Objective To summarize experiences of microsurgical treatment of dumbbell tumors of the high cervical spine. Methods A series of 12 patients with dumbbell tumors of the high cervical spine were treated by using microsurgical techniques through posterior approach or antero-lateral approach. Results Complete resection was achieved in 10 patients. Postoperative neurological symptoms improved greatly in all. Conclusion The key points of treatment in dumbbell tumors of the high cervical spine are to analyze the preoperative image carefully and have knowledge about anatomy of high cervical spine as well as the experience of microsurgical technique.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between previous bleeding history and poor prognosis of patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.Methods:This study was a prospective multicentre real-world study (Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Real-word study, AUGUR study). The data of patients with UGIB who were admitted to the emergency department of 20 tertiary hospitals in China from June 30, 2020 to February 10, 2021 were collected. According to the number of previous bleeding history, the patients were divided into three groups (0 time, 1-3 times, and≥4 times). Based on the patient’s demographic data, clinical characteristics, laboratory data, treatment, and outcomes, univariate and logistic regression analysis were performed to investigate the correlation between the number of previous bleeding and the 90-day mortality and rebleeding of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding.Results:A total of 1 072 patients with acute UGIB were included in this study. The all-cause mortality and rebleeding rate of all patients were 10.9% (117/1 072) and 11.8% (129/1 072), respectively. Among them, 712 patients (66.42%) had no previous bleeding, 297 patients (27.71%) had previous bleeding 1-3 times, and 63 patients (5.88%) had previous bleeding≥4 times. In univariate analysis, age, vital signs and consciousness on admission, history of liver cirrhosis, onset with hematemesis, admission hemoglobin, varicose veins bleeding, peptic ulcer bleeding, red blood cell infusion, tracheal intubation and the use of vasopressors after admission were risk factors for the 90-day mortality and rebleeding rate. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients with previous bleeding≥4 times had a higher risk of the 90-day mortality ( OR=2.17, 95% CI: 1.04-4.57, P=0.040) and rebleeding ( OR=2.32, 95% CI: 1.19-4.53, P=0.013). Conclusions:The history of previous bleeding≥ 4 times can be used as an independent risk factor for the 90-day mortality and rebleeding in patients with acute UGIB.

ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of using pulse oximetry plethysmographic waveform (POP) to identify the restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).Methods An observational research was conducted. A porcine model of ventricular fibrillation (VF) arrest was reproduced. After 3 minutes of untreated VF, animals received CPR according to the latest CPR guidelines, providing chest compressions to a depth of 5 cm with a rate of 105 compressions per minute and instantaneous mechanical ventilation. After 2 minutes of CPR, animals were defibrillated with 100 J biphasic, followed by continuous chest compressions. Data of hemodynamic parameters, partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2) and POP were collected. The change in POP was observed, and the characteristics of changes of the waves were recorded during the peri-CPR period using the time and frequency domain methods.Results VF was successfully induced in 6 pigs, except 1 death in anesthesia induction period.① After VF, invasive blood pressure waveform and POP of the animals disappeared. PETCO2 was (18.83±2.71) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), and diastolic arterial pressure was (23.83±5.49) mmHg in compression stage. Animals attained ROSC within 1 minute after defibrillation, with PETCO2 [(51.83±9.35) mmHg] and diastolic arterial pressure [(100.67±10.97) mmHg] elevated significantly compared with that of compression stage (t1 = 8.737,t2 = 25.860, bothP = 0.000), with appearance of arterial blood pressure waveform.② Characteristic changes in POP were found in all experimental animals. During the stages of induced VF, compression, ROSC, and compression termination, POP showed characteristic waveform changes. POP showed disappearance of waveform, regular compression wave, fluctuation hybrid and stable pulse wave in time domain method; while in the frequency domain method waveform disappearance, single peak of compression, double or fusion peak and single peak of pulse were observed.Conclusion Analysis of POP using time and frequency domain methods could not only quickly detect cardiac arrest, but also show a role as a feasible, non-invasive marker of ROSC during CPR.

Objective To Pulse oximetry saturation has been wildly used clinically.It has been reported that pulse oximetry plethysmographic waveform (POP) reflected the peripheral tissue perfusion.In this study,we parameterized POP,observed the value of POP parameters in normal adults,and established the normal reference value range.Methods A multi-center prospective descriptive study.Total of 1 019 adult volunteers with normovolemia from 7 cities were enrolled in this study.Sex,age,height,weight and pulse oximetry data in awake and spontaneous breathing under in quiet conditions in the room temperature were collected.POP parameters and perfusion index were analyzed using MATLAB 2012a software.The normal reference value ranges of POP parameters,including the amplitude of POP (Amp) and the area under the curve of POP (AUC),were formulated.Results Statistical differences of POP parameters were detected between men and women in the normal adult.The 95％ confidence reference value of POP parameters in normal population was as follows:Amp (104.8-2298.7) PVA and AUC (3265.8-6028.5) PVPGin total,Amp (129.4-2433.6) PVA and AUC (3319.0-5862.2) PVPG in male;Amp (89.5-2138.2) PVA and AUC (3163.9-5929.9) PVPG in female.Conclusions POP,including the amplitude of POP (Amp) and the area under the curve of POP (AUC),had normal reference value ranges in normal adults.

Objective To investigate the current practice of ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in Chinese emergency physicians. Methods Self-designed questionnaires were used to survey mainly the present situation of CPR ventilation practice performed by 800 physicians who participated in the Peking Union International Summit for Emergency Medicine from April 17th to 19th, 2015. Results A total of 800 questionnaires were distributed and 638 (79.75%) valid questionnaires were taken back; the responders joining the survey came from 29 provinces and regions, including Beijing, Hebei, Shandong, Guangdong, Liaoning, etc. There were 331 males and 307 females; 91.54% (584 responders) were emergency physicians and 77.90% (497 responders) came from tertiary hospitals, 17.55% (112 responders) came from the secondary hospitals. Regarding ventilation during CPR, 86.4% (551 responders) declared the patients was routinely given endo-tracheal intubation; after intubation, 25.8% (142 responders) adopted bag-mask ventilation, and 74.2% (409 responders) applied mechanical ventilation. When a ventilator was used, 301 (73.6%) responders used the volume controlled ventilation mode, 334 (81.7%) responders set the respiratory rate (RR) lower than 15 bpm, while 89.2% (365 responders) used the tidal volume set at a range of 400-500 mL. When adopted the flow triggering sensitivity, 79.7% (326 responders) set the sensitivity at 1-6 L/min, while 16.4% (67 responders) selected the default parameter, not adjusting the flow triggering parameter; when adopted the pressure triggering sensitivity, 75.1% (307 responders) set the sensitivity between -1 to -6 cmH2O (1 cmH2O = 0.098 kPa) and 20.3% (83 responders) selected the default value, not adjusting the pressure triggering parameter. When the mechanical ventilation (MV) was adopted, 84.8% (347 responders) declared often experiencing problems with MV, such as airway high peak pressure alarms [39.6% (162/409)], lower ventilation volume per minute alarms [24.9% (102/409)], higher respiratory frequency alarms [21.3% (87/409)], but only 67.2% (275 responders) would again adjust the ventilation mode related parameters and only 59.2% (242 responders) would observe the actual respiratory frequency. Conclusions With regards to artificial ventilation during CPR, the majority of emergency physicians tend to adopt endotracheal intubation and commonly use the volume controlled mode of mechanical ventilation; among the ventilator parameter setting, the RR is not strictly in accordance with the CPR guidelines, and most of the inspiration triggering sensitivity setting was too low, very easily to induce hyperventilation; simultaneously, the emergency physicians often neglect the practical RR; although there are many problems with ventilation such as frequent alarms, only 67.2% of the emergency physicians would again adjust the ventilation parameters.

Objective To assess and compare the incidence,clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of acute heart failure patients from different grades hospitals in Beijing.Methods In this prospective internet prognosis registered study (Beijing AHF Registry),a total of 3 335 consecutive patients admitted to 14 emergency departments in Beijing from January 1st 2011 to September 23rd 2012 were enrolled.According to hospital grade,these patients were divided into two groups,349 patients were from secondary hospitals,and 2 956 patients were from tertiary hospitals.Results Among the 3 335 patients,the medium age was 71 (58,79) years,and male accounted for 53.16％.The most common underlying disease were coronary disease (43.27％),hypertension (17.73％),cardiomyopathy (16.07％) etc.The average treatment time in Emergency Department was 66.82 h.The emergency department mortality rate was 3.81％ (127 cases).The 30-day and 1-year cumulative all-cause mortality were 15.3％ and 32.27％,respectively.The 30-day and 1-year cumulative all-cause readmission were 15.64％ and 46.89％,respectively.Compared with patients in tertiary hospitals,patients in secondary hospitals had more onset acute heart failure patients (63.64％ vs.49.93％),shorter emergency department treatment time (12 h vs.41 h),lower discharge rate (3.43％ vs.37.45％) and emergency department mortality(1.58％ vs.4.09％).Compared with those in tertiary hospitals,1-year cumulative all-cause mortality (25.6％ vs.33.2％),cardiovascular disease mortality (20.2％ vs.26.0％),aggravated heart failure mortality (22.4％ vs.28.8％) were lower in secondary hospitals.Following propensity score matching,compared to tertiary hospitals,patients in secondary hospitals showed lower utilization rate of beta-blockers and ACEFARB (4.51％ vs.28.17％,1.41％ vs.9.58％),except the pironolactone.Conclusion Acute heart failure in emergency department is associated with a high mortality rate and readmission rate.There is still a big gap between guidelines recommend medication current treatments for acute heart failure.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS), as the third leading cause of death worldwide, is characterized by its high incidence, mortality rate, high incurred disability rate, and frequent reoccurrence. The neuroprotective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) against several cerebral diseases have been reported in previous studies, but the underlying mechanisms of action are still unclear. Using a novel in vitro rat cortical capillary endothelial cell-astrocyte-neuron network model, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of GBE and one of its important constituents, Ginkgolide B (GB), against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation and glucose (OGD/R) injury. In this model, rat cortical capillary endothelial cells, astrocytes, and neurons were cocultured so that they could be synchronously observed in the same system. Pretreatment with GBE or GB increased the neuron cell viability, ameliorated cell injury, and inhibited the cell apoptotic rate through Bax and Bcl-2 expression regulation after OGD/R injury. Furthermore, GBE or GB pretreatment enhanced the transendothelial electrical resistance of capillary endothelial monolayers, reduced the endothelial permeability coefficients for sodium fluorescein (Na-F), and increased the expression levels of tight junction proteins, namely, ZO-1 and occludin, in endothelial cells. Results demonstrated the preventive effects of GBE on neuronal cell death and enhancement of the function of brain capillary endothelial monolayers after OGD/R injury in vitro; thus, GBE could be used as an effective neuroprotective agent for AIS/reperfusion, with GB as one of its significant constituents.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; Ginkgolides ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; Lactones ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Oxygen ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Stroke ; drug therapy

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now pandemic worldwide and has heavily overloaded hospitals in Wuhan City, China during the time between late January and February. We reported the clinical features and therapeutic characteristics of moderate COVID-19 cases in Wuhan that were treated via the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine. We collected electronic medical record (EMR) data, which included the full clinical profiles of patients, from a designated TCM hospital in Wuhan. The structured data of symptoms and drugs from admission notes were obtained through an information extraction process. Other key clinical entities were also confirmed and normalized to obtain information on the diagnosis, clinical treatments, laboratory tests, and outcomes of the patients. A total of 293 COVID-19 inpatient cases, including 207 moderate and 86 (29.3%) severe cases, were included in our research. Among these cases, 238 were discharged, 31 were transferred, and 24 (all severe cases) died in the hospital. Our COVID-19 cases involved elderly patients with advanced ages (57 years on average) and high comorbidity rates (61%). Our results reconfirmed several well-recognized risk factors, such as age, gender (male), and comorbidities, as well as provided novel laboratory indications (e.g., cholesterol) and TCM-specific phenotype markers (e.g., dull tongue) that were relevant to COVID-19 infections and prognosis. In addition to antiviral/antibiotics and standard supportive therapies, TCM herbal prescriptions incorporating 290 distinct herbs were used in 273 (93%) cases. The cases that received TCM treatment had lower death rates than those that did not receive TCM treatment (17/273 = 6.2% vs. 7/20= 35%, P = 0.0004 for all cases; 17/77= 22% vs. 7/9= 77.7%, P = 0.002 for severe cases). The TCM herbal prescriptions used for the treatment of COVID-19 infections mainly consisted of Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Radix Scutellariae, Rhizoma Pinellia, and their combinations, which reflected the practical TCM principles (e.g., clearing heat and dampening phlegm). Lastly, 59% of the patients received treatment, including antiviral, antibiotics, and Chinese patent medicine, before admission. This situation might have some effects on symptoms, such as fever and dry cough. By using EMR data, we described the clinical features and therapeutic characteristics of 293 COVID-19 cases treated via the integration of TCM herbal prescriptions and Western medicine. Clinical manifestations and treatments before admission and in the hospital were investigated. Our results preliminarily showed the potential effectiveness of TCM herbal prescriptions and their regularities in COVID-19 treatment.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; COVID-19/therapy* ; China ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome