OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of different concentrations of ropivacaine femoral nerve block on postoperative pain and early exercise fllowing total knee arthroplasty(TKA). METHODS: A total of 90 patients who underwent primary TKA between September 2022 and February 2023 were consecutively enrolled in this study. The cohort consisted of 34 males and 56 females, with a mean age of (66.66±7.03) years old. According to different concentrations of ropivacaine, patients were divided into 0.1% group, 0.2% group and 0.4% group, with 30 patients in each group. The age, gender, body mass index(BMI), American Society of Aneshesiologists(ASA) grade, operation time, anesthesia time, tourniquet using time, Post Anesthesia care unit(PACU) stay duration, ambulation time, first reaching to Bromage 0 grade time, visual analogue scale(VAS), hospitalization period and postoperative adverse reactions were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: All 90 patients were followed up for an average of (31.56±5.62) days, and no postoperative adverse reactions occurred. There were no significant differences among the three groups in terms of age, gender, BMI, ASA classification, operation time, anesthesia time, tourniquet application time, PACU stay duration, and hospitalization period (P>0.05). Significant differences were observed in VAS scores at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 hours post-operation among the three groups (P<0.05). Additionally, significant variations were noted in ambulation time and the first reaching to Bromage level 0 time among the three groups (P<0.05). In terms of postoperative pain, the VAS of the 0.1% group at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 hours after surgery(1.93±0.52), (2.57±0.77), (3.10±0.71), (3.10±0.71), (3.07±0.45) points were higher than those of the 0.4% group (1.57±0.50), (2.10±0.55), (2.23±0.57), (2.47±0.73), (2.50±0.57) points, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05);the VAS of the 0.1% group at 4, 6, and 12 hours after surgery were higher than those of the 0.2% group (2.43±0.57), (2.53±0.57), (2.63±0.56) points, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05);there was no statistically significant difference in VAS between the 0.2% group and the 0.4% group (P>0.05). In terms of early postoperative mobility, the time to ambulation time (8.30±2.76) h and the time to achieve the first Bromage grade 0 (6.13±2.18) h were significantly prolonged in the 0.4% group compared to both the 0.1% group (6.93±1.76) h, (4.17±1.18) h and the 0.2% group (6.53±1.59) h, (4.87±1.53) h. No statistically significant differences were observed between the 0.1% and 0.2% groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION 0.2% ropivacaine femoral nerve block can effectively reduce postoperative pain after TKA and can perform early exercise earlier.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Ropivacaine/administration & dosage* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/adverse effects* ; Aged ; Nerve Block/methods* ; Femoral Nerve/drug effects* ; Middle Aged ; Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy* ; Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage* ; Amides

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the primary electron beam parameters (PEB), including energy, radial intensity distribution and average angular divergence, of the individual linear accelerator using the Monte Carlo method. METHODS: A model of the treatment head and a standard field were built by BEAMnrc, and the dose distribution was simulated in water phantoms by DOSXYZnrc to obtain the percentage depth dose curve and off-axis ratio. By debugging the parameters mentioned above until the simulation and measurement results could match. RESULTS: The simulation and measurement results could achieve the best match when the parameters mentioned above were 6.25 MeV, 0.95 mm and 0.1° respectively. CONCLUSION The PEB of a linear accelerator could have a significant impact on the output beam characteristics. Monte Carlo estimation is one of the most crucial steps in establishing an individual linear accelerator model.
Monte Carlo Method ; Particle Accelerators ; Electrons ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Phantoms, Imaging

