Peritoneal dialysis patient survival: a comparison between a Swedish and a Korean centre.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patient mortality remains high, and this high mortality may be due to many factors. In peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, old age, co-morbid diseases, malnutrition, low residual renal function (RRF) and a high peritoneal transport rate have been shown to influence survival, but the relative importance of these factors may differ between different patient populations. Besides, centre practice patterns may differ between centres and may influence patient survival. In addition, the literature suggests that dialysis patient survival may be better in Asian than in Caucasian patients. METHODS: The influence of centre and patient characteristics on patient survival was investigated in 132 Korean and 106 Swedish incident PD patients, who underwent initial biochemical measurements and assessment of adequacy of dialysis, nutritional status, RRF and peritoneal transport characteristics. RESULTS: At the start of PD, Korean patients had a higher prevalence of diabetes, peritoneal Kt/V(urea), peritoneal creatinine clearance and peritoneal fluid removal, and lower body mass index, RRF and dialysate to plasma creatinine concentration ratio (D/P Cr) compared with Swedish patients. Significantly more patients from Korea were placed on temporary haemodialysis before PD (100 out of 132) when compared with Swedish patients (21 out of 106). During the follow-up, there was a significantly higher rate of transfer to other units in Korea and a significantly higher rate of kidney transplantation in Sweden. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, overall patient survival did not differ and relative risk for death was also not different between the two centres even after adjustment for age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, RRF and D/P Cr. On Cox proportional hazards multivariate analysis, age, diabetes, RRF and D/P Cr were found to be independent predictors of mortality in the combined cohort of patients. While age, diabetes and D/P Cr were independent predictors of mortality in Korean patients, age and RRF independently predicted mortality in Swedish patients. CONCLUSION: Although there were significant differences in centre and patient characteristics, we were unable to confirm a survival advantage for Korean over Swedish PD patients. The results of this study suggest that the reported difference in survival between Asian and Caucasian dialysis patients may have been due, in part, to differences in centre and patient characteristics rather than to race as such. The genetic influence on patient characteristics remains, however, to be elucidated.     

不同采血针对新生儿足跟采血成功率的影响

目的：探讨不同采血针在新生儿疾病筛查采血中的采血效果。方法：采用三种采血针分别对2126例（A组）、1786例（B组）、1471例（C组）新生儿进行足跟采血，比较其采血成功率。结果：A、B、C三组之间差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论：采用7号一次性注射针头采血（C组）可明显提高采血成功率。     

Atrial premature complexes and heart rate have prognostic significance in 1-month atrial fibrillation recurrence after electrical cardioversion.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of simple 24-h Holter (24H) data after electrical cardioversion (CV) for atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. METHODS: We prospectively studied 47 consecutive patients subjected to CV, who successfully converted to sinus rhythm. All underwent echocardiography and 24H after CV. AF recurrence was studied at 14 days and 1 month by second 24H or by interim report of AF. RESULTS: About 53.2% remained in sinus rhythm (group I) and the rest recurred to AF (group II). Group I had fewer atrial premature complexes per hour (APC/h) (P = 0.002) and lower maximum (max HR), average, and minimum heart rates compared with group II (all Ps < 0.05). The optimal value of APC/h and max HR with best sensitivity and specificity was 32 APC/h and 90 bpm, respectively. These findings were the predictors of AF recurrence [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.5 with 95% CI = 1.7-11.7 and HR = 4.3 with 95% CI = 1.7-10.9, respectively]. Patients with the combination of both predictors had greater HR of AF recurrence compared with those with < 32 APC/h and max HR < 90 bpm (HR = 8.8 with 95% CI = 2.5-31.4). CONCLUSION: Patients with frequent APC/h and high max HR are at high risk for 1-month AF recurrence after electrical CV.     

下肢动脉硬化闭塞症的外科治疗

目的:探讨外科治疗下肢动脉硬化闭塞症的临床经验。方法:从1995年7月～2002年7月共对292例(313条肢体)动脉硬化闭塞症病人进行外科治疗,其中20条患肢施行解剖外血管重建术,38条患肢施行了腔内外科治疗或合并开放性血管重建手术,255条患肢施行了开放性手术重建下肢血供。结果:手术成功者患肢的踝肱指数与术前比较显著增加(P<0.01),症状得到明显改善。平均随访时间3.1年(0.5～7年),解剖外重建组移植血管一期通畅率为56%,腔内外科组通畅率为78%,开放性手术组通畅率为72%。结论:病人的全身情况、动脉病变的范围和程度是选择下肢动脉硬化闭塞症外科治疗方法的主要依据,为取得较好的长期通畅率和临床效果需要重视围手术期处理和术后随访。     

