BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate the effects of unilateral ureteral obstruction on renal pelvic peristalsis and pacemaker cells in neonatal rats.Methods:An animal experimental study.Thirty-six 2-day-old newborn SD rats were randomly divided into the partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (PUUO) group, complete unilateral ureteral obstruction (CUUO) group, and sham operation group, with 12 rats in each group.One week after surgery, all rats were subjected to renal pelvic pressure (RPP) measurement by puncture.After measurement, the rats were euthanized, and their left renal pelvis and ureter were removed and fixed for histological examination.Parameters such as RPP, peristaltic wave frequency and amplitude at different perfusion speeds were recorded and compared, and the changes in pacemaker cells (atypical smooth muscle cells and Cajal-like interstitial cells) were also compared.The independent samples t-test was used for comparison between 2 groups, and the one-way ANOVA of variance was used for comparison among 3 groups. Results:In the sham operation group, the RPP increased gradually with the increase of perfusion speed; the frequency of peristaltic waves rose rapidly and then dropped after reaching the highest level with the increase of perfusion speed; similarly, the amplitude of peristaltic waves first increased and then decreased as the perfusion speed increased.In the PUUO group, the RPP increased rapidly with the increase of perfusion speed, higher than that in the sham operation group; the frequency of peristaltic waves was higher than that in the sham operation group, and it was relatively constant under the perfusion speed of 40 mL/h, but when the perfusion speed increased again, the frequency began to decline; the amplitude of peristaltic waves increased quickly and then declined at a faster rate than the sham operation group with the increase of perfusion speed.In the CUUO group, the basic RPP was 12 cmH 2O(1 cmH 2O=0.098 kPa); at the perfusion speed of 5 mL/h, the RPP rose gradually, and no plateau appeared; when the RPP reached 73 cmH 2O, the perfusate retrograded from the side of the puncture needle, then the RPP slightly decreased and then balanced, and no regular peristaltic waves were observed in the renal pelvis throughout the whole perfusion process.Immunofluorescence staining analysis showed the pacemaker cells were all located in the smooth muscle of the renal pelvic wall.The sham operation group had the highest positive rate, followed by the PUUO group and then the CUUO group. Conclusions:Ureteral obstruction has a significant impact on the peristalsis of the renal pelvis, and its impact on the peristaltic wave frequency and amplitude and RPP can be predicted.The reduction of pacemaker cells in the renal pelvis may be involved in the changes of renal pelvic peristalsis caused by ureteral obstruction, but further research is needed on how pacemaker cells regulate the peristalsis of the renal pelvis and ureter.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of tetrandrine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.Methods:Randomized controlled studies of tetrandrine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis were searched in CNKI,VIP,Wanfang database,SinoMed,PubMed,Springer,Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trails databases.A meta-analysis was conducted using R 3.5.3 software to evaluate the clinical outcomes,including the total effective rate,erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP),rheumatoid factor(RF),visual analogue scale(VAS),disease activity score(DAS),tender joint count(TJC),swollen joint count(SJC),and morning stiffness duration,as well as adverse events of rheumatoid arthritis patients.Results:A total of 10 articles were included in the study.The meta-analysis indicated that tetrandrine significantly improved the total effective rate(OR=3.27,95%CI:2.01-5.37,P<0.01),ESR(SMD=1.12,95%CI:0.06-2.19,P<0.05),CRP(SMD=0.75,95%CI:0.28-1.22,P<0.01),VAS(SMD=0.64,95%CI:0.29-1.00,P<0.01),TJC(SMD=1.16,95%CI:0.58-1.74,P<0.01),SJC(SMD=0.85,95%CI:0.40-1.31,P<0.01),and morning stiffness(SMD=1.09,95%CI:0.68-1.50,P<0.01).However,no statistical significance was found in RF(SMD=1.70,95%CI:-1.10-4.51,P>0.05)and DAS(SMD=0.26,95%CI:-0.59-1.11,P>0.05).The overall incidence of adverse events associated with tetrandrine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis was 20%(95%CI:12%-27%,I2=60%,P<0.05),with mild severity and favorable outcomes.Conclusion:Tetrandrine is effective in the treatment of RA patients with a mild degree of adverse events.

Objective: Despite the availability of numerous treatment options, managing patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) remains challenging, and the prognosis of PROC is notably unfavorable. This retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of combined anlotinib-oral etoposide treatment for patients with PROC. Methods: Data of 23 patients who were diagnosed with PROC from January 2020 to November 2022 and treated with anlotinib combined with oral etoposide for at least 2 cycles were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among per-protocol patients, 9 (45.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI]=21.1–68.9) of 20 patients achieved partial response and 17 (85.0%, 95% CI=67.9–100.0) of 20 patients achieved disease control. The median progression-free survival was 8.7 months (95% CI=5.3–11.6).The incidence of adverse events (any grade) was 100%, and the incidence of grade 3–4 adverse events was 54.5%. Conclusion Anlotinib combined with etoposide emerged effective for the treatment of PROC.

Objective: Despite the availability of numerous treatment options, managing patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) remains challenging, and the prognosis of PROC is notably unfavorable. This retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of combined anlotinib-oral etoposide treatment for patients with PROC. Methods: Data of 23 patients who were diagnosed with PROC from January 2020 to November 2022 and treated with anlotinib combined with oral etoposide for at least 2 cycles were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among per-protocol patients, 9 (45.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI]=21.1–68.9) of 20 patients achieved partial response and 17 (85.0%, 95% CI=67.9–100.0) of 20 patients achieved disease control. The median progression-free survival was 8.7 months (95% CI=5.3–11.6).The incidence of adverse events (any grade) was 100%, and the incidence of grade 3–4 adverse events was 54.5%. Conclusion Anlotinib combined with etoposide emerged effective for the treatment of PROC.

Objective: Despite the availability of numerous treatment options, managing patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) remains challenging, and the prognosis of PROC is notably unfavorable. This retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of combined anlotinib-oral etoposide treatment for patients with PROC. Methods: Data of 23 patients who were diagnosed with PROC from January 2020 to November 2022 and treated with anlotinib combined with oral etoposide for at least 2 cycles were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among per-protocol patients, 9 (45.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI]=21.1–68.9) of 20 patients achieved partial response and 17 (85.0%, 95% CI=67.9–100.0) of 20 patients achieved disease control. The median progression-free survival was 8.7 months (95% CI=5.3–11.6).The incidence of adverse events (any grade) was 100%, and the incidence of grade 3–4 adverse events was 54.5%. Conclusion Anlotinib combined with etoposide emerged effective for the treatment of PROC.

Objective:To observe the effects of intensive insulin therapy combined with glutamine on nutritional metabolism, inflammatory response, and hemodynamics in severe burn patients.Methods:Thirty-two severe burn patients who met the inclusion criteria and hospitalized in the Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from June 2017 to January 2019 were recruited into a prospectively randomized controlled study. According to the random number table, the patients were divided into conventional insulin therapy alone group, conventional insulin therapy+glutamine group, intensive insulin therapy alone group, and intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group, with 8 patients in each group, with genders of 5 males and 3 females, 4 males and 4 females, 3 males and 5 females, 4 males and 4 females, and ages of (35±7), (36±9), (33±11), and (38±7) years, respectively. Patients in conventional insulin therapy alone group were treated with conventional insulin therapy on the basis of routine treatment to control the blood glucose. Patients in conventional insulin therapy+glutamine group were supplemented with alanyl-glutamine for more than 14 days in addition to the treatment in conventional insulin therapy alone group. Patients in intensive insulin therapy alone group were treated with intensive insulin therapy on the basis of routine treatment to control the blood glucose. Patients in intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group were supplemented with alanyl-glutamine in addition to the treatment in intensive insulin therapy alone group. On treatment day (TD) 1, 3, 7, and 14, the blood glucose, albumin, prealbumin, white blood cell count, procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) of patients in the 4 groups were detected. The cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI), global end-diastolic volume index (GEDVI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), and pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) of patients in the 4 groups on TD 1, 3, and 7 were measured. Data were statistically analyzed with Fisher′s exact probability test, one-way analysis of variance, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, and Bonferroni method.Results:All patients in the 4 groups successfully completed the study, and there were no withdrawal cases. On TD 3, 7, and 14, the blood glucose of patients in intensive insulin therapy alone group ((5.9±1.3), (5.8±0.6), (5.5±0.5) mmol/L) and intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group ((5.9±1.1), (5.6±1.1), (5.2±0.8) mmol/L) were significantly lower than those in conventional insulin therapy alone group ((9.1±0.5), (8.4±0.9), (7.4±1.1) mmol/L, P<0.05). Compared with those in conventional insulin therapy alone group, the levels of albumin of patients in conventional insulin therapy+glutamine group, intensive insulin therapy alone group, and intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group were significantly increased on TD 7 and 14 ( P<0.05). Compared with the level of albumin of patients in intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group, the levels of albumin of patients in conventional insulin therapy+glutamine group and intensive insulin therapy alone group were significantly decreased on TD 14 ( P<0.05). Compared with those in conventional insulin therapy alone group, the levels of prealbumin of patients in conventional insulin therapy+glutamine group and intensive insulin therapy alone group were significantly increased on TD 7 and 14 ( P<0.05). Compared with those in intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group, the levels of prealbumin of patients in intensive insulin therapy alone group and conventional insulin therapy+glutamine group were significantly decreased on TD 1, 7, and 14 ( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the white blood cell count, PCT, and CRP of patients in the 4 groups in pairwise comparison between groups on TD 1, 3, 7, and 14 ( P>0.05). On TD 3 and 7, the levels of cardiac index, SVI, GEDVI, and SVRI of patients in intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group were significantly higher than those in conventional insulin therapy alone group ( P<0.05), while the levels of EVLWI and PVPI were significantly lower than those in conventional insulin therapy alone group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Glutamine combined with intensive insulin therapy can improve the hypermetabolism in patients after severe burns, reduce the decomposition and consumption of endogenous nutrient substrates, and at the same time help the recovery of cardiac function and maintenance of hemodynamic stability.

Objective: To observe the effect of ulinastatin combined with glutamine on early hemodynamics in patients with severe burns. Methods: Thirty-two patients with severe burns who met the inclusion criteria and hospitalized in the Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2016 to December 2018 were selected for conducting a prospective randomized controlled trial. According to the random number table, the patients were divided into conventional treatment group (4 males and 4 females), ulinastatin group (5 males and 3 females), glutamine group (5 males and 3 females), and ulinastatin+ glutamine group (4 males and 4 females), with ages of (36±8), (34±8), (35±9), and (38±13) years in turn. From post injury day 2, patients in the 4 groups were given nutritional support of equal nitrogen and equal calories, of which protein was 2.0 g/kg daily. In addition, patients in the ulinastatin group received intravenous injection of 100 kU ulinastatin every 8 hours for 7 consecutive days; 0.3 g/kg of protein given to patients in the glutamine group was provided by alanine glutamine for 7 consecutive days; patients in the ulinastatin+ glutamine group received corresponding treatments of both ulinastatin group and glutamine group. With the help of pulse contour cardiac output (PiCCO) monitoring technology, the cardiac index, stroke volume index (SVI), global end-diastolic volume index (GEDI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) of patients in each group were measured on treatment day (TD) 1, 3, and 7. Data were processed with Fisher′s exact probability method, one-way analysis of variance, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, and Bonferroni method. Results: The cardiac index was low and the SVI value was lower than the normal value on TD 1 in patients of the 4 groups, without statistically significant differences between any two groups (P>0.05), and then they were all gradually increased. On TD 3 and 7, compared with those of the conventional treatment group, the cardiac index and SVI of patients in the other three groups were all increased, and the cardiac index and SVI of patients in the ulinastatin+ glutamine group were significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). On TD 1, the GEDI of patients in the conventional treatment group, ulinastatin group, glutamine group, and ulinastatin+ glutamine group were at normal low levels, which were (659±58), (661±79), (659±88), and (653±71) mL/m² respectively, without statistically significant differences between any two groups (P>0.05), and then they all gradually increased. On TD 3 and 7, compared with (684±82) and (742±46) mL/m² of the conventional treatment group, the GEDI of patients in the ulinastatin group, glutamine group, and ulinastatin+ glutamine group were all elevated, which were (732±53) and (777±33), (725±58) and (783±49), (813±65) and (849±27) mL/m² respectively, and the GEDI of patients in the ulinastatin+ glutamine group was significantly increased (P<0.05). The SVRI of patients in the four groups were all at high levels on TD 1, without statistically significant differences between any two groups (P>0.05), and then they all gradually decreased. On TD 3 and 7, compared with those of the conventional treatment group, the SVRI of patients in the other three groups were all increased, and the SVRI in the ulinastatin+ glutamine group was significantly increased (P<0.05). On TD 1, the EVLWI of patients in the conventional treatment group, ulinastatin group, glutamine group, and ulinastatin+ glutamine group were all in the normal range, which were (6.6±0.6), (6.3±0.4), (6.5±0.4), and (6.6±0.6) mL/kg respectively, without statistically significant differences between any two groups (P>0.05), and then they all showed the increasing trend. On TD 3 and 7, compared with (7.1±0.9) and (7.9±0.5) mL/kg of the conventional treatment group, the EVLWI of patients in the ulinastatin group, glutamine group, and ulinastatin+ glutamine group were all decreased, which were (6.2±0.6) and (7.1±0.4), (6.3±1.0) and (7.2±0.9), (5.8±0.7) and (6.7±0.6) mL/kg respectively, and the EVLWI of patients in the ulinastatin+ glutamine group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). On TD 1, the PVPI of patients in the four groups were all in the normal range, without statistically significant differences between any two groups (P>0.05), and then they all gradually decreased. On TD 3 and 7, compared with those of the conventional treatment group, the PVPI of patients in the other three groups were all decreased, and the PVPI in the ulinastatin+ glutamine group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusions Ulinastatin combined with glutamine can increase the cardiac index, SVI, GEDI, and SVRI and reduce the EVLWI and PVPI in treating patients with severe burns, thereby increasing early cardiac output after injury, promoting tissue and organ perfusion, and reducing pulmonary edema, resulting in significant improvement in early hemodynamics of patients with severe burns.

