Five-year follow-up of left ventricular diastolic function in systemic sclerosis patients: Determinants of mortality and disease progression

Objectives

In systemic sclerosis (SSc), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction reflects primary myocardial involvement of the disease. We aimed to assess the abnormalities of the diastolic function, analyze the characteristics of the disease progression, and investigate the prognostic value of diastolic dysfunction in SSc patients.

Patients and methods

A total of 34 SSc patients (57 ± 12 years, 31 female) were involved in the study. The following traditional or tissue Doppler parameters of left ventricular diastolic function were obtained: E/A, lateral E?, E/E?, left ventricular mass index (LVM index), and maximal left atrial (LA) volume index. Measurements were repeated after 5.5 years.

Results

At baseline, diastolic dysfunction was found in 62% of the SSc patients. Follow-up time was 5.4 ± 1.2 years. A total of 6 patients died of heart failure. In univariate Cox regression analysis, age (HR = 1.08, p < 0.05), LVM index (HR = 1.07, p < 0.01), lateral E? (HR = 1.57, p = 0.05), and LA volume index (HR = 1.11, p < 0.01) were predictors of survival. During the follow-up, significant increase in LA volume index (27.5 ± 9.7 vs. 35.4 ± 10.6 cm³/m², p < 0.001) and E/E? was found (7.6 ± 2.5 vs. 8.7 ± 3.8, p < 0.05) while E? did not change (9.6 ± 2.6 vs. 9.2 ± 1.9 cm/s, NS). The increase in LA volume index showed positive correlation (r = 0.46, p < 0.05) while the decrease in E? values showed negative correlation (r = −0.54, p < 0.01) with the duration of the SSc.

Conclusion

In SSc patients, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is highly prevalent and is associated with increased risk of mortality. Our data suggest that in the advanced phase of the disease, the myocardial fibrotic processes burns out while the increase of the filling pressure progresses continuously.     

Longitudinal study of variation in body mass index in middle-aged UK females

The importance of changing patterns of obesity in society and its implications for public health are well recognized. However, the adult life course of body mass index (BMI) changes in individuals over time is largely unknown and has mostly been extrapolated from cross-sectional studies. The present study examines individual specific variation of BMI during a 15-year follow-up period in a community-based sample of UK females. We attempted to establish whether there is a common, generalized pattern which captures variation in BMI over time. The participants of this study belong to a prospective population cohort of British women studied intensively since 1989: the Chingford Study. The sample originally consisted of 1,003 women aged 45-68 years, who were assessed annually for BMI during follow-up period. Polynomial regression models were used to assess longitudinal BMI variation. We observed a great stability in individual BMI variation during the follow-up period, reflected by high correlations between the baseline BMI and follow-up BMI 10 and 15 years later (r = 0.876, N = 810, and r = 0.824, N = 638, respectively). We also found that three different major age-related patterns in BMI could be clearly identified: no change in 30.6% in 58% it increased and in 11.4% it decreased with age. Thus, our data suggest that individual age-related changes in BMI are very different. Therefore, simply combining all individuals into groups by any other criteria (age, sex, etc.) and overlooking the distinctive patterns of BMI change may lead to biased inferences in epidemiologic and etiologic research of the future.     

根除幽门螺杆菌对慢性阻塞性肺病患者临床特征的影响

目的 比较不同治疗方案对慢性阻塞性肺病(COPD)患者Hp感染的根除率,探讨成功根除Hp对COPD患者临床特征的影响.方法 选取2006年12月至2009年12月吉林大学中日联谊医院Hp感染的稳定期COPD患者89例并分为根除组和不根除组,其中根除组又分为克拉霉素组和莫西沙星组.三组皆接受常规COPD治疗.克拉霉素组联用埃索美拉唑、阿莫西林、克拉霉素、胶体次枸橼酸铋.莫西沙星组联用埃索美拉唑、阿莫西林、胶体次枸橼酸铋、莫西沙星.患者分别在入组时及随访12个月时接受肺功能检测、运动耐力评价、呼吸困难评分、健康相关生活质量评分,并统计1年内COPD急性发作的次数.统计学处理采用x2检验和t检验.结果 克拉霉素组Hp根除率[48.4％(15/31)]低于莫西沙星组[87.1％(27/31)],差异有统计学意义(x2=4.22,P=0.032).27例不根除组患者第1秒用力呼气容积占预计值百分比的下降程度与53例成功根除Hp者比较差异无统计学意义(t=0.677,P=0.265).入组时与随访12个月时比较,53例成功根除Hp者6 min步行距离、Borg呼吸困难评分、圣乔治呼吸问题调查问卷总评分均获有统计学意义的改善(t=1.884、1.877、1.773,P=0.032、0.025、0.034),27例不根除组患者则皆未获改善.53例成功根除Hp者1年内平均COPD急性发作次数(1.2次)与不根除组(1.9次)比较差异有统计学意义(t=1.812,P=0.034).结论 COPD患者接受含莫西沙星的Hp根除方案或可获较高的Hp根除率.Hp感染的COPD患者根除Hp可在一定程度上提高运动耐力,减轻呼吸困难,提高生活质量,减少急性发作次数.     

233例结直肠腺瘤摘除术后随访和内镜监测的临床分析

目的 了解结直肠腺瘤(CRA)摘除后复发情况和结肠镜监测现状,探讨CRA复发的相关危险因素.方法 收集2005年6月至2009年12月安徽医科大学第一附属医院符合研究标准283例CRA摘除住院患者临床资料并进行随访.统计分析CRA摘除后复发率,结肠镜监测间期和CRA复发的关系及CRA复发的相关危险因素;分析肠镜监测组监测间期、频次,及未行监测的原因.结果 共随访CRA摘除后患者235例,随访率83.0％(235/283),其中生存患者233例,随访时间最短者12个月,最长66个月,随访时间中位数为(35.1±14.2)个月.结肠镜监测组患者115例,监测率为49.4％(115/233),复发率45.0％(50/111),未监测组118例;年龄≥60岁、体重指数≥25kg/m2、多发腺瘤(≥2个)与CRA复发明显相关,差异有统计学意义(x2值分别=4.299、5.291和8.883,P值分别=0.038、0.021和0.027);未监测组患者对CRA需要定期监测的知晓率明显低于监测组,差异有统计学意义(x2=37.819,P＜0.01).结论 CRA摘除术后复发率较高;高龄、高体重指数、多发腺瘤是预测CRA复发的独立危险因素;我院CRA摘除后结肠镜监测率低,主要原因在于患者对CRA摘除后定期监测重要性的认识不足.     

Elective day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a formal assessment of the need for outpatient follow-up

Introduction

Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is performed routinely as day-case surgery. Most hospital trusts have a policy of no routine postoperative outpatient follow-up although there are no formal guidelines on this. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify the incidence of complications, the degree of symptom resolution and patient satisfaction with a view to formally appraising the need for outpatient follow-up.

Methods

Patients who underwent LC in the period between February 2011 and June 2012 were contacted retrospectively by telephone. A standardised questionnaire was used to ascertain the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI), other complications, symptom resolution and patient satisfaction.

Results

A total of 211 responses were collected. The rate of SSI was 7.6% (n=16), with the only specific risk factor being smoking (p=0.027). All other complications had a combined incidence of 7% (n=15). There was complete resolution of symptoms in 64% of patients. Of the 36% of patients with residual symptoms, 45% described abdominal discomfort or pain, 41% described reflux symptoms and 14% complained of diarrhoea. Patient satisfaction was very high (96%), yet 33% of patients visited their general practitioner postoperatively in relation to their surgery.

Conclusions

Patients are highly satisfied with elective day-case LC. However, SSI is not uncommon, occurring in 1 in 13 patients. Although the majority of patients experience complete symptom resolution, a significant proportion do not. In our experience, routine outpatient follow-up is not required. Nevertheless, the lack of formal follow-up may prove a missed learning opportunity, potentially resulting in inappropriate patient selection for surgery.     

下肢重建方式对Crowe Ⅳ型髋关节发育不良全髋关节置换术后疗效的影响

 目的 探讨不同重建方式恢复单侧Crowe Ⅳ型髋关节发育不良(developmental dysplasia of the hip,DDH)的患肢长度后关节功能与患者满意度的差异。方法 将21例拟行全髋关节置换术的单侧Crowe Ⅳ型DDH患者随机分为代偿长度组11例(转子下截骨后按照代偿法测得的双下肢长度差重建患肢长度)和绝对长度组10例(按照双下肢绝对长度差重建患肢长度)。平均随访10年,比较两组患者Harris髋关节评分和健康调查简表SF-36(the MOS item short form health survey,SF-36)评分;以翻修作为终点,采用Kaplan-Meier生存分析法评估假体生存率;根据症状及X线表现评价关节功能和假体松动情况。结果 17例获得随访,随访时间8~10年。两组患者Harris髋关节评分、主要的SF-36评分和假体生存率的差异无统计学意义,代偿长度组患者SF-36评分的“心理健康”项优于绝对长度组。10例出现聚乙烯磨损, 6例出现大转子区严重骨质疏松,3例骨溶解。5例翻修：1例感染、1例假体周围骨折、3例无菌性松动。结论 两种不同重建方式的全髋关节置换术后髋关节功能和假体生存率无差异。绝对长度组患者手术满意度低于代偿长度组,术后持续感觉双下肢不等长。     

