miR-485-3p targets SIRT1 in vascular smooth muscle cells mediating the occurrence of aortic dissection.

Studies have demonstrated a close correlation between MicroRNA and the occurrence of aortic dissection (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this relationship have not been fully elucidated and further exploration is still required. In this study, we found that miR-485-3p was significantly upregulated in human aortic dissection tissues. Meanwhile, we constructed in vitro AD models in HAVSMCs, HAECs and HAFs and found that the expression of miR-485-3p was increased only in HAVSMCs. Overexpression or knockdown of miR-485-3p in HAVSMCs could regulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL1ß, IL6, TNF-α, and NLRP3, as well as the expression of apoptosis-related proteins BAX/BCL2 and Cleaved caspase3/Caspase3. In the in vivo AD model, we have observed that miR-485-3p regulates vascular inflammation and apoptosis, thereby participating in the modulation of AD development in mice. Based on target gene prediction, we have validated that SIRT1 is a downstream target gene of miR-485-3p. Furthermore, by administering SIRT1 agonists and inhibitors to mice, we observed that the activation of SIRT1 alleviates vascular inflammation and apoptosis, subsequently reducing the incidence of AD. Additionally, functional reversal experiments revealed that overexpression of SIRT1 in HAVSMCs could reverse the cell inflammation and apoptosis mediated by miR-485-3p. Therefore, our research suggests that miR-485-3p can aggravate inflammation and apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells by suppressing the expression of SIRT1, thereby promoting the progression of aortic dissection.

Myelodysplasia-related gene mutations are associated with favorable prognosis in patients with TP53-mutant acute myeloid leukemia.

This study aimed to examine the characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with TP53-mutant acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and to explore potential prognostic factors. This retrospective analysis included 130 patients diagnosed with TP53-mutant AML at the Fujian Medical University Union Hospital between January 2016 and June 2023. Patients' ages ranged from 17 to 80 years, with a median age of 59 years. The proportions of de novo, therapy-related, and secondary AML cases were 71.5%, 7.7%, and 20.8%, respectively. Complex karyotypes were observed in 60.6% of patients, and the proportions of -5 or del(5q), -7 or del(7q), and - 17 or del(17p) were 41.7%, 27.9% and 14.4%, respectively. DNA methylation- and myelodysplasia-related (MR) gene mutations were observed in 36.9% and 25.4% of patients, respectively. These patients showed poor survival, with a median overall survival (OS) of 4.5 months, a 1-year OS rate of 32.5%, a 3-year OS rate of 18.8%, and a 5-year OS rate of 11.3%. The complete response rates for intensive chemotherapy (IC), hypomethylating agent (HMAs)-based therapies, and azacitidine plus venetoclax were 35.7%, 22.2%, and 37.5%, respectively. Patients who did or did not receive allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) had similar prognoses (median OS: 6.0 vs. 3.9 months; P = 0.6415). Multivariate analysis indicated that MR gene mutations is an independent favorable prognostic factor of OS (HR = 0.366, 95% CI: 0.181-0.738, P = 0.005). In conclusion, patients with TP53-mutant AML have poor prognoses under current treatment strategies and MR gene mutations are associated with a more favorable survival. Therefore, further studies are needed to improve the survival rates in this population.

Sex-related differences in clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of patients in acute type A aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate sex-related differences in the clinical characteristics and hospital outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD). METHODS: This study was a retrospective study. Patients who underwent surgery for AAAD at the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, from January 2014 to March 2023 were consecutively included. Data was extracted from electronic medical records. The primary outcome measure was in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcome measures included new-onset postoperative arrhythmia (POA), acute kidney injury (AKI), hepatic dysfunction, neurological complications, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, ICU length of stay, and hospital length of stay. Patients were divided into two groups based on sex, and data analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 1137 subjects were included, with 863 males (75.9%) and 274 females (24.1%). There were statistically significant differences in age and BMI between the two groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of pain at the onset between the two groups, but chest tightness in females was higher than in males (22.6% vs. 13.8%). Regarding primary outcomes, the in-hospital mortality rate was 11.1% for males and 10.6% for females (P = 0.803). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in ICU days, length of hospitalization, neurological complications, or liver dysfunction (P > 0.05). The rate of POA in females was 4.7%, higher than in males (2.2%), but AKI and gastrointestinal hemorrhage were both higher in males than in females (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that age, white blood cell (WBC) counts, lactic acid, operation duration and prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) increased the risk of in-hospital mortality in male patients. Hypertension, WBC counts, lactic acid, and PMV increased the risk of in-hospital mortality in female patients. CONCLUSION: Despite significant baseline characteristic differences between male and female AAAD patients, there were no significant differences in onset symptoms. The in-hospital mortality rates were similar between male and female patients, but the risk factors for in-hospital mortality differed.

