Electrocardiographic predictors of cardiovascular events in patients at high cardiovascular risk: a multicenter study

Background There are limited data on the prevalence of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities, and their value for predicting a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) in patients at high cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ECG abnormalities in patients at high risk for cardiovascular events, and to identify ECG abnormalities that significantly predict MACE. Methods Patients aged ≥ 45 years with established atherosclerotic disease (EAD) were consecutively enrolled from the outpatient clinics of the six participating hospitals during April 2011 to March 2014. The following data were collected: demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, history of cardiovascular event, physical examination, ECG and medications. ECG was analyzed using Minnesota Code criteria. MACE included cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and hospitalization due to unstable angina or heart failure. Results A total of 2009 patients were included, 1048 patients (52.2%) had established EAD, and 961 patients (47.8%) had multiple risk factors (MRF). ECG abnormalities included atrial fibrillation (6.7%), premature ventricular contraction (5.4%), pathological Q-wave (Q/QS)(21.3%), T-wave inversion (20.0%), intraventricular ventricular conduction delay (IVCD)(7.3%), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)(12.2%), and AV block (12.5%). MACE occurred in 88 patients (4.4%). Independent predictors of MACE were chronic kidney disease, EAD, and the presence of atrial fibrillation, Q/QS, IVCD or LVH by ECG. Conclusions A high prevalence of ECG abnormalities was found. The prevalence of ECG abnormalities was high even among those with risk factors without documented cardiovascular disease.

Predictors of rebleeding after initial hemostasis with epinephrine injection in high-risk ulcers

AIM: To identify the predictors of rebleeding after initial hemostasis with epinephrine injection (EI) in patients with high-risk ulcers. METHODS: Recent studies have revealed that endoscopic thermocoagulation, or clips alone or combined with EI are superior to EI alone to arrest ulcer bleeding. However, the reality is that EI monotherapy is still common in clinical practice. From October 2006 to April 2008, high-risk ulcer patients in whom hemorrhage was stopped after EI monotherapy were studied using clinical, laboratory and endoscopic variables. The patients were divided into 2 groups: sustained hemostasis and rebleeding. RESULTS: A total of 175 patients (144, sustainedhemostasis; 31, rebleeding) were enrolled. Univariate analysis revealed that older age (≥ 60 years), advanced American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) status (category Ⅲ , Ⅳ and Ⅴ ), shock, severe anemia (hemoglobin < 80 g/L), EI dose ≥ 12 mL and severe bleeding signs (SBS) including hematemesis or hematochezia were the factors which predicted rebleeding. However, only older age, severe anemia, high EI dose and SBS were independent predictors. Among 31 rebleeding patients, 10 (32.2%) underwent surgical hemostasis, 15 (48.4%) suffered from delayed hemostasis causing major complications and 13 (41.9%) died of these complications. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic EI monotherapy in patients with high-risk ulcers should be avoided. Initial hemostasis with thermocoagulation, clips or additional hemostasis after EI is mandatory for such patients to ensure better hemostatic status and to prevent subsequent rebleeding, surgery, morbidity and mortality.

肝硬化高危食管曲张静脉出血无创性预测指标的临床研究

目的分析血小板计数、脾脏直径、血小板计数/脾脏直径比值与肝硬化高危食管曲张静脉的关系及其临床价值。方法连续收集近3年肝硬化合并食管静脉曲张住院患者272例。出血组113例,其中行胃镜检查并明确静脉曲张分级的共94例,非出血组159例,其中101例既往无出血史。以胃镜检查发现重度食管曲张静脉和/或红色征作为高危食管曲张静脉标准,将非出血组分为高危组77例,非高危组24例。分析出血组与非出血组、高危组与非高危组之间血小板计数、脾脏直径和血小板计数/脾脏直径比值,并通过绘制受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线计算脾脏直径,预测肝硬化合并高危食管曲张静脉的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值和阴性预测值。结果出血组与非出血组之间血小板计数、脾脏直径、血小板计数/脾脏直径比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。高危组脾脏直径大于非高危组(161.96±33.64 vs 139.15±24.29,P=0.024);经ROC曲线分析,脾脏直径预测肝硬化患者合并高危食管曲张静脉的灵敏度为87.9%,特异度为53.8%,阳性预测值为85.9%,阴性预测值为58.1%,ROC曲线下面积为0.71。结论脾脏直径可以作为预测肝硬化高危食管曲张静脉的指标,其灵敏度较好,诊断效率较高,但特异度欠佳。

宫颈低级别鳞状上皮内病变进展的预测因素

宫颈低级别鳞状上皮内病变(LSIL)是与宫颈癌及其癌前病变密切相关的一组宫颈病变。LSIL通常无须特殊处理,但部分患者存在进展为高级别病变甚至浸润癌的可能,从而需要采取手术治疗或其他干预措施。LSIL的发生发展是病毒因素、宿主免疫因素及不同细胞活动相互作用的一系列复杂过程。高危型人乳头瘤病毒的持续感染与LSIL的进展密切相关。随着分子生物学的发展及基因测序技术的不断成熟,许多新兴检测手段的出现(如DNA甲基化检测、p16/Ki-67双染检查)为预测LSIL进展提供了新思路。

难治性肺炎支原体肺炎的预测因素

肺炎支原体是引起学龄前和学龄期儿童社区获得性肺炎的常见病因之一。虽然在部分儿童中呈自限性,但仍存在一些病例发展为难治性肺炎支原体肺炎(RMPP),表现为各种肺内及肺外并发症,如支气管黏液栓形成、坏死性肺炎等,甚至危及患儿生命。近年来,随着RMPP的发病率上升,有研究表明尽早使用皮质类固醇治疗能显著改善其临床症状和预后,因此了解肺炎支原体肺炎的致病机制、确定预测RMPP及其相关并发症的高危因素,并制定相关的预测量表就显得尤为重要。