Prenatal Diagnosis of Aortopulmonary Window by 2‐Dimensional Echocardiography: Summary of 8 Cases

Aortopulmonary window (APW) is a rare congenital heart anomaly. A total of 8 cases with APW confirmed by echocardiography and surgery were retrospectively reviewed and the echocardiographic features analyzed. Among the 8 APW cases, 5 were type II and 3 were type III, the latter of which includes 2 cases complicated with Berry syndrome. Prenatal echocardiography can provide accurate information for the diagnosis of fetal APW. The prognosis depends on the timing of surgery and the nature of the associated cardiac anomalies.     

不同修复方法修复口腔颌面部肿瘤术后缺损的效果比较

目的探讨不同修复方法修复口腔颌面部肿瘤术后缺损的效果。方法选取口腔颌面部肿瘤根治术后缺损患者89例,根据最终选取的修复方案分为A组(n=49)和B组(n=40),A组给予股前外侧嵌合皮瓣修复,B组给予串联皮瓣修复。观察2组手术情况,采用华盛顿大学头颈肿瘤生活质量量表(UW-QOL)对患者术后生活质量进行评价,检测唾液中唾液酸(SA)及癌胚抗原(CEA)水平。结果A组手术时间、胃管拔除时间和经口进食时间分别为(6.30±1.19)h、(19.77±2.81)d和(20.32±2.19)d,明显少于B组(P<0.05);但A组皮瓣制作时间为(1.20±0.28)h,明显多于B组(P<0.05)。A组术后6个月UW-QOL量表中外观、吞咽、咀嚼、言语、肩功能、情绪评分分别为(63.29±4.54)分、(54.93±5.03)分、(47.12±6.02)分、(64.49±4.33)分、(82.20±5.43)分和(75.50±7.20)分,明显高于B组(P<0.05)。A组和B组术后6个月UW-QOL量表中疼痛、活动、娱乐、味觉、唾液及焦虑评分比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。A组修复后1个月唾液中SA和CEA分别为(7.29±1.33)ng/dl和(50.04±16.62)ng/ml,明显低于B组(P<0.05)。A组血管危险发生率为2.04%,明显低于B组(P<0.05)。A组和B组感染、皮瓣坏死发生率差异比较无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论相比较串联皮瓣修复,股前外侧嵌合皮瓣修复口腔颌面部肿瘤根治术后缺损有较好的效果,可以改善患者生活质量。     

Pulmonary Hypertension Registry of Kerala,India (PRO-KERALA): One-year outcomes

BackgroundShort term outcomes of patients with pulmonary hypertension are not available from low and middle-income countries including India.MethodsWe conducted a prospective study of 2003 patients with pulmonary hypertension, from 50 centres (PROKERALA) in Kerala, who were followed up for one year. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was mainly diagnosed on the basis of Doppler echocardiography. The primary outcome was a composite end-point of all-cause death and hospital admission for heart failure. All cause hospitalisation events constituted the secondary outcome.ResultsMean age of study population was 56 ± 16 years. Group 1 and Group 2 PH categories constituted 21.2% and 59% of the study population, respectively. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of the study participants had functional class II symptoms. 31% of Group 1 PH patients were on specific vasodilator drugs.In total, 83 patients (4.1%) died during the one-year follow-up period. Further, 1235 re-hospitalisation events (61.7%) were reported. In the multivariate model, baseline NYHA class III/IV (OR 1.87, 95% C.I. 1.35–2.56), use of calcium channel blockers (OR 0.18, 95% C.I. 0.04–0.77), vasodilator therapy (OR 0.5, 95% C.I. 0.28–0.87) and antiplatelet agents (OR 1.80, 95% C.I. 1.29–2.51) were associated with primary composite outcome at one-year (p < 0.05).ConclusionIn the PROKERALA registry, annual mortality rate was 4%. More than half of the patients reported re-hospitalisation events on follow up. Uptake of guideline directed therapies were suboptimal in the study population. Quality improvement programmes to improve guideline directed therapy may improve clinical outcomes of PH patients in India.     

Cancer Stem Cells and Circulatory Tumor Cells Promote Breast Cancer Metastasis

Breast cancer (BC) is a highly metastatic, pathological cancer that significantly affects women worldwide. The mortality rate of BC is related to its heterogeneity, aggressive phenotype, and metastasis. Recent studies have highlighted that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for the interplay between metastasis mediators in BC. BC stem cells, tumor-derived exosomes, circulatory tumor cells (CTCs), and signaling pathways dynamically remodel the TME and promote metastasis. This review examines the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) that facilitate metastasis. This review also discusses the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs), tumor-derived exosomes, and CTs in promoting BC metastasis. Furthermore, the review emphasizes major signaling pathways that mediate metastasis in BC. Finally, the interplay among CSCs, exosomes, and CTCs in mediating metastasis have been highlighted. Therefore, understanding the molecular cues that mediate the association of CSCs, exosomes, and CTCs in TME helps to optimize systemic therapy to target metastatic BC.     

Electrolipolysis associated with aerobic activity does not reduce subcutaneous adipose tissue of the abdominal region of young women: A randomized clinical trial

ObjectiveTo analyze the effects of electrolysis, through a medium frequency current, associated to aerobic physical activity in the body composition of young women.MethodsThe study was composed of 34 sedentary women (24.35 ± 4.43 years, 71.30 ± 7.08 kg, 1.61 ± 0.06 m, 27.31 ± 1.67 kg/m2) which were evaluated for their anthropometric measures and body composition. The volunteers were randomly assigned to two group: Electrolyphysis plus Aerobic Exercise (gEEA): 17 volunteers were submitted to the application, for 60 min , of the Aussie current, followed by aerobic physical activity (77% of HRmax) on the trampoline for 40 min, through video-lessons of Jump; and Aerobic Exercise group (gEA): 17 volunteers performed only physical activity following the same parameters mentioned above. Each group performed its protocols twice weekly, for 5 weeks, totaling 10 sessions. For the data analysis, measures repeated ANOVA was performed to compare the means of the variables analyzed before and after the treatment protocols using the SPSS - 21.0 software, adopting a p ≤ 0.05.ResultsAlthough gEEA decreased suprailiac skinfold (p = 0.04), abdominal skinfold (p = 0.03) and circumference at umbilical scar (p = 0.02) in an intragroup analysis, these means differences in anthropometric measures were not important between-groups (p > 0.05). Furthermore, there were no effect of treatment on body composition (p > 0.05).ConclusionTo this studied condition, our results suggested that application of medium frequency electrolysis did not enhance the losses on anthropometric measures and body composition.     

Education and training methods for healthcare professionals to lead conversations concerning deceased organ donation: An integrative review

ObjectivesTo determine which training methods positively influenced healthcare professionals’ communication skills and families’ deceased organ donation decision-making.MethodsAn integrative review using systematic methods and narrative synthesis for data analysis. Electronic databases of PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (EBSCO), Embase (OVID) and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, were searched between August 1997 and March 2020, retrieving 1019 papers. Included papers (n = 14) were appraised using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument.ResultsTraining programmes offered theory, experiential learning, feedback and debriefing including self-reflection, the opportunity to role-play and interact with simulated participants within realistic case scenarios. Programmes reported observed and self-rated improvements in communication learning and confidence. The methodological quality score averaged 13, (72% of maximum); few studies used an experimental design, examined behavioural change or families’ perspectives. Weak evidence suggested training could increase organ donation authorisation/consent rates.ConclusionsMultiple training strategies are effective in improving interprofessional healthcare professionals’ confidence and learning of specialised communication. Methodological limitations restricted the ability to present definitive recommendations and further research is warranted, inclusive of family decision-making experiences.Practice implicationsLearning of specialised communication skills is enhanced by using multiple training strategies, including role-play and debriefing.