Abstract:Objective To identify the risk factors that are associated with the midterm coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) functionality by assessing patency of left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft and saphenous vein (SV) graft with 64-slice multi-detector computed tomography (64-MDCT).Methods Patients who underwent CABG operation and postoperative 64-MDCT follow-up examinations from August 2012 to December 2015 were included. The graft patent status was classified into patent and poor patent according to MDCT findings predominantly on 3D reconstructed images by two radiologists. The clinical data and imaging findings of the patients were collected and compared between the patent group and poor patent group. Univariate analysis and the multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the risk factors that affect graft patency.Results Among 341 patients in the study, there were 330 LIMA grafts [326 anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery (LAD), 4 to right coronary artery (RCA)] and 564 SV grafts (SVG) [100 anastomosed to the diagonal branch (D), 226 to the obtuse marginal branch (OM), and 238 to the RCA territory]. The approximal vessel stenosis exceeding 90% occurred in 268 of 292 patent LIMA grafts, and in 1 of 34 poor patent grafts (χ 2=167, P<0.001). The patency rate was higher when SVG was anastomosed to OM (85.4%) or RCA territory (81.9%) than to D (69.0%) (χ 2=15.471, P=0.004). The proximal target vessel stenosis < 90% (OR= 0.015, 95% CI: 0.01-0.14, P=0.000) was independently associated with the closure risk of LIMA grafts, the dyslipidemia (OR= 1.52, 95% CI: 1.0-2.5, P=0.048), history of diabetes (OR = 1.28, 95% CI : 0.90-2.26, P=0.045) and typical angina symptoms (OR=1.81, 95% CI :1.33-4.15, P=0.003) were independently associated with the closure risk of SVG. Conclusions The proximal LAD stenosis less than 90% was adversely associated with graft patency in LIMA recipients; dyslipidemia, diabetes and angina symptoms were associated with the midterm failure in SVG recipients. The choice of the target anastomosis sites may affect the patency of SVG.
Abstract:Objective Although intraoperative cell salvage (ICS) has been widely used to reduce the demand for allogeneic blood transfusion, patients who use ICS approach still have not completely avoided chances of blood transfusion. This study aims to investigate the rate of allogeneic red blood cell(RBC) transfusion in patients receiving ICS, and to evaluate irrationality of allogeneic RBC transfusion and its risk factors.Methods Medical records of all patients associated with ICS approach from January 2013 to July 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Theoretical hemoglobin level after reinfusion of salvaged RBC at the end of operations was estimated. Irrational transfusion was defined as initiating allogeneic transfusion with theoretical hemoglobin above 100 g/L. The clinical variables, including the surgical department, gender, age, body weight, ratio of blood loss to estimated blood volume(EBV), salvaged blood volume and preoperative hemoglobin level were subsequently compared between patients who received rational transfusion and those did not. Logistic regression was performed to identify the risk factors for irrationality of allogeneic RBC transfusion in these patients.Results Of 1487 patients with ICS approach in this study, the rate of allogeneic RBC transfusion was 31.4%(467/1487), and the rate of irrational allogeneic RBC transfusion was 26.0% (341/1313). Patients with irrational transfusion were younger (t=4.656, P<0.001), with lower body weight (t=3.910, P<0.001) and slightly lower preoperative HGB level (t=2.822, P=0.005) than those with rational transfusion, but had significantly larger salvaged blood volume (U=-10.926, P<0.001) and higher ratio of blood loss to EBV (U=-17.067, P<0.001), disregarding whether they preoperatively met anemia criteria or not (U=-1.396, P=0.163). Preoperative hemoglobin level (OR=1.975, P=0.005) and the ratio of blood loss/EBV (OR=5.392, P<0.001) were independent risk factors leading to the irrational allogeneic RBC transfusion.Conclusions The irrationality of allogeneic RBC transfusion existed in ICS patients, which may be associated with the preoperative hemoglobin level and the ratio of blood loss to EBV. Determining the HGB levels before transfusion is required to avoid unnecessary blood administration. Doctors should keep their knowledge in blood management updated and improve their awareness of rational transfusion for a better patients care.
Abstract:Objects The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of short-term high-dose atorvastatin therapy on levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), malonaldehyde (MDA), endothelin-1(ET-1), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients with first time attack of acute anterior myocardial infarction (AAMI) .Methods A hundred and three patients with first time attack of AAMI who underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention were randomized to receive atorvastatin 40 mg once daily for 1 week followed by 20 mg once daily (intensive treatment group, IT group, n=49), or atorvastatin 20 mg once daily (standard treatment group, ST group, n=54). Plasma levels of hs-CRP, MDA, ET-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured on admission, at 1 week, 2 weeks and 6 months follow up and compared between the IT group and ST group. Echocardiography was performed on admission, at 2 week, and 1 year follow up. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured at each echocardiographic examination and compared between the IT group and ST group.Results Plasma levels of hs-CRP (F=7.718, P=0.009), ET-1 (F=7.882, P=0.006), MMP-9 (F=4.834, P=0.028) and pro-BNP (F=4.603, P=0.032) were significantly lower at 1 week after initial onset of AAMI in the IT group compared with the ST group. The changes of LVEDV, LVESV, and LVEF at the 1 year follow-up from the admission did not differ between the IT group and the ST group (t=0.722, P=0.444; t=1.228, P=0.221; t=1.354, P=0.187, repectively).Conclusions Short-term high-dose atorvastatin treatment for AAMI was associated with lower hs-CRP, ET-1 and MMP-9 levels compared to the standard dose treatment. However, this beneficial effect is not likely to related to the left ventricular remodeling.
Abstract:Objective The aims of this study were to assess incidences and characteristics of arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs) and venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) in Chinese patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN), and to identify the predisposing risk factors of them.Methods A total of 766 consecutive Chinese patients with IMN were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. The cumulative incidences of newly diagnosed ATEs and VTEs were calculated using Kaplan-Meier methods. Univariable risk prediction model analysis followed by multivariable survival analysis was used to evaluate the potential risk factors of ATE and VTE.Results At 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 5 years after biopsy diagnosis of IMN, the cumulative incidence of newly diagnosed ATEs were 4.3%, 5.7%, 6.3%, 7.1%, and 8.0%, and of newly diagnosed VTEs were 5.9%, 6.8%, 6.9%, 7.0%, and 7.2%, respectively. In 78 ATEs events (71 patients), cardiovascular diseases, thrombotic ischemic stroke (IS) and peripheral artery disease accounted for 50%, 45% and 5% respectively; in 60 VTEs events(53 patients), the deep vein thrombosis, renal vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism accounted for 60%, 13% and 27% respectively. At the time of event, 42.1% patients with ATEs and 81.5% patients with VTEs were at nephrotic syndrome(NS) status (χ 2=18.1, P<0.001). Severe proteinuria, aging, smoking, hypertension and prior ATE history were associated with ATEs. Aging was demonstrated as the independent risk factor for ATEs (P=0.001), and hypoalbuminemia was the dominant independent risk factor for VTEs (P=0.03). Conclusions Patients with IMN have increased incidences of ATEs and VTEs, and most of events occurred within the first 6 months of the disease. IS was very common in ATEs in our cohort. Severe proteinuria and classic risk factors for atherosclerosis were associated with onset of ATEs. Hypoalbuminemia independently predicted VTEs. Risks of both ATEs and VTEs were particularly high in the status of NS, particularly VTEs.
Abstract:Objective The precise cortical thinning pattern has not been elucidated for onset subtypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The current study aimed to investigate the altered cortical thickness signatures of the bulbar-onset and spinal-onset ALS using surface-based morphometry, and the correlation between the cortical thickness of positive brain regions and clinical variables of the patients.Methods MR structural images were obtained from 65 ALS patients (15 bulbar-onset, 50 spinal-onset) and 65 normal controls (NCs) on a 3.0T MRI system. The structural images were segmented into gray matter and white matter based on DARTEL method and the central cortical surfaces were reconstructed using projection-based thickness method. The surface-based morphometry was performed to identify the alteration of cortical thickness in overall ALS patients, bulbar-onset ALS patients and spinal-onset ALS patients comparing to the NCs. The correlation analysis was applied between the clinical variables and the mean cortical thickness of the abnormal brain regions with age and sex as covariates.Results The cortex thinning of ALS patients was located in the left precentral gyrus, left postcentral gyrus, right gyrus rectus and right medial precentral gyrus. The bulbar-onset ALS (ALS-bulbar) presented motor cortex thinning of left precentral gyrus and right supplementary motor cortex, and the spinal-onset ALS (ALS-spinal) suffered from extra-motor cortex thinning of left posterior insula and right gyrus rectus. In ALS patients, the thickness of right gyrus rectus was negatively correlated to disease duration (r=-0.311, P=0.013), the thickness of right precentral gyrus was positively correlated to the score of ALS functional rating score-revise (ALSFRS-R) (r=0.271, P=0.032). The thickness of motor cortices in ALS-bulbar were not correlated to disease duration and ALSFRS-R score; the thickness of extra-motor cortices in ALS-spinal were negatively correlated to the disease duration (left insula, r=-0.409, P=0.004; right gyrus rectus, r=-0.351, P=0.014).Conclusion The findings suggested that bilateral motor cortex thinning presented in bulbar-onset ALS and extra-motor cortex thinning presented in spinal-onset ALS. The motor cortex thinning may be the intrinsic pathophysiological change that associated to the disease disability, and extra-motor cortex thinning may be secondary pathophysiological change that associated to disease duration.
