Minimal change disease with papillary thyroid carcinoma: a report of two adult cases.

BACKGROUND: Minimal change disease (MCD), a pathological type of nephrotic syndrome (NS), can occur in patients with tumors. We report two adult cases of MCD associated with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), known to be extremely rare in adults. CASE PRESENTATION: A 35-year-old female patient was simultaneously diagnosed with MCD and PTC. The MCD was effectively treated with thyroidectomy and prednisone.In addition, a 50-year-old male patient, who had been diagnosed with PTC three years prior, had MCD confirmed by renal biopsy. The patient achieved complete remission following treatment with tacrolimus and rituximab. CONCLUSIONS: The present case report describes and discusses the diagnostic and treatment processes employed in these two patients. Clinicians need to be aware of the renal effects of treating patients with solid tumors.

Efficacy and safety analysis of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibition(ARNI)in patients with heart failure: a real-world retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: In a large randomized controlled trial (PARADIGM-HF), ARNI has been shown to significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for patients with reduced ejection fraction in heart failure. This study analyzed the efficacy and safety of ARNI on the basis of various types of heart failure patients in southwestern Sichuan Province. METHODS: This study included patients with heart failure who were treated at the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from July 2017 to June 2021. This study analyzed the efficacy and safety of ARNI in the treatment of heart failure, and analyzed the risk factors for readmission after ARNI treatment. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, a total of 778 patients were included in the study. The readmission rate for heart failure in patients treated with ARNI (8.7%) was significantly lower than that in the standard treatment group (14.5%) (P = 0.023). Both the proportion of patients with increased LVEF and with decreased LVEF were higher in the ARNI treatment group than in the conventional therapy group. Compared with receiving standard medical treatment, combined ARNI treatment resulted in a greater reduction in SBP (-10.00, 95%CI: -24.00-1.50 vs. -7.00, 95%CI: -20.00-4.14; P = 0.016) in HF patients. Combination ARNI therapy did not increase the risk of adverse events. The study found that age (> 65 vs. ≤65 years) (OR = 4.038, 95%CI: 1.360-13.641, P = 0.013) and HFrEF (OR = 3.162, 95%CI: 1.028-9.724, P = 0.045) were independent predictors of readmission in HF patients treated with ARNI. CONCLUSION: Patients with heart failure treated with ARNI can improve clinical symptoms and reduce the risk of readmitted hospital admission. Age > ~ 65 years and HFrEF were independent predictors of readmission in HF patients treated in ARNI group.

Identification of Prognostic Factors for Recurrence and Mortality in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore prognostic factors for 1-year recurrence and mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). METHODS: APE patients who attended the Emergency Department of Fujian Provincial Hospital from January 2016 to June 2020 were recruited. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the prognostic factors for 1-year recurrence and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 458 APE patients were included, of whom 81 (17.69%) had recurrence, and 97 (21.18%) died. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that smoke (OR: 1.949; 95% CI: 1.094-3.470; P = 0.023), abnormal platelet distribution width (OR: 3.013; 95% CI: 1.574-5.767; P = 0.001), and interrupted maintenance therapy (OR: 18.280; 95% CI: 9.777-34.179; P < 0.001) were significantly associated with an increased risk of 1-year recurrence in APE patients. Age ≥65 years (OR: 3.492; 95% CI: 1.876-6.500; P < 0.001), history of malignancy (OR: 7.190; 95% CI: 3.804-13.587; P < 0.001), history of long-term immobilization (OR: 6.244; 95% CI: 3.472-11.228; P < 0.001), mechanical ventilation (OR: 5.971; 95% CI: 3.154-11.304; P < 0.001), and interrupted maintenance therapy (OR: 2.414; 95% CI: 1.315-4.432; P = 0.004) were independent prognostic factors for 1-year mortality. The AUC of 1-year mortality and recurrence prediction models were 0.852 (95% CI: 0.805-0.898) and 0.868 (95%CI: 0.832-0.905). CONCLUSION: In patients with APE, history of smoking, abnormal PDW, and interrupted maintenance therapy were significantly associated with the risk of 1-year recurrence, while age ≥65 years, history of malignancy, history of long-term immobilization, mechanical ventilation, and interrupted maintenance therapy were independent prognostic factors for 1-year mortality.

Risk factors for low cardiac output syndrome in children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) is an important complication of cardiac surgery. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The incidence of LCOS after surgery is high in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Therefore, determining the risk factors of LCOS has clinical significance for the management of CHD. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors of LCOS. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of children with CHD who underwent cardiac surgery at Shanghai Children's Medical Center between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2017. Demographic characteristics and baseline data were extracted from the health data resource center of the hospital, which integrates clinical routine data including medical records, diagnoses, orders, surgeries, laboratory tests, imaging, nursing, and other subsystems. Logistic regressions were performed to analyze the risk factors of LCOS. RESULTS: Overall, 8660 infants with CHD were included, and 864 (9.98%) had LCOS after surgery. The multivariate regression analysis identified that age (OR 0.992, 95% CI: 0.988-0.997, p = 0.001), tricuspid regurgitation (1.192, 1.072-1.326, p = 0.001), Risk Adjustment in Congenital Heart Surgery-1 risk grade (1.166, 1.011-1.345, p = 0.035), aortic shunt (left-to-right: 1.37, 1.005-1.867, p = 0.046; bi-directional: 1.716, 1.138-2.587, p = 0.01), atrial shunt (left-to-right: 1.407, 1.097-1.805, p = 0.007; right-to-left: 3.168, 1.944-5.163, p < 0.001; bi-directional: 1.87, 1.389-2.519, p < 0.001), ventricular level shunt (left-to-right: 0.676, 0.486-0.94, p = 0.02; bi-directional: 2.09, 1.611-2.712, p < 0.001), residual shunt (3.489, 1.502-8.105, p = 0.004), left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (3.934, 1.673-9.254, p = 0.002), right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (3.638, 1.225-10.798, p = 0.02), circulating temperature (mild hypothermia: 1.526, 95% CI: 1.205-1.934, p < 0.001; middle and low temperature: 1.738, 1.236-2.443, p = 0.001), duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (1.009, 1.006-1.012, p < 0.001), myocardial preservation using histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (1.677, 1.298-2.167, p < 0.001), and mitral insufficiency (1.714, 1.239-2.37, p < 0.001) were independent risk predictors of LCOS. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of postoperative LCOS in CHD children remains high. Circulation temperature, myocardial preservation using histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate, and usage of residual shunt after surgery were independent risk predictors for LCOS.

Risk factors of nosocomial infection after cardiac surgery in children with congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to analyze the risk factors of nosocomial infection after cardiac surgery in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study, and children with CHD who underwent open-heart surgeries at Shanghai Children's Medical Center from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2018 were included. The baseline characteristics of these patients of different ages, including neonates (0-1 months old), infants (1-12 months old) and children (1-10 years old), were analyzed, and the association of risk factors with postoperative nosocomial infection were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 11,651 subjects were included in the study. The overall nosocomial infection rate was 10.8%. Nosocomial infection rates in neonates, infants, and children with congenital heart disease were 32.9, 15.4, and 5.2%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found age (OR 0798, 95%CI: 0.769-0.829; P < 0.001), STS risk grade (OR 1.267, 95%CI: 1.159-1.385; P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) <5th percentile (OR 1.295, 95%CI: 1.023-1.639; P = 0.032), BMI >95th percentile (OR 0.792, 95%CI: 0.647-0.969; P = 0.023), cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (OR 1.008, 95%CI: 1.003-1.012; P < 0.001) and aortic clamping time (OR 1.009, 1.002-1.015; P = 0.008) were significantly associated with nosocomial infection in CHD infants. After adjusted for confounding factors, we found STS risk grade (OR 1.38, 95%CI: 1.167-1.633; P < 0.001), BMI < 5th percentile (OR 1.934, 95%CI: 1.377-2.715; P < 0.001), CPB time (OR 1.018, 95%CI: 1.015-1.022; P < 0.001), lymphocyte/WBC ratiocut off value (OR 1.546, 95%CI: 1.119-2.136; P = 0.008) were significantly associated with nosocomial infection in CHD children. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested STS risk grade, BMI, CPB duration, low lymphocyte/WBC or high neutrophil/WBC ratio were independently associated with nosocomial infection in CHD infant and children after cardiac surgery.

Abnormal changes in mitochondria, lipid droplets, ATP and glutathione content, and Ca(2+) release after electro-activation contribute to poor developmental competence of porcine oocyte during in vitro ageing.

The present study aims to investigate major changes in porcine oocytes during ageing in vitro. After the oocytes were cultured for 44, 56, 68 and 80 h, changes to porcine oocytes in ultrastructure, mitochondrial distribution, glutathione (GSH) and ATP content, Ca(2+) release patterns and developmental competence after electro-activation were observed. Mitochondria were evenly distributed in oocytes at 44 h, aggregated in clusters or in peripheral cytoplasm at 68 h and dimly dispersed throughout ooplasm at 80 h. Mitochondrial shape during ageing was also observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at the same time intervals. Most mitochondria were spherical at 44 h, and became elongated when the culture time was extended to 68 h and 80 h. Moreover, mitochondrial clustering became increasingly loose from 56 h. Lipid droplets in oocytes appeared prominent and electron-dense at 44 h, but electron density was lost at 56 h. Lipid droplets were solidified as of 68 h. There was an age-dependent decrease in ATP content per oocyte. Glutathione content per oocyte decreased significantly and remained lower after 56 h. Amplitudes of [Ca(2+)] rise decreased dramatically following 56 h, and the time required for [Ca(2+)] to plateau became shorter after electro-activation with prolonged culture time. Cleavage and blastocyst rates of aged oocytes progressively decreased, while the fragmentation rate gradually increased after electro-activation. It is concluded that abnormal changes in mitochondria, lipid droplets, Ca(2+) release after electro-activation, and ATP and GSH content in oocytes during ageing may result in poor developmental competence of parthenotes.