INTRODUCTION: Umbilical venous catheters (UVCs), commonly inserted in neonates for vascular access, are not without complications. METHODS: A single-centre retrospective cohort study that reviewed complications related to UVC insertion in neonates was conducted in a tertiary neonatal unit in Singapore from January 2016 to July 2017. Ideal UVC position was defined as catheter tip within 0.5 cm above or below the diaphragm. Catheter-related sepsis was defined as clinical or biochemical abnormalities suggesting any new-onset or worsening sepsis 72 hours before or after removal of UVCs, with or without positive culture. Catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CABSI) was defined as positive microbiological growth in one or more blood cultures obtained from a symptomatic infant up to two days after UVC placement or within 48 hours of catheter removal. RESULTS: 108 patients had UVC insertions. Mean gestational age and birth weight were 30.4 ± 4.0 weeks and 1,536.2 g ± 788.9 g, respectively. Mean UVC duration was 6.6 days. The UVC was in an ideal position in 27 (25.0%), deep in 13 (12.0%) and short in 35 (32.4%) neonates. One-third of the UVCs (n = 33) were malpositioned. Catheter-related sepsis was observed in 16 (14.8%) neonates, with 5 (4.6%) having CABSI. The most common organism was coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Other complications include peritoneal extravasation in 3 (2.8%) patients, with two requiring surgical intervention. Venous thrombosis occurred in 2 (1.9%) neonates and was managed conservatively. CONCLUSION Although complication rates were in line with international norms, UVCs were associated with serious complications and should be judiciously used.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and pathological classification of patients with nonfunctional pituitary adenomas(NFPAs)in single medical center according to 2017 World Health Organization.Methods:The clinical and pathological characteristics of 166 patients with NFPAs diagnosed by neurosurgery in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from April 2019 to January 2020 were analyzed retrospectively.Results:In 166 patients, the ratio of male to female was almost equal(1.05∶1). Their average operation age was(49.9±12.3) years, which was significantly higher than that of functional pituitary tumor patients in the same period. Headache, visual acuity decline, and visual field defect were the most common causes for the first visit. All the maximum diameter of tumors was more than 10 mm, and 15 cases(9.0%)were giant tumors. 18 patients(10.8%)were recurrent cases. According to the results of immunohistochemistry for anterior pituitary hormones and transcriptional factors, the most common pathological type was gonadotroph adenomas(50.6%), followed by corticotroph adenomas(24.7%), plurihormonal pituitary adenomas(11.4%), PIT-1-positive adenomas(6.6%), and null cell adenomas(6.6%). Gonadotroph adenomas were more common in men(male∶female ratio=4.1∶1), while corticotroph adenomas occurred mainly in women(male∶female ratio=1∶12.7). The average age of patients with gonadotroph adenomas was the highest, while those of patients with PIT1-positive adenomas and rare combining IHC plurihormonal pituitary adenoma were significantly lower than that of the former. There were no significant differences in the mean diameters of tumors, the proportion of giant adenomas, and recurrent cases among different pathological types of tumors. However, the mean Ki-67 index of PIT-1-positive adenomas was significantly higher than those of other groups( P=0.001). Conclusion:Although the clinical manifestations of NFPAs were similar, their pathological classifications were different. Gonadotroph adenomas occurs mainly in male patients while corticotroph adenomas is more common in women. The prognosis may be different among various pathological types of NFPAs.

Objective To evaluate the difference of set-up errors between thermoplastic mask and breast bracket in patients receiving intensity-modulated radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery,and the impact of clinical factors associated with set-up errors.Methods A total of 34 patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery from January 2016 to June 2018 were reviewed.Eighteen patients were fixed with thermoplastic mask,and sixteen were with breast bracket.Weekly CBCT scan records were used to analyze set-up errors,and group systematic and random errors were computed.The influence of clinical factors on set-up errors was also analyzed.Results The immobilization technique with thermoplastic mask showed great superior in comparison with breast bracket;however,only in the Ty(translation) and Ry(rotation),the differences had significance.Based on group systematic and random errors,PTV margins in Tx,Ty and Tzwere 2.65,4.36 and 2.87 mm in thermoplastic mask group,as well as 5.71,6.07 and 4.20 mm in breast bracket group,respectively.Multi-factor regression analysis showed that BMI was independent factors affecting set-up errors.Conclusions Compared with breast bracket,the immobilization technique with thermoplastic mask has the potential of reducing set-up errors and PTV margins in patients receiving intensity-modulated radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery,especially in patients with high BMI.

Objective: To identify a α-globin gene mutation-IVS-Ⅱ-55 (T→A) and analyze hematological characteristics of IVS-Ⅱ-55 (T→G) carriers. Methods: The peripheral blood samples were collected from the members of five family and three sporadic IVS-Ⅱ-55(T→G) carriers for the analysis of RBC parameters and hemoglobin electrophoresis. Gap-PCR, PCR-RDB (reverse dot blot) and DNA sequencing were carried out for the identification of gene deletion and mutation of α-globin and β-globin. Results: The results of RBC parameters of five infant probands which presented with microcytic hypochromic anemia were below the normal reference interval. One of the adult carriers of IVS-Ⅱ-55 (T→G) heterozygote alone presented with microcytic hypochromic anemia, and the others showed normal RBC parameters. The hematological phenotype index (MCV, MCH and HbA 2 ) of one adult carrying a compound heterozygote for IVS-Ⅱ-55 (T→G) and βCD27-28M/N were 65.0 fL, 20.3 pg and 5.8% respectively. The hematological phenotype index (MCV, MCH, HbA 2 and HbF) of one adult carrying a compound heterozygote for IVS-Ⅱ-55 (T→G) and SEA-HPFH were 81.9 fL, 26.5 pg, 3.0% and 29.0% respectively. The HbA 2 levels of all carriers of IVS-Ⅱ-55 (T→G) heterozygote alone were in normal range. No abnormal hemoglobin band was detectable on hemoglobin electrophoresis for all the carries. Conclusion The carriers of IVS-Ⅱ-55(T→G) heterozygote alone were asymptomatic. The phenotype of compound heterozygote for β-thalassemia was similar to that of β-thalassemia alone.

Objective To investigate the differences in expression of Mohawk (MKX) transcription factors and collagen of types Ⅰ and Ⅲ in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) gratis between 2 remodeling outcomes under arthroscopy.Methods Enrolled for this study were 17 patients who had undergone arthroscopic single-bundle ACL reconstruction with autogenous hamstring tendons and secondary arthroscopic exploration 48 to 131 months (average,83.1 months) after removal of tibial internal fixator at Department of Sports Medicine,The First Affiliated Hospital to Shenzhen University from March 2017 to December 2017.They were divided into a good remodeling group (11 cases) and a fair remodeling group (6 cases) according to the graft quality under arthroscopy (synovial and vascular coverage,and apparent tension,thickness and retear of the grafts).During the secondary arthroscopic procedures,biopsy of the central ACL grafts was performed.Moreover,normal ACL tissues were harvested from 8 contemporary controls of ＜ 60 years old who underwent total knee replacement.Immunohistochemical assay and quantificational real-time polymerase chain reaction were conducted to detect the expression of transcription factors and collagen of types Ⅰ and Ⅲ in all the samples.Results In the samples from good remodeling and control groups,there were abundant well-arranged collagen fibers of types Ⅰ and Ⅲ and MKX-positive cells;in the fair remolding group,the collagen fibers of types Ⅰ and Ⅲ and MKX-positive cells were much decreased in number and the fibers were not well arranged.The former 2 groups scored in immunohistochemical assay significantly higher than the latter one (P ＜ 0.05).qRT-PCR showed that the expression levels of MKX gene (0.44 ± 0.30),COL1A1 gene (0.52 ± 0.27) and COL3A1 gene (0.60 ± 0.22) in the fair remolding group were significantly lower than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.00,1.00 ± 0.00 and 1.00 ± 0.00) and than in the good remolding group (0.97 ± 0.67,0.99 ±0.38 and 1.00 ± 0.35) (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Good remodeling ACL grafts with histological maturation under arthroscopy are more similar to normal ACL than fair remodeling ACL grafts in expression of MKX transcription factors and collagen of types Ⅰ and Ⅲ.

BACKGROUND: The artificial disc requires a height, a width, and a shape as much as possible to be similar to the original intervertebral disc in order to perfectly distribute the load. At present, most of the data are from foreign countries or measured using X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging, but there are some shortcomings. OBJECTIVE: To diagnose the spinal disease and provide data for the design of a native lumbar disc device by measuring the normal lumbar intervertebral disc using computer tomography (CT). METHODS: A total of 2 235 patients who underwent lumbar CT examination in Liuzhou Worker's Hospital from January 2012 to May 2017 were collected and analyzed. There were 62 cases, including 45 males and 17 females, after being strictly met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. From the age of 20, they were divided into four groups: 20-30, 31-40, 41-50 and more than 50 years old. The range was from L1to S1. The measurement index include intervertebral disc anteroposterior diameter, transerverse diameter, disc volume, sagittal anterior, middle and posterior height, coronal left and right height, and interverterbral angle. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) In terms of age, there was a statistically significant difference in measurement indexes between L1/2, L2/3 and L3/4(P < 0.05). Therefore, the factor of age should be taken into account. However, there was no statistically significant difference between L4/5and L5/S1segments (P > 0.05). (2) There was a statistical difference between the anterior and middle height of the sagittal position in L4/5and L5/S1(P < 0.05). (3) There were statistical differences between the angles of L2/3, L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1intervertebral space (P <0.05), but the difference of angle between L4/5and L5/S1was the most. (4) There was no statistical difference in the height between the left and right sides of the coronal position (P > 0.05). (5) There was statistical difference between the anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the disc on the adjacent cross section (P < 0.05). (6) The results showed that the lower the segment, the smaller the statistical difference between each group. It is indicated that the age difference should be considered on the L1/2, L2/3, and L3/4segments in the design of lumbar disc or interbody fusion. The lumbar artificial intervertebral disc can be placed in the middle or side. The artificial disc should be designed into the wedge shape instead of a rectangle. These will provide a good anatomical basis for the design of domestic lumbar artificial intervertebral discs.