A population-based epidemiological survey of neonatal respiratory failure in Huai'an City of Jiangsu Province, in 2010 / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of neonatal respiratory failure (NRF) in Huai'an, Jiangsu Province, China, in 2010.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of all NRF cases in the hospitals of Huai'an in 2010 were prospectively collected and analyzed using descriptive epidemiological methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 60,986 live births in Huai'an in 2010, there were 556 (0.91%) cases of NRF. The average birth weight of newborns with NRF was 2,433±789 g, with 53.8% determined as low birth weight and 64.1% as preterm. The major causes of NRF were respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, asphyxia, sepsis, and pulmonary hemorrhage. Among the newborns with NRF, 23.7% were accompanied by certain birth defects. Fourteen percent of newborns with NRF received pulmonary surfactant (PS) therapy, and the median time of the first dose of PS was 5 hours (range: 0-51 hours). Nasal continuous positive airway pressure treatment, conventional mechanical ventilation, and high-frequency ventilation were used in 67.9%, 33.3%, and 13.7% of patients, respectively. The cure and improvement rate of NRF patients was 73.9% (411/556), and the mortality rate was 22.5% (125/556). The average hospitalization expenses were 9,270 (range: 196-38182) Yuan.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>High morbidity, high mortality and high medical costs make NRF a serious challenge in Huai'an. It is essential to improve the quality of perinatal care and develop new techniques and new models in neonatal respiratory therapy in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality of NRF.</p>

The study of pedicle imaging and reformation with the multi-slice spiral CT in the surgical treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the value of pedicle parameter obtained by the reformation images on multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) in the surgical treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2009 to March 2010, 60 patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis failing in conservative treatment were enrolled into the study and divided into experimental and control group randomly (each group with 30 patients). There were 26 males and 34 females ranging in age from 18 to 59 years with an average of (42.60 +/- 9.36) years. The experimental group was examined with volumetric scanning on MSCT before operation. Reformation such as multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) and volume rendering (VR) were carried out at the work station. Transverse section angle (TSA), sagittal section angle (SSA), pedicle length (PL), pedicle width (PW) and pedicle height (PH) were measured on different images and pedicle screws were implanted according pedicle parameter. In control group, the pedicle screws were implanted according to conventional anatomic landmark. Preparative time of screw canal and accuracy of screw were compared between two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A hundred fifty-six screws were inserted in experiment group,143 screws were excellent, 11 good, and 2 poor. A hundred fifty screws were inserted in control group, 101 screws were excellent, 26 good, and 23 poor. There was significant difference in accuracy of screw between two groups (P < 0.001). The preparative time of screw canal in experiment group was (66.20 +/- 7.31) s, and was shorter than that of control group [(104.11 +/- 9.51) s, P < 0.001)].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Abundant information and parameter could be obtained with the MSCT reconstruction images. The images and parameters could make a perfect operative strategy before operation, adjust the direction of pedicle screws during operation, avoid and decrease operative complications effectively.</p>

Anti-viral therapy using lamivudine and thymosin is helpful to prevent recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma with coexisting active hepatitis B / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of postoperative anti-viral therapy using lamivudine and thymosin alpha1 on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) coexisting with active hepatitis B.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2002, 33 HCC patients with coexisting with active hepatitis B were randomized into two groups: Group I (n = 17) received hepatectomy only, and Group II (n = 16) received hepatectomy and postoperative therapy using lamivudine plus thymosin alpha1. The suppression of HBV-DNA, HBeAg seroconversion rate, tumor recurrence rate and median survival in the two groups were observed and compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In Group II and Group I, the 1-year HBV-DNA suppression rate was 100.0% vs 6.0% (P < 0.01), HBeAg seroconversion rate was 62.5% vs 5.9% (P < 0.05), tumor recurrence rate was 81.3% vs 95.5% (P > 0.05), the recurrence time was 7.0 vs 5.0 months (P < 0.01) and median survival 10.0 vs 7.0 months (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Anti-viral therapy using lamivudine and thymosin alpha1 postoperatively may suppress the HBV reaction, delay the recurrence and prolong the survival for patients with HCC with coexisting active hepatitis B.</p>

Hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombi in the portal vein. A comparison of therapeutic effects by different treatments / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of different treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombus in the portal vein (PVTT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Jan. 2000 to Jan. 2003, a total of 84 HCC patients with PVTT were divided into five groups based on methed of treatment: Group A (n = 9), HCC resection + PVTT removal + postoperative TACE + thymosin alpha(1); Group B (n = 20), HCC resection + PVTT removal + postoperative TACE; Group C (n = 7), HCC resection + PVTT removal; Group D (n = 38), TACE only; Group E (n = 10), conservative treatment only.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rate of PVTT shrinkage or disappearance of groups A, B, C, D and E was 66.7%, 70.0%, 57.1%, 7.9% and 0, respectively with respective median survival time of 10.0, 7.0, 8.0, 5.0 and 2.0 months. The one year survival rate was 44.4%, 15.0%, 14.3%, 10.5% and 0.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Resection of HCC and removal of tumor thrombus in the portal vein may have the tumor thrombus cleared in most of the patients and postoperative TACE and thymisin alpha(1) treatment may improve their survival.</p>

Transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization and thymosin alpha1 in postoperative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of postoperative transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and thymosin alpha(1) (T(alpha1)) treatment on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Jan 2000 to Dec 2002, 57 patients with HCC were randomly divided into three groups: group A (n = 18) received hepatectomy plus postoperative TACE and T(alpha1), group B (n = 23) received hepatectomy plus postoperative TACE and group C (n = 16) received hepatectomy only. The recurrence rate, the time to tumor recurrence and the median survival for the three groups were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For group A, B and C, the 1 year recurrence rate was 83.3%, 87.0% and 87.5% (P = 0.926), respectively. The time to tumor recurrence was 7.0, 5.0 and 4.0 months (P = 0.039), respectively. The median survival was 10.0, 7.0 and 8.0 months (P = 0.002), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Postoperative TACE plus Talpha(1) treatment for HCC patients does not decrease the recurrence rate but may delay its occurrence and prolong surviving time.</p>