ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics of non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) pulmonary disease and pulmonary tuberculosis, as well as the bacterial distribution of NTM pulmonary disease. Methods The bacterial distribution and clinical characteristics of 104 patients with NTM lung disease hospitalized in Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital from May 2017 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, as well as the clinicplal characteristics of 155 patients with tuberculosis hospitalized during the same period. Results The age of NTM lung disease group [(60±15) years] was higher than that of tuberculosis group [(55±19) years]. There were statistically significant differences in basic diseases (such as malignant tumor, type 2 diabetes, old tuberculosis, bronchiectasis), laboratory examination (such as blood routine examination, albumin) and chest imaging characteristics between the two groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in clinical symptoms (such as cough, sputum or fever) (P>0.05). The common underlying diseases of NTM lung disease were malignant tumor (29%), bronchiectasis (21%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (19%), etc. The common clinical symptoms of NTM lung disease included cough, sputum, fever, hemoptysis, chest tightness and shortness of breath, and other non-specific respiratory symptoms. The common manifestations of NTM lung disease on chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) included patchy images (82%), mediastinal lymph node enalargement (35%), pleural thickening (31%), pleural effusion (26%) and other signs. The isolates of NTM included Mycobacterium avium (50%), Mycobacterium intracellulare (21%), Mycobacterium chelonae/abscessus (14%), Mycobacterium fortuitum (5%), Mycobacterium gordonae (4%), Mycobacterium gilvum (3%), and Mycobacterium smegmatis (3%). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age (OR=1.027) was a risk factor for NTM lung disease. Conclusions The clinical manifestations of NTM lung disease and tuberculosis are similar and difficult to distinguish. For male patients over 60 years old with malignant tumor, old tuberculosis, bronchiectasis and other basic diseases, and the chest HRCT findings are mainly bronchiectasis, NTM lung disease should be actively excluded. There is little difference in clinical manifestations between different strains of NTM lung disease, and the treatment cycle of NTM lung disease is long and easy to be interrupted, requiring enhanced follow-up.
Objective To observe the clinical characteristics and influencing factors of post-stroke epilepsy. Methods Our research wasaretrospective study, the data came from the information of patients diagnosed with post-stroke epilepsy from our hospital on October 2000 to December 2014 withatotal of 160 cases. With the general collection of clinical data, including gender, past history, clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and treatment informations. Results The shortest time of post-stroke seizures were occur immediately, the longest was 15 years after the stroke. Peak onset is as early as onset of stroke immediately, late-onset seizures after stroke peaks between 6 months to 1.5 years. 59 patients occurred early epileptic seizures, partial seizures were the most common, accounting for 47.46%; 101 patients occurred late epilepsy, generalized tonic-clonic seizures were the most common, accounting for 56.44%. 25% of patients wereasingle-site lesions, the most common site was temporal lobe; 75% of patients were multifocal lesions. Most were located in the temporal lobe, frontal lobe and the basal ganglia. 42 cases of patients performed EEG, 30 patients (71.43%) of the EEG abnormalities, including 22 cases (73.33%) recurrent epileptic seizures; 12 cases (28.57%) patients with an edge or normal EEG, including 3 cases (25%) relapsed. 54.38% patients with drug therapy to single-agent therapy, two patients with refractory epilepsy to be combination therapy. Conclusions This group of post stroke epilepsy patients were more common as late-onset epilepsy, early onset of stroke peaks is the first day, and delayed the onset of the peak after stroke is within 6 months to 18 months. Lesions in the cortex:alarge area and multiple lesions were risk factors for post-stroke epilepsy, cortical damage to the temporal lobe is most prevalent. 71.43% of patients may have abnormal EEG, EEG abnormalities have higher relapse rate in patients with epilepsy.
Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical features of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) in the thorax and its optimal surgical approaches. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 16 patients with SFT in the thorax in our hospital between January 2004 and June 2010. There were 8 males and 8 females, with a median age of 49 years (1973 years). Laboratory examination showed normal results. Chest Xray and computed tomographic scan revealed lung tumor in 8 cases, mediastinal mass in 3 cases, fibrous tumor in 2 cases, pleural mass in 2 cases, and retroperitoneal mass in 1 case. Five patients underwent CT guided biopsy or thoracoscopy, and 3 of them were diagnosed to have SFT. There was no clear diagnosis for the remaining 13 cases before operation. None of them had been exposed to asbestos. Symptoms were present in 5 patients. All patients underwent surgical treatment with resection performed through routine thoracotomy in 10 cases and by means of videoassisted thoracoscopy in 6 cases. The tumors originated from the visceral pleura in 12 patients, from parietal pleura in 3 patients (from diaphragmatic pleura in 1, and costal pleura in 2), and from the lung in 1 patient. Results All tumors were totally excised. Immunohistochemical staining showed CD34 was positive in all tumors. There was no postoperative mortality and no major complications. All patients were regularly rechecked and followed up. The followup was ranged from 1 to 72 months, with a median time of 21 months. During the followup, all patients survived and no recurrence was observed by means of chest X radiography or CT. Conclusion SFT tumors in the thorax are rare neoplasms and can have giant diameters. Wide local excision is recommended as the best therapeutic option. The SFT has the possibility of recurrence, and careful longterm clinical followup is required.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the causes, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of chronic pancreatitis (CP). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of 47 patients with CP in the Sixth People's Hospital of Chengdu City from February 2008 to December 2011. ResultsThere were 24 cases of biliary pancreatitis (51.1%), and 17 cases of alcoholic pancreatitis (36.2%). The clinical manifestations included abdominal pain in 40 patients (87.2%), diarrhea in 12 patients (25.5%), and diabetes mellitus in 13 patients (27.6%). Sixteen patients were diagnosed based on the ultrasonographic results (34.0%), 41 by computed tomography (CT) (87.2%), and 31 by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (88.6%). Plain abdominal radiograph showed that 9 patients had calcification, mainly composed of Ⅰ and Ⅱ classes (44.7% and 51.1%), followed by class Ⅳ and stage 3. Management for chronic pancreatitis included medical treatment (10 cases, 21.2%) and surgical treatment (13 case, 27.6%), endoscopic treatment (24 cases, 51.6%). ConclusionThe causes of chronic pancreatitis are biliary and alcoholic factors. Medical, endoscopic and surgical procedures are involved to treat chronic pancreatitis, especially for the relief of intractable chronic abdominal pain.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics and predicting factors for death in critically ill patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). MethodA total of 143 hospitalized patients with severe CAP between January 2009 and December 2012 were included and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. According to the clinical outcome, patients were divided into survival group and death group, and their clinical features and laboratory test results were compared, and multivariate regression analysis was conducted to search for predicting factors for death. ResultsIn this study, a total of 118 patients survived and 25 patients died, and the mortality rate was 17.5%. The number of underlying diseases in the two groups were different, and death group had more patients with 3 kinds of diseases than the survival group[76.0% (19/25) vs. 22.8% (13/57), P<0.05]. The intubation rate in the death group was significantly higher than that in the survival group[84.0% (21/25) vs. 33.1% (39/118), P<0.05], and the arterial blood pH value (7.15±0.52 vs. 7.42±0.17, P<0.05), HCO3- concentration[(18.07±6.25) vs. (25.07±5.44) mmol/L, P<0.05], PaO2[(58.92±35.18) vs. (85.92±32.19) mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa), P<0.05] and PaO2/FiO2[(118.23±98.02) vs. (260.17±151.22) mm Hg, P<0.05)] in the death group were significantly lower than those in the survival group. And multivariate regression analysis indicated that the number of underlying diseases[OR=0.202, 95%CI (0.198, 0.421), P=0.003], PaO2[OR=1.203, 95%CI (1.193, 1.294), P=0.011] and PaO2/FiO2[OR=0.956, 95%CI (0.927, 0.971), P=0.008] were independent predictors of death in the patients with severe pneumonia. ConclusionsPatients who died of severe pneumonia often had severe illnesses before admission, and the number of underlying diseases and PaO2 have highly predictive value for death.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical presentations and radiological characteristics of pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation. MethodsClinical and radiological data of 2 patients with pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation were retrospectively analyzed and literatures were reviewed. ResultsBoth patients had undergone circumferential pulmonary vein isolation. The symptoms appeared approximately 2 months after the operation. The major symptoms were cough, hemoptysis, exacerbation of dyspnea and chest pain. Both patients were misdiagnosed as other diseases such as pneumonia in other hospitals, and the anti-infection therapy was invalid. Both CT scans showed parenchymal exudative consolidation with varying degrees of interstitial septal thickening and small nodules. Both patients were confirmed as pulmonary vein stenosis by CT angiography. Literature review identified 21 cases of pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation. The main clinical features are hemoptysis, chest pain, shortness of breath and cough. The most common features of thoracic radiological imaging are consolidation, groud-glass attenuation, pleural effusion and interstitial septal thickening. ConclusionsIf a patient presents with hemoptysis, dyspnea, chest pain or other clinical manifestations after ablation therapy and image findings show parenchymal exudative consolidation with interstitial septal thickening and multiple small nodules, the possibility of pulmonary vein stenosis should be considered. Contrast-enhanced CT combined with pulmonary vein imaging technology can clearly show the opening diameter of each pulmonary vein and its branches, so it is an important non-invasive examination method for the evaluation and diagnosis of pulmonary vein stenosis.
Objective To improve the knowledge of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia ( COP) , and reduce misdiagnosis and mistreatment. Methods The medical records of 22 patients with biopsy-proven COP from January 2006 to October 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical presentation, laboratory data, radiographic results and treatment were collected and analyzed. Results The clinical presentations were nonspecific, and the most common symptomof COPwas cough ( 95. 45% ) . The laboratory data analysis revealed that elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate in 71. 43% of the COP patients. The COP patients usually presented with a restrictive ventilation dysfunction and decreased diffuse function on pulmonary function test. The most common patterns of lung abnormality on chest CT scan were bilaterally multifocal patchy consolidation or ground-glass opacification ( 63. 64% ) , which distributed along the bronchovascular bundles or subpleural lungs. Patchy consolidation with air bronchograms was also a common feature ( 54. 55% ) . Migration over time and spontaneous remission of consolidation were important pointers.Histopathology by transbronchial lung biopsy was a valuable means for diagnosis. The majority of COP patients were non-response to antibiotics, but responded rapidly and completely to oral administration of corticosteroids with good prognosis. Conclusions The clinical presentations and laboratory data of COP patients are nonspecific. Initial imaging findings of COP are similar with pneumonia. Strengthening the recognition of COP is conducive to reducing misdiagnosis and reasonable antibiotics use.
ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in order to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.MethodThe epidemiological histories, clinical characteristics, laboratory examinations, chest images, and treatment outcomes of 20 confirmed cases of severe COVID-19 admitted to Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu from January 16th to February 5th, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsAmong the 20 patients with severe COVID-19, 12 were male and 8 were female. The age ranged from 34 to 84 years old, with an average of (57.4±16.5) years old. Thirteen patients (65.0%) had one or more co-existing diseases, such as hypertension (9 cases), diabetes (6 cases), and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (4 cases). Eleven cases (55.0%) had a history of living or traveling in Wuhan, 4 cases (20.0%) had a history of living in non-Wuhan areas of Hubei Province, 3 cases (15.0%) had a history of contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients, while 2 cases had no above-mentioned epidemiological history, but had a history of traveling in non-epidemic areas. The main symptoms were fever (100.0%), cough (100.0%), shortness of breath (75.0%), and fatigue (65.0). Some patients developed into acute respiratory distress syndrome in 3-10 d after onset. The white blood cell count of the patients was normal or decreased, the hypersensitive C-reactive protein and serum amyloid protein significantly increased, while the CD4+ T lymphocyte count and CD56+ natural killer cell count significantly decreased. Sixteen patients (80.0%) were given transnasal hyperbaric oxygenation [among whom 6 patients (30.0%) were transferred to non-invasive ventilator after no improvement], 3 patients (15.0%) were given tracheal intubated ventilator, and 1 patient (5.0%) was treated by tracheal intubated ventilator combined with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to support breathing. By April 8th, 2020, 3 patients died and the remaining 17 had been cured and discharged, with an average length of hospital stay of 21.4 d. The 3 death cases were all elderly with underlying diseases such as heart disease and pulmonary disease.ConclusionsSevere COVID-19 is associated with hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and other basic diseases, and some patients develope acute respiratory distress syndrome. Respiratory support may help to improve prognosis.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical and video EEG features of patients with post-stroke epilepsy (PSE).MethodsThe clinical data of 68 patients with epilepsy after cerebral infarction and 33 patients with epilepsy after cerebral hemorrhage were analyzed retrospectively from January 2015 to June 2018 in the Affilated Hospital of Jining Medical University. There were 5 cases of early-onset epilepsy, and the rest were late-onset epilepsy. There were 68 cases of cerebral infarction (1 case showed post-infarction hemorrhagic transformation), 33 cases of cerebral hemorrhage; 51 females, 50 males (f∶m = 1.02∶1); the onset age was 45 ~ 101 years, with an average of (68.10 ± 10.26) years.ResultsThe time from seizure to stroke in 101 cases was (28.92 ± 35.61) months, 60 cases (59.40%) ≤ 1 year, 26 cases (25.74%) 1 ~ 5 years, and 15 cases (14.85%) 5 ~ 10 years. Post-stroke epilepsy had no relation to gender (P>0.05). The age of onset is mostly in 60 to 75 years old (62.38%). Seizure often happen within 1 year after stroke (59.4%). The type of attack is focal seizure (77.23%). Cortical infarction (77.94%), cerebral artery stenosis (83.82%), hypertension, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation are risk factors for epilepsy after infarction. The abnormal rate of EEG for PSE is 90.1%, which was manifested as slow wave in the lesion side, epileptic wave in the lesion side or contralateral side.ConclusionsThe location, duration, age and severity of cerebral artery stenosis in patients with PSE are closely related to the occurrence of seizure. VEEG plays an important role in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of epilepsy.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features of elderly hip fracture in Leshan area in China. MethodsThe clinical data of patients with hip fractures from June 2006 to January 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Gender, age, fracture type, injury causes, activities before injury and treatment were analyzed. ResultsThe mean age of patients with a hip fracture was 76.5 years. The overall male to female ratio with hip fracture was 1:1.44. There were 154 patients (50.0%) with femoral neck fracture, 138 patients (44.8%) with intertrochanteric fracture, and 16 patients (5.2%) with subrtrochanteric fracture. A total of 248 patients (77.3%) were poorly educated, and 210 patients (68.2%) had basic medical insurance. The mean time between being injured and hospitalized after injury was 3 days. There were 257 patients (83.4%) with fall damage. ConclusionFemale patients with hip fracture are more than male patients. Fall damage is the main injure type. The features of elderly hip fracture in Leshan include retardation to consult a doctor, poor education of the patients, dependence primarily on basic medical insurance and under-emphasis of anti-osteoporosis therapy.