Objective: To investigate the value of serum hepcidin in assessment of liver inflammation activity among patients with chronic hepatitis B ( CHB ), so as to provide insights into the assessment of liver inflammation activity among CHB patients. Methods: A total of 79 CHB patients who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University were selected as the experimental group, while 40 healthy volunteers were randomly sampled as controls. Subjects'demographic data, liver function tests and iron metabolism parameters were collected from medical records, and serum hepcidin was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ). In addition, ultrasound-guided liver biopsy was performed in CHB patients, and mild and moderate-to-severe CHB were classified according to liver inflammation activity and degree of liver fibrosis. Serum hepcidin levels were compared between the experimental and control groups and between patients with mild and moderate-to-severe CHB. The value of serum hepcidin in assessment of liver inflammation activity was examined among CHB patients using the receiver operating characteristic ( ROC ) curve analysis. Results: Subjects in the experimental group included 54 men ( 68.35% ) and had a mean age of ( 39.06±10.67 ) years, while the controls included 24 men (60.00%) and had a mean age of ( 42.43±11.44 ) years. Lower hepcidin levels were measured in the experimental group than in the control group [( 11.70±5.64 ) vs. ( 17.82±3.63 ) μg/L; P<0.05 ]. There were 54 patients with mild CHB ( 68.35% ) and 25 cases with moderate-to-severe CHB ( 31.65% ), and lower hepcidin levels were detected in patients with moderate-to-severe CHB than in those with mild CHB [ ( 6.92±2.21 ) vs. ( 13.95±5.36 ) μg/L; P<0.05 ]. The area under the ROC curve, optimal cut-off, sensitivity and specificity of serum hepcidin were 0.903 ( P<0.05 ), 10.365 μg/L, 100.0% and 72.2% for assessment of moderate-to-severe CHB, respectively. Conclusion Serum hepcidin is feasible to evaluate the liver inflammatory activity among patients with CHB.

Objective To investigate the incidence and risk factors of chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) and its effects on the quality of life in a large sample prospective study.Methods A total of 1098 patients of either sex,aged 18-70 yr,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,undergoing elective surgery,were enrolled in the study.Data regarding patient age,gender,body mass index,educational level,marital status,living situations,occupation,pre-surgical pain in the site of surgery,complications,type of surgery,surgery time and anesthesia method were recorded.The highest numeric rating scale scores within 3 days after surgery were also recorded.The patients were followed up at 3,6 and 12 months after surgery to record the development of CPSP.The patients were divided into CPSP group and non-CPSP group according to whether or not CPSP developed.Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for CPSP,and the quality of life was scored.Results A total of 981 patients completed the 1 year follow-up after surgery,the incidence of CPSP was 35.7％,and the constituent ratio of the distribution of the course was as follows:3 months ≤ postsurgical course ＜ 6 months was 33.1％;6 months ≤ postsurgical course ＜ 12 months was 16.8％;postsurgical course ≥ 12 months was 50.1％.Female,no diabetes mellitus and pre-surgical pain in the site of surgery were the independent risk factors for CPSP (P＜ 0.05).Compared with non-CPSP group,the physiological function score,professional function score,body pain score,vitality score,social function score,mental health score and general health score were significantly decreased (P＜0.01),and no significant change was found in the emotional function score in CPSP group (P＞0.05).Conclusion The probability of development of CPSP is high and the course is long,and the quality of life score is decreased;female,no diabetes mellitus and pre-surgical pain in the site of surgery are the independent risk factors for CPSP.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) increases the risk of post-surgery complications. This study uses Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) to identify Chinese adult surgical patients who are at a high risk of OSAS and to determine if the BQ could be used to detect potential high risk of adverse respiratory events in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU). Results indicated that only 11.4% of the patients were considered at a high risk of OSAS. Age and body mass index are the key factors for the risk of OSAS prevalence in China and also gender specific. Furthermore, the incidence of adverse respiratory events in the PACU was higher in patients with high risk of OSAS than others (6.8% vs. 0.9%, P < 0.001). They also stayed longer than others in the PACU (95 ± 28 min vs. 62 ± 19 min, P < 0.001). Age, high risk for OSAS, and smoking were independent risk factors for the occurrence of adverse respiratory events in the PACU. The BQ may be adopted as a screening tool for anesthesiologists in China to identify patients who are at high risk of OSAS and determine the potential risk of developing postoperative respiratory complications in the PACU.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Berlin ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sex Distribution ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; epidemiology ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; adverse effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult