OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effects of arthroscopy in the treatment of medial meniscal cyst.

METHODSFrom June 2011 to January 2013, 7 patients with medial meniscal cyst were treated with arthroscopy. There were 3 males and 4 females,ranging in age from 27 to 63 years old,with a mean age of (43.93±2.10) years old. The cysts have been discovered for 3 to 30 months,with a mean time of (10.6±1.3) months. All the patients complained of knee pain,especially in the medial joint gap. The Pisani sign, Caklin sign and medial McMurray sign were all positive. Preoperative MRI examination confirmed the diagnosis. Lysholm score changes and clinical efficacy were observed through a six-month follow-up.

RESULTSThe postoperative Lysholm scores were all significantly higher than the preoperative scores. According to Sarimo standard, 6 patients got an excellent result, and 1 good.

CONCLUSIONArthroscopic treatment of medial meniscal cyst has replaced the traditional method, which could retain the normal meniscus as much as possible and repair the meniscus injury simultaneously, as well as get a good curative effect and a good recovery of knee function. This method is worthy of clinical application.

Adult ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Cysts ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy of cannulated screw fixation with percutaneous Poking reduction for the treatment of Sanders II, III calcaneal fracture.

METHODSFrom January 2012 to January 2014, 19 patients with Sanders II, III calcaneal fracture were treated with cannulated screw fixation with percutaneous Poking reduction. There were 14 males and 5 females, ranging in age from 19 to 58 years old, with an average age of (38.3 +/- 4.1) years old. The changes of Bohler angle and Gissane angle were measured and compared preoperatively and postoperatively to observe the recovery of the articular surface. The Maryland Foot Score was used to evaluate operation outcomes.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 28 months with a mean of (22.3 +/- 5.3) months. The Bohler angle and Gissane angle were improved significantly after operation compared with those before operation (P < 0.05). The Maryland score was 83.2 +/- 8.4.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of calcaneal fractures with screw fixation with percutaneous Poking reduction has several advantages such as satisfactory outcome,less damage, fewer complications, quicker recovery, and shorter hospital stay,and it is one of the effective treatments for Sanders II and III calcaneal fractures.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Calcaneus ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of weather conditions and occupational hygiene on SARS outbreak.

METHOD(1) Meteorological parameters around SARS outbreaks in 2003 in 9 cities (Guangzhou, Beijing, Tianjin, Taiyuan, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Toronto and Hanoi) were analyzed; (2) Causes of hospital infection were also analyzed from an occupational hygiene point of view.

RESULTS(1) The amplitude of air temperature, air pressure and diurnal temperature difference were greater around SARS outbreaks in most of the cities. Higher airborne particles concentration and lower wind speed were measured prior to SARS outbreaks in the cities with the most serious epidemic situation. The ten-day mean value of air temperature before SARS outbreaks in 9 cities was 16.6 degrees C +/- 7.6 degrees C, suggesting that coronary virus infection, which has been considered to cause SARS by now, may be most active at 9 degrees C - 24 degrees C. (2) Occupational hygiene in hospital proved to be an important socio-behavior factor for SARS outbreak. All hospital infection could be attributed to defects in the key links of occupational hygiene.

CONCLUSIONSGreater fluctuations of air temperature and higher airborne particles concentration in winter and spring, as well as poor occupational hygiene conditions are significant promoters of SARS outbreak. Warning of atmospheric conditions favorable to SARS, and improvement in occupational hygiene management is the key to prevention from SARS outbreak.

Attitude to Health ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross Infection ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Disease Outbreaks ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Meteorological Concepts ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission

ObjectiveTo investigate whether the eight- year program students retain the skills from the endoscopy simulator gastroscopy training.Methods4 trainees accepted virtual reality simulator gastroscopy training and performed a standardized VR gastroscopy scenario at the end of training,and after a median 12 months without practice ( retention ).The intensified training was done by trainees based on the differences between the training end and the retention for a median 12 months and the number of intensified training times was found.ResultsThe significant differences existed in the overinsufflation and opeirational force and time.The score at the training end was better than after retention.Through the average 5.5 times intensified trainings the original levels could be reached.ConclusionThrough Endoscopy Simulator the key skills could be retained well and through a litde training the original levels could also be reached.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with local advanced gastric cancer.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed prognosis in 191 patients with advanced gastric cancer, of whom 71 were treated with NAC and 120 received surgery only between February 2007 and July 2013. Postoperative complication rate was recorded. Survival by clinicopathological features, pathological T and N stages, and histopathological tumor regression was retrospectively compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAccording to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, none of the 71 patients in the NAC followed by surgery group showed complete response, 36 showed partial response, 25 had stable disease, and 10 had progressive disease. The chemotherapy response rate was 50.7%; the disease control rate was 85.9%. Grade 3/4 adverse events were seen in less than 20% patients, with acceptable toxicities. No difference was found in the overall postoperative complication rates between the two groups (7 versus 22 cases, P=0.18). Median survival time was significantly different, at 54 months in the NAC combined with surgery group and 25 months in the surgery-only group (P=0.025).

CONCLUSIONIn patients with operable gastric adenocarcinomas, NAC can significantly improve overall survival without increasing surgical complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Qilin Pills combined with clomiphene on idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 300 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia to a trial (n = 156) and a control group (n = 144) to be treated with Qilin Pills (6 g, tid) combined with clomiphene (50 mg, qd) and clomiphene alone (50 mg, qd), respectively, both for a course of 12 weeks. Before and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of medication, we determined sperm concentration, the percentages of grade a and grade a + b sperm, sperm motility, and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T), followed by evaluation of the clinical efficacy of Qilin Pills with the pregnancy rate in the patients' spouses as the secondaty therapeutic indexes.

RESULTSCompared with the baseline, both groups of patients showed remarkably improved semen parameters and hormone levels after treatment (all P < 0.01). After 4, 8, and 12 weeks of medication, statistically significant differences were observed between the trial and control groups in sperm concentration ([17.06 ± 2.24] vs [15.07 ± 2.48], [22.10 ± 2.65] vs [18.11 ± 2.97], and [28.13 ± 3.59] vs [21.21 ± 3.60] x 10(6)/mL, P < 0.01), the percentage of grade a sperm ([15.03 ± 2.39] vs [13.08 ± 2.51], [21.08 ± 3.16] vs [16.04 ± 3.05], and [28.08 ± 4.70] vs [20.14 ± 4.74]%, P < 0.01), the percentage of grade a + b sperm ([30.10 ± 5.07] vs [26.21 ± 3.96], [38.08 ± 5.64] vs [30.07 ± 4.80], and [48.04 ± 6.49] vs [35.28 ± 4.77]%, P < 0.01), sperm motility ([42.04 ± 4.86] vs [40.29 ± 4.19], [52.05 ± 5.58] vs [48.03 ± 4.40], and [65.03 ± 5.13] vs [56.67 ± 4.99]%), the FSH level ([7.75 ± 1.38] vs [7.20 ± 1.17], [10.83 ± 1.23] vs [9.10 ± 1.32], and [14.22 ± 0.84] vs [12.06 ± 1.45] IU/L, P < 0.01), the LH level ([10.05 ± 1.68] vs [9.18 ± 1.54], [13.96 ± 1.68] vs [11.99 ± 1.71], and [19.01 ± 2.42] vs [15.86 ± 2.08] IU/L, P < 0.01) and the T level ([19.19 ± 192] vs [18.34 ± 1.79] [21.06 ± 1.63] vs [20.06 ± 1.56], and [24.63 ± 1.06] vs [22.03 ± 1.49] nmol/L, P < 0.01). The pregnancy rate in the patients' spouses was significantly higher in the trial than in the control group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks (1.92 vs 0.69, 4.81 vs 3.47, and 11.54 vs 8.33%, P < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in drug tolerance between the two groups (P > 0.05). No obvious adverse reactions were observed.

CONCLUSIONQilin Pills combined with clomiphene can evidently improve the seminal quality and hormone level of oligoasthenospermia patients with no obvious adverse events. However, its long-term efficacy and tolerance deserve further clinical investigation.

Asthenozoospermia ; blood ; drug therapy ; Clomiphene ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fertility Agents ; therapeutic use ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effect of three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic total thyroidectomy combined with central lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer and its effect on the inflammatory response of the patients.

METHODSThe clinical data were analyzed in 90 patients with thyroid cancer undergoing radical thyroidectomy at our hospital between September, 2013 to April, 2016, including 30 receiving 3D laparoscopic surgeries, 30 with 2D laparoscopic surgeries and 30 with open surgeries. The surgical data, postoperative adverse reactions and the impact of the surgeries on the inflammatory responses of the patients were compared among the 3 groups.

RESULTSCompared with the open surgery and 2D laparoscopic surgery, 3D laparoscopic surgery was associated with lowered blood loss during the surgery and a lowered incidence of adverse reactions. The operation time in 3D group was significantly shorter than that in 2D group (P<0.05), but the total hospitalization expenses were similar between the two groups. The postoperative drainage volume did not differ significantly between the 3D group and the other two groups. The postoperative hospital stay, number of lymph nodes dissected, positivity rate of lymph nodes and the inflammatory response showed no significant differences among the 3 groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION3D laparoscopic total thyroidectomy combined with central lymph node dissection is safe and effective and reduces intraoperative blood loss and perioperative adverse reactions without significant influence on inflammatory response in patients with thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the risk factors of colorectal cancer-related anemia.

METHODThe clinical data of 319 patients with colorectal cancer were retrospectively analyzed for the possible risk factors of tumor-related anemia including tumor location, clinical stage, clinical symptoms, pathology, gender, and age.

RESULTSOf these 319 cases, 141 (44.20%) had anemia. The incidence of anemia was 62.20% among patients with right hemicolon cancers (including caecum cancer), and was 23.82% among patients with rectal cancer and 36.23% among those with transverse descending or sigmoid colon cancer. Cardia insufficiency, melena, tumor location, T staging, hypoproteinemia were also found to be related with anemia. Anemia and hypoproteinemia were the risk factors for perioperative blood transfusion (odds ratio = 3.004, odds ratio = 8.356, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSThe colorectal cancer-related anemia is not associated with the clinical stage of the tumor, while cardiac insufficiency, melena, tumor location, tumor stage, and hypoproteinemia constitute the possible risk factors. Anemia and hypoproteinemia are the risk factors of perioperative blood transfusion.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anemia ; etiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo analyze the epidemiological features of patients with head injuries in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.

METHODSMedical records of patients with head injuries who were admitted to 14 hospitals in Deyang, Mianyang and Chengdu cities after the earthquake were retrospectively analyzed. The patients'age, gender, cause of injury, diagnosis, and outcome were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSA total of 1 281 patients with 807 males and 474 females were included. According to Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission, 1 029 patients presented with mild injury, 161 moderate injury and 91 severe injury. The major cause of injuries (83%) was bruise by collapsed buildings. Open head injuries accounted for 60.8%. A total of 720 patients underwent surgical treatment. Good recovery was achieved in 1 056 patients, moderate disability in 106, severe disability in 71, coma in 29 and death in 19.

CONCLUSIONSIn this series, male patients were more than female patients. The main cause of injury was hit by falling objects due to building collapse. Minor and open craniocerebral injuries were most common. The epidemiological features of head injuries in Wenchuan earthquake may be helpful to preparation for future rescue.

Craniocerebral Trauma ; Earthquakes ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of mercury (Hg) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with chronic mercury poisoning and elucidate the neurotoxic mechanism of mercury.

METHODSNine patients with chronic mercury poisoning (poisoning group) as well as eight patients without exposure to mercury were included in this study. Mercury concentrations of 24 hour urine (U-Hg) and CSF (CSF-Hg) were measured with cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry-alkali stannous chloride method. The concentration of blood (B-Hg) at the same day was measured with cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry-acidic stannous chloride method. In five patients of poisoning group, these concentrations before chelation therapy were compared with those after chelation therapy.

RESULTSThe levels of B-Hg, U-Hg, and CSF-Hg in poisoning group (250.00 +/- 48.54, 160.07 +/- 91.15, 20.22 +/- 10.21 nmol/L, respectively) were significantly higher than those in control group (81.04 +/- 63.01, 24.73 +/- 9.96 nmol/L, undetectable, respectively; P < 0.01). In nine patients of poisoning group, CSF-Hg concentrations were correlated with B-Hg (r = 0.675, P < 0.05), but not U-Hg. After chelation therapy with dimercaptopropane sulfonate in five patients of poisoning group, the levels of B-Hg, U-Hg, and CSF-Hg were decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The reduction of CSF-Hg was not related with B-Hg and U-Hg.

CONCLUSIONCSF-Hg concentration in chronic mercury poisoning patient is increased with the rise of B-Hg, but not U-Hg. When the levels of B-Hg and U-Hg drop to normal, the CSF-Hg level is still high enough to be detected. It indicates that mercury is combined with protein after entering brain and this complex is difficult to cross through blood-cerebral barrier. The complex may cause neuromuscular disorder and fremitus in chronic mercury poisoning.

Adult ; Antidotes ; therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mercury ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Mercury Poisoning ; cerebrospinal fluid ; drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; Unithiol ; therapeutic use