Beyond statistical significance:Embracing minimal clinically important difference for better patient care

The minimal clinically important difference(MCID)represents a pivotal metric in bridging the gap between statistical significance and clinical relevance,addressing the direct impact of medical interventions from the patient's perspective.This comprehensive review analyzes the evolution,applications,and challenges of MCID across medical specialties,emphasizing its necessity in ensuring that clinical outcomes not only demonstrate statistical significance but also offer genuine clinical utility that aligns with patient expectations and needs.We discuss the evolution of MCID since its inception in the 1980s,its current applications across various medical specialties,and the methodologies used in its calculation,highlighting both anchor-based and distribution-based approaches.Furthermore,the paper delves into the challenges associated with the application of MCID,such as methodological variability and the interpretation difficulties that arise in clinical settings.Recommendations for the future include standardizing MCID calculation methods,enhancing patient involvement in setting MCID thresholds,and extending research to incorporate diverse global perspectives.These steps are critical to refining the role of MCID in patient-centered healthcare,addressing existing gaps in methodology and interpretation,and ensuring that medical interventions lead to significant,patient-perceived improvements.

Machine learning applications in healthcare clinical practice and research

Machine learning(ML)is a type of artificial intelligence that assists computers in the acquisition of knowledge through data analysis,thus creating machines that can complete tasks otherwise requiring human intelligence.Among its various applications,it has proven groundbreaking in healthcare as well,both in clinical practice and research.In this editorial,we succinctly introduce ML applications and present a study,featured in the latest issue of the World Journal of Clinical Cases.The authors of this study conducted an analysis using both multiple linear regression(MLR)and ML methods to investigate the significant factors that may impact the estimated glomerular filtration rate in healthy women with and without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Their results implicated age as the most important determining factor in both groups,followed by lactic dehydrogenase,uric acid,forced expiratory volume in one second,and albumin.In addition,for the NAFLD-group,the 5th and 6th most important impact factors were thyroid-stimulating hormone and systolic blood pressure,as compared to plasma calcium and body fat for the NAFLD+group.However,the study's distinctive contribution lies in its adoption of ML methodologies,showcasing their superiority over traditional statistical approaches(herein MLR),thereby highlighting the potential of ML to represent an invaluable advanced adjunct tool in clinical practice and research.

The potential mechanism and clinical application value of remote ischemic conditioning in stroke

Some studies have confirmed the neuroprotective effect of remote ischemic conditioning against stroke. Although numerous animal researches have shown that the neuroprotective effect of remote ischemic conditioning may be related to neuroinflammation, cellular immunity, apoptosis, and autophagy, the exact underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. This review summarizes the current status of different types of remote ischemic conditioning methods in animal and clinical studies and analyzes their commonalities and differences in neuroprotective mechanisms and signaling pathways. Remote ischemic conditioning has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach for improving stroke-induced brain injury owing to its simplicity, non-invasiveness, safety, and patient tolerability. Different forms of remote ischemic conditioning exhibit distinct intervention patterns, timing, and application range. Mechanistically, remote ischemic conditioning can exert neuroprotective effects by activating the Notch1/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway, improving cerebral perfusion, suppressing neuroinflammation, inhibiting cell apoptosis, activating autophagy, and promoting neural regeneration. While remote ischemic conditioning has shown potential in improving stroke outcomes, its full clinical translation has not yet been achieved.

Comparative analysis of breast and lung cancer survival rates and clinical trial enrollments among rural and urban patients in Georgia

Objectives:Rural patients have poor cancer outcomes and clinical trial(CT)enrollment compared to urban patients due to attitudinal,awareness,and healthcare access differential.Knowledge of cancer survival disparities and CT enrollment is important for designing interventions and innovative approaches to address the stated barriers.The study explores the potential disparities in cancer survival rates and clinical trial enrollments in rural and urban breast and lung cancer patients.Our hypotheses are that for both cancer types,urban cancer patients will have longer 5-year survival rates and higher enrollment rates in clinical trials than those in rural counties.Methods:We compared breast and lung cancer patients’survival rates and enrollment ratios in clinical trials between rural(RUCC 4-9)and urban counties in Georgia at a Comprehensive Cancer Center(CCC).To assess these differences,we carried out a series of independent samples t-tests and Chi-Square tests.Results:The outcomes indicate comparable 5-year survival rates across rural and urban counties for breast and lung cancer patients,failing to substantiate our hypothesis.While clinical trial enrollment rates demonstrated a significant difference between breast and lung cancer patients at CCC,no significant variation was observed based on rural or urban classification.Conclusion:These findings underscore the need for further research into the representation of rural patients with diverse cancer types at CCC and other cancer centers.Further,the findings have considerable implications for the initiation of positive social change to improve CT participation and reduce cancer survival disparities.

Factors influencing willingness to participate in ophthalmic clinical trials and strategies for effective recruitment

AIM:To explore the factors influencing individuals’willingness to participate in ophthalmic clinical trials.METHODS:A questionnaire survey was conducted from January to April 2021 among patients and their family members at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center,Sun Yat-sen University,in Guangzhou,China.The survey gathered data on respondents’willingness,demographic and socioeconomic profiles,as well as their reasons and concerns regarding engagement in clinical trials.RESULTS:Of the 1078 residents surveyed(mean age 31.2±13.1y;65.8%females)in Guangzhou,749(69.5%)expressed a willingness to participate in future ophthalmic clinical trials.Specific characteristics associated with greater willingness included a younger age,lower annual income,higher education,prior participation experience,previous ophthalmic treatment,and a better understanding of clinical trials.With the exception of age,these characteristics were significantly linked to a higher willingness.The primary barrier to participation,expressed by 64.8%of those willing and 54.4%of those unwilling,was“Uncertain efficacy”.In terms of motivations,the willing group ranked“Better therapeutic benefits”(35.0%),“Professional monitoring”(34.3%),and“Trust in healthcare professionals”(33.1%)as their top three reasons,whereas the unwilling participants indicated“Full comprehension of the protocol”(46.2%)as the key facilitator.CONCLUSION:This study reveals a substantial willingness to participate in ophthalmic clinical trials and demonstrates the predictive role of demographic and socioeconomic factors.Variations in motivators and concerns between willing and unwilling participants highlight the significance of tailored recruitment strategies.Importantly,the need for and trust in healthcare professionals stand out as powerful motivations,underscoring the importance of enhancing physician-patient relationships,adopting patient-centered communication approaches,and addressing individualized needs to improve accrual rates.

High rate of clinically relevant improvement following anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND The minimal clinically important difference(MCID)is defined as the smallest meaningful change in a health domain that a patient would identify as important.Thus,an improvement that exceeds the MCID can be used to define a successful treatment for the individual patient.AIM To quantify the rate of clinical improvement following anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis.METHODS Patients were treated with the Global Unite total shoulder platform arthroplasty between March 2017 and February 2019 at Herlev and Gentofte Hospital,Denmark.The patients were evaluated preoperatively and 3 months,6 months,12 months,and 24 months postoperatively using the Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder index(WOOS),Oxford Shoulder Score(OSS)and Constant-Murley Score(CMS).The rate of clinically relevant improvement was defined as the proportion of patients who had an improvement 24 months postoperatively that exceeded the MCID.Based on previous literature,MCID for WOOS,OSS,and CMS were defined as 12.3,4.3,and 12.8 respectively.RESULTS Forty-nine patients with a Global Unite total shoulder platform arthroplasty were included for the final analysis.Mean age at the time of surgery was 66 years(range 49.0-79.0,SD:8.3)and 65%were women.One patient was revised within the two years follow-up.The mean improvement from the preoperative assessment to the two-year follow-up was 46.1 points[95%confidence interval(95%CI):39.7-53.3,P<0.005]for WOOS,18.2 points(95%CI:15.5-21.0,P<0.005)for OSS and 37.8 points(95%CI:31.5-44.0,P<0.005)for CMS.Two years postoperatively,41 patients(87%)had an improvement in WOOS that exceeded the MCID,45 patients(94%)had an improvement in OSS that exceeded the MCID,and 42 patients(88%)had an improvement in CMS that exceeded the MCID.CONCLUSION Based on three shoulder-specific outcome measures we find that approximately 90%of patients has a clinically relevant improvement.This is a clear message when informing patients about their prognosis.

