Clinical Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Nonagenarians: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the incidence of mortality and complications between nonagenarians and younger patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). BACKGROUND: TAVR has become an alternative treatment for nonagenarian patients with severe aortic stenosis. Previous studies have reported conflicting results regarding the clinical outcomes between nonagenarians and younger patients who underwent TAVR. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases with predefined criteria from the inception dates to July 8, 2018. The primary clinical endpoint was 30-day and 1-year all-cause mortalities. Secondary outcomes were considered the rates of stroke, myocardial infarction, any bleeding, any acute kidney injury, any vascular complications, new pacemaker implantation, and conversion to surgical aortic valve replacement. RESULTS: A total of 5 eligible studies with 25,371 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with younger patients who underwent TAVR, nonagenarians had a significantly higher mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score (STS score) (MD, 2.80; 95%CI: 2.58, 3.30; P<0.00001) and logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (logistic EuroSCORE) (MD, 2.72; 95%CI: 1.01, 4.43; P=0.002). Nonagenarians were associated with significantly higher 30-day mortality (6.2% vs. 3.7%; OR, 1.73; 95%CI: 1.49, 2.00) and 1-year mortality (15.5% vs. 11.8%; OR, 1.39; 95%CI: 1.26, 1.53), without significant statistical heterogeneity. Nonagenarians were associated with significantly increased rates of major or life-threatening bleeding, vascular complications and stroke of 20%, 35%, and 32%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the rate of myocardial infarction, stage 2 or 3 acute kidney injury, new pacemaker implantation, or conversion to surgical aortic valve replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Nonagenarians showed worse clinical outcomes than younger patients after TAVR, while the incidence of mortality was acceptable. TAVR remains an option for nonagenarian patients with severe aortic stenosis and should be comprehensively evaluated by the heart valve team.

The role of microRNA-1 targeting of MAPK3 in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats undergoing sevoflurane preconditioning via the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Recent studies have uncovered the vital roles played by microRNAs in regulating cardiac injury. Among them, the cardiac enriched microRNA-1 (miR-1) has been extensively studied and proven to be detrimental to cardiac myocytes. Hence, the current study aimed to explore whether miR-1 affects myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) in rats undergoing sevoflurane preconditioning and the underlying mechanism. After successful model establishment, rats with MIRI were transfected with mimics or inhibitors of miR-1, or siRNA against MAPK3, and then were injected with sevoflurane. A luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted to evaluate the targeting relationship between miR-1 and MAPK3. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were employed to evaluate the expressions of miR-1, MAPK3, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and Akt. Additionally, the concentration of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was determined. Cell apoptosis and viability were assessed using TUNEL and cell counting kit-8 assays, and the ischemic area at risk and infarct size were detected using Evans blue and triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. MAPK3 was found to be the target gene of miR-1. miR-1 expressed at a high level whereas MAPK3 expressed at a low level in MIRI rats. Overexpressing miR-1 or silencing MAPK3 blocked the PI3K/Akt pathway to increase cell apoptosis, ischemic area at risk, and infarct area but decreased cell viability and increased LDH concentration. In contrast, miR-1 downregulation abrogated the effects induced by miR-1 mimics or siRNA against MAPK3. These findings indicate that inhibition of miR-1 promotes MAPK3 to protect against MIRI in rats undergoing sevoflurane preconditioning through activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Ultrasound-guided suprainguinal fascia iliaca block combined with a sacral plexus block for lower extremity surgery: A case report.

RATIONALE: The anesthetic management of patients with severe pulmonary hypertension is different from that of normal, healthy patients, and regional nerve blocks are commonly used for them. Due to the individual variability of the course, distribution, and branching of the nerves below the inguinal ligament, the supra-inguinal fascia iliaca (SIFI) block has a wider and more stable blocking area. In combination with the sacral plexus block, they can satisfy the needs of surgical anesthesia below the hip. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 46-year-old man with tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary heart disease, World Health Organization (WHO) class III pulmonary hypertension and right heart dysfunction, and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class III needed fixation of an intramedullary nail in the left lower extremity. Additionally, he had broken his left lower limb after a recent fall. Both general anesthesia and epidural anesthesia were not appropriate. DIAGNOSES: The patient had a clear history of tuberculosis, computerized tomography scan displayed destructive pneumonophthisis. Furthermore, he had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary heart disease. INTERVENTIONS: An ultrasound-guided SIFI combined with a sacral plexus block was successfully performed for surgical anesthesia and avoided all hemodynamic fluctuations. OUTCOMES: We successfully performed an ultrasound-guided SIFI combined with a sacral plexus block for surgical anesthesia and avoided all hemodynamic fluctuations. LESSONS: Ultrasound-guided suprainguinal fascia iliaca block combined with a sacral plexus block can be suitable for anesthesia for patients with severe circulatory compromise.

Clinical outcomes after colchicine overdose: A case report.

