertebral osteoporosis. Results The demographic analysis indicated that female patients with OVCF were significantly younger than male patients (P<0.05). Significant differences were observed in the age distribution of OVCF between males and females (P<0.05), with the highest proportion of male patients in the 70-79 years group (37.0%) and the highest proportion of female patients in the 60-69 years group (40.0%). From 2017 to 2021, the age of onset for OVCF gradually increased, with a similar trend observed for both genders. The distribution of occupations between genders also showed significant differences (P<0.05); with the top three occupations for males being farmers (48.6%), retirees (24.7%), and workers (13.7%), while for females, the leading occupations were farmers (51.5%), retirees (19.4%), and service workers (10.0%). Female OVCF patients had higher BMI, vertebral bone mineral density T-value, history of vertebral fractures, hypertension prevalence, and blood lipid levels compared to male patients (P<0.05). No significant difference between the males and the females was found in ethnicity, seasonal distribution, regional distribution, urban-rural distribution, causes of injury, number of vertebral fractures, or prevalence of comorbidities (except hypertension) (P>0.05). Among the 744 OVCF patients, a total of 1 309 vertebrae were involved, with 628 thoracic vertebrae (48.0%) and 681 lumbar vertebrae (52.0%). The most common fracture segments were L1 (22.5%), T12 (21.2%), followed by L2 (12.2%) and T11 (10.2%). No significant gender difference was observed in the distribution of fracture segments (P>0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that older age, female, and lower BMI were independent risk factors for vertebral osteoporosis (P<0.05). ConclusionThe age of onset of OVCF patients is increasing year by year. The number of fractured vertebral bodies, age distribution of morbidity, occupational distribution, BMI, history of vertebral fracture, hypertension, and blood lipid levels are related to gender. The occurrence of OVCF is mainly in the thoracolumbar segment. The female, older age, and lower BMI are independent risk factors of osteoporosis.
ObjectivesTo analyze the effect of bronchiectasis (BE) on the clinical characteristics and prognosis of hospitalized patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP), and to explore the independent risk factors affecting the 30-day mortality. MethodsA national multi-center retrospective study based on the CAP-China network platform. The clinical data of 6056 patients with CAP who were hospitalized in 13 tertiary teaching hospitals in Beijing, Shandong and Yunnan from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 were collected. To compare the differences in clinical characteristics, etiological distribution and treatment prognosis of patients with CAP with bronchiectasis (BE-CAP) and patients without bronchiectasis (non-BE-CAP). Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze independent risk factors affecting 30-day mortality in hospitalized patients with BE-CAP. ResultsIn the final analysis, 5880 CAP patients were included, and BE-CAP patients accounted for 10.8% (637/5880). Compared with non-BE-CAP patients, more BE-CAP patients were women, and a higher proportion of patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, previous history of glucocorticoid inhalation, and a history of CAP within 1 year. BE-CAP patients had more dyspnea and cyanosis, lower arterial partial pressure of oxygen, longer median time to clinical stability (6 d vs. 4 d, P<0.001), and the incidence of respiratory failure was significantly higher than that of non-BE-CAP patients (27.8% vs. 19.7%, P<0.001). Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common bacterial infection in BE-CAP patients. Comorbid bronchiectasis has no significant effect on disease severity, total length of hospital stay, and mortality in CAP patients. The 30-day mortality rate of BE-CAP patients was 2.2%. Logistic regression analysis showed that initial treatment failure [odds ratio (OR) 6.675, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.235-10.523, P<0.001], respiratory failure (OR 5.548, 95%CI 3.681-8.363, P<0.001), blood urea nitrogen>7.0 mmol/L (OR 2.490, 95%CI 1.625-3.815, P<0.001), albumin<35.0 g/L (OR 1.647, 95%CI 1.073-2.529, P=0.022) and CURB-65 score (OR 1.691, 95%CI 1.341-2.133, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality in BE-CAP patients. ConclusionsBE-CAP patients have more serious hypoxia symptoms and higher incidence of respiratory failure. For BE-CAP patients with failure of initial treatment, complicated with respiratory failure, blood urea nitrogen>7.0 mmol/L, and albumin<35.0 g/L, treatment evaluation should be performed in time to reduce the mortality rate.
Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of antimitochondrial antibody (AMA)-associated cardiac injury. Methods AMA positive patients admitted to West China Hospital of Sichuan University between June 2008 and November 2023 were retrospectively selected. They were categorized into the simple cardiac involvement group and the cardiac and skeletal muscle involvement group according to the presence of skeletal muscle injury. Differences in demographic characteristics, serologic indices, cardiac structure and function, and arrhythmias were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 55 AMA-M2 positive patients with myocardial injury were enrolled. There were 18 cases in the simple cardiac involvement group and 37 cases in the cardiac and skeletal muscle involvement group among them. The age (P=0.002) and mortality rate (P=0.031) of the simple cardiac involvement group were higher than those of the cardiac and skeletal muscle involvement group. There were significant differences in biochemical indicators such as lactate dehydrogenase and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase between the two groups, and the levels of myocardial enzymes such as creatine kinase isoenzyme, myoglobin and troponin T in the cardiac involvement group were lower than those in the cardiac with skeletal muscle involvement group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, there were significant differences in the incidence of atrial premature beats, atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias between the two groups (P<0.05). In terms of treatment modalities, glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants were used more frequently in the cardiac combined skeletal muscle involvement group than in the cardiac involvement alone group, whereas β-blockers and diuretics were more prevalent in the cardiac involvement alone group (P<0.05). Conclusion Patients with cardiac involvement alone may have a more insidious or rapid progression of the disease, which requires clinicians to pay higher attention to and provide timely and effective treatment, thus improving the overall prognosis and quality of life of the patients.
Compared to classical Klebsiella pneumoniae, hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) exhibits stronger pathogenicity and a greater ability to evade host immune responses. Infections caused by hvKP typically manifest as more severe diseases with higher mortality rates, thereby increasing the complexity and challenges of clinical treatment. The emergence of carbapenem-resistant hvKP (CR-hvKP) exacerbates this predicament. Although there is still confusion regarding the clinical definition and detection standards for hvKP, this article systematically explains the clinical infection characteristics, identification methods, and mechanisms behind the emergence of CR-hvKP. This can enhance clinical staff’s vigilance towards hvKP infections and offer comprehensive and detailed considerations for the diagnosis and treatment of such strains.