OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term effectiveness of Ilizarov technique combined with steel needle internal fixation in treating Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) of the foot and ankle. METHODS: Between June 2020 and December 2023, 12 patients with Eichenholtz stage Ⅲ CN of the foot and ankle were treated with Ilizarov technique and steel needle internal fixation. There were 9 males and 3 females with an average age of 48.6 years (range, 19-66 years). The disease duration ranged from 1 to 16 months (mean, 6.8 months). Ankle joint involvement predominated in 7 cases, while midfoot involvement occurred in 5 cases; 3 cases presented with skin ulceration and soft tissue infection. Preoperative American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 31.2±9.0, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36)-Physical Component Summary (PCS) score was 32.6±6.8, and Mental Component Summary (MCS) score was 47.8±8.4. Postoperative assessments included wound healing, regular X-ray film/CT evaluations of fusion status, and effectiveness via AOFAS and SF-36-PCS, MCS scores. RESULTS: All operations were successfully completed without neurovascular complication. Two patients experienced delayed wound healing requiring intervention, and the others achieved primary healing. All patients were followed up 15-43 months (mean, 23.3 months). Imaging confirmed successful joint fusion within 13-21 weeks (mean, 16.8 weeks). At last follow-up, the AOFAS score was 72.5±6.4, and the SF-36-PCS and MCS scores were 63.2±8.4 and 76.7±5.3, respectively, all of which improved compared to preoperative levels, with significant differences ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION Ilizarov technique combined with steel needle internal fixation effectively restores walking function and achieves satisfactory short-term effectiveness in CN of the foot and ankle.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Ilizarov Technique ; Arthropathy, Neurogenic/surgery* ; Aged ; Ankle Joint/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Needles ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Steel ; Young Adult ; Foot Joints/surgery*

BACKGROUND:The Ilizarov technique is very effective in the treatment of congenital brachymetatarsia of the fourth,but there are still some complications.The optimal proportion of lengthening of the fourth metatarsal is still controversial.OBJECTIVE:To explore the clinical efficacy of Ilizarov technique in the treatment of congenital brachymetatarsia of the fourth and the optimal lengthening ratio.METHODS:Medical records of patients with congenital brachymetatarsia of the fourth treated with Ilizarov technique in Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2021 to October 2023 were collected.American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores before and after the treatment,length of the fourth metatarsal before and after surgery,and postoperative complications were evaluated.The prolongation ratio was analyzed by subgroups to assess the best suitable length for the operative conditions.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)A total of 16 patients were included.The length of the fourth metatarsal before treatment was(43.51±3.75)mm,and the shortening length was(12.53±2.82)mm;the lengthening time during the treatment period was(36.95±4.12)days,and the time with external fixation bracket was(102.30±32.74)days,and the lengthening length after the treatment was(13.90±3.47)mm,and the prolongation ratio was(32.30±9.10)％.(2)American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores were significantly increased at the last follow-up compared with that before treatment(t=0.763,P＜0.01).(3)The main postoperative complications were bone nonunion,metatarsophalangeal joint dislocation,metatarsophalangeal joint narrowing,and excessive lengthening of the fourth metatarsal.All patients were free of infection and abnormal sensation in the toe.(4)Subgroup analysis based on prolongation ratio showed that the rate of complications in patients in the prolongation ratio ≤ 35.36％group(17％)was significantly lower than the prolongation ratio＞35.36％group(100％)(t=14.008,P＜0.01).Meanwhile,the postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score of patients in the prolongation ratio ≤ 35.36％group(90.25±3.01)was higher than that of patients in the prolongation ratio＞35.36％group(82.00±9.97)(t=2.254,P=0.037).(5)It is concluded that Ilizarov technique for the treatment of congenital brachymetatarsia of the fourth is less traumatic surgery,can significantly improve the foot deformity of patients,especially suitable for the treatment of patients whose prolongation ratio does not exceed 35.36％,with low complication rate and satisfactory results.

Objective:Analyze the clinicopatholocical and imaging characteristics of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) and the related factors of survival prognosis.Methods:Clinical data of 32 patients diagnosed with HEHE at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2023 retrospectively analyzed, including 11 males and 21 females, aged (46.8±3.6) years. The clinical manifestations, pathological findings, CT and MRI features of the patients were analyzed and the living conditions of the patients were followed up. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and log-rank test was used for survival rate comparison.Results:Among the 32 patients, 17 (53.1%) had no obvious symptoms, 10 (31.3%) had abdominal pain, 6 (18.8%) had abdominal distension, and 4 (12.5%) had lost weight. Under the microscope, HEHE was composed of mucous matrix and epithelioid endothelial cells, with dense surrounding cells and relatively sparse center. Small blood vessels can be seen invading the junction with normal liver tissue. The positive rates of endothelial marker CD34 in immunohistochemically staining was 100%(32/32), the positive rates of CD31 were 100% (32/32). The positive rates of erythroblast transformation specific related gene were 100% (28/28), and the positive rates of Friend leukemia virus integration protein 1 (22/22) were 100%. CT and MRI scan showed that the lesion were mainly multiple nodules and in diffuse formality. In arterial phase, the lesion showed slight homogeneous or ring-like enhancement, while in portal phase, the lesion showed progressive enhancement. Some lesions may exhibit more specific "lollipop sign" ( n=9) and "target ring sign" ( n=15). The median overall survival time of the 32 patients was 47 months, and the cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival were 100%, 95.0% and 72.7%, respectively. The cumulative survival rate of patients with "target ring sign" ( n=15), extrahepatic organ involvement or metastasis ( n=8) and Ki-67 positive rate >5% ( n=10) were lower than those without the above characteristics (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of HEHE were not typical, and the tumor was rich in mucus matrix and epithelioid endothelial cells, expressing endothelial markers. CT and MRI scan mainly showed multiple nodules or diffused lesion, and the "lollipop sign" and "target ring sign" were helpful for diagnosis. HEHE patients with Ki-67 positivity rate >5%, "target ring sign", and extrahepatic organs involvement or metastasis had a poor prognosis.

Stroke ranks as the third leading cause of death and the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide. Its high disability rate and prolonged recovery period not only severely impact patients' quality of life but also impose a significant burden on families and society. Primary prevention is the cornerstone of stroke control, as early intervention on risk factors can effectively reduce its incidence. Therefore, the development of predictive models for first-ever stroke risk holds substantial clinical value. In recent years, advancements in big data and artificial intelligence technologies have opened new avenues for stroke risk prediction. This article reviews the current research status of traditional methods and machine learning models in predicting first-ever stroke risk and outlines future development trends from three perspectives: First, emphasis should be placed on technological innovation by incorporating advanced algorithms such as deep learning and large models to further enhance the accuracy of predictive models. Second, there is a need to diversify data types and optimize model architectures to construct more comprehensive and precise predictive models. Lastly, particular attention should be given to the clinical validation of models in real-world settings. This not only enhances the robustness and generalizability of the models but also promotes physicians' understanding of predictive models, which is crucial for their application and dissemination.

Objective To evaluate the application of evidence-based perioperative patient-controlled analgesia(PCA)management in patients with liver cancer receiving transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)treatment.Methods By using the application model of clinical evidence-based practice,the review indicators were formulated based on the best evidence.The baseline assessment was conducted,the barrier factors were analyzed,the best clinical decision was made,the implementation steps of PCA management,including training,monitoring,education,etc.were refined,and two rounds of clinical review were carried out.The knowledge-belief-practice level and the implementation of review indicators in 50 medical and nursing staff engaged in PCA management,as well as the changes in pain scores,the incidence of adverse reactions due to PCA management,and the patient's satisfaction in 159 patients after the application of evidence were compared with their corresponding values determined before the application of evidence.Results After implementing the evidence-based practice plan and applying the evidence,at multiple time points the pain scores and the incidences of adverse reactions were decreased significantly(P＜0.05),the patient's satisfaction increased remarkably(P＜0.01),the execution rate of medical and nursing staff for the review indicators were strikingly increased(P＜0.01),and the knowledge-belief-practice level concerning PCA management was prominently improved(P＜0.01).Conclusion The implementation of perioperative PCA management in patients with liver cancer receiving TACE treatment can help to reduce the perioperative pain level,improve the patient discomfort,increase the patient's satisfaction degree,and improve the ability of medical staff in performing PCA management and evidence-based practices.

