Safety and efficacy of atorvastatin in heart transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Pravastatin and simvastatin prolong survival and reduce transplant-related coronary vasculopathy, although low-density lipoprotein (LDL) lowering with these agents is only modest. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of moderate dose atorvastatin and its efficacy when prior treatment with another statin had failed to lower LDL to < 100 mg/dl. METHODS: Data from 185 patients were retrospectively evaluated for adverse events, duration of exposure (person-days), and the mean atorvastatin dose exposure. Changes in lipid parameters, and prednisone and cyclosporine doses were determined. RESULTS: Safety: 48 patients received atorvastatin for 24,240 person-days at a mean dose exposure of 21 +/- 10 mg. Rhabdomyolysis, myositis, myalgias, and hepatotoxicity occurred in 0, 2, 2, and 0 patients, respectively. All events occurred at the 10-mg dose, within the first 3 months, and were rapidly reversible with atorvastatin discontinuation. Efficacy: Thirty-four patients evaluable for efficacy analyses had a pre-atorvastatin LDL of 145 +/- 38 mg/dl on the following statins: pravastatin (n = 30, 40 +/- 0mg), fluvastatin (n = 3, 33 +/- 12 mg), simvastatin (n = 1, 40 mg). After atorvastatin (21 +/- 9 mg/day) for 133 +/- 67 days, LDL was reduced to 97 +/- 24 mg/dl (relative reduction 31 +/- 20%, p < 0.0001). At the end of the observation period (418 +/- 229 days, atorvastatin final dose 24 +/- 14 mg/day), LDL was further decreased to 88 +/- 23 mg (relative reduction 37 +/- 17%, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin, when used at moderate doses and with close biochemical and clinical monitoring, appears to be safe and is effective in aggressively lowering LDL in heart transplant recipients when treatment with other statins has failed to achieve LDL goals.     

Heart failure survival score continues to predict clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure receiving β-blockers

BACKGROUND: The Heart Failure Survival Score (HFSS) has been previously shown to effectively risk-stratify patients under evaluation for heart transplantation. However, this model was developed before broad use of beta blockade. We hypothesized that the prognostic tool would retain its ability to risk stratify patients treated with beta-blockers. METHODS: We collected clinical data on 524 consecutive patients referred for heart transplantation from 1994 to 2001. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable Cox regression analysis were performed with events defined as death, left ventricular assist device placement, or United Network of Organ Sharing 1 heart transplantation. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier analysis of the patient population revealed effective discrimination by the survival score both for beta-blocker treated and untreated patients (both p <0.0001). Two-year event-free survival was 94% +/- 2% and 84% +/- 4% for beta-blocker and no beta-blocker patients in the low-risk HFSS strata. Cox proportional hazard modeling showed that HFSS strata (medium risk: HR 2.65, 95% CI 1.75-4.02, p <0.001; high risk: HR 5.51, 95% CI 3.64-8.33, p <0.001) and beta-blocker treatment (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.31-0.64, p <0.001) were significant predictors of event-free survival. Receiver operating curves (area under the curve) for HFSS strata used to predict 2-year events were similar for beta-blocker treated (0.78 +/- 0.04) and untreated (0.80 +/- 0.03) patients. CONCLUSIONS: The HFSS provides effective risk stratification with or without beta-blocker therapy. Consideration of beta-blocker therapy with survival score strata improves outcome prediction in patients evaluated for heart transplantation.     

Mononucleosis syndrome and coincidental human herpesvirus-7 and Epstein-Barr virus infection

Two girls (a 5 year old and a 21 month old) experiencing mononucleosis syndrome with coincidental human herpesvirus (HHV)-7 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections are described. One patient had primary HHV-7 infection and reactivated EBV infection. The other had primary HHV-7 and EBV infections. These cases indicated that HHV-7 is capable of inducing infectious mononucleosis-like illness. Multiple herpesvirus infection in one of the patients also suggests that interaction among herpesviruses can occur in vivo. The consequence of this interaction may have clinical implications.     

低分子量肝素治疗进展型脑梗死及对血流变影响

目的:探讨低分子量肝素对进展型脑梗死的疗效及血流变影响.方法:将80例进展型脑梗死患者,随机分为治疗组40例,对照组40例.两组在治疗前后均行神经功能缺损评分和临床疗效评定,并观察其疗效及有关实验室指标,追踪随访1年.结果:治疗组的有效率明显高于对照组,不良反应轻微,PLT、APTT无明显变化,但血流变指标明显下降,1年内复发率明显小于对照组.结论:低分子肝素治疗进展型脑梗死疗效肯定,对于减少复发亦有一定作用,并可改善血流变.     

