Objective To evaluate the role of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) testing in evaluating early hearing loss among noise-exposed workers. Methods A total of 174 noise-exposed workers in a metal shipbuilding enterprise were selected as the research subjects by the convenience sampling method. Pure tone audiometry (PTA), DPOAE and the level of noise exposure were conducted on the workers. The rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between DPOAE amplitude and PTA threshold. The multilevel model was used to analyze the effects of gender, age, noise exposure intensity, cumulative noise exposure (CNE), hearing loss classification and PTA threshold on DPOAE results. Results At the frequencies of 0.50, 1.00, 2.00, 3.00, 4.00, 6.00 and 8.00 kHz, the DPOAE amplitude was negatively correlated with the PTA threshold (rank correlation coefficients were -0.12, -0.48, -0.47, -0.18, -0.23, -0.44, -0.19, respectively, all P<0.01). At the most frequencies, DPOAE amplitude was negatively correlated with age and CNE (all P<0.05). The results of multilevel model analysis showed that there were significant differences in DPOAE amplitudes at certain frequencies across gender, age, noise intensity, CNE, and hearing loss classification (all P<0.05). Significant differences in DPOAE responses were found among different CNE and hearing loss groups (all P<0.01). Conclusion DPOAE testing can objectively reflect the hearing status of noise-exposed workers and could be considered for inclusion in routine hearing monitoring to facilitate early detection of noise-induced hearing loss.

