ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the feasibility of parameter-optimized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the first choice for imaging examination in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and to assess the effects of quality improvement (QI) measures on shortening the door-to-needle time (DNT).Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted. A total of 69 AIS patients hospitalized at the Department of Neurology of the People's Hospital of Wuzhou from August 2015 to July 2018 were enrolled in the study, and the head MRI was used as the first choice for imaging examination. All patients received the intravenous thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Patients with AIS undergoing intravenous thrombolysis from August 2015 to March 2017 were included in the control group, and those receiving intravenous thrombolysis after QI measures from April 2017 to July 2018 were included in the experimental group. QI included informing the stroke team in advance by emergency physicians, treatment process changing from serial procedure to the parallel one, optimization of MRI scanning parameters, and use of rapid test instruments. The MRI scanning time was compared between the two groups. The DNT of the two groups was compared, and paired-samplest test was used. The proportion of patients who underwent MRI scan and DNT<60 min was compared between the two groups, and theχ2 test was used.Results Compared with the control group, the proportion of patients undergoing MRI scan in the experimental group was increased (82％ vs 58％,χ2=4.58,P=0.032); MRI scanning time was shortened (4 min 37 svs 10 min 21 s); DNT (min) was shortened (59.32±10.19 vs 93.48±24.81,t=7.189,P<0.01); and the proportion of patients with DNT<60 min was significantly increased (68％vs 6％,χ2=27.190,P<0.01).Conclusion Parameter-optimized MRI as the first choice for imaging examination in AIS patients with the onset time <4.5 h was feasible, and the DNT was significantly shortened by QI measures.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the feasibility of parameter-optimized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the first choice for imaging examination in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and to assess the effects of quality improvement (QI) measures on shortening the door-to-needle time (DNT).@*Methods@#A retrospective case-control study was conducted. A total of 69 AIS patients hospitalized at the Department of Neurology of the People's Hospital of Wuzhou from August 2015 to July 2018 were enrolled in the study, and the head MRI was used as the first choice for imaging examination. All patients received the intravenous thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Patients with AIS undergoing intravenous thrombolysis from August 2015 to March 2017 were included in the control group, and those receiving intravenous thrombolysis after QI measures from April 2017 to July 2018 were included in the experimental group. QI included informing the stroke team in advance by emergency physicians, treatment process changing from serial procedure to the parallel one, optimization of MRI scanning parameters, and use of rapid test instruments. The MRI scanning time was compared between the two groups. The DNT of the two groups was compared, and paired-samples t test was used. The proportion of patients who underwent MRI scan and DNT<60 min was compared between the two groups, and the χ2 test was used.@*Results@#Compared with the control group, the proportion of patients undergoing MRI scan in the experimental group was increased (82% vs 58%, χ2=4.58, P=0.032); MRI scanning time was shortened (4 min 37 s vs 10 min 21 s); DNT (min) was shortened (59.32±10.19 vs 93.48±24.81, t=7.189, P<0.01); and the proportion of patients with DNT<60 min was significantly increased (68% vs 6%, χ2=27.190, P<0.01).@*Conclusion@#Parameter-optimized MRI as the first choice for imaging examination in AIS patients with the onset time <4.5 h was feasible, and the DNT was significantly shortened by QI measures.
ABSTRACT
Objective To determine the prevalence of antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (antiCCP) in patients with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and its potential clinical significance. Methods Anti-CCP was measured in sera from patients with JSLE (n=47), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA, n=54) and the sera from age-matched healthy children (n=40) using the third generation of anti-CCP ELISA commercial kit. The association of anti-CCP with other laboratory parameters and clinical features, especially arthritic symptoms in JSLE was also analyzed. T-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results Out of the 47 JSLE patients, 6 (13%) were anti-CCP positive, which was significantly higher than that of the healthy controls( 13% vs 0, P＜0.05 ), but not different from that of the JIA group (26%, P=0.098). RF was more prevalent in JSLE patients with anti-CCP than patients without (83% vs 15%, P＜0.01 ), but there was no difference in other laboratory parameters and the clinical features ineluding the occurrence of arthritis (67% vs 51%, P＞0.05). As one of the initial symptoms, arthritis was observed in 25 of 47 JSLE patients and no one had developed deforming arthropathy.There was no statistical difference in anti-CCP positivity between JSLE patients with and without articular involvement ( 16% vs 9%, P＞0.05 ). Anti-CCP was not detected in any of the 3 patients with JSLE who had experienced joint pain and limited activity during 3 years follow-up. Conclusion Anti-CCP could be detected in patients with JSLE. It is noteworthy when differentiate from juvenile idiopathic arthritis, but the presence of anti-CCP does not relate with the occurrence of arthritis at presentation and persistence of arthritis in JSLE.