肝硬化病人首次食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血现状及其危险因素的调查分析

目的:探讨肝硬化病人首次食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血(EVB)现状及其危险因素。方法:收集2017年12月—2019年1月收治的307例肝硬化病人为研究对象,经治疗后将未发生首次EVB的229例病人设为对照组,首次出现EVB的78例病人设为观察组。分析两组病人临床基本信息及相关资料,统计静脉曲张破裂出血现状,采取单因素分析及多元Logistic回归模型分析发生出血状况的危险因素。结果:多元Logistic回归分析结果显示,饮酒史(OR=1.912)、门静脉主干内径(OR=2.760)、肝功能Child-Pugh分级(OR=2.375)、失血量(OR=3.682)、食管静脉曲张分级重度率(OR=5.013)、红色征(OR=2.704)为肝硬化病人首次EVB独立危险因素。结论:肝硬化病人发生首次EVB的独立危险因素包括饮酒史、门静脉主干内径、肝功能Child-Pugh分级、失血量、食管静脉曲张分级重度率、红色征。医护人员应加强危险因素监测,帮助病人戒烟酒、忌粗糙饮食,定期复查,加强早期预防及诊断,以改善病人生活质量和生命健康水平。     

Physical activity as a proxy to ameliorate inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes and periodontal disease at high cardiovascular risk

While the beneficial impact of physical activity has been ascertained in a variety of pathological scenarios, including diabetes and low-grade systemic inflammation, its potential remains still putative for periodontal health. Periodontal disease has been associated with inflammatory systemic alterations, which share a common denominator with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Physical exercise, along with nutritional counseling, is a cornerstone in the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes, also able to reduce the prevalence of periodontal disease and cardiovascular risk. In addition, considering the higher incidence of periodontitis in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to healthy controls, the fascinating research question would be whether physical activity could relieve the inflammatory pressure exerted by the combination of these two diseases. This multi-disciplinary viewpoint discusses available literature in order to argument the hypothesis of a “three–way relationship” linking diabetes, periodontitis, and physical activity.     

Iron Deficiency without Anemia: A Common Yet Under-Recognized Diagnosis in Young Women with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Study ObjectiveTo assess the proportion of iron deficiency that is not detected with a screening hemoglobin or complete blood count (CBC) alone in young women with heavy menstrual bleeding.DesignRetrospective review of electronic medical records.SettingNationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome MeasuresOne hundred fourteen young women aged 9-19 years consecutively referred to a young women's hematology clinic with a complaint of heavy menstrual bleeding.ResultsFifty-eight (50.9%) of all patients had ferritin <20 ng/mL indicating iron deficiency. Of the 58 patients with iron deficiency, only 24 (41.4%) were anemic and 25 (46.3%) were microcytic. The sensitivity of hemoglobin alone and CBC alone for identifying women with ferritin <20 ng/mL was 41.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 28.7-54.1) and 46.3% (95% CI, 33.0-59.6), respectively. Both tests had reasonable specificity at 91.1% (95% CI, 83.6-98.5) for hemoglobin and 83.9% for CBC (95% CI, 74.3-93.6). Patients had significantly higher odds of having iron deficiency if they were overweight or obese (odds ratio, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.25-6.29) compared with patients with normal body mass index. Age at presentation for heavy menstrual bleeding, presence of an underlying bleeding disorder, and median household income were not significantly associated with iron deficiency.ConclusionIn adolescents with heavy menstrual bleeding, fewer than half of iron deficiency cases are detected when screening is performed with hemoglobin or blood count alone. Measuring ferritin levels in at-risk patients might allow for earlier implementation of iron therapy and improvement in symptoms.     

Toxicity profile of repeated doses of PEG‐asparaginase incorporated into a pediatric‐type regimen for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Despite having been long regarded as too toxic for adult patients, pediatric‐like regimens containing L‐asparaginase have resulted in improved outcomes for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). To characterize the spectrum of toxicity of repeated doses of polyethylene glycolated‐asparaginase (PEG‐asp) in adults, we reviewed all doses (2000 IU/m²) administered as part of a pediatric‐inspired regimen in adult ALL at our center. Subjects aged 18–60 yr with ALL (n = 152, 69.1% male) contributed 522 dose cycles to the study. Hepatotoxicity was the most common adverse event: grades 3–4 transaminitis and hyperbilirubinemia occurred in 53.9% and 23.7% of subjects, respectively. Hepatotoxicity was reversible; no cases of fulminate hepatic failure were observed. Other toxicities affecting at least 5% of subjects were grades 3–4 triglyceridemia in 50.9%, hypofibrinogenemia (<100 mg/dL) in 47.9%, clinical pancreatitis in 12.6%, venous thromboembolism in 11.2%, allergic reaction in 7.2%, and any grade bleeding in 5.3%. PEG‐asp was always discontinued after grades 3–4 pancreatitis or allergic reaction. Otherwise, toxicities did not preclude administration of additional cycles of the drug. Our results suggest that repeated PEG‐asp dosing is safe in adults aged 18–60 yr, even after occurrence of a drug‐related toxicity.     

Serum levels of anti‐Fcγ receptor IIB/C antibodies are increased in patients with systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disorder that results in fibrosis of the skin and multiple internal organs. Although the precise mechanism is unknown, it appears to result from the overproduction of extracellular matrix proteins and aberrant immune activations. Receptors for the Fc region of immunoglobulin (Ig)G (FcγR) are members of the Ig superfamily that modulate both activation and inhibition of immune responses. FcγRIIB is the sole inhibitory member, which has an intrinsic cytoplasmic immunoreceptor tyrosine‐based inhibitory motif. The present study was undertaken to investigate the circulating concentrations of anti‐FcγRIIB/C antibodies (Ab) in patients with SSc. Serum levels of anti‐FcγRIIB/C Ab were significantly increased in patients with SSc compared to those in controls and in patients with localized scleroderma. Serum levels of anti‐FcγRIIB/C Ab in patients with limited cutaneous SSc were similar to those in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc. Among SSc patients, serum levels of anti‐FcγRIIB/C Ab were increased in those with nail‐fold bleeding and decreased in those with diffuse pigmentation and calcinosis. These findings support the notion that increased serum anti‐FcγRIIB/C Ab levels are involved in aberrant immune responses in SSc.