Objective To study prognostic characteristics of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) elevation in acute ischemic stroke. Methods We retrospectively studied patients (n = 248) with acute ischemic stroke, acute ST-segment ele...Objective To study prognostic characteristics of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) elevation in acute ischemic stroke. Methods We retrospectively studied patients (n = 248) with acute ischemic stroke, acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and acute non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction who were treated between January 2013 and October 2015. Baseline demographic data and changes in cTnI levels among these three groups were compared. Patients with acute ischemic stroke were assigned to either the cTnI elevation group (cTnI 〉 0.034 ng/mL) or the no cTnI elevation group (cTnI ≤ 0.034 ng/mL). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with elevated serum cTnI in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Moreover, the duration of hospital stay and incidence of major cardiovascular outcomes were compared in patients with acute ischemic stroke, with or without elevated cTnI. Results In this study population of patients with acute ischemic stroke (n = 178), acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (n = 35), and acute non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (n = 35), patients with acute ischemic stroke with elevated cTnI comprised 18.54% of subjects. Patients with elevated cTnI were older and more likely to have a history of hypertension. In addition, these patients had higher levels of inflammatory markers, reduced renal functions, increased D-dimer levels, higher NIH stroke scores, and lower left ventricular ejection fractions. Logistic regression analysis showed that both percentage of neutrophil and NIH stroke scores were elevated; estimated glomerular filtration rate and left ventricular ejection fraction were decreased in patients with acute ischemic stroke who had elevated cTnI, and they had more frequent major cardiovascular events during hospital stay. Conclusion Elevated cTnI detected in patients with acute ischemic stroke, indicated a greater likelihood of poor short-term prognosis during hospital stay.展开更多
AIM: To identify the risk factors in predicting the out- come of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure pa- tients. METHODS: We retrospectively divided 113 patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure-hepatitis ...AIM: To identify the risk factors in predicting the out- come of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure pa- tients. METHODS: We retrospectively divided 113 patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure-hepatitis B virus (ACLF-HBV) and without concurrent hepatitis C or D virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma into two groups according to their outcomes after anti-HBV therapy. Their demographic, clinical, and biochemical data on the day of diagnosis and after the first week of treatment were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test, and a multiple logistic regres- sion analysis. RESULTS: The study included 113 patients (87 men and 26 women) with a mean age of 49.84 years. Fifty- two patients survived, and 61 patients died. Liver failure (85.2%), sepsis (34.4%), and multiple organ failure (39.3%) were the main causes of death. Mul- tivariate analyses showed that Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) Ⅱ scores ≥ 12 [odds ratio (OR) = 7.160, 95% CI: 2.834-18.092, P 〈 0.001] and positive blood culture (OR = 13.520, 95% CI: 2.740-66.721, P = 0.001) on the day of diagnosis and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores 28 (OR = 8.182, 95% CI: 1.884-35.527, P = 0.005) after the first week of treatment were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: APACHE II scores on the day of diag- nosis and MELD scores after the first week of anti-HBV therapy are feasible predictors of outcome in ACLF- HBV patients.展开更多
AIM: To compare the clinical characteristics of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) in patients with and without hepatic neoplasm (HN). METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis involving patients with PLA. The demograp...AIM: To compare the clinical characteristics of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) in patients with and without hepatic neoplasm (HN). METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis involving patients with PLA. The demographic, clinical features, laboratory and imaging findings, management and outcome of patients with and without HN were studied. RESULTS: From January 2000 to December 2009 inclusive, 318 patients (35 with HN) had PLA, and mean age and comorbidity were comparable between the two groups. More patients with HN experienced right upper quadrant pain (68.6% vs 52.7%, P < 0.04), developed jaundice (14.3% vs 5.7%, P < 0.03) and hepatomegaly (17.1% vs 3.9%, P < 0.01), and had higher serum total bilirubin level (43.3 μmol/L vs 30.0 μmol/L, P = 0.05). Most patients in both groups had PLAs in the right hepatic lobe, and biliary tract disorder was the most common underlying cause (71.4% and 61.8%). However, more PLAs in the HN group were associated with thicker abscess wall (37.1% vs 19.4%, P < 0.01), septal lobulation (77.1% vs 58%, P < 0.02), gaseous cavitation (17% vs 7.8%, P = 0.03), portal thrombophlebitis (11.4% vs 1.8%, P < 0.01) and aerobilia (25.9% vs 5.5%, P < 0.01). Mixed bacterial growth (40% vs 15.2%, P < 0.01) and Gram-negative bacilli (22.8% vs 60.4%, P < 0.01) were dominant isolates in PLAs with and without HN, respectively. Although incidence of the complications was comparable between the two groups, patients with HN had a higher mortality rate than those without (71.4% vs 8.8%, P < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed underlying active malignancy [odds ratio (OR): 40.45, 95% CI: 14.76-111.65], hypoalbuminemia (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.14-1.38), disseminated intravascular coagulation (OR: 3.32, 95% CI: 1.19-9.69) and acute coronary syndrome (OR: 4.48, 95% CI: 1.08-17.8) were independent risk factors associated with mortality. However, several HN cases, presented concurrently with PLAs, were found to have curative resectable tumors and had good prognosis after surgery. CONCLUSION: PLA associated with HN tends to form a distinct clinical syndrome with a different extent of clinical manifestations, radiological and microbiological features and complications.展开更多
In 2013 a new collaborative center was established in Wellington, New Zealand to focus on integrating resilience research with the region’s community disaster resilience strategy. An earlier study with parties to thi...In 2013 a new collaborative center was established in Wellington, New Zealand to focus on integrating resilience research with the region’s community disaster resilience strategy. An earlier study with parties to this center had indicated that researcher and practitioner groups were divided by attention to their own immediate knowledge and skills, but agreed there was a need to maximize community resilience benefits amongst a regional population. An action research workshop of researchers and practitioners used a visual logic model to focus on the pragmatic benefits of improving community resilience. The visual logic model was used to design research activities that would improve the regional community resilience strategy, which was still in an early implementation phase.Ten of 14 workshop participants were interviewed following the workshop. Statistical content analysis of interview data highlighted certain strengths of the action research process: visual monitoring and evaluation planning was a catalyst for complicated conversations between two very different groups of professionals; and researchers became more focused on practical issues as a result. Other findings suggested that in future collaborative researchgovernance would benefit from wider cycles of strategic intelligence, enhanced research contributions, and the use of different information formats for different purposes.Different formats for different purposes should also be considered when developing and implementing large-scale disaster risk reduction policies and strategies.展开更多
文摘Objective To study prognostic characteristics of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) elevation in acute ischemic stroke. Methods We retrospectively studied patients (n = 248) with acute ischemic stroke, acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and acute non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction who were treated between January 2013 and October 2015. Baseline demographic data and changes in cTnI levels among these three groups were compared. Patients with acute ischemic stroke were assigned to either the cTnI elevation group (cTnI 〉 0.034 ng/mL) or the no cTnI elevation group (cTnI ≤ 0.034 ng/mL). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with elevated serum cTnI in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Moreover, the duration of hospital stay and incidence of major cardiovascular outcomes were compared in patients with acute ischemic stroke, with or without elevated cTnI. Results In this study population of patients with acute ischemic stroke (n = 178), acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (n = 35), and acute non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (n = 35), patients with acute ischemic stroke with elevated cTnI comprised 18.54% of subjects. Patients with elevated cTnI were older and more likely to have a history of hypertension. In addition, these patients had higher levels of inflammatory markers, reduced renal functions, increased D-dimer levels, higher NIH stroke scores, and lower left ventricular ejection fractions. Logistic regression analysis showed that both percentage of neutrophil and NIH stroke scores were elevated; estimated glomerular filtration rate and left ventricular ejection fraction were decreased in patients with acute ischemic stroke who had elevated cTnI, and they had more frequent major cardiovascular events during hospital stay. Conclusion Elevated cTnI detected in patients with acute ischemic stroke, indicated a greater likelihood of poor short-term prognosis during hospital stay.
