Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in treating severe pneumonia complicated with gastrointestinal dysfunction (GIDF).Method Sixty patients with severe pneumonia complicated with GIDF were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The two groups were both given conventional Western medications. In addition, the treatment group was intervened by acupuncture, and the control group by oral administration of Mosapride citrate capsules and enteral nutrition via nasogastric tube. After 7-day treatment, the changes of GIDF score, intraabdominal pressure, bowel sound and gastric retention were observed in the two groups, and the clinical efficacies were compared.Result The total effective rate was 93.1% in the treatment group versus 78.6% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The scores of GIDF and the indexes (intraabdominal pressure, bowel sound, and gastric retention) were significantly changed after the treatment in both groups (P<0.05). The scores of GIDF and the indexes in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group after the intervention (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function in severe pneumonia patients, since it can significantly improve the intraabdominal pressure, bowel sound and gastric retention.

Objective: To examine the mediating effect of frailty on social isolation and cognitive function among the elderly. Methods: Demographic information, smoking, alcohol consumption and cognitive function of the elderly at ages of 60 years and older were collected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2020. Social isolation and frailty were evaluated using social isolation index and frailty index, respectively. The mediating effect of frailty on social isolation and cognitive function was analyzed using the Process program, and the significance of the mediating role was tested using the Bootstrap test. Results: A total of 2 822 individuals were enrolled, including 1 483 males (52.55%) and 1 339 females (47.45%). There were 2 497 (88.48%) and 325 (11.52%) individuals at ages of 60-<75 years and ≥75 years, respectively. The median cognitive function score was 14 (interquartile range, 16) points. There were 432 cases with social isolation (15.31%), with a median social isolation index of 10 (interquartile range, 5) points. The median frailty index was 0.11 (interquartile range, 0.15). There were 1 111 individuals without frailty, accounting for 39.37%; 1 214 individuals with pre-frailty, accounting for 43.02%; and 497 individuals with frailty, accounting for 17.61%. Mediating effect analysis showed that social isolation affected cognitive function directly and negatively with the effect value of -0.773 (95%CI: -0.899 to -0.647), and also affected cognitive function by frailty indirectly and negatively with the effect value of -0.147 (95%CI: -0.188 to -0.110), with the mediating effect contributed 15.98% of the total effect. Conclusion Frailty can directly or indirectly affect cognitive function among elderly through social isolation.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of cross electro-nape-acupuncture on reflex remodeling of airway protective reflex cough in patients with tracheotomy after cerebral hemorrhage.

METHODSWith the method of completely random design, according to treatment order, 60 patients who received tracheotomy after cerebral hemorrhage accompanied with cough reflex difficulty were randomly divided into a cross electro-nape-acupuncture group and an acupuncture group, 30 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with basic treatment, including anti-inflammation, eliminating phlegm, improving cerebral metabolism and so on. The acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at Yifeng (TE 17), Fengchi (GB 20), Lianquan (CV 23), Baihui (GV 20), Touwei (ST 8), Dicang (ST 4) through Jiache (ST 6), Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), and motor area on the affected side, and the needles were retained for 30 min. Based on the treatment of acupuncture group, the cross electro-nape-acupuncture group was additionally treated with cross electro-nape-acupuncture (continuous wave) for 30 min per treatment. The treatment was both given twice a day from Monday to Friday and once a day on Saturday and Sun day for 4 weeks. Tracheostomy cough reflex grading score (TCRGS) and clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) were observed before and after treatment in the two groups, and the clinical efficacy of two groups was evaluated.

RESULTSCompared before the treatment, TCRGS and CPIS were both reduced in two groups (both P < 0.01); after treatment, there were significant differences of TCRGS and CPIS between two groups (both P < 0.01), indicating cross electro-nape-acupuncture group was superior to acupuncture group. Regarding the effects of cough reflex remodeling, the cured and markedly effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in the cross electro-nape-acupuncture group, which was significantly different from 55.2% (16/29) in the acupuncture group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCross electro-nape-acupuncture could effectively improve the remodeling of cough reflex and promote the recovery of lung infection in patients with tracheotomy after cerebral hemorrhage, leading to an increased quality of life.

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Cough ; physiopathology ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reflex ; Tracheotomy

OBJECTIVE: To observe the curative effect of autogenous bone pate for atticus reconstitution and mastoid cavity obliteration in canal wall down mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty. METHOD: The 60 patients (60 ears) of cholesteatomatous tympanitis were randomly divided into 2 groups. The experimental group underwent canal wall down mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty and using autogenous bone pate for atticus reconstitution and mastoid cavity obliteration. The control group only underwent canal wall down mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty. All patients were followed up for 0.5-2 years. Improvement of hearing and dry ear time in these two groups was retrospectively observed. RESULTS: There are significant difference between two groups in improvement of hearing and dry ear time, according to follow-up and analysis of therapeutic efficacy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Hearing can be improved, dry ear time can be shorten and correlative complication can be decreased by atticus reconstruction and mastoid cavity obliteration with autogenous bone pate in canal wall down mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty, which guarantees the normal activity space of auditory bone chain.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Transplantation ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mastoid ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Tympanoplasty ; methods ; Young Adult

Objective:To compare biomechanical stabilities between screw-plate fixation and non-cannulated screw fixation for Lisfranc ligament injury by a 3-D finite element analysis.Methods:A 3-D model of a healthy foot was developed from computed tomography images. The 1st and the 2nd dorsal tarsometatarsal ligaments and Lisfranc ligament were cut in the 3-D model of a healthy foot to establish a Lisfranc ligament injury model, in which screw-plate fixation (with 2 locking plates and 8 standard screws and one non-cannulated screw) and non-cannulated screw fixation (with 3 non-cannulated screws) for Lisfranc ligament injury were simulated respectively. Finite element analyses were carried out by Abaqus 6.14 software after loads were added in the 3-D models of screw-plate fixation and non-cannulated screw fixation for Lisfranc ligament injury. The overall stress-strain nephogram, the stress distribution and displacement of the foot bone, and the stress distribution on the internal fixation system were compared between the 2 kinds of models.Results:Under the same load, the stress of the whole screw-plate fixation was concentrated on the fixators, and the stress of the non-cannulated screws was also greater than that of the bones. In both models, the strain of the whole foot led to arch collapse, especially in the medial column. The maximum stress on the screw holes in the medial and middle columns in the screw-plate fixation model was 39.91 MPa, smaller than that in the non-cannulated screw fixation model (53.13 MPa). The relative displacement of the first metatarsal joint in the screw-plate fixation model was 8.515 × 10 -1 mm, much greater than that in the non-cannulated screw fixation model (3.893 × 10 -1 mm). Stress concentration was observed in both models. The stress of the screw-plate system was concentrated on the fibular side of the middle section of the plate used to fix the first tarsometatarsal joint, decreasing towards both ends. The maximum stress of the non-cannulated screws was located in the middle of the medial column screw for fixation of the first tarsometatarsal joint, significantly greater than those of the both ends. The maximum stress of the screw-plate system was 239.5 MPa, smaller than that of the non-cannulated screws (256.8 MPa). Conclusions:Non-cannulated screw fixation demonstrates a greater biomechanical stability for Lisfranc ligament injury than screw-plate fixation. However, the former may have a higher risk of screw breakage because it bears a greater stress.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of maintenance therapy with reduced dose of rhTPO in the patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who attained stable platelet (PLT) counts after daily administration of rhTPO. Methods: Treatment was started with a daily administration of rhTPO (300 U/kg) for 2 consecutive weeks. Patients who attained stable PLT≥50×10⁹/L were enrolled to maintenance therapy starting with every other day administration of rhTPO, then adjusted dose interval to maintain platelet count (30-100) ×10⁹/L. Results: A total of 91 eligible patients were enrolled. Fourteen patients discontinued the study due to noncompliance (12/14) and investigator decision (2/14) . Among 77 patients who completed the study, 38 patients with the administration of rhTPO at every other day or less could maintain PLT≥30×10⁹/L for 12 weeks. The percentage of patients with a platelet response (PLT≥30×10⁹/L) at 4^th week, 8^th week and 12^th week of maintain therapy was 92.6% (63/68) , 82.7% (43/52) and 85.0% (34/40) , respectively. Median platelet counts remained in the range of (70-124) ×10⁹/L. The overall incidence of rhTPO-related adverse events was 7.7%. All the adverse events were generally mild. Conclusion Extending the dose interval of rhTPO is feasible to maintain stable platelet count in the patients with ITP, but the optimal dose interval is uncertain and might vary with individuals.

