Hearing loss and cognitive decline in the general population: a prospective cohort study

Journal of Neurology - Previous studies identifying hearing loss as a promising modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline mostly adjusted for baseline age solely. As such a faster cognitive...     

Vesicle consisted of calcified core and intervening turbid fluid,a possible composition of calcification in intervertebral disc calcification in children

Intervertebral disc calcification (IDC) is one of the uncommon diseases in children. Normally, it is a benign lesion which is self-limited and has an excellent prognosis under conservative treatments and symptomatic support. Surgical treatment is usually carried out only for patients with progressive neurological deterioration in order to prevent the spinal cord from being irreversible injured. After conservative treatments for months or years, the calcification reduces gradually or even disappears through imaging. Until now, the etiology remains unclear and the mechanism for resorption of IDC is still unknown. Surgery was performed on an IDC patient with progressive neurological deterioration, it was found that the high density calcification region on CT is actually not “hard” but more like an enlarged cell. In such a cell, a calcified nuclear was surrounded by limewater-like liquid inside a large membrane. This study aims to unveil the mechanism for the resorption of IDC. We hypothesize that the high density calcification on imaging is a vesicle consisted of calcified core and intervening turbid fluid. Furthermore, the increase or diminution of calcification is caused by the production or resorption of inflammatory fluid around the calcified core in lesion disc. This could explain the mechanism of IDC resorption in children.     

Expanding the clinical spectrum of STIP1 homology and U-box containing protein 1-associated ataxia

Journal of Neurology - STUB1 has been first associated with autosomal recessive (SCAR16, MIM# 615768) and later with dominant forms of ataxia (SCA48, MIM# 618093). Pathogenic variations in STUB1...     

Risk Factors of Transfusion in Anemia of Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Purpose

Anemia of prematurity is frequent in preterm infants, for which red blood cell (RBC) transfusion remains the treatment of choice. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the characteristics and risk factors of anemia of prematurity, and suggest ways to reduce anemia and the need for multiple transfusions.

Materials and Methods

Preterm infants weighing less than 1500 g (May 2008-May 2009) were divided into two groups depending on whether they received RBC transfusions (transfusion group and non transfusion group). Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, phlebotomy blood loss, and the amount of RBC transfusion were analyzed. Risk factors of anemia and RBC transfusions were analyzed.

Results

Fifty infants that survived were enrolled in the present study: 39 in the transfusion group and 11 in the non transfusion group. Hb concentrations gradually decreased by eight weeks. In the transfusion group, gestational age and birth weight were smaller, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and sepsis were more frequent, full feeding was delayed, parenteral nutrition and days spent in the hospital were prolonged, and phlebotomy blood loss was greater than that in the non transfusion group.

Conclusion

Anemia of prematurity was correlated with increased laboratory blood loss, decreased birth weight, prolonged parenteral nutrition, and delayed body weight gain. Accordingly, reducing laboratory phlebotomy loss and parenteral nutrition, as well as improving body weight gain, may be beneficial to infants with anemia of prematurity.     

Optimal Anticoagulation during Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass in Patients Recently Exposed to Clopidogrel

Purpose

The aim of this study was to find an optimal range of activated clotting time (ACT) during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) yielding ischemic protection without the risk of hemorrhagic complications in patients with recent exposure to dual antiplatelet therapy.

Materials and Methods

Three hundred and five patients who received aspirin and clopidogrel within 7 days of isolated multi-vessel OPCAB were retrospectively studied. Combined hemorrhagic and ischemic outcome was defined as the occurrence of 1 of the following: significant perioperative bleeding (>30% of estimated blood volume), transfusion of packed red blood cell (pRBC) ≥2 U, or myocardial infarction (MI). This was compared in relation to the tertile distribution of the time-weighted average ACT-212-291 sec (first tertile), 292-334 sec (second tertile), 335-485 sec (third tertile).

Results

The amount of perioperative blood loss was 937±313 mL, 1014±340 mL, and 1076±383 mL, respectively (p=0.022). Significantly more patients in the third tertile developed MI (4%, 4%, and 12%, respectively, p=0.034). The incidence of significant perioperative blood loss and transfusion of pRBC ≥2 U were lower in the first tertile than those of other tertiles without statistical significance. In the multivariate analysis, the first tertile was associated with a 52% risk reduction of combined hemorrhagic and ischemic outcomes (95% confidence interval: 0.25-0.92, p=0.027).

Conclusion

A lower degree of anticoagulation with a reduced initial heparin loading dose should be carefully considered for patients undergoing OPCAB who have recently been exposed to clopidogrel.     

The Role of One-Year Endoscopic Follow-Up for the Esophageal Remnant and Gastric Conduit after Esophagectomy with Gastric Reconstruction for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose

After esophagectomy and gastric reconstruction for esophageal cancer, patients suffer from various symptoms that can detract from quality of life. Endoscopy is a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating patients after esophagectomy. This observational study was performed to investigate the correlation between symptoms and endoscopic findings one year after esophageal surgery and to assess the clinical usefulness of one-year endoscopic follow-up.

Materials and Methods

From 2001 to 2008, 162 patients who underwent esophagectomy with gastric reconstruction were endoscopically examined one year after operation.

Results

Patients suffered from the following symptoms: nocturnal cough (n=10), regurgitation (n=7), cervical heartburn (n=3), lump sensation (n=2), dysphagia (n=20) and odynophagia (n=22). Eighty-five (52.5%) patients had abnormal findings on endoscopic examination. Twelve (7.4%) patients had reflux esophagitis, and 37 (22.8%) patients had an anastomotic stricture. Only stricture-related symptoms were correlated with the finding of anastomotic strictures (p<0.001). Two patients had recurrences at the anastomotic sites, and four patients had regional lymph node recurrences with gastric conduit invasion visualized by endoscopy. Newly-developed malignancies in the esophageal remnant or hypopharynx that were not detected by clinical symptoms and imaging studies were reported in two patients.

Conclusion

One year after esophagectomy, endoscopic findings were not correlated with clinical symptoms, except those related to stricture. Routine endoscopic follow-up is a useful tool for identifying latent functional and oncological lesions.     

A Case of Cerebellar Infarction Caused by Acute Subclavian Thrombus Following Minor Trauma

Subclavian steal syndrome caused by an acute thrombus is very rare. We present a case of cerebellar infarction with proximal subclavian artery thrombosis. A 56-year-old woman was admitted for sudden vertigo. One day prior to admission, she received a shoulder massage comprised of chiropractic manipulation. On examination, her left hand was pale and radial pulses were absent. Blood pressure was weak in the left arm. Downbeat nystagmus and a right falling tendency were observed. Brain MRI showed multiple acute infarctions in the left cerebellum. The findings of Doppler ultrasonography in the left vertebral artery were compatible with a partial subclavian artery steal phenomenon. Digital subtraction angiography demonstrated a large thrombus in the left subclavian artery. After heparin infusion, thrombus size markedly decreased. Cerebellar infarction caused by acute subclavian thrombosis following minor trauma is rare, but the thrombus can be successfully resolved with anticoagulation.     

大脑中动脉重度狭窄"亚满意"支架成形术前后的血流动力学参数分析

目的探讨大脑中动脉(MCA)M1段重度狭窄"亚满意"成形术前、后血流动力学参数的变化。方法回顾性分析2016年1月至2020年5月郑州大学人民医院脑血管介入治疗中心采用Enterprise支架治疗的20例MCA M1段重度狭窄患者的临床资料。对所有患者手术前、后均行头颅数字减影血管造影(DSA)检查,根据脑血管旋转造影数据建立数值模型,应用血流动力学系列软件计算手术前、后及计算机模拟狭窄部位完全修复后狭窄局部、狭窄近端、远端正常血管及穿支根部的壁剪切力和管腔内总压力。术后复查DSA判断血管狭窄程度,以残余狭窄率<30%(定义为"亚满意")为手术成功。结果20例患者的手术均成功。术后即刻造影显示MCA狭窄率较术前明显降低[分别为(29.9±13.2)%、(86.6±10.0)%,t=15.31,P<0.05]。20例患者术后MCA狭窄部位和穿支根部的壁剪切力均较术前降低[狭窄部:(25.1±4.6)Pa、(49.0±13.2)Pa,穿支根部:(1.1±0.2)Pa、(3.5±0.4)Pa,均P<0.05],而狭窄近端和远端正常血管的壁剪切力均较术前增高[近端:(7.2±3.8)Pa、(3.6±2.6)Pa,远端:(12.6±5.8)Pa、(4.9±2.6)Pa,均P<0.05]。术后狭窄部位和近端正常血管壁面的总压力均较术前降低[狭窄部位:(276.5±86.3)Pa、(992.6±15.7)Pa,狭窄近端:(605.4±27.8)Pa、(992.6±15.7)Pa,均P<0.05],而穿支根部和狭窄远端正常血管的总压力均较术前增高[穿支根部:(58.2±5.6)Pa、(2.7±0.3)Pa,狭窄远端:(101.0±43.4)Pa、(10.3±4.3)Pa,均P<0.05]。通过计算机技术将狭窄部位管腔恢复至同两端血管完全一致时,狭窄部位、狭窄近端、远端正常血管及穿支根部的壁剪切力、总压力与术后的差异均无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。结论MCA M1段重度狭窄"亚满意"成形术后狭窄局部、近端、远端正常血管及穿支根部的血流动力学参数均较术前发生明显改变,且达到较理想的血流动力学状态。