Incidence and associated risk factors of arterial stiffness in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the prevalence and related risk factors of arterial stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The study population included 135 patients currently enrolled in the Chinese SLE Treatment and Research group registry (CSTAR). All traditional cardiovascular risk factors and SLE-related disease factors were collected on the day of the baPWV examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1)Significant differences were observed in age (P < 0.000) , family history of cardiovascular disease (P = 0.003), mean blood pressure (P = 0.000) and hemoglobin A1c (P = 0.023) between SLE patients with normal and abnormal arterial stiffness. In addition, SLE patients with abnormal arterial stiffness had lower creatinine clearance rates [85.9 (65.5-108.8) ml/min vs. 106.4 (86.8-124.6) ml/min, P = 0.011], longer disease and hydroxychloroquine duration (P = 0.002 and P = 0.022, respectively), and higher proportion of intravenous cyclophosphamide use (OR = 3.04, 95%CI:1.230-7.514, P = 0.013) as compared to patients with normal arterial stiffness. (2)After adjustment of all confounding factors, age (OR = 4.56, 95%CI: 1.863-11.133, P = 0.001), mean blood pressure (OR = 1.12, 95%CI: 1.055-1.196, P = 0.000) , disease duration (OR = 1.12, 95%CI: 1.050-1.367, P = 0.007) and the proportion of intravenous cyclophosphamide use (OR = 2.86, 95%CI: 1.364-5.979, P = 0.005) remained as independent risk factors for abnormal arterial stiffness in SLE patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both traditional cardiovascular risk factors and SLE-related factors are associated with the risk of increased arterial stiffness.</p>

Method improvement of the medial plantar pedicled flap transplantation to cover the defect of the foot heel / 中华全科医师杂志

The article presents a method improvement of the medial plantar pedicled flap transplantation to cover the defect of the foot heel.Since 2002,6 patients with soft tissue defects on the foot heel underwent reconstruction with the medial plantar pedicled flap transplantation of excluding the plantar fascia and 3 patients used conventional flap of the medial plantar pedicled flap transplantation.They ranged in age from 18 to 52 years(mean,32 years).All the flaps had survived completely without major complication with satisfactory clinical results.Follow-up period ranged from 1.5 to 6 years(mean,3.8years)postoperatively.There was no remarkable donor site morbidity.Patients with flap of excluding the plantar fascia had good appearance in recipient site.Injury to donor site was reduced.Skin of the instep area can be raised as an island fasciocutaneous flap based on medial plantar vessels,with the branch of medial plantar nerve supplying the instep skin to provide the sensation.The flap is thin and suitable for repairment of soft tissue defect on the foot heel.

Application of nail-bed lengthening for fingertip injuries: a report of 36 cases / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective To summarize clinical experience in application of nail-bed lengthening operation for fingertip injuries.Methods From September 2003 to May 2007,36 patients (25 men and 11 women) aged 16 -45 years (26 in average) with nail defect by fingertip injuries underwent reconstruction operation using nail-bed lengthening at Orthopaedics and Traumatology Hospital of Taizhou,with the thumb involved in 15 cases,the index finger in 10 cases,the middle finger in eight eases and the ring finger in three case.A skin rectangle with thickness of 2 - 3 mm and width as that of the nail was resected at the skin edge 5 -6 mm distant from the epenychium,without damage to underlying subcutaneous vascular network, and U-shape skin flap was delicately slid proximally with its ends sutured.Results All surgical operations for nail lengthening were uneventful and clinically satisfactory,and the appearance of the thumb or other fingers was good during follow-up for six months to three years (19 months in average).Conclusions Nail lengthening for fingertip injuries with nail defect is a simple and effective surgical operation which could improve the appearance of the thumb and other fingers.

Transplantation of free latissmus dorsi osteocutaneous flap using bridge-like vascular anastomosis in treatment of tibial defect:5-case report / 中华全科医师杂志

From September 2002 to May 2006, five patients ( age range, 24 to 46; mean, 32) with tibial defect underwent transplantation of free latissmus dorsi osteocutaneous flap using bridge-like vascular anastomosis. All the osteocutaneous flaps survived without any serious complications, and tibial defects were improved completely. After 1.5 to 4.5 years' follow-up ( mean, 2.6), no remarkable dysfunction was found at donor sites, and local injury was reduced. This study indicates that transplantation of free latissmus dorsi osteocutaneous flap using bridge-like vascular anastomosis might be useful in leg reconstructive surgery if only one vessel is remained.