Objective:To investigate the value of a nomogram predicting the outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) based on clinical characteristics and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of hyperintense lesions.Methods:A case-control study. Consecutive patients, aged 30-88(59±13) years old, with ICH were recruited at the Stroke Center of Zhengzhou People′s Hospital from January 2018 to August 2021. Patients were divided into a group with DWI lesions and a group without DWI lesions depending on whether there were DWI hyperintense lesions distant from the hematoma. Prognosis was evaluated at 90 days via the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors of a poor ICH outcome (mRS score≥4), and a nomogram model was developed. The performance of the nomogram was validated via the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and a calibration chart.Results:Of the 303 patients included in the study, 24.8% presented with DWI lesions; 17.5% with asymptomatic DWI lesions and 7.3% with symptomatic DWI lesions. Poor outcomes were significantly more frequent in the group with DWI lesions than in the group without DWI lesions ( χ2=21.32, P<0.001). In multivariable regression analysis, age [odds ratio ( OR)=1.032, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.002-1.063, P=0.035], hematoma volume ( OR=1.050, 95% CI 1.011-1.090, P=0.012), hematoma location ( OR=3.839, 95% CI 1.248-11.805, P=0.019), DWI lesions ( OR=3.955, 95% CI 1.906-8.206, P<0.001), and baseline NIHSS scores ( OR=1.102, 95% CI 1.038-1.170, P=0.001) were independent predictors of a poor outcome. In subgroup analysis patients with asymptomatic DWI lesions had a 3-fold greater risk of a poor outcome compared to those without DWI lesions ( OR=3.135, 95% CI 1.382-7.112, P=0.006), and patients with symptomatic DWI lesions had a 7-fold greater risk of a poor outcome compared to those without DWI lesions ( OR=7.126, 95% CI 2.279-22.277, P=0.001). A nomogram model was established based on the independent predictors for a poor outcome. The AUC of the nomogram was 0.846 (95% CI 0.795-0.898), and a calibration chart indicated good consistency between values predicted by the nomogram and actual observed values. Conclusions:DWI lesions are an independent risk factor for a poor outcome in patients with ICH-particularly symptomatic DWI lesions. A nomogram model based on clinical characteristics and DWI lesions exhibited good efficacy when predicting the outcome of ICH.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between quality of life at three months after lung cancer surgery and different surgical approaches is remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the quality of life of patients three months after uniportal and multiportal thoracoscopic lobectomy. METHODS: Data from patients who underwent lung surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan Cancer Hospital between April 2021 and October 2021 were collected. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lung Cancer 29 (EORTC QLQ-LC29) were used to collect quality of life data of the patients. Potential confounding factors in the baseline data were included in a multivariate regression model for adjustment, and the quality of life of the two groups three months postoperatively was compared with traditional clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 130 lung cancer patients were included, with 57 males (43.8%) and 73 females (56.2%), and an average age of (57.1±9.5) yr. In the baseline data of the two groups, there was a statistical difference in the number of chest drainage tubes placed (P<0.001). After adjustment with the regression model, at three months postoperatively, there were no significant differences in all symptoms and functional status scores between the two groups (all P>0.05). The multiportal group had longer surgery time (120.0 min vs 85.0 min, P=0.001), postoperative hospital stay (6.0 d vs 4.0 d, P=0.020), and a higher incidence of early ≥ grade 2 complications (39.0% vs 10.1%, P=0.011) compared to the uniportal group. CONCLUSIONS Patients undergoing uniportal and multiportal thoracoscopic lobectomy have similar quality of life at three months postoperatively. The uniportal group may have certain advantages in terms of traditional clinical outcome indicators such as operation time, postoperative hospital stay, and early postoperative complications.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/surgery* ; Quality of Life ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/adverse effects* ; Pneumonectomy/adverse effects* ; Postoperative Complications/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies

Telephone follow-up is one of the important ways to follow up patients. High-quality follow-up can benefit both doctors and patients. However, clinical research-related follow-up is often faced with problems such as time-consuming, laborious and poor patient compliance. The authors belong to a team that has been committed to the study of patient-reported outcomes for a long time. The team has carried out long-term follow-up of symptoms, daily function and postoperative complications of more than 1 000 patients after lung cancer surgery, and accumulated certain experience. In this paper, the experience of telephone follow-up was summarized and discussed with relevant literatures from the aspects of clarifying the purpose of clinical research follow-up, understanding the needs of patients in follow-up, and using follow-up skills.

Objective:To investigate the associations between small diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) hyperintensities lesions and total cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) burden and the influence on prognosis in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).Methods:Consecutive patients with acute spontaneous ICH from January 2018 to June 2021 were recruited in the Stroke Center of Zhengzhou People′s Hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to quantify DWI hyperintensities lesions and cSVD imaging markers, including white matter hyperintensities, enlarged perivascular spaces, lacunes and cerebral microbleeds, which were calculated for the total cSVD burden (0-4 points). The prognosis was assessed with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge and 90-day. Multivariable Logistic regression models were adopted to explore the associations between DWI lesions and total cSVD burden and clinical outcome.Results:Of 283 included patients, 59 (20.8%) had small DWI lesions, 32 (11.3%) had multiple lesions. They were mostly punctate, mainly located in the cortical and subcortical regions, and scattered in multiple vascular territories. With the increase of cSVD burden, the number of DWI lesions gradually increased. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the total cSVD burden was positively correlated with the number of DWI lesions ( r=0.21, P<0.001). In multivariable regression analyses, the total cSVD burden was independently associated with DWI lesions ( OR=1.63, 95% CI 1.23-2.15, P=0.001). The 90-day poor outcome (mRS scores≥4) in patients with DWI lesions was significantly higher than those without DWI lesions (39.3% vs 16.3%, χ 2=14.38, P<0.001), while there was no statistically significant difference in the poor outcome of discharge between the two groups (26.5% vs 17.7%, χ 2=3.06, P=0.080). With the increase in the number of DWI lesions, the 90-day poor outcome increased significantly (trend chi-squared test χ 2=11.50, P=0.001). Multivariable analyses showed that DWI lesions ( OR=4.39, 95% CI 1.92-10.03, P<0.001) and their number ( OR=1.42, 95% CI 1.06-1.90, P=0.018) were independently associated with the 90-day poor outcome. Conclusions:Higher total cSVD burden is an independent risk factor for small DWI lesions in patients with ICH. Small DWI lesions were independently associated with the 90-day poor outcome, but not with the discharge outcome.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of apatinib monotherapy as subsequent-line therapy on patients with advanced ESCC. Methods We included 56 patients with advanced ESCC who were administered with apatinib monotherapy. The initial dosage of apatinib was 500mg or 250mg daily. Clinicopathological characteristics, adverse reaction and prognosis of the patients were analyzed. The primary endpoint of this study was PFS, the secondary endpoints were ORR, DCR, OS and safety of apatinib administration. Results All the 56 patients with ESCC corresponded with the eligibility criteria and were available for the evaluation of efficacy and adverse reaction. The ORR of the 56 patients who received apatinib monotherapy was 8.9% (95%CI: 3.0%-19.6%) and DCR was 64.3% (95%CI: 50.4%-76.6%). The median PFS was 3.7 months (95%CI: 3.19-4.21) and the median OS was 6.3 months (95%CI: 3.53-9.08). The common adverse reactions were hypertension (50.0%), fatigue (41.1%), loss of appetite (35.7%), hand-foot syndrome (30.4%) and diarrhea (26.8%). Conclusion Apatinib monotherapy demonstrates potential efficacy and tolerable safety as the further-line treatment for the patients with advanced ESCC. And the conclusion should be validated in prospective clinical studies subsequently.

Purpose To analyze the hemodynamic characteristics of brain stem in patients with basilar artery hypoplasia (BAH) by magnetic resonance perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI).Materials and Methods According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,51 patients with BAH were selected as the BAH group,and 79 patients without BAH were selected as the non BAH group.All patients were examined by MRI,3D-TOF and PWI,and magnetic resonance angiography was acquired after the three examinations.The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF),regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV),regional mean transit time (rMTT) and time to peak (TTP) values of pontine area were measured.Results The rCBF value of the BAH group [(17.10±6.52) ml/(100 g · min)] was significantly lower than that of the non BAH group [(29.06± 13.32) ml/(100 g · min)] (P＜0.05);the rCBV value of the BAH group [(1.41 ±0.26) ml] was significantly lower than that of the non BAH group [(2.62± 0.82) ml] (P＜0.05);the TTP value of the BAH group [(6.14± 1.31) s] was significantly higher than that of the non BAH group [(5.39 ± 1.08) s] (P＜0.05);the rMTT value of the BAH group [(20.78±3.48) s] was significantly higher than that of the non BAH group [(19.01 ±2.39) s] (P＜0.05).TTP was the most sensitive index of cerebral perfusion injury,and the incidence of TTP extension was 41.18％ in the BAH group.Conclusion PWI can detect the abnormal cerebral hemodynamics in patients with BAH,which provides the basis for the timely treatment and prevention of irreversible injury in the ischemic area of the brain.

