Ischemic Bowel Syndrome in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Nationwide Study

Consequences of spinal cord injury on the sympathetic nervous system

Spinal cord injury (SCI) damages multiple structures at the lesion site, including ascending, descending, and propriospinal axons; interrupting the conduction of information up and down the spinal cord. Additionally, axons associated with the autonomic nervous system that control involuntary physiological functions course through the spinal cord. Moreover, sympathetic, and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons reside in the spinal cord. Thus, depending on the level of an SCI, autonomic function can be greatly impacted by the trauma resulting in dysfunction of various organs. For example, SCI can lead to dysregulation of a variety of organs, such as the pineal gland, the heart and vasculature, lungs, spleen, kidneys, and bladder. Indeed, it is becoming more apparent that many disorders that negatively affect quality-of-life for SCI individuals have a basis in dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Here, we will review how SCI impacts the sympathetic nervous system and how that negatively impacts target organs that receive sympathetic innervation. A deeper understanding of this may offer potential therapeutic insight into how to improve health and quality-of-life for those living with SCI.

Cervical cord injury complicated by acute mesenteric ischemia

Acute mesenteric ischemia is a rare, life-threatening complication of cervical cord injury. This case report emphasized the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment of this complication.

A 60-year old Japanese man with no co-morbidities was diagnosed as a C2 cervical cord injury and traumatic brain injury after a fall-down trauma. He was admitted to the intensive care unit after cord decompression surgery. Nine days later, he presented tachycardia and hypotension. Ultrasound showed dilated intestines and ascites. Intestinal ischemia was suspected based on the contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan. We performed prompt surgical resection of a broad part of the small intestines. The ischemic region of the intestines was segmental and the cause was attributed to a non-occlusive mechanism.

Acute mesenteric ischemia can be fatal and a delay in diagnosis leads to poor outcomes. We focus on predisposing factors in patients with cervical cord injuries and how to prevent this serious diagnosis.

The effect of antidementia drugs on mortality in patients with Alzheimer's disease

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer's disease is associated with a higher mortality rate after the diagnosis. We hypothesized that patients with Alzheimer's disease who received antidementia drugs may have a lower mortality rate than those without such treatment.

METHODS

Patients with newly diagnosed Alzheimer's disease aged ⩾65 years during 2001-2006 were identified in the National Health Institute Research Database, Taiwan. We included patients with Alzheimer's disease who received antidementia drugs as the exposure group (ADD group), and compared them with a non-exposure group who did not receive any antidementia drugs (non-ADD group) matched for age at the index date, gender and Charlson Comorbidity Index score before the index date. All-cause mortality rates and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores at one and two years after the index date were compared between the ADD and non-ADD groups.

RESULTS

There were 529 patients in non-ADD group and 529 in the ADD group. The mortality rate was significantly lower in the ADD group compared with the non-ADD group (42% versus 58.6%; p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that antidementia drugs may have a protective effect against mortality in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Increased risk of chronic kidney disease in patients with rosacea: A nationwide population-based matched cohort study

Background

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder. Inflammation and oxidative stress are involved in the etiopathogenesis of rosacea and chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aimed to investigate the association between rosacea and CKD.

Methods

This population-based cohort study identified 277 patients with rosacea in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database during 2001–2005. These patients were matched for age, sex, and comorbidities with 2216 patients without rosacea. All subjects were individually followed-up for 8–12 years to identify those who subsequently developed CKD

Results

The incidence rates of CKD per 1000 person-years were 16.02 in patients with rosacea and 10.63 in the non-rosacea reference population. After adjusting for other covariates and considering the competing risk of mortality, patients with rosacea remained at increased risk of CKD (adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratio (aSD-HR) 2.00; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–3.82). The aSD-HRs (95% CI) for CKD were 1.82 (0.83–4.00) and 2.53 (1.11–5.75) for patients with mild and moderate-to-severe rosacea, respectively.

Conclusions

Rosacea is an independent risk factor for CKD. High rosacea severity and old age further increased CKD risk in patients with rosacea. Careful monitoring for CKD development should be included as part of integrated care for patients with rosacea.