Integrating pretreatment MRI-detected nodal features and Epstein-Barr virus DNA to identify optimal candidates for intensity-modulated radiotherapy alone in patients with stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a prognostic nomogram based on MRI-detected features of retropharyngeal and cervical lymph nodes and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in patients with stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) to distinguish low-risk patients for whom intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) alone is sufficient. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 894 patients with stage II NPC (596 and 298 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively) with pretreatment MRI between August 2010 and May 2019. All patients received IMRT with or without additional chemotherapy. We identified independent risk factors using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier curves with the log-rank test. RESULTS: Independent factors derived from the multivariate analysis include cervical nodal necrosis (CNN), the extracapsular spread (ECS) of cervical and retropharyngeal lymph nodes, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GGT). Nomograms A, B, and C were established based on the clinical [tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage + Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA], the clinical-radiological [all independent predictors] and the combined models [the clinical-radiological model + EBV DNA], respectively. Nomogram C (C-index 0.769 [0.718-0.820]) demonstrated better risk discrimination than nomogram B (0.762 [0.715-0.809]), nomogram A (0.619 [0.564-0.674]), and the TNM stage (0.560 [0.509-0.611]). In the low-risk group divided by nomogram C, no significant survival differences were observed between patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone and other regimens including additional chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram combining MRI-detected retropharyngeal and cervical lymph node features with pretreatment EBV-DNA improved the prognostic risk stratification for stage II NPC.

Proper Partial Pressure of Arterial Oxygen for Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND The partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) is critical to the outcome of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, it is not clear what range of PaO2 should be maintained to improve patient outcome. The aim of this study was to explore the PaO2 value needed in the acute phase of TBI and provide new evidence for clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 153 patients with TBI were enrolled retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted on sex, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission, PaO2 within 6 h of admission, oxygenation index, and other factors. The Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) of the patient at discharge was used as an indicator of outcome. The good outcome group had GOS ≥4, and the poor outcome group had GOS <4. RESULTS The 153 patients were divided into a good outcome group (n=62) and poor outcome group (n=91). There was a significant difference in sex, admission GCS, surgery, airway status, PaO2, and oxygen index within 6 h of admission between the 2 groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that PaO2 <60 mmHg, male sex, and admission GCS score of 3 to 12 were independent risk factors for a poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS Patients with TBI having PaO2 <60 mmHg within 6 h after admission were more likely to have poor outcomes. The upper limit value of PaO2 that affects the outcome of TBI in patients has not been found.