Objective:To investigate the current situation of the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for portal hypertension, which should aid the development of TIPS in China.Methods:The China Portal Hypertension Alliance (CHESS) initiated this study that comprehensively investigated the basic situation of TIPS for portal hypertension in China through network research. The survey included the following: the number of surgical cases, main indications, the development of Early-TIPS, TIPS for portal vein cavernous transformation, collateral circulation embolization, intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurement, commonly used stent types, conventional anticoagulation and time, postoperative follow-up, obstacles, and the application of domestic instruments.Results:According to the survey, a total of 13 527 TIPS operations were carried out in 545 hospitals participating in the survey in 2021, and 94.1% of the hospital had the habit of routine follow-up after TIPS. Most hospitals believed that the main indications of TIPS were the control of acute bleeding (42.6%) and the prevention of rebleeding (40.7%). 48.1% of the teams carried out early or priority TIPS, 53.0% of the teams carried out TIPS for the cavernous transformation of the portal vein, and 81.0% chose routine embolization of collateral circulation during operation. Most of them used coils and biological glue as embolic materials, and 78.5% of the team routinely performed intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurements. In selecting TIPS stents, 57.1% of the hospitals woulel choose Viator-specific stents, 57.2% woulel choose conventional anticoagulation after TIPS, and the duration of anticoagulation was between 3-6 months (55.4%). The limitation of TIPS surgery was mainly due to cost (72.3%) and insufficient understanding of doctors in related departments (77.4%). Most teams accepted the domestic instruments used in TIPS (92.7%).Conclusions:This survey shows that TIPS treatment is an essential part of treating portal hypertension in China. The total number of TIPS cases is far from that of patients with portal hypertension. In the future, it is still necessary to popularize TIPS technology and further standardize surgical indications, routine operations, and instrument application.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of serological indicators and evaluate the diagnostic value of a new established combined serological model on identifying the minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in patients with compensated cirrhosis.Methods:This prospective multicenter study enrolled 263 compensated cirrhotic patients from 23 hospitals in 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China between October 2021 and August 2022. Clinical data and laboratory test results were collected, and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was calculated. Ammonia level was corrected to the upper limit of normal (AMM-ULN) by the baseline blood ammonia measurements/upper limit of the normal reference value. MHE was diagnosed by combined abnormal number connection test-A and abnormal digit symbol test as suggested by Guidelines on the management of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis. The patients were randomly divided (7∶3) into training set ( n=185) and validation set ( n=78) based on caret package of R language. Logistic regression was used to establish a combined model of MHE diagnosis. The diagnostic performance was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve. The internal verification was carried out by the Bootstrap method ( n=200). AUC comparisons were achieved using the Delong test. Results:In the training set, prevalence of MHE was 37.8% (70/185). There were statistically significant differences in AMM-ULN, albumin, platelet, alkaline phosphatase, international normalized ratio, MELD score and education between non-MHE group and MHE group (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that AMM-ULN [odds ratio ( OR)=1.78, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.05-3.14, P=0.038] and MELD score ( OR=1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.20, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for MHE, and the AUC for predicting MHE were 0.663, 0.625, respectively. Compared with the use of blood AMM-ULN and MELD score alone, the AUC of the combined model of AMM-ULN, MELD score and education exhibited better predictive performance in determining the presence of MHE was 0.755, the specificity and sensitivity was 85.2% and 55.7%, respectively. Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve showed that the model had good calibration ( P=0.733). The AUC for internal validation of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.752. In the validation set, the AUC of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.794, and Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed good calibration ( P=0.841). Conclusion:Use of the combined model including AMM-ULN, MELD score and education could improve the predictive efficiency of MHE among patients with compensated cirrhosis.

Objective:To compare the differences in the prevalence of mild micro-hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) among patients with cirrhosis by using the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) and the Stroop smartphone application (Encephal App) test.Methods:This prospective, multi-center, real-world study was initiated by the National Clinical Medical Research Center for Infectious Diseases and the Portal Hypertension Alliance and registered with International ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05140837). 354 cases of cirrhosis were enrolled in 19 hospitals across the country. PHES (including digital connection tests A and B, digital symbol tests, trajectory drawing tests, and serial management tests) and the Stroop test were conducted in all of them. PHES was differentiated using standard diagnostic criteria established by the two studies in China and South Korea. The Stroop test was evaluated based on the criteria of the research and development team. The impact of different diagnostic standards or methods on the incidence of MHE in patients with cirrhosis was analyzed. Data between groups were differentiated using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and χ2 test. A kappa test was used to compare the consistency between groups. Results:After PHES, the prevalence of MHE among 354 cases of cirrhosis was 78.53% and 15.25%, respectively, based on Chinese research standards and Korean research normal value standards. However, the prevalence of MHE was 56.78% based on the Stroop test, and the differences in pairwise comparisons among the three groups were statistically significant (kappa = -0.064, P < 0.001). Stratified analysis revealed that the MHE prevalence in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C was 74.14%, 83.33%, and 88.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Chinese researchers, while the MHE prevalence rates in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C were 8.29%, 23.53%, and 38.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Korean researchers. Furthermore, the prevalence rates of MHE in the three groups of patients with Child-Pugh grades A, B, and C were 52.68%, 58.82%, and 73.53%, respectively, according to the Stroop test standard. However, among the results of each diagnostic standard, the prevalence of MHE showed an increasing trend with an increasing Child-Pugh grade. Further comparison demonstrated that the scores obtained by the number connection test A and the number symbol test were consistent according to the normal value standards of the two studies in China and South Korea ( Z = -0.982, -1.702; P = 0.326, 0.089), while the other three sub-tests had significant differences ( P < 0.001). Conclusion:The prevalence rate of MHE in the cirrhotic population is high, but the prevalence of MHE obtained by using different diagnostic criteria or methods varies greatly. Therefore, in line with the current changes in demographics and disease spectrum, it is necessary to enroll a larger sample size of a healthy population as a control. Moreover, the establishment of more reliable diagnostic scoring criteria will serve as a basis for obtaining accurate MHE incidence and formulating diagnosis and treatment strategies in cirrhotic populations.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of independent and combined subtests of the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) in mild hepatic encephalopathy(MHE) of patients with liver cirrhosis, so as to optimize the PHES.Methods:This was a prospective, multicenter and real-world study which was sponsored by the National Clinical Research Center of Infectious Diseases and the Portal Hypertension Consortium. Twenty-six hospitals from 13 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities countrywide participated in this study, induding Tianjin Third Central Hospital, the Fourth People′s Hospital of Qinghai Province, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, the Third People′s Hospital of Taiyuan, the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital and so on. From October 2021 to February 2022, outpatients and hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis and no obvious hepatic encephalopathy were consecutively enrolled. All patients received 5 PHES subjects in the same order: number connection test(NCT)-A, NCT-B, digit symbol test(DST), line tracing test(LTT) and serial dotting test(SDT), and the scores were calculated. The total score of PHES <-4 was taken as the cut-off value for diagnosing MHE. Compare the differences in each subtest between MHE group and non-MHE group. Receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) and area under the curve(AUC) was performed to assess the diagnostic value of independent and combined subtests in MHE. Mann-Whitney U test and DeLong test were used for statistical analysis. Results:A total of 581 patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled, 457 were diagnosed as