The exercise pressor reflex: An update

The exercise pressor reflex is a feedback mechanism engaged upon stimulation of mechano- and metabosensitive skeletal muscle afferents. Activation of these afferents elicits a reflex increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and ventilation in an intensity-dependent manner. Consequently, the exercise pressor reflex has been postulated to be one of the principal mediators of the cardiorespiratory responses to exercise. In this updated review, we will discuss classical and recent advancements in our understating of the exercise pressor reflex function in both human and animal models. Particular attention will be paid to the afferent mechanisms and pathways involved during its activation, its effects on different target organs, its potential role in the abnormal cardiovascular response to exercise in diseased states, and the impact of age and biological sex on these responses. Finally, we will highlight some unanswered questions in the literature that may inspire future investigations in the field.

     

Lenalidomide in the management of eosinophilic dermatosis of hematological malignancy

Eosinophilic dermatosis of hematological malignancy is a paraneoplastic skin eruption associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other B‐cell malignancies. It clinically resembles an insect bite reaction and it can precede the symptoms of the hematological malignancy or be related to a more aggressive course. Different treatments have been proposed, but partial response and recurrence are frequent. Herein, we describe a case of eosinophilic dermatosis associated with mantle cell lymphoma with remission after lenalidomide therapy.     

Pathways in the association between sugar sweetened beverages and child asthma traits in the 2nd year of life: Findings from the BRISA cohort

Studies on the exposure of children to sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) at an early age may contribute to better understand the common causes and the temporal order of the relationships between obesity and asthma in early childhood. The objective of this study was to estimate the association between SSB and child asthma traits in the 2nd year of life, modeling direct and indirect pathways mediated by the highest BMI-z of the child and allergic inflammation. Data from the BRISA cohort, São Luís-MA, Brazil (n = 1140), were obtained from the baseline and from the follow-up performed at the 2nd year of life. The main explanatory variable was the calories from added sugars in SSBs as a percentage of the total daily energy intake. The outcome child asthma traits was a latent variable deduced from four indicators: medical diagnosis of asthma, wheezing, emergency visit due to intense wheezing, and medical diagnosis of rhinitis. A high percentage of daily calories from sugars added to SSBs was directly associated with higher values of child asthma traits (standardized coefficient (SC = 0.073; P = .030)). High levels of eosinophils were also directly associated with child asthma traits (SC = 0.118; P = .049). No mediation pathways were observed via greater BMI-z or eosinophil counts. Therefore, early exposure of children to SSB may contribute to increased risk of childhood asthma, preceding the link between sugar consumption and overweight/obesity, not yet evident in children in the first 2 years of life.     

Stage 1 acute kidney injury is independently associated with infection following cardiac surgery

ObjectivesSevere acute kidney injury (AKI) is a known risk factor for infection and mortality. However, whether stage 1 AKI is a risk factor for infection has not been evaluated in adults. We hypothesized that stage 1 AKI following cardiac surgery would independently associate with infection and mortality.MethodsIn this retrospective propensity score–matched study, we evaluated 1620 adult patients who underwent nonemergent cardiac surgery at the University of Colorado Hospital from 2011 to 2017. Patients who developed stage 1 AKI by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes creatinine criteria within 72 hours of surgery were matched to patients who did not develop AKI. The primary outcome was an infection, defined as a new surgical-site infection, positive blood or urine culture, or development of pneumonia. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, stroke, and intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS).ResultsStage 1 AKI occurred in 293 patients (18.3%). Infection occurred in 20.9% of patients with stage 1 AKI compared with 8.1% in the no-AKI group (P < .001). In propensity-score matched analysis, stage 1 AKI independently associated with increased infection (odds ratio [OR]; 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-3.17), ICU LOS (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.71–3.31), and hospital LOS (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.17-1.45).ConclusionsStage 1 AKI is independently associated with postoperative infection, ICU LOS, and hospital LOS. Treatment strategies focused on prevention, early recognition, and optimal medical management of AKI may decrease significant postoperative morbidity.     

内窥镜辅助下经口咽前路寰枢椎减压术

目的：探讨内窥镜辅助下经口咽前路寰枢椎减压术的临床效果。方法：1998年8月～2004年8月对38例陈旧性寰枢椎脱位患者采用内窥镜辅助下经口咽前入路减压术，其中18例行一期经口咽入路减压和后路枕颈内固定术：15例行经口咽前路寰枢椎复位钢板内固定术；5例不可复型仅行经口咽前入路减压术。结果：平均随访38个月（6～96个月）。术后患者临床症状均明显改善，上颈段脊髓减压改善率达89.3％。发生颅内感染1例，前路钢板松脱1例。结论：与常规减压方法相比，内窥镜辅助下经口咽前路寰枢椎减压手术创伤小，操作精细、准确，术中与助手可协同操作。     

上海市农村合作医疗筹资与补偿调查分析

目的：为改革和完善上海市农村合作医疗的政策，制度，规划，计划，措施提供科学依据。方法：使用调查研究，比较研究，描述性统计及SAS统计分析等方法。结果：调查分析了上海市1997－1999年8区（县）合作医疗资金来源，数量，比例，补偿等。结论：1997年以来，上海市农村合作医疗得到了快速发展，仍存在保障水平，补偿比例，投保率低下及发展不平衡，资金使用不合理等问题。     

膳食黑米皮抑制高脂诱导的家兔动脉粥样硬化形成及其机制的初步探讨

目的 探讨膳食黑米皮对高脂诱导的家兔动脉粥样硬化形成的影响及其作用机制。方法 24只雄性新西兰大耳白家兔,按体重随机分为3组,分别饲以正常基础饲料、高脂饲料(含96％基础饲料、0.5％胆固醇、3.5％猪油)、黑米皮饲料(含 91％基础饲料、0.5％胆固醇、3.5％猪油、5％黑米皮),实验期为 60d。用图像分析法测定各组家兔主动脉脂质斑块面积,并分析家兔氧化与抗氧化状态。结果 黑米皮实验家兔的主动脉壁斑块面积较高脂组低66%(P<0.001);黑米皮组实验家兔的主动脉壁8-ohdG含量和血清及主动脉壁中MDA水平也低于高脂组(P<0.05 );而红细胞及主动脉壁中SOD水平和血清α-生育酚含量在两个处理组之间差异无显著性。结论 膳食黑米皮可以抑制高脂诱导的家兔动脉粥样硬化形成,其机制可能与之降低机体氧化应激水平及过氧化脂质生成有关。     

中医外科学的起源及形成

对中医外科学的起源和形成历史，进行了概略而系统的讨论。认为：处理外科疾病是人类最早的医事活动之一，中医外科学起源于商周时期，初步形成了春秋，战国和秦汉六朝时期，经验不断积累于隋唐时期，不断完善和发展于宋金元形时期。     

Determinants of left ventricular systolic function recovery after an acute coronary syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Ischemic heart disease is a major cause of heart failure in western societies. However, the factors that may influence left ventricular function (LVF) recovery after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To identify variables that may influence LVF evolution one year after ACS. METHODS: 104 patients hospitalized with ACS between 7/1/2001 and 12/31/2002 and with systolic dysfunction--defined as an echocardiographic ejection fraction (EF) < or = 45%--were randomly allocated to a planned coronary follow-up program (FUP) or a general cardiology clinic (GC); patients from both groups were also randomly referred to a structured cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP). EF was re-assessed at one year. We compared differences between patients who recovered left ventricular function (EF > 45%; group 1) and those who did not (group 2). RESULTS: One year after discharge, 44.2% of the patients had recovered function. There were no significant differences between the groups in gender (77.7 vs. 76.5% male), age (56 vs. 59 years), hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking habits or family history. A previous history of cardiovascular events was more frequent in group 2 (11.1% vs. 35.3%, p = 0.03). Cardiac catheterization was performed before discharge in 88.8% and 88.2% in groups 1 and 2 respectively (p = NS); no differences were found in coronary anatomy between the two groups. Angioplasty was performed in 54.2% in group 1 and 50% in group 2 (p = NS). There were no differences in the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (83.3% vs. 87.5%), beta-blockers (87.5% vs. 87.5%), nitrates (37.5% vs. 33.3%), aspirin (95.8% vs. 95.8%), statins (79.1% vs. 75%) or diuretics (20.8% vs. 45.8%). There was no significant difference in LVF recovery between patients randomized to FUP or GC (38.5% vs. 54.5%). 87.5% of patients who completed the CRP had normal EF at one year compared to 32.7% of patients not referred to the program (p = 0.009). Although EF improved in both groups, this improvement was greater in patients who completed a CRP (EF 8% vs. 5%, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: A previous cardiovascular event and completion of a CRP were the only variables that influenced LVF recovery. Thus, enrollment in a CRP, in addition to standard therapy, could be an important therapeutic measure in patients with systolic dysfunction after ACS; our data suggest that these programs should be more widely used.