Electronic clinical records in primary care for estimating disease burden and management. An example of COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant health problem in developed countries. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of COPD in a single Spanish healthcare area. We also aimed to assess if there are any differences in prevalence and spirometry use among primary care services by utilizing already registered information. We designed a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of COPD and the performance of spirometries in each primary care service. A total of 8,444 patients were diagnosed with COPD, with a prevalence of 2.6% for individuals older than 39 years. The prevalence increased with age and was much higher in men. Significant heterogeneity was found in the prevalence of COPD and spirometry use among primary care services. COPD was underdiagnosed and there was wide variability in spirometry use in our area. Greater efforts are needed to diagnose COPD in order to improve its clinical outcomes and to refine registries so that they can be used as reliable sources of information     

Comparison of inhaled nitric oxide with aerosolized prostacyclin or analogues for the postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of inhaled prostacyclin or its analoguesversus nitric oxide (NO) in treating pulmonary hypertension (PH) after cardiac or pulmonary surgery remains unclear.

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched for literature published prior to December 2019 using the following keywords: inhaled, nitric oxide, prostacyclin, iloprost, treprostinil, epoprostenol, Tyvaso, flolan, and pulmonary hypertension. Randomized controlled trials and multiple-armed prospective studies that evaluated inhaled NO versus prostacyclin (or analogues) in patients for perioperative and/or postoperative PH after either cardiac or pulmonary surgery were included. Retrospective studies, reviews, letters, comments, editorials, and case reports were excluded.

Results: Seven studies with a total of 195 patients were included. No difference in the improvement of mean pulmonary arterial pressure (pooled difference in mean change= ?0.10, 95% CI: ?3.98 to 3.78, p?=?.959) or pulmonary vascular resistance (pooled standardized difference in mean change= ?0.27, 95% CI: ?0.60 to 0.05, p?=?.099) were found between the two treatments. Similarly, no difference was found in other outcomes between the two treatments or subgroup analysis.

Conclusions: Inhaled prostacyclin (or analogues) was comparable to inhaled NO in treating PH after cardiac or pulmonary surgery.

• Key messages

• This study compared the efficacy of inhaled prostacyclin or its analogues versus inhaled NO to treat PH after surgery. The two types of agent exhibited similar efficacy in managing MPAP, PVR, heart rate, and cardiac output was observed.

• Inhaled prostacyclin may serve as an alternative treatment option for PH after cardiac or pulmonary surgery.

     

急性肺栓塞时心肌血流灌注的变化

目的观察急性肺栓塞（APE）后冠状动脉血流量及心脏肌钙蛋白T（cTnT）与肌红蛋白（Mb）含量变化，探讨心肌血流灌注在急性肺栓塞继发心肌损伤机制中的作用。方法通过介入方法经导管注入自体血栓选择性栓塞肺动脉，建立不同栓塞面积的急性肺栓塞动物模型。监测栓前、栓后5、30min，1、2h冠状动脉血流量变化及栓后4h血清cTnT与Mb含量。结果急性肺栓塞后血清cTnT与Mb含量升高。急性肺栓塞导致冠状动脉血流量显著下降，肺血管栓塞后15～30min降至最低值，30min后趋于平稳。右冠血流量下降程度与肺栓塞面积有显著相关性。结论冠状动脉血流量减少及血清心肌结构蛋白含量升高为急性肺栓塞继发心肌缺血改变提供了直接证据。急性心肌缺血严重影响急性肺栓塞的预后。     

慢性低氧大鼠肺动脉内皮素mRNA的表达及定位

目的：探讨慢性低氧大鼠肺动脉内皮素－1基因表达及分布。方法：采用生物素标记cRNA探针，对Wistar大鼠肺动脉进行原位杂交。结果：低氧1周组及低氧2周组大鼠大部分肺动脉内皮细胞ET－1mRNA表达呈阳性信号，而对照组大鼠仅极少数阳性信号（P＜0．01）；低氧1周组大鼠部分显示强阳性信号。低氧1周组及低氧2周组大鼠部分肺动脉平滑肌细胞呈现ET-1mRNA表达阳性信号，而对照组大鼠则无阳性信号表达（P＜0．01及0．05）。结论：慢性低氧对大鼠肺动脉ET－1分泌的影响是在基因转录水平进行，且主要细胞定位在肺动脉内皮细胞，此外还包括肺动脉平滑肌细胞。     

Comparison of local and general anesthesia in tension-free (Lichtenstein) hernioplasty: a prospective randomized trial

To compare pulmonary effects, postoperative pain and fatigue, morbidity, patient satisfaction, and cost of different anesthetic techniques for inguinal hernia repair, 50 patients were randomized to local and general anesthesia groups (LA and GA). All patients received the same premedications and the same postoperative analgesic regimen. The standardized postoperative analgesic, intramuscular pyroxicam 20 mg, was given to all patients in the recovery room and an additional 20 mg on the same day was given as requested by each patient. Pulmonary function studies and arterial blood gas analysis were performed 1 h prior to the operation and at the postoperative 8th and 24th hours. All patients underwent Lichtenstein's tension-free hernioplasty. Postoperative pain and fatigue were registered 8 h and 24 h after the operation. A questionnaire was filled out by the patients, and they were asked to give grades for the general comfort of the anesthesia and the surgical procedure (1=worst, 10=best). Postoperative pulmonary function tests were significantly poorer in the GA group both on 8th- and 24th-hour measurements (P<0.05). Patients who underwent LA had significantly lower PCO₂ and higher PO₂ at the postoperative 8th hour (P<0.05). Mean postoperative pain and fatigue scores revealed a significant difference in favor of local anesthesia at only the 8th hour (P<0.05). There were two complications, one in each group (a hematoma in LA and a urinary retention in GA). Patient satisfaction grades were not different in the two groups. We conclude that LA in inguinal hernia repair does not adversely affect pulmonary functions, patients feel less pain, and patient satisfaction is comparable to that with GA. Electronic Publication     

支气管肺蠊缨滴虫病的临床诊治进展

支气管肺蠊缨滴虫感染是一种新的寄生虫疾病,1993年至2008年国内共确诊48例,临床诊断和治疗有一定进展,但蠊缨滴虫感染病例的临床表现缺少特征性,蠊缨滴虫自然宿主、传播途径、流行区域及致病机制等多个方面也尚不明确,其生物学分类地位也有争议,国内还没有建立抗原抗体检测或分子生物学鉴定方法.     

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma General and medical management with special attention to exacerbations

The general management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma is discussed. Pathophysiological mechanisms of bronchial obstruction and inflammation are briefly described. The importance of preventive measures is emphasized. Medicine prescribed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, their relative place in treatment schedules and route of administration are reviewed. Finally, the importance of maximal bronchodilatation in exacerbations is stressed and the few indications for antibiotic treatment are discussed.