2016年 · 第129卷第05期

The crush and the culotte stenting were both reported to be effective for complex bifurcation lesion treatment. However, their comparative performance remains elusive.

A total of 300 patients with coronary bifurcation lesions were randomly assigned to crush (n = 150) and culotte (n = 150) treatment. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at 12 months including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, and target vessel revascularization. Index lesion restenosis at 12 months was a secondary endpoint. The surface integrals of time-averaged wall shear stress at bifurcation sites were also be quantified.

There were no significant differences in MACE rates between the two groups at 12-month follow-up: Crush 6.7%, culotte 5.3% (P = 0.48). The rates of index lesion restenosis were 12.7% versus 6.0% (P = 0.047) in the crush and the culotte groups, respectively. At 12-month follow-up, the surface integrals of time-averaged wall shear stress at bifurcation sites in the crush group were significantly lower than the culotte group ([5.01 ± 0.95] × 10⁻⁴ Newton and [6.08 ± 1.16] × 10⁻⁴ Newton, respectively; P = 0.003).

Both the crush and the culotte bifurcation stenting techniques showed satisfying clinical and angiographic results at 12-month follow-up. Bifurcation lesions treated with the culotte technique tended to have lower restenosis rates and more favorable flow patterns.

Inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique has recently been reported in a limited number of studies as an effective surgical technique for the management of large macular holes (MHs) with fair MH closure rates as well as gains in visual acuity. In the current study, longitudinal changes in multi-focal electroretinogram (mfERG) responses, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were evaluated in eyes with large MHs managed by this technique.

A prospective noncontrolled interventional study of eight patients (eight eyes) with large MHs (minimum diameter >400 μm) was conducted. All MHs were treated with pars plana vitrectomy and indocyanine green-assisted inverted ILM flap technique. SD-OCT images were used to assess the anatomical outcomes of surgery while BCVA and mfERG were used to evaluate the functional outcomes during a 3-month follow-up.

All patients underwent successful intended manipulation and translocation of the ILM flap without flap dislocation and achieved complete anatomical closure. Partial microstructural reconstruction, demonstrated on SD-OCT as restoration of the external limiting membrane and the ellipsoid zone, was observed in all cases as early as 1 month after surgery. Functionally, as compared to baseline, all patients showed improvements in BCVA and all but one in mfERG response during follow-up. However, Pearson’s test revealed no significant correlations between BCVA and mfERG responses of the fovea and of the macular area at each evaluation time point.

Inverted ILM flap technique appeares to be a safe and effective approach for the management of large idiopathic MHs with favorable short-term anatomical and functional results. Postoperative reconstruction of the microstructure generally shows good consistency with improvements in both BCVA and mfERG response, of which the latter might be a supplement for the former in postoperative functional follow-up.

There remains significant debate as to the relationship between fragmented QRS (fQRS) complexes on electrocardiogram (ECG) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Few studies have reported on this relationship in non-ST elevated AMI (NSTEMI), and thus, we attempt to assess this relationship and its potential short-term prognostic value.

This was a single-center, observational, retrospective cohort study. A total of 513 consecutive patients (399 men, 114 women) with NSTEMI within 24 h who underwent coronary angiography at our department, between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2014. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of fQRS complex on the admission ECG. fQRS complexes were defined as the existence of an additional R’ or crochetage wave, notching in the nadir of the S wave, RS fragmentation, or QS complexes on 2 contiguous leads. All patients were followed up for 6 months, and all major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were recorded.

In this study, there were 285 patients with fQRS ECG in the 513 patients with NSTEMI. The number of patients with 0–2 coronary arteries narrowed by ≥50% in fQRS group were less while patients with 3 narrowed arteries were more than in the non-fQRS group (P = 0.042). There were fewer Killip Class I patients in the fQRS group (P = 0.019), while Killip Class II, III, and IV patients were more in the fQRS group than in the non-fQRS group (P = 0.019). Left ventricular ejection fraction levels were significantly lower in the fQRS group (P = 0.021). Baseline total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, creatinine, creatine kinase, homocysteine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), and red blood cells distribution width levels were significantly higher in the fQRS group. Total MACE (MACE, P = 0.028), revascularization (P = 0.005), and recurrent angina (P = 0.005) were also significantly greater in the fQRS group. On final logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for baseline variables, the following variables were independent predictors of fQRS: Coronary artery narrowing (P = 0.035), Killip classification (P = 0.026), and total cholesterol (P = 0.002). The following variables were found to be independent predictors of preoperative MACE: Hemoglobin (P = 0.000), gender (P = 0.026), fQRS (P = 0.016), and time from myocardial infarction to balloon or coronary artery bypasses grafting (P = 0.013).

