Objective To propose the terminology of acoustic hypersensitivity, and investigate its clinical features and relationship with tinnitus. Methods A total of 214 patients with acoustic hypersensitivity or tinnitus as their first chief complaint were recruited and studied between January 2014 to January 2016. Detailed information of clinical manifestations, accompanying symptoms and related medical history were collected in the patients with acoustic hypersensitivity. Patients were instructed to complete the Hyperacusis Questionnaire and the Self-rating Anxiety Scale. The Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire was used to evaluate tinnitus severity in patients with tinnitus. Results Among the patients with acoustic hypersensitivity as their first chief complaint, 93.3% had tinnitus; 47.3% of the patients with tinnitus as their first chief complaint had acoustic hypersensitivity and the prevalence of acoustic hypersensitivity increased as the tinnitus severity increased. In terms of onset of the two symptoms, simultaneous acoustic hypersensitivity and tinnitus occurred in 55.1% of the patients, acoustic hypersensitivity occurred after tinnitus in 34.7% of the patients, and acoustic hypersensitivity occurred before tinnitus in 10.2% of the patients. Most patients with acoustic hypersensitivity as the first chief complaint felt uncomfortable to any sounds that are louder than usual. The main manifestations included feeling disturbed, echoing in the ear or head, ear fullness or pain. Discomfort in 68.6% of the patients disappeared when there was no environmental sound. It was found that hearing loss, ear fullness, vertigo, and anxiety were usually present in patients with acoustic hypersensitivity, and 28.6% of the patients with acoustic hypersensitivity had a history of noise exposure. Conclusions Acoustic hypersensitivity occurs together with tinnitus for the majority of time, which shows a close relationship between these two symptoms. However, acoustic hypersensitivity shows different clinical manifestations from tinnitus. It is important to unify the terminology and standardize the concept of acoustic hypersensitivity among clinicians. It is also critical to conduct more clinical research in terms of diagnosing and evaluating acoustic hypersensitivity.
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 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.
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 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.
ObjectiveTo analyze risk factors, clinical features and outcome factors of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in severe H1N1 patients so as to achieve early diagnosis and improve prognosis.MethodsFifty severe H1N1 influenza patients with IPA admitted to West China Hospital and 64 severe H1N1 influenza patients in the same period matched by age and gender were collected. Patient characteristics, laboratory examinations, radiological imaging, microbiology data and prognostic indicators were involved into analysis.ResultsThe mortality of severe H1N1 influenza patients with IPA was significantly higher than those without IPA (51.6% vs. 32.0%, P=0.036). However, the incidence of IPA in severe H1N1 influenza patients was not related with the patient's age, gender, underlying disease, glucocorticoid use and CD4+ T cell count. Serum C-reactive protein level [(125.0±88.8) vs. (86.1±80.1) mg/L, P=0.038] and interleukin-6 level [(148.7±154.2) vs. (81.7±110.2) μg/L, P=0.039] of severe H1N1 influenza patients with IPA were significantly higher than those without IPA. Besides, more patients presented with fever (81.3% vs. 64.0%, P=0.038) and dyspnea (51.6% vs. 24.0%, P=0.003) in severe H1N1 patients with IPA. The radiological imaging of severe H1N1 patients with IPA were mostly characterized by combining with nodular changes on the basis of ground-glass opacity.ConclusionThe occurrence of IPA in severe H1N1 influenza patients may be related with pulmonary excessive inflammatory response secondary to viral invasion rather than basic condition of the patient.
