[Geographic environment-related research advances on children's myopia: intraocular and environmental exposure factors and analytical methods].

Myopia has become a global phenomenon, transitioning into a significant public health issue of worldwide reach. The escalating prevalence of myopia may lead to an increase in the incidence of related complications, potentially resulting in irreversible vision damage for individuals. This not only causes considerable economic strain on societies but also poses a serious threat to vital sectors like national defense. This review outlines various external and internal exposure factors related to childhood myopia. It places particular focus on the analysis of the interaction between geographical environmental factors and internal exposure factors, and examines the limitations of applying traditional methods in studying the relationship between childhood myopia and geographical environmental factors. The paper also introduces two spatial regression methodologies based on frequency estimation and Bayesian estimation, summarizing their feasibility and merits when applied in the study of external exposure elements related to childhood myopia. Finally, it provides a fresh perspective on regional childhood myopia prevention strategies that are conscious of geographical environmental factors.

[Efficacy and safety of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 21 patients with Ph-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in patients with Ph-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-ALL) . Methods: Patients with Ph-ALL who underwent CAR-T therapy followed by allo-HSCT from March 2018 to August 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were included, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Of the 21 patients, 14 were male and 7 were female. The median age at the time of CAR-T therapy was 22 (6-50) years. Seven patients had ABL1-like rearrangements, and 14 had JAK-STAT rearrangements. Prior to CAR-T therapy, 12 patients experienced hematologic relapse; 7 were multiparameter flow cytometry minimal residual disease (MFC-MRD) -positive and 2 were MFC-MRD-negative. CAR-T cells were derived from patients' autologous lymphocytes. Nine patients were treated with CD19 CAR-T cells, and 12 were treated with CD19/CD22 CAR-T cells. After assessment on day 28 after CAR-T therapy, 95.2% of the patients achieved complete remission, with an MRD-negative remission rate of 75%. Nineteen patients developed grade 0-2 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and 2 patients suffered grade 3 CRS, all cases of which resolved after treatment. All patients underwent allo-HSCT after CAR-T therapy. The median time from CAR-T therapy to allo-HSCT was 63 (38-114) days. Five patients experienced relapse after CAR-T therapy, including four with hematologic relapse and one with molecular relapse. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rates in the ABL1 and JAK-STAT groups were (83.3±15.2) % and (66.6±17.2) %, respectively (P=0.68) . The 3-year relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were (50.0±20.4) % and (55.6±15.4) % in the ABL1 and JAK-STAT groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in 3-year OS or RFS between the two groups. Conclusions: CAR-T therapy followed by allo-HSCT leads to rapid remission in most patients with Ph-ALL and prolongs leukemia-free survival.

[A case of delayed peripheral neuropathy caused by diquat poisoning].

Diquat is a kind of conductive contact-killing herbicides. The damage of central nervous system is relatively common, but the peripheral neuropathy caused by diquat has not been reported yet. In September 2021, we treated a patient with diquat poisoning. During the hospitalization, the patient was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. Therapy for peripheral nerve injury was given on the basis of conventional treatment of poisoning. The patient was discharged after his condition was stable. The follow-up showed that the peripheral neuropathy of patient was better than before. According to the condition of this patient, it is suggested that we should not only protect the function of gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney, and central nervous system early, but should also pay attention to the damage of peripheral nervous system in clinical work. We should intervene earlier to improve the prognosis of patients.

Hybrid Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanical Methods For Studying Energy Transduction in Biomolecular Machines.

Hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) methods have become indispensable tools for the study of biomolecules. In this article, we briefly review the basic methodological details of QM/MM approaches and discuss their applications to various energy transduction problems in biomolecular machines, such as long-range proton transports, fast electron transfers, and mechanochemical coupling. We highlight the particular importance for these applications of balancing computational efficiency and accuracy. Using several recent examples, we illustrate the value and limitations of QM/MM methodologies for both ground and excited states, as well as strategies for calibrating them in specific applications. We conclude with brief comments on several areas that can benefit from further efforts to make QM/MM analyses more quantitative and applicable to increasingly complex biological problems.

[Analysis of the personality characteristics in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux disease].

Objective: To explore the basic psychological and personality characteristics of patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD). Methods: The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was used to investigate the psychological personality characteristics of 187 patients with LPRD (Study Group) and 75 healthy subjects (control group) who were treated in the otolaryngology clinic of Wuhan Central Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019. There were 102 males in the study group, aged from 20 to 71 (45.42±10.67) years and 85 females, aged from 18 to 65 (40.97±11.53) years; There were 41 males in the control group, aged from 18 to 67 (41.08±12.03) years and 34 females, aged from 20 to 65 (42.55±12.78) years. SPSS 24.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The T scores of HS hypochondriac scale, D depression scale, Hy hysteria scale, Ma hypomania scale and MAS explicit anxiety scale in LPRD patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (t=6.304, 4.293, 5.750, 2.694, 5.178, all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that RSI score was positively correlated with T score of HS hypochondriac scale, Hy hysteria scale, Ma hypomania scale and MAS explicit Anxiety Scale (r=0.621, 0.402, 0.393, 0.581, all P<0.05); RFS score was positively correlated with T score of HS hypochondriac scale, Hy hysteria scale and MAS explicit Anxiety Scale (r=0.315, 0.321, 0.375, P<0.05). Conclusions: Compared with healthy people, LPRD patients have special personality psychological characteristics, which are mainly manifested as excessive attention to themselves, exaggerated illness, depression, sensitivity, somatization of psychological problems, irritability and mania. The severity of both subjective symptoms (RSI) and objective signs (RFS) of LPRD patients are related to their psychological personality characteristics.

[Occurrence of live-born twins with birth weight-discordance and its relationship to the adverse birth outcomes].

Objective: To investigate the occurrence of live-born twins with birth weight-discordance and its relationship to adverse birth outcomes. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 4 011 pairs of live-born twins in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2011 to December 2020. Based on the birth-weight discordance (∆BW, ∆BW=(birth-weightbig-birth-weightsmall)/birth-weightbig×100%)), twins were divided into 4 groups, including ∆BW≤15%,>15%-20%,>20%-25%, and>25%. The differences in maternal and neonatal outcomes among 4 groups were explored. Then the correlation between ∆BW and neonatal adverse outcomes were explored. Results: The ΔBW was 9 (4, 16)% and males were accounted for 53.8% (4 315 cases) of 4 011 pairs of twins. The gestational age was (35.3±2.7) weeks at birth. There were 2 908 pairs (72.5%) of twins with ΔBW≤15%, 481 pairs (12.0%) with ΔBW>15%-20%, 281 pairs (7.0%) with ΔBW 20%-≤25%, and 341 twin pairs (8.5%) with ΔBW>25%. With ∆BW of 20% as the diagnostic cutoff, the incidence of birth weight discordance was 15.5% (622/4 011). The proportion of natural births in the ∆BW≤15% group was higher than that in the ∆BW>15%-20% group (10.5% (288/2 740) vs. 6.3% (29/463), P<0.008 3). The ∆BW>25% group had a significantly higher prevalence of maternal hypertensive disorders during pregnancy than that of the other 3 groups (25.5% (87/341) vs. 16.7% (47/281) vs.17.3% (83/480) vs. 13.8% (400/2 899), all P<0.008 3). Univariate analysis found that the ΔBW>25% group had a lower gestational age and a higher rate of preterm birth than the other groups. The rate of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) or very low birth weight (VLBW), small for gestational age (SGA), and transferring to the department of neonatology in the smaller twins were significantly different among the 4 groups (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that higher degree of birth weight discordance was all positively associated with the rate of ELBW, SGA, and transferring to the department of neonatology in smaller twin, even after adjusting maternal age and gestational hypertension, year of birth, mode of delivery, gender, and gestational age (all P<0.05). Moreover, the Mantel-Haenszel test also indicated that there were significantly low to moderate correlations between ΔBW and the unfavorable outcomes (r=0.22, 0.53, 0.21, all P<0.001, respectively). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve found that adverse birth outcomes would be well predicted by birth weight-discordant when the diagnostic cut-off of ΔBW was 12%-17%, with an acceptable sensitivity (0.53-0.78) and a high specificity (0.72-0.79). Conclusions: Birth weight discordant is not uncommon in live-born twins, and is associated with adverse outcomes including ELBW, SGA, and transferring to the department of neonatology in the small twins. Besides, the risk is linearly related to the increase of ΔBW. In the future, more researches are needed to explore the underline mechanism and long-term impact of birth weight discordance, to guide the prevention and management.

[A preliminary exploration into the efficacy of personalized surgical schemes in the repair of maxillary sinus perforation and maxillary sinus fistula].

To explore the efficacy and value of personalized surgical schemes in the repair of maxillary sinus perforation and maxillary sinus fistula based on the size of the maxillary sinus perforation and maxillary sinus fistula. A total of 28 patients with maxillary sinus perforation and maxillary sinus fistula who were admitted to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatology Hospital of Kunming Medical University from July 2017 to May 2020 were included to conduct a prospective case clinical study. After the inflammation in the maxillary sinus was controlled, a proper surgical repair method was selected according to the size of the perforation and fistula based on the double-layer closure technique. The diameter of the perforation and fistula was measured with the assistance of cone-beam CT. After that, the platelet rich fibrin (PRF) repair was performed on the perforation and fistula with 3 mm≤diameter<7 mm in size in 14 patients. The PRF repair and buccal flap repair were performed on the perforation and fistula with 7 mm ≤diameter<15 mm in size in 7 patients. The adjacent buccal pad repair, palatine flap repair, and buccal flap repair were performed on the perforation and fistula with 15 mm≤ diameter<25 mm in size in 4 patients. The nasolabial axial flap repair and nasolabial free flap repair were performed on the perforation and fistula with a diameter ≥25 mm in size in 3 patients. The medical follow-up was conducted in all patients in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th week after surgery, with an overall success rate reaching 96.4% (27/28) after the initial intervention. The relapse of disease occurred in one patient (4.6%) with diabetes and a smoking history in the 2nd week after surgery. Identifying a proper surgical repair method according to the size of the oral and maxillary sinus perforation and maxillary sinus fistula based on the double-layer closure technique can improve the one-time cure rate in these patients under the premise that the inflammation in the maxillary sinus can be controlled.

