Atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveNew-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery is common, with rates up to 60%. POAF has been associated with early and late stroke, but its association with other cardiovascular outcomes is less known. The objective was to perform a meta-analysis of the studies reporting the association of POAF with perioperative and long-term outcomes in patients with cardiac surgery.MethodsWe performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis of studies that presented outcomes for cardiac surgery on the basis of the presence or absence of POAF. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were assessed; 57 studies (246,340 patients) were selected. Perioperative mortality was the primary outcome. Inverse variance method and random model were performed. Leave-one-out analysis, subgroup analyses, and metaregression were conducted.ResultsPOAF was associated with perioperative mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58-2.33), perioperative stroke (OR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.90-2.49), perioperative myocardial infarction (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06-1.54), perioperative acute renal failure (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 2.42-3.11), hospital (standardized mean difference, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.53-1.07) and intensive care unit stay (standardized mean difference, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.24-0.86), long-term mortality (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.54; 95% CI, 1.40-1.69), long-term stroke (IRR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.21-1.46), and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (IRR, 4.73; 95% CI, 3.36-6.66).ConclusionsThe results suggest that POAF after cardiac surgery is associated with an increased occurrence of most short- and long-term cardiovascular adverse events. However, the causality of this association remains to be established.     

Outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with heart failure with a midrange ejection fraction

BackgroundCoronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) improves survival in patients with heart failure and severely reduced left ventricular systolic function (LVEF). Limited data exist regarding adverse cardiovascular event rates after CABG in patients with heart failure with midrange ejection fraction (HFmrEF; LVEF > 40% and < 55%).MethodsWe analyzed data on isolated CABG patients from the Veterans Affairs national database (2010-2019). We stratified patients into control (normal LVEF and no heart failure), HFmrEF, and heart failure with reduced LVEF (HFrEF) groups. We compared all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization rates between groups with a Cox model and recurrent events analysis, respectively.ResultsIn 6533 veterans, HFmrEF and HFrEF was present in 1715 (26.3%) and 566 (8.6%) respectively; the control group had 4252 (65.1%) patients. HFrEF patients were more likely to have diabetes mellitus (59%), insulin therapy (36%), and previous myocardial infarction (31%). Anemia was more prevalent in patients with HFrEF (49%) as was a lower serum albumin (mean, 3.6 mg/dL). Compared with the control group, a higher risk of death was observed in the HFmrEF (hazard ratio [HR], 1.3 [1.2-1.5)] and HFrEF (HR, 1.5 [1.2-1.7]) groups. HFmrEF patients had the higher risk of myocardial infarction (subdistribution HR, 1.2 [1-1.6]; P = .04). Risk of heart failure hospitalization was higher in patients with HFmrEF (HR, 4.1 [3.5-4.7]) and patients with HFrEF (HR, 7.2 [6.2-8.5]).ConclusionsHeart failure with midrange ejection fraction negatively affects survival after CABG. These patients also experience higher rates myocardial infarction and heart failure hospitalization.     

探讨替米沙坦对冠心病合并糖尿病肾病患者疗效的影响

目的:探究替米沙坦对冠心病合并糖尿病肾病患者疗效的影响情况。方法:56例探究目标对象均为某院接收的冠心病合并糖尿病肾病患者,挑选时间2018年6月~2019年6月。将"计算机表法"作为分组的参考,分配为参照组(n=28例)执行依那普利治疗,探究组(n=28例)执行替米沙坦治疗。结果:探究组的LVEF、LVEDd、肌酐、24h尿蛋白4项指标与参照组相比,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);收缩压、舒张压、空腹血糖、餐后2h血糖4项指标与参照组相比,差异没有统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:冠心病合并糖尿病肾病患者选择替米沙坦治疗后,心室功能的重构以及肾脏预后结局均得到改善,且临床效果比依那普利好,值得借鉴。     

Sequential Therapy Based on Evolvement of Patterns: A New Model for Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

In order to solve the problem of long-term (>9 months) efficacy in the treatment of Alzheimer''s disease (AD) by conventional therapy (CT), a staged and multiply-targeted sequential therapy based on the evolvement of patterns (STEP) was developed. Its main innovations include: (1) the time order of evolution of patterns defined by Chinese medicine (CM) in AD was found, that is, "the orderly pattern evolution starting from Shen (Kidney) deficiency, progressing to phlegm, stasis and fire, and worsening to severe toxin as well as functional collapse"; (2) the cascade hypothesis of Shen deficiency in AD and its sequential therapy based on Shen-reinforcing was proposed, that is, "reinforcing Shen in the early stage and throughout the whole process, resolving phlegm, activating blood and purging fire in the middle stage, detoxifying and replenishing vitality to stop the collapse in the advanced stage", and through meta-analysis, clinical drug use was optimized, thus the leap from "inferential selection" to "evidence-based selection" was realized; (3) the STEP regimen combined with CT maintained cognitive and behavioral stability in AD patients for at least 12 months, with cognitive enhancement and behavioral synergy after 9 months, and cognitive benefit was superior to CT at 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 months, respectively. The 2-year cognitive improvement rate was increased by 25.64% (P=0.020) and the cognitive deterioration rate was decreased by 48.71% (P=0.000). Among them, the cognitive and functional benefits of Shen-reinforcing therapy for very early AD (350 cases) for 1 year were better than the placebo (P<0.001), and the dementia conversion rate was reduced by 8.85% (P=0.002). The behavioral symptomatic relief of patients with vascular dementia received fire-purging therapy (540 cases) was superior to those received CT (P=0.016). These data suggested that the STEP regimen has synergistic effects on CTs at least in terms of cognitive benefit, and the earlier the use, the greater the benefit will have. Therefore, the STEP regimen should be considered as one of the clinical options, particularly for the dearth of effective pharmaceutical or immunological interventions that are currently available for AD.     

Lung Ultrasound for the Emergency Diagnosis of Pneumonia,Acute Heart Failure,and Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/Asthma in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Lung ultrasound can accelerate the diagnosis of life-threatening diseases in adults with respiratory symptoms.

不同强度运动对大鼠心脏降钙素基因相关肽的影响

目的:探讨不同强度运动训练对降钙素基因相关肽(CGRP)在心脏组织中表达的影响及其作用机制。方法:将60只SD大鼠随机分为对照组(C组)、小强度运动组(LE组)、中等强度运动组(ME组)和大强度运动组(HE组),每组15只。建立8周不同强度运动训练动物模型,采用免疫组织化学法和计算机图像分析技术,对大鼠心脏形态结构进行观察,并进行心脏CGRP免疫组化分析。结果:8周小强度运动后,大鼠心脏CGRP表达较对照组变化不明显;8周中等强度运动后,大鼠心脏CGRP表达较对照组显著增加(P<0.05),HE染色、HBFP染色和变色酸2R亮绿染色显示心肌组织形态结构无明显改变,仅心肌纤维有轻度缺血缺氧改变;8周大强度运动后,大鼠心脏CGRP表达较对照组显著减少(P<0.05),HE染色、HBFP染色和变色酸2R亮绿染色显示心肌形态结构发生改变并存在明显的缺血缺氧损伤。结果表明,长期中等强度运动使心脏CGRP表达增加,改善了冠状循环和心肌血液供应,对心肌细胞具有保护作用;长期大强度运动使心脏CGRP对心肌细胞的保护作用减弱,可能是导致心肌发生缺血缺氧性损伤的重要原因之一。     

Influence of the Compliance of the Pump Housing and Cannulas of a Paracorporeal Pneumatic Ventricular Assist Device on Transient Pressure Characteristics

Abstract: The dependence of transient pressure characteristics of a ventricular assist device (VAD) on the compliance of its housing and cannulas was investigated in a mock circulation. The peak rate of change of pressure ( dP/dt _max) values was greater in the cannulas than other compartments and was associated with valve closure-induced pressure oscillations. When cannula compliance was increased from 0.0057 to 0.0129 cm³/mm Hg, these values decreased by ˜20%, and outflow cannula pressure oscillation frequency decreased from 17.5 Hz by 35%. This trend was also apparent in the inflow. A VAD housing compliance increase from 0.0162 to 0.0483 cm³/mm Hg caused a dP/dt _max decrease of 30% in both the blood chamber and the outflow cannula. The effect of this change on the inflow was weaker implying that housing absorbs the energy associated with outflow deceleration more effectively than the inflow. These findings suggest that increasing VAD housing and cannulas compliance can improve hydrodynamic performance.