Relación entre la compatibilidad del HLA y la pérdida del injerto en trasplante renal de donante cadavérico: Un análisis por propensity score matching en Colombia / Relationship between HLA compatibility and graft loss in renal transplant from a deceased donor: An analysis by propensity score matching in Colombia

Introducción. En Colombia, solo un 24 % de los pacientes en lista recibieron un trasplante renal, la mayoría de donante cadavérico. Para la asignación de órganos se considera el HLA A-B-DR, pero la evidencia reciente sugiere que el HLA A-B no está asociado con los desenlaces del trasplante. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la relevancia del HLA A-B-DR en la sobrevida del injerto de los receptores de trasplante renal. Métodos. Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo que incluyó pacientes trasplantados renales con donante cadavérico en Colombiana de Trasplantes, desde 2008 a 2023. Se aplicó un propensity score matching (PSM) para ajustar las covariables en grupos de comparación por compatibilidad y se evaluó la relación del HLA A-B-DR con la sobrevida del injerto renal por medio de la prueba de log rank y la regresión de Cox. Resultados. Se identificaron 1337 pacientes transplantados renales, de los cuales fueron mujeres un 38,7 %, con mediana de edad de 47 años y de índice de masa corporal de 23,8 kg/m2. Tras ajustar por PSM las covariables para los grupos de comparación, la compatibilidad del HLA A-B no se relacionó significativamente con la pérdida del injerto, con HR de 0,99 (IC95% 0,71-1,37) para HLA A y 0,75 (IC95% 0,55-1,02) para HLA B. Solo la compatibilidad por HLA DR fue significativa para pérdida del injerto con un HR de 0,67 (IC95% 0,46-0,98). Conclusión. Este estudio sugiere que la compatibilidad del HLA A-B no influye significativamente en la pérdida del injerto, mientras que la compatibilidad del HLA DR sí mejora la sobrevida del injerto en trasplante renal con donante cadavérico

Introduction. In Colombia, only 24% of patients on the waiting list received a renal transplant, most of them from cadaveric donors. HLA A-B-DR is considered for organ allocation, but recent evidence suggests that HLA A-B is not associated with transplant outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relevance of HLA A-B-DR on graft survival in kidney transplant recipients. Methods. Retrospective cohort study that included kidney transplant recipients with a cadaveric donor in Colombiana de Trasplantes from 2008 to 2023. A propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to adjust the covariates in comparison groups for compatibility, and the relationship of HLA A-B-DR with kidney graft survival was evaluated using the log rank test and Cox regression. Results. A total of 1337 kidney transplant patients were identified; of those, 38.7% were female, with median age of 47 years, and BMI 23.8 kg/m2. After adjusting the covariates with PSM for the comparison groups, HLA A-B matching was not significantly related to graft loss, with HR of 0.99 (95% CI 0.71-1.37) and 0.75 (95% CI 0.55-1.02), respectively. Only HLA DR matching was significant for graft loss with an HR of 0.67 (95% CI 0.46-0.98). Conclusions. This study suggests that HLA A-B matching does not significantly influence graft loss, whereas HLA DR matching does improve graft survival in renal transplantation with a cadaveric donor.

Comparison of intravitreal injection of Ranibizumab versus Conbercept in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To compare the efficacy of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab(IVR)and intravitreal injection of conbercept(IVC)in children with retinopathy of prematurity(ROP).METHODS: Retrospective study. A total of 1 100 eyes with ROP treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF at our hospital from January 2015 to June 2023 were included. According to the different therapeutic drugs, the children were divided into two groups: IVR group and IVC group. According to the degree of ROP, the patients were divided into three groups: aggressive ROP(A-ROP), Zone Ⅰ type 1 ROP and Zone Ⅱ type 1 ROP. The reactivation and retreatment between the two groups were compared after propensity score matching(PSM)analysis, and they were followed-up for at least 3 mo after surgery.RESULTS: In Zone Ⅱ type 1 ROP, there was a statistically significant difference in the rates of reactivation and retreatment between the IVR and IVC groups(P<0.05); however, in A-ROP and Zone I type 1 ROP, there were no statistically significant differences in the rates of reactivation and retreatment between the two groups(P>0.05). The risk of reactivation and retreatment of Zone I type 1 ROP was higher than the Zone II type 1 ROP. Furthermore, the use of drugs and corrected gestational age of first treatment were influencing factors of lesion recurrence and retreatment.CONCLUSION: There is a significant difference in the initial cure effect between the two drugs in Zone II type 1 ROP, with the reactivation and retreatment rates of the IVC group being much lower than those of the IVR group.

Evaluation of the effect of meteorological risk forecasting service intervention on acute onset and medical expenses of patients with COPD in Pudong New Area of Shanghai / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo evaluate the intervention effect of meteorological risk forecasting service on acute onset and medical expenses of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease（COPD） patients， and to provide scientific basis for the establishment of health management model for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease（COPD） patients. MethodsStudy subjects were recruited from chronic obstructive pulmonary patients aged ≥40 in Pudong New Area. Propensity score matching method was used to determine the intervention group and the control group. The control group received regular health education and follow-up management， and the intervention group was provided with meteorological and environmental risk forecasting services through WeChat， mobile phone short message service（SMS）and telephone. Finally， a total of2 589 subjects were included in the analysis， including 1 300 in the intervention group and 1 289 in the control group. General demographic data， past medical history and family history of COPD， COPD related knowledge and practice survey， COPD related symptom assessment， acute onset， health service utilization and medical expenses before and after intervention were collected through questionnaire survey. The differences of acute attack， health service utilization and related medical expenses between the two groups before and after intervention were compared to evaluate the intervention effect. ResultsIn terms of acute attacks， after intervention， the incidence of acute attacks in the intervention group was lower than that before intervention（χ2=52.901， P<0.001）， and the incidence of acute attacks in the groups with different intervention methods was lower than that before intervention （P<0.001）. WeChat had the best effect， decreasing the incidence by 14.4%， followed by mobile phone SMS SMS decreasing by 12.3%. In terms of utilization of health services， the outpatient rate due to acute attack was lower in the intervention group after intervention than that before intervention （χ2=7.129， P=0.008）， and the outpatient rate due to acute attack was lower in the subjects who received the forecast service through mobile phone SMS than that before intervention （χ2=4.675， P<0.001）. In terms of medical expenses， there was no significant difference between control group and intervention group with different intervention methods before intervention （P>0.05）. After intervention， the difference between the control group and the intervention group with different intervention methods was statistically significant （H=11.864， P<0.05）. The results of multiple comparisons showed that compared with the control group， the average annual medical expenses of patients receiving mobile phone SMS and telephone forecasting services after intervention were lower than those of the control group， and the difference was statistically significant （P<0.05）. ConclusionMeteorological risk forecasting service can reduce the acute onset of COPD， reduce the rate of consultation and medical expenses due to acute onset， and provide scientific basis for the basic COPD health management model.

Efficacy and safety analysis of tigecycline and polymyxin B in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae pneumonia in critically ill patients / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of tigecycline with polymyxin B in the treatment of carbapenem resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) pneumonia in critically ill patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of patients with CRE pneumonia who received tigecycline or polymyxin B therapy from January 1, 2018 to Jun 30, 2023 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Primary outcomes included the 28-day all-cause mortality and clinical cure rate within 28days. Secondary outcomes included the ICU mortality, in-hospital mortality, the length of hospital stay and ICU stay, microbial eradication, duration of mechanical ventilation. Independent predictors affecting 28-day clinical cure rate were tested using Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 83 eligible patients were included in the final analysis after propensity score matching, 54 in the tigecycline group and 29 in the polymyxin B group. The 28-day all-cause mortality was 31.5% (17/54) in the tigecycline group and 37.9% (11/29) in the polymyxin B group, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.554); the clinical cure rate was 63% (34/ 54) in the tigecycline group, which was significantly higher than that of the polymyxin B group of 34.5% (10/29) (P = 0.013). There were no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of secondary outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that the use of tigecycline was an independent predictor of the 28-day clinical cure rate (HR 2.083, 95%CI 1.018-4.263, P = 0.045). However, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) were significantly prolonged in the tigecycline group compared with the polymyxin B group (P=0.047; P=0.027), and fibrinogen (FIB) was significantly decreased (P < 0.001) after drug administration. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in 28-day all-cause mortality between the tigecycline and polymyxin groups; tigecycline might be associated with a higher 28-day clinical cure rate compared with polymyxin B. It should be noted that tigecycline may increase the risk of coagulation abnormalities.

Construction of a column-line graph for predicting the probability of survival in early-stage elderly HER2-positive breast cancer based on the SEER database / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

AIM: To construct column-line plots to predict survival in elderly patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. METHODS: 5 220 (based on the era of single-targeted therapy) and 1 176 (based on the era of dual-targeted therapy) patients screened in the SEER database were randomized into a training group and an internal validation group. COX proportional risk regression was used to screen survival-related predictors and build a column-line graphical model, and the accuracy and utility of the model were tested using the consistency index (C-index), calibration curves, and time-dependent ROC curves. Patients receiving chemotherapy and non-chemotherapy were statistically paired using two-group propensity score matching, and subgroup analyses were performed on the screened variables. RESULTS: The single-targeted therapy era line graph was constructed from seven variables: age, marital status, T-stage, N-stage, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The dual-targeted therapy era line graph was constructed from five variables: age, AJCC staging, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The results of the subgroup analysis showed that older HER2-positive breast cancer patients who received chemotherapy had better OS. CONCLUSION: Based on the SEER database, an accurate column-line graph predicting survival in elderly patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer was established and validated. This study suggests that chemotherapy increases survival benefit in elderly patients.

Efficacy，safety and cost-effectiveness evaluation of voriconazole original and generic drugs / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy， safety and cost-effectiveness of generic drugs and original drugs of voriconazole. METHODS The information of patients who used voriconazole generic drugs selected in National Centralized Drug Procurement （generic drug group） or non-selected original drugs （original drug group） in the treatment of fungal infection was collected from the our hospital. The propensity score matching was carried out to eliminate bias. The comprehensive efficacy was evaluated according to clinical efficacy， image findings and microbiological test， and stratified analysis of different populations was conducted based on fungal species， underlying diseases， etc.， the efficacy of different stratifications was evaluated. Evaluation of safety was performed by using the incidence of adverse reactions. The total cost， defined daily doses （DDDs） and defined daily dose cost （DDDc） were used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness. RESULTS A total of 436 patients were included， and there were 190 patients in each group after matching. In terms of efficacy， the effective rates of voriconazole generic drugs and original drugs were 62.63% and 59.47% （P＝0.528）； in terms of safety， the incidence of adverse reactions caused by generic drugs and original drugs of voriconazole was 13.68% and 7.89%， respectively（P＝0.069）. In terms of cost-effectiveness， the average total cost of generic drugs was 4 636.26 yuan， and that of original drugs was 8 613.20 yuan （P＜0.001）. After the implementation of National Centralized Drug Procurement， replacement rate of generic drugs increased to 87.30%， and DDDc decreased by 59.08%. CONCLUSIONS The efficacy and safety of voriconazole generic drugs are similar to those of original drugs in the treatment of fungal infection， and it is more cost-effective in terms of treatment cost.

Multicenter study on the efficacy and safety of 3 kinds of Cephalosporin for injection from centralized procurement or non-centralized procurement / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of Cefazolin sodium for injection， Cefuroxime sodium for injection， and Ceftazidime for injection from nationally organized centralized drug procurement （hereinafter referred to as “centralized procurement”） and non-centralized procurement in patients with bacterial infection. METHODS The case data of hospitalized patients who had used 3 kinds of Cephalosporins for injection from centralized procurement or non-centralized procurement in the treatment of bacterial infections were retrospectively collected from 19 medical institutions in Kunming from January 2020 to September 2022. After balancing the baseline differences between the groups with the propensity score matching method， the effectiveness and safety differences of 3 kinds of Cephalosporins for injection from centralized procurement or non- centralized procurement were compared respectively. RESULTS After balancing the baseline differences among the groups， 394 cases in each group of Cefazolin sodium for injection from centralized procurement or non-centralized procurement， 472 cases in each group of Cefuroxime sodium for injection from centralized procurement or non-centralized procurement， 504 cases in group of Ceftazidime for injection from centralized procurement and 590 cases in group of non-centralized procurement were included in the analysis. In terms of effectiveness， there were no significant differences in clinical response rate， 72 h response rate， bacterial clearance rate， and the recovery rate of body temperature， white blood cell count， neutrophil count， neutrophil percentage， C-reactive protein， procalcitonin recovery between the centralized procurement group and non-centralized procurement group of Cefazolin sodium for injection and Cefuroxime sodium for injection （P＞0.05）. The proportion of patients in centralized procurement group of Ceftazidime for injection with C-reactive protein restored to normal reference range was significantly higher than that in non-centralized procurement group （46.9% vs. 27.9%， P＜0.05）， but there were no statistically significant differences in other effectiveness indicators among groups （P＞0.05）. In terms of safety， there was no statistical difference in the incidence of adverse drug reactions between centralized procurement group and non-centralized procurement group of 3 kinds of Cephalosporins for injection （P＞0.05）； the incidence of platelet count reduction in centralized procurement group of Cefazolin sodium for injection was significantly higher than non-centralized procurement group （20.7% vs. 7.1%， P＜0.05）， the incidence of eosinophilia elevation in centralized procurement group of Ceftazidime for injection was significantly higher than non-centralized procurement group （5.3% vs. 1.9%， P＜0.05）. In addition， there was no statistically significant difference in the abnormal rates of other laboratory indicators among the three types of injection Cephalosporins （P＞ 0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The efficacy of 3 kinds of Cephalosporin for injection from centralized procurement is not inferior to non- centralized procurement varieties， and the safety is equivalent to that of non-centralized procurement varieties.

