Outcomes and risk management in type B aortic dissection patients with acute kidney injury: a concise review

PurposeType B aortic dissection is a rare but life-threatening disease. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was widely used for Type B aortic dissection patients in the last decade due to the lower mortality and morbidity compared with open chest surgical repair (OCSR). AKI in type B aortic dissection is a well-recognized complication and indicates poor short-term and long-term outcome. The objective of this concise review was to identify the risk factors and the impact of AKI on type B aortic dissection patients.Methods and resultsA literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library with the search terms ‘type B aortic dissection’ and ‘acute kidney injury’ (AKI), and all English-language literatures published in print or available online from inception through August 2020 were thoroughly reviewed. Studies that reported relative AKI risks and outcomes in type B aortic dissection patient were included. Major mechanisms of AKI in type B aortic dissection included renal hypoperfusion, inflammation response, and the use of contrast medium. Type B aortic dissection patients with AKI significantly had increased hospital stay duration, need of renal replacement therapy, and 30-d and 1-year mortality.ConclusionsAKI in type B aortic dissection is a well-recognized complication and associated with poor short-term and long-term outcome. Early identification of high-risk patients, early diagnosis of AKI, stabilization of the hemodynamic parameters, avoidance of nephrotoxic drugs, and optimization of the use of contrast agents are the major strategies for the reduction of AKI in type B aortic dissection patients.     

Acute amebic appendicitis in early pregnancy

Parasitic infections of the intestine are a major health problem, which is found more prevalent in developing countries such as India. They are one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality among people all over the world. Acute amoebic appendicitis is a rare entity. We came across a case of acute appendicitis in a young pregnant woman, which revealed colonies of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites in the mucosal epithelium and submucosal layer of the appendix with marked evidence of acute appendicitis. This report highlights acute appendicitis of amoebic origin and emphasises the importance of thorough examination of the appendix at various levels during histopathology and about the combined treatment of appendicectomy combined with antimicrobials as the treatment of choice. Appendicectomy removes the focus of infection, and antimicrobials reduce the incidence of septic complications.     

Tedium vitae in stroke survivors: a comparative cross-sectional study

Objectives: Suicide is best studied by deconstructing the psychological experiences preceding suicidal death. We assessed the characteristics of tedium vitae (feeling tired of life) after first ever stroke in Nigerian survivors.

Methods: Using the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, tedium vitae was assessed in 130 stroke survivors attending rehabilitation in a large Nigerian university hospital. Global cognitive and executive dysfunctions were evaluated, respectively, using the Mini Mental State Examination and the modi?ed Indiana University Token test. All participants had their index stroke 3 to 24 months before recruitment into the study. We also examined a comparative group of 130 age, gender, and education matched apparently normal persons who were unrelated to the stroke survivors. Associations were explored using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results: Tedium vitae was experienced by 16 (12.3%) stroke survivors compared with 5 (3.9%) in the comparative group (O. R = 3.5, 95% C. I = 1.3–9.9, p = 0.018). Among stroke survivors, those who were retired were more likely to experience tedium vitae (56.2%, p = 0.045). In analyses adjusting for the effect of systemic hypertension, cognitive dysfunction, retirement and marital separation, there was a 3.5-fold increase in the odds of experiencing tedium vitae after surviving a stroke (O. R = 3.5, 95% C. I = 1.1–11.6, p = 0.042).

Conclusions: Tedium vitae is a common suicidal experience after stroke and may be among the earliest perceptible pointer to impending poststroke suicide. It is easy to assess and may be less costly to obtain an adequate sample size in studies aiming to understand the phenomenon of suicide in the stroke population.     

Paradox of complex diversity: Challenges in the diagnosis and management of bacterial keratitis

Bacterial keratitis continues to be one of the leading causes of corneal blindness in the developed as well as the developing world, despite swift progress since the dawn of the “anti-biotic era”. Although, we have expeditiously developed our understanding about the different causative organisms and associated pathology leading to keratitis, extensive gaps in knowledge continue to dampen the efforts required for early and accurate diagnosis, and management in these patients, resulting in poor clinical outcomes. The ability of the causative bacteria to subdue the therapeutic challenge stems from their large genome encoding complex regulatory networks, variety of unique virulence factors, and rapid secretion of tissue damaging proteases and toxins.In this review article, we provide an overview of the established diagnostic techniques and therapeutics for keratitis caused by various bacteria. We extensively report the recent in-roads through novel tools for accurately diagnosing mono- and poly-bacterial corneal infections. Furthermore, we outline the recent progress by our groups and others in understanding the sub-cellular genomic changes that lead to antibiotic resistance in these organisms. Finally, we discuss in detail, the novel therapies and drug delivery systems in development for the efficacious management of bacterial keratitis.     

常规器械经脐单孔腹腔镜手术在妇科良性疾病中的临床应用

目的:探讨经脐单孔腹腔镜手术(LESS)在妇科良性疾病中的临床价值。方法:选择2018年1月-2019年4月在我院妇科行经脐单孔腹腔镜手术的68例患者为研究组,同期同病种行传统多孔腹腔镜手术的70例患者为对照组,比较2组的术中出血量、术后最高体温、术后肛门排气时间、术后下床活动时间、术后住院时间、术后24 h疼痛视觉模拟评分(VAS)、体象量表BIS评分和切口美观满意度CS评分、手术时间及围手术期并发症的指标。结果:2组患者手术均顺利完成,术中不需要辅助操作,未中转开腹。术中、术后均未出现严重的手术并发症。2组患者在术中出血量、术后最高体温、术后排气时间、术后下床活动时间、术后住院时间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);手术时间、术后24 h VAS评分、体象量表BIS评分和切口美观满意度CS评分比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:常规器械经脐单孔腹腔镜不需要特殊的器械和设备,符合卫生经济学特点;具有良好的美容效果,以及标本取出方便的优势,LESS应用于妇科良性疾病是安全可行的。     

Fetal anterior abdominal wall thickness between gestational diabetes and normal pregnant women

ObjectivesTo compare fetal anterior abdominal wall thickness (AAWT) between women with and without GDM during third trimester and to determine accuracy of AAWT to predict large for gestational age (LGA) infants.Materials and methodsA total of 250 pregnant women, including 125 women with GDM and 125 women without GDM, were enrolled. Tansabdominal ultrasonographic examinations were performed at 28–30, 32–34 and 36–38 weeks. In addition to standard fetal biometries, AAWT was measured. Patient characteristics and ultrasonographic measurements were compared between groups. Sensitivity and specificity of AAWT for identifying LGA were evaluated.ResultsWhile standard fetal biometries were comparable, mean fetal AAWT in GDM women were significantly higher than those without GDM at 28–30 weeks (2.8 ± 0.8 vs. 2.6 ± 0.6, p = 0.006) and 32–34 weeks (4.0 ± 0.9 vs. 3.5 ± 0.8, p = 0.042). LGA infants had significantly higher fetal AAWT at each time point only in GDM women. Using cut off values of AAWT of ≥2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mm at 28–30, 32–34, and 36–38 weeks, sensitivity for LGA diagnosis in GDM women were 94.4%, 93.9%, and 89.3%, respectively. The use of abdominal circumference (AC) at >90th percentile showed lower sensitivity but higher specificity, regardless of GDM status. Combination of both measurements increased sensitivity to approximately 90% or higher in every time point, especially among GDM women.ConclusionSignificant increase in fetal AAWT was observed in GDM women at 28–30 and 32–34 weeks. Fetal AAWT significantly increased among LGA infants and had higher sensitivity than AC in identifying LGA during third trimester. In GDM women at 28–30 weeks, AAWT ≥2.0 mm and AC >90th percentile had 97.2% sensitivity for LGA diagnosis.