Relationship Between Serum B7-H3 Levels and Prognosis of Congenital Heart Disease in Children.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of B7-H3 in prognosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) children patients. A total of 65 CHD patients within age 3-12 years who went to our hospital were included during August 2011 to December 2012. Demographic data including age, sex, weight, clinical basic information such as New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, pathological type were collected. Blood samples were collected and serum levels of B7-H3, C-reactive protein (CRP), N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-pro-BNP), and High-sensitivity Troponin T (hsTnT) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Characteristics including age, gender, weight, pathological type, NYHA class, and serum levels of hsTnT and CRP showed no significant difference between deceased and survival patients. However, serum levels of B7-H3 and NT-pro-BNP were significantly higher in deceased patients compared survival patients. Patients with high expressed B7-H3 had higher risks for total major cardiovascular events (MACE) occurrence compared with the lower group. Among the MACE events, significant difference was observed in rates of death, new onset of arrhythmias, and surgical, but not in NYHA class worsening and percutaneous intervention. Patients with higher levels if B7-H3 had significantly higher risk for mortality in the 5-year follow-up compared with the lower group, logic analysis was also conducted and results showed that B7-H3 might be an independent risk factor for 5-year mortality for CHD patients. B7-H3 was up-regulated in dead CHD patients, and serum levels of B7-H3 were related to long-term MACE and 5-year mortality of CHD patients.

A Robust Noise Mitigation Method for the Mobile RFID Location in Built Environment.

The exact location of objects, such as infrastructure, is crucial to the systematic understanding of the built environment. The emergence and development of the Internet of Things (IoT) have attracted growing attention to the low-cost location scheme, which can respond to a dramatic increasing amount of public infrastructure in smart cities. Various Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID)-based locating systems and noise mitigation methods have been developed. However, most of them are impractical for built environments in large areas due to their high cost, computational complexity, and low noise detection capability. In this paper, we proposed a novel noise mitigation solution integrating the low-cost localization scheme with one mobile RFID reader. We designed a filter algorithm to remove the influence of abnormal data. Inspired the sampling concept, a more carefully parameters calibration was carried out for noise data sampling to improve the accuracy and reduce the computational complexity. To achieve robust noise detection results, we employed the powerful noise detection capability of the random sample consensus (RANSAC) algorithm. Our experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed method for the localization and noise mitigation in a large area. The proposed scheme has potential applications for location-based services in smart cities.

Laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment of neonates with duodenal obstruction associated with an annular pancreas: report of 11 cases.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic procedures involving a neonatal annular pancreas have only been sporadically reported in the literature. We herein present our initial experience with an annular pancreas in newborns treated via a laparoscopic approach. METHODS: A retrospective review of the laparoscopic methods used for an annular pancreas in 11 neonates from September 2009 to April 2013 was performed. Among the patients, seven were male and four were female. The age of the patients ranged from 1 to 13 days (mean 4.2 days). An annular pancreas was diagnosed under laparoscopic vision. In all of the cases, the surgical procedures were performed laparoscopically. RESULTS: The operation was accomplished by a laparoscopic procedure in all cases. The length of the operation ranged from 70 to 145 min (mean, 96.6 min). Feedings started on postoperative days 4-7 (mean, day 5), and patients were discharged on postoperative days 9-15 (mean, day 10.6). Ten cases were followed up for 4-39 months (mean, 15.2 months). The case complicated with anal atresia died of pneumonia 6 months later after the procedure, but the other patients were doing well at the most recent follow-up examination. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic approach for an annular pancreas can be securely performed in the neonatal period. Our early experience suggests the outcomes were excellent.

Laparoscope-assisted intestinal lengthening using an anterior flap in jejunal atresia.

