Natriuretic peptides as predictors for atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation (CA) has become the first-line treatment strategy for atrial fibrillation (AF) but remains with a substantial recurrence rate. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the association between baseline natriuretic peptide levels and AF recurrence after CA. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Wiley-Cochrane Library for relevant studies published up until May 2022. Overall effect analysis and subgroup analysis were performed with Review Manager software. RESULTS: Finally, 61 studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in our meta-analysis. Compared with the nonrecurrence group, the recurrence group had increased baseline level of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21-0.56), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) (SMD = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.31-0.71), N-terminal pro-BNP (SMD = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.49-0.92), and midregional N-terminal pro-ANP (SMD = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.27-1.56). CONCLUSIONS: Increased baseline natriuretic peptide levels, including ANP, BNP, N-terminal pro-BNP, and midregional N-terminal pro-ANP, are associated with a higher risk of AF recurrence after CA. Nonetheless, further studies are needed to elucidate the predictive value of baseline natriuretic peptides in AF patients undergoing CA.

Exploration of percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture as day surgery: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes of patients underwent PVP for OVCF as day surgery with the outcomes of patients managed as traditional inpatients. METHODS: According to the selection criteria, patients who underwent PVP for single-segment thoracolumbar OVCF were included retrospectively in the day surgery procedure (DSP) group and the traditional inpatient procedure (TIP) group between April 2018 and September 2019. The visual analog scale score (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score were recorded preoperatively and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. Duration of hospital stay, preoperative waiting time, hospital cost, and postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 335 patients (53 in DSP group; 282 in TIP group) were enrolled and completed 12-month follow-up. The mean duration of hospital stay, the mean preoperative waiting time, and the mean hospital costs were significant lower in the DSP group. The postoperative VAS and ODI scores in both groups were significantly improved after surgery. Moreover, both VAS and ODI scores at each follow-up stage were also significantly lower than the previous follow-up stage. However, the ODI score in the DSP group was significantly lower at 1-day, 1-week, 1-month, and 3-month follow-up, respectively. For cement leakage and secondary vertebral compression fractures, there was no statistical difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that PVP for OVCFs in day surgery procedure is worthy of wide application.

Simvastatin inhibits the adipogenesis of bone marrow­derived mesenchymal stem cells through the downregulation of chemerin/CMKLR1 signaling.

Simvastatin is effective in the treatment of osteoporosis, partly through the inhibition of the adipogenesis of bone­marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The present study focused on the mechanisms responsible for the inhibitory effects of simvastatin on adipogenesis and examined the effects of simvastatin on the expression of peroxisome proliferator­activated receptor γ (PPARγ), chemerin, chemokine­like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), G protein­coupled receptor 1 (GPR1) and the adipocyte marker gene, adiponectin. BMSCs were isolated from 4­week­old female Sprague­Dawley (SD) rats, and adipogenesis was measured by the absorbance values at 490 nm of Oil Red O dye. The expression of each gene was evaluated by western blot analysis or reverse transcription­quantitative PCR (RT­qPCR). The expression of chemerin increased during adipogenesis, while CMKLR1 exhibited a trend towards a decreased expression. On days 7 and 14, the simvastatin­treated cells exhibited a downregulated expression of chemerin, whereas the upregulated expression of its receptor, CMKLR1 was observed. The results also revealed that CMKLR1 is required for adipogenesis and the simvastatin­mediated inhibitory effect on adipogenesis. Simvastatin regulated adipogenesis by negatively modulating chemerin­CMKLR1 signaling. Importantly, simvastatin stimulation inhibited the upregulation of PPARγ and PPARγ­mediated chemerin expression to prevent adipogenesis. Treatment with the PPARγ agonist, rosiglitazone, partially reversed the negative regulatory effects of simvastatin. On the whole, the findings of the present study demonstrate that simvastatin inhibits the adipogenesis of BMSCs through the downregulation of PPARγ and subsequently prevents the PPARγ­mediated induction of chemerin/CMKLR1 signaling.

The medial femoral wall can play a more important role in unstable intertrochanteric fractures compared with lateral femoral wall: a biomechanical study.

BACKGROUND: The major objective of the present study is to investigate the differences in the load and strain changes in the intertrochanteric region of human cadaveric femora between the loss of medial or lateral wall and after treatment with proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA). METHODS: After measuring the geometry of the proximal femur region and modeling the medial or lateral wall defect femoral models, six pairs of freshly frozen human femora were randomly assigned in the medial or lateral wall group. According to a single-leg stance model, an axial loading was applied, and the strain distribution was measured before and after PFNA implantation. The strains of each specimen were recorded at load levels of 350, 700, and 1800 N and the failure load. Paired t test was performed to assess the differences between two groups. RESULTS: The failure mode of almost all defect model femora was consistent with that of the simulated type of intertrochanteric fractures. After the PFNA implantation, the failure mode of almost all stabilized femora was caused by new lateral wall fractures. The failure load of the lateral wall group for defect model femora was significantly higher than that of the medial wall group (p < 0.001). However, the difference disappeared after the PFNA was implanted (p = 0.990). The axial stiffness in all defect model femora showed the same results (p < 0.001). After the PFNA implantation, the axial stiffness of the lateral wall group remained higher than that of the medial wall group (p = 0.001). However, the axial stiffness of the lateral wall group showed that the femora removed from the lateral wall were higher than the PFNA-stabilized femora (p = 0.020). For the axial strain in the anterior wall after the PFNA implantation, the strain of the lateral wall group was significantly lower than that of the medial group (p = 0.003). Nevertheless, for the axial strain of the posterior wall after the PFNA implantation, the strain of the medial wall group was significantly lower than that of the lateral group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this study demonstrated that PFNA is an effective intramedullary fixation system for treating unstable intertrochanteric fractures. Compared with the lateral wall, the medial femoral wall is a more important part in the intertrochanteric region. We suggest that in treating intertrochanteric femoral fractures with medial wall fractures, the medial wall fragment should be reset and fixed as much as possible.

Comparison of intramedullary fixation and arthroplasty for the treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures in the elderly: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: More and more studies conduct to compare intramedullary fixation (IMF) with arthroplasty in treating intertrochanteric hip fractures, but it remains controversy. The aim of this meta-analysis was to find out whether IMF or arthroplasty was more appropriate for treating intertrochanteric hip fractures in elderly patients. METHODS: Relevant studies were searched in the electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1980 to September 2016 with English language restriction. Surgical information and postoperative outcomes were analyzed using RevMan 5.3 version. RESULTS: A total of 1239 patients from 11 studies which satisfied the eligibility criteria were included. Compared with IMF, the use of arthroplasty reduced implant-related complications (odds ratio [OR]: 2.05, P = .02) and reoperation rate (OR: 7.06, P < .001), and had similar length of hospital stay (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -0.41, P = .63). However, IMF reduced blood loss (WMD: -375.01, P = .001) and transfusion requirement (OR: 0.07, P < .001), shorter operation time (WMD: -18.92, P = .010), higher Harris hip score (WMD: 4.19, P < .001), and lower rate of 1-year mortality (OR: 0.67, P = .02) compared with arthroplasty. CONCLUSION: The main treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures is internal fixation using IMF. In the absence of concrete evidence, arthroplasty should be undertaken with caution in carefully selected patient and surgeon should be aware of the increased complexity of doing the arthroplasty in these elderly patients. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to provide robust evidence and evaluate the treatment options.