Abstract:Objective To investigate whether red ginseng extract can affect the pharmacokinetics of aspirin in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.Methods Totally, 12 male SD rats were randomly and uniformly divided into the aspirin group (aspirin 10.42 mg·kg -1) and the combined group (red ginseng extraction 0.5 mg·g -1 + aspirin 10.42 mg·kg -1). After intragastric administration of drugs, blood samples (0.5 ml once) were drawn from orbit at 0.083, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours after dosing. Plasma concentration of salicylic acid (metabolite of aspirin) was detected with ultraviolet-visible high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The reliability of the procedure was verified with respect to specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, extraction recovery and matrix effect, and stability. Pharmacokinetics of salicylic acid was evaluated by using non-compartmental model. Results The method was proved to be validated. Compared with the aspirin group, area under the curve (AUC 0-t) and maximum concentration of salicylic acid in rats of the combined group increased obviously (P<0.01), while clearance rate (CLz/F) decreased clearly (P<0.05).Conclusion The in vivo study showed that red ginseng extract can help the internal absorption of aspirin, and delay the in vivo metabolism of aspirin.
Abstract:Chronic diseases are global threats to human health. By applying the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory of body constitution to the treatment of chronic diseases, and comprehensively identifying and differentiating the syndrome, disease, and constitution, TCM can be fully used in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases. In this manner, population-based and evidence-based modern medicine can organically align with the individual-focused and speculation-based TCM, with subsequent benefits for the control of chronic diseases, reducing their burden on human health.
Keywords:body constitution;traditional Chinese medicine;sub-health;chronic disease;syndrome
Abstract:Patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) and concurrent coronary heart disease (CHD) are not rare in clinic. The main challenge in the treatment for these patients is that the antithrombotic therapies for VTE and CHD are different from each other, but the combination of the two therapeutic strategies would increase the risk of bleeding. There is a need to optimize the antithrombotic therapeutic scheme on the basis of individual conditional, in order to balance the therapeutic effects and the bleeding risk. This article discussed the appropriate antithrombotic therapy when balancing the effectiveness and the risk in different circumstance of concurrence of VTE and CHD, such as combining anticoagulation therapy, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT), thrombolytic therapy and extending therapy, in order to provide safe, standard and effective therapeutic schemes for the clinical management of these patients. In the meantime, this article also provides perspectives regarding the application of novel non-vitamin K anticoagulants (NOACs) and the assessment tools of bleeding risk.
Abstract:This case study describes a 25-year-old patient who had a witnessed cardiac arrest in the medical intensive care unit. The patient received 107 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation before the veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated. During extracorporeal life support, the patient’s cardiac function improved. The patient was weaned from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on day 6 and was discharged without physical and neurological complications on day 28. The successful resuscitation in this case attributed to high-quality CCPR and timely ECMO support.
Abstract:The diagnosis of the recurrent optic neuritis is commonly established clinically, and sometimes it could be challenging because the involved optic nerve does not always show significant enhancement on conventional contrast enhanced-T1 weighted imaging (CE-T1WI). In this paper, we reported a middle-aged female with early diagnosis of recurrent optic neuritis using contrast-enhanced T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging (CE-T2FLAIR). The involved optic nerve presented evident enhancement on CE-T2FLAIR and no enhancement on CE-T1WI. This case suggested that the CE-T2FLAIR may be a useful diagnostic tool specifically for the recurrent optic neuritis in clinical practice.