Objective To investigate the effects of levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), B-natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cholinesterase (ChE) on prognosis of elderly patients with pulmonary infection.Methods Sixty cases aged ≥ 65 years old with lung infection admitted to Departments of Infectious Diseases and Respiration of Hebei Provincial People's Hospital from March 2012 to March 2014 were enrolled. According to the diagnostic criteria of pulmonary infection and the severity score (PSI) of pneumonia, the patients were classified into three groups with different grades of infectious severity (PSI Ⅰ-Ⅲ, PSI Ⅳ, PSI Ⅴ groups), 20 cases in each group; in the same period, 20 elderly healthy people having accepted the physical examination in this hospital were designed as the healthy control group. Furthermore, according to the difference in prognosis, the patients were divided into a survival group (52 cases) and a death group (8 cases). The PSI scores, the levels of white blood cell count (WBC), D-Dimer, CRP, BNP and ChE, mortalities, times of stay in hospital were compared between the PSI Ⅰ-Ⅲ, PSI Ⅳ, PSI Ⅴ groups and the healthy control group as well as between the survival and death groups.Results The periods of stay in hospital of patients with PSI Ⅳ and Ⅴ were much longer than that patients with PSI Ⅰ-Ⅲ (days: 14.7±2.1, 18.3±2.6 vs. 9.2±1.7, both P < 0.05), the degree of increase in time in the PSI Ⅴ group being the most significant. Before treatment, compared with the healthy control group, the PSI score, the levels of WBC, D-dimer, CRP and BNP were significantly increased, the level of ChE was markedly decreased in patients with PSI Ⅱ-Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ groups, and along with the rise of PSI score the changes were more remarkable [PSI score: 78.9±13.7, 117.4±20.2, 152.1±34.8 vs. 51.3±7.9; WBC (×109/L): 11.4±1.4, 13.6±1.9, 16.7±2.2 vs. 8.9±1.1; D-Dimer (μg/L): 779.6±46.1, 1 068.2±142.6, 1 846.2±215.0 vs.348.3±31.8; CRP (mg/L): 30.1±3.7, 58.2±6.7, 74.7±9.2 vs. 6.8±0.9; BNP (ng/L): 1 057.4±205.1, 1 976.7±333.7, 2 437.7±468.9 vs. 115.8±21.7; ChE (U/L): 6 260±826, 3 390±437, 1 861±268 vs. 7 804±904, allP < 0.05]. The mortalities of groups PSI Ⅳ and PSI Ⅴwere more than that in group PSI Ⅱ - Ⅲ [10.0% (2/20), 30.0% (6/20) vs. 0]; there was no statistically significant difference in age between the survival group and death group (P > 0.05). Compared with the survival group, the PSI score, the levels of WBC, D-dimer, CRP and BNP after treatment in death group were markedly higher [PSI score: 141.5±23.3 vs. 97.6±18.2; WBC (×109/L): 15.9±1.9 vs. 12.1±1.8; D-Dimer (μg/L): 1 373.9±179.4 vs. 627.4±69.6; CRP (mg/L): 69.8±9.8 vs. 42.6±7.3; BNP (ng/L): 2 745.6±374.9 vs. 1 022.2±171.3; allP < 0.05], the level of ChE was significantly lower (U/L: 2 569±309 vs. 5 692±777,P < 0.05).Conclusion The serum levels of CRP, BNP and ChE in aged patients with pulmonary infection are helpful to the early diagnosis of disease severity, so as they have guiding significance in predicting prognosis.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between preoperative parametres and positive surgical margin after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.Method:From October 2014 to January 2019, the clinical data of 310 patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy(RARP) by single surgeon were collected retrospectively. The median age, PSA, f/t PSA and PSAD was 68(62-72)years, 26(13-63) ng/ ml, 0.12 (0.07-0.18) and 0.36(0.20-0.75) ng/ml 2, respectively. There were 115 cases with clinical T 1, 100 with clinical T 2, 41 with clinical T 3, and 15 with clinical T 4. Based on the MRI or ultrasound examination, the median value for the transverse diameter, anteroposterior diameter, vertical diameter, and volume of the prostate is 44(35-50)mm, 45(40-51)mm, 41(36-50)mm, and 76(54-118)ml, respectively. In this study, 84(27%)cases were diagnosed pathologically by transurethral resection of the prostate, and 226(73%)cases by prostate biopsy. The biopsy technique was transrectal ultrasound-guided systematic 12-point biopsy, and additional 1-5 needles were performed in regions with abnormal ultrasound echoes. The median for total number of puncture needles, number and percentages of positive needles were 12(12-13), 9(4-12)and 85%(35%-100%), respectively. Of all the patients, there were 61 cases with Gleason score≤6, 95 with Gleason score=7 and 84 with Gleason score≥8. There were 237(76%)patients undergoing neoadjuvant endocrine therapy. The patients were divided into the negative surgical margin group and positive surgical margin group. The correlation between positive surgical margin and general clinical data, PSA derivates, prostate size (transversal diameter, anteroposterior diameter, vertical diameter, and prostate volume), percentage of positive biopsy cores, Gleason score, method of pathological diagnosis, and endocrine therapy were analyzed. Results:Of all the 310 enrolled patients, the overall positive surgical margin rate was 34.2%(106/310). Univariate analysis showed that tPSA(41.3 ng/ml vs.24.8ng/ml, P=0.029), f/tPSA(0.14 vs.0.10, P=0.004), transversal diameter of prostate(46 mm vs.38mm, P=0.049), percentage of positive biopsy cores(100% vs.58%, P=0.001), and biopsy Gleason score(Gleason score≤6, =7 and ≥8: 14, 31 and 32 cases vs. 47, 64 and 42 cases, P<0.05)exhibited significant correlation with postoperative positive surgical margin. Multivariate analysis showed that transversal diameter of prostate( P=0.026) and percentage of positive biopsy cores( P=0.048) were independent risk factors for positive surgical margin. Conclusions:Transversal diameter of prostate and percentage of positive biopsy cores were independent risk factors, which help to predict the occurrence of postoperative positive surgical margin.

