OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical features of patients with necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) and the related factors for sepsis, so as to provide a basis for early intervention and improvement of patients' prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of NSTI patients admitted to the department of burns and wound repair surgery of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from October 2021 to December 2024. Demographic information, underlying diseases, infection characteristics, laboratory test results and etiological findings at admission, treatment status, occurrence of complications (including sepsis) and prognosis were collected. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the associated factors for sepsis in NSTI patients. Receiver operator characteristic curves (ROC curves) were plotted to evaluate the predictive value of individual and combined factors for sepsis. RESULTS: A total of 159 NSTI patients were enrolled, mainly middle-aged and elderly males. Most patients had comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus (110 cases, 69.2%) and hypertension (67 cases, 42.1%). The main infection site was the lower extremities (104 cases, 65.4%). Common symptoms included redness (96 cases, 60.4%), swelling (129 cases, 81.1%), local heat (60 cases, 37.7%), pain (100 cases, 62.9%), and skin ulceration or necrosis (9 cases, 5.7%). Imaging findings included soft tissue swelling (66 cases, 57.9%), gas accumulation (41 cases, 36.0%), and abnormal signal/density shadows (50 cases, 43.9%). Staphylococcus aureus was the main pathogenic bacterium [12.0% (31/259)], and drug-resistant Escherichia coli had the highest detection rate among drug-resistant bacteria [35.1% (13/37)]. Regarding debridement and repair, most patients (80 cases, 50.3%) underwent debridement ≥ 72 hours after admission, while only 10.1% (16 cases) received debridement within 6 hours. Most patients underwent multiple debridements, with 2 times of debridements being the most common (68 cases, 42.8%), and the maximum times of debridements reached 6. The largest number of patients received secondary suture (44 cases, 27.7%). In terms of complications, sepsis was the most common (66 cases, 41.51%), followed by acute kidney injury, respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), while disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was the least common. During the follow-up period, 9 patients (5.66%) were readmitted within 90 days, and 11 patients died, with a mortality rate of 6.92%. Univariate analysis showed that diabetes, coronary heart disease, gout, body temperature, heart rate, C-reactive protein, platelet count, total bilirubin, albumin, creatinine, out-of-hospital treatment, and out-of-hospital use of antimicrobial agents were significantly associated with sepsis in NSTI patients (all P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that coronary heart disease [odds ratio (OR) = 30.085, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 2.105-956.935], C-reactive protein (OR = 1.026, 95%CI was 1.009-1.054), and total bilirubin (OR = 1.436, 95%CI was 1.188-1.948) were independent associated factors for sepsis in NSTI patients (all P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis revealed that the combination of the three predictors yielded the highest AUC for predicting sepsis in NSTI patients compared to any individual predictor [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.799 (95%CI was 0.721-0.878)]. CONCLUSIONS The clinical features of NSTI patients show certain regularity. Coronary heart disease, C-reactive protein, and total bilirubin are independent associated factors for sepsis in NSTI patients.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Sepsis ; Soft Tissue Infections/microbiology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Adult ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Necrosis ; Logistic Models ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing

Microplastics(MPs)have attracted growing attention worldwide as an increasingly prevalent environmental pollutant.In addition,chicken meat is currently the most widely consumed kind of poultry in the global market.Consumer demand for chicken is on the rise both at home and abroad.As a result,the safety of chicken raising has also received significant attention.The lungs play an essential role in the physiological activities of chickens,and they are also the most vulnerable organs.Lung injury is difficult to repair after the accumulation of contaminants,and the mortality rate is high,which brings huge economic losses to farmers.The research on the toxicity of MPs has mainly focused on the marine ecosystem,while the mechanisms of toxicity and lung damage in chickens have been poorly studied.Thus,this study explored the effects of exposure to polystyrene microplastics(PS-MPs)at various concentrations for 42 d on chicken lungs.PS-MPs could cause lung pathologies and ultrastructural abnormalities,such as endoplasmic reticulum(ER)swelling,inflammatory cell infiltration,chromatin agglutination,and plasma membrane rupture.Simultaneously,PS-MPs increased the expression of genes related to the heat shock protein family(Hsp60,Hsp70,and Hsp90),ER stress signaling(activating transcription factor 6(ATF6),ATF4,protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase(PERK),and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit α(eIF2α)),pyroptosis-related genes(NOD-,LRR-and pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase 1(Caspase1),and gasdermin-D(GSDMD)),and the inflammatory signaling pathway(nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB),inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)).The above results showed that PS-MP exposure could result in lung stress,ER stress,pyroptosis,and inflammation in broilers.Our findings provide new scientific clues for further research on the mechanisms of physical health and toxicology regarding MPs.