不同免疫剂治疗扩张型心肌病患儿心功能和临床预后评价

目的观察比较泼尼松联用硫唑嘌呤和大剂量静脉用免疫球蛋白(IVIG)对扩张型心肌病(DCM)患儿心功能及预后的影响。方法将DCM患儿20例分为治疗Ⅰ和Ⅱ组,分别在传统抗心衰治疗基础上加泼尼松联用硫唑嘌呤和大剂量IVIG,治疗1个疗程后评价心功能,检测治疗前后左房横径(LA)、左室舒张期内径(LV)、左室射血分数(LVEF)、心脏指数(CI),并计算其治疗前后变化。所有病例随访1年,计算1年存活率。结果治疗Ⅱ组心功能明显优于治疗Ⅰ组(P均<0.05);两组LA、LV、LVEF和CI治疗后较治疗前均有明显改善(P均<0.05);治疗Ⅰ组各参数变化明显低于治疗Ⅱ组(P均<0.05),其1年存活率明显低于治疗组Ⅱ(P<0.05)。结论泼尼松联用硫唑嘌呤和大剂量IVIG均能改善DCM患儿心功能,但IVIG疗效优于泼尼松联用硫唑嘌呤。     

BIOCHEMICAL CORRECTION IN THE SYNDROME OF HYPERTENSION AND HYPERKALAEMIA BY SEVERE DIETARY SALT RESTRICTION SUGGESTS RENIN-ALDOSTERONE SUPPRESSION CRITICAL IN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

1. Plasma potassium and chloride concentrations were raised and plasma renin activity, aldosterone, bicarbonate and arterial pH were reduced in two brothers with the syndrome of hypertension and hyperkalaemia with normal glomerular filtration rate (Gordon's syndrome), on unrestricted or moderately restricted sodium diets. 2. These abnormalities were corrected in both patients within 10 days of severe sodium restriction. 3. Pressor sensitivity to cold and angiotensin II decreased on low sodium diet, associated with a fall in blood pressure. 4. Increasing distal tubular sodium delivery by infusion of normal saline increased fractional excretion of potassium when aldosterone had been stimulated by severely restricted sodium diet, but not when aldosterone levels were low on unrestricted sodium diet. 5. These findings are consistent with excessive sodium reabsorption as the primary renal lesion in Gordon's syndrome, leading to volume expansion and suppression of renin and aldosterone. Severe dietary sodium restriction leading to volume contraction, by stimulating renin and aldosterone and promoting kaliuresis, corrects the abnormalities.     

Peak Endocardial Acceleration-Based Clinical Testing of the "BEST" DDDR Pacemaker

The peak endocardial acceleration (PEA, unit g) shows a near correlation with myocardial contractility during the isometric systolic contraction of the heart (dP/dtmax), with sympathetic activity and, thus, with physiological heart rate modulation. The (Biomechanical Endocardial Sorin Transducer (BEST) sensor is incorporated in the tip of a pacing lead and measures PEA directly near the myocardium. In an international study, the lead was implanted with the dual chamber pacemaker Living-1 (Sorin) in 105 patients. The behavior of the PEA signal was tested under conditions of physical and mental stress and during daily life activities by 24-hour recordings of PEA (PEA Holter) at 1 to 2 months and approximately 1 year after implantation. Implantation of the BEST lead was performed without complications in all patients. The sensor functioned properly in the short- and long-term in 98% of patients. Although PEA values differed from patient to patient, the values closely reflected the variations in sympathetic activity due to physical and mental stress in each patient. During exercise and during daily life activities a close correlation between PEA and heart rate was observed among patients with normal sinus rhythm. Peak endocardial acceleration allows a nearly physiological control of the pacing rate.     

1870株致病菌感染概况及敏感性情况

目的了解临床标本中主要致病菌分布及敏感性分析，指导抗生素的选择及合理治疗方法对我院1994～1996年临床分离的1870株细菌的分布及敏感性、耐药性进行分析，1996年与1994年的结果进行比较，并将1995年的结果与北京地区5家教学医院同年的结果进行比较。结果分离菌株主要分布于呼吸道、消化道、泌尿道、血液及骨髓。G＋菌占10.5％，G-菌占89.5％，占明显优势。沙门氏菌对头孢唑啉和哌拉西林的耐药性明显降低（P＜0.01），大肠埃希氏菌对氨苄西林和氟嗪酸的耐药性明显增高（P＜0.01），其余菌株无明显差异。抗生素敏感性覆盖率最高的是复达欣，其次为丁胺卡那，最低者氨苄西林。大肠埃希氏菌、假单胞菌对哌拉西林的耐药率，克雷伯杆菌属对西力欣的耐药率，肠肝菌属对哌拉西林的耐药率均高于北京地区。结论本组资料显示不断监测和分析菌丛的变化及对不同抗生素耐药性出现的频率和耐药谱至关重要。     

老年男性心肌缺血患者心率变异分析（附67例报告）

采用正常搏动ＲＲ间期的标准差（ＳＤ）及心率变异指数（ＨＲＶ ｉｎｄｅｘ）作为指标，分析６７例老年男性心肌缺血患者的心率变异，并与正常老年男性组及正常青壮年男性组进行了对比，发现前组的ＲＲ间期ＳＤ、ＨＲＶｉｎｄｅｘ均明显低于后两组，其结果有显著性差异（Ｐ均〈０．０１）。提示心肌缺血可破坏交感与迷走神经的均衡性，造成心率变异降低。