Several studies have demonstrated that the outcome of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection is profoundly influenced by a variety of comorbidities. Many of these comorbidities have a significant influence on the respons...Several studies have demonstrated that the outcome of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection is profoundly influenced by a variety of comorbidities. Many of these comorbidities have a significant influence on the response to antiviral therapy. These comorbidities negatively affect the course and outcome of liver disease, often reducing the chance of achieving a sustained virological response with PEGylated interferon and ribavirin treatments. Comorbidities affecting response to antiviral therapy reduce compliance and adherence to inadequate doses of therapy. The most important comorbidities affecting the course of CHC include hepatitis B virus coinfection, metabolic syndrome, and intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Comorbidities affecting the course and response to therapy include schistosomiasis, iron overload, alcohol abuse, and excessive smoking. Comorbidities affecting response to antiviral therapy include depression, anemia, cardiovascular disease, and renal failure.展开更多
Plummer-Vinson syndrome (sideropenic dysphagia) is characterized by dysphagia due to an upper esophageal or hypopharyngeal web in patients with chronic iron deficiency anemia. The main cause of dysphagia is the presen...Plummer-Vinson syndrome (sideropenic dysphagia) is characterized by dysphagia due to an upper esophageal or hypopharyngeal web in patients with chronic iron deficiency anemia. The main cause of dysphagia is the presence of the web in the cervical esophagus,and abnormal motility of the pharynx or esophagus is also found to play a significant role in this condition.This syndrome is thought to be precancerous because squamous cell carcinoma of hypopharynx, oral cavity or esophagus takes place in 10% of those patients suffering from this malady, but it is even more unusual that Plummer-Vinson syndrome should be accompanied by gastric cancer. We have reported here a case of a43-year-old woman with Plummer-Vinson syndrome who developed stomach cancer and recovered after a radical total gastrectomy with D2 nodal dissection.展开更多
We reported a case of 79-year old woman with known large bowel diverticulosis presenting with small bowel obstruction due to stone impaction - found on plain abdominal X-ray.Contrast studies demonstrated small bowel d...We reported a case of 79-year old woman with known large bowel diverticulosis presenting with small bowel obstruction due to stone impaction - found on plain abdominal X-ray.Contrast studies demonstrated small bowel diverticulosis.At laparotomy, the gall bladder was normal with no stones and no abnormal communication with small bowel - excluding the possibility of a gallstone ileus. Analysis of the stone revealed a composition of bile pigments and calcium oxalate.This was a rare case of small bowel obstruction due to enterolith formation - made distinctive by calcification (previously unreported in the proximal small bowel).展开更多
Background A considerable proportion of elderly patients with symptomatic severe heart valve disease are treated conservatively de- spite clear indications for surgical intervention. However, little is known about how...Background A considerable proportion of elderly patients with symptomatic severe heart valve disease are treated conservatively de- spite clear indications for surgical intervention. However, little is known about how advanced age and comorbidities affect treatment deci-sion-making and therapeutic outcomes. Methods Patients (n = 234, mean age: 78.5 ± 3.7 years) with symptomatic severe heart valve dis- ease hospitalized in our center were included. One hundred and fifty-one patients (65%) were treated surgically (surgical group) and 83 (35%) were treated conservatively (conservative group). Factors that affected therapeutic decision-making and treatment outcomes were investi- gated and long-term survival was explored. Results Isolated aortic valve disease, female sex, chronic renal insufficiency, aged _〉 80 years, pneumonia, and emergent status were independent factors associated with therapeutic decision-making. In-hospital mortality for the surgical group was 5.3% (8/151). Three patients (3.6%) in the conservative group died during initial hospitalization. Low cardiac output syndrome and chronic renal insufficiency were identified as predictors of in-hospital mortality in the surgical group. Conservative treatment was identi- fied as the single risk factor for late death in the entire study population. The surgical group had better 5-year (77.2% vs. 45.4%, P 〈 0.0001) and 10-year (34.5% vs. 8.9%, P 〈 0.0001) survival rates than the conservative group, even when adjusted by propensity score-matched analysis. Conclusions Advanced age and geriatric comorbidities profoundly affect treatment decision-making for severe heart valve disease. Valve surgery in the elderly was not only safe but was also associated with good long-term survival while conservative treatment was unfavorable for patients with symptomatic severe valve disease.展开更多
Objective:This is a retrospective study to assess the effectiveness of consolidation radiotherapy (CRT) following palliative chemotherapy in patients with metastatic or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSC...Objective:This is a retrospective study to assess the effectiveness of consolidation radiotherapy (CRT) following palliative chemotherapy in patients with metastatic or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are not suitable for radical treatment.Methods:This study involved retrospective analysis of a prospective database of Northampton Oncology Centre from January 2005 to December 2010,63 patients with advanced/metastatic NSCLC treated at the oncology centre were enrolled.Patients were either treated with high dose (39/36 Gy /13-12 fractions,group 1) or low dose (20 Gy /5 fractions,group 2) CRT or those were not offered any CRT (group 3).Results:There was no significant difference between the three groups as regard age,sex,performance status,comorbidities or chemotherapy given.However there was a statistically significant difference as regard the stage P=0.009 with more stage IV patients at group II and III compared to group I.The mean survival for the three groups was 27 months,14 months &15 months,respectively.There was a statistically significant improvement of survival in patients treated with high dose palliative CRT compared to the other two groups (P=0.006).In multivariate analysis only the radiotherapy dose remains as the only statistical significant factor affecting the survival with hazard ratio 0.372 and confidence interval (0.147-0.726).Conclusion:Despite the limitation of our retrospective study,it is worth considering CRT approach for patients with advanced and metastatic NSCLC-not suitable for radical treatment-who have not progressed on chemotherapy.展开更多
One patient with wound surface sepsis caused by secondary pyocyanic infection after extensive burns associated with visceral injuries (peptic ulcer hemorrhage, renal insufficiency and hepatic dysfunction) and generali...One patient with wound surface sepsis caused by secondary pyocyanic infection after extensive burns associated with visceral injuries (peptic ulcer hemorrhage, renal insufficiency and hepatic dysfunction) and generalied candidiasis albicans was cured after anti-infection treatment with proper antibiotics, removal of the infected focus, and effective anti-fungal drugs.展开更多
Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus patent Chinese medicine in treating post-stroke constipation. Methods: Sixty eligible patients with post-stroke constipation were randomized into a treat...Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus patent Chinese medicine in treating post-stroke constipation. Methods: Sixty eligible patients with post-stroke constipation were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture plus Ma Zi Ren pill, while the control group was by Ma Zi Ren pill alone. The symptoms of constipation were observed before and after intervention. Results: After 2-week treatment, the constipation condition was improved in both groups, and the improvement in the treatment group was statistically more significant than that in the control group(P<0.05); respectively two weeks and a month after the intervention, the treatment group was superior to the control group in comparing the constipation score(P<0.05). However, acupuncture didn't show marked effect in improving defecation speed, initial defecation time, and spontaneous discharge frequency. The treatment group had a significantly higher short-term markedly-effective rate compared with the control group(P<0.05); the long-term therapeutic efficacy of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05). The adverse events happened in the treatment group were significantly less than those in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture at specific acupoints plus patent Chinese medicine can produce a content therapeutic efficacy.展开更多
Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture plus Chinese medicinal fumigation and washing in treating edema of the affected limb in post-stroke hemiplegia. Methods: Two hundred patients with edema o...Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture plus Chinese medicinal fumigation and washing in treating edema of the affected limb in post-stroke hemiplegia. Methods: Two hundred patients with edema of the stroke-affected limb from our hospital were randomized into two groups according to their visiting sequence. In the observation group, 100 subjects were intervened by acupuncture plus Chinese medicinal fumigation and washing in addition to oral administration of diuretics, while the other 100 subjects in the control group were only given diuretics. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after successive 2-week treatments. Results: The total effective rate was 90.0% in the observation group, significantly higher than 66.0% in the control group, indicating that there was a significant difference in comparing the overall therapeutic effect(P<0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture plus Chinese medicinal fumigation and washing in addition to oral administration of diuretics is effective in treating edema of the affected limb in post-stroke hemiplegia.展开更多
Simultaneous bilateral intertrochanteric fractures are very rare. There is a paucity of data in current literature documenting patients with such kind of hip fractures. It is severe and potentially life-threatening, a...Simultaneous bilateral intertrochanteric fractures are very rare. There is a paucity of data in current literature documenting patients with such kind of hip fractures. It is severe and potentially life-threatening, associated with a high morbidity. The major determinants of successful outcome are high vigilance, early single stage stabilization and mobilization as well as management of associated comorbid conditions that may influence the longterm rehabilitation of patients. Here we reported 4 cases of concurrent bilateral trochanteric fractures along with review of the literature. Our study aimed to discover its frequency, identify the injury mechanisms as well as factors present in the pathogenesis of these fractures, and outline the available treatment modalities.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To present and analyze treatmentsand clinical outcomes of Chinese patients with influenza-like illness.METHODS: We conducted a multi-site observational study from December 2009 to April 2010. Patients with ...OBJECTIVE: To present and analyze treatmentsand clinical outcomes of Chinese patients with influenza-like illness.METHODS: We conducted a multi-site observational study from December 2009 to April 2010. Patients with influenza-like illness from 45 hospitals were enrolled. Patients received Chinese herbal medicine(CHM), conventional treatments, or CHM plus conventional treatments(combination treatment) according to the guidelines for influenza A/H1 N1 2009 in China. The primary outcomes were the time to alleviation of symptoms and the incidence of complications. The secondary outcomes were the time until becoming afebrile, incidence of severe illness, testing negative on an influenza A viral test, and total medical fees.RESULTS: In total, 5967 patients were enrolled. The percentages of patients prescribed CHM alone, conventional treatment, and combination treatment were 27.8%, 5.1%, and 67.7%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the time to alleviation of symptoms, incidence of complications,time to becoming afebrile, or rate of severe illness among the CHM, conventional, and combination treatment groups. The rates of testing negative on the influenza virus A rapid test and H1 N1 virus test were 90.3% and 76.3%, respectively. However,significant differences were found in the total medical fees among the three groups: CHM treatments were more economical than the other two treatments.CONCLUSION: The efficacy of CHM for influenza-like illness was not different from that of conventional treatments, but it was more economical.展开更多
文摘Several studies have demonstrated that the outcome of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection is profoundly influenced by a variety of comorbidities. Many of these comorbidities have a significant influence on the response to antiviral therapy. These comorbidities negatively affect the course and outcome of liver disease, often reducing the chance of achieving a sustained virological response with PEGylated interferon and ribavirin treatments. Comorbidities affecting response to antiviral therapy reduce compliance and adherence to inadequate doses of therapy. The most important comorbidities affecting the course of CHC include hepatitis B virus coinfection, metabolic syndrome, and intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Comorbidities affecting the course and response to therapy include schistosomiasis, iron overload, alcohol abuse, and excessive smoking. Comorbidities affecting response to antiviral therapy include depression, anemia, cardiovascular disease, and renal failure.
文摘Plummer-Vinson syndrome (sideropenic dysphagia) is characterized by dysphagia due to an upper esophageal or hypopharyngeal web in patients with chronic iron deficiency anemia. The main cause of dysphagia is the presence of the web in the cervical esophagus,and abnormal motility of the pharynx or esophagus is also found to play a significant role in this condition.This syndrome is thought to be precancerous because squamous cell carcinoma of hypopharynx, oral cavity or esophagus takes place in 10% of those patients suffering from this malady, but it is even more unusual that Plummer-Vinson syndrome should be accompanied by gastric cancer. We have reported here a case of a43-year-old woman with Plummer-Vinson syndrome who developed stomach cancer and recovered after a radical total gastrectomy with D2 nodal dissection.
文摘We reported a case of 79-year old woman with known large bowel diverticulosis presenting with small bowel obstruction due to stone impaction - found on plain abdominal X-ray.Contrast studies demonstrated small bowel diverticulosis.At laparotomy, the gall bladder was normal with no stones and no abnormal communication with small bowel - excluding the possibility of a gallstone ileus. Analysis of the stone revealed a composition of bile pigments and calcium oxalate.This was a rare case of small bowel obstruction due to enterolith formation - made distinctive by calcification (previously unreported in the proximal small bowel).
文摘Background A considerable proportion of elderly patients with symptomatic severe heart valve disease are treated conservatively de- spite clear indications for surgical intervention. However, little is known about how advanced age and comorbidities affect treatment deci-sion-making and therapeutic outcomes. Methods Patients (n = 234, mean age: 78.5 ± 3.7 years) with symptomatic severe heart valve dis- ease hospitalized in our center were included. One hundred and fifty-one patients (65%) were treated surgically (surgical group) and 83 (35%) were treated conservatively (conservative group). Factors that affected therapeutic decision-making and treatment outcomes were investi- gated and long-term survival was explored. Results Isolated aortic valve disease, female sex, chronic renal insufficiency, aged _〉 80 years, pneumonia, and emergent status were independent factors associated with therapeutic decision-making. In-hospital mortality for the surgical group was 5.3% (8/151). Three patients (3.6%) in the conservative group died during initial hospitalization. Low cardiac output syndrome and chronic renal insufficiency were identified as predictors of in-hospital mortality in the surgical group. Conservative treatment was identi- fied as the single risk factor for late death in the entire study population. The surgical group had better 5-year (77.2% vs. 45.4%, P 〈 0.0001) and 10-year (34.5% vs. 8.9%, P 〈 0.0001) survival rates than the conservative group, even when adjusted by propensity score-matched analysis. Conclusions Advanced age and geriatric comorbidities profoundly affect treatment decision-making for severe heart valve disease. Valve surgery in the elderly was not only safe but was also associated with good long-term survival while conservative treatment was unfavorable for patients with symptomatic severe valve disease.
文摘Objective:This is a retrospective study to assess the effectiveness of consolidation radiotherapy (CRT) following palliative chemotherapy in patients with metastatic or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are not suitable for radical treatment.Methods:This study involved retrospective analysis of a prospective database of Northampton Oncology Centre from January 2005 to December 2010,63 patients with advanced/metastatic NSCLC treated at the oncology centre were enrolled.Patients were either treated with high dose (39/36 Gy /13-12 fractions,group 1) or low dose (20 Gy /5 fractions,group 2) CRT or those were not offered any CRT (group 3).Results:There was no significant difference between the three groups as regard age,sex,performance status,comorbidities or chemotherapy given.However there was a statistically significant difference as regard the stage P=0.009 with more stage IV patients at group II and III compared to group I.The mean survival for the three groups was 27 months,14 months &15 months,respectively.There was a statistically significant improvement of survival in patients treated with high dose palliative CRT compared to the other two groups (P=0.006).In multivariate analysis only the radiotherapy dose remains as the only statistical significant factor affecting the survival with hazard ratio 0.372 and confidence interval (0.147-0.726).Conclusion:Despite the limitation of our retrospective study,it is worth considering CRT approach for patients with advanced and metastatic NSCLC-not suitable for radical treatment-who have not progressed on chemotherapy.
文摘One patient with wound surface sepsis caused by secondary pyocyanic infection after extensive burns associated with visceral injuries (peptic ulcer hemorrhage, renal insufficiency and hepatic dysfunction) and generalied candidiasis albicans was cured after anti-infection treatment with proper antibiotics, removal of the infected focus, and effective anti-fungal drugs.
基金supported by the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei United University
文摘Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus patent Chinese medicine in treating post-stroke constipation. Methods: Sixty eligible patients with post-stroke constipation were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture plus Ma Zi Ren pill, while the control group was by Ma Zi Ren pill alone. The symptoms of constipation were observed before and after intervention. Results: After 2-week treatment, the constipation condition was improved in both groups, and the improvement in the treatment group was statistically more significant than that in the control group(P<0.05); respectively two weeks and a month after the intervention, the treatment group was superior to the control group in comparing the constipation score(P<0.05). However, acupuncture didn't show marked effect in improving defecation speed, initial defecation time, and spontaneous discharge frequency. The treatment group had a significantly higher short-term markedly-effective rate compared with the control group(P<0.05); the long-term therapeutic efficacy of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05). The adverse events happened in the treatment group were significantly less than those in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture at specific acupoints plus patent Chinese medicine can produce a content therapeutic efficacy.
基金supported by the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
文摘Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture plus Chinese medicinal fumigation and washing in treating edema of the affected limb in post-stroke hemiplegia. Methods: Two hundred patients with edema of the stroke-affected limb from our hospital were randomized into two groups according to their visiting sequence. In the observation group, 100 subjects were intervened by acupuncture plus Chinese medicinal fumigation and washing in addition to oral administration of diuretics, while the other 100 subjects in the control group were only given diuretics. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after successive 2-week treatments. Results: The total effective rate was 90.0% in the observation group, significantly higher than 66.0% in the control group, indicating that there was a significant difference in comparing the overall therapeutic effect(P<0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture plus Chinese medicinal fumigation and washing in addition to oral administration of diuretics is effective in treating edema of the affected limb in post-stroke hemiplegia.
文摘Simultaneous bilateral intertrochanteric fractures are very rare. There is a paucity of data in current literature documenting patients with such kind of hip fractures. It is severe and potentially life-threatening, associated with a high morbidity. The major determinants of successful outcome are high vigilance, early single stage stabilization and mobilization as well as management of associated comorbid conditions that may influence the longterm rehabilitation of patients. Here we reported 4 cases of concurrent bilateral trochanteric fractures along with review of the literature. Our study aimed to discover its frequency, identify the injury mechanisms as well as factors present in the pathogenesis of these fractures, and outline the available treatment modalities.
基金Supported by the National Special Program of TCM of China:Clinical Research on H1N1 Pandemic Influenza Treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine(No.200907001-2B)Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province(No.2017B030314166)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To present and analyze treatmentsand clinical outcomes of Chinese patients with influenza-like illness.METHODS: We conducted a multi-site observational study from December 2009 to April 2010. Patients with influenza-like illness from 45 hospitals were enrolled. Patients received Chinese herbal medicine(CHM), conventional treatments, or CHM plus conventional treatments(combination treatment) according to the guidelines for influenza A/H1 N1 2009 in China. The primary outcomes were the time to alleviation of symptoms and the incidence of complications. The secondary outcomes were the time until becoming afebrile, incidence of severe illness, testing negative on an influenza A viral test, and total medical fees.RESULTS: In total, 5967 patients were enrolled. The percentages of patients prescribed CHM alone, conventional treatment, and combination treatment were 27.8%, 5.1%, and 67.7%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the time to alleviation of symptoms, incidence of complications,time to becoming afebrile, or rate of severe illness among the CHM, conventional, and combination treatment groups. The rates of testing negative on the influenza virus A rapid test and H1 N1 virus test were 90.3% and 76.3%, respectively. However,significant differences were found in the total medical fees among the three groups: CHM treatments were more economical than the other two treatments.CONCLUSION: The efficacy of CHM for influenza-like illness was not different from that of conventional treatments, but it was more economical.