Atrial functional tricuspid regurgitation: An underappreciated cause of secondary tricuspid regurgitation

Secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR) caused by right ventricular enlargement in the setting of left heart disease/pulmonary hypertension has been well described. In contrast, that associated with right atrial enlargement—atrial functional TR (AF‐TR)—remains largely underappreciated. AF‐TR most often occurs in the setting of lone atrial fibrillation, although it is also seen in its absence (idiopathic AF‐TR). Several recent studies have found that the prevalence, hemodynamic significance, and prognosis of AF‐TR are not inconsequential, suggesting increased physician awareness of this novel clinical entity is warranted. This article discusses the pathogenesis, echocardiographic findings, and treatment of this underappreciated cause of secondary TR.     

神经源性声带运动障碍与喉神经电生理

声带运动障碍的病因和临床表现复杂多变，涉及多学科，从病因上分为神经源性和非神经源性。对于神经源性声带运动障碍的诊治，首先通过喉镜等检查明确有无声带运动障碍及严重程度，值得注意的是声带纵向张力变化障碍也属于运动障碍的范畴；然后采用喉肌电图（LEMG）检查进行定性分析，在确诊神经源性损伤后，进一步对神经损伤部位进行定位诊断并查找导致神经损伤的病因；同时根据喉部神经电生理评估结果，判断预后。最后综合上述的评估结果制定相应的治疗策略。     

Nerve ultrasound reference data in children from two to seven years

ObjectiveWe examined selected peripheral and spinal nerves of children aged between two and seven years.MethodHigh resolution ultrasound was performed in 116 children (2–7 years of age) at 19 predefined landmarks of median, ulnar, tibial, fibular, sural and radial nerves, the vagus as well as cervical spinal nerve 5 and 6. Further, side-to-side measuring and grey-scale analysis was done at selected nerve sites.ResultsNerves of children were on average smaller than those of adults. Nerve growth correlates significantly with age in all nerves, the mean values were similar in the age of two to four years and five to seven years. Body mass index (BMI) and gender showed moderate effect at some nerve sites, however not uniformly in all. A side-to-side difference of up to 30% in median, and up to 20% in tibial nerve can occur in healthy individuals. Grey-scale analysis for echointensity has been performed in median, ulnar and tibial nerves.ConclusionNerve size increases with age, BMI and gender have moderate effect. A side-to-side-difference of up to 30% can exist.SignificanceReference values of nerve cross-sectional area, side-to-side-difference and echo intensity are necessary to detect nerve pathology in children as well as in adults.     

High plasma microfibrillar-associated protein 4 is associated with reduced surgical repair in abdominal aortic aneurysms

ObjectiveIdentifying biomarkers for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) could prove beneficial in prognosis of AAA and thus the selection for treatment. Microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) is an extracellular matrix protein that is highly expressed in aorta. MFAP4 is involved in several tissue remodeling-related diseases. We aimed to investigate the potential role of plasma MFAP4 (pMFAP4) as a biomarker of AAA.MethodsPlasma samples and data were obtained for 504 male AAA patients and 188 controls in the Viborg Vascular (VIVA) screening trial. The pMFAP4 levels were measured by Alphalisa. The Mann-Whitney U test assessed differences in pMFAP4 levels between the presence and absence of different exposures of interest. The correlation between pMFAP4 and aorta growth rate were investigated through spearman's correlation analysis. Immunohistochemistry and multiple logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders assessed the association between pMFAP4 and AAA. Multiple linear regression assessed the correlation between pMFAP4 and aorta growth rate. Cox regression and competing risk regression were used to investigate the correlation between AAA patients with upper tertile pMFAP4 and the risk of undergoing later surgical repair.ResultsA significant negative correlation between pMFAP4 and aorta growth rate was observed using spearman's correlation analysis (ρ = −0.14; P = .0074). However, this finding did not reach significance when applying multiple linear regression. A tendency of decreased pMFAP4 was observed in AAA using immunohistochemistry. Competing risk regression adjusted for potential confounders indicated that patients with upper tertile pMFAP4 had a hazard ratio of 0.51 (P = .001) for risk of undergoing later surgical repair.ConclusionsHigh levels of pMFAP4 are associated with a decreased likelihood of receiving surgical repair in AAA. This observation warrants confirmation in an independent cohort.     

一次性根管与常规根管治疗后冠修复对隐裂性牙髓炎患者的影响

目的 探讨一次性根管与常规根管治疗后冠修复对隐裂性牙髓炎患者的治疗效果。方法 选取2014年5月至2017年5月诊治的187例隐裂性牙髓炎患者随机分为观察组和对照组,观察组给予一次性根管治疗后冠修复,对照组给予常规根管治疗后冠修复,比较两组术前及术后1周Mohd Sulong疼痛分级、术后3个月临床疗效、术后6个月X线改变、术后2年治疗成功率。结果 术前两组Mohd Sulong疼痛分级无统计学差异(P＞0.05),冠修复术后1周两组疼痛分级无统计学差异(P＞0.05),术后3个月观察组临床疗效总有效率为97.83%较对照组88.41%显著提高(P＜0.05),术后6个月观察X线改变率为3.26%较对照组14.74%显著降低(P＜0.05),术后2年观察组治疗成功率为94.57%较对照组82.11%显著提高(P＜0.05)。结论 一次性根管治疗后冠修复能够缓解隐裂性牙髓炎疼痛,提高临床疗效,提高患者咀嚼功能和生活质量,值得在临床上推广。