INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) avoids the complications of general anaesthesia, reduces length of hospitalisation and reduces morbidity from surgery. As such, it is a strong alternative treatment for patients with comorbidities who are not surgical candidates. However, to our knowledge, there have only been 1 systematic review and 3 combined systematic review and meta-analyses on this topic to date. This systematic review and meta-analysis seeks to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RFA in the treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with longer follow-up durations. METHOD: PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant studies published from 1990 to 2021; 13 studies with a total of 1366 patients were included. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and Sandelowski et al.'s approach1 to "negotiated consensual validation" were used to achieve consensus on the final list of articles to be included. All authors then assessed each study using a rating scheme modified from the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. RESULTS: Pooled volume reduction rates (VRRs) from 1 to 48 months after RFA, complete disappearance rates (CDR) and complications were assessed. Pooled mean VRRs were 96.59 (95% confidence interval [CI] 91.05-102.13, I2=0%) at 12 months2-6 and 99.31 (95% CI 93.74-104.88, I2=not applicable) at 48 months.2,5 Five studies showed an eventual CDR of 100%.2,4,7-9 No life-threatening complications were recorded. The most common complications included pain, transient voice hoarseness, fever and less commonly, first-degree burn. CONCLUSION RFA may be an effective and safe alternative to treating PTC. Larger clinical trials with longer follow-up are needed to further evaluate the effectiveness of RFA in treating PTC.
Humans ; Radiofrequency Ablation/methods* ; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/surgery* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Postoperative Complications/etiology*

Objective:To study the distribution of species type, biotype and genotype of human Brucella isolated and identified in Nanjing. Methods:A total of 89 strains of human Brucella were collected from microbiology laboratories of three sentinel hospitals in Nanjing from 2017 to 2022. The species type was identified using biological methods and Brucella nucleic acid detection (BCSP31-PCR and AMOS-PCR). Further biotyping of Brucella melitensis isolates was conducted by serological results of A and M factors. Meanwhile, genotype analysis was performed using multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Results:From 2017 to 2022, 89 strains of Brucella isolated and identified in Nanjing were all Brucella melitensis. Among them, Brucella melitensis biotype 3 accounted for 82.02% (73/89), and biotype 1 accounted for 17.98% (16/89). MLVA typing showed that 89 strains of Brucella melitensis belong to the "Eastern Mediterranean" cluster and could be divided into 50 MLVA genotypes; among which panel 1 had 3 genotypes, namely Type 42 (84.27%, 75/89), Type 63 (8.99%, 8/89) and Type 43 (6.74%, 6/89). The results of MLST-9 and MLST-21 were both ST8, and the core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) classified 89 strains into 11 genotypes. SNP analysis revealed a total of 4 013 SNP loci, with SNPs ranging from 0 to 409 across different strains, involving 59 SNP genotypes. Conclusions:The human Brucella strains isolated and identified in Nanjing are all Brucella melitensis, mainly biotype 3. The MLVA cluster is the "Eastern Mediterranean" cluster. The traditional MLST-9 and MLST-21 typing results are all ST8 type, while cgMLST divides all the strains into 11 genotypes with higher resolution.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Neoplasms

Hypertension is a serious disease that endangers human health. Although the clinical efficiency of anti-hypertensive drugs have achieved good results, there are still many different types of resistant hypertension such as drug tolerance, and the incidence of complications of hypertension such as heart failure and stroke is still high. Therefore, the development and application of non-pharmacological treatment strategies have become an important aspect of the treatment of hypertension. The sympathetic nervous system plays a key role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. At present, most non-pharmacological treatment technologies for the prevention and treatment of hypertension mainly target the sympathetic nerve function. These technologies mainly include deep brain stimulation and renal denervation. Central iliac arteriovenous anastomosis, baroreflex activation therapy, endovascular baroreflex amplification, carotid body ablation, etc. This review focuses on the application status and related advantages and disadvantages of the above-mentioned non-pharmacological treatment methods based on the sympathetic nervous system, and provides new ideas and multiple options for treatment of hypertension.

Objective:To identify human infection with Brucella suis, analyze its biological and molecular characteristics, and to provide basis for prevention and control of brucellosis. Methods:Brucella suis strains were isolated from the body of the first case of human Brucella suis infection in Jiangsu Province. Serum agglutination test was used for serotyping. The specific gene bcsp-31 of Brucella was detected by PCR. AMOS-PCR was used to identify IS-711. The species and biotypes were identified by multiplex PCR. The wboA gene products were sequenced and phylogenetic tree was constructed. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) was used for molecular typing, and cluster analysis was performed with reference strains. Results:The strain was confirmed to be Brucella suis biotype 3 by serum agglutination test and PCR. After sequencing the wboA gene, cluster analysis of the reference sequence showed that the wboA gene was closest to the biotype 3 strain Brucella suis str. 686 (CP007719). MLSA was typed into ST17(1-6-4-1-5-3-5-2-4). Conclusions:Brucella suis biotype 3 is reported in Jiangsu Province for the first time. The MLSA type is ST17. In the future, the prevention and control of human brucellosis should be carried out. We should actively cooperate with the animal husbandry and veterinary department to increase the quarantine, immunization and other control measures.

