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.

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 evaluate the safety of two inactivated COVID-19 vaccines in a large-scale emergency use.Methods:Based on the "Vaccination Information Collection System", the incidence data of adverse reactions in the population vaccinated with the inactivated COVID-19 vaccines developed by Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd and Wuhan Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd, respectively, in emergency use were collected, and the relevant information were analyzed with descriptive epidemiological and statistical methods.Results:By December 1, 2020, the vaccination information of 519 543 individuals had been collected. The overall incidence rate of adverse reactions was 1.06%, the incidence rate of systemic adverse reactions was 0.69% and the incidence rate of local adverse reactions was 0.37%. The main systemic adverse reactions included fatigue, headache, fever, cough and loss of appetite with the incidence rates of 0.21%, 0.14%, 0.06%, 0.05% and 0.05%, respectively; the main local adverse reactions were injection site pain and injection site swelling with the incidence rates of 0.24% and 0.05%, respectively.Conclusion:The two inactivated COVID-19 vaccines by Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd and Wuhan Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd showed that in the large-scale emergency use, the incidence rate of general reactions was low and no serious adverse reactions were observed after the vaccinations, demonstrating that the vaccines have good safety.

Macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the leading cause of visual impairment in patients with RVO.Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents is the first-line treatment for RVO and most of patients can obtain improvements of macular morphology and visual function.Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can clearly characterize the macular microstructure.Qualitative or quantitative analysis of histological retinal layers of the macula, before and after anti-VEGF treatment, can guide the clinical treatment and predict visual outcome of patients with RVO.OCT predictors of visual prognosis in patients with RVO following anti-VEGF treatment, including central retinal thickness, disruption of external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone, hyperreflective foci, disorganization of the retinal inner layers, serous retinal detachment or intraretinal cystoid spaces, subretinal hemorrhage, vitreomacular adhesion and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) integrity are focused on in this review, aiming to enhance patient counseling and improve risk assessment and advance clinical management.

Objective To explore the effect of paraspinal approach and posterior median approach for one -stage decompression recon-struction in the treatment of thoracolumbar spine fracture and dislocation .Methods From January 2012 to January 2014, 60 patients with thoracolumbar spine fracture and dislocation who were admitted and treated in our hospital were selected as the research objects .All patients received one-stage decompression reconstruction for treatment .According to the methods of approach , the patients were divided into the ob-servation group and the control group .The 30 cases in observation group were treated by paraspinal approach while the other 30 cases in con-trol group were treated by posterior median approach .Visual analogue score ( VAS) was applied .The status of surgery , recovery of centrum height, changes of Cobb angle as well as the occurrence rate of postoperative complications in the two groups were recorded .Results In the observation group, the operative time, time in bed and length of stay were (89.16 ±11.63) min, (39.75 ±8.69) h and (3.96 ±1.04) d respectively, which were shorter than those in the control group .The intraoperative blood loss was (89.64 ±13.62) mL which was lower than that in the control group and the difference was significant (P<0.05).One week after operation, the anterior and posterior height of centrum in the observation group increased significantly while Cobb angle significantly reduced .Compared with those before the treatment , the difference was significant (P<0.05).The maximum coronary diameter and maximum sagittal diameter of paraspinal muscles in the ob -servation group after the treatment were (48.96 ±5.34)mm and (18.16 ±6.74)mm respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group and the difference was significant (P<0.05).The incidence of lumbar and back pain in the observation group was 3.33%which was lower than 23.33%in the control group and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion To carry out decompression reconstruction through paraspinal approach can reduce the the pain degree of patients and the incidence of lumbar and back pain after operation .

Objective To study the clinical effect of transpedicular vertebral osteotomy spine shortening in treating spinal kyphosis com-plicated with spinal cord nerve dysfunction. Methods A total of 80 patients with spinal kyphosis complicated with spinal cord nerve dys-function in our hospital from May 2013 to June 2014 were enrolled and randomly divided into observation group(n=40) and control group (n=40). The observation group received transpedicular vertebral osteotomy,and the control group received lamina and facet osteotomy. The situation of surgery,vertebral healing and spinal cord function condition,treatment effect between two groups were compared. Results The operation time and postoperative ambulation time of observation group were shorter than those of control group [(76. 52 ± 9. 1) vs (113. 46 ± 13. 44) min,(3. 28 ± 0. 43) vs (5. 67 ± 0. 68) d]. The postoperative bleeding volume,postoperative drainage volume of observation group were less than those of control group [(36. 14 ± 4. 28) vs (55. 23 ± 7. 15) mL,(17. 92 ± 2. 12) vs (29. 64 ± 4. 28) mL]. The Cobb angle and residual urine volume,initial and strong urinary bladder capacity,maximum urinary output of observation group were significantly less than those of control group [(6. 12 ± 0. 68) vs(9. 78 ± 1. 21) mL,(241. 45 ± 28. 56) vs(335. 54 ± 36. 86) mL,(456. 56 ± 51. 78) vs (586. 35 ± 63. 12) mL,(63. 78 ± 7. 24) vs (96. 32 ± 10. 22) mL]. The intervertebral height of observation group was higher than that of control group [(12. 62 ± 2. 81) vs (8. 41 ± 1. 32) mm]. The excellent rate of observation group was significantly higher than that of control group(97. 50%vs 82. 50%). Conclusion Transpedicular vertebral osteotomy spine shortening is helpful to reduce operation wound, pro-mote postoperative recovery,correct kyphotic deformity and improve neurological functionin,improve therapeutic effect.

Induced current electrical impedance tomography (ICEIT) is a new branch of electrical impedance tomography (EIT). We have designed and set up a high accuracy ICEIT hardware system with 32 electrodes based on physical phantom, and we have brought forward a new method to reduce the additive electromotive force (EMF) in circuit of the electrode leads. By use of the technique of twisted pair wire, the additive EMF in the circuit of the electrode leads has been reduced to 10% of that before use and the precision of the system has been improved. The precision of the final results is better than 0.5% after 1000 measurement data averaged. Applying the reconstructive algorithm, we have obtained preliminary images based on physical phantom.
Algorithms ; Amplifiers, Electronic ; Electric Impedance ; Electrodes ; Electromagnetic Phenomena ; Equipment Design ; Models, Theoretical ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; Tomography ; methods

Induced-current electrical impedance tomography (ICEIT) is a newly hot research field in electrical impedance tomography (EIT) because of its advantages of contactless exciting. A preliminary ICEIT system with 3 excitation coils has been accomplished. It includes the constant current source (CCS), power amplifiers, excitation coils,physical phantom, measurement-mode setting circuit, signal measuring block, DAC and digital I/O card. The CCS is accomplished with Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) technique. Its frequency is 46.875 KHz. Its output current is divided into 16 steps from 0.16 mA to 2.56 mA which can be set by computer. The three driving coils have the same diameter of 50 cm, each coil's inductance is 193.5 microH. The power amplifier can provide 800 mA driving current (f = 46.875 KHz) to the coil under +/- 25 V power supplying. The signal from measurement electrodes is switched to measurement channel which includes IA, BP filter and synchronized demodulator, then the analog signal is converted to digital signal by a 12b A/D Card and the data is acquired by DMA mode. Our experiments show that a distinguish change of signal from the surface electrodes can be acquired by the experimental system when different objects are placed in the physical phantom. And 3 x 31 signals for preliminary imaging have been acquired.
Algorithms ; Amplifiers, Electronic ; Electric Impedance ; Electrodes ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Electromagnetic Phenomena ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Tomography ; instrumentation ; methods

The in vivo measurements of rabbit brain tissue impedance were taken under both normal and ischemic conditions by using two-electrode measurement method in the frequency range from 0.1 Hz to 1 MHz. The dynamic images about the resistivity of cerebral ischemia were reconstructed based on a 16-electrode system. The results of in vivo measurement showed that the ratio of impedance increased can be as high as 75% at frequencies lower than 10 Hz. In the range from 1 KHz to 1 MHz, the ratio showed a constant value of 15%. The electrical impedance tomography (EIT) images obtained suggested that the regions of impedance changes highly correspond to the position of ischemia. It is confirmed that the brain function changes caused by local deficiency of blood can be detected and imaged by EIT method.
Animals ; Brain ; physiology ; Brain Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Electric Impedance ; Female ; Male ; Rabbits ; Tomography ; methods

The human skull impedance was quantitatively measured by means of Frequency Response Analyzer and its software. The impedance-frequency response curves of human skull were obtained. By analyzing the curves, we found that the characteristic frequency of human skull should be around 10 KHz.
Adult ; Electric Impedance ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Skull ; physiology ; Time Factors