Pentobarbital overdose: A case of contract killing

Suicides by pentobarbital overdose have increased since about 2012, which appear to be influenced by technical information on active euthanasia that has spread over the Internet. We encountered a pentobarbital poisoning case of a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A caregiver found the patient unconscious immediately after two visitors left the room. The patient was immediately transferred to the emergency hospital but eventually declared dead. A fatal concentration of pentobarbital was detected in peripheral blood samples collected in the emergency hospital and during autopsy (53.8 μg/mL and 29.4 μg/mL, respectively). Because the ratios of pentobarbital concentrations between the gastric contents and peripheral blood were 35 and 29 in the hospital and autopsy samples, respectively, it is likely that pentobarbital was administered via the gastrostomy tube. The patient had contacted the visitors through social media. Although the patient had requested the doctor perform active euthanasia and expressed a desire to end their life on social media, nobody had noticed the plan to commit suicide.     

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity after booster dose with AZD1222 via intradermal route among adult who had received CoronaVac

BackgroundCurrently, booster dose is needed after 2 doses of non-live COVID-19 vaccine. With limited resources and shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, intradermal(ID) administration might be a potential dose-sparing strategy.ObjectiveTo determine immunologic response and reactogenicity of ID ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222,Oxford/AstraZeneca) as a booster dose after completion of 2-dose CoronaVac(SV) in healthy adult.MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study of adult aged 18–59 years who received 2-dose SV at 14–35 days apart for more than 2 months. Participants received ID AZD1222 at fractional low dose(1×10¹⁰ viral particles,0.1 ml). Antibody responses were evaluated by surrogate virus neutralization test(sVNT) against delta variant and wild type, and anti-spike-receptor-binding-domain immunoglobulin G(anti-S-RBD IgG) at prior, day14, 28, 90, and 180 post booster. Solicited reactogenicity was collected for 7 days post-booster. Primary endpoint was the differences of sVNT against delta strain ≥ 80% inhibition at day14 and 90 compared with the parallel cohort study of 0.5-ml intramuscular(IM) route.ResultsFrom August2021, 100 adults with median age of 46 years(IQR 41–52) participated. Prior to booster, geometric mean(GM) of sVNT against delta strain was 22.4% inhibition(95 %CI 18.7–26.9) and of anti-S-RBD IgG was 109.3 BAU/ml(95.4–125.1). Post ID booster, GMs of sVNT against delta strain were 95.5% inhibition (95%CI 94.2–96.8) at day14, 73.1% inhibition (66.7–80.2) at day90, and 22.7% inhibition (14.9–34.6) at day180. The differences of proportion of participants achieving sVNT against delta strain ≥ 80% inhibition in ID recipients versus IM were + 4.2% (95 %CI -2.0to10.5) at day14, and ?37.3%(-54.2to-20.3) at day90. Anti-S-RBD IgG GMs were 2037.1 BAU/ml (95%CI 1770.9–2343.2) at day14 and 744.6 BAU/ml(650.1–852.9) at day90, respectively. Geometric mean ratios(GMRs) of anti-S-RBD IgG were 0.99(0.83–1.20) at day14, and 0.82(0.66–1.02) at day90. Only 18% reported feverish, compared with 37% of IM (p = 0.003). Common reactogenicity was erythema at injection site(53%) while 7% reported blister.ConclusionLow-dose ID AZD1222 booster enhanced lower neutralizing antibodies at 3 months compared with IM route. Less systemic reactogenicity occurred, but higher local reactogenicity.     

两种上颌窦底提升术的短期临床效果研究

目的    研究上颌后牙区剩余牙槽骨高度为3 ~ < 4 mm时，行经牙槽嵴顶上颌窦底提升或侧壁开窗上颌窦底提升同期种植体植入的短期临床效果。方法    选择2016年1月至2018年12月于西安交通大学口腔医院种植科行经牙槽嵴顶上颌窦底提升和侧壁开窗上颌窦底提升同期种植体植入的患者45例（50侧上颌窦，上颌后牙区剩余牙槽骨高度为3 ~ < 4 mm），于术前、术后当日或术后第2天及术后6 ~ 9个月的愈合期后行影像学检查，比较两种术式的上颌窦底新骨形成高度、上颌窦底黏膜穿孔率及种植体早期成功率。结果   采用经牙槽嵴顶上颌窦底提升或侧壁开窗上颌窦底提升同期种植体植入的分别有19例和26例（上颌窦分别为21、29侧）患者；上颌窦底黏膜穿孔率分别为4.76%和0，差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。经过6 ~ 9个月的愈合期，两种术式上颌窦底新骨形成高度分别为（5.18 ± 0.48）mm和（7.32 ± 0.84）mm，差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）；两种术式种植体早期成功率分别为95.83%和100%，差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。结论    当上颌后牙区剩余牙槽骨高度为3 ~ < 4 mm时，两种术式均安全可靠，早期成功率高。     

What is the impact of zinc deficiency for pancreatectomies in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma?

