The success of staged Fontan palliation for patients with single ventricle is related to low pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). The complications of high PVR in Fontan physiology are numerous, such as low exercise tolerance, low cardiac output, ventricular function failure and protein-losing enteropathy; eventually it leads to failing Fontan. Therefore, a low PVR is crucial in Fontan patients. Now, targeted therapies decreasing PVR has been an advanced research hotspot in Fontan patients. In this review we present an overview of the safety and efficacy of the therapy with bosentan or sildenafil on elevated pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance in Fontan patients.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection mainly attacks the human immune system, causing a variety of opportunistic infections and tumors, among which neoplastic diseases are serious and life-threatening. In recent years, with the popularization of highly effective anti-retroviral virus, the disease spectrum of HIV infected people has changed greatly, the incidence of non-acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) related tumors has increased significantly, and the diagnosis rate of esophageal cancer patients with HIV/AIDS has also increased. However, there is no consensus on how to standardize the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer patients with HIV/AIDS. This article reviews the epidemiological characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer patients with HIV/AIDS.
ObjectiveTo summarize the relationship of microRNA (miRNA) to metastasis and invasion of breast cancer. MethodDomestic and international publications involving the relationship of miRNA to breast cancer were screened and reviewed. ResultsmiRNA played a key role in the process of breast cancer metastasis. According to its function, it could be distinguished from cancer-promoting gene (such as miR-21, miR-10b, etc.) to suppressor gene (such as miR-31, let-7, etc.). ConclusionThe more detailed experimental studies about the relationship of miRNA to metastasis and invasion of breast cancer need to be researched in order to provide a new method for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer metastasis and invasion.
ObjectivesTo explore if epilepsy and idiopathic hypoparathyroidism could be coexisted in one patient.MethodsCollected clinical data of two epilepsy children with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University in January 2009. We record the clinical material in detail. The follow-up of two cases is oven 9 years. The diagnosis of idiopathic hypothyroidism is mainly based on the typical history, hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypoparathyroid hormone concentrations. The CT scans show calcifications at the junction of the basal ganglia and cortex and medulla.ResultsDuring 9 years of follow-up, both cases had recurred of convulsions due to reduced use of anti-epileptic drugs under conditions of normal serum calcium and phosphorus levels. Spontaneous slow wave can be found during 24 hours of EEG monitoring in the awake or sleep period. They continue oral antiepileptic drugs.ConclutionsWe suggested that children with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism can be combined with epilepsy. And the mechanism may be related to abnormal intracranial calcification. In addition to calcium and active vitamin D, anti-epileptic drugs which have little effect on metabolism of calcium and phosphorus should be selected for treatment.