Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) activity is a novel and early marker of asymptomatic LEAD in type 2 diabetes

Introduction

Lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is often one of the first signs of a generalized atherosclerotic disease in type 1 and type 2 diabetic subjects.

Materials and methods

We studied 143 diabetic subjects at 30-70 years of age, M/F 69/74, 74 with type 1 and 69 with type 2 diabetes, without previously known or suspected lower extremity arterial disease. The relationship between early asymptomatic lower extremity arterial disease and blood levels of HbA1c, lipids and fibrinolysis markers (tPA-activity, tPA mass, PAI-1 activity, tPA-PAI-1 complex) was assessed. In parallel, a group with non-diabetic subjects (n = 80) was studied.

Results

35 (24%) diabetic subjects were classified as having sign(s) of LEAD, defined as having at least one reduced peripheral blood pressure measurement, 28% in type 1 vs 20% in type 2 diabetic subjects (p = NS). In univariate logistic regression analyses age, glycemic level (HbA1c), male gender (only in type 1 diabetic subjects), hypertension and tPA activity (only in type 2 diabetic subjects) were positively associated with LEAD. When markers of fibrinolysis were entered into a multivariate model adjusting for age, hypertension, and HbA1c, only tPA activity remained independently associated with LEAD (p = 0.01) and this was also found in type 2 diabetic subjects (p = 0.05). In type 1 diabetic subjects the increase in odds ratio was non-significant.

Conclusions

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) activity may be an independent and early marker for asymptomatic lower extremity arterial disease in diabetic subjects, particularly in type 2 diabetes. Thus an altered fibrinolytic activity could be an early marker of atherosclerosis development in the lower extremities but the cause-effect relationship remains unclear.     

Prospective randomized controlled study of a Chinese herbal medicine compound Tangzu Yuyang Ointment for chronic diabetic foot ulcers: a preliminary report

Aim of the study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a topical Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) compound Tangzu Yuyang Ointment (TYO) for treatment of chronic diabetic foot ulcers.

Materials and methods

This multi-center, prospective, randomized, controlled and add-on clinical trial was conducted at seven centers in the China mainland. Fifty-seven patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers of Wagner's ulcer grade 1-3 were enrolled in this study. Patients who were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 28) received standard wound therapy (SWT), whereas those randomized to the treatment group (n = 28) received SWT plus topical TYO. Only 48 patients who finished 24 weeks of observations were entered for data analysis.

Results

The TYO and SWT groups were comparable for baseline characteristics. Ulcer improvement was 79.2% in the TYO group and 41.7% in the SWT group (P = 0.017) at 12 weeks, and 91.7% vs. 62.5% (P = 0.036) at 24 weeks. The number of ulcers that were completely healed at 4, 12 and 24 weeks was similar in both groups, as were the numbers of adverse events. Healing time was 96 ± 56 days (n = 19) in the TYO group and 75 ± 53 days (n = 14) in the SWT group (P = 0.271).

Conclusion

TYO plus SWT is more effective than SWT in the management of chronic diabetic foot ulcers and has few side-effects.     

A seed coat bedding assay shows that RGL2-dependent release of abscisic acid by the endosperm controls embryo growth in Arabidopsis dormant seeds

Seed dormancy is an ecologically important adaptive trait in plants whereby germination is repressed even under favorable germination conditions such as imbibition with water. In Arabidopsis and most plant species, dormancy absolutely requires an unidentified seed coat germination-repressive activity and constitutively higher abscisic acid (ABA) levels upon seed imbibition. The mechanisms underlying these processes and their possible relationship are incompletely understood. We developed a "seed coat bedding" assay monitoring the growth of dissected embryos cultured on a layer of seed coats, allowing combinatorial experiments using dormant, nondormant, and various genetically modified seed coat and embryonic materials. This assay, combined with direct ABA measurements, revealed that, upon imbibition, dormant coats, unlike nondormant coats, actively produce and release ABA to repress embryo germination, whatever the embryo origin, i.e., from dormant, nondormant, or never dormant aba seeds, unable to synthesize ABA. The persistent high ABA levels in imbibed dormant seeds requires the permanent expression of the DELLA gene RGL2, where it remains insensitive to gibberellins (GA) unlike in nondormant seeds. These findings present the seed coat as an organ actively controlling germination upon seed imbibition and provide a framework to investigate how environmental factors break seed dormancy.     

糖足外洗方熏洗治疗早期糖尿病足疗效观察

[目的]观察糖足外洗方熏洗治疗早期糖尿病足的临床疗效。[方法]早期糖尿病足患者61例，随机分为治疗组（31例）和对照组（30例），在常规糖尿病治疗的基础上，治疗组给予糖足外洗方熏洗治疗，对照组给予普通温水熏洗治疗，每日1次，3周为1个疗程，2个疗程后观察两组治疗前后TCSS评分、踝臂指数的变化。[结果]治疗组TCSS评分显著下降（P〈0．05）、踝臂指数显著升高（P〈0．05）。[结论]糖足外洗方熏洗治疗早期糖尿病足有较好的疗效。     

Panvascular disease – Diagnosis and management

Panvascular disease (PVD) increases significantly the risk for cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiovascular death); the more sites affected, the greater the risk of a major cardiac event. Despite its high incidence and severe cardiovascular prognosis, PVD has still not been well studied. History of risk factors and co-morbidities, as well as a detailed physical examination, are mandatory in the initial screening and diagnostic work-up. The ankle-brachial index and various non-invasive imaging methods such as duplex ultrasound, computed tomography or magnetic resonance angiography are used for the diagnosis of atherosclerosis in various vascular beds, while digital subtraction angiography is currently used almost exclusively in association with endovascular procedures. Appropriate utilization of techniques is based on international guidelines and a multidisciplinary discussion for each case.Management of a patient diagnosed with PVD can be very complex. Secondary preventive measures and aggressive medical treatment are needed to reduce excess cardiovascular risk. Whether routine screening for atherosclerosis at various sites in the arterial tree in all or selected patients may alter treatment to improve outcome in these patients has not been shown.In the lack of hard evidence, individualized decision-making is needed with the collaboration of many specialties in a multidisciplinary approach. In general, the more symptomatic lesion or the lesion with the strongest prognostic impact should be treated first. In selected cases combined interventions can be done. Perioperative cardiovascular complications are common in patients with PVD, thus preoperative targeted screening may be needed.Clinical studies are needed to identify more effective approaches to diagnose and treat these patients. A single trial performed so far failed to demonstrate a panvascular screening in patients with severe coronary artery disease. Meanwhile, a multidisciplinary team is often needed to optimize short- and long-term prognosis.     

Influence of Self-Efficacy and Coping on Quality of Life and Social Participation After Acquired Brain Injury: A 1-Year Follow-Up Study

ObjectivesTo investigate the relations linking self-efficacy and coping to quality of life (QOL) and social participation and what effect self-efficacy, changes in self-efficacy, and coping style have on long-term QOL and social participation.DesignProspective clinical cohort study.SettingGeneral hospitals, rehabilitation centers.ParticipantsPatients with newly acquired brain injury (ABI) (N=148) were assessed at baseline (start outpatient rehabilitation or discharge hospital/inpatient rehabilitation; mean time since injury, 15wk) and 1 year later (mean time since injury, 67wk).InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresQOL was measured with the EuroQuol 5D (the EQ-5D index and the EQ-5D visual analog scale [EQ VAS]) and the 9-item Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-9), social participation with the modified Frenchay Activities Index, coping with the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, and self-efficacy with the Traumatic Brain Injury Self-efficacy Questionnaire.ResultsAt baseline, self-efficacy moderated the effect of emotion-oriented coping on the EQ-5D index and of avoidance coping on the EQ VAS. Self-efficacy mediated the relation between emotion-oriented coping and LiSat-9. An increase in self-efficacy over time predicted better scores on the EQ-5D index (β=.30), the EQ VAS (β=.49), and LiSat-9 (β=.44) at follow-up. In addition, higher initial self-efficacy (β=.40) predicted higher LiSat-9 scores at follow-up; higher initial emotion-oriented coping (β=−.23) predicted lower EQ VAS scores at follow-up. Higher modified Frenchay Activities Index scores at follow-up were predicted by higher self-efficacy (β=.19) and higher task-oriented coping (β=.14) at baseline (combined R²=5.1%).ConclusionsSelf-efficacy and coping predict long-term QOL but seem less important in long-term social participation. High self-efficacy protects against the negative effect of emotion-oriented coping. Enhancing self-efficacy in the early stage after ABI may have beneficial long-term effects.     

Measuring Spasticity and Fine Motor Control (Pinch) Change in the Hand After Botulinum Toxin-A Injection Using Dynamic Computerized Hand Dynamometry

ObjectivesTo evaluate change in fine motor hand performance and to investigate the relationship between existing clinical measures and dynamic computerized dynamometry (DCD) after botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) injections for adults with upper limb spasticity.DesignPretest/posttest clinical intervention study.SettingHospital outpatient spasticity clinics.ParticipantsA convenience sample of adults (N=28; mean age, 51y) with upper limb spasticity after acquired brain injury.InterventionsBTX-A injections for upper limb spasticity management.Main Outcome MeasuresDCD protocol using a piezoelectric pinch meter (termed DCD[pinch]); current clinical upper limb measures: Modified Ashworth Scale, Tardieu Scale, Action Research Arm Test, Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire, and Goal Attainment Scale.ResultsBTX-A produced a significant change on DCD(pinch) and some current clinical measures, with correlations observed between DCD(pinch) and current clinical measures.ConclusionsDCD(pinch) sensitively and objectively assessed the effects of BTX-A on upper limb spasticity during a simulated functionally based pinch and release task.     

A Summary and Critical Assessment of the 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Adults: Filling the Gaps

The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Task Force on Practice Guidelines has recently released the new cholesterol treatment guideline. This update was based on a systematic review of the evidence and replaces the previous guidelines from 2002 that were widely accepted and implemented in clinical practice. The new cholesterol treatment guideline emphasizes matching the intensity of statin treatment to the level of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and replaces the old paradigm of pursuing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol targets. The new guideline also emphasizes the primacy of the evidence base for statin therapy for ASCVD risk reduction and lists several patient groups that will not benefit from statin treatment despite their high cardiovascular risk, such as those with heart failure (New York Heart Association class II-IV) and patients undergoing hemodialysis. The guideline has been received with mixed reviews and significant controversy. Because of the evidence-based nature of the guideline, there is room for several questions and uncertainties on when and how to use lipid-lowering therapy in clinical practice. The goal of the Mayo Clinic Task Force in the assessment, interpretation, and expansion of the ACC/AHA cholesterol treatment guideline is to address gaps in information and some of the controversial aspects of the newly released cholesterol management guideline using additional sources of evidence and expert opinion as needed to guide clinicians on key aspects of ASCVD risk reduction.     

308例老年高血压病患者动脉硬化检测结果分析

目的：了解老年高血压病患者动脉硬化情况。方法：随机抽取到本院门诊就诊或住院的老年高血压病患者308例进行动脉硬化检测,测定其肱踝脉搏波传导速度（baPWV）及踝臂指数（ABI）,将检测结果与同期到本院进行健康体检的100例老年健康人群进行比较分析。结果：（1）老年高血压病患者的baPWV显著高于健康对照组,ABI明显低于健康对照组。（2）高血压病患者随着血压分级的升高, baPWV依序升高,ABI依序降低。（3）并发冠心病或脑卒中的高血压病患者,baPWV显著高于无并发症者,ABI明显低于无并发症者。（4） baPWV重度异常组,同型半胱胺酸、高脂血症、并发冠心病或脑卒中、糖尿病、吸烟等危险因素明显高于baPWV轻度或中度异常组。结论：高血压是引起动脉硬化及动脉粥样硬化的独立危险因素;高血压病患者随着血压分级升高,动脉硬化程度加重;baPWV和ABI是冠心病或脑卒中的独立预测因子;高血压病患者危险因子越多,动脉硬化程度越重。     

某区2型糖尿病视网膜病变不同分期与踝肱指数ABI的关系

目的观察2型糖尿病患者视网膜微血管病变不同分期与踝肱指数ABI之间的相互关系。方法收集我院内分泌科2010年6月至2012年9月经确诊的203例2型糖尿病住院患者,经踝肱比值(ABI)测定,将其分为ABI正常组(1.0<ABI<1.3),ABI异常组ABI<1.0或ABI>1.3),观察糖尿病视网膜病变(DR)不同分期情况下与ABI之间的关系。结果 ABI异常组的2型糖尿病患者中,DR检出率为94.1%,约是正常组的1.6倍,两者比较差异有显著性(P=0.000);单因素Logistic回归分析显示,DR I期(P=0.01,OR=0.04,95%CI:0.00～0.38);DR II期(P=0.22,OR=0.28,95%CI:0.04～2.18);DR III期(P=0.91,OR=0.89,95%CI:0.11～6.93)。结论 DR I期对ABI来说,是其微弱的保护因素(95%CI<1),DR II-III期与ABI之间无统计学差异(P值>0.05),即DR II、III期不是ABI的危险因素(尽管III期时95%CI>1)。尽管本实验,未能发现2型糖尿病视网膜病变不同分期与ABI之间有直接线性关系,但在2TDM患者中DR的检出率仍偏高,建议行ABI检测的糖尿病患者,尽早行眼底病变筛查,这对预防糖尿病大血管及微血管并发症均有重要意义。