OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of delayed skin grafting combined traction in severe joint cicatricial contracture.

METHODSAt the first stage, the joint cicatricial contracture was released completely with protection of vessels, nerves and tendons. The wound was covered with allogenetic skin or biomaterials. After skin traction for 7-14 days, the joint could reach the extension position. Then the skin graft was performed on the wound. 25 cases were treated from Mar. 2000 to May. 2013.

RESULTSPrimary healing was achieved at the second stage in all the cases. The skin graft had a satisfactory color and elasticity. Joint function was normal. All the patients were followed up for 3 months to 11 years with no hypertrophic scar and contraction relapse, except for one case who didn' t have enough active exercise on shoulder joint.

CONCLUSIONDelayed skin grafting combined traction can effectively increase the skin graft survival rate and improve the joint function recovery.

Biocompatible Materials ; therapeutic use ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Contracture ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Recovery of Function ; Recurrence ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Tendons ; Traction ; methods ; Wound Healing

This study examined endogenous cannabinoid (ECB)-anandamide (AEA) and its cannabinoid receptors (CBR) in mice liver with the development of schistosoma japonicum. Mice were infected with schistosoma by means of pasting the cercaria onto their abdomens. Liver fibrosis was pathologically confirmed nine weeks after the infection. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to determine the concentration of AEA in the plasma of mice. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of CBR1 and CBR2 in liver tissue. Morphological examination showed typical pathological changes, with worm tubercles of schistosoma deposited in the liver tissue, fibrosis around the worm tubercles and infiltration or soakage of inflammatory cells. Also, CBR1 and CBR2 were present in hepatocytes and hepatic sinusoids of the two groups, but they were obviously enhanced in the schistosoma-infected mice. However, the average optical density of CBR1 in the negative control and fibrosis group was 13.28+/-7.32 and 30.55+/-7.78, and CBR2 were 28.13+/-6.42 and 52.29+/-4.24 (P<0.05). The levels of AEA in the fibrosis group were significantly increased as compared with those of the control group. The concentrations of AEA were (0.37+/-0.07) and (5.67+/-1.34) ng/mL (P<0.05). It is concluded that the expression of endocannabinoids AEA and its cannabinoid receptor CBR were significantly increased in schistosoma-infected mice. Endogenous endocannabinoids may be involved in the development of schistosoma-induced liver fibrosis.
Arachidonic Acids/*metabolism ; Endocannabinoids/*metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis/etiology ; Liver Cirrhosis/*metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis/parasitology ; Polyunsaturated Alkamides/*metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/*metabolism ; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/*metabolism ; Schistosomiasis japonica/*complications ; Schistosomiasis japonica/metabolism

This study examined endogenous cannabinoid (ECB)-anandamide (AEA) and its can-nabinoid receptors (CBR) in mice liver with the development of schistosomajaponicum.Mice were infected with schistosoma by means of pasting the cercaria onto their abdomens.Liver fibrosis was pathologically confirmed nine weeks after the infection.High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to determine the concentration of AEA in the plasma of mice.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of CBR 1 and CBR2 in liver tissue.Morphological examination showed typical pathological changes,with worm tubercles of schistosoma deposited in the liver tissue,fibrosis around the worm tubercles and infiltration or soakage ofinfiammatory cells.Also,CBRI and CBR2 were present in hepatocytes and hepatic sinusoids of the two groups,but they were obviously enhanced in the schistosoma-infected mice.However,the average optical density of CBR1 in the negative control and fibrosis group was 13.28±7.32 and 30.55±7.78,and CBR2 were 28.13±6.42 and 52.29±4.24 (P<0.05).The levels of AEA in the fibrosis group were significantly increased as compared with those of the control group.The concentrations of AEA were (0.37±0.07) and (5.67±1.34) ng/mL (P<0.05).It is concluded that the expression of endocannabinoids AEA and its cannabinoid receptor CBR were significantly increased in schistosoma-infected mice.Endogenous endocannabinoids may be involved in the development of schistosoma-induced liver fibrosis.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of thyroid nodules (TN) among people undergoing physical examination in Taiyuan City, and evaluate the impact of hyperuricemia (HUA) on the risk of TN.Methods:Using a prospective design, a total of 42 966 people who underwent routine physical examination at Shanxi Shangning Health Examination Center from October 2020 to October 2021 were selected as subjects and divided into the HUA group ( n = 7 235) and the non-HUA group ( n = 35 731) based on the serum uric acid levels. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to balance the confounding factors between groups, and logistic regression was used to analyze the impact of HUA on the risk of TN. Results:The total detection rate of TN in the physical examination population was 55.6% (23 907/42 966). The detection rate of TN in females [61.0% (15 011/24 618)] was higher than that in males [48.5% (8 896/18 348)], and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 664.55, P < 0.001). A total of 2 438 pairs of matching data were obtained after PSM, and the distribution of confounding factors in HUA and non-HUA groups reached equilibrium (the absolute values of standardized differences < 0.10). Logistic regression analysis before PSM showed that HUA was a protective factor for the incidence of TN in general population and males [odds ratio ( OR) = 0.696, 0.817, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 0.661 - 0.732, 0.768 - 0.868], while HUA was a risk factor for the incidence of TN in females ( OR = 1.370, 95% CI: 1.192 - 1.574). After PSM, HUA was not a influencing factor for the incidence of TN in general population and males ( P > 0.05), but it was still a risk factor in females for the onset of TN ( OR = 1.373, 95% CI: 1.014 - 1.858). Conclusion:In the physical examination population in Taiyuan City, HUA is an independent risk factor for TN in females.

Objective:To investigate the occurrence of pain symptoms and risk factors of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in automobile manufacturing workers and provide theoretical basis for the prevention of CTS.Methods:From Nov.5th to Nov.19th, 2017, 446 workers in an automobile factory whose work age was above one year participate in questionnaires by cluster sampling. Chi square test and multifactor logistics regression analysis were used to analyze the factors related to the occurrence of CTS pain symptoms in workers.Results:The incidence of CTS pain among workers in this automobile factory was 20.8%. Working in the same position for a long time ( OR=2.137, 95% CI:1.183-3.862) and unable to work reasonably because of uncomfortable posture ( OR =2.067, 95% CI: 1.075-3.974) were identified as the risk factors of CTS pain symptoms by multifactor logistics regression analysis. Working age ( OR=0.537, 95% CI:0.311-0.926) and work break ( OR= 0.489, 95% CI: 0.282-0.849) were identified as the benefit factors of CTS pain symptoms. Conclusion:The incidence of CTS pain in automobile manufacturing workers is related to the posture in the process of labor . Effective ergonomic interventions should be carried out to prevent the occurrence of CTS pain in automobile manufacturing workers.

Objective:To investigate the occurrence of pain symptoms and risk factors of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in automobile manufacturing workers and provide theoretical basis for the prevention of CTS.Methods:From Nov.5th to Nov.19th, 2017, 446 workers in an automobile factory whose work age was above one year participate in questionnaires by cluster sampling. Chi square test and multifactor logistics regression analysis were used to analyze the factors related to the occurrence of CTS pain symptoms in workers.Results:The incidence of CTS pain among workers in this automobile factory was 20.8%. Working in the same position for a long time ( OR=2.137, 95% CI:1.183-3.862) and unable to work reasonably because of uncomfortable posture ( OR =2.067, 95% CI: 1.075-3.974) were identified as the risk factors of CTS pain symptoms by multifactor logistics regression analysis. Working age ( OR=0.537, 95% CI:0.311-0.926) and work break ( OR= 0.489, 95% CI: 0.282-0.849) were identified as the benefit factors of CTS pain symptoms. Conclusion:The incidence of CTS pain in automobile manufacturing workers is related to the posture in the process of labor . Effective ergonomic interventions should be carried out to prevent the occurrence of CTS pain in automobile manufacturing workers.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of different types of neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 542 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who received neoadjuvant therapy in Anyang Tumor Hospital of Science and Technology from January 2015 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients, consisting of 198 females and 344 males, with 289 cases aging ≤ 65 and 253 cases aging >65, were divided into a neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) group (137 cases), a neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) group (241 cases), and a neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy (NICT) group (164 cases). In this study, primary endpoints included major pathological response (MPR) and pathologic complete response (pCR) rates, and secondary endpoints comprised overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and safety. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and inter-group comparisons were made using the Log-rank test. Furthermore, prognostic factors were analyzed based on the Cox proportional hazards regression model.Results:The NCRT, NCT, and NICT groups exhibited MPR and pCR rates of 66.4% (91/137) and 35.3% (85/241), 63.4% (104/164) and 35.8% (49/137), and 6.6% (16/241) and 31.1% (51/164), respectively ( χ2=1.67, P < 0.001). These groups displayed 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates of 89.8%, 85.9%, and 91.9%; 82.3%, 71.4%, and 81.5%; and 72.3%, 61.4%, and 77.8%, respectively, with significant differences ( χ2=9.20, P < 0.01). Furthermore, they exhibited 1-, 2-, and 3-year PFS rates of 81.5%, 75.9%, and 80.1%; 67.9%, 61.0%, and 65.5%; and 66.6%, 53.5%, and 65.3%, respectively, with significant differences ( χ2=4.62, P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that therapeutic modality, T stage, and N stage were independent prognostic factors for OS ( P < 0.05). Additionally, there was no difference in adverse reactions and postoperative complications among the three groups. Conclusions:Compared to NCT, NICT and NCRT feature higher pCR and MPR rates, along with more survival benefits. Therefore, neoadjuvant immunotherapy has the potential to serve as a preoperative therapeutic modality for esophageal cancer, yet large-scale randomized controlled trials are still required for confirmation.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy with or without radiotherapy in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (R/M ESCC).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 75 patients with R/M ESCC treated with sintilimab at Anyang Tumor Hospital from January 2020 to October 2021. The patients were divided into the radiotherapy (RT) group ( n=37) and non-radiotherapy (NRT) group ( n=38) based on whether they received radiotherapy. The objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse effects were compared between two groups. Count data were expressed as composition ratios and analyzed using Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Results:There was no statistically significant difference in ORR and DCR between the RT and NRT groups (70% vs. 61%, P=0.375; 95% vs. 89%, P=0.414). However, the complete response (CR) rate in the RT group was higher compared to that in the NRT group (19% vs. 3%, P=0.022). The median follow-up duration was 25.4 months. There was no statistically significant difference in the median PFS and OS between the RT and NRT groups (13.8 months vs. 9.9 months, P=0.221; 20.2 months vs. 18.9 months, P=0.214). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that among patients with recurrence or metastasis confined to local and / or ≤3 distant lymph nodes, there was no statistically significant difference in the median PFS between the RT and NRT groups (15.1 months vs. 8.4 months, P=0.115), but the median OS in the RT group was better than that in the NRT group (not reached vs. 12.3 months, P=0.036). Compared to the NRT group, besides an increase in grade 1-2 pneumonitis (41% vs. 18%, P=0.035), no significant increase in treatment-related toxicity was observed in the RT group. Conclusion:Immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy is safe in patients with R/M ESCC, and shows survival benefit in patients with recurrence or metastasis confined to local and / or ≤3 distant lymph nodes.