INTRODUCTION: Cancer patients attending emergency departments (EDs) often present with acute symptoms and are frequently admitted. This study aimed to characterise the profile of oncology patients who were discharged from the ED. METHODS: This was a retrospective audit of patients with cancer-related diagnoses who presented to the ED at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) over a 6-month period from 1 October 2018 to 31 March 2019 and were directly discharged from the ED. Data was extracted from the hospital's electronic medical record system. RESULTS: Of the 492 participants included in the study, the majority were triaged as Priority 2 (61.4%), while 30.7% were triaged as Priority 3, 6.9% as Priority 1 and 1.0% as Priority 4. There was no statistical difference between the National Early Warning scores across the different triage categories in these patients. The most common complaint was (44.3%), followed by genitourinary symptoms (19.5%) and those related to devices, catheters or stomas (17.3%). More investigations of all types were done for patients being managed in Priority 1 (57.6%) than in the other triage categories (40.1% for Priority 2, 23.2% for Priority 3 and 12.0% for Priority 4). Treatment procedures carried out were mainly symptomatic (analgesics, antiemetics, proton pump inhibitors) for 79.8% of the patients. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients requiring various treatment modalities among the triage categories. CONCLUSION Selected oncological patients may potentially be managed in an ambulatory setting.
Humans ; Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data* ; Retrospective Studies ; Female ; Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Male ; Singapore ; Patient Discharge/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Triage ; Adult ; Emergencies ; Aged, 80 and over

OBJECTIVES: To study genotype-phenotype correlations in children with FGFR3 variants and to improve clinical recognition of related disorders. METHODS: Clinical data of 95 patients aged 0-18 years harboring FGFR3 variants, confirmed by whole‑exome sequencing at Shanghai Children's Medical Center from January 2012 to December 2023, were retrospectively reviewed. Detailed phenotypic characterization was performed for 22 patients with achondroplasia (ACH) and 10 with hypochondroplasia (HCH). RESULTS: Among the 95 patients, 52 (55%) had ACH, 24 (25%) had HCH, 9 (9%) had thanatophoric dysplasia, 3 (3%) had syndromic skeletal dysplasia, 2 (2%) had severe achondroplasia with developmental delay and acanthosis nigricans, and 5 (5%) remained unclassified. A previously unreported FGFR3 variant, c.1663G>T, was identified. All 22 ACH patients presented with disproportionate short stature accompanied by limb dysplasia, commonly with macrocephaly, a depressed nasal bridge, bowed legs, and frontal bossing; complications were present in 17 (77%). The 10 HCH patients predominantly exhibited disproportionate short stature with limb dysplasia and depressed nasal bridge. CONCLUSIONS ACH is the most frequent phenotype associated with FGFR3 variants, and missense variants constitute the predominant variant type. The degree of FGFR3 activation appears to correlate with the clinical severity of skeletal dysplasia.
Humans ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3/genetics* ; Child ; Male ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Infant ; Adolescent ; Dwarfism/genetics* ; Achondroplasia/genetics* ; Lordosis/genetics* ; Infant, Newborn ; Retrospective Studies ; Genetic Association Studies ; Bone and Bones/abnormalities* ; Phenotype ; Limb Deformities, Congenital

Objective To analyze factors affecting outcomes of single-dose methotrexate(MTX)treatment in patients with ectopic pregnancy.Methods The data of 416 patients with ectopic pregnancy treated by single-dose MTX injection in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Fudan University from Jan 2019 to Dec 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.MTX was administered on day 1,and the serum β-human chorionic gonadotrophin(β-hCG)levels were measured on posttreatment day 4 and day 7.If serum β-hCG level decreased less than 15%,it was considered as treatment failure,thus the patient was included in the failure group.If serum β-hCG level decreased more than 15%,it was considered as effective initial treatment and β-hCG levels were measured weekly until back to nonpregnant level,thus the patient was included in the success group.Clinical data and treatment outcomes were collected and outcomes-related risk factors were analyzed.Results There were 70 patients in failure group and 346 patients in success group.The proportion of patients with increased β-humanchorionic gonadotrophin(β-hCG)level before MTX treatment in failure group was significantly higher than that of patients in success group(55.2%vs.35.8%,P=0.007)and the proportion of patients with decreased β-hCG level before MTX treatment in failure group was significantly lower than that of patients in success group(43.1%vs.63.6%,P=0.007).Monocyte counts in failure group was significantly lower than that in success group[(0.43±0.13)×109/L vs.(0.47±0.17)×109/L,t=-2.001,P=0.047)].The differences of basal β-hCG level,change speed of β-hCG level,serum albumin,serum creatinine,white blood cell,neutrocyte,mean platelet volume,neutrocyte-lymphocyte ratio,platelet-lymphocyte ratio and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio between the two groups were not significant.Logistic regression analysis suggested the changing patterns of serum β-hCG level and monocyte counts were associated with treatment outcomes.Decreased β-hCG level(OR=2.313,95%CI:1.222-4.379,P=0.010)and monocyte counts≥0.6×109/L(OR=4.018,95%CI:1.207-13.378,P=0.023)were positively correlated with treatment success.Conclusion Decreased β-hCG level MTX treatment and monocyte counts≥0.6×109/L were two independent risk factors for the successful treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