Purpose Central nervous system (CNS) hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is rare in clinic and prone to misdiagnosis. This paper aims to improve the diagnostic accuracy of CNS HPC by analyzing the MRI and CT features. Materials and Methods CT and MRI appearances and pathologic features of 14 cases with surgery and pathology proved CNS HPC were analyzed retrospectively. Results There were intracranial and intraspinal lesions in 12 and 2 cases respectively. 5 cases were lobular, 4 cases irregular, and 5 cases were round or oval in shapes. On CT scan, 2 intracranial lesions showed slight hyperdensity and were avidly enhanced following contrast injection. On T1WI, 11 cases showed isointensity compared with brain white matter;on T2WI, 10 cases showed isointensity compared with brain gray matter. Marked heterogeneous enhancement was shown in 7 cases. Necrosis and cystic changes were seen in 6 cases. Flow-void sign was seen in 9 cases;9 cases were attached to meninges through narrow base. Dural tail sign was observed in 4 cases. Bone erosion was seen in 4 cases. In 5 cases with DWI scan, isointensity was shown in 4 cases and slight hyperintensity in 1 case. The density and signals in 2 cervical spine lesions were uniform with homogenous enhancement;expansive bone swelling in 1 case. Conclusion CNS HPC shows hyperdensity on CT. They present equal signal compared with white matter on T1WI and equal signal compared with grey matter on T2WI, with some void signal of vessel, and isointense on diffusion weighted images. Tumor invades adjacent skull with rare dural tail sign.

Objective To investigate CT appearances of abdominal primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma(MFH).Methods The CT characteristics,clinical features and pathological data of 1 7 patients with MFH proved pathologically were analyzed retrospectively. Results The lesions located in retroperitoneum were 6,in liver were 5,in kidney were 2,in superior mesentery was 1,in greater omentum was 1,in stomach was 1,in ileum was 1.The lesions are oval shape,lobulated,nodule shape,and the size of these lesions were large. 2 cases of MFH located in gastrointestinal tract were slightly low density,and the remaining were uneven high density due to necro-sis.In CT contrast enhanced scan,the solid portion and internal divisions showed progressive or continuous enhancement,and the nec-rosis were not enhanced in MFH located in the retroperitoneum,the greater omentum,the superior mesentery and the liver.MFH in kidney was poorly circumscribed and showed mild progressive enhancement lower than normal renal parenchyma.The stomach and ileum lesions showed uniform and continuous enhancement with normal gastrointestinal mucosa in corresponding parts.Conclusion Imaging features of retroperitoneal MFH were the same as those of interstitial tumors,and most tumors showed features of progres-sive and persistent enhancement,but have different imaging appearances with the malignant lesions in corresponding parts.

Objective To study the associations of acute cerebral infarction after spontaneousintracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with white matter lesions (WMLs),cerebral artery stenosis and bloodpressure (BP) variability.Methods One hundred and fifty-five acute ICH patients,consecutivehospitalized within 24 h of onset from March 2012 to September 2015,were chosen;they were dividedinto infarction after ICH group and non-infarction after ICH group according to hyperintensities remotefrom the hematoma by magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) within 4 weeks of onset;according to positions of hemorrhage,they were divided into lobar hemorrhage group and non-lobarhemorrhage group;according to reduction range of mean arterial pressure (MAP) one h within admission,they were divided into intensive BP lowering group (MAP lowering by ≥20％) and non-intensive BPlowering group (MAP lowering＜20％).The clinical and radiological characteristics were analyzed toinvestigate the role of WMLs,cerebral artery stenosis and BP variability in acute cerebral infarction after spontaneous ICH.Results Ischcmic infarcts were detected in 36 of 155 patients (23.2％),mostly located at ipsilateral subcortical cortex;80.6％ of them were asymptomatic infarct and 66.7％ of them were lacunar infarcts.Positions of hemorrhage and severity of leukoaraiosis were significantly different between infarction after ICH group and non-infarction after ICH group (P＜0.05),while the cerebral artery stenosis was not significantly different between the two groups (P＞0.05).Stratified analysis showed that leukoaraiosis in patients from infarction after lobar ICH group was significantly severer than that in those from non-infarction after lobar ICH group (P＜0.05),and the cerebral artery stenosis in patients with infarction after non-lobar ICH was significantly severer than that in those with non-infarction after non-lobar ICH (P＜0.05).Intensive BP lowering patients with cerebral artery stenosis ≥ 50％ group had significantly increased risks of acute ischemic infarcts as compared with intensive BP lowering patients with cerebral artery stenosis＜50％ group,non-intensive BP lowering patients with cerebral artery stenosis ≥ 50％ group,and non-intensive BP lowering patients with cerebral artery stenosis＜50％ group,respectively (P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that lobar hemorrhage and moderate to severe leukoaraiosis were independent risk factors of cerebral infarction after ICH (OR=2.484,95％CI:1.037-5.953,P=0.041;OR=2.426,95％CI:1.045-5.629,P=0.039).Conclusion Cerebral infarction after ICH is mainly associated with cerebral small vessel diseases,intensive BP lowering is associated with high risk of acute ischemic infarcts in patients with atherosclerotic large artery stenosis,and individualized BP control may maximumly reduce secondary brain injury after ICH.