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Objective:To explore the prognostic value of survival after veno-arterial ECMO (SAVE) score combined with 24-h lactate on the machine in patients with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR).Methods:Totally 59 patients treated with ECPR in the Emergency Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from April 2017 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the 28-day prognosis, the patients were divided into the death group ( n=36) and the survival group ( n=23). The differences in baseline data were analyzed, and multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the influencing factors of 28-day mortality in patients with ECPR. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to evaluate the predictive value of SAVE score, 24-h lactate and their combined detection for predicting 28-day mortality risk in patients with ECPR. Results:The 28-day survival rate of patients with ECPR was 39% (23/59). SAVE score of the death group was significantly lower than that of the survival group (-11.67±4.60 vs. -2.43±4.77, P<0.001), and the 24-h lactate in the death group was significantly higher than that in the survival group [5.94 (3.37, 12.40) mmol/L vs. 1.65 (1.07, 3.15) mmol/L, P<0.001]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that SAVE score ( OR=0.703, 95% CI: 0.566-0.873, P=0.001) and 24-h lactate ( OR=1.608, 95% CI: 1.025-2.523, P=0.039) were independent influencing factors of 28-day mortality in ECPR patients. ROC curve analysis showed that the best cut-off value of SAVE score was -6, the sensitivity was 78.30% and specificity was 91.70%. The best cutoff value of 24-h lactate was 4.7 mmol/L, the sensitivity was 63.90% and specificity was 100.00%. The sensitivity and specificity of the combined detection of SAVE score and 24-h lactate were 82.60% and 100.00%, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of SAVE score combined with 24-h lactate for predicting the 28-day mortality risk in patients with ECPR was larger than that of SAVE score and 24-h lactate alone (0.952 vs. 0.917; 0.952 vs. 0.847). Conclusions:Lower SAVE score and higher 24-h lactate are independently risk factors of 28-day mortality in patients with ECPR, and SAVE score combined with 24-h lactate on the machine has a good predictive value for the prognosis of patients with ECPR.
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Objective:To investigate the safety of early whole body computed tomography (WBCT) combined with coronary angiography (CAG) in patients with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) and its application value in the diagnosis of cardiac arrest and complications of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).Methods:This was a retrospective study. Patients who underwent ECPR in the Emergency Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2017 to July 2021 were enrolled in this research. Patients younger than 18 years or with incomplete clinical data were excluded. The results of WBCT and CAG examinations after ECPR were collected.Results:A total of 89 patients with ECPR, aged (47±17) years, were enrolled in the study, all underwent WBCT examination, and no adverse events such as ECMO and tracheal tube shedding occurred. WBCT found 7 cases of pulmonary embolism, 3 cases of aortic dissection and 2 cases of cerebral hemorrhage. WBCT identified CPR-related complications in 42 cases, including rib fractures ( n=20), pneumothorax ( n=5), mediastinal emphysema ( n=5), subcutaneous emphysema ( n=6), and hematoma or swelling at puncture site ( n=6). Fifty-five patients underwent CAG examination, the most common culprit vessels were the left anterior descending branch disease (58.2%) followed by the left circumflex branch disease (27.3%), the right coronary artery disease (21.8%) and left main artery disease (12.7%). Conclusions:Early WBCT and CAG examinations are of great significance and safety for the guidance of treatment in ECPR patients.
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Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of early lactate in patients with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of patients with ECPR in the Emergency Medicine Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from March 2015 to August 2021. The age, sex, etiology, initial rhythm, prognosis, blood lactate and pH of patients with ECPR were collected, and their difference between the deceased and survived patients was compared.Results:Totally 95 patients were enrolled, with an average age of 47 years; male accounted for 69.5%, and the survival rate was 29.5%. There was no significant difference in age and sex ratio between the deceased and survived patients. However, the deceased patients had a significant lower rate of shockable rhythms (31.3% vs. 60.8%), a higher level of lactate [16.4 (11.2, 19.1) vs. 9.2 (3.2, 15.0), mmol/L], and a lower pH [7.01 (6.88, 7.23) vs. 7.37 (7.10, 7.43)] than the survived patients. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that shockable rhythm [odds ratio ( OR) = 0.295, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 0.118-0.739), lactate ( OR=1.159, 95% CI: 1.068-1.258) and pH ( OR= 0.017, 95% CI: 0.002-0.157) were independent risk factors for poor prognosis. Furthermore, a lactate level >24 mmol/L was the best threshold to predict mortality with a specificity of 100%. Combined application, the cutoff point was lactate level>16 mmol/L and pH <6.828. Conclusions:Shockable rhythm, higher early lactate and lower pH value are independent risk factors for prognosis in patients with ECPR. Early lactate > 24 mmol/L or lactate > 16 mmol/L companied with pH < 6.828 are novel indicators of the termination of ECPR.
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Objective:To investigate the predictive value of platelet dynamics on the prognosis of 28-day in patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).Methods:From January 2017 to December 2020, 60 patients from the Emergency Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University received ECMO for life support. The baseline data of the patients were collected, the minimum value of platelets on day 1-7 of the machine was calculated, and the platelet change value and change rate were calculated. The patients were divided into the survival group and death group according to the 28-day survival status after ECMO was installed, and the receiver operating curve (ROC) was drawn based on the platelet change value and change rate to evaluate its predictive value for prognosis.Results:Among patients receiving VV-ECMO, the platelet change value and change rate on day 7 had the best prediction effect on the patient's 28-day outcome ( AUCΔPLT7=0.772, P=0.016; AUCΔPLT7%=0.764, P=0.020), when the platelet change value was 4×10 9/L as the critical value, the sensitivity was 0.857, the specificity was 0.615, and when the platelet change rate was -28.99% as the critical value, the sensitivity was 0.857, the specificity was 0.615, and when the platelet change rate was -28.99%. The sensitivity was 0.643 with a specificity of 0.846. In patients receiving VA-ECMO, the platelet change rate on day 6 predicted the best effect on the patient's 28-day outcome ( AUCΔPLT6%= 0.707, P = 0.045). When the platelet change rate was -26.19% as the critical value, the sensitivity was 0.842 and the specificity was 0.643. Conclusions:Platelet dynamic changes of platelets are correlated with the 28-day prognosis of patients receiving ECMO, and the combination of platelet change value and the critical value of change rate can better predict the poor prognosis of patients in both ECMO modes.
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Objective:To summarize the experience and effect of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in the treatment of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in adults.Methods:The data of 40 adults with OHCA-ECPR in Emergency Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from April 2015 to April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were grouped by discharge survival/in-hospital death, with/without bystander resuscitation, and with/without interhospital transport. Age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index, initial rhythm, no-flow time, time from cardiac arrest to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) initiation (CA-Pump On time), ECMO evacuation success rate, survival rate, ECMO treatment time, time-to-death, and length of hospital stay were analyzed.Results:①Among the 40 patients with OHCA-ECPR, 9 patients (22.5%) survived upon discharge, 7 (77.8%) of whom had good neurological outcomes.②The no-flow time in the survival group was significantly shorter than that in the death group, and the proportion of shockable initial rhythm was higher.③Bystander resuscitation greatly shortened the no-flow time.④The regional OHCA-ECPR interhospital transport extended the CA-Pump On time, without affecting patients’ prognosis.Conclusions:ECPR improves the prognosis of patients with OHCA. Bystander resuscitation greatly shortens the no-flow time. ECPR is significantly effective in patients with short no-flow time and shockable initial rhythm. Regional interhospital transport ECPR is recommended to benefit more patients with OHCA.
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Objective:To analyze whether lower anticoagulation intensity can reduce the incidence of complications in patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).Methods:Clinical data of 88 non-cardiac surgery patients who received ECMO support for more than 72 h were collected in the Extracorpical Life support Center of Jiangsu Province Hospital from March 2015 to March 2021. According to the average activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) level on the third day of ECMO, the patients were divided into the APTT < 50 s group ( n=53) and APTT ≥50 s group ( n=35). The venovenous ECMO (VV-ECMO) subgroup was divided into the APTT <50 s group ( n=23) and APTT ≥50 s group ( n=10). The venoarterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) subgroup was divided into the APTT <50 s group ( n=30) and APTT≥50 s group ( n=25). The average daily transfusion volume of red blood cells during ECMO, the incidence of bleeding, the incidence of thrombosis and all-cause mortality were compared between the two groups. Results:There were no significant differences in the incidence of thrombosis and all-cause mortality in the APTT <50 s group compared with the APTT ≥50 s group ( P>0.05), but the incidence of bleeding and the daily transfusion volume of red blood cells were significantly decreased (7.5% vs. 35.7%; 0.50 U vs. 0.88 U) ( P < 0.05). In 33 VV-ECMO patients, the all-cause mortality, incidence of bleeding, average daily transfusion volume of red blood cells in the APTT <50 s group were lower than those in the APTT ≥50 s group, and the incidence of thrombosis was higher, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). In the 55 VA-ECMO patients, there were no significant differences in all-cause mortality, incidence of bleeding, thrombosis and average daily transfusion volume of red blood cells between the two groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:The lower anticoagulation intensity in patients without anticoagulation can reduce the occurrence of bleeding in ECMO patients. It is reasonable for such patients to have a lower anticoagulation intensity and studies with larger sample size need to be carried out.
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Objective:To study the application of blood products in patients with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and evaluate its effect on the prognosis.Methods:A total of 83 adult patients treated with VA-ECMO in the Emergency Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2017 to January 2020 were grouped by survival to explore the risk factors of 28-day mortality using binary logistic regression, and the threshold was calculated by ROC curve.Results:Platelet transfusion ( OR=2.506, 95% CI: 1.142-5.499) and non-myocarditis disease ( OR=6.881, 95% CI: 1.615-29.316) were the risk factors of 28-day mortality in adult VA-ECMO patients. The threshold of platelet transfusion was 0.427 mL/(kg·d) (sensitivity 78.4%, specificity 69.6% , AUC 0.735). Conclusions:The increased platelet transfusion is related to the poor prognosis of adult patients with VA-ECMO. Refractory myocarditis patients are better treated with VA-ECMO.
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Objective:To analyze the early volume characteristics of patients with severe cardiogenic shock treated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and the relationship between their early volume and the prognosis.Methods:This study reviewed patients of Emergency Medical University , treated with VA-ECMO and screened the patients with severe cardiogenic shock and VA-ECMO running more than 72 h for further study. The basic condition of the patients was recorded, and the fluid balance in the first 72 h was analyzed. The patients were grouped according to their fluid balance in the first 72 h. The gender, age, survival rate, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) rate, intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) rate, and invasive mechanical ventilation rate were compared between the two groups, and the relative risk to the prognosis was calculated. The prognosis was compared between the two groups. Results:Totally 77 patients with severe cardiogenic shock were enrolled. Forty-one cases survived, with an overall survival rate of 53.2%. The volume balance at 48-72 h and the total volume balance at the first 72 h were different between the survival and dead groups. Compared with the positive balance group, patients in the negative balance group were less likely to receive CRRT or invasive mechanical ventilation during the first 72 h. Patients in the negative balance group during the first 72 h had a better survival rate, and their relative risk of survival was 1.81 (95% confidence interval: 1.101, 2.985). However, there was no significant difference in survival rate according to every 24 h fluid balance.Conclusions:Patients with severe cardiogenic shock treated with VA-ECMO who had negative total volume balance during the first 72 h are more likely to survive and less likely to require CRRT or invasive mechanical ventilation.
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Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics and influencing factors on clinical outcome of patients receiving extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR).Methods:A total of 78 patients receiving ECPR admitted to the Department of Emergency Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital) from March 2015 to December 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into the survival group and death group according to clinical outcome. Their baseline data, CPR associated parameters, and pre-ECPR laboratory tests were compared between the two groups.Results:Of the 78 included patients, 51 patients were male and 27 female. Twenty-three patients finally survived, including 10 males and 13 females. There were no significant differences in age, body mass index and underlying diseases (hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease) between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The proportion of male patients in the survival group was lower than that in the death group ( P=0.017). Meanwhile Survival After Veno-Arterial ECMO (SAVE) score was significantly higher in the survival group than that in the death group[ (-1.57±4.15) vs. (-9.36±5.36), P<0.001]. The proportion of by-stander CPR in the survival group was higher than that in the death group ( P=0.014). The pre-ECPR serum AST, ALT, and Cr levels in the survival group were significantly lower than those in the death group (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that by-stander CPR ( OR=0.114, 95% CI: 0.015~0.867, P=0.036) and SAVE score ( OR=0.625, 95% CI: 0.479~0.815, P=0.001) were independent risk factors predicting ICU death in patients receiving ECPR. Conclusions:ECPR is an efficient tool to improve clinical outcomes of patients with cardiac arrest. By-stander CPR and SAVE score are independent risk factors predicting ICU death in patients receiving ECPR.
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Objective:To analyze the effectiveness and annual cost-effectiveness of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ECPR) in adults.Methods:Totally 60 patients received ECPR from April 2015 to March 2020 in Emergency Medicine Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were grouped by discharge survival/hospital death and shockable/unshockable initial rhythm. Age, gender, initial rhythm, survival rate, ECMO treatment time, time-to-death, length of stay and hospitalization costs were analyzed. All discharged survivors were followed up for 1 year, then cost-effectiveness analysis was performed using total cost of ECPR as the cost and 1-year survival rate as the effect.Results:Fifty-four adult patients with ECPR were enrolled, and 17 (31.5%) patients survived and discharged, of whom 15 (88.2%) patients had good neurological outcomes and survived at 1-year follow-up. The median ECMO time was 5 ( IQR 1-8) d, time-to-death was 4 ( IQR 1-9) d, length of stay was 10 ( IQR 3-18) d, total hospitalization cost was 209 122 ( IQR 121 431-303 822) RMB, and the daily cost was 23 587 ( IQR 13 439-38 217) RMB. The rate of shockable initial rhythm was significantly higher in the discharge survival group than the hospital death group. The survival rate of ECPR patients with shockable initial rhythm was significantly higher than that of patients with unshockable initial rhythm, and there was no difference in cost. Conclusions:ECPR is a resource-intensive treatment with a total cost of about 200 000 RMB. Moreover, the effectiveness and annual cost-effectiveness are superior for patients with shockable initial rhythm.
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Objective:To summarize the inter-hospital transport experience on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) led by a team from emergency department.Methods:The clinical data of 21 patients transferred under the support of ECMO between December 2016 and February 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were transferred to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from other hospitals. Interhospital distance, transport methods, patient demorgraphic characteristics, disease diagnosis, intubation location, intubation method, adverse events during transport and transport outcome were retrieved.Results:Eighteen of the 21 patients were transferred under our mobile ECMO team from outer hospitals to our ECMO intensive care unit. Three patients were cannulated by physicians of outer hospital and transported to our ECMO intensive care unit. All patients were transported by ground ambulance, and the distances varied from 2.5 to 252 km, with an average distance of 112.3±103.2 km. No death occurred during transportation. Adverse events in transport occurred in 6 patients. Of these, the most common were patient-related adverse events..Conclusions:Inter-hospital transport by ECMO in China is currently dominated by ground ambulance.. Experienced mobile ECMO team can safely operate inter-hospital transport supported by ECMO
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Objective:To explore the predictive factors of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients.Methods:The clinical data of 68 ECMO patients treated at Emergence Department of Jiangsu Provincial Hospital from January 2015 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) was used to assess the usage of vasoactive-inotropic drugs on day 1, 2 and 3 of ECMO (24 h VIS, 48 h VIS, and 72 h VIS). According to received RRT or not, patients were divided into the RRT group and non-RRT group. Age, gender, weight, VIS, presence of cardiac arrest before ECMO, ECMO mode, and ECMO treatment time were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictive factors for RRT in ECMO patients.Results:Of the enrolled patients, 73.5% of ECMO patients received RRT. The mean age, 24 h VIS, ECMO failure and mortality of the RRT group were significantly higher than those of the non-RRT group ( P <0.05). The use of RRT was 87.8% in elderly ECMO patients (> cutoff age of 38.5 years). According to the cutoff value of 24 h VIS (33.75), ECMO patients were divided into the high VIS group and low VIS group. The rates of RRT and mortality were both exceeded 90% in the high VIS group, which was significantly higher than that of the low VIS group ( P <0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR=1.223) and 24 h VIS ( OR=1.033) were predictive factors of RRT in ECMO patients ( P <0.05). Conclusions:Age and 24 h VIS show the predictive value for RRT in ECMO patients.
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Objective:To evaluate left ventricular systolic function (LVEF) after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM).Methods:Seven patients were admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from August 2018 to November 2018. All the patients accepted veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-AECMO). Complications associated with ECMO and clinical outcome were documented. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), single photo emission computed tomography (SPECT), and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)were performed to evaluate LVEF.Results:Seven patients were successfully weaned from V-AECMO, 2 of whom had oxygenator leakage, 4 had femoral artery bleeding after decannulation, and 2 had femoral artery pesudoaneurysm. There was no statistical difference in LVEF evaluation between TTE and CMR [(62.4±6.8)% vs (58.9±8.2)%, P >0.05]. CMR and SPECT further revealed myocardial pathological change and coronary arterial blood perfusion. Conclusions:ECMO is recommended in patients with AFM. TTE is simple and easy to perform and is not inferior to CMR in LVEF evaluation. CMR can reflect pathological changes of cardiomyocytes at the cellular level, and SPECT can reflect coronary perfusion.
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Objective:To analyze the effect of troponin T decrease rate on the prognosis of patients with acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).Methods:AFM patients treated with ECMO from April 2015 to December 2018 in our hospital were enrolled in this study. According to the hospital survival, patients were divided into the survival group and non-survival group. The decrease rate of troponin T within 24, 48 and 72 h were compared in the two groups.Results:A total of 18 patients with a mean age of 31 years were enrolled. Fifteen patients survived and 3 patients died with an in-hospital survival rate of 83.3%. The decrease rate of troponin T within 24 h was higher in the survival group than that in the non-survival group (49.36% vs.-59.57%, P<0.05), while there were no statistical differences in 48 h and 72 h between the two groups (57.17% vs.-35.67%, 65.53% vs. 58.96%; all P>0.05). Conclusions:ECMO is an effective treatment for cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest caused by AFM. The decrease rate of troponin T within 24 h supported by ECMO is higher in the survival group.
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Objective:To identify the impact of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) on neurological outcome and survival in adults with cardiac arrest (CA).Methods:Totally 31 adult patients with ECPR were enrolled from March 2015 to June 2019 in Emergency Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nangjing Medical University (Jiangsu People Hospital). Patients were divided to the survival group ( n=12) and death group ( n=19). Duration of conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCPR) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and other mechanical support were compared between groups. Cerebral performance category (CPC) and hospital survival were also evaluated according to the duration of CCPR before ECPR. Results:The duration of CCPR before ECPR was significantly shorter in the survival group than that in the death group ( P=0.002). Duration of ECMO had no significant difference between the two groups ( P=0.478). The location of CA occurrence had no impact on the hospital survival rate ( P=0.716). ECPR in combination with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) also had no impact on the hospital survival rate ( P=0.174), and patients received continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) had higher hospital survival than patients without CRRT ( P = 0.032). Patients with CCPR duration ≤ 60 min had higher rates of ROSC and hospital survival ( P <0.001). CPC evaluation showed no difference between the two groups. Conclusions:ECMO can provide effective life support to CA patients, and improve their survival rates. It is recommended to initiation of ECMO implantation within 60 min after CCPR.
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Objective:To study the effects of hyaluronic acid(HA) and TGF-β1 on the growth of mandibular condylar cartilage and the hyperthophic differentiation of the condylar chondrocyts.Methods:60 condyle samples from newborn mice were in vitro cultured and treated with HA(0.5 mg/ml),TGF-beta 1 (5 ng/ml) and without additional agent(the control) respectively.The Morphological observation,Alizarin Red Staining,Alkaline phosphatase staining and condylar cartilage surface area measurement were conducted after 1,2,4,6 and 8 weeks of culture respectively.Results:High-density photoresist area was observed in the condylar cartilage of the control group after 4 weeks of culture.Alizarin Red Staining and Alkaline phosphatase staining showed condylar cartilage matrix production and calcification.The HA group showed no high-density photoresist area at all time points,however,the cartilage area was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05);the TGF-beta 1 group showed high-density photoresist area after 2 weeks of culture.but the cartilage area were not significantly changed(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion:HA can promote the growth of condylar cartilage in vitro,but have an inhibitory effect on chondrocyte differentiation.TGF-β1 plays a role in mandibular condylar chondrocyte hypertrophic differentiation in the early days of in vitro culture.
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Objective To summarize the efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)utilization in Emergency Department (ED),as well as the establishment of emergency ECMO team.Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out in 16 patients treated with ECMO between April 2015 to December 2016 in ED.The clinical data including demographics,diagnosis,initiating ECMO timing,place of ECMO establishment,intubation approaches,duration of ECMO,complications and outcomes were collected and analyzed.Results Eight patients were successfully weaned from ECMO,and 7 of them survived to discharge from hospital.The duration of ECMO support was 4 to 384 hours.The emergency ECMO team was set up.Conclusions Emergency medical team can successfully operate the ECMO process.The emergency medical team-initiated ECMO can provide effectively adjuvant measures to support patients with respiratory failure,circulatory failure and cardiac arrest.
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Objective:To study the difference of the development between mandibular condylar cartilage and femoral head cartilage in vitro.Methods:Mandibular condyles and femoral heads were sampled from 1 2 neonatal mice and cultured in vitro.The samples before culture and after 6-week culture were examined by gross observation,HE staining,Alizarin Red staining and PCNA immunohistochem-istry respectively.Results:After in vitro culture,abnormal changes were observed in condyle cartilage,but the surface area of condyle cartilage was not changed(P >0.05).HE staining showed partial cartilage layer structure disappearance and the Alizarin Red staining confirmed calcification in the cartilage matrix.However,calcification was not found in femoral head cartilage,and the surface area of femoral head cartilage increased(P <0.05).HE staining showed the hypertrophied layer was thicker after culture than before and the Alizarin Red staining showed there was no calcification in the femoral cartilage matrix.The immunohistochemistry displayed PCNA posi-tive expression in both cartilage after culture.Conclusion:In vitro,the mandibular condylar cartilage matrix can be spontaneously cal-cificated.