Anticoagulation Strategies in Patients With Cancer: JACC Review Topic of the Week

Patients with active cancer are at an increased risk of arterial and venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding events. Historically, in patients with cancer, low molecular weight heparins have been preferred for treatment of VTE, whereas warfarin has been the standard anticoagulant for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). More recently, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been demonstrated to reduce the risk of venous and arterial thromboembolism in large randomized clinical trials of patients with VTE and AF, respectively, thus providing an attractive oral dosing option that does not require routine laboratory monitoring. In this review, we summarize available clinical trial data and guideline recommendations, and outline a practical approach to anticoagulation management of VTE and AF in cancer.     

Could non-HDL-cholesterol be a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia in obstructive sleep apnea?

Background/objectiveObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with dyslipidemia, a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is accepted as a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol is a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia and recommended as a target of lipid lowering therapy. We aimed to assess the prevalence of atherogenic dyslipidemia, and relationship between OSA severity and serum LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol levels in OSA patients.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated treatment naïve 2361 subjects admitted to the sleep laboratory of a university hospital for polysomnography. All subjects’ lipid profile including total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and non-HDL-cholesterol were measured.ResultsOut of 2361 patients (mean age 49.6 ± 11.9 years; 68.9% male, apnea-hypopnea index 36.6 ± 28.4/h), 185 (7.8%) had no OSA and 2176 (92.2%) had OSA. Atherogenic dyslipidemia prevalence was high (57–66%) in OSA patients, and especially increased in severe OSA compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Though total and LDL-cholesterol did not differ between those with and without OSA, non-HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.020), and triglycerides (p = 0.001) were higher and HDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.018) were lower in OSA patients than non-OSA. Non-HDL-cholesterol was significantly correlated with OSA severity (p < 0.001) and hypoxia parameters (p < 0.01), whereas LDL-cholesterol showed no correlation.ConclusionsAtherogenic dyslipidemia is highly prevalent and non-HDL-cholesterol levels are significantly increased, predominantly in severe OSA patients. Non-HDL-cholesterol but not LDL-cholesterol, is significantly correlated with OSA severity and hypoxia parameters. Therefore, it could be better to use non-HDL-cholesterol, which is a guideline recommended target of lipid therapy, as a marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in OSA patients.     

微信小程序合并时间管理器在眼科患儿监护人出院宣教中的应用效果

目的 探讨微信小程序合并时间管理器在眼科患儿出院宣教中的应用效果,为眼科护士出院宣教干预提供借鉴。方法 采用便利抽样法,选取98例眼科患儿监护人作为研究对象,将2021年2月-5月住院的49例患儿的监护人作为对照组,进行眼科常规出院宣教,将2021年6月-9月住院的49例患儿的监护人作为观察组,使用微信小程序合并时间管理器进行出院宣教干预。比较2组患儿监护人对疾病相关知识知晓情况、满意度及按时复诊人数。结果 干预1个月后,观察组疾病相关知识问卷得分、满意度得分及按时复诊率均高于对照组(t=-5.223,P=0.001;t=-5.419,P=0.001;χ²=6.874,P=0.009)。结论 使用微信小程序合并时间管理器在眼科病房进行出院宣教,能有效提高患儿监护人出院后疾病相关知识水平、按时就诊率及监护人满意度,提升护理服务质量。     

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.     

美托洛尔用于老年COPD合并冠心病史治疗的临床疗效观察

目的:探讨美托洛尔(β1受体阻滞剂)用于老年COPD合并冠心病史治疗的临床疗效。方法:选取2018年6月—2019年6月在我院接受治疗的60岁以上(包括60岁)COPD合并冠心病史老年患者,分为对照组与观察组。对照组给予接受布地奈德福莫特罗粉吸入剂治疗,观察组在使用布地奈德福莫特罗粉吸入剂治疗的基础上口服琥珀酸美托洛尔缓释片治疗,观察对比两组治疗效果。结果:观察组临床治疗效果优于对照组,观察组住院时长以及并发症的发生率低于对照组(P<0.05),差异具有统计学意义。结论:老年COPD合并冠心病史接受美托洛尔治疗,可有效缩短住院时长、用药效果明显、有效提升用药安全性,值得临床推广。     

电阻抗断层成像技术在儿科呼吸系统疾病诊治中的应用

电阻抗断层成像技术(electrical impedance tomography,EIT)作为一项新兴的功能性成像技术,具有无损伤、便携、图像监护等突出特点。肺功能成像是目前EIT最主要的应用领域,可以实现实时动态监测肺通气及血流灌注。本文对肺EIT在儿童呼吸系统疾病及其诊疗过程中的应用基础及临床研究进展进行总结,为未来EIT技术在儿科临床急救领域的推广应用提供帮助。