Objective To evaluate the reliability of ultrasound for rapid identification of esophageal intubation in the patients with difficult airway.Methods Twenty-one patients requiring orotracheal intubation, aged 20-75 yr, with body mass index of 25-32 kg/m2, of ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ , Cormack-Lehane grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ under direct laryngoscope, undergoing elective general anesthesia, were selected.The carotid artery, trachea and esophagus were identified by ultrasonic scanning at suprasternal notch before induction of anesthesia.After induction of anesthesia, tracheal intubation was performed.During intubation, ultrasound was performed to detect esophageal intubation.After intubation, mechanical ventilation was performed.Auscultation of bilateral breath sounds was carried out to evaluate the tube position.The position of the tube was subsequendy determined through partial pressure of end-tidal CO2 monitoring.Results The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in identifying esophageal intubation were both 100％ in the patients with difficult airway.Conclusion Ultrasound can rapidly and effectively identify esophageal intubation in the patients with difficult airway.

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound-measured quantification of anterior neck soft tissue in predicting the difficult laryngoscopy in the obese patients.Methods Ninety-six patients,with body mass index ≥ 28 kg/m2,aged 22-60 yr,of ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation,were selected.Assessment methods of modified Mallampati grade (method M) and anterior neck soft tissue quantification measured by ultrasound (method U) were performed before anesthesia.The level of vocal cords was selected using ultrasound scanning for anterior neck.The positive result was greater than 20 mm in method U,and was grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ in method M.Direct laryngoscope was placed after induction of anesthesia.Difficult laryngoscopy was defined as Cormack-Lehane grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ,or in whom laryngoscope could not be placed.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of the two assessment methods for predicting the difficult laryngoscopy were calculated.Results Twenty-two patients were found to have difficult laryngoscopy,and the anterior neck soft tissue quantification was (23.0±3.0) mm,which was significantly thicker than that in the patients of non-difficult laryngoscopy ((1.9±2.2) mm).The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of method U were 91％,92％ and 92％,respectively,and of method M were 77％,81％ and 80％,respectively,and there was significant difference between the two methods.There was no significant difference in the parameters of difficult laryngoscopy which were predicted using method U between the patients of different ages or gender.Conclusion It can accurately predict the difficult laryngoscopy in the obese patients when the ultrasound-measured quantification of anterior neck soft tissue is greater than 20 mm.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of adductor canal block (ACB) under the guidance of ultrasound for postoperative analgesia in the pediatric patients undergoing knee operation.Methods Sixty pediatric patients,aged 3-12 yr,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,weighing 12-35 kg,scheduled for elective unilateral knee operation,were selected and randomly divided into 2 equal groups using a random number table:ultrasound-guided ACB group (group ACB) and ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block (FNB) group (group FNB).After induction of general anesthesia,ACB or FNB was performed under the guidance of ultrasound,and 0.3％ ropivacaine 1 ml/kg was injected.Anesthesia was maintained with intravenous infusion of remifentanil combined with propofol,and bispectral index value was maintained at 40-60.Immediately after injection of local anesthetics (T0),and at 4,8,12 and 24 h after injection (T1-4),analgesic efficacy was assessed using the FLACC pain scale,and quadriceps strength was assessed by manual muscle testing.Satisfactory analgesia was defined as FLACC score ≤ 3,and obvious quadriceps weakness was defined as manual muscle testing grade 0-2.The complications associated with nerve block (such as local anesthetic toxicity,bleeding at the puncture site,hematoma),and occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and delayed emergence were recorded.Results There was no significant difference between two groups in the rate of satisfactory analgesia at T1-T4 (P＞ 0.05).Compared with group FNB,the incidence of obvious quadriceps weakness was significantly lower at T1-T3 (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found at T4 in group ACB (P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of nausea or retching between two groups (P＞0.05).Complications associated with nerve block,vomiting and delayed emergence were not observed in the two groups.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided ACB can be safely and effectively used for postoperative analgesia in the pediatric patients undergoing knee operation,and it has less influence on the quadriceps strength than FNB.

Objective The evaluate the accuracy of loss of resistance technique for location of fascia iliaca compartment using ultrasound technique.Methods One hundred and seventy-five patients undergoing hip surgery were enrolled in the study.A line was drawn on the skin from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine and divided in three equal parts.The site of puncture was marked 2 cm distal to the point at which the lateral met the middle third of the line.The needle was inserted until a loss of resistance was felt twice (fascia lata and fascia iliaca),at which point 0.5 ％ ropivacaine 30 ml was infused.Correct puncture was identified by visualized spread of local anesthetic solution under the guidance of ultrasound technique.The effective sensory block was recorded within 20 min after administration.Results The accuracy of loss of resistance method for locating the fascia iliac compartment was 56.6 ％ using ultrasound technique.There were 80 patients in whom fault site of puncture occurred:25 cases in the superficial layer of the fascia iliac and 51 cases in the iliopsoas muscle.The rate of effective block was 98.0 ％ for correct location and 82.9 ％ for fault location.Conclusion Loss of resistance technique cannot accurately locate the fascia iliac compartment.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of fascia iliaca compartment block with dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine for analgesia in the patients suffering from proximal femoral fractures.Methods Eighty emergency patients with proximal femoral fractures,aged 25-70yr,weighing 55-82 kg,of ASA physical status Ⅰ-[Ⅲ,were equally and randomly divided into 2 groups using a random number table:ropivacaine group (group R) and dexmedetomidine mixed with ropivacaine group (group DR).All the patients underwent fascia iliaca compartment block described by Dalens.0.4％ ropivacaine 30 ml was injected in group R,and 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine 30 ml containing 0.4 ％ ropivacaine was injected in group DR.The severity of pain was assessed by VAS scores,and the level of sedation was assessed by Ramsay scores.At 30,60,90 and 120 min after injection (T1-4),VAS scores at rest and during activity were recorded,the effective analgesia (VAS scores at rest and during activity≤6) and satisfactory sedation (Ramsay scores 2-4) in group DR were also recorded,and the development of hemorrhage or hematoma at the puncture site,local anesthetic poisoning,adverse cardiovascular events and over-sedation was also recorded.Results Compared with group R,the rate of effective analgesia during activity was significantly increased at T2-4,and no significant change was found in the rate of effective analgesia at rest in group DR.In group DR,the rate of satisfactory sedation was 73 ％,88％,95％ and 95％ at T1-4,respectively,and no over-sedation occurred.No patients developed hemorrhage or hematoma at the puncture site,or local anesthetic poisoning in the two groups.Conclusion Fascia iliaca compartment block with 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine combined with 4％ ropivacaine 30 ml can alleviate the early pain caused by passive activity without inducing obvious adverse reactions in the patients suffering from proximal femoral fractures.

OBJECTIVETo develop an improved substrate for indirect immunofluorescence test (IIF) for detecting anti-Ro60/Sjogren's syndrome A (Ro/SSA) autoantibodies.

METHODS60-kDa Ro/SSA autoantigens (Ro60) cDNAs were obtained from human placental cDNA library using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were cloned into the mammalian expression vector-pEGFP-C1. Then, the recombinant plasmids were transfected into HEp-2 cells. We confirmed the overexpression, localization and antigenicity of fusion proteins in transfected cells by means of immunoblotting, confocal fluorescence microscopy and IIF. HEp-2 and HEp-Ro60 were analyzed by IIF using a panel of 10 precipitin-positive anti-Ro human sera simultaneously.

RESULTSStable expression of Ro60-green fluorescent protein (Ro60-GFP) fusion proteins were maintained ten more generations. Ro60-GFP kept the antigenicity of Ro while demonstrating its own characteristic immunofluorescent pattern in HEp-Ro60 cells. The transfectants dramatically increased the sensitivity of IIF testing (a mean increase of 6.7-fold in endpoint titer). Eight over ten (8/10) positive anti-Ro sera showed characteristic immunofluorescent patterns for HEp-Ro60, including two sera that were anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) negative for untransfected HEp-2. IIF-ANA in all healthy sera was negative for HEp-Ro60.

CONCLUSIONSAs a new substrate for IIF, the Ro60 transfectants can be used to detect anti-Ro antibodies. In addition, transfected HEp-2 cells keep the immunofluorescent properties of HEp-2 cells in IIF-ANA tests and can be employed as a substrate for routine IIF-ANA detection.

Antibodies, Antinuclear ; blood ; Autoantigens ; Cell Line ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Molecular Weight ; RNA, Small Cytoplasmic ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; immunology ; Ribonucleoproteins ; immunology ; Transfection

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of certolizumab pegol (CZP) in the treatment of Chinese women of childbearing age with inflammatory joint diseases and the effect of intrauterine exposure on infant vaccination and risk of infection.Methods:This study is a retrospective observation study, including female patients of childbearing age who were treated with CZP in the outpatient clinic from November 2019 to October 2020. The patients were followed up for 24 weeks, and the related data was collected. We adopted disease activity score-28 for rheumatoid arthritis with CRP (DAS28-CRP), clinical disease activity index (CDAI) and simplified disease activity index (SDAI) to evaluate disease activity. Bath ankylosing spon-dylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) and ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAS-ESR) were used to assess the disease activity of patients with ankylosing spondylitis or spondyloarthritis (AS/SpA). Low disease activity (LDA), the dosage of glucocorticoid (GC) and the qualified rates of ACR20 and ASAS20 were calculated to validate the efficacy of CZP. The data of infants vaccination and infection was recorded to estimate the effect of intrauterine exposure on infants. Correlation analysis were performed using paired t test or Mann Whitney test. All statistical tests were bilateral, with a significance of P<0.05. Results:Twenty women entered the study and fifteen completed, including eight patients with RA, six patients with AS and 1 patient with SpA. The average age was (30±5) years and the median symptom duration was 5.0 (3.0, 6.5) years. When these RA patients were enrolled into the study, DAS28-CRP, CDAI and SDAI were (3.4±1.2), 15.5(9.5, 21.0) and (18±12) respectively; and after the use of CZP, the DAS28-CRP, CDAI and SDAI changed to (2.5±0.9)( t=2.48, P=0.042), 4.5(3.5, 10.8) ( U=12.50, P=0.040) and (9±6) (t=2.76, P=0.028). At the first follow-up, the ACR20 rate was 50%. and at the end of the study, the LDA rate was 75%(6/8), three(37.5%) women reduced the dosage of GC. Among the AS/SpA patients, BASDAI was 19.0(14.5, 26.0) and ASDAS-ESR was (2.4±1.0) at first, while after treatment, BASDAI turned into 9.0(1.0, 10.5) ( U=11.50, P=0.100) and ASDAS-ESR turned into (1.4±0.5) ( t=3.44, P=0.014). The ASAS20 rate at the first follow-up was 71.4%(5/7), and 85.7%(6/7) at the end of the study. Four patients experienced adverse events, resulting in drug withdrawal. Three women were pregnant when they were enrolled into the study, and three others became pregnant during the research. Six infants were vaccinated with live attenuated vaccines and inactivated vaccines according to the plan. No adverse event related to vaccination was reported, but one of the babies had perianal abscess and the other one had cold symptoms, while both improved after treatment. Conclusion:CZP can effectively control disease activity of women with inflammatory joint diseases during pregnancy, and intrauterine exposure is safe to infants during the study period.