BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

Testicular histology based on testicular biopsy is an important factor for determining appropriate testicular sperm extraction surgery and predicting sperm retrieval outcomes in patients with azoospermia. Therefore, we developed a deep learning (DL) model to establish the associations between testicular grayscale ultrasound images and testicular histology. We retrospectively included two-dimensional testicular grayscale ultrasound from patients with azoospermia (353 men with 4357 images between July 2017 and December 2021 in The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China) to develop a DL model. We obtained testicular histology during conventional testicular sperm extraction. Our DL model was trained based on ultrasound images or fusion data (ultrasound images fused with the corresponding testicular volume) to distinguish spermatozoa presence in pathology (SPP) and spermatozoa absence in pathology (SAP) and to classify maturation arrest (MA) and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) in patients with SAP. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were used to analyze model performance. DL based on images achieved an AUC of 0.922 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.908-0.935), a sensitivity of 80.9%, a specificity of 84.6%, and an accuracy of 83.5% in predicting SPP (including normal spermatogenesis and hypospermatogenesis) and SAP (including MA and SCOS). In the identification of SCOS and MA, DL on fusion data yielded better diagnostic performance with an AUC of 0.979 (95% CI: 0.969-0.989), a sensitivity of 89.7%, a specificity of 97.1%, and an accuracy of 92.1%. Our study provides a noninvasive method to predict testicular histology for patients with azoospermia, which would avoid unnecessary testicular biopsy.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/diagnostic imaging* ; Deep Learning ; Testis/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Ultrasonography/methods* ; Sperm Retrieval ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome/diagnostic imaging*

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of recombinant human anti-severe acute respiratory syn-drome coronavirus 2(anti-SARS-CoV-2)monoclonal antibody injection(F61 injection)in the treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)combined with renal damage.Methods Patients with COVID-19 and renal damage who visited the PLA General Hospital from January to February 2023 were selected.Subjects were randomly divided into two groups.Control group was treated with conventional anti-COVID-19 therapy,while trial group was treated with conventional anti-COVID-19 therapy combined with F61 injection.A 15-day follow-up was conducted after drug administration.Clinical symptoms,laboratory tests,electrocardiogram,and chest CT of pa-tients were performed to analyze the efficacy and safety of F61 injection.Results Twelve subjects(7 in trial group and 5 in control group)were included in study.Neither group had any clinical progression or death cases.The ave-rage time for negative conversion of nucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2 in control group and trial group were 3.2 days and 1.57 days(P=0.046),respectively.The scores of COVID-19 related target symptom in the trial group on the 3rd and 5th day after medication were both lower than those of the control group(both P＜0.05).According to the clinical staging and World Health Organization 10-point graded disease progression scale,both groups of subjects improved but didn't show statistical differences(P＞0.05).For safety,trial group didn't present any infusion-re-lated adverse event.Subjects in both groups demonstrated varying degrees of elevated blood glucose,elevated urine glucose,elevated urobilinogen,positive urine casts,and cardiac arrhythmia,but the differences were not statistica-lly significant(all P＞0.05).Conclusion F61 injection has initially demonstrated safety and clinical benefit in trea-ting patients with COVID-19 combined with renal damage.As the domestically produced drug,it has good clinical accessibility and may provide more options for clinical practice.

Objective To evaluate the in vitro effect of combinations of 5 β-lactam antibiotics with different β-lac-tamase inhibitors on the activity of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis(MDR-TB),and identify the most effective combination of β-lactam antibiotics and β-lactamase inhibitors against MDR-TB.Methods MDR-TB strains collected in Henan Province Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Project in 2021 were selected.The mini-mum inhibitory concentrations(MIC)of 5 β-lactam antibiotics or combinations with different β-lactamase inhibitors on clinically isolated MDR-TB strains were measured by MIC detection method,and the blaC mutation of the strains was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and DNA sequencing.Results A total of 105 strains of MDR-TB were included in the analysis.MIC detection results showed that doripenem had the highest antibacterial activity against MDR-TB,with a MIC50 of 16 μg/mL.MIC values of most β-lactam antibiotics decreased significantly after combined with β-lactamase inhibitors.A total of 13.33％(n=14)strains had mutations in blaC gene,mainly 3 nu-cleotide substitution mutations,namely AGT333AGG,AAC638ACC and ATC786ATT.BlaC proteins Ser111 Arg and Asn213Thr enhanced the synergistic effect of clavulanic acid/sulbactam and meropenem on MDR-TB compared with synonymous single-nucleotide mutation.Conclusion The combination of doripenem and sulbactam has the strongest antibacterial activity against MDR-TB.Substitution mutations of BlaC protein Ser111 Arg and Asn213Thr enhances the sensitivity of MDR-TB to meropenem through the synergy with clavulanic acid/sulbactam.

