Instrument separation is a critical complication during root canal therapy, impacting treatment success and long-term tooth preservation. The etiology of instrument separation is multifactorial, involving the intricate anatomy of the root canal system, instrument-related factors, and instrumentation techniques. Instrument separation can hinder thorough cleaning, shaping, and obturation of the root canal, posing challenges to successful treatment outcomes. Although retrieval of separated instrument is often feasible, it carries risks including perforation, excessive removal of tooth structure and root fractures. Effective management of separated instruments requires a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors, meticulous preoperative assessment, and precise evaluation of the retrieval difficulty. The application of appropriate retrieval techniques is essential to minimize complications and optimize clinical outcomes. The current manuscript provides a framework for understanding the causes, risk factors, and clinical management principles of instrument separation. By integrating effective strategies, endodontists can enhance decision-making, improve endodontic treatment success and ensure the preservation of natural dentition.
Humans ; Root Canal Therapy/adverse effects* ; Consensus ; Root Canal Preparation/adverse effects*

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of retrograde distal tibial intramedullary nail fixation in the treatment of proximal ankle fracture of the distal tibia.Methods:A three-dimensional CT examination of 40 adult tibias was performed to measure anatomical indicators such as the posterior medial posterior torsion angle of the distal tibia, the height of torsion, and the height of the safety zone for nail placement. Based on the anatomy database of the human skeleton model, a retrograde distal tibial nail and its supporting instruments were developed in accordance with the anatomical characteristics of the distal tibia and the proximal ankle of Chinese people. From June 2019 to June 2023, a total of 25 patients with distal tibial proximal ankle fractures treated with retrograde intramedullary nail internal fixation in the 909th Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 18 males and 7 females, aged 41.3±10.8 years (range, 22-65 years). The sample size was 1∶1 matched according to gender and age. Twenty-five patients with distal tibial proximal ankle fractures who underwent antegrade intramedullary nail fixation during the same period were matched, including 20 males and 5 females, aged 41.2±9.4 years (range 19-60 years). The reduction quality, postoperative Baird-Jackson score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score, ankle range of motion and complications were observed.Results:All patients were successfully operated and followed up for 14.4±3.5 months (range, 12-24 months). The intraoperative blood loss and hospitalization time in retrograde intramedullary nail group were 33.12±7.38 ml and 10.32±1.75 d, less than 49.04±10.22 ml and 13.16±2.69 d in antegrade intramedullary nail group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The reduction quality was excellent in 23 cases and good in 2 cases in the retrograde intramedullary nail group, and was excellent in 17 cases and good in 8 cases in the anterograde intramedullary nail group. The proportion of excellent reduction quality in the retrograde intramedullary nail group was higher than that in the anterograde intramedullary nail group, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=4.500, P=0.034). The Baird-Jackson score and AOFAS ankle and hindfoot score in the retrograde intramedullary nail group were 85.6±2.5 and 85.8±3.3 at 3 months after operation, lower than those at 1 year after operation 95.3±3.1 and 95.8±3.6, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The Baird-Jackson score and AOFAS ankle and hindfoot score of the antegrade intramedullary nail group were 85.1±3.3 and 86.1±2.5 at 3 months after operation, lower than 95.2±2.7 and 94.9±3.5 at 1 year after operation, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in Baird-Jackson score and AOFAS ankle and hindfoot score between the two groups at 3 months and 1 year after operation ( P>0.05). At the last follow-up, there was no ankle stiffness, neurovascular injury, deep vein thrombosis, infection or breakage of internal fixation in the two groups. Conclusion:The treatment of distal tibial proximal ankle fractures with retrograde intramedullary nail fixation has satisfactory reduction quality, good postoperative function recovery, and is helpful for early postoperative rehabilitation.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of the limited-stage disease (LD) and extensive-stage disease (ED) of primary esophageal small cell carcinoma (PESCC). Methods The clinical data and follow-up information of 72 patients with PESCC were retrospectively analyzed. Chi-square test was used to compare the baseline data of patients with LD and ED, Kaplan-Meier method was employed to draw the survival curve of both groups, and Log-rank test was employed to compare survival rates between groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression methods were used to analyze the factors affecting the overall survival (OS) of patients with LD and ED. Results A total of 49 patients with LD and 23 patients with ED were included in this study. The median survival time of patients with LD was 18.300 months and that of patients with ED was 10.903 months (P=0.029). Total protein (TP) value (HR=0.890, 95%CI: 0.805−0.983, P=0.022) and chemotherapy cycle number (HR=0.388, 95%CI: 0.187−0.807, P=0.011) were independent prognostic factors of patients with LD. Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) (HR=1.002, 95%CI: 1.000−1.004, P=0.007) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (HR=1.065, 95%CI: 1.021−1.111, P=0.004) were independent prognostic factors of patients with ED. Conclusion The malignant degree of PESCC is high, and prognosis is poor. Patients with LD and ED have different prognostic factors. Total protein value and chemotherapy cycle are independent prognostic factors of patients with LD. SII and CRP are independent prognostic factors of patients with ED.

Humans ; Acute Disease ; Pancreatitis/diagnosis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Patient Discharge ; Disease Progression

Objective:To systematically review the effect of preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation on postoperative pulmonary complications in patients with lung cancer.Methods:The randomized controlled trials of preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation for lung cancer published in the past 10 years were retrieved in China Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, WanFang Data, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Wiley Online Library. The search limit was from January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2021. The quality evaluation and data extraction of the included article were carried out, and the Meta-analysis of the outcome indicators of postoperative pulmonary complications was conducted.Results:A total of 12 articles were included. Meta-analysis showed that the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant [ RR=0.42, 95% CI (0.32, 0.55) , P<0.01]. Subgroup analysis was performed according to the duration of intervention, and the results showed that when the intervention duration was one week, the difference between the intervention group and the control group was statistically significant [ RR=0.36, 95% CI (0.24, 0.55) , P<0.01], when the intervention duration was more than one week, the difference between the intervention group and the control group was statistically significant [ RR=0.48, 95% CI (0.33, 0.68) , P<0.01) ]. Subgroup analysis was conducted with different evaluation time after operation, and the results showed that when the evaluation time was one month, the difference between the intervention group and the control group was statistically significant [ RR=0.48, 95% CI (0.34, 0.68) , P<0.01], when the evaluation time was more than one month, there was no significant difference between the intervention group and the control group [ RR=0.39, 95% CI (0.08, 1.85) , P=0.24]. Except for pneumonia or pulmonary infection, atelectasis, and bronchopleural fistula, there was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in patients with lung cancer ( P>0.05) . Conclusions:Exercise that includes breathing training for at least one week is a common intervention for preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation. Preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation is beneficial to reduce the overall and one month postoperative pulmonary complications after lung cancer surgery, but the impact on postoperative pulmonary complications evaluated for more than one month and specific complications requires further study.

Objective:To explore the achievements of clinical teaching and scientific research acquired by visiting scholars funded by medical foundation, which will be benefit for the improvement for cultivation of innovative talents in general hospitals.Methods:Questionnaire data of 132 visiting scholars supported by Beijing Li Huanying Medical Foundation from 2010 to 2016 were analyzed and applied by descriptive statistics.Results:Study abroad has played a positive role in promoting clinical skills, teaching level, and scientific research capacity building. Visitors have significantly improved their teaching titles, mentor positions, paper publishing and approved funding projects, in which there was a year-on-year growth trend high level projects funded.Conclusions:Study abroad is conducive to stimulating the enthusiasm and creativity of medical talents, and also an effective way to enhance the overall strength of the hospital. The foundation exerts the overall planning and leadership role of talent construction, and provides full-chain service and management for overseas study personnel, which is the key to maximize the teaching and research output of medical personnel.

Objective: To investigate the molecular characterization of adult diarrhea cases caused by enterotoxic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and explore the practical model of epidemiology for laboratory technique and data needs based on the surveillance network. Methods: Epidemiological design and sampling targeted adult cases ETEC caused diarrhea in epidemic season. The enterotoxin type, serogroup, resistance, colonization factor and molecular type of ETEC were identified. Multiple dynamic phenotypic characteristics of ETEC were indicated by multidimensional and multivariable data. Results: From 2016 to 2018, 84 eligible ETEC strains were detected. The dominant serums/toxins were O∶6 (STh), O∶25 (LT), O∶159 (STh), O∶153 (STh). O∶6 (STh+CS21), which replaced O∶25 and O∶159 as the popular clones in 2018. Six cases of O∶153 (STh+CFA/I+CS8+PT34) in outbreak in 2017 were imported ones. The resistance rates of ETEC strains detected in adults to sulfasoxazole, naproxinic acid, ampicillin and azithromycin were more than 30%, multidrug resistance (MDR) reached 58.3%. Serum/toxin types suggested that attenuated strains were more likely to become MDR. Molecular typing confirmed that the genetic similarity of the dominant clone of O∶6 serogroup (PT20-24) was higher than O∶25 and O∶159. There was a high correlation between the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of azithromycin and the resistant gene mphA (87.5%, 28/32). O∶6 (STh+CS21+mphA) resistant clone was first detected in 2016. Conclusion A new epidemic clone in adult ETEC diarrhea cases in Shanghai was O∶6 (STh+CS21+mphA). For the first time the association between azithromycin resistance gene mphA and a serum group of ETEC was observed. Multidimensional and multivariate analysis techniques based on epidemiology can help reveal the potential transmission pattern of ETEC for the accurate surveillance and early warning of outbreaks.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of PIK3CA in Chinese breast cancer patients may be underestimated. Therefore, we investigated the distribution of somatic PIK3CA/AKT1 mutations in Chinese breast cancer patients and explored their roles in tumor phenotypes and disease prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tumors from 507 breast cancer patients were prospectively collected from the West China Hospital between 2008 and 2013. Whole exons of AKT1 and PIK3CA were detected in fresh-frozen tumors using next-generation sequencing, and correlations between PIK3CA/AKT1 mutations and clinicopathological features were analyzed. RESULTS: The AKT1 mutation was found in 3.6% (18/507) of patients. Tumors from patients that carried the AKT1 mutation were estrogen receptor (ER)+/progesterone receptor (PR)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‒ and were more likely to have high expression levels of Ki67. The prevalence of the PIK3CA mutation was 46.5% (236/507), and 35 patients carried two or three variants of the PIK3CA gene. PIK3CA mutations were associated with ER+/PR+/HER2‒ status. The prognosis of patients with one mutation in PIK3CA (or PIK3CA/AKT1) was not significantly different than that of patients with wild-type PIK3CA (or PIK3CA/AKT1), while patients with two or three variants in PIK3CA (or PIK3CA/AKT1) exhibited poorer outcomes in the entire group and in all three subgroups (ER+, HER2‒, Ki67 high), particularly with respect to overall survival. CONCLUSION: A high frequency of somatic PIK3CA mutations was detected in Chinese breast cancer patients. In addition to the mutation frequency, the tumor mutational burden of the PIK3CA and AKT1 genes should also be of concern, as they may be associated with poor prognosis.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; China ; Estrogens ; Exons ; Humans ; Mutation Rate ; Phenotype ; Prevalence* ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the erythrocyte membrane protein gene mutations and the clinical severity of hereditary spherocytosis (HS). Methods: Targeted sequencings were performed on 25 HS patients, correlation between HS mutations and patients’ clinical characteristics were evaluated. Results: A total of 25 HS patients were enrolled, including 13 males and 12 females with median age of 20 (4-55) years, including 9 compensatory hemolysis patients, 9 patients with mild anemia, 3 patients with moderate anemia and 4 patients with severe anemia. Of them, 18 patients (72%) harbored HS-related mutations, including ANK1 mutation in 6 cases, SLC4A1 mutation in 6 cases, SPTB mutation in 5 cases and 1 case with EPB41 mutation. Seven patients (28%) didn’t carry common HS mutations. SPTB and SLC4A1 mutations mainly affected male patients. There was no significant difference between the age of diagnosis (P=0.130) and HGB level (P=0.585) in patients with HS mutation and those without mutation, however, the EMA binding fluorescence intensity (P=0.015), AGLT50 (P=0.032) and EOF minimal hemolytic concentration (P=0.027) were significantly different in these two groups of HS patients. Conclusion To screen erythrocyte membrane protein coding gene mutations could favor the diagnosis of HS, and patients without mutations have mild clinical phenotype.

Objective: To explore the value of dual energy CT lung perfusion imaging (DEPI) for diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) in comparison with CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Methods: There were 49 patients with suspected PE received DEPI scanning and 19 with CTPA conifrmed diagnosis were enrolled in this study. CTPA image was obtained by 80 kv data, and DEPI image was obtained by PBV software. The location, type of PE in CTPA image, and the location, shape of perfusion defect in DEPI were observed and compared by segment basis. The correlation and agreement of CTPA and DEPI for diagnosing PE were calculated and the un-agreement was analyzed. Results: A total of 380 segments were included for analysis. CTPA detected 162 segments of PE and DEPI detected 155 segments of perfusion defect or reduction, partial PE were mainly presented by perfusion defects as speckles, patches or without perfusion defect, and complete PE were mainly showed segmental or sub-segmental perfusion defects. CTPA and DEPI were correlated for PE diagnosis (χ2=305.5,P=0.000), the diagnostic agreement was 83.42% and KAPPA value was 0.659. Conclusion: The perfusion defect in DEPI is related to the degree and type of PE presented in CTPA, their combination is helpful for diagnosing PE.