Objective To provide the anatomic bases for clinical application of the second dorsal metacarpal artery(SDMA) island flap with double pivot points. Methods The origin,branches and distribution of the recurrent cutaneous branch of the SDMA were observed in 30 adult fresh cadaver specimens, which were illustrated with special dye.Eighteen cases of skin defets of the thumb were repaired with the SDMA island flap. The defect locations were the dorsal part in 11 cases and palmar part in 7 cases, including 3 cases of defect in association with long pollical extensor defect and 2 cases of defect in association with dorsal skin defect of proximal finger. The flap area ranged from 2 cm×3 cmto 3 cm×5 cm. Results The appearance of therecurrent cutaneous branch of the SDMA was observed in all cases(100%), which originated 0.5±0.2 cm distant from the distal intersectiones between the SDMA and the index extensor and disappeared 1.2±0.5 cm distant from the proximal metacarpophalangeal joint. The branches of 1.7±0.7 were seen with a longitudinal fan-like distributionforward proximal part on the deep surface of the dorsal superficial vein. The exradius and the length of the recurrent cutaneous branch of the SDMA were 0.3±0.1 mm and 6.5±0.8 mm, respectively. The transplanted flaps survived in all cases and 16 cases were followed up for 8-14 months. The colour and appearance of the skin were satisfactory. The two-point discriminations were 0.9 mm in 3 cases by bridging digital nerve and 1.1 mm in 9 cases by anastomosing dorsal digital nerve; while the two-point discrimination was 13-15 mm in 4 cases without anastomosing nerve. Conclusion The origin,branches and distribution of the recurrent cutaneous branch of the SDMA is constant, which provide a potentially longer pedicle and increase the possibility to rotate the flap and also avoid the donor skin defect of rotation of the flap.
In the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, the analysis of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals has always played a crucial role. At present, how to effectively identify abnormal heart beats by algorithms is still a difficult task in the field of ECG signal analysis. Based on this, a classification model that automatically identifies abnormal heartbeats based on deep residual network (ResNet) and self-attention mechanism was proposed. Firstly, this paper designed an 18-layer convolutional neural network (CNN) based on the residual structure, which helped model fully extract the local features. Then, the bi-directional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU) was used to explore the temporal correlation for further obtaining the temporal features. Finally, the self-attention mechanism was built to weight important information and enhance model's ability to extract important features, which helped model achieve higher classification accuracy. In addition, in order to mitigate the interference on classification performance due to data imbalance, the study utilized multiple approaches for data augmentation. The experimental data in this study came from the arrhythmia database constructed by MIT and Beth Israel Hospital (MIT-BIH), and the final results showed that the proposed model achieved an overall accuracy of 98.33% on the original dataset and 99.12% on the optimized dataset, which demonstrated that the proposed model can achieve good performance in ECG signal classification, and possessed potential value for application to portable ECG detection devices.
ObjectiveTo investigate the predictive value of recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes (RLN) status for supraclavicular lymph node (SLN) metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 83 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent McKeown three-field lymphadenectomy from January 2017 to April 2018 in our hospital, including 53 males and 30 females with an average age of 64.07±7.05 years.ResultsThe SLN metastasis rate of the patients was 24.1%. The rate in the thoracic and abdominal metastases positive (N1-3) group and negative (N0) group was 37.8% and 13.0%, respectively, with a statistical difference (P<0.05). The rate of SLN metastasis was significantly different between the RLN metastasis positive (RLN+) and negative (RLN–) groups (39.1% vs. 18.3%, P<0.05). One side of RLN metastasis could lead to SLN metastasis on the opposite side. No correlation between the SLN metastasis and age, gender, location, differentiation degree, maximum tumor diameter, T-staging or histologic type was observed (P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis in chest or abdomen was an independent predictor of SLN metastasis.ConclusionRLN+ is not the independent predictor for SLN metastasis. SLN should be dissected in N1-3 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma without considering tumor location and T-staging. Bilateral SLN dissection should be recommended even if RLN metastasis is only unilateral.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and necessity of recurrent laryngeal lymph node resection by comparing the complications and prognosis of patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve injury receiving different recurrent laryngeal lymph node resections.MethodsWe reviewed the clinical data of 153 patients with stage T1N0M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent radical esophageal cancer surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from June 2014 to May 2016. Among them, 125 were male and 28 were female, at an average age of 62 years. All patients underwent bilateral recurrent laryngeal nodes sampling. They were divided into 3 groups according to the dissection situation: patients with only one recurrent laryngeal lymph node resection on both sides during the operation were treated as a sampling group (n=49); patients with only one recurrent laryngeal lymph node resection on one side and more than one recurrent laryngeal lymph nodes resection on the other side were treated as a unilateral dissection group (n=49); patients with more than one recurrent laryngeal lymph nodes resection on both sides were treated as a bilateral dissection group (n=55). Follow-up was performed to compare the prognostic differences among the three groups. Seven days after the operation, the vocal cords of the patients were examined with an electronic laryngoscope and classified using the Clavien-Dindo system. The differences in complications related to recurrent laryngeal nerve injury among the three groups were compared.ResultsThe 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of the patients in the sampling group, unilateral dissection group and bilateral dissection group was 66.8%, 88.5%, 93.8%, respectively. There was statistical difference between the sampling group and the unilateral dissection group or the bilateral dissection group (P<0.05), and no statistical difference between the unilateral dissection group and the bilateral dissection group (P>0.05). The incidence of complications among the three groups was not statistically different (P>0.05).ConclusionFor patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma of stage T1N0M0, the lymph nodes of the bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerves should be removed during the operation as many as possible, which will help improve the 5-year survival rate of the patients.
ObjectiveTo discuss whether central lymph node dissection (CLND) should be performed for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients. MethodsThe related domestic and foreign literatures were retrieved, the necessity of CLND and the risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury in CLND were reviewed, and the application value of intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) in CLND were analyzed. Results① CLND can reduce the recurrence rate of PTC, improve postoperative survival rate, ease the difficulty of reoperation, and help to clarify tumor stage. ② CLND can increase the risk of RLN injury. ③ Application of INOM can decrease the risk of RLN injury. ConclusionsThe application of IONM during CLND effectively decrease the risk of RLN injury for surgeons, especially low seniority surgeons, and improve the survival quality and the prognosis. This combination will promote the implementation of routine CLND therapeutic strategy in thyroid cancer patients.
ObjectiveTo summarize the current comparison of the efficacy of different treatments for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.MethodTo search the literatures about the comparative studies on the efficacy of different treatments for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in recent years and analyze them.ResultsIn the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma, percutaneous arterial chemoembolization combined with radiofrequency ablation could improve the survival rate and tumor-free survival rate to some extent, compared with the single use of percutaneous arterial chemoembolization. In the short term, there was no difference in efficacy between radiofrequency ablation and surgical resection, but the local recurrence rate of radiofrequency ablation was higher than that of surgical resection group. Salvage liver transplantation offered potential opportunity to reduce the risk of recurrence and tended to improve long-term survival outcomes, but liver sources were scarce and costly. ConclusionsAt present, there is no systematic staging scheme and treatment system for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. At the same time, most studies are retrospective, and more prospective studies are needed to further explore the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the association between C677T and A1298C polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and the risk of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMbase, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data from inception to May 2015 to collect case-control studies about the association between the MTHFR gene C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and the risk of URSA. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0 and Stata 12.0 software. ResultsA total of 42 case-control studies involving 3 970 URSA patients and 5 297 controls were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that MTHFR C677T polymorphism was associated with the increased risk of URSA (T vs. C: OR=1.34, 95% CI 1.16 to1.54, P < 0.000 01; TT vs. TC+CC: OR=1.70, 95% CI 1.36 to 2.12, P < 0.000 01; TT+TC vs. CC: OR=1.34, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.62, P=0.002; TC vs. CC: OR=1.19, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.43, P=0.061; TT vs. CC: OR=1.95, 95% CI 1.48 to 2.56, P < 0.000 01). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity indicated that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism was associated with the increased risk of URSA in east Asians (T vs. C: OR=1.61, 95% CI 1.39 to 1.87, P < 0.000 01; TT vs. TC+CC: OR=2.05, 95% CI 1.54 to 2.71, P < 0.000 01; TT+TC vs. CC: OR=1.76, 95% CI 1.41 to 2.19, P < 0.000 01; TC vs. CC: OR=1.53, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.94, P < 0.000 01; TT vs. CC: OR=2.77, 95% CI 1.94 to 3.97, P < 0.000 01) but was not associated with the increased risk of URSA in Caucasians. The results of meta-analysis also showed that there was no significant association between the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and the URSA in all population. ConclusionCurrent evidence indicates that significant association is found between MTHFR C677T mutation and URSA in east Asians but not in Caucasians. Further study indicates that women carrying TT or TC gene significantly increases the risk of URSA and TT mutant gene carriers have a higher URSA risk. There is no significant association between MTHFR A1298C mutation and URSA in all population. Due to the quantity and quality limitations of included studies, more high quality case-control or cohort studies are needed to verify the above conclusions.
