Volume 99 ·  Issue 13 ·  2019

Persistent inflammatory-immunosuppressive-catabolic syndrome (PICS) refers to a group of clinical syndromes that enter the chronic critical stage in systemic infection or non-infection such as trauma, burn, acute pancreatitis, etc. This article summarizes the consensus and controversy in this field.

Cardiac critical care is the core link in specialist critical care management, and it is a discipline focused on hemodynamic diagnosis and treatment. It is necessary to more accurately adjust the front and afterload of the heart and myocardial contractility. The management of hypertension related to severe cardiac illness is special, and its management strategies are different according to the patient's condition, disease type, target organ damage and stage of disease. Based on evidence-based medical evidence and clinical experience, the Chinese Committee of Cardiac Critical Care Experts formulated a consensus of experts on the management of hypertension related to cardiac critical care in China, with a view to guiding relevant clinical work.

To investigate the expression and significance of STOX1 in different stages of gestation villi and placenta.

Totally 137 cases of normal villi and placenta of pregnant women were collected from the Department of Obstetrics of Shanghai Pudong Hospital from October 1^st 2015 to February 28^th 2018, including 64 cases of early pregnancy (early pregnancy group) which consists of 32 cases of 5-7⁺⁶ weeks gestation (early pregnancy group A) and 32 cases of 8-11⁺³ weeks gestation (early pregnancy group B), 28 cases of 14-26 weeks gestation(middle pregnancy group) and 45 cases of 37-41 weeks gestation (late pregnancy group). The expression and localization of STOX1 mRNA and protein in placenta were evaluated by RT-qPCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

(1)STOX1 was positively expressed in the cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts as well as interstitial and vascular endothelial cells of all groups. (2)STOX1 mRNA expression in each group was significantly different (P<0.05), the lowest was in the early pregnancy group A(0.007 8±0.000 4), which increased along with the progression of gestational age(P<0.05),and reached the highest level in the third trimester(0.064 4±0.001 3). (3)The protein level of STOX1 in different stages of normal pregnancy was 0.53±0.20 in early pregnancy group A;0.62±0.37 in early pregnancy group B;0.70±0.03 in middle pregnancy group and 0.81±0.04 in late pregnancy group respectively; which was positively related with the progression of gestational age (P<0.05).

The expressions of STOX1 is gradually increasing along with the normal pregnancy progression, suggesting that it might be involved in proliferation, differentiation and infiltration and (or) apoptosis of trophoblast cells and the development of the placenta.

To investigate the value of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) in assessing the disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

As a retrospective study, clinical data, laboratory test results and MSUS results of 22 joints (2 wrist joints, 10 metacarpophalangeal joints, 2 thumb interphalangeal joints, 8 proximal interphalangeal joints) were collected from 403 hospitalized RA patients (including Han and Uygur patients) in the People′s Hospital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2016 to December 2016.

(1) There was a positive correlation between swollen joints count, tender joints count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reaction protein and sum scores of articular cavity effusion, Grey Scale (GS), Power Doppler (PD), tenosynovitis in RA patients; (2)there was a positive correlation between DAS28-ESR, DAS28-CRP, SDAI, CDAI and sum scores of effusion, GS, PD, tenosynovitis in RA patients. The ulnar extensor tendon of the wrist of RA patients was more susceptible to extensor tendon than other extensor tendons; (3)there was significant statistical difference between Uygur and Han RA patients in bone erosion (P<0.05), however the statistical difference between Uygur and Han RA patients in effusion, GS or PD score was not significant (P>0.05). Few Uygur RA patients achieved clinical remission and subclinical synovitis was not detected, while such subclinical synovitis was detected in Han RA patients who achieved clinical remission.

The MUSU can assess the disease activity of RA patients, and provide a more direct and objective evidence for the rapid evaluation of disease.

To investigate the association between orexin-2 receptor (OX2R) gene polymorphisms and Alzheimer′s disease (AD).

