血清NT-proBNP水平在小儿心源性与非心源性呼吸困难诊断鉴别的价值

目的：探究血清B 型利钠肽前体（NT-proBNP）水平在小儿心源性与非心源性呼吸困难诊断鉴别的价值。方法：本研究于 2013 年2月~2015年2 月期间,选择我院收治的急性呼吸困难患儿72 例为研究对象,根据临床诊断将其分为心源性呼吸困难组 （39例）和非心源呼吸困难组（33 例）。采用电化学发光免疫分析法（ECLIA）测量两组患儿血清NT-proBNP 水平,并采用受试者工 作特征曲线（ROC）曲线评估血清NT-proBNP 水平在小儿心源性与非心源性呼吸困难诊断鉴别中的价值。结果：心源性呼吸困难 组患儿血清NT-proBNP水平为(253.23± 39.38)ng/L,明显高于非心源性呼吸困难组患儿血清NT-proBNP水平（76.39± 17.39） ng/L（t=23.882,P<0.05）。小儿血清NT-proBNP 水平诊断心源性呼吸困难和非心源性呼吸困难的曲线下面积为0.914,曲线下面积 的95%的置信区间为（0.861,0.967）,当血清NT-proBNP水平为118.34ng/L 时,约登指数取最大值为0.923,敏感度为97.43% （37/39）、特异度为94.87%（32/33）。结论：NT-proBNP 作为一个特异性指标可用于小儿心源性呼吸困难与非心源性呼吸困难的鉴 别诊断。     

Right Ventricular Morphology and the Onset of Dyspnea: The MESA-Right Ventricle Study

Background

The association of right ventricular (RV) structure and function with symptoms in individuals without cardiopulmonary disease is unknown. We hypothesized that greater RV mass and RV end-diastolic volume (RVEDV), smaller RV stroke volume (RVSV), and lower RV ejection fraction (RVEF) measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in participants free of clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline would be associated with a greater risk of self-reported dyspnea.

Methods

The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) performed cardiac MRIs on participants without clinical cardiovascular disease between 2000 and 2002. We excluded subjects who reported “prevalent” dyspnea at the first assessment (24 months). The presence of dyspnea was assessed at 24 months, 42 months, and 60 months from baseline. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the relationship between RV measures and incident dyspnea.

Results

In the final study sample (N = 2763), there were significant interactions between RV measures and sex in terms of the risk of dyspnea (p<0.05). Among men (N = 1453), lower RV mass (p = 0.003), smaller RVEDV (p<0.001), smaller RV end-systolic volume (RVESV) (p = 0.03) and decreased RVSV (p<0.001) were associated with an increased risk of developing dyspnea after adjusting for covariates. Associations remained after adjusting for left ventricular function and lung function. However, there were no significant associations between RV measures and the risk of dyspnea in women.

Conclusions

Lower RV mass and smaller RV volumes were associated with an increased risk of dyspnea in men, but not in women.     

Prevalence and Predictive Value of Dyspnea Ratings in Hospitalized Patients: Pilot Studies

BackgroundDyspnea (breathing discomfort) can be as powerfully aversive as pain, yet is not routinely assessed and documented in the clinical environment. Routine identification and documentation of dyspnea is the first step to improved symptom management and it may also identify patients at risk of negative clinical outcomes.ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of dyspnea and of dyspnea-associated risk among hospitalized patients.DesignTwo pilot prospective cohort studies.SettingSingle academic medical center.PatientsConsecutive patients admitted to four inpatient units: cardiology, hematology/oncology, medicine, and bariatric surgery.MeasurementsIn Study 1, nurses documented current and recent patient-reported dyspnea at the time of the Initial Patient Assessment in 581 inpatients. In Study 2, nurses documented current dyspnea at least once every nursing shift in 367 patients. We describe the prevalence of burdensome dyspnea, and compare it to pain. We also compared dyspnea ratings with a composite of adverse outcomes: 1) receipt of care from the hospital’s rapid response system, 2) transfer to the intensive care unit, or 3) death in hospital. We defined burdensome dyspnea as a rating of 4 or more on a 10-point scale.ResultsPrevalence of burdensome current dyspnea upon admission (Study 1) was 13% (77 of 581, 95% CI 11%-16%). Prevalence of burdensome dyspnea at some time during the hospitalization (Study 2) was 16% (57 of 367, 95% CI 12%-20%). Dyspnea was associated with higher odds of a negative outcome.ConclusionsIn two pilot studies, we identified a significant symptom burden of dyspnea in hospitalized patients. Patients reporting dyspnea may benefit from a more careful focus on symptom management and may represent a population at greater risk for negative outcomes.     

血浆B型脑钠肽对心力衰竭和呼吸困难的诊断价值

目的：探讨血浆脑钠肽（BNP）水平在心力衰竭（CHF）T和呼吸困难诊断中的应用。方法：采用免疫荧光快速测试法测定56例已确诊心衰患者、40例心源性呼吸困难患者、29例肺源性呼吸困难患者和30例健康人血浆BNP的含量。结果：心衰组患者血浆BNP水平明显高于对照组,差异显著（P〈0．01）;心源性呼吸困难组患者的BNP值水平（1032．2±879．8pg／ml）与肺源性呼吸困难组患者的BNP值水平（67．1±43．6pg／ml）比较有显著性差异（P〈0．01）。结论：检测BNP水平可为临床诊断CHF及心源性与肺源性呼吸困难的鉴别诊断提供重要依据。     

血浆B型脑钠肽对心力衰竭和呼吸困难的诊断价值

目的:探讨血浆脑钠肽(BNP)水平在心力衰竭(CHF)T和呼吸困难诊断中的应用。方法:采用免疫荧光快速测试法测定56例已确诊心衰患者、40例心源性呼吸困难患者、29例肺源性呼吸困难患者和30例健康人血浆BNP的含量。结果:心衰组患者血浆BNP水平明显高于对照组,差异显著(P<0.01);心源性呼吸困难组患者的BNP值水平(1032.2±879.8 pg/ml)与肺源性呼吸困难组患者的BNP值水平(67.1±43.6 pg/ml)比较有显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论:检测BNP水平可为临床诊断CHF及心源性与肺源性呼吸困难的鉴别诊断提供重要依据。     

Six-Minute Walk Test in Renal Failure Patients: Representative Results,Performance Analysis and Perceived Dyspnea Predictors

Objectives

Six-minute walk test in dialysis population hasn’t been consistently evaluated for the isolated impact of renal failure and other predictive factors. We measured six-minute walk distance in patients representative for low level of comorbidity and searched for potentially modifiable predictive factors of performance and dyspnea.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study with hemodialysis patients (N = 90) and control subjects (N = 140). Main outcome measures: six-minute walk test distance and dyspnea severity using the 10-item Borg scale.

Results

Median distance decreased from 600m below the 6^th decade to 420m in the 8^th decade of age. Dialysis dependence predicted 101.5m shorter distance in the adjusted model that explained 70% of variability in results. Adjusted for significant covariates of age, height and spontaneous gait speed, fat mass (but not lean body mass) and serum total iron binding capacity were significantly associated with distance (95% CI for B coefficients -4.6 to –1.4 m/kg and 0.1 to 5 m/μmol/l, respectively). Serum total iron binding capacity as an explanatory variable was superior to C-reactive protein and albumin. Dialysis dependence, odds ratio (OR) 2.97 (1.11–7.94), spontaneous gait speed, OR 0.08 (0.02–0.41), rate-pressure product, OR 1.15 (1.08–1.23) and hemoglobin, OR 0.95 (0.92–0.98) predicted dyspnea in the adjusted model.

Conclusions

Renal failure without the confounding effect of comorbidity is a significant negative predictor of performance at six-minute walk test and perceived level of dyspnea. Body fat mass and serum total iron binding capacity are the main potentially modifiable predictors of performance, total iron binding capacity being superior to C-reactive protein and albumin. Although hemoglobin is not associated with test performance, it negatively predicts perceived shortness of breath.     

Defining the Minimal Important Difference for the Visual Analogue Scale Assessing Dyspnea in Patients with Malignant Pleural Effusions

Background

The minimal important difference (MID) is essential for interpreting the results of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Despite a number of RCTs in patients with malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) which use the visual analogue scale for dyspnea (VASD) as an outcome measure, the MID has not been established.

Methods

Patients with suspected MPE undergoing a pleural procedure recorded their baseline VASD and their post-procedure VASD (24 hours after the pleural drainage), and in parallel assessed their breathlessness on a 7 point Likert scale.

Findings

The mean decrease in VASD in patients with a MPE reporting a ‘small but just worthwhile decrease’ in their dyspnea (i.e. equivalent to the MID) was 19mm (95% CI 14-24mm). The mean drainage volume required to produce a change in VASD of 19mm was 760ml.

Interpretation

The mean MID for the VASD in patients with a MPE undergoing a pleural procedure is 19mm (95% CI 14-24mm). Thus choosing an improvement of 19mm in the VASD would be justifiable in the design and analysis of future MPE studies.     

Computer-Aided Tomographic Analysis of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Correlation with Pulmonary Physiologic Tests and Patient-Centred Measures of Perceived Dyspnea and Functional Disability

Objectives

This study was designed (a) to evaluate an improved quantitative lung fibrosis score based on a computer-aided diagnosis (CaM) system in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc),—related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), (b) to investigate the relationship between physiologic parameters (forced vital capacity [FVC] and single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide [DLCO]), patient-centred measures of dyspnea and functional disability and CaM and visual reader-based (CoVR) methods, and (c) to identify potential surrogate measures from quantitative and visual HRCT measurement.

Methods

126 patients with SSc underwent chest radiography, HRCT and PFTs. The following patient-centred measures were obtained: modified Borg Dyspnea Index (Borg score), VAS for breathing, and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI). HRCT abnormalities were scored according to the conventional visual reader-based score (CoVR) and by a CaM. The relationships among the HRCT scores, physiologic parameters (FVC and DLCO, % predicted) results and patient-centred measures, were calculated using linear regression analysis and Pearson’s correlation. Multivariate regression models were performed to identify the predictor variables on severity of pulmonary fibrosis.

Results

Subjects with limited cutaneous SSc had lower HAQ-DI scores than subjects with diffuse cutaneous SSc (p <0.001). CaM and CoVR scores were similar in the 2 groups. In univariate analysis, a strong correlation between CaM and CoVR was observed (p <0.0001). In multivariate analysis the CaM and CoVR scores were predicted by DLco, FVC, Borg score and HAQ-DI. Age, sex, disease duration, anti-topoisomerase antibodies and mRSS were not significantly associated with severity of pulmonary fibrosis on CaM- and CoVR methods.

Conclusions

Although a close correlation between CaM score results and CoVR total score was found, CaM analysis showed a more significant correlation with DLco (more so than the FVC), patient-centred measures of perceived dyspnea and functional disability. Computer-aided tomographic analysis is computationally efficient, and in combination with physiologic and patient-centred measures, it could allow a means for accurately assessing and monitoring the disease progression or response to therapy.     

Brachyptera Group. Sp.32. C. Brachyptera. Sp.33. C.c RUFA. Sp.34. C. Troglodytes. Sp.35. C. Fulvicapilla.

A part from considerations as to where it is best wedged into the linear sequence, the brachyptera group is defined in general terms as a compact group of four small or very small species which resemble one another in many important specific characters and the other thirty-six species classified here as Cisticola in so many ways of form, coloration and behaviour as to make them best understood by classifying them also under that generic name.     

Robusta-Natalensis Pair. Sp. 30. C. Robusta. Sp.31. C. Natalensis.

T he two giants of the genus-that is so far as the cock birds are concerned, but, as with chiniana and a few others, their hens are so much smaller that even when in the field the two sexes are seen in company one may often doubt their being a pair of the same species.