Radical Hysterectomy in Cervical Cancer: Patients’ Epidemiological and Clinical Profiles and Perioperative Outcome in Two Referral Hospitals in Cameroon

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most frequent cancers and the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer in Low and middle income countries, Cameroon inclusive. Surgery is the primary treatment modality when the disease is diagnosed at early stage. Radical hysterectomy in cervical cancer has not been evaluated in recent years in Cameroon. The purpose of this study is thus to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical features and short term outcomes of patients who underwent surgery. Patients and methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Douala Gynaeco-obstetric and Pediatric Hospital and the Douala General Hospital. Cervical cancer patients who underwent Radical hysterectomy between January 2015 and December 2020 were included. A pre-established data collection tool was used to record socio-demographic, clinical and outcomes information from patients’ files;additional outcome information was obtained from phone calls. Descriptive analysis was done using the SPSS version 26. Bivariate analysis was used to determine associations between disease and patients characteristics and occurrence of adverse postoperative outcome. P value of 0.05 was considered. Results: Sixty one patients were enrolled. Their ages ranged from 33 to 74 years with a mean age of 51.95 ± 10.29 years. Over 85% of women were married, 65.57% were unemployed and 86.88% were multiparous. Only 28% had never done cervical cancer screening. Most patients had stage IB1 to IB2 stage disease (57.1%). Less than 9% underwent radical hysterectomy and 8 of those (13.11%) suffered intraoperative complications. Twenty-five patients (40.98%) presented immediate and short term complications. There was no significant association between the disease or patients’ characteristics and adverse outcomes. Conclusion: Cervical cancer patients are relatively young in our settings and only 9% of them reach the hospital at early stage. Postoperative adverse outcomes rate is higher than that reported in the literature. Sensitization on screening and awareness of early symptoms can reverse the situation.

Effect of Jianpi Shengxue Tablet on Iron Metabolism and Nutritional Status in Patients with Renal Anemia:A Prospective,Randomized,Open,Parallel Controlled and Multicenter Clinical Study

Objective This study aimed to analyze the clinical efficacy of the Jianpi Shengxue tablet for treating renal anemia.Methods A total of 200 patients with renal anemia from December 2020 to December 2022 were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups.Patients in the control group were treated with polysaccharide-iron complex,and those in the experimental group were administered Jianpi Shengxue tablet.After 8 weeks of continuous treatment,the therapeutic outcomes regarding anemia were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment,the red blood cell(RBC)count,hematocrit(HCT),reticulocyte percentage(RET),ferritin(SF),serum iron(SI),transferrin saturation(TSAT),and serum albumin(ALB)all increased(P<0.01),and the clinical symptom score and total iron binding capacity decreased(P<0.01)in the experimental group.Moreover,the improvements in RBC,HCT,RET,SF,SI,TAST,ALB,and clinical symptoms(fatigue,anorexia,dull skin complexion,numbness of hands and feet)in the experimental group were significantly greater than those in the control group(P<0.05).The total effective rate for treating renal anemia was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion The Jianpi Shengxue tablet demonstrates efficacy in treating renal anemia,leading to significant improvements in the laboratory examination results and clinical symptoms of patients with renal anemia.

Nab-paclitaxel plus capecitabine as first-line treatment for advanced biliary tract cancers:An open-label,non-randomized,phase II clinical trial

BACKGROUND Biliary tract cancers(BTCs)are a heterogeneous group of tumors with high malignancy,poor prognosis,and limited treatment options.AIM To explore the efficacy and safety of nab-paclitaxel plus capecitabine as first-line treatment for advanced and metastatic BTCs.METHODS This open-label,non-randomized,double-center,phase II clinical trial recruited systemic therapy-naive patients with unresectable or metastatic BTCs between April 2019 and June 2022 at Beijing Cancer Hospital and the First Hospital of China Medical University.Eligible patients were administered nab-paclitaxel(150 mg/m^(2),day 1)and capecitabine(2000 mg/m^(2),twice daily,days 1-7)in 14-day cycles until experiencing intolerable toxicity or disease progression.The primary outcome was the objective response rate(ORR).The secondary outcomes included the disease control rate(DCR),overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS),and safety.RESULTS A total of 44 patients successfully completed the trial,with a median age of 64.00 years(interquartile range,35.00-76.00),and 26(59.09%)were females.Tumor response assessment was impeded for one patient due to premature demise from tumor hemorrhage.Among the remaining 43 patients undergoing at least one imaging assessment,the ORR was 23.26%[95%confidence interval(CI):11.80%-38.60%],and the DCR was 69.77%(95%CI:53.90%-82.80%).The median OS was 14.1 months(95%CI:8.3-19.9),and the median PFS was 4.4 months(95%CI:2.5-6.3).A total of 41 patients(93.18%)experienced at least one adverse event(AE),with 10 patients(22.73%)encountering grade≥3 AEs,and the most frequent AEs of any grade were alopecia(79.50%),leukopenia(54.55%),neutropenia(52.27%),and liver dysfunction(40.91%),and no treatment-related deaths were documented.CONCLUSION Nab-paclitaxel plus capecitabine may be an effective and safe first-line treatment strategy for patients with advanced or metastatic BTCs.

Human dental pulp stem/stromal cells in clinical practice

Dental pulp stem/stromal cells(DPSCs)are fibroblast-like,neural crest-derived,and multipotent cells that can differentiate into several lineages.They are relatively easy to isolate from healthy and inflamed pulps,with little ethical concerns and can be successfully cryopreserved and thawed.The therapeutic effects of DPSCs derived from animal or human sources have been extensively studied through in-vitro and in-vivo animal experiments and the findings indicated that DPSCs are effective not only for dental diseases but also for systemic diseases.Understanding that translational research is a critical step through which the fundamental scientific discoveries could be translated into applicable diagnostics and therapeutics that directly benefit humans,several clinical studies were carried out to generate evidence for the efficacy and safety of autogenous or allogeneic human DPSCs(hDPSCs)as a treatment modality for use in cell-based therapy,regenerative medicine/dentistry and tissue engineering.In clinical medicine,hDPSCs were effective for treating acute ischemic stroke and human exfoliated deciduous teeth-conditioned medium(SHED-CM)repaired vascular damage of the corpus cavernous,which is the main cause of erectile dysfunction.Whereas in clinical dentistry,autologous SHED was able to rege-nerate necrotic dental pulp after implantation into injured teeth,and micrografts enriched with autologous hDPSCs and collagen sponge were considered a treatment option for human intrabony defects.In contrast,hDPSCs did not add a significant regenerative effect when they were used for the treatment of post-extraction sockets.Large-scale clinical studies across diverse populations are still lacking to provide robust evidence on the safety and efficacy of hDPSCs as a new treatment option for various human diseases including dental-related problems.

An Overview of Quality Management of Therapeutic Vaccines in Clinical Trials in China

Objective To provide suggestions and a reference for improving the quality management system of clinical trials of therapeutic vaccines and promoting the development of therapeutic vaccines in China.Methods Literature research,case study and comparative study were used to analyze the quality management system of clinical trials of therapeutic vaccines.Results and Conclusion From the perspective of the sponsor,investigators and the thirdparty technical service company,the problems such as the low efficiency of clinical trial sample preparation and the lax implementation of the protocol by hospital departments in the quality management of clinical trials of therapeutic vaccines in China were found.Then,the optimization plan for the quality management of clinical trials of therapeutic vaccines is proposed,including optimizing the preparation process of therapeutic vaccines and strengthening the training of hospital department personnel.

