Atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveNew-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery is common, with rates up to 60%. POAF has been associated with early and late stroke, but its association with other cardiovascular outcomes is less known. The objective was to perform a meta-analysis of the studies reporting the association of POAF with perioperative and long-term outcomes in patients with cardiac surgery.MethodsWe performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis of studies that presented outcomes for cardiac surgery on the basis of the presence or absence of POAF. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were assessed; 57 studies (246,340 patients) were selected. Perioperative mortality was the primary outcome. Inverse variance method and random model were performed. Leave-one-out analysis, subgroup analyses, and metaregression were conducted.ResultsPOAF was associated with perioperative mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58-2.33), perioperative stroke (OR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.90-2.49), perioperative myocardial infarction (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06-1.54), perioperative acute renal failure (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 2.42-3.11), hospital (standardized mean difference, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.53-1.07) and intensive care unit stay (standardized mean difference, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.24-0.86), long-term mortality (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.54; 95% CI, 1.40-1.69), long-term stroke (IRR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.21-1.46), and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (IRR, 4.73; 95% CI, 3.36-6.66).ConclusionsThe results suggest that POAF after cardiac surgery is associated with an increased occurrence of most short- and long-term cardiovascular adverse events. However, the causality of this association remains to be established.     

Prostatic Artery Embolization—Anatomic Predictors of Technical Outcomes

PurposeTo determine if cone-beam CT and digital subtraction angiography analysis of pelvic arterial anatomy has predictive value for radiation exposure and technical success of prostatic artery embolization (PAE).Materials and MethodsThis prospective, nonrandomized, single-center study included 104 consecutive patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cone-beam CT was performed in 160/208 (76.9%) hemipelves to determine prostatic artery (PA) origin. Classification of pelvic arterial tortuosity was possible in 73/104 (70.2%) patients. Learning curves of 2 interventionalists who performed 86.5% of PAEs were analyzed.ResultsTortuosity of pelvic arteries was classified as mild in 25 (34.2%) patients median age 64 years, moderate in 40 (54.8%) patients median age 69 years, and severe in 8 (11.0%) patients median age 70 years (mild vs moderate, P = .002; mild vs severe, P = .019); median fluoroscopy times were 24, 36, and 46 minutes (P = .008, P = .023); median contrast volumes were 105, 122.5, and 142 mL (P = .029, P = .064); and bilateral PAE rates were 84.0%, 77.5%, and 62.5% (P = .437), respectively. PA origin from superior vesical artery was most frequent (27.5%) and showed higher dose area product (median 402.4 vs 218 Gy ∙ cm², P = .033) and fluoroscopy time (median 42.5 vs 27 min, P = .01) compared with PA origin from obturator artery, which was least frequent. Interventionalist experience revealed significant impact on procedure times (median 159 vs 130 min, P = .006).ConclusionsTortuosity of pelvic arteries was more frequent in older patients and predicted worse technical outcomes of PAE. PA origin from obturator artery was associated with lower dose area product and fluoroscopy time, especially compared with PA origin from superior vesical artery. Interventionalist experience showed significant influence on technical outcome.     

Biomedical microelectromechanical systems (BioMEMS): Revolution in drug delivery and analytical techniques

Advancement in microelectromechanical system has facilitated the microfabrication of polymeric substrates and the development of the novel class of controlled drug delivery devices. These vehicles have specifically tailored three dimensional physical and chemical features which together, provide the capacity to target cell, stimulate unidirectional controlled release of therapeutics and augment permeation across the barriers. Apart from drug delivery devices microfabrication technology’s offer exciting prospects to generate biomimetic gastrointestinal tract models. BioMEMS are capable of analysing biochemical liquid sample like solution of metabolites, macromolecules, proteins, nucleic acid, cells and viruses. This review summarized multidisciplinary application of biomedical microelectromechanical systems in drug delivery and its potential in analytical procedures.     

高渗盐水和甘露醇在动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血患者降低颅内压中的应用

目的比较3%高渗盐水和20%甘露醇治疗重症动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血所致颅内压增高的疗效.方法25例动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血患者出现颅内压增高事件时, 随机交替接受等渗透剂量的160 mL 3%高渗盐水与150 mL 20%甘露醇进行降低颅内压治疗, 连续监测患者颅内压、平均动脉压、脑灌注压及中心静脉压.记录有效降低颅内压持续时间、颅内压最大降幅及其时间, 用药前及用药后1 h、3 h血钠水平及血浆渗透压.结果3%高渗盐水和20%甘露醇均可降低颅内压(均 P < 0.01), 两者的降低颅内压作用持续时间及颅内压降幅差异均无统计学意义(均 P >0.05).患者脑灌注压较用药前均上升(均 P < 0.01), 平均动脉压先上升后下降, 但差异无统计学意义( P >0.05).患者中心静脉压稍有波动, 但差异均无统计学意义(均 P >0.05).20%甘露醇治疗后患者血钠下降, 3%高渗盐水治疗后患者血钠值上升, 变化均有统计学意义(均 P < 0.05).20%甘露醇及3%高渗盐水治疗后患者血浆渗透压均先上升后下降, 变化均有统计学意义(均 P < 0.01). 结论3%高渗盐水可作为治疗动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血所致颅内压增高患者的一线治疗药物.     

《艾滋病诊疗指南第三版(2015版)》更新解读

2015年中华医学会感染病学分会艾滋病学组发布了第三版《艾滋病诊疗指南》。新版指南强调抗病毒治疗时点前移:一旦成人确诊感染人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV), 若无禁忌宜尽早启动抗HIV治疗。对于合并机会性感染的HIV感染者, 在感染控制、病情稳定后也应及早开始抗病毒治疗。尤其强调HIV合并结核患者在CD4阳性淋巴细胞数少于200/μL的情况下, 建议抗结核两周内即开始抗病毒治疗。在抗HIV治疗用药中, 淘汰了一些毒副作用大、依从性较差的药物, 如司他夫定、去羟肌苷、茚地那韦等, 优选抗病毒效力强、服药方便的组合, 如拉米夫定、替诺福韦、依非韦伦组合。对于HIV感染的婴幼儿, 亦主张及早抗HIV治疗。对于五岁以内的幼儿, 主张确诊后即启动抗病毒治疗。对于HIV感染的孕产妇, 建议尽快予以全程、联合抗HIV治疗, 寓防于治。     

Transarterial Chemoembolization vs Radioembolization for Neuroendocrine Liver Metastases: A Multi-Institutional Analysis

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