Renosplenic Shunting in the Nutcracker Phenomenon: A Discussion and Paradigm Shift in Options? A Novel Approach to Treating Nutcracker Syndrome

The nutcracker syndrome is a rare clinical manifestation of symptoms caused by the compression of the left renal vein by an overriding superior mesenteric artery, an anatomical variant otherwise known as the nutcracker phenomenon. Usually present in women and children, when symptomatic, it commonly presents with hematuria, proteinuria, and chronic pelvic pain. Effective modalities of treatment apart from conservative management, include both invasive surgical procedures such as renal vein transposition and autotransplantation of the kidney and more popular recently, the less invasive endovascular stenting. Both options, however, are not without complications, such as, retroperitoneal hematomas or stent migration, thrombosis and restenosis. We now present a case of spontaneous renosplenic shunting in a 68-year-old lady of Chinese descent with the nutcracker syndrome—the first of such cases to be ever reported in a patient with no preexisting predilection for chronic liver disease and portosystemic shunting. Despite having significant pelvic venous congestion as evident on computed tomography scans, she remained asymptomatic. This may present a novel paradigm shift for the treatment of the nutcracker syndrome —surgical creation of a renosplenic bypass instead of current modalities, an alternative solution which can be performed laparoscopically and is without problems related to stent use. The creation of laparoscopic splenorenal bypass has been reported once thus far in Cleveland Ohio by Chung and Gill with good symptomatic improvement but no further studies since to validate its long-term effectiveness.     

无创正压通气治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病呼吸衰竭伴意识障碍的疗效观察

目的观察无创正压通气（NPPV）治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）呼吸衰竭伴意识障碍患者的疗效。方法将入选的16例COPD呼吸衰竭伴意识障碍患者分为A组,16例意识障碍不明显患者分为B组。在常规治疗的基础上行双水平无创正压通气（BiPAP）,动态观察治疗前后动脉血气、Glasgow昏迷评分、NPPV天数、住院天数、最高IPAP、NPPV成功率、住院病死率及不良反应情况。结果 A组NPPV成功率和住院病死率分别为68.75%（11/16）和18.75%（3/16）,B组分别为81.25%（13/16）和12.5%（2/16）,差异无统计学意义（P均〉0.05）。A组最高IPAP均值较B组高6 cmH2O,且NPPV和总住院时间也较B组长3和7 d（P〈0.05或P〈0.01）。A组胃肠胀气和面部皮肤损伤较B组发生率高（68.75%比18.75%,25.0%比6.25%,P〈0.05）。结论 NPPV对COPD呼吸衰竭伴意识障碍患者也有较好的疗效,意识障碍不是NPPV治疗的绝对禁忌症。     

Nutrition and oxidative stress: a systematic review of human studies

Oxidative stress (OS) – defined as the imbalance between free radical production and antioxidant defences – is a condition associated with chronic-degenerative disease, such as cancer, metabolic and disease cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Several studies have shown that diet and some of its components could influence the intensity of OS damage. The aim of this review was to critically examine some pieces of evidence from observational and intervention study in human beings to assess whether diet and its components can really modify OS in vivo. Furthermore, we tried to find out the possible mechanism behind this association. We considered all studies in MEDLINE which fitted with the following criteria: (1) adult subjects who were healthy or affected by metabolic disease and CVDs; (2) no food supplements, pillows, powder but only common foods and beverages and (3) OS assessment with well-known and validated in vivo biomarkers.     

中医药对慢性肾炎患者免疫功能的影响

慢性肾小球肾炎(CGN)是临床常见的肾脏疾病,由多种原因、多种病理类型组成的原发于肾小球的一组免疫性疾病。根据其病理类型和病期不同,临床表现各不相同,呈多样化表现。近期有学者采用中医药调节慢性肾炎患者的免疫功能,从而提高慢性肾炎的临床疗效,延缓其发展进程,取得了可喜的进展。     

Cardiac Autonomic Function and Global Left Ventricular Performance in Autoimmune Eauthyroid Chronic Thyroiditis: Is Treatment Necessary at the Euthyroid Stage?

