Sex-discrete role of depressive symptomatology on 10-year first and recurrent cardiovascular disease incidence: results from ATTICA and GREECS prospective studies

ObjectiveThe sex-specific effect of depressive symptomatology on 10-year first and recurrent cardiovascular disease (CVD) events was evaluated.MethodsThe Greek samples from ATTICA (2002-2012, n = 845 free-of-CVD subjects) and GREECS (2004-2014, n = 2,172 subjects with acute coronary syndrome (ACS)) prospective epidemiological studies with baseline psychological assessments were used for the first and the recurrent event, respectively. Depressive symptomatology was assessed at baseline, through Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale in the ATTICA study, and through the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale in the GREECS study.ResultsACS as well as free-of-CVD women scored significantly higher for depressive symptomatology. Men scored higher than women against first (19.7% vs. 11.7%) and subsequent CVD events (38.8% vs. 32.9%). In participants with depressive symptoms man-to-woman first and recurrent CVD event rate ratio was below 1, confirming that depressive women were more likely to have a CVD event than depressive men. Multiadjusted analysis revealed that depressive symptomatology had an independent aggravating effect on the first (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.72, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.50, 9.12) and recurrent (HR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.01, 1.69) CVD events only in women. Mediation analysis in women revealed that 35% (23%, 44%) of excess first-CVD-event risk of depressive symptoms was attributed to conventional risk factors. The respective number for recurrent CVD events was 46% (23%, 53%); different patterns of ranking regarding the mediating effect corresponding to each adjustment factor were observed.ConclusionsThe present work augments prior evidence that psychological stressors possess important drivers of CVD onset and progression mainly in women, while it gives rise to research toward unidentified paths behind this claim.     

脑梗死合并肺部感染患者TNF-α、HMGBl、TLR4-NF-κB信号通路改变研究

目的探究脑梗死合并肺部感染患者的肿瘤坏死因子-α(Tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)和高迁移率族蛋白Bl(High mobility group protein Bl,HMGBl)水平及其临床价值研究。方法2018年1月-2019年2月儋州市人民医院收治的急性脑梗死患者作为研究对象,其中急性脑梗死合并肺部感染患者30例作为感染组,急性脑梗死无肺部感染患者80例作为非感染组,选择同期于此医院体检的健康者30名作为对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附法(Enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay,ELISA)检测血清HMGB1和细胞因子IL-6、TNF-α水平,采用Western Blot法检测血清Toll样家族受体-4(Toll like receptor-4,TLR4)、核因子κB(nuclear factor kappa-B,NF-κB)、髓样分化因子(myeloiddifferentiationfactor88,MyD88)表达水平。结果感染组的血清HMGB1、TLR4、NF-κB、MyD88表达及细胞因子IL-6、TNF-α水平均高于非感染组和对照组(P<0.05);感染组患者大梗死灶、中等梗死灶、小梗死灶各指标总体水平差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。大梗死灶、中等梗死灶两亚组患者的血清HMGB1、TLR4、NF-κB、MyD88表达及细胞因子IL-6、TNF-α水平均高于小梗死灶亚组(P<0.05);急性脑梗死合并肺部感染患者的血清HMGB1和TNF-α水平呈正相关(r=0.523,P<0.001)。结论脑梗死合并肺部感染患者伴随TNF-α、HMGBl、TLR4-NF-κB信号通路的明显改变,且与梗死灶大小具有相关性,其机制有待进一步研究。     

From pathogenesis to personalized treatments of neuropathies in hematological malignancies

The peripheral nervous system may be involved at any stage in the course of several hematological diseases, the most common being monoclonal gammopathies (of undetermined significance or malignant) or lymphomas. The underlying pathogenic mechanisms are different and therapies aim at targeting the dangerous either B‐cell or plasma cell clones. Recently, high‐throughput technologies, and next‐generation sequencing have increased our knowledge of hematological diseases pathogenesis by the identification of somatic mutation affecting pivotal signaling pathways. Accordingly, new target therapies are used that may also be borrowed for treatment of neuropathies in hematological diseases.     

Early laboratory biomarkers for severity in acute pancreatitis; A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background/ObjectivesAcute pancreatitis is complicated by local and systemic complications in 20–30% of the patients. Accurate prediction of severity may be important for clinical decision making. Our aim is to identify and compare the accuracy of laboratory biomarkers that predict severity and complications in adult patients.MethodsMedline, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library (1993 to August 2020) were searched for studies with an unselected population of patients with acute pancreatitis, that contains accuracy data for ≥1 laboratory biomarker(s) and/or APACHE-II score for the prediction of a patient outcomes of interest during the first 48 h of admission. The primary outcome is moderate severe or severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP/SAP). Secondary outcomes are severe acute pancreatitis, pancreatic necrosis and organ failure. Risk of bias was assed using QUADAS-2. Biomarkers extracted from ≥3 unique sources, were analyzed using hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) and bivariate model analysis.ResultsIn total, 181 studies were included in the qualitative analysis reporting on 29 biomarkers. For the primary outcome at admission, summary sensitivities and specificities were, respectively, 87% (95% CI 69–95%) and 88% (95% CI 80–93%) for IL-6 at a threshold of >50 pg/ml, 72% (95% CI 64–79%) and 76% (95% CI 67–84%) for an APACHE-II score of ≥8, and 53% (95% CI 35–71%) and 82% (95% CI 74–88%) for CRP >150 mg/l. HSROC curve analysis confirmed these results.ConclusionThis study indicates superiority of IL-6 for the early prediction of MSAP/SAP and may be used for to guide clinical decision making.     

双支架取栓治疗难治性颅内大动脉分叉处急性闭塞的疗效观察

目的探讨双支架取栓治疗难治性颅内大动脉分叉处急性闭塞的有效性及安全性。 方法回顾性分析盱眙县人民医院神经内科和江苏省人民医院介入放射科自2019年5月至2021年10月行双支架取栓治疗难治性颅内大动脉分叉处急性闭塞患者的临床及影像学资料，评估患者的血管再通情况、手术并发症及临床预后。比较患者术前及出院时美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表（NIHSS）评分，采用改良Rankin评分（mRs）评价患者术后90 d的临床预后。 结果本组共纳入11例患者，均为单支架取栓失败后改用双支架进行补救，9例（81.8%）患者成功再通（改良脑梗死溶栓分级为2b~3级），2例患者再通失败。4例患者术后发生症状性颅内出血。本组患者出院时NIHSS评分的中位数[12（2，20）分]较术前[16（8，21）分]明显降低，差异具有统计学意义（P=0.012）。术后随访90 d，2例患者死亡（mRs 6分），3例患者严重残疾（mRs 5分），1例患者重度残疾（mRs 4分），1例患者中等残疾（mRs 3分），4例患者良好（mRs≤2分）。 结论双支架取栓技术治疗难治性颅内大血管分叉处急性闭塞安全、有效，血管再通率高，可以作为单支架取栓不成功的补救措施。     

Changes in long term peripheral nerve biophysical properties in childhood cancer survivors following neurotoxic chemotherapy

ObjectiveIn the context of increasing numbers of childhood cancer survivors (CCS), this study aimed to enhance understanding of the biophysical basis for long term chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy from different chemotherapy agents in CCS.MethodsDetailed cross-sectional neurophysiological examination, using median nerve axonal excitability studies, alongside clinical assessments, in 103 long term CCS (10.5 ± 0.6 years post-treatment).ResultsCisplatin treated CCS (n = 16) demonstrated multiple sensory axonal excitability changes including increased threshold (P < 0.05), alterations in depolarising and hyperpolarising threshold electrotonus (P < 0.05) and reduction in resting and minimum IV slope (P < 0.01). Vincristine treated CCS (n = 73) were comparable to controls, except for prolonged distal motor latency (P = 0.001). No differences were seen in the non-neurotoxic chemotherapy group (n = 14). Abnormalities were more evident in the cisplatin subgroup with greater clinical neuropathy manifestations.ConclusionPersistent long term changes in axonal biophysical properties vary with different chemotherapy agents, most evident after cisplatin exposure. Longitudinal studies of nerve function during chemotherapy treatment are required to further evaluate these differences and their mechanistic basis.SignificanceThis study provides a unique biophysical perspective for persistent cisplatin related neurotoxicity in children, previously under recognised.     

Is neutrophilia the key to diagnosing appendicitis in pregnancy?

BackgroundThe diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) in pregnancy remains challenging. We investigated which preoperative clinical factors are most predictive of AA in pregnant women.Methods164 pregnant patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging for suspected AA were retrospectively reviewed. Logistic regression was used to compare those with pathologically confirmed AA and those without.Results28 patients (17.1%) had pathologically confirmed AA. 42.9% (n = 12) were perforated at the time of operation. Factors associated with AA included history of emesis (p = 0.005), migratory abdominal pain (p = 0.006), rebound tenderness (p = 0.01), elevated white blood cell count (p = 0.003), elevated Alvarado Score (p < 0.001), elevated neutrophil count (p = 0.021), and left shift (p = 0.001). As a screening test, a left shift with neutrophils >70% provided a sensitivity and negative predictive value of 100.0%.DiscussionEvery patient in our series with AA had a left shift. Neutrophil count and percentage should be considered in the diagnostic evaluation of these patients to better guide resource utilization and treatment.     

鼠神经生长因子联合瑞舒伐他汀治疗老年糖尿病周围神经病变临床观察

目的观察和评价鼠神经生长因子(mNGF)联合瑞舒伐他汀治疗糖尿病周围神经病变(DPN)的疗效。方法67例老年DPN患者随机分为3组A组(n=23)给予甲钴胺治疗,B组(n=22)给予甲钴胺+鼠神经生长因子治疗,C组(n=22)给予甲钴胺+鼠神经生长因子+瑞舒伐他汀治疗,共4周;观察各组患者治疗前后的多伦多神经症状评分(TCSS)、神经传导速度(NCV)以及肝功能和血脂变化。结果3组治疗后均取得TCSS下降和NCV增加的显著改善(P<0.05),其中C组较A、B组改善程度更优,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论联合使用mNGF和瑞舒伐他汀治疗老年DPN可能获得显著疗效。