ObjectiveTo improve the knowledge of pulmonary actinomycosis.MethodsThree cases of pulmonary actinomycosis in this hospital and 65 cases reported in China were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsAmong the 68 patients 49 were male and 19 were female aged 6 to 77 years old. The most common clinical manifestations were cough, sputum and fever. Inflammatory indicators was slightly elevated. The most common site was on the right upper lung. The typical CT manifestations were the low-density liquefaction necrotic zone in the center of the mass with vacuoles of different sizes, namely, "air-space consolidation". Positron emission computed tomography showed a mild metabolic increase in lesions. The 68 patients were confirmed by surgery, CT guided percutaneous lung puncture or bronchoscopic biopsy. The average time of the diagnosis was 10 months while the longest time was 6.4 years. The rate of first diagnosis was 5.9%. Forty-one cases were treated with antibiotics alone and 12 cases were treated with simple operation, the rest were treated by antibiotics combined with surgical treatment. The cure rate was 88.7%. Although active treatment was conducted 3 patients in this hospital were not cured.ConclusionsThe clinical features of pulmonary actinomycosis are atypical and the misdiagnosis rate is high. When pulmonary actinomycosis is suspected, it should be fully communicated with the microbiologist to ensure the cultivation in anaerobic environment and extension of the incubation cycle. Tissue culture and pathological biopsy should be actively performed. Treatment depends on antibiotics or surgery with good prognosis, but for some cases the prognosis is not optimistic.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical features of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, PNES) in Tibetan population in Tibet, so as to help clinicians identify the disease.MethodsRetrospective analyzed the clinical data of patients with PNES in the Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region from June 2016 to December 2018.ResultsIn general clinical data, there were significant differences between male and female patients in the results of video electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring the non-epileptic seizures (P< 0.05). There were no significant differences in mean age, mean onset time, family history of epilepsy, head injury and marital status between male and female patients (P> 0.05). There was no significant difference in symptoms between male and female, but there were differences among different age groups (P> 0.05). In the onset age, the main manifestation was young women, but there was no significant difference in the onset of PNES among different age groups.ConclusionsThere was significant differences between male and female PNES petients, but no significant differences in onset time, marriage and family history of epilepsy between the male and female patients with PNES in Tibet. The clinical manifestations of PNES were different in different ages of patients in Tibet.
ObjectiveTo make a better understanding of potassium channel-complex autoimmune antibodies associated limbic encephalitis, we studied in details with patients of this autoimmune disease accompanying without tumors. MethodsDiagnosis of 3 patients were confirmed by antibody detection in serum or CSF. All the clinical data, including history, CSF data, cranial MRI, EEG, pelvic ultrasound and treatment strategy, were carefully gathered. Two to eleven months follow-up were carried out. Results3 female adult patients showed common initial manifestation of seizures, and changes of consciousness, mental disorder and cognitive impairment. Hyponatremia was found in one LGI1-Ab+ patient. Cranial MRI showed unilateral or bilateral signal changes with limbic system. Changes of CSF and EEG were nonspecific. All 3 patients became recovery in different levels after two to eleven months. ConclusionsPotassium channel-complex antibodies associated encephalitis may be a common type of limbic encephalitis in adults without tumors. Seizures may be the first sign of the disease. Hyponatremia is one of characteristics of LGI1-Ab+ patient. Patients may have a fairly good short outcome.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical features of and prognosis factors for spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). MethodsWe continuously registered hospitalized patients diagnosed with SIH from December 1st, 2010 to February 1st, 2014. Etiology information and clinical features were collected at the first day of admission. Routine blood test and lumbar puncture were done as soon as possible. Every patient got position and fluid infusion therapy. During the one-week follow-up, headache level was evaluated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). ResultsThere were 110 patients included, and among them, 39(35.5%) were male and 71(64.55%) were female. The age of onset was between 17 and 91 years old with a mean onset age of (42.0±12.4). Besides postural headache, common signs were nausea (68 cases, 61.8%), vomiting (63 cases, 57.3%), dizziness (40 cases, 36.4%), neck pain (27 cases, 24.5%), and tinnitus (23 cases, 20.9%). VAS at baseline was (7.46±0.86), and at the last follow-up, VAS was (3.45±2.17), with an average improvement of 53.75%. Patients with ANA marker positive had better prognosis. ConclusionSIH can accompany serious brain stem and cerebellum signs, and even meningeal irritation. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) changes are similar to virus infection with negative serum virus screening. If CSF leak cannot be found on imaging, patients can improve through fluid infusion therapy and postural treatment.