Platelet Function and Genotype after DES Implantation in East Asian Patients: Rationale and Characteristics of the PTRG-DES Consortium

PurposePlatelet function test (PFT) results and genotype hold unique prognostic implications in East Asian patients. The aim of the PTRG-DES (Platelet function and genoType-Related long-term proGnosis in Drug-Eluting Stent-treated Patients with coronary artery disease) consortium is to assess the clinical impact thereof on long-term clinical outcomes in Korean patients with coronary artery disease during dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) including clopidogrel.Materials and MethodsSearching publications on the PubMed, we reviewed clopidogrel treatment studies with PFT and/or genotype data for potential inclusion in this study. Lead investigators were invited to share PFT/genotype results, patient characteristics, and clinical outcomes to evaluate relationships among them.ResultsNine registries from 32 academic centers participated in the PTRG-DES consortium, contributing individual patient data from 13160 patients who underwent DES implantation between July 2003 and August 2018. The PTRG-PFT cohort was composed of 11714 patients with available VerifyNow assay results. Platelet reactivity levels reached 218±79 P2Y12 reaction units (PRU), and high on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity based on a consensus-recommended cutoff (PRU >208) was observed in 55.9%. The PTRG-Genotype cohort consisted of 8163 patients with candidate genotypes related with clopidogrel responsiveness. Of those with cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 genotype, frequencies of carrying one and two loss-of-function allele (s) (^*2 or ^*3) were 47.9% (intermediate metabolizers) and 14.2% (poor metabolizers), respectively.ConclusionThe PTRG-DES consortium highlights unique values for on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity and CYP2C19 phenotype that may be important to developing optimal antiplatelet regimens in East Asian patients.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT04734028","term_id":"NCT04734028"}}NCT04734028.     

椎管内肿瘤26例围手术期的护理

0　引言　手术切除椎管内肿瘤是唯一有效的治疗方法 .由于病变部位的特殊性 ,手术难度大、危险性大 ,术后易出现神经损伤、脊髓缺血、水肿 ,发生呼吸障碍、高热、消化道出血、四肢瘫痪或截瘫等严重并发症 .其护理工作也具有一定的复杂性和特殊性 .1　临床资料　我院 2 0 0 0 - 0 5 / 11收治椎管内肿瘤患者 2 6 (男19,女 7)例 ,年龄 9～ 6 1岁 .颈椎段 14例 ,胸椎段 6例 ,腰椎段 5例 ,骶管内 1例 . 7例为转移瘤 ,2例为原发性胶质瘤 ,其余均为良性肿瘤 .本组患者以颈段椎管内肿瘤居多 (5 4% ) .2　讨论　为使患者安全渡过围手术期 ,术前健康教…     

Feasibility of Single-Stage Laparoscopic Resection After Placement of a Self-Expandable Metallic Stent for Obstructive Left Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND: The present study investigated the feasibility of a single-stage operation consisting of self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement followed by laparoscopic surgery for obstructive left colorectal cancer. METHODS: From July 2002 to March 2007, 17 consecutive patients with primary obstructive left colorectal cancer underwent SEMS placement followed by laparoscopic surgery. Data were collected retrospectively regarding clinicopathological findings, SEMS placement, operative procedures, and perioperative outcomes. Technical success was defined as successful stent deployment across the obstructive lesion, and clinical success as the possibility of performing a single-stage operation without creating a stoma. RESULTS: In the laparoscopic group, the technical success rate was 100% (17/17) and there was no morbidity associated with SEMS placement. The median interval to laparoscopic surgery was 7 (range, 2-11) days, and the procedures included 11 anterior resections, 3 left hemicolectomies, 2 Hartmann's procedures, and 1 subtotal colectomy. All procedures were completed laparoscopically without conversion to open surgery. The median operating time was 178 (range, 93-377) minutes, and the median estimated blood loss was 100 (range, 50-400) ml with no cases requiring intraoperative transfusions. The clinical success rate was 82.4% (14/17), and there was no surgical morbidity other than two patients in whom chyloperitoneum and ileus were controlled by using conservative management. The median postoperative hospital stay was 9 (range, 7-49) days. CONCLUSIONS: A single-stage operation consisting of SEMS placement followed by laparoscopic surgery seems to be a feasible and safe treatment option for obstructive left colorectal cancer.     

Skeletal myoblast transplant in heart failure

Despite recent advances in the prevention and treatment of ischemic heart disease (IHD), treatment of patients with heart failure secondary to myocardial infarction remains a therapeutic challenge. Heart transplantation has emerged as a viable option but is fraught with problems of supply. Mechanical assist devices are extremely expensive and dynamic cardiomyoplasty has shown only limited success in the clinical setting. Recent insights into the pathogenesis of myocardial diseases and the progress made in the field of molecular biology have resulted in the development of new strategies at molecular as well as cellular levels for cardiac muscle repair. One such strategy is to augment ventricular function by means of cellular cardiomyoplasty through intracardiac cell grafting using adult and fetal cardiomyocytes, stem cells, and autologous skeletal myoblasts.     

Comparison of computer integrated patient controlled epidural analgesia vs. conventional patient controlled epidural analgesia for pain relief in labour

Computer integrated-patient controlled epidural analgesia (CI-PCEA) is a novel drug delivery system. It automatically titrates the background infusion rate based on the individual parturient's need. In this randomised trial, we compared the local anaesthetic consumption by parturients using CI-PCEA with demand only patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) for labour analgesia. We recruited 40 parturients after approval by the ethics committee. Group PCEA (n = 20) received demand only PCEA. Group CI-PCEA (n = 20) received a similar PCEA regimen but the computer integration titrated the background infusion to 5, 10 or 15 ml x h(-1) if the patient required one, two or three demand boluses, respectively, in the previous hour. The background infusion decreased by 5 ml x h(-1) if there was no demand bolus in the previous hour. The sample size was calculated to show equivalence in local anaesthetic used. The time weighted consumption of local anaesthetic was similar in both groups (mean difference 0.7 mg x h(-1), 95% confidence interval [CI: -2.5, 1.1]; p = 0.425). The CI-PCEA group had higher maternal satisfaction scores: mean (SD) 93 (7) vs. 86 (11), p = 0.042. CI-PCEA does not increase the use of local anaesthetic when compared with demand only PCEA but does increase patient satisfaction.     

Laparoscopic-Assisted Combined Colon and Liver Resection for Primary Colorectal Cancer with Synchronous Liver Metastases: Initial Experience

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic approaches have become increasingly used in selected patients with either colorectal or liver cancer. However, the feasibility of laparoscopic-assisted combined colon and liver resection in primary colorectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the feasibility of laparoscopic-assisted combined colon and liver resection for primary colorectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases. METHODS: Laparoscopic surgery involving intestinal anastomosis was performed for primary colorectal cancer. The liver was then mobilized with the assistance of a hand inserted through the upper midline incision. For minor resections, the parenchymal transection was performed laparoscopically. For major resection involving a hilar dissection, transection was performed according to the standard open techniques under direct vision through the incision. Resected specimens were retrieved directly through the midline incision. RESULTS: Ten patients with primary colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases underwent the above procedure between September 2006 and April 2007. Surgical procedures for colorectal cancer included 5 low anterior resections, 3 anterior resections, 1 right hemicolectomy, and 1 subtotal colectomy. Combined hepatic surgery included 6 major hepatectomies, 3 segmentectomies, and 1 tumorectomy. All procedures were successful, with no conversions to open surgery required. The median operation time was 439 min (range: 210-690 min), and the median estimated blood loss was 350 ml (range: 300-1,200 ml). There was no surgical mortality or major morbidity, except in one patient in whom postoperative bleeding at the site of para-aortic node dissection was promptly controlled. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic-assisted combined colon and liver resection is a feasible and safe procedure for the treatment of primary colorectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases.     

Molecular diagnosis of congenital muscular dystrophies with defective glycosylation of alpha-dystroglycan using next-generation sequencing technology

Targeted resequencing using next-generation sequencing technology is being rapidly applied to the molecular diagnosis of human genetic diseases. The group of muscular dystrophies may be an appropriate candidate for this approach because these diseases exhibit genotype–phenotype heterogeneity. To perform a proof-of-concept study, we selected four patients with congenital muscular dystrophies with defective glycosylation of alpha-dystroglycan. A custom-solution-based target enrichment kit was designed to capture whole-genic regions of the 26 muscular-dystrophy-related genes, including six genes implicated in alpha-dystroglycanopathies. Although approximately 95% of both coding and noncoding regions were covered with at least 15-read depth, parts of the coding exons of FKRP and POMT2 were insufficiently covered. Homozygous and compound heterozygous POMGnT1 mutations were found in two patients. Two novel noncoding variants of FKTN were identified in one patient who had a retrotransposon insertion mutation of FKTN in only one allele. The current targeted resequencing strategy yielded promising results for the extension of this method to other muscular dystrophies. As suboptimal coverage in a small subset of coding regions may affect the sensitivity of the method, complementary Sanger sequencing may be required.     

Incidence Rate of Bee Venom Acupuncture Related Anaphylaxis: A Systematic Review

Background: Bee venom acupuncture (BVA) is an effective treatment method for various diseases. Bee venom, however, can cause adverse effects, even rarely including life-threatening anaphylaxis, so safety-related evidence is required. In this study, we systematically estimated the incidence rate of anaphylaxis in response to BVA. Methods: We searched eight databases (MEDLINE (Pubmed), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled, KISS, KMBASE, Koreamed, OASIS, and NDSL) and systematically reviewed the articles that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Results: Among 225 potentially relevant articles, 49 were selected for this study. The overall incidence rate of anaphylaxis in response to BVA was 0.045% (95% CI 0.028–0.062). Women (0.083%, 95% CI 0.010–0.157) showed a higher incidence rate than men (0.019%, 95% CI −0.018 to 0.055), while the incidence for patients who had a skin test conducted (0.041%, 95% CI 0.011–0.072) was not significantly different compared to that obtained for patients for which there was no information about a skin test (0.047%, 95% CI 0.026–0.067). The publication year affected the incidence rate: it was highest before 1999 (1.099%, 95% CI −1.043 to 3.241), lower between 2000 and 2009 (0.049%, 95% CI 0.025–0.073), and lowest between 2010 and 2021 (0.037% 95% CI 0.014–0.060). Conclusions: In this study, we provide reference data about risk size and factors of BVA-related anaphylaxis, which is essentially required for BVA application in clinics.     

Serial sections of atrophic acne scars help in the interpretation of microscopic findings and the selection of good therapeutic modalities

Background Acne scar causes problems cosmetically and psychologically. Although microscopic examination of acne scars is a necessity for understanding and treatment of them, and it is not easy to find a paper reporting the microscopic characterization of acne scars. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the microscopic findings of acne scars and to select a good therapeutic modality based on the findings. Methods Thirty‐one atrophic scars obtained from five patients for cosmesis and 18 serial sections were made from each atrophic scar. The sections were stained with H&E, Masson‐trichrome or Verhoeff van Gieson stains. Immunohistochemistry was done with antibodies against transforming growth factor‐β, metalloproteinase‐1 (MMP‐1), MMP‐2, MMP‐9 and MMP‐13. The stained sections were examined under the microscope. Results The epidermis of the acne scar was characterized by keratin plugging in the hair follicle orifice (32%) and multi‐channelled tracts (29%). The dermis of the acne scar had characteristics including a decrease in the dermal thickness and loss of pilosebaceous units. In addition, inflammatory cell infiltrates were seen in the dermis (77%), and insufficient dense collagen fibre deposition was found in the whole dermis (29%). Other findings such as calcium deposition and foreign body reaction were discovered. Conclusion We have found the characteristics of acne scar through the serial sections of several atrophic scars, and suggest that the treatment must reflect several considerations, including the understanding of histopathological findings and the use of combination therapy.