[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2019.01.013.].

Objective:Postoperative neurosurgical bacterial meningitis (PNBM) has been frequently reported, but fewer studies have focused on the contemporaneous comparison of clinical features of PNBM caused by different pathogenic bacteria. This study aimed to simultaneously investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of PNBM by Gram-positive bacterial(GPB) or Gram-negative bacterial (GNB) infection.Methods:Inpatients with PNBM at our institution were recruited between February 2013 and October 2023. These PNBM patients were categorized into two groups: GPB infection and GNB infection. Data from electronic medical records were collected and analyzed.Results:A total of 401 patients with PNBM were finally included, with 78 (19.5%) having GPB infections and 323 (80.5%)having GNB infection. The average age of the patients was 56 years, and 55.1% were male. Compared to the GPB group, PNBM patients with GNB infection had significantly higher SOFA and APACHE Ⅱ scores, higher proportions of hyperthermia (body temperature>39°C) and altered consciousness, increased ratios of postoperative cerebral hemorrhage or intracranial aneurysm, as well as greater needs for ICU treatment and mechanical ventilation (all P <0.05). The proportions of inflammatory indicators such as blood CRP and PCT≥2 ng/mL, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBIL) were significantly higher in the GNB group (all P<0.05). In contrast, The concentrations of hemoglobin and albumin were substantially lower in this group(both P <0.05). Additionally, the cerebrospinal fluid in the GNB group showed significantly higher nucleated cell counts, protein concentration, and adenosine deaminase concentration, and but lower glucose level (all P <0.001). A total of 426 bacterial strains were isolated, with 343 strains (80.5%) being GNB and 83 strains (19.5%) being GPB. Among these, 25 (6.2%) patients had 2 or more gram-positive or gram-negative bacterial infections. The proportions of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and intrathecal treatment were higher in the GNB group (80.5% vs. 68.7%, 36.5% vs. 2.6%, respectively), while the ratio of correct empirical antibiotic treatment was significantly lower (30.3% vs. 80.0%) (all P <0.05). In terms of outcomes, the length of stay in the ICU was significantly longer in the GNB group [(median (interquartile range, IQR): 11.5 (5.25,22.75) vs. 17.0 (9.0,30.0), P <0.01)], and the rate of septic shock (9.3% vs. 2.6%), poor prognosis (GCS≤8 at discharge) (65.9% vs. 32.1%), and 28-day hospital mortality rate (34.4% vs. 10.3%) were significantly higher compared to the GPB group (all P <0.05). However, there were no differences in 7-day hospital mortality and total hospitalization time. Conclusions:Gram-negative bacterial infections are more prevalent than Gram-positive bacterial infections in PNBM, and they are also associated with more severe symptoms, abnormal cerebrospinal fluid findings, higher severity, and more treatment difficulty. Despite comparable short-term (7-day) mortality rates between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial infections, Gram-negative bacterial infections result in higher medium- to long-term (14-day and 28-day) case-fatality rates among patients with post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis and are associated with overall poorer prognosis, warranting greater attention from clinicians.

Objective To investigate the radioactivity levels of gross α and gross β in foods around Zhangzhou nuclear power plant, China before operation. Methods Forty-nine samples from 33 kinds of foods in 5 categories of daily food around Zhangzhou nuclear power plant were collected, pretreated, dried, and ashed. The radioactivity levels of gross α and gross β were measured by the low-background α and β measuring instrument. The atomic absorption technique was employed to measure the level of potassium (K), and the radioactivity level of gross β (subtracting ⁴⁰K) was calculated with K concentrations in different foods consulted from the nutritional dietary system. Results The radioactivity levels of gross α in vegetables and fruits, grain, poultry and livestock, aquatic products, and tea around Zhangzhou nuclear power plant were < minimum detectable level (MDL)-7.97, < MDL-6.82, < MDL, < MDL-20.76, and 11.90-23.08 Bq/kg, respectively; the radioactivity levels of gross β were 34.56-122.81, 13.05-188.96, 56.00-108.34, 17.86-169.01, and 123.74-171.63 Bq/kg, respectively; the radioactivity levels of gross β (subtracting ⁴⁰K) were not detected (ND)-14.27, ND-27.86, ND-48.72, ND-45.85, and 6.69-13.79 Bq/kg, respectively. Conclusion The radioactivity of gross α and gross β in foods around Zhangzhou nuclear power plant before operation is basically at the same level as that in other areas of China.

Effective cost control and structure optimization of medical consumables in public hospitals can facilitate a shift from extensive cost control to scientific and refine management.On the premise of ensuring medical quality,reducing the burden of patients'diagnosis and treatment and meeting the actual needs of hospital management,this approach aims to realize valuable healthcare outcomes.This study was conducted in a tertiary hospital,which balanced both the medical and economic val-ue of medical consumables.Using an integrated approach to specialty capacity building and disease structure optimization,the hospital restructured the use of medical consumables in Transcatheter Arterial Embolization(TAE)procedures.It developed standardized pathways and usage protocols tailored to specific diseases and surgical requirements.A targeted consumable usage policy framework was introduced,comprising"one department,one policy;one surgery type,one policy;and one consumable,one policy."This included initiatives such as validating the use of drug-loaded embolic microspheres,conducting multi-depart-mental review meetings,strictly regulating indications for these microspheres,limiting personnel involvement,and negotiating re-duced pricing on imported microspheres.Following implementation,the average case-mix index(CMI)for discharged patients undergoing TAE increased from 2.23 to 2.34(P＜0.001),while the average per-case cost of consumables decreased from 19 600 to 15 600(P＜0.001).These measures offer valuable decision-making and operational reference for hospitals nation-wide,supporting efficient,quality-focused consumables management.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2019.01.013.].

Since the first application of whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) to brain metastases in 1950 s,it has been regarded as a standard treatment for brain metastases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Recently,more accurate radiotherapy technique and more effective systemic therapy have been developed.Especially,the molecular targeted drugs are upgraded rapidly with stronger targeting capability and better permeability of the central nervous system.With the prolonged survival of patients,long-term damage to the nervous system induced by WBRT causes widespread concerns.This article will review the related controversies and research progress in the application of WBRT to NSCLC with brain metastases in modern integrated therapy.

Bicyclol is a synthetic drug for hepatoprotection in clinic since 2004. Preliminary clinical observations suggest that bicyclol might be active against hepatitis C virus (HCV) with unknown mechanism. Here, we showed that bicyclol significantly inhibited HCV replication and in hepatitis C patients. Using bicyclol as a probe, we identified glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP) to be a novel restrictive factor for HCV replication. The GLTP preferentially bound host vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein-A (VAP-A) in competition with the HCV NS5A, causing an interruption of the complex formation between VAP-A and HCV NS5A. As the formation of VAP-A/NS5A complex is essential for viral RNA replication, up-regulation of GLTP by bicyclol reduced the level of VAP-A/NS5A complex and thus inhibited HCV replication. Bicyclol also exhibited an inhibition on HCV variants resistant to direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) with an efficacy identical to that on wild type HCV. In combination with bicyclol, DAAs inhibited HCV replication in a synergistic fashion. GLTP appears to be a newly discovered host restrictive factor for HCV replication, Up-regulation of GLTP causes spontaneous restriction of HCV replication.

Surgery,radiotherapy and chemotherapy are three traditional treatments for malignant tumors.With the development of medicine,immunotherapy has been gradually adopted as an emerging therapy of malignancies.Recent clinical studies have demonstrated that the combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy can induce the abscopal effect and improve the prognosis of patients.Compared with the conventional radiotherapy,stereotactic radiotherapy has a larger single dose and higher accuracy,which is more likely to induce the bystander effect and anti-tumor response.The combination of stereotactic radiotherapy and immunotherapy has been proven to be a more promising therapy in certain clinical trials.However,not all types of tumors can benefit from such combined therapy in clinical practice.The optimal dose,fraction pattern and lesion of radiotherapy,immune enhancement and safety remain to be further clarified.In this article,the research progress,related controversies and future research direction of stereotactic radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy for malignancies were reviewed.

Objective: To establish a method using gas chromatography for the determination of the residual chloroform in the medical polylactic acid membrane. Methods: The direct aqueous injection gas chromatographic method was established for the determination using RESTEK RTX capillary-column chromatography with the electron capture detector(ECD) at 270 ℃ and with the column at 85 ℃,maintained for 3 min. The split ratio of sampling was 10∶1. The injector temperature was 200 ℃. The high purity nitrogen was used as the carrier gas with the flow of 1. 0 ml /min. The injection volume was 1 μl. Results: The calibration curve showed a good linearity within the range of 25-2 000 ng /ml (r = 0. 999 9). The limit of detection was 1. 50 ng /ml,and the limit of quantitation was 4. 62 ng /ml. The average recovery rate was 98. 35％,RSD = 1. 98％. Conclusion: Gas chromatography is sensitive and accurate for the determination of the residual chloroform in the medical polylactic acid membrane.

Purpose To evaluate the value ofintravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging in diagnosis of liver fibrosis staging in rats.Materials and Methods Rabbit models of liver fibrosis at different stages were established.All rabbits were divided into four groups based on the pathological results of fibrosis grading as S1-S4.The 1VIM imagings with 8 b-values (0,50,100,200,300,800,1000,1200 s/mm2) were performed.The diffusion coefficient (D),perfusion-related coefficient (D*),and perfusion fraction (f) were calculated and compared between control (only injection of saline) and S 1 group,S2 and S3 group.Results The D value was significantly lower in S1 group compared with control group (P＜0.05),but the D* and f values showed no significant difference between the two groups (both P＞0.05).With the progression of liver fibrosis,the D,D* and f value decreased gradually;the D* value showed significant difference between S2 and S3 group (P＜0.05),but the D and f values showed no significant differences between the two groups (both P＞0.05).Conclusion The D value is useful for differentiation of normal liver and hepatic fibrosis of S1 stage,while the D* is valuable for differentiation of hepatic fibrosis of S2 and S3 stage.However,the f value neither could detect early fibrosis,nor could differentiate hepatic fibrosis staging.IVIM imaging provides a noninvasive method for early and accurate staging of liver fibrosis,which may be of great help in clinical diagnosis and treatment.