ObjectiveTo investigate the association between serum thyroid hormone levels and prognosis for patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) without thyroid disease, and explore the prognostic value of serum thyroid hormone levels for patients with AECOPD.MethodsThe clinical data of 239 hospitalized cases of AECOPD [149 males, 90 females, aged 42-92 (77.7±8.9) years] from January 2013 to November 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Serum thyroid hormone levels including total tetraiodothyronin (TT4), total triiodothyronin (TT3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free tetraiodothyronin (FT4) and free triiodothyronin (FT3) were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. All patients were divided into a survival group and a death group according to the prognosis. Serum thyroid hormone levels were compared between two groups. Correlations of serum thyroid hormone levels with the occurrence of death in AECOPD patients were analyzed. The prognostic value of serum thyroid hormone levels for AECOPD patients was explored by receiveroperating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. And the best cut-off value of serum thyroid hormone level in predicting the risk of death was calculated.ResultsSerum TT4, TT3, FT4 and FT3 levels in the survival group were significantly higher than those in the death group [TT4: (89.35±21.45) nmol/L vs. (76.84±21.33) nmol/L; TT3: (1.05±0.34) nmol/L vs. (0.72±0.19) nmol/L; FT4: (16.17±2.91) pmol/L vs. (14.45±2.85) pmol/L; FT3: (3.06±0.81) pmol/L vs. (2.24±0.72) pmol/L; all P<0.05]. The differences of serum TSH level between two groups were not statistically significant [0.98 (0.54-1.83)vs. 0.57 (0.31-1.84), P>0.05]. Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum TT4, TT3, FT4 and FT3 levels were significant correlated with the occurrence of death (r values were 0.226, 0.417, 0.220, 0.387, respectively, P<0.05). And there was no significant correlation between serum TSH level and the occurrence of death (P>0.05). ROC curve analysis was done between serum thyroid hormone levels (TT4, TT3, TSH, FT4 and FT3) and the occurrence of death in the AECOPD patients. The areas under ROC curve were 0.659, 0.793, 0.588, 0.655 and 0.772, respectively. Serum TT3 was the best indicator for predicting the occurrence of death. When serum TT3 level was 0.85nmol/L, the Youden index was the highest (0.486), with a sensitivity of 70.2%, and a specificity of 78.3%. It was the best cut-offl value of serum TT3 to predict the risk of death in AECOPD patients.ConculsionsSerum thyroid hormone levels are significant associated with the prognostic for AECOPD patients. There is certain value of serum thyroid hormone levels in prognostic evaluation of AECOPD patients.
Objective To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of serum soluble CD26 （sCD26） on the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Methods The serum sCD26 concentration of 59 colorectal cancer patients, 51 colorectal benign disease patients, and 41 healthy volunteers were detected by ELISA. The diagnostic efficiency of sCD26 and carcinoma embryonic antigen （CEA） was assessed by receiver operating characteristics （ROC） analysis. The association between sCD26 and colorectal cancer was assessed by logistic regression which included CEA in the model. Results Increased serum sCD26 was observed in colorectal cancer patients （P＜0.01）, but the differences of sCD26 in different Dukes stages were not statistic significance （P=0.78）. The area under cure （AUC） of sCD26 confirmed by ROC analysis was 0.72 〔95% confidence interval （CI）：0.63-0.82, P＜0.01〕. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for sCD26 at 526 μg/L, the optimal diagnostic threshold, were 0.59 （95% CI： 0.48-0.72） and 0.80 （95% CI： 0.67-0.90）, respectively. Positive serum sCD26 was associated with colorectal cancer after adjusted for CEA with odds ration （OR） 5.17 （95% CI：1.72-15.53, P＜0.01）, as confirmed by logistic regression. Increased positive rate of serum sCD26 was observed in patients at Dukes A stage （P=0.03）, but not Dukes B, C, and D stage （P＜0.05）. Conclusions Serum sCD26 has high diagnostic performance for colorectal cancer. The association of sCD26 is independent of serum CEA. Compared to serum CEA, sCD26 has more potential to be an early biomarker for colorectal cancer diagnosis.
To evaluate effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on immunologic function in patients with gastrointestinal malignant tumor (GIMT). Before and 3 weeks after surgical treatment and administration of rhGH, the amount of T lymphocyte subset (T-LS) and soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) level were measured in 12 patients with GIMT, which were compared with 20 cases of normal control and 18 cases of GIMT treated by surgery alone. Result: ①In all GIMT patients, the serum CD＋3, CD＋4 level and the ratio of CD＋4/CD＋8 were lower than normal control and the sIL2R level was much higher; ②After operation, the serum CD＋3, CD＋4 level and the ratio of CD＋4/CD＋8 of all patients increased, the serum sIL2R level decreased; ③In patients recieved rhGH, the serum CD＋3, CD＋4 level and the ratio of CD＋4/CD＋8 were much more increased and the serum sIL-2R level much more decreased than those of surgery alone group. Conclusion: rhGH can enhance the immunologic function of patients with GIMT.
Prostate cancer is a common disease in the USA and Europe, with a gradually increasing incidence in China, and presents a significant health burden for older men. The lack of modifiable risk factors has made early detection as a strategy to reduce mortality. Current methods of screening involve the measurement of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination followed by biopsy. With PSA screening evidence of level I absent, the evidence on the use of PSA as a screening test is still highly controversial. Furthermore, there is controversy over whether screen-detected lesions will become clinically significant. There are three major treatment options for localized disease: radical prostatectomy, radical radiotherapy and monitoring with treatment if required. There is no evidence of randomized controlled trial (RCT) to suggest a survival advantage of any of these treatments. Opinions about the related benefits and risks of screening vary widely. In the absence of RCT of benefit for screening, many now suggest “informed consensus” screening, which encourages a discussion between the patient and his physician with both sides informed of all of the issues.
Objective To analyze the value of serum microRNAs (miR-218, miR-329, and miR-567) in predicting the clinical efficacy of programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor combined with synchronous chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods A total of 160 patients with NSCLC treated with PD-1 inhibitor combined with synchronous chemotherapy in Taiyuan Hospital, Peking University First Hospital between January 2021 and January 2023 were prospectively selected as the study objects by convenience sampling, and the serum levels of miR-218, miR-329, and miR-567 and the clinical efficacy of the patients were collected. According to the clinical efficacy, the patients were divided into remission group (partial remission and complete remission) and non-remission group (stable disease and disease progression). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of serum miR-218, miR-329 and miR-567 levels in the clinical efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor combined with synchronous chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC. Results Of the 160 patients, 34 (21.2%) had disease progression, 85 (53.1%) had stable disease, 39 (24.4%) had partial remission, and 2 (1.2%) had complete remission. They were divided into remission group (41 cases) and non-remission group (119 cases). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that high levels of serum miR-218, miR-329, and miR-567 could promote the clinical efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor combined with synchronous chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC (all P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that, for predicting the clinical efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor combined with synchronous chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC according to the cut-off value of the joint prediction probability of serum miR-218, miR-329, and miR-567, the area under the ROC curve was 0.938 [95% confidence interval (0.855, 0.964)], and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 82.9%, 92.4%, 79.1%, and 94.0%, respectively. Conclusion The combined detection of serum miR-218, miR-329 and miR-567 levels has a high predictive value for the therapeutic effect of PD-1 inhibitor combined with synchronous chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC.
Objective To verify the association between admission serum phosphate level and short-term (<30 days) mortality of severe pneumonia patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) / respiratory intensive care unit (RICU). Methods Severe pneumonia patients admitted to the ICU/RICU of Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University from November 2019 to September 2021 were included in the study. Serum phosphate was demonstrated as an independent risk factor for short-term mortality of severe pneumonia patients admitted to ICU/RICU by logical analysis and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. The patients were further categorized by serum phosphate concentration to explore the relationship between serum phosphate level and short-term mortality. Results Comparison of baseline indicators at admission between the survival group (n=54) and the non survival group (n=46) revealed that there was significant difference in serum phosphate level [0.9 (0.8, 1.2) mmol/L vs. 1.2 (0.9, 1.5) mmol/L, P<0.05]. Logical analysis showed serum phosphate was an independent risk factor for short-term mortality. ROC curve showed that the prediction ability of serum phosphate was close to pneumonia severity index (PSI). After combining serum phosphate with PSI score, CURB65 score, and sequential organ failure score, the predictive ability of these scores for short-term mortality was improved. Compared with the normophosphatemia group, hyperphosphatemia was found be with significantly higher short-term mortality (85.7% vs. 47.3%, P<0.05), which is absent in hypophosphatemia (25.8%). Conclusions Serum phosphate at admission has a good predictive value on short-term mortality in severe pneumonia patients admitted to the ICU/RICU. Hyperphosphatemia at admission is associated with a higher risk of short-term death.