A total of 350 patients with AD diagnosed at the People′s Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2014 to January 2018 were enrolled as the case group, and 350 healthy subjects were selected as the control group, and their general demographic data were collected. The peripheral blood samples were collected for DNA extraction, and the polymorphisms of 6 loci in OX2R gene in the two groups were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gene sequencing. The differences in genotype and gene frequency distribution between the two groups were compared.

The genotype distribution of OX2R gene rs2653349 and rs2292041 in the case group was significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that rs2653349(GA+AA) genotype was an independent risk factor for AD(P=0.009). Five haplotypes were found in the haplotype analysis, and there were differences between the case group and the control group: rs2653349+rs2292041 GA type(χ²=10.922, P=0.000 1), rs2653349+rs2292041+ rs3122169 GAA type (χ²=8.687, P=0.003), ATC type(χ²=8.329, P=0.003 9), rs2653349+ rs2292041 AT type(χ²=6.504, P=0.010 8), rs2653349+rs2292041+rs3122169 ATA type(χ²=17.511, P=0.000 1).

The OX2R gene rs2653349 and rs2292041 polymorphisms in the Han population of Henan may be associated with AD, and the A allele may be a susceptible factor for AD.

To explore the correlation of left heart function changes with cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel diseases (CSVD).

From February 2012 to June 2018, 199 CSVD patients admitted to the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were enrolled as CSVD group. A total of 103 healthy elderly persons without cognition disorders were included as normal control group (NC group). According to the diagnostic criteria, CSVD patients were divided into 112 CSVD patients with vascular cognitive impairment (CSVD-VCI group) and 87 CSVD patients without cognitive impairment (CSVD-NCI group). Neuroimaging markers of CSVD (including lacunar infarction and white matter hyperintensity) were assessed through brain MRI. Cognitive function was evaluated by The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Cambridge Cognitive Examination-Chinese Version (CAMCOG-C), etc. Routine echocardiography was performed to evaluate left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left atrial diameter (LAD) and other parameters.

Compared with NC group, the LVEF level was significantly decreased in CSVD group [(65±5)% and (63±6)%, respectively] (P=0.007), while LAD level was significantly increased in CSVD group (P=0.024). The LVEF level of CSVD-VCI group [(62±6)%] was significantly lower than that of CSVD-NCI group [(64±5)%] (P=0.02). Correlation analysis revealed MMSE and CAMCOG-C scores in CSVD group were positively correlated with LVEF level (r=0.210, P=0.003; r=0.238, P=0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that declined LVEF was an independent risk factor associated with CSVD (OR=0.937, 95%CI 0.890-0.986) and CSVD-VCI (OR=0.900, 95%CI 0.829-0.977).

Left heart function changes play important roles in the occurrence of CSVD and severity of its cognitive impairment. The declined LVEF may represent an independent risk factor for CSVD and its cognitive impairment.

To investigate the effect of individualized antihypertensive therapy on the blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) of hypertensive patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

We conducted a prospective study from Sep. 2014 to Dec. 2015 in Chinese PLA General Hospital. A total of 650 patients complicated with non-dipper or reverse-dipper hypertension and CHD were enrolled. All the participants were divided into non-dipper (n=259) and reverse-dipper (n=391) group according to their 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) reports. Patients who took short-acting antihypertensives changed their medicine to long-acting ones. Patients who had already taken long-acting antihypertensives switched to nighttime or added antihypertensives at night. Self-measured home blood pressure was recorded before going to bed and in the morning. All patients were regularly followed up by face-to-face surveys and clinic BP was recorded every 3 months. After 1 year′s follow-up, the effect of individualized antihypertensive treatment on circadian rhythm of blood pressure was evaluated by 24h ABPM. The effect of individualized antihypertensive treatment on LVH was evaluated by echocardiography.

