Objective:To explore the data distribution characteristics of hydrogen and methane breath test (HMBT) in Chinese population and to evaluate its applicability for diagnosing small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in Chinese population.Methods:HMBT data of 18 634 individuals who underwent health check-up nationwide from March 2019 to september 2022 were retrospectively collected, which included the levels of hydrogen and methane at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min. After quality control and data cleaning, the final valid sample size was 12 654 cases, comprising 7 146 SIBO-negative cases and 5 508 SIBO-positive cases. In order to exclude confounding factors such as oral hygiene, the 12 654 cases were divided into D0 and D1 dataset, when the 0 min-value of hydrogen and methane were both lower than the 30 min-value, the 0 min-value was taken as the baseline, and induded into the D0 dataset (5 556 cases), and other situations were induded into the D1 dataset (7 098 cases). There were 2 879 SIBO-negative cases and 2 659 SIBO-positive cases in D0 dataset, and 4 249 SIBO-negative cases and 2 849 SIBO-positive cases in D1 dataset. The hydrogen and methane level at each testing time point in the SIBO-negative and SIBO-positive individuals, the difference between the peak gas level at 90 min and the baseline, and the distribution of time points at which peak level occurred were analyzed. Independent-sample t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results:The overall SIBO positive rate was 43.53% (5 508/12 654). In SIBO-positive cases the hydrogen level at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min were 9.41×10 -6 (5.01×10 -6, 21.90×10 -6), 11.34×10 -6 (6.13×10 -6, 22.94×10 -6), 18.16×10 -6 (11.03×10 -6, 29.37×10 -6) and 29.59×10 -6 (20.12×10 -6, 43.36×10 -6), respectively, and methane level were 9.13×10 -6 (7.12×10 -6, 12.03×10 -6), 9.23×10 -6 (8.07×10 -6, 12.03×10 -6), 10.21×10 -6 (9.02×10 -6, 13.01×10 -6), and 12.03×10 -6 (10.01×10 -6, 14.11×10 -6), respectively, which were higher than those of SIBO-negative cases (6.04×10 -6 (3.10×10 -6, 11.08×10 -6), 6.04×10 -6 (3.21×10 -6, 10.06×10 -6), 6.95×10 -6 (4.03×10 -6, 11.01×10 -6), 8.96×10 -6 (5.01×10 -6, 13.91×10 -6); 8.04×10 -6 (7.02×10 -6, 10.00×10 -6), 8.03×10 -6 (7.03×10 -6, 9.95×10 -6), 8.04×10 -6 (7.03×10 -6, 10.00×10 -6) 8.98×10 -6 (7.12×10 -6, 10.03×10 -6)], and the differences were statistically significant ( U=1.41×10 7, 1.09×10 7, 6.66×10 6, 4.14×10 6, 1.51×10 7, 1.23×10 7, 1.02×10 7, 8.86×10 6; all P<0.001). In both D0 and D1 datasets, the increase in hydrogen and methane of SIBO positive subgroup were higher than those of SIBO negative subgroup (22.39×10 -6(14.82×10 -6, 33.37×10 -6) vs. 4.82×10 -6(1.96×10 -6, 7.85×10 -6), 20.61×10 -6(7.87×10 -6, 31.44×10 -6) vs. 3.25×10 -6(0.79×10 -6, 7.88×10 -6); 3.98×10 -6(2.87×10 -6, 6.87×10 -6) vs. 1.95×10 -6(0.98×10 -6, 2.99×10 -6), 2.95×10 -6(0.98×10 -6, 4.93×10 -6) vs. 0.98×10 -6(0.00×10 -6, 1.99×10 -6)), and the differences were statistically significant( U=7.24×10 6, 9.72×10 6, 5.74×10 6, 8.27×10 6; all P<0.001). In both D0 and D1 datasets, hydrogen and methane concentrations peaked at 90 min. Conclusion:HMBT can be used for non-invasive diagnosis of SIBO in Chinese population, and the differences in hydrogen and methane concentrations at 90 min of the test have critical value for SIBO diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of percutaneous pedicle screw combined with unilateral nail placement combined with bone cement strengthening and bilateral nail placement in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar fractures. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was used to analyze the clinical data of 78 patients with osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar fractures admitted from October 2017 to May 2019. According to the surgical method, it was divided into percutaneous pedicle screw combined with unilateral nail placement combined with unilateral bone cement strengthening group(bone cement group) and percutaneous pedicle screw combined with bilateral nail placement(screw group). In the bone cement group, 40 patients included 16 males and 24 females, with a mean age of (62.1±8.1) years old. In the screw group, 38 patients included 18 males and 20 females with a mean age of (65.1±9.3) years old. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay and postoperative complications were compared between two groups. The kyphosis Cobb angle, anterior edge height ratio, central height ratio and pain visual analogue score(VAS) were compared. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 25 to 36 months. The operation time (70.1±17.3) min of the cement group was shorter than that of the screw group (78.6±18.2) min(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss and length of hospital stay(P>0.05). The VAS in the cement group 1 year 1.5±0.5 and the latest follow-up 0.5±0.3 after operation were lower than 1 year 1.8±0.3 and the latest follow-up 0.8±0.4 in the screw group(P<0.05). The kyphosis Cobb angle, anterior edge height ratio, central height ratio in bone cement group, 1 year (6.2±1.2)°, (86.6±3.5)%, (91.1±2.5)%, the last follow-up (6.4±0.7)°, (85.5±3.3)%, (90.5±6.3)% were better than that of the screw group 1 year (6.8±1.4)°, (83.1±2.4)%, (89.9±3.4)% and the latest follow-up (7.1±1.1)°, (82.6±4.1)%, (87.6±5.9)%(P<0.05). There were 3 cases of bone cement leakage in the cement group, all of which had no clinical symptoms;and 2 cases of pedicle screws were extracted in the screw group, and the screws were removed at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION Percutaneous pedicle screw combined with unilateral nail placement combined with bone cement strengthening and bilateral nail placement in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar compression fractures in the elderly can achieve satisfactory efficacy and effectively relieve the pain of patients, but the former internal fixation system is more stable, and the long-term follow-up can effectively maintain the height of the anterior middle column and the correction of kyphosis deformity, and the incidence of chronic low back pain is lower.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Bone Cements ; Middle Aged ; Thoracic Vertebrae/surgery* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery* ; Case-Control Studies ; Bone Nails ; Pedicle Screws

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease(CJD)is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by prions,with certain infectivity and iatrogenic transmission risks.With the rapid progress and application of new dia-gnostic biomarkers and detection methods,as well as the construction and improvement of surveillance and reporting systems,the detection of CJD in patients domestically and internationally has shown an increasing trend year by year.Due to its long incubation period and heterogeneity of early symptoms,early identification and diagnosis of the disease is difficult,increasing the risk of transmission within medical institutions.Currently,there is a lack of con-sensus on the infection prevention and control of CJD.In order to timely identify and diagnose CJD as well as effec-tively block its transmission in medical institutions,this consensus summarizes 15 clinical concerns and formulates 24 specific recommendations based on the latest domestic and international research findings and clinical evidence,as well as combines with clinical practice,aiming to standardize healthcare-associated infection prevention and control measures for CJD and reduce its transmission risk in medical institutions.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease(CJD)is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by prions,with certain infectivity and iatrogenic transmission risks.With the rapid progress and application of new dia-gnostic biomarkers and detection methods,as well as the construction and improvement of surveillance and reporting systems,the detection of CJD in patients domestically and internationally has shown an increasing trend year by year.Due to its long incubation period and heterogeneity of early symptoms,early identification and diagnosis of the disease is difficult,increasing the risk of transmission within medical institutions.Currently,there is a lack of con-sensus on the infection prevention and control of CJD.In order to timely identify and diagnose CJD as well as effec-tively block its transmission in medical institutions,this consensus summarizes 15 clinical concerns and formulates 24 specific recommendations based on the latest domestic and international research findings and clinical evidence,as well as combines with clinical practice,aiming to standardize healthcare-associated infection prevention and control measures for CJD and reduce its transmission risk in medical institutions.

Objective:To explore the data distribution characteristics of hydrogen and methane breath test (HMBT) in Chinese population and to evaluate its applicability for diagnosing small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in Chinese population.Methods:HMBT data of 18 634 individuals who underwent health check-up nationwide from March 2019 to september 2022 were retrospectively collected, which included the levels of hydrogen and methane at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min. After quality control and data cleaning, the final valid sample size was 12 654 cases, comprising 7 146 SIBO-negative cases and 5 508 SIBO-positive cases. In order to exclude confounding factors such as oral hygiene, the 12 654 cases were divided into D0 and D1 dataset, when the 0 min-value of hydrogen and methane were both lower than the 30 min-value, the 0 min-value was taken as the baseline, and induded into the D0 dataset (5 556 cases), and other situations were induded into the D1 dataset (7 098 cases). There were 2 879 SIBO-negative cases and 2 659 SIBO-positive cases in D0 dataset, and 4 249 SIBO-negative cases and 2 849 SIBO-positive cases in D1 dataset. The hydrogen and methane level at each testing time point in the SIBO-negative and SIBO-positive individuals, the difference between the peak gas level at 90 min and the baseline, and the distribution of time points at which peak level occurred were analyzed. Independent-sample t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results:The overall SIBO positive rate was 43.53% (5 508/12 654). In SIBO-positive cases the hydrogen level at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min were 9.41×10 -6 (5.01×10 -6, 21.90×10 -6), 11.34×10 -6 (6.13×10 -6, 22.94×10 -6), 18.16×10 -6 (11.03×10 -6, 29.37×10 -6) and 29.59×10 -6 (20.12×10 -6, 43.36×10 -6), respectively, and methane level were 9.13×10 -6 (7.12×10 -6, 12.03×10 -6), 9.23×10 -6 (8.07×10 -6, 12.03×10 -6), 10.21×10 -6 (9.02×10 -6, 13.01×10 -6), and 12.03×10 -6 (10.01×10 -6, 14.11×10 -6), respectively, which were higher than those of SIBO-negative cases (6.04×10 -6 (3.10×10 -6, 11.08×10 -6), 6.04×10 -6 (3.21×10 -6, 10.06×10 -6), 6.95×10 -6 (4.03×10 -6, 11.01×10 -6), 8.96×10 -6 (5.01×10 -6, 13.91×10 -6); 8.04×10 -6 (7.02×10 -6, 10.00×10 -6), 8.03×10 -6 (7.03×10 -6, 9.95×10 -6), 8.04×10 -6 (7.03×10 -6, 10.00×10 -6) 8.98×10 -6 (7.12×10 -6, 10.03×10 -6)], and the differences were statistically significant ( U=1.41×10 7, 1.09×10 7, 6.66×10 6, 4.14×10 6, 1.51×10 7, 1.23×10 7, 1.02×10 7, 8.86×10 6; all P<0.001). In both D0 and D1 datasets, the increase in hydrogen and methane of SIBO positive subgroup were higher than those of SIBO negative subgroup (22.39×10 -6(14.82×10 -6, 33.37×10 -6) vs. 4.82×10 -6(1.96×10 -6, 7.85×10 -6), 20.61×10 -6(7.87×10 -6, 31.44×10 -6) vs. 3.25×10 -6(0.79×10 -6, 7.88×10 -6); 3.98×10 -6(2.87×10 -6, 6.87×10 -6) vs. 1.95×10 -6(0.98×10 -6, 2.99×10 -6), 2.95×10 -6(0.98×10 -6, 4.93×10 -6) vs. 0.98×10 -6(0.00×10 -6, 1.99×10 -6)), and the differences were statistically significant( U=7.24×10 6, 9.72×10 6, 5.74×10 6, 8.27×10 6; all P<0.001). In both D0 and D1 datasets, hydrogen and methane concentrations peaked at 90 min. Conclusion:HMBT can be used for non-invasive diagnosis of SIBO in Chinese population, and the differences in hydrogen and methane concentrations at 90 min of the test have critical value for SIBO diagnosis.

Objective: To explore the changes in ribosomal DNA copy number in peripheral blood among patients with pneumoconiosis and its influencing factors, so as to provide insights into prevention and treatment of pneumoconiosis. Methods: Eighty-eight patients with pneumoconiosis who visited a designated hospital and 71 community residents with no history of pneumoconiosis or dust exposure were selected as the pneumoconiosis group and control group, and age, smoking history, drinking history and cumulative years of exposure to dust were collected through questionnaire surveys. The copy number of 45S rDNA and 5S rDNA was detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the differences between the two groups were compared. Factors affecting the copy number of 45S rDNA and 5S rDNA were identified by a multiple linear regression model. Results: The pneumoconiosis group had a median age of 56.00 (interquartile range, 15.25) and a mean cumulative dust exposure duration of (12.40±8.08) years, with 56.82% smoking and 62.50% drinking. The control group had a median age of 64.00 (interquartile range, 37.00) years, with 32.39% smoking and 26.76% drinking. The median copy number of 45S rDNA in the pneumoconiosis group was 1.29 (interquartile range, 0.59), which was lower than 2.10 (interquartile range, 1.88) in the control group; the median copy number of 5S rDNA in the pneumoconiosis group was 5.33 (interquartile range, 0.85), which was higher than 4.66 (1.34) in the control group (both P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis identified age (β=-0.034) and pneumoconiosis (β=-1.595) as factors affecting 45S rDNA copy number, age (β=-0.013) as a factor affecting 5S rDNA copy number, and age (β=0.018) as a factor affecting 5S rDNA copy number in the pneumoconiosis group (all P<0.05). Conclusions Compared with community residents with no history of pneumoconiosis or dust exposure, the copy number of 45S rDNA in peripheral blood among patients with pneumoconiosis is reduced and the copy number of 5S rDNA is increased.

Objective: To investigate the influence of extending the waiting time on tumor regression after neoadjuvant chemoradiology (nCRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Methods: Clinicopathological data from 728 LARC patients who completed nCRT treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital, Naval Medical University from January 2012 to December 2021 were collected for retrospective analysis. The primary research endpoint was the sustained complete response (SCR). There were 498 males and 230 females, with an age (M(IQR)) of 58 (15) years (range: 22 to 89 years). Logistic regression models were used to explore whether waiting time was an independent factor affecting SCR. Curve fitting was used to represent the relationship between the cumulative occurrence rate of SCR and the waiting time. The patients were divided into a conventional waiting time group (4 to <12 weeks, n=581) and an extended waiting time group (12 to<20 weeks, n=147). Comparisons regarding tumor regression, organ preservation, and surgical conditions between the two groups were made using the t test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, or χ² test as appropriate. The Log-rank test was used to elucidate the survival discrepancies between the two groups. Results: The SCR rate of all patients was 21.6% (157/728). The waiting time was an independent influencing factor for SCR, with each additional day corresponding to an OR value of 1.010 (95%CI: 1.001 to 1.020, P=0.031). The cumulative rate of SCR occurrence gradually increased with the extension of waiting time, with the fastest increase between the 9^th to <10^th week. The SCR rate in the extended waiting time group was higher (27.9%(41/147) vs. 20.0%(116/581), χ²=3.901, P=0.048), and the organ preservation rate during the follow-up period was higher (21.1%(31/147) vs. 10.7%(62/581), χ²=10.510, P=0.001). The 3-year local recurrence/regrowth-free survival rates were 94.0% and 91.1%, the 3-year disease-free survival rates were 76.6% and 75.4%, and the 3-year overall survival rates were 95.6% and 92.2% for the conventional and extended waiting time groups, respectively, with no statistical differences in local recurrence/regrowth-free survival, disease-free survival and overall survival between the two groups (χ²=1.878, P=0.171; χ²=0.078, P=0.780; χ²=1.265, P=0.261). Conclusions: An extended waiting time is conducive to tumor regression, and extending the waiting time to 12 to <20 weeks after nCRT can improve the SCR rate and organ preservation rate, without increasing the difficulty of surgery or altering the oncological outcomes of patients.

Objective: To analyze the clinical epidemiological characteristics including composition of pathogens , clinical characteristics, and disease prognosis acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in Chinese children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and laboratory data of 1 610 children <15 years of age with ABM in 33 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients were divided into different groups according to age,<28 days group, 28 days to <3 months group, 3 months to <1 year group, 1-<5 years of age group, 5-<15 years of age group; etiology confirmed group and clinically diagnosed group according to etiology diagnosis. Non-numeric variables were analyzed with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, while non-normal distrituction numeric variables were compared with nonparametric test. Results: Among 1 610 children with ABM, 955 were male and 650 were female (5 cases were not provided with gender information), and the age of onset was 1.5 (0.5, 5.5) months. There were 588 cases age from <28 days, 462 cases age from 28 days to <3 months, 302 cases age from 3 months to <1 year of age group, 156 cases in the 1-<5 years of age and 101 cases in the 5-<15 years of age. The detection rates were 38.8% (95/245) and 31.5% (70/222) of Escherichia coli and 27.8% (68/245) and 35.1% (78/222) of Streptococcus agalactiae in infants younger than 28 days of age and 28 days to 3 months of age; the detection rates of Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae were 34.3% (61/178), 14.0% (25/178) and 13.5% (24/178) in the 3 months of age to <1 year of age group; the dominant pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and the detection rate were 67.9% (74/109) and 44.4% (16/36) in the 1-<5 years of age and 5-<15 years of age . There were 9.7% (19/195) strains of Escherichia coli producing ultra-broad-spectrum β-lactamases. The positive rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and blood culture were 32.2% (515/1 598) and 25.0% (400/1 598), while 38.2% (126/330)and 25.3% (21/83) in CSF metagenomics next generation sequencing and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection. There were 4.3% (32/790) cases of which CSF white blood cell counts were normal in etiology confirmed group. Among 1 610 children with ABM, main intracranial imaging complications were subdural effusion and (or) empyema in 349 cases (21.7%), hydrocephalus in 233 cases (14.5%), brain abscess in 178 cases (11.1%), and other cerebrovascular diseases, including encephalomalacia, cerebral infarction, and encephalatrophy, in 174 cases (10.8%). Among the 166 cases (10.3%) with unfavorable outcome, 32 cases (2.0%) died among whom 24 cases died before 1 year of age, and 37 cases (2.3%) had recurrence among whom 25 cases had recurrence within 3 weeks. The incidences of subdural effusion and (or) empyema, brain abscess and ependymitis in the etiology confirmed group were significantly higher than those in the clinically diagnosed group (26.2% (207/790) vs. 17.3% (142/820), 13.0% (103/790) vs. 9.1% (75/820), 4.6% (36/790) vs. 2.7% (22/820), χ²=18.71, 6.20, 4.07, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the unfavorable outcomes, mortility, and recurrence between these 2 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The onset age of ABM in children is usually within 1 year of age, especially <3 months. The common pathogens in infants <3 months of age are Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae, and the dominant pathogen in infant ≥3 months is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Subdural effusion and (or) empyema and hydrocephalus are common complications. ABM should not be excluded even if CSF white blood cell counts is within normal range. Standardized bacteriological examination should be paid more attention to increase the pathogenic detection rate. Non-culture CSF detection methods may facilitate the pathogenic diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain Abscess ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion ; beta-Lactamases

Adulterants and counterfeits were found in some of the commercial traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions in Hongjin Xiaojie Jiaonang, Hongjin Xiaojie Pian, and Chaihuang Keli during the national drug sampling inspection. However, it was difficult to determine the species of the adulterants and counterfeits by conventional testing methods. Therefore, a total of 184 samples of the TCM decoctions and raw materials belong to the prescriptions of above mentioned traditional Chinese patent medicines, including Bupleuri Radix, Bajiaolian, Heimayi, and Shufuchong, were collected and authenticated by DNA barcoding technology. 111 ITS2 sequences were obtained from 115 commercial TCM decoctions and raw materials of Bupleuri Radix, among which 71 were Bupleurum chinense, three were B. scorzonerifolium, and 31 were closely related species in the same genus. In addition, counterfeits derived from different genera, such as Ailanthus altissima (one sample), Saposhnikovia divaricate (two samples), and Solidago decurrens (three samples), were also detected. 21 ITS2 sequences were obtained from 22 commercial TCM raw materials of Bajiaolian, among which 15 were Diphylleia sinensis and six were Dysosma versipellis and other species in genus Dysosma. For 22 Heimayi samples, PCR amplification of COI sequence was failed due to genomic DNA degradation. Among 38 Shufuchong samples, 24 COI sequences were obtained and only nine of them were the genuine species (Armadillidium vulgare) recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, 11 were Porcellio laevis, two were Mongoloniscus sinensis, and two samples could not be identified due to the limitation of database. This study demonstrates that DNA barcoding technology is suitable for the species authentication of the decoctions of traditional Chinese patent medicine prescription. It is a conductive way for the establishment of traceability system for the whole TCM industrial chain.