Objective To investigate the expression of ki-67 and the development of the intimal hyperplasia(IH) of the irradiated human umbilical artery incorperated with nofloxacin and silver(IHUAINS) grafts into the carotid arteries of the rabbit. Methods Twenty IHUAINSs were sterilely produced. Thirty rabbit were performed bilateral carotid bypass grafting. The IHUAINS(experimental group)and the left carotid arteries (control group) were implanted in the left and right carotid arteries respectively. Graft patency was checked at the 2nd and 6th week after implantation, and the grafts were studied with standard histological techniques and immunohistochemieal method for meas-urement of intimal thickness and the expression of ki-67. Results The total patency rate of the grafts was 89.6%. Light microscopic exami-nation of the grafts revealed intimal and media proliferation, cellular in-filtration. The endothelial cells covered the vascular lumen. There was no significant difference of the intimal thickness between two groups at the 2nd week after grafting (P>0.05). The intimal thickness of the experimental group was larger than that in control group at the 6th week after implantation without statistical significance (P>0.05). At the same time, immunocytochemical analysis showed that the expression of ki-67 in the experimental group was stronger than that in control group without statistical significance(P>0.05). Conclusion The IH of the IHUAINS was larger than that of the autologous artery, but there is no difference between these two groups. Thus, IHUAINS may be an ideal graft in the field of coronary surgery.

ObjectiveTo improve the long term outcomes of the surgery for Stafford type A aorticdissection, we performed ascending aorta and total aortic arch replacement combined with transaorticstented graft implantation into the descending aorta for acute type A aortic dissection.MethodsFrom May 2005 to February 2011,36 consecutive patients with acute Stanford type A aorticdissection underwent this procedure.Right axillary artery cannulation was routinely used forcardiopulmonary bypass and selected cerebral perfusion.The stented elephant trunk was implanted through the aortic arch under hypothermic circulatory arrest.The stented elephant trunk was a 10 cm long selfexpandable graft.34 patients were followed up for 2 ～36 months.ResultsCardiopulmonary bypass time was (160 ± 31)min, average cross clamp time was (101 ±26)min, and average selective cerebral perfusion and lower body arrest time was (31 ± 16)min.The in-hospital mortality was 5.5％ (2/36).One patient died of multi-organ failure postoperatively and another died of cerebral infarction 9 day after surgery.No one suffered from spinal cord injury perioperatively.There was no late death during follow up.ConclusionsAscendingaorta and total aortic arch replacement combined with transaortic stented graft implantation into the descending aorta is an effective way in closing the residual false lumen of the descending aorta and might contribute to better long term outcomes of type A aortic dissection.

Objective To evaluate the relationship of prostate specific antigen(PSA)related variables and MRI+MRS examination with the results of prostate biopsy.Methods A total of 1227 patients aged(66.1± 7.7) years (range,55-90 years) undergoing prostate biopsy in our hospital from May 2014 to September 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.Two hundred forty-two patients with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA)in "the grey zone (total PSA =4-10 μg/L)",and having indications for prostate biopsy were selected.According to the results of transrectal ultrasound-guided prostatic biopsy,patients were divided into the prostate cancer group and the benign prostate hyperplasia group.The levels of total PSA (tPSA),free PSA/tPSA ratios (f/t PSA),prostate specific antigen density(PSAD),(f/t) PSA/PSAD,prostate volume (PV) and other relevant data,as well as MRI+MRS test findings were statistically analyzed.Results The positive cancer rate of prostate biopsy was 26.0％ (63/242)in patients with total PSA in "the grey zone",including 56 cases of adenocarcinoma,3 cases of mucinous adenocarcinoma,and 4 cases of stromal sarcoma.Negative prostate biopsy results were found in 179 cases.Two hundred sixteen patients underwent MRI+MRS test before prostate biopsy,among which 81 were positive and 135 were negative.There were significant differences in PSAD,(f/t) PSA/PSAD,PV and MRI + MRS test findings (P =0.001,0.002,0.045 and 0.001)and there was no significant difference in tPSA and free/total PSA ratios(P＞0.05)between the prostate cancer group and the benign prostate hyperplasia group.Conclusions The positive cancer rate of prostate biopsy in patients with total PSA in the gray zone is 26.0％.The PSAD,(f/t)PSA/PSAD,prostate volume and MRI+ MRS examination are very useful for whether or not to perform the prostate biopsy,which can be used to guide the prostate biopsy in patients with total PSA in the "gray zone".

Objective To explore the effects of assessment system based on key points in clinical skills training among nursing interns.Methods Nursing interns of the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University were selected as study subjects from January to December 2016 by the method of convenience sampling. They were divided into experimental group (n=50, practice started from January 2016) and control group (n=50, practice started from June 2016) according to the order of internship. Students in control group adopted the conventional skill training and assessment, while students in experimental group received the assessment system based on key points. Critical thinking skills of nursing interns of both groups were compared with the critical thinking disposition inventory (CTDI).Results After training, the total score of CTDI of students (299.82±26.95) in experimental group was higher than that (283.41±24.24) in control group with a significant difference (t=3.201,P=0.002). The scores of 7 dimensions in CTDI were (41.18±4.12), (40.27±3.16), (46.10±2.00), (40.11±5.31), (42.97±5.05), (43.96±3.88), (45.23±3.08) significantly higher than those in control group[(39.62±3.09), (38.62±4.15), (42.04±2.95), (37.92±3.65), (39.50±3.57), (41.82±5.17), (43.51±2.64)] (t=2.142, 2.237, 8.074, 2.402, 3.967, 2.341, 2.981;P<0.05).Conclusions The assessment system based on key points can effectively improve the critical thinking skills of nursing interns. It is worth to be used widely.

Objective: To compare the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD) versus microdiscectomy (MD). Methods: The data of 154 patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) who underwent TELD (n = 89) or MD (n = 65) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients’ clinical outcomes were evaluated using visual analogue scales for leg and low back pain, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The evolution of radiographic manifestations was observed during follow-up. Potential risk factors for a poor clinical outcome were investigated. Results: During a mean follow-up of 5.5 years (range, 5–7 years), the recurrence rate was 4.49% in the TELD group and 1.54% in the MD group. All scores significantly improved from preoperatively to postoperatively in both groups (p < 0.01). The improvement in the ODI and JOA scores was significantly greater in the TELD than MD group (p < 0.05). Forty-seven patients (52.8%) in the TELD group and 32 (49.2%) in the MD group had Modic changes before surgery, most of which showed no changes at the last follow-up. The degeneration grades of 292 discs (71.0%) were unchanged at the last follow-up, while 86 (20.9%) showed improvement, mostly at the upper adjacent segment. No significant difference was observed in the intervertebral height index or paraspinal muscle-disc ratio. Conclusion Both TELD and MD provide generally satisfactory long-term clinical outcomes for patients with LDH. TELD can be used as a reliable alternative to MD with less surgical trauma. Modic type II changes, decreased preoperative intervertebral height, and a high body mass index are predictors of a poor prognosis.

Objective: To compare the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD) versus microdiscectomy (MD). Methods: The data of 154 patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) who underwent TELD (n = 89) or MD (n = 65) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients’ clinical outcomes were evaluated using visual analogue scales for leg and low back pain, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The evolution of radiographic manifestations was observed during follow-up. Potential risk factors for a poor clinical outcome were investigated. Results: During a mean follow-up of 5.5 years (range, 5–7 years), the recurrence rate was 4.49% in the TELD group and 1.54% in the MD group. All scores significantly improved from preoperatively to postoperatively in both groups (p < 0.01). The improvement in the ODI and JOA scores was significantly greater in the TELD than MD group (p < 0.05). Forty-seven patients (52.8%) in the TELD group and 32 (49.2%) in the MD group had Modic changes before surgery, most of which showed no changes at the last follow-up. The degeneration grades of 292 discs (71.0%) were unchanged at the last follow-up, while 86 (20.9%) showed improvement, mostly at the upper adjacent segment. No significant difference was observed in the intervertebral height index or paraspinal muscle-disc ratio. Conclusion Both TELD and MD provide generally satisfactory long-term clinical outcomes for patients with LDH. TELD can be used as a reliable alternative to MD with less surgical trauma. Modic type II changes, decreased preoperative intervertebral height, and a high body mass index are predictors of a poor prognosis.

Objective: To compare the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD) versus microdiscectomy (MD). Methods: The data of 154 patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) who underwent TELD (n = 89) or MD (n = 65) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients’ clinical outcomes were evaluated using visual analogue scales for leg and low back pain, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The evolution of radiographic manifestations was observed during follow-up. Potential risk factors for a poor clinical outcome were investigated. Results: During a mean follow-up of 5.5 years (range, 5–7 years), the recurrence rate was 4.49% in the TELD group and 1.54% in the MD group. All scores significantly improved from preoperatively to postoperatively in both groups (p < 0.01). The improvement in the ODI and JOA scores was significantly greater in the TELD than MD group (p < 0.05). Forty-seven patients (52.8%) in the TELD group and 32 (49.2%) in the MD group had Modic changes before surgery, most of which showed no changes at the last follow-up. The degeneration grades of 292 discs (71.0%) were unchanged at the last follow-up, while 86 (20.9%) showed improvement, mostly at the upper adjacent segment. No significant difference was observed in the intervertebral height index or paraspinal muscle-disc ratio. Conclusion Both TELD and MD provide generally satisfactory long-term clinical outcomes for patients with LDH. TELD can be used as a reliable alternative to MD with less surgical trauma. Modic type II changes, decreased preoperative intervertebral height, and a high body mass index are predictors of a poor prognosis.

Objective: To compare the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD) versus microdiscectomy (MD). Methods: The data of 154 patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) who underwent TELD (n = 89) or MD (n = 65) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients’ clinical outcomes were evaluated using visual analogue scales for leg and low back pain, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The evolution of radiographic manifestations was observed during follow-up. Potential risk factors for a poor clinical outcome were investigated. Results: During a mean follow-up of 5.5 years (range, 5–7 years), the recurrence rate was 4.49% in the TELD group and 1.54% in the MD group. All scores significantly improved from preoperatively to postoperatively in both groups (p < 0.01). The improvement in the ODI and JOA scores was significantly greater in the TELD than MD group (p < 0.05). Forty-seven patients (52.8%) in the TELD group and 32 (49.2%) in the MD group had Modic changes before surgery, most of which showed no changes at the last follow-up. The degeneration grades of 292 discs (71.0%) were unchanged at the last follow-up, while 86 (20.9%) showed improvement, mostly at the upper adjacent segment. No significant difference was observed in the intervertebral height index or paraspinal muscle-disc ratio. Conclusion Both TELD and MD provide generally satisfactory long-term clinical outcomes for patients with LDH. TELD can be used as a reliable alternative to MD with less surgical trauma. Modic type II changes, decreased preoperative intervertebral height, and a high body mass index are predictors of a poor prognosis.