Objectives:To investigate the prognostic value of the CHA2DS2-VASc and R2CHA2DS2-VASc scores in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF)and heart failure(HF).Methods:Patients with AF and HF from hospitals diagnosed by the Heart Failure Center in Guangdong Province between January 2017 and December 2021 were selected.Major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)were used as the follow-up endpoint.Statistical methods such as the area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve(AUC),net reclassification index(NRI),and integrated discrimination improvement(IDI)were applied to evaluate the predictive value of the CHA2DS2-VASc and R2CHA2DS2-VASc scores in patients with AF and HF.Results:A total of 1 839 patients were enrolled in this study,comprising 703 patients in the MACE group and 1 136 patients in the non-MACE group.Compared with the non-MACE group,the MACE group exhibited significantly advanced age,higher prevalence of New York Heart Association class Ⅳ and coronary artery disease,lower diastolic blood pressure and estimated glomerular filtration rate levels,and elevated serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations(all P<0.05).Additionally,significantly lower proportions of patients in the MACE group received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers/angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors,beta-blockers,mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists,or anticoagulant therapy(all P<0.05).Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that each 1-point increment in both CHA2DS2-VASc and R2CHA2DS2-VASc scores was associated with approximately 10%increased risk of MACE.ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the AUC values for predicting MACE in AF patients with HF were 0.555(95%CI:0.528-0.582,P<0.001)for CHA2DS2-VASc and 0.576(95%CI:0.549-0.608,P<0.001)for R2CHA2DS2-VASc,indicating marginally superior discriminatory capacity of the R2CHA2DS2-VASc score.Delong's test confirmed statistically significant differences between the two scoring systems(P=0.001).The R2CHA2DS2-VASc score demonstrated a NRI of 0.259(95%CI:0.166-0.352,P<0.001)and an IDI of 0.007(95%CI:0.005-0.010,P<0.001)compared with the conventional CHA2DS2-VASc score.Although the R2CHA2DS2-VASc score exhibited slightly better predictive accuracy and outcome discrimination capacity than the original scoring system,both scores demonstrated suboptimal clinical predictive performance.Conclusions:Both the R2CHA2DS2-VASc and CHA2DS2-VASc scores show suboptimal performance for predicting the risk of MACE in patients with AF and HF,and the predicting performance of R2CHA2DS2-VASc score is marginally superior to CHA2DS2-VASc score in this patient cohort.

Objective To explore the application effect of ultrasound-assisted localization in spinal anesthesia for elderly patients with hip fractures.Methods A total of 114 elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery with spinal anesthesia in our hospital from September 2022 to June 2024 were enrolled.The random number table method was applied to allocate participants into two groups:surface anatomical landmark localization group and ultrasound-assisted localization group,with 57 patients in each group.Both groups of patients underwent spinal anesthesia via the paramedian approach for puncture.The first-attempt puncture success rate,success rate of the initial puncture site,number of skin punctures,number of adjusted epidural needle direction,positioning time of the puncture point,puncture time(puncture success time,anesthesia time,and total time),adverse events during the puncture process(nerve hypersensitivity and accidental puncture of the dura mater),spinal anesthesia related complications(back pain,headache,and nerve injury),patient satisfaction and hospital stay were observed and compared between the two groups.The quality of early postoperative recovery was evaluated by using the 15-Item Quality of Recovery(QOR-15)scale at 24 h after surgery.Results The first-attempt puncture success rate in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was 71.9％(41/57),which was significantly higher than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group[28.1％(16/57),x2=21.930,P=0.000].The success rate of the initial puncture site in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was 87.7％(50/57),which was significantly higher than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group[54.4％(31/57),x2=15.396,P=0.000].The number of skin punctures and adjusted epidural needle direction in the ultrasound-assisted localization group were 1(1,1)and 0(0,1)times,while in the surface anatomical landmark localization group were 2(1,3)and 3(0,5)times,with statistically significant differences(all P=0.000).The puncture positioning time in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was 2.2(1.7,3.2)min,which was significantly longer than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group[0.8(0.5,1.2)min,Z=-8.418,P=0.000].The puncture success time,anesthesia time,and total time of the ultrasound-assisted localization group were 1.9(1.7,2.3),4.9(4.3,5.3),and 7.1(6.3,8.7)min,while of the surface anatomical landmark localization group were 5.1(2.3,8.0),7.9(5.7,11.0),and 8.6(6.6,12.0)min,with statistically significant differences(all P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of nerve hypersensitivity during operation(3.5％vs.7.0％,x2=0.176,P=0.675),accidental puncture of the dura mater by epidural needles(0％vs.3.5％,P=0.496),postoperative headache(0％vs.3.5％,P=0.496),and back pain(1.8％vs.10.5％,x2=2.435,P=0.119)between the two groups.Both groups of patients showed no symptoms of nerve injury after surgery.There were no statistically significant differences in QOR-15 scores at 24 h postoperatively[119(115,124)points vs.116(112,121)points,Z=-1.858,P=0.063]and length of hospital stay[10.0(9.0,12.5)dvs.10.0(8.0,13.0)d,Z=-0.043,P=0.966]between the two groups.The satisfaction of patients in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was significantly higher than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group(P=0.004).Conclusion Application of ultrasound-guided localization in spinal anesthesia for elderly patients with hip fractures significantly improves the first-attempt puncture and initial puncture site success rates,reduces skin puncture attempts and adjustments of the epidural needle direction,shortens time of anesthetic procedure,and enhances patient satisfaction,making it highly recommendable for clinical use.

Objective To explore the feasibility and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for unresectable pancreatic cancer.Methods Totally 84 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for unresectable pancreatic cancer were enrolled,and the technical success rate,complete ablation rate,complication rate,pain relief rate and survival time,etc.were observed.Results The median age of 84 cases was 61.5 years.Totally 86 tumors,including 44.19％(38/86)at the head/neck and 55.81％(48/86)at the body/tail of pancreas were detected,and a total of 85 ablation sessions were performed with the median ablation energy applied per tumor of 9.90(1.08,21.60)kJ and the complete ablation rate of 42.86％(36/84).The technical success rate was 100％(85/85).Thirty-nine complication events occurred in 25 cases,no ablation-related death.Among 34 patients underwent ablation mainly for pain symptoms,the pain score decreased from(6.22±1.12)points before treatment to(1.94±1.64)points after treatment(P＜0.001).During 6.8(3.3,12.9)months' follow-up,the mean survival time was(8.5±6.7)months,and all 47 patients died due to tumor progression.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation was safe and feasible for unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Objectives:To investigate the prognostic value of the CHA2DS2-VASc and R2CHA2DS2-VASc scores in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF)and heart failure(HF).Methods:Patients with AF and HF from hospitals diagnosed by the Heart Failure Center in Guangdong Province between January 2017 and December 2021 were selected.Major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)were used as the follow-up endpoint.Statistical methods such as the area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve(AUC),net reclassification index(NRI),and integrated discrimination improvement(IDI)were applied to evaluate the predictive value of the CHA2DS2-VASc and R2CHA2DS2-VASc scores in patients with AF and HF.Results:A total of 1 839 patients were enrolled in this study,comprising 703 patients in the MACE group and 1 136 patients in the non-MACE group.Compared with the non-MACE group,the MACE group exhibited significantly advanced age,higher prevalence of New York Heart Association class Ⅳ and coronary artery disease,lower diastolic blood pressure and estimated glomerular filtration rate levels,and elevated serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations(all P<0.05).Additionally,significantly lower proportions of patients in the MACE group received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers/angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors,beta-blockers,mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists,or anticoagulant therapy(all P<0.05).Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that each 1-point increment in both CHA2DS2-VASc and R2CHA2DS2-VASc scores was associated with approximately 10%increased risk of MACE.ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the AUC values for predicting MACE in AF patients with HF were 0.555(95%CI:0.528-0.582,P<0.001)for CHA2DS2-VASc and 0.576(95%CI:0.549-0.608,P<0.001)for R2CHA2DS2-VASc,indicating marginally superior discriminatory capacity of the R2CHA2DS2-VASc score.Delong's test confirmed statistically significant differences between the two scoring systems(P=0.001).The R2CHA2DS2-VASc score demonstrated a NRI of 0.259(95%CI:0.166-0.352,P<0.001)and an IDI of 0.007(95%CI:0.005-0.010,P<0.001)compared with the conventional CHA2DS2-VASc score.Although the R2CHA2DS2-VASc score exhibited slightly better predictive accuracy and outcome discrimination capacity than the original scoring system,both scores demonstrated suboptimal clinical predictive performance.Conclusions:Both the R2CHA2DS2-VASc and CHA2DS2-VASc scores show suboptimal performance for predicting the risk of MACE in patients with AF and HF,and the predicting performance of R2CHA2DS2-VASc score is marginally superior to CHA2DS2-VASc score in this patient cohort.

Objective To explore the application effect of ultrasound-assisted localization in spinal anesthesia for elderly patients with hip fractures.Methods A total of 114 elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery with spinal anesthesia in our hospital from September 2022 to June 2024 were enrolled.The random number table method was applied to allocate participants into two groups:surface anatomical landmark localization group and ultrasound-assisted localization group,with 57 patients in each group.Both groups of patients underwent spinal anesthesia via the paramedian approach for puncture.The first-attempt puncture success rate,success rate of the initial puncture site,number of skin punctures,number of adjusted epidural needle direction,positioning time of the puncture point,puncture time(puncture success time,anesthesia time,and total time),adverse events during the puncture process(nerve hypersensitivity and accidental puncture of the dura mater),spinal anesthesia related complications(back pain,headache,and nerve injury),patient satisfaction and hospital stay were observed and compared between the two groups.The quality of early postoperative recovery was evaluated by using the 15-Item Quality of Recovery(QOR-15)scale at 24 h after surgery.Results The first-attempt puncture success rate in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was 71.9％(41/57),which was significantly higher than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group[28.1％(16/57),x2=21.930,P=0.000].The success rate of the initial puncture site in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was 87.7％(50/57),which was significantly higher than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group[54.4％(31/57),x2=15.396,P=0.000].The number of skin punctures and adjusted epidural needle direction in the ultrasound-assisted localization group were 1(1,1)and 0(0,1)times,while in the surface anatomical landmark localization group were 2(1,3)and 3(0,5)times,with statistically significant differences(all P=0.000).The puncture positioning time in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was 2.2(1.7,3.2)min,which was significantly longer than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group[0.8(0.5,1.2)min,Z=-8.418,P=0.000].The puncture success time,anesthesia time,and total time of the ultrasound-assisted localization group were 1.9(1.7,2.3),4.9(4.3,5.3),and 7.1(6.3,8.7)min,while of the surface anatomical landmark localization group were 5.1(2.3,8.0),7.9(5.7,11.0),and 8.6(6.6,12.0)min,with statistically significant differences(all P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of nerve hypersensitivity during operation(3.5％vs.7.0％,x2=0.176,P=0.675),accidental puncture of the dura mater by epidural needles(0％vs.3.5％,P=0.496),postoperative headache(0％vs.3.5％,P=0.496),and back pain(1.8％vs.10.5％,x2=2.435,P=0.119)between the two groups.Both groups of patients showed no symptoms of nerve injury after surgery.There were no statistically significant differences in QOR-15 scores at 24 h postoperatively[119(115,124)points vs.116(112,121)points,Z=-1.858,P=0.063]and length of hospital stay[10.0(9.0,12.5)dvs.10.0(8.0,13.0)d,Z=-0.043,P=0.966]between the two groups.The satisfaction of patients in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was significantly higher than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group(P=0.004).Conclusion Application of ultrasound-guided localization in spinal anesthesia for elderly patients with hip fractures significantly improves the first-attempt puncture and initial puncture site success rates,reduces skin puncture attempts and adjustments of the epidural needle direction,shortens time of anesthetic procedure,and enhances patient satisfaction,making it highly recommendable for clinical use.

Objective To explore the feasibility and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for unresectable pancreatic cancer.Methods Totally 84 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for unresectable pancreatic cancer were enrolled,and the technical success rate,complete ablation rate,complication rate,pain relief rate and survival time,etc.were observed.Results The median age of 84 cases was 61.5 years.Totally 86 tumors,including 44.19％(38/86)at the head/neck and 55.81％(48/86)at the body/tail of pancreas were detected,and a total of 85 ablation sessions were performed with the median ablation energy applied per tumor of 9.90(1.08,21.60)kJ and the complete ablation rate of 42.86％(36/84).The technical success rate was 100％(85/85).Thirty-nine complication events occurred in 25 cases,no ablation-related death.Among 34 patients underwent ablation mainly for pain symptoms,the pain score decreased from(6.22±1.12)points before treatment to(1.94±1.64)points after treatment(P＜0.001).During 6.8(3.3,12.9)months' follow-up,the mean survival time was(8.5±6.7)months,and all 47 patients died due to tumor progression.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation was safe and feasible for unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Objective:To investigate the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with esophageal cancer (EC).Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 8 458 EC patients who were admitted to Sichuan Cancer Hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 were collected. There were 6 923 males and 1 535 females, aged (64±9)years. There were 3 187 patients undergoing surgical treatment, and 5 271 cases undergoing non-surgical treatment. Observation indicators: (1) incidence of VTE in EC patients; (2) treatment and outcomes of patients with VTE. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range), and comparison between groups was analyzed using the nonparameter rank sum test. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Comparison of ordinal data was analyzed using the nonparameter rank sum test. Results:(1) Incidence of VTE in EC patients. Of 8 458 EC patients, 175 cases developed VTE, with an incidence rate of 2.069%(175/8 458). Among 175 VTE patients, there were 164 cases of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), 4 cases of pulmonary embolism (PE), 7 cases of DVT and PE. There were 59 surgical patients and 116 non-surgical patients. There was no significant difference in thrombus type between surgical and non-surgical EC patients with VTE ( χ2=1.95, P>0.05). Of 3 187 surgical patients, the incidence of VTE was 1.851%(59/3 187), including an incidence of 0.157%(5/3 187) of PE. PE accounted for 8.475%(5/59) of surgical patients with VTE. Of 5 271 non-surgical patients, the incidence of VTE was 2.201%(116/5 271), including an incidence of 0.114%(6/5 271) of PE. PE accounted for 5.172%(6/116) of non-surgical patients with VTE. There was no significant difference in the incidence of VTE or PE between surgical patients and non-surgical patients ( χ2=1.20, 0.05, P>0.05). (2) Treatment and outcomes of patients with VTE. Among 175 EC patients with VTE, 163 cases underwent drug treatment, and 12 cases did not receive treatment. Among 163 cases with drug therapy, 158 cases underwent anticoagulant therapy, 5 cases were treated with thrombolysis. All the 163 patients were improved and discharged from hospital. Conclusions:The incidence of VTE in patients with EC is relatively low, as 2.069%. There is no significant difference in the incidence of VTE or thrombus type between surgical EC patients and non-surgical EC patients.

Objective:To investigate the spatial distribution pattern of local tumor progression (LTP) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≤5 cm after microwave ablation.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 169 HCCs with matched MRI before and after ablation from December 2009 to December 2019. A tumor MRI was reconstructed using three-dimensional visualization technology. LTP was classified as contact or non-contact, early or late stage, according to whether LTP was in contact with the edge of the ablation zone and the occurrence time (24 months). The tumor-surrounded area was divided into eight quadrants by using the eight-quadrant map method. An analysis was conducted on the spatial correlation between the quadrant where the ablative margin (AM) safety boundary was located and the quadrant where different types of LTP occurred. The t-test, or rank-sum test, was used for the measurement data. 2-test for count data was used to compare the difference between the two groups.Results:The AM quadrant had a distribution of 54.4% LTP, 64.2% early LTP stage, and 69.1% contact LTP, suggesting this quadrant was much more concentrated than the other quadrants ( P ?