血管回声跟踪技术评价冠心病患者颈动脉弹性与肱动脉内皮功能的相关性

目的探讨颈动脉弹性参数与肱动脉内皮功能的相关性。方法冠心病组、冠状动脉粥样硬化组、健康对照组各30例,回声跟踪技术检测颈动脉弹性参数：压力应变弹性系数（Ep）、硬化参数（β）、顺应性（AC）、脉搏波传导速度（PWVβ）和增大指数（AI）;肱动脉袖带加压检测血流介导的内皮依赖性血管舒张功能（FMD）。结果冠心病、冠状动脉粥样硬化患者Ep、β、PWVβ均较对照组增高,AC、FMD减低（P〈0．01）;所有受试者、冠心病组、冠状动脉粥样硬化组、对照组的FMD分别与Ep、β、PWVβ呈负相关,与AC呈正相关,与AI无相关性。结论颈动脉弹性各参数与肱动脉内皮功能呈高度相关,提示回声跟踪技术能早期、定量反映冠心病患者血管的改变,是评价血管内皮功能简便实用的方法。     

血管回声跟踪技术评价2型糖尿病患者外周大血管内皮功能

目的 利用血管回声跟踪技术(E-Tracking)评价2型糖尿病患者外周大血管内皮功能.方法 血管回声跟踪技术检测糖尿病组、正常对照组共计99例,测定动脉弹性系数(Ep)、硬化值(β)及顺应性(AC),定量评价颈、肱、股动脉血管弹性功能.结果 糖尿病组颈、肱、股动脉的Ep、β高于正常对照组,AC低于正常对照组(P<0.01);肱动脉Ep、β高于正常对照组(P<0.05),AC与正常对照组无明显差别(P>0.05).结论 血管回声跟踪技术能准确评价2型糖尿病患者早期的血管内皮功能改变.     

超声对2型糖尿病上下肢动脉内皮功能损伤的对比研究

目的 应用高频超声分别检测并比较2型糖尿病(2DM)患者肱动脉和腘动脉血流介导的内皮舒张功能(Flow-mediated vasodilation,FMD),为临床提供其内皮功能障碍的可靠依据.方法 对50例2DM患者和65例正常人,应用高频超声分别检测肱动脉和腘动脉基础内径、基础状态峰值流速、反应性充血后最大血管内径、峰值流速,分别计算FMD并进行比较.结果 (1)2DM组肱动脉及腘动脉FMD均明显小于正常对照组[(肱动脉:(4.03±1.12)% vs (8.90±2.02)%,P<0.01];腘动脉:[(3.64±1.30)% vs (5.91±1.05)%,P<0.01)];(2)2DM患者腘动脉FMD明显小于肱动脉FMD[(3.64±1.30)% vs (4.03±1.12)%,P<0.01)].结论 2DM时内皮依赖性血管舒张功能明显受损,尤以下肢FMD受损更明显.     

血管回声跟踪技术评价2型糖尿病合并肥胖患者血管内皮功能

目的 利用血管回声跟踪技术(E-Tracking)评价超重、肥胖对2型糖尿病患者外周大血管内皮功能的影响.方法 血管回声跟踪技术检测糖尿病合并超重肥胖组(A组)、糖尿病未合并超重肥胖组(B组)和正常对照组共计160例,测定动脉弹性系数(Eρ)、硬化值(β) 及顺应性(AC),定量评价颈、肱、股动脉血管弹性功能.结果 A组颈、肱、股动脉的Eρ、β值高于B组和正常对照组(P＜0.05),AC低于B组和正常对照组(P＜0.05);B组颈、肱、股动脉Eρ、β值高于正常对照组(P＜0.05),颈、股动脉AC值低于正常对照组(P＜0.01),肱动脉AC值与正常对照组无明显差别(P＞0.05). 结论超重、肥胖促进2型糖尿病患者血管内皮功能进一步受损.     

非诺贝特对冠心病患者血管内皮依赖性舒张功能及血清NO浓度的影响

【目的】探讨冠心病患者血管内皮功能及血清NO浓度的变化及非诺贝特干预的影响。【方法】用高分辨超声技术检测各组对象的肱动脉内皮依赖性舒张功能,并测定血清NO浓度,药物非诺贝特干预8周后复测上述指标。【结果】与正常对照组比较,冠心病患者肱动脉内皮依赖性血管舒张功能明显减退(P<0.01),血清NO浓度降低(P<0.01)。非诺贝特可改善内皮血管依赖性舒张功能[(8.09±4.30)%vs(2.51±1.30)%,P<0.01],升高血清NO浓度[(66.43±17.87)μmol/Lvs(49.12±17.81)μmol/L,P<0.01],并且血管内皮依赖性舒张功能与血清NO浓度正相关(r=0.741,P<0.001)。【结论】冠心病患者肱动脉内皮依赖性血管舒张功能明显减退,血清NO浓度降低。非诺贝特通过增加血清NO浓度改善冠心病患者的血管内皮功能,该作用可能是贝特类调脂药防治冠心病的机制之一。     

高血压患者血管内皮舒张功能与动脉弹性的关系研究

目的探讨高血压病患者血管内皮功能障碍与动脉弹性的关系。方法采用高分辨率血管超声法检测80例高血压病患者与40例正常对照组肱动脉血流介导的内皮依赖性血管舒张功能（EDD）;应用动脉弹性功能检测仪测定受试者的大动脉弹性指数（C1）和小动脉弹性指数（C2）。结果高血压病组血流介导的肱动脉舒张反应明显低于对照组[（5.46±3.12）%与（12.12±5.21）%,P〈0.01];高血压病组与正常对照组的C1差异无统计学意义[（10.75±5.12）ml/mmHg×10与（12.09±4.15）ml/mmHg×10,P〉0.05],但高血压病组的C2明显低于正常对照组[（3.42±1.87）ml/mmHg×100与（5.48±2.67）ml/mmHg×100,P〈0.01],高血压病组血流介导的肱动脉舒张反应与C2呈正相关（r=0.4852,P〈0.05）。结论高血压病患者肱动脉内皮依赖血管舒张功能受损和C2降低,且两者之间呈正相关,提示C2可作为一种评价血管内皮功能的新指标。     

高分辨超声技术评价冠心病患者血管内皮功能的临床研究

目的探讨冠心病患者血管内皮依赖性及非内皮依赖性舒张功能的变化。方法对30名冠心病患者和20名正常人采用高分辨超声技术测量反应性充血和含服硝酸甘油后肱动脉的内径变化,评价血流介导的肱动脉舒张功能和硝酸甘油介导的肱动脉舒张功能。结果冠心病患者组的血流介导的肱动脉舒张反应比(3.68±1.91%)和硝酸甘油介导的肱动脉舒张反应比(16.33±3.33%)与对照组比较(分别为6.37±3.59%和23.31±6.63%)显著低于对照组(P<0.01)。另外,线性回归分析结果显示:冠心病患者组的血流介导的肱动脉舒张功能与低密度脂蛋白、肱动脉基础直径呈负相关(r=-0.377,P<0.05;r=-0.422,P<0.05),硝酸甘油介导的肱动脉舒张反应与肱动脉基础直径呈负相关(r=-0.386,P<0.05)。结论冠心病患者血管内皮依赖性及非内皮依赖性舒张功能均受损,肱动脉超声法检测血管舒张功能可用于对冠心病患者内皮功能的评价。     

高血压病左室舒张功能与血管内皮功能的关系

目的:研究高血压病患者左室舒张功能与血管内皮功能改变之间的关系.方法:研究对象包括46例高血压病患者和20例健康对照者.应用高分辨率超声测量肱动脉充血后反应性扩张(DTRH)和含服硝酸甘油后血管内径的变化(DTNG).应用脉冲多普勒检测二尖瓣口血流及肺静脉血流频谱,测量二尖瓣舒张早期峰值血流速度(Ep)、舒张晚期峰值血流速度(Ap)和两者之比(Ep/Ap)、E峰减速时间(DT)及心房收缩期肺静脉反转血流峰值速度(Ar).检测等容舒张时间(IVRT).将患者分为左室舒张功能正常组(Ep/Ap＞l,Ar正常且DT和IVRT正常)和异常组(Ep/Ap＜1或Ep/Ap＞1且Ar异常或IVRT异常或DT异常).结果:高血压病患者DTRH均低于健康对照者(P＜0.01),且左室舒张异常的患者DTRH较左室舒张功能正常的患者显著减小[(4.70±1.86)%vs.(7.38±2.42)%,P＜0.01].而DTNG及年龄、血压、血脂、血糖的差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).相关分析显示:患者DTRH与Ep/Ap、Ep、Ap、Ar、DT、IVRT均存在有意义的相关性(Jp＜0.01).结论:高血压病患者左室舒张功能的改变与血管内皮功能变化密切相关,血管内皮功能障碍可能在左室舒张功能不全的发生发展中起作用.     

规律有氧运动对2型糖尿病患者内皮依赖性扩张功能的影响

目的探讨规律有氧运动对2型糖尿病患者的内皮功能的影响。方法 110例2型糖尿病患者分为运动试验组(n=58)和对照组(n=52),对照组给予单纯糖尿病常规治疗,运动试验组为糖尿病常规治疗的基础上,选择规律有氧运动锻炼(快步走、慢跑、太极拳及游泳等),比较经过6个月有氧运动锻炼后的试验组患者和对照组患者肱动脉内皮依赖性扩张(FMD)和非内皮依赖性舒张功能(NMD)的差异以及运动试验组与对照组患者自身6个月前后各指标的变化。结果经过6个月的规律有氧运动后,运动试验组患者的空腹血糖、HbA1c、体重、BMI、腰臀比和甘油三酯(TG)较有氧运动前下降(P<0.05),肱动脉FMD提高[(6.45±2.83)%vs.(5.20±2.61)%,P=0.019],肱动脉NMD没有变化[(13.78±7.30)%vs.(12.99±6.32)%,P=0.413];与对照组比较,运动试验组患者空腹血糖、HbA1c、体重、BMI和TG低于对照组(P<0.05),肱动脉FMD高于对照组[(6.45±2.83)%vs.(5.37±2.29)%,P=0.033],NMD在两组间没有统计学差异[(13.78±7.30)%vs.(12.67±7.09)%,P=0.245];未进行有氧运动锻炼的对照组在6个月前后FMD和NMD没有明显变化(P>0.05)。结论有氧运动能帮助2型糖尿病患者降低血糖水平,控制体重,对提高内皮功能有积极的影响。     

血管回声追踪技术评价亚临床甲状腺功能减退患者颈动脉血管内皮功能

目的 探讨血管回声追踪(E-Tracking)技术评价亚临床甲状腺功能减退患者颈动脉血管内皮功能的应用价值.方法 38例亚临床甲状腺功能减退患者及60例正常者,应用E-Tracking技术检测双侧颈总动脉弹性模量(Ep)、僵硬度(β)、顺应性(AC)、膨大系数(AI)及脉搏波传导速度(PWVβ).结果 亚临床甲状腺功能减退组Ep、β、AI、PWVβ与正常对照组比较明显升高,AC降低,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 亚临床甲状腺功能减退患者易发生早期动脉血管内皮功能损伤,E-Tracking技术有助于早期发现及定量分析.     

