Objective:To investigate the relationship between HbA 1C variability and diabetic retinopathy(DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes and to explore the influencing factors of HbA 1C variability. Methods:Type 2 diabetic patients who received dilated funduscopic examination annually, were stratified into two groups based on the presence or absence of DR, with a median follow-up period of 4 years(2-5 years). Intrapersonal means and SDs of all recorded HbA 1C measurements were calculated. A 1C-SD represented the measure of HbA 1C variability. In addition, medical history and clinical data of all subjects were collected and analyzed. Subjects were divided into four quartiles based on their A 1C-Mean and A 1C-SD data: Q1(A 1C-Mean<7%, A 1C-SD<0.76%); Q2(A 1C-Mean<7%, A 1C-SD≥0.76%); Q3(A 1C-Mean≥7%, A 1C-SD<0.76%); Q4(A 1C-Mean≥7%, A 1C-SD≥0.76%). Results:Multivariate linear regression showed that exercise, insulin( P<0.01), and smoking( P=0.004) are the influencing factors of HbA 1C variability. Adjusted for age, sex, and diabetes duration, Cox regression analysis revealed that HbA 1C variability was an independent risk factor for DR. Meanwhile, patients in Q4 group had the highest DR prevalence(HR=1.676, P<0.01) while Q1 group had the lowest. In addition, patients in Q2 group(HR=1.437, P=0.005) had a higher risk of DR than those in Q3 group(HR=1.361, P<0.01). Conclusions:HbA 1C variability is an independent predictor of DR in patients with type 2 diabetes. It may play a greater role in DR development than mean HbA 1C does when the mean value of HbA 1C variability index is above 0.75%.

Objective:To analyze the effects of different blood pressure variables and their variabilities on diabetic nephropathy(DN)in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:This prospective cohort study included 3 050 type 2 diabetic patients without DN at baseline from Lee′s clinic in Taiwan, China. The metabolic parameters of patients were regularly checked, and urine albumin creatinine ratio(UACR)were evaluated annually. The average follow-up period was 7 years(3-10 years). The means and standard deviations(SD)of systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP), pulse pressure(PP), and mean arterial pressure(MAP)were calculated. According to whether SBP-Mean was higher or lower than 130 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and SBP-SD was higher or lower than 11.06 mmHg(average SBP-SD), these patients were divided into four groups: Q1(SBP-Mean<130 mmHg, SBP-SD<11.06 mmHg); Q2(SBP-Mean<130 mmHg, SBP-SD≥11.06 mmHg); Q3(SBP-Mean≥130 mmHg, SBP-SD<11.06 mmHg); Q4(SBP-Mean≥130 mmHg, SBP-SD≥11.06 mmHg). In the same way, according to whether PP-Mean was higher or lower than 80 mmHg(average PP-Mean)and PP-SD was higher or lower than 6.48 mmHg(average PP-SD), the patients were divided into Q1-Q4 groups.Results:After adjusting age, sex, and diabetes duration, Cox regression analysis showed that SBP-Mean, SBP-SD, PP-Mean, and PP-SD were the risk factors of DN. After the stratification according to SBP-Mean and SBP-SD, the patients in Q4 group( HR=1.976, P<0.001)had the highest risk while those in Q1 group displayed the lowest risk for DN. Additionally, the patients in Q3 group( HR=1.614, P<0.001)imposed a higher risk than that in Q2 group( HR=1.408, P<0.001). By stratificating the patients based on PP-Mean and PP-SD, the patients in Q4 group revealed the highest risk of DN( HR=1.370, P<0.001)while those in Q1 group had the lowest risk. In addition, the patients in Q3 group( HR=1.266, P<0.001)had a higher risk of DN compared with those in Q2 group( HR=1.212, P<0.001). Conclusion:SBP and PP variabilities are the predictors of DN in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between hemoglobin(Hb) level and the risk of diabetic retinopathy(DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods:This study was a prospective cohort study. A total of 1 730 T2DM patients without DR, who received regular management at the Li′s Clinic in Taiwan, China starting from 2002, were selected as the study population. All patients underwent annual dilated fundus examination by professional ophthalmologists. General patient information and laboratory results were collected and analyzed. Based on the occurrence of DR during patient follow-up, patients were divided into the DR group and the non-DR(NDR) group. The impact of Hb levels on DR was explored using a generalized linear mixed model, and the relationship between Hb levels and DR was studied using Cox proportional hazards regression model.Results:After an average follow-up of 9.79 years, 481 patients with DR were detected. Compared with NDR group, DR group displayed a longer course of diabetes, higher rates of cataract, insulin use, and anemia, and higher systolic blood pressure, HbA 1C, and UACR as well as lower Hb. The results of the generalized linear mixed model showed a negative correlation between Hb and the occurrence of DR( β=-0.015, P<0.001). The Cox proportional hazards regression model showed that, after adjusting for confounding variables and based on quartiles of average Hb levels during follow-up, the risk of developing DR increased by 56.9% in the Q1 group(Hb≤127 g/L) compared to the Q4 group(Hb≥142 g/L). The cumulative risk plot showed that, after adjusting for confounding variables, the Q1 group had the highest cumulative risk of developing DR, and the difference was statistically significant( P<0.05). Conclusion:Hb was negatively correlated with DR, and the lower Hb levels were associated with the occurrence of DR, independent of other influencing factors.

Objective:To analyze the association between HbA 1C variability and the incidence of diabetes retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). Methods:All the patients with type 2 diabetes receiving regular follow-up were enrolled from Lee′s Joint Clinic from 2002 to 2014. Demographic and laboratory data like HbA 1C were collected including fundal examination. According to HbA 1C variability, which was defined as the difference between baseline and last available HbA 1C, participants were divided into three groups, stable group with HbA 1C variability of ±10%, increase group(>10%), and decline group(<-10%). Results:A total of 3 657 T2DM participants were recruited including 662(13.4%) participants with diabetes retinopathy. Blood glucose gradually rose from ideal level [HbA 1C(7.04±1.35)%] and HbA 1C was up to (9.11±1.96)% at the end of follow-up in increase group. HbA 1C gradually fell to (7.27±1.12)% from (10.05±1.99)% of baseline in decline group. HbA 1C of the third group remained relatively stable. Adjusted for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, duration of diabetes, mean HbA 1C of follow-up, glaucoma and so on, logistic regression revealed that participants in stable group( OR=0.800, 95% CI 0.645-0.992) and increase group( OR=0.706, 95% CI 0.548-0.909) had a lower risk of diabetes retinopathy than decline group( P<0.05). Conclusion:HbA 1C variability is an important risk factor of diabetes retinopathy in patients with T2DM. Patients with blood glucose declined had increased risk of diabetes retinopathy as compared to those with rising HbA 1C.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) on diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to find the cut-off value of UACR for diagnosing DR.Methods:A prospective cohort study of 2 490 patients with type 2 diabetes was conducted with a mean follow-up of 7 years ranging from 3 to 10 years. Dilated fundus examination was performed once a year, and patient history and clinical data were collected and analyzed. Patients were divided into three groups according to the UACR: Q1, normal urinary albumin group (UACR<30 mg/g), Q2, microalbuminuria group (30 mg/g≤UACR≤299 mg/g), and Q3, macroalbuminuria group (UACR>300 mg/g), respectively. Cox regression analysis was used to explore the influence of UACR and other factors on DR, and ROC curve was drawn to evaluate the value of UACR in diagnosis of DR.Results:Cox regression analysis showed that UACR was the risk factor of DR( HR=1.108, 95% CI 1.023-1.241, P<0.001). It showed that the patients in Q3 group had the highest risk of proliferative DR ( HR=3.128, 95% CI 2.025-4.831, P<0.001), the patients in Q2 group followed( HR=1.918, 95% CI 1.355-2.714, P<0.001), and the patients in Q1 group were the lowest. ROC curve analysis showed that area under UACR curve was 0.746(95% CI 0.681-0.812, P<0.001), and the cut-off value, sensitivity, and specificity for the diagnosis of PDR were 54.12mg/g, 0.769, and 0.653, respectively. Conclusion:The UACR can predict the progression of PDR in type 2 diabetes patients, therefore it may be used as a preliminary predictor for the progression of DR.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the design points of a three-dimensional (3D) printed customized cementless intercalary endoprosthesis with an intra-neck curved stem and to evaluate the key points and mid-term effectiveness of its application in the reconstruction of ultrashort bone segments in the proximal femur. METHODS: Between October 2015 and January 2021, 17 patients underwent reconstruction with a 3D printed-customized cementless intercalary endoprosthesis with an intra-neck curved stem. There were 11 males and 6 females, the age ranged from 10 to 76 years, with an average of 30.1 years. There were 9 cases of osteosarcoma, 4 cases of Ewing sarcoma, 2 cases of chondrosarcoma, 1 case of liposarcoma, and 1 case of myofibroblastoma. The disease duration was 5-14 months, with an average of 9.5 months. Enneking staging included 16 cases of stage ⅡB and 1 case of stage ⅢB. The distances from the center of the femoral head to the body midline and the acetabular apex were measured preoperatively on X-ray images. Additionally, the distances from the tip of the intra-neck curved stem to the body midline and the acetabular apex were measured at immediate postoperatively and last follow-up. The neck-shaft angle was also measured preoperatively, at immediate postoperatively, and at last follow-up. The status of osseointegration at the bone-prosthesis interface and bone growth into the prosthesis surface were assessed by X-ray films, CT, and Tomosynthesis-Shimadzu metal artefact reduction technology (T-SMART). The survival status of the patients, presence of local recurrence or distant metastasis, and occurrence of postoperative complications were assessed. The recovery of lower limb function was evaluated pre- and post-operatively using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scoring system, and pain relief was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. RESULTS: The patient's femoral resection length was (163.1±57.5) mm, the remaining proximal femoral length was (69.6±9.3) mm, and the percentage of femoral resection length/total femoral length was 38.7%±14.6%. All 17 patients were followed up 25-86 months with an average of 58.1 months. During the follow-up, 1 patient died of lung metastasis at 46 months postoperatively, and the remaining 16 patients survived tumor-free. There was no complication such as periprosthetic infection, delayed incision healing, aseptic loosening, prosthesis fracture, or periprosthetic fracture. No evidence of micromotion or wear around the implanted stem of the prosthesis was detected in X-ray and T-SMART evaluations. There was no significant radiolucent lines, and radiographic evidence of bone ingrowth into the bone-prosthesis interface was observed in all stems. There was no significant difference in the distance from the tip of the curved stem to the body midline and the apex of the acetabulum at immediate postoperatively and last follow-up compared with the distance from the center of the femoral head to the body midline and the apex of the acetabulum before operation, respectively (P>0.05), and there was no significant difference in the above indexes between immediate postoperatively and last follow-up (P>0.05). The differences in the neck-shaft angle at various time points before and after operation were also not significant (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the MSTS score was 26.1±1.2 and the VAS score was 0.1±0.5, which were significantly improved when compared with those before operation [19.4±2.1 and 5.7±1.0, respectively] (t=14.735, P<0.001; t=21.301, P<0.001). At last follow-up, none of the patients walked with the aid of crutches or other walkers. CONCLUSION The 3D printed customized cementless intercalary endoprosthesis with an intra-neck curved stem is an effective method for reconstructing ultrashort bone segments in the proximal femur following malignant tumor resection. The operation is reliable, the postoperative lower limb function is satisfactory, and the incidence of complications is low.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Child ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Femur/surgery* ; Lower Extremity ; Bone-Implant Interface ; Femur Head ; Artificial Limbs

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term effectiveness of uncemented allograft-prosthesis composite (APC) for reconstruction of bone defects after proximal femur tumor resection. METHODS: Between June 2007 and March 2014, 21 patients who underwent uncemented APC reconstruction of proximal femur after tumor resection were retrospectively evaluated. There were 9 males and 12 females with an average age of 33.2 years (range, 19-54 years). There were 9 cases of giant cell tumor of bone, 5 cases of osteosarcoma, 4 cases of osteoblastic osteosarcoma, 2 cases of chondrosarcoma, and 1 case of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Thirteen cases of benign bone tumors were all classified as stage 3 by Enneking staging; and 8 cases of malignant bone tumors were classified as grade ⅡB in 7 cases and grade ⅡA in 1 case according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. Among them, 7 patients underwent reoperation after recurrence, and the rest were primary operations; 8 patients presented with pathological fractures. The preoperative Harris hip score (HHS) and American Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score was 40 (30, 49) and 9.1±3.5, respectively. The length of osteotomy was 80-154 mm, with an average of 110 mm. At 1 year after operation and last follow-up, HHS and MSTS scores were utilized to evaluate the function of hip joint; the gluteus medius strength score was used to evaluation of the hip abduction function. Image examinations were taken at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after operation and every year thereafter to assess the union of allograft-host bone interfaces. Intra- and post-operative complications were also recorded. RESULTS: All patients were followed up 84-163 months (mean, 123.5 months). At 1 year after operation and last follow-up, the HHS and MSTS scores significantly improved when compared with the preoperative scores ( P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the HHS score, MSTS score, and gluteus medius strength score between the two time points after operation ( P>0.05). Image examination showed that all allograft-host bone interfaces achieved union after 5-10 months (mean, 7.6 months). At last follow-up, all patients had bone resorption, including 11 severe cases, 4 moderate cases, and 6 mild cases; the bone resorption sites included Gruen 1, 2, and 7 regions. Complications included 10 fractures and 1 prosthetic fracture. Local recurrence occurred in 3 patients and pulmonary metastasis in 3 patients. CONCLUSION Uncemented APC is a reliable method for the reconstruction of bone defects after proximal femur tumor resection. It has the good long-term effectiveness and possesses obvious advantages in the union at the bone-bone surface.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Allografts/pathology* ; Bone Neoplasms/surgery* ; Bone Resorption/pathology* ; Bone Transplantation/methods* ; Femur/surgery* ; Osteosarcoma/pathology* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged