OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features, surgical transcranial approaches and outcomes of giant pituitary adenomas.

METHODSA series of 112 consecutive cases of giant pituitary adenomas underwent microsurgery through transcranial approaches at People' s Liberation Army General Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Of the 112 patients, 58 were male and 54 were female, with age ranging from 3 to 72 years(mean age 44. 3 years). There were 91 non-functioning adenomas and 21 hormone-secreting adenomas. The maximum tumor diameter varied from 4. 0 to 7. 2 cm, with mean diameter of 4. 8 cm. Unilateral subfrontal approach was chosen in 16 cases, pterional approach in 41 cases, anterior interhemispheric approach in 34 cases, transcallosal-interforniceal approach in 6 cases, transcortical- transventricular approach in 5 cases, combined approach in 6 cases and other approaches in 4 cases. Postoperative MRI and endocrine function were re-examined routinely to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy. Staged operation through transsphenoidal approach or adjuvant treatments including medical and radiation therapies were administered in patients with hormone-secreting adenomas when hormonal excess persisted after surgery and in patients with non-functioning adenomas who had postoperative MRI evidence of residual tumor.

RESULTSTotal removal of the lesion was achieved in 57 cases (50. 9%) , 26 patients (23. 2%) underwent subtotal resection, and 29 patients (25. 9%) underwent partial removal. Postoperative mortality occurred in 3 patients (2. 7%). Major surgical morbidity occurred in 38 patients (33. 9%). Vision was preserved or improved in 98 patients (87. 5%). The postsurgical follow-up period varied from 3 to 64 months (mean 19. 5 months) . Nineteen of the 21 patients with hormone-secreting adenomas were considered to be in hormonal remission, and 87. 2% of the cases were capable of normal work and life and 8 patients suffered recurrence during the followed-up period.

CONCLUSIONSSelection of appropriate transcranial approaches is the key to successful microsurgery for giant pituitary adenomas according to the morphological characteristics presented in image examinations and clinical symptoms. Staged transsphenoidal operation and/or adjuvant therapies including medical and radiation therapies offer the best chances to control the residual tumors after the maximal surgical removal of giant adenomas through transcranial approaches.

Adenoma ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Microsurgery ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of the local cluster of COVID-19 in the logistic park of Yuhang District in Hangzhou in March 2022. The cluster epidemic was detected by a case who actively visited the fever clinic. The epidemic lasted for 8 days, and a total of 58 cases (53 workers, 2 students, 1 farmer, 1 teacher and 1 unemployed) were found, including 40 males and 18 females. The age was (33.29±12.22) years. There cases were mainly in Yuhang District (48 cases, 82.77%) and Shangcheng District (7 cases, 12.07%) of Hangzhou. The real-time regeneration number peaked at 2.31 on March 10 th and decreased to 0.37 on March 15 th. The sequencing result of the indicated case was 100% homologous with the sequence uploaded from South Korea on March 4 th, 2022.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) in the prevention of seasonal influenza in children aged 2-17 years. Methods: Literature retrieval of case-control studies on the effectiveness of LAIV against seasonal influenza in children published from January 2003 to November 2018 was conducted through Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases. The Stata 13.1 software was used for Meta-analysis. Results: A total of 14 studies were included in this study, and all were test-negative design (TND) studies. Our Meta-analysis showed that the effectiveness of LAIV in children was 49% (95%CI: 40%-57%). Subgroup analysis found that the protection rate of LAIV was 35% against influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 (95%CI: 5%-56%), 35% against influenza A (H3N2) (95%CI: 21%-46%), and 71% against influenza B (95%CI: 55%-82%). The protection rates of trivalent LAIV and quadrivalent LAIV in children were 56% (95%CI: 48%-63%) and 44% (95%CI: 27%-57%), respectively. The protection rates of LAIV in Europe and North America were 65% (95%CI: 47%-77%) and 46% (95%CI: 36%-55%), respectively. Conclusion LAIV has a certain preventive effect on seasonal influenza in children aged 2-17 years.

Seasonal influenza vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza virus infection and complications from infection. Currently, China has licensed trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV3) and quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV4), including split-virus influenza vaccine and subunit vaccine. Except for a few major cities, influenza vaccine is a category Ⅱ vaccine, which means influenza vaccination is voluntary, and recipients must pay for it. To strengthen the technical guidance for prevention and control of influenza and operational research on influenza vaccination in China, the National Immunization Advisory Committee (NIAC) Influenza Vaccine Technical Working Group (TWG), updated the 2014 technical guidelines and compiled the "Technical guidelines for seasonal influenza vaccination in China (2018-2019)" . The main updates in this version include: epidemiology, disease burden, types of influenza vaccines, northern hemisphere influenza vaccination composition for the 2018-2019 season, IIV3 and IIV4 immune response, durability of immunity, immunogenicity, vaccine efficacy, effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit. The influenza vaccine TWG provided the recommendations for influenza vaccination for the 2018-2019 influenza season based on existing scientific evidence. The recommendations described in this report include the following: Points of Vaccination clinics (PoVs) should provide influenza vaccination to all persons aged 6 months and above who are willing to be vaccinated and do not have contraindications. No preferential recommendation is made for one influenza vaccine product over another for persons for whom more than one licensed, recommended, and appropriate product is available. To decrease the risk of severe infections and complications due to influenza virus infection among high risk groups, the recommendations prioritize seasonal influenza vaccination for children aged 6-59 months, adults ≥60 years of age, persons with specific chronic diseases, healthcare workers, the family members and caregivers of infants <6 months of age, and pregnant women or women who plan to become pregnant during the influenza season. Children aged 6 months through 8 years require 2 doses of influenza vaccine administered a minimum of 4 weeks apart during their first season of vaccination for optimal protection. If they were vaccinated in 2017-2018 influenza season or a prior season, 1 dose is recommended. People more than 8 years old require 1 dose of influenza vaccine. It is recommended that people receive their influenza vaccination by the end of October. Influenza vaccination should be offered as soon as the vaccination is available. For the people unable to be vaccinated before the end of October, influenza vaccination will continue to be offered for the whole season. Influenza vaccine is also recommended for use in pregnant women during any trimester. These guidelines are intended for use by staff members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at all levels who work on influenza control and prevention, PoVs staff members, healthcare workers from the departments of pediatrics, internal medicine, and infectious diseases, and staff members of maternity and child care institutions at all levels.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the techniques and effect of surgical resection of large intra- and extra-ventricular craniopharyngiomas via anterior interhemispheric trans-lamina terminalis approach.

METHODSFifty-two patients who were surgically treated for large intra- and extra-ventricular craniopharyngiomas were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent surgery via anterior interhemispheric trans-lamina terminalis approach. Of the 52 patients, 28 were male and 24 were female, with age ranging from 3 to 67 years (mean age 33.5 years). The maximum tumor diameter varied from 4.0 to 7.8 cm, with mean diameter of 5.1 cm. Contrast-enhanced MRI was underwent to determine the extent of tumor resection on the 1 to 3 months after surgery.

RESULTSTotal removal of the lesion was achieved in 47 cases (90.4%), 5 patients underwent subtotal resection (9.6%). Division of the anterior communicating artery was performed in 6 patients with no early or late complications related to division of the artery. Visual acuity was preserved or improved in 44 patients (84.6%). Preservation of the pituitary stalk were achieved in 33 patients (63.5%). No surgery-related deaths occurred. The postsurgical follow-up period varied from 3 months to 68 months (mean 25.4 months). Twenty-three cases had endocrinological deficit and received some form of hormonal replacement after surgery. Permanent diabetes insipidus occurred in 18 cases. Three patients died and 6 patients suffered recurrence during the followed-up period.

CONCLUSIONSThe anterior interhemispheric approach, with opening of the lamina terminalis, is a valid choice for large intra- and extra-ventricular craniopharyngiomas. These tumors can be removed without significant sequelae related to the surgical approach because optic nerves, optic chiasm, internal carotid artery, hypothalamic structures and pituitary stalk can be seen and effectively protected.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Craniopharyngioma ; surgery ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: To construct a method to express ScFv antibody from PCR products, and use it in phage display for high-throughput ScFv expression. Methods: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) promotor, ScFv and BGH-Poly A gene fragments were amplified by PCR. Overlapping PCR was used to form a tandemly linear cassette gene. By transiently transfected into 293T cells, ScFv antibodies expression of cassette gene were tested by Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA). Ninety-six clones of antibody genes in phage library were selected and expressed by cassette expression system. The expression level was evaluated and analyzed. Results: Three fragments were obtained and a cassette expression system formed. Cassette expression system worked successfully in 293T cells, as a Mr.38×10³ brand could observed in Western blot assay. The expressed antibody could specifically bind to its antigen by result of ELISA and IFA. This cassette expression system could also be used in phage display for high-throughput panning. Conclusions The cassette expression system was constructed successfully and high-throughput antibody expression has been achieved.

OBJECTIVETo study the techniques and efficacy of neuronavigation-guided puncture and drainage in the treatment of brain abscesses.

METHODSFrom February 2006 to December 2012, 31 patients with brain abscesses treated by the technique of neuronavigation-guided puncture and drainage were retrospectively analyzed. There were 27 male and 4 female patients, age ranged from 10 months to 69 years, average (34 ± 19) years.Single brain abscesses were found in 26 patients, multiple abscesses in 5 patients. The abscesses were located in eloquent regions in 19 patients. The mean diameter of the abscess was 4.1 cm (2.5-6.7 cm). The first follow-up visit was on the first month after surgery, and if residual was observed on enhanced MRI, then the patient was followed up every 3 months until the abscess disappeared completely. After residual absorbed, the patient was followed up every year.

RESULTSIncisions of all patients were healed well and no infection. The length of hospital stay after surgery was 6-42 days, mean (14 ± 9) days. Bacterial culture of pus was performed regularly including aerobic, anaerobic and fungal culture after surgery. Thirteen patients had positive culture whereas the other 18 patients had negative culture. The duration of antibiotic use was 18-42 days, mean (22 ± 5) days. All the patients were followed up for 3 months to 3 years. Twenty-nine patients recovered well postoperatively, 1 case died 2 months after operation.One case was performed the second drainage after 10 days from the first surgery.Eighteen patients showed the improvement of neurological status within the first day following surgery, 4 patients got improvement in the next day, 1 patient with hemiplegia showed improvement in 10 days postoperatively, 1 patient with aphasia recovered gradually after 1 month, 1 patient with hemiplegia showed deterioration temporarily after surgery, and recovered gradually after 15 days.

CONCLUSIONThe technique of puncture and drainage guided by neuronavigation has many advantages to treat brain abscesses, such as small trauma, short operation time, high accuracy and safety, simple surgical procedures and good prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Abscess ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drainage ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuronavigation ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult