The Role of Jinhuang Powder to Prevent Adverse Effects of Subcutaneous Injection of Enoxaparin Sodium.

Objective: To determine the role of Jinhuang Powder to prevent adverse effects of subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin sodium. Methods: The clinical data of 97 patients with cervical cancer who were treated with subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin through the lower margin of the deltoid muscle of the upper arm in Zhejiang Tumor Hospital from August 2020 to August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into the control group (n = 39) and the research group (n = 58) according to the different use time periods of Jinhuang Powder. The research group was treated with Jinhuang Powder and enoxaparin sodium at the same time. The control group started to use Jinhuang Powder after the adverse reactions occurred. The induration, subcutaneous bleeding events, and pain were statistically analyzed. Results: The incidence of induration (3.4% vs 15.4%, P=0.036) and subcutaneous hemorrhage (37.9% vs 76.9%, P=0.003) in the research group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The pain in the research group was lighter than that in the control group (grade 0-4 pain: 70% vs 28.2%, 19% vs 30.8%, 8.6% vs 23.1%, 1.7% vs 12.8%, 1.7% vs 5.1%, P=0.001). Conclusion: Preventive use of Jinhuang Powder can significantly reduce the incidence of subcutaneous induration and subcutaneous bleeding and can effectively alleviate the local pain of injection. It is worthy of further study to clarify its role and mechanism.

Association between serum periostin concentrations and outcome after acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Higher serum periostin concentrations are associated with mortality after head trauma. We further determined the relationship between periostin concentrations, severity, and clinical outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: We prospectively included 128 controls and 128 consecutive patients with acute ICH within the first 24h after onset. At admission, we measured serum periostin concentrations. RESULTS: Serum periostin concentrations were significantly higher in the patients than in the controls. Serum periostin concentrations were positively related to National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (r=0.526) and hematoma volume (r=0.586). An unfavorable outcome (defined as modified Rankin scale >2) was observed in 65 (50.8%) patients. Serum periostin [odds ratio (OR), 1.008; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.002-1.013], NIHSS score (OR, 1.462; 95% CI, 1.209-1.767), hematoma volume (OR, 1.134; 95% CI, 1.047-1.227) and age (OR, 1.060; 95% CI, 1.015-1.108) emerged as independent predictors for 6-month unfavorable outcome. In terms of ROC AUC, serum periostin concentrations had significantly higher predictive value compared with age and showed similar predictive value compared with NIHSS score and hematoma volume. CONCLUSIONS: High concentrations of serum periostin in acute ICH patients are associated with increasing severity and a poor functional prognosis.

The prognostic value of plasma nesfatin-1 concentrations in patients with traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Nesfatin-1 is related to inflammation. Its increased circulating concentrations are associated with the severity and prognosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage. In-hospital major adverse events (IMAEs), including acute traumatic coagulopathy, progressive hemorrhagic injury and posttraumatic cerebral infarction, are correlated with mortality after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The present study was designed to investigate the changes of plasma nesfatin-1 concentrations and further assess its association with inflammation, trauma severity, in-hospital mortality and IMAEs following TBI. METHODS: We measured plasma nesfatin-1 concentrations of 100 severe TBI patients and 100 controls. Progressive hemorrhagic injury and posttraumatic cerebral infarction were diagnosed based on a follow-up computerized tomography scan. Acute traumatic coagulopathy was identified according to a coagulation test. RESULTS: Plasma nesfatin-1 concentrations were significantly higher in patients than in controls and associated highly with Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores and plasma C-reactive protein concentrations. Nesfatin-1 was indicated as an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality and IMAEs. In accordance with area under receiver operating characteristic curve, its predictive value was similar to GCS scores. CONCLUSION: Increased plasma nesfatin-1 concentrations are associated closely with inflammation, trauma severity and clinical outcomes, indicating that nesfatin-1 might be involved in inflammation and become a good prognostic biomarker following TBI.