Objective: To analyze the basic thyroid hormone level on long term prognosis and peri-operative recovery in patients after heart transplantation (HT) at the terminal stage of heart failure (HF).
Methods: A total of 270 consecutive patients who received HT at the terminal stage of HF in our hospital from 2009-09 to 2014-07 were retrospectively studied. According to serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), the patients were divided into 3 groups: TSH < 0.55 mIU/L group, TSH (0.55-2.5) mIU/L group and TSH > 2.5 mIU/L group. The peri-operative recovery condition and long term prognosis were observed and compared among 3 groups.
Result: The average age of patients was at (44.58 ± 13.30) years including 228 (84.4%) male and 42 (15.6%) female. The average post-operative follow-up period was (31.88 ± 17.48) months with 100% follow-up rate. There were 41.8% of patients with hypothyroidism, and 46 (17.0%) patients with low T3 syndrome, 56 (20.7%) with subclinical hypothyroidism and 11 (4.1%) with clinical hypothyroidism. The ratio of low level thyroid hormone in HT patients was much higher than general population. For peri-operative recovery, the ICU stay time and mechanical ventilation time were similar among 3 groups,P>0.05, while TSH (0.55-2.50) mIU/L group had the shortest times and TSH > 2.50 mIU/L group had longest times. For long term prognosis, no matter uni-/multi- aviate regression analysis or Kaplan-Meier surviving curve all suggested that TSH > 2.50 mIU/L was the independent risk factor inlfuencing the prognosis of HT patients at the terminal stage of HF. Upon TSH increasing, the patients would have worse prognosis accordingly.
Conclusion: Serum level of TSH > 2.50 mIU/L was the independent risk factor in HT patients at the terminal stage of HF.

The prevalence of asthma and allergic disease has increased worldwide over the last few decades. Many common environmental factors are associated with this increase. Several theories have been proposed to account for this trend, especially those concerning the impact of environmental toxicants. The development of the immune system, particularly in the prenatal period, has far-reaching consequences for health during early childhood, and throughout adult life. One underlying mechanism for the increased levels of allergic responses, secondary to exposure, appears to be an imbalance in the T-helper function caused by exposure to the toxicants. Exposure to environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals can result in dramatic changes in cytokine production, the activity of the immune system, the overall Th1 and Th2 balance, and in mediators of type 1 hypersensitivity mediators, such as IgE. Passive exposure to tobacco smoke is a common risk factor for wheezing and asthma in children. People living in urban areas and close to roads with a high volume of traffic, and high levels of diesel exhaust fumes, have the highest exposure to environmental compounds, and these people are strongly linked with type 1 hypersensitivity disorders and enhanced Th2 responses. These data are consistent with epidemiological research that has consistently detected increased incidences of allergies and asthma in people living in these locations. During recent decades more than 100,000 new chemicals have been used in common consumer products and are released into the everyday environment. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the environmental effects on allergies of indoor and outside exposure.
Adult ; Asthma ; Child ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immune System ; Immunoglobulin E ; Incidence ; Inflammation* ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Sounds ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; Vehicle Emissions

BACKGROUNDAlthough the early clinical outcomes of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using minimally invasive surgery techniques have been widely described, data on the mid- to long-term outcomes are limited. We designed a retrospective study to compare the two most common TKA techniques - The modified quadriceps-sparing (m-QS) approach and the mini-medial parapatellar (MMP) approach - In terms of the clinical and radiographic parameters, over a minimum follow-up period of 5 years.

METHODSThe m-QS approach was used in 31 knees and the MMP approach, in 36 knees. Knees in both groups were compared for component position and alignment, knee alignment, length of the skin incision, range of motion, Visual Analog Scale score, muscle torques, Knee Society Score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and number of complications.

RESULTSThere were no major intergroup differences in any of the clinical and radiographic outcomes assessed at the final follow-up examination.

CONCLUSIONSOn the basis of numbers studied, the m-QS group, which requires more technique, showed equivalent results with the MMP group in the postoperative 5 years. Preservation of the extensor mechanism in the m-QS approach could not ensure any improvement in the clinical outcomes during the mid-term follow-up duration.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods ; Quadriceps Muscle ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; adverse effects ; methods ; Bone Malalignment ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quadriceps Muscle ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

Objective The optimal access for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery is still uncertain .This study was designed to compare the practicability and maneuverability of transgastric ,transunmbilical ,and transrectal approach in abdominal surgery in a canine model .Methods Three dogs were used in this research .Three approach :trangastric ,transunmbilical and tran-srectal approach were carried out for abdominal exploration ,liver biopsy ,bladder biopsy and an attempted cholecystectomy .The ma-neuverability ,endoscopic image ,performer′s perception ,and spatial orientation were evaluated .Results The maneuverability of trangastric ,and transrectal approach NOTES were better than transunmbilical NOTES .Abdominal exploration ,live biopsy ,and bladder biopsy were completed successfully .The cholecystectomy was failed because of poor exposure and difficulty of separating the around tissure .Conclusion The optimal approach for upper abdomen NOTES is transrectal route .For lower abdomen NOTES , the trangastric approach is superior to other accesses .Further study is needed to develop more flexible and precise equipment for NOTES and to evaluate more feasible access approach .

Objective To investigate the effect of mangiferin on the apoptosis of rat primary cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia. Methods Rat primary cardiomyocytes were separated and cultured under aseptic condition. Cardiomyocytes were treated with hypoxia of 2, 4, 8 and 12 h, and then the time of hypoxia of cardiomyocyte apoptosis model was determined according to the apoptosis outcome.The cardiomyocytes were divided into normal group, hypoxia group and mangiferin intervention group, each group was subjected to 3 batches in parallel, and 3 holes were done in parallel with each batch. After the experiment, cardiomyocytes apoptosis was deteced by flow cytometry;apoptosis protease caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity in cell lysates was detected by spectrophotometry;the protein expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was detected by Western blot. Results After treated with hypoxia for 12 h, the cardio-myocytes apoptosis rate was significantly increased (P < 0.05), the apoptosis protease caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity was increased markedly (P＜0.05), the protein expression of proapoptotic protease Bax was increased notablely (P＜ 0.05 ) , and the protein expression of anti apoptotic protease Bcl-2 was decrease memorably (P＜0.05) in hypoxia group as compared with those in the control group. After mangiferin intervention, above indexes in mangiferin group can be significantly relieved as compared with those in the hypoxia group. Conclusions Mangiferin can significantly inhibit the apoptosis of rat primary cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia.

Human diphyllobothriasis is a parasitic disease caused by ingestion of larvae (plerocercoids) in raw or undercooked fish and commonly found in temperate areas. Rare cases were reported in tropical or subtropical areas especially in children. The first documented case of pediatric diphyllobothriasis in Taiwan had been reported 11 years ago. Here, we report another 8-year-old girl case who presented with a live noodle-like worm hanging down from her anus, with no other detectable symptoms. We pulled the worm out and found the strobila being 260 cm in length. Examination of gravid proglottids showed that they were wider than their lengths, containing an ovoid cirrus sac in the anterior side and the rosette-shaped uterus. Eggs extracted from the uterus were ovoid and operculated. Diphyllobothrium latum was confirmed by molecular analysis of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. The girl was treated with a single oral dose of praziquantel, and no eggs or proglottids were observed from her stool in the subsequent 3 months. The reemergence of human diphyllobothriasis in non-endemic countries is probably due to prevalent habit of eating imported raw fish from endemic areas. This pediatric case raised our concern that human diphyllobothriasis is likely underestimated because of unremarkable symptoms.
Anal Canal ; Child ; Diphyllobothriasis ; Diphyllobothrium* ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Eating ; Eggs ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; Female ; Humans ; Larva ; Ovum ; Parasitic Diseases ; Praziquantel ; Taiwan* ; Uterus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Age is a traditional risk factor for open-heart surgery. The efficacy and safety of transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair, using MitraClip (Abbott Vascular), has been demonstrated in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Since octogenarians or older patients are usually deferred to receive open-heart surgery, the main interest of this study is to elucidate the procedural safety and long-term clinical impact of MitraClip in elderly patients. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic severe MR were evaluated by the heart team. For those with high or prohibitive surgical risks, transcatheter mitral valve repair was performed in hybrid operation room. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), blood tests, and six-minute walk test (6MWT) were performed before, 1-month, 6-months, and 1 year after index procedure. RESULTS: A total of 46 consecutive patients receiving MitraClip procedure were enrolled. Nineteen patients (84.2±4.0 years) were over 80-year-old and 27 (73.4±11.1 years) were younger than 80. Compare to baseline, the significant reduction in MR severity was achieved after the procedure and sustained. All the patients benefited from significant improvement in New York Heart Association functional class. The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) increased from 259±114 to 319±92 meters (p=0.03) at 1 year. The overall 1-year survival rate was 80% in the elderly and 88% in those <80 years, p=0.590. Baseline 6MWT was a predictor for all-cause mortality (odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.982–0.999; p=0.026) after the MitraClip procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Trans-catheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repairs are safe and have positive clinical impact in subjects with severe MR, even in advanced age.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Echocardiography ; Heart ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve ; Mortality ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutation serves as an important predictor of osimertinib efficacy. However, little is known about how it works among patients with various timings of T790M emergence and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Advanced EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients with positive T790M mutation in tumor were retrospectively enrolled and observed to determine the outcomes of osimertinib treatment. We evaluated the association between patients’ characteristics and the efficacy of osimertinib treatment, particularly with respect to the timing of T790M emergence and osimertinib prescription. RESULTS: A total of 91 patients were enrolled, including 14 (15.4%) with primary and 77 (84.6%) with acquired T790M mutation. The objective response rate and disease controlratewere 60.9% and 85.1%, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 11.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.0 to 14.0) and 30.4 months (95% CI, 11.3 to 49.5), respectively. There was no significant difference in response rate and PFS between primary and acquired T790M populations. In the acquired T790M subgroup, patientswho received osimertinib after T790M had been confirmed by rebiopsy had a longer PFS than those with intercalated treatments between rebiopsy and osimertinib prescription (14.0 months [95% CI, 9.0 to 18.9] vs. 7.2 months [95% CI, 3.7 to 10.8]; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.24 to 0.98; p=0.043]). Rebiopsy timing did not influence the outcome. CONCLUSION: Osimertinib prescription with intercalated treatment following rebiopsy but not the timing of T790M emergence influenced the treatment outcome. We suggest that it is better to start osimertinib treatment once T790M mutation has been confirmed by biopsy.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Disease-Free Survival* ; Humans ; Lung ; Prescriptions ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Age is a traditional risk factor for open-heart surgery. The efficacy and safety of transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair, using MitraClip (Abbott Vascular), has been demonstrated in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Since octogenarians or older patients are usually deferred to receive open-heart surgery, the main interest of this study is to elucidate the procedural safety and long-term clinical impact of MitraClip in elderly patients. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic severe MR were evaluated by the heart team. For those with high or prohibitive surgical risks, transcatheter mitral valve repair was performed in hybrid operation room. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), blood tests, and six-minute walk test (6MWT) were performed before, 1-month, 6-months, and 1 year after index procedure. RESULTS: A total of 46 consecutive patients receiving MitraClip procedure were enrolled. Nineteen patients (84.2±4.0 years) were over 80-year-old and 27 (73.4±11.1 years) were younger than 80. Compare to baseline, the significant reduction in MR severity was achieved after the procedure and sustained. All the patients benefited from significant improvement in New York Heart Association functional class. The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) increased from 259±114 to 319±92 meters (p=0.03) at 1 year. The overall 1-year survival rate was 80% in the elderly and 88% in those <80 years, p=0.590. Baseline 6MWT was a predictor for all-cause mortality (odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.982–0.999; p=0.026) after the MitraClip procedure. CONCLUSIONS Trans-catheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repairs are safe and have positive clinical impact in subjects with severe MR, even in advanced age.