[Fungal peritoneal dialysis catheter-related exit-site infection combined with tunnel infection: A case report].

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter-related infection (i.e. exit-site infection and tunnel infection) is one of the main causes of PD-related peritonitis. If it cannot be controlled effectively, it could lead to PD technique failure. Therefore, timely and effective diagnosis and treatment and active prevention so as to reduce PD catheter-related infection is an important treatment goal in PD patients. PD catheter exit-site infection (ESI) and tunnel infection can be caused by a variety of microorganisms, mainly bacteria, while fungi are very rare. Few public data can be used to guide treatment of PD catheter-related fungal infection, and there is no related report in China till now. Once fungal peritonitis occurred, the patient can only withdraw from PD treatment. Here, we report a case of fungal PD catheter ESI combined with tunnel infection which was successfully diagnosed and treated in our PD center. A 71-year-old woman came to clinic because of "PD for 5 years, secretions from exit site for 8 days and aggravation for 1 day". The patient suffered from peritonitis, ESI and tunnel infection for many times in the past 5 years, involving a variety of pathogens. Eight days before, she found white viscous discharge from exit site. The subcutaneous cuff completely came out of it and rubbed its skin. The Schaefer exit-site score was 3 points. Due to the suspected ESI 2 months before, the discharge swab for bacterial culture was positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, so the exit site swab for bacterial culture was done again, and gentamicin injection was applied topically once a day for empirical treatment. The exit site was evaluated one day before: The subcutaneous tunnel was significantly swollen and slightly tender at 2.5 cm away from the exit site, and with white medium amount of viscous secretions. The exit-site score increased to 4 points. Routine test of dialysis effluent was (-). The bacterial culture of the exit-site discharge was rechecked twice, and Candida parapsilosis was positive for two times, so the diagnosis of fungal PD catheter ESI combined with tunnel infection was clear. Immediately we searched for the causes of ESI and tunnel infection. We found that the patient had a suspicious history of gray toenail on the foot. The toenail smear was positive for fungi and visible hyphae. She washed feet with hands every day, and washed clothes on a low bench every day, which made the exit-site and tunnel squeezed for a long time. Based on the above causes, we gave her comprehensive treatment as follows: For ESI and tunnel fungal infections, fluco-nazole was used systemically according to the drug sensitivity results, and miconazole cream was applied to the exit-site locally. For the subcutaneous cuff that came out completely, daily iodophor disinfection was given locally. At the same time, local antifungal treatment was given to the foot. We followed up closely during treatment, evaluated the exit-site every 2-3 days, and took photos of the exit-site to dynamically observe the effect. After 14 days of treatment, the exit-site score continued to be 0-1, the bacterial culture of the exit-site was negative, the cuff culture was negative, and the tunnel B-ultrasound was normal. The patient had been followed up regularly once a month for 60 months, no ESI and tunnel infection occurred. Fungal PD catheter ESI and tunnel infection are rare complications of PD. When the standard anti-infection treatment is ineffective, the possibility of fungal infection should be considered, so as to avoid prolonged use of antibiotics, aggravating fungal infection, and even progressing to fungal peritonitis, leading to withdrawal from PD. Accurate exit-site evaluation is helpful for timely diagnosis and early treatment of ESI and tunnel infection. The exit-site discharge culture and drug sensitivity test before treatment are helpful to identify the pathogen and adjust subsequent treatment. At the same time, repeated discharge culture is required in order to exclude positive fungal culture results caused by contamination. Once fungal catheter-related infection is diagnosed, we should search for possible causes actively, subsequent targeted and comprehensive treatment plays a decisive role for the prognosis of patients.

[Efficacy and safety of modified Hartel approach in the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia with radiofrequency thermocoagulation].

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of modified Hartel approach in the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia with radiofrequency thermocoagulation. Methods: A total of 89 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia in Nanjing Drum Tower Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University from July 2021 to July 2022 were prospectively included, and were divided into experimental group (n=45, modified Hartel approach: selecting 2.0 cm lateral to and 1.0 cm below angulus oris as insertion point) and control group (n=44, traditional Hartel approach: selecting 2.5 cm lateral to the angulus oris as insertion point) according to the random number table method. There were 19 males and 26 females in the experimental group, and aged (67.6±8.8) years. Meanwhile, there were 19 males and 25 females in the control group, and aged (64.8±11.7) years. All the patients were treated by CT-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation. The success rate of one-time puncture, number of punctures, the time of puncture, operation time, numerical rating scale (NRS) scores and complications were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results: The success rate of one-time puncture in experimental group was 64.4% (29/45), which was higher than that in control group 31.8% (14/44) (P<0.05). The number of punctures [M (Q1, Q3)], the time of puncture [M (Q1, Q3)] and operation time in the experimental group were 1 (1, 2), 218 (206, 378) s, (19.9±2.7) min, which were less than those of control group [2 (1, 3), 390 (231, 598) s, (27.0±3.9) min] (all P<0.05). The NRS scores [M (Q1, Q3)] of 1 day, 1 month and 3 months after surgery in the experimental group were 1 (1, 2), 1 (0, 2) and 1(0, 1), respectively, which were lower than the baseline level [6 (6, 7)] (all P<0.05). The NRS scores [M (Q1, Q3)] of 1 day, 1 month and 3 months after surgery in the control group were 1 (1, 2), 1 (0, 2) and 1 (0, 2), respectively, which were lower than the baseline level [6 (6, 7)] (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of nausea and vomiting, facial numbness, and decreased masticatory muscle strength between the two groups (all P>0.05) In the experimental group, two patients had puncture needles into the oral cavity, with timely detection and replacement of puncture needles, and no infection occurred. There was no cerebrospinal fluid leakage and decreased corneal reflex in both groups. Conclusion: The modified Hartel approach can significantly improve the success rate of one-time puncture via foramen ovale, reduce the operation time and the incidence of postoperative facial swelling, which is a safe and effective puncture method.

[Functional recompensation during decompensated-stage cirrhosis].

Recent studies suggest that recompensation of liver function appears in decompensated cirrhosis after effective treatment. However, liver function recompensation degree, recompensation evaluation diagnostic criteria, how to predict recompensation from the perspective of liver function, and others still need to be further explored. Therefore, functional recompensation is explored here from the perspective of decompensated-stage cirrhosis.

[Study of portal venous pressure gradient to predict high-hepatic encephalopathy-risk population post TIPS].

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) can effectively reduce the portal venous pressure and relieve the clinical complications related to portal hypertension. However, hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is still the main complication post TIPS. Studies have shown that patients over 65 years old with liver function reserve in Child-Pugh grade C are the high-HE-risk group post TIPS, and early TIPS treatment can benefit the survival of these high-risk patients. In this study, TIPS was used to treat 60 cases aged > 65 years old and liver function reserve in Child-Pugh grade C (decompensated liver cirrhosis) with esophagogastric variceal bleeding. The clinical results of 1-year was observed and the porto systemic gradient (PSG) was evaluated. The relationship between the incidence of HE and the PSG of patients with and without HE were compared to evaluate the effect of PSG on the incidence of HE.

[Development and application of a fundus image quality assessment system based on computer vision technology].

Objective: To develop a fundus image quality assessment system based on computer vision technology and to verify its accuracy by comparing the results of artificial discrimination and using this system. Methods: The process of image evaluation was divided into four modules: fundus image preprocessing, fundus image quality evaluation, fundus image content detection and evaluation result output. The system was designed to automatically evaluate the image quality of each fundus image, identify the optic disc and macula, and judge whether the image was qualified or not according to the image quality discrimination rules. A total of 2 397 fundus images of 787 type 2 diabetes patients were selected as the test data set. The average age of the patients, including 384 males and 403 females, was (69.65±19.09) years old. The images were taken by the staff of community health service centers in Shanghai with a fundus camera. The fundus image quality assessment system was used to conduct quality control and classification of the data set. At the same time, 12 professional fundus picture readers were employed to conduct manual quality control and classification of this data set. The system quality control results and artificial quality discrimination results were compared and analyzed. Results: The fundus image quality assessment system automatically recognized left and right eyes and eye positions on the input fundus images. The quality control interface included four indicator lights, which respectively corresponded to the images with the optic disc or macula as the center of the left or right eye. Evaluation of each fundus image was completed within 1 second, and the results were automatically displayed on the user interface. The 2 397 fundus photos were identified manually as 1 846 qualified photos and 551 unqualified photos. Among the unqualified images, 62 (11.27%) were too dark, 51 (9.27%) were too bright, 59 (10.73%) were not clear in the macular area, 36 (6.54%) showed no macula or optic disc, 125 (22.73%) could not present the fundus structure, 175 (31.82%) were blurred, and 42 (7.64%) were blocked. The results of the system and manual assessment were consistent in 1 788 qualified images (96.86%) and 550 unqualified images (99.82%), with an overall consistency rate of 97.54%. Conclusion: The fundus image quality assessment system can achieve highly consistent results with the professional judgment of ophthalmologists and has the characteristics of objectivity. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2020, 56:920-927).

[Progress in pathophysiology research and update on diagnosis and treatment strategies for fecal incontinence].

The traditional barrier theory believes that fecal incontinence is related to an imbalance of the recto-anal barrier and the characteristics of stool. However, in clinical practice this theory proves unable to explain all types of fecal incontinence. In recent years, research on the mechanisms related to fecal incontinence has shifted to a new integrative concept with the rectum and anus as functional units, and the central-peripheral nervous system and internal and external anal sphincters as a control loop. The diagnosis and treatment strategy of fecal incontinence, which is replaced by sacral neuromodulation, is undergoing a quiet change. With the progressively aging population in China, the need to improve the diagnosis and treatment of fecal incontinence has become increasingly urgent. This article explores the trends in diagnosis and treatment and mechanism research from the perspective of recent advances in pathophysiological research and updated diagnosis and treatment methods for fecal incontinence.

Bridging the gap between education and practice in public health, with particular reference to less-developed provinces in China.

Ongoing healthcare system reform is one of the most important issues in China. There is an increasing awareness that public health education should be reformed to meet the demands of public health practice. This paper summarizes the current status of increasing public healthcare demand and public health service capacity in China, especially in less-developed provinces, and introduces the current public health educational system and public health administration structure. The paper also provides evidence for a considerable gap between public health education and practice, and suggests possible measures to bridge the gap.

Regional Character, Restaurant Size, and Food Safety Risk: Evidence from Food Safety Violation Data in Gansu Province, China.

ABSTRACT: Restaurants are a place where food is prepared and cooked directly for customers. Food safety in restaurants is a public health concern and a multidisciplinary issue that needs to be explored. To protect the health of consumers and identify external factors that may affect food safety risk, this study explores how economic development and population density at the local level relate to food safety inspection outcomes in restaurants of different sizes. Using food safety violation data from 2017 and 2018, we categorized restaurants in Gansu Province, China, into small and large ventures to examine the relationships among regional character, restaurant size, and food safety risk. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests and negative binomial regression models. Our results show that large restaurants have a higher food safety risk than small restaurants. Moreover, the region with the lowest level of economic development had the highest food safety risk, while the region with the lowest population density had insufficient local inspections. By providing insight into which establishments demonstrate the highest food safety risks, our findings contribute to the development of processes that seek to effectively identifying food safety risks.

[Systematic reviews and evidence quality assessment on effectiveness of 1 dose varicella attenuated live vaccine for healthy children aged 1-12 years in China].

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of 1 dose varicella attenuated live vaccine (VarV) for healthy children aged 1-12 years in China and explore the application of the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework in observational studies of vaccine effectiveness (VE). Methods: We searched studies about the VE of 1-dose VarV for children aged 1-12 years in China which published before 2019 and evaluated the quality of the studies by the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) table. We used Meta-analysis models to obtain the pooled 1-dose VE and that in subgroups by study design, outbreak or not, study quality and age of subjects. The evidences of VEs were rated by means of the GRADE system. Results: Thirty-two studies were included and the pooled 1-dose VE was 75% [95% confidence interval (CI): 68%-80%]. The VE of outbreak studies [VE=66% (95%CI: 57%-73%)] was lower than non-outbreak studies [VE=85% (95%CI: 78%-89%)], and the VE in <6 years old children [VE=84% (95%CI:77%-89%)] was higher than that in ≥6 years old children [VE=60% (95%CI: 51%-68%)]. There was no significant difference in VE among studies with different design and quality. The quality of the evidences of pooled 1-dose VE was"very low", which was downgraded in bias risk and inconsistency and not downgraded in indirectness, imprecision and publication bias. Conclusions: The 1-dose VarV can provide medium level protection for 1-12 years old children in China, but it will decrease significantly for ≥6 years old children, so it is suggested to implement the strategies of two-dose vaccination of VarV in children <6 years old. The GRADE framework can be used in the observational studies of VE and it is suggested that the technical guidelines of observational study should be worked out to improve the overall quality of evidence.

[Influence of five-in-one management mode on disease prevention and control of school children with asthma].

Objective: To investigate the influence of five-in-one management mode(standardized asthma treatment, asthma diary, peak expiratory flow (PEF) monitoring, reasonable diet and physical exercise) on disease prevention and control of school children with asthma. Methods: From April to October 2018, 70 children with asthma in clinical remission were selected from Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University using randomized controlled study design. These children were randomly divided into study group and control group, with 35 cases in each group. In the study group, 5 cases were lost to follow-up, and 30 cases were actually enrolled. In the control group, 6 cases were lost to follow-up, and 29 cases were actually enrolled. Children in the control group received routine medication and regular outpatient consultation, and children in the study group received the five-in-one asthma management model. In the first time of seeing a doctor, after 3 months and 6 months of follow-up, asthma control test score, medication compliance index score and lung function index (forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), PEF were evaluated respectively.Parental satisfaction, asthma acute episodes, weight, height and biochemical index were recorded during the 6 months of follow-up. Pulmonary function index, asthma control score and body mass index of overweight children with asthma were compared with t-test, medication compliance was compared with chi-square test, and the rank sum test was used for the comparison of the number of emergency visits of asthma attacks and parents' satisfaction. Results: A total of 59 children with asthma were included, among them 30 were in the study group (8.1±1.5) years old and 29 in the control group (9.2±1.1) years old. After 3 months of follow-up, FEV1, PEF, asthma control score in the study group were (86.3±1.5)%, (83.3±2.4)%, (24.7±2.6) points respectively; and in the control group, FEV1, PEF, asthma control score were (84.4±2.5)%, (82.2±1.9)%, (21.1±1.3) points respectively. The indicators in the study group were higher than those in the control group (t=3.62, 1.97, 6.64, P<0.05). After 6 months of follow-up, FEV1, PEF, asthma control score in the study group were (88.4±2.3)%, (85.4±2.2)%, (26.8±1.8) points respectively; and in the control group, FEV1, PEF, asthma control score were (85.5±1.9)%, (83.2±1.7)%, (22.5±1.4) points respectively. The indicators in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (t=5.34, 4.24, 10.41, P<0.05). During the 6-month follow up, the number of emergency visits of asthma attacks in the study group and in the control group were 0.42(0.36, 0.51) and 0.92(0.72, 1.27) respectively. The indicator in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group (Z=3.21, P<0.05). After 3 months of follow-up, the proportions of children with good compliance in the study group and control group were 67% (20/30) and 62% (18/29), the proportions of poor compliance were 27% (8/30) and 34% (10/29), the proportions of non-compliance were 7% (2/30) and 7% (2/29). There were no statistically significant differences (χ(2)=0.14, 0.43, 0.00, P=0.71, 0.51, 0.97). After 6 months of follow-up, the proportions of children with good compliance in the study group and control group were 87% (26/30) and 69% (20/29), the proportion of poor compliance were 10% (3/30) and 28% (8/29), the proportion of non-compliance were 3% (1/30) and 7% (2/29), There were no statistically significant differences (χ(2)=2.70, 3.00, 0.39, P=0.10, 0.08, 0.53). After 6 months of follow-up, the number of great satisfaction, satisfaction and dissatisfaction in the study group were 20, 10 and 0 respectively, the satisfaction rate was 100%, meanwhile those indicators in the control group were 4, 15 and 10 respectively, the satisfaction rate was 66%, The indicator in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group (Z=4.60, P<0.05). Conclusions: The application of "five-in-one" asthma management model (standardized asthma treatment, asthma diary, PEF monitoring, reasonable diet and physical exercise) for school-age children with asthma can significantly improve lung function, as well as reduce the number of acute asthma attacks. It has a high parent satisfaction, therefore it should be recommended for clinical implementation.

Increased urinary excretion of 2-hydroxyestrone but not 16alpha-hydroxyestrone in premenopausal women during a soya diet containing isoflavones.

Asian diets high in soy are associated with lower risk for breast cancer compared with Western diets. Moreover, higher levels of two putative carcinogenic metabolites of 17beta-estradiol, 4- and 16alpha-hydroxyestrogen, and lower amounts of anticarcinogenic metabolites, 2-hydroxyestrogens, have been associated with greater breast cancer risk. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that consumption of a soya diet containing the weakly estrogenic isoflavones genistein and daidzein may alter the metabolism of 17beta-estradiol to 2- and 16alpha-hydroxylated products. Eight pre-menopausal women were placed on a soya-containing, constant diet in a metabolic unit. The diet provided 400 kilocalories from soymilk and 113-202 mg/day (158 +/- 26 mg/day, mean +/- SD) isoflavones daily for a complete menstrual cycle. After a washout period of 4 months, the subjects consumed the same diet, but with soymilk that contained <4.5 mg/day isoflavones ("isoflavone-free"). Urine samples were collected for 24 h daily for the entire cycle during each soya diet period for the analysis of daidzein, genistein, and 2- and 16alpha-hydroxyestrone. Subjects excreted measurable amounts of daidzein (11.6-39.2 mg/day) and genistein (2.9-18.2 mg/day) during the isoflavone-rich soya diet but not during the isoflavone-free soya diet. The diet rich in isoflavones increased the cycle mean daily urinary excretion of 2-hydroxyestrone (averaged over the entire cycle) from 11.6 +/- 2.06 to 17.0 +/- 2.96 nmol/12-h (P = 0.03), a 47% increase. However, the mean daily excretion of 16alpha-hydroxyestrone did not change (7.0 +/- 1.14 nmol/12-h during the isoflavone-free and 7.7 +/- 1.25 nmol/12-h during the isoflavone-rich diet; P = 0.36). The ratio of 2-hydroxyestrone to 16alpha-hydroxyestrone was higher during the isoflavone-rich soya diet (2.6 +/- 0.34) than during the isoflavone-free diet (2.0 +/- 0.32; P = 0.01), a 27% increase. These results suggest that soya isoflavones increase the metabolism of endogenous estrogens to the protective 2-hydroxylated estrogens in women, and this may play an important role in lowering 17beta-estradiol levels and the long-term risk for breast cancer.

Phytoestrogens and healthy aging: gaps in knowledge. A workshop report.

There is an increasing public interest in foods and dietary supplements containing phytoestrogens for the maintenance of health. A workshop was convened to assess evidence for the potential benefits of phytoestrogen-containing foods or supplements on diseases or conditions affecting older populations. Preclinical, clinical, and epidemiologic data on the cardiovascular system, various cancers, bone diseases, and menopausal symptoms were the focus of the discussions. Research on the basis of consumer food choices as well as a presentation from the FDA regarding approval of the use of soy foods to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease were also presented. Based on the information presented, isoflavone-containing soy foods may have favorable effects on the cardiovascular system, but major knowledge gaps still exist regarding effects ofphytoestrogen supplements on bone diseases, various cancers, menopausal symptoms, and cognitive function.

Health and satisfaction among the elderly with chronic conditions: demographic differentials.

This study examines the state of health (physical and mental health) and avowed satisfaction (toward hospital services and towards life-as-a-whole), among 172 elderly subjects (108 outpatients from a family medicine clinic and 64 community residents) with chronic conditions living in Kaohsiung city. Results indicated that (a) the elderly did not perceive any great impact of illness(es) upon their lives and both their physical and mental health were satisfactory; (b) the elderly were generally satisfied with both the hospital services and life as a whole; (c) there were meaningful group differentials in health and satisfaction: older, male, single and financially-dependent elderly had poorer physical and mental health; female, single and financially dependent elderly avowed lower life satisfaction.

Design of a haptic stick interface as a pilot's assistant in a high turbulence task environment.

A study involving 8 Air Force pilots was conducted to examine the efficacy of a force-reflecting joystick to improve performance during a simulated landing task in wind turbulence. By adding certain force characteristics to a joystick, it was of interest to see if performance may change, different control effort may be utilized, and workload measures may be altered based on the joystick utilized. The main results show that certain performance measures significantly improved by having the force reflection condition on. The implications of this study are that in certain types of precision tracking tasks, subjected to external disturbances, the addition of the force characteristics to the joystick can significantly improve performance, result in less effort for control, and lower subjective workload.

[Emphasizing ideological education, implementing birth control measures and carrying out family planning in an appropriate way].

PIP: Since the establishment of responsible production system, certain existing measures for family planning have lost their original effectiveness. At the same time, some changes in the peasants' minds concerning family planning have also taken place. Many peasant families, especially those which have no male child, wish to have more children. In order to solve this problem, family planning work should be done all over again from the lowest administrative level. Through correct population and ideological education, the general public may understand that there is a surplus of agricultural labor and a shortage of arable land at the present time. Secondly, birth control measures, family planning techniques, and training of medical personnel should be improved in order to serve the people better. A full-time working staff for family planning work should be increased so that they may work closely with local people and solve practical problems. In addition, nursing homes should be established and managed well in each commune. All such nursing homes should receive financial support from the State. In the this way, childless aging people may receive proper care after retirement. The worries of those single-child households may also be greatly reduced. The overall resistance met by family planning personnel is thus eliminated.^ieng

[Mental state of 100 recipients of oviduct ligation for sterilization].

PIP: A study was taken to determine the mental state of 100 women before, during, and after oviduct ligation for sterilization. Subjects were women who were sterilized in 1982 in Nanking, 68 of whom had elected to have the operation. Interviews and small group sessions were conducted. A majority of the subjects were villagers; their average age was 31 years; over half had only a primary school education; each woman had an average of 3 children. Anxieties exhibited prior to the operation include fear of pain, of slow recovery, of complications, and a desire for a competent physician. During the operation, women felt fear, thought the procedure was too lengthy, desired medical personnel to allay their anxieties, and wished for family to be near. Post-operation feelings included the hope for a quick un-complicated recovery, anxiety for children at home and a greater tenderness toward children. 96% of the subjects experienced fear and nervousness. This method of effecting sterilization is obviously not a benevolent one. After the operation, 50% of the women with weak personalities acquired neurosis. It is essential, then, in order to lessen the tendency toward neurosis, that such women be treated with compassion, competence, patience and psychiatric care, and that they be made fully aware of surgical procedures and its consequences, as well as the advantages of eugenics.^ieng