门静脉、肠系膜上静脉的解剖与临床应用的初步研究

目的 为提高肝门胆管癌和壶腹周围癌的手术切除率,使该区域受肿瘤浸润的血管能同时切除,血管直接重建提供解剖学依据.方法 在实施肝门胆管癌切除术及胰十二指肠切除术中,对病人的肝蒂内门静脉干、胰腺钩突内的肠系膜上静脉干进行解剖学定位并分段测量长度及可以纵向折叠的长度,以此估计可切除的静脉长度及重新再建血管的长度.结果 测量肝蒂内门静脉干104例,男性(5.8±1.99)cm,女性(5.5±O.81)cm,优势长度大于4.5cm者,男性56例占76.7%,女性25例占80.6%.胰腺钩突内段肠系膜上静脉干测量54例,男性(3.7±0.77)cm,女性(3.5±0.64)cm,优势长度大于3.0cm者,男性28例占77.6%,女性14例占77.8%.门静脉纵向折叠移动的范围在1.8～4.2cm,平均折叠2.2(1.8～2.4)cm者占66.3%,平均折叠2.8(2.5～4.2)cm者占33.7%.切除胰十二指肠后胰腺钩突内肠系膜上静脉段纵向折叠范围平均4.0cm,最长达5.2cm.结论 肝门胆管癌和壶腹周围癌切除术合并受浸血管切除在一定范围是可行的.     

On the Modern Interpretation of Zen Calligraphy Thoughts

中国佛教禅宗书法艺术,风采独特,其书学著述,丰富多彩.综观禅宗书学著述,可以清楚地看到,“写经”是禅家所从事的书法艺术创作活动,是禅家特别关注和讨论的重要话题之一.僧人通过写经,宏扬教义、传播佛法、善行佛事、参禅悟道,乃是“栖身大乘”,“游戏翰墨,作大佛事”.禅宗书学著述从一个特殊的视角,论述了写经的重要意义、巨大功德、书写宗旨、价值取向、艺术特点、特殊形态.     

唐氏筛查高风险孕妇590例胎儿染色体及NIPT结果

目的 了解唐氏筛查高风险孕妇胎儿染色体及阳性病例无创产前DNA检测（简称NIPT）结果,为临床遗传咨询提供参考。方法回顾性分析因唐氏筛查高风险行介入性产前诊断检测胎儿染色体核型和微阵列分析的病例590例,统计胎儿染色体结果分布情况及阳性病例NIPT的检测情况。结果590例唐氏筛查高风险孕妇中,528例胎儿染色体核型及微阵列分析均正常,8例（1.36%）胎儿为染色体多态性,24例（4.07%）胎儿染色体核型分析异常,其中21-三体12例（2.03%）,18-三体5例（0.85%）,其他染色体异常7例（1.19%）;染色体核型正常,微阵列分析检出致病性拷贝数变异（CNVs）和可能致病性CNVs共9例（1.52%）,临床意义不明CNVs共16例（2.71%）,杂合性缺失（LOH）者5例（0.85%）。54例染色体检测阳性病例中有25例术前已行NIPT检测,1例18-三体NIPT检测失败,其余5例21-三体和1例18-三体均被NIPT检出;7例NIPT提示的其他染色体异常被羊水检测证实,包括4例致病性CNVs,3例临床意义不明CNVs;值得注意的是,有4例致病性CNVs和7临床意义不明CNVs病例 NIPT均提示低风险。结论唐氏筛查高风险除了提示21-三体和18-三体综合征外,可提示其他染色体异常,NIPT有可能检出其他染色体异常,但仍会漏筛部分致病性CNVs。     

腔镜胆总管切开术与内镜联合腹腔镜治疗胆总管结石的临床分析

目的对腹腔镜胆总管切开术与内镜联合腹腔镜治疗胆囊结石合并胆总管结石的疗效进行比较和评价。方法回顾性分析2002年7月至2007年7月，20例行腹腔镜胆囊切除、胆总管探查（LCD组），15例行腹腔镜胆囊切除联合内镜乳头括约肌切开取石术（EST＋LC组）患者的手术及术后情况。结果LCD组近期并发症发生率低于EST＋LC组（20％ vs 5％，P〈0．05），LCD组平均住院日和平均住院费用均明显低于EST＋LC组（P〈0．05），手术成功率两组差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论腹腔镜胆总管切开术是治疗胆囊结石并胆总管结石疗效肯定的微创手术。     

老年人腹腔镜胆囊切除术并发症分析

目的探讨老年患者腹腔镜胆囊切除术（laparoscopic cholecystectomy,LC）的安全性。方法回顾性分析2004年2月-2007年5月158例行LC手术治疗的老年患者临床资料。结果138例（87.3%）成功施行LC,手术时间平均为（96±23）min,术后平均住院天数为（3.4±1.4）d,20例（12.7%）术中转开腹胆囊切除术。20例（12.7%）患者术后发生并发症,包括肺栓塞1例（0.6%）,胆漏2例（1.3%）,脐疝3例（1.9%）,胆总管结石残留3例（1.9%）,切口感染3例（1.9%）,切口出血6例（3.8%）,腹膜炎2例（1.3%）。术后30 d内无一例死亡。结论重视术前评估及术中Calot三角处理,规范操作以及掌握好中转开腹原则是老年患者LC术安全进行的可靠保障。