219例活体肾移植供者长期随访分析

目的 探讨活体肾移植供者术后生存质量及恢复情况.方法 对2004年以来219例肾脏捐献超过1年的亲属活体肾移植供者进行随访,评估供者的肾功能、并发症发生情况及生活质量.结果 供者捐肾时年龄为(43.3±11.6)岁(19～66岁),随访时间为术后12～103个月,随访截止时供者存活率为100％.术后稳定期(1年后)供者血清肌酐(Scr)为(84.0±18.7)μmol/L,内生肌酐清除率(Ccr)为(1.23±0.37)ml/s.＞50岁者术后1周及1年后Ccr低于年龄≤50岁者(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).3例供者术后Scr未降至正常范围,其肾脏捐献时年龄＞55岁.术后并发症包括高血压30例(其中5例为术后新发),镜下血尿4例,高脂血症3例,轻度贫血2例,股骨头坏死1例.总体感觉肾脏捐献对健康有影响者共40例,认为肾脏捐献对健康有轻度影响者31例,有较明显影响者7例,有严重影响者2例;偶尔觉伤口疼痛31例,经常感觉伤口疼痛4例.结论 供者肾脏捐献后中长期安全性和生存质量良好,但仍存在肾功能异常风险,尤其是高龄供者,需密切随访.供者随访依从性需进一步提高.     

南京市2008-2010年不同感染途径和不同报告来源的HIV/AIDS病例的随访率分析

目的分析南京市新发现的艾滋病病毒(HIV)感染者和艾滋病(AIDS)病人(简称HIV/AIDS病人)的不同感染途径和报告来源,对随访管理以及CD4检测的影响。方法收集2008-2010南京市所有报告单位上报的病例及随访资料,对不同感染途径和报告来源的HIV/AIDS病人的随访管理率及CD4检测率进行分析。结果 2008-2010年南京市共报告HIV/AIDS病人955例,随访率呈现上升趋势,CD4检测率总体下降。母婴途径感染者随访率最高(100%),注射吸毒途径感染者随访率最低(71.4%);男男性途径感染者CD4检测率最高(71.3%),注射吸毒途径感染者最低(37.3%)。不同报告来源病例的随访率总体上升,专题调查发现的病例随访率降低;不同报告来源病例的CD4检测率总体下降,但是医院报告病例的CD4检测率上升。结论不同感染途径和病例报告来源对南京市HIV/AIDS病例的随访和CD4检测有不同程度的影响,注射吸毒感染和专题调查发现的病例应成为随访工作的重点,从强化初筛阳性者信息资料的收集入手,提高随访率。     

TOPSIS法在HIV感染者随访管理工作质量评价中的应用

目的应用TOPSIS法,对福州市等9个市艾滋病病毒(HIV)感染者随访管理指标进行综合评价,确定不同市之间HIV感染者随访管理工作质量。方法运用TOPSIS法从HIV感染者/病人的随访干预比例、CD4检测率和配偶/固定性伴HIV抗体检测率,对HIV感染者的随访管理工作质量进行综合评价。结果泉州市的HIV感染者随访管理工作指标相对接近度(Cij)值为0.876 403,高于全省其他8个市,提示泉州市HIV感染者随访管理工作质量要比其他市好。TOPSIS法综合评价结果与泉州市实际工作开展情况基本一致。结论 TOPSIS法可简单、有效地对HIV感染者随访管理工作质量有关的多项指标进行综合评价,并为制定措施提供参考依据。     

监管场所发现的HIV感染者/AIDS病人失访原因和对策

目的了解监管场所发现的艾滋病病毒感染者/艾滋病病人(HIV/AIDS病人)失访的原因,提出减少失访的策略。方法对监管场所羁押的HIV/AIDS病人的失访原因进行个案访谈;采用系统抽样的方法对监管场所羁押人员的艾滋病随访知识和培训情况进行问卷调查;对1998-2007年杭州市余杭区监管场所报告的HIV/AIDS病人出场所后随访管理资料进行分析。结果 20名入场所后发现的HIV/AIDS病人认为,不接受随访的主要原因是害怕受到歧视,害怕泄露隐私,对治疗效果没信心和对健康不关心。213名监管场所羁押人员中,仅9.4%(20/213)的人了解随访管理的意义,10.8%(23/213)的人知道在哪里获得相关服务,2.8%(6/213)的人接受过相关培训;既往报告的120名HIV/AIDS病人中,33.3%(40/120)的人因地址信息错误或不详而没有找到,40.8%(49/120)的人因现住址未及时更新而没有获得医务人员主动提供的医学随访服务。结论应通过开展降低艾滋病歧视干预、完善和落实艾滋病信息保密制度、开展监管场所健康教育和出所前告知、加强地址信息的管理等,来提高监管场所发现的HIV/AIDS病人出所后的随访管理率。