Objective To design an assisted patient conveying and vibration damping system to solve the problems of operator fatigue and patient bump during casualty evacuation.Methods The assisted patient conveying and vibration damping system was composed of several conveying straps and a vibration damping mechanism.The conveying straps were made up of a waist strap,two shoulder straps,a chest strap,adhesive straps and joint components,and the joint components included adjusting buckles,big buckles,small buckles,connecting buckles and hook mechanisms;the vibration damping mechanism adopted the technical form of extension handle combined with vibration absorber,in which the extension handle was made of rigid material and the vibration absorber was equipped with a scissor guiding mechanism.Tests were carried out on the system to record the operating time of the operators and to analyze the system's vibration damping characteristics.Results The system developed extended the operating time of the stretcher conveyers while reduced the vibration during casualty transport,with a maximum vibration reduction of 71.73％.Conclusion The system developed gains advantages in low vibration and low workload,and can be used for casualty conveying in poor road conditions.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(1):15-24]

Objectives: To investigated the safety and efficacy of treating patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and elevated levels of N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with levosimendan within 24 hours of first medical contact (FMC). Methods: This multicenter, open-label, block-randomized controlled trial (NCT03189901) investigated the safety and efficacy of levosimendan as an early management strategy of acute heart failure (EMS-AHF) for patients with NSTEMI and high NT-proBNP levels. This study included 255 patients with NSTEMI and elevated NT-proBNP levels, including 142 males and 113 females with a median age of 65 (58-70) years, and were admitted in the emergency or outpatient departments at 14 medical centers in China between October 2017 and October 2021. The patients were randomly divided into a levosimendan group (n=129) and a control group (n=126). The primary outcome measure was NT-proBNP levels on day 3 of treatment and changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline on day 5 after randomization. The secondary outcome measures included the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in NT-proBNP levels from baseline, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization and at 6 months after hospitalization, safety during the treatment, and health economics indices. The measurement data parameters between groups were compared using the t-test or the non-parametric test. The count data parameters were compared between groups using the χ² test. Results: On day 3, the NT-proBNP levels in the levosimendan group were lower than the control group but were statistically insignificant [866 (455, 1 960) vs. 1 118 (459, 2 417) ng/L, Z=-1.25,P=0.21]. However, on day 5, changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline in the levosimendan group were significantly higher than the control group [67.6% (33.8%,82.5%)vs.54.8% (7.3%,77.9%), Z=-2.14, P=0.03]. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in the NT-proBNP levels on day 5 between the levosimendan and the control groups [77.5% (100/129) vs. 69.0% (87/126), χ²=2.34, P=0.13]. Furthermore, incidences of MACE did not show any significant differences between the two groups during hospitalization [4.7% (6/129) vs. 7.1% (9/126), χ²=0.72, P=0.40] and at 6 months [14.7% (19/129) vs. 12.7% (16/126), χ²=0.22, P=0.64]. Four cardiac deaths were reported in the control group during hospitalization [0 (0/129) vs. 3.2% (4/126), P=0.06]. However, 6-month survival rates were comparable between the two groups (log-rank test, P=0.18). Moreover, adverse events or serious adverse events such as shock, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia were not reported in both the groups during levosimendan treatment (days 0-1). The total cost of hospitalization [34 591.00(15 527.46,59 324.80) vs. 37 144.65(16 066.90,63 919.00)yuan, Z=-0.26, P=0.80] and the total length of hospitalization [9 (8, 12) vs. 10 (7, 13) days, Z=0.72, P=0.72] were lower for patients in the levosimendan group compared to those in the control group, but did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Early administration of levosimendan reduced NT-proBNP levels in NSTEMI patients with elevated NT-proBNP and did not increase the total cost and length of hospitalization, but did not significantly improve MACE during hospitalization or at 6 months.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Simendan/therapeutic use* ; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction ; Heart Failure/drug therapy* ; Peptide Fragments ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Biomarkers ; Prognosis

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers consist of cervical cancer, anal cancer, penile cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, and head and neck cancer (HNC). Of these, the disease burden of HNC is second only to cervical cancer. HNC mostly originates from malignant lesions of squamous epithelial cells and mainly includes oral cavity cancer, pharyngeal cancer (including nasopharyngeal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, and hypopharyngeal cancer), and laryngeal cancer. Tobacco use, alcohol abuse, and HPV infection are three primary risk factors. Recently, there is an upward trend of HNC incidence globally, especially in high-income countries. In China, the disease burden and trends of HPV-related HNC are still not clear. A few small sample size and single-center studies suggest a high HPV prevalence and increasing trend in HNC. Methodological differences in HPV testing and regional variabilities still exist among these studies. Among the anatomic sites, oropharyngeal cancer has been shown to be caused by HPV infection, but the association of HPV with other sites is still under debate. In addition, there is a paucity of relevant studies. Here, this review narrates the association between HPV infection and HNC, compares the differences between global and Chinese studies, and then explores the importance of HPV infection in various anatomical sites. The main objective is to highlight the research on HPV-related HNC and promote relevant prevention and treatment programs.
Female ; Humans ; Human Papillomavirus Viruses ; Papillomavirus Infections/prevention & control* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/complications* ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/complications* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Papillomaviridae

Zona Incerta ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Fear ; Neural Pathways

Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/surgery*

Stress in medical education has been inevitable among medical students. However, the prevalence of stress among pre-clinical and clinical medical students differed by year of study. There were several stressors reported to affect medical students. Therefore, effective coping strategies were applied to manage the stress faced by medical students. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of stress, stressors and coping strategies comparing pre-clinical and clinical Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) medical students, and the associated stressors and stress among them. This was a cross-sectional study with a study population of 223 medical students. Universal sampling was used. A self-administered questionnaire which included socio-demographic characteristics, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Medical Students Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) and the Brief COPE Inventory were used in this study. The overall prevalence of stress among medical students was 48.15%. Clinical students had a higher prevalence of stress (53.73%) compared to pre-clinical students (39.02%). Year 3 students had the highest prevalence of stress (64.58%) compared to other years of study. Nearly 1 out of 2 medical students were stressed (48.15%). Academic Related Stressor ranked the highest and Acceptance was the most practiced coping strategy. The only associated stressor with stress was Academic Related Stressor.

Objective To analyze the clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics of pulmonary and extra pulmonary paragonimiasis westermani. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed of 30 patients diagnosed by clinical features, laboratory serological tests and surgical pathology. Results The symptoms of the lung included mainly chest distress, fever, chest pain, cough and expectoration, and dyspnea. The extra pulmonary symptoms included abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite, emaciation, both lower extremities asthenia, headache, dizziness, epileptic seizures, and subcutaneous migratory masses. The laboratory examination showed that the eosinophil numbers of serum and pleural effusion of all the thirty patients were increased, and the eggs of Paragonimus westermani were found by the stool tests in four cases. The chest CT tests found abnormal nodules, ground glass changes, insect damages, pleural effusion, "tunnel" signs, and "halo" signs. Cranial CT and MRI showed intracranial hemorrhage foci, and extensive "finger-like" edema. Abdominal CT showed serpentine deformation and “tunnel” signs in the hepatic and spleen capsules. Conclusions Paragonimiasis westermani is a multiple organ system involved infection, and it has complex and varied clinical manifestations. The "tunnel" sign and serpentine deformations in the intracranial part, lung, liver and spleen are important imaging manifestations of the disease.

Epididymitis is a commonly diagnosed disease associated with male infertility. However, little is known about the molecules that are involved in its development. This study was to identify critical genes associated with lipopolysaccharide-induced epididymitis and analyze the molecular mechanism of epididymitis through RNA sequencing. Experimental epididymitis models were generated by administering male Sprague-Dawley rats' lipopolysaccharide. A total of 1378 differentially expressed genes, including 531 upregulated and 847 downregulated genes, were identified in the epididymitis model rats compared with those in sham-operated rats by RNA sequencing. Functional enrichment analyses suggested that the upregulated genes were markedly enriched in inflammation-related biological processes, as well as in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, complement and coagulation cascades, and in the chemokine signaling pathway. Four downregulated genes (collagen type XXVIII alpha 1 chain [Col28α1], cyclin-dependent kinase-like 1 [Cdkl1], phosphoserine phosphatase [Psph], and fatty acid desaturase 2 [Fads2]) and ten upregulated genes (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta [Cebpβ], C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2 [Cxcr2], interleukin 11 [Il11], C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 [Ccl20], nuclear factor-kappa-B inhibitor alpha [Nfkbiα], claudin 4 [Cldn4], matrix metallopeptidase 9 [Mmp9], heat shock 70 kDa protein 8 [Hspa8], intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 [Icam1], and Jun) were successfully confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot demonstrated that CDKL1 was decreased, while MMP9 and NFKBIA were increased in the experimental model group compared with those in the sham-operated group. Our study sheds new light on the understanding of the early response of the epididymis during bacterial epididymitis.
Animals ; Base Sequence/genetics* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epididymis/metabolism* ; Epididymitis/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes/genetics* ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, RNA

