Development and validation of a nomogram for primary duodenal carcinoma: a multicenter, population-based study.

Aim: This study aimed to develop a predictive model for patients with duodenal carcinoma. Methods: Duodenal carcinoma patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2010-2015) and the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University (2010-2021) were enrolled. A nomogram was constructed according to least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis, the Akaike information criterion approach and Cox regression analysis. Results: Five independent prognostic factors were significantly associated with the prognosis of the duodenal carcinoma patients. A nomogram was constructed with a C-index in the training and validation cohorts of 0.671 (95% CI: 0.578-0.716) and 0.662 (95% CI: 0.529-0.773), respectively. Conclusion: The established nomogram model provided visualization of the risk of each prognostic factor.

Monitoring frequency of interferon gamma release assay for tuberculosis surveillance following infliximab therapy in patients with Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the pattern of positive conversion of interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) during infliximab therapy in China, which has a high burden of tuberculosis. METHODS: Eligible patients with CD who received serial IGRA screening during infliximab therapy from January 2015 to March 2020 were retrospectively included. The positive conversion rate of IGRA and the risk of subsequent tuberculosis of the patients were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 128 patients with CD were included, and the median time from the initiation of IFX treatment to positive conversion or the last follow-up test of IGRA was 43.6 weeks. At baseline 3.9% of the patients were positive for IGRA and received prophylactic anti-tuberculosis treatment. In the other 123 patients with negative IGRA at baseline, 6.5% had IGRA positive conversion during infliximab treatment, and one (12.5%) who was exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis was diagnosed as having active tuberculosis. The conversion rate at 40 weeks, 2 years and 3 years after treatment were 10.0% (6/60), 2.2% (1/46) and 5.9% (1/17), respectively. Age, sex, history of smoking and alcohol consumption, disease severity (Crohn's disease activity index score) and immunosuppressive therapy were not significantly associated with latent tuberculosis test conversion. CONCLUSIONS: Positive conversion of IGRA occurs early during treatment with infliximab for CD and the monitoring frequency of IGRA should be appropriately increased at the early stage of treatment. Physicians should pay attention to patient's history of tuberculosis exposure and carry out surveillance in a timely fashion.

A mathematical model for predicting putative association between E2/T ratio and the development of benign prostate hyperplasia in rats.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) develops more likely with increasing age and changing serum concentrations of circulating estradiol (E2) and/or testosterone (T). In this study, we explored the relationship between serum E2/T ratio and BPH risk in rats by fitting a mathematical model. A total of 176 rats were randomized to one of the following treatment groups: normal control, castrated control, and 20 more groups of castrated animals treated with increasing dose combinations of T and E2, once daily for 30 days. Serial blood samples were obtained to determine serum T and E2 levels by magnetic bead enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Prostate tissue was taken to measure prostate volume. MATLAB software was used to simulate the relationship between prostate/body weight ratio (PBR) and E2/T ratio with a mathematical equation. The values of PBR, E2 and T in the treatment groups were significantly higher than those in the control groups. Stepwise regression showed that PBR was a function of E2 and T. PBR = -0.1782 + 0.0081 E2 + 0.063 T - 0.6 × 10-5 E22 - 0.28 × 10-3 T2. E2/T ratio change may be one of the risk factors for PBR, which is associated with the development of BPH.

Drug-resistant bacteria screening and patient barrier precautions are associated with decreased neonatal nosocomial infection.

INTRODUCTION: Neonates are at high risk of nosocomial infections, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of drug-resistant bacteria (DRB) screening in combination with patient barrier precautions in controlling nosocomial infections in neonatal wards. METHODOLOGY: The clinical data of neonates admitted to the Mianyang Central Hospital, Mianyang, China in 2010 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. In 2010, DRB screening was conducted using nasal and anal swabs. In 2012, in addition to the DRB screening, patient barrier precautions were implemented. The barrier precautions were lifted if the patients were negative for the DRB screening. Patients with DRB colonization were further isolated to reduce the risk of nosocomial infection. The rate of nosocomial infections in the two years was compared. RESULTS: A total of 1280 neonates in 2010 and 1504 neonates in 2012 were included in the analysis. No significant difference was noticed between the two years in gestational weeks, age, gender, and birth weight. The rate of nosocomial infections was reduced significantly from 2.34% in 2010 to 1.13% in 2012. CONCLUSIONS: DRB screening in combination with the patient barrier precautions may reduce the risk of nosocomial infection in neonates.