Massive and severe cerebral infarction can lead to a high mortality and disability rate, and it is the bottleneck of preventing and treating cerebrovascular disease. Once the malignant brain edema of massive cerebral infarction or the critical status of severe cerebral infarction occurs, the treatment effect is very poor. Therefore, we should not only focus on the treatment of critical cerebral infarction, but also prevent its occurrence. It is clinically important to prevent the occurrence of this critical condition in advance and to prevent the occurrence of massive cerebral infarction and severe cerebral infarction. This article points out that some patients with massive or severe cerebral infarction can be prevented from becoming critically ill. The definition, key risk factors and corresponding prevention and treatment strategies of critical cerebral infarction have also been proposed. Critical cerebral infarction can be divided into two categories with or without malignant brain edema, and the risk factors and prediction and prevention strategies by categories andphases can be studied separately.
Objective To understand the dynamic changes of inflammatory indicators in the peripheral blood of patients with malignant cerebral edema at different time points after acute cerebral infarction, and provide a basis for early prediction and prevention of malignant cerebral edema. Methods Consecutive patients with acute cerebral infarction within 24 h of onset who were admitted to the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 1st, 2017 to December 31st, 2018 were collected. The basic clinical data of the patients were collected, and the data of inflammatory cells (white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, absolute lymphocyte count, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio) and acute phase reactants (blood glucose, fibrinogen, albumin, and fibrinogen to albumin ratio) were dynamically collected at admission and 1, 3, and 7 d after admission, respectively. Differences between groups were compared using generalized estimating equations. Results A total of 798 patients with acute cerebral infarction were included, of whom 93 (11.65%) developed malignant cerebral edema. At all time points examined, the white blood cell counts, absolute neutrophil counts, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios were higher in the malignant cerebral edema group than those in the non-malignant cerebral edema group (Wald χ2=63.737, P<0.001; Wald χ2=91.848, P<0.001; Wald χ2=75.197, P<0.001); 1 and 3 d after admission, the absolute lymphocyte counts were lower in the malignant cerebral edema group than those in the non-malignant cerebral edema group (Wald χ2=18.580, P<0.001). The blood glucose levels were higher in the malignant cerebral edema group compared with the non-malignant cerebral edema group 1, 3, and 7 d after admission (Wald χ2=16.722, P<0.001); no significant between-group effect was found in the albumin levels (Wald χ2=3.643, P=0.056); the fibrinogen levels were significantly different between groups 3 d after admission (Wald χ2=8.923, P=0.003), and the fibrinogen to albumin ratios differed between the two groups 3 and 7 d after admission (Wald χ2=6.739, P=0.009). Dynamic analysis of multiple time points in the malignant cerebral edema group found that these inflammatory markers mostly reached their extreme values 3 d after admission. Conclusions Compared with the non-malignant cerebral edema group, the inflammatory cell-related indicators (except lymphocytes) and the acute phase inflammatory reactant-related indicators in malignant cerebral edema patients are significantly higher, and the absolute lymphocyte count is significantly lower. Three days after admission to hospital is probably the most significant time point for the change of each inflammatory indicator.
Objective To analyze the challenges and growth of the clinical medicine undergraduates who participated in the China Scholarship Council funded international research exchange program, to provide a basis for the policy formulation and management of the follow-up projects. MethodsClinical medicine undergraduates from West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University who participated in the China Scholarship Council funded international research exchange program from 2013 to 2019 were selected. The survey was conducted using a self-designed questionnaire. Results A total of 64 clinical medicine undergraduates were surveyed. The laboratory safety training rates in the United States, Canada, and China were 100.00% (34/34), 100.00% (30/30), and 70.31% (45/64), respectively. The laboratory technical training rates were 97.06% (33/34), 90% (27/30), and 43.75% (28/64), respectively. During the experimental process, clinical medicine undergraduates from the United States [94.12% (32/34)], Canada [93.33% (28/30)], and China [65.63% (42/64)] would seek assistance from relevant personnel. The difficulty (H=47.798, P<0.001) and convenience (H=30.135, P<0.001) of booking laboratory instruments and equipment vary among the three countries. There were no statistically significant difference in the frequency, form, and research direction sources of guidance from mentors (P＞0.05). Majority of students thought the experience was helpful for scientific research thinking (59 people) and experimental skills (52 people), with 23 people obtained research output. Despite encountering challenges in study (11 people), life (8 people), language (14 people), and culture (11 people), the experience had positive impact on hobbies (35 people), independent living ability (55 people), and self-confidence (41 people). The students also had developed an international perspective (61 people), improved English ability (59 people), and progressed self-learning ability (57 people). Conclusions By participating in international research exchange programs, undergraduates can enhance their comprehensive research ability. Although there may be problems and challenges during the adaptation process, it also brings growth and self-confidence at the same time.
Objective To analyze the difference of clinical characteristics and vascular risk factors between patients with unexplained non-acute dizziness and headache, so that to bring new perspective on prevention of vascular risk factors and enhancement of symptoms among different patients. Methods The data of patients in the cerebrovascular disease clinic of the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University between July 1th and September 30th, 2021 were collected retrospectively. The included patients were divided into dizziness group or headache group according to the complained. The clinical characteristics and risk factors of the two groups were compared. Results A total of 273 patients were included. There were 198 cases (72.5%) in dizziness group and 75 cases (27.5%) in headache group. Compared with headache group, patients in dizziness group were older, with a shorter course of disease, and accounted for a higher proportion of patients with symptoms related to body position, higher proportion of patients with hypertension and carotid plaque, and more vascular risk factors (P<0.05). Logistic regression results showed that patients with symptoms related to body position [odds ratio (OR)=7.025, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.772, 28.488), P=0.007], at least one [OR=2.461, 95%CI (1.298, 4.664), P=0.006], two or more vascular risk factors [OR=2.314, 95%CI (1.033, 5.186), P=0.042] were independently associated with dizziness. The longer course of disease [OR=0.994, 95%CI (0.990, 0.997), P=0.001] was independently associated with headache. Conclusion Patients with non-acute unexplained dizziness and headache, especially those with dizziness, should pay more attention to the inquiry and treatment of vascular risk factors and psychopsychological factors.
ObjectiveTo investigate the basic situation of existing medical English teaching methods and objects, develop medical English course content and teaching methods, and evaluate teaching effectiveness. Methods The existing medical English teaching methods were summarized based on literature retrieval, and both the basic level of medical students and data related to teaching effectiveness were collected by questionnaire surveys. Results Medical English teaching could be optimized by adjusting the content of medical English teaching, increasing the proportion of English teaching, and emphasizing the application of emerging electronic products in extracurricular English learning. Teaching methods could adopt various forms such as flipped classrooms. A questionnaire survey showed that most of the students (64.94%) were not satisfied with their current English level. These students fully recognized the importance of medical English. Based on the above results, medical English courses were offered in two semesters. This course adopts theoretical lectures, small-class teaching and other teaching methods. Scenario simulation and flipped classroom were also used. Conclusion Medical English courses should include medical vocabulary, clinical medical English, vocational medical English and academic medical English. Flipped classroom and other teaching methods should be flexibly applied.