Vital Exhaustion and Markers of Low‐Grade Inflammation in Healthy Adults: The Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study

This study analyses distinct trajectories of vital exhaustion (VE; a measure of mental health incorporating signs of stress and depression) over a period of 15 years in healthy adults and investigates further the consequences for markers of low‐grade inflammation as indicators of cardiovascular disease risk. Data of 341 participants of the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study were utilized. VE was measured by the Maastricht Questionnaire. Markers of low‐grade inflammation included interleukin‐6, interleukin‐8 and tumour necrosis factor‐α. Distinct trajectories of VE were obtained by latent class growth models, and consequences for markers of low‐grade inflammation of the trajectories were analysed by linear regressions. We found comparable trajectories of VE for men and women; a ‘never vitally exhausted’ subgroup (16.9% and 25.1%, respectively), a ‘stable preclinical VE’ subgroup (51.7% and 68.1%) and a ‘chronic VE state’ subgroup (31.5% and 6.7%). The subgroups had similar levels of the markers investigated. This study is the first to analyse VE longitudinally in healthy adults and indicates that although distinct trajectories of VE were identified, differential consequences for cardiovascular disease risk were unapparent. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hemodynamic study about cortical hyperintensity belt sign after direct bypass surgery for moyamoya disease

Transient neurological events (TNEs) are observed after direct bypass surgery in patients with moyamoya disease (MMD). Although a correlation between cortical hyperintensity belt signs (CHBs) and TNEs has been reported, the pathophysiology of CHBs is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to reveal the pathophysiology of CHBs by using dynamic susceptibility contrast-magnetic resonance imaging. Thirty patients with MMD were included in this study. We provided scores (0–2) for the existence of CHBs on postoperative FLAIR images. We placed the ROI for the presented area of CHBs in the images of cerebral blood flow, CBV, and MTT. We calculated the change of the hemodynamic parameters (increase ratio, IR) and analyzed the relationship between IRs, CHB scores, and TNEs. TNEs were observed in 15 cases (50%) and CHBs were detected in 28 cases (93%). TNEs showed significantly higher CHB scores than those without (p < 0.05). The group of CHB score 2 showed a significantly higher CBV IR than the group with of score 0 (p < 0.05). Patients with TNEs showed a significantly higher CBV IR than those without (p < 0.05). As for the cut-off level to predict an appearance of TNEs, the CBV IR was 1.36 by the Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis, and the sensitivity and specificity were 80% respectively. We hypothesize that the pathophysiology of the CHBs are vasogenic edemas because the postoperative CBV increase correlated with the CHBs.     

Plasma matrix metalloproteinase 7, CC-chemokine ligand 18, and periostin as markers for pulmonary sarcoidosis

BackgroundSome patients with sarcoidosis experience worsening of pulmonary lesions. However, no biomarker has been identified that reflects pulmonary disease status in sarcoidosis. We investigated the usefulness of potential markers of pulmonary fibrosis in patients with sarcoidosis.MethodsPlasma matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7), CC-chemokine ligand 18 (CCL-18), and periostin levels were evaluated in 60 patients with sarcoidosis and 30 healthy controls; bronchoalveolar lavage fluid levels were analyzed in 22 patients with sarcoidosis. To determine the usefulness of these markers, we explored potential correlations between these markers and sarcoidosis clinical characteristics.ResultsPlasma MMP-7, CCL-18, and periostin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with sarcoidosis than those in healthy controls. MMP-7 concentrations in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were higher in patients with sarcoidosis with parenchymal infiltration than in those without lung lesions. Moreover, MMP-7 concentration was negatively correlated with pulmonary function.ConclusionAmong these novel biomarkers, MMP-7 most precisely reflected pulmonary sarcoidosis disease status and thus, might be useful for diagnosing and evaluating sarcoidosis, particularly in patients with pulmonary parenchymal lesions.     

芬太尼复合不同浓度七氟醚吸入诱导对气管插管反应的影响

目的:比较肺活量吸入诱导法中不同七氟醚维持诱导浓度对气管插管反应的影响.方法:选择ASAⅠ~Ⅱ级,年龄20~50岁,将择期行腹腔镜手术的女性患者60例随机分为A、B、C三组各20例.各组诱导前静脉注射2μg·kg-1芬太尼,2 min后使用肺活量法吸入8%七氟醚,意识消后失立即静脉注射0.2 mg·kg-1顺式阿曲库铵,同时三组分别换用3%,5%和8%七氟醚维持诱导,面罩机械通气3 min后气管插管,使用Narcotrend监测诱导期的麻醉深度,记录诱导过程中和气管插管后意识消失的时间,气道反应及血流动力学变化.结果:(1)插管前C组MBP下降最明显,达基础值(MBPbase)的33.6%(P <0.001);(2)插管后1min,三组MBP上升至最大值,与MBPbase相比无统计学差异(P >0.05);与插管前相比,三组上升幅度为A组34.9%(P <0.01)、B组27.7%(P <0.001)和C组32.9%(P <0.01).插管后2 min三组HR上升到最大值,与插管前比较,三组上升幅度分别为A组20.0%(P <0.01)、B组15.2%(P <0.001)和C组20.6%(P <0.01).(3)诱导插管过程中,C组MBPmin较MBPbase下降42.2%(P <0.001),C组HRmax较HRbase升高22.3%(P <0.01).(4)C组MBP降低<30% MBPbase和HR升高>100次/分的发生率均高于A、B组(P <0.001).结论:芬太尼2μg·kg-1复合3%、5%、8%七氟醚吸入诱导均可减轻气管插管反应,芬太尼与5%七氟醚复合诱导血流动力学最稳定.