Objective To investigate the value of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI)quantitative parameters in evaluating patholog-ical grade of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).Methods The DKI images of 45 patients with CSCC were analyzed retrospec-tively.According to the results of pathology,22 cases were divided into poorly differentiated group and 23 cases well-moderately dif-ferentiated group.The DKI parameters of two groups were measured by two observers,which included mean kurtosis (MK),axial kurtosis (Ka),radial kurtosis (Kr),fractional anisotropy of kurtosis (FAk),mean diffusivity (MD),axial diffusivity (Da),radial diffusivity (Dr)and fractional anisotropy (FA).The intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC)was used to test the consistency of the parameters measured results on two observers.The two independent samples t test was used to compare the parameters of two groups,and the ROC curve was used to evaluate the effectiveness of each parameter in order to evaluate the poorly differentiated CSCC and find the boundary values.Results The data consistency of two observers were good (ICC>0.75).The MK,Ka and Kr values on poorly differentiated CSCC were greater than that on well-moderately differentiated (P<0.05),the MD,Da and Dr values were less than that on well-moderately differentiated (P<0.05),the FAk and FA values had no difference (P>0.05).Thearea un-der curve (AUC)of MK,Ka,Kr,MD,Da and Dr values to diagnose poorly differentiated CSCC were 0.914,0.831,0.865,0.850, 0.778 and 0.865,respectively.The boundary values of diagnosing poorly differentiated CSCC were MK≥0.973,Ka≥1.075,Kr≥0.823, MD≤0.974μm2/ms,Da≤1.185μm2/ms and Dr≤0.762μm2/ms,respectively.Conclusion DKI can effectively predict the patho-logical grading of CSCC,which has a good clinical application prospects.

Objective To establish normal reference intervals of plasma and urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in children′s hospital.Methods A total of 183 fresh EDTA anticoagulant samples and 125 fresh urine in healthy children were collected from May 2014 to October 2014.According to the CLSI C28-A2 ,the unilateral upper limit 95% was established the normal reference value in different age group.Results There was significant difference in four groups (P<0.05).The normal reference intervals of plasma NGAL in healthy children:0 to <7 months;<291.28 μg/L;7 months to <5 years old;<150.87 μg/L;5 years old to <9 years old:<127.93 μg/L;9 years old to ≤16 years old:<161.74 μg/L;the normal reference intervals of healthy children urine NGAL:0 to <7 months:<257.31 μg/L;7 months to <5 years old:<201.55 μg/L;5years old to <9 years old:<197.69 μg/L;9 years old to ≤16 years old:<151.46 μg/L.Plasma and urine NGAL results in neonatal group were higher than the other three groups.Conclusion The normal reference intervals of plasma and urine NGAL in children′s hospital is established.this could provide clinical evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of acute renal injury in pediatric patients.