Objective: To investigate the current status of benefit finding among young and middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and analyze its influencing factors, so as to provide a reference for improving the level of benefit finding in this population. Methods: From November 2022 to May 2023, young and middle-aged patients with T2DM aged 18-59 years hospitalized in the endocrinology departments of 2 tertiary hospitals in Hengyang City, Hunan Province were selected as survey subjects by a convenience sampling method. Basic demographic information was collected using a general questionnaire survey. Benefit finding, resourcefulness, and stigma were evaluated using the Benefit Finding Scale, the Chinese Version of the Resourcefulness Scale, and the Type 2 Diabetes Stigma Assessment Scale, respectively. A multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of benefit finding among young and middle-aged patients with T2DM. Results: A total of 305 young and middle-aged patients with T2DM were investigated, including 222 males (72.79%) and 83 females (27.21%). There were 231 cases aged 45-59 years, accounting for 75.74%. The scores for benefit finding, resourcefulness, and stigma were (42.86±6.06), (75.12±11.30), and (41.20±10.10), respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that young and middle-aged patients with T2DM who were male (β′=0.088), aged 18-<45 years (β′=0.083), absence of diabetes complications (β′=0.124), and had higher resourcefulness scores (β′=0.679) had higher levels of benefit finding, while patients with higher stigma scores (β′=-0.097) had lower levels of benefit finding. Conclusion The level of benefit finding among young and middle-aged patients with T2DM was moderate, and was related to gender, age, diabetes complications, resourcefulness, and stigma.

This study systematically analyzed the global research landscape, technological composition, and core patents in the field of networks target and network pharmacology, and proposes further suggestions based on the IncoPat patent citation database and VOSviewer bibliometric network visualization tool. Using patent literature metrics and scientific knowledge mapping method, technological innovation pathways, research hotspots, and future directions in this field were further revealed. In particular, this field is moving towards data-driven, intelligent, and systematic approaches. Patent analysis indicated that most patent applications in this domain focused on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), which have provided key engineering technical approaches to explore and solve complex problems of TCM. By integrating big data and artificial intelligence technologies, network targets and network pharmacology have conferred high-precision screening and quality control of key components and targets in herbal formulations and prescriptions, accelerating the clinical translation and industrialization of TCM-based new drugs and health products with medicine-food homology. Therefore, it is essential to optimize the patent protection system and establish integrated technology platforms in this field for ensuring the competitiveness of technological achievements in research and clinical application. These efforts will advance the widespread application and high-quality development of TCM modernization, precision medicine, and innovative drug discovery.
Bibliometrics ; Patents as Topic ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Network Pharmacology/trends* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*

PURPOSE: The rate of complications among patients undergoing surgery has increased due to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and other variants of concern. However, Omicron has shown decreased pathogenicity, raising questions about the risk of postoperative complications among patients who are infected with this variant. This study aimed to investigate complications and related factors among patients with recent Omicron infection prior to undergoing orthopedic surgery. METHODS: A historical control study was conducted. Data were collected from all patients who underwent surgery during 2 distinct periods: (1) between Dec 12, 2022 and Jan 31, 2023 (COVID-19 positive group), (2) between Dec 12, 2021 and Jan 31, 2022 (COVID-19 negative control group). The patients were at least 18 years old. Patients who received conservative treatment after admission or had high-risk diseases or special circumstances (use of anticoagulants before surgery) were excluded from the study. The study outcomes were the total complication rate and related factors. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify related factors, and odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to assess the impact of COVID-19 infection on complications. RESULTS: In the analysis, a total of 847 patients who underwent surgery were included, with 275 of these patients testing positive for COVID-19 and 572 testing negative. The COVID-19-positive group had a significantly higher rate of total complications (11.27%) than the control group (4.90%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for relevant factors, the OR was 3.08 (95% CI: 1.45-6.53). Patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 at 3-4 weeks (OR = 0.20 (95% CI: 0.06-0.59), p = 0.005), 5-6 weeks (OR = 0.16 (95% CI: 0.04-0.59), p = 0.010), or ≥7 weeks (OR = 0.26 (95% CI: 0.06-1.02), p = 0.069) prior to surgery had a lower risk of complications than those who were diagnosed at 0-2 weeks prior to surgery. Seven factors (age, indications for surgery, time of operation, time of COVID-19 diagnosis prior to surgery, C-reactive protein levels, alanine transaminase levels, and aspartate aminotransferase levels) were found to be associated with complications; thus, these factors were used to create a nomogram. CONCLUSION Omicron continues to be a significant factor in the incidence of postoperative complications among patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. By identifying the factors associated with these complications, we can determine the optimal surgical timing, provide more accurate prognostic information, and offer appropriate consultation for orthopedic surgery patients who have been infected with Omicron.
Humans ; COVID-19/complications* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Orthopedic Procedures/adverse effects* ; Aged ; Nomograms ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

The aim of this study was to investigate the trend in testicular volume changes after orchiopexy in children with cryptorchidism. The clinical data of 854 children with cryptorchidism who underwent orchiopexy between January 2013 and December 2016 in Shenzhen Children's Hospital (Shenzhen, China) were retrospectively analyzed. The mean (standard deviation) age of the patients was 2.8 (2.5) years, and the duration of follow-up ranged from 1 year to 5 years. Ultrasonography was conducted preoperatively and postoperatively. The variables analyzed included age at the time of surgery, type of surgical procedure, laterality, preoperative testicular position, preoperative and postoperative testicular volumes, and the testicular volume ratio of them. The average testicular volumes preoperatively and at 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 5 years postoperatively were 0.27 ml, 0.38 ml, 0.53 ml, 0.87 ml, and 1.00 ml, respectively ( P < 0.001). The corresponding testicular volume ratios were 0.67, 0.76, 0.80, 0.83, and 0.84 ( P < 0.001). The mean volume of the undescended testes was significantly smaller than the mean normative value ( P < 0.001, lower than the 10 th percentile). The postoperative testicular volumes in children with cryptorchidism were generally lower than those in healthy boys but were still greater than the 10 th percentile and exhibited an increasing trend. The older the child is at the time of surgery, the larger the gap in volume between the affected and normal testes. Although testicular volume tends to gradually increase after orchiopexy for cryptorchidism, it could not normalizes. Earlier surgery results in affected testicular volumes closer to those of healthy boys.
Humans ; Male ; Cryptorchidism/diagnostic imaging* ; Orchiopexy ; Child, Preschool ; Testis/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Organ Size ; Ultrasonography ; Infant ; Child ; Postoperative Period ; Follow-Up Studies

Plutonium isotopes(238Pu,239Pu,240Pu and 241Pu)in the environment are important"fingerprint"nuclides in the study of nuclear activity traceability.The content of plutonium isotopes in the environmental metrics is usually very low,and the measurement of these isotopes,especially 238Pu,using mass spectrometry is seriously interfered with by the coexisting 238U.The analysis of several plutonium isotopes in soil usually requires combination of multiple measurement techniques,which leads to a long analysis time and large uncertainty in the isotope ratio.In this work,the hydrous titanium oxide(HTiO)precipitated by the hydrolysis of titanium oxydichloride(TiOCl2)under near-neutral condition was used to preconcentrate plutonium from the soil digestion solution,and the highly efficient decontamination of 238U in the sample was achieved by TK200 resin column chromatography with a decontamination factor of 108.Simulation resuts of density functional theory(DFT)showed that NH3 was considered as a promising reaction gas to eliminate the interference of 238U from 238Pu measurement using mass spectrometry due to the significant discrepancy of the chemical reactivity of U+and Pu+with the reactive gas NH3.Experiments confirmed that by optimizing the flow rates of collision gas(He)and reaction gas(NH3),the interference of 238U could be effectively suppressed,and the decontamination factor of 238U was 104.Combined with chemical separation,the overall decontamination factor of 238U could reach 1012 by using the developed method.By combining chemical separation and tandem quadrupole inductively coupled plasmon-mass spectrometry(ICP-MS/MS)measurement,the simultaneous determination of four ultra-trace plutonium isotopes in soil was realized,and the detection limit of plutonium isotopes was at the femtogram level.Analysis of the international standard reference materials(NIST-SRM-4357 and IAEA-384)showed that the established method could be successfully used for the accurate analysis of ultra-trace four plutonium isotopes(238Pu,239Pu,240Pu and 241Pu)in soil samples.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of valve-in-valve transcatheter mitral valve replacement(ViV-TMVR)in patients with bioprosthetic valve degeneration who are at high surgical risk.Methods This study is a multi-center,retrospective cohort analysis of 20 consecutive patients who underwent transseptal ViV-TMVR using the Edwards SAPIEN 3 transcatheter heart valve(THV).The primary endpoints include technical success and procedural success,both defined according to the Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium(MVARC)criteria,as well as mortality and functional change assessed based on New York Heart Association(NYHA)classification at 30-days and six months post-procedure.Clinical follow-up assessments are conducted at 30-days and six months.Results From February 2021 to October 2022,a total of 20 patients with symptoms of bioprosthetic valve degeneration were enrolled across nine sites in China.The patients had a mean age of(73.5±5.5)years,with 85.0％being females and 70.0％classified as NYHA class Ⅲ/Ⅳ.The study achieved a 100.0％technical success rate and a 90.0％procedural success rate finally.All patients remained alive during the 30-day follow-up period.However,six months post-intervention,two patients(10.0％)were re-hospitalized due to heart failure,and sadly,one of them(5.0％)died.None of the patients reported any adverse events related to ViV-TMVR during the follow-up period.Notably,there was a significant improvement in NYHA class compared to baseline(P=0.0004)at six-month follow-ups.Conclusions The transseptal ViV-TMVR technique proved to be highly successful and was associated with significant improvement in NYHA class function.These findings strongly suggest that it serves as a safe and efficient treatment alternative for high-risk patients suffering from bioprosthetic valve degeneration.

Objective:To explore the pattern of lymph node metastasis and prognosis in locally advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy (NICT).Methods:This retrospective study included pathologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma (cT3-4aN+) patients who underwent radical resection after ≥2 cycles of PD-1 inhibitor-based chemotherapy with complete postoperative pathology. Exclusions: distant/other metastases, non-R0 resection, Her-2+ with targeted therapy, microsatellite instability, or esophagogastric junction cancer invading >1 cm into lower esophagus. From January 2020 to December 2024, a total of 343 consecutive gastric cancer patients who received NICT treatment were admitted to Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital. According to the above criteria, 324 cases were included in the lymph node metastasis analysis, and 302 cases were included in the survival analysis. The median age of all patients was 58 years, with 245 males (75.6%) and a median body mass index (BMI) of 22.9 kg/m2. There were 170 cases (52.5%) at T3 stage and 154 cases (47.5%) at T4a stage; the median number of cycles of neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy was 3 cycles. The primary outcome measure was the positive lymph node metastasis rate (number of metastatic cases in the group / total number of dissected cases in the group×100%). A positive lymph node metastasis rate >10% was defined as high metastasis, and <5% as low metastasis. The secondary outcome measures were high-risk factors for lymph node metastasis and influencing factors related to patient prognosis. Lymph node grouping was performed according to the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) guidelines. The positive lymph node metastasis rate was statistically analyzed by stratification based on surgical methods (total gastrectomy, proximal gastrectomy, distal gastrectomy). Multivariate analysis of risk factors for lymph node metastasis were performed with logistic regression analysis, and survival analysis were performed with the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model.Results:The postoperative pathological complete response rate (pCR) of all patients was 21.0% (68/324), and the overall positive lymph node metastasis rate was 48.8% (158/324). A total of 150 patients underwent total gastrectomy, 42 underwent proximal gastrectomy, and 132 underwent distal gastrectomy.In the total gastrectomy group: the high metastasis subgroups were No.1 (19.3%, 29 cases), No.2 (14.7%, 22 cases), No.3 (28.0%, 42 cases), No.7 (12.7%, 19 cases), No.8a (16.0%, 24 cases), and No.9 (17.3%, 26 cases); the low metastasis subgroups were No.5 (4.7%, 7 cases), No.10 (3.3%, 5 cases), No.11d (1.3%, 2 cases), and No.12a (4.0%, 6 cases).In the proximal gastrectomy group: the high metastasis subgroups were No.3 (14.3%, 6 cases), No.7 (23.8%, 10 cases), and No.11p (11.9%, 5 cases); the low metastasis subgroups were No.4d (2.4%, 1 case) and No.10 (2.4%, 1 case).In the distal gastrectomy group: the high metastasis subgroups were No.3 (25.8%, 34 cases), No.6 (26.5%, 35 cases), No.7 (11.4%, 15 cases), and No.11p (11.4%, 15 cases); the low metastasis subgroups were No.4sb (3.8%, 5 cases) and No.12a (4.5%, 6 cases).Results of multivariate analysis showed that TRG grade (HR: 5.938, 95%CI: 3.028-11.646, P<0.001) was an independent factor affecting lymph node metastasis in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. The median follow-up time was 26.0 (6.0-54.3) months, and the 3-year overall survival (OS) of all patients was 78.1%. Results of multivariate Cox analysis showed that ypT (HR=1.744, 95%CI: 1.300-2.338, P<0.001), ypN (HR=1.998, 95%CI: 1.503-2.655, P<0.001), and postoperative complications (HR=1.913, 95%CI: 1.111-3.294, P=0.019) were independent factors affecting the overall survival of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. Conclusion:NICT significantly changes the pattern of lymph node metastasis in LAGC. ypT and ypN stages are core indicators for survival prognosis. The necessity of dissection for lymph node groups with a metastasis rate <5% needs to be carefully evaluated.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of valve-in-valve transcatheter mitral valve replacement(ViV-TMVR)in patients with bioprosthetic valve degeneration who are at high surgical risk.Methods This study is a multi-center,retrospective cohort analysis of 20 consecutive patients who underwent transseptal ViV-TMVR using the Edwards SAPIEN 3 transcatheter heart valve(THV).The primary endpoints include technical success and procedural success,both defined according to the Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium(MVARC)criteria,as well as mortality and functional change assessed based on New York Heart Association(NYHA)classification at 30-days and six months post-procedure.Clinical follow-up assessments are conducted at 30-days and six months.Results From February 2021 to October 2022,a total of 20 patients with symptoms of bioprosthetic valve degeneration were enrolled across nine sites in China.The patients had a mean age of(73.5±5.5)years,with 85.0％being females and 70.0％classified as NYHA class Ⅲ/Ⅳ.The study achieved a 100.0％technical success rate and a 90.0％procedural success rate finally.All patients remained alive during the 30-day follow-up period.However,six months post-intervention,two patients(10.0％)were re-hospitalized due to heart failure,and sadly,one of them(5.0％)died.None of the patients reported any adverse events related to ViV-TMVR during the follow-up period.Notably,there was a significant improvement in NYHA class compared to baseline(P=0.0004)at six-month follow-ups.Conclusions The transseptal ViV-TMVR technique proved to be highly successful and was associated with significant improvement in NYHA class function.These findings strongly suggest that it serves as a safe and efficient treatment alternative for high-risk patients suffering from bioprosthetic valve degeneration.

Objective:To explore the pattern of lymph node metastasis and prognosis in locally advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy (NICT).Methods:This retrospective study included pathologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma (cT3-4aN+) patients who underwent radical resection after ≥2 cycles of PD-1 inhibitor-based chemotherapy with complete postoperative pathology. Exclusions: distant/other metastases, non-R0 resection, Her-2+ with targeted therapy, microsatellite instability, or esophagogastric junction cancer invading >1 cm into lower esophagus. From January 2020 to December 2024, a total of 343 consecutive gastric cancer patients who received NICT treatment were admitted to Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital. According to the above criteria, 324 cases were included in the lymph node metastasis analysis, and 302 cases were included in the survival analysis. The median age of all patients was 58 years, with 245 males (75.6%) and a median body mass index (BMI) of 22.9 kg/m2. There were 170 cases (52.5%) at T3 stage and 154 cases (47.5%) at T4a stage; the median number of cycles of neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy was 3 cycles. The primary outcome measure was the positive lymph node metastasis rate (number of metastatic cases in the group / total number of dissected cases in the group×100%). A positive lymph node metastasis rate >10% was defined as high metastasis, and <5% as low metastasis. The secondary outcome measures were high-risk factors for lymph node metastasis and influencing factors related to patient prognosis. Lymph node grouping was performed according to