Characteristics of Postoperative Heart Failure in Older Hip Fractures Patients Combined with Coronary Heart Disease and Construction of a Prediction Model of Nomogram, a Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Older patients combined with coronary heart disease (CHD) develop acute heart failure (AHF) after hip fracture surgery is common, and this study aimed to investigate the risk factors of postoperative AHF in older hip fracture patients and to construct a nomogram prediction model. Methods: We retrospectively collected older hip fracture patients with CHD who underwent hip fracture surgery at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2017 to December 2021. We divided them into a training set and a validation set. We collected the demographic data, laboratory indicators and imaging examination results. We identified risk factors for postoperative AHF and used R language software to establish a nomogram prediction model, plot ROC curves, calibration curves and DCA decision curves. Results: We retrospectively collected 1288 older hip fractures patients with CHD. After excluding 214 patients who did not meet the criteria, 1074 patients were included in our research and we divided them into the training set and the validation set. In the training set, a total of 346 (42.8%) patients developing postoperative AHF. Through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, we identified the risk factors for postoperative AHF and constructed a nomogram prediction model. The AUC of the prediction model is 0.778. The correction curve shows that the model has good consistency. The decision curve analysis shows that the model has good clinical practicality. Conclusion: There were 42.8% older patients combined with CHD develop postoperative AHF. Among them, fracture type, age, anemia at admission, combined with COPD, ASA ≥ 3, and preoperative waiting time >3 days are risk factors for postoperative AHF. We constructed a nomogram prediction model that can effectively predict the risk of postoperative AHF in older hip fracture patients combined with CHD.

An Autocollimator Axial Measurement Method Based on the Strapdown Inertial Navigation System.

Autocollimators are widely used optical axis-measuring tools, but their measurement errors increase significantly when measuring under non-leveled conditions and they have a limited measurement range due to the limitations of the measurement principle. To realize axis measurement under non-leveled conditions, this paper proposes an autocollimator axis measurement method based on the strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS). First, the measurement model of the system was established. This model applies the SINS to measure the change in attitude of the autocollimator. The autocollimator was then applied to measure the angular relationship between the measured axis and its own axis, based on which the angular relationship of the axis was measured via computation through signal processing and data fusion in a multi-sensor system. After analyzing the measurement errors of the system model, the Monte Carlo method was applied to carry out a simulation analysis. This showed that the majority of the measurement errors were within ±0.002° and the overall measurement accuracy was within ±0.006°. Tests using equipment with the same parameters as those used in the simulation analysis showed that the majority of the measurement errors were within ±0.004° and the overall error was within ±0.006°, which is consistent with the simulation results. This analysis proves that this method solves the problem of the autocollimator being unable to measure the axis under non-leveled conditions and meets the needs of axis measurement with the application of autocollimators under a moving base.

TMEM9 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression via activating the MEK/ERK/STAT3 pathway to induce VEGF expression.

Abnormal Transmembrane protein 9 (TMEM9) expression has been identified in various human tumors. However, the prognostic potential and mechanistic role of TMEM9 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain unclear. Here, we first found a significant upregulation of TMEM9 in LUAD tissues, and TMEM9 expression was positively correlated with microvessel density (MVD), T stage, and clinical stage. Survival analysis demonstrated TMEM9 was an independent indicator of poor prognosis in LUAD patients. In addition, downregulation of TMEM9 suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo models, and reduced HUVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation in a cancer cell/HUVEC coculture model. Furthermore, TMEM9 upregulated VEGF expression, and VEGF-neutralizing antibodies reversed HUVEC angiogenesis and cancer cell migration ability caused by overexpression of TMEM9. In contrast, recombinant VEGF (rVEGF) abolished the inhibitory effect of TMEM9-knockdown LUAD cells on HUVEC angiogenesis and tumor cell migration. Moreover, we showed that TMEM9 upregulated VEGF expression by activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/STAT3 (MEK/ERK/STAT3) pathway. Together, our study provides mechanistic insights into the role of TMEM9 in LUAD and highlights the potential of targeting the TMEM9/MEK/ERK/STAT3/VEGF pathway as a novel therapy for preventing LUAD progression.

