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.     

基础疾病负担对药物性肝损伤严重程度及预后的影响

目的探讨基础疾病对药物性肝损伤(drug-induced liver injury,DILI)患者严重程度及预后的影响。方法纳入北京友谊医院肝病中心2016年1月至2019年12月符合入排标准的DILI患者,依据查尔森合并症指数(Charlson Comorbidity Index,CCI)分为显著基础疾病负担组(CCI>2分)和无或轻度基础疾病负担组(CCI≤2分),通过卡方检验及非参数检验分析两组患者临床特征、损伤程度及预后。结果313例DILI患者年龄为(54±14)岁,女性227例(72.5%),其中无或轻度基础疾病负担的患者272例(86.9%),显著基础疾病负担的患者41例(13.1%)。与无或轻度基础疾病负担组相比,显著基础疾病负担组年龄更大[(63±8)岁比(52±14)岁]、体质指数[(24.2±5.2)比(23.1±3.6)kg/m²]及谷氨酰转肽酶[初始值283.0(159.0,404.0)U/L比189.0(100.0,325.0)U/L;峰值335.0(239.0,582.0)U/L比219.0(131.0,360.0)U/L]更高,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.01);严重程度及临床分型两组相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。在本队列中,250例(79.9%)DILI患者恢复正常,41例(13.1%)发展为慢性DILI,22例(7.0%)需要肝移植或者死亡,显著基础疾病负担组全因病死率及非肝脏相关的病死率均显著高于无或轻度基础病负担组患者(19.5%比3.7%;12.2%比0.7%,均P<0.01)。结论基础疾病负担重的患者预后差,以非肝脏相关死亡为主。     

Female athletes with ligament dominance exhibiting altered hip and ankle muscle co-contraction patterns compared to healthy individuals during single-leg landing

BackgroundAnterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most serious knee injuries and occurs frequently during exercise. Altered hip and ankle muscle co-contraction patterns may contribute to dynamic knee valgus and ACL injury mechanisms. Lack of dynamic control of ground reaction force (GRF) is known to be contributing factor for ACL injury by placing excessive force on passive structures. Muscle co-contraction is a dynamic mechanism for GRF absorption. Therefore, any alterations in co-contraction might be a risk factor for ACL injury. Ligament dominance is a term to define individuals who rely more on ACL ligament for GRF control.Research questionThis study aimed to compare the muscle co-contraction patterns of distal and proximal knee muscles during single leg landing in female athletes with and without ligament dominance.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study. A total of 54 female athletes were assigned to the healthy (n = 27) and ligament dominance (n = 27) group based on their Tuck Jump test scores. The electromyography activity of the gluteus medius, adductor longus, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, medial and lateral gastrocnemius was measured by an electromyography in drop down a 30-cm-high stair. A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used for statistical analysis (p ≤ 0.05).ResultsThe two groups demonstrated an overall significantly different muscle co-contraction patterns (P < 0.05). There was a decreased in co-contraction of proximal group and an increased co-contraction in the distal muscles in ligament dominant group.SignificanceThe findings have provided evidence to support the notion of neuromuscular imbalances in ligament dominance deficit. These findings can be useful for the coaches and experts to design preventive exercises and modify the current programs for the people affected by ligament dominance.     

