Pediatric liver transplantation: a North American perspective

Liver transplantation (LT) is an important component in the therapeutic armamentarium of managing end-stage liver disease. In North American children, biliary atresia remains the most common indication for LT compared to hepatitis C in adults, while hepatoblastoma is the most common liver tumor requiring LT, versus Hepatocellular carcinoma in adults. Rejection, lymphoproliferative disease, renal insufficiency, metabolic syndrome, recurrent disease, ‘de novo’ autoimmune hepatitis and malignancy require careful surveillance and prompt action in adults and children after LT. In children, specific attention to EBV viremia, growth, development, adherence and transition to the adult services is also required. Antibody mediated rejection and screening for donor specific antibodies is becoming important in managing liver graft dysfunction. Biomarkers to identify and predict tolerance are being developed. Machine perfusion and stem cells (iPS) to synthesize organs are generating interest and are a focus for research.     

Near‐Fatal ICD Lead Dysfunction with Implications for ICD Testing

A 31‐year‐old male patient with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) experienced ventricular fibrillation. After resuscitation, no communication between the device and an ICD programmer was possible. The ICD was explanted, no signs of destruction were visible, and the ICD leads revealed normal values. A new ICD was implanted, interrogation values were stable. However, immediately after defibrillation testing the connection between programmer and ICD was interrupted and could not be established again. The device showed burn marks and a hole in the can. Analysis revealed an isolation defect of the ICD lead, which was not detectable with standard interrogation.     

电针为主治疗颞下颌关节紊乱综合征30例疗效观察

目的：观察电针为主治疗颞下颌关节紊乱综合征（ TMJDS）的临床疗效。方法将60例颞下颌关节紊乱综合征患者随机分为2组。治疗组30例采用电针为主治疗，对照组30例采用普通针刺治疗。2组均10 d为1个疗程，2个疗程后统计临床疗效，并采用视觉模拟评分法（ VAS）观察2组疼痛情况。结果治疗组总有效率86．67％，对照组总有效率70．00％，2组比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05），治疗组疗效优于对照组。2组治疗后VAS疼痛评分均下降（P＜0．05），治疗组下降优于对照组（P＜0．05）。结论电针为主治疗TMJDS疗效确切。     

Milestones in atypical and secondary Parkinsonisms

During the last decades, atypical parkinsonian disorders such as multiple system atrophy, dementia with Lewy bodies, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration along with secondary parkinsonian disorders have been increasingly recognized as important causes of parkinsonism. Although treatment options are largely limited to date, remarkable progress has occurred through advances in the fields of molecular biology and diagnostic neuroimaging, resulting in intense preclinical drug discovery programs. Early‐investigation‐assisted clinical diagnosis has become more crucial than ever because disease‐modifying therapies will hopefully become available within this decade. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society     

Is ivabradine suitable to control undesirable tachycardia induced by dobutamine in cardiogenic shock treatment?

Inotropic treatment remains the cornerstone for cardiogenic shock, an emergency that requires immediate resuscitative therapy before shock irreversibly damages vital organs. Although the sympathomimetic drug dobutamine is the most widely-used inotropic drug worldwide, it has several side effects including sinus tachycardia. Dobutamine partly restores systolic heart failure (HF); however, it increases the heart rate (HR) which counterbalances the beneficial effects. Ivabradine, a new selective I_f inhibitor, provides specific HR reduction and is indicated in stable coronary artery disease and in stable chronic HF with left ventricular dysfunction. Despite scarce data indicating beneficial effects of ivabradine in sinus tachycardia in various clinical settings, this drug remains contraindicated in acute HF. We propose that ivabradine could help to prevent the dobutamine-induced side effects, and that their combination in clinical practice could lead to pure inotropic effects, useful for the management of cardiogenic shock.     

乌司他丁对多发伤病人治疗效果观察

目的探讨鸟司他丁对多发伤病人治疗价值。方法将60例病人随机分为两组：对照组：不加任何干预；乌司他丁组：在对照组治疗基础上加用乌司他丁30万。静脉滴注，每8小时1次。比较两组病人住ICU时间及使用呼吸机时间。结果鸟司他丁组病人住ICU时间及使用呼吸机时间均明显低于对照组。结论使用鸟司他丁可通过抑制炎性介质释放以保护患者各器官功能，从而降低患者死亡率。     

Management of aortic valve disease in the presence of left ventricular dysfunction

The development of heart failure in patients with aortic valve disease is associated with increased mortality, unless aortic valve replacement is performed. There is an especially high risk of death among patients with low ejection fraction. The heart failure must be treated and the patient’s condition stabilized before surgery is performed. A delay in surgery, on the other hand, may lead to irreversible cardiac dysfunction and culminate in heart failure. Initial management must include an evaluation of the severity of the lesion and the functional state of the left ventricle. It is possible to achieve both of these goals simultaneously with echocardiography and pharmacologic challenge.     

糖尿病患病时间长短对老年患者术后认知功能的影响

目的探讨糖尿病患者患病时间长短对老年患者全身麻醉下行妇科手术后认知功能的影响。方法择期经全身麻醉下行妇科手术的糖尿病患者90例,ASAI～Ⅱ级,年龄65～80岁,按患糖尿病时间长短分为10年以上组(A组),5～9年组(B组),5年及其以下组(C组),各组均30例。用简易智能量表(MMSE)评估术前、术后8h、24h、3d的认知功能。结果三组患者术后24 h发生认知功能障碍比率分别为16.67%(5/30)、6.67%(2/30)和3.33%(1/30),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论糖尿病患病时间长术后发生认知功能障碍的比率明显高于糖尿病患病时间短的患者。