Predictive characteristics and model development for acute heart failure preceding hip fracture surgery in elderly hypertensive patients: a retrospective machine learning approach.

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures are a serious health concern among the elderly, particularly in patients with hypertension, where the incidence of acute heart failure preoperatively is high, significantly affecting surgical outcomes and prognosis. This study aims to assess the risk of preoperative acute heart failure in elderly patients with hypertension and hip fractures by constructing a predictive model using machine learning on potential risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective study design was employed, collecting preoperative data from January 2018 to December 2019 of elderly hypertensive patients with hip fractures at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University. Using SPSS 24.0 and R software, predictive models were established through LASSO regression and multivariable logistic regression analysis. The models' predictive performance was evaluated using metrics such as the concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve), and decision curve analysis (DCA), providing insights into the nomogram's predictive accuracy and clinical utility. RESULTS: Out of 1038 patients screened, factors such as gender, age, history of stroke, arrhythmias, anemia, and complications were identified as independent risk factors for preoperative acute heart failure in the study population. Notable predictors included Sex (OR 0.463, 95% CI 0.299-0.7184, P = 0.001), Age (OR 1.737, 95% CI 1.213-2.488, P = 0.003), Stroke (OR 1.627, 95% CI 1.137-2.327, P = 0.008), Arrhythmia (OR 2.727, 95% CI 1.490-4.990, P = 0.001), Complications (OR 2.733, 95% CI 1.850-4.036, P < 0.001), and Anemia (OR 3.258, 95% CI 2.180-4.867, P < 0.001). The prediction model of acute heart failure was Logit(P) = -2.091-0.770 × Sex + 0.552 × Age + 0.487 × Stroke + 1.003 × Arrhythmia + 1.005 × Complications + 1.181 × Anemia, and the prediction model nomogram was established. The model's AUC was 0.785 (95% CI, 0.754-0.815), Decision curve analysis (DCA) further validated the nomogram's excellent performance, identifying an optimal cutoff value probability range of 3% to 58% for predicting preoperative acute heart failure in elderly patients with hypertension and hip fractures. CONCLUSION: The predictive model developed in this study is highly accurate and serves as a powerful tool for the clinical assessment of the risk of preoperative acute heart failure in elderly hypertensive patients with hip fractures, aiding in the optimization of preoperative risk assessment and patient management.

Risk factors and prognosis of perioperative acute heart failure in elderly patients with hip fracture: case-control studies and cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients with hip fracture who develop perioperative acute heart failure (AHF) have a poor prognosis. The aim of the present study is to investigate the potential risks of AHF in elderly hip-fracture patients in the postoperative period and to evaluate the prognostic significance of AHF. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on hip fracture patients at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, who were continuously in hospital from September 2018 to August 2020. To identify independent risk factors for AHF in elderly patients with hip fracture, univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was employed. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve illustrated the relationship between all-cause mortality in the AHF and non-AHF groups. An assessment of the correlation between baseline factors and all-cause mortality was conducted by means of univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis. RESULTS: We eventually recruited 492 patients,318 of whom were in the AHF group. Statistical significance was found between the two groups for age group, concomitant coronary heart disease, COPD, haemoglobin level below 100 g/L on admission, albumin level below 40 g/L on admission, and increased intraoperative blood loss. Age over 75, concomitant coronary artery disease, hemoglobin level below 100 g/L and albumin level below 40 g/L on admission were independent risk factors for AHF in older hip fracture patients. The AHF group exhibited a higher incidence of perioperative complications, such as anemia, cardiovascular issues, and stress hyperglycemia, as well as all-cause mortality. Based on our COX regression analysis, we have identified that the main risk factors for all-cause mortality in AHF patients are concomitant coronary heart disease, absence of pulmonary infection, absence of diabetes, absence of cancer, and absence of urinary tract infection. CONCLUSION: Enhancing hip fracture prevention for AHF is particularly important. It is crucial to make informed decisions to avoid poor prognoses. Patients whose age over 75 years old, concomitant coronary heart disease, hemoglobin < 100 g/L and album< 40 g/L on admission are more likely to develop perioperative AHF. To avert complications and potential fatalities, patients with AHF must receive appropriate care during the perioperative period.

Clinical characteristics of elderly hip fracture patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease and construction of a clinical predictive model for perioperative pneumonia.

INTRODUCTION: The recovery of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) will increase the incidence of perioperative pneumonia (POP). However, there is limited research on POP in elderly patients with hip fractures complicated by CVD. Therefore, our research focuses on the following two issues: (1) What are the clinical features of elderly patients with hip fractures combined with CVD? (2) What are the predictive factors for the occurrence of POP in such patients? HYPOTHESIS: Male, femoral neck fracture and hypoalbuminemia can be predictive factors for the development of POP after hip fracture in CVD patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a nested case-control study that included patients aged 65 to 105 years with CVD who had a hip fracture between January 2021 and January 2023. According to the occurrence of POP, they were divided into case group and control group. Collecting data includes demographic information, clinical data, and surgical information. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to select variables. The constructed predictive model was transformed into a nomogram. Predictive performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: We ultimately included 714 patients, 69.3% female, with a median age of 80 years. Asymptomatic cerebral infarction (ACI) is the most common CVD (55.7%). More patients developed intertrochanteric fractures than femoral neck fractures (57.1 vs. 42.9%). In total, 606 patients (84.9%) underwent surgery. The most common perioperative complications were anemia (76.9%) and hypoalbuminemia (71.8%). POP (20.0%) was more common preoperatively (89.5%). Factors such as fracture type, surgical wait time, implant used for surgery, and anesthesia type did not differ between the presence or absence of postoperative pneumonia. 143 patients with POP served as the case group. Five hundred and seventy one patients did not develop POP and served as the control group. The predictors of POP were male (OR 1.699,95%CI 1.150-2.511, p<0.05), femoral neck fracture (OR 2.182,95%CI 1.491-3.192, p<0.05), and hypoalbuminemia (OR 3.062, 95%CI 1.833-5.116, p<0.05). This model has good discrimination, calibration, and clinical practicality. DISCUSSION: In this study, we constructed a clinical prediction model for the occurrence of POP in CVD combined with hip fracture in the elderly, with risk factors including gender, fracture type and perioperative hypoproteinemia. Therefore, we can take effective preventive measures against the occurrence of POP in patients with these factors in our clinical work. LEVEL OF PROOF: IV; nested case-control study.

Integrative analysis of LAG3 immune signature and identification of a LAG3-related genes prognostic signature in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has resulted in improved overall survival in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), but most treated patients fail to show durable clinical responses. Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG3) is a novel inhibitory immune checkpoint, but its expression pattern, prognostic value, and immunological role in KIRC remain unknown. In this study, we utilized TCGA_KIRC RNA-sequencing data to analyze the relationship between LAG3 expression and clinical features. The single-cell sequencing data and tissue immunofluorescence are employed to investigate the subcellular localization of LAG3 in KIRC. Kaplan-Meier plotter, TIMER, and TISIDB were used to assess the association between LAG3 expression and prognosis, as well as its correlation with immune-related components. We constructed the LAG3 interaction network by using STRING, GeneMANIA, BioGRID, and HitPredict databases. We found that LAG3 is upregulated and correlates with poor prognostic phenotype in KIRC. LAG3 is predominantly expressed on exhausted CD8+ T cells and shows strong co-expression with PDCD1 in KIRC. Moreover, our findings indicated that LAG3 not only inhibits T cell activation but also potentially regulates cell adhesion in KIRC. In conclusion, our study implies that LAG3 can serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for KIRC. Furthermore, blocking both LAG3 and PDCD1 may alleviate resistance to anti-PDCD1 therapy, providing novel insights for immunotherapy decision-making in KIRC patients.

Embodied Conversational Agents for Chronic Diseases: Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Embodied conversational agents (ECAs) are computer-generated animated humanlike characters that interact with users through verbal and nonverbal behavioral cues. They are increasingly used in a range of fields, including health care. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aims to identify the current practice in the development and evaluation of ECAs for chronic diseases. METHODS: We applied a methodological framework in this review. A total of 6 databases (ie, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, and Web of Science) were searched using a combination of terms related to ECAs and health in October 2023. Two independent reviewers selected the studies and extracted the data. This review followed the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) statement. RESULTS: The literature search found 6332 papers, of which 36 (0.57%) met the inclusion criteria. Among the 36 studies, 27 (75%) originated from the United States, and 28 (78%) were published from 2020 onward. The reported ECAs covered a wide range of chronic diseases, with a focus on cancers, atrial fibrillation, and type 2 diabetes, primarily to promote screening and self-management. Most ECAs were depicted as middle-aged women based on screenshots and communicated with users through voice and nonverbal behavior. The most frequently reported evaluation outcomes were acceptability and effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review provides valuable insights for technology developers and health care professionals regarding the development and implementation of ECAs. It emphasizes the importance of technological advances in the embodiment, personalized strategy, and communication modality and requires in-depth knowledge of user preferences regarding appearance, animation, and intervention content. Future studies should incorporate measures of cost, efficiency, and productivity to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the benefits of using ECAs in health care.

Characteristics of Preoperative Acute Myocardial Infarction in Elderly Hip Fracture Patients and Construction of a Clinical Prediction Model: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The prognosis of elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is poor, and this study aimed to investigate the characteristics and predictors of preoperative AMI in elderly hip fracture patients and to propose a valid clinical prediction model. Methods: We collected clinical data of older hip fracture patients from January 2019 to December 2020. The data collected include demographic and clinical characteristics, underlying diseases and laboratory results. In AMI patients, we further collected type of myocardial infarctions, clinical symptoms, electrocardiogram (ECG), Killip class and diagnosis method. The prediction model was constructed by using Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate logistic regression analyses. In addition, the constructed prediction model was transformed into a nomogram. The performance of the model was evaluated using the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Bootstrapping was used for validation. Results: There are 40 (4.2%) cases developed AMI in all 958 patients. There were 685 (71.5%) female patients and 273 (28.5%) male patients. Among 40 AMI patients, 38 (95.0%) had Type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) and 2 (5.0%) had Type 1 myocardial infarction (T1MI). The majority of these ECG were ST segment depression (57.5%). Most elderly AMI patients (67.5%) presented asymptomatic. Predictors for preoperative AMI were higher age (OR 2.386, 95% CI 1.126-5.057), diabetes (OR 5.863, 95% CI 2.851-12.058), Hb≤100 g/L (OR 3.976, 95% CI 1.478-10.695), CRP≥40 mg/L (OR 6.998, 95% CI 2.875-17.033), and ALB≤35 g/L (OR 2.166, 95% CI 1.049-4.471). Good discrimination and calibration effect of the model was showed. Interval validation could still achieve the C-index value of 0.771. DCA demonstrated this nomogram has good clinical utility. Conclusion: This model has a good predictive effect on preoperative AMI in elderly patients with hip fracture, which can help to better plan clinical evaluation.

