Objective: To create a model for early prediction of essential hypertension (EH) based on the TreeNet algorithm, so as to provide a tool for early monitoring of EH. Methods: The health examination data were collected from individuals receiving health examinations in Hangzhou Haiqin Health Examination Center or Shanghai Yibao Health Management Co., Ltd from 2014 to 2016, and a predictive model for EH was created based on the TreeNet algorithm. The effectiveness of the model for early prediction of EH was evaluated using root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute deviation (MAD), coefficient of determination (R2) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: A total of 12 variables were included in the model, and the highest contributing variable was body mass index (BMI), followed by BMI difference, two-year BMI difference, two-year triglyceride (TG) difference, two-year total cholesterol (TC) difference, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in 2014, TG in 2014, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in 2014, body weight in 2015, fasting blood glucose in 2015, TG in 2015, urea nitrogen difference and platelet in 2015. The highest predictive accuracy was 100.00%, and the lowest was 56.89%. The risk of EH significantly increased among individuals with BMI in 2015 of >25 kg/m2, two-year BMI difference of >0.5 kg/m2, two-year TG difference ranging from 1.3 to 3.3 mmol/L, TC in 2015 of 2.0 to 2.4 mmol/L and HDL-C in 2014 of <0.52 mmol/L. The model presented RMSE of 0.082, MAD of 0.064, R2 of 0.811, area under the ROC curve of 0.788 (95%CI: 0.741-0.815), sensitivity of 69.05% and specificity of 66.21% for prediction of EH Conclusion The TreeNet algorithm-based model is effective for early monitoring of high-risk individuals for EH.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical significance of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in the development of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSA total of 182 patients with untreated CHB and 50 healthy individuals (controls) participated in the study. Correlation analysis was performed to determine the association of serum hs-CRP with the age,sex,medical history,serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, liver function parameters,liver stiffness measure (LSM) and hepatic fibrosis; in addition, correlation analysis was carried out for the associations of degree of liver damage with grade of hepatic fibrosis, LSM and the serum levels of hs-CRP.

RESULTSCHB patients showed significantly higher serum hs-CRP levels than healthy controls (2.38 ± 2.79 vs.0.78 ± 1.07; t =2.495, P < 0.05). Serum hs-CRP levels were significantly correlated with HBV DNA (r = 0.159), liver function parameters (total bilirubin, r = 0.271; alanine aminotransferase, r = 0.298; aspartate aminotransferase, r = 0.389), and LSM, r = 0.562) (all P < 0.05). The correlations with liver function (r = 0.340), LSM (r = 0.292) and hepatic fibrosis grade were positive (r = 0.434) (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSerum hs-CRP levels in CHB patients can reflect degree of liver damage and of liver fibrosis.

Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; C-Reactive Protein ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis

Objective:To explore the short-term outcomes of 3D-printing stand-alone artificial vertebral body(AVB)in the surgical procedure of anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion(ACCF).Methods:Following the proposal of IDEAL(idea,development,exploration,assessment,and long-term follow-up)framework,we designed and conducted this single-armed,retrospective cohort study.The patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy were recruited,and these patients exclusively received the surgical procedure of single-level ACCF in our single center.After the process of corpectomy,the size was tailored using different trials and the most suitable stand-alone AVB was then implanted.This AVB was manufactured by the fashion of 3D-printing.Two pairs of screws were inserted in an inclined way into the adjacent vertebral bodies,to stabilize the AVB.The participants were regularly followed-up after the operation.Their clinical data were thoroughly reviewed.We assessed the neurological status according to Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA)scale.We determined the fusion based on imaging examination six months after the operation.The recorded clinical data were analyzed using specific software and they presented in suitable styles.Paired t test was employed in comparison analysis.Results:In total,there were eleven patients being recruited eventually.The patients were all followed up over six months after the operation.The mean age of the cohort was(57.2±10.2)years.The mean operation time was(76.1±23.1)min and the median bleeding volume was 150(100,200)mL.The postoperative course was uneventful for all the cases.Dysphagia,emergent hematoma,and deterioration of neurological func-tion did not occur.Mean JOA scores were 13.2±2.2 before the operation and 16.3±0.8 at the final follow-up,which were significantly different(P＜0.001).The mean recovery rate of neurological func-tion was 85.9％.By comparing the imaging examinations postoperatively and six months after the opera-tion,we found that the average subsidence length was(1.2±1.1)mm,and that there was only one ca-ses(9.1％)of the severe subsidence(＞3 mm).We observed significant improvement of cervical lor-dosis after the operation(P=0.013).All the cases obtained solid fusion.Conclusion:3D-printing stand-alone AVB presented favorable short-term outcome in one-level ACCF in this study.The fusion rate of this zero-profile prosthesis was satisfactory and the complication rate was relatively low.

BACKGROUNDThis retrospective study aimed to investigate the difference of the intra-dural reserving space for spinal cord in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between patients with and without developmental cervical stenosis and its clinical significance.

METHODSA total of 264 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who had decompression surgeries were recruited. The average follow-up was 29 months. Based on their lateral radiographs, they were divided into stenosis group and non-stenosis group. On the magnetic resonance images, the ratio of the sagittal diameter of the dural sac to that of the vertebral body was measured and calculated as MRI Pavlov ratio at the mid-vertebral level on T2-weighted sagittal images from C3 to C7. The ratio of the transverse area of the spinal cord to that of the dural sac was measured and calculated as occupation ratio on T2-weighted axial images at the same levels. The MRI Pavlov ratio and occupation ratio were compared between the two groups. The stenosis group was further divided into space-reserving and non-space-reserving subgroups based on the occupation ratios; then clinical parameters were compared between the two subgroups to determine the clinical significance of the reserving space.

RESULTSThe MRI Pavlov ratio of the stenosis group was significantly smaller than that of the non-stenosis group at C3-C7 (P < 0.01), while the occupation ratio was significantly larger only at C7 (P < 0.05). For the space-reserving subgroup, the postoperative recovery rate was lower (P < 0.05). The postoperative recovery rate was (23 ± 6)% in anterior approach, larger than (-23±15)% in posterior approach (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDevelopmental cervical stenosis is associated with a smaller sagittal diameter of the dural sac, but does not lead to a significant decrease in intra-dural space available for the cord. For patients with normal intra-dural space, the recovery after anterior decompression surgery was better than posterior approach.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery

Objectives:To investigate the incidence and risk factors of perioperative complications after en bloc resection for thoracic and lumbar spinal tumors.Methods:The data of patients with thoracic and lumbar spinal tumors treated in our department with en bloc resection and anterior column reconstruction were retro-spectively analyzed.Between May 2016 and October 2022,90 consecutive patients underwent en bloc resec-tion on the basis of Weinstein-Boriani-Biagini surgical staging system,and anterior reconstruction was per-formed using 3D-printed artificial vertebral bodies.The demographic,oncological,and operative data of the patients were collected prospectively,and the intraoperative and postoperative complications occurring within three months were categorized into major and minor complications according to their impacts on the recovery process(Major complications were considered as any complication that appeared to substantially alter an other-wise full and expected course of recovery,and other complications were regarded as minor).All the patients were divided into the primary group(n=67)and revision group(n=23)based on their previous surgical history.Differences between the two groups in terms of age,gender,pathological type,tumor-involved segments,oper-ative time,intraoperative blood loss,and perioperative complications were compared.The predictive factors for major and minor complications were explored.Results:En bloc resection was achieved in all the patients,in-cluding total en bloc spondylectomy in 77 cases,sagittal resection in 12 cases,and vertebrectomy in one case.The mean operative time was 553.4min(210-1208min),and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 1534.1mL(260-5500mL).A total of 129 complications were observed in 65(72.2%)patients,including 29 ma-jor complications in 21(23.3%)patients.Two patients(2.2%)died as a result of complications.The revision group was more than primary group in tumor-involved segments(P=0.000)and incidence rate of major compli-cations(P=0.038).In univariate regression analysis,the combined approach[odds ratio(OR)=14.778,P=0.001],total blood loss(OR=1.004,P=0.004),staged surgery(OR=5.250,P=0.008),previous surgical history(OR=2.946,P=0.043),number of tumor-involved vertebrae(OR=1.607,P=0.023)and lumbar tumor(OR=3.509,P=0.015)were statistically significant risk factors for major complication occurrence,while the combined approach(OR= 6.375,P=0.036)was the independent risk factor.Conclusions:En bloc resection and anterior column recon-struction is associated with high risks of complications,especially when a combined approach is needed.