Objective:To investigate the application value of intelligent laboratory construction in the laboratory.Methods:All samples sent to the Department of Clinical Laboratory from all the clinical departments at the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from January 2018 to June 2024 were collected. Full-process intelligentization building was achieved by the use of logistics transmission system, automatic sampling system, automatic quality control system, automatic audit system, intelligent monitoring system, critical value monitoring system, and intelligent DxlabReport operation management system, et al. The normal distribution data were analyzed by two independent samples t-test, and the skew distribution data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test. Results:After the implementation of the pneumatic logistics transmission system, the turn-around time (TAT) from sample transmission to receiving decreased significantly from 51.5 (37.7, 73.0) min to 18.1 (14.4, 31.0) min ( U=0, P<0.001). After adopting the automatic sampling system, the TAT from receiving to sampling decreased from 41.0 (38.0, 45.0) min to 10.0 (5.0, 11.0) min ( U=0, P<0.001). The introduction of automatic quality control advanced the median time for the first batch of samples entering the biochemical testing pipeline from 9∶03 to 8∶27 and increased the reporting rate within 3 hours from 27.71%±1.39% to 36.90%±2.30% ( t=3.423, P<0.001). The intelligent monitoring system enabled module positioning monitoring, sample turn-around time reminder, instrument load rate monitoring, remaining reagent monitoring, and patient-based real-time quality control, resulting in improved instrument running efficiency and result accuracy. Followed by the introduction of the automatic audit function, the overall pass rate was 28.19%(10 006/35 500), including 37.17% (7 738/20 818) for biochemical reports, 31.57% (1 251/3 963) for chemiluminescence reports, and 9.49% (1 017/10 719) for biochemical immunity reports. The laboratory TAT decreased from (207.3±6.0) min to (169.8±5.9) min ( t=4.426, P<0.001). After the implementation of the critical value monitoring system, the timely reporting rate reached 99.52% (99.32%, 99.89%). After using quality digital management, outpatient biochemical immunity process was optimized to a decrease in laboratory TAT from 222 (201, 233) min to 145 (119, 195) min ( U=0, P=0.004), while the pass rate increased from 86.88% (85.91%, 87.81%) to 96.32% (95.86%, 96.96%) ( U=0, P=0.004). Conclusion:The establishment of an intelligent laboratory can optimize workflow, significantly improve the work efficiency and accuracy of sample processing, and minimize error.

