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Objective:To explore the value of jellyfish sign, an abnormal ultrasonographic sign, in predicting adverse perinatal outcomes of women with complete placenta previa combined with placenta accreta spectrum disorders (PAS).Methods:This retrospective study analyzed the ultrasound images of 72 singleton gravidas, diagnosed with complete placenta previa combined with PAS, who underwent cesarean section at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2020 and February 2023. Based on the presence and absence of the jellyfish sign in ultrasound images, these gravidas were divided into the jellyfish-sign group (15 cases, 20.8%) and the non-jellyfish-sign group (57 cases, 79.2%). The clinical data and perinatal outcomes of the two groups were analyzed. The adverse perinatal outcomes encompassed conditions such as abdominal aorta balloon block, uterine artery embolism, hysterectomy, postpartum hemorrhage, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission of their neonates. Statistical analysis was performed using two independent samples t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test and the Chi-square (or Fisher's exact) test. Results:(1) The jellyfish-sign group exhibited a higher parity [(1.6±0.7) times vs (1.2±0.6) times, t=2.01] and higher prenatal scores of placenta accreta [(12.3±1.5) scores vs (8.6±2.9) scores, t=6.59] than those in the non-jellyfish-sign group (both P<0.05). Among the 57 cases in the non-jellyfish-sign group, there were 14 cases of placenta creta (24.6%), 40 cases of placenta increta (70.2%), and three cases of placenta percreta (5.3%). Among the 15 cases in the jellyfish-sign group, nine cases were diagnosed with placenta increta, six with placenta percreta, and none with placenta creta. The difference in distribution between the two groups was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, P<0.001). (2) Intraoperative blood loss [(for those who accepted abdominal aorta balloon block, 1 973±1 057) ml vs (1 211±576) ml, t=2.55], red blood cells transfused [4.0 U (2.0-23.0 U) vs 2.5 U (0.0-11.0 U), Z=－2.53], postoperative hospitalization time [(9.7±2.4) vs (7.5±2.2) d, t=3.36], the incidence of abdominal aorta balloon block [15/15 vs 38.6% (22/57), χ2=17.92], uterine artery embolism [for those who accepted abdominal aorta balloon block, 3/15 vs 1.8% (1/57), Fisher's exact test], and requiring blood transfusion [15/15 vs 63.2% (36/57), Fisher's exact test] were higher in the jellyfish-sign group than those in the non-jellyfish-sign group. However, the non-jellyfish-sign group had lower gestational age at delivery [(33.6±1.5) weeks vs (35.2±1.8) weeks, t=－3.24], and lower neonatal Apgar score at 1 min and 5 min [1 min: 8 scores (3-10 scores) vs 9 scores (4-10 scores), Z=－2.46; 5 min: 9 scores (7-10 scores) vs 10 scores (6-10 scores), Z=－2.02] (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in emergency surgery rate, 24 h postoperative blood loss, neonatal birth weight, and proportion of NICU admission between the two groups. Additionally, no cases of hysterectomy or death were observed in the two groups. Conclusions:Ultrasound examination revealing jellyfish signs in patients with complete placenta previa and PAS is associated with an increased likelihood of adverse perinatal outcomes. Consequently, the management of these patients should be given greater attention.
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Objective:To observe the effect of combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with functional electrical stimulation-assisted cycling (FES-cycling) on lower limb motor function early after a stroke.Methods:Thirty-seven survivors of a recent stroke were divided into a tDCS treatment group ( n=18) and a pseudo-stimulation group ( n=19). While receiving routine rehabilitation training and clinical drug treatment, the tDCS treatment group also cycled in response to functional electrical stimulation while simultaneously receiving tDCS anode stimulation of the motor cortex M1 area. The pseudo-stimulation group followed the same protocol but with the tDCS stimulation inactivated. Both groups were treated for 20min daily, 5 days weekly for 4 weeks. Before and after the 4 weeks of treatment, the lower limb motor function, walking ability and ability in the activities of daily living of both groups were evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale for the lower extremities (FMA-LE), the timed up and go test (TUGT) and the modified Barthel index (MBI) respectively. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to detect each subject′s cerebral cortex motor threshold (CMT) , cortical latency (CL) and central motor conduction time (CMCT) as well as the amplitude (Amp) of the motor evoked potential of the lower limb primary motor cortex (M1 area). Results:After 4 weeks of treatment, the average FMA-LE and MBI scores and TUGT times of the two groups had improved significantly compared with those before treatment. The average FMA-LE score and TUGT time of the tDCS group were significantly better than those of the pseudo-stimulation group. The average CMT, CL and CMCT in both groups were significantly lower than those before the intervention, while the average Amp had increased significantly, but there were significant differences in the average CMT, Amp, CL and CMCT between the two groups after the 4 weeks of treatment.Conclusions:Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cycling assisted by functional electrical stimulation can effectively stimulate excitability in the motor cortex soon after a stroke. That should promote the recovery of nerve activity and lower limb function.
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Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and outcome of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19)patients with different body mass index (BMI), and to provide the basis for disease assessment and prognosis.Methods:The clinical data of 541 patients with COVID-19 diagnosed in Xiaogan Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology from January 16 to March 28, 2020 were collected. The patients were divided into normal weight group, overweight group, and obesity group according to BMI. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of the three groups were compared. The correlation between BMI and clinical classification was analyzed by ordinal logistic regression.Results:There were 288 cases (53.23%) in normal weight group, 193 cases (35.67%) in overweight group, and 60 cases (11.09%) in obesity group. Compared with normal weight group, overweight and obesity groups displayed higher proportion of hypertension, with increased levels of white blood cells, neutrophils, C reactive protein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and triglyceride in laboratory test results, and higher proportion of severe and critical illness ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). After adjusting for age, gender, and underlying diseases, regression analysis showed that higher BMI predicted more severe clinical classification ( OR=1.079, 95% CI 1.010-1.154). Conclusion:In COVID-19 patients, overweight and obese patients are more likely to develop into severe and critical illness, suggesting that obesity may be an important risk factor affecting the clinical outcome of COVID-19.
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Programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand are part of the immune checkpoint pathway that down-regulates effector T cells in immune response, thereby causing immune suppression. The PD-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway can be blocked by antibodies to reverse tumor-mediated immunosuppression. However, advanced cancers such as stage III–IV ovarian cancer (OC) and certain types such as ID8 OC (a clone of C57BL/6 mouse OC) may hijack the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway to escape immune attack. When combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or other agents, these PD-1/PD-L1 pathway blockages can produce a synergistic antitumor response in OC. Combined immunotherapy significantly prolongs overall survival by changing the tumor microenvironment through processes such as increasing the number of CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells or cytokines in mice with OC and decreasing the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). OC patients treated with combined immunotherapy received better prognoses than those treated with monotherapy. This review reflects the move toward novel therapy combinations for OC and discusses these promising immunotherapeutic approaches, which are more cost-effective and effective than other approaches.