Effectiveness and safety of extracorporeal shock wave treatment for low back pain：a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs

This meta-analysis was designed to assess the effectiveness and safety of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for patients with low back pain (LBP). Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane's library, PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Data were searched until December 2019 to identify studies assessing the effectiveness and safety of EPSW for LBP. The prime outcome is pain intensity measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or numeric rating scale (NRS). Other outcomes included functional status, quality of life, psychological outcomes measured by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), as well as the adverse events. Mean differences (MD) were calculated for continuous outcomes, while odd ratios (OR) were calculated for binary outcomes. Revman 5.3 software was used for statistical analysis. Five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were finally included in this meta-analysis. The pooled mean difference in post-treatment pain scores was −2.37 (P ＜0.0001), indicating that post-treatment pain scores was significantly higher by 2.37 in control group than in ESWT group. At a mean follow-up time of 4–6 weeks, the pooled mean difference in ODI scores was −14.10 (P ＜0.00001), indicating that the pooled mean difference of post-treatment ODI scores was 14.10 higher in control group than in ESWT group. The use of ESWT is effective in alleviating pain and improving the general functional state for patients with LBP. However, more evidence was needed to verify its safety.     

Changing populations being treated with ECMO in the neonatal period – who are the others?

Extracorporeal life support via extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has served the sickest of neonates for almost 50 years. Naturally, the characteristics of neonates receiving ECMO have changed. Advances in care have averted the need for ECMO for some, while complex cases with uncertain outcomes, previously not eligible for ECMO, are now considered. Characterizing the disease states and outcomes for neonates on ECMO is challenging as many infants do not fall into classic categories, i.e. meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), or congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Since 2017, over one third of neonatal respiratory ECMO runs reported to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry are grouped as Other, a catch-all that encompasses those with a diagnosis not included in the classic categories. This review summarizes the historical neonatal ECMO population, reviews advances in therapy and technology impacting neonatal care, and addresses the unknowns in the ever-growing category of Other.     

A case of psoriasis successfully treated by extracorporeal photopheresis during COVID-19 pandemic

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is characterized by well-demarcated erythematous plaques with a silver scale. Although many new and emerging therapeutic agents are often sufficient to control the disease, there is still a need for alternative treatment options in challenging cases. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has been applied to many T-cell-mediated diseases to restore immune homeostasis and treat psoriasis effectively. In this paper, we present a psoriasis patient who did not respond to methotrexate, narrowband ultraviolet B, or acitretin. Because of a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the patient had contraindications for cyclosporine, fumaric acid esters, and biologics but achieved remission with a total of 12 sessions of ECP in two and a half months. Although exacerbation was recorded after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease infection at the end of the first month, scores from the psoriasis area severity index (PASI) and dermatological life quality index (DLQI) were regressed significantly within two and a half months. ECP seems to provide an effective and rapid response for psoriasis and should be considered for psoriasis patients who fail to respond or have contraindications to existing treatments.     

梅毒螺旋体血行播散机制的研究进展

【摘要】 梅毒是由梅毒螺旋体进入循环系统进行血行播散导致的多系统损害，但目前其全身播散的具体机制尚未完全明确。基于国内外的研究进展，本文从梅毒螺旋体黏附与细胞外基质降解、细胞间连接和细胞骨架系统破坏、血管生成、炎症细胞浸润等多方面探讨梅毒螺旋体血行播散的机制，为进一步研究提供理论基础。     

卒中后认知障碍与软脑膜侧支循环的代偿程度及静脉溶栓治疗的相关性分析

目的：比较急性缺血性卒中患者卒中后认知障碍的发生与软脑膜侧支循环的代偿程度及是否接受静脉溶栓治疗的相关性。方法：前瞻性收集2019年1月至2021年3月在石河子市人民医院住院的急性前循环脑梗死患者161例，获取患者入院时人口学资料，包括是否溶栓、性别、合并症等；通过蒙特利尔认知评估量表（Montreal cognitive assessment,MoCA）评分、简易精神状态检查量表（mini mental state examination,MMSE）评分评估患者认知功能；入院时美国国立卫生院卒中量表（National Institute of Health Stroke Scale,NIHSS）评分获取患者神经功能缺损症状；通过Blessed行为量表（Blessed behavior scale,BBS）评分评估患者的日常生活能力；通过区域软脑膜评分（regional leptomeningeal collateral score,rLMC）获取患者软脑膜侧支循环；根据卒中后6个月是否合并认知障碍分为认知障碍组和非认知障碍组，采用logistic多因素回归方法进行统计比较，分析2组患...     

Capillary leak syndrome: A rare cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome

Capillary leak syndrome (CLS) is a rare clinical syndrome associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Intensive care and supportive therapy constitute the mainstay of the treatment, along with judicious use of crystalloids and colloids such as dextran and starch during the leak phase. The advantages of proning, steroids, and intravenous immunoglobins are worth contemplating in patients with such a presentation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation appears to be an excellent strategy to surmount the impediments of the leak and post leak phase of CLS, especially in patients with severe or refractory hypoxemia.     

中医尿路排石汤联合体外冲击波碎石治疗上尿路结石的临床观察

目的：探讨中医尿路排石汤联合体外冲击波碎石中西医结合治疗上尿路结石的疗效。方法：回顾分析我院 2012年 6 月—2017 年 6 月治疗的上尿路结石患者 889 例，按治疗方式分为单纯体外冲击波治疗（对照组）与中西医结合治疗（治疗组）。对照组给予常规西医体外冲击波碎石治疗，治疗组采用尿路排石汤联合体外冲击波碎石中西医结合治疗。观察两组治疗效果、住院天数、平均需要碎石次数、腹痛减轻时间、肉眼血尿消失时间。结果：对照组总有效率为 80%，治疗组总有效率为 90%（P<0.05），对照组平均碎石治疗次数为（2.1±1.1）次，治疗组平均碎石治疗次数为（1.4±1.2）次（P<0.05），对照组平均腹痛时间为（3.76±2.24）天，治疗组平均腹痛时间为（3.01±1.54）天（P<0.05）。结论：中西医结合治疗效果优于单独使用体外冲击波碎石术治疗。