COVID-19 and hemolysis,elevated liver enzymes and thrombocytopenia syndrome in pregnant women - association or causation?

Pregnant women are among the high-risk population for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with unfavorable peripartum outcomes and increased incidence of preterm births. Hemolysis, the elevation of liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome and severe preeclampsia are among the leading causes of maternal mortality. Evidence supports a higher odd of pre-eclampsia in women with COVID-19, given overlapping pathophysiology. Involvement of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for the entry to the host cells and its downregulation cause dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. The overexpression of Angiotensin II mediated via p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase pathways can cause vasoconstriction and uninhibited platelet aggregation, which may be another common link between COVID-19 and HELLP syndrome. On PubMed search from January 1, 2020, to July 30, 2022, we found 18 studies on of SARS-COV-2 infection with HELLP Syndrome. Most of these studies are case reports or series, did not perform histopathology analysis of the placenta, or measured biomarkers linked to pre-eclampsia/HELLP syndrome. Hence, the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and HELLP syndrome is inconclusive in these studies. We intend to perform a mini-review of the published literature on HELLP syndrome and COVID-19 to test the hypothesis on association vs causation, and gaps in the current evidence and propose an area of future research.     

糖尿病肾病患者认知功能障碍与血清β淀粉样蛋白的关系

目的 探讨糖尿病肾病(diabetic kidney disease,DKD)患者认知功能障碍与人β淀粉样蛋白1-42(human β Amyloid 1-42,Aβ1-42)的关系。方法 选取2020年5月至2021年5月在徐州医科大学附属医院内分泌科治疗的2型糖尿病(type 2 diabetes mellitus,T2DM)患者161例,根据尿白蛋白/肌酐比值(urine albumin creatine ratio,UACR)水平分为正常白蛋白尿(DM)组(n=60)、微量白蛋白尿(DKD1)组(n=58)和大量白蛋白尿(DKD2)组(n=43)。采用蒙特利尔认知评估(Montreal Cognitive Assessment,MoCA)量表评估患者认知功能。检测患者Aβ1-42、UACR、胱抑素C(Cystatin C,CysC)、估算肾小球滤过率(estimated glomerular filtration rate,eGFR),并分析上述指标与MoCA评分的关系。结果 与DM组比较,DKD1和DKD2组CysC、Aβ1-42均升高(P<0.05),eGFR降低(P<0.05)。与DKD1组比较,DKD2组CysC升高(P<0.05),eGFR降低(P<0.05)。与DM组相比,DKD1组、DKD2组MoCA评分均降低(P<0.05)。与DKD1组比较,DKD2组MoCA评分降低(P<0.05)。3组MoCA评分与Aβ1-42、UACR、CysC呈负相关(均P<0.01),与eGFR呈正相关(P<0.01)。3组Aβ1-42与UACR、CysC呈正相关(均P<0.01),与eGFR呈负相关(P<0.01)。多因素线性回归分析结果显示,Aβ1-42、UACR是影响DKD患者MoCA评分的影响因素,Aβ1-42、UACR水平越高,MoCA评分越低,患者认知功能越差。结论 DKD患者存在认知功能障碍,与Aβ1-42水平及肾损害严重程度密切相关。     

电针复合TCI靶控输注在单肺通气食管癌开胸手术麻醉中的应用与安全性＊

目的 探讨电针复合靶控输注（Target Controlled Infusion， TCI）在单肺通气食管癌开胸手术麻醉中的应用价值。方法 选取于我院拟行单肺通气食管癌开胸切除手术患者60例作为研究对象。随机将其分为试验组与对照组，对照组30例采取气管插管全麻及TCI靶控输注维持麻醉深度，试验组30例则在对照组方案基础上辅助电针麻醉，记录两组患者手术麻醉时间、药物用量、苏醒时间、并发症；以及术前（T_Ⅰ）、插管前即刻（T_Ⅱ）、插管后1 min（T_Ⅲ）、切皮即刻（T_Ⅳ）、去骨时（T_Ⅴ）、拔管即刻（T_Ⅵ）时平均动脉压（MAP）、平均心率（HR）、BIS值；术前、术后1天、术后3天简易智能精神状态检查量表（MMSE）；并于麻醉诱导前（T₀）、手术开始2 h（T₁）、术后1天（T₂）、术后3天（T₃）时抽取患者外周静脉血检测IL-1β、IL-6、IL-10、TNF-α浓度。结果 试验组手术用时、麻醉时间略低于对照组，但差异无统计学意义（P>0.05），试验组异丙酚、舒芬太尼用量以及苏醒时间均明显低于对照组（P<0.05）；T_Ⅱ时两组平均动脉压（Mean Arterial Pressure， MAP）、心率（Heartrate， HR）较术前明显降低，且试验组MAP明显低于对照组（P<0.05），但两组T_Ⅱ时HR比较无显著差异（P>0.05）；T_Ⅲ、T_Ⅵ时对照组MAP、HR明显高于T_Ⅰ时，而试验组MAP、HR与T_Ⅰ比较无显著差异（P>0.05）。术后1天、3天试验组简易智能精神状态检查量表（Mini-Mental State Examination， MMSE）评分低于对照组，有显著性差异（P<0.05）。T₁、T₂、T₃时试验组白介素-1β（IL-1β）、白介素-6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子（Tumor Necrosis Factor-α， TNF-α）水平明显低于对照组（P<0.05），白介素-10（IL-10）水平明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 采用电针复合TCI靶控输注麻醉方案可有效提升单肺通气食管癌开胸手术麻醉效果，能够降低患者术后认知功能障碍发生风险。     

