Objective:To investigate the effects of thoracolumbar vertebral fracture with incomplete spinal cord injury on male sexual function and postoperative prognosis.Methods:A retrospective review was conducted on data from 144 male patients with thoracolumbar vertebral fractures and incomplete spinal cord injuries treated between May 2009 and May 2021 in the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics at Peking University Third Hospital. Patients ranged in age from 19 to 55 years (mean: 38.6±10.6 years) and underwent posterior incision and reduction internal fixation. The International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), and the International Spinal Cord Injury Male Sexual Function Basic Data Set were used for sexual function evaluation. Based on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Spinal Cord Injury classification, changes in neurological and sexual function were assessed at the pre-injury stage, 3 months post-injury, 2 years postoperatively, and at the final follow-up. Factors influencing sexual dysfunction and recovery were analyzed. Spearman correlation analysis was used to identify factors affecting sexual function injury and recovery.Results:A total of 117 patients were included in the final analysis. Follow-up duration ranged from 26.2 to 161.7 months (mean: 74.6±40.5 months). After injury, ASIA grades were distributed as follows: 43 patients with grade B, 41 with grade C, and 33 with grade D. At the 2-year follow-up, 30 patients were grade E, 63 grade D, 19 grade C, and 5 grade B. Improvement in ASIA classification was observed in 90.6% (106/117) of patients: 79 improved by one grade, 27 by two grades, 8 remained unchanged, 1 worsened by one grade, and 2 worsened by two grades. Mean IIEF-5 scores were 19.5±6.4 pre-injury, 8.7±8.0 at 3 months post-injury, and 17.5±7.1 at 2 years postoperatively, with statistically significant differences ( F=123.247, P<0.001). Differences between 3 months post-injury vs. pre-injury and 2 years postoperatively vs. 3 months post-injury were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Mean PEDT scores were 5.3±3.1 pre-injury, 6.9±5.2 at 3 months post-injury, and 6.4±5.1 at 2 years postoperatively, with statistically significant differences ( F=17.014, P<0.001). The difference between 3 months post-injury and pre-injury was statistically significant ( P<0.05), but not between 2 years postoperatively and 3 months post-injury ( P>0.05). At the 2-year follow-up, 96 patients had their IIEF-5 classification restored to pre-injury levels, 85 restored PEDT classifications, and 83 restored both. Post-injury ASIA classification was positively correlated with a decrease in IIEF-5 score and an increase in PEDT score at 3 months post-injury ( P<0.05). Injury segment was positively correlated with the decrease in IIEF-5 score ( P<0.05). Time from injury to surgery showed a positive correlation with increased PEDT score at 3 months ( P<0.05). Post-injury ASIA grade, injury segment, time to surgery, age, intraoperative decompression, and spinal cord function recovery all showed significant correlations with changes in IIEF-5 and (or) PEDT scores at 2 years postoperatively ( P<0.05). According to the International Spinal Cord Injury Male Sexual Function Basic Data Set, the proportion of patients willing to discuss sexual issues increased from 29.9% at 3 months post-injury to 47.9% at 2 years postoperatively ( P<0.05). The proportion of patients with absent or diminished psychogenic erections remained stable (48.7% vs. 48.9%, P>0.05), while those with normal reflexive erections increased from 34.2% to 65.0% ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Thoracolumbar fractures with incomplete spinal cord injury result in reduced erectile function and increased incidence of premature ejaculation. The degree of spinal cord injury and the level of the injured segment are strongly correlated with the extent of sexual dysfunction. At the 2-year postoperative follow-up, 70.9% of patients had recovered sexual function to pre-injury levels.

Objective:To investigate the effects of thoracolumbar vertebral fracture with incomplete spinal cord injury on male sexual function and postoperative prognosis.Methods:A retrospective review was conducted on data from 144 male patients with thoracolumbar vertebral fractures and incomplete spinal cord injuries treated between May 2009 and May 2021 in the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics at Peking University Third Hospital. Patients ranged in age from 19 to 55 years (mean: 38.6±10.6 years) and underwent posterior incision and reduction internal fixation. The International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), and the International Spinal Cord Injury Male Sexual Function Basic Data Set were used for sexual function evaluation. Based on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Spinal Cord Injury classification, changes in neurological and sexual function were assessed at the pre-injury stage, 3 months post-injury, 2 years postoperatively, and at the final follow-up. Factors influencing sexual dysfunction and recovery were analyzed. Spearman correlation analysis was used to identify factors affecting sexual function injury and recovery.Results:A total of 117 patients were included in the final analysis. Follow-up duration ranged from 26.2 to 161.7 months (mean: 74.6±40.5 months). After injury, ASIA grades were distributed as follows: 43 patients with grade B, 41 with grade C, and 33 with grade D. At the 2-year follow-up, 30 patients were grade E, 63 grade D, 19 grade C, and 5 grade B. Improvement in ASIA classification was observed in 90.6% (106/117) of patients: 79 improved by one grade, 27 by two grades, 8 remained unchanged, 1 worsened by one grade, and 2 worsened by two grades. Mean IIEF-5 scores were 19.5±6.4 pre-injury, 8.7±8.0 at 3 months post-injury, and 17.5±7.1 at 2 years postoperatively, with statistically significant differences ( F=123.247, P<0.001). Differences between 3 months post-injury vs. pre-injury and 2 years postoperatively vs. 3 months post-injury were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Mean PEDT scores were 5.3±3.1 pre-injury, 6.9±5.2 at 3 months post-injury, and 6.4±5.1 at 2 years postoperatively, with statistically significant differences ( F=17.014, P<0.001). The difference between 3 months post-injury and pre-injury was statistically significant ( P<0.05), but not between 2 years postoperatively and 3 months post-injury ( P>0.05). At the 2-year follow-up, 96 patients had their IIEF-5 classification restored to pre-injury levels, 85 restored PEDT classifications, and 83 restored both. Post-injury ASIA classification was positively correlated with a decrease in IIEF-5 score and an increase in PEDT score at 3 months post-injury ( P<0.05). Injury segment was positively correlated with the decrease in IIEF-5 score ( P<0.05). Time from injury to surgery showed a positive correlation with increased PEDT score at 3 months ( P<0.05). Post-injury ASIA grade, injury segment, time to surgery, age, intraoperative decompression, and spinal cord function recovery all showed significant correlations with changes in IIEF-5 and (or) PEDT scores at 2 years postoperatively ( P<0.05). According to the International Spinal Cord Injury Male Sexual Function Basic Data Set, the proportion of patients willing to discuss sexual issues increased from 29.9% at 3 months post-injury to 47.9% at 2 years postoperatively ( P<0.05). The proportion of patients with absent or diminished psychogenic erections remained stable (48.7% vs. 48.9%, P>0.05), while those with normal reflexive erections increased from 34.2% to 65.0% ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Thoracolumbar fractures with incomplete spinal cord injury result in reduced erectile function and increased incidence of premature ejaculation. The degree of spinal cord injury and the level of the injured segment are strongly correlated with the extent of sexual dysfunction. At the 2-year postoperative follow-up, 70.9% of patients had recovered sexual function to pre-injury levels.

Objective To assess the clinical value of prognostic nutritional index(PNI)in predicting the prognosis of patients with advanced liver cancer treated with transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with ablation therapy.Methods A total of 112 patients with advanced liver cancer,who received TACE combined with ablation at the Lishui Municipal Central Hospital of China from January 2020 to January 2024,were enrolled in this study.The general data,survival status,and survival time were collected.The Youden index of PNI was calculated using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve model,and the optimal cutoff value was determined.Based on the optimal cutoff value,the patients were divided into low-PNI group and high-PNI group.The progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)time were compared between the two groups,and the independent risk factors affecting PFS and OS were analyzed.Results The Youden index for PNI was 0.43,and the optimal cutoff value of PNI was 43.95.The low-PNI group included 65 patients,and the high-PNI group included 47 patients.There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline data between the two groups.The median PFS and the median OS in the high-PNI group were 13.21 months(95％CI=4.37-22.03)and 40.80 months(95％CI=31.55-50.05)respectively,which were longer than 9.20 months(95％CI=6.58-11.82)and 21.37 months(95％CI=16.56-26.17)respectively in the low-PNI group,the differences were statistically significant(both P＜0.05).The 6-month,one-year and 2-year PFS in the high-PNI group was 56.95％,47.25％and 33.87％respectively,which were higher than 43.95％,32.56％and 16.31％respectively in the low-PNI group.The one-year,2-year and 3-year cumulative survival rates in the high-PNI group were 80.77％,66.66％and 39.40％respectively,which were higher than 63.79％,34.31％and 27.75％respectively in the low-PNI group.Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the number of nodules,metastasis and PNI significantly affected OS,and metastasis and PNI strikingly affected PFS.High PNI was a protective factor for both PFS and OS.Conclusion For patients with advanced liver cancer treated with TACE combined with ablation therapy,PNI is an effective indicator for predicting the prognosis.

Objective To evaluate the combination score of albumin-bilirubin index(ALBI)and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)in predicting the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis complicated by portal hypertension after receiving transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS).Methods A total of 61 patients with cirrhosis complicated by portal hypertension,who received TIPS treatment at the Lishui Municipal Central Hospital of China from January 2016 to June 2024,were retrospectively collected.According to the Youden index of ALBI and ALP,the optimal cut-off values were calculated,and the patients were divided into low ALBI-low ALP group(0-point group),high ALBI-high ALP group(2-point group),and high ALBI-low ALP or low ALBI-high ALP group(one-point group).The efficacy of ALBI-ALP score in predicting the prognosis of patients was evaluated,and the survival rate and median survival time were compared between each other among the three groups.The independent risk factors affecting the survival time of patients were analyzed.Results The maximum Youden indexes of ALBI and ALP were 0.31 and 0.34 respectively,and the optimal cut-off values were-1.56 and 108.50 respectively.There were statistically significant differences in MELD score,Child-Pugh classification,and alanine aminotransferase level between each other among the three groups(all P＜0.05).The area under the ROC curve(AUC)of ALBI-ALP score was 0.77(95％ CI:0.66-0.89,P=0.000 2),which was better than 0.52 of the MELD score(95％ CI:0.37-0.67,P=0.77)as well as better than 0.57 of the Child-Pugh classification(95％ CI:0.43-0.72,P=0.34).The total mortality of patients was 49.18％.The mortality in the 0-point group was 11.11％(2/18),which was significantly lower than 59.46％(22/37)in the one-point group as well as than 100％(6/6)in the 2-point group,and the differences were statistically significant(x2=18.20,P＜0.001).In the 0-point group,as a large number of patients were still alive at the end of the study,the median survival time was unable to be calculated.The median survival time in the one-point group was 38.00 months(95％ CI:23.01-52.99 months),which in the 2-point group was only 1.00 month(95％ CI=0.00-2.60 months),the difference was statistically significant(x2=33.08,P＜0.000 1).In the 0-point group,one-point group and 2-point group,the one-year survival rates were 100％,66％ and 17％respectively,the 2-year survival rates were 100％,64％ and 17％ respectively,and the 3-year survival rates were 90％,53％ and 0％ respectively.Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that the combination score of ALBI and ALP(HR=7.11,95％ CI:2.95-17.15)was an independent risk factor for the survival time of patients with cirrhosis complicated by portal hypertension after receiving TIPS.Conclusion The combination score of ALBI and ALP can effectively predict the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis complicated by portal hypertension after receiving TIPS,and this score is an independent risk factor affecting the survival time of patients.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application value of medical tissue glue in the treatment of acute hemoptysis by bronchial arterial embolization(BAE).Methods The clinical data of 78 patients who underwent emergency BAE for hemoptysis were retrospectively collected.Among them,18 patients who underwent embolization with medical tissue glue were selected as a study group,and other 18 patients who underwent embolization with absorbent gelatin sponge particles and spring coil were selected as a control group.The technical success rates,average surgical operation time,average surgical cost,postoperative hemoptysis recur-rence rate,and incidence of adverse reactions of the two groups were compared and analyzed.Results The technical success rates of the two groups were both 100％.There were no statistically significant differences in recurrence rate of postoperative hemoptysis and incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P＞0.05).The average surgical operation time of study group and control group were 53.4 min[(53.4±2.2)min]and 65.4 min[(65.4±2.8)min],and the average surgical cost were 3 651 yuan[(3 651±102.7)yuan]and 5 094 yuan[(5 094±136.3)yuan],respectively.Compared with the control group,the average surgical operation time and aver-age surgical cost of the study group were shorter,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Compared with absorbent gelatin sponge particles combined with spring coil embolization,the use of medical tissue glue for embolization is also safe and effective in the treatment of acute hemoptysis patients by BAE.The average surgical operation time is shorter,and the surgical cost for patients is lower.It is worth promoting in clinical practice.

Objective:The transjugular or transfemoral approach is used as a common method for hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement in current practice. This study aims to confirm the safety and effectiveness of measuring HVPG via the forearm venous approach.Methods:Prospective recruitment was conducted for patients with cirrhosis who underwent HVPG measurement via the forearm venous approach at six hospitals in China and Japan from September 2020 to December 2020. Patients' clinical baseline information and HVPG measurement data were collected. The right median cubital vein or basilic vein approach for all enrolled patients was selected. The HVPG standard process was used to measure pressure. Research data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 statistical software. Quantitative data were used to represent medians (interquartile ranges), while qualitative data were used to represent frequency and rates. The correlation between two sets of data was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis.Results:A total of 43 cases were enrolled in this study. Of these, 41 (95.3%) successfully underwent HVPG measurement via the forearm venous approach. None of the patients had any serious complications. The median operation time for HVPG detection via forearm vein was 18.0 minutes (12.3~38.8 minutes). This study confirmed that HVPG was positively closely related to Child-Pugh score ( r = 0.47, P = 0.002), albumin-bilirubin score ( r = 0.37, P = 0.001), Lok index ( r = 0.36, P = 0.02), liver stiffness ( r = 0.58, P = 0.01), and spleen stiffness ( r = 0.77, P = 0.01), while negatively correlated with albumin ( r = -0.42, P = 0.006). Conclusion:The results of this multi-centre retrospective study suggest that HVPG measurement via the forearm venous approach is safe and feasible.

Objective To evaluate the long-term efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)with bare stents and Fluency covered stents in the treatment of portal hypertension,and to discuss its clinical value.Methods The clinical data of 29 patients with intractable ascites or esophagogastric fundus varices rupture and hemorrhage caused by cirrhotic portal hypertension,who received TIPS with bare stents and covered stents at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University of China(25 patients)and the Lishui Municipal Central Hospital of China(4 patients)between August 2012 and December 2017,were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were regularly followed up to check the survival status.The postoperative cumulative shunt patency rate and cumulative survival rate of the patients were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method.Results The technical success rate of TIPS was 100％.The mean portal vein pressure was decreased from preoperative(40.21±3.24)cmH2O to postoperative(24.55±3.55)cmH2O(P＜0.05).The patients were followed up for 5.1-10.5 years.The postoperative 1-,3-,5-,7-year primary cumulative patency rates of the shunt were 89.7％,75.9％,75.9％ and 52.5％,respectively.The postoperative 5-,7-,9-and 10-year cumulative survival rates were 100％,66.9％,66.9％ and 33.4％,respectively.The incidence of hepatic encephalopathy was 13.8％(4/29).Conclusion Using bare stents combined with Fluency covered stents for TIPS is clinically safe and effective in the treatment of portal hypertension.This technique carries higher long-term shunt patency rate and low incidence of hepatic encephalopathy.Therefore,it can be used as a substitute for Viatorr stent when necessary.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:295-299)

Purpose: Mixed-lineage leukemia protein 4 (MLL4/KMT2D) is a histone methyltransferase, and its mutation has been reported to be associated with a poor prognosis in many cancers, including lung cancer. We investigated the function of MLL4 in lung carcinogenesis. Materials and Methods: RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in A549 cells transfected with control siRNA or MLL4 siRNA was performed. Also, we used EdU incorporation assay, colony formation assays, growth curve analysis, transwell invasion assays, immunohistochemical staining, and in vivo bioluminescence assay to investigate the function of MLL4 in lung carcinogenesis. Results: We found that MLL4 expression was downregulated in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues and tended to decrease with disease stage progression. We analyzed the transcriptomes in control and MLL4- deficient cells using high-throughput RNA deep sequencing (RNA-seq) and identified a cohort of target genes, such as SOX2, ATF1, FOXP4, PIK3IP1, SIRT4, TENT5B, and LFNG, some of which are related to proliferation and metastasis. Our results showed that low expression of MLL4 promotes NSCLC cell proliferation and metastasis and is required for the maintenance of NSCLC stem cell properties. Conclusion Our findings identify an important role of MLL4 in lung carcinogenesis through transcriptional regulation of PIK3IP1, affecting the PI3K/AKT/SOX2 axis, and suggest that MLL4 could be a potential prognostic indicator and target for NSCLC therapy.

Objective:To explore the risk factors associated with the clinical progression of COVID-19 infection in kidney transplant(KT)recipients during the spread of Omicron variant and evaluate the effectiveness of anti-RNA virus agents in blocking the clinical progression of COVID-19 in these recipients.Methods:Retrospective analysis was conducted for the clinical data on COVID-19 infection in 232 KT recipients followed up from December 4, 2022 to January 31, 2023 at Department of Renal Transplantation, Organ Transplantation Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital.Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years and stable kidney function without renal replacement therapy.The follow-up time was 30 days after COVID-19 infection.Based upon whether or not there was an infection of COVID-19, KT recipients were divided into two groups of infection(181 cases)and non-infection(51 cases). In infection group, recipients were further assigned into two sub-groups of disease progression(n=23)and stable(158 cases)according to whether or not there was a progression to severe disease.Various factors such as gender, age, body mass index(BMI), time after transplantation, underlying diseases(history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease & chronic lung disease), smoking history and dosing of anti-RNA virus agents were collected.Pearson χ2 test or Fisher's exact probability method was utilized for examining enumeration data while Mann-Whitney U test for measurement data.Univariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted and variables with P<0.05 were included into multifactorial Logistic regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for clinical progression of COVID-19 infection in KT recipients. Results:Among 232 KT recipients, infection rate of COVID-19 was 78.0%(181/232). The clinical classification was mild(112 cases), moderate(46 cases), severe(21 cases)and critical(n=2 cases). The severe rate was 12.7%(23/181). After infection with COVID-19, the proportion of KT recipients aged ≥65 years progressing from mild/moderate to severe was higher than those aged<65 years[38.5%(5/13)vs 10.7%(18/168)]. The difference was statistically significant( P=0.014); The proportion of diabetic KT recipients progressing from mild/moderate to severe was higher than those without diabetes[19.1%(13/68)vs 8.8%(10/113)]. The difference was statistically significant( P=0.045). Univariate Logistic analysis showed similar results.Age≥65 years( OR=5.21, 95% CI: 1.54-17.64, P=0.008)or diabetes mellitus( OR=2.44, 95% CI: 1.003-5.911, P=0.049)were the risk factors for COVID-19 infection recipients progressing from mild/moderate to severe disease.Multivariate Logistic analysis revealed that age ≥65 years( OR=4.03, 95% CI: 1.14-14.34, P=0.031)was an independent risk factor for COVID-19 infection recipients progressing from mild/moderate to severe.Among 181 cases of COVID-19 mild/medium infected patients, 18 cases received nimativir/ritonavir and 10 cases had azvudine for anti-RNA virus treatment.However, none of them progressed to severe; 153 cases did not use anti-RNA virus drugs and 23 cases(15.0%)progressed to severe disease and the difference was statistically significant( P=0.028). Among 23 severe cases, 14 cases received nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and 2 cases had azivudine for anti-RNA virus treatment.The former did not progress to critical disease while 1 case in the latter progressed to critical illness and death; 1/7 recipients not using anti-RNA virus agents progressed to critical illness and died while another 6 cases did not progress to critical illness. Conclusions:KT recipients aged ≥65 years or diabetes mellitus have a greater risk of progression from mild/moderate to severe disease after COVID-19 infection.Among them, age ≥65 years is an independent risk factor for patients with COVID-19 infection to progress from mild/moderate to severe.Antiviral treatment with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or azivudine in KT recipients during mild/moderate stage of COVID-19 infection can significantly reduce the rate of severe disease.Treatment with Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir is still effective in the severe stage.

Objective:To compare the short-term outcomes of femoral neck system (FNS) and dynamic hip screw (DHS) in the treatment of femoral neck fractures.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed of the 105 patients with fresh femoral neck fracture who had been treated by FNS fixation from September 2019 to October 2020 or by DHS fixation from January 2018 to October 2020 at Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Hospital Affiliated to Peking University. In the FNS group of 54 cases, there were 18 males and 36 females with a mean age of (60.7±15.2) years; in the DHS group of 51 cases, there were 14 males and 37 females with a mean age of (63.3±13.2) years. The 2 groups were compared in terms of hospital stay, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, qualify of reduction, and femoral neck shortening length, Harris hip score and complications at the last follow-up.Results:The 2 groups were comparable due to insignificant differences in their preoperative general data or follow-up time ( P>0.05). In the FNS group, the median operation time [45.0 (40.0, 59.0) min], intraoperative blood loss [30.0 (20.0, 50.0) mL], incision length [4.0 (4.0, 5.0) cm], intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency [10.5 (9.0, 12.0) times] and hospital stay [2.0 (2.0, 4.0) d] were significantly superior to those in the DHS group [72.0 (55.0, 89.0) min, 50.0 (30.0, 50.0) mL, 7.0 (6.0, 8.0) cm, 18.0 (15.0, 19.0) times, and 3.0 (3.0, 6.0) d] (all P<0.05). There were no statistical differences between the 2 groups in quality of reduction, length of femoral neck shortening, failure rate of internal fixation or Harris hip score at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). There were no such surgical complications as deep infection or femoral head necrosis in either of the 2 groups. Conclusions:In the fixation of femoral neck fractures, both FNS and DHS may lead to fine short-term outcomes. However, compared with DHS, FNS exhibits advantages of simplicity, minimal invasion, less surgical trauma and intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, and reduced operation time and hospital stay.