Background/Aims: Ubiquitination is widely involved in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by regulating various cellular processes. However, systematic strategies for screening core ubiquitin-related genes, clarifying their functions and mechanisms, and ultimately developing potential therapeutics for patients with HCC are still lacking. Methods: Cox and LASSO regression analyses were performed to construct a ubiquitin-related gene prediction model for HCC. Loss- and gain-of-function studies, transcriptomic and metabolomics analysis were used to explore the function and mechanism of UBE2S on HCC cell glycolysis and growth. Results: Based on 1,423 ubiquitin-related genes, a four-gene signature was successfully constructed to evaluate the prognosis of patients with HCC. UBE2S was identified in this signature with the potential to predict the survival of patients with HCC. E2F2 transcriptionally upregulated UBE2S expression by directly binding to its promoter. UBE2S positively regulated glycolysis in a HIF-1α-dependent manner, thus promoting the proliferation of HCC cells. Mechanistically, UBE2S enhanced K11-linkage polyubiquitination at lysine residues 171 and 196 of VHL independent of E3 ligase, thereby indirectly stabilizing HIF-1α protein levels by mediating the degradation of VHL by the proteasome. In particular, the combination of cephalomannine, a small molecule compound that inhibits the expression of UBE2S, and PX-478, an inhibitor of HIF-1α, significantly improved the anti-tumor efficacy. Conclusions UBE2S is identified as a key biomarker in HCC among the thousands of ubiquitin-related genes and promotes glycolysis by E3 enzyme-independent ubiquitination, thus serving as a therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the causes of soft tissue complications in patients with dorsal displacement distal radius fractures (DRF) after volar locking plate surgery. METHODS: From July 2016 to May 2021, 112 patients with dorsal displacement DRF were treated with volar locking plate surgery, including 45 males and 67 females. The average age was (46.24±10.08) years old, ranging from 18 to 85 years old. According to whether there were soft tissue complications after operation, they were divided into complication group (40 cases) and non complication group (72 cases). Compared with preoperation, the radial metacarpal inclination and ulnar deflection angle, wrist flexion activity and dorsal extension activity, and grip strength of patients after operation were significantly improved (P<0.05). Compared with the non complication group, the proportion of patients in the complication group whose age was>60 years, body mass index (BMI) more than 30 kg·m^-2, smoking, diabetes, fracture type C, open fracture and operation time more than 90 min was higher (P<0.05). The age, BMI, smoking, diabetes, fracture AO classification, fracture type and operation time were analyzed by multifactor Logistic regression to determine the independent risk factors affecting the occurrence of postoperative soft tissue complications of patients, establish a nomogram prediction model, and evaluate the model. RESULTS: At the latest follow-up, the excellent and good rate of wrist joint function recovery was 83.93% (94/112), and the excellent and good rate of fracture reduction was 84.82% (95/112). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age more than 60 years old, diabetes, fracture type C, open fracture and operation time more than 90 min were independent risk factors for postoperative soft tissue complications (P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC), calibration curve and clinical decision curve of the nomogram prediction model showed discrimination, accuracy and validity were good. CONCLUSION Age more than 60 years, diabetes mellitus, fracture type C, open fracture, and operation time more than 90 min are all independent risk factors for soft tissue complications after DRF volar plate fixation. In clinical treatment, perioperative soft tissue management should be done in such patients to prevent complications.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Wrist Fractures ; Fractures, Open ; Risk Factors ; Wrist Joint/surgery* ; Metacarpal Bones

Objective:To investigate the changes and clinical significance of multiple cytokine levels in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in patients undergoing tracheotomy with severe inhalation injury.Methods:A prospective study was conducted. A total of 32 patients with severe burn combined with severe inhalation injury admitted to the department of burns and plastic surgery of Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May 2021 to August 2022 were enrolled. Twenty healthy volunteers from the same period were served as controls. EBC of patients at 12 hours after burn and the samples of healthy controls were collected. The levels of 27 cytokines in EBC, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-17), were determined by liquid phase chip technology. Meanwhile, plasma of patients at 12 hours after burn and the plasma of volunteers were collected, and the levels of inflammatory cytokines were detected by liquid chip technology, and the differences between the levels in plasma and those in EBC were analyzed. Plasma and EBC of patients with aspiration injury were collected at 12 hours and 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after burn, and TNF-α levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results:Finally, 32 patients were enrolled, and the total burned area was (40±16)% of total body surface area (TBSA). The time of admission was (4.2±2.3) hours after injury. ① Twenty-seven cytokines in EBC: 18 kinds of cytokines including macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β), IL-6, IL-5, IL-2, IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15, IL-9, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), TNF-α, chemotactic factor for eosinophil (Eotaxin), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were significantly increased in patients with severe aspiration injury compared with health controls. Eotaxin was not detected in EBC of healthy controls. Five cytokines, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5/RANTES), IL-13, IL-4 and MIP-1α, were not detected in EBC of severe inhalation injury patients and healthy controls. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and IL-12 p70 in EBC of severe aspiration injury patients were slightly decreased as compared with healthy controls, while IL-7 and IL-17 were slightly increased, but the differences were not statistically significant. ② Six inflammatory cytokines in plasma: the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in the severe aspiration injury group were significantly increased as compared with healthy controls [IL-6 (ng/L): 18.51 (10.87, 26.21) vs. 0.22 (0.10, 0.36), IL-8 (ng/L): 10.75 (8.58, 18.79) vs. 1.06 (0.81, 2.14), both P < 0.01]. The plasma levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10 were slightly increased in patients with severe aspiration injury as compared with healthy controls, and IL-17 was slightly decreased, but the difference was not statistically significant. In the EBC collected during the same period, five inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10, in patients with severe inhalation injury were significantly increased as compared with healthy controls [TNF-α (ng/L): 16.42 (12.57, 19.21) vs. 7.34 (6.11, 8.69), IL-1β (ng/L): 15.57 (10.53, 20.25) vs. 0.99 (0.67, 1.41), IL-6 (ng/L): 13.36 (9.76, 16.54) vs. 0.70 (0.42, 0.85), IL-8 (ng/L): 1 059.29 (906.91, 1 462.37) vs. 10.36 (8.40, 12.37), IL-10 (ng/L): 2.69 (1.54, 3.33) vs. 1.54 (1.18, 2.06), all P < 0.05]. ③ Dynamic changes of TNF-α in plasma and EBC: the level of TNF-α in EBC of patients with severe aspiration injury was lower than that in plasma. Plasma TNF-α level was increased gradually with the extension of time after injury, and was significantly higher than that of healthy controls on day 3 [ng/L: 30.38 (24.32, 39.19) vs. 22.94 (17.15, 30.74), P < 0.05], and reached the peak on day 14, then fell back. The level of TNF-α in EBC at 12 hours after injury was significantly higher than that in healthy controls [ng/L: 15.34 (11.75, 18.14) vs. 6.99 (6.53, 7.84), P < 0.01], and reached the peak on 3 days after injury, and then gradually decreased. Conclusion:There are changes in the expression of multiple cytokines in EBC of patients with severe inhalation injury, and the changes of many inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α are more sensitive than those in plasma, which can be used to monitor and evaluate the condition of patients with inhalation injury.

Objective:To investigate the effects of low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) on psychological and physical function and quality of life in patients with rectal cancer.Methods:From May 2014 to May 2019, 200 patients were included. LARS scale score was adopted, and the clinical and pathological data were collected. Univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were performed. the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life core questionnaire and psychological distress management screening tool survey were conducted to evaluate the quality of life and psychological state. The incidence of postoperative sexual dysfunction in male patients was analyzed.Results:The incidence of LARS was 43.0%. Multivariate analysis showed that body mass index ≥24 kg/m 2, anastomotic leakage, anastomotic distance ≤5 cm from anal margin, and preoperative radiotherapy were independent risk factors for LARS ( OR=2.123, 15.109, 7.302, 12.682, all P<0.05).The overall health level and the scores of physical function and emotional function in the functional dimension of patients in the severe LARS group were significantly lower than those in the no/mild LARS group ( t=5.788, 8.831, 8.745, all P<0.05). The scores of fatigue and diarrhea were significantly higher than those in the no/mild LARS group ( t=26.280, 49.476, all P<0.05). The psychological distress thermometer score and the scores of communication , emotional and physical problems in the severe LARS group were significantly higher than those in the no/mild LARS group ( t=4.246, 6.563, 5.913, 4.408, all P<0.05). Conclusion:LARS is a common complication after Dixon procedure for rectal cancer. Body mass index ≥24 kg/m 2, anastomotic leakage, anastomotic distance from anal margin ≤5 cm, and preoperative radiotherapy are independent risk factors for LARS.