Severe hypoglycaemia in 1076 adult patients with type 1 diabetes: influence of risk markers and selection

BACKGROUND: Differences between studies in rates of severe hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetic cohorts are common and poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of severe hypoglycaemia in unselected patients treated in different secondary care centres and to evaluate the influence of risk markers, clinical setting and selection. METHODS: Cross-sectional Danish-British multicentre survey of 1076 consecutive adult patients with clinical type 1 diabetes who completed a detailed questionnaire on hypoglycaemia and related issues. Key variable was the self-reported rate of severe hypoglycaemia during the preceding year. RESULTS: The overall rate of severe hypoglycaemia in the preceding year was 1.3 episodes/patient-year and episodes were reported by 36.7% of subjects. The distribution was highly skewed with 5% of subjects accounting for 54% of all episodes. There were no significant differences between countries or centres. Reduced hypoglycaemia awareness, peripheral neuropathy and smoking were the only significant risk markers of severe hypoglycaemia in a stepwise multivariate analysis. In a subgroup selected to be similar to the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) cohort, the rate of severe hypoglycaemia was 0.35 episodes/patient-year and only retinopathy was a significant risk marker together with state of awareness. CONCLUSION: Severe hypoglycaemia remains a significant clinical problem in type 1 diabetes. The rate of severe hypoglycaemia and the influence of risk markers are very sensitive to selection and differences in rates between centres or studies seem to disappear after correction for differences in clinical characteristics. Smoking is a novel overall risk marker of severe hypoglycaemia.     

不稳定股骨转子间骨折不同内固定方法的疗效比较

目的 浅析不同内固定方法对不稳定股骨转子间骨折的疗效差异。方法 2009年1月至2013年5月行内固定手术的不稳定股骨转子间骨折患者36例,采用Gamma钉固定10例为A组,动力髋螺钉(DHS)固定11例为B组,股骨近端抗旋髓内钉(PFNA)固定15例为C组。对不同的内固定方式的术中出血量、手术时间、术后并发症、骨折愈合时间及髋关节功能评分等相关数据进行统计学分析。结果 各组患者术后均获随访,平均随访时间1年半,住院及随访期间无死亡病例。C组手术时间较A、B两组短,且有统计学意义(P<0.05)。B组术中出血量最多,愈合时间长,C组出血最少,但与A组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。术中A组发生股骨颈干角变小1例,髋内翻1例;B组发生髋内翻2例,头钉穿出1例,内固定松动1例;C组无相关并发症发生。骨折愈合时间A、B、C三组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。A、C两组髋关节功能评分均较B组高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),但A、C两组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 PFNA是治疗不稳定股骨转子间骨折一个很好的选择,手术操作简便,损伤较小,出血少,固定牢靠,术后髋关节功能恢复较好,值得临床推广。     

Aloe vera affects changes induced in pulmonary tissue of mice caused by cigarette smoke inhalation

This study was undertaken to determine the influence of Aloe vera (AV) on changes induced in pulmonary tissue of cigarette smoke (CS) inhaling mice. CS inhalation for 4 weeks caused pulmonary damage as evident by histoarchitectural alterations and enhanced serum and tissue lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities. CS inhalation also led to increased mucin production as revealed by mucicarmine and Alcian Blue‐Periodic Acid Schiff (AB‐PAS) staining. Studies on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (balf) of CS exposed animals revealed structural changes in phospholipids and increase in surface tension when compared with control counterparts. These changes were accompanied by enhanced nitric oxide (NO) levels, citrulline levels, peroxidative damage, and differential modulation of antioxidant defense system. AV administration (seven weeks, 500 mg/kg b.w. daily) to CS inhaling mice led to modulation of CS induced pulmonary changes as revealed by lesser degree of histoarchitectural alterations, lesser mucin production, decreased NO levels, citrulline levels, peroxidative damage, and serum LDH activity. AV treatment to CS inhaling mice was associated with varying response to antioxidant defense system, however balf of CS + AV treated animals did not exhibit appreciable changes when compared with that of CS exposed animals. These observations suggest that AV has the potential to modulate CS induced changes in the pulmonary tissue which could have implications in management of CS associated pulmonary diseases, however, further investigations are required to explore its complete mechanism of action. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 999–1013, 2015.     

Favorable four‐yr outcome after renal transplantation in a patient with complement factor H antibody and CFHR1/CFHR3 gene mutation‐associated HUS

aHUS is a clinical challenge for successful renal transplantation. Case report: A 14‐yr‐old girl lost her kidneys at the age of 7, due to CFH antibodies and CFH‐related protein (CFHR1/CFHR3) homozygous deletion‐associated aHUS. CFH, CFI, and MCP gene mutations were excluded. The patient was a candidate for renal transplantation despite persistent presence of CFH antibodies (up to 539 AU/mL). Treatment with MMF, IVIG, and repeated PF (n = 8) was introduced while being placed on urgent waiting list. Three years after aHUS onset, the patient underwent the deceased donor renal transplantation “under cover” of PF, as PF was performed directly prior to surgery and, then, PFs were repeated up to overall 14 sessions. Quadruple immunosuppression (basiliximab + tacrolimus + MMF + prednisolone) was used. Moderate symptoms of aHUS (hemolysis, low platelets, and low C3) were present within first seven days post‐transplant and then normalized with PF therapy. The patient remained stable during four yr of further follow‐up after transplantation. Conclusion: Specific pre‐ and post‐transplant management allowed successful renal transplantation in a CFH antibody‐positive patient.     

液体复苏综合疗法对感染性休克疗效研究

目的 :探讨液体复苏联合抗感染的综合疗法治疗感染性休克的临床疗效。方法 :选取280例感染性休克患者为研究对象,根据其意愿分成液体复苏组(A组,n=140)和对照组(B组,n=140)两组,观察并记录两组患者用药后治疗目标达到时间、治疗第1h输液量、ICU总住院时间等指标差异,对比其治疗后死亡及肺水肿发生情况。结果 :1 A组患者在治疗达标时间及ICU总治疗时间对比上均明显短于B组,对比差异明显;B组治疗第一小时输液量明显低于A组;2 A组死亡率为15.0%,明显低于B组的42.8%,对比差异具有统计学意义;两组在治疗肺水肿发生率对比上无明显差异。结论 :对感染性休克患者予以液体复苏联合抗感染治疗方案,临床效果确切,预后质量良好,值得临床推广。     

The Meth Project and Teen Meth Use: New Estimates from the National and State Youth Risk Behavior Surveys

In this note, we use data from the national and state Youth Risk Behavior Surveys for the period 1999 through 2011 to estimate the relationship between the Meth Project, an anti‐methamphetamine advertising campaign, and meth use among high school students. During this period, a total of eight states adopted anti‐meth advertising campaigns. After accounting for pre‐existing downward trends in meth use, we find little evidence that the campaign curbed meth use in the full sample. We do find, however, some evidence that the Meth Project may have decreased meth use among White high school students. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Neonatal lupus syndromes

Children born from mothers positive for autoantibodies against SSA/Ro and/or anti‐SSB/La ribonucleoproteins may develop heart conduction tissue damage resulting in atrioventricular block and/or transient skin rash, liver enzyme abnormalities and anaemia/thrombocytopenia. Additional transient electrocardiographic abnormalities (sinus bradycardia, QT interval prolongation) have been reported. Such clinical and laboratory manifestations are included in the so‐called neonatal lupus syndromes, independently whether the mother is suffering from a systemic autoimmune disease or is totally asymptomatic. The prevalence of the congenital heart block is around 2%, of neonatal rash around 20%, while laboratory abnormalities in asymptomatic babies can be detected in up to 40% of cases. The risk of recurrence of complete heart block is almost 10 times higher in the following pregnancies. Most of the mothers are asymptomatic at delivery and are identified only by the birth of an affected child. Their long‐term outcome is generally more reassuring than previously assumed and arthralgias and xerophtalmia are the most common symptoms. A standard therapy for heart blocks detected in uterus is still a matter of investigation, although fluorinated corticosteroids have been reported to be effective on myocarditic signs when present. Serial echocardiograms and obstetric sonograms, performed at least every two weeks, starting from the 16 weeks gestation, are recommended in anti‐Ro/SSA positive pregnant women: the goal is to detect early fetal abnormalities, that might precede complete atrioventricular block and that might be a target of preventive therapy. Transplacental passage of maternal anti‐SSA/Ro ‐SSB/La IgG is thought to be pivotal in inducing tissue damage. However, the discordant appearance of the syndrome in twins does suggest a role also for fetal or environmental factors.