Surgical methods for varicocele remain controversial. This study intends to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different surgical approaches for treating varicocele through a network meta-analysis (NMA). PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases were thoroughly searched. In total, 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 24 cohort studies were included, covering 9 different surgical methods. Pairwise meta-analysis and NMA were performed by means of random-effects models, and interventions were ranked based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). According to the SUCRA, microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy (MSV; 91.6%), microsurgical retroperitoneal varicocelectomy (MRV; 78.2%), and microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy (MIV; 76.7%) demonstrated the highest effectiveness in reducing postoperative recurrence rates. In this study, sclerotherapy embolization (SE; 87.2%), MSV (77.9%), and MIV (67.7%) showed the best results in lowering the risk of hydrocele occurrence. MIV (82.9%), MSV (75.9%), and coil embolization (CE; 58.7%) were notably effective in increasing sperm motility. Moreover, CE (76.7%), subinguinal approach varicocelectomy (SV; 69.2%), and SE (55.7%) were the most effective in increasing sperm count. SE (82.5%), transabdominal laparoscopic varicocelectomy (TLV; 76.5%), and MRV (52.7%) were superior in shortening the length of hospital stay. The incidence rates of adverse events for MRV (0), SE (3.3%), and MIV (4.1%) were notably low. Cluster analyses indicated that MSV was the most effective in the treatment of varicocele. Based on the existing evidence, MSV may represent the optimal choice for varicocele surgery. However, selecting clinical surgical strategies requires consideration of various factors, including patient needs, surgeon experience, and the learning curve.
Humans ; Male ; Embolization, Therapeutic/methods* ; Microsurgery/methods* ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Sclerotherapy/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male/methods* ; Varicocele/surgery*

Objective:To investigate the effect of the number of positive preoperative serological tumor markers on the surgical approach and prognosis of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.Methods:This is a retrospective case-series study. Data from 548 patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after radical resection from October 2010 to April 2019 were retrospectively collected in 10 hospitals of China. There were 277 males and 271 females with an age of (57.8±10.2)years(range:23 to 84 years). Four hundred and twenty-six patients(77.7%) had at least one positive preoperative serum tumor marker. The data collection included the results of 4 preoperative serological tumor markers,other preoperative indicators(5 prodromal symptoms, 6 medical history,8 preoperative serological indicators,5 preoperative imaging indicators,and 14 preoperative pathological examination indicators),baseline data (gender and age),surgical methods,and prognostic follow-up data. Four preoperative results of serologic tumor marker and surgical procedure were converted into categorical variables. The number of positive preoperative serum tumor markers was used as the treatment variable,the surgical method was used as the mediating variable,and the survival time was used as the outcome variable. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to screen for other preoperative indicators which were independent factors that influenced the surgical procedure and the prognosis of patients as covariates to analyze the mediating effect.Results:Of the 548 patients included in the study, 176 patients (32.1%) underwent partial hepatectomy,151 patients(27.5%) underwent hemihepatectomy, and 221 patients(40.3%) underwent partial hepatectomy or hemihepatectomy combined with other treatments. The results of the univariate and multivariate analysis showed that the number of positive serum tumor markers,intrahepatic bile duct dilatation,portal vein invasion,pathological differentiation,pathological type,vascular invasion,T stage,N stage and maximum tumor diameter were independent factors influencing the surgical procedure(all P<0.05). Intrahepatic bile duct dilatation,pathological differentiation and T stage were independent prognostic factors for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(all P<0.05). Intrahepatic bile duct dilatation,differentiation and T stage were included as covariates in the mediation effect model. The results showed that the number of positive serum tumor markers before surgery had a negative predictive effect on the survival time of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma ( β=-0.092, P=0.039),and had a positive predictive effect on the surgical method ( β=0.244, P<0.01). The number of positive serum tumor markers had a negative predictive effect on the survival time of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma ( β=-0.151, P=0.002). Direct and indirect effects accounted for 71.3% and 28.7% of total effects,respectively. Conclusions:The higher the positive number of preoperative tumor markers,the worse the prognosis of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The number of positive cells not only directly affects the prognosis of patients,but also indirectly affects the prognosis of patients by affecting the surgical method.

Objective:To explore the surgical technique and results of three-dimensional aortic valve anatomic repair for bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) with aortic regurgitation (AR).Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. From August 2021 to December 2023, 130 consecutive patients with BAV-AR underwent aortic valve anatomic repair at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University,and the data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 115 males and 15 females, aged (38.6±11.7) years (range: 15 to 67 years). All patients received modified aortic root reconstruction, to do three-dimensional root remodeling, including the basal ring, sinus of Valsalva and sino-tubular junction simultaneously. Perioperative and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. Comparisons between groups were performed using independent samples t-test, Wilcoxon paired signed-rank test, or χ2 test. Results:No patient transferred to valve replacement during the operation. The cardiopulmonary bypass time ( M(IQR)) was 109(34) minutes (range:67 to 247 minutes), and the aortic cross-clamp time was 76(26) minutes (range: 32 to 158 minutes). Preoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed 123 patients (94.6%) presented with moderate or severe regurgitation. Immediately postoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed no regurgitation in 22 patients (16.9%), trace regurgitation in 81 patients (62.3%) and mild regurgitation in 27 patients (20.8%). Follow up was completed in all patients, with a follow-up of 5.5(9.4) months (range: 0.1 to 27.6 months). No mortality was observed during follow-up. Echocardiography was obtained in 112 patients at the latest follow-up, including no regurgitation in 4 patients (3.6%), trace regurgitation in 58 patients (51.8%), mild regurgitation in 45 patients (40.2%), moderate regurgitation in 4 patients (3.6%), and severe regurgitation in 1 patient (0.9%). Conclusion:For patients with BAV-AR who have good valve quality and no severe aortic sinus dilation, the recent outcomes of three-dimensional anatomical repair technique, focusing on overall remodeling of the aortic root, are satisfactory.

To analyze the prevalence, genomic characteristics and clinical relevance of carbapenem-resistant bacteria in untreated hospital wastewater, and to provide a reference basis for in-hospital assessment of public health situation and prevention of cross-infection. In March 2023, untreated wastewater in the wastewater treatment station of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and wastewater in the U-shaped wastewater pipes of the hand-washing sinks in 26 wards were collected, centrifuged and diluted, and the drug-resistant bacteria were isolated by using LB solid plates containing meropenem (2 μg/ml) for species identification, drug sensitivity analysis, carbapenenase gene PCR detection and whole genome sequencing. The genome sequence was identified for drug resistance genes. Retrospective research was used, combining multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, to compare their homology with clinical isolates of the same quarter. The results showed that 56 carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria were isolated from hospital wastewater, originating from 13 genera, of which 17 were isolated from the total hospital wastewater, with Aeromonas spp. as the most dominant genus (35.3%, 6/17), and 39 were isolated from the wastewater of 17 wards, with Pseudomonas spp. as the most dominant genus (30.8%, 12/39). All common wastewater isolates from our hospital were multidrug-resistant bacteria, with up to 100% resistant to some second-and third-generation cephalosporins. A total of 8 carbapenemase genes originated from wastewater isolates, including blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaIND, blaOXA-58-like, blaOXA-48-like, and blaOXA-427-like. 39 wastewater isolates carried the carbapenemase genes, and the total wastewater of the hospital carried the highest isolation rate of blaKPC-2 bacteria (35.3%, 6/17) and the highest isolation rate of blaIMP-8 bacteria (31.8%, 7/22) were found in the wastewater from 26 wards. 14 wastewater isolates were found to carry both carbapenemase genes, with a total of 6 combinations. A new blaIMP-101 isoform was also identified for the first time. 4 wastewater isolates and 11 clinical isolates were screened for inclusion in the SNP analysis, in which only 15 SNPs differed between the two strains of ST11 Klebsiella pneumoniae of clinical and wastewater origin, which was highly homologous. In conclusion, the presence of multiple multi-drug resistant conditionally pathogenic bacteria in untreated hospital wastewater has the potential risk of spreading drug-resistant genes in the environment. The highly homologous Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from hospital wastewater and clinics indicates the close association between hospital wastewater and clinical infections. Hospitals need to strengthen the monitoring of drug-resistant bacteria and drug-resistant genes in the wastewater environment, to prevent the widespread dissemination of drug-resistant bacteria and drug-resistant genes in hospital wastewater and to prevent nosocomial infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria in wastewater.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety between hypofractionated radiotherapy(HyRt)and conventional radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery.Methods This study was a single-center,prospective,randomized controlled study.Eighty-three patients with pTis-T2N0M0 breast cancer admitted to Tangshan People's Hospital from May 2017 to May 2019 were included.The patients received breast-conserving surgery+sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB).After surgery,they were treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT).According to random table method,patients were divided into HyRt group(n=41)and conventional radiotherapy group(n=42).The dose of organs at risk,treatment efficacy,treatment failure modes,and radiotherapy related adverse reactions were analyzed in the two groups.The radiotherapy-related adverse reactions were evaluated according to NCI CTC AE Version 3.0,including radiation dermatitis,radiation pneumonia,breast/skin fibrosis,pulmonary fibrosis,etc.Results Eighty-three patients with breast cancer were included,with a median age of 44(26-67)years.There was no statistically significant difference in clinical parameters such as age(P=0.443),TNM stage(P=0.335),molecular typing(P=0.333),degree of differentiation(P=0.617),and pathological type(P=0.127)between the two groups of patients.Compared with conventional radiotherapy group,the V5(25.6％vs.33.8％,P=0.015),V20(13.3％vs.17.2％,P=0.042),and the mean radiation dose(MLD;7.4 Gy vs.10.4 Gy,P=0.020)of the affected lung of HyRt group significantly decreased.Only 3 patients in this study experienced distant metastasis,and no regional lymph node metastasis or local recurrence was observed.There was no significant difference in PFS rate at 2 years between HyRt group and conventional radiotherapy group(94.4％vs.85.2％,P=0.818).Compared with conventional radiotherapy group,the incidence of≥grade Ⅱ irradiation dermatitis in HyRt group was significantly reduced(2.4％vs.21.4％,P=0.015).There was no difference in the incidence of grade Ⅰ breast/skin fibrosis(19.5％vs.14.3％,P=0.570)between the two groups,and no grade Ⅲ radiotherapy-related side effects were observed in the two groups.Conclusions Compared with conventional radiotherapy with simultaneously integrated boosting-intensity modulated radiotherapy,the patients who received HyRt after breast-conserving surgery for early-stage breast cancer have good tolerance and low incidence of adverse reactions.HyRt can be used as the first option of radiation therapy.

Objective:To explore the effects of the intervention of ginger baixiao moxibustion combined with probiotics on immune function, liver and kidney function of colorectal cancer patients after surgery, so as to provide a theoretical basis for clinical intervention methods to promote postoperative rehabilitation of patients.Methods:This study was a randomized controlled trial, and 180 patients with colorectal cancer radical resection from the Cancer Hospital of Guangxi Medical University were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely control group, probiotic group, ginger baixiao moxibustion group, and combination group, with 45 cases in each group. The control group was given routine nursing before and after surgery. In the probiotic group, probiotics were used for 3 d in routine preoperative care and 4 d from the first day after surgery. The preoperative routine care of the ginger baixiao moxibustion group was supplemented by ginger baixiao moxibustion for 3 d, and the intervention was carried out on the first day after surgery for 4 d. The combined group was treated with probiotics before and after surgery, and the specific intervention methods were the same as those of the probiotics group and the ginger baixiao moxibustion group. The differences in postoperative immune function, liver and kidney function and and other indexes among the four groups were compared.Results:Forty-five cases were ultimately selected from each of the 4 groups. There were 31 males and 14 females, aged (56.67 ± 10.13) years old in the control group. There were 27 males and 18 females, aged (55.33 ± 13.02) years old in the probiotic group. There were 20 males and 25 females, aged (57.87 ± 12.43) years old in the ginger baixiao moxibustion group. There were 26 males and 19 females, aged (57.67 ± 11.63) years old in the combination group. The IgA at 5 d after the operation in the control group, the probiotic group, the ginger baixiao moxibustion group and the combined group were (1.46 ± 0.42), (1.71 ± 0.49), (1.72 ± 0.58), (1.97 ± 0.72) g/L, and the IgM were (0.96 ± 0.20), (1.13 ± 0.33), (1.11 ± 0.35), (1.18 ± 0.52) g/L, and the IgG were (8.45 ± 1.68), (9.57 ± 1.71), (9.41 ± 2.14), (10.40 ± 2.16) g/L, and the differences among the four groups were statistically significant ( F=6.20, 10.64, 7.69, all P<0.05). The CD3 + values at 5 d after the operation in the control group, the probiotic group, the ginger baixiao moxibustion group and the combined group were 0.616 ± 0.094, 0.671 ± 0.101, 0.653 ± 0.119, 0.723 ± 0.091, and CD4 + were 0.408 ± 0.060, 0.444 ± 0.063, 0.441 ± 0.103, 0.483 ± 0.069, and CD4 +/CD8 + were 2.173 ± 0.715, 2.367 ± 0.963, 2.204 ± 1.137, 2.803 ± 1.064, and the differences among the four groups were statistically significant ( F=8.58, 7.43, 3.93, all P<0.05). The alanine aminotransferases at 5 d after the operation in the control group, the probiotic group, the ginger baixiao moxibustion group and the combined group were (16.22 ± 11.56), (15.87 ± 10.69), (12.91 ± 7.45), (11.31 ± 8.31) U/L, and the aspartate aminotransferases were (26.13 ± 7.97), (25.84 ± 7.89), (25.67 ± 10.85), (21.84 ± 5.51) U/L, and the differences among the four groups were statistically significant ( F=2.71, 2.70, both P<0.05). Conclusions:The combination of ginger baixiao moxibustion and probiotics intervention can effectively improve the immune function of colorectal cancer patients after surgery, and improve the liver function and other indexes of patients to a certain extent, so as to benefit patients.

An electrochemical chemical oxygen demand(COD)sensor was proposed based on a FTO/TiO2/PbO2 electrode and a thin-layer electrochemical cell.The FTO/TiO2/PbO2 electrode was characterized by X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy(XPS),X-ray diffraction(XRD)spectroscopy and electrochemical technique,and the results indicated that the rapid decrease in the output signals of the electrochemical COD sensor could be attributed to oxidation of PbSO4 occurring on the surface of FTO/TiO2/PbO2 electrode.The PbO2 deposition time and concentration of Na2SO4 were further optimized and then the electrochemical COD sensor was challenged by real samples including laker water sample,river water sample and wastewater sample.The evolution trend of signals of the electrochemical COD sensor in response to lake and river water samples was identical with that obtained with the standard method(HJ/T399-2007,Water quality-determination of the chemical oxygen demand-fast digestion-spectrophotometric method).The electrochemical COD sensor exhibited significant increase in the signal intensity after the samples were switched from lake water to wastewater sample,and a mean value of 32.5 mg/L with relative standard deviation(RSD)of 6.8%were obtained after measuring 45 times the wastewater with COD value of 30 mg/L under a sampling interval of 400 s.The as-prepared electrochemical COD sensor possessed good promise in regular monitoring of COD,discharge of wastewater and industrial process control,with advantages such as a small sampling interval,mild reaction conditions and no requirement of toxic and harmful chemical reagents.

Objective:To investigate the effect of the number of positive preoperative serological tumor markers on the surgical approach and prognosis of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.Methods:This is a retrospective case-series study. Data from 548 patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after radical resection from October 2010 to April 2019 were retrospectively collected in 10 hospitals of China. There were 277 males and 271 females with an age of (57.8±10.2)years(range:23 to 84 years). Four hundred and twenty-six patients(77.7%) had at least one positive preoperative serum tumor marker. The data collection included the results of 4 preoperative serological tumor markers,other preoperative indicators(5 prodromal symptoms, 6 medical history,8 preoperative serological indicators,5 preoperative imaging indicators,and 14 preoperative pathological examination indicators),baseline data (gender and age),surgical methods,and prognostic follow-up data. Four preoperative results of serologic tumor marker and surgical procedure were converted into categorical variables. The number of positive preoperative serum tumor markers was used as the treatment variable,the surgical method was used as the mediating variable,and the survival time was used as the outcome variable. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to screen for other preoperative indicators which were independent factors that influenced the surgical procedure and the prognosis of patients as covariates to analyze the mediating effect.Results:Of the 548 patients included in the study, 176 patients (32.1%) underwent partial hepatectomy,151 patients(27.5%) underwent hemihepatectomy, and 221 patients(40.3%) underwent partial hepatectomy or hemihepatectomy combined with other treatments. The results of the univariate and multivariate analysis showed that the number of positive serum tumor markers,intrahepatic bile duct dilatation,portal vein invasion,pathological differentiation,pathological type,vascular invasion,T stage,N stage and maximum tumor diameter were independent factors influencing the surgical procedure(all P<0.05). Intrahepatic bile duct dilatation,pathological differentiation and T stage were independent prognostic factors for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(all P<0.05). Intrahepatic bile duct dilatation,differentiation and T stage were included as covariates in the mediation effect model. The results showed that the number of positive serum tumor markers before surgery had a negative predictive effect on the survival time of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma ( β=-0.092, P=0.039),and had a positive predictive effect on the surgical method ( β=0.244, P<0.01). The number of positive serum tumor markers had a negative predictive effect on the survival time of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma ( β=-0.151, P=0.002). Direct and indirect effects accounted for 71.3% and 28.7% of total effects,respectively. Conclusions:The higher the positive number of preoperative tumor markers,the worse the prognosis of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The number of positive cells not only directly affects the prognosis of patients,but also indirectly affects the prognosis of patients by affecting the surgical method.

Objective:To explore the surgical technique and results of three-dimensional aortic valve anatomic repair for bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) with aortic regurgitation (AR).Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. From August 2021 to December 2023, 130 consecutive patients with BAV-AR underwent aortic valve anatomic repair at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University,and the data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 115 males and 15 females, aged (38.6±11.7) years (range: 15 to 67 years). All patients received modified aortic root reconstruction, to do three-dimensional root remodeling, including the basal ring, sinus of Valsalva and sino-tubular junction simultaneously. Perioperative and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. Comparisons between groups were performed using independent samples t-test, Wilcoxon paired signed-rank test, or χ2 test. Results:No patient transferred to valve replacement during the operation. The cardiopulmonary bypass time ( M(IQR)) was 109(34) minutes (range:67 to 247 minutes), and the aortic cross-clamp time was 76(26) minutes (range: 32 to 158 minutes). Preoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed 123 patients (94.6%) presented with moderate or severe regurgitation. Immediately postoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed no regurgitation in 22 patients (16.9%), trace regurgitation in 81 patients (62.3%) and mild regurgitation in 27 patients (20.8%). Follow up was completed in all patients, with a follow-up of 5.5(9.4) months (range: 0.1 to 27.6 months). No mortality was observed during follow-up. Echocardiography was obtained in 112 patients at the latest follow-up, including no regurgitation in 4 patients (3.6%), trace regurgitation in 58 patients (51.8%), mild regurgitation in 45 patients (40.2%), moderate regurgitation in 4 patients (3.6%), and severe regurgitation in 1 patient (0.9%). Conclusion:For patients with BAV-AR who have good valve quality and no severe aortic sinus dilation, the recent outcomes of three-dimensional anatomical repair technique, focusing on overall remodeling of the aortic root, are satisfactory.