BACKGROUNDData on the epidemiology of hypertension in Chinese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis CKD patients through a nationwide, multicenter study in China.

METHODSThe survey was performed in 61 tertiary hospitals in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (except Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Trained physicians collected demographic and clinical data and measured blood pressure (BP) using a standardized protocol. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. BP < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg were used as the 2 thresholds of hypertension control. In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for sex and age, we analyzed the association between CKD stages and uncontrolled hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients.

RESULTSThe analysis included 8927 non-dialysis CKD patients. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients were 67.3%, 85.8%, and 81.0%, respectively. Of hypertensive CKD patients, 33.1% and 14.1% had controlled BP to < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg, respectively. With successive CKD stages, the prevalence of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients increased, but the control of hypertension decreased (P < 0.001). When the threshold of BP < 130/80 mmHg was considered, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension in CKD 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 stages increased 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 2.5, and 4.0 times compared with CKD 1 stage, respectively (P < 0.05). Using the threshold of < 140/90 mmHg, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased in advanced stages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of hypertension Chinese non-dialysis CKD patients was high, and the hypertension control was suboptimal. With successive CKD stages, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased.

Adult ; Aged ; Awareness ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; complications

OBJECTIVETo explore the anti-tumor mechanism of the combination of cisplatin with DC vaccine in tumor-bearing mice.

METHODSB16 melanoma cells were treated with cisplatin at the final concentration of 20 µg/ml in vitro for 24 h. The expression of HMGB1, Hsp70 and TGF-β were detected by Western blot. B16 tumor-bearing mouse models were generated. The therapeutic effect of the combination of cisplatin (100 µg/mouse i.p., for sequential 3 days) and intratumoral injection of DC cells (3×10(6)/mouse, twice with a 7-day interval) in the tumor-bearing mouse models was evaluated. Expression of MHC II, ICAM-1 and CD86 was analyzed by flow cytometry. The mice were sacrificed at 28 days after tumor cell inoculation. The tumors were removed and weighed, and tissue samples were taken for pathological examination. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were isolated by discontinuous gradient centrifugation. The distribution of T-reg and CD8(+) T cells in the TIL was analyzed by flow cytometry, and the ratio of CD8(+) T/T-reg was determined. The activity of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) was determined by microcytotoxicity assay.

RESULTSCisplatin enhanced both the B16 cell apoptosis and HMGB1 expression. After loading with cisplatin-treated cell lysate, the expression of MHC II, ICAM-1 and CD86 on DC cells were (47.5 ± 8.8)%, (35.5 ± 8.3)% and (36.2 ± 9.2)%, respectively. At 28 days after tumor cell inoculation, the tumor weight of the control group was (2.1 ± 0.6) g, that of the cisplatin group was (0.3 ± 0.2) g and that of cisplatin + DC vaccine group was (0.5 ± 0.2) g, showing a significant inhibition of tumor growth (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the CD8(+) T/T-reg ratio and CTL activity in TIL were also significantly enhanced in the tumor-bearing mice treated with cisplatin + DC vaccine. When the effector-to-target ratio was 20:1, 10:1 and 5:1, the CTL activity in the cisplatin + DC vaccine treated mice was (25.0 ± 5.0)%, (22.0 ± 6.0)% and (14.0 ± 4.0)%, respectively, significantly higher than (8.2 ± 3.6)%, (6.7 ± 1.8)% and (3.6 ± 1.9)%, respectively, in the control group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCisplatin promotes the anti-tumor effect of DC vaccine by down-regulating T-reg cells and enhancing the CTL activity in tumors.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Cancer Vaccines ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Female ; Genes, MHC Class II ; HMGB1 Protein ; metabolism ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Melanoma, Experimental ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; pathology ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects