[Analysis of myocardial injury in patients with COVID-19 and association between concomitant cardiovascular diseases and severity of COVID-19]

Objective: To evaluate the cardiovascular damage of patients with COVID-19, and determine the correlation of serum N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP） and cardiac troponin-I (cTnI） with the severity of COVID-19, and the impact of concomitant cardiovascular disease on severity of COVID-19 was also evaluated. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed on 150 consecutive patients with COVID-19 in the fever clinic of Tongji Hospital in Wuhan from January 19 to February 13 in 2020, including 126 mild cases and 24 cases in critical care. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the correlation of past medical history including hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD）, as well as the levels of serum NT-proBNP and cTnI to the disease severity of COVID-19 patients. Results: Age, hypersensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) and serum creatinine levels of the patients were higher in critical care cases than in mild cases(all P<0.05). Prevalence of male, elevated NT-proBNP and cTnI, hypertension and coronary heart disease were significantly higher in critical cases care patients than in the mild cases(all P<0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, male, elevated NT-proBNP, elevated cTnI, elevated hs-CRP, elevated serum creatinine, hypertension, and CHD were significantly correlated with critical disease status(all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that elevated cTnI(OR=26.909，95%CI 4.086-177.226，P=0.001) and CHD (OR=16.609，95%CI 2.288-120.577，P=0.005) were the independent risk factors of critical disease status. Conclusions: COVID-19 can significantly affect the heart function and lead to myocardial injury. The past medical history of CHD and increased level of cTnI are 2 independent determinants of clinical disease status in patients with COVID-19.

[A surgical treatment of early partial closure of the epiphysial plate]

OBJECTIVE

To introduce the technique of epiphysiolysis and epiphysis grafting in the treatment of early partial closure of the epiphysial plate in children, and evaluate its effect.

METHODS

Retrospective study was performed in 10 cases of cubitus varus and valgus, or genu varum and valgum due to early partial closure of the epiphysial plate, 6 cases received simple cuneiform osteotomy, and 4 cases received epiphysioloysis and epiphysis grafting.

RESULTS

Clinical outcoming after 6-month to 5-year's follow-up showed 1 case deformity of recurrence and 2 cases of non-isometric limb after simple osteotomy, while no recurrence and isometric limb after epiphysiolysis and epiphysis grafting.

CONCLUSION

Epiphysiolysis and epiphysis grafting may effectively prevent the recurrence of postoperative deformity, and restore the longitudinal growth of limb.