BACKGROUND: Delayed platelet engraftment is a common complication after umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), and there is no standard therapy. Avatrombopag (AVA) is a second-generation thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist (TPO-RA) that has shown efficacy in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, few reports have focused on its efficacy in patients diagnosed with thrombocytopenia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study at the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China to evaluate the efficacy of AVA as a first-line TPO-RA in 65 patients after UCBT; these patients were compared with 118 historical controls. Response rates, platelet counts, megakaryocyte counts in bone marrow, bleeding events, adverse events and survival rates were evaluated in this study. Platelet reconstitution differences were compared between different medication groups. Multivariable analysis was used to explore the independent beneficial factors for platelet implantation. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were given AVA within 30 days post-UCBT, and the treatment was continued for more than 7 days to promote platelet engraftment (AVA group); the other 13 patients were given AVA for secondary failure of platelet recovery (SFPR group). The median time to platelet engraftment was shorter in the AVA group than in the historical control group (32.5 days vs . 38.0 days, Z  = 2.095, P  = 0.036). Among the 52 patients in the AVA group, 46 achieved an overall response (OR) (88.5%), and the cumulative incidence of OR was 91.9%. Patients treated with AVA only had a greater 60-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment than patients treated with recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) only or rhTPO combined with AVA (95.2% vs . 84.5% vs . 80.6%, P  <0.001). Patients suffering from SFPR had a slightly better cumulative incidence of OR (100%, P  = 0.104). Patients who initiated AVA treatment within 14 days post-UCBT had a better 60-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment than did those who received AVA after 14 days post-UCBT (96.6% vs . 73.9%, P  = 0.003). CONCLUSION Compared with those in the historical control group, our results indicate that AVA could effectively promote platelet engraftment and recovery after UCBT, especially when used in the early period (≤14 days post-UCBT).
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Thrombocytopenia/etiology* ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Thiazoles/adverse effects* ; Platelet Count ; Receptors, Thrombopoietin/agonists* ; Child ; Thiophenes

Objective:To investigate the morphological difference and clinical significance of bilateral lumbar multifidus muscles in patients with unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy due to lumbar disc herniation and lumbar spondylolisthesis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with low back pain, lumbar disc herniation and lumbar spondylolisthesis. Patients with lumbar disc herniation or lumbar spondylolisthesis underwent single segment lesion either at L 4, 5 or L 5S 1, while those accompanied with unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy underwent percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy or conventional open surgery at Qingdao Municipal Hospital between January 2017 and January 2023. Patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis were subdivided into degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis and isthmic spondylolisthesis. 53 patients with low back pain met the inclusion criteria. 170 patients with lumbar disc herniation met the inclusion criteria, with 101 at L 4, 5 and 69 at L 5S 1 level. 129 patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis met the inclusion criteria, including 91 of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis at L 4, 5 level and 9 at L 5S 1 level, and 11 of isthmic spondylolisthesis at L 4, 5 level and 18 at L 5S 1 level. Cross-sectional images at the mid-disc of L 3, 4, L 4, 5 and L 5S 1 segments in MRI were acquired. Relative total cross-sectional area (rTCSA), relative functional cross-sectional area (rFCSA), fat infiltration rate (FIR), relative fat distance (rFD) and differential value FIR (D-FIR) in bilateral lumbar multifidus muscle were measured respectively by using Image J software, and were then used to evaluate the atrophy and fat infiltration of bilateral lumbar multifidus