养精种玉汤辅助体外受精-胚胎移植对排卵障碍性不孕患者的影响

目的：探究养精种玉汤辅助体外受精-胚胎移植（IVF-ET）对排卵障碍性不孕患者的影响。方法：选取2016年12月至2017年3月邯郸市中心医院收治的排卵障碍性不孕患者82例作为研究对象，按照随机数字表法随机分为对照组与观察组，每组41例。对照组给予促性腺激素释放激素激动剂（Gn）+控制性促排卵+IVF-ET治疗，观察组在此基础上联合养精种玉汤治疗，至HCG日停止服用。治疗后统计2组Gn使用情况、取卵数及妊娠率；检测并比较HCG日2组子宫内膜容受性指标；比较2组妊娠结局及治疗期间相关不良反应发生情况。结果：观察组Gn使用天数及使用剂量均低于对照组，而妊娠率高于对照组（P<0.05或P<0.01）；观察组子宫内膜类型为A型患者比例高于对照组，而子宫内膜类型为C型患者比例低于对照组（P<0.05或P<0.01）；观察组子宫内膜厚度大于对照组，而子宫内膜动脉血流参数PI及RI均低于对照组（P<0.01）；2组不良反应发生率差异无统计学意义（P>0.05），且治疗期间2组血清肝功能指标及血尿常规检测均未发现异常。结论：养精种玉汤辅助IVF-ET可有效增强排卵障碍性不孕患者子宫内膜容受性，提高患者妊娠率并改善其妊娠结局，具有良好的安全性。     

High plasma microfibrillar-associated protein 4 is associated with reduced surgical repair in abdominal aortic aneurysms

ObjectiveIdentifying biomarkers for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) could prove beneficial in prognosis of AAA and thus the selection for treatment. Microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) is an extracellular matrix protein that is highly expressed in aorta. MFAP4 is involved in several tissue remodeling-related diseases. We aimed to investigate the potential role of plasma MFAP4 (pMFAP4) as a biomarker of AAA.MethodsPlasma samples and data were obtained for 504 male AAA patients and 188 controls in the Viborg Vascular (VIVA) screening trial. The pMFAP4 levels were measured by Alphalisa. The Mann-Whitney U test assessed differences in pMFAP4 levels between the presence and absence of different exposures of interest. The correlation between pMFAP4 and aorta growth rate were investigated through spearman's correlation analysis. Immunohistochemistry and multiple logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders assessed the association between pMFAP4 and AAA. Multiple linear regression assessed the correlation between pMFAP4 and aorta growth rate. Cox regression and competing risk regression were used to investigate the correlation between AAA patients with upper tertile pMFAP4 and the risk of undergoing later surgical repair.ResultsA significant negative correlation between pMFAP4 and aorta growth rate was observed using spearman's correlation analysis (ρ = −0.14; P = .0074). However, this finding did not reach significance when applying multiple linear regression. A tendency of decreased pMFAP4 was observed in AAA using immunohistochemistry. Competing risk regression adjusted for potential confounders indicated that patients with upper tertile pMFAP4 had a hazard ratio of 0.51 (P = .001) for risk of undergoing later surgical repair.ConclusionsHigh levels of pMFAP4 are associated with a decreased likelihood of receiving surgical repair in AAA. This observation warrants confirmation in an independent cohort.     

Predictive monitoring in neonates

Premature infants are physiologically immature and are particularly vulnerable to systemic illnesses. Instability of vital signs related to immaturity of organ systems are common but may also represent early manifestations of serious illness. While vital signs are frequently or continuously monitored in critically unwell neonates, changes in these parameters are subtle in the early phase of illness such as sepsis and difficult to interpret using traditional neonatal monitoring tools. Recent advances in identifying trends and patterns of vital signs in the pre-clinical phase of the illness, particularly in the field of heart rate characteristics monitoring has opened up the potential to improve outcomes through rapid and timely investigations and early intervention. This article reviews the current evidence in predictive monitoring of neonates and discusses potential clinical implications.     

Transarterial Chemoembolization vs Radioembolization for Neuroendocrine Liver Metastases: A Multi-Institutional Analysis

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Angiographic profile and outcomes in persistent non-valvular atrial fibrillation: A study from tertiary care center in North India

BackgroundThe relationship of atrial fibrillation (AF) with coronary artery disease (CAD) is well established, yet it is often missed. There is evidence of myocardial ischemia on stress imaging in AF patients in the absence of obstructive CAD. In this prospective cohort, we studied the angiographic profiles of non-valvular AF patients.MethodsThe study was a nonrandomized, prospective, single-center observational study of consecutive patients of persistent non-valvular AF. Patients symptomatic for AF despite optimal medical therapy for 3 months were recruited and all underwent coronary angiograms (CAG). Patients with prior history of CAD were excluded.ResultsA total of 70 patients were followed for a mean duration of 12 ± 1.4 months. The mean age of the study group was 66.07 (±11.49) years. Hypertension was the commonest comorbidity seen in 74% patients. Obstructive CAD was present in 32 (46%) patients, non-obstructive (<50% stenosis) CAD in 17 (24%) patients and normal coronaries in 21 (30%) patients. Overall 49 (70%) patients had evidence of CAD. Amongst patients without obstructive CAD, slow flow was seen in 16 (42%) patients. Lower baseline ejection fraction, lower haemoglobin & albumin levels and higher creatinine levels was associated with increased mortality. In patients without obstructive CAD, hospitalizations for fast ventricular rate were significantly increased in those having slow flow on CAG (p = 0.005).ConclusionsMajority (70%) of our patients had evidence of atherosclerotic CAD on CAG. A large proportion of patients without obstructive CAD had slow flow on CAG.     

Vaccines and autoimmunity during the COVID-19 pandemic

To control the pandemic, efficient vaccines must be applied to the population, including patients with autoimmune diseases. Therefore, one can expect that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines may influence the underlying autoimmune processes in these patients. Additionally, it is essential to understand whether COVID-19 vaccines would be effective, safe, and provide long-lasting immunological protection and memory. However, the currently available and approved COVID-19 vaccines turned out to be safe, effective, and reliable in patients with autoimmune inflammatory and rheumatic diseases. Furthermore, most patients said they felt safer after getting vaccinations for COVID-19 and reported enhanced overall quality of life and psychological wellbeing. In general, the COVID-19 vaccines have been highly tolerated by autoimmune patients. Such findings might comfort patients who are reluctant to use COVID-19 vaccines and assist doctors in guiding their patients into receiving vaccinations more easily and quickly.