OBJECTIVETo study the circadian patterns of the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) and its relationship with climatic factors in Beijing.

METHODSWe searched all UGIB records from August 1, 2005 to July 31, 2007 from Beijing Emergency Center and tracked the meteorological data during the same period. The variation of the incidence of UGIB was compared based on day, month, and season. The relation between climatic factors and the incidence of UGIB was also analyzed.

RESULTSTotally 2 580 patients, including 1 888 males (73.2%) and 692 females (26.8%) were included in the study. The mean age was significantly different between males and females [(53.3 +/- 20.4) years vs. (63.3 +/- 20.7) years, P < 0.05]. The occurrence of UGIB were significantly different among different seasons (chi2 = 49.82, P < 0.01), months (chi2 = 83.43, P < 0.01), and hours (chi2 = 126.79, P < 0.01). UGIB cases were presented more frequently in winter and spring, especially in January. More UGIB cases were presented at night, especially from 8 pm to midnight. Partial correlation test showed that the incidence of UGIB significantly correlated with temperature (r = -0.3785, P = 0.001) and barametric pressure (r = -0.3002, P = 0.011). No correlation was found between UGIB incidence and wind speed (P = 0.086) and relative humidity (P = 0.971).

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of UGIB varies in different months and seasons in Beijing. Its climate-related risk factors may include temperature and barametric pressure, but not include relative humidity and wind speed.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Circadian Rhythm ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Meteorological Concepts ; Middle Aged ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical features of respiratory failure secondary to hypothyroidism.

METHODWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 4 patients with respiratory failure secondary to hypothyroidism.

RESULTSRespiratory failure secondary to hypothyroidism usually happened in the aged patients, presenting as myxedema, disturbance of consciousness, anemia, and hyponatrium. Respiratory symptoms were rare. Type II respiratory failure might occur as disease progressed. The clinical presentation of hypothyroidism was atypical and easily neglected. The hypoxia and hypercapnia ameliorated after thyroid hormone therapy.

CONCLUSIONHypothyroidism is a rare reason of respiratory failure. The prognosis is good after hormone therapy and mechanical ventilation.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; complications ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; drug therapy ; etiology ; therapy ; Thyroid Hormones ; therapeutic use

Objective To understand the cognition and related abilities of emergency physicians for palliative care in China. Methods A total of 115 emergency physicians were selected by convenient sampling to conduct a questionnaire survey.The questionnaire included the physicians' basic information,feelings and attitudes towards end-stage patients and their families,cognition of palliative care,and personal ability for palliative care. Results 25.2%,59.1%,and 15.7% of the emergency physicians considered they had "no understanding","partial understanding",and "full understanding" of palliative care,respectively.32(27.8%)physicians participated in palliative care-related lectures and they showed higher self-rated cognition levels(
Cognition ; Humans ; Palliative Care ; Physicians ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tertiary Care Centers

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of atrial fibrillation on the accuracy of parameters monitored by transpulmonary thermodilution method.

METHODSTotally 12 patients from emergency intensive care unit with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were enrolled. The hemodynamic parameters such as heart rate, mean arterial pressure, cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance index, intrathoracic blood volume index, and extravascular lung water index were monitored by transpulmonary thermodilution method before paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and during atrial fibrillation, the number of B-lines was detected by lung ultrasonography before and during paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The changes of all the parameters were analyzed.

RESULTSWhen the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation happened, the heart rate increased significantly [(123.3±20.0) beat/min vs. (98.9±12.3) beat/min, P=0.006]; the mean arterial pressure [(86.9±10.2) mmHg vs. (93.0±12.5) mmHg, P=0.058], cardiac index [(2.82±0.62) L/(min·m(2)) vs. (3.31±1.02) L/(min·m(2)), P=0.058] and systemic vascular resistance index [(2254±947) dyn·s·cm(-5)·m(2) vs. (2302±828) dyn·s·cm(-5)·m(2), P=0.351] had no obvious change; however, the intrathoracic blood volume index significantly increased [(1333±90) ml/m(2) vs. (937±111) ml/m(2), P<0.001]; extravascular lung water index also increased significantly [(16.1±1.1) ml/kg vs. (6.5±1.9) ml/kg, P<0.001]. No significant difference was found in the number of B-lines detected by lung ultrasonography before and during atrial fibrillation (10.0±4.2 vs. 9.4±4.4, P=0.180).

CONCLUSIONBoth intrathoracic blood volume and extravascular lung water monitored by transpulmonary thermodilution method were overvalued during paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, which may mislead the clinical judgment and decision-making.

Atrial Fibrillation ; physiopathology ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Volume ; Cardiac Output ; Extravascular Lung Water ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Thermodilution ; Vascular Resistance

Objective To explore the obstacles in palliative care consultation services and put forward the suggestions for improving the services in grade A tertiary hospitals. Methods A semi-structured interview was conducted with 17 medical workers who had requested palliative care consultation services in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Results The palliative care consultation services were hindered by five obstacle factors including insufficient knowledge of patients and their families about palliative care,unsound understanding of medical workers about palliative care,poor implementation of consultation opinions,limited labor of palliative care team,and poor economic benefits from palliative care.In view of such obstacles,the following suggestions were put forward,which included increasing the acceptance of palliative care by patients and their families,enriching the knowledge of medical staff on palliative care,establishing a new cooperation model between consultation team and medical staff,strengthening the institutional guarantee for the development of palliative care,and establishing and perfecting the laws and policies related to palliative care. Conclusion Although there are many difficulties in the in-hospital palliative care consultation services in grade A tertiary hospitals,the demand and expectation of medical staff for palliative care are still increasing.
Humans ; Palliative Care ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Referral and Consultation ; Hospitalization

Objective To summarize the palliative care consultations proposed by the Emergency Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 22 palliative care consultations in the Emergency Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2017 to June 2020. Results A total of 18 patients (6 males and 12 females) received palliative care consultations in the Emergency Department,with the average age of (65±8) years (36-88 years).Specifically,10 and 6 patients received once and twice consultations,respectively,and 2 patients did not complete the consultation.Of the patients receiving palliative care consultations,15 had malignant tumors and 3 had non-neoplastic diseases.The reasons for palliative care consultations included communication (61.1%,11/18) and pain relief (61.1%,11/18).In terms of the place of death,8 patients died in the hospital and 6 patients in other medical institutions. Conclusion There is a clear demand for palliative care consultation in the Emergency Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital,and the consultation can bring help to both emergency doctors and patients.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Palliative Care/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Referral and Consultation ; Hospitals ; Emergency Service, Hospital

ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiologic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics and prognoses of COVID-19 confirmed patients in a single center in Beijing, China. Methods The study retrospectively included 19 patients with nucleic acid-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at our hospital from January 20 to March 5, 2020. The final follow-up date was March 14, 2020. The epidemiologic and clinical information was obtained through direct communication with the patients or their family members. Laboratory results retrieved from medical records and radiological images were analyzed both qualitatively by two senior chest radiologists as well as quantitatively via an artificial intelligence software. Results We identified 5 family clusters (13/19, 68.4%) from the study cohort. All cases had good clinical prognoses and were either mild (3/19) or moderate (16/19) clinical types. Fever (15/19, 78.9%) and dry cough (11/19, 57.9%) were common symptoms. Two patients received negative results for more than three consecutive viral nucleic acid tests. The longest interval between an initial CT abnormal finding and a confirmed diagnosis was 30 days. One patient's nucleic acid test turned positive on the follow-up examination after discharge. The presence of radiological abnormalities was non-specific for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Conclusions COVID-19 patients with mild or no clinical symptoms are common in Beijing, China. Radiological abnormalities are mostly non-specific and massive CT examinations for COVID-19 screening should be avoided. Analyses of the contact histories of diagnosed cases in combination with clinical, radiological and laboratory findings are crucial for the early detection of COVID-19. Close monitoring after discharge is also recommended.
Adult ; COVID-19/diagnostic imaging* ; COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing ; Child ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Lung/diagnostic imaging* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed