Effects of whole nutritional formula foods on nutritional improvement and intestinal flora in malnourished rats.

Food for special medical purposes (FSMP) has received increasing attention as an enteral nutritional supplement. To investigate the effects of whole nutritional formula (WNF) containing dietary fiber and regular formula on nutritional supplementation and improvement of intestinal microecology, a rat malnutrition model was established with the formulations of WNF, FOS, and SDF (10, 20 g/kg bw) administered by gavage for 30 days. The results showed that the three formulations effectively improved the nutritional status of the malnourished rats, significantly increasing the level of IgG, increasing the abundance of Bacteroidetes, and affecting the content of propionic acid (PRO). The nutritional status of rats is closely related to growth performance, nutritional indexes, and immunoglobulin index, which cause changes in the composition of the intestinal flora. The above results showed that WNF positively affected the nutritional improvement, immune level, and intestinal health of rats. The comprehensive evaluation also suggested that the formulation containing ginseng water-soluble dietary fiber (ginseng-SDF) had the most significant effect.

Effect of chemical aging on phosphate adsorption and ecotoxicological properties of magnesium-modified biochar.

Using magnesium-biochar composites (Mg-BC) in adsorption allows for the efficient and economically relevant removal of phosphate (PO43-) from water and wastewater. Applying Mg-BC for pollutant removal requires evaluating the adsorption capacity of composites and their ecotoxicological properties. Investigating the composite aging during the application of these composites into the soil is also essential. In the present study, nonaged and aged (at 60 or 90 °C) Mg-BC composites were investigated in the context of pyrolysis temperature (500 or 700 °C). All analyzed biochars were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and surface area. The content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (bioavailable Cfree and organic solvent-extractable Ctot), heavy metals (HMs), and environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) were determined. Ecotoxicity was evaluated using tests with Folsomia candida and Allivibrio fischeri. The dependence of adsorption on pyrolysis temperature and composite aging time was observed. Changes in physicochemical properties occurring as a result of aging reduced the adsorption of PO43- on Mg-BC composites. It was found that nonaged Mg-BC700 was more effective (9.55 mg g -1) in the adsorption of PO43- than Mg-BC500 (5.75 mg g-1). The adsorption capacities of aged composites were from 21 to 61% lower than those of the nonaged composites. Due to aging, the content of Cfree PAHs increased by 3-5 times depending on the pyrolysis temperature. However, aging reduced the Ctot PAHs in all composites from 24 to 35% depending on the pyrolysis temperature. Ecotoxicological evaluation of Mg-BC composites showed increased toxicity after aging to both organisms. The use of aged BC potentially increases the contaminant content and toxicity of Mg-BC composites.

A biocompatible double-crosslinked gelatin/ sodium alginate/dopamine/quaterniazed chitosan hydrogel for wound dressings based on 3D bioprinting technology.

438Severe skin injuries can cause serious problems, which could affect the patient's normal life, if not dealt properly in a timely and effective manner. It is an urgent requirement to develop personalized wound dressings with excellent antibacterial activity and biocompatibility to match the shape of the wound to facilitate clinical application. In this study, a bioink (GAQ) based on gelatin (Gel)/sodium alginate (SA)/ quaternized chitosan (QCS) was prepared, and GAQ hydrogel dressing grafting with dopamine (GADQ) was fabricated by an extrusion three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. QCS was synthesized by modifying quaternary ammonium group on chitosan, and its structure was successfully characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Our results showed that the GADQ hydrogel dressing that was double-crosslinked by EDC/ NHS and Ca2+ had good tensile strength, considerable swelling ratio, and effective antioxidation properties. It also showed that GADQ1.5% had 93.17% and 91.06% antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. Furthermore, the relative survival ratios of fibroblast cells seeded on these hydrogels exceeded 350% after cultured for 7 days, which proved the biocompatibility of these hydrogels. Overall, this advanced 3D-printed GADQ1.5% hydrogels with effective antioxidation, excellent antibacterial activity and good biocompatibility had a considerable application potential for wound healing.

Neuroprotective effects of Longxue Tongluo Capsule on ischemic stroke rats revealed by LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics approach / 中草药·英文版

OBJECTIVE@#The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect and explore the underlying mechanisms of Longxue Tongluo Capsule (LTC) on ischemic stroke rats.@*METHODS@#Twenty-six rats were randomly divided into four groups, including sham group, sham + LTC group, MCAO group, and MCAO + LTC group. Ischemic stroke rats were simulated by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and LTC treatment group were orally administrated with 300 mg/kg of LTC once daily for seven consecutive days. LTC therapy was validated in terms of neurobehavioral abnormality evaluation, cerebral infarct area, and histological assessments. The plasma metabolome comparisons amongst different groups were conducted by UHPLC-Q Exactive MS in combination with subsequent multivariate statistical analysis, aiming to finding the molecules in respond to the surgery or LTC treatment.@*RESULTS@#Intragastric administration of LTC significantly decreased not only the neurobehavioral abnormality scores but also the cerebral infarct area of MCAO rats. The interstitial edema, atrophy, and pyknosis of glial and neuronal cells occurred in the infarcted area, core area, and marginal area of cerebral cortex were improved after LTC treatment. A total of 13 potential biomarkers were observed, and Youden index of 11 biomarkers such as LysoPC, SM, and PE were more than 0.7, which were involved in neuroprotective process. The correlation and pathway analysis showed that LTC was beneficial to ischemic stroke rats via regulating glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism, together with nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. Heatmap and ternary analysis indicated the synergistic effect of carbohydrates and lipids may be induced by flavonoid intake from LTC.@*CONCLUSION@#The present study could provide evidence that metabolomics, as systematic approach, revealed its capacity to evaluate the holistic efficacy of TCM, and investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the clinical treatment of LTC on ischemic stroke.

Panax quinquefolius Polysaccharides Ameliorate Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhoea Induced by Lincomycin Hydrochloride in Rats via the MAPK Signaling Pathways.

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is an herbal medicine with polysaccharides as its important active ingredient. The purpose of this research was to identify the effects of the polysaccharides of P. quinquefolius (WQP) on rats with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) induced by lincomycin hydrochloride. WQP was primarily composed of galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose. The yield, total sugar content, uronic acid content, and protein content were 6.71%, 85.2%, 31.9%, and 2.1%, respectively. WQP reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the ileum and colon, reduced the IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-17A, and TNF-α levels, increased the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in colon tissues, improved the production of acetate and propionate, regulated the gut microbiota diversity and composition, improved the relative richness of Lactobacillus and Bacteroides, and reduced the relative richness of Blautia and Coprococcus. The results indicated that WQP can enhance the recovery of the intestinal structure in rats, reduce inflammatory cytokine levels, improve short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels, promote recovery of the gut microbiota and intestinal mucosal barrier, and alleviate antibiotic-related side effects such as diarrhoea and microbiota dysbiosis caused by lincomycin hydrochloride. We found that WQP can protect the intestinal barrier by increasing Occludin and Claudin-1 expression. In addition, WQP inhibited the MAPK inflammatory signaling pathway to improve the inflammatory status. This study provides a foundation for the treatment of natural polysaccharides to reduce antibiotic-related side effects.

Preparation of deer oil powder and its effect on acute gastric mucosal injury in rats.

In this paper, deer oil was used as a raw material to prepare deer oil powder by microencapsulation technology to study the potential protective activity of deer oil powder on ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury in rats. The results show that the best process for preparing deer oil powder is: the solids account for 25% of the system content, the wall material Whey Milk Protein Isolate-Maltodextrin ratio is 1:5, the Sodium Stearyl Lactate-Glycerides of Monostearate and Distearate compound emulsifier content is 0.8%, the ratio is 1:1, and the deer oil accounts for 30% of the solid content, and the spray drying inlet temperature is 180°C. Deer oil powder can reduce total stomach injury, gastric mucosal congestion area, and injury score index. Without affecting the blood lipid level, it can reduce the content of Myeloperoxidase, enhance the activity of Superoxide Dismutase and Glutathione Peroxidase, and has good antioxidant activity. Enhance the expression of defense factors Estradiol, Epidermal Growth Factor, and Somatostatin. At the same time, it reduces the levels of Interleukin-1ß and Interleukin-6 pro-inflammatory cytokines in gastric tissue and enhances the expression of anti-inflammatory factors Interleukin-4 and Interleukin-10. These results indicate that the gastric protection mechanism of deer oil powder may be related to the enhancement of mucosal defense factors, inhibition of inflammation, and oxidative stress. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study screened the optimal formula for preparing microencapsulated deer oil powder and proved for the first time that deer oil powder has a strong gastroprotective effect on ethanol-induced acute gastric injury in rats. The gastric protective mechanism of deer oil powder is mainly to reduce oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokine accumulation and to increase the content of defense factors. Therefore, deer oil powder can be used as a new source of gastric treatment drugs.

Forensic Research Progress on Postural Asphyxia / 法医学杂志

In recent years, the increase in the number of cases of postural asphyxia has gradually attracted the attention and discussion of forensic scientists domestically and internationally, but a systematic, comprehensive and recognized expert consensus and identification standard has not been established at home and abroad. This paper reviews the case characteristics, occurrence, mechanism of death, and identification criteria of postural asphyxia, to provide reference for future research.

Value of 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging in Secondary Extramedullary Infiltration of Multiple Myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the characteristics of 18F-FDG PET/CT images of multiple myeloma secondary extramedullary infiltration in order to improve recognition.@*METHODS@#Twenty-one patients with multiple myeloma secondary extramedullary infiltration confirmed by pathology or follow-up from January 2012 to October 2020 in the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging before treatment, and the PET/CT characteristics of extramedullary infiltration and bone marrow were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Twenty-one patients included 12 males and 9 females, aged from 41 to 77 years old, with an average of 58.3±10.0; 9 cases of extramedullary infiltration involving lymph nodes; lung, stomach, spleen, and kidney were involved respectively in 2 cases; retroperitoneal, right auricle, subcutaneous nodule, and spinal meninges involvement were reported in each one case respectively. The maximum SUVmax value of extra-medullary lesions was 21.2, the minimum value was 2.1, and mean was 7.7±5.3. The maximum SUVmax value of bone marrow was 33.5, the minimum was 2.4, and mean was 6.6±3.6. There was no statistically significant difference in SUVmax value between extra-medullary lesions and bone marrow (Z=-1.195, P=0.232).@*CONCLUSION@#18F-FDG PET/CT not only has a good diagnostic value for multiple myeloma, but also a good evaluation value for secondary extramedullary infiltration, which provides reference for clinical treatment and prognosis.

Effect of Aqueous Enzymatic Extraction of Deer Oil on Its Components and Its Protective Effect on Gastric Mucosa Injury.

In this study, deer suet fat was used as a raw material to study the effects of aqueous enzymatic extraction of deer oil on its components, followed by studies into the potential protective activity, and related molecular mechanisms of deer oil on ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury in rats. The results show that aqueous enzymatic extraction of deer oil not only has a high extraction yield and has a small effect on the content of active ingredients. Deer oil can reduce total stomach injury. Without affecting the blood lipid level, it can reduce the oxidative stress, which is manifested by reducing the content of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and enhancing the activity level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). It also enhances the expression of defense factors prostaglandin (E2), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and somatostatin (SS), it inhibits apoptosis evidenced by the enhanced of Bcl-2 and decreased expression of cleavage of caspase-3 and Bax. At the same time, it reduces inflammation, which is manifested by reducing the expression of IL-1ß, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) gastric tissue pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhancing the expression of anti-inflammatory factors IL-4 and IL-10, and inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor kappa B (MAPK/NF-κB) signaling pathway in gastric tissue.

The characterization, cytotoxicity, macrophage response and tissue regeneration of decellularized cartilage in costal cartilage defects.

After harvesting multiple costal cartilages, the local defect disrupts the integrity of the chest wall and may lead to obvious thoracic complications, such as local depression and asymmetry of the bilateral thoracic height. Decellularized materials have been used for tissue reconstruction in clinical surgeries. To apply xenogenic decellularized cartilage in costal cartilage defects, porcine-derived auricular and costal cartilage was tested for characterization, cytotoxicity, macrophage response, and tissue regeneration. Most of the DNA and α-Gal were effectively removed, and the collagen was well preserved after the decellularization process. The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content decreased significantly compared to that in untreated cartilage. The decellularized auricular cartilage had a larger pore size, more pores, and a higher degradation rate than the decellularized costal cartilage. No apparent nuclei or structural damage was observed in the extracellular matrix. The decellularized auricular cartilage had a higher cell proliferation rate and more prominent immunomodulatory effect than the other groups. Two types of decellularized cartilage, particularly decellularized auricular cartilage, promoted the tissue regeneration in the cartilage defect area, combined with noticeable cartilage morphology and increased chondrogenic gene expression. In our research, the functional components and structure of the extracellular matrix were well preserved after the decellularization process. The decellularized cartilage had better biocompatibility and suitable microenvironment for tissue regeneration in the defect area, suggesting its potential application in cartilage repair during the surgery. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Autologous costal cartilage has been widely used in various surgeries, while the cartilage defects after the harvesting of multiple costal cartilages may cause localized chest wall deformities. Decellularized cartilage is an ideal material that could be produced in the factory and applied in surgeries. In this study, both decellularized costal cartilage and auricular cartilage preserved original structure, functional biocompatibility, immunosuppressive effects, and promoted tissue regeneration in the cartilage defect area.

Increased Accumulation of α-Synuclein in Inflamed Appendices of Parkinson's Disease Patients.

BACKGROUND: The accumulation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates that leads to the onset of Parkinson's disease (PD) has been postulated to begin in the gastrointestinal tract. The normal human appendix contains pathogenic forms of α-Syn, and appendectomy has been reported to affect the incidence of PD. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated appendix abnormality in patients with PD. METHODS: We assessed appendix morphology in 100 patients with PD and 50 control subjects by multislice spiral computed tomography. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients with PD with diseased appendices, which was confirmed in seven patients by histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Chronic appendicitis-like lesions were detected in 53% of patients with PD, but these were not associated with the duration of motor symptoms. Appendicitis-like lesions, impaired olfaction, and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder were risk factors for PD. The following clinical symptoms could be used to identify patients with PD with appendicitis-like lesions: first motor symptoms were bradykinesia/rigidity, onset of motor symptoms in the central axis or left limb, prodromal constipation, high ratio of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III score to symptom duration, low Montreal Cognitive Assessment score, and high Epworth Sleepiness Scale score. The seven patients with PD who were diagnosed with chronic appendicitis underwent appendectomy, and histopathological analysis revealed structural changes associated with chronic appendicitis and α-Syn aggregation. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate an association between chronic appendicitis-like lesions and PD, and suggest that α-Syn accumulation in the diseased appendix occurs in PD. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Effect of Shugan Jianpi Jiedu Prescription Medicated Serum on Proliferation， Migration and Invasion of Triple-negative Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells Based on PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To study the efficacy and mechanism of Shugan Jianpi Jiedu prescription （SJJ） in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer through <italic>in vitro</italic> cell experiments. Method:The following groups were set up in this study： a normal serum group，a pirarubicin group，and low-，medium-， and high-dose SJJ-medicated serum groups. Twenty SD rats were randomly divided into four groups and administered with SJJ solution （16.8，8.2，4.05 g·kg^-1） and normal saline （equal volume） according to the body surface area to prepare serum. MDA-MB-231 cells were treated separately. The proliferation， migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells were detected by the cell counting kit-8（CCK-8），wound healing assay and transwell cell invasion assay. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K），protein kinase B （Akt）， and mechanistic target of rapamycin （mTOR） protein expression levels in MDA-MB-231 cells were tested by the Western blot. Result:The cell proliferation in the three different doses of medicated serum groups and the pirarubicin positive control group was significantly inhibited as compared with that in the normal serum group（<italic>P</italic><0.01），and there was no statistical difference for this between the medium/high dose medicated serum group and the pirarubicin positive control group.The wound healing in the SJJ-medicated serum groups and the pirarubicin group was slowed down as compared with that in the normal serum group （<italic>P</italic><0.01），and the effect in the SJJ-medicated serum groups was weaker than that in the pirarubicin group （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The number of cells invading the lower transwell chamber was decreased as compared with that in the normal serum group （<italic>P</italic><0.01），and there was no statistical difference between the medium-/high-dose SJJ-medicated serum groups and the pirarubicin group. Western blot results showed that 48 h after treatment，the PI3K，Akt， and mTOR expression levels in the cells of SJJ-medicated serum groups and the pirarubicin group were lower than those of the normal serum group（<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:The SJJ-medicated serum could inhibit the proliferation， migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells presumedly by down-regulating the protein expression levels in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Repair of damage to the skin flap during total auricular reconstruction with tissue expansion.

INTRODUCTION: Auricular reconstruction with tissue expansion has been widely used in children with microtia. Base on the experience of using tissue expander, more patients have undergone a modified auricular reconstruction using a framework wrapped by expanded skin flap without fascial and skin graft transplantation. Skin damage is a common complication that may lead to serious outcomes, such as infection and distortion. Promptly repair is particularly important when using this modified technique. This work aims to record the site and other information on damage to the expanded skin flap, and to apply various salvage methods according to the site and stage. METHODS: From January 2017 to September 2019, 170 patients who underwent total auricular reconstruction without fascial and skin graft were followed up. All patients who had skin damage received corresponding prompt treatment. Details on the site, occurrence time, and salvage methods were noted. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients were found to have skin damage during the follow-up period. The defect size ranged from 10 mm2 to 70 mm2. Four patients had skin damage in the lower part of the skin flap combined with expander exposure. The second stage of auricular reconstruction was carried out immediately. Two patients had skin flap damage in anterior 1/3rd of the helix, seven in middle 1/3rd of the helix, four in posterior 1/3rd of the helix and two in the triangular fossa. Most of the skin damage occurred within 4-9 months after auricular reconstruction. According to the site and other factors, the expanded skin flap with the exposed cartilage was repaired using local skin flap, retroauricular skin flap, and retroauricular fascia. Patients were satisfied with the outcome of the repair. Additional skin damage and other complications were not observed after the repair operations. CONCLUSION: Skin damage is a common complication, and it should receive more attention while applying this modified auricular reconstruction using tissue expansion. The site, occurrence time, and other information provide reference to improve the reconstruction without fascial or skin graft transplantation. Salvage methods, such as retroauricular skin flap and retroauricular fascia, have been treated as highly efficient backup methods and have achieved satisfying results.

A Survey of Aesthetic Standards of the Ear.

BACKGROUND: The aesthetic standards of the ear are very important for evaluation of auricular surgery. Few studies have previously assessed ear aesthetics, especially in China. This study aimed to investigate aesthetic standards of the ear in a Chinese population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to Chinese individuals, which included assessment of the general impressions of the ear and other facial aesthetic units, the individual aesthetic subunits of the ear, the effects of different ear subunits on ear symmetry and the degree of the subunits to which the participants wanted to change. Answers were recorded on a five-point Likert-style scale. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS ver. 17.0. RESULTS: A total of 319 responses were received, 50.3% women and 49.7% men. The external ear received the lowest degree of attention either on the front or on the lateral view of the face in both genders. Among the individual aesthetic units, the earlobe received the most attention and the fine structures the lowest. The helix had the greatest effect on the ear symmetry. The structure that participants most wanted to change was the earlobe in males and the helix in females. There were significant differences on the evaluation of the helix and crus of helix among the groups divided according to educational background (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results showed that the structures that people were most concerned about were the helix and earlobe. There were gender differences in the results which were also influenced by education background.

Clinical effect of simultaneous heart valve surgery and coronary artery bypass surgery in the treatment of coronary heart disease with valvular disease / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of simultaneous heart valve surgery and coronary artery bypass surgery in the treatment of coronary heart disease with valvular disease.Methods:From January 2014 to January 2018, 60 patients with coronary heart disease and valvular heart disease who admitted to Zhejiang Lyucheng Cardiovascular Hospital were selected in the prospective study.According to the random number table method, they were randomly divided into two groups, with 30 cases in each group.The observation group underwent heart valve surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting at the same time, while the control group underwent heart valve surgery first and then coronary artery bypass grafting at intervals.The recovery after operation, cardiac function index, quality of life score and incidence of complications after operation were compared.Results:(1)The ICU monitoring time[(5.29±1.04)d], duration of mechanical ventilation[(3.95±0.98)d] and hospitalization time[(13.59±2.84)d] in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group( t=4.205, 4.015, 3.997, all P<0.05). (2) After treatment, the left ventricular ejection fraction[(49.36±6.25)%] and stroke output[(76.29±5.31)mL] of the observation group were higher than those of the control group ( t=4.066, 4.093, all P<0.05), and the level of brain natriuretic peptide[(378.32±27.82)ng/L] was lower than that of the control group ( t=4.152, P<0.05). (3) After treatment, the scores of physical health, mental health, living environment and social relations in the observation group were (89.47±8.69)points, (84.49±8.21)points, (88.16±9.24)points and (85.46±8.95)points, respectively, which were higher than those in the control group ( t=4.139, 3.753, 3.859, 4.389, all P<0.05). (4)The total incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group was 3.33%(1/30), which was lower than 20.00%(6/30) in the control group (χ 2=4.043, P<0.05). Conclusion:Simultaneous heart valve surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting can reduce the postoperative complications of patients with coronary heart disease and heart valvular disease, accelerate the recovery rate and improve the heart function and quality of life.

Association of preoperative NLR-PLR score with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the association of preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio combined with platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR-PLR) score with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 178 patients with colorectal cancer who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University from January 2013 to December 2014 were collected. There were 101 males and 77 females, aged from 21 to 90 years, with an average age of 63 years. All patients underwent radical resection of colorectal cancer. Observation indicators: (1) cutoffs of NLR and PLR and correlation between them; (2) association between preoperative NLR-PLR score and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with colorectal cancer; (3) follow-up and survival; (4) analysis of the risk factors for prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer. Follow-up was performed once every 3 months using outpatient examination or telephone interview including tumor markers, computed tomography and enteroscopy to detect postoperative survival of patients up to June 2017. Overall survival time was defined as the date of surgery to the date of the last valid follow-up or the date of death. Measurement data with skewed distribution were expressed as M (range). Count data were expressed as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was performed using the chi-square test. Comparison of ordinal data was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw survival curve, and Log-rank test was used for survival analysis. The COX proportional hazard model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Results:(1) Cutoffs of NLR and PLR and correlation between them. Receiver working characteristics of NLR and PLR showed that the NLR had a cutoff of 2.7 [area under curve (AUC)=0.739, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 0.638-0.841, P<0.05] and PLR had a cutoff of 246 (AUC=0.640, 95% CI: 0.521-0.758, P<0.05). There was a correlation between NLR and PLR ( r=0.712, P<0.05). (2) Association between preoperative NLR-PLR score and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with colorectal cancer. Results of preoperative NLR-PLR score showed that the NLR-PLR score was 0, 1, and 2 in 99, 52, and 27 patients, respectively. There were significant differences in tumor diameter, degree of tumor invasion, TNM staging, Dukes staging, and distant metastasis between patients with different preoperative NLR-PLR scores ( χ2=11.294, 10.816, 9.802, 9.525, 8.759, P<0.05). (3) Follow-up and survival: 178 patients were followed up for 1-53 months, with a median follow-up time of 37 months. The average survival time was 37 months for all the 178 patients, 50 months for 99 patients with NLR-PLR score of 0, 44 months for 52 patients with NLR-PLR score of 1, and 35 months for 27 patients with NLR-PLR score of 2. There was a significant difference in survival time between patients with NLR-PLR score of 0 and patients with NLR-PLR score of 1 ( χ2=6.388, P<0.05), between patients with NLR-PLR score of 0 and patients with NLR-PLR score of 2 ( χ2=26.388, P<0.05), between patients with NLR-PLR score of 1 and patients with NLR-PLR score of 2 ( χ2=5.350, P<0.05). (4) Analysis of the risk factors for prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer. Results of univariate analysis showed that degree of tumor invasion, TNM staging, Dukes staging, distant metastasis, NLR-PLR score, and platelet-NLR score were related factors for prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer [ hazard ratio ( HR)=2.439, 2.472, 2.221, 9.020, 2.671, 2.099, 95% CI: 1.443-4.124, 1.413-4.323, 1.282-3.849, 4.449-18.082, 1.742-4.097, 1.339-3.290, P<0.05]. Results of multivariate analysis showed that degree of tumor invasion, distant metastasis, and NLR-PLR score were independent factors for prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer ( HR=2.045, 5.641, 2.271, 95% CI: 1.051-3.979, 2.590-12.288, 1.185-4.354, P<0.05). Conclusions:The preoperative NLR-PLR score is associated with tumor diameter, degree of tumor invasion, TNM staging, Dukes staging, and distant metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer. Patients with higher score have larger tumor diameter, higher degree of tumor invasion, higher stage, and easier distant metastasis. Preoperative NLR-PLR score can effectively evaluate the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer. Patients with higher NLR-PLR score have shorter survival time. The NLR-PLR score is an independent influencing factor for prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer.

Clinical study of autologous concha cartilage transplantation to repair auricle deformities / 中华整形外科杂志

Objective@#To investigate the curative effect of auricular deformity repaired by concha cartilage.@*Methods@#From January 2017 to June 2018, 15 cases with auricular deformities were repaired using the autologous concha cartilage which combined with the retroauricular flap or retroauricular fascia with skin grafting. 9 males and 6 females, aged 10-40 with an average age of 19; 3 cases of upper 1/3 traumatic auricle defect, 2 cases of congenital Stahl's ear, 5 cases of congenital cup-shaped ear and 5 cases of congenital cryptotia.@*Results@#Total 15 patients were followed up for 12-18 months after the surgery. The area of concha cartilage resection was about 0.5 cm×1.0 cm. The shape and size of the repaired ears were similar to the healthy ear. The transplanted cartilages were not absorbed or deformed. The incision was healed well and retroauricular flap, retroauricular fascia, and skin grafting were preserved well without complications like hemorrhage, necrosis, and infection.@*Conclusions@#This method is harmless and simple, which has reliable and satisfactory effects on various auricular deformities.

Multicentric clinical study of clinical phenotypic analysis of microtia / 中华整形外科杂志

Objective@#This study collected and analyzed data from patients with microtia in multiple clinical centers to obtain the incidence characteristics of microtia in Chinese.@*Methods@#Data from 746 patients with microtia were collected from six hospitals, including theThird Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hunan Provincial People′s Hospital, the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Weihai Municipal Hospital, West China Hospital Sichuan University, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2016 to December 2017. These data included the results of physical examination and the results of auxiliary examination such as electrocardiogram, chest CT, and abdominal ultrasound. Then, the accompanying malformations of the microtia were statistically analyzed and discussed. Data were entered and processed using SPSS 19.0 statistical software. The relationship between microtia deformities and associated malformations was analyzed by Pearson χ2 test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.@*Results@#A total of 746 patients with microtia were included, including 513 males and 233 females, aged 5-27 years old. There were 678 cases of unilateral microtia, 68 cases of bilateral microtia; 128 cases of Ⅰ degree, 564 cases of Ⅱ degree, and 54 cases of Ⅲ degree. In addition, 336 cases (45%) were associated with dysplasia of other systems. Detected anomalies were 321 cases of the ear, face, and neck, 261 cases of musculoskeletal system and 76 cases of cardiovascular system, 30 cases of anomalies of the urogenital system, eye, 27 cases of respiratory system, 7 cases of central nervous system, 5 case of digestive system and 1case of diaphragmatic hernia. The proportion of male and female with microtia was 47.0% (241/513) and 40.8% (95/233), respectively, and there was no significant difference in between (χ2=2.493, P=0.114); The composition ratios of unilateral and bilateral associated malformations were 45.7% (310/678) and 38.2% (26/68 ), and there was no significant difference in between (χ2=1.400, P=0.237); The composition ratios of Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ degree-associated malformations were 39.8% (51/128), 42.6% (240/564), and 83.3% (45/54), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2= 34.794, P<0.001).@*Conclusions@#Microtia has significant clinical heterogeneity with a higher proportion of associated malformations. A higher incidence of associated deformities in patients with severe microtia was observed. Systematic examination is required, which will be helpful to clinical therapy and etiology analysis.

Clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 in children aged <18 years in Jiangxi, China: an analysis of 23 cases / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children aged <18 years.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed from the medical data of 23 children, aged from 3 months to 17 years and 8 months, who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in Jiangxi, China from January 21 to February 29, 2020.@*RESULTS@#Of the 23 children with COVID-19, 17 had family aggregation. Three children (13%) had asymptomatic infection, 6 (26%) had mild type, and 14 (61%) had common type. Among these 23 children, 16 (70%) had fever, 11 (48%) had cough, 8 (35%) had fever and cough, and 8 (35%) had wet rales in the lungs. The period from disease onset or the first nucleic acid-positive detection of SARS-CoV-2 to the virus nucleic acid negative conversion was 6-24 days (median 12 days). Of the 23 children, 3 had a reduction in total leukocyte count, 2 had a reduction in lymphocytes, 2 had an increase in C-reactive protein, and 2 had an increase in D-dimer. Abnormal pulmonary CT findings were observed in 12 children, among whom 9 had patchy ground-glass opacities in both lungs. All 23 children received antiviral therapy and were recovered.@*CONCLUSIONS@#COVID-19 in children aged <18 years often occurs with family aggregation, with no specific clinical manifestation and laboratory examination results. Most of these children have mild symptoms and a good prognosis. Epidemiological history is of particular importance in the diagnosis of COVID-19 in children aged <18 years.

The Phenolyzer Suite: Prioritizing the Candidate Genes Involved in Microtia.

OBJECTIVE: Microtia is a congenital malformation of the external ear. Great progress about the genetic of microtia has been made in recent years. This article was to prioritize the potential candidate pathogenic genes of microtia based on existing studies and reports, with the purpose of narrowing the range of following study scientifically and quickly. METHOD: A computational tool called Phenolyzer (phenotype-based gene analyzer) was used to prioritize microtia genes. Microtia, as a query term, was input in the interface of Phenolyzer. After several steps, including disease match, gene query, gene score system, seed gene growth, and gene ranking, the final results about genetic information of microtia were provided. Then we tracked details of the top 10 genes ranked by Phenolyzer on the basis of previous reports. RESULTS: We detected 10 348 genes associated with microtia or related syndromes, and 78 genes of those genes belonged to seed genes. Every gene was given a score, and the gene with higher scores was more likely influence microtia. The top 10 ranked genes included HOXA2, CHD7, CDT1, ORC1, ORC4, ORC6, CDC6, MED12, TWIST1, and GLI3. Otherwise, four gene-gene interactions were displayed. CONCLUSION: This article prioritized candidate genes of microtia for the first time. High-throughput methods provide tens of thousands of single-nucleotide variants, indels, and structural variants, and only a handful are relevant to microtia or associated syndromes. Combine the ranked potential pathogenic genes list from Phenolyzer with the results of samples provided by high-throughput methods, and more precise research directions are presented.