Impaired Vagal Activity in Long-COVID-19 Patients

Long-COVID-19 refers to the signs and symptoms that continue or develop after the “acute COVID-19” phase. These patients have an increased risk of multiorgan dysfunction, readmission, and mortality. In Long-COVID-19 patients, it is possible to detect a persistent increase in D-Dimer, NT-ProBNP, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. To verify the dysautonomia hypothesis in Long-COVID-19 patients, we studied heart rate variability using 12-lead 24-h ECG monitoring in 30 Long-COVID-19 patients and 20 No-COVID patients. Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability was lower in Long-COVID-19 patients both for total power (7.46 ± 0.5 vs. 8.08 ± 0.6; p < 0.0001; Cohens-d = 1.12) and for the VLF (6.84 ± 0.8 vs. 7.66 ± 0.6; p < 0.0001; Cohens-d = 1.16) and HF (4.65 ± 0.9 vs. 5.33 ± 0.9; p = 0.015; Cohens-d = 0.76) components. The LF/HF ratio was significantly higher in Long-COVID-19 patients (1.46 ± 0.27 vs. 1.23 ± 0.13; p = 0.001; Cohens-d = 1.09). On multivariable analysis, Long-COVID-19 is significantly correlated with D-dimer (standardized β-coefficient = 0.259), NT-ProBNP (standardized β-coefficient = 0.281), HF component of spectral analysis (standardized β-coefficient = 0.696), and LF/HF ratio (standardized β-coefficient = 0.820). Dysautonomia may explain the persistent symptoms in Long COVID-19 patients. The persistence of a procoagulative state and an elevated myocardial strain could explain vagal impairment in these patients. In Long-COVID-19 patients, impaired vagal activity, persistent increases of NT-ProBNP, and a prothrombotic state require careful monitoring and appropriate intervention.     

中医特色护理干预对老年股骨颈骨折患者心理状态和生活质量的影响

目的:探讨中医特色护理干预对老年股骨颈骨折患者心理状态和生活质量的影响。方法:随机选择2012年、2013年股骨颈骨折患者各50例为研究对象,2012年患者予常规护理为对照组,2013年患者予中医特色护理干预为观察组,比较2组患者护理干预前后症状自评量表(SCL-90)与生活质量评分变化情况。结果:1)护理干预后,观察组较对照组躯体化、强迫、敌对、精神病性、偏执、人际敏感项目改善明显(P0.05);2)2组患者护理干预后Barthel指数评分均较干预前明显改善,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),其中观察组较对照组改善明显,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:中医特色护理干预有助于改善股骨颈骨折患者心理状态,改善其生活质量。     

治未病调理脾胃干预亚健康状态

随着单纯生物医学模式发展为生物-心理-社会医学模式,"亚健康"状态得到更多关注。干预亚健康状态,减少慢性病发病率,提高健康水平,减轻医疗负担有着极其重要而深远的意义。"治未病"思想和"亚健康"联系紧密,符合从疾病医学到健康医学的模式转化,即从"治已病"到"治未病"的转化。"治未病"包含未病先防、扶正祛邪,见微知著、及早诊治,既病防变、防邪深入,病后调理、防止复发四个方面。脾胃与五脏六腑关系密切,且中土之气为人体"一气周流"的枢轴,从调理脾胃入手(生活方式调整、药物干预、环境改善)干预亚健康,可达到健康促进最终目标。     

慢性肾功能衰竭微炎症状态、HSP70、AQP2与中医证型关系研究

目的:探讨慢性肾衰竭(CRF)微炎症状态、热休克蛋白70(HSP70)、水通道蛋白2(AQP2)的表达及其与中医证型的关系。方法:选择CRF2、3期患者60例,按辨证标准分为脾肾阳虚证26例,气阴两虚证19例,湿热证15例。另设健康对照组15例。测定外周血单个核细胞NF-κB活性、血清HSP70、IL-6、尿AQP2含量,分析其与中医证型的相关性。结果:①CRF患者NF-κB、IL-6、HSP70、AQP2含量均较对照组显著升高(P<0.05或P<0.01);②3个证型组中,湿热证组NF-κB显著高于其它两组(P<0.01或P<0.05);HSP70含量呈湿热证组>气阴两虚证组>脾肾阳虚证组(P<0.05或P<0.01);尿AQP2含量为脾肾阳虚证组>湿热证组>气阴两虚证组(P<0.05或P<0.01)。结论:①CRF患者普遍存在微炎症状态及水代谢紊乱,但湿热证者微炎症状态最明显,NF-κB、IL-6与CRF浊毒内盛有关;AQP2与CRF水湿相关。②CRF患者机体肾保护机制已启动,HSP70与CRF患者正气盛衰相关。     

