Chinese Med J Peking
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Chinese Med J Peking · Sep 2012
Prevalence and risk factors of chronic post-thoracotomy pain in Chinese patients from Peking Union Medical College Hospital.
In clinical practice, the mechanisms underlying chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) remain insufficiently understood. The primary goals of this study were to determine the incidence of chronic pain after thoracic surgery and to identify possible risk factors associated with the development of chronic post-thoracotomy pain in Chinese patients. The secondary goal was to determine whether the difference between pre- and post-operative white blood cell (WBC) counts could predict the prevalence of CPSP after thoracotomy. The impact of chronic pain on daily life was also investigated. ⋯ Chronic pain is common after thoracotomy. WBC count may be a new independent risk factoring surgical patients during peri-operative period. Besides, age, diabetes mellitus, acute post-operative pain, and duration of chest tube drainage may also play a role in chronic post-surgical pain occurrence.
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Chinese Med J Peking · Sep 2012
ReviewSenescent remodeling of the immune system and its contribution to the predisposition of the elderly to infections.
To review the senescent remodeling of the immune system with aging and its relevance to the increased susceptibility of the elderly to infectious diseases, along with an outlook on emerging immunological biomarkers. ⋯ Aging does not necessarily lead to an unavoidable decline in immune functions. Instead, a complex remodeling occurs. Despite the lack of compelling scientific evidence, senescent immune remodeling surely is a significant contributing factor to the increased risk and severity of infections in the elderly. Although, no immunological biomarker has been formally linked to the increased risk of infections in the elderly, biomarkers remain a promising tool to predict the likelihood of healthy aging, the level of immune competence, and mortality risk in the elderly. Hence, more research is required to define healthy aging and identify immunological biomarkers.
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Chinese Med J Peking · Sep 2012
Comparative StudyAge-associated changes in pulmonary function: a comparison of pulmonary function parameters in healthy young adults and the elderly living in Shanghai.
The respiratory system changes with age and a better understanding of the changes contribute to detect and prevent respiratory dysfunctions in old population. The purpose of this study was to observe age-associated changes of pulmonary function parameters in healthy young adults and the elderly. ⋯ Total pulmonary function was declined with advancing age, but FRC was stable, and the increasing tendency of RV and decreasing tendency of FEV(1)/FVC obviously slowed down in the pre-elderly and elderly subjects.
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Chinese Med J Peking · Sep 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialFast track surgery accelerates the recovery of postoperative insulin sensitivity.
Few clinical studies or randomized clinical trial results have reported the impact of fast track surgery on postoperative insulin sensitivity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of fast track surgery on postoperative insulin sensitivity in patients undergoing elective open colorectal resection. ⋯ Fast track surgery accelerates the recovery of postoperative insulin sensitivity in elective surgery for colorectal carcinoma with a shorter length of postoperative hospital stay.
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Chinese Med J Peking · Sep 2012
Significance of Aspergillus spp. isolation from lower respiratory tract samples for the diagnosis and prognosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) is an emerging population at risk for invasive infection of Aspergillus. Isolation of Aspergillus from lower respiratory tract (LRT) samples is important for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of Aspergillus isolation from LRT samples for the diagnosis and prognosis of IPA in COPD population. ⋯ Aspergillus spp. isolation from LRT in COPD may be of similar importance as in immunocompromised patients, and may indicate an increased diagnosis possibility of IPA and worse prognosis when these patients received corticosteroids, antibiotics, and need to admit to ICU. Aspergillus spp. isolation from LRT samples combined with certain risk factors may be useful in differentiating colonization from IPA and evaluating the prognosis of IPA in COPD patients.