Risk of COVID-19 outcomes among healthcare workers: Findings from the Philippine CORONA retrospective cohort study

Objectives@#While many healthcare workers (HCWs) contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic, more information is needed to fully understand the potential for adverse health effects in this population segment. The aim of the present study is to examine the association between healthcare worker status and neurologic and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 infected inpatients.@*Methods@#Using the nationwide database provided by the retrospective cohort Philippine CORONA study, we extracted relevant data and performed a secondary analysis primarily focusing on the presentation and outcomes of healthcare workers. Propensity score matching in a 3:1 ratio was performed to match HCWs and non-HCWs. We performed multiple logistic and Cox regression analyses to determine the relationship between HCWs and COVID-19 clinical outcomes.@*Results@#We included 3,362 patients infected with COVID-19; of which, 854 were HCWs. Among the HCWs, a total of 31 (3.63%) and 45 (5.27%) had the primary outcomes of in-hospital mortality and respiratory failure, respectively. For both overall and 3:1 propensity-matched cohorts, being an HCW significantly decreased the odds of the following outcomes: severe/critical COVID-19 at nadir; in-hospital mortality; respiratory failure; intensive care unit admission; and hospital stay >14 days.@*Conclusion@#We found that being an HCW is not associated with worse neurologic and clinical outcomes among patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Efficacy and safety of cryoablation combined with lenvatinib and anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate whether anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody can improve the efficacy and safety of cryoablation combined with lenvatinib in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for 232 patients with unresectable HCC who were treated at The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2018 to December 2022， among whom 128 received cryoablation combined with lenvatinib （double combination） and 104 received cryoablation combined with lenvatinib and anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody （triple combination）. Propensity score matching was performed at a ratio of 1∶1， and finally there were 86 patients in each group. The two groups were evaluated in terms of objective response rate （ORR）， disease control rate （DCR）， overall survival （OS）， progression-free survival （PFS）， and adverse events （AEs）. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. Survival curves were plotted， and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate of patients in both groups， while the log-rank test was used for comparison between the two groups. The Cox regression model was used to calculate hazard ratio （HR） and 95% confidence interval （CI） and perform the univariate and multivariate analyses of influencing factors for prognosis. ResultsThe median follow-up time was 28 months， and there were 33 deaths （38.0%） in the triple combination group and 40 deaths （46.0%） in the double combination group. Compared with the double combination group， the triple combination group had significantly higher ORR （35.6% vs 14.5%， P=0.008） and DCR （86.1% vs 64.1%， P=0.003）. OS and PFS in the triple combination group were significantly higher than those in the double combination group （P=0.045 and 0.026）. The univariate and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression model analyses showed that treatment regimen （HR=0.60， P=0.038） and alpha-fetoprotein level （HR=2.37， P=0.001） were independent risk factors for OS， and treatment regimen （HR=0.65， P=0.025）， diabetes mellitus （HR=1.94， P=0.005）， whether or not to have received local treatment （HR=0.63， P=0.014）， and distant metastasis （HR=0.58， P=0.009） were independent risk factors for PFS. There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of AEs between the two groups （P>0.05）. ConclusionFor patients with unresectable HCC， the triple combination of cryoablation， lenvatinib， and anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody significantly improves the treatment outcome and survival of patients compared with the double combination of cryoablation and lenvatinib， without increasing AEs， which provides a clinical basis for optimizing the treatment regimen for unresectable HCC.

The influence of renally inappropriate medication on the frailty of elderly patients with diabetes / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of renally inappropriate medication （RIM） on the frailty of elderly patients with diabetes. METHODS The data of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus admitted to a third-grade class A hospital in Yunnan province from January to December 2022 were collected， and Beers criteria （2019 edition） and Chinese version of FRAIL scale were used to evaluate RIM and the frailty of the patients； the patients were divided into the trial group （with RIM） and the control group （without RIM） according to whether there was RIM. The propensity score matching was used to balance confounding factors between two groups， and the influence of RIM on the frailty of elderly diabetic patients was analyzed by the Logistic regression model. RESULTS Among the 367 patients， 80 patients （21.80%） had RIM， the drugs involved RIM were spironolactone （82.56%）， rivaroxaban （13.95%） and gabapentin （3.49%）. After reaching the balance between groups using the propensity score matching method， the incidence of frailty was 77.94% in trial group and 27.94% in control group （P＜0.001）； the difference was not statistically significant in other confounding factors between the two groups （P＞0.05）. Results of Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of frailty in the experimental group was 3.118 times that of the control group （odds ratio was 3.118，95% confidence interval was 1.758-5.530， P＜0.001）. CONCLUSIONS RIM is a risk factor for the frailty of elderly patients with diabetes， which can be considered as an indicator for early identification and screening of the frailty of elderly diabetes patients.

Vaccination impact: mortality and time shift to Covid-19 maximum severity in hospitalized patients - An Argentine multicenter registry / Mortalidad y tiempo entre el inicio y máxima gravedad de COVID-19, en pacientes hospitalizados vacunados y no vacunados. Registro multicéntrico argentino

Abstract Introduction : The COVID-19 vaccine became an effec tive instrument to prevent severe SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, 5% of vaccinated patients will have moderate or severe disease. Objective: to compare mortality and days between the symptom onset to the peak disease severity, in vaccinated vs. unvaccinated COVID-19 hos pitalized patients. Methods : Retrospective observational study in 36 hospitals in Argentina. COVID-19 adults admitted to general wards between January 1, 2021, and May 31, 2022 were included. Days between symptoms onset to peak of severity were compared between vaccinated vs. unvaccinated patients with Cox regression, adjusted by Propensity Score Matching (PSM). Results in patients with one and two doses were also compared. Results : A total of 3663 patients were included (3001 [81.9%] unvaccinated and 662 [18%] vaccinated). Time from symptom onset to peak severity was 7 days (IQR 4-12) vs. 7 days (IQR 4-11) in unvaccinated and vacci nated. In crude Cox regression analysis and matched population, no significant differences were observed. Regarding mortality, a Risk Ratio (RR) of 1.51 (IC95% 1.29-1.77) was observed in vaccinated patients, but in the PSM cohort, the RR was 0.73 (IC95% 0.60-0.88). RR in patients with one COVID-19 vaccine dose in PSM adjusted population was 0.7 (IC95% 0.45-1.03), and with two doses 0.6 (IC95% 0.46-0.79). Discussion : The time elapsed between the onset of COVID-19 symptoms to the highest severity was simi lar in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. However, hospitalized vaccinated patients had a lower risk of mortality than unvaccinated patients.

Resumen Introducción : A pesar de la eficacia de la vacuna contra el COVID-19 el 5% de los pacientes vacunados presentaran una enfermedad moderada o grave. El ob jetivo del presente estudio fue comparar los días entre el inicio de los síntomas y la gravedad máxima de la enfermedad, en pacientes con COVID-19 vacunados vs. no vacunados. Métodos : Estudio observacional retrospectivo en 36 hospitales de Argentina. Se incluyeron adultos con CO VID-19 hospitalizados entre el 1/01/2021 y 31/5/2022. Se recolectaron datos demográficos, comorbilidades y progresión clínica de la enfermedad. Se compararon los días entre el inicio de los síntomas y el pico de gravedad entre vacunados y no vacunados mediante regresión de Cox, ajustada por emparejamiento por Propensity Score Matching (PSM). En un análisis de subgrupos, se compararon los resultados en pacientes con una y dos dosis de vacuna. Resultados : Se incluyeron 3663 pacientes (3001 [81.9%] no vacunados y 662 [18%] vacunados). El tiempo transcurrido desde el inicio de los síntomas hasta el pico de gravedad fue de 7 días (IQR 4 - 12) en no vacunados, y de 7 días (IQR 4-11) en vacunados. Tanto en el análisis de regresión de Cox crudo como en el ajustado, no se observaron diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos (HR ajustado 1.08 [IC 95% 0.82-1.4; p = 0.56]). En cuanto a la mortalidad, el Riesgo Relativo (RR) fue 1.51 (IC95% 1.29-1.77) en los pacientes vacunados, pero en la cohorte ajustada por Propensity Score, el RR fue de 0.73 (IC95% 0.60-0.88). El RR en el grupo con una dosis de vacuna COVID-19 en el análisis PSM fue 0.7 (IC95% 0.45-1.03), y con dos dosis 0.6 (IC95% 0.46-0.79). Discusión : El tiempo entre el inicio de los síntomas de COVID-19 y el pico de severidad fue igual en vacu nados y no vacunados. Sin embargo, los pacientes va cunados hospitalizados presentaron menor mortalidad tras el ajuste por confundidores.

Early Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Right Anterior Thoracotomy vs. Median Full Sternotomy in Isolated Aortic Valve Replacement: A Propensity Score Analysis

ABSTRACT Introduction: This study aimed to compare the early postoperative outcomes of right anterior thoracotomy minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (RAT-MIAVR) surgery with those of median full sternotomy aortic valve replacement (MFS-AVR) approach with the goal of identifying potential benefits or drawbacks of each technique. Methods: This retrospective, observational, cohort study included 476 patients who underwent RAT-MIAVR or MFS-AVR in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2023. Of these, 107 patients (22.5%) underwent RAT-MIAVR, and 369 patients (77.5%) underwent MFS-AVR. Propensity score matching was used to minimize selection bias, resulting in 95 patients per group for analysis. Results: After propensity matching, two groups were comparable in preoperative characteristics. RAT-MIAVR group showed longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (130.24 ± 31.15 vs. 117.75 ± 36.29 minutes, P=0.012), aortic cross-clamping time (76.44 ± 18.00 vs. 68.49 ± 19.64 minutes, P=0.004), and longer operative time than MFS-AVR group (358.47 ± 67.11 minutes vs. 322.42 ± 63.84 minutes, P=0.000). RAT-MIAVR was associated with decreased hospitalization time after surgery, lower postoperative blood loss and drainage fluid, a reduced incidence of mediastinitis, increased left ventricular ejection fraction, and lower pacemaker use compared to MFS-AVR. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of major complications and in-hospital mortality between the two groups. Conclusion: RAT-MIAVR is a feasible and safe alternative procedure to MFS-AVR, with comparable in-hospital mortality and early follow-up. This minimally invasive approach may be a suitable option for patients requiring isolated aortic valve replacement.

Ascending Aortic Surgery for Small Aneurysms in Men and Women

ABSTRACT Introduction: According to recent data, thoracic aortic surgery has reduced morbidity and mortality including ascending aortic aneurysm treatment; however, women are at increased postoperative risk of adverse outcomes. Objective: Our aim was to evaluate early and late outcomes in male and female patients who underwent pre-emptive ascending aortic replacement (AAR). Methods: From January 2013 to September 2021, 91 patients (56 [61.5%] men and 35 [38.5%] women) underwent AAR for small (ranged from 5.0 to 5.5 cm) non-syndromic aneurysms. A propensity score-based adjustment of the groups was performed. We compared clinical outcomes between males and females. Results: Preoperative normalized aortic diameters were significantly larger in females (2.9 [2.7; 3.2] cm/m2) than in males (2.5 [2.3; 2.6] cm/m2, P<0.001), without differences in absolute values (51 [49; 53] mm vs. 52 [50; 53] mm, P=0.356). There were no significant differences in neurological, cardiac, pulmonary, and renal complications in both groups before and after matching. In-hospital mortality was 1 (1.8%) and 2 (5.7%) (P=0.307) in male and female patients in unmatched groups and 1 (2.9%) and 2 (5.7%) (P=0.553) in matched groups, respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the only risk factor for in-hospital mortality was age (odds ratio 1.117, 95% confidence interval 1.003-1.244; P=0.04). The overall survival rate was 83.5±0.06% in men and 94.3±0.04% in women at 36 months (P=0.404). Conclusion: Ascending aortic surgery for aneurysms ranged from 5.0 to 5.5 cm seems to have tolerable early and late outcomes in men and women.

Resección hepática laparoscópica versus hepatectomía abierta para lesiones benignas: estudio comparativo con propensity score matching / Laparoscopic liver resection versus open liver resection for benign lesions: a comparative study with propensity score matching

RESUMEN Antecedentes : las ventajas de la hepatectomía videolaparoscópica (HVL) hicieron que gane cada vez más campo para el tratamiento de los tumores hepáticos benignos (THB). Objetivo : comparar los resultados perioperatorios de pacientes sometidos a HVL con los de los operados con hepatectomía abierta (HA) por THB, emparejados con propensity score matching (PSM). Material y métodos : estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y comparativo de HA y HVL por THB entre agosto de 2010 y junio de 2021. Se analizaron variables demográficas, preoperatorias, intraoperatorias y posoperatorias. Para evitar sesgos de las distintas covariables entre los grupos se realizó un PSM 1:1. Resultados : de 403 hepatectomías, se analizaron 82 por THB. De ellas 36 (44%) fueron HA y 46 (56%) HVL. Edad media 45 ±14 años, 65% mujeres. Tras realizar el PSM, quedaron dos grupos de 28 pacientes cada uno. En HA, 5 (18%) pacientes requirieron transfusiones y ninguno en HVL (p = 0,01). Las complicaciones mayores se presentaron en 4 (14%) pacientes en HA, y ninguna en HVL (p = 0,03). Se reoperaron 4 (14%) pacientes con HA y ningún paciente con HVL (p = 0,03). La estadía hospitalaria total fue significativamente mayor en las HA (p = 0,04). No se registraron muertes a los 90 días en ninguno de los dos grupos. Conclusión : la HVL por THB es una técnica segura y eficaz, ya que los pacientes presentaron menor requerimiento transfusional, número de reoperaciones, de complicaciones mayores y de estadía hospitalaria que con HA. Por las ventajas encontradas, la HVL podría ser considerada la técnica de elección en cirugía por THB.

ABSTRACT Background : The advantages of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) have increased its use for the treatment of benign liver tumors (BLTs). Objective : The aim of this study was to compare the perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing LLR with those operated on with open liver resection (OLR) for BLTs using propensity score matching (PSM). Material and methods : We conducted a descriptive and retrospective study comparing OLRs with LLRs performed between August 2010 and June 2021. The demographic, perioperative, intraoperative and postoperative variables were analyzed. We used PSM with 1:1 matching to avoid biases of the different covariates between the groups. Results : Of 303 liver resections, 82 corresponded to BLTs and were included in the analysis; 36 (44%) were OLRs and 46 (56%) were LLRs. Mean age was 45 ±14 years and 65% were women. After PSM, two groups of 28 patients each were constituted. Five patients (18%) in the OLR group and none in the LLR required transfusions (p = 0.01). Major complications, occurred in 4 (14%) patients in the OLR group and in no cases in the LLR group (p = 0.03). Four (14%) undergoing OLR required reoperation versus no patients with LLR (p = 0.03). Total length of hospital stay was significantly longer in OLR (p = 0.04). There were no deaths in any of the groups within 90 days. Conclusion : LLR for BLTs is a safe and effective technique, with lower requirement for transfusions, fewer reoperations and major complications and shorter length of hospital stay than OLR, Therefore, LLR could be considered the surgical technique of choice for BLTs.

The effect of primary tumor volume on the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in era of volumetric modulated arc therapy: a propensity score matched cohort study

Abstract Objective The role of Primary Tumor Volume (PTV) in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) treated with Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) is still unclear. The aim of this study was to access the effect of PTV in prognosis prediction of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in era of VMAT. Methods Between January 20 and November 2011, 498 consecutive NPC patients with stage I-IVA disease who received VMAT at a single center were retrospectively analyzed. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) was performed to access the cut-off point of PTV. Univariate Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate prognostic value for PTV. The Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was used to adjust baseline potential confounders. Results The 5-year Locol-Regional Failure-Free (L-FFR), Distant Failure-Free Survival (D-FFR), Disease-Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS) were 90.6%, 83.7%, 71.5% and 79.3%, respectively. Before PSM, the 5-year L-FFR, D-FFR, DFS, OS rates for NPC patients with PTV ≤ 38 mL vs. PTV > 38 mL were 94.1% vs. 90.4% (p= 0.063), 87.9% vs. 76.3% (p< 0.001), 78.5% vs. 58.5% (p< 0.001) and 86.3% vs. 66.7% (p< 0.001) respectively. Multivariate analysis showed PTV was an independent prognostic factor for D-FFS (p= 0.034), DFS (p= 0.002) and OS (p= 0.001). PTV classified was still an independent prognostic factor for OS after PSM (HR = 2.034, p= 0.025. Conclusions PTV had a substantial impact on the prognosis of NPC patients treated with VMAT before and after PSM simultaneously. PTV > 38 mL may be considered as an indicator of the clinical stage of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Level of evidence III.

Cirugía de revascularización miocárdica: comparación de supervivencia a 10 años de la cirugía coronaria con y sin circulación extracorpórea mediante Propensity Score Matching / Ten-year survival after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting compared with traditional bypass grafting

BACKGROUND: Long-term outcomes of Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (OPCAB) as an alternative to the traditional Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) technique with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are not well defined. AIM: To compare 10-year survival of isolated OPCAB versus CABG with CPB. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analysis of information obtained from databases, clinical records and surgical protocols of patients treated with isolated CABG between January 2006 and November 2008 at a Regional Hospital. Of 658 isolated CABG, 192 (29.2%) were OPCAB and 466 (79.9%) CPB. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was performed to compare both groups. After PSM, two groups of 192 cases were obtained. Mortality data was obtained from the Chilean public identification service. Ten-year survival was calculated and compared with Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods. RESULTS: Follow-up data was obtained in all cases. No statistically significant differences were found when comparing 10-year survival between OPCAB versus CPB (78.6% and 80.2% respectively, p 0.720). There was also no statistical difference in cardiovascular death free survival (90.1% with CPB versus 89.1% OPCAB, p 0.737). Survival was comparable when analyzing subgroups with diabetes mellitus, left ventricular dysfunction or chronic kidney disease, among others. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, OPBAB has a comparable 10-year survival with CABG with CPB.

To compare the efficacy and incidence of severe hematological adverse events of flumatinib and imatinib in patients newly diagnosed with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To analyze and compare therapy responses, outcomes, and incidence of severe hematologic adverse events of flumatinib and imatinib in patients newly diagnosed with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) . Methods: Data of patients with chronic phase CML diagnosed between January 2006 and November 2022 from 76 centers, aged ≥18 years, and received initial flumatinib or imatinib therapy within 6 months after diagnosis in China were retrospectively interrogated. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to reduce the bias of the initial TKI selection, and the therapy responses and outcomes of patients receiving initial flumatinib or imatinib therapy were compared. Results: A total of 4 833 adult patients with CML receiving initial imatinib (n=4 380) or flumatinib (n=453) therapy were included in the study. In the imatinib cohort, the median follow-up time was 54 [interquartile range (IQR), 31-85] months, and the 7-year cumulative incidences of CCyR, MMR, MR(4), and MR(4.5) were 95.2%, 88.4%, 78.3%, and 63.0%, respectively. The 7-year FFS, PFS, and OS rates were 71.8%, 93.0%, and 96.9%, respectively. With the median follow-up of 18 (IQR, 13-25) months in the flumatinib cohort, the 2-year cumulative incidences of CCyR, MMR, MR(4), and MR(4.5) were 95.4%, 86.5%, 58.4%, and 46.6%, respectively. The 2-year FFS, PFS, and OS rates were 80.1%, 95.0%, and 99.5%, respectively. The PSM analysis indicated that patients receiving initial flumatinib therapy had significantly higher cumulative incidences of CCyR, MMR, MR(4), and MR(4.5) and higher probabilities of FFS than those receiving the initial imatinib therapy (all P<0.001), whereas the PFS (P=0.230) and OS (P=0.268) were comparable between the two cohorts. The incidence of severe hematologic adverse events (grade≥Ⅲ) was comparable in the two cohorts. Conclusion: Patients receiving initial flumatinib therapy had higher cumulative incidences of therapy responses and higher probability of FFS than those receiving initial imatinib therapy, whereas the incidence of severe hematologic adverse events was comparable between the two cohorts.

Azvudine reduces the in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients: A retrospective cohort study

In our retrospective cohort study, we aim to explore whether Azvudine modifies the risk of death in COVID-19 patients. It was conducted on the medical records of patients, consecutively admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia to two hospitals in Chongqing, China. Based on Azvudine treatment exposure, the patients were divided into Azvudine group and non-Azvudine group. We used 1:2 ratio propensity score matching (PSM) in our study to adjust for confounding factors and differences between Azvudine and non-Azvudine groups. There were 1072 patients included in our original cohort. With 1:2 ratio PSM, the Azvudine group included 195 patients and non-Azvudine group included 390 patients. The results showed that Azvudine treatment was associated with improved in-hospital mortality in overall population (OR 0.375, 95% CI 0.225-0.623, P < 0.001), severe subgroup (OR 0.239, 95% CI 0.107-0.535, P = 0.001), critical subgroup (OR 0.091, 95% CI 0.011-0.769, P = 0.028) in matched cohort with univariate analysis. And there was a significantly lower in-hospital mortality in overall population (11% vs. 24%, P＜0.001), severe sub-group (10% vs. 32%, P < 0.001) and critical sub-group (5% vs. 34%, P = 0.017) in matched cohort. These results suggest Azvudine can reduce in-hospital mortality in overall COVID-19 patients, severe, and critical subgroup population.

Correlation analysis of body composition and thyroid function in different genders of T2DM based on propensity score matching / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

【Objective】 To investigate the correlation between body composition and thyroid function indicators in type 2 diabetic patients with euthyroidism of different genders. 【Methods】 Type 2 diabetic patients with euthyroidism who were hospitalized in the Endocrinology Department of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from February 2016 to September 2018 were enrolled in this study. Bioelectric impedance analysis was used to measure body composition, and the thyroid function indicators (FT3, FT4, and TSH) were tested. The male and female subjects were matched according to the ratio of 2:1 using the propensity score matching method, and the correlation between body composition and thyroid function indicators was studied in different genders by correlation analysis. 【Results】 The basal metabolic rate, trunk fat mass, fat-free mass, fat-free mass index, bone mass, water mass, total body muscle mass, skeletal muscle mass, and skeletal muscle index were positively correlated with FT3 in male patients (P<0.05). The percentage of body fat mass and fat mass index were positively correlated with FT3 and TSH (P<0.05), and the percentages of lean mass, water mass, and total body muscle mass were negatively correlated with FT3 and TSH (P<0.05), and the basal metabolic rate was negatively correlated with FT4 (P<0.05) in female. 【Conclusion】 In euthyroid type 2 diabetic patients, the correlation between body composition and thyroid function indicators are different between males and females. In males, only FT3 is positively correlated with basal metabolic rate, trunk fat mass, and fat free-related composition; while in females, both FT3 and TSH are positively correlated with fat-related composition, but negatively correlated with fat-free-related composition.