The fQRS complexes are commonly present in NSTEMI and the fQRS complexes are an independent predictor of MACE in NSTEMI patients. The number of narrowed coronary arteries, Killip classification, and total cholesterol are all independent predictors of the fQRS complexes.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is spreading rapidly among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. Anonymous questionnaires or direct interviews have been frequently used to study their behavior. The aim of the study was to describe the behavioral risk profile of the MSM in Beijing using the randomized response techniques (RRTs).

A cross-sectional survey of sexual behavior among a sample of MSM was conducted in two HIV counseling and testing clinics in Beijing. The survey was carried out with an anonymous questionnaire containing sensitive questions on sexual behavior. To obtain the honest responses to the sensitive questions, three distinctive RRTs were used in the questionnaire: (1 ) Additive randomized response model for quantitative questions, (2) randomized response model for multiple choice questions, and (3) Simmons randomized response model for binomial questions. Formulae for the point estimate, variance, and confidence interval (CI) were provided for each specific model.

Using RRTs in a sample of 659 participants, the mean age at first homosexual encounter was estimated to be 21.7 years (95% CI: 21.2–22.2), and each had sex with about three (2.9, 95% CI: 2.4–3.4) male partners on average in the past month. The estimated rate for consistent condom use was 56.4% (95% CI: 50.1-62.8%). In addition, condom was estimated to be used among 80.0% (95% CI: 74.1–85.9%) of the population during last anal sex with a male partner.

Our study employed RRTs in a survey containing questions on sexual behavior among MSM, and the results showed that RRT might be a useful tool to obtain truthful feedback on sensitive information such as sexual behavior from the respondents, especially in traditional Chinese cultural settings.

The metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients treated with upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy combined with α-interferon yields additional overall survival (OS) benefits. It is unclear whether mRCC patients treated with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGFR-TKI) will benefit from such cytoreductive nephrectomy either. The aim of the study was to identify variables for selection of patients who would benefit from upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy for mRCC treated with VEGFR-TKI.

Clinical data on 74 patients enrolled in 5 clinical trials conducted in Cancer Hospital (Institute), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2006 to January 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. The survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan–Meier method. Comparisons between patient groups were performed by Chi-square test. A Cox regression model was adopted for analysis of multiple factors affecting survival, with a significance level of α = 0.05.

Fifty-one patients underwent cytoreductive nephrectomy followed by targeted therapy (cytoreductive nephrectomy group) and 23 patients were treated with targeted therapy alone (noncytoreductive nephrectomy group). The median OS was 32.2 months and 23.0 months in cytoreductive nephrectomy and noncytoreductive nephrectomy groups, respectively (P = 0.041). Age ≤45 years (P = 0.002), a low or high body mass index (BMI <19 or >30 kg/m²) (P = 0.008), a serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration >1.5 × upper limit of normal (P = 0.025), a serum calcium concentration >10 mg/ml (P = 0.034), and 3 or more metastatic sites (P = 0.023) were independent preoperative risk factors for survival. The patients only with 0- 2 risk factors benefited from upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy in terms of OS when compared with the patients treated with targeted therapy alone (40.0 months vs. 23.2 months, P = 0.042), while those with more than 2 risk factors did not.

Five risk factors (age, BMI, LDH, serum calcium, and number of metastatic sites) seemed to be helpful for selecting patients who would benefit from undergoing upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy.

The absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs) have been reported as one of worse prognostic factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient after liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of ALCs on the outcomes of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC within the Milan criteria following liver resection.

Data of patients with HCC within the Milan criteria who received liver resection between January 2007 and June 2013 were reviewed, and perioperative ALCs were carefully monitored. All potential risk factors were statistically analyzed by uni- and multi-variate analyses. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimalALCs cut-off value to predict HCC recurrence after liver resection.

A total of 221 patients were enrolled in the current study. During the follow-up period, 106 patients experienced recurrence, and 38 patients died. Multivariate analysis suggested microvascular invasion (MVI), a tumor grade ≥2, and a low postoperative ALCs in the 1^st postoperative month increased the incidence of postoperative recurrence, besides, MVI, intraoperative transfusion, and a low postoperative ALCs in the 1^st postoperative month were associated with poor overall survival (OS). An ROC analysis showed that a cut-off value of 1.5 × 10⁹/L for ALCs in the 1^st postoperative month predicted postoperative recurrence. The 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and OS rates of patients with low postoperative ALCs were 34.5% and 64.8%, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of patients with high postoperative ALC (58.5% for RFS and 86.5% for OS).

Low ALCs in the 1^st postoperative month may be associated with high recurrence incidence and poor OS for patients with HBV-related HCC within the Milan criteria after liver resection.

Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred neuroimaging method in the evaluation of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between clinical and immunological features with MRI abnormalities in female patients with NPSLE, to screen for the value of conventional MRI in NPSLE.

A total of 59 female NPSLE patients with conventional MRI examinations were enrolled in this retrospective study. All patients were classified into different groups according to MRI abnormalities. Both clinical and immunological features were compared between MRI abnormal and normal groups. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score for MRI abnormalities. Multivariate logistic regression analysis investigated the correlation between immunological features, neuropsychiatric manifestations, and MRI abnormalities.

Thirty-six NPSLE patients (61%) showed a variety of MRI abnormalities. There were statistically significant differences in SLEDAI scores (P < 0.001), incidence of neurologic disorders (P = 0.001), levels of 24-h proteinuria (P = 0.001) and immunoglobulin M (P = 0.004), and incidence of acute confusional state (P = 0.002), cerebrovascular disease (P = 0.004), and seizure disorder (P = 0.028) between MRI abnormal and normal groups. In the MRI abnormal group, SLEDAI scores for cerebral atrophy (CA), cortex involvement, and restricted diffusion (RD) were much higher than in the MRI normal group (P < 0.001, P = 0.002, P = 0.038, respectively). Statistically significant positive correlations between seizure disorder and cortex involvement (odds ratio [OR] = 14.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50–151.70; P = 0.023) and cerebrovascular disease and infratentorial involvement (OR = 10.00; 95% CI, 1.70-60.00; P = 0.012) were found.

MRI abnormalities in NPSLE, especially CA, cortex involvement, and RD might be markers of high systemic lupus erythematosus activity. Some MRI abnormalities might correspond to neuropsychiatric manifestations and might be helpful in understanding the pathophysiology of NPSLE.

Stellate ganglion (SG) plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases. The electrical activity of SG neurons is involved in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of fluvastatin on the electrophysiological characteristics of SG neurons in a rabbit model of myocardial ischemia (MI).

The MI model was induced by abdominal subcutaneous injections of isoproterenol in rabbits. Using whole-cell patch clamp technique, we studied the characteristic changes of ion channels and action potentials (APs) in isolated SG neurons in control group (n = 20), MI group (n = 20) and fluvastatin pretreated group (fluvastatin group, n = 20), respectively. The protein expression of sodium channel in SG was determined by immunohistochemical analysis.

MI and the intervention of fluvastatin did not have significantly influence on the characteristics of delayed rectifier potassium channel currents. The maximal peak current density of sodium channel currents in SG neurons along with the characteristics of activation curves, inactivation curves, and recovery curves after inactivation were changed in the MI group. The peak current densities of control group, MI group, and fluvastatin group (n = 10 in each group) were −71.77 ± 23.22 pA/pF, −126.75 ± 18.90 pA/pF, and −86.42 ± 28.30 pA/pF, respectively (F = 4.862, P = 0.008). Fluvastatin can decrease the current amplitude which has been increased by MI. Moreover, fluvastatin induced the inactivation curves and post-inactive recovery curves moving to the position of the control group. But the expression of sodium channel-associated protein (Nav1.7) had no significantly statistical difference among the three groups. The percentages of Nav1 .7 protein in control group, MI group, and fluvastatin group (n = 5 in each group) were 21.49 ± 7.33%, 28.53 ± 8.26%, and 21.64 ± 2.78%, respectively (F = 1.495, P = 0.275). Moreover, MI reduced the electrical activity of AP and increased amplitude of AP, fluvastatin pretreatment could recover amplitude and electrical activity of AP. The probability of neurons induced continuous APs were 44.44%, 14.29%, and 28.57% in control group, MI group, and fluvastatin group, respectively.

Fluvastatin pretreatment can recover electrophysiology characteristics of ion channel and AP in SG neurons in a rabbit model of MI. It could be considered as potential method for treating coronary heart diseases.

The treatment for long bone defects has been a hot topic in the field of regenerative medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of calcium sulfate (CS) combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on long bone defect restoration.

A radial bone defect model was constructed through an osteotomy using New Zealand rabbits. The rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 in each group): a CS combined with PRP (CS-PRP) group, a CS group, a PRP group, and a positive (recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2) control group. PRP was prepared from autologous blood using a two-step centrifugation process. CS-PRP was obtained by mixing hemihydrate CS with PRP. Radiographs and histologic micrographs were generated. The percentage of bone regenerated bone area in each rabbit was calculated at 10 weeks. One-way analysis of variance was performed in this study.

The radiographs and histologic micrographs showed bone restoration in the CS-PRP and positive control groups, while nonunion was observed in the CS and PRP groups. The percentages of bone regenerated bone area in the CS-PRP (84.60 ± 2.87%) and positive control (52.21 ± 4.53%) groups were significantly greater than those in the CS group (12.34 ± 2.17%) and PRP group (16.52 ± 4.22%) (P < 0.001). In addition, the bone strength of CS-PRP group (43.10 ± 4.10%) was significantly greater than that of the CS group (20.10 ± 3.70%) or PRP group (25.10 ± 2.10%) (P < 0.001).

CS-PRP functions as an effective treatment for long bone defects through stimulating bone regeneration and enhancing new bone strength.

Renin-angiotensin system inhibitor and calcium channel blocker (CCB) are widely used in controlling blood pressure (BP) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We carried out a meta-analysis to compare the renoprotective effect of the combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) and CCB (i.e., ACEI/ARB + CCB) with ACEI/ARB monotherapy in patients with hypertension and CKD.

Publications were identified from PubMed, Embase, Medline, and Cochrane databases. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of BP lowering treatment for patients with hypertension and CKD were considered. The outcomes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), cardiovascular events, BP, urinary protein measures, estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and adverse events were extracted.

Based on seven RCTs with 628 patients, ACEI/ARB + CCB did not show additional benefit for the incidence of ESRD (risk ratio [RR] = 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.52–1.33) and cardiovascular events (RR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.21–1.63) significantly, compared with ACEI/ARB monotherapy. There were no significant differences in change from baseline to the end points in diastolic BP (weighted mean difference [WMD]= −1.28 mmHg; 95% CI: −3.18 to −0.62), proteinuria (standard mean difference= −0.55; 95% CI: −1.41 to −0.30), GFR (WMD= −0.32 ml/min; 95% CI: −1.53 to −0.89), and occurrence of adverse events (RR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.72–1.53). However, ACEI/ARB + CCB showed a greater reduction in systolic BP (WMD= −4.46 mmHg; 95% CI: −6.95 to −1.97), compared with ACEI/ARB monotherapy.

ACEI/ARB + CCB had no additional renoprotective benefit beyond than what could be achieved with ACEI/ARB monotherapy.

Many studies have explored the diagnostic performance of soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2) for heart failure (HF), but the results are inconsistent. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the role of sST2 in the diagnosis of HF.

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Database from inception to April 2015. Studies that investigated the diagnostic role of sST2 for HF were reviewed. The numbers of true-positive, false-positive, false-negative, and true-negative results were extracted to calculate pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and the summary receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve (AUC). The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to check the threshold effect. The Cochran Q statistic (P < 0.05) and the inconsistency index (I² > 50%) were used to assess the nonthreshold effect. Meta-regression was conducted to explore the source of heterogeneity; subgroup analysis showed the results in different subgroups. Finally, the Deeks’ test was performed to assess the publication bias.

Nine articles including 10 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.81-0.86), and pooled specificity was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.72-0.76). The summary DOR was 8.49 (95% CI: 4.54–15.86), and AUC was 0.81 (standard error: 0.03). The Spearman correlation coefficient identified the nonsignificant threshold effect (coefficient = 0.49, P = 0.148), but the nonthreshold effect heterogeneity was significant (Cochran Q = 58.52, P < 0.0001; I² = 84.6%). Meta-regression found that characteristics of controls might be the suggestive source of nonthreshold effect heterogeneity (P = 0.095). Subgroup analysis found that DOR was 5.65 and 7.86, respectively for the controls of hospital patients and healthy populations. Deeks’ test demonstrated that there was no publication bias (P = 0.616).

The meta-analysis illustrated that sST2 might play a role in diagnosing HF.

Several studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) have indicated that cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) might improve cognitive function by changing brain activations in patients with schizophrenia. However, the results were not consistent in these changed brain areas in different studies. The present activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis was conducted to investigate whether cognitive function change was accompanied by the brain activation changes, and where the main areas most related to these changes were in schizophrenia patients after CRT. Analyses of whole-brain studies and whole-brain + region of interest (ROI) studies were compared to explore the effect of the different methodologies on the results.

A computerized systematic search was conducted to collect fMRI and PET studies on brain activation changes in schizophrenia patients from pre- to post-CRT. Nine studies using fMRI techniques were included in the meta-analysis. Ginger ALE 2.3.1 was used to perform meta-analysis across these imaging studies.

The main areas with increased brain activation were in frontal and parietal lobe, including left medial frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, and inferior parietal lobule in patients after CRT, yet no decreased brain activation was found. Although similar increased activation brain areas were identified in ALE with or without ROI studies, analysis including ROI studies had a higher ALE value.

The current findings suggest that CRT might improve the cognition of schizophrenia patients by increasing activations of the frontal and parietal lobe. In addition, it might provide more evidence to confirm results by including ROI studies in ALE meta-analysis.

Background: Conflicting results about the association between expression level of excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) and clinical outcome in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) receiving chemotherapy have been reported. Thus, we searched the available articles and performed the meta-analysis to elucidate the prognostic role of ERCC1 expression in patients with CRC.

To review the recent developments in the mechanisms of epithelium sodium channels (ENaCs) induced bone formation and regulation.

Studies written in English or Chinese were searched using Medline, PubMed and the index of Chinese-language literature with time restriction from 2005 to 2014. Keywords included ENaC, bone, bone formation, osteonecrosis, estrogen, and osteoporosis. Data from published articles about the structure of ENaC, mechanism of ENaC in bone formation in recent domestic and foreign literature were selected.

Abstract and full text of all studies were required to obtain. Studies those were not accessible and those did not focus on the keywords were excluded.

ENaCs are tripolymer ion channels which are assembled from homologous α, β, and γ subunits. Crystal structure of ENaCs suggests that ENaC has a central ion-channel located in the central symmetry axis of the three subunits. ENaCs are protease sensitive channels whose iron-channel activity is regulated by the proteolytic reaction. Channel opening probability of ENaCs is regulated by proteinases, mechanical force, and shear stress. Several molecules are involved in regulation of ENaCs in bone formation, including nitride oxide synthases, voltage-sensitive calcium channels, and cyclooxygenase-2.

The pathway of ENaC involved in shear stress has an effect on stimulating osteoblasts even bone formation by estrogen interference.

Hypokalemia is among the most common electrolyte disorders in clinical practice and severe condition is life-threatening and has received extensive attention in clinical practice. Genetic diagnosis remains the gold standard for the diagnosis and identification of hereditary renal tubular diseases. Below is the report of genotyping and diagnosis of a case of secondary Gitelman syndrome (GS) based on next-generation sequencing.

Omohyoid muscle syndrome (OMS), also called omohyoid sling syndrome, is a rare disease. The first OMS case was reported in 1980.^[1]OMS is presented by a mass without pain on the neck when the patient swallows and disappears after swallow. The patient often feels discomfort and dysphasia when the mass appears.

Aneurysms of the lenticulostriate artery (LSA) are rare lesions that are categorized into either proximal (at the junction of the middle cerebral artery trunk) or distal (within the basal ganglia).^[1]These lesions have been reported against the background of a diverse array of pathologies including hypertension,^[2]vascular malformations,^[3]moyamoya disease, substance abuse, systemic lupus erythematosus, ventricular neurocytoma, and Sneddon’s syndrome;^[4]however, most cases are idiopathic.^[1]

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an aggressive non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, most frequently diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in immunocompetent patients, which is confined to the central nervous system.^[1]In the past two decades, its incidence has been steadily increasing. However, differential diagnosis, such as demyelinating disease, could be a challenge particularly in patients with atypical clinical symptoms and neurological imaging. Here, we described clinical presentation, imaging and pathological results of two cases of PCNSL and highlighted the importance of considering the possibility of PCNSL initially when cases were similar.

Frontotemporal lobe degeneration (FTLD) refers to a neurodegenerative dementia syndrome, which could be clinically classified into behavioral and language variant. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurological disorder involving both upper motor neuron (UMN) and lower motor neuron (LMN), eventually leading to muscle atrophy and weakness, bulbar palsy, and respiratory failure. Once regarded as two independent entities, they now have been embraced into one continuum because of their clinical and pathological overlaps, namely ALS-FTLD and TAR DNA-binding protein 43. Deterioration in personality and behaviors serves as core feature in diagnosis while it seems difficult to identify language deficit due to dysarthria. Agraphia has been reported to appear before frank dementia/aphasia,^[1]making it a potential clue to detect FTLD in the context of ALS. However, researches about writing ability of Chinese patients with ALS/FTLD spectrum disease turned to be limited. Hence, we described writing errors in a Chinese-speaking patient with ALS-FTLD.

Renal transplantation is generally accepted to be the best treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease, which is associated with better quality of life and better life expectancy compared with dialysis. Although the allograft survival following renal transplantation continues to improve, the absolute number of patients suffering from allograft loss continues to grow due to the increasing number of surviving renal transplant recipients. Thus, an increasing number of patients are willing to undergo renal re-transplantation. Due to the shortage of organ donors, the use of marginal donors including donors with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is becoming more prevalent.^[1]An anastomosis of allograft pelvis to native ureter has been reported to be a treatment for donor kidney with UPJO at initial transplantation;^[2]however, few studies focused on the surgical option for urinary tract reconstruction of donor kidney with UPJO in re-transplantation. The aim of this report was to provide and evaluate a novel surgical option for urinary tract reconstruction in third renal transplantation, using preexisting allograft ureteropyelostomy (UP), which we believe represents an innovative surgical technique for renal transplantation in the world.

To the Editor: A 70-year-old female was admitted for severe precordial pain. Electrocardiograph on admission showed ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with inferior wall, examination showed cardiogenic shock, noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) 50/30 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa), and cardiac troponin I positive. She was diagnosed as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with cardiogenic shock. Fluid resuscitation and inotropic agents were administered immediately, and systolic blood pressure increased to about 90 mmHg. The patient was transferred to catheterization laboratory immediately after administration of a loading dose of aspirin and clopidogrel. Angiography revealed occlusion at the left distal circumflex artery and culprit vessel [Figure 1a]. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed successfully [Figure 1b], and the intro-aortic balloon was implanted considering the intraoperative cardiogenic shock.

To the Editor: The syndrome of mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episode (MELAS) is one of the most frequently occurring mitochondrial disorders. Dandy–Walker malformation (DWM) is a rare posterior fossa malformation. We report a 21-year-old male with DWM and MELAS syndrome.

To the Editor: Glomerulonephritis (GN) due toMycobacterium tuberculosis(M. tuberculosis) is rare,^[1]and membranous nephropathy (MN) associated with tuberculosis is seldom reported.^[2]Because of atypical and nonspecific manifestations, tuberculosis-associated GN (TB-GN) is difficult to diagnose. Patients usually present with hematuria, proteinuria, edema, and varying degrees of hypertension or renal insufficiency, which are similar to symptoms of primary GN. Thus, patients may be misdiagnosed as having primary GN rather than TB-GN. Treatment with glucocorticoids or immunosuppressive agents may lead to the spread of TB and deterioration of renal function, a potentially life-threatening condition.

To the Editor: We report two cases of hybrid approach by combining percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (PBPV) and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG).

To the Editor: Kounis syndrome describes a group of symptoms that manifest as unstable vasospastic or nonvasospastic angina or as acute myocardial infarction. It is triggered by the release of inflammatory mediators after an allergic reaction.^[1,2]

To the Editor: In a recent article published by Guoet al.^[1]who compared postoperative pain after traditional and single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC), it was showed that SILC resulted in a slightly less immediate postoperative pain, but pain scores at 24 hours, 7 days, and 1-6 months after surgery were not different between the two operations. Many things of this study were well done. The authors used a double-blinded, randomized, and controlled design. They chose a well-validated endpoint of postoperative pain assessment: Visual analog scale (VAS). They had a large number of patients with a consistent operation and attempted to control most of the known factors affecting postoperative pain following cholecystectomy, such as age, gender, body mass index, type of surgery, and surgical complications. Furthermore, they openly discussed the limitations of their work. All of these are strengths in the study design. We can learn from their example. In our view, however, there were several important issues in this study that were not well addressed.

We thank Dr. Liuet al. very much for their attention on our recent article. In that paper, we reported a prospective randomized clinical trial comparing outcomes between traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy and single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC). It revealed that the SILC-treated patients had a significantly lower pain score only at postoperative 6 hours, but at 24 hours and longer after surgery pain scores were not different between the two groups.