RATIONALE: Colchicine can inhibit cell division and intracellular transport in affected organs by fixing intracellular tubulin and preventing its polymerization into microtubules. A lethal dose of colchicine is considered to be 0.8 mg/kg. The wide distribution of colchicine through 70% of the body following an overdose makes it difficult to eliminate. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 56-year-old man with a clear history of colchicine overdose was admitted to our hospital nearly 40 hours after taking 12 mg (0.17 mg/kg) of colchicine. He had a history of gout and chronic kidney disease. As the disease progressed, he showed most of the clinical manifestations and pathological features of colchicine overdose. DIAGNOSES AND INTERVENTIONS: Colchicine overdose was clear, with symptoms of multiple organ failure including primary gastrointestinal failure, bone marrow hematopoietic inhibition, rhabdomyolysis, cardiac damage, hepatocyte damage. The patient developed secondary septic shock, renal failure, circulatory failure, and respiratory failure. We performed continuous renal replacement therapy and gastric lavage, and administered norepinephrine, frozen plasma, proton-pump inhibitors, adenosylmethionine, antibiotics, granulocyte colony stimulating factor, and total parenteral nutrition. OUTCOMES: The patient rapidly developed complete hematopoietic function inhibition, gastrointestinal failure, and cardiac damage 32 hours after admission. Sustained severe infection and circulatory instability caused a progressive deterioration of respiratory function. Tracheal intubation was performed but the patient continued to deteriorate, and death occurred approximately 132 hours after admission. LESSONS: Excessive colchicine levels cause continuous organ damage due to extensive tissue distribution, eventually leading to multiple organ failure. Colchicine metabolism is delayed in patients with liver or kidney dysfunction, and even a low dose of colchicine may result in poisoning in these individuals. Early diagnosis and reduction of colchicine levels is critical to improve prognosis, and colchicine poisoning should be considered in patients with poor liver or kidney function even when the ingested dose is low.

Thoracoscopic Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion for Stroke Prevention Compared with Long-Term Warfarin Therapy in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Thoracoscopic left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion is an alternative treatment for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. Prospective study comparing thoracoscopic LAA occlusion and warfarin therapy is still lacking. The goal of this prospective cohort study was to assess the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopic LAA occlusion for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation compared with long-term warfarin therapy. Four hundred and ninety-two nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients were enrolled. Two hundred and fifty-seven patients were treated with thoracoscopic LAA occlusion and 235 with long-term warfarin therapy. At 24 months, the rate of the first efficacy endpoint (composite of stroke, systemic embolism, and death) was 0.018 in the surgical group versus 0.043 in the warfarin group (p = 0.033). The rate of the second efficacy endpoint (stroke and systemic embolism excluding the first 7 days after procedure) was 0.010 versus 0.034 (p = 0.019). The rate of the first safety endpoint of bleeding was 0.016 versus 0.044 (p = 0.022). In conclusion, this study showed that thoracoscopic LAA occlusion was superior to warfarin for stroke prevention. The surgical group also had significantly lower bleeding risk. The incidence of surgical complications was low, and all occurred in hospital without causing serious outcomes.

[Diagnosis and treatment of primary parathyroid occupying lesions].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatment of parathyroid occupying lesions. METHOD: The clinical data of 26 patients with parathyroid occupying lesions between January 2003 and October 2012 at Dalian Central Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. RESULT: There were 2 cases of parathyroid cancer, 11 cases of parathyroid adenoma, 13 cases of parathyroid cysts in this study. All the cases,except 13 cases of cysts, are accompanied by symptoms of hyperparathyroidism. The symptoms were as follows:26 cases of neck lump, 11 cases of osteoporosis/osteitis fibrosa cystica,9 cases of urinary symptom, 8 cases of digestive symptom. Serum calciumion level and serum parathyroid hormone(PTH) level were examined qualitatively before operation. Ultrasonography, CT, MRI were used in diagnosing and locating parathyroid occupying lesion before operation. 2 cases of parathyroid cancer, 11 cases of parathyroid adenoma and 13 cases of parathyroid cysts with preoperative and postoperative diagnosis coincidence rate was 0 (0/2), 91% (10/11), 69% (9/13). All patients were treated with operation. 2 cases of parathyroid cancer survived with out recurrence during follow up for 17 months and 27 months after operation. 11 cases of parathyroid adenoma and 13 cases of parathyroid cysts were treated with operation,achieved complete remission and the outcome was no recurrence. CONCLUSION: There lack of specific clinical symptoms of parathyroid occupying lesions,neck lump are common manifestations. Examination of serum calcium and PTH level together with ultrasonography, CT, MRI, 99mTc-MIBI is helpful to diagnose parathyroid occupying lesions. Parathyroid cancer preoperative diagnosis is difficult . Parathyroid occupying lesions determine the diagnosis depends on pathology. Surgery should be done as primary treatment.