Objective:To investigate the effects of antibacterial absorbable suture closure in the repair of small range of bone defect wounds due to deep sternal wound infection after median thoracotomy.Methods:This study was a retrospective non-randomized clinical controlled study. A total of 32 patients (20 males and 12 females, aged (58±11) years) who met the inclusion criteria and underwent closure with antibacterial absorbable sutures (hereinafter referred to as direct closure surgery) admitted to Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital of Southern Medical University (hereinafter referred to as our hospital) from October 2017 to December 2021 were included in direct closure group. A total of 39 patients (27 males and 12 females, aged (59±11) years) who met the inclusion criteria and received bilateral pectoralis major muscle flap packing repair admitted to our hospital from January 2015 to January 2020, were included in muscle flap packing group. In the two groups, sternal infected wounds were thoroughly debrided during stage Ⅰ surgery, followed by wound repair during stage Ⅱ surgery. The width of sternal cross-section defects after debridement was less than 1 cm for patients in the two groups. For patients in direct closure group, stage Ⅱ wound repair involved intermittent sutures to the anterior sternal plate or full-thickness sternum with a total of 6 or 7 double sternal sutures. Relevant data including the duration of the stage Ⅱ wound repair surgery and the volume of blood loss during surgery, length of hospital stay, and bacterial wound infection of patients in the two groups were recorded. The postoperative complications and wound healing of patients in the two groups were recorded. During follow-up, the wound infection or recurrence of patients in the two groups and the sternal healing of patients in direct closure group were observed.Results:Compared with those in muscle flap packing group, the duration of stage Ⅱ wound repair surgery and length of hospital stay of patients in direct closure group were significantly shorter (with t values of 13.61 and 6.25, respectively, P<0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in intraoperative blood loss volume of the stage Ⅱ wound repair surgery between the two groups ( P>0.05). The main bacterial infection in the two groups was Staphylococcus. In direct closure group, one patient had exudation in the wound two weeks post-operation, however the wound healed well after two weeks of conservative dressing changes; the wounds of the other patients healed well. In muscle flap packing group, 5 patients had postoperative complications, of which one patient died, and the wounds of 4 patients healed after dressing change or reoperation; the wounds of the other patients healed well. There was no statistically significant difference in complication incidence of patients between the two groups ( P>0.05). During the follow-up of 22-45 months, there was no re-infection or recurrence in the wound of patients in direct closure group and surviving patients in muscle flap packing group, the sternum of patients in the direct closure group achieved anatomical union. Conclusions:Direct closure surgery can not only effectively repair sternal cross-sectional defects with width below 1 cm due to deep sternal wound infections after median thoracotomy, but can also significantly shorten the operation time and duration of hospitalization.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of preoperative Naples prognostic scores (NPS) in patients with resectable Siewert type II-III esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (AEG).Methods:In this retrospective observational study we collected and analyzed relevant data of patients with Siewert Type II-III AEG treated in the Department of Gastric Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2014 to December 2018. NPS were calculated using preoperative albumin concentration, total cholesterol concentration, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio and used to allocate patients into three groups: NTS-0 (0 points), NTS-1 (1-2 points) and NTS-2 (3-4 points). Kaplan–Meier was used to calculate disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in each NPS group and the log-rank test to compare these groups. Univariate and multivariate survival analyes were performed using the Cox regression model. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to compare the relationships between four commonly used tools for evaluating inflammatory responses and nutritional status:NPS, systemic inflammatory response scores, nutrient control status (CONUT), and prognostic nutrition index (PNI).Results:The study cohort comprised 221 patients with AEG of median age 63.0 (36.0–87.0) years. There were 190 men (86.0%) and 31 women (14.0%). As to pTNM stage, 47 patients (21.3%) had Stage I disease, 68 (30.8%) Stage II, and 106 (48.0%) Stage III. One hundred and forty-seven patients (66.5%) had Siewert Type II disease and 74 (33.5%) Siewert type III. There were 45 patients (20.4%) in the NPS-0, 142 (64.2%) in the NPS-1 and 34 (15.4%) in the NPS-2 groups. Higher NPS scores were significantly associated with older patients (χ2=5.056, P=0.027) and higher TNM stages ( H=5.204, P<0.001). The median follow-up was 39 (6-105) months; 16 patients (7.2%) were lost to follow-up. The median OS in the NPS-0, NPS-1, and NPS-2 groups were 78.4, 63.1, and 37.0 months, respectively; these differences are statistically significant ( P=0.021). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis identified the following as independently and significantly associated with OS in patients with Siewert Type II-III: TNM stage (Stage II: HR=2.182, 95%CI: 1.227-3.878, P=0.008; Stage III: HR=3.534, 95%CI: 1.380-6.654, P<0.001), tumor differentiation (G3: HR=1.995, 95%CI: 1.141-3.488, P=0.015), vascular invasion (HR=2.172, 95%CI: 1.403-3.363, P<0.001), adjuvant chemotherapy (HR=0.326, 95%CI: 0.200-0.531, P<0.001), NPS (NPS-1: HR=2.331, 95%CI: 1.371-3.964, P=0.002; NPS-2: HR=2.494, 95%CI: 1.165-5.341, P=0.019), SIS group (NPS-1: HR=2.170, 95%CI: 1.244-3.784, P=0.006; NPS-2: HR=2.291, 95%CI: 1.052–4.986, P=0.037), and CONUT (HR=1.597, 95% CI: 1.187-2.149, P=0.038). The median DFS in the NPS-0, NPS-1, and NPS-2 groups was 68.6, 52.5, and 28.3 months, respectively; these differences are statistically significant ( P=0.009). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis identified the following as independently and significantly associated with DFS in patients with Siewert Type II-III AEG: TNM stage (StageⅡ: HR=2.789, 95%CI:1.210-6.428, P=0.016; Stage III: HR=10.721, 95%CI:4.709-24.411, P<0.001), adjuvant chemotherapy (HR=0.640, 95% CI: 0.432-0.946, P=0.025), and NPS (NPS-1: HR=1.703, 95%CI: 1.043-2.782, P=0.033; NPS-2: HR=3.124, 95%CI:1.722-5.666, P<0.001). Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves showed that NPS was more accurate in predicting OS and DFS in patients with Siewert Type II-III AEG than were systemic inflammatory response scores, CONUT, or PNI scores. Conclusion:NPS is associated with age and TNM stage, is an independent prognostic factor in patients who have undergone resection of Siewert type II-III AEG, and is better than SIS, CONUT, or PNI in predicting survival.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of preoperative Naples prognostic scores (NPS) in patients with resectable Siewert type II-III esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (AEG).Methods:In this retrospective observational study we collected and analyzed relevant data of patients with Siewert Type II-III AEG treated in the Department of Gastric Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2014 to December 2018. NPS were calculated using preoperative albumin concentration, total cholesterol concentration, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio and used to allocate patients into three groups: NTS-0 (0 points), NTS-1 (1-2 points) and NTS-2 (3-4 points). Kaplan–Meier was used to calculate disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in each NPS group and the log-rank test to compare these groups. Univariate and multivariate survival analyes were performed using the Cox regression model. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to compare the relationships between four commonly used tools for evaluating inflammatory responses and nutritional status:NPS, systemic inflammatory response scores, nutrient control status (CONUT), and prognostic nutrition index (PNI).Results:The study cohort comprised 221 patients with AEG of median age 63.0 (36.0–87.0) years. There were 190 men (86.0%) and 31 women (14.0%). As to pTNM stage, 47 patients (21.3%) had Stage I disease, 68 (30.8%) Stage II, and 106 (48.0%) Stage III. One hundred and forty-seven patients (66.5%) had Siewert Type II disease and 74 (33.5%) Siewert type III. There were 45 patients (20.4%) in the NPS-0, 142 (64.2%) in the NPS-1 and 34 (15.4%) in the NPS-2 groups. Higher NPS scores were significantly associated with older patients (χ2=5.056, P=0.027) and higher TNM stages ( H=5.204, P<0.001). The median follow-up was 39 (6-105) months; 16 patients (7.2%) were lost to follow-up. The median OS in the NPS-0, NPS-1, and NPS-2 groups were 78.4, 63.1, and 37.0 months, respectively; these differences are statistically significant ( P=0.021). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis identified the following as independently and significantly associated with OS in patients with Siewert Type II-III: TNM stage (Stage II: HR=2.182, 95%CI: 1.227-3.878, P=0.008; Stage III: HR=3.534, 95%CI: 1.380-6.654, P<0.001), tumor differentiation (G3: HR=1.995, 95%CI: 1.141-3.488, P=0.015), vascular invasion (HR=2.172, 95%CI: 1.403-3.363, P<0.001), adjuvant chemotherapy (HR=0.326, 95%CI: 0.200-0.531, P<0.001), NPS (NPS-1: HR=2.331, 95%CI: 1.371-3.964, P=0.002; NPS-2: HR=2.494, 95%CI: 1.165-5.341, P=0.019), SIS group (NPS-1: HR=2.170, 95%CI: 1.244-3.784, P=0.006; NPS-2: HR=2.291, 95%CI: 1.052–4.986, P=0.037), and CONUT (HR=1.597, 95% CI: 1.187-2.149, P=0.038). The median DFS in the NPS-0, NPS-1, and NPS-2 groups was 68.6, 52.5, and 28.3 months, respectively; these differences are statistically significant ( P=0.009). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis identified the following as independently and significantly associated with DFS in patients with Siewert Type II-III AEG: TNM stage (StageⅡ: HR=2.789, 95%CI:1.210-6.428, P=0.016; Stage III: HR=10.721, 95%CI:4.709-24.411, P<0.001), adjuvant chemotherapy (HR=0.640, 95% CI: 0.432-0.946, P=0.025), and NPS (NPS-1: HR=1.703, 95%CI: 1.043-2.782, P=0.033; NPS-2: HR=3.124, 95%CI:1.722-5.666, P<0.001). Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves showed that NPS was more accurate in predicting OS and DFS in patients with Siewert Type II-III AEG than were systemic inflammatory response scores, CONUT, or PNI scores. Conclusion:NPS is associated with age and TNM stage, is an independent prognostic factor in patients who have undergone resection of Siewert type II-III AEG, and is better than SIS, CONUT, or PNI in predicting survival.

Objective:To analyze the influence factors on the efficacy of immunosuppression therapy (IST) combined with eltrombopag and IST alone in the treatment of childhood severe aplastic anemia (SAA).Methods:A retrospective cohort study. A total of 124 children with SAA who were initially treated with IST at Beijing Children′s Hospital from March 2017 to May 2020 were enrolled. Clinical characteristics, laboratory examination and prognosis data were collected at the time of enrollment. According to the treatment plan, the children were divided into the eltrombopag combined with IST group (eltrombopag group) and the IST group. Binary Logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors affecting the efficacy of the two groups at 6 months of treatment, and the factors affecting the efficacy of the eltrombopag group at the end of follow-up.Results:There were 75 cases (45 males and 30 females) in the eltrombopag group. The age of diagnosis was 5.9 (3.5, 8.5) years. There were 49 patients in the IST group, including 23 males and 26 females, whose age at diagnosis was 6.2 (4.4, 8.8) years. The absolute lymphocyte count before treatment in the eltrombopag group was significantly lower than that in the IST group (1.1 (0.4, 1.6)×10 9vs. 2.1 (1.4, 2.8)×10 9/L). Absolute reticulocyte count in the eltrombopag group was significantly higher than that of IST group (26.9 (8.7, 54.2)×10 9vs. 9.5 (4.0, 19.0)×10 9/L) (both P<0.05). Influencing factors of 6-month response: a comparison between response and un-response groups in the eltrombopag treated patients showed that, before treatment, hemoglobin (69 (61, 78) vs. 64 (59, 68) g/L), platelet (10 (6, 16)×10 9vs. 6 (3, 8)×10 9/L), absolute reticulocyte count (ARC) (34.0 (15.8, 57.3)×10 9vs. 6.5 (4.6, 16.8)×10 9/L) and the response rate to granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) after treatment (82.4% (47/57) vs. 9/18) were significantly different (all P<0.05). Logistic regression model analysis showed that ARC ( OR=1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.18) and absolute neutrophil count were independent influencing factors of 6-month response rate in the eltrombopag group ( OR=0.00, 95% CI 0.00-0.89). ARC was also the independent influencing factors of the end of follow-up response rate in the eltrombopag group ( OR=1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07). Conclusions:Pre-treatment blood count and response to G-CSF were predictors of overall response to eltrombopag combined with IST. The higher the ARC before treatment, the higher the total response rate and complete response.

Objective:To study the risk factors and clinical outcomes of early pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants with gestational age(GA)≤32 w.Methods:From October 2017 to May 2021,preterm infants with GA≤ 32 w admitted to NICU of our hospital were retrospectively studied. According to their echocardiography 2 w after birth, the infants were assigned into early-onset pulmonary hypertension (ePH) group and non-PH group. SPSS 21.0 statistical software was used to analyze the general status, complications and clinical outcomes of the two groups. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of early-onset PH.Results:A total of 183 cases were enrolled, including 24 in the ePH group and 159 in the non-PH group. The incidences of birth asphyxia, hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA), FiO 2≥30% within 6 h after birth, late-onset PH, severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD) and intracranial hemorrhage(ICH) in the ePH group were significantly higher than the non-PH group( P<0.05). hsPDA was the independent risk factor for early-onset PH ( OR=11.781, 95% CI 4.192-33.108). Conclusions:Preterm infants with GA≤32 w and early-onset PH are at increased risks of ICH, late-onset PH and severe BPD, hsPDA is the independent risk factor for early-onset PH.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of combining contralateral needling and tendon-bone balancing Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)in treating scapulohumeral periarthritis(SP). Methods:Sixty-eight eligible participants were chosen and randomized into an acupuncture group and an acupuncture plus Tuina group,with 34 cases in each group.The acupuncture group received treatment with contralateral needling,and the acupuncture plus Tuina group was treated with contralateral needling combined with tendon-bone balancing Tuina.The post-treatment changes in the Constant-Murley score for comprehensive shoulder function,visual analog scale(VAS)score for pain,and shoulder range of motion(ROM)score were compared after 2 treatment courses to estimate the clinical efficacy in the two groups. Results:After treatment,the total effective rate was 96.7%in the acupuncture plus Tuina group versus 83.9%in the acupuncture group,showing a significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05).The Constant-Murley shoulder function score increased in the acupuncture plus Tuina group after the intervention;a decreased VAS pain score and an increased shoulder ROM score were found in both groups.After 1 and 2 treatment courses,the between-group comparisons of the Constant-Murley and shoulder ROM scores showed statistical significance(P<0.05).Regarding the VAS score,the acupuncture plus Tuina group was lower than the acupuncture group after the first treatment course(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between the two groups after 2 treatment courses(P>0.05). Conclusion:Contralateral needling plus tendon-bone balancing Tuina can produce more significant clinical efficacy and relieve pain faster than contralateral needling alone in treating SP.

Accurate classification of the acetabular injuries and appropriate treatment plan are great challenges for orthopedic surgeons because of the irregular anatomical structure of the acetabulum and aggregation of important vessels and nerves around it. Letournel-Judet classification system has been widely applied to classify acetabular fractures. However, there are several limitations, including incomplete inclusion of fracture types, difficulty in understanding and insufficient guidance for surgical treatment, etc. Serious complications such as traumatic arthritis are common due to wrong classification and diagnosis and improper selection of surgical strategy, which brings a heavy burden to the society and families. Three-column classification, based on anatomic characteristics, has advantages of containing more fracture types and being easy to understand, etc. To solve the problems existing in the diagnosis and treatment process based on Letournel-Judet classification, achieve accurate diagnosis and treatment of patients with acetabular fractures, and obtain satisfactory prognosis, the Orthopedic Trauma Emergency Center of Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University and the Trauma Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Orthopedic Association organized experts from relevant fields to formulate the Expert consensus on the accurate diagnosis and treatment of acetabular fractures based on three-column classification ( version 2023) in terms of principles of evidence-based medicine. Based on the three-column classification, 15 recommendations were proposed, covering the diagnosis, treatment, complication prevention and management, etc, so as to provide reference for accurate diagnosis and treatment of acetabular fractures.

Bromodomain containing protein 4 (BRD4), as an epigenetic reader, can specifically bind to the acetyl lysine residues of histones and has emerged as an attractive therapeutic target for various diseases, including cancer, cardiac remodeling and heart failure. Herein, we described the discovery of hit 5 bearing 4-phenylquinazoline skeleton through a high-throughput virtual screen using 2,003,400 compound library (enamine). Then, structure-activity relationship (SAR) study was performed and 47 new 4-phenylquinazoline derivatives toward BRD4 were further designed, synthesized and evaluated, using HTRF assay set up in our lab. Eventually, we identified compound C-34, which possessed better pharmacokinetic and physicochemical properties as well as lower cytotoxicity against NRCF and NRCM cells, compared to the positive control JQ1. Using computer-based molecular docking and cellular thermal shift assay, we further verified that C-34 could target BRD4 at molecular and cellular levels. Furthermore, treatment with C-34 effectively alleviated fibroblast activation in vitro and cardiac fibrosis in vivo, which was correlated with the decreased expression of BRD4 downstream target c-MYC as well as the depressed TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings indicate that novel BRD4 inhibitor C-34 tethering a 4-phenylquinazoline scaffold can serve as a lead compound for further development to treat fibrotic cardiovascular disease.