Bridged Pt-OH-Mn Mediator in N-coordinated Mn Single Atoms and Pt Nanoparticles for Electrochemical Biomolecule Oxidation and Discrimination.

The rational design of efficient catalysts for uric acid (UA) electrooxidation, as well as the establishment of structure-activity relationships, remains a critical bottleneck in the field of electrochemical sensing. To address these challenges, herein, a hybrid catalyst that integrates carbon-supported Pt nanoparticles and nitrogen-coordinated Mn single atoms (PtNPs/MnNC) is developed. The metal-metal interaction during annealing affords the construction of metallic-bonded Pt-Mn pairs between PtNPs and Mn single atoms, facilitating the electron transfer from PtNPs to the support and thereby optimizing the electronic structure of catalysts. More importantly, experiments and theoretical calculations provide visual proof for the 'incipient hydrous oxide adatom mediator' mechanism for UA oxidation. The Pt-Mn pairs first adsorb OH* to construct the bridged Pt-OH-Mn mediators to serve as a highly active intermediate for N-H bond dissociation and proton transfer. Benefiting from the unique electronic and geometric structure of the catalytic center and reactive intermediates, PtNPs/MnNC exhibits superior electrooxidation performance. The electrochemical sensor based on PtNPs/MnNC enables sensitive detection and discrimination of UA and dopamine in serum samples. This work offers new insights into the construction of novel electrocatalysts for sensitive sensing platforms.

Exercise Training-Induced MicroRNA Alterations with Protective Effects in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Exercise training (ET) is an important non-drug adjuvant therapy against many human diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. The appropriate ET intensity induces beneficial adaptions and improves physiological function and cardiopulmonary fitness. The mechanisms of exercise-induced cardioprotective effects are still not fully understood. However, mounting evidence suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial role in this process and are essential in responding to exercise-stress and mediating exercise-protective effects. Thus, this review summarizes the biogenesis of miRNAs, the mechanism of miRNA action, and specifically the miRNAs involved in exercise-induced cardio-protection used as therapeutic targets for treating cardiovascular diseases.

Preoperative slow-wave sleep is associated with postoperative delirium after heart valve surgery: A prospective pilot study.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a very common neurological complication after valve surgery. Some studies have shown that preoperative sleep disorder is associated with POD, but the correlation between preoperative slow wave sleep (SWS) and POD remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to identify the correlation between preoperative slow wave sleep and postoperative delirium in patients with heart valve disease. This was a prospective, observational study of elective valve surgery patients admitted to the Heart Medical Center between November 2021 and July 2022. Polysomnography (PSG) was used to monitor sleep architecture from 9:30 p.m. for 1 night before surgery to 6:30 a.m. on the day of surgery. Patients were assessed for postoperative delirium from postoperative day 1 to extubation or day 5 by using the Richmond Agitation/Sedation Scale (RASS) and the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU). A total of 60 elective valve surgery patients were enrolled in this study. Prolonged N1 (11.44%) and N2 (58.62%) sleep, decreased N3 sleep (8.75%) and REM sleep (18.24%) within normal limits were the overall sleep architecture. Compared with patients without POD, patients with POD had less slow wave sleep 1 night before surgery (5.77% vs 10.88%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, slow wave sleep (OR: 0.647, 95% CI 0.493-0.851, p = 0.002) was found to be a protective factor for postoperative delirium. The preoperative SWS is a predictive factor of the POD in patients undergoing valve surgery. But further studies with larger sample sizes are still needed to elucidate the relationship between preoperative slow wave sleep and postoperative delirium.

Circular RNA Translation in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of endogenous functional RNA generated by back-splicing. Recently, circRNAs have been found to have certain coding potential. Proteins/peptides translated from circRNAs play essential roles in various diseases. Here, we briefly summarize the basic knowledge and technologies that are usually applied to study circRNA translation. Then, we focus on the research progress of circRNA translation in cardiovascular diseases and discuss the perspective and future direction of translatable circRNA study in cardiovascular diseases.

Early goal-directed mobilization in patients with acute type A aortic dissection: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of early postoperative mobilization in patients who have undergone surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Heart Medical Center. SUBJECTS: Seventy-seven patients with acute type A aortic dissection were assessed. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly allocated into: (1) the control group (usual care) (n = 38) and (2) the intervention group (early goal-directed mobilization) (n = 39). MAIN MEASURES: The primary outcome was the patient's functional status. The secondary outcomes included vital signs, serious adverse events, muscle strength, intensive care unit-acquired weakness, grip strength, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay, readmission rate, and health-related quality of life after 3 months. RESULTS: The vital signs of the patients were within the tolerable ranges during the entire intervention. No serious exercise-related adverse events were observed in the intervention group. The Barthel Index score (P = 0.013), Medical Research Council score (P = 0.001), grip strength (P = 0.001), and health-related quality of life (P = 0.001) were higher in the intervention group. Intensive care unit acquired weakness (P = 0.019), duration of mechanical ventilation (P = 0.002), intensive care unit stay (P = 0.002), and total length of stay (P = 0.010) were lower in the intervention group. Patients in the intervention group had a higher physical health-related quality of life (P = 0.015) at 3 months post-surgery. There was no difference in readmission rates. CONCLUSIONS: Delivery of early goal-directed mobilization in acute type A aortic dissection was safe and facilitated the recovery of daily living ability, shorter hospital stay, and improved quality of life after discharge.

Mobile App for Gynecologic Cancer Support for Patients With Gynecologic Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy in China: Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with gynecologic cancer receiving chemotherapy often report unmet supportive care needs. Compared with traditional face-to-face clinical interventions, mobile health can increase access to supportive care and may address patients' needs. Although app-based support programs have been developed to support patients with gynecologic cancer, their efficacy has not been adequately tested. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of a mobile app for gynecologic cancer support (MGCS) for patients with gynecologic cancer receiving chemotherapy in China. METHODS: A multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2 university-affiliated hospitals in China. A total of 168 Chinese patients with gynecologic cancer were recruited and randomized to receive routine care or MGCS program plus routine care for 24 weeks. The Mishel uncertainty in illness theory guided the development of MGCS program, which has 4 modules: weekly topics, emotional care, discussion center, and health consultation. The primary outcome of this program was the assessment of the uncertainty in illness. The secondary outcomes were quality of life, symptom distress, and social support. All health outcomes were evaluated at baseline (T0), 12 weeks (T1), and 24 weeks (T2). Repeated measures analysis of covariance was used to assess the efficacy of the MGCS program. RESULTS: In this trial, 67 patients in the control group and 69 patients in the intervention group completed 2 follow-up assessments (response rate, 136/168, 81%). At 12 weeks, no significant differences were observed in any of the health outcomes between the 2 groups. At 24 weeks, compared to patients in the control group, those in the intervention group reported significant decreased uncertainty in illness (P<.001; d=-0.60; adjusted mean difference -7.69, 95% CI -11.31 to -4.07) and improved quality of life (P=.04; d=0.30; adjusted mean difference 4.77, 95% CI 0.12-9.41). CONCLUSIONS: The MGCS program demonstrated efficacy in supporting patients with gynecologic cancer receiving chemotherapy. This trial illustrates that an app-based program can be incorporated into routine care to support patients with cancer and suggests that allocation of more resources (grants, manpower, etc) to mobile health in clinics is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000033678; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=54807.

The Effect of Onset Time on In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Acute Type A Aortic Dissection of Different Gender: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Although the research on gender in acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) patients has increased in recent years, the results are still controversial. The effect of time of onset on in-hospital mortality in patients with AAAD of different gender is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of onset time on in-hospital mortality of patients with AAAD of different gender. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, patients with AAAD were selected from June 2013 to March 2020. Patients' information was extracted from electronic medical records. Based on the onset time, the patients were categorized into four groups: group one (00:00-05:59), group two (6:00-11:59), group three (12:00-17:59), and group four (18:00-23:59). RESULTS: A total of 760 subjects were included in our study. There were 591 (77.8%) males and 169 (22.2%) females. In male patients, 79 cases died, in female patients, 19 cases died (p < 0.05). We conducted subgroup analysis according to gender, univariate Cox regression analysis of male patients showed that compared with the patients at onset time of 0:00-5:59, patients at onset time of 12:00-17:59 and 18:00-23:59 were associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analysis of male patients showed that the onset time of 18:00-23:59 remained as the significant risk factor of in-hospital mortality of male patients hazard ratio (HR) = 4.396 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis demonstrated that in-hospital mortality of AAAD patients was similar in different genders. In male patients, the onset time of 18:00-23:59 was significantly associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality.

Preoperative Nutritional Status of Infants with Non-Restricted Ventricular Septal Defect and Its Influence on Postoperative Recovery.

PURPOSE: This study described the preoperative nutritional status of infants with nonrestricted ventricular septal defects (VSDs) and evaluated its effect on postoperative recovery. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from infants with nonrestricted VSD who received surgical treatment in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2021 and analyzed their preoperative nutritional status and postoperative recovery. RESULTS: Fifty (53.8%) patients were underweight (weight for age Z score (WAZ) ≤-1), and 31 (33.3%) patients were malnourished (WAZ ≤-2). The mechanical ventilation time, duration of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay time after surgery of patients with WAZ ≤-2 were significantly longer than those of patients with WAZ >-2 (p < 0.05). The results of linear correlation analysis showed that age, WAZ and prealbumin were negatively correlated with mechanical ventilation time, duration of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay time after surgery, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that mechanical ventilation time = 7.080 - 0.668 WAZ - 0.013 prealbumin - 0.618 age (R2: 0.729, F: 79.773, p: 0.001); duration of intensive care unit admission = 11.775 - 1.385 WAZ - 0.018 prealbumin - 0.102 age (R2: 0.714, F: 74.072, p: 0.001); and hospital stay time = 17.663 - 1.673 WAZ - 0.017 prealbumin - 1.07 age (R2: 0.711, F: 72.842, p: 0.001). CONCLUSION: The incidence of malnutrition in infants with nonrestricted VSD was very high, and malnutrition had a significant adverse effect on postoperative recovery. Malnutrition significantly prolonged mechanical ventilation time, duration of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay after surgery.

Association of preoperative CA-125 levels with early POAF after heart valve surgery: a single-center, retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer antigen-125 (CA-125), a tumor marker, has received increasing attention in recent years for its role in the cardiovascular field. However, no study has reported the association of CA-125 with early postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after heart valve surgery. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess whether there is a correlation between CA-125 and early postoperative POAF after heart valve surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent valve surgery at Fujian Heart Medical Center from January 2020 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into postoperative atrial fibrillation group (POAF group) and postoperative non-atrial fibrillation group (NO-POAF), and the differences in clinical data between the two groups were compared, and the variables with statistical significance in the univariate analysis were included in the COX regression analysis, and finally the receivers' operating characteristics (ROC) curves were drawn. RESULTS: From January 2020 to August 2022, a total of 1653 patients underwent valve surgery. A total of 344 patients were finally included, including 52 patients (15.1%) in the POAF group and 292 patients (84.9%) in the NO-POAF group. Univariate analysis showed higher CA-125 levels in patients in the POAF group than in those in the NO-POAF group [27.89 (13.64, 61.54), 14.48 (9.87, 24.08), P = 0.000]. Analysis of the incidence of POAF based on CA-125 quartiles showed an incidence of up to 29.2% in the highest quartile (> 27.88). Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that CA-125 [OR = 1.006, 95% CI (1.002, 1.010), P = 0.001] was an independent predictor of POAF. The final ROC curve plot showed that the area under the curve for CA-125 was 0.669, with an optimal cut-off value of 27.08 U/ml, and the difference in the area under the curve between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Elevated preoperative CA-125 levels can affect the incidence of POAF and have a predictive value for the occurrence of POAF in the early stage after valve surgery. However, due to the small sample size and single-center retrospective study, further validation of this result is needed.