BACKGROUNDBlood pressure variability (BPV) is a reliable prognostic factor for cardiovascular events. Currently there is a worldwide lack of large sample size studies in visit-to-visit BPV. Based on the Kailuan Study, we analyzed the visit-to-visit BPV of patients to investigate the range and influencing factors of BPV.

METHODSIn 11 hospitals in the Kailuan Company, 4 441 patients received routine health checkups. Physical examination measured blood pressure (BP), body height, body weight, and waist circumference, and body mass index was calculated. Blood samples were analyzed for plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

RESULTSThe effect of gender on systolic BPV was investigated. The average systolic BPV was 10.35 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) overall, 10.54 mmHg in males and 10.06 mmHg in females. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that the age (RR = 1.022), systolic BP (SBP, RR = 1.007), LDL-C (RR = 1.098), and history of hypertension (RR = 1.273) were significant risk factors for higher systolic BPV. We found that aging (RR = 1.022), increased SBP (RR = 1.007), and a history of hypertension (RR = 1.394) were determinants of systolic BPV in males. The risk factors for systolic BPV of females were aging (RR = 1.017), increased SBP (RR = 1.009), increased LDL (RR = 1.136), and increased TG (RR = 1.157).

CONCLUSIONOur findings indicated that the systolic BPV is closely associated with age, SBP and history of hypertension.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; China ; Cities ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Waist Circumference ; physiology

Acute respiratory failure due to acute hypoxemia is the major manifestation in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Rational and effective respiratory support is crucial in the management of COVID-19 patients. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has been utilized widely due to its superiority over other non-invasive respiratory support techniques. To avoid HFNC failure and intubation delay, the key issues are proper patients, timely application and improving compliance. It should be noted that elder patients are vulnerable for failed HFNC. We applied HFNC for oxygen therapy in severe and critical ill COVID-19 patients and summarized the following experiences. Firstly, to select the proper size of nasal catheter, to locate it at suitable place, and to confirm the nose and the upper respiratory airway unobstructed. Secondly, an initial ow of 60 L/min and 37℃ should be given immediately for patients with obvious respiratory distress or weak cough ability; otherwise, low-level support should be given first and the level gradually increased. Thirdly, to avoid hypoxia or hypoxemia, the treatment goal of HFNC should be maintained the oxygen saturation (SpO) above 95% for patients without chronic pulmonary disease. Finally, patients should wear a surgical mask during HFNC treatment to reduce the risk of virus transmission through droplets or aerosols.
Aged ; Betacoronavirus ; isolation & purification ; Cannula ; Coronavirus Infections ; therapy ; Humans ; Oxygen ; administration & dosage ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; therapy

Acute respiratory failure due to acute hypoxemia is the major manifestation in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Rational and effective respiratory support is crucial in the management of COVID-19 patients. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has been utilized widely due to its superiority over other non-invasive respiratory support techniques. To avoid HFNC failure and intubation delay, the key issues are proper patients, timely application and improving compliance. It should be noted that elder patients are vulnerable for failed HFNC. We applied HFNC for oxygen therapy in severe and critical COVID-19 patients and summarized the following experiences. Firstly, to select the proper size of nasal catheter, to locate it at suitable place, and to confirm the nose and the upper respiratory airway unobstructed. Secondly, an initial flow of 60 L/min and 37℃ should be given immediately for patients with obvious respiratory distress or weak cough ability; otherwise, low-level support should be given first and the level gradually increased. Thirdly, to avoid hypoxia or hypoxemia, the treatment goal of HFNC should be maintained the oxygen saturation (SpO) above 95% for patients without chronic pulmonary disease. Finally, patients should wear a surgical mask during HFNC treatment to reduce the risk of virus transmission through droplets or aerosols.
Aged ; Betacoronavirus ; Cannula ; Coronavirus Infections ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Masks ; Oxygen ; administration & dosage ; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy ; instrumentation ; standards ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; complications ; therapy

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.