ObjectiveTo investigate the value of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), gradient dual-echo, and triple-echo sequences in the quantitative evaluation of treatment effect of fatty liver at 3.0T MR.MethodsThirty patients with fatty liver diagnosed by CT or ultrasound who admitted in Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital between August 2017 and May 2018, were enrolled and undergone gradient dual-echo, triple-echo, and 1H-MRS examination before and 3 months after treatment. The fat index (FI) and relative lipid content (RLC) were measured. Fatty liver index (FLI) was calculated from blood biochemical indicators, waist circumference, and BMI at the same time. With the reference standard of FLI, the results before and after treatment measured from MRI were analyzed.ResultsThere were significantly differences of FLI, FIdual, FItriple, and RLC before and after treatment (t=5.281, P<0.001; Z=–3.651, P<0.001; Z=–3.630, P<0.001; Z=–4.762, P<0.001), all indexes decreased after treatment. FIdual and FItriple were positively correlated with FLI before (rs=0.413, P=0.023; rs=0.396, P=0.030) and after treatment (rs=0.395, P=0.031; rs=0.519, P=0.003), the highest correlation factor was FItriple to FLI after treatment. There were no significant correlation between RLC and FLI before and after treatment (P>0.05).ConclusionsIt is feasible to quantitatively evaluate the treatment effect of fatty liver by using 1H-MRS, gradient dual-echo, and triple-echo sequences. Gradient triple-echo sequences has better accuracy, which is technically easy to implement and more suitable for clinical development.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical efficacy of right midaxillary straight incision surgery in the treatment of doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect. MethodsThe clinical data of children with doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect who received surgeries in our hospital from August 2020 to July 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. All the children underwent surgical repair and were divided into two groups according to the incision position, including a right midaxillary straight incision group and a median incision group. The outcomes were compared between the two groups. ResultsA total of 187 patients were enrolled. There were 102 patients in the right midaxillary straight incision group, including 55 males and 47 females with a median age of 26.0 (5.0, 127.0) months and a median weight of 12.5 (5.1, 32.8) kg at surgery. There were 85 patients in the median incision group, including 37 males and 48 females with a median age of 4.0 (2.0, 168.0) months and a median weight of 6.7 (4.8, 53.9) kg at surgery. No mortality occurred in the study. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the cardiopulmonary bypass time (50.0±18.4 min vs. 46.1±15.7 min) or aortic cross-clamping time (31.3±18.6 min vs. 26.3±17.5 min) (P>0.05). Compared to the median incision group, the time from the end of cardiopulmonary bypass to the closure of chest (22.3±15.6 min vs. 37.1±13.4 min, P=0.001), postoperative hospital stay (6.9±3.9 d vs. 8.6±3.6 d, P=0.002), the length of incision (4.3±2.7 cm vs. 8.5±3.2 cm, P=0.001), drainage volume (79.0±32.2 mL vs. 100.2±43.1 mL, P=0.001), and the pain score on the 2nd and the 3rd day after the operation were statistically better in the right midaxillary straight incision group (P<0.05). The medical experience and incision satisfaction scores at discharge were higher than those in the median incision group (P<0.05). During the follow-up of 21.0 (1.0, 35.0) months, no residual shunt was detected and all patients in both groups had a normal cardiac function and mild or less valve regurgitation. ConclusionCompared to the median incision, minimally invasive right midaxillary straight incision is equally safe and reliable in the treatment of doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect with the advantages of cosmetic and fast recovery.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the silicone stent for treatment of three common benign central airway stenosis. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 40 patients with benign airway stenosis who were treated with a Dumon silicone stent at Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University between November 2019 to October 2023, including 14 cases of tracheobronchial tuberculosis (TBTB) stenosis, 14 cases of stenosis after tracheal intubation,and 12 cases of stenosis after tracheotomy. The clinical data and information on bronchoscopic interventional procedures and related complications were collected and analyzed, for evaluating the short-term efficacy, long-term efficacy and stent-related complications. Results The 40 patients were successfully implanted of silicone stents for 48 times totally. The mMRC score, KPS score, blood oxygen saturation and the diameter of the narrowest airway were significantly improved (P<0.05) after the implantation of silicone stents in all patients. Patients in TBTB group achieved inferior efficacy than those in the other two groups (P<0.05), while there was no significant therapeutic effect between tracheal intubation and tracheotomy groups (P>0.05). The main complications after the implantation of silicone stents were granulation hyperplasia, sputum retention and stent displacement. There were higher incidence rates of granulation hyperplasia and sputum retention in the TBTB group compared with the tracheal intubation and tracheotomy groups (P<0.05 ), while there was no statistically significant difference in incidence rates of granulation hyperplasia and sputum retention between the last two groups. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in the proportion of stent displacement among the three groups.Conclusions The efficacy and safety were satisfied in the treatment of the three common benign central airway stenosis,with a recommendation for the treatment of refractory benign airway stenosis. However, the treatment effect of the TBTB group is inferior to that of the tracheal intubation and tracheotomy groups, with higher rates of obvious granulation hyperplasia and sputum retention simultaneously. More detailed follow-up management was recommended for TBTB patients implanted with silicone stents to avoid the development of stent-related minor complications into serious complications with a worse prognosis.
ObjectiveTo summarize the occurrence of anal fistula in Crohn disease (CDAF) accompanying with preoperative rectal stenosis and analyze its influencing factors. Meanwhile to explore the effect of improved anal sphincter retention virtual-hanging (hereafter this text will be abbreviated as virtual-hanging) for treatment of CDAF. MethodsThe CDAF patients admitted to the Third People’s Hospital of Bengbu from January 2019 to June 2021 were retrospectively collected, who were treated with virtual-hanging. Meanwhile the multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for accompanying with preoperative rectal stenosis and which were used to establish a decision tree model by Chi squared automatic interaction detection method. ResultsA total of 234 patients with CDAF were collected, and the incidence of accompanying with preoperative rectal stenosis was 22.2% (52/234). The multivariate logistic regression analysis found that the patients with preoperative proctitis, Montreal subtype B2, fistula located above the musculi levator ani (MLA), single fistula accompanied by branches or multiple fistulas, lymphocyte count (Lym) ≥6.03×109/L, platelet count (PLT) ≥0.61×109/L, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) ≥39.11 mm/h, C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥5.13 mg/L, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) ≥313.26 ng/L had higher probability of accompanying with preoperative rectal stenosis (P<0.05). For the patients with or without preoperative rectal stenosis, the CD activity index score and perianal CD activity index score, and anal resting pressure all showed decreasing trends after treatment with the virtual-hanging, and the anal maximal contraction pressure showed a increasing trend as compared to before treatment. The decision tree consisted 18 nodes and 9 terminal nodes. The gain map of the decision tree model gradually increased from 0% to 100%; The index chart maintained a high level starting from 198% and then rapidly decreased to 100%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the decision tree model was 0.852 [95%CI (0.821, 0.908)], with a sensitivity of 84.35% and a specificity of 82.33%. ConclusionsThe incidence of accompanying with preoperative rectal stenosis in patients with CDAF is relatively higher. The effect of virtual-hanging for treatment of CDAF is better. For patients with preoperative proctitis, Montreal subtype B2, fistula above the MLA, single fistula accompanied by branches or multiple fistulas, and higher Lym, PLT, ESR, CRP, and BNP, attention should be paid to their accompanying with preoperative rectal stenosis. The decision tree model based on these factors to distinguish whether accompanying with preoperative rectal stenosis is better.
Subpopulation treatment effect pattern plot (STEPP) method is a method for examining the relationship between treatment effects and continuous covariates and is characterized by dividing the study population into multiple overlapping subpopulations to be analyzed based on continuous covariate values. STEPP method has a different purpose than traditional subgroup analyses, and STEPP has a clear advantage in exploring the relationship between treatment effects and continuous covariates. In this study, the concepts, advantages, and subpopulation delineation methods of the STEPP method are introduced, and the specific operation process and result interpretation methods of STEPP method analysis using the STEPP package in R language are presented with examples.
ObjectivesTo review individual treatment effect (ITE) models developed from randomized controlled trials, with the aim of systematically summarizing the current state of model development and assessing the risk of bias. MethodPubMed and Embase databases were searched for studies published between 1990 and 14 June 2024. Data were extracted using the CHARMS inventory, and the PROBAST risk of bias tool was used to assess model quality. ResultsA total of 11 publications were included, containing 19 ITE models. The ITE modelling methods were regression models with interaction terms (n=8, 42.1%), dual-range models (n=5, 26.3%) and machine learning (n=6, 31.6%). The ITE models had a reporting rate of 78.9%, 73.2% and 10.5% for differentiation, calibration and clinical validity, respectively. Fourteen models were assessed as having a high risk of bias (73.7%), particularly in the area of statistical analysis, due to inappropriate handling of missing data (n=15, 78.9%), inappropriate consideration of model fit issues (n=5, 26.3%), etc. ConclusionCommon approaches to ITE model development include constructing interaction terms, dual procedure theory, and machine learning, but suffer from a low number of model developments, more complex modeling methods, and non-standardized reporting. In the future, emphasis should be placed on further exploration of ITE models, promoting diversified modeling methods and standardized reporting to improve the clinical promotion and practical application value of the models.