Analysis of serum calcium change trajectories and prognostic factors in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the correlation between serum calcium changes and short-term prognosis of patients with acute type A aortic dissection. METHODS: Patients who underwent acute type A aortic dissection surgery at Fujian Heart Medical Center between June 2019 and June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 383 patients were enrolled. According to the changing track of serum calcium in patients after acute type A aortic dissection, three potential category tracks were determined: high-level (n = 85), medium-level (n = 259), and continuous low-level groups (n = 39). Using the medium-level group as the control, regression analysis showed that poor prognosis risk was increased in the group with continuous low serum calcium (odds ratio = 2.454, P < 0.05) and in the group with continuous low serum calcium > 48 h (odds ratio = 3.595, P < 0.05). Age (odds ratio = 1.063, P < 0.001), body mass index (odds ratio = 1.138, P < 0.05), hypertension (odds ratio = 3.697, P < 0.05), and the highest lactic acid within 72 h after surgery(odds ratio = 1.093, P < 0.05) were independent risk factors for poor prognosis after aortic dissection. CONCLUSION: Continuous low serum calcium was an independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

Altered dynamic brain activity and its association with memory decline after night shift-related sleep deprivation in nurses.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate, for the first time, aberrant time-varying local brain activity in nurses following night shift-related sleep deprivation (SD) and its association with memory decline. BACKGROUND: Prior studies have elucidated alterations in static local brain activity resulting from SD in the occupations outside medical profession. DESIGN: A longitudinal study followed the STROBE recommendations. METHODS: Twenty female nurses underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and memory function assessment (by Complex Figure Test (CFT) and the California Verbal Learning Test, Second Edition (CVLT-II)) twice, once in a rested wakefulness (RW) state and another after SD. By combining the sliding-window approach and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) analysis, the dynamic ALFF (dALFF) variability was calculated to reflect the characteristics of dynamic local brain activity. RESULTS: Poor performance on the CFT and CVLT-II was observed in nurses with night shift-related SD. Reduced dALFF variability was found in a set of cognition-related brain regions (including the medial/middle/superior frontal gyrus, anterior/posterior cingulate gyrus, precuneus, angular gyrus, orbitofrontal and subgenual areas, and posterior cerebellum lobe), while increased dALFF variability was observed in the somatosensory-related, visual and auditory regions. SD-related dALFF variability alterations correlated with changes in subjects' performance on the CFT and CVLT-II. CONCLUSIONS: Night shift-related SD disturbed dynamic brain activity in high cognitive regions and induced compensatory reactions in primary perceptual cortex. Identifying dALFF variability abnormalities may broaden our understanding of neural substrates underlying SD-related cognitive alterations, especially memory dysfunction. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Night shift-related SD is as an important occupational hazard affecting brain function in nurses. The effective countermeasure addressing the adverse outcomes of SD should be advocated for nurses. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patients or public were not involved in the design and implementation of the study or the analysis and interpretation of the data.

Postoperative Lactate Predicts In-Hospital Death in Patients with Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Several studies have found that lactate correlates with surgical outcomes in patients with heart disease. However, the prognostic value of postoperative lactate in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between postoperative lactate and in-hospital mortality in patients with AAAD. Patients who underwent AAAD surgery at Fujian Cardiac Medical Center from February 2020 to January 2022 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Correlations between in-hospital mortality and various parameters, including lactate, were investigated. A total of 357 patients were included in this study, 58 of which died. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that body mass index (BMI) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.099, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.017-1.188, P = 0.017), cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (OR = 1.005; 95% CI: 1.000-1.010, P = 0.039), and lactate (OR = 1.291, 95% CI: 1.182-1.409, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality in AAAD patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that lactate had a moderate power for in-hospital mortality (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.729, 95% CI: 0.647-0.810, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the combination of lactate, BMI, and CPB time showed better performance (AUC = 0.780; 95% CI: 0.706-0.854, P < 0.001) in predicting in-hospital mortality than in using these variables independently. Among patients undergoing AAAD surgery, postoperative lactate was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. Lactate can be used as a potential predictor of in-hospital mortality. The combination of lactate, BMI, and CPB time showed better performance in predicting in-hospital mortality than using single one.