In recent decades, the prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout has increased dramatically due to lifestyle changes. The drugs currently recommended for hyperuricemia are associated with adverse reactions that limit their clinical use. In this study, we report that berberine (BBR) is an effective drug candidate for the treatment of hyperuricemia, with its mechanism potentially involving the modulation of gut microbiota and its metabolite, succinic acid. BBR has demonstrated good therapeutic effects in both acute and chronic animal models of hyperuricemia. In a clinical trial, oral administration of BBR for 6 months reduced blood uric acid levels in 22 participants by modulating the gut microbiota, which led to an increase in the abundance of Bacteroides and a decrease in Clostridium sensu stricto_1. Furthermore, Bacteroides fragilis was transplanted into ICR mice, and the results showed that Bacteroides fragilis exerted a therapeutic effect on uric acid similar to that of BBR. Notably, succinic acid, a metabolite of Bacteroides, significantly reduced uric acid levels. Subsequent cell and animal experiments revealed that the intestinal metabolite, succinic acid, regulated the upstream uric acid synthesis pathway in the liver by inhibiting adenosine monophosphate deaminase 2 (AMPD2), an enzyme responsible for converting adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to inosine monophosphate (IMP). This inhibition resulted in a decrease in IMP levels and an increase in phosphate levels. The reduction in IMP led to a decreased downstream production of hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid. BBR also demonstrated excellent renoprotective effects, improving nephropathy associated with hyperuricemia. In summary, BBR has the potential to be an effective treatment for hyperuricemia through the gut-liver axis.

This article introduced the basic theory of non-parametric regression and its application in medical and public health research for methodological reference.We conducted Cox proportional hazard models with restricted cubic splines using chronic disease management data from a Center for Disease Control and Prevention.We aimed to explore the separate and combined effects of mean fasting blood glucose level and glucose variability on all-cause mortality among individuals with type 2 diabetes.A non-linear association was observed between glucose variability and the risk of all-cause mortality.The association between glucose variability and all-cause mortality was stronger at higher mean fasting blood glucose levels compared to lower levels.The non-parametric regression methods comprehensively explored dose-response relationships between continuous exposure and outcome,revealing the combined effects of continuous exposures,which provided recommendations for targeted interventions.The method showed promising application value in medical and public health research.

Objective To investigate the long-term incidence of in-stent stenosis(ISS)in patients with intracranial aneurysms receiving pipeline embolization device(PED)who showed no ISS at short-to-medium term follow-up examination.Methods The clinical data of patients,who received PED treatment at the Department of Neurointervention,First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University of China between April 2015 and June 2022,were retrospectively collected.The patients with intracranial aneurysms,who showed no ISS at the initial follow-up with DS A and completed＞12 months long-term follow-up check after treatment at the same hospital,were screened out,and their relevant clinical data and imaging materials were collected.The incidence of ISS occurring in postoperative＞12 months long-term follow-up was calculated.The ISS was defined as a＞25％lumen loss of the parent artery when compared with its lumen size measured immediately after PED implantation.Results A total of 57 patients with 61 aneurysms were enrolled in this study,and a total of 68 PEDs were implanted.Forty-one(67.21％)aneurysms were treated by PED implantation only,and 20(32.79％)aneurysms by PED plus spring coils.The median initial follow-up time was 184.0 days(119.0,212.5).At postoperative＞12 months long-term follow-up visit,DSA was employed for 35(57.38％)aneurysms,CTA was adopted for 22(36.07％)aneurysms,and 3D-SPACE sequence MR scan was performed in 4(6.56％)aneurysms.The median follow-up time was 538.0 days(407.5,678.0),and the incidence of ISS was 0％.No ISS-related neurological symptoms occurred in all patients.Conclusion In treating intracranial aneurysms with PED,the postoperative incidence of ISS is low.No ISS is found during the short-term follow-up period,and long-term follow-up results tend to indicate that no ISS events have occurred.