Objective: Autoimmune chronic thyroiditis (ACT) is characterized by lymphocyte infiltration in the thyroid gland and the presence of antithyroid antibodies in serum. Medical treatment does not affect antibody levels and treatment decision is not definite yet for the euthyroid patients. We aimed to evaluate cardiac autonomic function and global left ventricular performance in autoimmune euthyroid chronic thyroiditis and determine the need for medical treatment. Method: We studied 30 ACT patients and 25 healthy control subjects. Cardiac autonomic function is evaluated by heart rate recovery (HRR). Global left ventricular performance is evaluated by two‐dimensional echocardiography and pulsed‐wave tissue Doppler echocardiography. Results: There was no difference between patients and controls with respect to clinical and biochemical parameters except hemoglobin (13.67 ± 1.25 g/dL, 14.51 ± 1.35 g/dL, p:0.047) and low density lipoprotein (120.71 ± 24.91 mg/dL, 100.55 ± 14.73 mg/dL, p: 0.003). Tei index was significantly higher in ACT group (0.521 ± 0.074, 0.434 ± 0.034, P < 0.0001). E′/A′ was found to be significantly lower (1.234 ± 0.42, 1.750 ± 0.291, P < 0.0001) and E/E′ was found to be higher than the controls (8.482 ± 0.449, 6.039 ± 0.209, P < 0.0001). HRR was significantly lower than the controls (20 ± 4 BPM, 30 ± 8 BPM, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Although left ventricular performance is found to be normal by conventional echocardiographic methods, it is found to be impaired when Tei index and tissue Doppler parameters are used. Cardiac autonomic function is also impaired in ACT patients. As a result of these cardiac changes, medical treatment may be considered earlier, even at the euthyroid stage. (Echocardiography 2011;28:15‐21)     

Expression of core?binding factor alpha 1 and collagen Ⅱ in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5

Objective To study the relationship between the medial artery calcification and expression of core?binding factor alpha 1 (Cbfα?1) and collagen Ⅱ (ColⅡ) in chronic kidney disease(CKD) stage 5 patients. Methods Pieces of radial arteries were taken from 40 patients with CKD stage 5 during internal arteriovenous fistula operation. Ten patients with subtotal gastrectomy and normal renal function were chosen as control. The vessels were examined for calcification by von Kossa stain and for the presence of Cbfα?1 and ColⅡ by immunohistochemistry. According to von Kossa stain, CKD stage 5 patients were divided into no calcification group, mild?moderate calcification group and severe calcification group. Other related factors including serum calcium，phosphate, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), C?reactive protein (CRP), triglyceride(TG), cholesterol(TC) and low?density lipoproteins(LDL) were also detected. Results Seventeen (42.5%) of CKD Stage 5 patients showed vascular calcification, while calcification was not found in controls. Most calcification occurred in medial layer．Positive immunohistochemical staining of core?binding factor and ColⅡ was found in the smooth muscular cell plasma of medial layer in the vessels with calcification. However, above positive staining was also observed in 78.3% of no calcification group. But there was little staining in control group. Positive staining score of Cbfα?1 and ColⅡ in severe calcification group was significantly higher than that in no calcification group. Same findings were obtained in mild?moderate calcification group, but the difference between them was not statistically significant. CRP and Ca×P were positively correlated with staining score of Cbfα?1 and ColⅡ. Serum phosphate was positively correlated with Cbfα?1 (r=0.786, P<0.01) and ColⅡ (r=0.785, P<0.01) respectively． Conclusions 42.5% of CKD stage 5 patients in our group shows vascular calcification, which occurrs mainly in medial layer. High expression of Cbfα?1 and ColⅡ can be observed in vascular calcification of radial arteries, which is earlier than vascular histological changes. Cbfα?1 and ColⅡ may be involved in the development of vascular calcification.     

Clinical,epidemiological characteristics and indications for liver biopsy and treatment in immigrants with chronic hepatitis B at a referral hospital in Madrid

Summary. The increase in immigration from less developed countries to Europe has led to an increase in the incidence of hepatitis B infection. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical, epidemiological characteristics and indications for treatment of chronic hepatitis B in a cohort of immigrants, given the relative lack of current evidence. We performed a noninterventional retrospective chart review; different characteristics depending on geographical origin were compared. A case‐control study was also performed to describe factors potentially associated with chronic or past hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We selected a random sample of 436 patients out of the 2989 immigrants attending during the study period (1989‐2008). Hepatitis B serology was performed in 74% (322/436): 10.6% had chronic HBV infection (95% CI: 7.4–13.7%), and 46.9% had evidence of past infection (95% CI: 41.7–52.0%). The average age was 31 years, 60% were men, and 70% were sub‐Saharan Africans. Chronic infection was related to being men (OR 2.03; 95%CI: 1.29–3.18), younger (OR 0.98; 0.96–0.99) and sub‐Saharan African (OR 5.41; 2.71–10.83). Past or current infection was related to male sex (OR 2.80; 1.81–4.30), longer time elapsed until first seen at the unit (OR 0.998; 0.997–1.000), HIV infection (OR 4.99; 1.15–21.60) and being sub‐Saharan African (OR 15.46; 8.97–27.18). These associations were not confirmed after adjustment for geographical origin. In 27% and 29.5% of patients, liver biopsy and treatment, respectively, would have been indicated. Prevalence of chronic HBV infection amongst immigrants is high, especially in sub‐Saharan Africans. Almost a third could be considered for liver biopsy or antiviral therapy.