Radiosurgery for large cerebral arteriovenous malformations

Background  Radiosurgery is an effective treatment option for patients with small to medium sized arteriovenous malformations. However, it is not generally accepted as an effective tool for larger (>14 cm³) arteriovenous malformations because of low obliteration rates. The authors assessed the applicability and effectiveness of radiosurgery for large arteriovenous malformations. Method  We performed a retrospective study of 46 consecutive patients with more than 14 ml of arteriovenous malformations who were treated with radiosurgery using a linear accelerator and gamma knife (GK). They were grouped according to their initial clinical presentation—17 presented with and 29 without haemorrhage. To assess the effect of embolization, these 46 patients were also regrouped into two subgroups—25 with and 21 without preradiosurgical embolization. Arteriovenous malformations found to have been incompletely obliterated after 3-year follow-up neuroimaging studies were re-treated using a GK. Findings  The mean treatment volume was 29.5 ml (range, 14.0–65.0) and the mean marginal dose was 14.1 Gy (range, 10.0–20.0). The mean clinical follow-up periods after initial radiosurgery was 78.1 months (range, 34.0–166.4). Depending on the results of the angiography, 11 of 33 patients after the first radiosurgery and three of four patients after the second radiosurgery showed complete obliteration. Twenty patients received the second radiosurgery and their mean volume was significantly smaller than their initial volume (P = 0.017). The annual haemorrhage rate after radiosurgery was 2.9% in the haemorrhage group (mean follow-up 73.3 months) and 3.1% in the nonhaemorrhage group (mean follow-up 66.5 months) (P = 0.941). Preradiosurgical embolization increased the risk of haemorrhage for the nonhaemorrhage group (HR, 28.03; 95% CI, 1.08–6,759.64; P = 0.039), whereas it had no effect on the haemorrhage group. Latency period haemorrhage occurred in eight patients in the embolization group, but in no patient in the nonembolization group (P = 0.004). Conclusions  Radiosurgery may be a safe and effective arteriovenous malformation treatment method that is worth considering as an alternative treatment option for a large arteriovenous malformation.     

Thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroid hormones, and bone loss

It has become accepted by virtue of rich anecdotal experience and clinical research that thyrotoxicosis is associated with high-turnover osteoporosis. The bone loss, primarily due to accelerated resorption that is not compensated by a coupled increase in bone formation, has been attributed solely to elevated thyroid hormone levels. Evidence using mice lacking the thyroid hormone receptors α and β establishes a role for thyroid hormones in regulating bone remodeling but does not exclude an independent action of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), levels of which are low in hyperthyroid states, even when thyroid hormones are normal, as after thyroxine supplementation and in subclinical hyperthyroidism. We show that TSH directly suppresses bone remodeling and that TSH receptor null mice have profound bone loss, suggesting that reduced TSH signaling contributes to hyperthyroid osteoporosis. TSH and its receptor could become valuable drug targets in treating bone loss.     

Electronic endoscope insertion into a thoracic drainage tube is a new technique in the treatment and diagnosis of pleural diseases

Background  Pleural disease remains a commonly encountered clinical problem for both physician and surgeon. This study describes a new way to better diagnose and treat pleural diseases (hemothorax, empyema, and pleural effusion) using an electronic endoscope (gastroscope or bronchoscope). Methods  We conducted a retrospective study of the use of an electronic endoscope in the treatment and diagnosis of pleural diseases. From November 2006 to February 2008, a total of 17 patients (3 women, 14 men; mean age = 41.8 years; range = 18–62 years) underwent procedures for thoracic empyema (13 patients), traumatic clotted hemothorax (3 patients), and undiagnosed pleural effusion (1 patient). The electronic endoscope was inserted via the thoracic drainage tube for the treatment or diagnosis of pleural diseases after regular treatments, including thoracentesis, tube thoracostomy, and biopsy, failed. Results  All patients were cured and discharged from hospital and were followed up for 6 months. The patients recovered well and there was no recurrence. Conclusion  The technique of inserting an electronic endoscope into the thoracic drainage tube for diagnosis and treatment of pleural diseases is simple, effective, minimally invasive, and cost-effective.     

Xuezhikang ameliorates contrast media-induced nephropathy in rats via suppression of oxidative stress,inflammatory responses and apoptosis

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the preventive effect of xuezhikang (XZK) to replace atorvastatin on the contrast media-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI).

Methods: The male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into five groups: group 1 (sham), injected with normal saline; group 2 (XZK), treated with XZK; group 3 contrast media (CM), injected with CM; group 4 (CM?+?ATO), injected with CM?+?pretreatment with atorvastatin; group 5 (CM?+?XZK), injected with CM?+?pretreatment with XZK. Twenty-four hours after injection with normal saline or CM, the blood sample and the kidneys were collected for the measurement of biochemical parameters, oxidative stress markers, nitric oxide production, inflammatory parameters, as well as renal histopathology and apoptosis detection.

