A combined full-scan mass spectrometry/data-dependent acquisition(Full MS/ddMS2)and full-scan mass spectrometry/parallel reaction monitoring(Full MS/PRM)approach for qualitative and quantitative analysis of plasma acylcarnitines was established on the basis of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry(UPLC-HRMS).A total of 165 kinds of acylcarnitines were identified,and 111 kinds of acylcarnitines were quantified.The method demonstrated good reproducibility,with a relative standard deviation of less than 20%for plasma acylcarnitine content.Statistical analyses,including t-tests,partial least squares-discriminant analysis,variable importance in projection and volcano plot analysis,indicated significant alterations in plasma acylcarnitine levels in heart failure patients after myocardial infarction,for instance,46 kinds of acylcarnitines showing marked increases compared to myocardial infarction patients.Acylcarnitines showed a strong positive correlation with the clinical biomarker NT-proBNP,which was associated with heart failure.The combined use of acylcarnitine markers AC(C14-OH),AC(C12:1a),long-chain acylcarnitines,total acylcarnitines and NT-proBNP significantly enhanced the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for post-infarction heart failure,with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)reaching 0.9456.The results of this work indicated that acylcarnitine was poised to become a crucial metabolic target for precise diagnosis,treatment and nutritional intervention in the progression of heart failure after myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics of the patients with tiny lumbar disc herniation and severe symptoms(tLDHSS) and the therapeutic effects of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy(PELD). METHODS: From January 2014 to February 2019, 34 patients with tLDHSS were reviewed retrospectively, including 20 males and 14 females, aged from 31 to 73 (48.8±10.1) years, with a follow up duration ranged from 8 to 48 (21.8±10.3) months. The clinical manifestations, imaging and surgical data were analyzed. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were analyzed before operation, 1 month after operation and at the latest follow-up. The preoperative and postoperativescores were compared. At the latest follow up, the Macnab system was used to evaluate the effects of the operation. RESULTS: The main symptom of 34 cases was severe radiation pain on one side of lower limbs. The duration of preoperative symptoms ranged from 0.33 to 84 months. The disc herniation was found in 7 cases of L and 27 cases of LS. According to the MSU division of lumbar disc herniation, 31 cases were located in area B. In all cases, it was confirmed that the protruding nucleus compressed the nerve root, and in 26 cases, the nerve root was obviously inflamed. The operation time ranged from 30 to 80 min, with a mean time of (43.5±9.5) min. The preoperative VAS score was 8.1±1.3 and ODI score was 31.8±6.7. And the VAS score was 1.1± 0.3, 0.7±0.4 on the first month after operation and the latest follow up, respectively. The ODI score was 5.3±2.1 and 0 to 10 (with a median score of 2) on the first month after operation and the latest follow-up respectively. The postoperative VAS and ODI scores were improved compared with preoperative scores.At the latest follow up, 28 cases got an excellent result and 6 cases good according to Macnab evaluation system. During the follow-up period, only one patient had recurrent disc herniation. CONCLUSION The main symptom of patients with tLDHSS is severe radiation pain on one side of lower limb. It manifests as sudden onset and shorter course of disease. Severe local inflammation was induced by local compression of the protruding nucleus pulposus on the nerve root out of the dura. For this kind of patients, thin layer CT scan has an important diagnostic value. In the treatment of this kind of patients, the symptoms are relieved rapidly, the curative effect is definite and the recurrence rate is low.
Adult ; Aged ; Diskectomy, Percutaneous ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Lower Extremity ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo analyze the complications of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation treated with percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy(PELD), and discuss how to avoid these complications.

METHODSThe data of 132 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation underwent PELD from October 2013 and June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed, including 85 males and 47 females with an average age of 42.9 years old. There were 6 cases of L₃,₄, 68 of L₄,₅ and 58 of L₅S₁. The incidences of intraoperative and postoperative complications were analyzed.

RESULTSThere was spinal dura mater injury in 1 patient, but no cerebrospinal fluid leakage and nerve function deficit was found, the muscle strength did not decrease postoperatively and the incision healed well. Two patients converted to open surgery ultimately because of stenosis of the intervertebral foramen and adhesion between nucleus pulposus and spinal dura mater; two patients complicated with early recurrence(in 3 months);nucleus pulposus residue developed in 3 patients; all of them were treated by open surgery and got satisfactory results. One patient with heart disease history complicated with supraventricular tachycardia after surgery and 2 patients with the increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure during surgery.

CONCLUSIONSPELD have a steep learning curve, and the technology is a safe and effective method in treating lumbar disc herniation, but the beginners must have enough open surgery experience, and to grasp indications strictly.

