[The effects of liraglutide on body composition and muscle strength in adult obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Objective: The aim of the present study was to observe the effects of liralutide on body composition and muscle function in adult obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Method: A total of 63 adult obese type 2 diabetic patients who were (52.6±9.7) years of age and with body mass index (BMI) of ≥28 kg/m2 were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups. On the basis of maintaining the original hypoglycemic regimen, patients in the control group (n=24) were given dietary guidance only, and those in the treatment group (n=39) were injected with liraglutide. All patients were followed up for a period of 12 weeks. Blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c) and insulin levels, liver and kidney function, body composition assessed with electrical impedance methods, and grip strength measured by a grip meter for muscle function were detected at the baseline and the end of the study. Results: Compared with those in the control group, the reductions in HbA1c [(-1.54±2.10) % vs.(-0.53±0.84) %], body weight [(-3.46±4.2) kg vs.(-0.34±3.66) kg], body fat mass [(-1.97±2.98) kg vs.(-0.01±2.16) kg] and visceral fat area [(-0.01±2.16) cm2 vs.(0.34±6.39) cm2] were more pronouced in liraglutide treated group (all P<0.05). However, no changes could be observed in muscle mass and grip strength after liraglutide treatment. Conclusions: In addition to reducing blood glucose, body weight and fat mass, treatment with lilaluptide had no impact on muscle mass and muscle function. Therefore, liralutide is suitable for obese patients with type 2 diabetes, especially for weight management patients who are at risk of muscle loss.

[Using energy spectrum CT to evaluate the characteristics of adult abdominal fat distribution and analyze its influencing factors].

Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of adult abdominal fat distribution and analyze its influencing factors by energy spectrum CT scan. Methods: The body height, weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference of 105 adults were measured, and the characteristics of abdominal fat distribution were evaluated by energy spectrum CT scan. Results: Compared with non-obese individuals, the contents of abdominal subcutaneous fat, abdominal cavity and liver ectopic fat were higher in obese patients (P<0.05), and the intramuscular fat (IMAT) content did not increase with the increase of BMI. In middle-aged group, the waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) abdominal cavity area and IMAT content were higher than those in the youth group, and the muscle content of the middle-aged group was lower than that of the youth group, the difference between the two groups was significant (P<0.05); the male group had higher abdominal cavity area and muscle content than the female group, while the female group had higher the subcutaneous fat area, abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and erector spinae fat content than the male group, the differences were significant (P<0.05). Conclusions: The characteristics of abdominal fat distribution of subjects with different BMI, age and gender were different. Therefore, we should pay attention to the individual assessment of ectopic fat distribution in obese patients. Energy spectrum CT can be used as an important approach for the assessment of ectopic fat to provide evidence for developing individualized weight loss programs.

[Effect of axial flap of adjacent artery perforator with vascular pedicle in repairing facial and cervical scar deformity in patients].

Objective: To explore the effect of axial flap of adjacent artery perforator with vascular pedicle in repairing scar deformity of face and neck in patients. Methods: From January 2010 to June 2018, 38 patients with cicatricial deformity of face and neck after deep burn were admitted to author's unit, including 22 males and 16 females, aged 5-56 years. The time of admission was 7 months to 19 years after burn injury. The size of wounds ranged from 7.0 cm×4.0 cm to 20.0 cm×10.0 cm after scar tissue was released. Nineteen patients were treated by upper thoracic internal artery perforator flap with size ranged from 7.0 cm×5.0 cm to 18.0 cm×8.5 cm. Among them, 16 cases were preexpanded with expanders at thorax whose rated capacity ranged from 300 to 500 mL and times of water injection of 1.8 to 3.1, and 3 cases were directly used. Twelve patients were treated by transverse carotid artery perforator flap with size ranging from 7.0 cm×4.5 cm to 11.0 cm×8.5 cm, of which 8 patients were preexpanded and 4 cases were directly used. The rated capacity of expander placed at the supraclavicular region ranged from 200 to 350 mL with times of water injection from 1.5 to 2.0. Seven patients were treated by preexpanded superficial temporal frontal branch artery perforator flap with size of 5.5 cm×3.8 cm to 8.0 cm×5.0 cm. The rated capacity of expanders placed at forehead was 150 to 300 mL with times of water injection of 1.5 to 2.0. Donor sites were directly sutured or reversely repaired by pedicled skin tube plasty. After operation, operation times and treatment time were recorded. The survival condition and complications of flaps and follow-up were observed. Results: The patients each received 1 to 4 operation (s) with treatment time of 5 to 11 months. All flaps survived after operation. Among them, three flaps with perforating branches of internal thoracic artery had slight blood circulation disturbance at the distal end and were healed after conservative dressing change, etc. Pigment changes were observed at the distal end of thoracic internal artery perforator flaps in two patients in the later stage and was resected and repaired in the second stage. The patients were followed up for 5 to 18 months. The appearance and function of operation area were good with high satisfaction of patient. Conclusions: The axial flap of adjacent artery perforator with vascular pedicle for repairing scar deformity of face and neck used directly or preexpanded can solve the problem of lack of normal skin around scar deformity without vascular anastomosis during the operation and with better appearance and function after operation. The donor site often can be directly sutured, but many operations often need to be completed for finishing whole treatment.

[Analysis of body composition and resting metabolic rate of 858 middle-aged and elderly people in urban area of Beijing].

Objective: To understand the overweight rate and obesity rate in middle-aged and elderly people in urban area of Beijing, and analyze the changes of body composition and resting metabolic rate with age. Methods: From November 2014 to December 2015, body composition measurement and resting metabolic rate detection were conducted among 858 people aged 51 to 99 years, including 760 men, 98 women, who received physical examination at Beijing Hospital. Results: The overweight rate was 51.4%, and the obesity rate was 16.9%. The overweight rate was 26.5% and the obesity rate was 14.3% in women, significantly lower than those in men (54.6% and 17.2%) (P<0.001). The distribution of skeletal muscle volume, muscle index, body fat percentage, visceral fat area and resting metabolic rate in different age groups were different (P<0.001). In the normal weight group, the skeletal muscle volume, muscle index and resting metabolic rate in age group ≥80 years decreased obviously (P<0.05). At the same time, the body fat percentage and visceral fat area increased obviously (P<0.05). However, the skeletal muscle volume, muscle index and resting metabolic rate of the overweight and obese groups began to decrease obviously in age group 70- years (P<0.05), and the decrease in age group ≥80 years was more obvious. At the same time, body fat percentage and visceral fat area increased significantly in age group 70- years (P<0.05). Conclusion: The overweight and obesity rates were high in the middle-aged and elderly people in the urban area of Beijing, and the rates were higher in men than in women. With the increase of age, the skeletal muscle volume, muscle index and resting metabolic rate gradually decreased, while the percentage of body fat and visceral fat area increased; Overweight and obese people had earlier changes in body composition and resting metabolic rate.

[Experience of transportation of mass severe burn patients for long distance by air ambulance with fixed wing].

Objective: To explore the experience of transportation of mass severe burn patients for long distance by air ambulance with fixed wing. Methods: The organization and implementation process of transportation of 5 patients in the devastating forest fire of Greater Khingan on 2nd, May 2017, for long distance by air ambulance with fixed wing were reviewed and analyzed. All the patients were severely burned and complicated with inhalation injury. Four hours after accident, the relevant authority dispatched national medical team with 2 specialists of burn, 1 specialist of intensive care medicine, 1 head nurse of burn intensive care unit (ICU) to treat and cure the patients before transportation. Three patients had tracheotomy and four patients had escharotomy. Patients and their relatives, expert group of transportation, and aircrew members were arranged according to the scheme before transportation. Patients were monitored and treated with the equipments of air ambulance during the transportation. Patients were transferred to the burn ICU in our hospital from the airport through the green channel. Results: All the five patients were transported to the destination safely for long distance of 1 700 kilometres and air flight 3.5 hours one way by air ambulance with fixed wing in 4 batches at 26 to 44 hours post burn, and transported from tarmac to burn ICU of our hospital. All the patients were in stable condition during the transportation and had successful subsequent rescue. All the patients were discharged in three months. Conclusions: It is feasible to transfer mass severe burn patients for long distance by air ambulance with fixed wing, and it is safer and more effective to transfer according to the standardization process, and the opportunity of transportation of severe burn patients can be moved up to shock stage.

[Relationship between fall and frailty index in elderly adults of urban community in Beijing].

Objective: To evaluate the frailty status and understand the relationship between the incidence of fall and frailty status in the elderly in Beijing. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in old people aged ≥60 years in Longtan community of Dongcheng district in Beijing from November 2015 to January 2016. The information about any fall during the past year and frailty status of the elderly were collected with a standardized structured questionnaire in face-to-face interviews. The frailty status of elderly people was assessed with frailty index (FI) method. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between fall and frailty status among the elderly. Results: Among 1 557 old people surveyed, the incidence of fall was 17.8% (277/1 557) during the past year. The incidence of fall in women (21.0%, 192/277) was statistically higher than that in men (13.3%, 85/277) (χ(2)=15.288, P=0.000). The median (quartile) value of FI of the elderly surveyed was 0.09 (0.08); and women had a higher FI median value than men [0.10 (0.08) versus 0.08 (0.07)](Z=5.376, P=0.000). The median FI value (quartile range) of 277 old people with history of fall in previous year was 0.12 (0.11), which was higher than the median FI value of 0.08 (0.07) of 1 280 old people without fall history (Z=7.501, P=0.000). Logistic regression analysis showed that higher FI value was associated with more risks for fall; and FI value showed the greatest impact on the incidence and frequency of fall (OR=1.093, 2.234) compared with other related factors of fall, such as age and gender. Conclusion: Frailty status has a greater impact on both incidence and frequency of fall compared with other factors in elderly people in Beijing; more attention should be paid to weak and old adults in the prevention of fall.

Reconstruction of the human cerebral cortex from magnetic resonance images.

Reconstructing the geometry of the human cerebral cortex from MR images is an important step in both brain mapping and surgical path planning applications. Difficulties with imaging noise, partial volume averaging, image intensity inhomogeneities, convoluted cortical structures, and the requirement to preserve anatomical topology make the development of accurate automated algorithms particularly challenging. In this paper we address each of these problems and describe a systematic method for obtaining a surface representation of the geometric central layer of the human cerebral cortex. Using fuzzy segmentation, an isosurface algorithm, and a deformable surface model, the method reconstructs the entire cortex with the correct topology, including deep convoluted sulci and gyri. The method is largely automated and its results are robust to imaging noise, partial volume averaging, and image intensity inhomogeneities. The performance of this method is demonstrated, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and the results of its application to six subjects and one simulated MR brain volume are presented.