Addressing the enduring challenge of evaluating traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), the integrated evidence chain-based effectiveness evaluation of TCMs (Eff-iEC) has emerged. This paper explored its capacity through a demonstration study that evaluated the effectiveness evidence of six commonly used anti-hepatic fibrosis Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), including Biejiajian Pill (BP), Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP), Biejia Ruangan Compound (BRC), Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FHC), Anluo Huaxian Pill (AHP), and Heluo Shugan Capsule (HSC), using both Eff-iEC and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The recognition of these CPMs within the TCM academic community was also assessed through their inclusion in relevant medical documents. Results showed that the evidence of BRC and FHC received higher assessments in both Eff-iEC and GRADE system, while the assessments for others varied. Analysis of community recognition revealed that Eff-iEC more accurately reflects the clinical value of these CPMs, exhibiting superior evaluative capabilities. By breaking through the conventional pattern of TCMs effectiveness evaluation, Eff-iEC offers a novel epistemology that better aligns with the clinical realities and reasoning of TCMs, providing a coherent methodology for clinical decision-making, new drug evaluations, and health policy formulation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current status of early pain and agitation management in critically ill patients in Guizhou Province. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using data collected from a quality control activity conducted between April and June 2021 in non-provincial public hospitals with general intensive care unit (ICU) in Guizhou Province. Hospital-level data included hospital name and grade, ICU staffing, and number of ICU beds. Patient-level data included characteristics of patients treated in the general ICU on the day of the survey (e.g., age, sex, primary diagnosis), as well as pain and agitation assessments and the types of analgesic and sedative medications administered within 24 hours of ICU admission. RESULTS: A total of 947 critically ill ICU patients from 145 hospitals were included, among which 104 were secondary-level hospitals and 41 were tertiary-level hospitals. Within 24 hours of ICU admission, 312 (32.9%) critically ill patients received pain assessments, and 277 (29.3%) received agitation assessments. Among the pain assessment tools, the critical care pain observation tool (CPOT) was used in 44.2% (138/312) of critically ill ICU patients, with a significantly higher usage rate in tertiary hospitals compared to secondary hospitals [52.3% (69/132) vs. 38.3% (69/180), P < 0.05]. The Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS) was used in 93.8% (260/277) of critically ill ICU patients for agitation assessment, with no significant difference between hospital levels. Among the 947 critically ill patients, 592 (62.5%) received intravenous analgesics within 24 hours, with remifentanil being the most commonly used [42.9% (254/592)]; 510 (53.9%) received intravenous sedatives, with midazolam being the most frequently used [60.8% (310/510)]. Mechanical ventilation data were available for 932 critically ill patients, of whom 579 (62.1%) received mechanical ventilation and 353 (37.9%) did not. Compared with non-ventilated patients, ventilated patients had significantly higher rates of analgesic and sedative use [analgesics: 77.9% (451/579) vs. 38.8% (137/353); sedatives: 71.8% (416/579) vs. 25.8% (91/353); both P < 0.05]. In terms of analgesic selection, ventilated patients were more likely to receive strong opioids than non-ventilated patients [85.8% (95/137) vs. 69.3% (387/451), P < 0.05]. For sedatives, ventilated patients preferred midazolam [66.6% (277/416)], whereas non-ventilated patients more often received dexmedetomidine [45.1 (41/91)]. Blood pressure within 24 hours of ICU admission were available for 822 critically ill patients, of whom 245 (29.8%) had hypotension and 577 (70.2%) did not. Compared with non-hypotensive patients, hypotensive patients had significantly higher rates of analgesic and sedative use [analgesics: 74.7% (183/245) vs. 59.8% (345/577); sedatives: 65.7% (161/245) vs. 51.3% (296/577); both P < 0.05], but there was no significant difference in the choice of analgesic or sedative agents between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS The proportion of critically ill ICU patients in Guizhou Province who received standardized pain and agitation assessments was relatively low. The most commonly used assessment tools were CPOT and RASS, while remifentanil and midazolam were the most frequently used analgesic and sedative agents, respectively. Secondary-level hospitals had a lower rate of using standardized pain assessment tools compared to tertiary-level hospitals. Mechanical ventilation and hypotension were associated with the use of analgesic and sedative medications.
Humans ; Critical Illness ; Intensive Care Units ; Analgesics/therapeutic use* ; Hypnotics and Sedatives/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; China ; Pain Measurement ; Pain Management ; Female ; Male ; Critical Care ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE：To provide reference for the quality control of the leaves of Toricellia angulata . METHODS ：HPLC method was adopted. The determination was performed on Agela Promosil C 18 column with 0.2％ phosphoric acid solution-acetonitrile（gradient elution ）as mobile phase at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 210 nm，and column temperature was 35 ℃. The sample size was 10 μL. HPLC fingerprint of 10 batches of the leaves of T. angulata was established and similarity evaluation was conducted by using Similarity Evaluation System of TCM Chromatographic Fingerprint（2004 edition）. The chromatographic peak was identified by comparing with the chromatogram of reference substance. Cluster analysis ，PCA and PLS-DA were used to identify chemical patterns ，and the quality differential markers were screened. The contents of hyperoside and isoquercitrin were determined by the same HPLC. RESULTS ：The similarities of HPLC fingerprint of 10 batches of the leaves of T. angulata with control fingerprint were 0.923-0.983. A total of 11 common peaks were identified ，and the peaks 4 and 5 were hyperoside and isoquercitrin ，respectively. Results of cluster analysis ，PCA and PLS-DA showed that 10 batches of leaves of T. angulata could be divided into two categories ，Y10 was clustered into one category ，and others were clustered into one category. PLS-DA analysis showed that 6 common peaks （peaks 4，3，10，2，6 and 11） with variable importance projection （VIP）greater than 1 were selected. Average contents of hyperoside and isoquercitrin in 10 batches of the leaves of T. angulata were 0.47-6.97，0.21-1.87 mg/g，respectively. CONCLUSIONS ：Established HPLC fingerprint and the method for content determination are stable and reliable ，and can be used for the quality control of the leaves of T. angulata from different areas. Six quality differential markers including hyperoside in the leaves of T. angulata from different areas are qnyz202034） preliminarily screened.

Objective:To analyze the effects of noise exposure on the hearing at different frequencies in workers from the automobile manufacturing industry.Methods:A total of 4723 noise workers in a large automobile manufacturing company in Guangzhou were chosen as the research object by using judgment sampling method between April and July, 2018, and carried out 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0 kHz pure tone audiometry threshold to analyze the characteristics of the status of hearing loss at different frequencies and its relationship with the noise exposure time.Results:The detection rate of hearing loss in noise-exposed workers was 29.8% (1406/4723) . Among them, the binaural hearing loss was 21.2% (999/4723) , and single unilateral hearing loss accounted for 8.6% (407/4723) . The hearing loss detection rate of right ear was higher than that of the left ear ( P<0.05) , especially in the 6.0 kHz ( P<0.001) . The detection rate of increased speech frequency hearing threshold was 1.9% (90/4723) , and the detection rate of increased high-frequency hearing threshold was 28.9% (1366/4723) . The detection rate of increased threshold in both the left and the right ear increased with the increase of frequency ( P<0.001) , the increased hearing threshold was the highest at the frequency of 6.0 kHz. The auditory threshold of left ear in 0.5 kHz were higher than that of right ear at the same frequency ( P<0.05) . The detection rate of hearing loss increased with the increase of noise exposure time ( P<0.001) , and the increased threshold of 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0 kHz from workers increased with the increase of noise exposure time ( P<0.001) . Conclusion:There is a significant increased threshold in workers exposed to noise frequency of 6.0 kHz, right ear is more easily damaged than left ear, there is a dose-response relationship for the noise exposure time and high-frequency hearing loss.

Objective:To analyze the effects of noise exposure on the hearing at different frequencies in workers from the automobile manufacturing industry.Methods:A total of 4723 noise workers in a large automobile manufacturing company in Guangzhou were chosen as the research object by using judgment sampling method between April and July, 2018, and carried out 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0 kHz pure tone audiometry threshold to analyze the characteristics of the status of hearing loss at different frequencies and its relationship with the noise exposure time.Results:The detection rate of hearing loss in noise-exposed workers was 29.8% (1406/4723) . Among them, the binaural hearing loss was 21.2% (999/4723) , and single unilateral hearing loss accounted for 8.6% (407/4723) . The hearing loss detection rate of right ear was higher than that of the left ear ( P<0.05) , especially in the 6.0 kHz ( P<0.001) . The detection rate of increased speech frequency hearing threshold was 1.9% (90/4723) , and the detection rate of increased high-frequency hearing threshold was 28.9% (1366/4723) . The detection rate of increased threshold in both the left and the right ear increased with the increase of frequency ( P<0.001) , the increased hearing threshold was the highest at the frequency of 6.0 kHz. The auditory threshold of left ear in 0.5 kHz were higher than that of right ear at the same frequency ( P<0.05) . The detection rate of hearing loss increased with the increase of noise exposure time ( P<0.001) , and the increased threshold of 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0 kHz from workers increased with the increase of noise exposure time ( P<0.001) . Conclusion:There is a significant increased threshold in workers exposed to noise frequency of 6.0 kHz, right ear is more easily damaged than left ear, there is a dose-response relationship for the noise exposure time and high-frequency hearing loss.

Objective:To discuss the feasibility of offering specialized courses of critical care medicine in undergraduate clinical medicine education, so as to alleviate the shortage of critical care medicine staffs and lay a foundation for improving the success rate for the treatment of critical cases.Methods:The undergraduates majoring in clinical medicine from 2008 to 2011 in Guizhou Medical University (the former Guiyang Medical College) were enrolled. After they had been enrolled in the undergraduate education for 3 years and were ready for Grade four, which meant basic medicine teaching had been completed and clinical medicine teaching was about to start, they were introduced and preached to each discipline, including critical care medicine. The undergraduates were free to choose professional direction of clinical training in Grade four. Students majoring in clinical medicine from 2012 to 2014 were free to choose their major direction when they entered the school.Results:From September 2011 to July 2019, the university had cultivated 246 undergraduates majoring in clinical critical care medicine from 2008 to 2014, and the critical care medicine professional team of affiliated hospital had undertaken 540 teaching hours. By July 2019, all students had graduated on time, with an employment rate of 100%. Forty students took postgraduate programs in our school and other schools, accounting for 16.3%.Conclusions:Professional education of critical care medicine in the undergraduate course of clinical medicine can mobilize students' interest in learning and subjective initiative, which is conducive to career selection. During the clinical training, the students can identify and timely cure critical care cases in the early stage, and partly alleviate the current shortage of critical care medical staffs.