The Use of Gamification in the Self-Management of Patients With Chronic Diseases: Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Chronic disease self-management is a public health issue of worldwide concern, and gamification is an emerging strategy to improve patients' participation in chronic disease self-management. Some studies have summarized designs for the gamification of chronic disease self-management from the perspective of eHealth technology, but they have not mentioned differences in design methods, functions, and evaluation methods of gamified designs for self-management in different chronic diseases. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aims to synthesize the characteristics of realization forms, functions, and evaluation methods in chronic disease self-management gamification to improve self-management among the chronic disease population. METHODS: We applied a methodological framework for scoping reviews and the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist. As of January 7, 2023, we systematically searched 9 databases for relevant studies from January 2012 to December 2022. Related data were extracted based on the research questions. We calculated the frequencies, charted the quantitative data, and coded the extracted material for qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: We retrieved 16,221 records, of which 70 (0.43%) met the eligibility criteria. In the included research, the target populations for gamified designs for self-management of chronic diseases included patients with stroke, cancer, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, obesity, and hypertension. Almost all studies mentioned technical support for gamification (68/70, 97%), mainly in the form of active video games (58/70, 83%); however, less than half of the studies mentioned the theoretical basis for gamification (31/70, 44%). There were 37 concepts or theories relevant to gamification design, most of which were in the field of psychology or were cross-disciplinary (n=33, 89%). Gamification for the self-management of chronic diseases has been widely recognized, including for promoting physical exercise and rehabilitation training (48/99, 48%), increasing initiative for symptom management (18/99, 18%), providing psychological support (14/99, 14%), improving cognitive function (12/99, 12%), and improving medication adherence (7/99, 7%). A total of 39 studies mentioned the gamification effect; however, we did not find a unified evaluation standard. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review focuses on gamification designs for chronic disease self-management and summarizes the realization forms and functions of gamification in self-management for different patient populations. With practice in a gamified internet-based environment, patients can not only master the knowledge and skills of self-management in fascinating scenarios but also benefit from gaming experience and make better health-related decisions in real life. It is worth noting that a comprehensive evaluation of the users as well as a personalized and targeted intervention should be developed before gamification.

Clinical Characteristics and Molecular Epidemiology of ST23 Klebsiella pneumoniae in China.

Purpose: In clinical settings, CG23 Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) is the most virulent clonal group of Kp. Continuous fusions of hypervirulent (Hv) and highly resistant strains have been reported; however, few studies have analysed the molecular epidemiology and clinical characteristics of CG23 strains, especially MDR-sequence type ST23 strains. In this study, we investigated the molecular characteristics of ST23 Kp and analysed the clinical characteristics of ST23 Kp infections in a large teaching hospital of the third class in China. Methods: ST23 Kp isolates were screened using whole-genome sequencing data from a large single centre. We compared the clinical characteristics of ST23 strains isolated from community-acquired infections (CAI) and hospital acquired infection (HAI). In addition, the infection characteristics of MDR and poor-prognosis isolates were investigated. We analysed genetic characteristics of ST23 Kp and further investigated the evolutionary relationship based on single-nucleotide polymorphism phylogenetic trees. Results: We detected 184 ST23 strains between 2013 and July of 2018. There were no significant differences between the isolation rates of pulmonary, bloodstream, urinary tract, and cutaneous soft tissue infections in the community and hospitals, except for abscess infections. MDR strains primarily cause pulmonary infections and abscesses; infections with a poor prognosis are typically bloodstream and pulmonary infections. Fourteen MDR strains producing extended-spectrum or class C beta-lactamases, resulting in resistance to third-generation cephalosporins. In 3.8% of ST23 Kp strains, the clb locus was absent. The phylogenetic tree revealed that the isolates were primarily divided into three clades, and based on clinical data, it is inferred that three clonal transmission events have occurred, mainly in ICU causing lung infection. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that virulence and drug-resistance fusion events of ST23 strains occur gradually, and that the hypervirulent clones facilitate the widespread dissemination of CAI and HAI, particularly pulmonary. Monitoring genomics and developing antivirulence strategies are essential.

Genomic and clinical characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying the pks island.

Background: The pks island and its production of the bacterial secondary metabolite genotoxin, colibactin, have attracted increasing attention. However, genomic articles focusing on pks islands in Klebsiella pneumoniae, as well as comparative genomic studies of mobile genetic elements, such as prophages, plasmids, and insertion sequences, are lacking. In this study, a large-scale analysis was conducted to understand the prevalence and evolution of pks islands, differences in mobile genetic elements between pks-negative and pks-positive K. pneumoniae, and clinical characteristics of infection caused by pks-positive K. pneumoniae. Methods: The genomes of 2,709 K. pneumoniae were downloaded from public databases, among which, 1,422 were from NCBI and 1,287 were from the China National GeneBank DataBase (CNGBdb). Screening for virulence and resistance genes, phylogenetic tree construction, and pan-genome analysis were performed. Differences in mobile genetic elements between pks-positive and pks-negative strains were compared. The clinical characteristics of 157 pks-positive and 157 pks-negative K. pneumoniae infected patients were investigated. Results: Of 2,709 K. pneumoniae genomes, 245 pks-positive genomes were screened. The four siderophores, type VI secretion system, and nutritional factor genes were present in at least 77.9% (191/245), 66.9% (164/245), and 63.3% (155/245) of pks-positive strains, respectively. The number and fragment length of prophage were lower in pks-positive strains than in pks-negative strains (p < 0.05). The prevalence of the IS6 family was higher in pks-negative strains than in pks-positive strains, and the prevalence of multiple plasmid replicon types differed between the pks-positive and pks-negative strains (p < 0.05). The detection rate of pks-positive K. pneumoniae in abscess samples was higher than that of pks-negative K. pneumoniae (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The pks-positive strains had abundant virulence genes. There were differences in the distribution of mobile genetic elements between pks-positive and pks-negative isolates. Further analysis of the evolutionary pattern of pks island and epidemiological surveillance in different populations are needed.

Impact of red kidney bean protein on starch digestion and exploring its underlying mechanism.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of different proportions of red kidney bean protein (RKP) on the digestibility of co-gelatinized wheat starch (WS) and corn starch (CS), as well as explore the potential underlying mechanisms. The results showed a significant reduction in both the rate and extent of digestion for WS and CS after adding the RKP during co-gelatinization. Furthermore, incorporating RKP at 0 % to 20 % levels increased the content of resistant starch (RS) by 34.89 % and 14.43 % in the digested systems of wheat starch and maize starch, respectively, while decreasing the concentration of rapidly digestible starch (RDS) by 12.24 % and 20.39 %, respectively. Furthermore, RKP was found to inhibit α-amylase in a dose-dependent and non-competitive manner. Its interaction with starch occurred through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, resulting in a modification of the short-range ordered structure of starch and ultimately leading to inhibition of starch digestion. The physical barrier effect of RKP on starch digestion also contributed to its inhibitory action. Considering the health-related delay in the rate and extent of postprandial starch digestion, Our findings have important inspirational value for the use of red kidney bean protein in hypoglycemic foods.

Axial Length Control Is Associated With a Choroidal Thickness Increase in Myopic Adolescents After Orthokeratology.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in choroidal thickness and axial length after orthokeratology in adolescents with low-to-moderate myopia and to explore the relationship between choroidal thickness and axial length variation. METHODS: Thirty eyes with low-to-moderate myopia were retrospectively studied, and optometric data were collected before and after 6 months of continuous orthokeratology. Axial length and choroidal and foveal thicknesses were measured using optical biometry and enhanced depth imaging-spectral domain optical coherence tomography, respectively. RESULTS: Axial length in the low myopia group increased ( P <0.001) after 6 months of orthokeratology, and the variation was greater than that in the moderate myopia group ( P <0.05). The subfoveal choroidal thickness in low and moderate myopia groups increased ( P <0.01), and the variation was greater in the moderate myopia group ( P <0.05). Choroidal thickness in all seven measured spots increased, with the variation of subfovea, nasal 1 mm to fovea, and temporal 1 mm to fovea being statistically significant ( P <0.001, P <0.05, and P <0.05). The change in axial length was negatively associated with subfoveal and average choroidal thicknesses ( P <0.01). CONCLUSION: Adolescents with moderate myopia presented better axial length control after 6 months of orthokeratology. The choroidal thickness of low and moderate myopic eyes increased, and the variation was more significant in moderate myopic eyes. The axial length control effects can be associated with an increase in the subfoveal and average choroidal thickness.

Incidence and risk factors of admission deep venous thrombosis in nonagenarians and centenarians with intertrochanteric fracture: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for admission deep venous thrombosis (aDVT) and proximal aDVT in nonagenarians and centenarians with intertrochanteric fracture (IF). METHODS: We collected statistics on nonagenarians and centenarians with IF admitting from January 2010 to October 2022. Patients with aDVT were considered as the aDVT group and those without aDVT as the non-aDVT group. Additionally, we also conducted a subgroup analysis based on the location of aDVT to investigate the predictors of proximal aDVT. The demographics, comorbidities and admission laboratory examinations of patients were computed by univariate analysis, logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: In our study, the rate of aDVT (109 of 318) was 34.3%, and 5.7% (18 of 318) of patients had proximal aDVT. Logistic regression analysis showed that female patients and a high level of D-dimer were risk factors for aDVT. Similarly, hypoproteinemia and a high level of D-dimer were found to be risk factors for proximal aDVT. ROC curve analysis indicated the cut-off values of D-dimer to predict the aDVT and proximal aDVT were 1.28 mg/L and 1.485 mg/L, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings investigated the risk factors of aDVT and proximal aDVT in nonagenarians and centenarians with IF and identified the cut-off values of D-dimer, helping us assess the risk of aDVT and proximal aDVT to manage early targeted interventions.

Molecular epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the type VI secretion system in Klebsiella pneumoniae causing abscesses.

Purpose: The type VI system (T6SS) has the potential to be a new virulence factor for hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) strains. This study aimed to characterize the molecular and clinical features of T6SS-positive and T6SS-negative K. pneumoniae isolates that cause abscesses. Patients and methods: A total of 169 non-duplicate K. pneumoniae strains were isolated from patients with abscesses in a tertiary hospital in China from January 2018 to June 2022, and clinical data were collected. For all isolates, capsular serotypes, T6SS genes, virulence, and drug resistance genes, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and biofilm formation assays were assessed. Multilocus sequence typing was used to analyze the genotypes of hvKp. T6SS-positive hvKp, T6SS-negative hvKp, T6SS-positive cKP, and T6SS-negative cKP (n = 4 strains for each group) were chosen for the in vivo Galleria mellonella infection model and in vitro competition experiments to further explore the microbiological characteristics of T6SS-positive K. pneumoniae isolates. Results: The positive detection rate for T6SS was 36.1%. The rates of hvKp, seven virulence genes, K1 capsular serotype, and ST23 in T6SS-positive strains were all higher than those in T6SS-negative strains (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the carriage of aerobactin (OR 0.01) and wcaG (OR 33.53) were independent risk factors for T6SS-positive strains (p < 0.05). The T6SS-positive strains had a stronger biofilm-forming ability than T6SS-negative strains (p < 0.05). The T6SS-positive and T6SS-negative strains showed no significant differences in competitive ability (p = 0.06). In the in vivo G. mellonella infection model, the T6SS(+)/hvKP group had the worst prognosis. Except for cefazolin and tegacyclin, T6SS-positive isolates displayed a lower rate of antimicrobial resistance to other drugs (p < 0.05). The T6SS-positive isolates were more likely to be acquired from community infections (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates causing abscesses have a high prevalence of T6SS genes. T6SS-positive K. pneumoniae isolates are associated with virulence, and the T6SS genes may be involved in the hvKp virulence mechanism.

Characteristics of preoperative atrial fibrillation in geriatric patients with hip fracture and construction of a clinical prediction model: a retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation is the most common atrial arrhythmia in the perioperative period and is associated with prolonged hospital stay, increased costs, and increased mortality. However, there are few data on the predictors and incidence of preoperative atrial fibrillation in hip fracture patients. Our aim was to identify predictors of preoperative atrial fibrillation and to propose a valid clinical prediction model. METHODS: Predictor variables included demographic and clinical variables. LASSO regression analyzes were performed to identify predictors of preoperative atrial fibrillation, and models were constructed and presented as nomograms. Area under the curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to examine the discriminative power, calibration, and clinical efficacy of the predictive models. Bootstrapping was used for validation. RESULTS: A total of 1415 elderly patients with hip fractures were analyzed. Overall, 7.1% of patients had preoperative atrial fibrillation, and they were at significant risk for thromboembolic events. Patients with preoperative AF had a significantly longer delay in surgery than those without preoperative atrial fibrillation (p < 0.05). Predictors for preoperative atrial fibrillation were hypertension (OR 1.784, 95% CI 1.136-2.802, p < 0.05), C-reactive protein at admission (OR 1.329, 95% CI 1.048-1.662, p < 0.05), systemic inflammatory response index at admission (OR 2.137, 95% CI, 1.678-2.721 p < 0.05), Age-Adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR 1.542, 95% CI 1.326-1.794, p < 0.05), low potassium(OR 2.538, 95% CI 1.623-3.968, p < 0.05), anemia(OR 1.542, 95% CI 1.326-1.794, p < 0.05). Good discrimination and calibration effect of the model was showed. Interval validation could still achieve the C-index value of 0.799. DCA demonstrated this nomogram has good clinical utility. CONCLUSION: This model has a good predictive effect on preoperative atrial fibrillation in elderly patients with hip fractures, which can help to better plan clinical evaluation.

Outer Membrane Vesicles Transmitting blaNDM-1 Mediate the Emergence of Carbapenem-Resistant Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Dissemination of hypervirulent and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) has been reported worldwide, posing a serious threat to antimicrobial therapy and public health. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) act as vectors for the horizontal transfer of virulence and resistance genes. However, K. pneumoniae OMVs that transfer carbapenem resistance genes into hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKP) have been insufficiently investigated. Therefore, this study investigates the transmission of the blaNDM-1 gene encoding resistance via OMVs released from CRKP and the potential mechanism responsible for the carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (CR-hvKP) emergence. OMVs were isolated via ultracentrifugation from CRKP with or without meropenem selective pressure. OMVs were then used to transform classical K. pneumoniae (ckp) ATCC 10031, extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing K. pneumoniae ATCC 700603, and hvKP NTUH-K2044. Our results showed that meropenem treatment resulted in changes in the number and diameter of OMVs secreted by CRKP. OMVs derived from CRKP mediated the transfer of blaNDM-1 to ckp and hvKP, thereby increasing the carbapenem MIC of transformants. Further experiments confirmed that NTUH-K2044 transformants exhibited hypervirulence. Our study demonstrates, for the first time, that OMVs derived from CRKP can carry blaNDM-1 and deliver resistance genes to other K. pneumoniae strains, even hvKP. The transfer of carbapenem genes into hypervirulent strains may promote the emergence and dissemination of CR-hvKP. This study elucidates a new mechanism underlying the formation of CR-hvKP.

The Clinical Characteristic and Management of Patients with Nocardiosis in a Tertiary Hospital in China.

Nocardiosis is an uncommon opportunistic bacterial infection which becomes a significant health problem due to its increasing incidence and high mortality rate. However, many nocardiosis patients are underdiagnosed by physicians. To summarize the clinical characteristics and management of nocardiosis would help with better diagnosis and prognosis of nocardiosis. This retrospective study was conducted based on the medical records of nocardiosis patients between January 2015 and December 2021 in a tertiary hospital in China. Overall, 44 nocardiosis patients with 54 specimens were included. The patients consisted of 26 males and 18 females with a mean age of 50.4 ± 13.2 years. Among 44 patients, 26 (59.1%) were previously given immunosuppressive therapy. Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) were the most common underlying disease (16/44). The most frequent infection sites were the lungs (17/44) and skin or soft tissues (8/44). Common symptoms included cough (23/44), expectoration (18/44), fever (15/44), and subcutaneous abscesses (15/44). Forty-five out of 54 specimens (83.3%) required over 48 hours of culture time for nocardiosis detection. Thirty-six patients were cured or improved, 5 patients were discharged from the hospital due to poor prognosis, and 1 patient died. The average diagnosis time of poor prognosis cases was 19.7 days, which was significantly longer than those of improved or cured patients (7.3 days). Immunosuppressed patients comprise a large part of nocardiosis cases, which is worth attention in clinical practice. Early diagnosis, specifically through prolonged cultivation time of specimen, could help achieve better prognosis of nocardiosis patients.