Predisposing factors of complicated deep neck infection: an analysis of 158 cases

Both the introduction of antibiotics and improvements in oral hygiene have made deep neck infections occur less frequently today than in the past. Nevertheless, the complications from these infections are often life-threatening. The purpose of this article was to review the clinical findings of deep neck infections and identify the predisposing factors of these complications. The present study reviewed 158 cases of deep neck infections between the years of 1995 to 2004, 23 of which had life-threatening complications. Cases were excluded if they had peritonsillar abscesses, superficial infections, infections related to external neck wounds, or head and neck tumors. The authors used multiple linear regression and the logistic regression analysis in order to determine the clinical parameters that are associated with longer hospitalizations and complicated deep neck infections, respectively. The multiple linear regression showed that patients with a large number of involved spaces, diabetes mellitus, and complications required longer hospitalizations (p < 0.05). The logistic regression showed that patients with more than two involved spaces were more likely to have complicated deep neck infections (p < 0.05). Patients with odontogenic causes had negative correlation (p < 0.05). We recommend that high-risk groups, such as diabetic patients and/or patients with more than two involved spaces, should be more closely monitored throughout their hospitalization.     

Suitability of the AUC Ratio as an Indicator of the Pharmacokinetic Advantage in HIPEC

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) ratio as an optimal indicator of the pharmacokinetic advantage during hyperthermic intraperitoneal perioperative chemotherapy. The impact on the AUC ratio on the variables related to the calculation of systemic drug exposure, instillation time, and peripheral drug distribution was evaluated through simulations as well as through a retrospective analysis of studies published in the literature. Both model simulations and the retrospective analysis showed that the 3 variables evaluated had an impact on the AUC ratio value if the complete systemic exposure was not fully considered. However, when that complete systemic exposure was considered, none of these variables affected the AUC ratio value. AUC ratio is not a characteristic parameter of a drug if the calculated systemic drug exposure is not complete. Thus, AUC ratio is not valid for comparing the pharmacokinetic advantage of 2 drugs, and it should not be employed to prove whether a drug can be used in hyperthermic intraperitoneal perioperative chemotherapy safely with regard to toxicity. As an alternative, the study of the absorption rate constant and the bioavailability are proposed as the true and independent parameters that reflect the amount of drug absorbed.     

NGAL与妊娠相关疾病的研究进展

中性粒细胞明胶酶相关脂质运载蛋白（neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin,NGAL）作为脂质运载蛋白lipocalin家族的新成员,是一种脂肪细胞因子,亦是一种炎症因子。NGAL在机体中参与不同的生理、病理过程,涉及胚胎发育、细胞分化、细胞凋亡、肿瘤的发生及发展、炎症免疫反应、糖脂代谢及胰岛素抵抗等。妊娠期高血压疾病、妊娠期糖尿病（gestational diabetes mellitus,GDM）及早产等是常见的妊娠相关疾病,其发生、发展与机体的炎症反应、糖脂代谢及胰岛素抵抗关系密切,这些疾病严重影响妊娠结局和母婴的预后情况。NGAL的生物学功能使其在妊娠期高血压疾病、GDM及早产等妊娠相关疾病中亦发挥重要作用。本文对NGAL及其与妊娠相关疾病的研究进展进行综述。     

多囊卵巢综合征远期并发症及防治的研究进展

多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）是育龄期女性最常见的生殖内分泌疾病,随着年龄的增加,其内分泌紊乱的严重程度可日趋加重。胰岛素抵抗和高雄激素血症作为PCOS的重要病理特征可诱导一系列远期并发症的发生和发展,如糖尿病、代谢综合征、非酒精性脂肪肝、心血管疾病、妊娠并发症、子宫内膜癌和精神心理问题等。目前关于PCOS远期并发症的防治原则包括调整生活方式、改善胰岛素抵抗（IR）、抗炎、降低雄激素水平和恢复规律月经等。近年针刺疗法作为传统医学的特殊疗法广受国内外生殖学者的关注,可作为口服避孕药和降雄激素药等相关治疗药物的替代和补充疗法。     

妊娠期三酰甘油代谢的研究进展

三酰甘油是人体脂质的组成部分,可被脂蛋白脂肪酶水解为游离脂肪酸和甘油并加以利用,在妊娠期参与母儿的能量供应及胎儿生长发育等多个环节。近年来研究表明,妊娠期三酰甘油水平由于受到妊娠期特有激素、胰岛素等多种因素影响,相较于非妊娠期妇女显著增加,并随妊娠期的进展而逐渐升高,同时在多种妊娠期并发症如妊娠期糖尿病、子痫前期、妊娠期肝内胆汁淤积症、早产、妊娠期急性胰腺炎等中观察到三酰甘油水平发生相应的改变。本文就三酰甘油与妊娠期糖尿病、子痫前期、妊娠期肝内胆汁淤积症等妊娠期并发症之间的关系和可能的发生机制以及监测随访等进行综述。寻求一个国际认可的、具有地区差异性的参考范围,确定有效的个体化监测及治疗指南,对妊娠期三酰甘油水平的管理具有重要意义。     

瘢痕子宫助产策略研究进展

瘢痕子宫是指剖宫产术或子宫肌瘤剔除术、子宫穿孔或破裂修复术、子宫成形术等妇产科手术后的子宫,其中剖宫产术是瘢痕子宫产生的最主要原因。目前,随着临床剖宫产率的不断增加和计生政策的改变,瘢痕子宫再次妊娠的发生率逐渐升高。由于瘢痕子宫再次妊娠发生母儿并发症的风险均增加,分娩时不论是行选择性剖宫产还是阴道试产,都可能出现严重的临床并发症,因此正确处理瘢痕子宫再次分娩的问题,成为围生医学亟待研究的课题之一。本文综述了瘢痕子宫再次妊娠分娩方式选择、阴道分娩现状和产程管理等助产策略,以期为医护人员选择合适的再分娩方式提供依据,不断提高产科质量。     

Indocyanine green loaded hyaluronan-derived nanoparticles for fluorescence-enhanced surgical imaging of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is highly lethal and surgical resection is the only potential curative treatment for the disease. In this study, hyaluronic acid derived nanoparticles with physico-chemically entrapped indocyanine green, termed NanoICG, were utilized for intraoperative near infrared fluorescence detection of pancreatic cancer. NanoICG was not cytotoxic to healthy pancreatic epithelial cells and did not induce chemotaxis or phagocytosis, it accumulated significantly within the pancreas in an orthotopic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma model, and demonstrated contrast-enhancement for pancreatic lesions relative to non-diseased portions of the pancreas. Fluorescence microscopy showed higher fluorescence intensity in pancreatic lesions and splenic metastases due to NanoICG compared to ICG alone. The in vivo safety profile of NanoICG, including, biochemical, hematological, and pathological analysis of NanoICG-treated healthy mice, indicates negligible toxicity. These results suggest that NanoICG is a promising contrast agent for intraoperative detection of pancreatic tumors.     

Vascular erosion by central venous catheters used for total parenteral nutrition

Objective To establish the incidence of central venous catheter erosion in a patient cohort receiving total parenteral nutrition and to examine risk factors and complications of vascular erosion. Design and setting Review of prospectively collected intravenous nutrition service audit records in a tertiary university hospital. Results Records of 1,499 patients (2,992 catheters) were studied over the 14 year period 1991–2005. Fisher's exact test was used to determine statistical significance. Five erosions occurred, representing an incidence of 0.17% per catheter or 0.28 per 1,000 catheter days. One of the five patients died from ensuing complications. Mean time to onset of symptoms was 3.6 days following catheter insertion. Symptoms/signs included dyspnoea (n = 5), chest pain (n = 2) and pleural effusion (n = 5). Diagnosis was delayed by a mean of 1.6 days. Three erosions occurred in left subclavian catheters (n = 583); two in left internal jugular catheters (n = 453). None occurred in right-sided catheters (n = 1956). The relative risk of erosion occurring in left-sided catheters compared to right was 2.9 (95% CI 2.76–3.00; p = 0.009). There was no statistically significantly greater risk of vascular erosion in subclavian than internal jugular catheters (relative risk 0.9; p = 1.0). Older age was a statistically significant risk factor (p = 0.009); female sex was not (p = 0.18). Conclusion In patients receiving total parenteral nutrition via central venous catheters, erosion has an incidence per catheter of 0.17% and is more likely to occur in left-sided catheters and elderly patients.     

Oral complication risks after invasive and non-invasive dental procedures in HIV-positive patients

BACKGROUND: Limited published scientific evidence is available to provide guidance to clinicians on possible increased risks of invasive oral procedures associated with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status of the patient. The aim of this study was to assess post-procedural complications in patients infected with HIV. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of the records of 101 consecutive HIV patients treated at the School of Dentistry of Madrid Complutense University and Sandoval STD Clinic in Madrid between January 2003 and February 2005. Data were gathered by an experienced dental practitioner using a structured epidemiological questionnaire for information on gender, age, HIV transmission category, medical history, hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection and other diseases, TCD4+ and TCD8+ count, HIV viral load (VL), platelet count, neutrophil count, international normalized ratio and haemoglobin level; tobacco and alcohol intake, highly active antiretroviral treatment and presence of oral lesions. Information was also collected on complications related to dental treatment (invasive or non-invasive) during the previous 6 months. Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test were used to establish statistical significance. RESULTS: Data were gathered on 314 dental procedures in 101 patients. The overall complication rate was 2.2% (7/314); in 147 invasive procedures, seven complications (4.8%) were documented (one persistent pain, two prolonged bleeding, three infections, one bone sequestrum) including extractions, periodontal scaling, endodontic treatment and biopsy. No differences were found in TCD4+, TCD8+, platelet count, HBV or HCV co-infections or HIV VL between patients with and/or without complications. Patients with complications were mainly in B stage of HIV disease (P=0.020). Oral lesions and smoking habit>20 cig day-1 were documented in 83.3% (P=0.086) and 50% (P=0.060), respectively, of patients with complications. CONCLUSIONS: The complication rate was 2.2% overall and 4.8% after invasive dental procedures. Presence of oral lesions, smoking habit or HIV clinical stage B may be predictive factors for oral complications in HIV patients. No relationship was found between complications and virological, immunological or other laboratory values. Studies with wider samples and negative control group are warranted to confirm the absence of an association between HIV positivity and higher risk of oral complications.     

Extraction of the inner coil of a pacemaker lead slid into the pulmonary artery

A patient required lead extraction for chronic draining sinus, due to abandoned leads. Preoperatively, the chest film showed a filament in the right pulmonary artery: it was the inner coil of an old atrial lead that, while remaining anchored to the auricle, slid outside the outer coil. By right subclavian approach, the old ventricular lead and the outer coil of the atrial lead were removed. Then, by right jugular approach, the freely floating end of the inner atrial coil was grasped by a pig-tail catheter, drawn back into the superior vena cava, exteriorized by a Lasso catheter, and finally extracted.