An interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of a hyperfunctional voice disorder

The purpose of this article is to describe the treatment of a 45-year-old male with a hyperfunctional voice disorder by a biofeedback therapist and a speech-language pathologist. The interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of this voice disorder involved the combined use of traditional voice therapy techniques and EMG biofeedback procedures together with cognitive behavioral therapy. Voice therapy was facilitated through the use of a computer-based, speech-monitoring system. The remediation of this voice disorder was attributed to the collaborative efforts of two professionals representing diverse professional training and treatment protocols. The results showed reductions in muscle activity in the infrahyoid and laryngeal areas as well as improved use of proper breathing and voicing onset behaviors. Follow-up at 10 and 15 months posttreatment intervals indicated that the client had retained all target voice skills and the tension reduction/biofeedback skills. Results suggest that interdisciplinary, collaborative efforts using biofeedback and voice therapy can prove beneficial in the treatment of hyperfunctional voice disorders.Note: Neither author has been compensated in any way for the use of the CAFET System nor does either have any financial interest in the company.     

Factores de riesgo asociados a fallecimiento por la variante ómicron de COVID-19: análisis retrospectivo con personas mayores de Canarias

Background and aimsSince the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the elderly population has had the highest rates of complications and mortality. This study aimed to determine the influence of different risk factors on deaths due to the Omicron variant in the Canary Islands.Materials and methodsA retrospective observational study of 16,998 cases of COVID-19 over 40 years of age was conducted in the Canary Islands between August 1, 2022, and January 31, 2023. We extracted sociodemographic data (age and sex) and clinical data (death, vaccination history, hospital admission, previous diseases, and treatments).ResultsAmong the deaths, there was a higher proportion of males aged over 70 years, with diabetes, cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, and systemic diseases, and nursing home residents. Significant differences were observed in the number of doses of the vaccine. The multiple regression model showed that male sex (OR [95% CI] = 1.92 [1.42–2.58]), age (70–79 years, 9.11 [4.27–19.43]; 80–89 years, 21.72 [10.40–45.36]; 90–99 years, 66.24 [31.03–141.38]; 100 years or older, 69.22 [12.97–369.33]), being unvaccinated (6.96, [4.01–12.08]), or having the last dose administered at least 12 months before the diagnosis (2.38, [1.48–3.81]) were significantly associated with mortality.ConclusionsMultiple factors may increase the risk of mortality due to COVID-19 in the elderly population. In our study, we found that only three predictors can effectively explain the variability: older age, male sex, and not being vaccinated or last vaccination date prior to one year.     

Utilidad y seguridad de los ingresos directos a una unidad hospitalaria de agudos de un servicio de geriatría valorados por atención geriátrica en residencias

Background and objectiveMore than half of institutionalized older people need a emergency department visit annually, with high resources consumption and higher risk of adverse events, due to high complexity. Direct admission to Acute Geriatric Unit (AGU), after geriatric consultant and nursing home medical team assessment, could be a safety and effective alternative to emergency department (ED) admission.MethodsRetrospective observational study of AGU patients admitted by Nursing Home Geriatric Team between January, 1st and December, 31st, 2021. Planned admissions and SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were excluded. Medical (sociodemographic, clinical, functional and cognitive) records and outcomes data (inpatient mortality, hospital and ED lenght of stay, transfer to ED and delirium within 48 h after admission, hospital discharge location) were collected.ResultsTwo hundred and six patients directly admitted, 101 through ED (N 307). 62.5% with Barthel index <40, 65% with dementia, 56.4% with Charlson index ≥3. Inpatient mortality was 14.6% in direct admission, 20.8% in ED referral group, p = 0.14. Hospital lenght of stay was 9.61 ± 6.01 days in direct admission, 11.22 ± 5.36 days in ED group, p = 0.02. 27.7% of patients with delirium in direct admission and 36.6% in ED group; only one patient was transferred to ED, within 48 h after admission.ConclusionsDirect admission is a safety and effective alternative to ED referral in institutionalized older people after geriatric assessment, due to no increased mortality, shorter length of stay and hospital cost reduction.     

白脂素在代谢综合征、雄性生殖和运动中的研究进展

白脂素（asprosin,ASP）是新发现的一种禁食诱导的升糖激素,由脂肪细胞产生和分泌,并作用于多种组织器官,发挥重要的调控作用。ASP的异常表达,诱发了代谢综合征的发展,此外,ASP还对生殖功能具有一定影响。运动可引起ASP水平的变化,但其影响结果还存在争议。因此,长期和深层次地研究探索ASP在代谢综合征和生殖中的机理以及运动对ASP的确切作用可以为防治慢病和提升生殖潜能提供新思路。     

Current status and prospects of basic research and clinical application of mesenchymal stem cells in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common and clinically devastating disease that causes respiratory failure. Morbidity and mortality of patients in intensive care units are stubbornly high, and various complications severely affect the quality of life of survivors. The pathophysiology of ARDS includes increased alveolar–capillary membrane permeability, an influx of protein-rich pulmonary edema fluid, and surfactant dysfunction leading to severe hypoxemia. At present, the main treatment for ARDS is mechanical treatment combined with diuretics to reduce pulmonary edema, which primarily improves symptoms, but the prognosis of patients with ARDS is still very poor. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are stromal cells that possess the capacity to self-renew and also exhibit multilineage differentiation. MSCs can be isolated from a variety of tissues, such as the umbilical cord, endometrial polyps, menstrual blood, bone marrow, and adipose tissues. Studies have confirmed the critical healing and immunomodulatory properties of MSCs in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Recently, the potential of stem cells in treating ARDS has been explored via basic research and clinical trials. The efficacy of MSCs has been shown in a variety of in vivo models of ARDS, reducing bacterial pneumonia and ischemia-reperfusion injury while promoting the repair of ventilator-induced lung injury. This article reviews the current basic research findings and clinical applications of MSCs in the treatment of ARDS in order to emphasize the clinical prospects of MSCs.     

qSOFA评分、血乳酸及红细胞分布宽度与急性上消化道出血病情严重程度的关系及其预测患者预后的效能分析

摘要 目的：探讨快速序贯器官功能衰竭评估（qSOFA）评分、血乳酸（Lac）及红细胞分布宽度（RDW）与急性上消化道出血（AUGIB）病情严重程度的关系及其预测患者预后的效能。方法：选取2017年6月～2022年6月我院收治的230例AUGIB患者为研究对象,根据病情严重程度分为低危组44例、中危组140例、高危组36例、极高危组10例,且根据其入院28 d内生存情况分为死亡组（n=31）和存活组（n=199）。收集AUGIB患者临床资料,检测血Lac、RDW水平并计算qSOFA评分。采用多因素Logistic回归分析AUGIB患者预后不良的影响因素,受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析qSOFA评分和血Lac、RDW对AUGIB患者预后不良的预测价值。结果：低危组、中危组、高危组、极高危组qSOFA评分和血Lac、RDW水平依次升高（P＜0.05）。230例AUGIB患者入院28 d内死亡率为13.48％（31/230）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,年龄增加、GBS评分≥6分及休克指数、qSOFA评分、血尿素氮、血Lac、RDW水平升高为AUGIB患者预后不良的独立危险因素（P＜0.05）。ROC曲线分析显示,qSOFA评分、血Lac及RDW联合预测AUGIB患者预后不良的曲线下面积大于qSOFA评分、血Lac及RDW单独预测。结论：AUGIB患者qSOFA评分、血Lac及RDW水平升高与病情加重和预后不良密切相关,qSOFA评分、血Lac及RDW联合预测AUGIB患者预后不良的效能较高。     

不同病情急性呼吸窘迫综合征患者血清铁蛋白、血管生成素样蛋白4、降钙素原与白蛋白比值的变化及对预后的评估价值

摘要 目的：探讨不同病情急性呼吸窘迫综合征（ARDS）患者血清铁蛋白、血管生成素样蛋白4（ANGPTL4）、降钙素原与白蛋白比值（PAR）的变化及对预后的评估价值。方法：选取2019年3月至2022年6月四川大学华西第四医院重症医学科收治的109例ARDS患者,根据氧合指数（PaO₂/FiO₂）将患者分为轻度组（200 mmHg＜PaO₂/FiO₂≤300 mmHg,38例）、中度组（100 mmHg＜PaO₂/FiO₂≤200 mmHg,42例）、重度组（≤100 mmHg,29例）。检测所有ARDS患者血清铁蛋白、ANGPTL4水平及PAR,根据患者入院后28 d内生存状况将其分为存活组（69例）、死亡组（40例）。多因素Logistic回归分析ARDS患者入院后28 d内死亡的危险因素。受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清铁蛋白、ANGPTL4、PAR评估ARDS患者预后的预测价值。结果：重度组血清铁蛋白、ANGPTL4、降钙素原及PAR高于中度组和轻度组（P＜0.05）,血清白蛋白水平低于中度组和轻度组（P＜0.05）。死亡组血清铁蛋白、ANGPTL4、降钙素原及PAR高于存活组（P＜0.05）,血清白蛋白水平低于存活组（P＜0.05）。高SOFA评分、高PAR及血清铁蛋白、ANGPTL4水平升高是 ARDS患者入院28 d内死亡的危险因素（P＜0.05）。联合血清铁蛋白、ANGPTL4、PAR三项指标预测ARDS患者预后的曲线下面积为0.867,高于单独指标预测的0.775、0.727、0.776。结论：ARDS患者血清铁蛋白、ANGPTL4水平及PAR增高与病情加重以及预后不良有关,联合检测三项指标在ARDS患者预后评估中具有较高价值。