Objective To investigate the change of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide ( NT-proBNP) levels in plasma of patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) at exertion. Methods Pulmonary function testing, increamental and constant cycle ergometer exercise testing were performed in 19 patients with stable COPD and 10 healthy subjects. Arterial blood gas analysis were measured at rest and maximal exertion in incremental testing. Venous blood samples were drawn both at rest and maximal exercise in constant-load exercise testing and NT-proBNP levels were measured. Results NT-proBNP levels did not change significantly during exercise in the patients with stable COPD[ ( 4803. 86 ±1027. 07 ) ng/L vs ( 4572. 39 ±1243. 33 ) ng /L, P = 0. 542 ] and the control group [ ( 4303. 18 ±771. 74) ng/L vs ( 4475. 71 ±1025. 50) ng /L, P = 0. 676] . NT-proBNP levels were not correlated with parameters of cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Conclusion The factors other than cardiac function may contribute to the exercise intolerance in stable COPD patients without heart failure.
ObjectiveTo enhance the understanding of Takayasu’s arteritis (TA) with pulmonary vascular involvement through the analyses on clinical features.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical records of patients diagnosed as TA with pulmonary vascular involvement admitted to Beijing Anzhen Hospital from January 2007 to August 2017.ResultsIn recent 10 years, there were 233 patients diagnosed as TA in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, 17 of them were involved with pulmonary arterial, which accounted for 7.3%. Fourteen patients were females, 3 patients were males. The age ranged from 16 to 59 years with an average of (40±13) years. Among the 17 patients, dyspnea (15 cases, 88.2%) was the most common symptom, and unequal blood pressure of upper limbs (9 cases, 52.9%) was the main sign. Thirteen patients had pulmonary hypertension by echocardiographic examination. Angiographic data showed that multi-lobular and multi-segmental pulmonary branches were predominantly affected. Unilateral involvement of pulmonary artery was more common than bilateral involvement, while the right pulmonary arteries were more often affected than the left. Thirteen patients received hormone and immunosuppressive therapy, 11 patients received anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy, and 5 patients received targeted treatment of pulmonary artery pressure.ConclusionsThe clinical manifestation of TA is unspecific and misdiagnosis rate is relatively high. Improving the understanding of TA is necessary so as to reduce the misdiagnosis rate at an early stage and ameliorate the prognosis.
ObjectiveTo study the correlation between international normalized ratio (INR) and coagulation factor Ⅱ and Ⅹ in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism treated with warfarin at moderate and low intensity anticoagulation.MethodsFifty-one patients with pulmonary thromboembolism treated with warfarin orally were divided into low-intensity anticoagulation group (INR from 1.6 to 2.0) and standard-intensity anticoagulation group (INR form 2.0 to 3.0) according to their monitoring INR indices. The levels of coagulation factor Ⅱ and Ⅹ were measured, and the correlation between INR level and coagulation factor activity was compared.ResultsThe INR of the low intensity anticoagulation group was 1.69±0.2 and the standard intensity anticoagulation group was 2.55±0.46. The corresponding activity of coagulation factor Ⅱ was (48.3±28.0)% and (24.0±8.0)% respectively. The activity of coagulation factor Ⅹ was (32.8±24.0)% and (16.7±6.0)%. There was a negative correlation between the activity of INR and coagulation factor Ⅱ and Ⅹ, with correlation coefficients of –0.903 and –0.459, respectively. Coagulation factor Ⅱ activity < 40%, coagulation factor Ⅹ activity inhibitory level < 25% is defined as anticoagulation effect. When coagulation factor Ⅱ activity level reaches anticoagulation effect, the corresponding minimum INR value was 1.56 and as to coagulation factor Ⅹ, the corresponding minimum INR value was 1.66.ConclusionsINR is negatively correlated with the activity of coagulation factor Ⅱ and coagulation factor Ⅹ. With the increase of INR, the activity of coagulation factor Ⅱ and coagulation factor Ⅹ decrease. Low intensity anticoagulation could not effectively inhibit the activity of coagulation factor.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of fire needle in the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia. MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, and CBM databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of fire needle for post-herpetic neuralgia from inception to June 5th, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies; then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 31 RCTs involving 2 755 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with western medicine, fire needle could reduce VAS score (SMD=−1.00, 95%CI −1.36 to −0.63, P<0.000 01). Fire needle combined with western medicine could improve the total efficiency (RR=1.15, 95%CI 1.06 to 1.23, P=0.000 3), reduce VAS score (SMD=−1.92, 95%CI −2.87 to −0.97, P<0.000 1), and SAS rating (SMD=−0.89, 95%CI −1.20 to −0.59, P<0.000 01). Compared with conventional acupuncture, fire needle could reduce VAS score (SMD=−1.37, 95%CI −2.35 to −0.39, P=0.006), and immediate analgesic time (SMD=−0.64, 95%CI −0.88 to −0.39, P<0.000 01). Compared with the traditional Chinese medicine, fire needle could reduce VAS score (SMD=−1.00, 95%CI −1.53 to −0.47, P=0.000 2), SDS rating (SMD=−1.59, 95%CI −1.18 to −1.31, P<0.000 01), SAS rating (SMD=−1.79, 95%CI −2.08 to −1.49, P<0.000 01). In addition, the incidence of adverse reactions in experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group. ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that fire needle can significantly reduce pain intensity, relieve anxiety, and improve the quality of life of post-herpetic neuralgia patients. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the above conclusion.