Rare and lacking typical clinical symptoms of liver tumors:Four case reports

BACKGROUND Rare liver tumors(RLTs)have an extremely low likelihood of forming,and some have been recorded only in isolated cases.The lack of normal clinical symptoms in RLTs makes preoperative diagnosis extremely challenging,which results in frequent misinterpretation.The present case report helps enhance our ability to recognize and treat uncommon liver tumor disorders.CASE SUMMARY We describe four distinct examples of rare liver tumor diseases.These cases were all true cases with no conventional clinical signs or imaging findings.In all patients,hepatic occupancy was discovered on physical examination,which raised the preoperative suspicion of hepatic cancer.All tumors were surgically removed,and postoperative histology and immunohistochemistry were performed to confirm the diagnosis.The first patient had primary hepatic fibrosarcoma.The second case involved a primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumors.These two patients had malignant liver tumors,and both had extremely satisfactory surgical outcomes.The third case involved focal hepatic steatosis,and the fourth case involved a single necrotic nodule in the liver.These two patients had benign liver tumors,but they had already undergone surgery and did not require any postoperative care.CONCLUSION The number of patients with RLTs is small,and the clinical and imaging results are vague.Preoperative diagnosis is challenging,and patients are sometimes mistakenly diagnosed with liver cancer,which leads to unnecessary surgical therapy in certain individuals.

Analysis of the Current Situation of Drug Clinical Trial Institutions in Shaanxi Province

To understand the current situation of institutional registration in Shaanxi Province after the implementation ofregistration system management in drug clinical trial institutions.Relevant information was collected on the“Announcement on the Accreditation of Drug Clinical Trial Institutions”issued by the National Medical Products Administration from 2005 to August 2022,the record management information system of drug and medical device clinical trial institutions,and the drug clinical trial registration and information publicity platform.A retrospective analysis was carried out in terms of institutional development,regional distribution,registered majors,principal investigators,and the number of drug clinical trials.After the implementation of institution registration,the number of drug clinical trial institutions in Shaanxi Province increased by 47.4%,884 principal investigators were registered,the number of registered majors expanded from 58 qualified to 117,and the professional scope increased by 50.4%.The policy of institution registration is conducive to promoting the rational use of medical resources and the development of drug clinical trial institutions and improving the healthy development of the pharmaceutical industry in Shaanxi Province.

Application of Seminar Teaching Method Combined with Case-Based Learning and Problem-Based Learning Teaching Models in Oral Clinical Nursing Teaching

Purpose:To analyze the role of the seminar teaching method+case-based learning(CBL)teaching method+problem-based learning(PBL)teaching method in oral clinical nursing teaching.Methods:13 undergraduate nursing students who entered the department from September 2020 to September 2021 were selected as the control group,adopting conventional nursing teaching methods;13 undergraduate nursing students who entered the department from September 2021 to August 2022 were selected as the observation group,adopting the seminar+CBL+PBL teaching method.The teaching effects were compared between the two groups.Results:All assessment scores of the observation group were higher than those of the control group;all teaching satisfaction levels were higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Adopting the seminar+CBL+PBL teaching method during oral clinical nursing teaching can improve nursing students’assessment scores,strengthen their core competencies,and enhance teaching satisfaction.

Epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China:a hospital-based retrospective study

Traumatic spinal cord injury is potentially catastrophic and can lead to permanent disability or even death.China has the largest population of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.Previous studies of traumatic spinal cord injury in China have mostly been regional in scope;national-level studies have been rare.To the best of our knowledge,no national-level study of treatment status and economic burden has been performed.This retrospective study aimed to examine the epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China at the national level.We included 13,465 traumatic spinal cord injury patients who were injured between January 2013 and December 2018 and treated in 30 hospitals in 11 provinces/municipalities representing all geographical divisions of China.Patient epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and total and daily costs were recorded.Trends in the percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department and cost of care were assessed by annual percentage change using the Joinpoint Regression Program.The percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department did not significantly change overall(annual percentage change,-0.5%and 2.1%,respectively).A total of 10,053(74.7%)patients underwent surgery.Only 2.8%of patients who underwent surgery did so within 24 hours of injury.A total of 2005(14.9%)patients were treated with high-dose(≥500 mg)methylprednisolone sodium succinate/methylprednisolone(MPSS/MP);615(4.6%)received it within 8 hours.The total cost for acute traumatic spinal cord injury decreased over the study period(-4.7%),while daily cost did not significantly change(1.0%increase).Our findings indicate that public health initiatives should aim at improving hospitals’ability to complete early surgery within 24 hours,which is associated with improved sensorimotor recovery,increasing the awareness rate of clinical guidelines related to high-dose MPSS/MP to reduce the use of the treatment with insufficient evidence.

Molecular insights into clinical trials for immune checkpoint inhibitors in colorectal cancer:Unravelling challenges and future directions

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a complex disease with diverse etiologies and clinical outcomes.Despite considerable progress in development of CRC therapeutics,challenges remain regarding the diagnosis and management of advanced stage metastatic CRC(mCRC).In particular,the five-year survival rate is very low since mCRC is currently rarely curable.Over the past decade,cancer treatment has significantly improved with the introduction of cancer immunotherapies,specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors.Therapies aimed at blocking immune checkpoints such as PD-1,PD-L1,and CTLA-4 target inhibitory pathways of the immune system,and thereby enhance anti-tumor immunity.These therapies thus have shown promising results in many clinical trials alone or in combination.The efficacy and safety of immunotherapy,either alone or in combination with CRC,have been investigated in several clinical trials.Clinical trials,including KEYNOTE-164 and CheckMate 142,have led to Food and Drug Administration approval of the PD-1 inhibitors pembrolizumab and nivolumab,respectively,for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high or deficient mismatch repair CRC.Unfortunately,these drugs benefit only a small percentage of patients,with the benefits of immunotherapy remaining elusive for the vast majority of CRC patients.To this end,primary and secondary resistance to immunotherapy remains a significant issue,and further research is necessary to optimize the use of immunotherapy in CRC and identify biomarkers to predict the response.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical trials involving immune checkpoint inhibitors in CRC.The underlying rationale,challenges faced,and potential future steps to improve the prognosis and enhance the likelihood of successful trials in this field are discussed.

Retrospective analysis based on a clinical grading system for patients with hepatic hemangioma:A single center experience

BACKGROUND The optimal approach for managing hepatic hemangioma is controversial.AIM To evaluate a clinical grading system for management of hepatic hemangioma based on our 17-year of single institution experience.METHODS A clinical grading system was retrospectively applied to 1171 patients with hepatic hemangioma from January 2002 to December 2018.Patients were classified into four groups based on the clinical grading system and treatment:(1)Observation group with score<4(Obs score<4);(2)Surgical group with score<4(Sur score<4);(3)Observation group with score≥4(Obs score≥4);and(4)Surgical group with score≥4(Sur score≥4).The clinico-pathological index and outcomes were evaluated.RESULTS There were significantly fewer symptomatic patients in surgical groups(Sur score≥4 vs Obs score≥4,P<0.001;Sur score<4 vs Obs score<4,χ^(2)=8.60,P=0.004;Sur score≥4 vs Obs score<4,P<0.001).The patients in Sur score≥4 had a lower rate of in need for intervention and total patients with adverse event than in Obs score≥4(P<0.001;P<0.001).Nevertheless,there was no significant difference in need for intervention and total patients with adverse event between the Sur score<4 and Obs score<4(P>0.05;χ^(2)=1.68,P>0.05).CONCLUSION This clinical grading system appeared as a practical tool for hepatic hemangioma.Surgery can be suggested for patients with a score≥4.For those with<4,follow-up should be proposed.

Impact of metabolic syndrome components on clinical outcomes in hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND The incidence of hypertriglyceridemia(HTG)-induced acute pancreatitis(AP)is steadily increasing in China,becoming the second leading cause of AP.Clinical complications and outcomes associated with HTG-AP are generally more severe than those seen in AP caused by other etiologies.HTG-AP is closely linked to metabolic dysfunction and frequently coexists with metabolic syndrome or its components.However,the impact of metabolic syndrome components on HTGAP clinical outcomes remains unclear.AIM To investigate the impact of metabolic syndrome component burden on clinical outcomes in HTG-AP.METHODS In this retrospective study of 255 patients diagnosed with HTG-AP at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University,we collected data on patient demographics,clinical scores,complications,and clinical outcomes.Subsequently,we analyzed the influence of the presence and number of individual metabolic syndrome components,including obesity,hyperglycemia,hypertension,and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),on the aforementioned parameters in HTG-AP patients.RESULTS This study found that metabolic syndrome components were associated with an increased risk of various complications in HTG-AP,with low HDL-C being the most significant risk factor for clinical outcomes.The risk of complications increased with the number of metabolic syndrome components.Adjusted for age and sex,patients with highcomponent metabolic syndrome had significantly higher risks of renal failure[odds ratio(OR)=3.02,95%CI:1.12-8.11)],SAP(OR=5.05,95%CI:2.04-12.49),and intensive care unit admission(OR=6.41,95%CI:2.42-16.97)compared to those without metabolic syndrome.CONCLUSION The coexistence of multiple metabolic syndrome components can synergistically worsen the clinical course of HTGAP,making it crucial to monitor these components for effective disease management.

Assessment of Appropriateness of Diagnostic Lymph Node Tissue Collection from the Operating Theater and by Interventional Radiologist. A Clinical Audit

Background: Appropriate sample requesting, collecting and timely dispatch to the appropriate laboratory is essential in establishing diagnosis of pathologies with lesions. Much time and effort may be wasted if this is not done according to certain standards. We conducted this study to assess the route of lymph node samples from requests to reaching the laboratories. Methods: We conducted an audit over a period from 4th June until 10th Aug 2023. Data for all the procedures performed over this period on lymph node samples (was entered into and analysed using Excel. Results: A total of eighteen samples for sixteen patients were obtained during this period. Median age of the patients was 34 years (19 - 73) with a M:F ratio of 5:11. Among the IR samples, nine samples were from the neck, three from inguinal area and one from axilla. Seven samples (53.8%) were tru-cut biopsies, six samples (46.15%) were FNA. All samples were sent to the pathology laboratory fixed in formalin. Samples for TB were sent only for five cases (31.25%) and for only two cases (12.5%) were samples sent for bacterial culture. For the OR samples, none were sent for either bacterial culture or TB. Overall, eight patients (50%) were not investigated for any infectious etiologies like brucella, toxoplasmosis, CMV, EBV plus other possible causes. Repeat sampling was required for 25% of patients (within and out of the audit period). Conclusions: to avoid delays in making diagnoses, it is paramount to consider infectious etiologies as possible diagnosis for lymphadenopathy and request appropriate investigations. This requires liaising with infectious diseases/clinical microbiology experts to guide regarding types of samples, types of media and timely dispatch to the correct laboratory.

Artificial intelligence analysis of videos to augment clinical assessment:an overview

Observation is a fundamental part of the practice of clinical medicine.Observation of movement is particularly important for the neurologist.Conditions such as Parkinson’s disease,multiple sclerosis,stroke,epilepsy,and many others affect a person’s movement in characteristic ways.In some conditions,changes in the patient’s voice can be included in this-changes in sound caused by changes in the movements of speech.The clinician’s detection of a characteristic abnormality,and their judgment of its severity,plays a central role in both diagnosis and the assessment of prognosis or response to treatment.However,that practice depends upon a limited resource of experienced experts.In addition,these experts are limited by human visual judgment,which cannot reliably or precisely detect and measure small or subtle changes in movement(Williams et al.,2023).