BACKGROUND:The Ilizarov technique is very effective in the treatment of congenital brachymetatarsia of the fourth,but there are still some complications.The optimal proportion of lengthening of the fourth metatarsal is still controversial.OBJECTIVE:To explore the clinical efficacy of Ilizarov technique in the treatment of congenital brachymetatarsia of the fourth and the optimal lengthening ratio.METHODS:Medical records of patients with congenital brachymetatarsia of the fourth treated with Ilizarov technique in Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2021 to October 2023 were collected.American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores before and after the treatment,length of the fourth metatarsal before and after surgery,and postoperative complications were evaluated.The prolongation ratio was analyzed by subgroups to assess the best suitable length for the operative conditions.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)A total of 16 patients were included.The length of the fourth metatarsal before treatment was(43.51±3.75)mm,and the shortening length was(12.53±2.82)mm;the lengthening time during the treatment period was(36.95±4.12)days,and the time with external fixation bracket was(102.30±32.74)days,and the lengthening length after the treatment was(13.90±3.47)mm,and the prolongation ratio was(32.30±9.10)％.(2)American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores were significantly increased at the last follow-up compared with that before treatment(t=0.763,P＜0.01).(3)The main postoperative complications were bone nonunion,metatarsophalangeal joint dislocation,metatarsophalangeal joint narrowing,and excessive lengthening of the fourth metatarsal.All patients were free of infection and abnormal sensation in the toe.(4)Subgroup analysis based on prolongation ratio showed that the rate of complications in patients in the prolongation ratio ≤ 35.36％group(17％)was significantly lower than the prolongation ratio＞35.36％group(100％)(t=14.008,P＜0.01).Meanwhile,the postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score of patients in the prolongation ratio ≤ 35.36％group(90.25±3.01)was higher than that of patients in the prolongation ratio＞35.36％group(82.00±9.97)(t=2.254,P=0.037).(5)It is concluded that Ilizarov technique for the treatment of congenital brachymetatarsia of the fourth is less traumatic surgery,can significantly improve the foot deformity of patients,especially suitable for the treatment of patients whose prolongation ratio does not exceed 35.36％,with low complication rate and satisfactory results.

Objective:To investigate the application value of intelligent laboratory construction in the laboratory.Methods:All samples sent to the Department of Clinical Laboratory from all the clinical departments at the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from January 2018 to June 2024 were collected. Full-process intelligentization building was achieved by the use of logistics transmission system, automatic sampling system, automatic quality control system, automatic audit system, intelligent monitoring system, critical value monitoring system, and intelligent DxlabReport operation management system, et al. The normal distribution data were analyzed by two independent samples t-test, and the skew distribution data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test. Results:After the implementation of the pneumatic logistics transmission system, the turn-around time (TAT) from sample transmission to receiving decreased significantly from 51.5 (37.7, 73.0) min to 18.1 (14.4, 31.0) min ( U=0, P<0.001). After adopting the automatic sampling system, the TAT from receiving to sampling decreased from 41.0 (38.0, 45.0) min to 10.0 (5.0, 11.0) min ( U=0, P<0.001). The introduction of automatic quality control advanced the median time for the first batch of samples entering the biochemical testing pipeline from 9∶03 to 8∶27 and increased the reporting rate within 3 hours from 27.71%±1.39% to 36.90%±2.30% ( t=3.423, P<0.001). The intelligent monitoring system enabled module positioning monitoring, sample turn-around time reminder, instrument load rate monitoring, remaining reagent monitoring, and patient-based real-time quality control, resulting in improved instrument running efficiency and result accuracy. Followed by the introduction of the automatic audit function, the overall pass rate was 28.19%(10 006/35 500), including 37.17% (7 738/20 818) for biochemical reports, 31.57% (1 251/3 963) for chemiluminescence reports, and 9.49% (1 017/10 719) for biochemical immunity reports. The laboratory TAT decreased from (207.3±6.0) min to (169.8±5.9) min ( t=4.426, P<0.001). After the implementation of the critical value monitoring system, the timely reporting rate reached 99.52% (99.32%, 99.89%). After using quality digital management, outpatient biochemical immunity process was optimized to a decrease in laboratory TAT from 222 (201, 233) min to 145 (119, 195) min ( U=0, P=0.004), while the pass rate increased from 86.88% (85.91%, 87.81%) to 96.32% (95.86%, 96.96%) ( U=0, P=0.004). Conclusion:The establishment of an intelligent laboratory can optimize workflow, significantly improve the work efficiency and accuracy of sample processing, and minimize error.

