A cause for conversion of laparoscopic splenectomy: splenic candidiasis

Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) is now considered the procedure of choice for removal of the spleen in several hematologic and traumatic splenic conditions. Perisplenitis is still considered a relative contraindication. We report a rare case of isolated splenic candidiasis treated by laparoscopic splenectomy. The technical challenges of the laparoscopic approach in cases of perisplenitis are outlined. Because of dense adhesions to the diaphragm, the LS was converted to open splenectomy, and the procedure was completed through a small subcostal incision. This case report suggests the need for and effectiveness of splenectomy in patients whose fungal infection is suspected to be localized to the spleen. Laparoscopic removal of the spleen in these cases is very difficult to accomplish because of the risk for diaphragm injuries and the technical problems encountered.     

抛物线飞行前、中、后动态心电图的改变

目的了解失重飞机飞行全过程中心电活动的特点。方法记录 1 3名被试者在失重飞机飞行前、中、后的动态心电图 (DCG)。结果飞行前、后心率基本相同 ;失重飞机飞行过程中 ,被试者心率增加 ,最大心率为 1 37.0± 1 2 .2bpm ,最小心率为 57.7± 6.6bpm平均心率为 86.0± 7.3bpm ,高于一般飞行中检出的心率 ;飞行前、后 1 3名被试者心脏节律无明显差异 ;飞行中 ,仅 1例被试者心脏节律较地面训练日稍有变化。 2例在高空失重飞行中 ,ST段呈一过性水平下移≥ 0 .1mV ,1例T波改变 ,但极量活动平板试验阴性。结论DCG可用于评价整个失重飞机飞行期间心脏电活动的改变。     

Exciting Performance of Plasma Fibrinogen in Periprosthetic Joint Infection Diagnosis

ObjectiveTo test the significance of serum C‐reactive protein (CRP), the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), the platelet count/mean platelet volume ratio (PC/MPV), plasma fibrinogen, and D‐Dimer in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) diagnosis.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 149 patients diagnosed from July 2016 to December 2019 with primary osteoarthritis (OA group, average age 63.18 years [range, 53–82 years] 18 males, 46 females), PJI (PJI group, average age 63.74 years [range, 52–81 years], 16 males, 31 females), and aseptic loosening (aseptic group, average age 63.18 years [range, 53–80 years], 12 male, 26 female) in our department. Demographic data and the sensitivity and specificity of preoperative CRP, ESR, PC/MPV, fibrinogen, and D‐Dimer in PJI diagnosis were compared.ResultsThere were no significant differences when the demographic data of the three groups were compared. The expression level of CRP (50.67 ± 58.98 mg/L), ESR (50.55 ± 25.81 mm/h), PC/MPV (35.79 ± 18.00), and fibrinogen (4.85 ± 1.33 μg/mL) in the PJI group were higher than in the OA group (CRP: 4.09 ± 9.68 mg/L; ESR:13.44 ± 9.32 mm/1 h; PC/MPV: 24.97 ± 7.58; fibrinogen: 3.09 ± 0.55 μg/mL) and the aseptic group (CRP: 7.01 ± 11.83 mg/L; ESR: 22.47 ± 17.53 mm/1 h; PC/MPV: 25.18 ± 11.48; fibrinogen: 3.39 ± 0.80 μg/mL), respectively. The expression level of plasma D‐dimer (1.60 ± 1.29 mg/L) in the PJI group was higher than in the OA group (0.49 ± 0.42 mg/L) but similar to that in the aseptic group (1.21 ± 1.35 mg/L). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that the areas under the ROC curve (AUC) for CRP, ESR, PC/MPV, fibrinogen, and D‐dimer were 0.892 (95% confidence interval, 0.829–0.954), 0.888 (0.829–0.947), 0.686 (0.589–0.784), 0.873 (0.803–0.943), and 0.835 (0.772–0.899), respectively. When PC/MPV > 31.70, fibrinogen >4.01 μg/mL, and D‐dimer >1.17 mg/L were set as the threshold values for the diagnosis of PJI, the sensitivity of PC/MPV in PJI diagnosis was lower than that of ESR and plasma fibrinogen. In contrast, there was no significant difference when comparing the specificity of CRP, ESR, PC/MPV, fibrinogen, and D‐dimer in PJI diagnosis.ConclusionPlasma fibrinogen is a good new auxiliary diagnostic marker for PJI.     

The bone-vacuum cementing technique for the fixation of the stem in total hip arthroplasty

The bone-vacuum cementing technique is a promising method developed to obtain reliable fixation of the femoral component. Previous studies showed that intraoperative embolic complications, cardiopulmonary impairment, and deep venous thrombosis can be prevented when this technique is used. The specific aims of the present investigation were to provide additional treatment outcome information, to identify risk factors for poor results, and to define the need of surgical technique improvement by risk factor analysis. The first 118 consecutive patients (121 hips) who had primary total hip arthroplasty using the bone-vacuum cementing technique and an anatomical stem were followed-up for a mean of 2.5 years (1 to 4 years). The mean age of patients at index operation was 73 years. Current criteria were used for clinical and radiological assessment. At the time of the latest follow-up, 3 patients (3 hips, 2.5%) had been lost, and 9 patients (9 hips, 7.5%) had died. However, the status of the hip joint at the time of death could be verified in all patients. Thus, the clinical outcome of 115 patients (118 hips, 97.5%) was known. Radiographs were available for 102 patients (104 hips) who were alive for the entire follow-up period. The mean preoperative Harris Hip Score was rated 51, and it had improved to 92 at the time of follow-up. The score was good for 70 hips and excellent for 42 hips, so the rate of clinical success was 95%. Six patients (6 hips, 5%) had a fair result. Two of them had a fracture of the greater trochanter after the index operation, requiring internal fixation. Four hips with severe acetabular dysplasia had persistent limp and limited motion. The quality of the cement mantle was rated good (grade A and B) in 108 of 121 hips (89.5%). Nineteen of the 108 hips presented at least one small void in the cement mantle (grade C1). Insufficient thickness of the cement mantle (grade C2) was present in 10 hips (8%). Failure of cement to extend below the tip of the stem (grade D) was observed in the remaining 3 hips (2.5%). In the present series no femoral component required revision because of aseptic loosening, and there was no radiographic evidence of aseptic loosening at follow-up. Radiolucencies without progression were found in Gruen zone 1 in 11 of 104 hips (10.6%), and in zone 7 in 7 hips (6.7%). In one hip (0.9%) ballooning osteolysis was observed in zone 7. Seventy-five hips (72%) had either no change in femoral bone density or only patchy loss of bone density isolated to Gruen zones 1 and 7. Twenty-nine hips (28%) had some reduction of bone density isolated to zones 1 and 7. A slight cortical hypertrophy was seen in 4 hips (3.8%). Of the whole series, one hip required revision surgery because of septic loosening 2 years after the index operation. At an average of 2.5 years postoperatively, the femoral component inserted using the bone-vacuum technique functioned well overall, and patient satisfaction was high. Clinical and radiological results do not contrast with those achieved using contemporary cementing techniques.     

小儿耳蜗植入后电诱发复合动作电位的阈值及其临床应用

目的　研究应用神经反应遥测 (neuralresponsetelemetry ,NRT)技术 ,测试电诱发复合动作电位 (electrically evokedcompoundactionpotential,ECAP)阈值以指导小儿人工耳蜗映射调图的策略与时机。方法　应用NRT3 0软件对幅值增长函数进行线性拟合 ,确定ECAP阈值。比较 6例儿童植入者在术后 1、2、3个月ECAP阈值的变化 ,同时比较 7例儿童术中、术后ECAP阈值的差异。结果ECAP幅值增长函数在接近阈值或进入饱和时不再呈线性。术后ECAP阈值保持稳定。各导电极的术中ECAP阈值比术后阈值平均高约 15CL ,二者有显著性相关 (R2 =0 915 4)。结论　应选取幅值增长函数的直线段部分进行拟合以确定ECAP阈值。术后应用ECAP阈值指导小儿映射调图时 ,测试一次ECAP阈值即可。术中ECAP阈值可用作开机时映射图的C值     

中国医院感染管理组织建设30年调查

目的了解我国医院感染管理组织建设30年的发展情况。方法对全国12个省（直辖市、自治区）医院感染管理组织建设进行调查。结果共调查166所医院,其中三级医院96所（57.83%）;164所有建立医院感染管理科年份的医院中,1995年之前建科的医院46所（28.05%）,1995—2005年建科的医院63所（38.41%）,2005—2015年建科的医院55所（33.54%）。165所医院每千床专职人员数从1995年的4.80名下降至2015年的4.09名,1995—2015年医院感染管理科专职人员类别构成比较,差异有统计学意义（χ2=26.22,P＜0.01）。1995—2015年各省份医院感染管理科专职人员学历、专业构成比较,差异有统计学意义（χ2值分别为242.91、47.10,均P＜0.01）。1995、2005年专职人员学历均以大专及以下学历为主,所占比率分别为70.81%、53.30%;2015年以本科学历（53.79%）为主,博士、硕士所占比率分别为2.45%、22.86%。专职人员专业均以护理为主,所占比率由1995年的58.38%下降至2015年的45.96%。结论我国医院感染管理组织建设经历了30年,取得了一定成绩,但仍存在一些问题,需要继续提高专职人员比例,优化人员结构。     

Expression of blood group precursor T antigen as a prognostic marker for human bladder cancer treated by bacillus Calmette-Guerin and interleukin-2

The relationship between T antigen expression in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and response to bacillus Calmette-Guerin plus interleukin-2 treatment was studied. A total of 25 patients received combined treatment with bacillus Calmette-Guerin and interleukin-2 at weekly instillations for 6 consecutive weeks and then monthly for 1 year. T antigen expression in all patients was studied before treatment. Of the patients 16 had positive T antigen expression in the tumors: 13 (81%) remained free of tumor for an average of 28 months, 3 had a noninvasive recurrence each at 8 to 27 months (mean 18 months) and all responded well to a repeated treatment cycle. Nine patients were negative for T antigen: 1 (11%) remained free of tumor for 11 months, while 8 had recurrence within 12 months. Of the latter 8 patients 2 had noninvasive recurrence each at 4 to 5 months but they responded to a repeated treatment cycle and remained free of tumor for 4 to 22 months (mean 13 months), 4 had subsequent repeated recurrences at 12 to 41 months (mean 22 months) and 2 had progression to deep invasion resulting in cystectomy at 11 to 12 months. Thus, the disease-free rate (continuous complete response) in patients with tumors positive for T antigen was 81%, while that in patients with tumors negative for T antigen was 11% (p less than 0.005, chi-square test). The over-all response rate in patients with positive and negative tumors to bacillus Calmette-Guerin and interleukin-2 treatment was 100 and 33%, respectively, and that for the total patients was 76%. T antigen may serve as a target recognition structure for effector cells generated by bacillus Calmette-Guerin plus interleukin-2 treatment. This study suggests that T antigen is useful to predict the response of bladder tumors to treatment with bacillus Calmette-Guerin and interleukin-2.     

Differential expression of connective tissue growth factor in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease consists of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). A major clinical problem in some patients is to differentiate clearly between these entities, which is important when planning appropriate medical and surgical treatment. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a novel peptide involved in fibrotic disorders, was analyzed in the present study in CD and UC patients to evaluate its possible role in these two disorders. Twenty-five normal human intestinal tissue samples were obtained through an organ donor program. CD tissues were obtained from 28 individuals undergoing partial intestinal resection (17 small bowel; 11 large bowel) due to complications of the disease. UC tissue samples were obtained from 16 patients undergoing colectomy due to complications of the disease. Expression of CTGF was studied by Northern blot analysis. In situ hybridization was used to localize mRNA moieties in the tissue samples. Northern blot analysis revealed an average 5-fold increase in CTGF mRNA expression in 89% (25/28) of CD tissue samples by comparison with normal controls (p < 0.0001). In contrast, in UC samples CTGF mRNA levels were comparable to those of normal controls. However, UC tissue samples exhibited enhanced TGF-beta1 mRNA levels (4-fold; p < 0.05). In situ hybridization in CD samples showed CTGF mRNA localized especially in fibroblasts within the submucosal layer, around lymph follicles and in some areas of intense damage in the proximity of the luminal surface, whereas inflammatory cells were devoid of any CTGF mRNA signal. The present data indicate that CTGF plays a different role in IBD and might be useful, especially in those cases with unusual disease presentation, to better differentiate UC and CD. In addition, our data indicate a crucial role for CTGF in CD, where fibrosis and stenosis are frequent complications that require surgery.     

Galectina-3 Associada a Formas Graves e Mortalidade em Longo Prazo em Pacientes com Doença de Chagas

Background The histopathological characteristics of Chagas disease (ChD) are: presence of myocarditis, destruction of heart fibers, and myocardial fibrosis. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a biomarker involved in the mechanism of fibrosis and inflammation that may be useful for risk stratification of individuals with ChD.Objectives We sought to evaluate whether high Gal-3 levels are associated with severe forms of Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC) and whether they are predictive of mortality.Methods We studied anti-T. cruzi positive blood donors (BD): Non-CC-BD (187 BD without CC with normal electrocardiogram [ECG] and left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF]); CC-Non-Dys-BD (46 BD with CC with abnormal ECG but normal LVEF); and 153 matched serum-negative controls. This cohort was composed of 97 patients with severe CC (CC-Dys). We used Kruskall-Wallis and Spearman’s correlation to test hypothesis of associations, assuming a two-tailed p<0.05 as significant.Results The Gal-3 level was 12.3 ng/mL for Non-CC-BD, 12.0 ng/mL for CC-Non-Dys-BD, 13.8 ng/mL for controls, and 15.4 ng/mL for CC-Dys. LVEF<50 was associated with higher Gal-3 levels (p=0.0001). In our linear regression adjusted model, we found association between Gal-3 levels and echocardiogram parameters in T. cruzi-seropositive subjects. In CC-Dys patients, we found a significant association of higher Gal-3 levels (≥15.3 ng/mL) and subsequent death or heart transplantation in a 5-year follow-up (Hazard ratio – HR 3.11; 95%CI 1.21–8.04; p=0.019).Conclusions In ChD patients, higher Gal-3 levels were significantly associated with severe forms of the disease and more long-term mortality, which means it may be a useful means to identify high-risk patients. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2021; 116(2):248-256)     

Insufficient tissue ablation by rotational atherectomy leads to worse long-term results in comparison with balloon angioplasty alone for the treatment of diffuse in-stent restenosis: insights from the intravascular ultrasound substudy of the ARTIST randomized multicenter trial.

The ARTIST trial demonstrated a worse outcome for patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) treated with rotational atherectomy (RA) and adjunctive balloon angioplasty (PTCA) as compared to PTCA alone. This intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) substudy compares effects of lumen enlargement and examines reasons for failure of RA in this setting. IVUS (n = 56) was performed after each interventional step and at follow-up. Volumetric lumen gain measured 79 +/- 68 mm(3) after PTCA (13 +/- 4 atm) as compared to 44 +/- 26 mm(3) after RA and adjunctive PTCA (7 +/- 3 atm; P < 0.0001). RA itself enlarged lumen by only 19 +/- 17 mm(3) and stent volume was 47% smaller as compared to high-pressure PTCA. Low-pressure strategy after RA did not prevent tissue growth during follow-up (19 +/- 25 vs. 36 +/- 38 mm(3); RA vs. PTCA; P = 0.09). Consequently, net lumen gain after PTCA was 82% higher compared to RA (46 +/- 54 vs. 25 +/- 24 mm(3); P = 0.09). Further stent expansion is the key mechanism to achieve luminal gain by PTCA of ISR. Neointimal ablation by RA has only minor effects. Low-pressure PTCA does not prevent recurrent tissue growth and failed for treatment of ISR due to insufficient stent expansion.