Search

Introduction. Hyperlipidemia is an underlying process behind cardiovascular disease. Chinese medicine (CM) may be effective in treating hyperlipidemia, but there is a lack of studies with high methodological quality. A major reason for this is heterogeneity in outcome reporting. Therefore, this study explores the degree of outcome reporting variation in CM trials for hyperlipidemia. It then generates a list of potentially important outcomes for developing a core outcome set (COS). Methods. A systematic review of literature focusing on studies of CM for hyperlipidemia was conducted. Outcomes were listed verbatim and grouped into 8 domains. Outcome frequency and definition uniformity were analyzed. Results. 3,702 studies and 452 individual outcomes were identified. These outcomes were reported 27,328 times, of which 1.6% were reported as primary outcomes, and 13.3% were defined. The most frequent outcome was total triglyceride, represented in 86.7% of the studies, followed by total cholesterol (86.0%), total effective rate (75.1%), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (73.2%), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (60.5%). However, 43.6% of outcomes were reported only once. The largest outcome domain was "pathological or pathophysiological outcomes," which included 67.0% of outcomes. Of the "response rate related outcomes" domain, total effective rate was the most frequently reported outcome (n = 2,780), and 95.3% of the studies gave a clear definition. However, these definitions were often contradictory. Only 10 papers reported cardiovascular events, 3 of which referred to them as primary outcomes. Moreover, ten patient-reported outcomes were reported in the retrieved literature 19 times in total. The majority of the outcomes did not report measurement instruments (MIs) (269/453, 59.4%). MIs of the surrogate outcomes were reported more frequently. Conclusion. Outcome reporting in CM trials for hyperlipidemia is inconsistent and ill-defined, creating barriers to data synthesis and comparison. Thus, we propose and are developing a COS for CM trials for hyperlipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pediatric mitral regurgitation (MR), especially with bileaflet prolapse, is relatively rare, of high complexity, and frequently associated with other congenital cardiac abnormalities. It remains a major therapeutic challenge for surgeons. This study reports our experience of surgical treatment of this mitral disease and midterm follow-up results.Methods: Between January 2016 and April 2020, nine pediatric patients, six females and three males, age ranged from 3 to 12 years (median age was 6 years) with a weight range of 12-36 kg (median weight was 25 kg), who all had over moderate regurgitation caused by bileaflet prolapse with mean distance of leaflet coaptation beyond annular plane 5.89 ± 1.66 mm (4-9 mm), received mitral valve (MV) repair. Various surgical techniques were used to repair MV.Results: The median follow-up period was 23(6-51) months, only one patient had moderately severe recurrent of MR, no patient developed systolic anterior motion (SAM) or mitral stenosis. Freedom from reoperation was 100% during the follow-up period. Compared to preoperation, the left atrial (LA) diameter and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) decreased significantly from 2.94 ± 0.49 cm to 2.37 ± 0.38 cm (LA, p < .01) and from 4.13 ± 0.73 cm to 3.62 ± 0.49 cm (LVEDD, p < .01) respectively, ejection fraction (EF) decreased significantly (p < .05) from 68.56 ± 3.98% to 62.89 ± 4.48% before discharged.Conclusion: We share our experience of surgical repair of mitral valve bileaflet prolapse in pediatric patients. Several surgical methods are considered to be used to repair the MV due to the high complexity of lesions. Anatomic correction or functional correction in our reports almost reaches the same result, while functional correction means simpler operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Due to the shortage of donor pool, there has been a need for organs with prolonged cold ischemic time. This study aims to evaluate the short-term results of different cold ischemic times in orthotopic heart transplantation based on a single-center experience in China.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of the heart transplant patients from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017. The recipient population was divided into four groups. Group 1: cold ischemic time greater than 8 hours; group 2: the cold ischemic time between 6 and 8 hours; group 3: the cold ischemic time between 4 and 6 hours; and group 4: cold ischemic time less than 4 hours. Efficacy indicators included after transplant survival, infection rate, rejection rate, and complications.Results: The four groups have similar donor and recipient baseline characteristics (P > .05). Cold ischemic time greater than 8 hours had more cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (127.62 ± 50.23 minutes; P = .003), CPB-assist time (86.14 ± 36.74 minutes; P = .047), and higher intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) usage rate postoperatively (47.36%; P = .010). Cold ischemic time greater than 8 hours witnessed a relatively higher mortality rate compared with the other three groups (P = .115, P =  .078, and P =  .114) during the 2-year follow-up. Survival rates of 1 and 2 years for the four groups were 78.95%, 87.13%, 87.32%, and 87.50% and 68.42%, 85.14%, 85.92%, and 83.93%, respectively.Conclusion: Cold ischemic time less than 8 hours can be reasonably applied to expand the heart transplantation donor pool. Cold ischemic time greater than 8 hours might result in longer CPB time, CPB-assist time, and higher IABP usage postoperatively. It might also affect the in-hospital and 2-years survival rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To provide evidence that the Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) PSORI-CM01 combined with Western medicine reduces the relapse rate of psoriasis vulgaris (PV), we plan to conduct a large-scale randomized control trial (RCT). In order to improve and perfect the RCT, this pilot study was designed to determine the feasibility and the potential of a modified protocol for the full-scale RCT.Methods: Eligible patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV) were enrolled into a randomized comparison in which all subjects received topical sequential therapy and PSORI-CM01 or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the relapse rate. Treatment response was computed from Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), body surface area (BSA), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). The secondary outcome measures included time to relapse, time to onset, rebound rate, PASI score, pruritus scores on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), BSA, DLQI and SF-36 (short form health survey), and incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs).Results: Six of 7 (86 %) subjects reached the PASI-50 in the CHM group compared with nine of 10 (90 %) in the placebo group during the treatment period. Among the subjects who reached PASI-50, one out of six subjects (17 %) relapsed in the CHM group during the treatment period compared with six out of nine patients in the placebo group (67 %). No subjects met the rebound criteria. Changes to baseline in the PASI scores were not significantly different between the two groups (t = 1.764, P = 0.098).Conclusion: Oral PSORI-CM01 combined with topical sequential treatment showed a smaller recurrence rate (P = 0.118) than placebo combined with the same topical therapy for moderate-to-severe PV in this pilot study.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( http://www.chictr.org.cn/searchproj.aspx ) ChiCTR-TRC-13003233 ; date of registration: 15 April 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ganghuo Kanggan decoction (GHKGD) is a clinical experience prescription used for the treatment of viral pneumonia in the Lingnan area of China, and its clinical effect is remarkable. However, the mechanism of GHKGD in influenza is still unclear. Objective: To predict the active components and signaling pathway of GHKGD and to explore its therapeutic mechanism in influenza and to verified it in vivo using network pharmacology. Methods: The potential active components and therapeutic targets of GHKGD in the treatment of influenza were hypothesized through a series of network pharmacological strategies, including compound screening, target prediction and pathway enrichment analysis. Based on the target network and enrichment results, a mouse model of influenza A virus (IAV) infection was established to evaluate the therapeutic effect of GHKGD on influenza and to verify the possible molecular mechanism predicted by network pharmacology. Results: A total of 116 candidate active compounds and 17 potential targets were identified. The results of the potential target enrichment analysis suggested GHKGD may involve the RLR signaling pathway to reduce inflammation in the lungs. In vivo experiments showed that GHKGD had a protective effect on pneumonia caused by IAV-infected mice. Compared with the untreated group, the weight loss in the GHKGD group in the BALB/c mice decreased, and the inflammatory pathological changes in lung tissue were reduced (p < 0.05). The expression of NP protein and the virus titers in lung were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The protein expression of RIG-I, NF-kB, and STAT1 and the level of MAVS and IRF3/7 mRNA were remarkably inhibited in GHKGD group (p < 0.05). After the treatment with GHKGD, the level of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2) was increased, while the expression of Th2 (IL-5, IL4) cytokines was reduced (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Through a network pharmacology strategy and in vivo experiments, the multi-target and multi-component pharmacological characteristics of GHKGD in the treatment of influenza were revealed, and regulation of the RLR signaling pathway during the anti-influenza process was confirmed. This study provides a theoretical basis for the research and development of new drugs from GHKGD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ethyl chloride spray as a common cooling modality has been widely used in acute sports injuries and joint injection procedures. Several clinical studies reported that use of ethyl chloride has positive effects on swelling, pain reduction and recovery from sports injuries. The main aim of present study was to analyze whether postoperative use of ethyl chloride spray benefits results after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods: Between April 1, 2014 and October 21, 2015, 306 subjects undergoing primary TKA used ethyl chloride spray for improving recovery from the damage from surgery. After exclusion of 31 subjects due to adverse events including periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), deep venous thrombosis (DVT), acute myocardial infarction, finally 275 subjects' data regarding pain score, knee range of motion (ROM), knee girth, time of being able to reach 90° knee flexion and analgesic consumption were analyzed.Results: Significant differences in pain score, knee ROM at each time point and knee girth at on 21st and 28th postoperatively were detected without increased incidence of adverse events. Besides, time of being able to reach 90° knee flexion and analgesic consumption in the treatment group were significantly decreased in comparison to the control group.Conclusion: Use of ethyl chloride spray can help patients recovery from the damage from TKA safely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a well-known biomarker to predict cardiac events following orthopedic procedures. However, further information regarding BNP can be completed. The present study aims to determine which of preoperative, postoperative or the difference between them (DVPPB) can best predict adverse cardiac events following TKA procedure and detect possible risk factors of high level of BNP.Methods: Between Jan. 2012 and Jan. 2014. 1120 included patients in 3 institutions have a minimum of 2-years follow-up. All clinical characteristics related to TKA procedure were put in total joint arthroplasty registry system and analyzed finally. The cut-off value of BNP predicting patients at increased risks of cardiac events after TKA was evaluated by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results: Our results reveal DVPPB in comparison to preoperative and postoperative BNP can best predict cardiac events following primary TKA, and the optimal cut-off value was 825.5 pg/ml with the highest Youden index of 0.62. Cigarette smoking, ASA III/IV/V, prior history of cardiac events, general anesthesia, surgery time, and tourniquet time are risk factors for DVPPB > 825.5 pg/ml.Conclusions: DVPPB in comparison to preoperative and postoperative BNP can best predict cardiac events following primary TKA. Cigarette smoking, ASA III/IV/V, prior history of cardiac events, general anesthesia, surgery time, and tourniquet time are risk factors for DVPPB > 825.5 pg/ml. We hope these results could be helpful to optimize health care among patients undergoing primary TKA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is primarily preformed among the elderly population who is commonly affected by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a very common heart disease and its prevalence increases significantly with age. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the outcomes of patients with AF following TKA and analyze the risk factors of AF patients who underwent postoperative complication.Methods: We designed a retrospective cohort study using data from three institutions in China. We evaluated a total of 453 AF patients who received primary TKA and 453 matched control patients. Comparisons of specific parameters between AF and non-AF cohorts were performed.Results: Our results demonstrated that AF patients had significantly higher odds of more intraoperative bleeding, periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), post-operative cerebral stroke (POCS), post-operative cardiovascular events (POCE) and worse SF-36 physical component score and mental score at mean 24-month after surgery, but had no increased incidence of post-operative gastrointestinal events, DVT and PE in comparison to patients without AF than those without AF disease. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors of patients who underwent severe complication. Smoking, diabetes mellitus and persistent AF were common risk factors of PJI, POCS, and POCE. Heart rate＞70/min and absence of Beta blocker use were common risk factors of POCS and POCE. Absence of LMWH bridging was risk factor of POCS. BMI >25 kg/m2 and hypertension were risk factors of POCE.Conclusions: These findings should be taken into consideration when discussing the expected outcomes of AF patients after TKA. AF disease impaired SF-36 physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS) of patient after TKA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]