TG/HDL-C ratio predicts in-hospital mortality in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, abnormalities in serum lipids and lipoproteins have been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease risk. However, their prognostic value for acute type A aortic dissection is unclear. This study analyzed the correlation between triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio and in-hospital mortality in patients with AAAD, and aimed to investigate the clinical significance of preoperative blood lipids and lipoproteins on the prognosis of acute type A aortic dissection. METHODS: A total of 361 patients who underwent type A aortic dissection surgery in Fujian Cardiac Medical Center from June 2018 to March 2020 were retrospectively collected. According to the baseline TG/HDL-C ratio, the patients were divided into 3 groups according to the tertile method, the low TG/HDL-C ratio T1 group (< 1.18) and the middle TG/HDL-C ratio T2 group (1.18-1.70). T3 group with high TG/HDL-C ratio (> 1.70). Kaplan-Meier was used for survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the factors affecting the prognosis of patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used for the diagnostic efficacy. RESULTS: Among the 361 patients in this study, the mean age was 52.4 ± 11.3 years, 73 (20.2%) were female, and 82 (22.7%) died in hospital. Kaplan-Meier curve showed that with the increase of TG/HDL-C ratio, the risk of in-hospital death gradually increased (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age (HR = 1.031), body mass index (HR = 1.052), hypertension (HR = 3.491), white blood cells (HR = 1.073), TG/HDL-C ratio (HR = 1.604), MODS (HR = 1.652) was positively correlated with in-hospital mortality (P < 0.05). After adjusting for age, sex, and other risk factors, a significant association was found between the TG/HDL-C ratio and in-hospital mortality for acute type A aortic dissection (HR = 1.472, 95% CI, 1.354-3.451, P = 0.019). CONCLUSION: Patients with type A aortic dissection have obvious abnormal blood lipid metabolism, and serum TG/HDL-C levels are positively correlated with in-hospital mortality in patients with AAAD.

Effects of chewing gum on gastrointestinal function in patients following spinal surgery: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

PURPOSE: There are conflicting opinions regarding the efficacy of chewing gum for the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients following spinal surgery. Thus, we aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing articles to evaluate the effect of gum-chewing on patients following spinal surgery. METHODS: A computer search was used to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving gum-chewing from eight databases: Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and WanFang Data. After evaluating the risk of bias for the included studies, we used the Revman 5.3 software to conduct a meta-analysis of the data. RESULTS: The study included seven RCTs, with a total of 706 patients. The meta-analysis reported that gum-chewing could shorten the interval between surgery and first bowel movement (mean deviation [MD] = - 23.02; 95% confidence interval [CI]: - 24.67, - 21.38; P < 0.00001), first flatus (MD = - 1.54; 95% CI - 2.48, - 0.60; P = 0.001), and first bowel sounds (MD = - 5.08; 95% CI - 6.02, - 4.15; P < 0.00001). Moreover, there was a significant reduction in postoperative analgesic dosage within 12 h (standardised mean difference [SMD] = - 0.28; 95% CI - 0.52, - 0.05; P = 0.02). However, there were no significant differences between the chewing gum and control groups (P > 0.05) regarding the postoperative nausea score, abdominal pain score, 24- and 48-h analgesic drug dosage, and length of hospital stay. CONCLUSION: To a certain extent, masticating gum can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function and reduce the need for postoperative analgesics in patients following spinal surgery. However, this conclusion is affected by the quantity and quality of the included articles. Therefore, additional high-quality studies are needed to verify these results.

Efficacy and Safety of Oral Hydration 1 Hour After Extubation of Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Thirst is one of the most common and uncomfortable symptoms in patients after cardiac surgery. The postextubation time for early oral hydration (EOH) remains unclear, and there is a lack of studies on its safety and effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oral hydration 1 hour after extubation on thirst, salivary pH, salivary flow, oral mucosa, halitosis, gastrointestinal adverse reactions, aspiration pneumonia, and satisfaction in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: Eighty-four patients who underwent cardiac surgery were randomly assigned into 2 groups, for either conventional oral hydration (COH) or EOH. The EOH group drank 30 mL of warm water 1 hour post extubation and thereafter 50 mL hourly for 4 hours. The COH group had nil per os for 4 hours after extubation. If no dysphagia was evident after 4 hours, the patients were instructed to slowly drink water. Thirst intensity was evaluated every hour before the intervention. Nausea and vomiting were recorded after drinking water. The salivary pH, unstimulated salivary flow rate, oral odor, and oral mucosal moisture were evaluated at 1 hour post extubation, immediately before the intervention, and at 4 hour post intervention. Aspiration pneumonia data were collected within 72 hours post intervention. Satisfaction was assessed before leaving the intensive care unit. RESULTS: The scores for thirst (3.38 ± 1.04; F = 306.21, P < .001), oral mucosa (2.03 ± 0.74; P < .001), and halitosis (2.77 ± 0.63; P < .001) in the EOH group were significantly lower than those in the COH group. The EOH group had significantly higher salivary pH (6.44 ± 1.06; P < .001), unstimulated salivary flow rates (0.18 ± 0.08; P < .001), and patient satisfaction (4.28 ± 0.45; P < .001) than the COH group. Nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between groups (P = .60). Aspiration pneumonia was not observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Oral hydration 1 hour after extubation significantly alleviated thirst and stabilized the oral environment without gastrointestinal adverse reactions or aspiration pneumonia, and with increased patient satisfaction.

Effects of exergaming on functional outcomes in people with chronic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: The aim of this review is to synthesize and evaluate effectiveness of exergaming on balance, lower limb functional mobility and functional independence in individuals with chronic stroke. DESIGN: The present review is a systematic review and meta-analysis. The review is written in accordance with the guidelines from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) DATA SOURCE: Searches were conducted across seven databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Scopus and PEDro) and in grey literature from inception until January 2021. REVIEW METHODS: Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) written in English were included. All eligible studies were assessed for risk of bias by two reviewers independently. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.4.1 software. Narrative syntheses were adopted whenever meta-analysis was inappropriate. The overall quality of evidence from included studies was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) framework. RESULTS: 4511 records were retrieved, with 32 RCTs eligible for inclusion and 27 RCTs included in meta-analysis. Meta-analyses reported statistically significant small effect sizes favouring exergaming on balance (pooled standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI, 0.08-0.41], p = .004), lower limb functional mobility (pooled SMD = 0.29, 95% CI [0.08-0.50], p = .007) and functional independence (pooled SMD = 0.41, 95% CI [0.09-0.73], p = .01). Most of the included studies failed to provide adequate description of the measures taken to prevent bias. CONCLUSION: Exergaming has favourable effects on improving balance, lower limb functional mobility and functional independence among individuals with chronic stroke, making it a suitable adjunct to conventional physiotherapy. IMPACT: People with chronic stroke have difficulty achieving the required rehab intensity. Exergaming can help individuals with chronic stroke to undertake further rehabilitation exercises at home. It can be a suitable adjunct to conventional physiotherapy.

Admission Hyperglycemia in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Predicts for a Prolonged Duration of Mechanical Ventilation.

Previous studies have demonstrated that admission hyperglycemia is a predictor of mortality and poor prognosis in patients with cardiovascular diseases, such as acute myocardial infarction. However, the prognostic value of admission hyperglycemia in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) has never been explored. To clarify the association between hyperglycemia and in-hospital outcomes, we retrospectively analyzed 734 patients with AAAD. The interest endpoints were in-hospital mortality rate, the duration of intensive care unit and hospital stays, the occurrence of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV), and other complications. All patients were divided into the normal blood glucose group (≤ 140 mg/dL) and hyperglycemia group (> 140 mg/dL), to compare the in-hospital outcomes rate in the two groups. There were 531 (72.3%) patients with normal blood glucose levels and 203 (27.7%) patients with hyperglycemia. The in-hospital mortality rate was 21.1%, and no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups (20.3% versus 23.2%, P = 0.403). PMV is the most frequent postoperative complication, the incidence of which was significantly higher in the hyperglycemia group than in the normal blood glucose group (59.6% versus 50.8%, P = 0.040). The logistic regression analysis revealed that hyperglycemia (odds ratio (OR): 1.492; 95% CI: 1.014 to 2.197; P = 0.042) was an independent risk factor for PMV after adjusting for confounding factors. Age (OR: 1.021; 95% CI: 1.006-1.037; P = 0.007) and body mass index (OR: 1.101; 95% CI: 1.051-1.153; P < 0.001) were also associated with PMV. In conclusion, our study showed for the first time that a strong correlation between admission hyperglycemia and increased postoperative PMV in patients with AAAD, but not with in-hospital mortality rate.