[A prospective randomized controlled study on the curative effects of enteral immunonutrition support therapy in adult burn patients at nutritional risk].

Objective: To explore the effects of enteral immunonutrition support therapy on nutritional metabolism, immune function, and inflammatory response in adult burn patients at nutritional risk as assessed by the modified 2nd nutrition risk screening (NRS) 2002. Methods: A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted. From December 2019 to January 2022, 500 adult patients who were admitted to the Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University and had nutritional risk assessed by the modified 2nd NRS 2002 were recruited into the study. According to burn severity, the patients were divided into common burn patients (n=450) and severe burn patients (n=50). According to the random number table, the patients with common burn were divided into common burn diet nutrition group and common burn diet enteral immunonutrition group, with 225 patients in each group, and the patients with severe burn were divided into severe burn diet enteral non-immunonutrition group and severe burn diet enteral immunonutrition group, with 25 patients in each group. The patients in each group were given the corresponding nutritional support therapies on the basis of routine burn treatment. On post injury day (PID) 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21, the total energy intake and total protein intake of the patients in 4 groups were recorded, the plasma prealbumin, albumin, transferrin, serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, IgM, peripheral blood CD3 positive T cell percentage, CD4 positive T cell count, CD8 positive T cell count, the ratio of CD4 positive T cells to CD8 positive T cells, natural killer cell percentage, plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), free mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) of the patients in 4 groups were detected, and the nitrogen balance of the patients in 4 groups on the day was calculated. On PID 7, 14, and 21, the modified 2nd NRS 2002 scores of the patients in 4 groups were reassessed. The sepsis incidence during treatment and the length of hospital stay of the patients in 4 groups and the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay of the patients in the 2 severe burn groups were recorded. Data were statistically analyzed with chi-square test, Fisher's exact probability test, Mann-Whitney U test, independent sample t test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, and Bonferroni correction. Results: A total of 476 patients completed the trial, with 213 patients in common burn diet nutrition group (112 males and 101 females, aged (37±19) years), 218 patients in common burn diet enteral immunonutrition group (115 males and 103 females, aged (42±16) years), 22 patients in severe burn diet enteral non-immunonutrition group (11 males and 11 females, aged (35±8) years), and 23 patients in severe burn diet enteral immunonutrition group (12 males and 11 females, aged (35±8) years). Compared with those in common burn diet nutrition group, the patients in common burn diet enteral immunonutrition group had significantly higher total energy intake on PID 1 (t=6.06, P<0.01), significantly lower total energy intake on PID 7 and significantly lower total protein intake on PID 1 (with t values of 6.17 and 4.59, respectively,P<0.01). On PID 21, the total energy intake of patients in severe burn diet enteral immunonutrition group was significantly lower than that in severe burn diet enteral non-immunonutrition group (t=2.70, P<0.01). The total protein intake of patients in severe burn diet enteral immunonutrition group and severe burn diet enteral non-immunonutrition group were similar at each time point post injury (P>0.05). Compared with those in common burn diet nutrition group, the patients in common burn diet enteral immunonutrition group had significantly higher level of prealbumin on PID 3, 7, 14, and 21 (with t values of 2.05, 2.33, 2.45, and 2.11, respectively, P<0.05), significantly higher level of albumin on PID 7, 14, and 21 (with t values of 2.30, 2.56, and 2.15, respectively, P<0.05), significantly higher level of transferrin on PID 7 and 14 (with t values of 1.99 and 2.27, respectively, P<0.05), significantly higher nitrogen balance on PID 14 and 21 (with t values of 2.51 and 2.07, respectively, P<0.05), and significantly lower modified 2nd NRS 2002 score on PID 21 (t=1.99, P<0.05). Compared with those in severe burn diet enteral non-immunonutrition group, the patients in severe burn diet enteral immunonutrition group had significantly higher level of prealbumin on PID 3, 7, 14, and 21 (with t values of 2.50, 2.64, 2.18, and 2.39, respectively, P<0.05), significantly higher level of albumin​on PID 7, 14, and 21 (with t values of 2.27, 2.39, and 2.69, respectively, P<0.05), significantly higher level of transferrin and nitrogen balance but significantly lower modified 2nd NRS 2002 score on PID 14 and 21 (with t values of 2.30, 2.35, 2.41, 2.16, 2.31, and 2.73, respectively, P<0.05). Compared with those in common burn diet nutrition group, patients in common burn diet enteral immunonutrition group had significantly higher level of IgA and IgG on PID 7, 14, and 21 (with t values of 2.19, 2.36, 2.17, 2.49, 1.97, and 2.24, respectively, P<0.05), significantly higher level of IgM on PID 21 (t=2.06, P<0.05), significantly higher percentage of CD3 positive T cells and ratio of CD4 positive T cells to CD8 positive T cells on PID 3, 7, 14, and 21 (with t values of 2.49, 2.25, 2.33, 2.41, 2.39, 2.24, 2.46, and 2.18, respectively, P<0.05), significantly higher CD4 positive T cell count (with t values of 2.15 and 2.27, respectively, P<0.05) but significantly lower CD8 positive T cell count on PID 14 and 21 (with t values of 2.58 and 2.35, P<0.05), and significantly higher percentage of natural killer cells on PID 7, 14, and 21 (with t values of 2.53, 2.21, and 2.36, respectively, P<0.05). Compared with those in severe burn diet enteral non-immunonutrition group, patients in severe burn diet immunonutrition group had significantly higher level of IgA on PID 7 and 14 (with t values of 2.15 and 2.03, respectively, P<0.05), significantly higher level of IgG on PID 7, 14, and 21 (with t values of 2.09, 2.56, and 2.15, respectively, P<0.05), significantly higher level of IgM on PID 21 (t=2.08, P<0.05), significantly higher percentage of CD3 positive T cells, CD4 positive T cell count, and percentage of natural killer cells on PID 14 and 21 (with t values of 2.52, 2.14, 2.14, 2.39, 2.56, and 2.19, respectively, P<0.05), significantly lower CD8 positive T cell count but significantly higher ratio of CD4 positive T cells to CD8 positive T cells on PID 7, 14, and 21 (with t values of 2.27, 2.81, 2.01, 2.11, 2.69, and 2.05, respectively, P<0.05). Compared with those in common burn diet nutrition group, patients in common burn diet enteral immunonutrition group had significantly lower level of IL-6 (with t values of 2.34 and 2.32, respectively, P<0.05) and significantly lower free mtDNA copy number on PID 14 and 21 (with Z values of -2.28 and -2.34,respectively, P<0.05), significantly lower level of sTREM-1 on PID 7, 14, and 21 (with t values of 2.02, 2.94, and 3.72, respectively, P<0.05). Compared with those in severe burn diet enteral non-immunonutrition group, patients in severe burn diet enteral immunonutrition group had significantly lower level of IL-6 and sTREM-1 on PID 7, 14, and 21 (with t values of 2.15, 2.29, 2.47, 2.43, 2.07, and 2.32, respectively, P<0.05), and significantly lower free mtDNA copy number on PID 14 and 21 (with Z values of -2.49 and -2.21, respectively, P<0.05). During treatment, the sepsis incidences of patients in 2 common burn groups were similar (P>0.05), the sepsis incidences of patients in 2 severe burn groups were similar (P>0.05). The length of ICU stay of patients in severe burn diet enteral immunonutrition group was (11±3) d, which was significantly shorter than (14±3) d in severe burn diet enteral non-immunonutrition group (t=3.12, P<0.01). The length of hospital stay of patients in common burn diet enteral immunonutrition group was significantly shorter than that in common burn diet nutrition group (t=3.11, P<0.01). The length of hospital stay of patients in severe burn diet enteral non-immunonutrition group was similar to that in severe burn diet enteral immunonutrition group (P>0.05). Conclusions: Enteral immunonutrition support therapy for adult burn patients at nutritional risk assessed by the modified 2nd NRS 2002 can better improve the nutritional status and the immune function of patients, reduce inflammatory response of the body, and shorten the length of hospital stay in common burn patients and the length of ICU stay in severe burn patients.