Carbon dioxide (CO 2) ejection syndrome is common after artificial pneumoperitoneum, and it often attracts the attention of anesthesiologists because of its rapid changes in vital signs. CO 2 ejection syndrome is not uncommon in critically ill patients, and may occur after mechanical ventilation in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). There are few relevant reports about CO 2 ejection syndrome, and a considerable number of clinicians have little understanding of the pathological changes. A case of AECOPD patient with CO 2 ejection syndrome after endotracheal intubation was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University. After treatment, such as fluid expansion, vasoactive drugs and ventilator assistance, the patient's condition improved and was transferred out of the ICU. It is expected to provide some references by summarizing the diagnosis and treatment of this case and reviewing relevant literature reports.

Blood pressure management is an important and complex part of the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. There is no consensus on blood pressure management options for patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving intravenous thrombolysis. Blood pressure levels and blood pressure variability before and after thrombolysis, and timing of blood pressure interventions have significant effects on hemorrhagic transformation, functional outcome, and recurrence risk in patients with acute ischemic stroke. This article reviews the necessity, safety, goals of blood pressure management before and after thrombolysis, and its impact on the outcomes in acute ischemic stroke.

Objective:To explore the influence of blood pressure during peri-thrombolysis period (from admission to 24 h after thrombolysis) in intracranial hemorrhage, improvement of neurological function, primary endpoint event (recurrence of symptomatic stroke) and secondary endpoint events (complex cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, and all-cause death) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods:A total of 422 patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase during hospitalization at National Center for Stroke in Lianyungang from January 2015 to March 2019 were followed up for 90 d. According to the quintile of mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures during peri-thrombolysis period, they were divided into group of blood pressure <130.00 mmHg (Q1), group of blood pressure of 130.00-140.49 mmHg (Q2), group of blood pressure of 140.50-147.99 mmHg (Q3), group of blood pressure of 148.00-158.00 mmHg (Q4), and group of blood pressure >158.00 mmHg (Q5), and group of blood pressure <71.30 mmHg (G1), group of blood pressure of 71.30-76.19 mmHg (G2), group of blood pressure of 76.20-81.89 mmHg (G3), group of blood pressure of 81.90-90.79 mmHg (G4), group of blood pressure >90.79 mmHg (G5). Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyse were used to evaluate the relations of blood pressure with postoperative intracranial hemorrhage and neurological function improvement. Kaplan-Meier curve, Log-rank test and multivariate Cox proportional risk model were used to evaluate the relations of blood pressure with primary endpoint event and secondary endpoint events.Results:(1) After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of postoperative intracranial hemorrhage in patients from Q2 was significantly lower than that in patients from Q5 ( OR= 0.160, 95%CI: 0.031-0.827, P=0.029). (2) After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the probability of postoperative improvement of nerve function in patients from Q2 and Q3 was significantly higher than that in patients from Q5 ( OR=2.144, 95%CI: 1.043-4.407, P=0.038; OR=2.224, 95%CI: 1.105-4.479, P=0.025); the probability of postoperative improvement of nerve function in patients from G3 and G4 was significantly higher than that in patients from G5 ( OR= 2.153, 95%CI: 1.081-4.287, P=0.029; OR=2.182, 95%CI: 1.131-4.210, P=0.020). (3) After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariate Cox proportional risk model showed that the risk of primary endpoint event in patients from Q1 and Q2 was significantly lower than that in patients from Q5 ( HR=0.079, 95%CI: 0.010-0.613, P=0.015; HR=0.211, 95%CI: 0.062-0.724, P=0.013). (4) After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariate Cox proportional risk model showed that the risk of secondary endpoint events in patients from Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 was significantly lower than that in patients from Q5 ( HR=0.246, 95%CI: 0.100-0.607, P=0.002; HR=0.360, 95%CI: 0.177-0.732, P=0.005; HR=0.448, 95%CI: 0.246-0.817, P=0.009; HR=0.467, 95%CI: 0.252-0.867, P=0.016). Conclusion:The risks of postoperative intracranial hemorrhage, primary endpoint event and secondary endpoint events in patients with acute ischemic stroke decrease with the decrease of systolic blood pressure during peri-thrombolysis period; moderate blood pressures (systolic blood pressure: 130.00-147.99 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure:76.20-90.79 mmHg) are beneficial for improvement of neurological function.