Backgroundand purpose: Zinc is an essential element for human health and plays an important role in metabolic, immunological and other biological processes. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between zinc deficiency (ZD) and the perioperative clinical course in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).MethodsOf 216 patients with PDAC who underwent elective pancreatectomy between 2013 and 2017 at our institution, 206 patients with sufficient clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. The perioperative variables were compared and the risk factors associated with infectious complications were identified.ResultsZD was preoperatively present in 36 (17.5%) of 206 patients with PDAC. In the patients of the ZD group, a higher proportion of males, higher preoperative modified Glasgow prognostic scores, a higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and a higher occurrence of postoperative infectious complications after pancreatectomy were observed, compared to the non-ZD group. By a univariate analysis, three risk factors were significantly associated with infectious complications after pancreatectomy: ZD (vs non-ZD: p = 0.002), serum albumin <3.5 g/dl (vs ≥ 3.5 g/dl: p = 0.005), and the procedure of pancreaticoduodenectomy (vs others: p = 0.013). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the occurrence of infectious complications was significantly associated with ZD (OR 3.430, 95%CI 1.570 to 7.490, p = 0.002) and the procedure of pancreaticoduodenectomy (OR 2.030, 95%CI 1.090 to 3.770, p = 0.025).ConclusionsThe current study newly demonstrated that ZD could serve as a preoperative predictor of infectious complications after pancreatectomies in the patients with PDAC.     

七氟烷预处理对大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞在缺氧复氧环境下的作用和机制初探

目的:研究七氟烷预处理对大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞（MSCs）在缺氧复氧环境下的作用和机制初探。方法:分离培养SD大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞，通过流式细胞仪和诱导分化培养鉴定其免疫表型和分化潜能。细胞随机分为3组:组1空白对照组；组2缺氧复氧组（缺氧24 h，复氧24 h）；组3七氟烷预处理组（2%七氟烷预处理2 h后，缺氧24 h，复氧24 h）。处理后收集各组细胞，用流式细胞仪测定其凋亡率，线粒体膜电位变化及细胞周期。Western blot测定细胞外调节蛋白激酶（ERK）的蛋白表达。结果:与组2相比，组3 MSCs凋亡率明显下降，处于S期细胞增多，细胞增殖能力增强。Western blot结果显示:与组2相比，组3磷酸化ERK蛋白表达上升。结论:七氟烷预处理能提高缺氧复氧环境下骨髓间充质干细胞存活率，降低MSCs凋亡数量，并能增强MSCs的增殖能力，这一机制与七氟烷促进MSCs细胞p-ERK蛋白表达相关。     

Body Mass Index and Hormone Receptor Status Influence Recurrence Risk in HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer Patients

IntroductionA reliable risk stratification on the basis of tumor biology and host factors of HER2-positive (HER2⁺) early breast cancer (eBC) patients is needed. The aim of our study was to assess the prognostic role of body mass index (BMI) and hormone receptor (HR) expression in this setting.Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 238 women with stage I to III HER2⁺ breast cancer who completed adjuvant chemotherapy (CHT) and 1 year of treatment with trastuzumab. The end point was 3-year distant disease-free survival (3yDDFS). Survival analysis was evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional-hazards model adjusting for HR status, BMI, tumor staging, size, nodal status, and type of adjuvant CHT. Association among categorical variables was assessed using χ² test.ResultsThe early recurrence rate after 3 years resulted as 4.2% (40% HR⁺ patients and 60% HR⁻ patients). Neither HR status nor BMI alone showed an association with 3yDDFS in multivariate analysis. However, the hazard ratios for patients with HR⁻ tumors who had also BMI ≥25 (3yDDFS 86.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 75.0%-97.7%) were amplified compared with patients with HR⁺ tumors and with BMI <25 (3yDDFS 98%; 95% CI, 94.8%-100.0%) and other subgroups (P = .003). This observation was confirmed in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.04-3.07; P = .03).ConclusionOur real-life data highlight a different risk of eBC recurrence after grouping patients according to HR status and BMI. These results might help clinicians to identify correct treatment strategies. Patients who are HR⁻ and have BMI ≥25 might benefit from escalation approaches, whereas those who are HR⁺ and have BMI <25 might be eligible for a shorter duration of adjuvant treatment with anti-HER2 agents.     

多元化教学模式在骨科临床教学中的应用分析

目的研究多元化教学模式在骨科临床教学中的开展效果及价值。方法选取2018年1月-2019年7月在我院骨科实习的94名医学生,采用随机数字表法进行分组,为47名参照组学生采用传统教学方法,为47名学生采用多元化教学模式,对比二组学生的考核成绩与学生满意度。结果实验组学生的理论知识评分、实际操作评分、总成绩均高于参照组,实验组学生对教学方法的满意度(97.87%)也明显高于参照组(85.11%),经统计P<0.05,组间比较差异具有统计学分析价值。结论在骨科临床教学中,开展多元化教学模式,对提升教学效果与学生满意度均有积极帮助。