Objective:To summarize clinical characteristics of and treatment experience with patients with critical illnesses in a dermatological ward.Methods:All patients with serious or life-threatening conditions, who were hospitalized at the dermatological ward of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from July 9, 2011 to December 31, 2020, were collected, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics, disease types and proportions, main complications, causes of serious or life-threatening conditions, important treatment measures and outcomes were summarized, and causes of death were also analyzed and discussed.Results:A total of 1 057 patients with critical illnesses were collected, with a male-to-female ratio of 1∶1.11, and 64.81% of them aged 18 to 65 years. The types of diseases mainly included drug eruptions (332 cases) , connective tissue diseases (226 cases) , bullous skin diseases (104 cases) , psoriasis (57 cases) , erythroderma (45 cases) , infectious skin diseases (67 cases) , etc. Among them, psoriasis (39 cases) and erythroderma (32 cases) mostly occurred in males, and connective tissue diseases (168 cases) mostly occurred in females. Common complications mainly involved infections, important organ damage or dysfunction, hypoalbuminemia, and fluid, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances. A total of 94 patients were diagnosed with life-threatening conditions, which were found to be mainly caused by primary skin diseases, hematologic abnormalities, respiratory failure, nervous system abnormalities, renal failure, sepsis, fluid, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances, etc. During the management of critical illnesses, 43 patients were treated with high-dose glucocorticoid pulse therapy, 264 were treated with gamma-globulin pulse therapy, 355 were transfused with other blood products, and 34 received special therapies such as hemoperfusion/immunoadsorption therapy, plasma exchange, dialysis, artificial liver support therapy; 42 patients were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) , 12 were transferred to the department of surgery for operations, and 12 were transferred to the department of obstetrics and gynecology for delivery or induction of labor. After treatment, 989 patients (93.57%) achieved improvement and were discharged. A total of 14 patients (1.32%) died, of whom 7 died of secondary sepsis, 2 died of severe pulmonary infections, 2 died of asphyxia caused by respiratory mucosa shedding-induced airway obstruction, the other 3 died of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, cerebral hemorrhage and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, respectively.Conclusions:Critical cases in the dermatological ward mainly suffered from serious skin diseases such as severe drug eruptions, connective tissue diseases and bullous skin diseases, as well as complications such as severe underlying diseases, severe organ dysfunction, sepsis or severe fluid, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances. In terms of treatment, it is of critical significance to make a clear diagnosis and assess the severity of disease as early as possible, monitor and prevent possible complications, and to consult with specialists in relevant disciplines in time.

ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Osteoking （OK） on postmenopausal osteoporosis （PMOP）. MethodForty adult female mice were randomly divided into a sham operation （Sham） group， osteoporosis model （OVX） group， estradiol intervention （E₂） group， and OK group， with 10 mice in each group. The modeling was completed by conventional back double incision ovariectomy， and the corresponding drugs were given one week later. After 12 weeks， the body mass and uterine index of mice were measured， and the pathological changes of bone tissue and the number of osteoclasts （OCs） were determined by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase （TRAP） staining， respectively. Bone mineral density （BMD）， trabecular number （Tb.N）， trabecular separation （Tb.Sp）， and bone volume fraction （BV/TV） were measured by microcomputed tomography （Micro-CT）. The maximum load of the femur was detected by a three-point bending test. The contents of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and bone resorption marker C-terminal telopeptide of type Ⅰ collagen （CTX-1） were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein expression levels of nuclear factor-kappa B p65 （NF-κB p65）， phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B p65 （p-NF-κB p65）， nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor alpha （IκBα）， phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa B alpha （p-IκBα）， nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 （NFATc1）， and proto-oncogene （c-Fos） were detected by Western blot. The mRNA expressions of OCs-related specific genes matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9）， NFATc1， TRAP， cathepsin K （CTSK）， and c-Fos were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the Sham group， the uterine index decreased significantly in the OVX group， and the body mass （BMI） increased significantly. The structure of bone trabeculae was completely damaged， and the number of OCs increased. BMD， Tb.N， BV/TV， and maximum load decreased， while Tb.Sp was up-regulated. The levels of TNF-α and CTX-1 in serum were up-regulated. The protein expressions of c-Fos， p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65， NFATc1， and p-IκBα/IκBα were increased. The mRNA expressions of NFATc1， c-Fos， CTSK， TRAP， and MMP-9 were up-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the OVX group， the body mass of the OK and E₂ groups decreased， and the uterine index increased. The bone trabeculae increased， and the number of OCs decreased. BMD， Tb.N， BV/TV， and maximum load increased， while Tb.Sp decreased. The levels of TNF-α and CTX-1 in serum were decreased. The protein expressions of c-Fos， p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65， NFATc1， and p-IκBα/IκBα were decreased， and the mRNA expressions of NFATc1， c-Fos， CTSK， TRAP， and MMP-9 were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionOK can inhibit the NF-κB/NFATc1 signaling pathway and reduce bone mass loss by reducing the level of inflammatory injury factors in PMOP mice， which is one of the mechanisms for treating PMOP.

Early recognition and treatment for early warning electrocardiogram (ECG) of sudden death are very important to prevent and treat malignant arrhythmia and sudden death. Previous studies have found that R-on-T and T wave alternation, and QT interval prolongation are closely related to malignant arrhythmia or sudden death, which are included in the critical value of ECG.By analyzing the ECG characteristics of 4 patients with sudden death, we found that although the causes of the patients were different, there were transient prolongation of QT interval after premature contraction in 12 lead ECG, followed by malignant arrhythmia or sudden death. Thus, we thought that the transient prolongation of QT interval after premature contraction had a high value for warning malignant arrhythmia or sudden death. This phenomenon should be paid enough attention to reduce the risk of sudden death.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac/diagnosis* ; Death, Sudden ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome/diagnosis*