Climate Change: Effects on the Older Adult

The effects of climate change include floods, hurricanes, heat waves, and fires; these natural disasters can result in respiratory, cardiovascular, and psychological harm in older adults, who experience the highest morbidity and mortality during heat waves. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) need education on preparing, assessing, and treating older adults for climate-change disasters, especially heat waves. This article will help APRNs understand the effects of climate-change events on the vulnerable older adults and advocates for the need to integrate health effects of climate change into curricula, practicums, policy, and research agendas.     

Effects of the Clearing the Lung and Dissipating Phlegm Method in the Treatment of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the clearing the lung and dissipating phlegm method in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) and to provide evidence for the treatment of the disease. Materials and Methods: Literature was searched from the United States National Library of Medicine(PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database(Wanfang), and the Full?Text Database of Chinese Scientific and Technical Periodicals(VIP).A comprehensive collection was made of randomized controlled trials(RCTs) before June 2018, in which the treatment groups used either the clearing the lung and dissipating phlegm formulas only or combined it with routine Western medicine therapy, and the control group adopted routine Western medicine therapy only for the acute exacerbation of COPD. The Cochrane risk of bias method was used to evaluate the quality of the literature. The data were analyzed and retrieved independently by two reviewers before meta?analysis was carried out with RevMan 5.3 software to evaluate the primary outcome measures, including the total clinical effective rate, and the secondary outcome measures such as the pulmonary function(forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in the 1 s [FEV1], percentage of FEV1 [FEV1%], and FEV1/FVC)and blood gases(PaO_2 and PaCo_2). Results: A total of 13 RCTs involving 990 patients(496 in the treatment group and 494 in the control group)were included in this study. Meta?analysis revealed significant difference in the efficacy of the group that adopted solely the routine Western medicine method and the group that combined the Western medicine with the clearing the lung and dissipating phlegm method. Outcome measures including the pulmonary function(FVC, FEV1, FEV1%, and FEV1/FVC) and the blood gases(PaO_2 and PaCo_2) were significantly improved as compared to the control group(P 0.00001). However, adverse effects in the treatment group using combined traditional Chinese medicine were not reported due to the short observation time of the study. Conclusion: The clearing the lung and dissipating phlegm method can improve the efficacy in the treatment of acute exacerbation of COPD, the outcome measures of the pulmonary function and the blood gases,as well as the life quality of the patients. However, due to the fact that the existing studies are generally of poor quality in which randomization and its implementation were not properly carried out, more high?quality RCTs are necessary to confirm the findings of this study.     

基于糖脂代谢研究筋疽（糖尿病足非缺血性坏疽）湿热毒盛证

[目的]通过现代检验技术研究筋疽(糖尿病足非缺血性坏疽)湿热毒盛证的糖脂代谢指标。[方法]收集136例筋疽(糖尿病足非缺血性坏疽)患者进行不同证型间指标的比较。[结果]湿热毒盛证患者空腹血糖(FBG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、餐后2 h血糖(2 hPBG)、晚期糖基化终末产物(AGEs)、白蛋白(ALB)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)与其他证型比较存在统计学差异(P<0.05)。湿热毒盛证患者C-反应蛋白(CRP)、人可溶性血管细胞黏附分子1(sVCAM-1)与其他证型组间比较存在统计学差异(P<0.01)。[结论]筋疽(糖尿病足非缺血性坏疽)湿热毒盛证形成的原因与低营养状态下糖脂代谢紊乱引起的高血糖及持续炎症反应相关。     

Distribution of temperature changes and neurovascular coupling in rat brain following 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) exposure

