A High Order Bound Preserving Finite Difference Linear Scheme for Incompressible Flows

We propose a high order finite difference linear scheme combined with a high order bound preserving maximum-principle-preserving (MPP) flux limiter to solve the incompressible flow system. For such problem with highly oscillatory structure but not strong shocks, our approach seems to be less dissipative and much less costly than a WENO type scheme, and has high resolution due to a Hermite reconstruction. Spurious numerical oscillations can be controlled by the weak MPP flux limiter. Numerical tests are performed for the Vlasov-Poisson system, the 2D guiding-center model and the incompressible Euler system. The comparison between the linear and WENO type schemes, with and without the MPP flux limiter, will demonstrate the good performance of our proposed approach.     

Cardiac Denervation for Arrhythmia Treatment with Transesophageal Ultrasonic Strategy in Canine Models

Stellate ganglion (SG) modification has been investigated for arrhythmia treatment. In this study, transesophageal SG imaging and intervention were explored using a homemade 30F integrated focused ultrasonic catheter in healthy mongrel canines in vivo. Anatomic details of SGs were ultrasonically imaged and evaluated. SG had a heterogeneous echoic structure and characteristic profiles sketched by hyper-echoic outlines in an ultrasonogram. Left SGs in the experimental group were successfully ablated through the esophagus under ultrasonic guidance provided by the catheter itself. Two weeks after the ablation, the QT and QTc of the experimental group decreased compared with those of the sham group and at baseline (both p values < 0.001). Histologic examination revealed that left SGs were destroyed. No major complications were observed. This approach may be further explored as a method for ganglia remodeling evaluation and as a strategy of ganglia modification for arrhythmia and for other diseases.     

Hypertension is a risk factor for adverse outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: a cohort study

Abstract

Background

Comorbidities are commonly seen in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the clinical implication is not yet well-delineated. We aim to characterize the prevalence and clinical implications of comorbidities in patients with COVID-19.     

Cefoperazone-sulbactam and risk of coagulation disorders or bleeding: a retrospective cohort study

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Limited evidence has suggested that cefoperazone-sulbactam causes coagulation disorders and bleeding.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective study to compare patients receiving cefoperazone-sulbactam versus those treated with cefoperazone-tazobactam or ceftazidime. Propensity-score matching was used to explore whether treatment with cefoperazone-sulbactam increased the risk of prothrombin time (PT) prolongation, coagulation disorders, and bleeding, or decreased platelets (PLT).

Results: The cohort included 23,242 patients. Among patients receiving cefoperazone-sulbactam, the risk of PT prolongation, coagulation disorders, decreased PLT, and bleeding was 5.3%, 9.2%, 15.7%, and 4.2%, respectively. Propensity-score matching analyses suggested that cefoperazone-sulbactam increased the risk of PT prolongation (aOR 2.26, 95% CI 1.61–3.18), coagulation disorders (aOR 1.81, 95% CI 1.43–2.30), and decreased PLT (aOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.25–1.72), but not increase bleeding (aOR 1.05, 95% CI 0.79–1.40) compared with ceftazidime. Patients receiving cefoperazone-sulbactam had higher risk of PT prolongation (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.11–2.10), coagulation disorders (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.21–1.95), but not decreased PLT (aOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.81–1.07) or bleeding (aOR 1.11, 95% CI 0.87–1.42), compared with those receiving cefoperazone-tazobactam.

Conclusion: Cefoperazone-sulbactam may be associated with a higher risk of PT prolongation and coagulation disorders compared with cefoperazone-tazobactam and ceftazidime.     

非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术后造血干细胞动员的临床研究

目的研究非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术(OPCAB)后造血干细胞动员的规律及影响因素。方法对55例择期行OPCAB、近期无急性心肌梗死患者,分别于术前30m in、术后6、12、24、48、72和120h采外周静脉血4m l,CD 34和CD 45双抗标记、流式细胞仪检测造血干细胞计数,同时检测心肌酶谱及肌钙蛋白T的变化。结果冠心病患者术前造血干细胞计数占外周血有核细胞数计数的0.13%±0.12%,OPCAB后明显升高,24h达到峰值(0.34%±0.20%),术后120h回到术前基线水平;吸烟、高血脂、糖尿病对造血干细胞动员无明显影响,但合并高血压病患者外周血造血干细胞动员明显低于无高血压病患者;术后24h造血干细胞动员与肌酸激酶及肌酸激酶同工酶、乳酸脱氢酶、肌钙蛋白T呈正相关(r=0.692,P=0.000;r=0.558,P=0.000;r=0.447,P=0.000;r=0.401,P=0.004)。结论OPCAB术后造血干细胞快速、短暂动员,心肌损伤程度、冠心病危险因素参与了造血干细胞动员的调节。     

Experimental animal models of pancreatic carcinogenesis and metastasis

Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease characterized by early metastasis, local invasion, and resistance to conventional therapies. To understand its etiology and eventually make prevention of it possible and effective, appropriate carcinogenesis models will certainly help us understand the effects of environmental and genetic elements on pancreatic carcinogenesis. The development of new treatment strategies to control cancer metastasis is of immediate urgency. Fulfillment of this task relies on our knowledge of the cellular and molecular biology of pancreatic cancer metastasis and the availability of biologically and clinically relevant model systems. Many of the existing pancreatic cancer carcinogenesis and metastasis animal models are described in this review. The advantages and disadvantages of each model and their clinical implications are discussed, and special attention is focused on experimental therapeutic strategies targeting pancreatic cancer metastasis.     

胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白、内毒素与肝纤维化

目前胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白（insulin—like growth—factor—binding protein，IGFBPs）及其超家族功能的研究是国际上的热点。有研究表明IGFBPs与肝纤维化的发生有关，而临床检测和动物实验表明肠源性内毒素血症与肝纤维化的发生发展有着密切关系，同时有研究显示内毒素可诱导循环中某些IGFBPs和其肝脏基因的表达发生变化。     

一种双侧供肾大鼠肾移植模型的建立

目的 探讨同时取大鼠双侧肾脏分别移植的可行性，其目的是节省实验费用、缩短手术时间。方法 以近交系Brown-Norway大鼠为供者，同时取其双肾作为供肾，原位灌洗；近交系Lewis大鼠为受者，切除其左肾，移植供肾1只。以冠状动脉造影支架为支撑行供肾静脉与受者肾静脉端端吻合，供肾动脉与受者的腹主动脉行端侧吻合，供肾输尿管膀胱瓣与受者的膀胱吻合。受者术中预置右侧肾脏血管体外结扎线，术后3d结扎。结果 每只供鼠手术耗时约40min，热缺血时间约10S，冷缺血时间约20min。40次实验均获成功，移植肾功能正常，在不用免疫抑制剂的情况下，受者存活时间均超过7d。结论 同时取双侧肾脏分别移植给2个受者是可行的，可降低实验成本；要获得相同数量的供肾，同时取双肾的耗时较仅取单侧肾脏大大缩短。