益肾调肝针刺法治疗围绝经期抑郁症30例

目的:观察益肾调肝针刺法治疗围绝经期抑郁症的疗效,评价针刺治疗围绝经期抑郁症的临床价值。方法:将60例围绝经期抑郁症患者随机分成两组,针刺组30例,采用益肾调肝针刺法治疗;对照组30例,给予口服百忧解治疗。两组疗程均为4周。两组患者分别于治疗前后应用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)进行评分,治疗后根据其减分率评定临床疗效,并观察不良反应。结果:两组患者治疗前后HAMD评分组内比较,差异具有显著统计学意义(均P<0.01)。治疗后两组间HAMD评分比较,差异具有统计学意义P<0.05。针刺组显效率为66.7%,总有效率为93.3%;对照组显效率为40.0%,总有效率为80.0%;治疗后两组疗效比较,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:益肾调肝针刺法可以显著改善围绝经期抑郁症患者的抑郁状态,其抑郁程度改善的疗效优于西药对照,且不良反应少,是一种安全、经济、有效的治疗方法。     

电针头穴治疗轻度认知障碍疗效观察

目的:观察电针头穴对轻度认知障碍(MCI)患者早期干预的临床疗效,为针灸治疗MCI提供可靠证据。方法:将84例MCI患者随机分为药物对照组、电针头穴组和辨证配穴组。电针头穴组穴取百会、四神聪、风池、神庭;辨证配穴组在电针头穴组取穴治疗的基础上,通过血管性痴呆辨证量表评定MCI患者中医证型,加用相应穴位;药物组口服尼莫地平。3个组均在治疗前后进行MMSE量表和画钟测验评定,并进行治疗前后及组间对比。结果:8周治疗结束后,3个组治疗前后在MMSE量表、画钟测验评分上显示存在显著性差异(P<0.01,P<0.05);电针头穴组和辨证配穴组MMSE量表积分改善优于药物组(P<0.01),电针头穴组与辨证配穴组组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);3个组在画钟测验评分上组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:电针头穴对改善轻度认知功能障碍患者的认知功能有独特优势,是一种有效的治疗方法。     

A prospective cohort study of the value of maternal plasma concentrations of angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors in early pregnancy and midtrimester in the identification of patients destined to develop preeclampsia

Objective.?Changes in the maternal plasma concentrations of angiogenic (placental growth factor (PlGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) and anti-angiogenic factors (sEng and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1)) precede the clinical presentation of preeclampsia. This study was conducted to examine the role of maternal plasma PlGF, sEng, and sVEGFR-1 concentrations in early pregnancy and midtrimester in the identification of patients destined to develop preeclampsia.

Methods. This longitudinal cohort study included 1622 consecutive singleton pregnant women. Plasma samples were obtained in early pregnancy (6–15 weeks) and midtrimester (20–25 weeks). Maternal plasma PlGF, sEng, and sVEGFR-1 concentrations were determined using sensitive and specific immunoassays. The primary outcome was the development of preeclampsia. Secondary outcomes included term, preterm, and early-onset preeclampsia. Receiving operating characteristic curves, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and multivariable logistic regression were applied. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Results.?(1) The prevalence of preeclampsia, term, preterm, (<37 weeks) and early-onset preeclampsia (<34 weeks) was 3.8 (62/1622), 2.5 (40/1622), 1.4 (22/1622) and 0.6% (9/1622), respectively; (2) Higher likelihood ratios were provided by ratios of midtrimester plasma concentrations of PlGF, sEng, and sVEGFR-1 than single analytes; (3) Individual angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors did not perform well in the identification of preeclampsia as a whole; in particular, they perform poorly in the prediction of term preeclampsia; (4) In contrast, a combination of these analytes such as the PlGF/sEng ratio, its delta and slope had the best predictive performance with a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 98–99%, and likelihood ratios for a positive test of 57.6, 55.6 and 89.6, respectively, for predicting early-onset preeclampsia.

Conclusions.?(1) The PlGF/sEng ratio and its delta and slope had an excellent predictive performance for the prediction of early-onset preeclampsia, with very high likelihood ratios for a positive test result and very low likelihood ratios for a negative test result; and (2) Although the positive likelihood ratios are high and the positive predictive values low, the number of patients needed to be closely followed is 4:1 for the PlGF/sEng ratio and 3:1 for the slope of PlGF/sEng.     

妊娠期高血压疾病血浆凝血酶生成活性检测的意义

目的探讨妊娠期高血压疾病(HDP)患者应用血浆凝血酶生成活性,判断HDP患者病情发展及预后。方法 2004年1月至2009年12月对上海市长宁区妇幼保健院、上海市宝山区罗店医院住院的妊娠妇女应用荧光发色底物分析方法,对妊娠期高血压疾病患者32例、轻度子痫前期35例、重度子痫前期38例(其中4例围产期发生急性D IC)和正常晚期孕妇50例血浆凝血酶生成活性进行检测,测定分析各组研究对象凝血酶生成的量和速度,并进行比较研究。结果正常孕妇凝血酶生成峰值为(362.0±29.6)nmol/L,妊娠期高血压疾病为(385.0±33.5)nmol/L,轻度子痫前期为(412.0±41.5)nmol/L,重度子痫前期为(624.0±67.6)nmol/L。轻、重度子痫前期患者较正常孕妇有显著增高(P<0.05),同时有纤维蛋白原及纤维蛋白降解产物D-二聚体(D-D)的明显改变,重度子痫前期凝血酶生成峰值与纤维蛋白原含量呈正相关关系(r=0.894,P<0.05)。结论轻、重度子痫前期患者存在不同程度的血栓前状态,重度子痫前期尤为明显。HDP患者血浆凝血酶生成活性检测可作为预测HDP患者血栓形成及D IC发生的实验室检查方法...     

Combination of C‐reactive protein,procalcitonin, IL‐6, IL‐8, and IL‐10 for early diagnosis of hyperinflammatory state and organ dysfunction in pediatric sepsis

BackgroundAlthough early diagnosis and management are critical for prognosis of pediatric sepsis, there are no specific diagnostic biomarkers for the hyperinflammatory state and organ dysfunction, important stages of sepsis.MethodsWe enrolled 129 children with infection into three groups: non‐sepsis infection (33), Sepsis 1.0 (hyperinflammatory state, 67), and Sepsis 3.0 (organ dysfunction, 29). Another 32 children with no infections were included as controls. Serum C‐reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐12p70, IL‐17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interferon (IFN)‐α, and IFN‐γ were assessed to diagnose the two stages, and their diagnostic capacities were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. We also examined whether combining biomarkers improved diagnostic efficiency.ResultsSignificantly higher CRP, PCT, and IL‐6 levels were detected in the Sepsis 1.0 than the non‐sepsis infection group (p < 0.001). The areas under the curve (AUCs) for diagnosing Sepsis 1.0 were 0.974 (CRP), 0.913 (PCT) and 0.919 (IL‐6). A combination of any two biomarkers increased diagnostic sensitivity to ≥92.54% and specificity to 100.00%. Significantly higher PCT, IL‐8, and IL‐10 levels were found in the Sepsis 3.0 than the Sepsis 1.0 group (p ≤ 0.01), with AUCs for diagnosing Sepsis 3.0 0.807 (PCT), 0.711 (IL‐8), and 0.860 (IL‐10). Combining these three biomarkers increased diagnostic sensitivity to 96.55% and specificity to 94.03%.ConclusionIn pediatric sepsis, combining any two of CRP, PCT, and IL‐6 can accurately diagnose the hyperinflammatory state and increase diagnostic specificity. Early diagnosis of organ dysfunction requires a combination of PCT, IL‐8, and IL‐10.     

BSO对内皮细胞氧化还原状态的影响

目的　探讨人脐静脉血管内皮细胞(humanumbilicalveinendothelialcells, HUVEC)在慢性髓性白血病细胞株K562细胞条件培养基作用下氧化还原状态的变化与其增殖活性间的关系,观察谷胱甘肽合成抑制剂丁胱亚磺酰亚胺(buthioninesulfoxine, BSO)在上述条件下对HUVECs的作用,为探索相应的抗肿瘤血管生成治疗策略提供新思路。方法　用K562细胞条件培养基、谷胱甘肽合成抑制剂共同或单独处理HUVEC,检测HUVEC细胞内氧化还原状态以及细胞活力的改变。结果　K562细胞条件培养基明显促进内皮细胞的增殖,并促进内皮细胞氧化型与还原型谷胱甘肽(GSSG与GSH)、辅酶Ⅱ(NADP+与NADPH)两对氧化和还原性物质同时增高,但GSSG/GSH、NADP+ /NADPH比值未变。BSO显示出对HUVEC生长的明显抑制,引起HUVEC中GSH、NADPH含量明显降低、GSSG/GSH、NADP+ /NADPH比值升高;在K562细胞条件培养基的同时作用下,BSO对HUVEC的生长抑制作用增强, 使细胞内GSSG/GSH、NADP+ /NADPH比值进一步提高。结论　慢性髓性白血病细胞条件培养基使得血管内皮细胞对BSO的生长抑制作用更加敏感,其机制与内皮细胞氧化还原状态的改变密切相关。