Cardiovascular and hemodynamic effect of polyethylene glycol in Rats

BACKGROUND: Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is a solvent and used in a wide range of biomedical applications. Many fatty-acid-based molecules cannot be administered without a solvent in vivo. PEG can be used to dissolve compounds to make them water soluble. However, the effect of PEG on the cardiovascular system has not been studied. In this study, we evaluated the effect of PEG on the cardiovascular system in rat models. METHODS: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g were used in this study. The control group (10 rats) were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 ml of 5% D/W in normal saline and the second group (10 rats) with PEG 400, 2 ml/kg ip, twice a day for 1 week. After 4 weeks, the rats underwent general anesthesia and a 1.4 French ultra miniature pressure volume catheter (Millar catheter) was placed in the left ventricle via the right carotid artery to measure comprehensive hemodynamic data. The data were analyzed with PVAN pressure-volume analysis software. RESULTS: All the systolic and diastolic parameters were similar in both groups except for the effective arterial elastance (Ea), which was decreased in the PEG group. There were no significant differences in maximum (dp/dt(max)) and minimum (dp/dt(min)) development of pressure stroke work, cardiac output, ejection fraction, end systolic volume (Ves), and end diastolic volume. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that PEG, as a solvent, decreases Ea in rats in comparison to a placebo. Therefore, PEG as a solvent should be used cautiously in the cardiovascular research.     

经胸冠状动脉超声血流动力学参数评价冠状动脉狭窄程度

目的 探讨经胸冠状动脉超声(TTE)血流动力学参数评估冠状动脉狭窄程度的价值。方法 回顾性分析56例可疑冠心病患者的影像资料。测量冠状动脉正常组(无狭窄)、轻度狭窄组(狭窄率<50%)、中度狭窄组(狭窄率50%~69%)及重度狭窄组(狭窄率70%~99%)狭窄处TTE舒张期峰值流速(PDV),其远端最慢处流速(PDV_DIS)及流速比值(PDV/PDV_DIS)。并进行统计学分析。结果 TTE显示良好彩色血流的血管分支共113支;以CAG为金标准,其中冠状动脉正常组18支,轻度狭窄组19支,中度狭窄组30支,重度狭窄组46支。轻度狭窄组PDV、PDV/PDV_DIS与冠状动脉正常组差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。中度狭窄组PDV、PDV/PDV_DIS高于冠状动脉正常组(t=5.13、7.11)和轻度狭窄组(t=4.45、6.59),重度狭窄组PDV、PDV/PDV_DIS高于冠状动脉正常组(t=10.63、11.43)、轻度狭窄组(t=10.06、11.04)和中度狭窄组(t=7.07、5.17),差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。PDV、PDV/PDV_DIS与狭窄率呈正相关(r=0.82、0.87,P<0.01)。诊断冠状动脉中、重度狭窄时,PDV阈值分别为40.48、58.52 cm/s,敏感度分别为86.67%、86.96%,特异度分别为86.49%、92.54%;PDV/PDV_DIS阈值分别为1.44、1.98,敏感度分别为90.00%、82.61%,特异度分别为97.30%、89.55%。结论 冠状动脉狭窄率与TTE血流动力学参数有关,PDV及PDV/PDV_DIS可用以评价冠状动脉狭窄程度。     

血液透析患者营养状况与逆流行病学现象的探讨

目的 了解维持性血液透析患者(MHD)的营养状况,探讨其存在的逆流行病学现象,为进一步提出针对性营养干预策略提供依据.方法 采用主观综合性营养评估法(SGA)、人体测量、生化指标测定方法综合评估113例维持性血液透析患者的营养状态.结果 根据SGA评分,55.75％(63例)的患者营养状况良好;营养不良患者占44.25％(50例),其中39.82％(45例)为轻-中度营养不良,4.42％(5例)为重度营养不良.营养不良组患者肱三头肌皮褶厚度(TSF)、动静脉瘘对侧上臂周径(MAC)、上臂肌围(MAMC)低于营养良好组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).营养不良组总胆固醇(CH)、三酰甘油(TG)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)、血清白蛋白(Alb)、前白蛋白(PA)、血肌酐(Scr)、尿素氮(BUN)、钙(Ca)、磷(P)较营养良好组低,其中TG、PA、Scr、BUN差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),而高密度脂蛋白(HDL)和甲状旁腺素(PTH)较营养良好组偏高,但差异无统计学意义.结论 MHD患者营养不良发生比例偏高,且MHD患者营养不良是导致其逆流行病学现象的原因之一,建议根据MHD患者具体的病理生理特点来调整治疗标准.     

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Hepatitis C Virus-Related Chronic Liver Disease Seropositive for Anticentromere Antibody

The association between anticentromere antibody (ACA) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains unclear. We subjected eight patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease (CLD) seropositive for ACA to a battery of clinical and laboratory tests. The patient cohort was dominated by females, and four of the eight (50%) patients had a concomitant autoimmune disease. All of the patients had high titers of ACA (≥1:320). The histological activity index scores in chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) patients with ACA were significantly higher than those in CH-C patients without antinuclear antibody (ANA) (12.8 ± 1.8 vs. 8.3 ± 4.5, P = 0.0372). The frequency of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DR-8 in patients with HCV-related CLD seropositive for ACA was significantly higher than that in patients with CH-C seronegative for ANA (71 vs. 18%, P = 0.0108). These findings suggest that ACA is induced by chronic HCV infection in association with HLA DR-8, and that CH-C patients with ACA exhibit more severe hepatic fibrosis and inflammation than CH-C patients without ANA.     

论中医和希腊医学哲学理论的异同

中国和希腊,看似遥远的两个国家在古代哲学思想方面却近乎一致。古人一直在探寻自然现象的本质问题,并一直在试图回答这些系统联系的基础。在诸多问题中,他们最感兴趣的是天体运动,健康与疾病的相互关系,以及物质运动的原理。通过探究两种不同文化背景基础哲学理论的异同。     

Editor's Choice: Birth month affects lifetime disease risk: a phenome-wide method

Objective An individual’s birth month has a significant impact on the diseases they develop during their lifetime. Previous studies reveal relationships between birth month and several diseases including atherothrombosis, asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and myopia, leaving most diseases completely unexplored. This retrospective population study systematically explores the relationship between seasonal affects at birth and lifetime disease risk for 1688 conditions.Methods We developed a hypothesis-free method that minimizes publication and disease selection biases by systematically investigating disease-birth month patterns across all conditions. Our dataset includes 1 749 400 individuals with records at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center born between 1900 and 2000 inclusive. We modeled associations between birth month and 1688 diseases using logistic regression. Significance was tested using a chi-squared test with multiplicity correction.Results We found 55 diseases that were significantly dependent on birth month. Of these 19 were previously reported in the literature (P < .001), 20 were for conditions with close relationships to those reported, and 16 were previously unreported. We found distinct incidence patterns across disease categories.Conclusions Lifetime disease risk is affected by birth month. Seasonally dependent early developmental mechanisms may play a role in increasing lifetime risk of disease.     

Perfusion-Weighted MRI Parameters for Prediction of Early Progressive Infarction in Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion

ObjectiveEarly progressive infarction (EPI) is frequently observed and related to poor functional outcome in patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction caused by MCA occlusion. We evaluated the perfusion parameters of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a predictor of EPI.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed patients with acute MCA territory infarction caused by MCA occlusion. EPI was defined as a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale increment ≥2 points during 24 hours despite receiving standard treatment. Regional parameter ratios, such as cerebral blood flow and volume (rCBV) ratio (ipsilateral value/contralateral value) on perfusion MRI were analyzed to investigate the association with EPI.ResultsSixty-four patients were enrolled in total. EPI was present in 18 (28%) subjects and all EPI occurred within 3 days after hospitalization. Diabetes mellitus, rCBV ratio and regional time to peak (rTTP) ratio showed statically significant differences in both groups. Multi-variate analysis indicated that history of diabetes mellitus [odds ratio (OR), 6.13; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.55–24.24] and a low rCBV ratio (rCBV, <0.85; OR, 6.57; 95% CI, 1.4–30.27) was significantly correlated with EPI.ConclusionThe incidence of EPI is considerable in patients with acute MCA territory infarction caused by MCA occlusion. We suggest that rCBV ratio is a useful neuro-imaging parameter to predict EPI.     

Intraoperative management of heart–lung interactions: “From hypothetical prediction to improved titration”

Extensive literature describes the suitability of dynamic parameters to predict responsiveness in fluid. However, based on heart–lung interactions, these parameters can have serious limitations, including the use of protective lung ventilation. Although the latter seems to be beneficial for healthy patients undergoing high-risk surgery, the intraoperative interpretation of dynamic parameters to predict fluid responsiveness can be hazardous. In this context, the attending physician could, alternatively, titrate the need of fluids with a small fluid challenge, which remains unaffected by low tidal volume, the presence of arrhythmia, or the presence of spontaneous ventilation. When intraoperative prediction of fluid responsiveness is required in mechanically ventilated patients, “improved” titration should be preferred to a hypothetical prediction.     

情景式营养教育对婴儿喂养状况的影响

目的探讨情景式营养教育，对婴儿监护人的营养知识水平和婴儿喂养状况的影响，以探索婴儿食物转换指导新模式。 方法选择2014年4月至12月，于江苏省淮安市妇幼保健院儿童保健门诊进行健康体检的272例1～2个月龄婴儿为研究对象。采用随机数字表法，将其分别纳入干预组(n＝140)和对照组(n＝132)。干预组婴儿于3～4个月龄时，由儿童营养专科医师和营养师，在营养厨房内，对婴儿监护人以10～15人小组形式，进行情景式营养教育；对照组则由门诊体检医师进行常规营养指导。2组婴儿12个月龄时，对其监护人采用本研究自行设计的《淮安市妇幼保健院婴儿喂养状况调查表》进行调查。采用χ²检验，对2组婴儿喂养状况，如母乳喂养率、食物转换合理率等，进行统计学比较。本研究遵循的程序符合2013年修订的《世界医学协会赫尔辛基宣言》要求，并与受试儿监护人签署临床研究知情同意书。 结果①2组婴儿4个月龄时纯母乳喂养率、混合喂养率及人工喂养率比较，差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。干预组婴儿6、12个月龄时，继续母乳喂养率分别为88.6%、37.1%，均显著高于对照组的78.0%、23.5%，并且差异均有统计学意义(χ²＝5.468、P＝0.022，χ²＝5.977、P＝0.018)。②干预组婴儿监护人对食物转换指导模式的满意度、食物转换合理率，以及3类补充食品(谷类、果蔬类、动物性食物)均合理添加率，添加动物性食物合理率及监护人专用料理机使用率分别为90.0%、87.1%、77.1%、82.9%、50.0%，均显著高于对照组的77.3%、60.6%、54.5%、65.2%、25.8%，并且差异均有统计学意义(χ²＝8.116、P＝0.005，χ²＝25.033、P<0.001，χ²＝15.500、P<0.001，χ²＝11.114、P＝0.001，χ²＝16.908、P<0.001)。 结论情景式营养教育的婴儿食物转换指导新模式，可提高婴儿监护人的营养知识水平，改善婴儿喂养状况。