Outcomes and factors associated with early mortality in pediatric postcardiotomy veno‐arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Mortality and morbidity of children received veno‐arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA‐ECMO) support after cardiac surgery remain high despite remarkable advances in medical management and devices. The purpose of this study was to describe outcomes and risk factors of applying VA‐ECMO in the surgical pediatric population. We retrospectively analyzed 85 consecutive pediatric patients (aged <18 years) who received postcardiotomy VA‐ECMO from January 2010 to December 2018. Median (IQR) age at ECMO implantation in this cohort was 12.7 (6.4, 43.2) months, median weight was 8.5 (6.0, 12.8) kg, mean ECMO duration was 143.2 ± 81.6 hours and mean hospital length of stay was 48.4 ± 32.4 days. Seventy‐five patients (88.2%) were indicated for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock. The successful ECMO weaning rate was 70.6% and in‐hospital mortality was 52.9%. The most common diagnosis was transposition of great arteries (n = 18, 21.2%), while acute kidney injury occurred most often (n = 64, 75.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that thrombocytopenia, hemolysis, and nosocomial infection were positively correlated with in‐hospital mortality. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis presented that thrombocytopenia significantly increased the 180‐day mortality in patients with successful weaning. Therefore, multiple factors had adverse effects on prognosis. Patient selection and procedures from ECMO implantation to weaning need to be closely monitored and performed in a timely manner to improve outcome.     

Long-term mortality of living kidney donors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

International Urology and Nephrology - To date, several studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the mortality risk faced by living kidney donors and controls. Our study assessed the...     

Central Regulation of Branched-Chain Amino Acids Is Mediated by AgRP Neurons

Circulating branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are elevated in obesity and diabetes, and recent studies support a causal role for BCAAs in insulin resistance and defective glycemic control. The physiological mechanisms underlying BCAA regulation are poorly understood. Here we show that insulin signaling in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) of rats is mandatory for lowering plasma BCAAs, most probably by inducing hepatic BCAA catabolism. Insulin receptor deletion only in agouti-related protein (AgRP)–expressing neurons (AgRP neurons) in the MBH impaired hepatic BCAA breakdown and suppression of plasma BCAAs during hyperinsulinemic clamps in mice. In support of this, chemogenetic stimulation of AgRP neurons in the absence of food significantly raised plasma BCAAs and impaired hepatic BCAA degradation. A prolonged fasting or ghrelin treatment recapitulated designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs–induced activation of AgRP neurons and increased plasma BCAAs. Acute stimulation of vagal motor neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus was sufficient to decrease plasma BCAAs. Notably, elevated plasma BCAAs were associated with impaired glucose homeostasis. These findings suggest a critical role of insulin signaling in AgRP neurons for BCAA regulation and raise the possibility that this control may be mediated primarily via vagal outflow. Furthermore, our results provide an opportunity to closely examine the potential mechanistic link between central nervous system–driven BCAA control and glucose homeostasis.     

李彦民治疗类风湿关节炎经验

类风湿关节炎(RA)在中医学中属于“痹病”范畴,是临床中常见的难治性疾病,且呈年轻化趋势,迁延难愈。目前现代医学对RA的发病病因及机制尚不完全清楚。《素问·痹论》提出风寒湿三邪致痹,还有学者提出痰瘀致痹、肝肾亏虚等观点。李彦民主任医师根据多年临床经验提出RA的病机关键是络脉痹阻,其病机特点是虚实夹杂,临床辨证分为寒湿阻络型、湿热蕴结型、痰瘀互结型、气血两虚型、肝肾亏虚型等五型。分别采用祛邪通络和补虚通络等不同治则,辨证施法。李老师善用川乌、鸡血藤以及乌梢蛇等药以通络止痛,并主张辨证用药,内外兼治,多取良效。临床采用经验方仙龙汤,配合外用舒筋活络洗剂,且取得理想疗效。     

ASO Author Reflections: Do Shorter Tumor-to-Nipple Distances Compromise the Local Oncologic Safety of Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy?

Annals of Surgical Oncology -     

Time for a More Holistic Approach to Peri-Pancreatoduodenectomy Care

Annals of Surgical Oncology -