After 1 year′s individualized antihypertensive therapy, the clinic BP and 24h ABPM of the patients were decreased. BP rhythm in 44% of the non-dipper and 57% of the reverse-dipper patients restored to normal. LVH were returned to normal in 44% of the non-dipper patients and and 48% of the reverse dipper patients, respectively. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were (59±12) kg/m^2.7 vs (48±10) kg/m^2.7 (P<0.01), and (63±13) kg/m^2.7 vs (48±11) kg/m^2.7 (P<0.01) respectively in non-dipper and reverse-dipper group before and after individualized antihypertensive treatment.

Individualized antihypertensive intervention of abnormal blood pressure circadian rhythm can effectively restore the circadian rhythm of blood pressure and reverse LVH in hypertensive patients with CHD.

To report the methods and clinical outcomes of microscopic minimally invasive keyhole technique for surgical resection of thoracic spinal meningiomas.

Thirty-nine patients with thoracic spinal meningiomas received keyhole surgery from May 2013 to June 2017 in the Department of Spine Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital. A working channel with a diameter of 1.8 cm was inserted percutaneously about 2.0 to 3.5 cm away from the mid-line. Dorsally attached tumors were resected with hemilaminectomy fenestration; for the spinal meningiomas located in the lateral side of the spinal cord, hemilaminectomy combined with partial facetectomy were used; hemilaminectomy combined with hemifacetectomy fenestration were used for spinal meningiomas located ventrally. No internal fixation was performed in all cases. Clinical outcome was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain relief and the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale for evaluation of the function of the spinal cord after surgery. The pre-and post-operative data were compared by paired t test.

Among the 39 patients, the tumors in 36 cases located in the thoracic spine and 3 in the cervicothoracic junction. Complete resection was achieved in all patients. Mean operative time was (148±21) min (range, 120-185 min). Mean blood loss during surgery was (101±27) ml (range, 50-200 ml). No infection or aggravation of spinal cord injury occurred after operation, except for 3 patients who had postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage that recovered after conservative treatment. The mean hospital stay was (6.1±0.8) days (range, 5-9 days). Patients were followed-up for a period of 9 to 57 months, with a mean follow-up time of (29±13) months. At the last follow-up, all patients had a reduced level of pain as suggested by an average VAS score that improved from (7.38±1.71) to (0.31±0.63), the ASIA grade improved in all patients except for 2 cases (5.1%), 24 cases (61.5%) improved by 1 grade, 9 cases (23.1%) improved by 2 grades, and 4 cases (10.3%) improved by 3 grades. No evidence of tumor recurrence or secondary spinal instability was observed in any patients during the postoperative follow-up.

Microscopic minimally invasive keyhole technique can be used to completely resect the thoracic spinal meningiomas; such surgical procedures convey reliable clinical outcomes and good postoperative spinal stability.

To investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided lateral and medial point blocks of thoracic paravertebral space on the rapid recovery of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

A total of 90 patients of either sex, aged 18-67 years, weighted 45.10-91.80 kg, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were divided into two groups (n=45) using a random number table: lateral point group of thoracic paravertebral space (group A) and medial point group of thoracic paravertebral space (group B). Ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral nerve block was performed before induction of general anesthesia. The puncture point of group A was positioned as the intercostal block of the thoracic paravertebral space of the right side of T₆-T₁₁, and the puncture point of the group B was positioned as the thoracic paravertebral body of the right side of T₆-T₁₁ thoracic paravertebral space. The thoracic paravertebral block was performed with 2 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine per injection for a total of 10 ml. The visual analog scale (VAS) scores of resting pain and active pain at 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after operation were observed. The anus recovery time after surgery and perioperative hypotension were also recorded.