Objective To explore the epidemiological situation and characteristics of human brucellosis in Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2017,and to provide scientific evidences for its prevention and control.Methods Using a retrospective study,data of brucellosis epidemic in Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2017 were collected.The epidemic data of brucellosis and the population data were derived from China Disease Prevention and Control Information System,etiological data of brucellosis from 2011 to 2017 were derived from the surveillance report of brucellosis in Jiangsu Province.The overall incidence of brucellosis,pathogen research and regional,seasonal,and population distribution characteristics of cases were analyzed.Results A total of 607 prevalent cases of brucellosis were reported in Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2017,with an average annual incidence rate of 0.065/100 000,including 595 incident cases.The number of reported case showed a sharp upward trend in 2011-2017,the incidence rates were in an increasing trend (t =5.623,P ＜ 0.01).A total of 132 Brucella strains were isolated from serum samples in Jiangsu Province in 2011-2017,all of the strains were sheep breeds,of which sheep type 3 accounted for 84.85％ (112/132).The top five cities with annual incidence of brucellosis from 2006 to 2017 were Xuzhou,Lianyungang,Suzhou,Huai'an and Suqian,with the incidence rates of 0.223/100 000,0.210/100 000,0.128/100 000,0.108/100 000 and 0.102/100 000,respectively.Brucellosis cases were distributed in each month,with the 540 cases (90.76％,540/595) from January to September.There were 446 males and 161 females in 607 cases of brucellosis,the sex ratio was 2.77:1.00.A total of 579 cases were reported in the age group of 20-74 years old,accounting for 95.39％.The occupational distribution was mainly peasants,which accounting for 60.13％ (365/607).Conclusions The epidemic situation of human brucellosis in Jiangsu Province is becoming increasingly serious recently.Males and peasants are main incidence population.Thus,we should pay more attention to the livestock quarantine and the surveillance and control of brucellosis cases in high risk population so as to control the epidemic situation of brucellosis effectively.

Objective To analyze the molecular characteristics of Brucella strains isolated from Nanjing,understand strains genotying and clustering,and to provide a basis for prevention and treatment of brucellosis.Methods Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) were used to analyze and characterize Brucella ovis strains isolated from 7 cases of sporadic cases in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital,the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School,from 2011-2016,and cluster analysis was did with reference strain data from Jiangsu Province.Results The results showed that 7 strains were defined as sequence type (ST) 8 by MLST.They were typed into 7 subtypes and clustered in the "Middle Mediterranean Cluster" by MLVA.Strain NJ-2011-1 and two strains isolated from other cities in Jiangsu had the same MLVA genotype.Conclusions The results reveal ST8 is the predominant genotype in Nanjing.They have clustered in the "Middle Mediterranean Cluster" by MLVA.The 7 strains are sporadic.The transmission routes and risk factors are more complicated in the city.Various departments should strengthen the cooperation to control the source.

Advances in biological and medical technologies have been providing us explosive volumes of biological and physiological data, such as medical images, electroencephalography, genomic and protein sequences. Learning from these data facilitates the understanding of human health and disease. Developed from artificial neural networks, deep learning-based algorithms show great promise in extracting features and learning patterns from complex data. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of deep learning techniques and some of the state-of-the-art applications in the biomedical field. We first introduce the development of artificial neural network and deep learning. We then describe two main components of deep learning, i.e., deep learning architectures and model optimization. Subsequently, some examples are demonstrated for deep learning applications, including medical image classification, genomic sequence analysis, as well as protein structure classification and prediction. Finally, we offer our perspectives for the future directions in the field of deep learning.
Algorithms ; Computational Biology ; methods ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Genomics ; methods ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Machine Learning ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of noise exposure on the hearing ability at different frequency in workers.METHODS: A total of 2 411 workers in a mechanical plant in Guangzhou were chosen as the study subjects by using judgment sampling method. The pure tone audiometry threshold test was carried out to analyze the status of hearing loss at different frequencies and its relationship with the length of service of workers. RESULTS: Among the 2 411 workers,883 workers had different degrees of decreased hearing thresholds,the detection rate was 36. 6%. Among them,the single unilateral hearing loss accounted for 19. 6%( 472/2 411),and the binaural hearing loss was 17. 0%( 411/2 411). The hearing loss detection rate of left ear was higher than that of the right ear( P < 0. 05). The decreased threshold of left ear at 0. 5,3. 0 and 6. 0 kHz was higher than that of the right ear at the same frequencies( P < 0. 05). The decreased threshold in both the left and the right ear increased with the increase of the frequency( P < 0. 01). The decreased hearing threshold was the highest at the frequency of 6. 0 kHz. The auditory threshold of left ear in 0. 5,1. 0,2. 0,3. 0 and 6. 0 kHz were higher than that of right ear at the same frequencies( P < 0. 05). The detection rate of hearing loss increased with the increase of service length( P < 0. 01). The decreased threshold of 1. 0-6. 0 kHz increased with the increased length of service except for the frequency of 0. 5 kHz( P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: There is a significant decreased threshold in workers exposed to noise frequency of 6. 0 kHz. The hearing ability of left ear is more easily impaired than the right ear.There is a dose-response relationship for the length of noise exposure and hearing loss.

were no significant differences in the detection rate of recto-sigmoid colon,mid colon,right colon and total detection of polyps among the 3 groups (P >0.05).Conclusion 4-L split-dose PEG is better than the oth-er 2 regimens in the colon cleansing quality,so it can better reach the intestinal cleaning standards before enteroscopy,which is a more suitable regimen for bowel preparation.