Tree-Augmented NaÏve Bayesian network model for predicting prostate cancer / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To evaluate the integrated performance of age, serum PSA, and transrectal ultrasound images in the prediction of prostate cancer using a Tree-Augmented NaÏve (TAN) Bayesian network model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We collected such data as age, serum PSA, transrectal ultrasound findings, and pathological diagnoses from 941 male patients who underwent prostate biopsy from January 2008 to September 2011. Using a TAN Bayesian network model, we analyzed the data for predicting prostate cancer, and compared them with the gold standards of pathological diagnosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive prediction rate, and negative prediction rate of the TAN Bayesian network model were 85.11%, 88.37%, 83.67%, 70.37%, and 94.25%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Based on age, serum PSA, and transrectal ultrasound images, the TAN Bayesian network model has a high value for the prediction of prostate cancer, and can help improve the clinical screening and diagnosis of the disease.</p>

Efficacy and safety of alcohol sclerotherapy involving single-session multiple injections to treat simple renal cysts: a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled trial / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Alcohol has been used for treating simple renal cysts since 1981. Since then, various observational studies have examined the technique, but they differ significantly in the details of the procedures and efficacy measures used. This has made it difficult to assess the safety and efficacy of this technique. We carried out a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided alcohol sclerotherapy involving single-session multiple injections to treat simple renal cysts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 144 patients with simple renal cysts were randomly allocated to either the treatment group (ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage and alcohol sclerotherapy with single-session multiple injections) or control group (ultrasound-guided simple percutaneous drainage). Follow-up CT scans of ablated cysts were collected 3 and 6 months after the procedure. The outcome was considered successful if cyst volume between baseline and 6 months decreased by at least 87.5%.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Intention-to-treat analysis revealed an average volume reduction of 94.2% in the treatment group and 50.8% in the control group (P < 0.0001). The percentage of patients achieving successful outcomes was 88.9% (95%CI 77.0% - 100.0%) in the treatment group and 22.2% (95%CI 6.54% - 37.9%) in the control group (P < 0.0001). The corresponding results in the per-protocol analysis were an average volume reduction of 96.4% in the treatment group and 50.8% in the control group (P < 0.0001). The percentage of patients achieving a successful outcome was 94.3% (95%CI 85.6% - 100.0%) in the treatment group and 22.2% (95%CI 6.54% - 37.9%) in the control group (P < 0.0001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Alcohol sclerotherapy involving single-session multiple injections is safe and efficacious in the treatment of renal cysts.</p>