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Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is often caused by left heart disease (group 2 PH) , which is difficult to diagnose early and with a high mortality rate. Potassium channel dysfunction is a marker of PH, however, the epidemiological data of the disease and the effect of potassium ions on PH still remain unclear. Objective To investigate the correlation of serum potassium level with myocardial markers, echocardiographic indicators and length of hospital stay in patients with group 2 PH, and evaluate the predictive value of serum potassium levels for the severity of group 2 PH, so as to provide the oretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods The clinical data of 400 adult inpatients diagnosed with group 2 PH in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2020 to December 2021 were retrospectively collected as follows: (1) general data: gender, age, BMI, length of hospital stay, smoking status, smoking index (SI) and drinking history; (2) underlying diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension) ; (3) laboratory data: serum potassium level, myocardial markers[procalcitonin, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) , cardiac troponin I, cardiac troponin T, creatine kinase-MB], echocardiographic indicators (left atrial diameter, right ventricular diameter, right atrial area, left ventricular ejection fraction, shortening fraction, peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity, pulmonary artery systolic pressure) . The patients were divided into 5.5 mmol/L group (n=3) according to the serum potassium level. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation of serum potassium level with myocardial markers and echocardiographic indicators. Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test was used to compare the discharge rate of patients with different serum potassium levels. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to evaluate the predictive value of serum potassium level for the severity of group 2 PH. Results Procalcitonin and NT-proBNP levels of patients in the >5.5 mmol/L group were significantly higher than the 5.5 mmol/L to investigate its relationship with length of hospital stay in depth. Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) testresults showed that for group 2 PH patients greater than average hospitalization levels, there was a significant difference in cumulative hospitalization rates among patients with different serum potassium levels (5.5 mmol/L) (P=0.022) . ROC analysis showed that the diagnostic value of serum potassium level for non-mild PH (AUC=0.577, cut-off value=3.91 mmol/L, sensitivity=64.7%, specificity=52.5%) was similar to that of NT-proBNP (AUC=0.585, cut-off value=1 070.69 pg/mL, sensitivity=78.1%, specificity=39.6%) , which can effectively predict the severity of group 2 PH. Conclusion Serum potassium level can predict the severity of group 2 PH and the length of hospital stay. Intervention of serum potassium levels may be one of the new approach to prevent and treat PH.

Objective To investigate the effect of the intervention of Hufu Tongbian scraping combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) iontophoresis on relieving symptoms of Fontaine's stage II arteriosclerosis obliteration(ASO). Methods Totally 130 cases of hospitalized patients with Fontaine's stage II ASO were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A (control group, n=31) and group B (Hufu Tongbian Scraping group, n=31), group C (TCM Iontophoresis group, n=34), group D (combination group, n=34). Group A was given specialist nursing, group B was given specialist nursing combined with Hufu Tongbian scraping intervention, group C was given specialist nursing combined with TCM iontophoresis intervention, group D was given specialist nursing combined with Hufu Tongbian scraping and TCM iontophoresis intervention. Symptom quantitative score and Visual Analogue Score (VAS)of pain were measured before and 15 days. after intervention. Results After intervention, there were significant differences in each dimension of symptom score and pain score among the four groups (P＜0. 05). the scores of each dimension of symptom score and pain score in groups B, C and D were decreased after intervention compared with those before intervention(P＜0. 05), and the scores in the three groups were lower than those in group A after intervention (P＜0. 05). After intervention, the scores of each dimension of symptom score and pain score in group D were lower than those in groups B and C (P＜0. 05), but there was no significant difference between groups B and C after intervention (P＞0. 05). Conclusion The intervention Hufu Tongbian scraping combined with TCM iontophoresis can significantly reduce the symptom score of ASO patients, relieve the symptoms of acid swelling and numbness, relieve the pain of patients, promote comfort, and provide better nursing for ASO patients. (目的 探讨虎符铜砭刮痧联合中药离子导入干预缓解FontaineⅡ期下肢动脉硬化闭塞症(ASO)患者临床症状的影响。方法 选取河北省中医院周围血管科2020年11月—2021年10月收治的符合诊断的FontaineⅡ期ASO住院患者130例, 随机分为4组: A组(对照组)、B组(虎符铜砭刮痧组)、C组(中药离子导入组)、D组(联合组)。A、B组各31例, C、D组各34例。A组给予专科护理, B组专科护理联合虎符铜砭刮痧干预, C组专科护理联合中药离子导入干预, D组专科护理来讷河虎符铜砭刮痧和中药离子导入干预。共干预15 d, 分别于干预前和干预后测定症状量化评分及疼痛视觉模拟评分。结果 干预后4组症状评分各维度评分和疼痛评分差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05); 与干预前相比, B、C、D组干预后症状评分各维度评分和疼痛评分均下降(P＜0. 05), 且干预后三组各评分均低于A组(P＜0. 05); 干预后D组症状评分各维度评分和疼痛评分均低于B、C组(P＜0. 05), 但B、C组干预后各评分差异无统计学意义(P＞0. 05)。结论 虎符铜砭刮痧联合中药离子导入干预可更显著地降低ASO患者症状评分, 缓解患者酸胀、麻木等症状, 并可减轻患者疼痛, 促进舒适, 为ASO患者提供更优质护理。)

AbstractA random-effects meta-analysis was performed in English and Chinese databases since its inception to August 2020 to assess the incidence, causes and severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) at various stages of pregnancy, maternal and foetal mortality. A total of 154 articles representing 4034 patients with AP during pregnancy in China were included for the analysis. The incidence of AP during pregnancy was 0.0469 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0349; 0.0627) in the first trimester, whereas it was 0.2518 (95% CI, 0.2210; 0.2854) and 0.6323 (95% CI, 0.5870; 0.6753) in the second and third trimester, respectively. The major causes of AP were hypertriglyceridaemia (0.351 [95% CI, 0.3202; 0.3834]) and biliary pancreatitis (0.424 [95% CI, 0.4094; 0.5002]). The severity of AP was mild in majority of the patients. The incidence of AP at maternal mortality was 0.0184 (95% CI, 0.0126; 0.0269) and foetal mortality was 0.1018 (95% CI, 0.0867; 0.1192). Our meta-analysis revealed that hypertriglyceridaemia and biliary pancreatitis remain the major causes of AP during pregnancy. Foetal mortality requires further investigation. IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Acute pancreatitis (AP) in pregnant women is characterised by acute onset and delay in understanding the interaction of the metabolic changes with pancreatic pathophysiology, and thus becomes difficult to diagnose the disease and provide timely treatment to the patients. This poses a greater health risk among women and their foetus by increasing their chances of mortality.What the results of this study add? We performed an exhaustive, random-effects meta-analysis involving 154 articles representing 4034 patients to assess the incidence of AP at various stages of pregnancy, the causes of AP and the severity of AP during pregnancy, maternal and foetal mortality.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our meta-analysis revealed that hypertriglyceridaemia and biliary pancreatitis remain the major causes of AP during pregnancy. Although the rates of maternal mortality have decreased in the recent years, foetal mortality still remains high and requires further investigation.

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the Baduanjin qigong exercise on chronic nonspecific low back pain in community-based group of elderly population. Methods Totally 76 patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain were randomly divided into the experimental group(n=37)and the control group(n=39). The control group received routine care and health education about chronic nonspecific low back pain, and the experimental group received Baduanjin qigong exercise additionally. The primary and secondary outcomes measures of this trial were pain intensity and back functional disability. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaires were used to obtain data, which were measured respectively before intervention and three months later. Results Patients in the experimental group had a greater improvement than the controls in VAS scores after a 12-week intervention of Baduanjin exercise(P＜0. 01). The total score of ODI , dimensional scores of Lifting, Walking and Social Life in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group(P＜0. 05) . Conclusion Baduanjin qigong exercise appears to be slightly to moderately effective on relieving pain and improving function. (目的 探讨运用中医气功八段锦运动干预社区老年慢性非特异性下腰痛患者的效果。方法 将76例慢性非特异性下腰痛患者随机分为对照组和试验组, 对照组39例患者给予慢性非特异性下腰痛常规护理和健康教育, 试验组在对照组基础上进行中医气功八段锦运动干预。分别在干预前、干预12周后采用视觉模拟量表(VAS)和Oswestry功能障碍指数(ODI)问卷评价患者的疼痛程度和腰部功能情况。结果 干预12周后, 两组疼痛程度均较干预前下降, 且试验组疼痛程度低于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 01)。干预12周后, 试验组ODI总分及提物、步行、社会生活条目得分低于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。结论 中医气功八段锦运动干预可有效缓解老年慢性非特异性下腰痛患者的腰部疼痛, 改善腰部功能。)

Background. The study is aimed at evaluating the clinical attributes, types, and risk factors associated with poor outcomes in women with acute pancreatitis (AP) during pregnancy. Methods. From 2011 to 2020, 45 antenatal mothers with AP were included in this noninterventional, retrospective study. The correlation between etiology of AP, its severity, biochemical parameters, length of stay, and treatment was analyzed. Based on the presence of organ failure and systemic complications, the severity of AP was classified according to the revised Atlantic criteria. Results. In total, 19 (42.2%), 15 (33.3%), and 11 (24.2%) patients had mild AP (MAP), moderately severe AP (MSAP), and severe AP (SAP), respectively. The major cause of AP in these patients was hypertriglyceridemia (26.6%), while only 2 (4.44%) suffered from biliary pancreatitis. The median length of stay at hospital was significantly longer in patients with SAP (P=0.034), and these patients had significantly higher triglycerides and total cholesterol levels when compared to MAP and MSAP. It was observed that levels of liver function enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase serum levels and aspartate aminotransferase serum levels were significantly higher in patients who stayed in hospital for >13 days. The presence of hypertriglyceridemia significantly increased the duration of stay (>13 days, P=0.04) and induced SAP (P=0.001). Majority of patients with SAP received blood purification than those with MAP and MSAP (P

Aluminum (Al), a neurotoxic element, can induce Alzheimer's disease-like (AD-like) changes by triggering neuronal death. Iron homeostasis disturbance has also been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and excess iron exacerbates oxidative damage and cognitive defects. Ferroptosis is a nonapoptotic form of cell death dependent upon intracellular iron. However, the involvement of neuronal death induced by aluminum maltolate (Al(mal)3) in the pathogenesis of AD remains elusive. In this study, the results of three different behavioral experiments suggested that the learning and memory ability deteriorated and autonomous activity declined of these rats that exposed Al(mal)3 were alleviated by deferoxamine (DFO). Transmission electron microscope observations showed that the membrane was ruptured, and the membrane density increased and ridge disappearance (the most prominent characteristic of ferroptosis) in the perinuclear and cytoplasmic compartments of the hippocampal neurons were perceived in the exposure group, while the DFO group and 18 μM/kg Al(mal)3+DFO group were alleviated compared with 18 μM/kg Al(mal)3. In addition, DFO prevented oxidative stress, such as increased glutathione (GSH) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), while the latter two indexes had the same changing tendency as the total iron of brain tissue. These data indicated that Al(mal)3 could cause ferroptosis in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat neurons, which was inhibited by DFO via reducing the content of iron and increasing the ability of cells to resist oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]