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Introduction: Copeptin is known to be associated with heart damage, while melatonin is a regulatory hormone related to circadian rhythm and represents the levels of inflammation in the body. Methods and Patients: The aim of the study was to measure in different surgeries the levels of copeptin and melatonin at different times before and after surgery in 56 patients aged from 5 days to 13.6 years. We measured copeptin in 50-microL serum and plasma samples from patients before surgery, immediately after surgery, and 24 hours after surgery. The measured levels are aligned with the published GC / MS data, and the sensitivity of the analysis is such that serum and plasma levels can only be measured by rapid extraction. The measurement was made before surgery, immediately after surgery, and 24 hours after surgery. Results: The multifactorial statistical analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the 24-hour postoperative copeptin values in group 1 (mild-moderate gravity surgery) and group 2 (severe surgery) of the severity of the surgery. Post-hoc tests with Tukey correction for age groups in multiple comparisons of the multifactorial analysis revealed a statistically significant difference (p Discussion: In summary, copeptin is a reliable biomarker for assessing a patient's health both preoperatively and postoperatively. Copeptin and melatonin are two independent agents and are not related to each other, and more studies will be needed with more patients of the same age and with the same underlying disease to assess their diagnostic value. Finally, melatonin could be considered an indicator of inflammation on its own and based on pre-and post-surgery values to determine a patient's health status and take appropriate actions.

The knowledge of airway length is the theoretical basis in the diagnosis and management of airway disease. The objective of this study is to measure the length of trachea and left and right main bronchus in Chinese Shanghai population. A total of 153 consecutive adult patients with minor pulmonary disease in Xinhua hospital were enrolled for bronchoscopy examination. Measurements were conducted on head and neck neutral position and height, weight and age for each patient were recorded either. Student t test and multiple linear regression was used to compare means between males and females and to analyze correlation among height, weight, sexual dimorphism and the lengths of the trachea and bronchus. The lengths of the trachea and left main bronchus are significantly different between male and female patients (P

Introduction: Immunotherapy is being used for the past five years either as first line or second line treatment with great results. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have been also used as combination to immunotherapy to further enhance this type of treatment. Intratumoral treatment has been previously proposed as a treatment option for certain non-small cell lung cancer patients. Patients and Methods: We recruited in total seventy four patients with non-small cell lung cancer in their second line treatment who received only chemotherapy in their first line treatment with programmed death-ligand-1 ≤ 50. Only adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, and all negative for epidermal growth factor receptor, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase-1 and proto-oncogene B-Raf. Data were first examined with descriptive statistics choosing frequencies for categorical variables and histograms for the continuous ones. Twenty five received only intravenous immunotherapy and forty-nine intravenous cisplatin with immunotherapy. Data were first examined with descriptive statistics choosing frequencies for categorical variables and histograms for the continuous ones. Results: The relationships between changes of performance status and disease progression were examined via a single correspondence analysis. The two-dimensional scores (coordinates) derived from the correspondence analysis were then regressed against the predictors to form distinct splits and nodes obtaining quantitative results. The best fit is usually achieved by lowering exhaustively the AICc criterion and looking in parallel the change of R2 expecting improvements more than 5%. both types of therapy are capable of producing best ameliorative effects, when either the programmed death-ligand-1 expression or parenchymal site in joint with low pack years are present in the sampling data. Conclusions: Intratumoral treatment combination with cisplatin plus immunotherapy indifferent of nivolumab or pembrolizumab combination is an effective choice. In specific for those with endobronchial lesions. Moreover; patients with programmed death-ligand-1 ≥ 50 had their performance status and disease progression improved over the eight month observation.

Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) is a novel approach for treatment of emphysema. Several techniques are available to accomplish BLVR including Bronchoscopic Vapor Thermal Ablation (BVTA). This technique is easy to perform and considered safe due to its gradual effect. We discuss BTVA in detail in this editorial.We discuss our experience with BTVA in detail including patient selection, equipment, procedure, post-procedural care and complications. We also review the literature to determine the pros and cons for its use. Other modalities such as endobronchial valves, coils and lung sealants are also briefly discussed.Vapor ablation is a novel and safe approach in inducing lung volume reduction in emphysema patients. The effects are gradual, and therefore potentially making it safer than other minimally invasive modalities. Pneumonitis and infection are common side effects. Just as in other BLVR techniques, a case by case evaluation is needed to determine the right candidate for BTVA. Further larger studies are needed before BTVA becomes standard of care in treatment of patients with emphysema.

Airway obstruction can be induced either by cancer or benign causes. Benign bronchus stenosis is being caused by: tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, vasculitis, and chronic inflammation due to smoking in c...