(+/?)3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) is an abused psychostimulant that produces strong monoaminergic stimulation and whole‐body hyperthermia. MDMA‐induced thermogenesis involves activation of uncoupling proteins (UCPs), primarily a type specific to skeletal muscle (UCP‐3) and absent from the brain, although other UCP types are expressed in the brain (e.g. thalamus) and might contribute to thermogenesis. Since neuroimaging of brain temperature could provide insights into MDMA action, we measured spatial distributions of systemically administered MDMA‐induced temperature changes and dynamics in rat cortex and subcortex using a novel magnetic resonance method, Biosensor Imaging of Redundant Deviation in Shifts (BIRDS), with an exogenous temperature‐sensitive probe (thulium ion and macrocyclic chelate 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetramethyl‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetate (DOTMA^4?)). The MDMA‐induced temperature rise was greater in the cortex than in the subcortex (1.6 ± 0.4 °C versus 1.3 ± 0.4 °C) and occurred more rapidly (2.0 ± 0.2 °C/h versus 1.5 ± 0.2 °C/h). MDMA‐induced temperature changes and dynamics in the cortex and body were correlated, although the body temperature exceeded the cortex temperature before and after MDMA. Temperature, neuronal activity, and blood flow (CBF) were measured simultaneously in the cortex and subcortex (i.e. thalamus) to investigate possible differences of MDMA‐induced warming across brain regions. MDMA‐induced warming correlated with increases in neuronal activity and blood flow in the cortex, suggesting that the normal neurovascular response to increased neural activity was maintained. In contrast to the cortex, a biphasic relationship was seen in the subcortex (i.e. thalamus), with a decline in CBF as temperature and neural activity rose, transitioning to a rise in CBF for temperature above 37 °C, suggesting that MDMA affected CBF and neurovascular coupling differently in subcortical regions. Considering that MDMA effects on CBF and heat dissipation (as well as potential heat generation) may vary regionally, neuroprotection may require different cooling strategies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A modality-specific somatosensory evoked potential test protocol for clinical evaluation: A feasibility study

ObjectiveWe aimed to establish an objective neurophysiological test protocol that can be used to assess the somatosensory nervous system.MethodsIn order to assess most fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system, repetitive stimuli of seven different modalities (touch, vibration, pinprick, cold, contact heat, laser, and warmth) were synchronized with the electroencephalogram (EEG) and applied on the cheek and dorsum of the hand and dorsum of the foot in 21 healthy subjects and three polyneuropathy (PNP) patients. Latencies and amplitudes of the modalities were assessed and compared. Patients received quantitative sensory testing (QST) as reference.ResultsWe found reproducible evoked potentials recordings for touch, vibration, pinprick, contact-heat, and laser stimuli. The recording of warm-evoked potentials was challenging in young healthy subjects and not applicable in patients. Latencies were shortest within Aβ-fiber-mediated signals and longest within C-fibers. The test protocol detected function loss within the Aβ-fiber and Aδ-fiber-range in PNP patients. This function loss corresponded with QST findings.ConclusionIn this pilot study, we developed a neurophysiological test protocol that can specifically assess most of the somatosensory modalities. Despite technical challenges, initial patient data appear promising regarding a possible future clinical application.SignificanceEstablished and custom-made stimulators were combined to assess different fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system using modality-specific evoked potentials.     

基于“祛邪为第一要义”从清热化湿论治新型冠状病毒肺炎

结合验案分析,基于"祛邪为第一要义"探讨新型冠状病毒肺炎从清热化湿论治的思路与方法。认为新型冠状病毒肺炎主要是属于"湿热"性质的疫病,治疗应强调清热化湿,以"祛邪为第一要义",辅以扶正。在中医祛邪与扶正理论指导下,通过宣肺平喘、通腑泻热、芳香化湿等治法,祛邪为主,肺肠合治,可以使发热减轻或消退,使大便通畅,从而截断病情进展,避免或减少危重症的发生及死亡的风险;通过清热化湿、疏肝健脾、凉血化瘀等治法,祛邪兼以扶正,肺与肝、脾合调,可以改善肝功能损伤,减少病情加重的风险;通过补气健脾等扶正治法,可以改善患者的精神和体力,促使病毒更快转阴,缩短病程,促进患者早日康复。     

Reactivation of heat-inactivated Ku proteins by heat shock cognate protein HSC73

Purpose: Mouse double-stranded DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity is heat sensitive. Recovery of heat-inactivated DNA repair activity is a problem after combination therapy with radiation and heat. We investigated the mechanism of recovery of heat-inactivated DNA-PK activity.

Methods: Hybrid cells containing a fragment of human chromosome 8 in scid cells (RD13B2) were used. DNA-PK activity was measured by an in vitro assay. Immunoprecipitation of the nuclear extract was performed with an anti-Ku80 antibody. Proteins co-precipitated with Ku80 were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and detected by Western blotting using anti-heat shock protein (HSP)72 and anti-heat shock cognate protein (HSC)73 antibodies. HSC73 was overexpressed with the pcDNA3.1 vector. Short hairpin (sh)RNA was used to downregulate HSC73 and HSP72.

Results: The activity of heat-inactivated DNA-PK recovered to about 50% of control during an additional incubation at 37?°C after heat treatment at 44?°C for 15?min in the presence of cycloheximide (which inhibits de novo protein synthesis). Maximal recovery was observed within 3?h of incubation at 37?°C after heat treatment. Constitutively expressed HSC73, which folds newly synthesized proteins, reached maximal levels 3?h after heat treatment using a co-immunoprecipitation assay with the Ku80 protein. Inhibiting HSC73, but not HSP72, expression with shRNA decreased the recovery of DNA-PK activity after heat treatment.

Conclusions: These results suggest that de novo protein synthesis is unnecessary for recovery of some heat-inactivated DNA-PK. Rather, it might be reactivated by the molecular chaperone activity of HSC73, but not HSP72.     

新冠肺炎“动态清零”常态化下应急梯队护士体验的质性研究

目的 研究新型冠状病毒肺炎常态化疫情防控下应急梯队护士的真实体验。提出针对性改善护士的心理状况的方法和建议。方法 于2021年10月选取上海市静安区闸北中心医院应急梯队的护士11名为研究对象，对其进行半结构式面对面谈话，并采用Colaizzi七步分析法进行资料分析。结果 进入应急梯队的护士普遍存在着紧张焦虑，情绪低落，身心疲惫等心理问题。而执行完应急任务后的成就感，社会的认同，多方的理解支持，有利缓解心理压力。结论 通过对新型冠状病毒肺炎常态化疫情防控下应急梯队护士的真实体验的了解，护士普遍存在各种心理问题，需要给予针对性的干预措施，提高应急梯队成员的心理素质和应急能力。     

乌司他丁与连续性血液净化联合治疗热射病的效果及对机体炎性反应影响研究

目的 分析乌司他丁与连续性血液净化联用对热射病患者所产生的影响。方法 选取2017年5月—2019年2月在海南医学院第二附属医院进行治疗的88例热射病患者作为研究对象,将其分为研究组和常规组,常规组患者接受常规治疗,研究组患者在常规治疗基础上,将乌司他丁与连续性血液净化联用。分析两种治疗措施的效果。结果 治疗前两组患者的IL-17、TNF-α、cTnⅠ、β₂-MG、PT、D-D、ET和TM水平,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。经治疗两组患者的上述指标水平都表现出下降的趋势,相对于常规组,研究组患者下降水平更明显,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。研究组治疗的总有效率为95.5%,高于常规组的72.7%,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 运用乌司他丁与连续性血液净化联用的疗法对热射病患者进行治疗,可获得十分理想的治疗效果,可在临床工作中推广。     

运用六经辨证治疗子嗽探析

妊娠期间,咳嗽不已,称"妊娠咳嗽",亦称"子嗽",孕妇咳嗽日久未见好转,咳嗽胸痛甚则咳而呕吐,或咳嗽剧烈或久咳不愈,可损伤胎气,导致堕胎、小产。笔者运用六经辨证治疗外感型中表寒里热证子嗽,认为此类患者病在太阳阳明,属于寒热错杂之表寒里热,采用《伤寒论》中方证麻杏甘石汤合止嗽散,使热从外泄,宣发卫气,散寒不助热、解表不伤正,故辨证论治取得了显著的疗效。同时子嗽治疗还需注意健脾固肾安胎,应将顾护胎元贯穿治疗妊娠咳嗽的始终。