Electronic clinical records in primary care for estimating disease burden and management. An example of COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant health problem in developed countries. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of COPD in a single Spanish healthcare area. We also aimed to assess if there are any differences in prevalence and spirometry use among primary care services by utilizing already registered information. We designed a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of COPD and the performance of spirometries in each primary care service. A total of 8,444 patients were diagnosed with COPD, with a prevalence of 2.6% for individuals older than 39 years. The prevalence increased with age and was much higher in men. Significant heterogeneity was found in the prevalence of COPD and spirometry use among primary care services. COPD was underdiagnosed and there was wide variability in spirometry use in our area. Greater efforts are needed to diagnose COPD in order to improve its clinical outcomes and to refine registries so that they can be used as reliable sources of information     

Comparison of inhaled nitric oxide with aerosolized prostacyclin or analogues for the postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of inhaled prostacyclin or its analoguesversus nitric oxide (NO) in treating pulmonary hypertension (PH) after cardiac or pulmonary surgery remains unclear.

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched for literature published prior to December 2019 using the following keywords: inhaled, nitric oxide, prostacyclin, iloprost, treprostinil, epoprostenol, Tyvaso, flolan, and pulmonary hypertension. Randomized controlled trials and multiple-armed prospective studies that evaluated inhaled NO versus prostacyclin (or analogues) in patients for perioperative and/or postoperative PH after either cardiac or pulmonary surgery were included. Retrospective studies, reviews, letters, comments, editorials, and case reports were excluded.

Results: Seven studies with a total of 195 patients were included. No difference in the improvement of mean pulmonary arterial pressure (pooled difference in mean change= ?0.10, 95% CI: ?3.98 to 3.78, p?=?.959) or pulmonary vascular resistance (pooled standardized difference in mean change= ?0.27, 95% CI: ?0.60 to 0.05, p?=?.099) were found between the two treatments. Similarly, no difference was found in other outcomes between the two treatments or subgroup analysis.

Conclusions: Inhaled prostacyclin (or analogues) was comparable to inhaled NO in treating PH after cardiac or pulmonary surgery.

• Key messages

• This study compared the efficacy of inhaled prostacyclin or its analogues versus inhaled NO to treat PH after surgery. The two types of agent exhibited similar efficacy in managing MPAP, PVR, heart rate, and cardiac output was observed.

• Inhaled prostacyclin may serve as an alternative treatment option for PH after cardiac or pulmonary surgery.

     

经肺动脉与支气管动脉血管造影的CTA观察原发肺癌的血供

目的用支气管动脉(BA)和肺动脉(PA)造影CTA观察肺癌血供情况。方法前瞻性观察6例支气管肺癌患者,分别行体循环动脉和肺动脉数字减影血管造影(DSA)后,留置BA导管与PA导管行CTBA与CTPA,观察BA与PA对肺癌的血供。结果CTPA上,无体动脉与左心强化的图像上肿瘤未见强化,有体动脉或左心强化的图像上见肿瘤边缘强化,CT强化值为10.0~45.6 Hu。CTBA上肿瘤部分明显强化,CT强化值为150.3~320.7 Hu,可见杂乱无章的肿瘤血管影,3例见纵隔淋巴结强化。结论本组病例观察表明原发性肺癌由BA为主的多发体循环动脉供血,未发现PA参与供血。     

急性肺栓塞时心肌血流灌注的变化

目的观察急性肺栓塞（APE）后冠状动脉血流量及心脏肌钙蛋白T（cTnT）与肌红蛋白（Mb）含量变化，探讨心肌血流灌注在急性肺栓塞继发心肌损伤机制中的作用。方法通过介入方法经导管注入自体血栓选择性栓塞肺动脉，建立不同栓塞面积的急性肺栓塞动物模型。监测栓前、栓后5、30min，1、2h冠状动脉血流量变化及栓后4h血清cTnT与Mb含量。结果急性肺栓塞后血清cTnT与Mb含量升高。急性肺栓塞导致冠状动脉血流量显著下降，肺血管栓塞后15～30min降至最低值，30min后趋于平稳。右冠血流量下降程度与肺栓塞面积有显著相关性。结论冠状动脉血流量减少及血清心肌结构蛋白含量升高为急性肺栓塞继发心肌缺血改变提供了直接证据。急性心肌缺血严重影响急性肺栓塞的预后。     

Sonographic features of benign thyroid nodules: interobserver reliability and overlap with malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively determine the sonographic findings of nodular hyperplasia of the thyroid, to compare these with reported findings associated with malignancy, and to assess interobserver reliability. METHODS: Seventy thyroid nodules were scanned, and then biopsies of the nodules were performed under sonographic guidance with fine-needle cytologic analysis; in all cases images were reviewed by 2 experienced radiologists without knowledge of clinical outcome. Findings reported associated with malignancy were specifically assessed. Interobserver agreement between the expert and secondary readers for each finding was calculated by the kappa or weighted kappa statistic and the Fisher exact test of independence. RESULTS: There were 68 benign and 2 malignant nodules in a population of 63 female and 7 male patients. The mean benign nodule size was 2.9 cm; 60% were solid; 54% were hypoechoic; 59% were microlobulated or macrolobulated; 47% had central vascularity; 24% contained calcifications; and 82% were elliptical in shape. There was very good interobserver reliability for the presence of calcium (kappa = 0.91) and good agreement for the presence and location of vascularity (kappa = 0.75) and the amount of cystic components (kappa = 0.62; all P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Sixty-nine percent of benign nodules had at least 1 finding reported previously as associated with malignancy. The interobserver reliability of the sonographic findings was good to very good for 3 of the 5 findings assessed.     

83例6个月以下婴儿室间隔缺损的外科治疗

目的 总结外科手术治疗小婴儿期室间隔缺损(VSD)的临床经验.方法 对2000-2005年83例＜6月龄VSD患儿,年龄12 d至6(4.3±1.2)个月,体重3～6.5(5.1±0.8)kg.膜周部VSD 74例,干下型VSD 8例,膜周部并肌部VSD1例.术前中、重度肺动脉高压69例(83.1%).所有患儿均在浅低温体外循环下手术.结果 全组手术死亡4例,手术病死率为4.8%.术后主要并发症为肺动脉高压危象、肺部感染和心律失常.结论 随着麻醉、体外循环、手术技术和围术期监护处理措施的进步,在小婴儿期施行VSD的外科手术已成为安全的治疗方式.术后对肺高压的处理是手术成功的关键.     

慢性低氧大鼠肺动脉内皮素mRNA的表达及定位

目的：探讨慢性低氧大鼠肺动脉内皮素－1基因表达及分布。方法：采用生物素标记cRNA探针，对Wistar大鼠肺动脉进行原位杂交。结果：低氧1周组及低氧2周组大鼠大部分肺动脉内皮细胞ET－1mRNA表达呈阳性信号，而对照组大鼠仅极少数阳性信号（P＜0．01）；低氧1周组大鼠部分显示强阳性信号。低氧1周组及低氧2周组大鼠部分肺动脉平滑肌细胞呈现ET-1mRNA表达阳性信号，而对照组大鼠则无阳性信号表达（P＜0．01及0．05）。结论：慢性低氧对大鼠肺动脉ET－1分泌的影响是在基因转录水平进行，且主要细胞定位在肺动脉内皮细胞，此外还包括肺动脉平滑肌细胞。     

Comparison of local and general anesthesia in tension-free (Lichtenstein) hernioplasty: a prospective randomized trial

To compare pulmonary effects, postoperative pain and fatigue, morbidity, patient satisfaction, and cost of different anesthetic techniques for inguinal hernia repair, 50 patients were randomized to local and general anesthesia groups (LA and GA). All patients received the same premedications and the same postoperative analgesic regimen. The standardized postoperative analgesic, intramuscular pyroxicam 20 mg, was given to all patients in the recovery room and an additional 20 mg on the same day was given as requested by each patient. Pulmonary function studies and arterial blood gas analysis were performed 1 h prior to the operation and at the postoperative 8th and 24th hours. All patients underwent Lichtenstein's tension-free hernioplasty. Postoperative pain and fatigue were registered 8 h and 24 h after the operation. A questionnaire was filled out by the patients, and they were asked to give grades for the general comfort of the anesthesia and the surgical procedure (1=worst, 10=best). Postoperative pulmonary function tests were significantly poorer in the GA group both on 8th- and 24th-hour measurements (P<0.05). Patients who underwent LA had significantly lower PCO₂ and higher PO₂ at the postoperative 8th hour (P<0.05). Mean postoperative pain and fatigue scores revealed a significant difference in favor of local anesthesia at only the 8th hour (P<0.05). There were two complications, one in each group (a hematoma in LA and a urinary retention in GA). Patient satisfaction grades were not different in the two groups. We conclude that LA in inguinal hernia repair does not adversely affect pulmonary functions, patients feel less pain, and patient satisfaction is comparable to that with GA. Electronic Publication