The blood pressures in group A were significantly higher than those in group B at 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after operation, which were(73±7) vs (70±7), (78±7) vs (74±7),(82±7) vs (79±7),and (87±7) vs (83±7) mmHg,and the differences were statistically significant (t=2.29, 2.54, 2.33, 2.37, all P<0.05). The VAS scores of resting pain and active pain in group A were significantly higher than those in group B, and the differences were statistically significant (Z=-2.29, -2.51, -2.21, -2.39, -2.53, -2.25, -2.30, -2.24, all P<0.05). The postoperative anal exhaust recovery time of the patients in group A was (21.8±1.9) min that was obvious lower than that in group B which was (22.7±1.9) min with statistically significant difference (t=2.12, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and pruritus (χ²=0.28, 0.72, 0.45, 0.21,all P>0.05).

In the procedure of thoracic paravertebral block under the guidance of ultrasound, the closer blocking points are to the central axis of the spine, the better the postoperative analgesic effect, but the more obvious the postoperative blood pressure reduction and the longer the anal recovery exhaust time. The further away from the central axis of the spine, the more analgesic effect decreases, but the blood pressure decreases and the anal recovery time is relatively rapid.

To investigate the abnormal functional connectivity between sublaterodorsal nucleus (SLD) and the brain motor areas in Parkinson′s disease with or without rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rfMRI).

A total of 64 subjects recruited in the Department of Neurology, the People′s Hospital of Zhengzhou University were enrolled in this study from August 2014 to December 2017 according to international diagnosis criteria, 20 cases with PD-RBD (PD-RBD group), 23 cases without PD-nRBD (PD-nRBD group) and 21 age, gender-matched healthy controls (HC group). All subjects were examined by Hoehn-Yahr, UPDRS-Ⅲ and rfMRI.

UPDRS-Ⅲ scores and Hoehn-Yahr staging were showed significantly different from that in the HC group(KW=-27.35, P<0.001) but showed no significantly difference from that in the PD-nRBD group(KW=6.01, P=0.807). Compared with the control group, the FC analysis showed reduced correlations from the left SLD to the right orbital middle frontal gyrus(T=-4.567 8, P<0.001), the left cingulate gyrus(T=-3.196 0,P<0.001), the left cerebellum(T=-4.267 0,P<0.001) and the right midbrain(T=-4.773 7, P<0.001), from the right SLD to the bilateral cerebellum (T_left=-5.040 1, T_right=-4.210 5, P<0.001), the left precuneus(T=-4.468 2,P<0.001) and the left precentral gyrus (T=-4.473 9,P<0.001) in the PD-RBD. The correlations between the left SLD and left cerebellum, right midbrain and between the right SLD and left precuneus, left precentral gyrus were negative correlated with the motor functional tests.

There are abnormal functional connectivity from the SLD to the motor areas in PD-RBD patients, leading to clinical PD-RBD motor symptoms and movement disorders.

To investigate the clinical efficacy of superficial temporal artery -middle cerebral artery combined with encephalo-duro-arterio-myo-synangiosis (STA-MCA+EDAMS) and encephalo-duro-arterio-myo-synangiosis (EDAMS) in the treatment of adult moyamoya disease.

The clinical data of 47 adult patients with moyamoya disease who received vascular reconstruction in the Department of Neurosurgery of Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province from January 2014 to January 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 21 patients received EDAMS alone (EDAMS group, 14 patients with hemorrhagic moyamoya disease, 7 patients with ischemic moyamoya disease), 26 patients received STA-MCA combined with EDAMS (STA-MCA+EDAMS group, 17 patients with hemorrhagic moyamoya disease, 9 patients with ischemic moyamoya disease). Cerebral hemodynamics at 1 day before surgery and 3 and 6 months after surgery were compared. The clinical efficacy and postoperative complications of the two methods were compared at 3 and 6 months postoperatively in hemorrhagic and ischemic types.