BACKGROUND: Jejunal atresia with short bowel syndrome is an unusual type of jejunoileal atresia. They present with jejunal atresia near the ligament of Treitz and a foreshortened small bowel. In this paper, we report our preliminary experience to emphasize the advantages and feasibility of enteroplasty for intestinal lengthening and primary anastomosis with an anterior flap in jejunal atresia with short bowel syndrome in neonates. METHODS: Between January 2014 and December 2014, four neonates with jejunal atresia and short bowel syndrome were submitted to this procedure in our hospital. Enteroplasty for intestinal lengthening procedures was accomplished in all the neonates by laparoscopic-assisted procedure. The procedure was manually performed after exteriorization of the atretic bowel via the slightly enlarged umbilical port site incision. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 80 min (range 65-110 min). Blood loss was minimal. There was no mortality or surgical complication so far. The median follow-up duration was 14.5 months (range 9-20 months). In all the cases, the autonomy for oral/enteric feeding was obtained within 1 month after surgery. One neonate was readmitted because of associated cholestasis 1 month after the operation, and was cured by conservative therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Enteroplasty for intestinal lengthening and primary anastomosis with an anterior flap is a safe and feasible technique that could allow increased tolerance to oral/enteric feeding, thereby improves their chances for quality survival.

Acute liver failure as initial presentation in a Chinese patient with Budd-Chiari syndrome due to protein C deficiency: A case report and literature review.

Acute liver failure is an uncommon presentation in the clinic. Common causes for acute liver failure include viral hepatitis and drug-related hepatotoxicity. However, acute liver failure due to Budd-Chiari syndrome is rare. This case highlights the importance of necessary constrast-enhanced imaging studies to rule out vascular etiologies of acute liver failure, in addition to common causes like viral or drug-induced hepatic failure. We present a case of a male Chinese patient who presented with nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and fever after eating a large amount of fatty food. Six days after hospitalization, the patient developed acute liver failure and hepatic encephalopathy. Contrast-enhanced computerized tomography and ultrasound examinations revealed thromboses in the hepatic veins and inferior vena cava. Further testing also showed decreased protein C activity. Therefore, a diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to protein C deficiency was made. He received supportive care and a transjugular intrahepatic portal shunt. Hepatic function, coagulation panel results, and clinical presentations gradually returned to normal. Budd-Chiari syndrome from protein C deficiency could be a rare but valid cause of acute liver failure in Chinese patients.

Laparoscope-assisted diagnosis and treatment for Amyand's hernia in children-report of six cases.

Laparoscope-assisted diagnosis and treatment of Amyand's hernia in children are rarely reported in literature. We report our preliminary experiences to emphasize the advantages and feasibility of this procedure in six cases. Laparoscope-assisted diagnosis and treatment of Amyand's hernias in six children from October 2010 to February 2012 were performed. A retrospective analysis of clinical data of these patients was performed. The mean age of the six patients was 234 days (ranging from 40 days to 13 months). Four cases were operated with laparoscope-assisted method urgently as incarcerated hernia. To the two cases with normal appendix, only herniorrhaphy was performed. Average follow-up was 14 months (9-24 months), with no wound infection and no recurrent hernias. In conclusion, diagnosis of Amyand's hernia before operation is difficult, and laparoscopic method is safe and effective in these cases with good outcomes, and worth introduced.

Laparoscopy-assisted surgery for neonatal intestinal atresia and stenosis: a report of 35 cases.

PURPOSE: Jejunal-ileal atresias are the most common causes of intestinal occlusion in neonatal period. Treatment is classically performed by a right upper quadrant transverse laparotomy. Our study aimed to present our initial experience of intestinal atresia in newborn treated with laparoscopic assisted approach. METHODS: Overall 35 small intestinal atresias, which occurred in infants from September 2009 to July 2012 in our hospital, were treated by laparoscopy-assisted procedure. After carefully inspecting through laparoscope by a multi-port or single-site approach, these were definitely diagnosed. The anastomosis of intestinal atresia was manually performed after exteriorization of the bowel via the umbilical port site incision. RESULTS: There were no conversions to an open procedure and no intraoperative various complications. The incision of umbilical port was about 2-2.5 cm. The post-operative course was uneventful. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopy-assisted procedure could be safely accomplished in neonates with intestinal atresia. Comparing to open surgery, parents were extremely satisfied with the cosmetic results. The early experience suggests that the outcomes are excellent.

Learning Curve of Laparoscopic Kasai Portoenterostomy in a Tertiary Hospital with Low Caseload of Biliary Atresia.

Background: Laparoscopic Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) is generally considered to be technically challenging. A scarcity of studies has particularly focused on the learning curve (LC) of this technique. The present study was aimed to objectively evaluate the LC of laparoscopic KPE in a medical center with relatively low caseload of biliary atresia (BA). Materials and Methods: Thirty-five consecutive pediatric patients treated with laparoscopic KPE for BA by the same surgeon team between 2012 and 2018 were retrospectively enrolled in the present study. Operative time (OT) was selected as the surrogate marker. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis was applied to describe the LC of laparoscopic KPE. Results: The turning point of the CUSUM curve occurred at the 21st case, which divided the curve into two distinct phases, phase 1 (the initial 21 cases) and phase 2 (the remaining 14 cases). The curve was best modeled as a second-order polynomial with equation CUSUM in minutes equal to -0.9161 × case number2 + 32.097 × case number + 7.8217 (R2 = 0.981). Age at surgery, sex, weight, and preoperative liver function were well balanced between the two phases (each P > .05). The OT was significantly decreased in phase 2 compared with phase 1 (P < .0001). Furthermore, the rates of early jaundice clearance and 2-year native liver survival were higher in phase 2. The rate of postoperative cholangitis was comparable between the two phases. Conclusions: Two characteristic phases of the LC for laparoscopic KPE were identified using CUSUM analysis and represented the initial learning period and the subsequent period of technical mastery, respectively. Surgeons are possible to acquire competency of laparoscopic KPE in relatively low-case centers.

Association of Dietary Energy Intake With Constipation Among Men and Women: Results From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Previous studies supported that dietary factor was associated with constipation, but the relationship between dietary energy intake and constipation has not been well-studied. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence and correlation between energy intake and constipation among men and women. Methods: These observational analyses included 12,587 adults (≥20 years) from the 2005-2010 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Constipation was defined as Bristol Stool Scale Type 1 (separate hard lumps, like nuts) or Type 2 (sausage-like but lumpy). Total energy intake was obtained from the two 24-h dietary recalls and averaged. We used the logistic regression model in Generalized Linear Model (GLM) function, controlling demographic, lifestyle, and dietary factors, to estimate the association between energy intake and constipation among men and women. Results: The overall weighted incidence of constipation in this research was 7.4%, the incidence in women and men was 10.4 and 4.3%, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, middle energy consumption correlated with decreased risk of constipation in men (OR:0.5, 95% CI:0.29-0.84), and lower-middle energy intake increased the constipation risk in women (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.15-2.13). High energy consumption was not associated with increased or decreased constipation risk. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first research to investigate the association between energy intake and constipation; the study demonstrates that appropriate energy consumption can help reduce the risk of constipation in men, and relatively low energy intake is associated with increased constipation risk in women.

Three-Dimensional Versus Two-Dimensional Laparoscopic-Assisted Transanal Pull-Through for Hirschsprung's Disease in Children: Preliminary Results of a Prospective Cohort Study in a Tertiary Hospital.

BACKGROUND: This prospective cohort study is aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of three-dimensional (3D) versus two-dimensional (2D) laparoscopy in laparoscopic-assisted transanal pull-through (LATP) for the surgical treatment of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) in children. METHODS: This study enrolled 80 children who were histologically diagnosed with HD and undergone LATP performed by a single experienced surgeon at our department between January 2015 and November 2017. Children were randomized to receive 2D laparoscopy (n = 40) or 3D laparoscopy (n = 40). Data on patient characteristics, operative parameters, and the surgeon's assessment on utilization of laparoscopic system were prospectively recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Patient characteristics, including age at surgery, gender, weight, and the level of aganglionosis, were comparable between the two groups (each P > .05). Compared with 2D imaging system, 3D system significantly shortened the performance time of laparoscopic phase (27.0 ± 3.6 minutes versus 38.3 ± 4.3 minutes, P < .001) with a 29.5% reduction, and the total time of the entire surgery (106.0 ± 19.5 minutes versus 122.1 ± 18.7 minutes, P < .001). No statistical difference was observed in terms of estimated intraoperative blood loss and intraoperative laparoscopic complications between the two groups (each P > .05). In addition, 3D system significantly improved depth perception and precision, and reduced surgical strain for the surgeon. CONCLUSIONS: 3D LATP is feasible and safe in the surgical treatment of HD in children. Further studies are still needed to investigate the application of 3D in both experienced and inexperienced surgeons.

[Application of laparoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of neonates and infants with congenital intestinal atresia and stenosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic procedure in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital intestinal atresia and stenosis in neonates and infants. METHODS: Between September 2009 and September 2013, 55 cases with intestinal atresia and stenosis underwent laparoscope-assisted procedures in our department. There were, 32 males and 23 females, Twelve cases were diagnosed as duodenal atresia and stenosis and 43 as intestinal atresia and stenosis. The age at hospitalization was 7 minutes to 7 months(mean 9.88 d). After the diagnosis by multiport or transumbilical single-site laparoscopic exploration, cases with duodenal atresia and stenosis and part of the cases with proximal jejunum were treated by laparoscopic operations to remove the septum and restore intestinal continuity. In other cases with intestinal atresia and stenosis, laparoscopic inspection was performed to make diagnosis and then the proximal and distal ends of the atresia were exteriorized through the umbilical port site for end-to-oblique anastomosis. RESULTS: All the 55 cases underwent this minimally invasive approach, and no case was converted to open surgery. The operative time of laparoscopic procedure for duodenal atresia and stenosis (n=12) ranged from 80 to 145 min(mean, 110 min). During the follow-up of 3-34 months, one case had recurrent postoperative vomiting induced by giant duodenal expansion above anastomotic stoma and died the second day after operation. The operative time of laparoscopic surgery for intestinal atresia and stenosis (n=43) ranged from 35 to 70 min (mean 46 min). During the follow-up of 3-36 months, 3 cases complicated with meconium peritonitis had postoperative short bowel syndrome and died. One case died of intestinal perforation at 3 month postoperatively. One case died of intestinal adhesion at 7 month postoperatively. The rest of cases had favorable outcomes. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery for the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal atresia and stenosis has advantages of small incision, less trauma, and rapid recovery.

[Transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery in the treatment of neonatal intestinal atresia and stenosis].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experiences and advantages of laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery for neonatal intestinal atresia and stenosis. METHODS: Twenty patients of neonatal intestinal atresia and stenosis were treated with LESS procedure in Huai'an Women and Children's Hospital of Jiangsu Province between October 2010 and April 2012. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Among these patients, 13 were male, 7 were female. Age at admission ranged from 10 min to 1 d. Four cases were premature, and 3 were born with low birth weight (<2500 g). One was diagnosed with duodenal atresia, 1 with duodenal stenosis, 9 with jejunal atresia, 2 with jejunal stenosis, and 7 with ileal atresia. Laparoscopic exploration was performed in all the cases by transumbilical procedure, the proximal and distal ends were exteriorized from the umbilical port site for anastomosis. Twenty neonates with intestinal atresia and stenosis were performed using this new minimally invasive approach, with no cases converted to open operation or standard laparoscopy. The operative time was 35-60 (mean, 40) min. The intraoperative bleeding was 3-5 ml. Two cases were given up treatment by their parents on the second postoperative day. For the other 18 patients, oral intake started on postoperative day 5-10 (mean, 7), and discharged from hospital on the postoperative day 10-20 (mean, 13). The follow up ranged from 1 to 11 months, during which 1 case died, 3 cases were managed with conservative treatment for diarrhea or malnutrition. The other 14 cases grew up healthily. CONCLUSION: The technique of LESS in the treatment of neonatal atresia and stenosis is simple and the outcomes are satisfactory.