Vitamin D Status and Factors Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency during the First Year of Life in Preterm Infants

We aimed to investigate the changes in vitamin D levels and factors associated with vitamin D deficiency (VDD) during the first year of life in Korean preterm infants. We enrolled 333 preterm infants who were born at Kyungpook National University Children’s Hospital between March 2013 and December 2019. 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels and medical records were collected at birth, 6 months, and 12 months of age. The mean gestational age was 33.4 ± 2.3 weeks and mean 25-OHD levels at birth were 18.2 ± 13.5 ng/mL. The incidence of VDD was 82.8%, 30.6%, and 27.0% at birth, 6 months, and 12 months, respectively. The incidence of severe VDD (25-OHD < 10 ng/mL) was 31.5%, 1.5%, and 0%, at birth, 6 months, and 12 months, respectively. Among infants with severe VDD, the deficiency persisted in 49.6% at 6 months, and 35.3% at 12 months. The strongest predictor of VDD during follow-up was 25-OHD concentration at birth. Vitamin D supplementation at 400 IU/day did not affect vitamin D levels during the first year of life. Therefore, it is important to prevent neonatal VDD through maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy. Further research is needed to determine the optimal vitamin D supplementation dose for Korean preterm infants.     

Deficiency Citations on Inappropriate Psychotropics Use Related to Care for Behavioral Symptoms of Dementia

ObjectivesThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) initiated the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes in 2012, which helped decrease antipsychotics use. However, inappropriate use of antipsychotics and other psychotropic medications to control behavioral symptoms associated with dementia persists. Nursing homes (NHs) can be flagged for inappropriate psychotropics use as a deficiency of care citation (F-758 tag). The purpose of this study was to comprehensively explore inappropriate psychotropic medication use deficiency, F-758 citations, in caring for NH residents with dementia.DesignA mixed-methods study was performed.Setting and ParticipantsDuring the first quarter of 2018 (January–March), 3526 NHs were surveyed, of which 642 received F-758 tags. Of the 642, the sample was confined to the 444 NHs that received the citation for the care of residents with dementia. Information on deficiencies was obtained from 2018 Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting data. Inspection reports for deficiencies were obtained from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Home Compare and ProPublica.MethodsQuantitative analysis was used to examine the frequency of involved psychotropic medications, scope/severity of F-758 deficiency citations, and reasons for the citations. Reasons for F-758 citations by psychotropic medication categories and scope/severity of the citations were also examined using χ² tests. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using content analysis with an inductive coding approach to summarize the inspection reports.ResultsAntipsychotics were the most involved drug category for F-758 tag citations. The 3 most common reasons for F-758 citations included failure to identify and/or monitor behavioral symptoms (178 NHs), attempt gradual drug reduction (131 NHs), and maintain 14-day limitations on Pro Re Nata (PRN) psychotropic orders (121 NHs). Compared with those with no involvement of antipsychotic drugs, facilities with antipsychotics-related F-758 tags had higher rates of failure to identify/monitor behavioral symptoms (P < .001), attempt gradual drug reduction (P < .001), and provide adequate indications for psychotropics use (P < .001). NHs with F-758 tags related to inappropriate antianxiety medication use had a higher prevalence of failure to maintain 14-day limitation on PRN orders (P < .001) and provide nonpharmacologic interventions (P < .001).Conclusions and ImplicationsThis study suggests areas for improvement that could potentially reduce inappropriate psychotropics use. Supporting quality of dementia care workforce and improving cooperation within healthcare staff and professionals are recommended to ensure proper nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions.     

缺铁性贫血婴幼儿智能行为发育研究

目的 探讨缺铁性贫血对婴幼儿智能行为发育的影响。方法 对264名儿童进行0－36个月的生长发育纵向监测,定期对其智力发育指数（MDI）、精神运动发育指数（PDI）以及行为进行测试,根据2岁时有无缺铁性贫血分为两组：①贫血组（96名）,②非贫血组（168名）,建立数据库,用SPSS软件进行统计学分析。结果 2岁时贫血组MDI、PDI均低于对照组,且这种改变在2．5岁贫血完全被纠正时仍未安全消除;2岁缺铁性贫血患儿血红蛋白水平与其MDI和PDI分值呈正相关;缺铁性贫血组儿童2－3岁期间行为问题发生率明显高于对照组,突出表现在社交退缩和躯体诉述两个行为因子上。结论 缺铁性贫血对婴幼儿智能行为发育均产生重要影响,鉴于对智能发育的不利影响是长期的,积极防治婴幼儿期缺铁性贫血对于保证儿童正常生长发育具有重要意义。     

碘化钾、碘酸钾对缺碘大鼠甲状腺形态与作用的实验研究

目的：研究碘化钾、碘酸钾对大鼠甲状腺形态学结构的影响。方法：将Wistar大鼠随机分为4组,低碘组（LI）、正常组（NI）、碘化钾组（KI）、碘酸钾组（KIO3）,3个月后观察形态学变化,并做体视学分析,获得定量参数后进行统计学处理。结果：LI组滤泡及滤泡腔的平均体积VQ、平均表面积SQ、体积密度VV、表面积密度SV均明显小于NI组,而数密度NV及比表面积S/V均明显高于NI组;经治疗3个月后,KI组和KIO3组的上述指标均有明显恢复,但尚未完全恢复正常。KI组和KIO3组之间无显著性差异。结论：低碘可致大鼠甲状腺形态典型的小滤泡增生性改变,而KI和KIO3在治疗缺碘性甲状腺肿方面均有很好的疗效,且在本实验期间两者的疗效无显著性差异。     

Novel predictive risk factor for Erectile Dysfunction: Serum folic acid

The purpose of this study was to compare the serum Folic Acid (FA) levels in patients with Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and healthy controls and whether levels vary with its severity. The study was carried out on 77 sexually active individuals, out of which 41 complained of ED and 36 were apparently normal. Patients were excluded if they had any diseases known to cause ED. The severity was further categorised based on IIEF-5 scores. Blood serum levels of testosterone, lipid profile, random blood sugar, liver function test, renal function test and FA levels were obtained in each patient. Independent-samples t test of significance was used when comparing between two means. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) test was used for correlating data. All clinical and biochemical parameters except FA were comparable in both the groups. FA levels were significantly decreased in ED group (5.29 vs. 10.8; p value = .004). Smoking habits were comparable between the groups, and FA levels did not vary among smokers and nonsmokers (p value = .46). Serum FA levels significantly declined with increasing severity of ED (8.28 vs. 5.56 vs. 4.37 vs. 3.5; p value < .001). Thus, decreased FA might possibly be one of the novel risk factors for ED.     

Iron Deficiency Anemia is Associated with Increased Early Postoperative Surgical and Medical Complications Following Total Hip Arthroplasty

BackgroundIron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a medical comorbidity commonly diagnosed in those undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). The authors sought to evaluate IDA as a risk factor for early postoperative complications following discharge and describe the hospital resource utilization of this patient population.MethodsPatients with a diagnosis of IDA who underwent THA from 2005 to 2014 were identified in a national insurance database. The rates of postoperative medical complications and surgery-related complications, as well as hospital readmission, emergency department visits, and death were calculated. Additionally, 90-day and day of surgery cost and length of stay were calculated. IDA patients were then compared to a 4:1 matched control population without IDA using a logistic regression analysis to control for confounding factors.ResultsIn total, 98,681 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of IDA who underwent THA were identified and compared to 386,724 controls. IDA was associated with increased risk of 30-day emergency department visits (odds ratio [OR] 1.35, P < .001) and 30-day readmission (OR 1.49, P < .001). IDA was also associated with an increased 90-day medical complication rate (cerebrovascular accident OR 1.11, P = .003; urinary tract infection OR 1.14, P < .001; acute renal failure OR 1.24, P < .001; transfusion OR 1.40, P < .001), as well as 1-year periprosthetic joint infection (OR 1.27, P < .001), revision (OR 1.22, P < .001), dislocation (OR 1.25, P < .001), and fracture (OR 1.43, P < .001). Patients with IDA accrued higher hospital charges ($27,658.27 vs $16,709.18, P < .001) and lower hospital reimbursement ($5509.90 vs $3605.59, P < .001).ConclusionPatients with preoperative IDA undergoing THA are at greater risk of experiencing early postoperative complications and have greater utilization of hospital resources.     

Ectopic Calcification and Hypophosphatemic Rickets: Natural History of ENPP1 and ABCC6 Deficiencies

Generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI) is a rare disorder caused by ENPP1 or ABCC6 variants. GACI is characterized by low pyrophosphate, arterial calcification, and high mortality during the first year of life, but the natural course and possible differences between the causative genes remain unknown. In all, 247 individual records for patients with GACI (from birth to 58.3 years of age) across 19 countries were reviewed. Overall mortality was 54.7% (13.4% in utero or stillborn), with a 50.4% probability of death before the age of 6 months (critical period). Contrary to previous publications, we found that bisphosphonate treatment had no survival benefit based on a start-time matched analysis and inconclusive results when initiated within 2 weeks of birth. Despite a similar prevalence of GACI phenotypes between ENPP1 and ABCC6 deficiencies, including arterial calcification (77.2% and 89.5%, respectively), organ calcification (65.8% and 84.2%, respectively), and cardiovascular complications (58.4% and 78.9%, respectively), mortality was higher for ENPP1 versus ABCC6 variants (40.5% versus 10.5%, respectively; p = 0.0157). Higher prevalence of rickets was reported in 70.8% of surviving affected individuals with ENPP1 compared with that of ABCC6 (11.8%; p = 0.0001). Eleven affected individuals presenting with rickets and without a GACI diagnosis, termed autosomal recessive hypophosphatemic rickets type 2 (ARHR2), all had confirmed ENPP1 variants. Approximately 70% of these patients demonstrated evidence of ectopic calcification or complications similar to those seen in individuals with GACI, which shows that ARHR2 is not a distinct condition from GACI but represents part of the spectrum of ENPP1 deficiency. Overall, this study identified an early mortality risk in GACI patients despite attempts to treat with bisphosphonates, high prevalence of rickets almost exclusive to ENPP1 deficiency, and a spectrum of heterogenous calcification and multiple organ complications with both ENPP1 and ABCC6 variants, which suggests an overlapping pathology. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.     

Observational study of pre-operative intravenous iron given to anaemic patients before elective cardiac surgery

Cardiac surgical patients with anaemia experience increased morbidity and mortality. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of pre-operative anaemia in this group. We designed and implemented the Cardiff Pathway, a pre-assessment and treatment pathway to identify cardiac surgical patients with anaemia and iron deficiency. Patients identified with anaemia and/or iron deficiency (Hb < 130 g.l^-1 and ferritin < 100 μg.l^-1) were offered intravenous iron infusion 20 mg.kg^-1 pre-operatively. Treatment success was defined as Hb ≥ 130g.l^-1 on the day of surgery. We analysed data from 447 patients: 300 (67%) were not anaemic; 75 (17%) were anaemic and treated with intravenous iron; and 72 (16%) were anaemic and not treated. Haemoglobin concentration increased in successfully treated anaemic patients by a mean (95%CI) of 17 (13–21) g.l^-1 and they received a median (IQR [range]) of 0 (0–2 [0–15]) units of blood peri-operatively. Transfusion was avoided in 54% of the successfully treated anaemic patients, which was significantly more than the unsuccessfully treated anaemic (22%, p = 0.005) and untreated anaemic (28%, p = 0.018) patients and similar to non-anaemic patients who received a median (IQR [range] of 0 (0–1 [0–16])) units of blood and, 63% avoided transfusion). Mean (95%CI) Hb fell between pre-assessment and surgery in the untreated anaemic (-2 (0 to -4) g.l^-1) and non-anaemic groups (-2 (-1 to -3) g.l^-1). Twenty-one (7%) of the non-anaemic group became newly anaemic waiting for surgery. The Cardiff Pathway reliably identified patients with anaemia and iron deficiency. Anaemic patients who had their Hb restored to normal after treatment required less blood peri-operatively and over half of them required no transfusion at all.     

健脾祛湿方对脾虚湿盛型高脂血症大鼠血脂、胃肠功能、水液代谢的影响及作用机制

目的：观察健脾祛湿方对脾虚湿盛型高脂血症大鼠血脂、胃肠功能、水液代谢的影响及作用机制。方法：将56只SD大鼠随机分为空白组（n=8）和造模组（n=48）,采用“劳倦过度+饮食不节+高脂饲料喂养”复制脾虚湿盛型高脂血症大鼠模型。造模4周后,根据总胆固醇（TC）水平将造模组随机分成6组：即模型组,血脂康组,参苓白术颗粒组,健脾祛湿方低、中、高剂量组,每组8只。分组后开始给药,灌胃剂量为1 mL/100 g,空白组、模型组给予生理盐水,其余组给予相应的受试物,连续给药6周。测定血脂四项TC、三酰甘油（TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-Ch）和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-Ch）,胃肠激素,即胃动素（MTL）、促胃液素（GAS）和血管活性肠肽（VIP）,水液调节激素醛固酮（ALD）、抗利尿激素（ADH）和心房利尿钠肽（ANP）,以及白蛋白（ALB）和总蛋白（TP）,采用苏木精-伊红（HE）染色法观察胃、结肠组织形态,免疫荧光法检测结肠水孔蛋白(AQP)3、胃AQP4的表达位置及水平,采用蛋白质印迹法（Western Blotting）检测结肠、胃组织中闭合蛋白（Occludin）的表达量。结果：与正常组比较,模型组大鼠血清TC、TG、LDL-Ch水平升高（P<0.001）,HDL-Ch水平降低（P<0.05）,血清MTL、GAS水平降低（P<0.001,P<0.01）,VIP升高（P<0.001）,ALD、ADH升高（P<0.05,P<0.001）,ANP水平显著降低（P<0.001）,TP、ALB水平降低（P<0.001,P<0.05）。结肠绒毛、胃黏膜出现大量脱落情况,结肠AQP3荧光强度降低,胃AQP4荧光表达增强,结肠、胃组织Occludin表达水平降低。与模型组比较,血脂康组、参苓白术颗粒组、健脾祛湿方低、中、高剂量组大鼠血清TC、TG、LDL-Ch水平呈下降趋势,HDL-C水平升高,MTL、GAS显著升高,VIP水平显著降低,ALD、ADH水平降低,ANP显著升高,结肠、胃组织形态结构有所改善。结肠AQP3荧光表达增强,胃AQP4荧光强度减弱,结肠、胃组织Occludin表达水平增强。结论：健脾祛湿方可降低脾虚湿盛型高脂血症大鼠血脂,有健脾祛湿之功,其作用机制可能是通过调节Occludin、AQP3、AQP4的表达,保护紧密连接结构的完整性达到促进胃肠消化吸收功能,改善水液代谢障碍的作用。