蒙药安神补心六味丸预防给药对心肌缺血大鼠的保护作用及氧化应激水平的影响＊

目的 研究蒙药安神补心六味丸对大鼠心肌缺血损伤的保护作用和氧化应激机制。方法 将60只大鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、阳性对照组（丹参滴丸）及蒙药安神补心六味丸低、中、高剂量组，使用腹腔注射异丙肾上腺素方法制备大鼠急性心肌缺血模型，记录并观察大鼠心电图活动变化，然后进行腹主动脉取血，分离血清，测定乳酸脱氢酶（Lactic dehydrogenase，LDH）、肌酸激酶（Creatine kinase，CK）、磷酸肌酸激酶（Creatine kinase isoenzyme，CK-MB）、谷草转氨酶（Aspartate aminotransferase，AST）、超氧化物歧化酶（Superoxide dismutase，SOD）、丙二醛（Malondialdehyde，MDA）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（Glutathione peroxidase，GSH-PX）含量变化。取心肌组织固定，对大鼠心肌组织进行HE染色，通过对心肌酶学和和心肌组织形态学两个方面来考察蒙药安神补心六味丸对大鼠心肌缺血模型的保护作用。结果 与空白组比较，模型组大鼠血清中LDH活性极显著升高（P<0.01），CK、CK-MB、AST、MDA活性均显著升高（P<0.05），SOD活性显著降低（P<0.05），GSH-PX活性高度显著降低（P<0.001），且差异均具有统计学意义；与模型组比较，蒙药安神补心六味丸组高剂量组大鼠血清中LDH、CK、CK-MB、MDA活性显著降低（P<0.05），SOD活性显著升高（P<0.05），GSH-PX活性极显著升高（P<0.01），且差异均具有统计学意义。从HE染色分析，蒙药安神补心六味丸能够改善因缺血而造成的心肌组织损伤。结论 蒙药安神补心六味丸能有效改善心肌组织病理状态，减轻大鼠心肌缺血损伤，以达到保护心肌作用，机制可能与氧化应激机制相关。     

The hidden aspect of carotid lesions in traffic accidents: A little-known phenomenon

Vascular injuries that occur during traffic accidents are a commonly neglected aspect that can add more detail to the framework of a case. In this study, we analysed a case series of 150 traffic accidents, 39 of which were marked by microscopically identifiable vascular lesions. The purpose was to identify the presence of carotid injuries in individuals who died due to traffic accidents and had nonpenetrating trauma of the neck. We focused on the discrepancies regarding the macroscopical aspect and the histology and demonstrated how histological analysis of the carotids in cases of trauma can reveal injuries that are attributable to the trauma itself. We conducted a histological analysis of the lesions to describe their distribution and type and investigate potential correlations. The study offers insight on how to examine road accidents that involve traumatic injury of the carotid arteries. Indeed the main task of the forensic pathologist in the case of death is to establish the existence of a causal relationship between the micro- or macroscopic alterations observed in the autopsy and the traumatic event that led to the death of the subject. Thus, further morphological elements were provided to the forensic practitioners that may reveal injuries attributable to the trauma itself and should be evaluated in cases of trauma in traffic accidents.     

Selecting patients for early interdisciplinary rehabilitation during neurointensive care after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury

Background

Early interdisciplinary rehabilitation (EIR) in neurointensive care is a limited resource reserved for patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) believed to profit from treatment. We evaluated how key parameters related to injury severity and patient characteristics were predictive of receiving EIR, and whether these parameters changed over time.

Methods

Among 1003 adult patients with moderate to severe TBI admitted over 72 h to neurointensive care unit during four time periods between 2005 and 2020, EIR was given to 578 and standard care to 425 patients. Ten selection criteria thought to best represent injury severity and patient benefit were evaluated (Glasgow Coma Scale, Head Abbreviated Injury Scale, New-Injury-Severity-Scale, intracranial pressure monitoring, neurosurgery, age, employment, Charlson Comorbidity Index, severe psychiatric disease, and chronic substance abuse).

Results

In multivariate regression analysis, patients who were employed (adjOR 1.99 [95% CI 1.41, 2.80]), had no/mild comorbidity (adjOR 3.15 [95% CI 1.72, 5.79]), needed neurosurgery, had increasing injury severity and were admitted by increasing time period were more likely to receive EIR, whereas receiving EIR was less likely with increasing age (adjOR 0.97 [95% CI 0.96, 0.98]) and chronic substance abuse. Overall predictive ability of the model was 71%. Median age and comorbidity increased while employment decreased from 2005 to 2020, indicating patient selection became less restrictive with time.

Conclusion

Injury severity and need for neurosurgery remain important predictors for receiving EIR, but the importance of age, employment, and comorbidity have changed over time. Moderate prediction accuracy using current clinical criteria suggest unrecognized factors are important for patient selection.     

Outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with heart failure with a midrange ejection fraction

BackgroundCoronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) improves survival in patients with heart failure and severely reduced left ventricular systolic function (LVEF). Limited data exist regarding adverse cardiovascular event rates after CABG in patients with heart failure with midrange ejection fraction (HFmrEF; LVEF > 40% and < 55%).MethodsWe analyzed data on isolated CABG patients from the Veterans Affairs national database (2010-2019). We stratified patients into control (normal LVEF and no heart failure), HFmrEF, and heart failure with reduced LVEF (HFrEF) groups. We compared all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization rates between groups with a Cox model and recurrent events analysis, respectively.ResultsIn 6533 veterans, HFmrEF and HFrEF was present in 1715 (26.3%) and 566 (8.6%) respectively; the control group had 4252 (65.1%) patients. HFrEF patients were more likely to have diabetes mellitus (59%), insulin therapy (36%), and previous myocardial infarction (31%). Anemia was more prevalent in patients with HFrEF (49%) as was a lower serum albumin (mean, 3.6 mg/dL). Compared with the control group, a higher risk of death was observed in the HFmrEF (hazard ratio [HR], 1.3 [1.2-1.5)] and HFrEF (HR, 1.5 [1.2-1.7]) groups. HFmrEF patients had the higher risk of myocardial infarction (subdistribution HR, 1.2 [1-1.6]; P = .04). Risk of heart failure hospitalization was higher in patients with HFmrEF (HR, 4.1 [3.5-4.7]) and patients with HFrEF (HR, 7.2 [6.2-8.5]).ConclusionsHeart failure with midrange ejection fraction negatively affects survival after CABG. These patients also experience higher rates myocardial infarction and heart failure hospitalization.     

Machine learning to predict myocardial injury and death after non-cardiac surgery

Myocardial injury due to ischaemia within 30 days of non-cardiac surgery is prognostically relevant. We aimed to determine the discrimination, calibration, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of single-layer and multiple-layer neural networks for myocardial injury and death within 30 postoperative days. We analysed data from 24,589 participants in the Vascular Events in Non-cardiac Surgery Patients Cohort Evaluation study. Validation was performed on a randomly selected subset of the study population. Discrimination for myocardial injury by single-layer vs. multiple-layer models generated areas (95%CI) under the receiver operating characteristic curve of: 0.70 (0.69–0.72) vs. 0.71 (0.70–0.73) with variables available before surgical referral, p < 0.001; 0.73 (0.72–0.75) vs. 0.75 (0.74–0.76) with additional variables available on admission, but before surgery, p < 0.001; and 0.76 (0.75–0.77) vs. 0.77 (0.76–0.78) with the addition of subsequent variables, p < 0.001. Discrimination for death by single-layer vs. multiple-layer models generated areas (95%CI) under the receiver operating characteristic curve of: 0.71 (0.66–0.76) vs. 0.74 (0.71–0.77) with variables available before surgical referral, p = 0.04; 0.78 (0.73–0.82) vs. 0.83 (0.79–0.86) with additional variables available on admission but before surgery, p = 0.01; and 0.87 (0.83–0.89) vs. 0.87 (0.85–0.90) with the addition of subsequent variables, p = 0.52. The accuracy of the multiple-layer model for myocardial injury and death with all variables was 70% and 89%, respectively.     

认知重构干预对急性心肌梗死介入手术患者不良情绪及疾病感知的影响

目的探讨认知重构干预对急性心肌梗死(AMI)介入手术患者不良情绪及疾病感知的影响。方法72例AMI介入手术患者随机分为两组各36例,对照组给予常规护理干预,研究组在对照组基础上给予认知重构干预,比较两组的不良情绪、疾病感知以及治疗依从性。结果干预后,研究组的HAMA、HAMD评分均低于对照组,疾病感知各项评分均高于对照组(P<0.05)。研究组的治疗依从性为94.44%,高于对照组的75.00%(P<0.05)。结论认知重构干预对急性心肌梗死介入手术患者的不良情绪及疾病感知均有积极的影响,可提升患者的治疗依从性。