Objective: To investigate the development of bronchoscopy in China and compare it with its application in the early 21st century. Methods: The data collection was based on questionnaires. Three hundred and nineteen hospitals, which distributed across 30 provinces and 130 cities, were included in the study. Data about the application of bronchoscopy in Shanghai and Hunan province in the early 21st century are also involved for comparison. Results: The median period of performing diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy was 19.7±11.0 and 7.4±7.0 years, respectively. On average, about 155.2 cases and 28.4 cases received diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy in each hospital per month. The average area and number of the examination room was 122.7m2 and 2.2m2, respectively. More examination items were performed in specialty hospitals than those in general hospitals (P0.05). On the other side, the whole amount of diagnosis and therapeutic items in teaching hospitals was slightly higher than that in non-teaching hospitals (P

Background: Prostate cancer is considered to be highly sensitive to changes in radiation therapy dose per fraction, specifically to hypofractionation. An increase in the fractionation dose could cause a higher increase to the prostate than to the normal tissues leading to better disease control with less toxicity. Here we present the results of a randomized trial comparing mild hypofractionation to conventional fractionation after a median of 3,6 years follow up. Patients and Methods: 139 patients were randomized to receive either hypofractionated radiotherapy with 2,25 Gy/fr to a total of 72 Gy (arm 1) or conventionally fractionated treatment with 2Gy/fr to a total of 74 Gy (arm 2). 72 patients were assigned to arm 1 and 67 to arm 2. Results: After a median follow up of 3,6 years, 23 patients (31,9%) from arm 1 developed grade≥ 2 acute genitourinary toxicity and 21 (31,3%) from arm 2 (p=0,79). The corresponding values from gastrointestinal were 15 (20,8%) and 12 (17,9%) (p=0,6). For late toxicity from GU, 8 patients (11,1%) developed grade≥ 2 symptoms in arm 1 and 7 (10,4%) in arm 2 (p=0,92). late GI toxicity grade≥ 2 was observed in 8 (11,1%) patients in arm 1 and 8 (11,9%) in arm 2 (p=0,88). In multivariate analysis, hormone therapy was significantly associated with late GI events, while acute toxicity from both GU and GI was a prognostic factor of late adverse reaction. Conclusion: No difference in the toxicity profile could be identified between hypofractionation and conventional fractionation. Our schedule of 2,25Gy/fr seems safe and tolerable by the patients with acceptable rates of acute and late toxicity.

Background: Prostate cancer is considered to have a special biology which could affect the radiation therapy result based on the selected fractionation scheme. We present the preliminary results of a randomized trial comparing conventionally and hypofractionated radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Methods: Patients included in the study had localized prostate cancer (cT1c-T3bN0M0) and were randomly assigned to mild hypofractionated (72 Gy in 32 fractions, arm1) or conventionally fractionated (74 Gy in 37 fractions, arm2) radiation therapy treatment with Volumetric Arc Therapy technique. The treatment was delivered only to the prostate with or without the seminal vesicles according to physician's discretion and hormone therapy was optional according to the disease stage and comorbidities. Here we present the preliminary results of acute toxicity from the gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) system. Results: Between 2015 and 2016, 139 patients were enrolled. 67 patients were treated with conventional fractionation and 72 were treated with hypofractionation. Grade≥ 2 toxicity from GU and GI was observed in 23 and 21 patients (31,9% vs 31,3%, p=0,79) and 15 and 12 (20,8% vs 17,9%, p=0,6) for arm1 and arm2 respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed between arms in the incidence of early toxicity. There was no correlation observed between patient characteristics and toxicity from either GU or GI. Conclusions: Hypofractionated radiotherapy appears to be equally tolerated compared to conventional fractionation in the early setting. Longer follow up is needed to assess the late toxicity profile of the patients and any potential differences between the control and experimental arm.

Purpose The triangular fibrocartilage complex is one of the most important stabilizers of the wrist and a defect in its anatomical structure is a possible cause of ulnar sided wrist pain. The aim of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy between conventional MRI and MR arthrography (MRA) in the depiction of triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tears. Methods-materials A total of 60 patients with clinical findings that suggested TFCC tears underwent wrist MRI and MRA. All the MRI and MRA results were compared with the arthroscopic findings. Results 40 tears were confirmed by arthroscopy. 38/40 tears were identified by MRA while MRI identified 26/40 tears. There were also 8 false positives and 13 false negative results identified by MRI. Two false negative results were identified by MRA. No false positive results were identified. Conclusion MR arthrography is more sensitive and specific method in terms of the diagnosis of TFCC tears compared to conventional wrist MRI. There was no difference in the diagnostic accuracy between wrist arthroscopy and MRA.