Clinical implications,diagnosis,and management of diabetes in patients with chronic liver diseases

Diabetes mellitus(DM) negatively affects the development and progression of chronic liver diseases(CLD) of various etiologies. Concurrent DM and CLD are also associated with worse clinical outcomes with respect to mortality, the occurrence of hepatic decompensation, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Unfortunately, early diagnosis and optimal treatment of DM can be challenging, due to the lack of established clinical guidelines as well as the medical complexity of this patient population. We conducted an exploratory review of relevant literature to provide an up-to-date review for internists and hepatologists caring for this patient population. We reviewed the epidemiological and pathophysiological associations between DM and CLD, the impact of insulin resistance on the progression and manifestations of CLD, the pathogenesis of hepatogenic diabetes, as well as the practical challenges in diagnosis and monitoring of DM in this patient population. We also reviewed the latest clinical evidence on various pharmacological antihyperglycemic therapies with an emphasis on liver disease-related clinical outcomes. Finally, we proposed an algorithm for managing DM in patients with CLD and discussed the clinical and research questions that remain to be addressed.     

International Hand Function Study Following Distal Radial Access: The RATATOUILLE Study

BackgroundDistal radial access (DRA) has been proposed to improve procedure ergonomics and favor radial artery patency. Although promising data, nothing is known on evolving hand function after DRA.ObjectivesThis study sought to comprehensively evaluate hand function in patients undergoing DRA.MethodsReal-world patients undergoing DRA undertook a thorough multimodality assessment of hand function implementing multidomain questionnaires (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand and Levine-Katz), and motor (pinch grip test) and sensory (Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments test) examinations of both hands. All assessments were performed at preprocedural baseline and planned at 1-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up (FU). Adverse clinical and procedural events were documented too.ResultsData of 313 patients (220 men, age 66 ± 10 years) from 9 international centers were analyzed. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand and the Levine-Katz scores slightly improved from baseline to FU (P = 0.008 and P = 0.029, respectively). Pinch strength mildly improved from baseline to FU (P < 0.001 for both the left and right hands). Similarly, touch pressure threshold appeared to faintly improve in both the left and right hands (P < 0.012 for all the sites). For both motor and sensory function tests, comparable findings were found for the DRA hand and the contralateral one, with no significant differences between them. Repeated assessment of all tests over all FU time points similarly showed lack of worsening hand function. Access-related adverse events included 19 harmless bleedings and 3 forearm radial artery and 3 distal radial artery occlusions. None affected hand function at FU.ConclusionsIn a systematic multidimensional assessment, DRA was not associated with hand function impairment. Moreover, DRA emerges as a safe alternative vascular access.     

胫前动脉踝上穿支皮瓣修复足踝部软组织缺损19例

目的探讨胫前动脉踝上穿支皮瓣修复足踝部软组织缺损的临床疗效。方法回顾性研究2018年4月至2019年6月采用胫前动脉踝上穿支皮瓣修复足踝部软组织缺损19例的资料,其中男11例,女8例;年龄为21~75岁,平均39岁。根据前踝上穿支皮瓣解剖学基础,按照足踝部软组织缺损大小和形状,在小腿下端前外侧设计并切取皮瓣转位修复创面。切取胫前动脉踝上穿支皮瓣面积为6.0 cm×5.0 cm^14.0 cm×8.0 cm,均为带蒂皮瓣转位。根据皮瓣成活、感染控制、弹性色泽、外观形态、供区瘢痕、皮肤感觉、患者认可等情况,对患者足踝部软组织缺损的修复情况进行综合评价。结果本组19例皮瓣全部成活,软组织缺损、肌腱、骨质及钢板外露均得以修复。供区均I期愈合。术后门诊随访2~16个月,皮瓣血运良好,颜色接近周围正常皮肤,臃肿不明显,患者对外观表示满意;供区皮片愈合良好,无明显增生、挛缩及溃疡,踝关节功能良好。结论胫前动脉踝上穿支皮瓣是修复足踝部软组织缺损较为理想的方法之一,手术操作简便,穿支较恒定,血供可靠,具有一定的临床应用价值。     

呼吸专科护士慢性呼吸疾病管理现状调查

目的调查呼吸专科护士慢性呼吸疾病管理现状,为提高慢性呼吸疾病的管理水平提供参考。方法依据《中国成人慢性呼吸疾病患者护理管理指南》设计调查问卷,对重庆、四川、贵州、陕西、河北、湖北、海南7省市的205名呼吸专科护士进行问卷调查。结果呼吸专科护士慢性呼吸疾病管理总分为(140.72±23.90)分。慢性呼吸疾病管理得分最低的3个条目有评估工具应用、个性化管理计划的实施、慢阻肺随访的次数及指导哮喘患者使用峰流速仪;呼吸专科护士所在单位慢性呼吸疾病管理平台建设均低于50%。结论呼吸专科护士慢性呼吸疾病管理处于中等偏下水平,评估是慢性呼吸疾病管理的薄弱点。需加强呼吸专科护士专业能力培养,规范慢性呼吸疾病全程管理,强化医院平台建设等,提高慢性呼吸疾病的管理水平。     

Association between de novo lipogenesis susceptibility genes and coronary artery disease

Background and aimsCoronary artery disease (CAD) is the principal cause of death in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to use genetic epidemiology to study the association between de novo lipogenesis (DNL), one of the major pathways leading to NAFLD, and CAD risk.Methods and resultsDNL susceptibility genes were used as instruments and selected using three approaches: 1) genes that are associated with both high serum triglycerides and low sex hormone-binding globulin, both downstream consequences of DNL (unbiased approach), 2) genes that have a known role in DNL (biased approach), and 3) genes that have been associated with serum fatty acids, used as a proxy of DNL. Gene-CAD effect estimates were retrieved from the meta-analysis of CARDIoGRAM and the UK Biobank (～76014 cases and ～264785 controls). Effect estimates were clustered using a fixed-effects meta-analysis. Twenty-two DNL susceptibility genes were identified by the unbiased approach, nine genes by the biased approach and seven genes were associated with plasma fatty acids. Clustering of genes selected in the unbiased and biased approach showed a statistically significant association with CAD (OR:1.016, 95%CI:1.012; 1.020 and OR:1.013, 95%CI:1.007; 1.020, respectively), while clustering of fatty acid genes did not (OR:1.004, 95%CI:0.996–1.011). Subsequent exclusion of potential influential outliers did reveal a statistically significant association (OR:1.009, 95%CI:1.000; 1.018).ConclusionsDNL susceptibility genes are associated with an increased risk of CAD. These findings suggest that DNL may be involved in the pathogenesis of CAD and favor further development of strategies that target NAFLD through DNL.