基金Supported by Tri-Service General Hospital,No.TSGH-C101-137
文摘AIM: To identify the risk factors in predicting the out- come of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure pa- tients. METHODS: We retrospectively divided 113 patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure-hepatitis B virus (ACLF-HBV) and without concurrent hepatitis C or D virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma into two groups according to their outcomes after anti-HBV therapy. Their demographic, clinical, and biochemical data on the day of diagnosis and after the first week of treatment were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test, and a multiple logistic regres- sion analysis. RESULTS: The study included 113 patients (87 men and 26 women) with a mean age of 49.84 years. Fifty- two patients survived, and 61 patients died. Liver failure (85.2%), sepsis (34.4%), and multiple organ failure (39.3%) were the main causes of death. Mul- tivariate analyses showed that Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) Ⅱ scores ≥ 12 [odds ratio (OR) = 7.160, 95% CI: 2.834-18.092, P 〈 0.001] and positive blood culture (OR = 13.520, 95% CI: 2.740-66.721, P = 0.001) on the day of diagnosis and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores 28 (OR = 8.182, 95% CI: 1.884-35.527, P = 0.005) after the first week of treatment were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: APACHE II scores on the day of diag- nosis and MELD scores after the first week of anti-HBV therapy are feasible predictors of outcome in ACLF- HBV patients.
文摘AIM: To compare the clinical characteristics of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) in patients with and without hepatic neoplasm (HN). METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis involving patients with PLA. The demographic, clinical features, laboratory and imaging findings, management and outcome of patients with and without HN were studied. RESULTS: From January 2000 to December 2009 inclusive, 318 patients (35 with HN) had PLA, and mean age and comorbidity were comparable between the two groups. More patients with HN experienced right upper quadrant pain (68.6% vs 52.7%, P < 0.04), developed jaundice (14.3% vs 5.7%, P < 0.03) and hepatomegaly (17.1% vs 3.9%, P < 0.01), and had higher serum total bilirubin level (43.3 μmol/L vs 30.0 μmol/L, P = 0.05). Most patients in both groups had PLAs in the right hepatic lobe, and biliary tract disorder was the most common underlying cause (71.4% and 61.8%). However, more PLAs in the HN group were associated with thicker abscess wall (37.1% vs 19.4%, P < 0.01), septal lobulation (77.1% vs 58%, P < 0.02), gaseous cavitation (17% vs 7.8%, P = 0.03), portal thrombophlebitis (11.4% vs 1.8%, P < 0.01) and aerobilia (25.9% vs 5.5%, P < 0.01). Mixed bacterial growth (40% vs 15.2%, P < 0.01) and Gram-negative bacilli (22.8% vs 60.4%, P < 0.01) were dominant isolates in PLAs with and without HN, respectively. Although incidence of the complications was comparable between the two groups, patients with HN had a higher mortality rate than those without (71.4% vs 8.8%, P < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed underlying active malignancy [odds ratio (OR): 40.45, 95% CI: 14.76-111.65], hypoalbuminemia (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.14-1.38), disseminated intravascular coagulation (OR: 3.32, 95% CI: 1.19-9.69) and acute coronary syndrome (OR: 4.48, 95% CI: 1.08-17.8) were independent risk factors associated with mortality. However, several HN cases, presented concurrently with PLAs, were found to have curative resectable tumors and had good prognosis after surgery. CONCLUSION: PLA associated with HN tends to form a distinct clinical syndrome with a different extent of clinical manifestations, radiological and microbiological features and complications.
基金funded by the Earthquake Commission of New ZealandThe Institute of GNS ScienceMassey University
文摘In 2013 a new collaborative center was established in Wellington, New Zealand to focus on integrating resilience research with the region’s community disaster resilience strategy. An earlier study with parties to this center had indicated that researcher and practitioner groups were divided by attention to their own immediate knowledge and skills, but agreed there was a need to maximize community resilience benefits amongst a regional population. An action research workshop of researchers and practitioners used a visual logic model to focus on the pragmatic benefits of improving community resilience. The visual logic model was used to design research activities that would improve the regional community resilience strategy, which was still in an early implementation phase.Ten of 14 workshop participants were interviewed following the workshop. Statistical content analysis of interview data highlighted certain strengths of the action research process: visual monitoring and evaluation planning was a catalyst for complicated conversations between two very different groups of professionals; and researchers became more focused on practical issues as a result. Other findings suggested that in future collaborative researchgovernance would benefit from wider cycles of strategic intelligence, enhanced research contributions, and the use of different information formats for different purposes.Different formats for different purposes should also be considered when developing and implementing large-scale disaster risk reduction policies and strategies.