Guns and Knives in New Mexico: Patterns of Penetrating Trauma, 1978–1993

Objective: To identify patterns of nonfatal and fatal penetrating trauma among children and adults in New Mexico using ED and medical examiner data.
Methods: The authors retrospectively sampled in 5-year intervals all victims of penetrating trauma who presented to either the state Level-1 trauma center or the state medical examiner from a 16-year period (1978–1993). Rates of nonfatal and fatal firearm and stabbing injury were compared for children and adults.
Results: Rates of nonfatal injury were similar (firearm, 34.3 per 100,000 person-years; stabbing, 35.1). However, rates of fatal injury were significantly different (firearm, 21.9; stabbing, 2.7; relative risk: 8.2; 95% confidence interval: 5.4, 12.5). From 1978 to 1993, nonfatal injury rates increased for children (p = 0.0043) and adults (p < 0.0001), while fatal penetrating injury remained constant. The increase in nonfatal injury in children resulted from increased firearm injury rates. In adults, both stabbing and firearm nonfatal injury rates increased.
Conclusions: Nonfatal injury data suggest that nonfatal violence has increased; fatal injury data suggest that violent death rates have remained constant. Injury patterns vary by age, mechanism of trauma, and data source. These results suggest that ED and medical examiner data differ and that both are needed to guide injury prevention programs.     

Interprofessional approaches to creating safe,high quality health care

Three supplementary perspectives are presented arguing that interprofessional collaboration is both necessary and desirable. Nonetheless, there are often too many serious intra-professional barriers and obstacles to interprofessional collaboration to make it successful. Some of these barriers, it is argued and illustrated, are found in the multiple ways in which professional identity is tacitly acquired and embodied in the practitioners' habitual, everyday practice. The paper then explores ways in which reflection, especially Second order reflection, can help to elucidate and overcome these obstacles, as well as increasing professional adaptability and competence.     

Systematic Reviews Published in the January 2011 Issue of The Cochrane Library

ABSTRACT

The Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews is published quarterly as a DVD and monthly online. The January 2011 issue (first quarterly DVD for 2011) contains 4515 complete reviews, 1985 protocols for reviews in production, and 13,521 one-page summaries of systematic reviews published in the general medical literature. In addition, there are citations of 641,000 randomized controlled trials, and 14,018 cited papers in the Cochrane methodology register. The health technology assessment database contains over 9300 citations. One hundred and seven new reviews have been published in the last 3 months, of which five have potential relevance for practitioners in pain and palliative medicine.     

Prospects for the control of neglected tropical diseases by mass drug administration

The prospects for the control of neglected tropical diseases, including soil-transmitted helminthiasis, shistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and trachoma, through mass drug administration, are exemplified by the elimination of the trachoma as a public-health problem in Morocco. In spite of this and other striking successes, mass drug administration programs are faced with major challenges resulting from suboptimal coverage and lack of efficacy. At current suboptimal coverage rates, programs may need prolongation for an extended period, increasing costs and undermining sustainability. Community participation through health education and information appears to be crucial to improve coverage and to achieve sustainability. Implementation of complementary measures, such as vector control, improved hygiene and environmental sanitation, are important to further control transmission and to prevent re-emergence of the infection and, again, may only be achieved effectively through community-based initiatives. To reduce costs and to relieve pressure on the health system, combining neglected tropical disease programs in areas where diseases coexist and integration with existing control programs for malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS is advocated. The risk of developing drug resistance is of particular concern in view of the lack of alternative drugs, and reduced treatment efficacy due to emerging resistance is evident for the soil-transmitted helminths and onchocerciasis. Given the risk for the development of drug resistance and the need for a high degree of participation, close attention should be paid to the monitoring of the coverage and efficacy of the different program components.     

Bacterial meningitis: an update of new treatment options

The outcome of bacterial meningitis critically depends on the rapid initiation of bactericidal antibiotic therapy and adequate management of septic shock. In community-acquired meningitis, the choice of an optimum initial empirical antibiotic regimen depends on the regional resistance patterns. Pathogens resistant to antibacterials prevail in nosocomial bacterial meningitis. Dexamethasone is recommended as adjunctive therapy for community-acquired meningitis in developed countries. In comatose patients, aggressive measures to lower intracranial pressure <20 mmHg (in particular, external ventriculostomy, osmotherapy and temporary hyperventilation) were effective in a case–control study. Although many experimental approaches were protective in animal models, none of them has been proven effective in patients. Antibiotics, which are bactericidal but do not lyse bacteria, and inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases or complement factor C5 appear the most promising therapeutic options. At present, vaccination is the most efficient method to reduce disease burden. Palmitoylethanolamide appears promising to enhance the resistance of the brain to infections.     

Prise en charge des entorses externes de cheville : étude clinique préliminaire sur l’efficacité du dispositif Myolux™

Ankle sprains are the most common injury of the musculoskeletal system and are associated with significant societal and economic impacts. It has been proven that classical therapeutic strategies may not be effective in preventing recurrent injuries: the recurrence rates reported in the literature can reach 73%. In order to provide an effective rehabilitation solution, a destabilizing orthosis was developed. This device is equipped with a mechanical articulator reproducing the subtalar mechanics and placed under the heel. In this paper, we present the main results of a preliminary clinical study conducted between 2004 and 2007. All subjects included in this study were treated with the abovementioned orthosis during 10 rehabilitation sessions of 30 minutes each. Data show a relatively low recurrence rate of 12% for the overall population. Moreover, it's of primary importance to note that this satisfactory ratio is largely reduced (3% of recurrence rate) for the 29 patients who performed one training session per month after the 10th initial rehabilitation sessions. Hence, the destabilizing orthosis appears to be an effective solution to prevent recurrent ankle sprains. However, joint protection requires long-term and regular training sessions. This result has motivated the development of a similar device allowing patients to perform training sessions at home. Finally, data obtained in this study are promising awaiting the final results of the comparative, multicentric and independent clinical trials currently managed by the Hospices Civils de Lyon.     

Imaging choices in occult hip fracture

Background: Hip fracture is a common injury, with an incidence rate of > 250,000 per year in the United States. Diagnosis is particularly important due to the high dependence on the integrity of the hip in the daily life of most people. Objectives: In this article we review the literature focused on hip fracture detection and discuss advantages and limitations of each major imaging modality. Discussion: Plain radiographs are usually sufficient for diagnosis as they are at least 90% sensitive for hip fracture. However, in the 3–4% of Emergency Department (ED) patients having hip X-ray studies who harbor an occult hip fracture, the Emergency Physician must choose among several methods, each with intrinsic limitations, for further evaluation. These methods include computed tomography, scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion: We present an evidence-based algorithm for the evaluation of a patient suspected to have an occult hip fracture in the ED. Also outlined are future directions for research to distinguish more effective techniques for identifying occult hip fractures.     

Systematic Reviews Published in the April 2012 Issue of the Cochrane Library

ABSTRACT

The Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews is published quarterly as a DVD but monthly online. The April 2012 issue (second DVD for 2012) contains 5045 complete reviews, 2182 protocols for reviews in production, and 17,084 short summaries of systematic reviews published in the general medical literature. In addition, there are citations of 674,000 randomized controlled trials, and 15,400 cited papers in the Cochrane methodology register. The health technology assessment database contains just over 11,000 citations. One hundred and seventeen new reviews have been published in the last 3 months of which 12 have potential relevance for practitioners in pain and palliative medicine. The impact factor of the Cochrane Library stands at 6.186. Readers are encouraged to access the full report for any articles of interest as only a brief commentary is provided.     

Platelets,thrombosis, coagulation,and atherosclerosis

When I first got the invitation to join a medical delegation going to Moldova, I thought for a moment that our destination was the fictional country in the old Marx Brothers movie Duck Soup. On further checking, it turns out that entertaining place was called Freedonia. I now know that Moldova is indeed a real country, bordered on the west by Romania and on the other three sides by the Ukraine. It is a proud country, rich with traditions, and its people are warm, giving, eager to learn ways to improve their healthcare system, and deeply appreciative of our attempts to help them in the task.