Objective To explore the correlation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome types of hypertension with carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2),so as to provide a TCM therapy for early prevention and treatment of hypertension and its complications in clinic.Methods We collected a total of 170 cases of hypertension patients,55 with kidney-essence insufficiency syndrome,50 with ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang syndrome,and 65 with phlegm-damp retention in middle energizer syndrome.IMT was measured by the carotid Doppler ultrasound,and plasma Lp-PLA2 expression was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.And then the differences of IMT and Lp-PLA2 expression among the three groups were compared and analyzed.Results There were significant differences of carotid artery IMT and Lp-PLA2 among the three groups(P＜ 0.01),and the number of patients with carotid atherosclerosis and the expression level of Lp-PLA2 in the group of phlegm-damp retention in middle energizer syndrome were higher than those intheothertwogroups(P＜0.01).Conclusion Differentiation treatment based on phlegm may be more conducive to the prevention and treatment of hypertension and its complications.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of Clostridioides difficile infection(CDI)in patients hospitalized for diarrhea and analyze the risk factors for CDI.Methods Stool samples were collected from 306 patients with diarrhea hospitalized in 3 university hospitals in a mid-south city of China from October to December,2020.C.difficile was isolated by anaerobic culture,and qRT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of toxin A(tcdA)and B(tcdB)genes and the binary toxin genes(cdtA and cdtB).Multilocus sequence typing(MLST)was performed for the isolated strains without contaminating strains as confirmed by 16S rDNA sequencing.Etest strips were used to determine the drug resistance profiles of the isolated strains,and the risk factors of CDI in the patients were analyzed.Results CDI was detected in 25(8.17%)out of the 306 patients.All the patients tested positive for tcdA and tcdB but negative for the binary toxin genes.Seven noncontaminated C.difficile strains with 5 ST types were isolated,including 3 ST54 strains and one strain of ST129,ST98,ST53,and ST631 types each,all belonging to clade 1 and sensitive to metronidazole and vancomycin.Hospitalization within the past 6 months(OR=3.675;95%CI:1.405-9.612),use of PPIs(OR=7.107;95%CI:2.575-19.613),antibiotics for≥1 week(OR=7.306;95%CI:2.274-23.472),non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(OR=4.754;95%CI:1.504-15.031)in the past month,and gastrointestinal disorders(OR=5.050;95%CI:1.826-13.968)were all risk factors for CDI in the patients hospitalized for diarrhea.Conclusion The CDI rate remains low in the hospitalized patients with diarrhea in the investigated hospitals,but early precaution measures are recommended when exposure to the risk factors is reported to reduce the risk of CDI in the hospitalized patients.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of Clostridioides difficile infection(CDI)in patients hospitalized for diarrhea and analyze the risk factors for CDI.Methods Stool samples were collected from 306 patients with diarrhea hospitalized in 3 university hospitals in a mid-south city of China from October to December,2020.C.difficile was isolated by anaerobic culture,and qRT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of toxin A(tcdA)and B(tcdB)genes and the binary toxin genes(cdtA and cdtB).Multilocus sequence typing(MLST)was performed for the isolated strains without contaminating strains as confirmed by 16S rDNA sequencing.Etest strips were used to determine the drug resistance profiles of the isolated strains,and the risk factors of CDI in the patients were analyzed.Results CDI was detected in 25(8.17%)out of the 306 patients.All the patients tested positive for tcdA and tcdB but negative for the binary toxin genes.Seven noncontaminated C.difficile strains with 5 ST types were isolated,including 3 ST54 strains and one strain of ST129,ST98,ST53,and ST631 types each,all belonging to clade 1 and sensitive to metronidazole and vancomycin.Hospitalization within the past 6 months(OR=3.675;95%CI:1.405-9.612),use of PPIs(OR=7.107;95%CI:2.575-19.613),antibiotics for≥1 week(OR=7.306;95%CI:2.274-23.472),non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(OR=4.754;95%CI:1.504-15.031)in the past month,and gastrointestinal disorders(OR=5.050;95%CI:1.826-13.968)were all risk factors for CDI in the patients hospitalized for diarrhea.Conclusion The CDI rate remains low in the hospitalized patients with diarrhea in the investigated hospitals,but early precaution measures are recommended when exposure to the risk factors is reported to reduce the risk of CDI in the hospitalized patients.

Patients with patulous Eustachian tubes(PET) usually suffer from annoying symptoms, such as tinnitus, autophony and aural fullness, due to the excessive opening of the Eustachian tube. There is no uniform standard of treatment, and conservative therapy combined with"Stepup"surgical intervention strategy is the main treatment. In this article, we reviewed various surgical treatments of patulous Eustachian tube in recent years, including key points of surgical operation, effectiveness, safety and complications. Full communication and evaluation are needed to establish appropriate patients' expectations preoperatively. A "Stepup" treatment strategy will be carried out, including conservative treatment, tympanic membrane surgery, Eustachian tube pharyngeal orifice constriction surgery, Eustachian tube tympanic orifice plug surgery and Eustachian tube muscle surgery, which aims to maintain normal Eustachian tube function and good middle ear ventilation.
Humans ; Eustachian Tube/surgery* ; Ear Diseases/diagnosis* ; Ear, Middle ; Tympanic Membrane/surgery* ; Tinnitus ; Otitis Media

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of remote consultation of heart sound acquisition in screening and referral of neonates with congenital heart diseases （CHD） in primary hospitals. MethodsA total of 4 030 neonates with non-critical diseases were selected. They were born in Shanghai Pudong New Area Maternal and Child Health Hospital from November 5， 2019 to March 31， 2021. After birth， routine cardiac auscultation was performed and remote consultation of heart sound collection were performed at the same time in combination with percutaneous oxygen saturation measurement to screen CHD. The children with any positive screening index were advised to verify the diagnosis by cardiac ultrasound examination in Shanghai Children's Medical Center. The diagnostic value of different screening methods was compared. ResultsA total of 110 cases were detected positive by routine screening. Among them， 16 cases were lost to follow-up， and 46 cases were confirmed by cardiac ultrasound examination， with a positive diagnosis rate of 48.94% （46/94）. A total of 51 cases were detected positive by routine screening and remote consultation of heart sound collection simultaneously. Among them， 42 cases were confirmed by cardiac ultrasound examination， with a positive diagnosis rate of 82.35% （42/51）. The difference between the two positive diagnosis rates was statistically significant （P<0.001）. ConclusionRemote consultation of heart sound acquisition on the basis of routine neonatal CHD screening can effectively improve the positive diagnosis rate of CHD screening in primary hospitals， and reduce unnecessary referrals. This method is simple and feasible. It has practical value in primary hospitals that lack professional technicians for the diagnosis and treatment of CHD.