Objective To explore the diagnostic efficacy of serum 14-3-3β protein combined with fractional exhaled nitric oxide(FeNO)and conventional ventilatory lung function parameters in diagnosing bronchial asthma(referred to as"asthma")in children.Methods A prospective study included 136 children initially diagnosed with asthma during an acute episode as the asthma group,and 85 healthy children undergoing routine health checks as the control group.The study compared the differences in serum 14-3-3β protein concentrations between the two groups,analyzed the correlation of serum 14-3-3β protein with clinical indices,and evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of combining 14-3-3β protein,FeNO,and conventional ventilatory lung function parameters for asthma in children.Results The concentration of serum 14-3-3β protein was higher in the asthma group than in the control group(P<0.001).Serum 14-3-3β protein showed a positive correlation with the percentage of neutrophils and total serum immunoglobulin E,and a negative correlation with conventional ventilatory lung function parameters(P<0.05).Cross-validation of combined indices showed that the combination of 14-3-3β protein,FeNO,and the percentage of predicted value of forced expiratory flow at 75%of lung volume had an area under the curve of 0.948 for predicting asthma,with a sensitivity and specificity of 88.9%and 93.7%,respectively,demonstrating good diagnostic efficacy(P<0.001).The model had the best extrapolation.Conclusions The combination of serum 14-3-3β protein,FeNO,and the percentage of predicted value of forced expiratory flow at 75%of lung volume can significantly improve the diagnostic efficacy for asthma in children.

Objective To investigate the population characteristics,distribution of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndromes and influencing factors of long-term prognosis of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome(IBS-D),and to provide evidence for the formulation of intervention program for IBS-D patients.Methods A total of 124 patients with IBS-D admitted to the medical institutions of the project team members from July 2020 to August 2022 were selected.According to the scoring results of IBS Quality of Life Measure(IBS-QOL),the patients were divided into the good prognosis group(81 cases)and the poor prognosis group(43 cases).The distribution of TCM syndromes in patients with IBS-D was explored,and the difference of IBS-QOL scores of the patients between good prognosis group and poor prognosis group was compared.Univariate logistic regression analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine the main risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with IBS-D.Results(1)The analysis of population characteristics showed that there was no significant difference in the proportion of male and female patients with IBS-D.The patients with IBS-D were usually middle-aged,and had a large interval span of the course of disease.The severity of their symptoms was mostly moderate.All of the patients with IBS-D had various degrees of anxiety and depression,and had nutritional imbalance.(2)The distribution of TCM syndromes in the patients with IBS-D were shown as the following:78 cases were identified as liver depression and spleen deficiency type,accounting for 62.90％;26 cases were identified as spleen-qi deficiency type,accounting for 20.97％;20 cases were identified as spleen and kidney yang deficiency type,accounting for 16.13％.(3)Analysis of IBS-QOL score showed that compared with the good prognosis group,the items scores of negative emotion,physical function,behavioral disorder,health status,being fastidious about food,social function,sexual behavior and interpersonal relationship of IBS-QOL in the poor prognosis group were significantly lowered(P＜0.01).(4)The univariate analysis showed that the risk of poor prognosis in patients with IBS-D would be increased by the factors of age,education level,course of disease,severity of symptoms,anxiety state,depression state,TCM syndrome types,Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation scoring system Ⅱ(APACHE 11)score,complication of neurological diseases,hemoglobin level,albumin level and total protein level(P＜0.01).(5)The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for poor prognosis of IBS-D patients involved age,education level below junior high school,the severity of symptoms being severe,Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)score,Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)score,TCM syndrome being liver depression and spleen deficiency type,hemoglobin level,albumin level and total protein level(P＜0.01).Conclusion Most of IBS-D patients exert long-term poor prognosis,and their long-term prognosis is affected by the factors of age,education level,severity of symptoms,anxiety and depression state,nutritional imbalance and TCM syndrome being liver depression and spleen deficiency type.The identification of the risk factors of poor prognosis will provide evidence for the formulation and adjustment of clinical intervention programs.

Ritlecitinib is an inhibitor that acts on Janus kinase 3 and the hepatocellular carcinoma kinase family.In June 2023,the FDA approved Ritlecitinib for the treatment of severe alopecia areata in patients aged 12 years and above.Multiple clinical studies have observed hair regeneration in patients after using Ritlecitinib,which is generally safe and well tolerated during use.This article introduces its pharmacological effects,pharmacokinetics,clinical research,safety,and usage and dosage.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of tirofiban in stent-assisted coil(SAC)embolization for patients with acutely ruptured wide-necked intracranial aneurysms.Methods Patients with acutely ruptured wide-necked intracranial aneurysms who underwent SAC embolization were divided into the control group and the treatment group according to cohort method.The control group was treated with aspirin enteric-coated tablets(300 mg,qd)and clopidogrel bisulfate tablets(300 mg,qd,oral administration)at 2 h before surgery.The treatment group was treated with tirofiban hydrochloride and sodium chloride injection at 10 μg·kg-1 during surgery,which was administrated via intravenous injection at a constant speed within 10 min.Then,the injection rate was adjusted to 0.1 μg·kg-1·min-1 for 12-24 h.The two groups were compared on clinical efficacy,platelet activation function[platelet alpha granule membrane glucoprotein(CD62p)positive rate,platelet adhesion rate and platelet aggregation rate],and perioperative complications.The patients were followed up for 6 months after surgery.The Glasgow Outcome Scale(GOS)scores,recurrence rate and safety were recorded.Results Fifty-three cases and forty-seven cases were included in the treatment group and the control group,respectively.After treatment,the total effective rates of embolization in the treatment group and the control group were 91.49％(43 cases/47 cases)and 81.13％(43 cases/53 cases),without statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).On day 7 after surgery,CD62p positive rates were(56.31±7.41)％and(60.71±7.38)％;platelet adhesion rates were(37.56±3.64)％and(38.04±3.89)％;platelet aggregation rates were(27.03±3.39)％and(30.19±3.63)％.The differences in above indicators between the treatment group and the control group were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).During 6 months of follow-up,the good prognosis rates in the treatment group and the control group were 89.36％and 81.13％;recurrence rates were 4.26％and 9.43％.There were not statistically significant differences in above indicators between the treatment group and the control group(all P＞0.05).The perioperative complications in the two groups mainly included rerupture and bleeding of arterial aneurysms,subdermal ecchymosis,gingival bleeding,thrombotic events,etc.The total incidences of complications in the treatment group and the control group were 10.64％and 28.30％,with statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).Conclusion Tirofiban hydrochloride and sodium chloride injection can effectively reduce the incidence of thrombotic events in patients with acutely ruptured wide-necked intracranial aneurysms during perioperative period of SC A embolization,and improve platelet activation function.

Aprocitentan is a dual endothelin receptor antagonist.Based on the effective evidence of Ⅲ phases of clinical trials,the drug was approved for marketing by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration on March 19,2024 for the treatment of refractory hypertension.At present,multiple clinical studies have confirmed that Aprocitentan has excellent antihypertensive effects and good tolerability.This article reviews the pharmacological effects,preclinical.

Objective:To investigate the value and clinical significance of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in early pregnancy (8-12 gestational weeks) as a predictor of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among women with different pre-pregnancy body mass index (pre-BMI) categories.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted including 9 710 singleton pregnant women (FPG levels in early pregnancy ≤5.6 mmol/L) who underwent prenatal screening and delivery in Yuyao People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022. Participants were stratified based on their pre-BMI as follows: <18.5 ( n=1 406), ≥18.5 to <25.0 ( n=7 162), ≥25.0 to <30.0 ( n=978), and ≥30.0 kg/m 2 ( n=164). Within each pre-BMI category, women were further divided into four groups based on FPG levels in early pregnancy (<4.5, ≥4.5 to <4.8, ≥4.8 to <5.1, and ≥5.1 mmol/L). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify risk factors for GDM, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to evaluate the efficacy of FPG in early pregnancy based on different pre-BMI in predicting GDM. Results:The overall incidence of GDM in the singleton pregnancy women with FPG levels in early pregnancy ≤5.6 mmol/L was 12.3% (1 197/9 710). For a pre-BMI of <18.5 kg/m 2, the ORs with 95% CIs for GDM within the different FPG categories (<4.5, ≥4.5 to <4.8, ≥4.8 to <5.1, and ≥5.1 mmol/L) were 0.041 (95% CI: 0.015-0.409), 1.834 (95% CI: 1.089-3.088), 6.779 (95% CI: 4.041-11.371), and 13.723 (95% CI: 5.560-33.871), respectively. For pre-BMI of ≥18.5 to <25.0 kg/m 2, the respective the ORs with 95% CIs were 0.048 (95% CI: 0.012-0.203), 2.573 (95% CI: 2.091-3.168), 9.023 (95% CI: 7.240-11.245), and 9.158 (95% CI: 6.484-12.937). For pre-BMI of ≥25.0 to <30.0 kg/m 2, the ORs with 95% CIs were 0.108 (95% CI: 0.053-0.446), 1.698 (95% CI: 1.064-2.654), 7.537 (95% CI: 5.285-13.080), and 9.994 (95% CI: 5.613-18.218). For pre-BMI of ≥30.0 kg/m 2, the ORs with 95% CIs were 0.098 (95% CI: 0.072-1.015), 2.888 (95% CI: 0.911-9.157), 13.674 (95% CI: 3.480-53.736), and 20.509 (95% CI: 6.674-63.019). The optimal cutoff value of FPG in early pregnancy for GDM prediction was 4.7 mmol/L with an area under the curve of 0.752, the risk of GDM significantly increased with FPG levels ≥4.7 mmol/L in early pregnancy across all pregnant women ( OR=17.356, 95% CI: 13.757-21.896, P<0.001). Conclusions:In the singleton pregnancy women with FPG levels in early pregnancy ≤5.6 mmol/L, FPG in early pregnancy is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of GDM; for pregnant women stratified by the same pre-BMI, the risk of developing GDM increases progressively with the rise of FPG in early pregnancy. FPG in early pregnancy has a certain value in predicting the occurrence of GDM.

Objective To explore the efficiency of artificial intelligence and radiomics-assisted X-ray in diagnosis of lumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures(OVCF).Methods The clinical data of 455 patients diagnosed as lumbar OVCF by MRI in our hospital were selected.The patients were divided into the training group(n=364)and the validation group(n=91),X-ray films were extracted,the image delineation,feature extraction and data analysis were carried out,and the artificial intelligence radiomics deep learning was applied to establish a diagnostic model for OVCF.After verifying the effectiveness of the model by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,area under the curve(AUC),calibration curve,and decision curve analysis(DCA),the efficiencies of manual reading,model reading,and model-assisted manual reading of X-ray in the early diagnosis of OVCF were compared.Results The ROC curve,AUC and calibration curve proved that the model had good discrimination and calibration,and excellent diagnostic performance.DCA demonstrated that the model had a higher clinical net benefit.The diagnostic efficiency of the manual reading group:the accuracy rate was 0.89,the recall rate was 0.62.The diagnostic efficiency of the model reading group:the accuracy rate was 0.93,the recall rate was 0.86,the model diagnosis showed good predictive performance,which was significantly better than the manual reading group.The diagnostic efficiency of the model-assisted manual reading group:the accuracy rate was 0.92,the recall rate was 0.72,and the recall rate of the model-assisted manual reading group was higher than that of the manual reading group,but lower than that of the model reading group,indicating the superiority of the model diagnosis.Conclusion The diagnostic model established based on artificial intelligence and radiomics in this study has reached an ideal level of efficacy,with better diagnostic efficacy compared with manual reading,and can be used to assist X-ray in the early diagnosis of OVCF.