The fate of aortic valve after rheumatic mitral valve surgery

ObjectiveDeterioration of the native aortic valve function by a late progression of rheumatic disease is not infrequent in patients who underwent rheumatic mitral valve surgery; however, this phenomenon has not been clearly quantified.MethodsA total of 1155 consecutive patients (age 52.0 ± 12.9 years; 807 female) who underwent rheumatic mitral valve surgery without concomitant aortic valve surgery from 1997 to 2015 were enrolled. The primary end point was the composite of progression to severe aortic valve dysfunction or a requirement of subsequent aortic valve replacements during follow-up. To determine the risk factors of the primary outcome, we performed the generalized linear mixed model.ResultsThe baseline severities of aortic valve were none to trivial in 880 patients (76.2%), mild in 256 patients (22.2%), and moderate in 19 patients (1.6%). The latest 1062 echocardiographic assessments (91.9%; median, 81.2 postoperative months; interquartile range, 37.3-132.1 months) demonstrated 26 cases (0.33%/patient-year) meeting the primary end point during follow-up. Cumulative incidence of the primary end point at 10 years was 0.4% ± 0.3% and 7.4% ± 2.5% depending on the presence of mild or greater aortic valve dysfunction at baseline (P < .01). In multivariable analyses, aortic valve peak pressure gradient (odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-1.20), aortic regurgitation degree (mild over none: odds ratio, 3.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-9.23), and time (odds ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval 1.19-1.41) were significantly associated with the occurrence of the primary end point.ConclusionsProgression of severe aortic valve dysfunction and the need for aortic valve replacement are uncommon in patients undergoing rheumatic mitral valve surgery. However, such events were relatively common among those with mild or greater aortic valve dysfunction at the time of mitral valve surgery.     

Association of job stress,CLOCK gene polymorphism and their interaction with poor sleep quality

Job stress and the Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput (CLOCK) gene could affect circadian rhythm and sleep quality. The main aim of our present study was to investigate the association of job stress, CLOCK gene polymorphism and their interaction with sleep quality in a non‐clinical Chinese Han population, which has not been reported to date. Using a cross‐sectional design, 450 subjects were recruited in Beijing. Sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and job stress was measured with the Work Stress Scale. CLOCK gene rs11932595 polymorphism was genotyped in 297 blood samples. Correlation analysis showed a close but different association of high job stress with the PSQI and its components. Analysis of variance showed significant main effects of the CLOCK gene rs11932595 polymorphism. G‐allele carriers had a higher score in the PSQI, sleep duration, sleep latency and sleep disturbances. Further interaction analyses showed an ordinal interaction on sleep duration, and a disordinal interaction on daytime dysfunction. Specifically, G‐allele carriers had poorer sleep duration than AA homozygotes when in high job stress, while the two subgroups displayed similar sleep duration when in low job stress, conforming to the diathesis–stress model. In comparison to G‐allele carriers, AA homozygotes experienced less daytime dysfunction when in low job stress whereas more daytime dysfunction when in high job stress, fitting with the differential susceptibility model. As genetic links have been revealed, our investigation might be conducive for elucidating aetiological factors for sleep quality and targets for implementing interventions to attain good sleep quality.     

微视频在ICU气管套管带管出院患者家属健康教育中的应用

目的探讨应用微视频对ICU气管套管带管出院患者的家属实施健康教育的效果。方法选取2018年9月—2020年9月的100例气管套管带管出院患者的家属,根据随机数字表法将其随机分为对照组和试验组各50例,对照组实施常规健康教育和随访;试验组在此基础上将患者出院后面临的共性问题进行归纳总结,制定并应用微视频对其实施健康教育。分别比较两组患者家属在气管套管相关知识知晓率、气管套管护理操作的准确性以及患者气管切开并发症发生率之间的差异。结果试验组家属在气管套管相关知识的知晓率和护理技能的得分均高于对照组家属(P<0.05),但患者气管切开相关并发症发生率低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论应用微视频实施健康教育可有效提高ICU气管套管带管出院患者家属的管路护理水平,提高患者带管期间的安全性。     

Liver dysfunction as a cytokine storm manifestation and prognostic factor for severe COVID-19

Liver damage in severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 infection occurs in patients with or without preexisting liver disorders, posing a significant complication and mortality risk. During coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), abnormal liver function is typically observed. However, liver injury may occur because of the treatment as well. Ischemia, cytokine storm, and hypoxia were identified as the three major factors contributing to liver damage during COVID-19. Indeed, raised liver enzymes during hospitalizations may be attributed to medications used, as well as sepsis and shock. As a result, the proportion of hospitalized patients afflicted with COVID-19 and pathological liver biomarkers varies from 14% to 53%. Aminotransferases and bilirubin are found most often elevated. Usually, increased gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and decreased serum albumin levels are demonstrated. Additionally, although there is no specific treatment for COVID-19, many of the drugs used to treat the infection are hepatotoxic. In this mini-review, we focus on how liver dysfunction can be one of the features associated with the COVID-19 cytokine storm. Furthermore, data show that liver injury can be an independent predictor of severe COVID-19, the need for hospitalization, and death.