Background and purpose:Postoperative sore throat (POST) is one of the common complaints of patients after radical thyroidectomy. Tracheal intubation is the main cause of POST. This study compared the effect of intubation with visual endoscopy and general laryngoscope on POST in patients undergoing radical thyroidectomy. Methods:One hundred patients (18-60 years, ASAⅠ-Ⅱ) undergoing elective radical thyroidectomy were randomized into two groups:patients in group A (n=50) were intubated with visual endoscope while patients in group B (n=50) were intubated with general laryngoscope. Endotracheal tube cuffs pressure was maintained at 20mmHg in all patients. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Bruggrmann comfort scale (BCS) were recorded at the time points of 1, 6 and 24 h after extubation. Results:Compared with group B, the incidence of POST in group A was signifcantly reduced (42%vs 64%, P=0.027). The VAS of group A was lower than that of group B (3.05±1.56 vs 4.25±1.30, 3.05±1.56 vs 4.01±1.98, 2.72±1.77 vs 3.31±1.12) (P<0.05). The BCS of group A was higher than that of group B (0.99±0.46 vs 0.69±0.30, 1.95±0.47 vs 1.51±0.58, 2.82±0.87 vs 2.31±0.72) (P<0.05). Conclusion:Using visual endoscopic intubation can reduce the incidence of the POST in patients undergoing radical thyroidectomy.

Incidence of cancer is increasing year by year,diagnostic techniques are continually advanced,and the numbers of anti-cancer drugs are growing,but the efficacy has not been fundamentally improved.Surgery,chemotherapy and radiotherapy can only kill the part of mature tumor cells,but can not kill the cancer stem cells,and eventually leading to tumor recurrence.While acupuncture,qigong,psychology comprehensive treatment can inhibit tumor growth and reduce metastasis and recurrence,improve quality of life and prolong survival.We should update our recognition,to carry out the study on the treatment of tumor by TCM with large sample and multiple centers,to demonstrate its low toxicity,low costs and efficiency.

Porous hydroxylapatite (HA) has excellent osseous inductive ability. It has been prepared by gel-casting process, which is feasible and can make complex ceramic material. According to the result of orthogonal test based on the compressive strength, the order and the level of the factors, including monomer HA, initiator MBAM, catalyst APS and water, were dealt with. The effects of drying and sintering technique on the properties of porous hydroxylapatite were also researched. The results showed that the order of every factor in the gel-casting process is as follows, AM-APS, MBAM, H2O. Based on the determined level of each factor, the suitable slurry constituents and drying and sintering technologies were selected, and the porous hydroxylapatite with compressive strength of 6-7 MPa was produced.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Bone Substitutes ; chemistry ; Compressive Strength ; Durapatite ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Gels ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; methods ; Porosity ; Surface Properties

Objective To analyze serum characteristics and determine the reference range for thyroid function among healthy 11～16 year-old teenagers in Xi'an in order to offer a theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and therapy.Methods A sum of 1 378 healthy 11～16 year-old teenagers who met the inclusion criteria from the First Affiliated Hospital of the Air Force Medical University(Xijing Hospital)between January 2020 and December 2022 were selected as research subjects,including 628 males and 750 females.They were divided into three groups based on age:Group 1:11～＜13 year-olds(433 cases),Group 2:13～＜15 year-olds(425 cases),and Group 3:15～≤16 year-olds(520 cases).Differences in serum thyroid function indices among different genders and age groups were analyzed,the reference ranges for these indices were established,and 99 healthy 11-16 year-old teenagers who met the inclusion criteria were chosen for verification.Results There were no significant differences between different genders in thyroid stimulating hormone[TSH,2.56(1.80,3.63)μIU/ml vs 2.43(1.68,3.48)μIU/ml]and total thyroxine[TT4,97.84(85.34,111.00)nmol/L vs 98.20(87.16,111.23)nmol/L],the differences were statistically significant(Z=-1.881,-0.638,all P＞0.05).Meanwhile,the differences in free thyroxine[FT4,16.93(15.49,18.60)pmol/L vs 16.26(14.80,17.83)pmol/L],free triiodothyronine[FT3,6.21(5.66,6.80)pmol/L vs 5.59(4.98,6.19)pmol/L],and total triiodothyronine[TT3,2.24(1.96,2.55)nmol/L vs 2.04(1.78,2.34)nmol/L]between different genders were significant(Z=-5.368,-11.994,-6.417 all P＜0.01).The differences in thyroid function indices were significant among different age groups(Z=10.649～261.003,all P＜0.05).The reference ranges for thyroid function indices across different age groups and genders were established,in which thyroid function indicators were verified to be within the established reference range by 99 samples.Conclusion Teenage hormone secretion varies greatly,and the secretion of thyroid hormones is influenced by various factors.Thus,the diagnosis and treatment of teenage thyroid diseases cannot fully rely on the reference ranges provided by adults or manufacturers.This study established the reference range of the thyroid function indices of 11～16 year-old teenagers in Xi'an,offering clinical doctors'diagnosis and treatment data support.

Objective To investigate the changes in distribution of Oncomelania hupensis snails in forestlands in Songjiang District, Shanghai Municipality from 2009 to 2023, so as to provide insights into formulation of O. hupensis snail surveillance programs. Methods The reports on O. hupensis snail surveillance in Songjiang District, Shanghai Municipality from 2009 to 2023 were collected, and the snail surveillance data in forestlands were extracted. The trends in the proportion of areas with snails in forestlands in total areas with snails, occurrence of frames with living snails and density of living snails were evaluated using a Joinpoint regression model in Songjiang District from 2009 to 2023, and the annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC). Results A total of 40 sites with snails were found in forestlands in 14 administrative villages of 4 townships, Songjiang District, Shanghai Municipality from 2009 to 2023. A total of 39 065 frames were surveyed for snails in settings covering an area of 609 600 m², and there were 6 084 frames with snails, covering 151 250 m² snail habitats. A total of 22 210 snails were captured, with the highest density of 260.00 snails/0.1 m², and 6 262 snails were dissected, with no Schistosoma japonicum infection identified in snails. The proportion of areas with snails in forestlands in total areas with snails appeared a tendency towards a rise in forestlands in Songjiang District, Shanghai Municipality from 2009 to 2023 (APC = AAPC = 24.9%, P > 0.05); however, there were no turning points in the trend curve, with the highest proportion seen in 2009 (53.81%), the lowest in 2011 and 2023 (both 0) and a mean proportion of 24.81%. The occurrence of frames with living snails appeared a tendency towards a rise from 2009 to 2023 (APC = AAPC = 41.5%, P > 0.05); however, there were no turning points in the trend curve, with the highest occurrence in 2009 (53.81%), the lowest in 2011 and 2013 (both 0), and the mean occurrence of 15.57%. In addition, the density of living snails appeared a tendency towards a rise from 2009 to 2023 (APC = AAPC = 55.0%, P > 0.05); however, there were no turning points in the trend curve, with the highest density in 2023 (0.96 snails/0.1 m²), the lowest in 2011 and 2013 (both 0), and a mean density of 0.57 snails/0.1 m². Conclusions The difficulty in O. hupensis snail control and risk of imported snails appeared a tendency towards a rise in forestlands in Songjiang District, Shanghai Municipality over years from 2009 to 2023. Supervision and assessment prior to seedling transplantation and intensified surveillance post-transplantation are recommended to reduce the risk of O. hupensis snail importation and spread.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors for severe events of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in elderly patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of all elderly COVID- 19 patients treated in Changsha Public Health Treatment Center from January 17, 2020 to March 15, 2020, which included basic diseases, symptoms, test results, and other clinical characteristics, and prognostic indicators such as severity of illness, length of hospital stay, virus shedding time and mortality rate. The differences in clinical characteristics and prognostic indicators between elderly, middle-aged, and young COVID-19 patients were also analyzed. Logistic regression model was used to conduct univariate and multivariate analysis of risk factors for developing severe events in elderly COVID-19 patients; receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the prediction efficacy. RESULTS: Of the 230 COVID-19 adult patients, 34 were young patients (14.8%), 136 were middle-aged patients (59.1%), and 60 were elderly (26.1%). Among the 60 elderly patients, 23 were male (38.3%) and 37 were female (61.7%), with a medium age of 66 years old. Common symptoms were fever (66.7%), cough (50.0%), and fatigue (41.7%). C reactive protein (CRP) was increased significantly. The proportion of severe cases was 31.7%, and mortality was 1.7%. The median length of hospitalization and median virus shedding time were 18.5 days and 21 days, respectively. Compared with the young and the middle-aged patients, the elderly had a higher proportion of hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, more common shortness of breath, higher proportions of pneumonia and severe cases (all <0.05), and the decreased lymphocyte count and lymphocyte percentage (both <0.05), as well as higher CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels (both <0.05). Compared with non-severe cases, severe elderly patients demonstrated higher CRP and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (all <0.05), the reduced lymphocyte count (<0.05), and the prolonged length of hospitalization and virus shedding duration (both <0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the lymphocytes proportion, CRP and AST levels were significantly correlated with the risk for developing severe events in elderly COVID-19 patients (all <0.05). Multivariate logistic regression found that severe events in elderly patients with COVID-19 were significantly correlated with CRP level (OR=1.041, =0.013). ROC curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) for CRP to diagnose severe events in elderly COVID 19 patients was 0.851. CONCLUSIONS The proportion of severe cases in elderly COVID-19 patients is higher than that in young and middle-aged patients. CRP level has a good predictive value for the possibility of severe events in elderly COVID-19 patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Betacoronavirus ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; China ; Comorbidity ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors