Medicine
-
Comparative Study Observational Study
Serum apoprotein A1 levels are inversely associated with disease activity in gout: From a southern Chinese Han population.
To analyze the alteration of lipid profile and inflammatory markers in the serum of patients with gouty arthritis (GA), the levels of serum lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs) were measured in the serum of 69 gout patients, 35 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 23 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS)/spondyloarthropathy (SpA), and 25 patients with osteoarthritis (OA). The serum levels of apoprotein A1 (Apo-A1) were significantly decreased in patients with gout when compared with RA, AS/SpA, and OA patients. ⋯ Correlation analysis indicated that the levels of Apo-A1 were negatively correlated with serum ESR and CRP (r = -0.475, P < .001; r = -0.380, P = .001, respectively) in the patients with GA. Taken together, this study gives us a better understanding of the relationships between serum lipid profile and inflammatory markers in gout patients.
-
Case Reports
Progressive fingertip necrosis after nail avulsion injury in a patient with ulnar artery hypoplasia: A case report.
Slowly progressive hand ischemia is mostly associated with medical illness such as vasculitis, and in patients with smoking history, Buerger disease is often considered first. However, despite the very low incidence of vascular anatomical anomalies, they can lead to hand ischemia. And if there is no consideration for them, proper treatment cannot be selected. ⋯ In this case report, the authors emphasize that the possibility of anatomical anomaly should be considered as a cause of the ischemia. Vascular imaging should be undertaken to investigate the cause of ischemia of the hand.
-
Review Meta Analysis
Is the oral contraceptive or hormone replacement therapy a risk factor for cholelithiasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Association between exogenous estrogen intake and cholelithiasis risk has been reported in several epidemiological studies, including oral contraceptive (OC) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), while the results were controversial. This study aimed to perform a comprehensive meta-analysis of this issue. ⋯ The HRT was positively associated with the cholelithiasis risk, and the OC will not increase the risk of cholelithiasis.
-
Providing adequate chest compression is essential during infant cardio-pulmonary-resuscitation (CPR) but was reported to be performed poor. The "new 2-thumb technique" (nTTT), which consists in using 2 thumbs directed at the angle of 90° to the chest while closing the fingers of both hands in a fist, was recently introduced. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare 3 chest compression techniques, namely, the 2-finger-technique (TFT), the 2-thumb-technique (TTHT), and the nTTT in an randomized infant-CPR manikin setting. ⋯ The nTTT provides adequate chest compression depth and rate and was associated with adequate chest decompression and possibility to adequately ventilate the infant manikin. Further clinical studies are necessary to confirm these initial findings.
-
Case Reports
Transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap for postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula: A case report.
Numerous types of flap coverage have been reported to prevent or to repair bronchopleural fistulas. Most of the flaps were harvested from chest area. However, these pedicled flaps might not be optimal for the patient who has undergone previous radiotherapy on pulmonary parenchyma because the pedicle artery of the flap might have been injured by irradiation. Therefore, an alternative flap outside of the chest area is necessary. ⋯ This case demonstrated that pedicled TRAM flap is a feasible alternative to repair bronchopleural fistula.