General vaccination willingness and current vaccination status in relation to clinical and psychological variables in patients with multiple sclerosis

BackgroundInfections can have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Therefore, vaccinations are of immense importance. If vaccination willingness is to be increased, possible influencing factors should be identified. The aim of the present study was to investigate the status of active immunisation in MS patients in association with sociodemographic, clinical-neurological, psychopathological and personality variables using the NEO-Five Factor Inventory, the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.MethodFour hundred and four MS patients from two German neurological hospitals were examined for their vaccination attitudes, in detail, the general willingness to vaccinate and the current vaccination status of mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) as well as tetanus and influenza. We also looked at the current level of disability in relation to the current vaccination status, as well as possible associated personality and psychopathological variables.ResultsPatients with a complete MMR vaccination status were significantly younger and those with a complete influenza vaccination status were significantly older than those with related incomplete vaccination status. Tetanus vaccination status completeness did not differ depending on age and did not show substantial association with personality scores. However, influenza vaccination completeness was associated with differences in personality and psychopathological variables; extraversion, openness, novelty seeking, harm avoidance and anxiety. A reported general vaccination willingness was significantly correlated with the current completeness of tetanus and influenza vaccinations. Novelty seeking, persistence, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and neuroticism were found associated with an increased vaccination willingness. Anxiety and depression were not related to general vaccination willingness.ConclusionsNo specific personality trait could be defined on its own in relation to general vaccination willingness or complete vaccination status. Younger patients should be made more aware of influenza vaccination. Reasons for rather low vaccination rates need to be further investigated.     

女性致密性骨炎血清骨转换生化标志物水平变化研究

背景 致密性骨炎（OCI）和其他疾病有时难以鉴别，探讨血清骨转换生化标志物可为OCI的鉴别诊断提供依据。 目的 探索女性OCI患者的血清骨转换生化标志物的水平变化及临床意义。 方法 回顾性选取2013年6月至2022年2月在北京积水潭医院门诊及住院诊断为OCI的61例女性患者作为观察组，年龄15~50岁，平均（33.8±6.6）岁，病程2周~15年。选择同期61例女性体检健康者作为对照组，年龄15~48岁，平均（35.6±7.6）岁。比较两组一般临床资料和血清骨转换生化标志物水平，并对血清骨转换生化标志物与病情相关指标进行相关性分析。 结果 观察组血清白蛋白（45.4±2.9）g/L低于对照组（46.5±2.8）g/L（t=2.190，P<0.05）。血清骨转换生化标志物比较结果显示，观察组血清1型胶原羧基末端肽β特殊序列（β-CTX）〔0.28（0.23，0.37）μg/L〕、N-端骨钙素（OC）〔13.1（11.2，16.2）μg/L〕、25-羟维生素D3〔25-（OH）VD3〕〔（14.1±5.1）μg/L〕低于对照组〔0.36（0.29，0.48）μg/L，15.6（13.7，17.3）μg/L，（17.5±6.6）μg/L〕（Z=-2.983、-3.255，t=3.081，P<0.05）。长病程亚组OC水平〔14.6（12.4，18.5）μg/L〕高于短病程亚组〔11.7（10.2，14.0）μg/L〕（Z=-2.407，P<0.05）。多孕亚组β-CTX〔0.25（0.22，0.32）μg/L〕、OC水平〔12.2（10.3，15.0）μg/L〕低于非多孕亚组〔0.33（0.26，0.44）μg/L、13.4（12.0，18.8）μg/L〕（Z=-2.486、-1.897，P<0.05）。相关性分析显示，观察组血清1型前胶原氨基端延长肽（tP1NP）与妊娠次数、生产次数均呈负相关（rs=-0.276、-0.298，P<0.05），OC与体质指数（BMI）、视觉模拟评分法（VAS）评分、妊娠次数均呈负相关（rs=-0.284、-0.374、-0.360，P<0.05），25-（OH）VD3水平与BMI呈正相关（rs=0.275，P<0.05）。 结论 女性OCI患者血清OC、β-CTX水平明显降低，可为鉴别其他疾病提供依据；血清OC水平可以反映OCI患者的严重程度，同时OC水平与患者妊娠次数相关；tP1NP与妊娠次数、生产次数相关。     

Performance of risk prediction models for post-operative mortality in patients undergoing liver resection

BackgroundLiver resection is commonly performed for hepatic tumors, however preoperative risk stratification remains challenging. We evaluated the performance of contemporary prediction models for short-term mortality after liver resection in patients with and without cirrhosis.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study examined National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data. We included patients who underwent liver resections from 2014 to 2019. VOCAL-Penn, MELD, MELD-Na, ALBI, and Mayo risk scores were evaluated in terms of model discrimination and calibration for 30-day post-operative mortality.ResultsA total 15,198 patients underwent liver resection, of whom 249 (1.6%) experienced 30-day post-operative mortality. The VOCAL-Penn score had the highest discrimination (area under the ROC curve [AUC] 0.74) compared to all other models. The VOCAL-Penn score similarly outperformed other models in patients with (AUC 0.70) and without (AUC 0.74) cirrhosis.ConclusionThe VOCAL-Penn score demonstrated superior predictive performance for 30-day post-operative mortality after liver resection as compared to existing clinical standards.     

