Case Study of Phrenic Nerve Paralysis: “I Can't Breathe!”

BackgroundThe anatomic course of the phrenic nerve runs in the fascia covering the anterior scalene muscle. Interscalene blocks are commonly performed by an anesthesiologist for shoulder surgery, such as a rotator cuff repair, total shoulder replacement, humeral fracture, or other arm surgery. Phrenic nerve palsy or paralysis is a known complication from interscalene block and is covered in multiple case reports and series in both Anesthesia and Neurosurgical literature, but only one case report in the Emergency Medicine literature.Case ReportThis case involves a 57-year-old man who had an uncomplicated arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with placement of interscalene block under care of anesthesia. He was discharged with a pain pump in place and then subsequently presented to the Emergency Department (ED) later that same day for evaluation of dyspnea. Using point-of-care ultrasound, his right diaphragm did not appear to be moving. Chest x-ray study revealed an elevated right hemidiaphragm. He was diagnosed with iatrogenic right phrenic nerve paralysis from interscalene block.Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?Emergent diagnosis of phrenic nerve paralysis in the ED is complicated by a distressed patient and need for quick intervention. Most formal tests for this diagnosis are not immediately available to emergency physicians. Ultrasound is a rapid and reproducible, noninvasive resource with high sensitivity and specificity, making it an ideal imaging modality for the emergent evaluation of possible phrenic nerve palsy or paralysis.     

微滴式数字PCR和实时荧光定量PCR对新型冠状病毒肺炎患者不同时间血便尿中核酸检测结果初步探讨

目的 分析微滴式数字PCR(droplet digital PCR, ddPCR)和实时荧光定量PCR(quantitative real-time PCR,qPCR)的核酸检测结果,比较两种方法检测各类样本的差异性,为改进新型冠状病毒核酸检测方案提供数据支持。 方法 利用ddPCR和qPCR技术对已经确诊的3例新型冠状病毒肺炎患者发病不同时间的全血、尿液、粪便共22份标本进行新型冠状病毒核酸检测。 结果 两种方法对人保守区域基因扩增结果一致:全血标本信号最强,尿液次之,粪便最少;ddPCR在1份全血,1份尿液,5份粪便中检出ORF-1ab和N基因的阳性微滴,qPCR仅在3份粪便中检出上述基因,漏检的3个标本基因拷贝数平均浓度为128 copies/ml;ddPCR在发病<5、5~15、>15 d的各类标本中都有检出,qPCR检出以中晚期为主;重症病例用ddPCR均可测到阳性微滴,qPCR检测的各类标本均为阴性;轻症病例的各类标本中qPCR只有粪便核酸检测阳性,ddPCR检出率高于qPCR。 结论 ddPCR可以有效克服qPCR 灵敏度不足的难题,是对qPCR 的有益补充,尤其是针对病毒载量比较低的血液、尿液和可疑的粪便或肛拭子标本,适用于早期感染的判断及患者治愈后出院诊断。     

Effects of synthetic and biological disease modifying antirheumatic drugs on lipid and lipoprotein parameters in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

BackgroundDyslipidemia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is frequently observed, and treatment with anti-rheumatic drugs has an impact on lipid profiles. Pathophysiologically, inflammation leads to decreased blood lipids and lipoproteins; RA treatment reduces inflammation and therefore may increase lipids and lipoproteins. Whether the lipid changes with RA treatment confer an increased risk of cardiovascular disease or just reflect their potentially atheroprotective anti-inflammatory effect is currently unclear due to limited and conflicting data.ObjectiveThe aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the effects of synthetic and biological disease modifying antirheumatic drugs for the treatment of RA on lipid and lipoprotein parameters.ResultsRecent studies on methotrexate emphasize its anti-atherogenic effect. Golimumab combined with methotrexate revealed a trend towards an anti-atherogenic potential. The known pro-atherogenic lipid-spectrum alterations caused by tofacitinib can be effectively treated with atorvastatin. Tocilizumab signals a favorable impact on the extent of lipid modifications when combined with methotrexate. Abatacept indicated a trend towards an anti-atherogenic lipid profile demonstrated by favorable effects on HDL-C and on the TC/HDL-C ratio. Rituximab has beneficial effects on HDL-C and ApoA1, as well as on the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio.Clinical implicationsAnti-rheumatic drugs have various effects on lipid parameters, which in part appear pro-atherogenic. However, because many of these lipid changes may well reflect their potentially atheroprotective anti-inflammatory action the cardiovascular impact of these changes remains unclear. Whatsoever, cardiovascular safety trials for antirheumatic drugs would be valuable.     

结直肠癌化疗患者营养状况及营养治疗研究进展

结直肠癌是常见的消化道肿瘤，其营养不良发生率高且严重。化疗是结直肠癌常见治疗方式之一，并与营养不良独立相关，化疗后患营养不良风险增大且营养不良进一步加重。同时，营养不良可导致患者化疗疗效差及预后不良，并增加化疗相关不良反应、影响患者生活质量及降低生存率等。营养治疗能够有效改善患者营养状况，在肿瘤综合治疗中有重要作用，且多学科团队合作是有效的营养干预模式。目前营养治疗主要包括营养咨询、口服营养补充剂、肠内营养和肠外营养等，相关指南和研究表明在营养治疗时应首选口服营养补充剂及肠内营养，仅在采用以上治疗后仍存在营养不足或无法进行肠内营养时行肠外营养。本文主要对结直肠癌患者营养状况与化疗之间关系、营养治疗的最新研究进展及相关指南进行综述，以期引起临床上对结直肠癌化疗患者营养治疗方面重视并提供参考。     

益气化瘀解毒方对MRP、GST-π和Topo Ⅱ基因在Sorafenib获得性耐药人肝癌QGY7702细胞表达的干预研究

目的探讨益气化瘀解毒方干预后对Sorafenib获得性耐药人肝癌QGY7702细胞(QGY7702/Sora)增殖及MRP、GST-π和Topo Ⅱ基因表达的影响。方法培养QGY7702/Sora细胞和QGY7702细胞,利用Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8)法检测Sorafenib对细胞的半数抑制率浓度(IC50值),计算耐药指数RI;观察益气化瘀解毒方对耐药细胞的增殖影响;采用荧光定量PCR检测药物干预前后2种细胞中MRP、GST-π和Topo Ⅱ基因表达水平。结果亲本细胞和耐药细胞Sorafenib的IC50值分别为(7.993±0.522)μmol/L和(19.651±1.216)μmol/L,RI约为2.5。益气化瘀解毒方可抑制耐药细胞的增殖活性。2种细胞的MRP、GST-π、Topo Ⅱ表达量无明显差异(P>0.05)。Sorafenib组可促进耐药细胞MRP 、GST-π基因的过表达(P<0.05),益气化瘀解毒方组可抑制GST-π基因的过表达(P<0.01),且联合Sorafenib可显著提高Topo Ⅱ基因的表达量(P<0.01)。结论 QGY7702/Sora细胞MRP、GST-π和Topo Ⅱ的表达水平与亲本细胞无显著差异。耐药细胞对Sorafenib敏感性降低与MRP、GST-π过表达相关,而益气化瘀解毒方拮抗Sorafenib耐药与抑制GST-π过表达相关。     

Stone Disease

ObjectivesThe purpose of this review is to discuss the major findings presented at the “New Horizons in Urology” closed expert meeting, held October 2006 in Marbella, Spain, on improving the management of stone disease (renal and ureteral stones), and to summarise the consequences of these findings on improving current practice in managing stone disease.MethodsApproximately 135 European urologists attended the meeting. Data and papers discussed in recent congress meetings in 2006 were considered. Experts in the field of stone disease selected and discussed the most relevant new findings. Furthermore, the delegate's opinion on representative clinical case studies was assessed by interactive voting. An expert panel commented on voting results.ResultsAt the meeting, it was highlighted that stones that fail to pass spontaneously in a reasonable time can be treated by minimally invasive surgical procedures including extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), ureteroscopy (URS), and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL). The choice of treatment largely depends on the size and location of stones. However, treatment with URS is more frequently used for managing stone disease, and the number of SWL therapies is decreasing. Furthermore, the use of α₁-adrenoceptor antagonists as medical expulsive therapy has been shown to increase the expulsion rate and decrease the time until the stone is passed.ConclusionsMinimally invasive surgical procedures such as SWL, URS, and PNL have been widely adopted for stone removal, with each approach having its own advantages and disadvantages.     

强心力胶囊治疗充血性心力衰竭彩色多谱勒超声心动图检测指标分析

目的观察强心力胶囊对慢性充血性心力衰竭患者心脏左心室功能的影响。方法运用彩色多谱勒超声心动图,测量慢性充血性心力衰竭患者左心室舒张末及收缩末内径(D s和Dd)、左心室每搏量(SV)、心输出量(CO)、左心室短轴缩短率(FS)和射血分数(EF)等指标。结果强心力胶囊治疗后患者收缩末期内径(D s)、流量指标(SV和CO)和泵功能指标(EF和FS)均有明显改善,但治疗后收缩末期内径D(d)和E A/比值无明显变化。结论强心力胶囊具有治疗充血性心力衰竭的作用。     

Ulnar Nerve Palsy After Elbow Arthroscopy

Reports of ulnar nerve injury as a result of elbow arthroscopy are rare in the literature. We report a case of ulnar nerve injury following arthroscopic debridement and retrograde drilling of the capitulum in a patient with symptomatic osteochondritis dissecans. The standard location of proximal medial portal placement is 2 cm proximal to the medial epicondyle at the level of the medial intermuscular septum. In this location, the ulnar nerve is protected from injury by the medial intermuscular septum. Extending this placement more proximally may negate this protection, leaving the nerve more susceptible to injury.