MHE, and the incidence of MHE was 78.7%. The results of NCT-A, NCT-B, SDT, LTT, DST of MHE group were 60.00 s(47.01 s, 88.00 s), 90.45 s(69.32 s, 125.35 s), 74.00 s(57.65 s, 96.60 s), 74.72(60.00, 98.61) and 27.00(20.00, 36.00), respectively. Compared those of non-MHE group(34.00 s(29.15 s, 44.48 s), 50.00 s(40.98 s, 60.77 s), 50.00 s(41.07 s, 63.03 s), 46.23(38.55, 59.42) and 42.00(34.00, 50.75)), the differences were statistically significant( Z=12.37, 12.98, 9.83, 11.56, 10.66; all P<0.001). The AUC(95% confidence interval(95% CI)) of subtests of PHES NCT-B, NCT-A, LTT, DST and SDT alone in MHE diagnosis were 0.880(0.849 to 0.910), 0.862(0.828 to 0.896), 0.838(0.799 to 0.877), 0.812(0.772 to 0.851) and 0.788(0.743 to 0.832), respectively. The combination of 2 PHES subtests significantly increased the diagnostic efficacy. Among them the diagnostic efficacy of the combination of NCT-B and LTT was the best, the AUC(95% CI) was 0.924(0.902 to 0.947), the specificity was 91.9% and the sensitivity was 79.2%, which was better than a single PHES subtest (NCT-A, NCT-B, SDT, LTT and DST) and the combination of NCT-A and DST(AUC was 0.879, 95% CI0.847 to 0.910) which was recommended by guidelines on the management of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis, the differences were statistically significant ( Z=3.78, 3.83, 5.57, 5.51, 5.38, 2.93; all P<0.01). Furthermore, compared between the combination of NCT-B and LTT and the combination of 3 subests of PHES, only the diagnostic efficacy of combination of NCT-B, LTT and SDT (AUC was 0.936, 95% CI 0.916 to 0.956) was better than that of the combination of NCT-B and LTT, the difference was statistically significant( Z=2.32, P=0.020). Conclusion:Based on the diagnostic efficacy and clinical feasibility of PHES subtests and their combinations, the combination of NCT-B and LTT is recommended for the diagnosis of MHE.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) -related molecules in human malignant melanoma A375 cells.Methods:Cultured A375 cells were divided into 4 groups: control-1 and -2 groups treated with Dulbecco′s modified Eagle medium (DMEM) for 24 and 48 hours respectively, and ATRA-1 and ATRA-2 groups treated with DMEM containing 10 μmol/L ATRA for 24 and 48 hours respectively. After the treatment, real-time quantitative PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of EMT-related genes E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin and β-catenin in the above 4 groups, Western blot analysis to determine the relative expression of the above proteins, and direct immunofluorescence study to assess the fluorescence intensity of E-cadherin and vimentin in the ATRA-1, ATRA-2 and control-1 groups. Statistical analysis was carried out by using two-way analysis of variance, one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference- t test. Results:Real-time quantitative PCR showed that the E-cadherin mRNA expression was significantly higher in the ATRA-1 group than in the control -1 group ( F = 13.148, P < 0.05) , and higher in the ATRA-2 group than in the control-2 group ( F = 31.529, P < 0.05) ; the mRNA expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and β-catenin was significantly lower in the ATRA-1 group than in the control-1 group ( P < 0.05) , and lower in the ATRA-2 group than in the control-2 group ( P < 0.05) ; the ATRA-2 group showed significantly increased mRNA expression of E-cadherin ( F = 13.148, P < 0.05) , but significantly decreased mRNA expression of the other 3 proteins compared with the ATRA-1 group (all P < 0.05) ; there was no significant difference in the mRNA expression of the above molecules between the control-1 and -2 groups (all P > 0.05) . Western blot analysis showed that the protein expression of E-cadherin significantly increased, but the protein expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and β-catenin significantly decreased in the ATRA-1 and ATRA-2 groups compared with the control-1 group (all P < 0.05) ; compared with the ATRA-1 group, the ATRA-2 group showed significantly increased protein expression of E-cadherin ( P < 0.05) , but significantly decreased protein expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and β-catenin (all P < 0.05) . Direct immunofluorescence study showed that the fluorescence intensity of E-cadherin was significantly higher in the ATRA-1 group and ATRA-2 group (6.23 ± 0.08, 10.37 ± 0.13, respectively) than in the control-1 group (2.37 ± 0.14, both P < 0.05) , while the fluorescence intensity of vimentin was significantly lower in the ATRA-1 group and ATRA-2 group (15.17 ± 0.18, 10.29 ± 0.03, respectively) than in the control-1 group (50.16 ± 0.26, both P < 0.05) , and the cells in the ATRA-1 group and ATRA-2 group transformed from spindle- to cobble-stone-like in shape. Conclusion:ATRA can up-regulate the expression of E-cadherin, down-regulate the expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and β-catenin in A375 cells, and may inhibit the EMT of A375 cells.

OBJECTIVE: To explore surgical methods and clinical effects of three different types of mini skin flap transplantation for repairing finger soft tissue with bone defect. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with finger soft tissue or bone defect were treated from December 2014 to October 2016, including 24 males and 9 females aged from 21 to 52 years old with an average of (36.42±5.70) years old, and soft tissue defect area ranged from 1.3 cm×1.8 cm to 2.3 cm×4.2 cm. According to damage degree, nature and patients' options, 15 finger of 15 cases were adopted retrograde dorsal metacarpal artery perforators fascia flap, 10 fingers of 9 cases were treated with free foot artery descending branch wrist skin flap, 9 fingers of 9 cases were treated with free the second toe details phalanges compound flap. Survival rate, postoperative complications and finger function assessed by Dargan functional criteria at the latest follow up were observed. RESULTS: All flaps were survived, both of donor site and recipient site were without deep infected. The donor site of one patient occurred necrotic, and the distal donor site of one patient occurred surface necrotic, then healed by active dressing change. All patients were followed up from 6 to 16 months with an average of(8.34±1.28) months. Two points of finger recognition were restored between 8 and 12 mm with an average of (8.84±0.43) mm, and the appearance, texture and sensory functions of skin flap were restored. No obvious complications were observed on the donor site. According to Dargan function evaluation of finger joints, 18 patients got excellent results, 14 moderate and 1 good. CONCLUSIONS Three kinds of mini skin flap could receive good results in repairing soft tissue of finger or bone defect. Reverse dorsal metacarpal artery perforator fascia flap is not necessary with anastomosing blood vessels and has advantages of safe, simple and high survival rate. Descending branch of superior cutaneous branch of free ulnar artery could cut multiple other perforator flaps simultaneously, and the scar is small and hidden. Dissociated the second toe combined metatarsal phalangeal flap could repair shape and function of finger to the maximum extent and donor site is hidden.
Adult ; Female ; Finger Injuries ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objectives:To systemically review the safety and efficacy of bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) versus everolimus eluting stent (EES) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods:The database searched includes PubMed, Medline, MEDILINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, CNKI and Wanfang. Database retrieval time was between database establishment time to October 2017. During the same time, authors accessed the conference summary and related websites to collect published randomized controlled trials of published data. To evaluate the quality of the literature according to the modified Jadad scale and extracted the data. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 software. Results:Nine trials were included; 6 721 patients were randomized to receive BVS (n=3 670) or EES (n=3 051). Time of follow-up was ranged from 6 to 36 months. Compared with metallic EES, risk of target lesion failure (RR=1.31, 95%CI:1.08-1.58; P=0.005) and in-stent thrombosis (RR=2.89, 95%CI:1.85-4.53; P＜0.0001), ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization (RR=1.44,95%CI:1.12-1.86, P=0.005)、target-vessel myocardial infarction (RR=1.74, 95%CI:1.33-2.27, P＜0.0001) and all myocardial infarction (RR=1.49, 95%CI:1.16-1.91, P=0.002) were all significantly higher in BVS group than in EES group. There were no significant differences in all-cause death (RR=0.87, 95 % CI:0.57-1.33, P=0.520), cardiovascular mortality (RR=0.78, 95%CI:0.54-1.11, P=0.160) and composite endpoints (RR=1.10, 95%CI:0.95-1.27, P=0.210) between the two groups. Conclusions:Compared with metallic EES, the BVS appears to be associated with both lower efficacy and higher thrombotic risk during the observation period.

Objective To design a new type of external fixator for bone fracture and verify its rationality and feasibility. Methods The frame and screw of stainless steel achieved fracture fixation in vitro with a threaded locking structure.At the same time the increasing thickness of body frame, the inclined nail holes and the raised bottoms were designed to greatly enhance the strength and overall stability of body frame.FEM (finite element method),measuring the relative displacement and stress distribution after axial load,was used to verify the rationality of the design.An animal experiment with sheep was used to verify the feasibility of fracture treatment. Results Simulated result of FEM indicated that the biggest relative displacement between the separated bones was 0.04 mm,which was much less than the minimum value 1 mm required for fracture healing.The maximum stresses applied on the frame of the fixator,fixator screw,and bone were 35,26,and 6 MPa, respectively, which was much less than the allowable stress. In the animal experiment, fracture site was fixed firmly after operation and was well cured 3 months later.Conclusion The design of this new device is feasible and it can be used as a new method of fracture treatment.

The advantages and disadvantages of different treatment methods of traditional tibial fracture were summarized. The research progress on the treatment of tibial fracture with internal fixation plates as external fixators was introduced from two aspects of biomechanics and clinical application. It was proved that internal fixation plates as external fixators could reduce the structural stability, but this technique was still controversial to meet the mechanical requirements of fracture healing on biomechanics.Internal fixation plates as external fixators,it had the advantages of minimal invasion,high healing rate, less complications and favorable activities. It's pointed out clinical trials on its feasibility and availability as well as simulating body mechanics environment should be carried out to provide basis for relevant biomechanics researches.