Results: Our results indicated that XZK restored the renal function by reducing serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr), depressing renal malondialdehyde (MDA), increasing renal NO production, decreasing TNF-ɑ and IL-6 expression, attenuating renal pathological changes and inhibiting the apoptosis of renal tubular cells.

Conclusion: XZK’s therapeutic effect is similar, or even better than atorvastatin at the same effectual dose in some parts.     

Assessed value of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T for cardiovascular disease among CKD patients

Objective To analyze the relationship between serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, and to further explore its value of evaluating and predicting CVD in this population. Methods Five hundred and fifty-seven non-dialysis CKD patients were involved in this cross-sectional study. The relationship between serum hs-cTnT and CVD was analyzed using comparison between groups and regression analysis, and its value on assessing cardiac structure and function was evaluated by ROC curves. Results Median level of hs-cTnT was 13 (7–29) ng/L, with 1.7% undetectable, 46.4% greater than 99th percentile of the general population. Multivariate analysis suggested that compared with the lowest quartile of hs-cTnT, the highest quartile was approximately six times as likely to develop into LVH (OR, 6.515; 95% CI, 3.478–12.206, p?<?0.05) and 18 times as likely to progress to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction(OR, 18.741; 95% CI, 2.422–145.017, p?<?0.05). And Ln cTnT level had a more modest association with LVEF (OR, ?1.117; 95% CI, ?5.839 to ?0.594; p?<?0.05). When evaluated as a screening test, the area under the curve of ROC curves for hs-cTnT was 0.718, 0.788 and 0.736, respectively (p?<?0.05). With a specificity of 90% as a diagnostic criterion, the value of hs-cTnT to evaluate LVH, LVEF?Conclusions In CKD non-dialysis population, hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP were valuable for evaluating LVH, left ventricular systolic dysfunction and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.     

Clinical outcomes of toe amputation in patients with type 2 diabetes in Tianjin,China

The aim of this study is to determine the predictors for reulceration, reamputation and mortality in patients with diabetes following toe amputation, and the impact of activities of daily living on clinical outcomes. This prospective cohort study included 245 patients who had undergone toe amputation (202 healing and 43 non‐healing) and was followed for a 5‐year period. Data regarding new foot ulceration, reamputation and mortality were recorded, and the patients' activities of daily living were evaluated. The rate of wound healing was 82·4%. The rate of follow‐up in the healed group was 91·6%. In years 1, 3 and 5, the cumulative incidence of patients who developed a new foot ulcer was 27·3%, 57·2% and 76·4%, respectively, leading to reamputation in 12·5%, 22·3% and 47·1%, respectively. The cumulative mortality was 5·8%, 15·1% and 32·7% at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that GHbA1c > 9% (75 mmol/mol) was identified as an independent predictor of impaired wound healing, reulceration and reamputation. An age of >70 years was identified as an independent predictor of reamputation, mortality and impairment of activities of daily living. Despite a satisfactory initial healing rate after the first toe amputation, with the extension course after the toe amputation, the long‐term outcomes are not optimistic. In developing countries like China, taking measures to prevent reulceration and reamputation is very important for patients with diabetic foot minor amputations, especially following toe amputation.     

单孔腹腔镜双钩疝针内环结扎并脐内侧襞遮盖术

目的介绍一种使用双钩疝针辅助单孔腹腔镜内环结扎并脐内侧襞遮盖加强修补术。 方法59例小儿腹股沟巨大疝在脐单孔腹腔镜监视下,将双钩疝针钩挂结扎线经腹横纹内环体表投影处穿刺至内环前壁腹膜外,借助水分离技术于腹膜外套扎内环;疝针带线再次进针入腹,穿过同侧脐内侧襞后预置结扎线,疝针再返回内环外侧间隙至精索血管前穿透后腹膜、进入腹腔钩挂预置线牵出体外结扎,使脐内侧襞遮盖已结扎内环区域加强修补。 结果59例患儿的65侧巨大疝成功实施内环结扎并脐内侧襞遮盖术(包括3例复发疝和1例复合疝),其中16例对侧隐性疝给予同时单纯内环结扎。单侧和双侧腹股沟疝的手术时间分别为 (11.2 ± 2.2)min和 (15.8 ± 2.7)min。其中术后1例鞘膜积液和2例线结反应,无复发疝、医源性隐睾或睾丸萎缩等并发症发生。 结论双钩疝针腹膜外注水分离技术辅助单孔腹腔镜内环结扎并脐内侧襞加强修补术是一种安全有效的简便方法。瘢痕隐蔽、美观,是治疗小儿巨大腹股沟疝的可靠技术。