For hemorrhagic moyamoya disease, the remission rate (94.1%) at 6 months after surgery in the STA-MCA + EDAMS group was higher than that in the EDAMS group (57.1%), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The CBF and CBV in the STA-MCA+EDAMS group were higher than those in the EDAMS group at 3 and 6 months after operation, and the MTT and TPP were lower than those in the EDAMS group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (all P>0.05). For hemorrhagic moyamoya disease and ischemic moyamoya disease, the total incidence of postoperative complications of the two surgical methods was different, but the difference was not statistically significant (both P>0.05).

Superficial temporal artery -middle cerebral artery combined with encephalo-duro- arterio-myo-synangiosis (STA-MCA+EDAMS) and encephalo-duro-arterio-myo-synangiosis (EDAMS) can significantly improve neurological function and cerebral hemodynamics in adult moyamoya disease patients with high safety.

With the aid of an acute visceral pain model of uterine cervical distension (UCD), the present study aimed to observe the effects of intrathecal administration of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) antagonist SB-366791 on UCD induced-visceral nociception as well as its involved molecular mechanisms.

A total of 30 Sprague-Dawley-derived adult virgin female rats were used. UCD model was established under isoflurane inhalation anesthesia. Briefly, a lower abdominal incision at midline was made to expose the uteral cervix, two metal rods were inserted through both sides of the cervix separately, one rod was fixed and the other one was connected to a pulley system with application of manual weighted traction (0, 25, 50, 75 or 100 g) for simulating 1 h of cervical distension. In addition, 12 Sprague-Dawley-derived adult virgin female rats were subjected to intrathecal catheter implantation, and UCD was established 7 days later. The rats were divided randomly into two groups; one group was administrated with intrathecal SB-366791 while the other was administrated with the same volume of saline as control. The 75 g distension force was then applied for an hour and the electromyographic (EMG) of musculus rectus abdominis, heart rate as well as respiratory frequency were measured continuously during the surgery. The spinal cord (T₁₂-L₂) was collected 30 minutes after UCD for the detection of changes of c-FOS and TRPV1 expression.

UCD increased EMG activity (P<0.05) and c-FOS expression (P<0.05) in the deep dorsal horn region and central canal of the spinal cord (T₁₂-L₂) in a stimuli-dependent manner, the expression of TRPV1 in the T₁₂-L₂ spinal cord also increased in response to UCD stimulation (P<0.05). Compared with the saline group, intrathecal SB-366791 significantly decreased EMG activity (P<0.05) as well as spinal c-FOS (P<0.05) expression induced by UCD.

UCD in rats increases EMG activity of musculus rectus abdominis as well as spinal c-FOS and TRPV1 expression. Intrathecal administration of TRPV1 antagonist SB-366791 significantly decreases the visceral nociception induced by UCD.

To analyze the correlation between quantitative parameters of one-stop spectral perfusion computed tomography imaging and the expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor-C(VEGF-C) and MLVD in metastatic lymph nodes of rabbit VX2 breast cancer.

Thirty New Zealand purebred female rabbits were used to establish the lymph node metastasis model of rabbit VX2 breast cancer, one-stop spectral and perfusion CT imaging protocol was performed.The axillary lymph nodes were selected for corresponding image markers. The observed morphology of conventional HE staining and the EnVision method were used to quantitatively analyze VEGF-C expression and calculate MLVD.Pearson linear correlation was used to analyze the perfusion parameters of metastatic lymph node energy spectrum and the correlation of MLVD and VEGF-C expression.

Twenty-four experimental rabbits were successfully modeled and performed a one-stop CT scan on the 28th day. A total of 39 metastatic lymph nodes were included. The VEGF-C of metastatic lymph node was 20.0%±2.8%,and the MLVD was 12.5±3.5. There was a positive correlation between BF, AP_λHU, IC_VP, NIC_VP, VP_λHU of metastatic lymph node and VEGF-C and MLVD (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between lymph node IC_AP and MLVD (P=0.027) and no correlation with VEGF-C expression (P=0.386).There was no correlation between BV, NIC_AP and VEGF-C, MLVD(P>0.05). The correlation between VP_λHU and MLVD was higher (r=0.448, P=0.001).

One-stop CT spectral perfusion imaging quantitative parameters and pathological indicators have a good correlation, and it can reflect lymphatic vessel metastasis in lymph nodes.

To investigate the feasibility of blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating the response of metastatic lymph nodes of rabbit VX2 tumor to radiotherapy.

Twenty-eight healthy New Zealand white rabbits which were provided by the Laboratory Animal Center of Soochow University, male or female, 2 to 3 months, weighing 2 to 3 kg, were used to establish the animal model of VX2 tumor popliteal fossa metastatic lymph node, and then were divided into either the radiotherapy group (n=16) or the control group (n=12). The radiotherapy group received a 20 Gy radiotherapy per rabbit, the control group received sham radiotherapy. All rabbits underwent MRI scan on four time points, including before (0 day), 3rd, 7th and 14th days after radiotherapy. The two parameters of size and R_2* value (s^-1) of lymph node were measured. At each time point,two rabbits in each group were sacrificed randomly to resect lymph nodes for pathological examination, and two parameters of microvessel density (MVD, strip/HP) and apoptosis index (AI, %) were analyzed. The parameters among the four time points in each group or between the two groups were compared. The correlation of lymph node size and R_2* value with MVD or AI was analyzed, respectively.

A significant size difference was neither between the two groups or among the each time points in each group (P>0.05). The R_2* of lymph node in the radiotherapy group was (29.6±1.7),(36.8±2.6),(44.8±5.8) and (57.7±6.2) s^-1 at the time points of 0, 3, 7 and 14 days, respectively, showing a gradual increase trend; MVD was (52.3±2.5),(41.0±3.6),(34.0±3.6) and (22.7±2.5) strip/HP respectively, showing a decreasing trend; AI was 12.8%±0.5%,14.9%±0.6%,20.6%±0.5% and 27.5%±0.7% respectively, showing a gradual increase trend (all P<0.05). In the control group, both R_2* value and AI among the four time points did not change statistically (all P>0.05), but MVD showed a gradual increase trend,(50.0±3.0),(53.0±1.7),(60.3±2.5) and (70.0±2.0) strip/HP, respectively, P<0.05. There were significant differences in R_2* and MVD at 3, 7 and 14 days, in AI at 7 and 14 days between the two groups (all P<0.05). There was a linear correlation of R_2* value, but not of size, with MVD and AI (r=-0.87 and 0.94, respectively).

Blood oxygen level-dependent MRI can indirectly reflect the hypoxic status of metastatic lymph nodes after radiotherapy, and has potential value in evaluating the response of metastatic lymph nodes to radiotherapy.

The clinical data of 32 patients with iliac vein compression syndrome complicated with acute iliofemoral vein thrombosis from January 2015 to January 2018 in Beijing Friendship Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University were retrospectively summarized, and the etiology and treatment effect of iliac vein compression syndrome complicated with acute iliofemoral vein thrombosis were discussed.

The child, 2 months old, was admitted to hospital for "heart murmur". Physical examination: The perioral and nasal roots were slightly purple, and murmur could be heard in the precordial area (grade 4/6). Combined with imaging examination, the right pulmonary artery was diagnosed with abnormal origin. Absence of normal right pulmonary artery, abnormal origin of ascending aorta, collateral vessels supplying right lung, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary hypertension.

Pseudoprogression refers to the enhancement of the tumor site or the appearance of new lesions by MRI after the end of glioma radiotherapy (or concurrent chemoradiotherapy), but there are no obvious clinical symptoms. If the lesion does not change significantly or becomes smaller after continuing the treatment according to the original regimen, it suggests false progression. This article reviews the current definition, incidence, mechanism, differential diagnosis and therapeutic progress of pseudoprogression after comprehensive treatment of glioblastoma.