Examining Acute Coronary Syndrome Across Ethnicity,Sex, and Age

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States. With its heightened prevalence, considerable variabilities in the disease process exist across ethnicities, sex, and age. This creates substantial disparities in the recognition and management of ACS, which consequently contributes to poor outcomes. It is of utmost importance that nurse practitioners remain vigilant, cognizant, and maintain a high index of suspicion to accurately identify ACS presentations and thus efficaciously intervene to successfully manage the disease process.     

Neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular trap components: Emerging biomarkers and therapeutic targets for age-related eye diseases

Age-related eye diseases, including dry eye, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, represent a major global health issue based on their increasing prevalence and disabling action. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying these diseases will provide novel opportunities to reduce the burden of age-related eye diseases and improve eye health, contributing to sustainable development goals achievement. The impairment of neutrophil extracellular traps formation/degradation processes seems to be one of these mechanisms. These traps formed by a meshwork of DNA and neutrophil cytosolic granule proteins may exacerbate the inflammatory response promoting chronic inflammation, a pivotal cause of age-related diseases. In this review, we describe current findings that suggest the role of neutrophils and their traps in the pathogenesis of the above-mentioned age-related eye diseases. Furthermore, we discuss why these cells and their constituents could be biomarkers and therapeutic targets for dry eye, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. We also examine the therapeutic potential of some neutrophil function modulators and provide several recommendations for future research in age-related eye diseases.     

The impact of sensory neuropathy and inflammation on epithelial wound healing in diabetic corneas

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common complication of diabetes, with several underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, some of which are still uncertain. The cornea is an avascular tissue and sensitive to hyperglycemia, resulting in several diabetic corneal complications including delayed epithelial wound healing, recurrent erosions, neuropathy, loss of sensitivity, and tear film changes. The manifestation of DPN in the cornea is referred to as diabetic neurotrophic keratopathy (DNK). Recent studies have revealed that disturbed epithelial-neural-immune cell interactions are a major cause of DNK. The epithelium is supplied by a dense network of sensory nerve endings and dendritic cell processes, and it secretes growth/neurotrophic factors and cytokines to nourish these neighboring cells. In turn, sensory nerve endings release neuropeptides to suppress inflammation and promote epithelial wound healing, while resident immune cells provide neurotrophic and growth factors to support neuronal and epithelial cells, respectively. Diabetes greatly perturbs these interdependencies, resulting in suppressed epithelial proliferation, sensory neuropathy, and a decreased density of dendritic cells. Clinically, this results in a markedly delayed wound healing and impaired sensory nerve regeneration in response to insult and injury. Current treatments for DPN and DNK largely focus on managing the severe complications of the disease. Cell-based therapies hold promise for providing more effective treatment for diabetic keratopathy and corneal ulcers.     

EEG power spectral density under Propofol and its association with burst suppression,a marker of cerebral fragility

ObjectiveUnder General Anesthesia (GA), age and Burst Suppression (BS) are associated with cognitive postoperative complications, yet how these parameters are related to per-operative EEG and hypnotic doses is unclear. In this prospective study, we address this question comparing age and BS occurrences with a new score (BP_TIVA) based on Propofol doses, EEG and alpha-band power spectral densities, evaluated for SEF₉₅ = 8–13 Hz.Methods59 patients (55 [34–67] yr, 67% female) undergoing neuroradiology or orthopedic surgery were included. Total IntraVenous Anesthesia was used for Propofol and analgesics infusion. Cerebral activity was monitored from a frontal electrodes montage EEG.ResultsBP_TIVA was inversely correlated with age (Pearson r = −0.78, p < 0.001), and was significantly lower (p < 0.001) when BS occurred during the GA first minutes (induction). Additionally, the age-free BP_TIVA score was better associated with BS at induction than age (AUC = 0.94 versus 0.82, p < 0.05).ConclusionWe designed BP_TIVA score based on hypnotics and EEG. It was correlated with age yet was better associated to BS occurring during GA induction, the latter being a cerebral fragility sign.SignificanceThis advocate for an approach based on evaluating the cerebral physiological age (« brain age ») to predict postoperative cognitive evolution.     

散聚汤加味对宫颈癌术后放化疗患者的癌因性疲乏和免疫功能的改善研究

[目的]探讨散聚汤加味改善宫颈癌术后放化疗患者的癌因性疲乏和免疫功能的疗效。[方法]筛选在洛阳解放军534医院行宫颈癌手术后患者共82例作为研究对象,按随机数字表法随机分为对照组和观察组各41例。对照组给予同步放疗+TP化疗方案[紫杉醇(TAX)+顺铂(DDP)]。观察组在对照组基础上给予散聚汤加味治疗,每日1剂,每日2次,连续服用12周。比较两组患者癌因性疲乏评分、毒性反应、T淋巴细胞亚群水平以及血清免疫球蛋白(IgA、IgG、IgM)水平。[结果]治疗12周后,观察组患者的癌因性疲乏(情绪、感觉、行为、认知)评分显著低于对照组(P0.01);观察组患者的消化道反应、膀胱刺激发生率明显少于对照组(P0.05);治疗12周后,观察组患者CD3+、CD3+CD4+以及IgA、IgG、IgM水平显著高于对照组,CD3+CD8+明显低于对照组(P0.01)。[结论]散聚汤加味能改善宫颈癌术后放化疗患者的癌因性疲乏,增强免疫功能,且可降低毒副反应。     

巩膜外黄斑外垫压术治疗硅油填充术后复发性超高度近视黄斑裂孔性视网膜脱离

目的　探讨巩膜外黄斑外垫压术治疗硅油填充术后复发性超高度近视黄斑裂孔性视网膜脱离（macular hole retinal detachment，MHRD） 的可行性及疗效。方法　回顾性分析 2016年6月至2018年1月玻璃体切割硅油填充术后的复发性超高度近视MHRD患者10例（10眼），所有患者均由同一术者行巩膜外黄斑外垫压术，将MEDPOR种植体+人造血管+环扎条带制成的“三明治加压块”固定垫压于黄斑区，术后行眼眶CT检查明确加压块位置。术后6~12个月取出硅油。术后随访18个月，观察并记录术后并发症、视网膜脱离复位、黄斑裂孔闭合情况、术后视力、眼轴长度等指标。结果　眼眶CT显示10眼加压块均位于黄斑区；末次随访 SD-OCT示10眼视网膜完全复位，7眼黄斑裂孔完全闭合，3眼黄斑裂孔部分闭合；9眼术后最佳矫正视力（best corrected visual acuity，BCVA）较术前提高，1眼提高不明显；术前患者 BCVA为（1.55±0.26）LogMAR，术后3个月BCVA为（0.99±0.05）LogMAR，与术前比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.001）；术前患者眼轴长度为（31.27±1.18）mm，术后3个月为（28.81±0.87）mm，与术前比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.001）。所有患眼均未发生眼底出血、眼内炎、涡静脉回流障碍、眼前部缺血综合征等并发症。结论　巩膜外黄斑外垫压术是治疗硅油填充术后复发性超高度近视MHRD安全有效的手术方法，能提高视网膜解剖复位率、黄斑裂孔闭合率和视力。