ABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the value of bedside echocardiography in diagnosis and risk assessment of in-hospital death of patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection.@*Methods@#The clinical data of 229 patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection diagnosed by CT angiography in Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University between January 2009 and January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into survival group(191 cases)and non-survival group(38 cases)according to presence or absence of in-hospital death. The bedside echocardiography features were analyzed, and influence factors of in-hospital death were determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis.@*Results@#(1) Compared with the survival group, the non-survival group had lower surgery rate (60.52%(23/38) vs. 85.34%(163/191), P<0.01). Age, gender and Debakey classification were similar between survival group and death group (all P>0.05). (2) The bedside echocardiography results showed that prevalence of aortic valve involvement(65.79%(25/38) vs.34.03%(65/191), P<0.01) and severe aortic regurgitation (44.74%(17/38) vs. 14.14%(27/191), P<0.01) were significantly higher in non-survival group than in survival group. The non-survival group had larger aortic root diameter than the survival group ((55.5±6.4)mm vs. (42.3±7.8)mm, P<0.01). There were no significant differences in pericardial effusion, expansion of aortic sinus, and left ventricular ejection fraction between survival group and non-survival group (all P>0.05). (3) The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that aortic valve involvement(OR=3.275, 95%CI 1.290-8.313, P<0.05), aortic root diameter(OR=1.202, 95%CI 1.134-1.275, P<0.01), and surgery (OR=0.224, 95%CI 0.079-0.629, P<0.01) were independent risk factors for in-hospital death in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection.@*Conclusions@#Bedside echocardiography has significant diagnostic value for Stanford type A aortic dissection. Aortic valve involvement, enlargement of aortic root diameter and without surgery are independent risk factors for patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the inhibitory effect of atorvastatin on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in SD rats and study their possible mechanism.Methods 30 male SD mice under SPF condition with average body weight of 250g were randomly allocated to three groups (n =10,each) of saline control group (control group),bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis group (pulmonary fibrosis group) and atorvastatin treatment group (treatment group).Bleomycin (5mg/kg) (versus 0.2 ml saline in control group) were endotracheally instilled in pulmonary fibrosis group and the treatment group in order to establish the model of pulmonary fibrosis.Subsequently,the rats in the treatment group received daily atorvastatin (10 mg/kg) orally.5 rats in each group were sacrificed on 7th and 28th day after intratracheal instillation.Their lung tissues were taken and tested.The histological changes in the lungs were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin and masson stain.The tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) level and hydroxyproline content in lung tissues were measured by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The expressions of Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) protein and mRNA in lung tissues were measured by Western blotting and Real-Time PCR.Results The lung tissue in model group had significant bleeding and oozing inflammatory response on the 7th day and pulmonary fibrosis on the 28th day.Bleeding and oozing inflammatory response and pulmonary fibrosis were subdued in treatment group on the same days as compared to the model group.Hydroxyproline and TNF-α contents in lung tissue were significantly higher in model group than in control group (both P＜0.05).KLF2 protein and KLF2-mRNA expressions in lung tissues were significantly lower in model group than in control group (both P＜0.05).The above changes were partially reversed in treatment group.Compared to model group,treatment group showed that hydroxyproline and TNF-α contents in lung tissues were significantly reduced (both P＜0.05) and KLF2 protein and KLF2 mRNA expressions in lung tissues were significantly increased (both P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Atorvastatin can reduce the secretion of TNF-α and alleviate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.The mechanism inhibiting fibrosis might be associated with up-regulation of KLF2-mRNA expression.
ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the risk factors of the in-hospital mortality of acute type A aortic dissection after operation. Method From January 2003 to June 2008,185 patients, 144 males and 41 females, with acute type A aortic dissection operated on were enrolled. The average age of patients was (49.46 ± 11.04 ) years old.The patients' demographics, history, clinical features, and some laboratory examinations were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analysis followed by logistic regression analysis were carried out to identify the predictors of inhospital mortality. Results The in-hospital mortality rate was 9.1%. The results of univariate and multivariate analyses as follows: pre-operation positive neurological symptom (Univariate OR = 5.084,95%CI:1.792 -14.426, P = 0.002; Multivariate OR = 5.538,95%CI: 1.834 - 16.721, P = 0.002, respectively), hypotension (Univariate OR = 6.986,95%CI:1.510- 32.323,P =0.013; multivariate OR = 1.998,95%CI:0.315-12.679,P = 0.463, respectively) and renal failure (Univariate OR = 3.594,95%CI:1.237 - 10.438,P =0.019; Multivariate OR = 3.254,95%CI:1.034- 10.242, P= 0.044, respectively). Conclusions There are two predictors, pre-operation positive neurological symptom and renal failure, of pre-hospital mortality found in current analyses. Our results may improve the regimen made by cardiac surgeons and emergency doctors so as to help patients and their relatives to make correct decision.