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.     

经鼻高流量氧气湿化治疗老年慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重合并呼吸衰竭的可行性研究

ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of transnasal heated humidified high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) with respiratory failure in elderly patients. MethodsA total of 176 elderly patients with AECOPD complicated with respiratory failure who were hospitalized at Peking University Shougang Hospital from December 2016 to January 2022 were enrolled, including 82 patients in an HFNC group and 94 patients in an NPPV group. After treatment, pulse oxygen saturation (SPO₂), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂), oxygenation index (OI), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), comfort score, discharge rate, rate of endotracheal intubation, rate of transfer to intensive care unit (ICU), and mortality were compared between the two groups. The independent sample t-test was used for comparison between the two groups. Statistical data are expressed in percentage or number of cases and the χ² test was used for their comparisons. ResultsThe SPO₂ values at 30 min, 1 h, and 6 h were significantly higher in the HFNC group than in the NPPV group (t=-2.049,-2.618, and -3.314, P=0.043, 0.010, and 0.001, respectively). SPO₂ before discharge was significantly lower than that of the NPPV group (t=2.162, P=0.033), but OI at each time point and before discharge had no statistical significance (P＞0.05). MAP at 6 h was significantly higher in the HFNC group than in the NPPV group (t=-2.209, P=0.029), but within the normal range. HRs at 2 h and 3 h in the HFNC group were significantly higher than those of the NPPV group (t=-2.199 and -2.336, P=0.030 and 0.021, respectively). There were no significant differences in RR, HR, or MAP between the two groups at other time points and before discharge (P＞0.05). There was no significant difference in PaCO2 between the two groups (P＞0.05). Comfort score in the HFNC group was significantly higher than that of the NPPV group (t=-46.807, P＜0.001). There were no significant differences in discharge rate, ICU transfer rate, endotracheal intubation rate, and mortality between the two groups (P＞0.05). ConclusionHFNC is as effective as NPPV in treating elderly patients with AECOPD complicated with type Ⅰ or mild type Ⅱ respiratory failure, and HFNC is more comfortable than NPPV.     

补脾益肾方联合温针灸治疗重症肌无力疗效及对患者免疫功能的影响

目的:探讨补脾益肾方联合温针灸治疗对重症肌无力(MG)疗效及对免疫功能的影响。方法:随机分配84例MG病例为西药组和针药组,每组各42例,西药组给予常规西药治疗,即泼尼松片中剂量冲击,小剂量隔日维持治疗,针药组基于以上用药基础给予补脾益肾方联合温针灸治疗,治疗3个月后,统计两组治疗前后的中医证候积分,评估两组中医证候疗效,对比治疗前后的颈部血管流速、T淋巴细胞亚群水平和血清可溶性白细胞介素6受体水平。结果:治疗后,两组中医证候积分显著降低,针药组的变化幅度大于西药组(P<0.05); 针药组的中医证候总有效率低于西药组(P<0.05); 治疗后,两组颈内动脉(ICA)、颈总动脉(CCA)、颈外动脉(ECA)显著提高(P<0.05),两组T淋巴细胞中CD₃⁺、CD₄⁺亚群所占比和CD₈⁺、CD₄⁺比值显著降低(P<0.05),两组血清slL-6R水平均显著降低(P<0.05),以上指标针药组变化幅度大于西药组(P<0.05)。结论:补脾益肾方联合温针灸治疗能缓解MG患者的中医证候症状,提高疗效,促进其颈部血管循环,纠正患者自身机体免疫功能紊乱。     

Caliber-persistent labial artery: report of 3 cases

The caliber-persistent labial artery is a vascular anomaly in which a primary arterial branch penetrates into the submucosal tissue without reduction in diameter. Most lesions are benign and do not require treatment, except for complications and/or on patient demands. In this way, noninvasive diagnostic tools are preferred such as high-resolution and color Doppler ultrasonography which allow direct observation of the lesion, assessing its exact location and diameter at every axis, as well as the blood flow velocity. An excisional biopsy of these lesions or even their surgical extirpation could have a fatal outcome with profuse bleeding.     

《四圣心源》妇科病考略

黄元御在《四圣心源·妇人解》一卷中基于中气周流的理论阐述了妇人经、带、胎、产等生理现象的产生与疾病病因、病机及治法，其认为月经的产生也是中气周流的结果和体现，注重肝木在月经产生和调节中的重要作用，在治疗上注重调经养血，强调崇阳为要，指出顾护脾土乃胎妊之本，在用药上善用桂枝以温阳行血促中气升降流转。相关理论精炼而实用，值得后世医者研悟借鉴。