ObjectiveTo master the morphological characteristics of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and extra-laryngeal branching (ELB) in dogs, and to provide an anatomical basis for the establishment of an animal model of injury to the ELB in dogs as well as for functional studies. MethodsSix adult healthy Beagles were selected, completely dissected the thyroid gland, the full length of the cervical segment of the RLN and the ELB. Then, the location, size and morphology of the thyroid gland and the morphological features of the RLN and ELB were observed. The length of the RLN and its ELB were measured. The incidence and number of ELB and their relationship with trachea, esophagus and peripheral blood vessels were recorded. ResultsSix Beagles (12 sides) all had ELB. In 9 sides the main trunk of the RLN divided into internal and external branches on its way up into the larynx and converged before them entering the larynx. The total number of ELB was 48, and the number of branches on each side were ranging from 1 to 7. There were 38 ELB were located below the lowest level of the thyroid gland. ConclusionsThe Beagles included in this study all have ELB. The ELB were widely distributed in the cervical trachea and esophagus after branching from the internal branch of RLN. It is speculated that the ELB may be involved in the function of the cervical esophagus and trachea. In thyroid surgery, the tracheal branch and esophageal branch of the ELB should be preserved as much as possible.
Objective To assess clinical value of thyroidectomy by meticulous capsular dissection technique through neck incision approach in treatment of 75 patients with type Ⅰ substernal goiter. Methods The clinical data of 75 patients with type Ⅰ substernal goiter in the Department of General Surgery of the Central Hospital of Xiaogan from April 2013 to April 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients received the surgical resection by the meticulous capsular dissection technique with an ultrasonic scalpel and a bipolar coagulation forcep through neck incision approach. Results There were 12 Hashimoto thyroiditis, 10 thyroid adenoma, 41 nodular goiter, and 12 thyroid carcinoma in the 75 patients with type Ⅰ substernal goiter. Five cases underwent the unilateral total thyroidectomy. Fifty-eight cases underwent the bilateral total thyroidectomy. The bilateral total thyroidectomy plus central lymph node dissection were performed in the 9 patients with thyroid carcinoma, the bilateral total thyroidectomy plus central lymph node dissection plus affected ipsilateral neck lymph node dissection were performed in the 3 patients with thyroid carcinoma. The average operative time was 100 min, the average intraoperative blood loss was 50 mL, the average postoperative hospital stay was 5 d. The rate of parathyroid injury was 2.7% (2/75), the rate of hypocalcemia caused by parathyroid injury was 2.7% (2/75). There were 3 cases (4.0%) of unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, 1 case (1.3%) of the outer branch of the upper laryngeal nerve injury. There were 2 cases of tracheal partial softening in the 75 patients. None of postoperative bleeding and seroma happened. No death and the tumor recurrence and metastasis of patients happened during follow-up period. Conclusions Preliminary results in this study show that operation of meticulous capsular dissection technique with an ultrasonic scalpel and a bipolar coagulation forcep through neck incision approach in treatment of type Ⅰ substernal goiter is safe and feasible, it could effectively reduce postoperative complications of thyroidectomy, and protect parathyroid and it’s function, recurrent laryngeal nerve, and superior laryngeal nerve.
Objective To investigate the anatomical character and variation of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve （NRLN）， and to explore measurement to identify and prevent injury of this nerve during thyroidectomy. Methods Clinical data of 2 211 patients who underwent thyroidectomy from Jan. 2007 to Jun. 2012 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were analyzed retrospectively， and 114 patients with NRLN of related literature reviews were analyzed too. Results There were 3 479 recurrent laryngeal nerve （2 211 cases） which were exposed during thyroid operation in Peking Union Medical College Hospital， of which 11 cases were confirmed to be right NRLN （0.32%， 11/3 479）. Of the 11 cases， 3 cases were typeⅠ， 7 cases were typeⅡA， and 1 case was typeⅡB， one case was also found to have a recurrent branch. None of them injured during operation. One hundred and fourteen cases of NRLN （0.14%-4%） were found in literature reviews. Of the 114 cases， 109 cases were confirmed to be right NRLN， of which 4 cases were typeⅠ （3.7%， 4/109）， 75 cases were typeⅡA （68.8%， 75/109）， 9 cases were typeⅡB （8.3%， 9/109）， 21 cases were unclear （19.3%， 21/109）， 3 cases were also found to have a recurrent branch （2.8%，3/109）. Five cases were confirmed to be left NRLN， of which 2 cases were typeⅡA， 3 cases were unclear， 1 case was also found to have a recurrent branch. Of all the 104 cases reported by treatises and case reports， 16 cases injured during operation， of which 1 case was typeⅠ， 9 cases were typeⅡA， 6 cases were unclear. Conclusions NRLN， which is a rare anomaly， usually happens on the right， and very vulnerable during thyroid surgery. The most usually injured type is typeⅡA. Fully acknowledgment of the NRLN and its variant types is very helpful to avoid damage during thyroid surgery.