Chinese Med J Peking
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Chinese Med J Peking · Dec 2007
Effectiveness and safety of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation for severe hypercapnic encephalopathy due to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective case-control study.
Although severe encephalopathy has been proposed as a possible contraindication to the use of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV), increasing clinical reports showed it was effective in patients with impaired consciousness and even coma secondary to acute respiratory failure, especially hypercapnic acute respiratory failure (HARF). To further evaluate the effectiveness and safety of NPPV for severe hypercapnic encephalopathy, a prospective case-control study was conducted at a university respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) during the past 3 years. ⋯ Selected patients with severe hypercapnic encephalopathy secondary to HARF can be treated as effectively and safely with NPPV as awake patients with HARF due to AECOPD; a trial of NPPV should be instituted to reduce the need of endotracheal intubation in patients with severe hypercapnic encephalopathy who are otherwise good candidates for NPPV due to AECOPD.
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Chinese Med J Peking · Dec 2007
Simultaneous multi-tear exclusion: an optimal strategy for type B thoracic aortic dissection initially proved by a single center's 8 years experience.
Endovascular stent-grafting is widely used to treat thoracic aortic dissection. However, little information is available regarding outcome following simultaneous exclusion of multiple tears. This report details eight years of experience using simultaneous multi-tear exclusion for treatment of Stanford type B thoracic aortic dissection resulting in successful aortic remodeling without adverse events. ⋯ The mid-term result of thoracic aortic dissection with simultaneous multi-tear exclusion was satisfactory. With the improvement of stent-grafts, simultaneous multi-tear exclusion should find wider application and become an optimal strategy for thoracic aortic dissection.
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Chinese Med J Peking · Dec 2007
Aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-3 expressions in the temporo-mandibular joint condylar cartilage after an experimentally induced osteoarthritis.
Over 70% of the total tissue weight in the cartilage matrix consists of water, and the early-stage osteoarthritic cartilage is characterized by swelling. Water transport in the cartilage matrix and across the membranes of chondrocytes may be important in normal and pathological conditions of cartilage. The purpose of this study was to identify aquaporin-1 (AQP1) and aquaporin-3 (AQP3) expressions in the mandibular condylar cartilage after experimentally induced osteoarthritis (OA) in rats. ⋯ The high expression of AQP3 mRNA in the OA cartilage and the different localization of the AQP3 protein suggest that it may play a particular role in OA pathogenesis. Further study of AQP3 function may provide new insight into the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying OA.
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Chinese Med J Peking · Nov 2007
Fluids administration and coagulation characteristics in patients with different model for end-stage liver disease scores undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation.
There have been many studies investigating the impact of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score on predicting post-transplant outcome. But it is unclear whether MELD is correlated to intraoperative fluid therapy and coagulation status. We investigated the relationship between the severity of liver diseases as measured by MELD score and intraoperative fluid requirements and the changes of coagulation characteristics. ⋯ This study provided some useful information for perioperative management of patients undergoing liver transplantation. Careful preoperative planning and resource preparation are crucial for patients with high MELD scores. Close communication between surgeon, anesthesiologist and the transfusion staff of blood bank before and during surgery should be stressed.