Intravitreal injection of Conbercept in the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To study the clinical efficacy of Conbercept intravitreal injection(0.5mg/0.05mL)in the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration(ARMD). <p>METHODS: Forty-five patients(45 eyes)with exudative age-related macular degeneration diagnosed in our hospital from July 2015 to January 2016 were retrospectively studied. A monthly intravitreal injection of conbercep was carried out. After 3-month injection, conbercep was given if necessary(3+PRN), and all patients were followed up for 2a. Before and after treatment, the intraocular pressure, the best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central macular thickness(CMT)changes were observed. <p>RESULTS: The BCVA at 1, 2, 3mo, 1 and 2a after treatment was better than that before treatment(<i>t</i>=5.208, 5.111, 4. 323, 4.701, 5.156; <i>P</i><0.05). CMT was significantly lower than before treatment(<i>t</i>=3.807, 4.556, 2.841, 2.707, 3.145; <i>P</i><0.05). <p>CONCLUSION: Conbercept injection, as 3+PRN, can effectively improve visual acuity, reduce macular edema.

Short-term effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with ischaemic or nonischaemic cardiomyopathy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Patients with heart failure were candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) regardless of underlying aetiology. This study observed the effect of CRT in patients with ischaemic or nonischaemic cardiomyopathy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and forty-two patients with refractory chronic heart failure and left bundle branch block received cardiac resynchronization therapy, 91 men and 51 women, average age 60 years. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was severely depressed (mean 29%), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) enlarged (mean 72 mm) and QRS width was lengthened (mean 147 ms). Ninety-eight had nonischaemic cardiomyopathy and 44 had ischaemic cardiomyopathy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After cardiac resynchronization therapy, the heart function was significantly improved. The mean LVEF increased from 29% to 36% after pacing. In patients with nonischaemic cardiomyopathy, the LVEF was improved from 28% to 37%, and in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy, the LVEF was improved from 30% to 36%. No significant difference of the improvement was found between the two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Cardiac resynchronization therapy could significantly improve cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure regardless of the underlying heart disease.</p>

Complications of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with congestive heart failure / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Previous clinical studies have suggested that patients with congestive heart failure and intraventricular conduction delay could benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Implantation of left ventricular lead is a complex procedure with some potential for complications. This study was conducted to analyse the complications of CRT in patients with congestive heart failure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 117 patients, 86 males and 31 females, mean age of 53 years, with congestive heart failure and intraventricular conduction delay were enrolled in this study. Venography was performed on all patients. Different types of coronary sinus leads were used to pace the left ventricle.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Left ventricular lead was attempted to implant through coronary sinus for all the 117 patients and was successfully implanted in 111 patients. The success rate was 94.9%. Main complications rate was 6.8%, including coronary sinus dissection in 4 patients, phrenic nerve stimulation required lead repositioning in 2 patients and lead dislodgement in 2 patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is feasible and safe to pace left ventricle through coronary sinus. However, there are some procedural complications.</p>

Assessment of cardiac function and synchronicity in subjects with isolated bundle branch block using Doppler imaging / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Using tissue Doppler imaging and conventional echocardiographic technique, we examined the cardiac function and synchronicity in individuals with isolated right bundle branch block (RBBB) or left bundle branch block (LBBB) and assessed the relationship between QRS duration and synchronicity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Subjects with isolated RBBB (n = 20), LBBB (n = 10) and normal controls (n = 20) were studied with conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging. The difference between aortic and pulmonary preejection intervals was defined as interventricular delay. Parameters in septum and lateral wall were measured using tissue Doppler imaging, including peak sustained systolic velocity (S(M)), peak early (E(M)) and late (A(M)) diastolic velocities as well as time to peak velocities (T(S), T(E) and T(A)).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Subjects with LBBB had lower S(M) and longer T(S) than did the RBBB and control groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.001 respectively). A significant difference was observed in E(M), being the lowest in the LBBB and the highest in the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, T(E) was longer in the LBBB group compared with the other two groups (P < 0.001). Both A(M) and T(A) were similar among three groups (P > 0.05). In the bundle branch block groups, one ventricle lagged about 40 ms behind the other. A significant correlation was found between interventricular delay and QRS duration (r = 0.713, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Cardiac ventricles were not well synchronized with one ventricle lagging about 40 ms behind the other in subjects with LBBB or RBBB, even though only LBBB group showed barely perceptible, impaired cardiac function. In addition, QRS duration and cardiac asynchronicity were positively correlated.</p>