muscles. Results:No significant difference was found between the both sides of multifidus muscle in low back pain patients. L 4, 5 lumbar disc herniation group had smaller rFCSA (0.34±0.10 and 0.35±0.10) and larger FIR [29.92(22.21, 36.46) and 26.48(17.54, 34.55)] and rFD [0.39(0.29, 0.54) and 0.32(0.21, 0.43)] on the affected side compared to the unaffected side in L 4, 5 segment, and had larger FIR (34.83±11.34 and 31.44±10.94) and rFD [0.59(0.43, 0.77) and 0.51(0.37, 0.69)] on the affected side in L 5S 1 segment. L 5S 1 lumbar disc herniation group had smaller rFCSA (0.41±0.11 and 0.42±0.12) and larger FIR [26.84(22.92, 35.29) and 24.02(20.03, 32.87)] and rFD (0.51±0.28 and 0.42±0.26) on the affected side in L 5S 1 segment. L 4, 5 degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis group had larger FIR (36.49±9.76 and 34.72±9.86) on the affected side in L 4, 5 segment, and had larger FIR [35.03(28.64, 41.85) and 33.34(26.37, 39.76)] on the affected side in L 5S 1 segment. L 5S 1 degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis group had larger FIR [42.53(37.94, 46.81) and 40.79(30.84, 43.53)] and rFD (1.12±0.79 and 0.94±0.79) on the affected side in L 5S 1 segment. L 4, 5 isthmic spondylolisthesis group had smaller rFCSA [0.24(0.20, 0.30) and 0.29(0.23, 0.34)]and larger FIR [34.19 31.30, 42.39) and 29.43(28.82, 36.89)] and rFD (0.39±0.15 and 0.29±0.15) on the affected side in L 4, 5 segment, and had larger FIR (43.18±12.71 and 34.12±11.63) on the affected side in L 5S 1 segment. L 5S 1 isthmic spondylolisthesis group had larger FIR (40.24±9.34 and 36.37±10.70) on the affected side in L 5S 1 segment. No significant difference was found of the multifidus muscle between the affected and unaffected sides in the proximal adjacent segment of the responsible segment in lumbar disc herniation or lumbar spondylolisthesis group patients. L 4, 5 isthmic spondylolisthesis group had larger D-FIR (6.75±8.46 and 1.78±5.77) in L 4, 5 segment, and had larger D-FIR (9.06±11.59 and 1.54±7.08) in L 5S 1 segment compared to L 4, 5 degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis group. Grade Ⅱ L 4, 5 lumbar spondylolisthesis group had larger D-FIR (10.73±13.61 and 1.92±7.43) in L 5S 1 segment compared to grade Ⅰ L 4, 5 lumbar spondylolisthesis group. Conclusion:L 4, 5 or L 5S 1 lumbar disc herniation and lumbar spondylolisthesis patients with unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy had asymmetric atrophy and fat infiltration of multifidus muscle. The atrophy and fat infiltration on the affected side showed greater. The asymmetry appeared in the responsible segment and its distal adjacent lumbar segment. Lumbar spondylolisthesis patients with a lager degree of slip or with isthmic type could be accompanied by more severe asymmetry of multifidus muscle.

Objective To investigate the underlying mechanism of metformin's protective effect on articular cartilage in rats afflicted with osteoarthritis.Methods Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups(n=10 per group)to establish a rat model of knee osteoarthritis.The metformin group received metformin via gavage[200 mg/(kg·d)],while the control and model groups received saline as a control.After 4 weeks,morphological staining was used to observe articular cartilage morphology,and immunohistochemical staining,immunofluores-cence staining,and Western blot were employed to detect the expression of factors related to the SIRT1/p53 signaling pathway,inflammation,and apoptosis.Results Compared to the model group,the metformin group exhibited significantly reduced cartilage structural damage,characterized by a smoother cartilage surface,increased chondrocyte population,and enhanced proteoglycan content.Immunohistochemical staining,immunofluorescence staining,and Western blot analysis revealed significantly higher expression levels of SOX9,Aggrecan,Bcl-2,and SIRT1 proteins in the metformin-treated cartilage tissue compared to the model group.Conversely,lower expression levels of IL-6 TNF-α BAX Caspase-9 and p53 proteins were observed in the metformin group compared to the model group.TUNEL staining results demonstrated a significant reduction in apoptotic chondrocytes within the metformin-treated group when compared with the model group.Conclusion Metformin exerts a protective effect on articular cartilage in SD rat models of osteoarthritis by activating the SIRT1/p53 signaling pathway,leading to decreased chondrocyte apoptosis and inhibition of extracellular matrix degradation.

Objective To investigate the underlying mechanism of metformin's protective effect on articular cartilage in rats afflicted with osteoarthritis.Methods Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups(n=10 per group)to establish a rat model of knee osteoarthritis.The metformin group received metformin via gavage[200 mg/(kg·d)],while the control and model groups received saline as a control.After 4 weeks,morphological staining was used to observe articular cartilage morphology,and immunohistochemical staining,immunofluores-cence staining,and Western blot were employed to detect the expression of factors related to the SIRT1/p53 signaling pathway,inflammation,and apoptosis.Results Compared to the model group,the metformin group exhibited significantly reduced cartilage structural damage,characterized by a smoother cartilage surface,increased chondrocyte population,and enhanced proteoglycan content.Immunohistochemical staining,immunofluorescence staining,and Western blot analysis revealed significantly higher expression levels of SOX9,Aggrecan,Bcl-2,and SIRT1 proteins in the metformin-treated cartilage tissue compared to the model group.Conversely,lower expression levels of IL-6 TNF-α BAX Caspase-9 and p53 proteins were observed in the metformin group compared to the model group.TUNEL staining results demonstrated a significant reduction in apoptotic chondrocytes within the metformin-treated group when compared with the model group.Conclusion Metformin exerts a protective effect on articular cartilage in SD rat models of osteoarthritis by activating the SIRT1/p53 signaling pathway,leading to decreased chondrocyte apoptosis and inhibition of extracellular matrix degradation.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of pneumovesicoscopic Cohen and Politano-Leadbetter procedures in the treatment of vesicoureteral junction obstruction (VUJO) in children.Methods:The data of 48 children with VUJO who underwent operations in the Department of Urology, Anhui Provincial Children′s Hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the operation time, the patients were divided into the pneumovesicoscopic Cohen group(group C) (28 cases) and pneumovesicoscopic Politano-Leadbetter group(group P) (20 cases). The operation time, postoperative urinary catheterization duration, hematuria duration, hospitalization time, and the improvement of hydronephrosis, ureteral dilatation, and renal function after surgery were compared between the 2 groups.The enumeration data were compared by the χ2 test or Fisher′ s exact probability method.The measurement data were compared by the t-test. Results:All the 48 children were successfully operated on by the same surgeon, without conversion to open surgery.Six cases in the group C had a megaureter and underwent ureter tailoring.Two cases in the group P had calyceal and ureteral calculi, which were all removed after operation.There was a statistically significant difference in the operation time between group C and group P[(136.5±35.4) min vs.(165.8±33.2) min, t=-3.154, P=0.002]. The patients were followed up for (10.3±2.6) months after operation.There were 8 cases and 6 cases of urinary tract infection in group C and group P within 2 months after the operation, respectively.They all improved after conservative anti-infection treatment, and the infection was well controlled after removal of the D-J tube.Besides, their intravenous pyelography 6 months after operation showed that the ureter was unobstructed.In group C, 6 months after the operation, the anterior and posterior diameters of the renal pelvis [(1.62±0.54) cm vs.(2.55±1.24) cm, t=-5.027, P=0.001] and the largest diameter of the ureter [(0.95±0.27) cm vs.(1.51±0.52) cm, t=-8.495, P<0.001] were significantly decreased, compared with those before operation.However, the renal cortex thickness was increased significantly [(1.47±0.25) cm vs.(0.86±0.46) cm, t=2.028, P=0.004], and the renal function (as indicated by the diuretic nephrogram) was notably improved [(46.27±2.16)% vs.(41.83±3.04)%, t=1.647, P=0.030]. In group P, 6 months after operation, the anterior and posterior diameters of the renal pelvis[(1.48±0.82) cm vs.(2.68±1.41) cm, t=-2.740, P=0.003] and the maximum diameter of the ureter [(1.05±0.46) cm vs.(1.36±0.27) cm, t=-1.635, P=0.040] were significantly smaller than those before operation.However, the renal cortical thickness was increased [(1.38±0.33) cm vs.(0.74±0.39) cm, t=9.073, P<0.001], and the renal function (as indicated by the diuretic nephrogram) was significantly improved [(45.18±3.35)% vs.(39.55±2.49)%, t=1.277, P=0.030]. Politano-Leadbetter surgery outperformed Cohen surgery in promoting the recovery of the anterior and posterior diameters of the renal pelvis [(1.48±0.82) cm vs.(1.62±0.54) cm, t=-1.748, P=0.030]. Conclusions:Pneumovesicoscopic Politano-Leadbetter operation can establish a longer submucosal tunnel without changing the ureteral shape and opening position, having good effects in treating VUJO combined with calyceal and ureteral calculi.Pneumovesicoscopic Politano-Leadbetter operation can also better improve postoperative recovery from hydronephrosis than Cohen operation.However, the pneumovesicoscopic Politano-Leadbetter operation is more difficult and requires longer time.The surgeon should choose a reasonable operation based on his/her own experience.

Objective:To investigate the clinical manifestations and characteristics of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children, and improve the diagnosis and treatment of foreign bodies.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of children with tracheobronchial foreign bodies confirmed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy between January 2010 to December 2019.The children with tracheobronchial foreign body who were treated in the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Gansu Province.Results:A total of 967 cases were operated by soft electronic bronchoscope, and foreign bodies were removed by means of foreign body forceps or nets.Among them, 19 cases(3 cases with subglottic foreign bodies, one with row of pins, and the rest 15 cases with foreign bodies completely wrapped by granulation)were not removed, two cases were spontaneously coughed, and 946 cases (97.8%)were removed.Bronchial foreign bodies in children were more common in boys, with the ratio of male to female being 2.14∶1.The main age of onset was 1-3 years old(88.8%). The incidence was slightly higher in rural areas than that in urban areas(46.5% in urban areas, 53.5% in rural areas). Foreign bodies were inhaled most in March and least in June.From the perspective of season, winter and spring were more than summer and autumn.The foreign body types inhaled were mainly exogenous plant foreign body, accounting for 93.0%, among which peanut(31.7%)and melon seeds(19.2%)were the most common.The duration of foreign body inhalation was up to 347 cases(35.9%)in 1-3 days.There were 501 cases(51.8%)with endoscopic endobronchial inflammation, and 196 cases of children with varying degrees of granulomatous hyperplasia, accounting for 39.1% and 20.3% of the total.The foreign body in the right bronchus accounted for 50.0% and the left bronchus for 43.7%.There were 793 cases confirmed by imaging, with a positive rate of 81.9%, and 90.9% confirmed by CT.Conclusion:About 88.8% of tracheobronchial foreign bodies occurred in 1 to 3 years of age.The occurrence of foreign bodies had obvious gender, urban-rural and seasonal distribution characteristics, and more cases were male, in rural and winter as well as spring.

Low back pain is an important cause of disability worldwide. It has a high incidence rate and brings a huge burden to families and society. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is one of the leading factors causing low back pain and the pathological basis of degenerative disc diseases, such as intervertebral disc herniation and spinal stenosis. However, the etiology of IDD is complex, and the risk factors and specific mechanisms behind remain unclear. Some controversial views have also been observed. Surgery is often considered for patients with severe intervertebral disc diseases, but there is no effective treatment for IDD at the early and middle stages. It will be of great significance to in-depth explore the molecular biological mechanisms and related risk factors, which can bring benefits to the prevention, accurate diagnosis, early treatment, and rehabilitation of degenerative disc diseases. Refer to the literatures published in the past ten years, this paper describes the latest research progress on risk factors related to IDD in terms of aging, genetics, mechanical loading, low-grade infection, biological rhythms, smoking, metabolic disease, estrogen, and nutrition. The results show that IDD is affected by multiple risk factors. These factors can interact with each other, and lead to death, phenotypic transformation, and metabolic disorder of disc cells, leading to a reduction of extracellular matrix and an unbalanced microenvironment and eventually loss of structural integrity of intervertebral disc tissue and IDD. A good body clock, a controlled weight, an appropriate blood glucose level, adequate nutrition, no smoking, a good hormone level, moderate exercise, avoiding injury, and strict aseptic techniques in the clinic will bring benefits to the progress of IDD.

Quench of magnetic resonance imaging system refers to the process that the superconducting condition inside the magnet is destroyed due to some reason. The large current stored in the coil is quickly converted into heat at the place where the resistance is formed, and a large amount of liquid helium in the magnet is evaporated. If it happens, it will cause huge loss to the user. We introduce the real cases of 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging system's quench fault, maintenance treatment and management improvement, which can be used for reference by various medical institutions, so as to better strengthen the operation and maintenance management of magnetic resonance imaging system, so as to avoid the occurrence of out of tolerance fault, and do a good job in the guarantee work after the out of tolerance fault.
Helium ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnets

Objective:To analyze the results of polysomnography(PSG) in 523 children, and explore the sleep monitoring results and related influencing factors of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS).Methods:The PSG monitoring results of children with OSAHS and non-OSAHS were analyzed for children aging from 0 to 16 years old, who were monitored at Sleep Medicine Center of Gansu Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2014 to December 2019.Results:A total of 523 children underwent PSG monitoring during the past 5 years.The male to female ratio was 1∶0.47, of which 66.9%(350/523)were children with OSAHS.The average proportion of rapid eye movement sleep was 1.95%(7.7/394). The height of non-OSAHS group was significantly higher than that of OSAHS group[(108.72±16.39)cm vs.(104.80±16.60)cm, P=0.016]. The incidence of OSAHS decreased with age( P=0.038). The apnea index, hypopnea index, apnea hypopnea index, obstructive apnea index, microarousal index, oxygen desaturation index, mean apnea time, and longest apnea time in the OSAHS group were higher than those in the non-OSAHS group( P<0.05). And the lowest oxygen saturation and the mean oxygen saturation during sleep were lower than those in the non-OSAHS group( P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis on the clinical data of OSAHS children showed that open mouth breathing and snoring at night had significant effects on children′s OSAHS, and the differences were statistically significant( P<0.05). Conclusion:PSG is of great significance for the diagnosis of OSAHS.The more severe the degree of OSAHS, the worse severe the night sleep hypoxemia.PSG should be recommended before taking any treatment for children with sleep disorders.

Objective:To analyze the correlation of serum homocysteine(Hcy)levels with hematoma absorption and cognitive function in elderly patients with cerebral hemorrhage.Methods:Clinical data of 80 elderly patients with cerebral hemorrhage admitted to our hospital from January 2017 to July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.According to serum levels of Hcy(normal range: <15 μmol/L), 21 patients with serum Hcy<15 μmol/L were included in Group A, and 59 patients with Hcy≥15 μmol/L were included in Group B. General data(gender, age, hypertension, diabetes, bleeding part, bleeding volume, etc.), hematoma absorption and cognitive function were recorded and compared between the two groups.The correlation of serum Hcy levels with hematoma absorption and cognitive function in elderly patients with cerebral hemorrhage was analyzed by using Spearman correlation analysis.Results:There was no statistical difference in gender, age, hypertension, diabetes, bleeding location and bleeding volume between the two groups.The speed of hematoma absorption and scores of Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)were higher in Group A than in Group B[(0.4±0.1)ml/d vs.(0.3±0.1)ml/d, (19.6±4.6)points vs.(16.3±3.3)points, t=3.935 and 3.532, both P=0.000]. Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum Hcy level was negatively correlated with hematoma absorption and cognitive function in elderly patients with cerebral hemorrhage( r=-0.372 and-0.311, P=0.000 and 0.005), indicating that hematoma absorption and cognitive function were worse with the higher serum Hcy levels in elderly patients with cerebral hemorrhage. Conclusions:Serum Hcy levels change in elderly patients with cerebral hemorrhage.As serum Hcy levels increase, the risk for adverse events such as slow hematoma absorption and unsatisfactory improvement in cognitive function in patients increases accordingly.Serum Hcy levels play an important role in the occurrence and development of diseases in elderly patients with cerebral hemorrhage and can be used to evaluate the condition and prognosis of patients with cerebral hemorrhage.