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation among prevertebral hyperintensity (PVH), sagittal canal diameter on MRI and neurologic function of patients after cervical vertebral hyperextension injury without fracture and dislocation.

METHODSThe clinical data of 100 patients with cervical vertebral hyperextension injury without fracture and dislocation were retrospectively analyzed from September 2010 to December 2013. The patients were divided into PVH group and non-PVH group according to the presence of PVH on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. There were 39 patients in PVH group, including 31 males and 8 females, aged from 21 to 83 years old with an average of (58.10 ± 14.78) years; and the other 69 patients in non-PVH group, including 49 males and 12 females, aged from 32 to 77 years old with an average of (55.05 ± 10.36) years. The sagittal disc level canal diameters of subaxial cervical spine were measured on mid-sagittal magnetic resonance imaging. The age, sex, cause of injury, and the segments of spinal stenosis were recorded. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale and motor score were used to evaluate the neurological status.

RESULTSThe ASIA motor score of the group with PVH was 52.56 ± 31.97 while the ASIA motor score was 67.70 ± 22.83 in non-PVH group (P = 0.013). More patients with intramedullary hyperintensity signal on MRI were observed in the PVH group than in non-PVH group (P = 0.006). There was a significant positive correlation between ASIA motor score and sagittal disc level canal diameter of injury segment (P = 0.003). The neurological status was worse in patients with multi-level sagittal canal diameters below 8 mm.

CONCLUSIONThe PVH and the disc-level canal sagittal diameter of the injury segment are associated with neurological status. The patients with multi-level sagittal canal stenosis are vulnerable to severe cervical spinal cord injury.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; pathology ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; pathology ; physiopathology

BACKGROUNDThymectomy is an established treatment for myasthenia gravis (MG), and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymectomy has become an acceptable surgical procedure. This study aimed to compare the results of VATS thymectomy and open thymectomy and to identify the prognostic factors after thymectomy.

METHODSThe clinical data of 187 consecutive thymectomies performed between July 2000 and December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed; 75 open thymectomies and 112 VATS thymectomies. Clinical efficacy and variables influencing outcome were assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

RESULTSThe operative blood loss in the VATS group was significantly less than that in the open group ((62.14 ± 55.43) ml vs. (137.87 ± 165.25) ml, P < 0.05). The postoperative crisis rate increased with the severity of preoperative MG and the prescription dose of anticholinesterase. Complete follow-up information of patients more than 12 months after the thymectomy was obtained on 151 cases, 89 cases from the VATS group and 62 cases from the open group, with a mean follow-up period of 59.3 months, range from 12 to 117 months. Complete stable remission (CSR) was the end point for evaluation of the treatment results. The overall five-year CSR rate was 57.5%. Two good prognostic factors were identified; preoperative prescription of anticholinesterase alone (P = 0.035) and non-thymomatous MG (P = 0.003). The five-year CSR rate of the ocular type of MG reached a high level of 67.4%.

CONCLUSIONSThymectomy can achieve good long-term CSR in MG, and VATS is an ideal alternative method. High-dose prescription of anticholinesterase and the advanced stage by Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) classification have higher risks of postoperative crisis. Preoperative prescription of anticholinesterase alone and non-thymomatous MG are good prognostic factors. Thymectomy should also be considered for the ocular type of MG.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis ; surgery ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; methods ; Thymectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and feasibility of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) anatomic segmentectomy for pulmonary diseases.

METHODSBetween November 2009 and July 2011, 20 patients received consecutive VATS anatomic segmentectomy by single surgical group. There were 3 male and 17 female, aging from 32 to 81 years with a mean of 53 years. The patients included 12 cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (5 cases of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, 6 cases of adenocarcinoma, and 1 case of squamous cell carcinoma), 7 cases of benign diseases (3 cases of bronchiectasis, 2 cases of inflammatory pseudotumor, 1 case of tuberculosis, and 1 case of sclerosing hemangioma) and 1 case of metastasis tumor. The locations of resected segments included 1 anterior segment, 3 posterior segments, 4 apical segments, and 2 superior segments in the right side; and 5 lingular segments, 3 trisegments, and 2 superior segments in the left side. Simultaneously, 3 patients with bronchiectasis underwent segmentectomy and lobectomy, 1 of 6 patients with adenocarcinoma underwent lingulectomy and thymectomy. The pathological TNM stages of 12 NSCLC patients were 9 cases of T1aN0M0, 1 case of T1bN0M0 and 2 cases of T2aN0M0.

RESULTSOf these 20 patients, the median operative time was 155 minutes (range, 120 to 235 minutes), the median blood loss was 50 ml (range, 10 to 600 ml), the median drainage duration was 3 d (range, 1 to 6 d), and the median hospital stay was 6 d (range, 3 to 9 d). One patient who had undergone lingulectomy had a 600 ml intraoperative bleeding from lingular artery, and the bleeding was controlled by suturing the rupture under VATS. Bloody sputum occurred in 2 patients, prolonged air leak occurred in one patient for 5 days, and one patient developed subcutaneous emphysema that spontaneously resolved. No mortality was observed for 30 days after the surgery.

CONCLUSIONSVATS anatomic segmentectomy is a feasible and safe technique with acceptable operative time, less blood loss, fewer complications, and shorter hospital stay.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; methods ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Treatment Outcome

The purpose of this study was to detect the expression levels of geminin and cdt1 in peripheral blood and bone marrow from patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia (AL), and further explore effects of them in the pathogenesis of AL. mRNA expression of geminin and cdt1 in peripheral blood and bone marrow of newly diagnosed AL patients was detected by SYBR Green real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(SYBR-RT-PCR). The results showed that mRNA expressions of both geminin and cdt1 in peripheral blood were positive in 10 out of 13 newly diagnosed ALL patients (76.92%) and in 9 out of 14 newly diagnosed AML patients (64.29%), while no positive expression of these 2 genes was detected in 10 normal controls; mRNA expression levels of geminin and cdt1 in bone marrow of newly diagnosed ALL and AML patients were 108.06 ± 67.34 and 52.37 ± 35.16, 62.66 ± 58.69 and 26.68 ± 22.29, respectively, which were higher than those in normal controls (11.81 ± 2.83 and 7.32 ± 5.77), there were significant differences (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). mRNA expression of geminin was significantly positive related to mRNA expression of cdt1 in bone marrow of 34 newly diagnosed AL patients (r = 0.55, p < 0.01). It is concluded that mRNA expressions of geminin and cdt1 are enhanced and significantly positively related between them in bone marrow of AL patients. The over-expression of geminin and cdt1 mRNA may play an important role in pathogenesis of AL.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Geminin ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the effect of clinic professional nursing guidelines in nursing admini stration.Methods Clinic professional nursing guidelines were formulated according the specific condition in different apartment,the content includes two parts: routine disease care and symptom nursing guideline.Five departments of respiratory medicine,neurosurgery,oncology,orthopedic surgery and oncology radiation were randomly selected as studying subjects and the data was compared before and after guidelines.Results Neurosurgery was selected as a representation,basic nursing quality as(2.223 ±0.315),satisfaction degree was(41.26 ±3.25)before guideline and(3.122 ±0.214)and(46.12 ±5.26)after guideline respectively.The differences were statistically significant (t =21.833,12.740; P＜0.05 or ＜0.01).Conclusions Application of clinic professional nursing guidelines could standardize the nursing behavior and provide scientific,accurate,professional and practical nursing guidelines for first-line nurses,especially for those on further training,new graduate and new to switch department nurses,and raise the work effect and guarantee the work quality,reduce the nursing risk and ensure the nursing safe for them.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of oxymatrine in preventing hepatic fibrosis formation in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSA total of 80 CHB patients receiving routine therapies for liver protection and support were divided into two groups. Oxymatrine at the daily dose of 150 mg was injected intravenously in the therapeutic group (n=40), and gluthion (1.2 g daily) was injected in the control group (n=40) for 8 weeks. The liver functions, indexes of hepatic fibrosis and the levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured in these patients before and after the therapy.

RESULTSLiver functions was obviously improved after therapy in both groups, showing no significant difference between them (P>0.05). The indexes of hepatic fibrosis such as HA, LN, PCIII and C-IV were significantly lower in the therapeutic group than in the control group (P<0.01). The serum levels of TGF-beta1 and TNF-alpha decreased while IL-10 increased significantly after the treatment in the therapeutic group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe effect of oxymatrine against hepatic fibrosis is mediated by lowering the levels of TGF-beta1 and TNF-alpha and increasing the level of IL-10 in CHB patients.

Adult ; Alkaloids ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quinolizines ; therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of Danqi Huogan Capsule in protecting the liver, promoting the circulation and removing blood clots in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSA total of 104 CHB patients were randomized into two groups. Routine therapies for liver protection were given in the control group (n=50), and Danqi Huogan Capsule was administered in the therapeutic group (n=54) in addition to the routine therapies. The changes in the clinical symptoms, physical signs, liver functions, and hemorrheology were observed after the 3-month therapies.

RESULTSDanqi Huogan Capsule treatment obvious improved the clinical symptoms, physical signs and liver functions of the patients (P<0.01), and significantly decreased the hematocrit, low-shear blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and index of red blood cell aggregation (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONDanqi Huogan Capsule is effective in protecting the liver, improving hemorrheology, promoting the blood circulation and removing clots in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hemorheology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Young Adult