Morphological imaging and CT histogram analysis to differentiate pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor grade 3 from neuroendocrine carcinoma

PurposeTo compare morphological imaging features and CT texture histogram parameters between grade 3 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (G3-NET) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC).Materials and methodsPatients with pathologically proven G3-NET and NEC, according to the 2017 World Health Organization classification who had CT and MRI examinations between 2006-2017 were retrospectively included. CT and MRI examinations were reviewed by two radiologists in consensus and analyzed with respect to tumor size, enhancement patterns, hemorrhagic content, liver metastases and lymphadenopathies. Texture histogram analysis of tumors was performed on arterial and portal phase CT images. images. Morphological imaging features and CT texture histogram parameters of G3-NETs and NECs were compared.ResultsThirty-seven patients (21 men, 16 women; mean age, 56 ± 13 [SD] years [range: 28-82 years]) with 37 tumors (mean diameter, 60 ± 46 [SD] mm) were included (CT available for all, MRI for 16/37, 43%). Twenty-three patients (23/37; 62%) had NEC and 14 patients (14/37; 38%) had G3-NET. NECs were larger than G3-NETs (mean, 70 ± 51 [SD] mm [range: 18 - 196 mm] vs. 42 ± 24 [SD] mm [range: 8 - 94 mm], respectively; P = 0.039), with more tumor necrosis (75% vs. 33%, respectively; P = 0.030) and lower attenuation on precontrast (30 ± 4 [SD] HU [range: 25-39 HU] vs. 37 ± 6 [SD] [range: 25-45 HU], respectively; P = 0.002) and on portal venous phase CT images (75 ± 18 [SD] HU [range: 43 - 108 HU] vs. 92 ± 19 [SD] HU [range: 46 - 117 HU], respectively; P = 0.014). Hemorrhagic content on MRI was only observed in NEC (P = 0.007). The mean ADC value was lower in NEC ([1.1 ± 0.1 (SD)] × 10⁻³ mm²/s [range: (0.91 - 1.3) × 10⁻³ mm²/s] vs. [1.4 ± 0.2 (SD)] × 10⁻³ mm²/s [range: (1.1 - 1.6) × 10⁻³ mm²/s]; P = 0.005). CT histogram analysis showed that NEC were more heterogeneous on portal venous phase images (Entropy-0: 4.7 ± 0.2 [SD] [range: 4.2-5.1] vs. 4.5 ± 0.4 [SD] [range: 3.7-4.9]; P = 0.023).ConclusionPancreatic NECs are larger, more frequently hypoattenuating and more heterogeneous with hemorrhagic content than G3-NET on CT and MRI.     

Effect of Electroacupuncture on Spermatogenesis in Rats with Oligozoospermia of Insufficiency of Shen (Kidney) Essence Syndrome

Objective: To assess the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on expression of cytoskeletal proteins from Sertoli cells(SCs) and spermatogenesis in rats with oligozoospermia of insufficiency of Shen(Kidney)essence syndrome(OIKES).Methods: Twenty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups using a random number table: control,tripterygium glycosides(TG) treatment,sham and EA groups(n=5 in each group).A rat model of OIKES was established by oral gavage with TG.The EA group was treated with TG and received EA at Shenshu(BL 23) and Zusanli(ST 36) acupoints for 20 min,once daily for 30 days,while the sham group received EA at identical acupoints with skin penetration without stimulation.After 30 days,the ?nal body weight and coef?cients for the testis and epididymis were calculated and sperm parameters were measured.Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to detect expression of vimentin and α-tubulin in SCs and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) immunoreactivity in germ cells.Apoptosis in germ cells was quanti?ed by the transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling assay.Results: Compared with the control group,the final body weight and testis/epididymis coefficients of rats in the TG-treated group were not significantly different,but the sperm count and motility were lower(P0.05).Expressions of vimentin and α-tubulin were also signi?cantly weaker(P0.01).The PCNA immunoreactivity of germ cells was decreased(P=0.059),whereas the apoptotic index of germ cells was increased signi?cantly(P0.01).In contrast,EA at BL 23 and ST 36 acupoints signi?cantly improved the ?nal body weight as well as the sperm count,concentration and motility(P0.01 or P0.05).EA increased expression of vimentin and α-tubulin in SCs markedly,and signi?cantly enhanced PCNA immunoreactivity with decreased apoptosis in germ cells(P0.01 or P0.05).Conclusions: EA at BL 23 and ST 36 acupoints has protective effects on spermatogenesis in rats with OIKES.This effect seems to be achieved by attenuating TG-induced disruption of cytoskeletal protein in SCs.     

Large gangliocytic paraganglioma of the duodenum: A rare entity

Gangliocytic paragangliomas are rare tumors that almost exclusively occur within the second portion of the duodenum. Although these tumors generally have a benign clinical course, they have the potential to recur or metastasize to regional lymph nodes. The case report presented here describes a 57-year-old female patient with melena, progressive asthenia, anemia, and a mass in the second-third portion of the duodenum that was treated by local excision. The patient was diagnosed with a friable bleeding tumor. The histologic analysis showed that the tumor was a 4 cm gangliocytic paraganglioma without a malignant cell pattern. In the absence of local invasion or distant metastasis, endoscopic resection represents a feasible, curative therapy. Although endoscopic polypectomy is currently considered the treatment of choice, it is not recommended if the size of the tumor is > 3 cm and/or there is active or recent bleeding. Patients diagnosed with a gangliocytic paraganglioma should be closely followed-up for possible local recurrence.     

高渗盐水和甘露醇在动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血患者降低颅内压中的应用

目的比较3%高渗盐水和20%甘露醇治疗重症动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血所致颅内压增高的疗效.方法25例动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血患者出现颅内压增高事件时, 随机交替接受等渗透剂量的160 mL 3%高渗盐水与150 mL 20%甘露醇进行降低颅内压治疗, 连续监测患者颅内压、平均动脉压、脑灌注压及中心静脉压.记录有效降低颅内压持续时间、颅内压最大降幅及其时间, 用药前及用药后1 h、3 h血钠水平及血浆渗透压.结果3%高渗盐水和20%甘露醇均可降低颅内压(均 P < 0.01), 两者的降低颅内压作用持续时间及颅内压降幅差异均无统计学意义(均 P >0.05).患者脑灌注压较用药前均上升(均 P < 0.01), 平均动脉压先上升后下降, 但差异无统计学意义( P >0.05).患者中心静脉压稍有波动, 但差异均无统计学意义(均 P >0.05).20%甘露醇治疗后患者血钠下降, 3%高渗盐水治疗后患者血钠值上升, 变化均有统计学意义(均 P < 0.05).20%甘露醇及3%高渗盐水治疗后患者血浆渗透压均先上升后下降, 变化均有统计学意义(均 P < 0.01). 结论3%高渗盐水可作为治疗动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血所致颅内压增高患者的一线治疗药物.     

《艾滋病诊疗指南第三版(2015版)》更新解读

2015年中华医学会感染病学分会艾滋病学组发布了第三版《艾滋病诊疗指南》。新版指南强调抗病毒治疗时点前移:一旦成人确诊感染人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV), 若无禁忌宜尽早启动抗HIV治疗。对于合并机会性感染的HIV感染者, 在感染控制、病情稳定后也应及早开始抗病毒治疗。尤其强调HIV合并结核患者在CD4阳性淋巴细胞数少于200/μL的情况下, 建议抗结核两周内即开始抗病毒治疗。在抗HIV治疗用药中, 淘汰了一些毒副作用大、依从性较差的药物, 如司他夫定、去羟肌苷、茚地那韦等, 优选抗病毒效力强、服药方便的组合, 如拉米夫定、替诺福韦、依非韦伦组合。对于HIV感染的婴幼儿, 亦主张及早抗HIV治疗。对于五岁以内的幼儿, 主张确诊后即启动抗病毒治疗。对于HIV感染的孕产妇, 建议尽快予以全程、联合抗HIV治疗, 寓防于治。     

Efficacy and Feasibility of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation in the Treatment of Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Background

Refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) includes AML includes failure of disease to respond to standard induction chemotherapy, relapse within 6 months after first CR, and 2 or more relapses. The outcome of these patients is usually very poor; only a small proportion can be rescued by allogenic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of allo-HSCT in patients with refractory AML.

艾滋病儿童神经认知障碍相关因素研究进展

目的 总结艾滋病儿童神经认知障碍影响因素。方法 在PubMed、Web of Science、CNKI、万方和维普数据库，以“艾滋病”、“儿童”、“神经认知障碍”、“脑病”、“影响因素”为主题词或关键词，同时辅以手工检索和文献追溯检索近年相关文献。着重整理影响艾滋病儿童神经认知障碍的因素。对资料进行汇总并撰写综述。结果 检索并阅读相关文献100余篇。艾滋病病毒相关因素（HIV损害中枢神经系统、HIV逃逸及病毒储存库、HIV亚型）、宿主因素（启动抗病毒治疗时机、遗传因素、营养状况及合并其他疾病）、抗病毒治疗药物、社会心理因素等均可影响艾滋病感染儿童神经认知。结论 为了尽可能避免或降低艾滋病儿童神经认知障碍，应当尽早诊断、尽早给予高效的抗逆转录病毒治疗；随访中应重视神经认知发育的观察和筛查，及早识别神经认知障碍，积极寻找多方面的原因并进行有效干预。     

The Health Belief Model in predicting healthcare workers' intention for influenza vaccine uptake in Jordan

BackgroundTheories of health behavior change are being inadequately adopted to understand the reasons behind low influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers (HCWs). The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is being used to predict intention-behavior relationship while the Health Belief Model (HBM) is being employed to predict actual behavior. The purpose of this study was to test a conceptual model based on the HBM’s constructs to predict Jordanian HCWs’ intentions for influenza vaccine uptake as an alternative to the TPB.MethodA cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in 2016 in a tertiary teaching hospital in Amman-Jordan including a convenience sample of 477 HCWs with direct patient contact. The study instrument was tested for validity and reliability. A conceptual regression model was proposed incorporating the constructs of the primary HBM with some modifications in the threat construct as well as an additional variable about explicit past vaccination behavior (in the past year and/or any previous history of influenza vaccine uptake).ResultsAlmost all the constructs of the HBM demonstrated significant differences between participants intending and those who did not intend to vaccinate against influenza. After adjusting for the confounding variables in the final conceptual regression model, past vaccination behavior (OR= 4.50, 95%Confidence Interval 3.38–6.00, P< 0.0005) and the perceived benefit scale (OR= 1.19, 95% Confidence Interval 1.11–1.28, P< 0.0005) were the only significant predictors of intentions to vaccinate against influenza in the next season.ConclusionTaking into consideration the altruistic beliefs of HCWs and their explicit past vaccination history augments the utility of the original HBM tool in predicting HCWs’ intentions to vaccinate against influenza in a way that is consistent with the predictive ability of the Theory of Planned Behavior.