the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) guidelines. The positive lymph node metastasis rate was statistically analyzed by stratification based on surgical methods (total gastrectomy, proximal gastrectomy, distal gastrectomy). Multivariate analysis of risk factors for lymph node metastasis were performed with logistic regression analysis, and survival analysis were performed with the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model.Results:The postoperative pathological complete response rate (pCR) of all patients was 21.0% (68/324), and the overall positive lymph node metastasis rate was 48.8% (158/324). A total of 150 patients underwent total gastrectomy, 42 underwent proximal gastrectomy, and 132 underwent distal gastrectomy.In the total gastrectomy group: the high metastasis subgroups were No.1 (19.3%, 29 cases), No.2 (14.7%, 22 cases), No.3 (28.0%, 42 cases), No.7 (12.7%, 19 cases), No.8a (16.0%, 24 cases), and No.9 (17.3%, 26 cases); the low metastasis subgroups were No.5 (4.7%, 7 cases), No.10 (3.3%, 5 cases), No.11d (1.3%, 2 cases), and No.12a (4.0%, 6 cases).In the proximal gastrectomy group: the high metastasis subgroups were No.3 (14.3%, 6 cases), No.7 (23.8%, 10 cases), and No.11p (11.9%, 5 cases); the low metastasis subgroups were No.4d (2.4%, 1 case) and No.10 (2.4%, 1 case).In the distal gastrectomy group: the high metastasis subgroups were No.3 (25.8%, 34 cases), No.6 (26.5%, 35 cases), No.7 (11.4%, 15 cases), and No.11p (11.4%, 15 cases); the low metastasis subgroups were No.4sb (3.8%, 5 cases) and No.12a (4.5%, 6 cases).Results of multivariate analysis showed that TRG grade (HR: 5.938, 95%CI: 3.028-11.646, P<0.001) was an independent factor affecting lymph node metastasis in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. The median follow-up time was 26.0 (6.0-54.3) months, and the 3-year overall survival (OS) of all patients was 78.1%. Results of multivariate Cox analysis showed that ypT (HR=1.744, 95%CI: 1.300-2.338, P<0.001), ypN (HR=1.998, 95%CI: 1.503-2.655, P<0.001), and postoperative complications (HR=1.913, 95%CI: 1.111-3.294, P=0.019) were independent factors affecting the overall survival of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. Conclusion:NICT significantly changes the pattern of lymph node metastasis in LAGC. ypT and ypN stages are core indicators for survival prognosis. The necessity of dissection for lymph node groups with a metastasis rate <5% needs to be carefully evaluated.

Objective To investigate the etiology, symptoms, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and outcomes of acute necrotizing mediastinitis (ANM) in order to guide future diagnosis and treatment of ANM. Methods The clinical data of patients with ANM referred to West China Hospital, Sichuan University from March 2012 to April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The etiology, clinical manifestations, demographic characteristics, bacterial culture results, surgical approach and prognostic factors of these patients were summarized. Results A total of 176 patients were enrolled in this study. The median age was 60 ( 0-84) years. There were 124 (70.5%) males and 52 (29.5%) females. The most common origin of infection was neck (n=66, 37.5%). The most common symptom was fever (n=85, 48.3%). Streptococcus constellatus represented the most common pathogens in secretion culture. Surgical treatment was administered to 119 (67.6%) patients through different approaches, including 54 (30.7%) patients of cervical approach, 9 (5.1%) patients of thoracotomy, 18 (10.2%) patients of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), 7 (4.0%) patients of cervical combined with thoracotomy, 30 (17.0%) patients of cervical combined with VATS, and 1 (0.6%) patient of subxiphoid approach. Among this cohort, 144 (81.8%) patients were cured, while 32 (18.1%) patients died. Age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (OR=2.95, P=0.022), perioperative sepsis (OR=2.84, P=0.024), and non-surgical treatment (OR=2.41, P=0.043) were identified as independent predictors of poor outcomes. Conclusion For patients with corresponding history and manifestations of ANM, it is crucial to go through imaging examination to confirm the presence of an abscess and guide the selection of surgical approach. Once the diagnosis of ANM is made, it is imperative to promptly perform surgical intervention for effective drainage. Our study highlights the significance of age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index, perioperative sepsis and surgical treatment in predicting patients’ outcomes.