1.The use of ultrasonically activated scalpel in modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy
Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2012;06(2):106-108
ObjectiveTo discuss the clinical value of ultrasonically activated scalpel(UAS) in breast cancer patients who underwent 2-3 cycles of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy by comparing UAS and electric knives (EI) in modified radical mastectomy. MethodsFrom Jun.2009 to Aug.2011, 52 breast cancer patients taking 2-3 cycles of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy underwent modified radical mastectomy in our hospital. Among them, UAS group included 23 patients, and EI group included 29 patients.The 2 groups were compared in terms of the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage tube duration, postoperative hospital stay, the number of lymph nodes retrieved, and the volume of subcutaneous hydrops.ResultsBetween the 2 groups, the difference of intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage tube duration had statistical significance(P <0.01 ).The difference of operation time, hospital stay, and subcutaneous hydrops had statistical significance ( P < 0.05 ).The difference of the number of lymph nodes retrieved had no statistical significance ( P > 0.05 ).ConclusionThere are good curative effects for breast cancer patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy by UAS and axillary lymph node dissection after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, which is consistent with the conception of fast track surgery.
2.Investigation on dermatoses affecting officers and soldiers garrisoned southeast China
Guang ZHAO ; Qingqi YANG ; Aihua NA
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2001;0(09):-
Objective To investigate the prevalence of dermatoses affecting officers and soldiers garrisoned southeast China,and to provide enough scientific basis for prevention and treatment of those dermatoses.Methods Epidemiological investigations were carried out on 324 officers and soldiers in both Zhejiang and Fujian military Regions,respectively.In order to get the dermatoses diagnosed correctly and the number of infected men/times calculated accurately,a large scale of clinical examination was performed by 3 senior dermatologists from the authors' hospital.Some medication and management were applied in therapy for those skin disorders.The elementary medical personnel in the troops were trained with a short time-training course to raise their vocational level.Results Tinea manuum and tinea pedis,acne,pigmented nevus,tinea corporis and tinea cruris,seborrheic dermatitis,eczema,pityriasis versicolor and lichen simplex chronicus were the eight common dermatoses affecting officers and soldiers garrisoned southeast China.The prevalence of tinea manuum and tinea pedis was highest one in all the 8 common dermatoses.158 out of 324 soldiers(48.8%)suffered from skin disorder.The prevalence of acne,pigmented nevus,tinea corporis and tinea cruris,seborrheic dermatitis,eczema,pityriasis versicolor and lichen simplex chronicus were 45.4%,19.3%,10.8%,12.3%,10.2%,7.4% and 7.1%,respectively.Conclusions Skin disorder is one of the most common diseases affecting officers and soldiers.There are different occurrences in different garrisoned region.The prevelence of tinea manuum and tinea pedis in Fujian military region is higher than that in Zhejiang military region,and the prevelence of tinea corporis and tinea cruris,eczema in Fujian military region is lower than that in Zhejiang military region.No significant difference was found in the prevalence of the eight common dermatoses between the two parts of soldiers originated separately from north or south regions of China.
3.Effect of heat treatment on the viability of cultured normal human melanocytes
Jianrong NIU ; Qingqi YANG ; Rusong MENG ; Yu CHENG ; Guang ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2011;44(2):114-116
Objective To investigate the effect of heat treatment on the proliferation of, melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in cultured normal human melanocytes. Methods Normal human foreskin tissue was obtained by sterile circumcision and melanocytes were harvested by using methods for epidermal cell culture. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was utilized as the primary mitogen to establish the culture system of normal human epidermal melanocytes. Masson-Fontana staining was proformed to identify melanocytes.Third-passage melanocytes were treated with hyperthermia at various temperatures (39 ℃, 41 ℃, 42 ℃, 43 ℃ and 45℃) for 1 hour a day for consecutive 3 days followed by the measurement of cell viability with MTT assay. The hyperthermia at optimized temperature was used to treat fourth-passage melanocytes for 1 hour a day for consecutive 3 days; subsequently, the tyrosinase activity were detected with L-Dopa as the substrate, and melanin content was determined in heat-treated and untreated (control) melanocytes. Results The hyperthermia at 42 ℃ exhibited the strongest promotive effect on the proliferation of melanocytes among these 5 hyperthermia conditions. After treatment with hyperthermia at 42 ℃ for 1 hour a day for consecutive 3 days, melanocytes showed an increment in tyrosinase activity by 36.4% and melanin synthesis by 78% compared with the untreated melanocytes (both P<0.05). Conclusions Heat treatment can enhance the proliferation of cultured human melanocytes, promote their melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity.
4.Exercise Preconditioning Improving the Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy in Pressure Over-loaded Rats
Tongyi XU ; Qingqi HAN ; Ben ZHANG ; Dejun GONG ; Yang YUAN ; Chengliang CAI ; Yun DING ; Liangjian ZOU
Chinese Circulation Journal 2014;(9):728-732
Objective: To explore the effect of exercise preconditioning (EP) on pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure (HF) in pressure over-loaded experimental rats.
Methods:A total of 60 SD rats at the age of 6 weeks were randomly divided into 3 groups, n=20 in each group. Sham-operation group, Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) group and EP + TAC group. The cardiac function and structure were evaluated by echocardiography, patholgical changes and HF biomarkers were examined for EP effect at 4 and 8 weeks after TAC.
Results:Compared with Sham-operation group, the cardiac function and structure had obvious changes in the other 2 groups. Compared with TAC group, the ejection fraction in EP+ TAC group increased 15%, the heart weight index and left ventricular weight index decrease 15.7%and 20%respectively at 8 weeks after TAC, all P<0.05. Compared with Sham-operation group, the mRNA and protein expressions of ANP and BNP increased in TAC group at 4 and 8 weeks after TAC, increased in EP+TAC group at 8 week after TAC. Compared with TAC group, the mRNA expressions of ANP and BNP in EP+TAC group decreased 47%and 62%at 4 weeks after TAC, decreased 44%and 28.1%at 8 weeks after TAC, all P<0.05;the protein expression of ANP and BNP in EP+TAC group decreased 22.3%and 48%at 4 weeks after TAC, decreased 21.5%and 38.3%at 8 weeks after TAC, all P<0.01.
Conclusion: EP may improve cardiac pathological hypertrophy in pressure over-loaded rats at the early stage, and delay the heart failure process.
5.Simultaneous Determination of 9 Components of Bufadienolide in Liushen Pills by HPLC
Ning ZHANG ; Kunming QIN ; Junjie JIN ; Meihui LIU ; Bing YANG ; Qingqi ZENG
China Pharmacy 2017;28(21):3000-3003
OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for simultaneous determination of gamabufotalin,arenobufagin,telocinobufa-gin,desacetylcinobufotalin,bufotalin,cinobufotalin,bufalin,cinobufagin and resibufogenin in Liushen pills. METHODS:HPLC method was adopted. The determination was performed on ODS-2 C18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.15%phosphoric acid(gradient elution)at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 296 nm,and column temper-ature was 40 ℃. The sample size was 10 μL. RESULTS:The linear ranges of gamabufotalin,arenobufagin,telocinobufagin,de-sacetylcinobufotalin, bufotalin, cinobufotalin,bufalin, cinobufagin and resibufogenin were 1.10-70.39 μg/mL(r=0.9996), 4.03-257.78 μg/mL(r=0.9999),4.09-261.89 μg/mL(r=0.9999),0.67-42.96 μg/mL(r=0.9999),3.36-214.73 μg/mL(r=0.9999), 5.73-366.44 μg/mL(r=0.9999),3.77-241.56 μg/mL(r=0.9999),7.31-468.11 μg/mL(r=0.9999),5.18-331.56 μg/mL(r=0.9999). The limits of quantitation were 1.10,0.85,1.02,0.34,0.84,1.43,0.94,3.66,2.59 μg/mL;the limits of detection were 0.27, 0.21,0.51,0.17,0.42,0.72,0.47,0.91,1.30 μg/mL,respectively. RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were all lower than 3.0%. The recoveries were 96.35%-103.10%(RSD=2.72%,n=6), 96.76%-103.24%(RSD=2.49%,n=6), 97.01%-101.39%(RSD=1.64%,n=6),97.32%-104.01%(RSD=2.61%,n=6),95.76%-103.60%(RSD=2.92%,n=6), 95.07%-102.59%(RSD=2.92%,n=6),95.77%-101.43%(RSD=2.03%,n=6),95.11%-103.72%(RSD=3.19%,n=6), 95.23%-103.34%(RSD=3.24%,n=6),respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,rapid,accurate,reliable and can be used for the determination of bufadienolide in Liushen pills .
6.Exercise preconditioning attenuates pressure overload-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy: potential role of HSF1 and NF-κB p65 signaling.
Tongyi XU ; Tao LI ; Fan YANG ; Qingqi HAN ; Liangjian ZOU
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2015;43(10):894-899
OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of exercise preconditioning (EP) on pressure overload-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy and explore related mechanisms.
METHODSTen-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 80) were randomly divided into four groups via random number table method: sham, TAC, EP + sham and EP + TAC. Two EP groups were subjected to 4 weeks of treadmill training, and followed by sham and TAC operations. Eight weeks after the surgery, mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac morphology, mRNA expressions of the B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and protein expression of the BNP, heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1), HSP70, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65, and interleukin-2 (IL-2) were examined.
RESULTS(1) Pathological cardiac hypertrophy index: eight weeks after TAC, MAP, heart size, HW/BW, cross-sectional area of the cardiomyocytes (CSA) and mRNA and protein expressions of BNP in the LV were all significantly higher in the TAC and EP + TAC groups than respective sham groups (all P < 0.05). HW/BW, CSA, and mRNA and protein expressions of BNP in the LV were significantly lower in EP + TAC group than in TAC group (all P < 0.05). (2) mRNA and protein expressions of HSF1 and HSP70 and nuclear HSF1 levels were significantly downregulated post TAC, however, EP treatment significantly increased the expression of HSF1 and nuclear HSF1 levels in TAC rats (all P < 0.05). (3) mRNA and protein expressions of NF-κB p65 and IL-2 were significantly increased in the TAC and EP + TAC groups compared with the respective sham groups (all P < 0.05), which were significantly downregulated in EP + TAC group compared to TAC group (all P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONSEP could effectively reduce the cardiac hypertrophic responses induced by TAC possibly through upregulating the expressions of HSF1 and HSP70 and inhibiting the expression of NF-κB p65 and its nuclear translocation.
Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Down-Regulation ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Heat Shock Transcription Factors ; Interleukin-2 ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor RelA ; Transcription Factors
7.On influencing factors of hematology visiting physicians' satisfaction with the refresher training in a hospital
Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Juan LI ; Yang LIU ; Qingqi ZENG ; Jie GAO ; Jianliu WANG ; Qian JIANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2020;19(11):1328-1330
Objective:To study the factors affecting the training quality satisfaction of the visiting physicians and to explore ways to improve the satisfaction and the training quality.Methods:The research data was collected by questionnaires and interview from 44 visiting physicians of hematology department in Peking University People's Hospital, and statistical analysis method was used to analyze the influencing factors of their satisfaction with training.Results:The higher the evaluation score of teaching activities, the tutor's professional knowledge and teaching ability was, the higher overall satisfaction was. Women had higher satisfaction than men. The older the physicians were and the shorter the training was, the higher the satisfaction was.Conclusion:In order to further improve the refresher training satisfaction of visiting physicians, we should carry out teaching activities with high quality, improve the teaching level and professional knowledge of tutors, strengthen scientific research training, and formulate personalized training plans for the visiting physicians.
8.Repairing infected wounds with pressure-adjustable macroporous antibacterial hydrogel
Xinhua XI ; Qingqi MENG ; Weimin YANG ; Yongzheng BAO ; Yu CHEN ; Xueren ZHONG ; Junjian LIAO ; Xiaolong HE ; Longze ZHOU ; Jun ZHOU ; Ziye CAO ; Qiang WU
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2020;22(8):713-720
Objective:To investigate the reparative efficacy and mechanism of pressure-adjustable macroporous antibacterial hydrogel in the treatment of infected wounds.Methods:Staphylococcus aureus was used to establish wound infection models in healthy C57BL/6 mice. The models were divided into 3 groups subjected to 3 different treatments: a negative control group with no hydrogel treatment (group A), a control group treated by common medical hydrogel (group B) and an experiment group treated by pressure-adjustable macroporous antibacterial hydrogel (group C). On days 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12, the effects of 3 treatments were compared on the wound area and the number of bacterial colonies under scab, on the apoptosis of fibroblasts based on the changes of type Ⅰ procollagen, and on the inhibition of inflammation during wound repair by detecting the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α).Results:On days 1 and 3, there was no significant difference between the 3 groups in the wound area ( P>0.05), but on days 6, 9 and 12, there were significant differences between the 3 groups in the wound area ( P<0.05). On day 6, the wound areas in group B (1.23 cm 2 ± 0.16 cm 2) and in group C (1.14 cm 2 ± 0.12 cm 2) were significantly smaller than that in group A (1.56 cm 2 ± 0.16 cm 2) ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups B and C ( P>0.05). On days 9 and 12, the wound areas in group B (0.97 cm 2 ± 0.13 cm 2 and 0.76 cm 2 ± 0.10 cm 2) and in group C (0.66 cm 2 ± 0.06 cm 2 and 0.48 cm 2 ± 0.07 cm 2) were significantly smaller than those in group A (1.49 cm 2 ± 0.11 cm 2 and 1.39 cm 2 ± 0.13 cm 2), and those in group C were significantly smaller than those in group B (all P<0.05). On day 1, there was no significant difference between the 3 groups in the number of bacterial colonies under scab ( P>0.05). On days 3, 6, 9 and 12, the numbers of bacterial colonies under scab in groups B and C were significantly smaller than that in group A ( P<0.05), and that in group C was significantly smaller than that in group B ( P< 0.05). The nucleic acid electrophoresis showed that the grayscale bands in group C were significantly darker than those in groups A and B. The early apoptosis rate of the fibroblasts in group C[low-right positive fluorescence (LR%): 9.72%] was significantly lower than that in group A (43.99%) and that in group B (38.43%), and that in group B was significantly lower than that in group A ( P<0.05). On day 12, the ratio of the gray values of IL-6 and β-actin (0.64 ± 0.10) and the ratio of the gray values of TNF-α and β-actin (0.34 ± 0.05) in the fibroblasts in group C were significantly higher than those in group A (1.22 ± 0.21 and 0.60 ± 0.14) and in group B (0.88 ± 0.02 and 0.41 ± 0.06) ( P<0.01). Conclusion:The pressure-adjustable macroporous antibacterial hydrogel is an effective treatment of infected wounds and its mechanism may be related to the reduced apoptosis of fibroblasts.
9.Influence of body configuration on the therapeutic effects of totally laparoscopic and laparoscopy-assisted radical total gastrectomies: a multicentre retrospective study (A report of 677 cases)
Qingqi HONG ; Li YANG ; Zhengrong LI ; Su YAN ; Wenbin ZHANG ; Lin FAN ; Wei WANG ; Jian ZHANG ; Jiaming ZHU ; Gang JI ; Yongliang ZHAO ; Jun YOU
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2018;17(1):60-67
Objective To investigate the influence of body configuration on the therapeutic effects of totally laparoscopic and laparoscopy-assisted radical total gastrectomies.Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 677 patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical total gastrectomies in the 11 clinical centers [100 patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University),98 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University,94 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University,89 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University,81 in the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University,81 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University,42 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,39 in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangdong Province,26 in the First People's Hospital of Hangzhou City,17 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University and 10 in the Xijing Hospital of Air Force Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University)] from January 2015 to June 2017 were collected.Among 677 patients,305 [89 patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University),28 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University,14 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University,26 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University,75 in the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University,14 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University,10 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,10 in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangdong Province,19 in the First People's Hospital of Hangzhou City,13 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University and 7 in the Xijing Hospital of Air Force Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University)] undergoing totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy were allocated into the totally laparoscopic group,and 372 [11 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University),70 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University,80 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University,63 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University,6 in the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University,67 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University,32 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,29 in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangdong Province,7 in the First People's Hospital of Hangzhou City,4 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University and 3 in the Xijing Hospital of Air Force Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University)] undergoing laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy were allocated into the laparoscopy-assisted group.All patients received laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy using routine five-port method.Roux-en-Y anastomosis was applied for digestive tract reconstruction,and digestive tract reconstruction was performed under laparoscopy in the totally laparoscopic group and via upper abdominal median incision in the laparoscopy assisted group.Observation indicators:(1) surgical and postoperative situations;(2) stratified analysis:surgical and postoperative situations of obese patients [body mass index (BMI) > 25.0 kg/m2,the maximum vertical distance between the anterior abdominal skin and the back skin at the level of the xiphoid bone (X-APD) > an average value of 22.7 cm and X-APD/the maximum horizontal distance of a plane at a right angle to X-APD (X-TD) >an average value of 0.8] between groups;(3) follow-up and survival situations.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect the postoperative overall survival and tumor recurrence or metastasis up to July 2017.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as x±s.Comparison between groups was analyzed by the t test.Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M(Q),and comparison between groups was analyzed by Mann-Whithey test.Comparisons of count data were analyzed using the chi-square test.Results (1) Surgical and postoperative situations:all the patients in the 2 groups underwent successful operations,without perioperative death.Esophagojejunostomy methods of 305 patients in totally laparoscopic group:conventional circular stapler method were performed in 107 patients,antipuncture circular staplar method in 6 patients,OrVilTM method in 5 patients,functional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy method in 76 patients,peristalsis side-to-side esophagojejunostomy method in 106 patients and π esophagojejunostomy method in 5 patients.Three hundred and seventy-two patients in the totally laparoscopic group received conventional circular stapler method,including 361 with end-to-side esophagojejunostomy method and 11 with half end-to-end esophagojejunostomy method.Total operation time,time of esophagojejunostomy,length of assisted incision and using time of analgesics were respectively (235± 72)minutes,(33 ± 15)minutes,(5.6± 1.4) cm,(2.0 ± 1.2) days in the totally laparoscopic group and (223± 63) minutes,(29 ± 10) minutes,(8.0 ± 2.6) cm,(2.3 ± 1.6) days in the laparoscopy-assisted group,with statistically significant differences between groups (t =2.383,3.289,-15.236,-2.780,P < 0.05).The eases with postoperative overall complications,anastomosis bleeding,anastomosis stricture,anastomosis leakage were respectively 38,6,11,11 in the totally laparoscopic group and 35,7,10,13 in the laparoscopy-assisted group,with no statistically significant difference between groups (x2 =1.621,0.007,0.470,0.006,P>0.05).All the patients with postoperative complications were cured by symptomatic treatment.(2) Stratified analysis:length of assisted incision,using time of analgesics,time to postoperative anal exsufflation,time for initial fluid diet intake,time for initial semi-fluid diet intake,time of postoperative drainage-tube removal and duration of postoperative hospital stay in obese patients with BMI>25.0 kg/m2,X-APD>22.7 cm and X-APD/X-TD>0.8 were respectively (5.9±1.3)cm,(5.7±1.4)cm,(5.6±1.4)cn,(2.0±1.2) days,(2.2±1.1)days,(2.1±1.1)days,(3.4±0.9) days,(3.3±0.9)days,(3.3±0.8)days,(4.7±1.1)days,(4.1±2.0)days,(4.0±1.6)days,(6.6±1.5)days,(6.4±2.3)days,(6.3±1.9)days,(7.8±2.3)days,(7.8±2.7)days,(7.6±2.9)days,(9±4)days,(10±5)days,(10±5) days in the totally laparoscopic group and (8.7±3.1)cm,(8.9±3.0)cm,(8.8±2.8)cm,(2.4±1.3)days,(2.5±1.5)days,(2.5±1.6)days,(3.7±1.0)days,(3.8±1.1)days,(3.7±1.3)days,(5.3±1.7)days,(4.8±1.7)days,(5.0±1.9)days,(7.4±2.3)days,(7.8±2.0)days,(7.0±2.2)days,(8.7±2.4)days,(8.4±1.9)days,(8.1±1.5)days,(1 1±8)days,(11±5)days,(1 1±5)days in the laparoscopy-assisted group,with statistically significant differences between groups (t =-7.950,-2.246,-2.222,-2.500,-2.771,-2.404,-2.251,P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in above indicators of patients with X-APD>22.7 cm between groups (t =-12.089,-2.064,-3.732,-3.220,-5.297,-2.074,-2.208,P<0.05),and in above indicators of patients with X-APD/X-TD>0.8 between groups (t =-13.451,-2.736,-3.354,-4.961,-3.280,-2.137,-2.127,P<0.05).(3) Follow-up and survival situations:of 677 patients,645 were followed up for 1-31 months,with a median time of 12 months,including 283 in the totally laparoscopic group and 362 in the laparoscopy-assisted group.During the follow-up,cases with overall survival,tumor recurrence and tumor metastasis were respectively 255,18 and 21 in the totally laparoscopic group and 327,25 and 20 in the laparoscopy-assisted group (11 and 10 patients in the totally laparoscopic and laparoscopy-assisted groups with simutaneous tumor recurrence and metastasis),showing no statistically significant difference between groups (x2 =0.009,0.076,0.959,P > 0.05).Conclusions Totally laparoscopic and laparoscopy-assisted radical total gastrectomies are safe and feasible in obese patients,with the equivalent time of esophagojejunostomy.Totally laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy is of benefit to short-term recovery of patients.