Purpose::Although traditional craniotomy (TC) surgery has failed to show benefits for the functional outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, a minimally invasive hematoma removal plan to avoid white matter fiber damage may be a safer and more feasible surgical approach, which may improve the prognosis of ICH. We conducted a historical cohort study on the use of multimodal image fusion-assisted neuroendoscopic surgery (MINS) for the treatment of ICH, and compared its safety and effectiveness with traditional methods.Methods::This is a historical cohort study involving 241 patients with cerebral hemorrhage. Divided into MINS group and TC group based on surgical methods. Multimodal images (CT skull, CT angiography, and white matter fiber of MRI diffusion-tensor imaging) were fused into 3 dimensional images for preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance of endoscopic hematoma removal in the MINS group. Clinical features, operative efficiency, perioperative complications, and prognoses between 2 groups were compared. Normally distributed data were analyzed using t-test of 2 independent samples, Nonnormally distributed data were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Meanwhile categorical data were analyzed via the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. All statistical tests were two-sided, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results::A total of 42 patients with ICH were enrolled, who underwent TC surgery or MINS. Patients who underwent MINS had shorter operative time ( p < 0.001), less blood loss ( p < 0.001), better hematoma evacuation ( p =0.003), and a shorter stay in the intensive care unit ( p =0.002) than patients who underwent TC. Based on clinical characteristics and analysis of perioperative complications, there is no significant difference between the 2 surgical methods. Modified Rankin scale scores at 180 days were better in the MINS than in the TC group ( p =0.014). Conclusions::Compared with TC for the treatment of ICH, MINS is safer and more efficient in cleaning ICH, which improved the prognosis of the patients. In the future, a larger sample size clinical trial will be needed to evaluate its efficacy.

Objective:To explore the characteristics and changes of cardiac injury with age in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and its clinical significance.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted. The 215 patients diagnosed with DMD in West China Second Hospital from January 2019 to November 2022 and aged from 6 to 18 years were enrolled. Their clinical data, myocardial injury markers, routine electrocardiogram, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and echocardiography were collected. The patients were divided into five age groups: 6-<8, 8-<10, 10-<12, 12-<14 and 14-18 years of age, and matched with healthy boys respectively. Independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the clinical data and CMR indexes between DMD patients and controls in all age subgroups, and to compare the value of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measured by echocardiography and CMR in each subgroup of DMD patitents. Pearson correlation analysis or Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the relation between the CMR indexes and age in DMD patients. Results:A total of 215 patients with DMD (all male) and 122 healthy boys were included in the study. There were 75 DMD patients and 23 controls in 6-<8 years of age group, 77 DMD and 28 controls in 8-<10 years of age group, 39 DMD and 23 controls in 10-<12 years of age group, 10 DMD and 31 controls in the 12-<14 years of age group, and 14 DMD and 17 controls in 14-18 years of age group. In the DMD patients, the older the age, the lower the levels of creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB). In the 6-<8 years of age group, the CK level was 10 760 (7 800, 15 757) U/L, while in the group of 14-18 years of age, it was 2 369 (1 480, 6 944) U/L. As for CK-MB, it was (189±17) μg/L in the 6-<8 years of age group and (62±16) μg/L in the 14-18 years of age group. Cardiac troponin I remained unchanged in <12 years of age groups, but significantly increased in 12-<14 years of age group, reaching the highest value of 0.112 (0.006, 0.085) μg/L. In the DMD patients, the older the age, the higher the proportion of abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG). In the 6-<8 years of age group, the proportion is 29.3% (22/75), while in the 14-18 years of age group, it was 10/14. Correlation analysis showed that the left ventricular end-diastolic volume index was positively related with age ( r=0.18, P=0.015), and the left ventricular stroke volume index and cardiac output index were negatively related with age ( r=-0.34 and -0.31, respectively, both P<0.001). In the DMD patients, the older the age, the lower LVEF, with the LVEF decreasing to (49.3±3.1)% in the 14-18 years of age group. The LVEF of DMD cases was significantly lower than that of controls in the age subgroups of 8-<10, 10-<12, 12-<14 and 14-18 years of age groups ((57.9±5.2) % vs. (63.6±0.8)%, 60.7% (55.9%, 61.9%) vs. 63.7% (60.2%, 66.0%), 57.1% (51.8%, 63.4%) vs. 62.1 % (59.5%, 64.5)%, (49.3±3.1) % vs. (61.6±1.3)%, respectively; all P<0.01). In the DMD patients, the older the age, the higher the proportion of positive late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). In the 6-<8 years of age group, it was 22% (11/51), in the 12-<14 years of age group, it was 13/14, and in the 14-18 years of age group, all DMD showed positive LGE. The value of LVEF of DMD cases measured by echocardiography was significantly higher than that measured by CMR in 6-<8 years of age group and 8-<10 years of age group (63.2% (60.1%, 66.4%) vs. 59.1 % (55.4%, 62.9%), and (62.8±5.2) % vs. (57.9±5.2)%, all P<0.001). Conclusion:DMD patients develop cardiac injury in the early stage of the disease, and the incidence of cardiac damage gradually increases with both age and the progression of disease.

Objective To assess the safety of transeptal puncture(TSP)guided by transthoracic echocardiography(TEE)in percutaneous transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale(PFO).Methods From March 2022 to December 2022,our department performed TSP guided by TEE in 45 patients with PFO who were unable to pass through the PFO with transcatheter standard technique.After guiding the delivery of the sheath,the foramen ovale was occluded.Results PFO closure with TSP technique guided by transthoracic echocardiography was successfully finished in all the 45 patients,with an operative time of(15.0±3.7)min.No complications such as arrhythmia or cardiac perforation happened immediately and at 12 h after surgery.All the patients recovered and were discharged on the next day after surgery.All the 45 patients were followed up by outpatient echocardiography and dynamic electrocardiogram at 3 months after surgery,and no complications such as intracardiac shunt,pericardial effusion,atrial fibrillation,aortic regurgitation,or arrhythmia were observed.Conclusion TSP guided by TEE is safe and feasible,and it can be used as a supplementary method for complex PFO.

Specnuezhenide(SNZ)is among the main components of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi,which has anti-inflammation,anti-oxidation,and anti-tumor effect.The low bioavailability makes it difficult to explain the mechanism of pharmacological effect of SNZ.In this study,the role of the gut microbiota in the metabolism and pharmacokinetics characteristics of SNZ as well as the pharmacological meaning were explored.SNZ can be rapidly metabolized by the gut microbiome,and two intestinal bacterial metabolites of SNZ,salidroside and tyrosol,were discovered.In addition,carboxylesterase may be the main intestinal bacterial enzyme that mediates its metabolism.At the same time,no metabolism was found in the incubation system of SNZ with liver microsomes or liver homogenate,indicating that the gut microbiota is the main part involved in the metabolism of SNZ.In addition,pharmacokinetic studies showed that salidroside and tyrosol can be detected in plasma in the presence of gut microbiota.Interestingly,tumor development was inhibited in a colorectal tumor mice model administered orally with SNZ,which indicated that SNZ exhibited potential to inhibit tumor growth,and tissue distribution studies showed that salidroside and tyrosol could be distributed in tumor tissues.At the same time,SNZ modulated the structure of gut microbiota and fungal group,which may be the mechanism governing the antitumoral activity of SNZ.Furthermore,SNZ stimulates the secretion of short-chain fatty acids by intestinal flora in vitro and in vivo.In the future,targeting gut microbes and the interaction between natural products and gut microbes could lead to the discovery and development of new drugs.

At present, clinical interventions for chronic kidney disease are very limited, and most patients rely on dialysis to sustain their lives for a long time. However, studies on the gut-kidney axis have shown that the gut microbiota is a potentially effective target for correcting or controlling chronic kidney disease. This study showed that berberine, a natural drug with low oral availability, significantly ameliorated chronic kidney disease by altering the composition of the gut microbiota and inhibiting the production of gut-derived uremic toxins, including p-cresol. Furthermore, berberine reduced the content of p-cresol sulfate in plasma mainly by lowering the abundance of g_Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and inhibiting the tyrosine-p-cresol pathway of the intestinal flora. Meanwhile, berberine increased the butyric acid producing bacteria and the butyric acid content in feces, while decreased the renal toxic trimethylamine N-oxide. These findings suggest that berberine may be a therapeutic drug with significant potential to ameliorate chronic kidney disease through the gut-kidney axis.