Objective:Analyze the clinicopatholocical and imaging characteristics of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) and the related factors of survival prognosis.Methods:Clinical data of 32 patients diagnosed with HEHE at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2023 retrospectively analyzed, including 11 males and 21 females, aged (46.8±3.6) years. The clinical manifestations, pathological findings, CT and MRI features of the patients were analyzed and the living conditions of the patients were followed up. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and log-rank test was used for survival rate comparison.Results:Among the 32 patients, 17 (53.1%) had no obvious symptoms, 10 (31.3%) had abdominal pain, 6 (18.8%) had abdominal distension, and 4 (12.5%) had lost weight. Under the microscope, HEHE was composed of mucous matrix and epithelioid endothelial cells, with dense surrounding cells and relatively sparse center. Small blood vessels can be seen invading the junction with normal liver tissue. The positive rates of endothelial marker CD34 in immunohistochemically staining was 100%(32/32), the positive rates of CD31 were 100% (32/32). The positive rates of erythroblast transformation specific related gene were 100% (28/28), and the positive rates of Friend leukemia virus integration protein 1 (22/22) were 100%. CT and MRI scan showed that the lesion were mainly multiple nodules and in diffuse formality. In arterial phase, the lesion showed slight homogeneous or ring-like enhancement, while in portal phase, the lesion showed progressive enhancement. Some lesions may exhibit more specific "lollipop sign" ( n=9) and "target ring sign" ( n=15). The median overall survival time of the 32 patients was 47 months, and the cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival were 100%, 95.0% and 72.7%, respectively. The cumulative survival rate of patients with "target ring sign" ( n=15), extrahepatic organ involvement or metastasis ( n=8) and Ki-67 positive rate >5% ( n=10) were lower than those without the above characteristics (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of HEHE were not typical, and the tumor was rich in mucus matrix and epithelioid endothelial cells, expressing endothelial markers. CT and MRI scan mainly showed multiple nodules or diffused lesion, and the "lollipop sign" and "target ring sign" were helpful for diagnosis. HEHE patients with Ki-67 positivity rate >5%, "target ring sign", and extrahepatic organs involvement or metastasis had a poor prognosis.

Objective To observe the reproducibility of radiomics feature(RF)extracted from virtual monoenergetic image(VMI)of rabbit VX2 hepatoma models obtained with 3 different dual-energy CT(DECT)systems,and to explore relationship of reproducibility and diagnostic performance of RF.Methods Fifteen rabbits with VX2 hepatoma were randomly divided into 3 groups(each n=5).Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scanning under volume CT dose index(CTDIvol)levels of 6,9 and 12 mGy were performed with dual-source DECT(dsDECT),rapid kV switching DECT(rsDECT)and dual-layer detector DECT(dlDECT),respectively.VMI were reconstructed at 10 keV increments from 40 to 140 keV.RF were extracted from VMI,the reproducibility was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficient(ICC),and those with ICC≥0.8 were considered as reproducible RF.The percentage of reproducible features(denoted by R)were compared among different scanner pairings and different CTDIvol levels.Within each CTDIvol group,the reconstruction energy levels yielding the maximum number(denoted by N)of common RF across different scanner pairings were identified.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn,the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated,and the diagnostic efficacies of reproducible RF and other RF were compared under optimal reproducible conditions.Spearman correlation coefficient between ICC and the corresponding AUC of RF were calculated.Results RrsDECT-dsDECT(6.45％,95％CI[2.36％,8.87％])was higher than RdlDECT-dsDECT(0.72％,95％CI[0.15％,1.79％])and RrsDECT-dlDECT(1.43％,95％CI[0.60％,4.06％])(all adjusted P＜0.05),R9mGy(3.70％,95％CI[1.31％,5.73％])and R12mGy(2.63％,95％CI[0.60％,6.69％])were higher than R6mGy(1.31％,95％CI[0.12％,1.55％])(all adjusted P＜0.05).The optimal reproducible reconstruction energy levels of RF under CTDIvol of 6,9 and 12 mGy concentrated at 50-70 keV.AUC of reproducible RFs were higher than of other RF(all adjusted P＜0.05)and had certain correlation with the reproducibility(rs=0.102-0.516,P＜0.05).Conclusion The reproducibility of RF extracted from contrast-enhanced VMI CT images of rabbit VX2 hepatoma models associated with DECT scanner,CTDIvol level and reconstruction energy level.RF with higher reproducibility might have better diagnostic performance.