Abstract： Diseases prognosis is often influenced by multiple factors, and some intricate non-linear relationships exist among those factors. Artificial neural network （ANN）, an artificial intelligence model, simulates the work mode of biological neurons and has a b capability to analyze multi-factor non-linear relationships. In recent years, ANN is increasingly applied in clinical medical fields, especially for the prediction of disease prognosis. This article focuses on the basic principles of ANN and its application in disease prognosis research.
Objective To investigate the prognosis and risk factors of cardiac surgical patients with preoperative renal dysfunction，and evaluate the accuracy of estimated glomerular filtration rate （eGFR） as a predictor of adverse outcomes. Methods A total of 2 151 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery in Renji Hospital，School of Medicine of Shanghai Jiaotong University from January 2005 to December 2009 were included in this study. There were 1 267 male patientsand 884 female patients with their average age of 58.7 （18-99）years. Clinical characteristics of patients with preoperative renal dysfunction，severity of postoperative acute kidney injury （AKI）and patients’ outcomes were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to analyze perioperative risk factors of postoperative AKI. Receiver operating characteristic（ROC） curve was used to evaluate the accuracy of eGFR to predict patients undergoing postoperative renal replacement therapy （RRT） and in-hospital death. Results A total of 221 patients （10.27%） had preoperative renal dysfunction，among whom 124 patients （56.11%） developed postoperative AKI. Patients with preoperative renal dysfunction were older，had more comorbidities including hypertension and diabetes mellitus，were more likely to receive postoperative RRT，and had worse outcomes. Patients with decreased preoperative eGFR had significantly higher in-hospital mortality. Patients with preoperative renal dysfunction who developed postoperative AKI had the worst prognosis. Multivariate logistic regression showed that hypertension （OR=4.497，P=0.003），postoperative central venous pressure （CVP） ＜6 cm H2O （OR=16.410，P=0.000） and postoperative CVP＞14 cm H2O （OR= 5.178，P=0.013） were independent predictors of postoperative AKI for patients with preoperative renal dysfunction. The areas under the ROC curves of eGFR to predict in-hospital mortality and postoperative RRT were 0.691 and 0.704 respectively （95% CI 0.630-0.752，P=0.000；95% CI 0.614-0.795，P=0.001）. Conclusion Patients with preoperative renal dysfunction are older，have more comorbidities，higher likelihood to develop postoperative AKI and worse prognosis. Hypertension，postoperative CVP＜6 cm H2O and postoperative CVP＞14 cm H2O are independent predictors of postoperative AKI for patients with preoperative renal dysfunction. We believe eGFR can accurately predict the risk of adverse kidney outcomes and in-hospital death of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Abstract： Objective To determine the influence of preoperative atrial fibrillation （AF） on midterm and longterm clinical outcomes of patients after mitral valve replacement （MVR）. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 1 029 patients who underwent MVR with or without tricuspid valve repair in Changhai Hospital， Second Military Medical University， from January 2000 to December 2005. According to the exclusion criteria， 621 patients were selected and divided into two groups depending on presence of preoperative AF. Those 395 patients with preoperative AF belonged to the AF group， including 134 males and 261 females with their average age of 51.1±11.5 years. Those 226 patients with preoperative sinus rhythm （SR） were in the SR group， including 82 males and 144 females with their average age of 48.2±14.1 years. Early postoperative outcomes， midterm and longterm mortality and morbidity of the two groups were compared. Results During 10 years of follow-up， there was no statistical difference in early postoperative mortality and morbidity between the two groups， but the incidence of late thromboembolism was significantly higher in AF group than that in SR group ［0.9‰ （31 patients/33 984 patient-months） vs. 0.4‰ （9 patients/21 151 patient-months）， χ2=4.26， P=0.039］. Ten-year survival rate in patients in AF group was significantly lower than that in SR group （83.2% vs. 92.7%， χ2=10.26， P=0.002）. Multivariate analysis identified preoperative AF ［HR=2.878， 95% CI （1.166，4.129）］， low left ventricular ejection fraction ［HR=0.948， 95% CI （0.917，0.981）］ ， and old age ［HR=1.073， 95% CI （1.038，1.109）］ as independent risk factors for late mortality after MVR. Apart from its influence on patient survival rate and incidence of thromboembolism， preoperative AF also had an adverse effect on left ventricular function， right ventricular function and tricuspid regurgitation. Conclusion AF is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis after MVR. Prognosis after MVR might be improved if surgery could be performed early when patients have predictive signs of AF such as multiple premature atrial contractions or left atrium enlargement.
Abstract： Objective To investigate clinical characteristics， surgical strategy and prognosis of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma， and improve the diagnostic and therapeutic level of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 7 patients with pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma who underwent surgical resection from January 2006 to August 2011 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. There were 5 male patients and 2 female patients with the male/female ratio of 2.5︰1.0 and the mean age of 58.85 （43-69） years old. We also conducted a literature review through PubMed using pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma and surgery as the key words， and 8 patients with integral clinical data from 2005 to 2011 were identified. There were 7 male patients and 1 female patient with the male/female ratio of 7︰1 and mean age of 70.25 （51-79） years old. All the patients underwent surgical resection and systemic lymph node dissection. Results The mean age of this group was 64.93 （43-79） years old. Among the 15 patients， there were 12 males and 3 females with the male/female ratio of 4︰1. The main symptoms were cough， blood in phlegm， hemoptysis and chest pain. Pathology diagnosis confirmed pleomorphic carcinoma in all the patients. Among the 7 patients of our hospital， there were 3 patients with spindle cell with squamous cell carcinoma， 2 patients with spindle cell with adenocarcinoma， and 2 patients with spindle cell with large cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. During follow-up， 3 patients died with the longest survival time of 49 months， and the other 4 patients were still alive. Among the 8 patients in the literature review， there were 4 patients with spindle cell with squamous cell carcinoma， 1 patient with spindle cell with adenocarcinoma， 1 patient with spindle cell with large cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and 2 patients with spindle cell with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. During follow-up， 5 patients died with the longest survival time of 22 months， and the other 3 patients were still alive. Conclusion Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma is extremely rare and surgical resection is an effective treatment strategy for it.
Abstract: Objective To summarize the surgical outcomes and clinical experience of surgical disease for patients having undergone orthotopic heart transplantation. Methods Five cardiac transplant recipients requiring surgical management due to other surgical diseases including acute cholecystitis in 2 patients, acute appendicitis, bilateral mammary hypertrophy and lung tumor in 1 patients, respectively. The mean age of the entire group at the time of reoperation was 44. 6 years (14-60 years) and the average time of operative procedures after transplant was 16. 4 months (4-37 months). Four patients were treated with t riple immunosuppression, including cyclosporine A (CsA ) or tacroimus, mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroids, respect ively. One patient received double-therapy of CsA and mycophenolate mofetil withearly withdrawal of corticosteroids. All the acute cholecystitis and appendicitis patients underwent open cholecystectomy and appendectomy emergently. Reduction mammaplasty was performed on the bilateral mammary hypert rophy patients. For the lung tumor patient, right upper lobectomy and nodes excision were undertaken radically after the sample proved to be malignancy by the thoracoscopy. Closely surveillance at concentration of CsA or FK506 was performed continueously in o rder to adjust the effect ive blood concentration in a steady way by which acute rejection can be avoided. The pathways which pathogen organisms invading the human body were controlled strictly as well as intension on ant i-infection treatment during perioperative period. Results Four patients discharged to home within 2 weeks. Only one patient needed further treatment in Digestive Department after emergent cholecystectomy due to gastric retention. And shewas discharged after 66 days. No acute reject ions or operative complications such as severe infection or bleeding were found during the perioperative period. The average length of stay was 21. 3 days (8-66 days). During the fo llow -up from 1month to 13months, there was no relapse or allograft disfunction performed on any patients. All of them enjoy quality lives. Conclusions More attention should be paid to regular follow -up after transplantation, by which the emergent surgical diseases can be diagnosed and treated earlier and more effectively. Cardiac transplant recipients who subsequently require surgical intervention do quite well overall. Most of them can obtain excellent surgical outcomes.