ObjectiveTo observe the changing patterns of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA) levels before and after hip replacement surgery, and explore their clinical significances. MethodsNinety-seven consecutive patients enrolled in clinical pathway in our hospital for hip replacement from April 2011 to May 2013 were included in the present study. ESR, CRP and SAA levels were investigated preoperatively and post-operatively at day 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, Month 1 and 3. All the cases were followed up, among which there were 14 cases of total hip replacement, 56 cases of cementless hemianthroplasty, and 27 cases of biotype hemianthroplasty. ResultsAll three of ESR, CRP and SAA levels were elevated post-operatively. Levels of CRP and SAA peaked at day 3 after surgery, and then subsided gradually to pre-operative levels after 1 month. ESR level peaked at day 7 postoperatively, and then subsided gradually to pre-operative levels after 3 months. There was a significant correlation between levels of CRP and levels of SAA. ConclusionCompared with ESR and SAA, CRP appears to be a faster and more sensitive parameter. Cementless hemianthroplasty is associated with changes of SAA levels but not with CRP levels. Close monitoring of evolutionary changes in ESR, SAA and CRP levels may help to diagnose and treat early infection after hip replacement surgery.
Objective To determine the influence and significance of combinative assessment of 64 multi-slice spiral computer tomography (MSCT) with serum amyloid A protein (SAA) or fibrinogen (FIB) on the selection of operative procedures of rectal cancer under the multidisciplinary team. Methods Prospectively enrolled 240 patients diagnosed definitely as rectal cancer at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from February to June 2009 were randomly assigned into two groups. In one group named MSCT+SAA group, both MSCT and SAA combinative assessment were made for the preoperative evaluation. In another group named MSCT+FIB group, both MSCT and FIB combinative assessment were made for preoperative evaluation. Furthermore, the preoperative staging and predicted operation procedures were compared with postoperative pathologic staging and practical operation procedures, respectively, and the relationship between the choice of operation procedures and clinicopathologic factors was analyzed. Results According to the criteria, 234 patients were actually included into MSCT+SAA group (n=118) and MSCT+FIB group (n=116). The baseline characteristics of two groups were statistically similar (Pgt;0.05). For MSCT+SAA group, the accuracies of preoperative staging T, N, M and TNM were 72.9%, 83.1%, 100% and 80.1%, respectively. For MSCT+FIB group, the accuracies of preoperative staging T, N, M and TNM were 68.1%, 75.0%, 100% and 74.1%, respectively, and there was not a statistically significant difference (Pgt;0.05). There was also not a statistically significant difference of the accuracy of prediction to operative procedures in two groups (99.6% vs. 96.6%, Pgt;0.05). The preoperative T staging (P＜0.001), N staging (P＜0.001), TNM staging (P＜0.001), serum level of SAA (P＜0.001), serum level of FIB (Plt;0.001) and distance of tumor to the dentate line (P＜0.05) were associated to the operative procedures. Conclusions Combinative assessment of MSCT and FIB could improve the accuracy of preoperative staging and operative procedures prediction, however, it may be not superior to MSCT plus SAA.
Objective To investigate and evaluate prevention and treatment of seroma by transposition of tissue flaps and Arista hemostatic powder after regional lymph node resection in patients with malignant tumors. Methods Twelve patients (6 males, 6 females; aged 31-81 years, with metastatic tumors underwent prevention and treatment of seroma with the tissue flaps and Arista hemostatic powder spray after regional lymph node resection. The metastatic tumors involved the axilla in 1 patient with breast carcinoma, the iliac and inguinal regions in 2 patients with carcinomas of theuterine cervix and the rectum, and the inguinal region in 9 patients, including4 patients with malignant fibrous histiocytoma（3 in the thigh, 1 in the leg）,2 patients with squamous carcinomas in the leg, 1 patient with synovial sarcomain the knee, 1 patient with epithelioid sarcoma in the leg, and 1 patient with malignant melanoma in the foot. As for the lymph node removal therapy. 1 patientunderwent axillary lymph node removal, 2 palients underwent lymph node removal in theiliac and inguinal regions, and 9 patients underwent lymph node removal inthe inguinal region. Meanwhile, of the 12 patients, 6 patients underwent transpostion of sartourius flaps with Arista hemostatic powder, 3 patients underwent transposition of the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps (including 2 patients treatedwith Arista spray befor the wound closure and 1 patient treated by transposition of local skin flaps with Arista spray used again),and 3 patients underwent only the suturing of the wounds combined with Arista. At the same time, of the 12 patients,only 4 patient underwent the transplantation of artificial blood vessels. Results The follow-up for 2-10 months after operation revealed that 10 patients, who had received the transposition of tissue flaps and the spray of Arista hemostatic powder, had the first intention of the incision heal with seroma cured. Nine patients were given a preventive use of Arista hemostaticpowder and therefore no seroma developed. The combined use of the transpositionof tissue flaps and Arista hemostatic powder spray achieved a success rate of 100% in the prevention or treatment of seroma. However, 1 patient developed microcirculation disturbance 24 hours after operation and underwent disarticulation of the hip; 1 patient developed pelvic cavity hydrops and died 10 months after operation. Conclusion The combined use of transposition of tissue flaps and Arista hemostatic powder spray can effectively prevent or treat seroma after regional lymph node removal in a patient with malignant tumor.
ObjectiveTo investigate the relation between preoperative peripheral blood neutrophil/albumin (NEU/ALB) or hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)/ALB ratio and seroma after laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (LTAPP) hernia repair. MethodsThe patients diagnosed with inguinal hernia and underwent LTAPP hernia repair admitted to the Heji Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College from June 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively collected. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the risk factors affecting the occurrence of seroma after LTAPP hernia repair. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were used to evaluate the discriminatory value of preoperative peripheral blood NEU/ALB ratio and hs-CRP/ALB ratio for seroma after LTAPP hernia repair. Delong test was used to compare the discriminatory value of these indicators. The test level was α=0.05. ResultsA total of 357 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study, and the seroma occurred in 42 cases (11.8%). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the larger the diameter of the hernia sac [OR (95%CI)=4.654 (2.829, 7.657), P<0.001], the more intraoperative bleeding [OR (95%CI)=3.021 (1.498, 6.094), P=0.002], and the higher NEU/ALB ratio [OR (95%CI)=2.585 (1.618, 4.130), P<0.001] or hs-CRP/ALB ratio [OR (95%CI)=1.874 (1.239, 2.834), P=0.003], the higher the probability of seroma after LTAPP hernia repair. The AUC (95%CI) of NEU/ALB or hs-CRP/ALB indicator for predicting seroma after LTAPP hernia repair was 0.750 (0.702, 0.794) and 0.762 (0.715, 0.806), respectively. The optimal cutoff values were 2.970 and 4.001, with sensitivity of 78.6% and 73.8%, and specificity of 60.3% and 65.7%, respectively. The AUC (95%CI) of the NEU/ALB in combination with hs-CRP/ALB in predicting seroma after LTAPP hernia repair was 0.851 (0.810, 0.886), with sensitivity and specificity of 71.4% and 87.0%, respectively. The AUC of the NEU/ALB in combination with hs-CRP/ALB in predicting seroma after LTAPP hernia repair was higher than that of NEU/ALB (Z=2.864, P=0.004) or hs-CRP/ALB alone (Z=2.956, P=0.003). ConclusionFrom the data analysis results of this study, the occurrence rate of seroma after LTAPP hernia repair is not low, and the occurrence of seroma should be paid close attention to patients with larger hernia sac diameter, more intraoperative bleeding, and higher NEU/ALB or hs-CRP/ALB ratio.