[Epidemiological characteristics of Yersinia enterocolitica in patients with diarrhea from 2013 to 2019 in Pudong New Area, Shanghai].

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Yersinia enterocolitica in patients with diarrhea in Pudong New Area, Shanghai. Methods: Active surveillance of diarrhea was conducted in 14 sentinel hospitals (three tertiary-level hospitals, nine secondary-level hospitals, and two primary-level hospitals) from January 2013 to December 2019 in Pudong New Area of Shanghai, China base on their location, catchment area, and patient volume. Cold enrichment method was used to isolate Y. enterocolitica and further detection of bioserotype, virulence genes and antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates were conducted. The difference of rates was determined using chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Results: A total of 12 941 diarrhea cases were included, and 0.7% (88/12 941) cases were confirmed with Yersinia enterocolitica infection. 67.0% (59/88) cases were single infection, 33.0% (29/88) cases were mixed infections. Detection rates of Y. enterocolitica increased annually (0.3%-1.2%) and were highest in children<5 years of age (1.1%, 37/3 218) and in spring (1.1%, 32/2 998) (χ2 were 18.64 and 9.76, respectively, P<0.05). 58.0% (51/88) cases had watery diarrhea, 15.9% (14/88) had fever and 14.8% (13/88) had vomiting. The predominant bioserotypes were 3/O:3 (53.4%, 47/88), followed by 1A/O:8 (15.9%, 14/88) and 1A/O:5(6.8%, 6/88), respectively. Bioserotype 3/O:3 counted for the highest proportions (89.2%, 33/37) in children <5 years of age. All the strains of bioserotype 3/O:3 harbored ail, ystA, yadA and virF genes, which encoded pathogenic Y. enterocolitica. 11/14 strain of 1A/O:8 and 4/6 strains of 1A/O:5 harbored ystB gene. Most strains were resistant to ampicillin (80.7%,71/88) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (71.6%,63/88), and 63.8% (56/88) strains were multidrug resistance (MDR). The difference of antimicrobial resistance rates between 3/O:3 and non 3/O:3 was statistically significant in ampicillin, cefoxitin, nalidixic acid, tetracycline and ampicillin/sulbactam (χ2 was 14.68, 43.80, 41.86, 30.54 and 5.07, respectively, P<0.05). Conclusion: The detection rate of Yersinia enterocolitica was higher in children than in adults in Pudong New Area, Shanghai. The predominant bioserotype was pathogenic 3/O:3 with multidrug resistance.

Unidirectional single-mode lasing realization and temperature-induced mode switching in asymmetric GaN coupled cavities.

Effective lasing mode control and unidirectional coupling of semiconductor microlasers are vital to boost their applications in optical interconnects, on-chip communication, and bio-sensors. In this study, symmetric and asymmetric GaN floating microdisks and coupled cavities are designed based on the Vernier effect and then fabricated via electron beam lithography, dry-etching of GaN, and isotropic wet-etching of silicon (Si) support. The lasing properties, including model number, threshold, radiation direction, and mode switching method, are studied. Compared to its symmetrical structure, both experimental and simulated optical field distributions indicate that the lasing outgoing direction can be controlled with a vertebral angle on the disk. The whispering gallery mode (WGM) lasing of the structures, with a quasi-single-mode lasing at 374.36 nm, a dual-mode lasing at 372.36 nm, and 373.64 nm at coupled cavities, are obtained statically. More interestingly, a switching between dual-mode and single-mode can be achieved dynamically via a thermal-induced mode shifting.

[A prospectively randomized controlled study of the effects of intensive insulin therapy combined with glutamine on nutritional metabolism, inflammatory response, and hemodynamics in severe burn patients].

Objective: To observe the effects of intensive insulin therapy combined with glutamine on nutritional metabolism, inflammatory response, and hemodynamics in severe burn patients. Methods: Thirty-two severe burn patients who met the inclusion criteria and hospitalized in the Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from June 2017 to January 2019 were recruited into a prospectively randomized controlled study. According to the random number table, the patients were divided into conventional insulin therapy alone group, conventional insulin therapy+glutamine group, intensive insulin therapy alone group, and intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group, with 8 patients in each group, with genders of 5 males and 3 females, 4 males and 4 females, 3 males and 5 females, 4 males and 4 females, and ages of (35±7), (36±9), (33±11), and (38±7) years, respectively. Patients in conventional insulin therapy alone group were treated with conventional insulin therapy on the basis of routine treatment to control the blood glucose. Patients in conventional insulin therapy+glutamine group were supplemented with alanyl-glutamine for more than 14 days in addition to the treatment in conventional insulin therapy alone group. Patients in intensive insulin therapy alone group were treated with intensive insulin therapy on the basis of routine treatment to control the blood glucose. Patients in intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group were supplemented with alanyl-glutamine in addition to the treatment in intensive insulin therapy alone group. On treatment day (TD) 1, 3, 7, and 14, the blood glucose, albumin, prealbumin, white blood cell count, procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) of patients in the 4 groups were detected. The cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI), global end-diastolic volume index (GEDVI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), and pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) of patients in the 4 groups on TD 1, 3, and 7 were measured. Data were statistically analyzed with Fisher's exact probability test, one-way analysis of variance, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, and Bonferroni method. Results: All patients in the 4 groups successfully completed the study, and there were no withdrawal cases. On TD 3, 7, and 14, the blood glucose of patients in intensive insulin therapy alone group ((5.9±1.3), (5.8±0.6), (5.5±0.5) mmol/L) and intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group ((5.9±1.1), (5.6±1.1), (5.2±0.8) mmol/L) were significantly lower than those in conventional insulin therapy alone group ((9.1±0.5), (8.4±0.9), (7.4±1.1) mmol/L, P<0.05). Compared with those in conventional insulin therapy alone group, the levels of albumin of patients in conventional insulin therapy+glutamine group, intensive insulin therapy alone group, and intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group were significantly increased on TD 7 and 14 (P<0.05). Compared with the level of albumin of patients in intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group, the levels of albumin of patients in conventional insulin therapy+glutamine group and intensive insulin therapy alone group were significantly decreased on TD 14 (P<0.05). Compared with those in conventional insulin therapy alone group, the levels of prealbumin of patients in conventional insulin therapy+glutamine group and intensive insulin therapy alone group were significantly increased on TD 7 and 14 (P<0.05). Compared with those in intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group, the levels of prealbumin of patients in intensive insulin therapy alone group and conventional insulin therapy+glutamine group were significantly decreased on TD 1, 7, and 14 (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the white blood cell count, PCT, and CRP of patients in the 4 groups in pairwise comparison between groups on TD 1, 3, 7, and 14 (P>0.05). On TD 3 and 7, the levels of cardiac index, SVI, GEDVI, and SVRI of patients in intensive insulin therapy+glutamine group were significantly higher than those in conventional insulin therapy alone group (P<0.05), while the levels of EVLWI and PVPI were significantly lower than those in conventional insulin therapy alone group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Glutamine combined with intensive insulin therapy can improve the hypermetabolism in patients after severe burns, reduce the decomposition and consumption of endogenous nutrient substrates, and at the same time help the recovery of cardiac function and maintenance of hemodynamic stability.

Morning Serum Cortisol as a Predictor for the HPA Axis Recovery in Cushing's Disease.

BACKGROUND: The suppressed hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis after successful surgery for Cushing's disease (CD) will recover in almost all patients. We aimed to identify the predictive factors for HPA axis recovery in CD patients with postoperative remission. Design and Methods. This observational retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled 69 CD patients with postoperative remission in Huashan Hospital from 2015 to 2019. All subjects had a detailed clinical evaluation. The low-dose ACTH stimulation test (LDT) was conducted as the gold standard for assessing the HPA axis function. RESULTS: Peak cortisol in LDT was found only to be positively correlative with morning serum cortisol (MSC) (ρ=0.451, p < 0.001). The MSC was higher (p < 0.001), and the median postoperative course was significantly longer (p=0.025) in the patients with the recovered HPA axis function compared with unrecovered patients. The AUC value of MSC for predicting the recovery of the HPA axis was 0.701, and the optimal cutoff was 6.25 µg/dl (sensitivity 85.19% and specificity 47.62%). Other useful cutoff values were 10.74 µg/dl (specificity 100%) and 4.18 µg/dl (sensitivity 100%). Besides, combined with the postoperative course, the AUC values were higher than MSC alone (0.935 vs. 0.701, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MSC is a viable first-step diagnostic predictor for HPA axis recovery in CD patients with postoperative remission. For the patients with cortisol levels between 4.18 and 10.74 µg/dl, a confirmatory test should be conducted. When the MSC level was 10.74 µg/dl or greater, the replacement therapy could be discontinued.

Prognostic value of late gadolinium enhancement in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: a meta-analysis.

AIM: To assess systematically the prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The full text of studies of the clinical efficacy of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in ARVC was retrieved in multiple databases. Stata 14 was adopted for meta-analysis and bias analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic. RESULTS: After exclusions, 561 patients were included in five studies, and the eligibility criteria were met. The meta-analysis suggested that there was a significant difference between LGE positive and negative patients with ARVC in all-cause mortality (relative risk [RR] = 4.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.41, 16.23, p=0.012; p for heterogeneity = 0.692, I2 = 0%); major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (RR=2.48, 95% CI = 1.24, 4.96, p=0.010; p for heterogeneity = 0.596, I2 = 0%); ventricular tachycardia (RR=3.13, 95% CI = 1.69, 5.78, p<0.001; p for heterogeneity = 0.825, I2 = 0%); implanted cardiac defibrillators (RR=3.15, 95% CI = 1.69, 5.87], p<0.001; p for heterogeneity = 0.353, I2 = 9.4%). CONCLUSION: LGE in ARVC patients is a predictor of all-cause mortality and MACE.

[Association of hyperuricemia-induced renal damage with sirtuin 1 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in rats].

Objective: To investigate the association of hyperuricemia-induced renal damage with sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in rats. Methods: Using the random number table method, 32 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, model A group (the model was generated using oxonic acid potassium salt alone), model B group (hyperuricemia model was generated using oxonic acid potassium salt combined with uric acid) and resveratrol group, with 8 rats in each group. The experiment lasted 12 weeks. Serum uric acid and cystatin C levels were monitored regularly. In week 12, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were measured, and the kidneys were extracted. The expression of SIRT1 and eNOS in renal tissues was measured and determined by immunohistochemistry, quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. Immunohistochemistry of alpha-smooth muscle actin combined with Masson staining was employed to evaluate the degree of renal fibrosis, and pathological changes were observed based on hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: In week 12, the uric acid levels in both the model A and model B groups were higher than those in the control group [(316±43) µmol/L, (297±40) µmol/L vs (118±44) µmol/L, both P<0.05]. The levels of cystatin C in the model A, model B, and resveratrol groups were all higher than those in the control group [(156±20) ng/ml, (143±29) ng/ml, (128±26) ng/ml vs (62±18) ng/ml, all P<0.05]. Creatinine levels were higher in the model A and model B groups than those in the control group [(68.5±10.3) µmol/L, (64.5±13.9) µmol/L vs (43.2±10.6) µmol/L, both P<0.05]. The levels of uric acid, cystatin C and creatinine in the resveratrol group were lower than those in the model A group (all P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting for renal SIRT1 and eNOS showed that the expression in the model A and model B groups was inhibited, while the expression in the resveratrol group was not significantly inhibited, compared with that in the control group. Microscopically, obvious abnormalities were not found in the renal tissue of the control group. Renal inflammatory cell aggregation and edema occurred, and interstitial fibrosis was obvious in both the model A and model B groups, while these lesions in the resveratrol group were significantly improved. Conclusions: Hyperuricemia may cause renal injury by inhibiting the expression of SIRT1 and eNOS.

FBW7 regulates HIF-1α/VEGF pathway in the IL-1ß induced chondrocytes degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to observe the effect of F-box/WD repeat-containing protein 7 (FBW7) on hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway in chondrocytes (CHs) under IL-1ß induced degeneration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We explored the levels of FBW7, HIF-1α, and VEGF in degenerated cartilage from osteoarthritis (OA) and chondrocytes (CHs) treated by IL-1ß. Meanwhile, we regulated HIF-1α and FBW7 expression in IL-1ß treated CHs and observed the effects FBW7 of the HIF-1α/VEGF pathway. RESULTS: FBW7 expression was significantly decreased along with the increased HIF-1α and VEGF expression both in OA cartilage and IL-1ß induced degenerated CHs. Additionally, suppression of HIF-1α decreased VEGF level, which contributed to the production of collagen II, aggrecan and SOX-9, and inhibited collagen I and Runx-2 expression. Furthermore, FBW7 suppressed HIF-1α/VEGF pathway and promoted the integration of collagen II, aggrecan, and SOX-9, but inhibited the collagen I and Runx-2 expression. CONCLUSIONS: FBW7 negatively regulates HIF-1α/VEGF pathway and plays a protective role in the IL-1ß induced CHs degeneration.

[Effects of ulinastatin combined with glutamine on early hemodynamics in patients with severe burns].

Objective: To observe the effect of ulinastatin combined with glutamine on early hemodynamics in patients with severe burns. Methods: Thirty-two patients with severe burns who met the inclusion criteria and hospitalized in the Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2016 to December 2018 were selected for conducting a prospective randomized controlled trial. According to the random number table, the patients were divided into conventional treatment group (4 males and 4 females), ulinastatin group (5 males and 3 females), glutamine group (5 males and 3 females), and ulinastatin+ glutamine group (4 males and 4 females), with ages of (36±8), (34±8), (35±9), and (38±13) years in turn. From post injury day 2, patients in the 4 groups were given nutritional support of equal nitrogen and equal calories, of which protein was 2.0 g/kg daily. In addition, patients in the ulinastatin group received intravenous injection of 100 kU ulinastatin every 8 hours for 7 consecutive days; 0.3 g/kg of protein given to patients in the glutamine group was provided by alanine glutamine for 7 consecutive days; patients in the ulinastatin+ glutamine group received corresponding treatments of both ulinastatin group and glutamine group. With the help of pulse contour cardiac output (PiCCO) monitoring technology, the cardiac index, stroke volume index (SVI), global end-diastolic volume index (GEDI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) of patients in each group were measured on treatment day (TD) 1, 3, and 7. Data were processed with Fisher's exact probability method, one-way analysis of variance, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, and Bonferroni method. Results: The cardiac index was low and the SVI value was lower than the normal value on TD 1 in patients of the 4 groups, without statistically significant differences between any two groups (P>0.05), and then they were all gradually increased. On TD 3 and 7, compared with those of the conventional treatment group, the cardiac index and SVI of patients in the other three groups were all increased, and the cardiac index and SVI of patients in the ulinastatin+ glutamine group were significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). On TD 1, the GEDI of patients in the conventional treatment group, ulinastatin group, glutamine group, and ulinastatin+ glutamine group were at normal low levels, which were (659±58), (661±79), (659±88), and (653±71) mL/m(2) respectively, without statistically significant differences between any two groups (P>0.05), and then they all gradually increased. On TD 3 and 7, compared with (684±82) and (742±46) mL/m(2) of the conventional treatment group, the GEDI of patients in the ulinastatin group, glutamine group, and ulinastatin+ glutamine group were all elevated, which were (732±53) and (777±33), (725±58) and (783±49), (813±65) and (849±27) mL/m(2) respectively, and the GEDI of patients in the ulinastatin+ glutamine group was significantly increased (P<0.05). The SVRI of patients in the four groups were all at high levels on TD 1, without statistically significant differences between any two groups (P>0.05), and then they all gradually decreased. On TD 3 and 7, compared with those of the conventional treatment group, the SVRI of patients in the other three groups were all increased, and the SVRI in the ulinastatin+ glutamine group was significantly increased (P<0.05). On TD 1, the EVLWI of patients in the conventional treatment group, ulinastatin group, glutamine group, and ulinastatin+ glutamine group were all in the normal range, which were (6.6±0.6), (6.3±0.4), (6.5±0.4), and (6.6±0.6) mL/kg respectively, without statistically significant differences between any two groups (P>0.05), and then they all showed the increasing trend. On TD 3 and 7, compared with (7.1±0.9) and (7.9±0.5) mL/kg of the conventional treatment group, the EVLWI of patients in the ulinastatin group, glutamine group, and ulinastatin+ glutamine group were all decreased, which were (6.2±0.6) and (7.1±0.4), (6.3±1.0) and (7.2±0.9), (5.8±0.7) and (6.7±0.6) mL/kg respectively, and the EVLWI of patients in the ulinastatin+ glutamine group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). On TD 1, the PVPI of patients in the four groups were all in the normal range, without statistically significant differences between any two groups (P>0.05), and then they all gradually decreased. On TD 3 and 7, compared with those of the conventional treatment group, the PVPI of patients in the other three groups were all decreased, and the PVPI in the ulinastatin+ glutamine group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusions: Ulinastatin combined with glutamine can increase the cardiac index, SVI, GEDI, and SVRI and reduce the EVLWI and PVPI in treating patients with severe burns, thereby increasing early cardiac output after injury, promoting tissue and organ perfusion, and reducing pulmonary edema, resulting in significant improvement in early hemodynamics of patients with severe burns.

[Study on calculating the curative care expenditure of injury in Gansu Province based on "A System of Health Accounts 2011"].

Objective: To study the distribution and related factors of curative care expenditure (CCE) of injury in Gansu Province in 2017. Methods: Based on the "A System of Health Accounts 2011 (SHA 2011)", the curative care expenditure of injury in Gansu Province was calculated and analyzed. The five-stage stratified cluster sampling method was adopted to extract 149 medical and health institutions, 120 township hospitals (including community health service centers), 150 individual clinics and 600 village clinics (including community health service stations). The top-down allocation method was used to calculate the cost of injury treatment in Gansu Province, and the influencing factors were analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results: In 2017, the CCE of injury in Gansu province was 3.831 billion yuan, and the expense in general hospitals was 2.708 billion yuan. Among them, the cost of lower limb injury and head injury were 1.090 and 0.847 billion yuan. People aged 40 to 69 years old spent 1.901 billion yuan on injury treatment, and the CCE of injury treatment for men and women were 2.422 and 1.409 billion yuan respectively. The results of multiple linear regression showed that hospitalization expenditure was significantly associated with length of stay, operation, hospital grade, age, payment method and gender (P<0.001). Conclusion: The economic burden of injury in Gansu Province is relatively heavy, so it is necessary to focus on preventions for different groups and costly injury sites.

[Study on the effect of in vitro cultured calculus bovis in perioperative period after H-UPPP operation].

Objective:TThe aim of this study is to investigate the effect of in vitro cultured Calculus Bovis on the inflammation of oropharynx and body in patients with OSA during the perioperative period of H-UPPP.Method:Eighty patients with OSA and H-UPPP indications were enrolled. The patients were divided into experimental group and control group by random number table, 40 cases in each group. The experimental group was given in vitro cultured Calculus Bovis, while the control group was not given bovine bezoar in vitro. The postoperative oropharyngeal pain, time to resume normal diet, local edema, concentration of IL-1ß, IL-8 and TNF-α in saliva, and concentration of IL-1ß, IL-8 and TNF-α in blood were compared between the two groups. Result:The pain of oropharynx in the experimental group was lighter than that in the control group on the 3rd, 5th and 7th day after operation (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the pain of oropharynx between the two groups on the 1st day after operation(P>0.05); the time of restoring normal diet in the experimental group was shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05); the edema of oropharynx in the experimental group was lighter than that in the control group on the 5th and 7th day after operation (P<0.05).The levels of IL-1ß, IL-8 and TNF-α in saliva were lower than those in control group on the 3rd, 5th and 7th day after operation (P<0.05), and the levels of IL-1ß, IL-8 and TNF-α in blood on the 5th and 7th day after operation were lower than those in control group (P<0.05).Conclusion:In vitro perioperative period of H-UPPP can improve the postoperative sore throat and local edema of oropharynx, shorten the time of normal diet and reduce the expression of related inflammatory factors in oropharynx and blood.