ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effect of low-dose dexamethasone after acute and subacute cerebral infarct.Methods One hundred and forty patients with acute ischemic stroke were randomly divided into acute ischemic stroke group (acute stage group),subacute ischemic stroke group (subacute stage group),placebo and control groups.Subjects in acute stage groups received conventional therapy and 1 mL (5 mg) dexamethasone injection from 1 day to 3 day after admission and in subacute stage group,received the same treatment as acute stage group from 4 day to 6 day after admission.In control and placebo groups,subjects received conventional therapy and conventional therapy + 1 mL normal saline for injection respectively.One week after treatments,complete blood count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were tested.One month and three month after treatments,neurological function were evaluated by Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale (mRS).Results The valuate of erythrocyte sedimentation rate in acute stage group were significantly different from it of placebo and control groups (P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,neurological function of subjects in acute stage group was significantly improved than that in placebo and control groups in by Barthel Index and mRS (P ＜ 0.05).However that in subacute stage group was not different from that placebo and control groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Low-dose dexamethasone plays a neuroprotection role after acutc cerebral ischemia.
ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the value of implanting remedial or prophylactic cardioverter defibrillator in patients with Brugada syndrome for protecting from malignant ventricular arrhythmias and to estimate the initial outcomes in one-month follow-up. Methods Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) were implanted in 21 consecutive patients (9 symptomatic and 12 asymptomatic) with Brugada syndrome using standard procedure under general anesthesia. Patients presented the typical ECG changes of Brugada syndrome with or without sodium channel blockers but without structural heart disease in all the cases. Electrophysiological examinations were performed in all patients. Eight asymptomatic patients had spontaneous or induced malignant ventricular arrhythmias and 4 asymptomatic patients had single positive family history. Results Sixteen single chamber ICDs (VVI) and 5 double chamber ICDs (DDD or DDDR) were implanted. The DDD- or DDDR-ICDs were applied for patients with sinus node dysfunction and/or atrioventricular conduction disturbances. Battery/lead status measurements of ICDs were good and met with standards of implantation during the procedure. No complications occurred after ICD implantation and also no changes of various electrophysiological parameters during re-hospitalization in one-month follow-up. There were no events' record of anti-tachycardia pacing or cardiovertion or defibrillation for ventricular arrhythmias in the memory of treatment by ICDs. Conclusions ICDs were implanted successfully with safety in patients with Brugada syndrome showing good function for the initial outcomes in one-month follow-up.