Evaluation of Simplified Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventing Healing Approach (SLYMPHA) for the prevention of breast cancer-related lymphedema after axillary lymph node dissection using bioimpedance spectroscopy

BackgroundLymphedema is a serious complication of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) with an incidence rate of 20%. Simplified Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventing Healing Approach (SLYMPHA) is a safe and relatively simple method, which decreases incidence of lymphedema dramatically. Our initial study showed an 88% decrease in clinical lymphedema rate. In the initial study, we used arm circumference measurement for the diagnosis of lymphedema and median follow up was 15 months. The aim of this study was to confirm these results after a long-term follow up period and by using bioimpedance spectroscopy (L-Dex) technology in detecting lymphedema.Study designAll patients, undergoing ALND with or without SLYMPHA between January 2014 and November 2020 were included in the study. Patients with no postoperative L-Dex measurements were excluded. A L-Dex score outside the normal range (±10 L-Dex unit) or ≥10 L-Dex unit increase above patient's baseline was considered as lymphedema. The incidence of lymphedema was compared between patients with and without SLYMPHA.Results194 patients were included in the study. 57% of cohort underwent SLYMPHA. Mean follow-up time was 47 ± 37 months. Patients, who underwent SLYMPHA, had a significantly lower rate of lymphedema (16% vs 32%; p = 0.01; OR 0.4 [0.2–0.8]).ConclusionSLYMPHA is a safe and relatively simple method, which continued its efficacy after a long-term follow up period. It should be considered as an adjunct procedure to ALND for all patients during initial surgery.     

Effectiveness of a double-carbapenem combinations against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria

The emergence of carbapenem-resistant organisms posed considerable threat to global health while only limited treatment options are available and led to efforts to discover a novel way to treat them. To evaluate in vitro synergistic activity of meropenem plus ertapenem, a total of 203 carbapenem-resistant strains, collected from 12 provinces and municipalities in China, were examined with a dual carbapenem combination therapy. The statistical software R was used for analysis. Two hundred and one (201) of carbapenem-resistant strains mainly produced four types of carbapenemase: KPC-2 (n = 142, 69.95%), OXA-232 (n = 7, 3.45%), NDM (n = 38, 18.72%; 36 NDM-1, 1 NDM-4, 1 NDM-5), and IMP (n = 15, 7.39%; 1 IMP-26, 10 IMP-30, 4 IMP-4). Fifty-one out of two hundred and three (51/203 or 25.12%) of the examined strains showed a synergistic effect for the meropenem plus ertapenem combination throughout the checkerboard method, while only three isolates showed potential clinically relevant synergy (3/203, 1.48%). An additive effect was observed in 55/203 (27.09%) of the examined strains. Ninety-seven of the examined isolates (47.78%) showed fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) greater or equal to 2 (indicating antagonism). The synergistic activity of meropenem plus ertapenem combination suggests this combination can be a possible way to treat the infection caused by the carbapenem-resistant organisms, especially for IMP or NDM producer with a lesser minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the infected individual who was not recommended to use colistin or tigecycline.     

Severe periodontitis is associated with the serum levels of hypersensitive C reactive protein and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 in the patients of acute ischemic stroke

BackgroundPeriodontitis is associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic plaque, and hypersensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) are the serum biomarkers of the stability of atherosclerotic plaque. Whether periodontitis is associated with the serum level of hs-CRP and Lp-PLA2 of acute ischemic stroke remains unclear.Material and MethodsWe recruited 103 cases with acute ischemic stroke within 7 days after stroke onset. Pocket depth and clinical attachment loss were assessed by oral examination to define the severe periodontitis. Demographic information including gender, age and body weight index, income level, education level, past medical history include smoking history, drinking history, ischemic stroke history, coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia were collected, and serum biomarkers including white blood cell (WBC), fibrinogen, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), lower density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), hs-CRP, HemoglobinA1c (HbAlc), Homocysteine (HCY) and Lp-PLA2 were tested.Results65 (63.1%) cases were diagnosed as severe periodontitis. Severe periodontitis group showed more male, age, drinking history, higher levels of hs-CRP and Lp-PLA2. Multivariate logistic regression showed that severe periodontitis was were significantly associated with hs-CRP (OR = 2.367, 95%CI: 1.182–4.738; P = .015) and Lp-PLA2 (OR = 2.577, 95% CI: 1.010–6.574; P = .048).ConclusionsSevere periodontitis is independently associated with the serum Level of hs-CRP and Lp-PLA2 in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Whether the improvement of periodontitis could decrease the occurrence and re-occurrence of ischemic stroke by stablizating atherosclerotic plaque need be further studied in future.     

关于加强临床营养教育的若干建议

临床营养学作为一门重要的综合学科,已经成为临床治疗中重要的组成部分.临床营养教育是依靠临床营养学这门课程,为培养更加专业的临床营养学人才开展的一门新的教育课程.目前我国的临床营养学教育现状不容乐观,医学院校对临床营养学课程重视不够,在专业教学内容和课程建设方面均无法满足社会需求.通过借鉴国外营养教育制度,并结合国内临床营养人才需求现状,应注意不同专业的医学生在日后工作对临床营养的需求,逐渐开展临床营养学必修课教学,加强营养在临床应用的实践教学;并完善毕业后教育体系,对所有规范化培训的医师增加要求到临床营养科轮转培训且不少于1个月,对非临床医学的营养师要求到临床科室轮转至少2个月.提高进修临床医师继续教育及培训营养支持治疗的认识.临床营养专业的教学改革任重而道远,仍需我们不断完善理论体系,积极践行学科理论和知识,满足我国临床营养的人才需求,使社会认识到临床营养对促进健康、预防和治疗疾病的重要性.     

参附注射液对猪创伤性心脏骤停复苏后肾损伤的保护作用研究

目的探讨参附注射液对猪创伤性心脏骤停复苏后肾损伤的保护作用。方法国产健康雄性白猪21头,采用随机数字表法分为假手术组(Sham组,n=5)、创伤性心脏骤停复苏(TCA组,n=9)和参附组(SFI组,n=7)。Sham组只经历气管插管及动静脉置管,不经历放血、复苏等过程。TCA组匀速释放总血容量的40%,然后经电刺激法室颤5 min,心肺复苏5 min后常规液体复苏治疗。SFI组在TCA组基础上于复苏后5 min进行参附注射液的干预。于放血前10 min、复苏后1、3、6、24 h检测血清TNF-α、IL-6、肌酐(Cr)、尿素氮(BUN)水平。复苏后24 h经右侧耳缘静脉注射10%氯化钾液20 mL处死猪,迅速获取肾组织标本,应用原位末端标记法(TNUEL法)检测细胞凋亡情况,免疫组织化学法检测半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-3(Caspase-3)的蛋白表达水平。结果TCA组中有8头猪复苏成功,SFI组和Sham组中所有猪复苏成功。与Sham组比较,TCA组血清Cr水平在复苏后24 h、BUN水平在复苏后1、3、6、24 h均明显增高(均P<0.05),TNF-α、IL-6水平在复苏后3、6、24 h明显增高(均P<0.05),复苏后24 h后肾组织细胞凋亡指数及Caspase-3表达增加(均P<0.05)。与TCA组比较,SFI组BUN水平复苏后3、6 h明显降低(均P<0.05),TNF-α、IL-6水平在复苏后3、6、24 h明显降低(均P<0.05),肾组织细胞凋亡指数和Caspase-3蛋白表达有所降低,但差异无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。结论在猪TCA复苏模型中,早期应用参附注射液能够明显减轻复苏后肾损伤。其机制可能与抑制系统炎症反应、减轻细胞凋亡有关。     

延续性护理对提高老年慢性支气管炎患者生活质量的影响

目的:探讨延续性护理对提高老年慢性支气管炎患者生活质量及降低并发症的影响。方法:2017年5月至2018年2月收治的45例患者为对照组,应用常规护理方法;2018年3-12月收治的46例为干预组,在对照组的基础上采取出院后延续性护理。比较干预前、干预3个月后2组患者生活质量及并发症发生的情况。结果:SF-36生活质量量表中除日常活动功能(RP)维度外(62.61±9.79VS63.76±8.53,P>0.05),干预组患者在躯体功能(60.88±7.86)、社会活动功能(58.32±6.74)、身体疼痛(53.37±8.67)、活力(59.67±11.41)、总体健康(58.94±7.62)5个维度评分均高于对照组(66.18±8.81、63.27±7.19、56.47±7.34、65.38±9.47、62.71±10.08)P<0.05;干预组并发症发生率低于对照组(10.87%VS26.67%,P<0.05)。结论:延续性护理能提高老年慢性支气管炎患者的生活质量,降低并发症的发生率。     

Microbiology and clinical characteristics of industrial oil burns

IntroductionInfections complicating burns generally transition from Gram-positive to Gram-negatives over the first couple weeks, but this depends on multiple factors. The microbiology of infections complicating crude oil (CO) and hydraulic fracturing (FRAC) burns is unknown.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study of patients with industrial thermal burns hospitalized >2 days with ≥1 day in the ICU between 4/2011–11/2016. Burns were oil-related (ORB; CO or FRAC) or non-oil related (NORB). Epidemiology and microbiology during the first 15 hospital days was compared.Results149 patients were included, with 11 FRAC and 24 CO. CO burns were more severely burned than those with FRAC and NORB (p < 0.05). Mortality was 17% and 18% for CO and FRAC burns compared to 3% in NORB (p < 0.01). More cultures were obtained from ORB than NORB (p < 0.05). ORB were associated with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and FRAC associated with Serratia marcescens and Candida glabrata. Patients with FRAC, CO and NORB had a median of 13, 3.5, and 4 days to first positive culture respectively (p = 0.03).ConclusionORB were associated with more severe burns and unique microbiology. FRAC burns had longer to initial positive culture, potentially suggesting our current methodology is inadequate to diagnose infections associated with FRAC.     

Hémorragie cérébrale compliquant une séance de cryothérapie à visée antalgique

IntroductionWhole body cryotherapy is a new therapeutic for pain treatment. Cryotherapy is, so far, a controversial technique challenged for its efficacy and its security.Case reportThis is the case of a 61-year-old woman suffering from a haemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident during a whole-body cryotherapy session. The patient was treated for a psoriatic arthritis and was in remission. The aetiological screening was negative.ConclusionWe hypothesize that the whole-body cryotherapy was responsible for this stroke.     

Variations in insulin requirements can be an early indicator of sepsis in burn patients

IntroductionA >25% increase in daily insulin dosing is suggestive of possible sepsis in burn patients, however, no conclusive evidence is available regarding the time point at which insulin dosing begins to increase. The purpose of this study is to determine the exact time point at which the insulin requirement increases among non-diabetic burn patients with sepsis.MethodsA retrospective chart review in non-diabetic burn patients with ≥20% total body surface area burned (TBSA) during 2010–2018 who received a blood culture for suspected sepsis. Absolute insulin dosing at intervals (0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h prior to blood culture) were Box–Cox transformed and compared vs.?96 h reference using mixed-effects models accounting for within-patient dependencies.ResultsFifty-eight patients (84% males, age 44 ± 17 years, TBSA% 49 ± 17.5) were included. When cube root of daily insulin dosing was regressed on each time point in a mixed-effects model, statistically significant increase in insulin dosing compared to baseline was observed for ?48 (p = 0.018), ?24 (p = 0.011), and 0 h (p = 0.008).ConclusionDaily insulin dosing increases 48 h prior to development of other clinical signs of sepsis and can be used as a sensitive early marker.