Perioperative respiratory events in smokers and nonsmokers undergoing general anaesthesia

Background: The prevalence of respiratory diseases in smokers and nonsmokers and the incidence of perioperative respiratory events (PREs) were investigated for patients undergoing general anaesthesia. The aim was to quantify well-known problems and to identify possible new associations between smoking and PREs.
Methods: From July 1992 to December 1994, risk factors, demographic data, and PREs were documented by an automatically readable anaesthetic record (ARAR). PREs were used as defined by the German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care.
Results: Of 26 961 subsequent anaesthesias in adults, 7122 (26.4%) were performed in smokers with a prevalence of chronic bronchitis of 23.3% (4.8% in nonsmokers). 1573 PREs occurred in 1397 (5.2%) of all anaesthetics. 459 events concerned intubation problems and problems in technical airway management. 1114 specific respiratory events (SPREs) like re-intubation, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, aspiration, hy-poventilation/hypoxaemia and others had a total incidence of 5.5% in smokers and 3.1% in nonsmokers. The relative risk (RR) of SPREs was 1.8 in all smokers, 2.3 in young (16–39 years) smokers, and 6.3 in obese young smokers. The RR of perioperative bronchospasm was 25.7 in young smokers with chronic bronchitis.
Conclusion: The impact of smoking on perioperative respiratory problems should make anaesthetists take this widespread preoperative condition seriously, particularly in young adults. The presented method of incident reporting (based on a national classification) could contribute to future research in anaesthetic epidemiology.     

Role of Isoflavones in the Hypocholesterolemic Effect of Soy

Epidemiologic data suggest an inverse relationship between the consumption of soy isoflavones and cardiovascular disease risk. The aims of this review are to determine if isoflavones play a role in the hypocholesterolemic effect of soy and whether the studies realized with that scope were adequately designed. In humans, most studies have been performed in postmenopausal women. The results are inconsistent, however; some studies show a decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein concentrations, and an increase in high-density lipoprotein levels, and other investigations fail to show any beneficial effect of soy isoflavones on lipid profiles. In most studies, beneficial effects could not be attributed with certainty to soy isoflavones. If these components have any health-protecting effect in humans, it is small in comparison with the effect of soy protein itself. There are currently not enough data to recommend the consumption of isoflavone supplements to lower plasma cholesterol levels.     

A call for a gender specific approach to address the worldwide cardiovascular burden

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among non-communicable diseases are already a major public health challenge worldwide. A further increase in CVD is projected to occur over the next 25 years as a result of both adverse lifestyle changes and demographic shifts in the population age profile. The adverse impact of these health problems will affect women in particular, given the steady rise in the proportion of the aging population that will be women.The critical issue presently in the management of CVD is that we are not even adequately using the data that are available. Women still remain unaware that they are at risk, and information about women is not easily accessible to their physicians. This is a global issue and the need remains for worldwide initiatives with greater vigilance to identify these factors and make efforts to control them effectively.Currently, in scientific research, it is expected that the results of clinical research be analyzed for sex differences, sex- and gender-appropriateness, and sex- and gender-specific approaches for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and counseling. To address the care discrepancy, the global community needs to develop a conducive environment within a comprehensive policy and operational framework to achieve favorable lifestyles, and CVD risk factor reduction for both men and women.     

缺血性脑血管病与颈动脉粥样硬化及其危险因素的关系

目的探讨缺血性脑血管病(ICVD)与颈动脉粥样硬化及其危险因素的关系。方法对186例ICVD患者与194例非脑血管病患者和正常体检者(对照组)行颈部血管超声检查和血液生化检查;比较两组间的颈动脉硬化程度及脑卒中危险因素的差异。结果ICVD组年龄[(69±7)岁]和患有高血压(66.1%)、糖尿病(53.4%)、代谢综合征患者(44.6%)的比率非常明显高于对照组[(61±5)岁、48.8%、15.2%、12.9%](均P<0.001)。ICVD组颈动脉粥样硬化分级计分≥2分(斑块发生率)、≥3分(血管狭窄发生率)分别为69.3%、20.4%,明显高于对照组的33.5%和5.1%(均P<0.05)。结论颈动脉粥样硬化是ICVD的危险因素之一;各种危险因素的聚集对ICVD的发生起重要作用。     

Segregation analysis of diastolic blood pressure in a large pedigree

Hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, is thought to be inherited to some extent. However, the nature of its genetic component remains unresolved. In the present study, data from a single large kindred (the HGAR1 pedigree) were used to search for evidence of single gene and multifactorial effects on diastolic blood pressure. Commingling analyses found that a mixture of three distributions fit the data significantly better than a single normal distribution, suggesting a major effect influencing diastolic blood pressure levels. However, segregation analysis, using regressive models, indicated that the transmission probabilities were not consistent with Mendelian expectations. There was no evidence of either major gene or polygenic effects on diastolic blood pressure levels in this family. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

针刺大椎穴对感冒高热患者临床症状的综合评价

目的：探讨治疗感冒高热及其-临床相关症状的有效针灸疗法。方法：按照随机化和多中心-临床试验原则，将列入统计病例276例随机分为治疗组（138例）和对照组（138例），治疗组采用电针大椎穴，治疗组采用安痛定注射液，观察24小时的即时退热效果及临床疗效。结果：治疗组治疗后各时点体温均低于对照组（P〈0．01）；治疗组治疗后相关症状积分在3～24h低于对照组（19〈0．05）；治疗组起效时间（1．42±1．79）h较对照组（3．44±5．10）h短（19〈0．01）。治疗组恶寒、肢体酸痛、头痛、汗出的起效时间较对照组短（P〈0．01）；治疗组恶寒、头痛的痊愈时间较对照组短（P〈0．05）。两组患者24小时综合疗效间差异有显著性意义（P〈0．01）。结论：针刺大椎穴治疗感冒高热疗效确切，能够明显改善恶寒、肢体酸痛、头痛、汗出等症状，提高治疗感冒的综合疗效。     

我国食管癌发病危险因素的Meta分析

目的：评价我国食管癌发病的危险因素。方法：通过Meta分析对国内13篇公开发表的有关食管癌发病危险因素的病例-对照研究进行定量综合分析，共对12个因素进行评价，计算每个因素的综合OR值．结果：共有9个因素有显意义，分别为：吸烟(ORs=1．69)、饮酒(ORs=1．81)、酸菜(0Rs=2．22)、烫食(ORs=2．41)、家族史(ORs=4．00)、精神因素(ORs=3．06)、干硬食物(ORs=2．07)、吃饭快(ORs=1．82)、水果(ORs=0．39)．结论：吸烟、饮酒、酸菜、烫食、家族史、精神因素、干硬食物及吃饭快为食管癌发病的危险因素，水果为保护因素，而蔬菜、饮茶以及肉类对食管癌发病的作用尚不能确定。     

高危出血患者应用吉派林抗凝血液透析疗效观察

目的：观察危重型肾功能衰竭合并高危出血患者选择抗凝药物进行血液透析治疗的效果。方法：应用吉派林(低分子肝素钠)作为抗凝剂进行血液透析。结果：129例病人进行血液透析386次，均没有出血发生。结论：吉派林在高危出血患者血液透析中使用方便，安全，效果良好。     

造血干细胞移植病人出血性膀胱炎的危险因素分析

[目的]了解造血干细胞移植病人出血性膀胱炎发生的危险因素。[方法]对29例造血干细胞移植病人出血性膀胱炎的危险因素进行统计学分析。[结果]出血性膀胱炎的发生率34％(10/29例),经Logistic回归分析发现出血性膀胱炎的危险因素是预处理方案(OR值0.058 0),马利兰/环磷酰胺预处理方案出血性膀胱炎发生率高。[结论]预处理方案对出血性膀胱炎的发生有重要影响。     

Age-Dependent Prevalence of Cardioembolic Sources Detected by TEE: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications

To define the prevalence of cardioembolic sources found by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in different age groups of patients with and without cryptogenic systemic embolism, TEE risk factors for cardiogenic embolism were identified from 341 consecutive patients referred for TEE. One hundred and thirty-five had cryptogenic cerebral or systemic peripheral embolic events (CEE) and 206 other indications for TEE (CTR). Cardioembolic sources were found in 40% of CEE and in 29% of CTR (P < 0.02). Specifically, left atrial (LA) thrombi (P < 0.0001), atrial septal aneurysm with right-to-left shunt (P < 0.002), and atherosclerotic aortic plaques (P < 0.02) were more frequent. The prevalence of potential cardioembolic sources was significantly higher in patients ≥ 70-years old than in younger patients (P < 0.03), specifically LA thrombi (P < 0.004) and atherosclerotic aortic plaques (P < 0.0001). In patients ≥ 70-years old, potential cardioembolic sources were found in 63% and in 40% in CEE and CTR (P = 0.073), respectively. However, LA thrombi were more frequent in CEE (P < 0.003). Thus, potential cardioembolic sources observed by TEE are found more frequently in patients ≥ 70-years old than in younger patients. LA thrombi were more frequent in CEE than in CTR patients ≥ 70-years old. In patients ≥ 70-years old with CEE who are eligible for an anticoagulant regimen, a search for potential cardioembolic sources by TEE should be considered.