Evaluation of unsupervised 30-second chair stand test performance assessed by wearable sensors to predict fall status in multiple sclerosis

BackgroundOne in two people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) will fall in a three-month period. Predicting which patients will fall remains a challenge for clinicians. Standardized functional assessments provide insight into balance deficits and fall risk but their use has been limited to supervised visits.Research questionThe study aim was to characterize unsupervised 30-second chair stand test (30CST) performance using accelerometer-derived metrics and assess its ability to classify fall status in PwMS compared to supervised 30CST.MethodsThirty-seven PwMS (21 fallers) performed instrumented supervised and unsupervised 30CSTs with a single wearable sensor on the thigh. In unsupervised conditions, participants performed bi-hourly 30CSTs and rated their balance confidence and fatigue over 48-hours. ROC analysis was used to classify fall status for 30CST performance.ResultsNon-fallers (p = 0.02) but not fallers (p = 0.23) differed in their average unsupervised 30CST performance (repetitions) compared to their supervised performance. The unsupervised maximum number of 30CST repetitions performed optimized ROC classification AUC (0.79), accuracy (78.4%) and specificity (90.0%) for fall status with an optimal cutoff of 17 repetitions.SignificanceBrief durations of instrumented unsupervised monitoring as an adjunct to routine clinical assessments could improve the ability for predicting fall risk and fluctuations in functional mobility in PwMS.     

Resiniferatoxin reduces cardiac sympathetic nerve activation to exert a cardioprotective effect during myocardial infarction

Background and objective: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a common critical disease of the cardiovascular system. The process of MI is often accompanied by the excessive activation of cardiac sympathetic nerves, which leads to arrhythmia. Resiniferatoxin (RTX) is a transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), involved in the cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex. However, whether RTX can reduce the occurrence of arrhythmia and exert a cardioprotective effect by inhibiting the sympathetic reflex during MI is still unknown. Methods: The left anterior descending artery of cardiac was clamped to construct a model of MI. RTX (50 μg/ml) was used by epicardial application in MI rats. Ventricular electrophysiologic properties were continuously monitored by a body surface ECG. Yrosine hydroxylase (TH) and growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) were detected by Immunofluorescence staining. Connexin43 and transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGF-β1) were detected by western blot. Norepinephrine (NE) and BNP levels in blood and tissue were determined by ELISA. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. Results: The ERP, APD90, QRS, QT and the Tend-Tpeak intervals in MI rats were all prolonged, but decreased after RTX treatment (n = 3, P<0.05). In contrast, the RR interval was shortened in the MI group, but prolonged in the MI+RTX group (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX treatment significantly reduced ventricular arrhythmias after MI. TH- and GAP43-positive nerve densities and TGF-β1, and cx-43 protein expression were up-regulated in the MI group compared to the sham group, and they were decreased in the MI+RTX group compared to the MI group (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX can decrease serum and tissue NE and BNP levels (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX pretreatment significantly decreased heart rate, HW/BW ratio and LVIDS, and increased LVEF andLVFS values (n = 3, P<0.05). Conclusion: RTX improved cardiac dysfunction, ventricular electrophysiologic properties, and sympathetic nerve remodeling in rats with MI by inhibiting the excessive cardiac sympathetic drive.     

脾脏血管性病变与淋巴瘤CT鉴别诊断

目的 运用CT区分脾脏血管性病变与淋巴瘤。方法 回顾性分析20例经手术、穿刺病理学检查证实的脾脏病变的发病年龄、性别、脾脏指数、病变大小、数目、有无液化、钙化、强化幅度、强化方式等特征,并进行统计学分析。结果 20例脾脏病变中,11例血管性病变(6例海绵状血管瘤,3例窦岸细胞血管瘤,2例硬化性血管瘤样结节性转化),9例淋巴瘤;两组间发病年龄、病变大小、数目、有无液化、钙化等差异无统计学意义;两组间脾脏指数、动脉期强化幅度差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。5例海绵状血管瘤呈不均匀性强化,1例呈渐进性填充式强化,2例窦岸细胞血管瘤呈“雀斑征”,1例硬化性血管瘤样结节性转化呈“辐轮征”;9例淋巴瘤实质部分均呈均匀、轻中度强化。结论 脾脏血管性病变与淋巴瘤CT表现不同,CT有助于明确诊断。