[Multidisciplinary regenerative treatment and mechanisms for rescuing a severe calciphylaxis patient with human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells]

Calciphylaxis is a rare disease with severe pain and high-mortality due to cutaneous ischemic necrosis and infection that currently lacks proved effective therapies. The occurrence of calciphylaxis in end stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients is known as calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA), which is characterized histologically by dermal microvessel calcification, intimal fibroplasia and microthrombosis. Here we innovatively treated a severe CUA patient with human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs). A 34-year-old uremic woman was presented with progressive, painful malodorous ulcers in buttocks and mummified lower limbs. Skin pathological features supported the diagnosis of calciphylaxis. The patient was refractory to conventional multidisciplinary symptomatic therapies. With the approval of our hospital ethics committee, she was treated with hAMSCs including intravenous and local intramuscular injection, and external application of hAMSC culture supernatant to the wound area. During 15-month follow-up, the patient had regeneration of skin and soft tissues, with improved blood biochemical, inflammatory, mineral and bone metabolic indices and immunoregulation effects. After 15-month hAMSC treatment, the score of pain visual analog scale (VAS) decreased from 10 to 0, Bates-Jensen wound assessment tool (BWAT) score decreased from 65 to 13, and wound-quality of life (Wound-QoL) questionnaire score decreased from 68 to 0. We propose that hAMSC treatment is promising for CUA patients. The therapy is potentially involved in the multiple beneficial effects of inhibiting vascular calcification, stimulating angiogenesis and myogenesis, modulating adverse inflammatory and immunologic responses, promoting re-epithelialization and restoring skin integrity.

[Smoking cessation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients aged 40 years or older in China, 2014-2015]

Objective: To understand the smoking cessation behaviors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients aged 40 years or older in China and provide evidence for COPD control and prevention. Methods: COPD patients with post-bronchodilator FEV(1)/FVC<70% were selected from COPD surveillance (2014-2015) of China, in which 5 791 current or former smokers defined by questionnaire survey were included in the study. The smoking cessation rate/ratio and the successful smoking cessation rate in COPD patients, the successful smoking cessation rate in COPD patients who ever smoked daily and the rate of attempting to quit smoking in current smokers with COPD were estimated using data adjusted by complicated sampling method. Results: The smoking cessation rate was 25.0% and the successful smoking cessation rate was 19.1% in COPD patients aged 40 years or older who ever smoked. The smoking cessation ratio was 23.1% and the successful smoking cessation ratio was 17.6% in COPD patients who ever smoked daily. The rate and ratio were higher in urban area than rural area (P<0.05) and increased with age (P<0.05). Patients who were aware of smoking being a risk factor for COPD had higher rate and ratio than patients who were not aware (P<0.05). Patients with more severe airflow limitation and patients smoking less had higher rate and ratio (P<0.05). Conclusions: The smoking cessation rate and ratio were low in COPD patients in China. More health education for COPD patients about smoking cessation needs to be strengthened. It is suggested for healthcare workers to actively advise smoking cessation and suggest smoking cessation ways for patients who smoke in their routine clinical service to increase the successful smoking cessation rate/ratio in COPD patients.

[Analysis on awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) status and related knowledge in patients with COPD in China, 2014-2015]

Objective: To understand the awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) status and awareness of COPD-related knowledge and its influencing factors in COPD patients aged ≥40 years in China in 2014-2015. Methods: The study subjects were selected through multi-stage stratified cluster sampling from 125 COPD surveillance points in 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) in China. The number of the subjects was 75 107. The relevant variables about COPD diagnosis and COPD-related knowledge awareness were collected by electronic questionnaire in face to face interviews. A total of 9 134 participates with post-bronchodilator FEV(1)/FVC<70% were diagnosed with COPD. Based on the complex sampling design, the awareness rate of COPD status and related knowledge were estimated, and the influencing factors were analyzed. Results: A total of 9 132 COPD patients were included in the analysis. Among COPD patients aged ≥40 years in China, 0.9% were aware of their COPD status (95%CI: 0.6%-1.1%), and 5.7% were aware of COPD related knowledge (95%CI: 4.8%-6.6%), and 3.4% were aware of pulmonary function test (95%CI: 2.8%-4.0%). The COPD status awareness rate was 3.9% in the patients with history of chronic respiratory disease (95%CI: 2.9%-4.8%), 2.4% in the patients with respiratory symptoms (95%CI: 1.7%-3.1%), and 7.1% in the patients with COPD related knowledge awareness (95%CI: 4.5%-9.8%) respectively. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that chronic respiratory disease history, respiratory symptoms, occupational dust and/or harmful gas exposure and COPD related knowledge awareness had influences on the awareness rate of COPD status. Educational level and chronic respiratory disease history had influences on the awareness rate of COPD related knowledge. And ethnic groups, educational level and history of chronic respiratory diseases had influences on the awareness rate of pulmonary function test. Conclusions: The awareness rates of COPD status, COPD-related knowledge and pulmonary function test in COPD patients in China were low. The comprehensive intervention of COPD should be carried out to improve the level of diagnosis and the awareness COPD status of COPD patients.

[Analysis on respiratory rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease aged 40 years or older in China, 2014-2015]

Objective: To understand the situation of respiratory rehabilitation and oxygen inhalation therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients aged 40 years or older in China, and provide basic information for the development of pulmonary rehabilitation. Methods: The data were from 2014-2015 COPD surveillance in China. Chinese residents aged 40 years or older were recruited through a complex multi-stage stratified cluster sampling from 125 COPD surveillance points in 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities). Standardized face to face electronic questionnaires were used to collect information about respiratory rehabilitation and oxygen inhalation therapy of the patients. Spirometry was performed on all participants, and patients with post- bronchodilator FEV(1)/FVC<70% were diagnosed with COPD. The number of defined COPD patients was 9 134. Based on the complex sampling design, the respiratory rehabilitation treatment rate and oxygen inhalation therapy rate of COPD patients aged 40 years old or older in China were estimated, and the influencing factors were analyzed. Results: A total of 9 118 COPD patients aged 40 years or older were included in the analysis. The rate of respiratory rehabilitation was 0.8% (95CI: 0.6%-1.0%), and the rate of oxygen inhalation therapy was 2.5% (95%CI: 2.0%-2.9%). Among patients with severe symptoms or high risk of acute exacerbation (combined COPD assessment groups B, C, D), the rate of respiratory rehabilitation was 1.4% (95%CI: 0.9%-1.9%), and the rate of oxygen inhalation therapy was 5.4% (95%CI: 4.4%-6.4%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that urban or rural residences, geographic area, awareness of COPD, history of acute exacerbation and severity of airflow restriction had influences on the respiratory rehabilitation rate in the COPD patients. Gender, geographic area, awareness of COPD, history of acute exacerbation, mMRC scores and severity of airflow restriction had influences on the patients' oxygen inhalation therapy rate. Conclusions: The rate of respiratory rehabilitation and oxygen inhalation therapy in COPD patients aged 40 years or older was relatively low in China. It is necessary to explore an effective model of pulmonary rehabilitation and COPD management, so that more COPD patients may have access to scientific pulmonary rehabilitation treatment.

[Analysis in medication treatment and its related factors among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease aged 40 years or older in China, 2014-2015]

Objective: To understand the medication treatment rate and its associated factors among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients aged ≥40 years in China, and to provide basic data for targeted interventions to improve the diagnosis and treatment of COPD patients. Methods: Data were from COPD surveillance of Chinese residents in 2014-2015. Questionnaire and pre-bronchodilator and post-bronchodilator spirometry were performed on all respondents. Individuals with post-bronchodilator FEV(1)/FVC<70% were diagnosed as COPD patients. A total of 9 120 COPD patients were included in the analysis. Based on the complex sampling design, the medication treatment rate and 95%CI among COPD patients were estimated, and the associated factors were analyzed. Results: The medication treatment rate for COPD patients aged ≥40 years was 11.7% (95%CI: 10.2%-13.0%), the treatment rate with inhaled medication was 3.4% (95%CI: 2.9%-4.0%), and the treatment rate with oral or intravenous medication was 10.4% (95%CI: 9.0%-12.0%). All treatment rates were higher in patients who knew that they had COPD before the investigation. The rate of medication treatment in patients aged ≥60 years was higher than that in patients aged <60 years. Medication treatment rate, and oral or intravenous medication treatment rate among women were higher than those among men. These two treatment rates in patients with harmful occupational exposure were higher than those in patients without exposure. The medication treatment rate, and oral or intravenous medication treatment rate in former smokers were higher than those in current smokers and never smokers. Patients who knew that they had COPD before the investigation had higher rates of three treatments than those who were not aware of their disease conditions. Those with respiratory symptoms had higher three treatments rates than those without symptoms. Conclusion: In China, the rate of medication treatment for COPD patients aged ≥40 years old, especially the rate of inhaled medication treatment was very low. Being aware of their own COPD status and the emergence of respiratory symptoms were important factors associated with COPD medication treatment. Early diagnosis of COPD should be strengthened and the level of standardized treatment for patients should be improved.

[Analyses of the rate of spirometry examination and its related factors in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseasepatients aged 40 years or older in China, 2014-2015]

Objective: To understand the rate of spirometry examination and its related factors among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients aged ≥40 years in China from 2014 to 2015, and provide evidence for diagnosis, treatment and management of COPD patients normatively. Methods: Data were obtained from 2014-2015 COPD surveillance, China. The previous lung function examination status and other information of the subjects were collected by face-to-face survey. We defined COPD as a post-bronchodilator FEV(1): FVC less than 70%. A total of 9 130 COPD patients were included in the analysis of this study. The rate of spirometry examination and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated in COPD patients aged ≥40 years with complicated sampling weights. Meanwhile, the spirometry examination related factors were analyzed. Results: The estimated rate of spirometry examination among COPD patients was 5.9% (95%CI: 4.9%-6.9%), 6.1% (95%CI: 5.2%-7.1%) for men and 5.3% (95%CI: 4.0%-6.6%) for women. The rate was significantly higher in urban population than in rural (P<0.001). With the increase of education level, the rate of spirometry examination among COPD patients increased gradually (P<0.001). The rate of spirometry examination was 4.0% (95%CI: 3.1%-4.9%) among COPD patients in agricultural industry. The rate of spirometry examination among COPD patients with awareness of pulmonary function test was 32.3% (95%CI: 26.4%-38.1%). The rate of spirometry examination among COPD patients with previous chronic respiratory disease and respiratory symptoms were 13.7%(95%CI:11.5%-15.9%), 8.8%(95%CI:7.2%-10.4%), respectively. The rate of spirometry examination among COPD patients exposed to occupational dust and/or harmful gases was 5.7% (95%CI: 4.6%-6.9%). The rate of spirometry examination in former smokers among COPD patients was 10.2% (95%CI: 8.0%-12.4%), higher than those in current smokers (4.2%, 95%CI: 3.3%-5.1%) and non-smokers (6.3%, 95%CI: 5.1%-7.6%). Conclusion: The rate of spirometry examination is extremely low among COPD patients aged ≥40 in China, and the standardized diagnosis, treatment and management of COPD patients need to be improved urgently.

[Prediction of pelvic floor muscle function in stress urinary incontinence]

Objective: To explore the predictive effect of pelvic floor muscle function on stress urinary incontinence (SUI) . Methods: A total of 258 women in gynecological outpatients at Fuzhou General Hospital were evaluated the pelvic floor muscle function by intravaginal manometery, then all of outpatients were divided into urinary incontinence group and non-incontinence group, and compared pelvic floor muscle function and clinical characteristic to establish prediction model of SUI by classification tree and analyse the predictive role of pelvic floor muscle function for SUI. Results: There were significant difference in body mass index [BMI; (22.8±2.9) vs (21.5±2.7) kg/m², P<0.05], maximum newborn weight [ (3 396±424) vs (3 284±384) g, P<0.05] between urinary incontinence group (n=114) and non-incontinence group (n=144) . However, there were no significant differences in age, parity and mode of delivery between two groups (all P>0.05) . There were significant differences (all P<0.01) in maximum vaginal pressure [ (21±7) vs (35±9) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) ], average pressure [ (13±7) vs (23±9) mmHg], fatigue [ (-65±20) % vs (-46±17) %] and collecting time [ (1.0±0.6) vs (0.8±0.5) s] between two groups. Prediction model, which obtained by classification tree analysis with the affecting factors of SUI (including BMI, maximum vaginal pressure, fatigue and collecting time) , suggested that the incidence of SUI was 88.6% (70/79) , when maximum vaginal pressure ≤26.2 mmHg. While, when maximum vaginal pressure was greater than 28.2 mmHg, there was no occurrence of SUI (0/7) . But it would increase, when BMI >22.6 kg/m². Conclusions: The occurrence of SUI is related to the BMI and pelvic floor muscles function. It would increase the risk of SUI with vaginal maximum pressure (≤26.2 mmHg) and BMI (>22.6 kg/m²) . While there is almost no SUI, while vaginal maximum pressure >28.2 mmHg. To select high-risk group of SUI and intervene early according to the prediction model, which may be make sense of reducing incidence of SUI.

[Evaluation of transperineal sonography for lower urinary tract symptoms after pelvic floor reconstruction]

Objective: To evaluate transperineal sonography for lower urinary tract symptoms after pelvic floor reconstruction. Methods: Eighty-three patients with severe pelvic organ prolapse received surgeries in Fuzhou General Hospital from September 2014 to September 2015, dividing into two groups: 27 patients were selected to receive transvaginal mesh (TVM) pelvic floor reconstruction surgery with tension-free vaginal tape-Abbrevo (TVT-Abbrevo) incontinence surgery, named TVM+TVT-Abbrevo group; 56 patients were selected to receive TVM pelvic floor reconstruction surgery only, named TVM group. The ultrasonic parameters at rest, on contraction and Valsalva condition respectively were observed and measured, including the bladder neck descent (BND), urethral rotation angle, retrovesical angle, levator urethra gap (LUG), the existence of bladder neck funneling, position of the tape, by using 2D and 3D transperineal ultrasound. Results: The two groups were compared with the ultrasonic parameters before and after operation: two groups of patients with postoperative BND [(2.3±0.5) versus (3.1±0.7) cm, (1.6±0.4) versus (3.6±0.4) cm] were significantly reduced, the difference was statistically significant (P=0.02, P<0.01). The two groups of LUG before and after operation [(3.62±0.45) versus (3.26±0.92) cm, (2.96±0.47) versus (2.72±0.38) cm] both had significant difference by maximum Valsalva (P<0.01, P=0.04). There was statistical significance difference of urethral rotation angle in TVM+TVT-Abbrevo group by maximum Valsalva (P=0.01). Observation of morphology: (1) 2 patients with difficulty in urination in TVM+TVT-Abbrevo group, ultrasound showed when the position of the bladder down the urethra discount; 4 patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), ultrasound showed slings off or release. (2) One patient with difficulty in urination in TVM group, but ultrasound showed lower urinary tract anatomy were normal; 5 patients with SUI, ultrasound showed the position of the bladder neck were significantly lower in 3 patients, showing high mobility, and the other 2 patients had a larger urethral diameter, showing a tendency of natural deletion. Conclusion: s Anatomy of lower urinary tract could be clearly showed by transperineal sonography. This could provide imaging support for the diagnosis of lower urinary tract symptoms after pelvic floor reconstruction.

[Value of pudendal nerve stimulation for predicting the stress urinary incontinence following pelvic prolapse surgery]

OBJECTIVE

To seek the predictive value of pudendal nerve function that need preventive anti-incontinence surgery at the same time following pelvic prolapse surgery in severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP) patients.

METHODS

Seventy women completed this study from January 2014 to June 2015 in Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command, dividing into four groups: POP with or without coexisting occult stress urinary incontinence (OSUI) in preoperation, women with persistent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in postoperation, women without SUI in postoperation. The pudendal nerve function in preoperation was measured by using Solar Urodynamic Neuro Module, including pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML), and amplitude.

RESULTS

There were statistical significance on bilateral PNTML between POP coexisting OSUI group and only severe POP group [(2.62±0.23) versus (2.40±0.26) ms in right of PNTML, (2.55± 0.21) versus (2.37 ±0.30) ms in left of PNTML; all P<0.05], but no statistical significance on bilateral amplitude (P>0.05). Compared de novo SUI group with POP group in postoperation, de novo SUI group's right of PNTML was significantly increased [(2.74±0.16) versus (2.47±0.26) ms; P< 0.05]; and the right of PNTML was extending 2.5 standard deviation at least compared with the health's [(2.10±0.20) ms].

CONCLUSIONS

The PNTML of pudendal nerve of POP coexisting OSUI is severe than only severe POP, the velocity of nerve conduction is slowing, and PNTML extension has a predictive value for postoperative urinary incontinence. When the right of PNTML of preoperative POP increased by at least 2.5 standard deviations than health's, the risk of SUI postoperative strongly increased, and a anti-incontinence surgery at the same time following pelvic prolapse surgery should be adviced.