Use of three‐dimensional power doppler sonography in the diagnosis of uterine arteriovenous malformation and follow‐up after uterine artery embolization: Case report and brief review of literature

Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) of the uterus can cause life‐threatening hemorrhage. Unexplained, heavy vaginal bleeding in a reproductive age woman should raise suspicion for an AVM. Here a 37‐year‐old woman had increasingly severe vaginal bleeding for 15 days. Serum β‐hCG was elevated. Two‐dimensional transvaginal ultrasound suggested retained products of conception. Before dilation and curettage (D&C), color Doppler and three‐dimensional (3D) power Doppler demonstrated findings indicative of uterine AVM. A bilateral uterine artery embolization was performed without complications. Three months after uterine artery embolization, 3D power Doppler ultrasonography found complete resolution of the AVM. This case illustrates the importance of assessing both gray‐scale and 3D power Doppler, and the ability of postprocedure Doppler to assess resolution. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 43:327–334, 2015     

2018年勐腊县城区登革热暴发流行特征与媒介应急监测分析

目的分析2018年勐腊县城区登革热暴发时的流行病学特征、媒介生物学特性等变化情况,为登革热的防控提供依据。方法对勐腊城区疑似登革热病例进行流行病学调查,并开展登革病毒NS1抗原快速检测,首例病例用RT-PCR进行登革病毒核酸检测及型别鉴定;采用背负式吸蚊器法和布雷图指数法分别开展媒介伊蚊成蚊和幼虫的监测;采用三间分布法对疫情特征进行描述,计算成蚊密度和幼虫密度,采用χ^2检验对不同类型孳生阳性率进行比较分析。结果本次疫情共发现病例59例,罹患率为161.38/10万,流行历时77 d。8月份为发病高峰,患者男女比为0.68∶1,以青壮年为主,从事职业以商业服务、离退休和家中待业居多;捕获埃及伊蚊和白纹伊蚊成蚊1 340只,其中埃及伊蚊占80.15%。幼虫监测,13 148户,阳性784户,积水容器13 387个,阳性1 067个,总BI为8.12、总HI为5.96、总CI为7.97%。积水容器类型构成以水桶为主,其次为花瓶。水缸、花瓶、废旧轮胎、竹筒、菜坛、水桶、废弃瓶/罐、其他暂时性容器的伊蚊幼蚊阳性率分别为7.17%、6.07%、24.79%、15.15%、10.12%、6.51%、16.62%、和6.42%。结论 2018年勐腊城区登革热暴发流行的特征与既往比较无明显变化。埃及伊蚊和白纹伊蚊在城区均有分布,以埃及伊蚊为优势蚊种,其种群密度进一步扩大。废旧轮胎、竹筒和水桶等常见伊蚊幼虫孶生地,应及时清除,并开展居民区室内外灭蚊清除工作,同时加大宣传,提高居民的自我防护和家庭防护能力,提升居民参与防控的积极性,以达到群防群控。     

Peripheral arterial calcification: Prevalence,mechanism, detection,and clinical implications

Vascular calcification (VC), particularly medial (Mönckeberg's medial sclerosis) arterial calcification, is common in patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and genetic pathways of VC are not fully known, hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and the suppression of parathyroid hormone activity are central to the development of vessel mineralization and, consequently, bone demineralization. In addition to preventive measures, such as the modification of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk factors, current treatment strategies include the use of calcium‐free phosphate binders, vitamin D analogs, and calcium mimetics that have shown promising results, albeit in small patient cohorts. The impact of intimal and medial VC on the safety and effectiveness of endovascular devices to treat symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remains poorly defined. The absence of a generally accepted, validated vascular calcium grading scale hampers clinical progress in assessing the safety and utility of various endovascular devices (e.g., atherectomy) in treating calcified vessels. Accordingly, we propose the peripheral arterial calcium scoring system (PACSS) and a method for its clinical validation. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of vascular calcification and the development of optimal medical and endovascular treatment strategies are crucial as the population ages and presents with more chronic comorbidities. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

SCAI expert consensus statement for femoral‐popliteal arterial intervention appropriate use

Successful endovascular intervention for femoral‐popliteal (FP) arterial disease provides relief of claudication and offers limb‐salvage in cases of critical limb ischemia. Technologies and operator technique have evolved to the point where we may now provide effective endovascular therapy for a spectrum of lesions, patients, and clinical scenarios. Endovascular treatment of this segment offers a significant alternative to surgical revascularization, and may confer improved safety for a wide range of patients, not solely those deemed high surgical risk. Although endovascular therapy of the FP segment has historically been hampered by high rates of restenosis, emerging technologies including drug‐eluting stents, drug‐coated balloons, and perhaps bio‐absorbable stent platforms, provide future hope for more durable patency in complex disease. By combining lessons learned from clinical trials, international trends in clinical practice, and insights regarding emerging technologies, we may appropriately tailor our application of endovascular therapy to provide optimal care to our patients. This document was developed to guide physicians in the clinical decision‐making related to the contemporary application of endovascular intervention among patients with FP arterial disease. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Cardiovascular outcomes trials with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: A comparison of study designs,populations and results

Despite treatment advances leading to improved outcomes over the past 2 decades, cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have a 2- to 4-fold increased risk of CVD and CV death. Individuals with T2D have not seen the same improvements in CV morbidity and mortality as those without T2D. Given this, it is important to understand the CV impact of drugs used to treat T2D. In patients with T2D, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have shown a reduction in HbA1c and body weight regardless of their differences in chemical structure and pharmacokinetic variables. Glycaemic efficacy, accompanied by the potential for weight reduction and a low risk of hypoglycaemia, has moved GLP-1 RAs to the first treatment of choice following metformin monotherapy in the latest American Diabetes Association treatment guidelines. Additionally, all GLP-1 RAs have shown CV safety and several have proven CV benefit. GLP-1 RAs have been evaluated in cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs) of varying sizes, designs and patient populations with differing reported effects on CV outcomes. The purpose of this article is to review the completed GLP-1 RA CVOTs with special attention to how their design, size, patient populations and conduct may influence the interpretation of results.