Objective To investigate the impacts of Nalbuphine combined with Sufentanil on postoperative analgesia and stress response in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.Methods 86 patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery from August 2020 to April 2022 were collected and grouped into an experimental group and a control group according to the analgesic plan,with 43 patients in each group.The control group was given Sufentanil after surgery,and the experimental group was given Nalbuphine + Sufentanil.The analgesic and sedative effects at different time points after surgery(1,6,12,24 and 48 h),and the changes in serum pain mediator and stress response indicators were observed and compared.The time of getting out of bed after surgery,the number of patient-controlled analgesia,the number of cases of remedial analgesia,the recovery of gastrointestinal function,and the occurrence of adverse reactions within 48 hours after surgery were recorded in both groups.Results Compared with the control group,the experimental group had a shorter time to get out of bed for the first time after surgery(t = 3.29,P = 0.001),and had fewer instances of patient-controlled analgesia(Z = 4.53,P = 0.000)and cases of remedial analgesia(χ2 = 4.48,P = 0.034);Postoperative 12,24 and 48 h after surgery,the visual analogue scale(VAS)in the experimental group was obviously lower than that in the control group(t = 2.86,t = 2.55,t = 0.10,P<0.05);Postoperative 1 and 6 h,the Ramsay sedation score in the experimental group patients was lower than that in the control group(t = 2.10,t = 2.07,P<0.05);Postoperative 6,12 and 24 h,the serum substance P(SP)(t = 3.63,t = 5.51,t = 3.46,P<0.05)and prostaglandin E2(PGE2)(t = 2.34,t = 3.56,t = 0.33,P<0.05)levels in the experimental group were obviously lower than those in the control group;Postoperative 6,12 and 24 h,the serum cortisol(Cor)level in the experimental group was obviously lower than that in the control group(t = 4.65,t = 6.50,t = 6.52,P<0.05);Postoperative 6,12,24 and 48 h,the serum norepinephrine(NE)(t = 5.49,t = 7.85,t = 7.70,t = 2.18,P<0.05),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)(t = 5.43,t = 7.83,t = 5.27,t = 2.32,P<0.05),and hypersensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP)(t = 3.39,t = 9.241,t = 4.87,t = 2.37,P<0.05)levels in the experimental group were obviously lower than those in the control group.There was no statistically obvious difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative exhaust time,defecation time,bowel sounds occurrence time,and incidence of adverse reactions(P>0.05).Conclusion Nalbuphine combined with Sufentanil is effective in postoperative analgesia of laparoscopic colorectal cancer patients,and can effectively regulate the post-traumatic stress response of the body after surgery.

Objective:To investigate the value of number of negative lymph nodes (NLNs) in predicting the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy and the construction of nomogram prodiction model.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 1 924 patients with esophageal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy uploaded to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database of the National Cancer Institute from 2004 to 2015 were collected. There were 1 624 males and 300 females, aged 63 (range, 23?85)years. All 1 924 patients were randomly divided into the training dataset of 1 348 cases and the validation dataset of 576 cases with a ratio of 7:3 based on random number method in the R software (3.6.2 version). The training dataset was used to constructed the nomogram predic-tion model, and the validation dataset was used to validate the performance of the nomogrram prediction model. The optimal cutoff values of number of NLNs and number of examined lymph nodes (ELNs) were 8, 14 and 10, 14, respectively, determined by the X-tile software (3.6.1 version), and then data of NLNs and ELNs were converted into classification variables. Observation indicators: (1) clinicopathological characteristics of patients in the training dataset and the validation dataset; (2) survival of patients in the training dataset and the validation dataset; (3) prognostic factors analysis of patients in the training dataset; (4) survival of patients in subgroup of the training dataset; (5) prognostic factors analysis in subgroup of the training dataset; (6) construction of nomogram prediction model and calibration curve. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw survival curve and Log-Rank test was used for survival analysis. The COX proportional hazard model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Based on the results of multivariate analysis, the nomogram prediction model was constructed. The prediction efficacy of nomogram prediction model was evaluated using the area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve and the Harrell′s c index. Errors of the nomogram prediction model in predicting survival of patients for the training dataset and the validation dataset were evaluated using the calibration curve. Results:(1) Clinicopathological characteristics of patients in the training dataset and the validation dataset. There was no significant difference in clinicopatholo-gical characteristics between the 1 348 patients of the training dataset and the 576 patients of the validation dataset ( P>0.05). (2) Survival of patients in the training dataset and the validation dataset. All 1 924 patients were followed up for 50(range, 3?140)months, with 3-year and 5-year cumulative survival rate as 59.4% and 49.5%, respectively. The 3-year cumulative survival rate of patients with number of NLNs as <8, 8?14 and >14 in the training dataset was 46.7%, 62.0% and 66.0%, respectively, and the 5-year cumulative survival rate was 38.1%, 52.1% and 59.7%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the survival of these patients in the training dataset ( χ2=33.70, P<0.05). The 3-year cumulative survival rate of patients with number of NLNs as <8, 8?14 and >14 in the validation dataset was 51.1%, 54.9% and 71.2%, respectively, and the 5-year cumulative survival rate was 39.3%, 42.5% and 55.7%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the survival of these patients in the validation dataset ( χ2=14.49, P<0.05). The 3-year cumulative survival rate of patients with number of ELNs as <10, 10?14 and >14 in the training dataset was 53.9%, 60.0% and 62.7%, respectively, and the 5-year cumulative survival rate was 44.7%, 49.1% and 56.9%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the survival of these patients in the training dataset ( χ2=9.88, P<0.05). The 3-year cumulative survival rate of patients with number of ELNs as <10, 10?14 and >14 in the validation dataset was 56.2%, 47.9% and 69.3%, respectively, and the 5-year cumula-tive survival rate was 44.9%, 38.4% and 51.9%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the survival of these patients in the validation dataset ( χ2=9.30, P<0.05). (3) Prognostic factors analysis of patients in the training dataset. Results of multivariate analysis showed that gender, neoadjuvant pathological (yp) T staging, ypN staging (stage N1, stage N2, stage N3) and number of NLNs (8?14, >14) were independent influencing factors for the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy ( hazard ratio=0.65, 1.44, 1.96, 2.41, 4.12, 0.69, 0.56, 95% confidence interval as 0.49?0.87, 1.17?1.78, 1.59?2.42, 1.84?3.14, 2.89?5.88, 0.56?0.86, 0.45?0.70, P<0.05). (4) Survival of patients in subgroup of the training dataset. Of the patients with NLNs in the training dataset, the 3-year cumulative survival rate of patients with number of NLNs as <8, 8?14 and >14 was 61.1%, 71.6% and 76.8%, respectively, and the 5-year cumulative survival rate was 50.7%, 59.9% and 70.1%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the survival of these patients in the training dataset ( χ2=12.66, P<0.05). Of the patients with positive lymph nodes in the training dataset, the 3-year cumulative survival rate of patients with number of NLNs as <8, 8?14 and >14 was 26.1%, 42.9% and 44.7%, respectively, and the 5-year cumulative survival rate was 20.0%, 36.5% and 39.3%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the survival of these patients in the training dataset ( χ2=20.39, P<0.05). (5) Prognostic factors analysis in subgroup of the training dataset. Results of multivariate analysis in patients with NLNs in the training dataset showed that gender, ypT staging and number of NLNs (>14) were independent influencing factors for the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer after neoadju-vant therapy ( hazard ratio=0.67, 1.44, 0.56, 95% confidence interval as 0.47?0.96, 1.09?1.90, 0.41?0.77, P<0.05). Results of multi-variate analysis in patients with positive lymph nodes in the training dataset showed that race as others, histological grade as G2, ypN staging as stage N3 and number of NLNs (8?14, >14) were independent influencing factors for the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy ( hazard ratio=2.73, 0.70, 2.08, 0.63, 0.59, 95% confidence interval as 1.43?5.21, 0.54?0.91, 1.44?3.02, 0.46?0.87, 0.44?0.78, P<0.05). (6) Construction of nomogram prediction model and calibration curve. Based on the multivariate analysis of prognosis in patients of the training dataset ,the nomogram prediction model for the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer after neoadju-vant treatment was constructed based on the indicators of gender, ypT staging, ypN staging and number of NLNs. The AUC of nomogram prediction model in predicting the 3-, 5-year cumulative survival rate of patients in the training dataset and the validation dataset was 0.70, 0. 70 and 0.71, 0.71, respectively. The Harrell′s c index of nomogram prediction model of patients in the training dataset and the validation dataset was 0.66 and 0.63, respectively. Results of calibration curve showed that the predicted value of the nomogram prediction model of patients in the training dataset and the validation dataset was in good agreement with the actual observed value. Conclusion:The number of NLNs is an independent influencing factor for the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients after neoadjuvant therapy, and the nomogram prediction model based on number of NLNs can predict the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients after neoadjuvant therapy.

The Omicron family of SARS-CoV-2 variants are currently driving the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we analyzed the clinical laboratory test results of 9911 Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages-infected symptomatic patients without earlier infection histories during a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Shanghai in spring 2022. Compared to an earlier patient cohort infected by SARS-CoV-2 prototype strains in 2020, BA.2.2 infection led to distinct fluctuations of pathophysiological markers in the peripheral blood. In particular, severe/critical cases of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection were associated with less pro-inflammatory macrophage activation and stronger interferon alpha response in the bronchoalveolar microenvironment. Importantly, the abnormal biomarkers were significantly subdued in individuals who had been immunized by 2 or 3 doses of SARS-CoV-2 prototype-inactivated vaccines, supporting the estimation of an overall 96.02% of protection rate against severe/critical disease in the 4854 cases in our BA.2.2 patient cohort with traceable vaccination records. Furthermore, even though age was a critical risk factor of the severity of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection, vaccination-elicited protection against severe/critical COVID-19 reached 90.15% in patients aged ≽ 60 years old. Together, our study delineates the pathophysiological features of Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages and demonstrates significant protection conferred by prior prototype-based inactivated vaccines.
Humans ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Pandemics/prevention & control* ; China/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control* ; Vaccination

Objective:To evaluate the performance of machine learning (ML) based on automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) radiomics in distinguishing benign and malignant BI-RADS 4 lesions.Methods:Between May to December 2020, patients with BI-RADS 4 lesions from the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University (Center 1) and Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Center 2) were prospectively collected and divided into training cohort (Center 1) and external validation cohort (Center 2). The radiomics features of BI-RADS 4 lesions were extracted from the axial, sagittal and coronal ABVS images by MaZda software. In the training cohort, 7 feature selection methods and thirteen ML algorithms were combined in pairs to construct different ML models, and the 6 models with the best performance were verified in the external validation cohort to determine the final ML model. Finally, the diagnostic performance and confidence (5-point scale) of radiologists (R1, R2 and R3, with 3, 6 and 10 years of experience, respectively) with or without the model were evaluated.Results:①A total of 251 BI-RADS 4 lesions were enrolled, including 178 lesions (91 benign, 87 malignant) in the training cohort and 73 lesions (44 benign, 29 malignant) in the external validation cases. ②In the training cohort, the 6 ML models (DNN-RFE, AdaBoost-RFE, LR-RFE, LDA-RFE, Bagging-RFE and SVM-RFE) had the best diagnostic performance, and their AUCs were 0.972, 0.969, 0.968, 0.968, 0.967 and 0.962, respectively. ③In the external validation cohort, the DNN-RFE still had the best performance with the AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 0.886, 0.836, 0.934, 0.776, 86.8% and 82.5%, respectively. ④Before model assistance, R1 had the worst diagnostic performance with the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 0.680, 0.750, 0.640, 57% and 81%, respectively. After model assistance, the diagnostic performance of R1 was significantly improved ( P=0.039), and its diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV improved to 0.730, 0.810, 0.930, 68% and 94%; while the improvement of R2 and R3 were not significantly ( P=0.811, 0.752). Meanwhile, the overall diagnostic confidence of the 3 radiologists increased from 2.8 to 3.3 ( P<0.001). Conclusions:The performance of ML based on ABVS radiomics in distinguishing between benign and malignant BI-RADS 4 lesions is good, which may improve the diagnostic performance of inexperienced radiologists and enhance diagnostic confidence.

目的：通过 CRISPR/Cas9 技术构建前列腺癌 PC3 细胞 TFDP3 基因敲除的稳转株，探讨抑制 TFDP3 表达对 PC3 细 胞周期、凋亡、迁移和侵袭能力的影响。方法：通过生物信息学筛选 sgRNA，通过 CRISPR/Cas9 技术、构建抑制 TFDP3 基因表达 的 sgRNA-Cas9 共转染慢病毒，感染 PC3 细胞后筛选获取稳转细胞株。通过流式细胞术对 TFDP3 基因敲除的实验组与空白对照 组进行细胞周期和凋亡检测，并进一步通过划痕实验和 Transwell 实验进行细胞迁移和侵袭能力检测。结果：通过生物信息学 筛选获得 3 条 sgRNA，其中 sgRNA2 有明显的抑制前列腺癌细胞基因表达的功能；通过 CRISPR/Cas9 技术成功构建了基于 CRISPR/Cas9 介导的 TFDP3 低表达的 PC3 细胞稳转株。抑制 TFDP3 基因表达后，相比于对照组，KO 组中 G0/G1 期细胞 百分比增加、G2/M 期细胞百分比下降（P<0.05 或 P<0.01），细胞凋亡率显著升高（P<0.05），细胞迁移率明显下降 [24 h 迁移率： (44.00±1.60)% vs (65.00±4.40)%，P<0.01]，穿过聚碳酸酯膜的侵袭细胞数明显下降 [（185.89±11.71）vs （248.33±11.95）个， P<0.01]。结论：通过 CRISPR/Cas9 技术抑制 TFDP3 基因表达后，PC3 细胞发生周期阻滞、凋亡率也有所增加、迁移和侵袭能力 显著减弱，提示 TFDP3 是一个前列腺癌促癌基因。

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic basis of a consanguineous pedigree affected with hereditary coagulation factor XII (FXII) deficiency. METHODS: Following extraction of genomic DNA, all exons and flanking regions of F12 gene were subjected to PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing. ClustalX-2.1-win and MutationTaster software was used to analyze the conservation and impact of the variants on protein function. RESULTS: DNA sequencing showed that the proband carried a homozygous g.6753-6755delACA deletion (p.252delAsn) in exon 9 of the F12 gene, for which her father, mother and brother were heterozygous carriers. The same deletion was not found in her sister. CONCLUSION The homozygous p.252delAsn deletion probably underlies the hereditary FXII deficiency in this pedigree.

Objective: To optimize the existing methods of isolation and purification for exosomes from urine and explore the effects of different storage conditions on the content of exosomal RNA in urine. Methods: The exosomes in human urine samples were extracted by different precipitation method, i.e., precipitation following first concentrating and direct precipitation, respectively, and the separation efficiency and cost of the two methods were compared. ExoQuick-TCTM precipitation kit was used to extract exosomes. Nanoparticle tracking analysis technique (NTA) was used to detect the concentration and particle size distribution of exosome. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used to detect the potential of exosome. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe morphology of exosomes. western blot was used to analyze the exosomal marker molecules CD63 and Alix. The extraction method of the precipitation following first concentrating was used to verify the reliability of the optimized method in 10 clinical urine samples . Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of exosomal RNA marker let-7c and PSA mRNA in the urinary exosomes from 20 patients with prostate cancer after repeated freeze-thaw (0 [i.e., fresh], 1 , 3 and 5 times) and 9 patients with prostate cancer frozen at -80 ℃ for different time (0 [i.e., fresh], 1, 2 and 4 weeks), and were statistically analyzed by Wilcoxon rank sum test for differences between the 2 groups. Results: The size distribution of exosomes extracted by the two methods was 30 to 150 nm by NTA, both of which were displayed as single peaks. The results of DLS showed that the potentials of exosome extracted by the two methods were negative values. The size of the exosomes extracted by the two methods was consistent observed under TEM namely the diameter distribution was 30 to 150 nm. western blot analysis confirmed that CD63 and Alix, the exosome labeling molecules, existed in the optimized method. The concentration of exosomes extracted from the 10 urine samples all reached 10 9 to 10 11 particles/mL. The contents of let-7c and PSA mRNA in exosomes decreased significantly after 5 freeze-thaw cycles, and the Z values were -1.79 and -1.73, respectively (P＜0.05). The RNA content of the exosomes remained stable after freezing at -80 ℃ for 1 month. Conclusion The optimized exosome extraction method could reduce greatly the cost under the premises of ensuring the concentration and quality of exosomes. The isolated exosomes may keep stable RNA content after freezing at -80 ℃ for a short time, but could not be frozen and thawed repeatedly for more than 5 times.

Objective To investigate the changes of peripheral blood tacrolimus concentration and lymphocyte subsets in the uterus transplant recipient,and provide the evidence for monitoring the immune status after uterus transplantation.Methods The peripheral blood tacrolimus concentrations of the uterus transplant recipient during 1 year after transplantation were measured with the microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA).Meanwhile,the whole blood cell counts and lymphocyte subsets were determined by the blood analyzer and flow cytometer,respectively.Results The blood tacrolimus concentrations of the uterus transplant recipient in the first month and second month after transplantation were (13.51 ± 3.92) ng/mL and (15.58 ± 1.19) ng/mL,respectively.The lymphocyte absolute counts were normal before transplantation.At the fifth day after transplantation,the counts of CD3 + T lymphocytes,CD4 + T lymphocytes,CD8 + T lymphocytes and NK cells and the ratio of CD4/CD8 were significantly decreased.One week after transplantation,the counts of CD4 + T lymphocytes were recovered to the normal range and maintained,but its recovery was slower than that of CD8 + T lymphocytes.The ratio of CD4/CD8 ranged from 0.4 to 0.8 during 10 days after transplantation,and increased and maintained between 0.8 and 1.1 after that.The counts of NK cells increased gradually from the 10th day after transplantation,but still did not recover to the level before transplantation even at the 20th day after transplantation.However,the counts and percentages of B lymphocytes did not decrease but increased at the fifth day after transplantation,and recovered to normal gradually from the 10th day after transplantation.There was no significant correlation between the CD3 + T lymphocyte count and blood tacrolimus concentration.Conclusion The dynamic changes of blood lymphocyte subsets and tacrolimus concentration exist in the uterus transplant recipient,which need to be further verified by a large amount of clinical data.

Objective To observe the occurrence of cardiovascular adverse events in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation with dexmedetomidine sedation,and to evaluate its safety in intensive care unit (ICU).Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted.Adult critical patients undergoing mechanical ventilation over 48 hours admitted to ICU of Zigong First People's Hospital in Sichuan Province were enrolled.The patients were divided into dexmedetomidine group (Dex group) and midazolam group (Mid group) according to the randomise number generated by computer.The patients in both groups were given slow intravenous infusion of 0.05 mg/kg midazolam and 1-2 μg/kg fentanyl to induce anesthesia before tracheal intubation,followed by 0.06 mg· kg-1· h-1 midazolam and 20-50 μg· kg-1 · h-1 fentanyl or 0.1-0.2 μg· kg-1 · h-1 sufentanil for continuous intravenous pumping to maintain analgesia and sedation;on the next day,the patients in Dex group was given dexmedetomidine (with the initial dose of 0.4 μg· kg-1 · h-1,and maintenance dose of 0.1-0.7 μg· kg-1 · h-1),and midazolam was stopped half an hour later;the original sedation and analgesia plan remained unchanged in Mid group.The goal of sedation was to maintain a Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS) score of-2 to 1 or a Ramsay sedation score of 3 to 4;patients were given midazolam if obvious agitation occurred,in combination with propofol for sedation if necessary;wakeup test was performed every day.Observation endpoints included patients discharged from ICU,death or mechanical ventilation over 28 days.Occurrence of cardiovascular adverse events during sedation such as hypertension,hypotension,bradycardia,tachycardia and arrhythmia,dose of sedatives and analgesics,duration of mechanical ventilation,length of ICU stay and 28-day mortality were observed in two groups.Results A total of 383 patients were enrolled,with 190 patients in Dex group and 193 in Mid group.There was no statistically significant difference in general data such as gender,age,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score and predicted mortality between two groups.Doses of midazolam,propofol and fentanyl in Dex group were reduced as compared with those of Mid group,while the dose of sufentanil was similar in two groups.The Ramsay score and RASS score of Dex group were significantly reduced as compared with those of Mid group (3.34± 0.63 vs.3.95 ± 0.86,-1.33 ±0.87 vs.-1.98 ± 1.27,both P ＜ 0.01).Bradycardia was prominent in Dex group,which was observed in more than half of patients at the beginning of the treatment (1-2 hours),but the patients requiring isoprenaline treatment for heart rate lower than 50 bpm were less than that of Mid group (3.7％ vs.5.2％,x 2 =0.506,P =0.477).The incidences of hypotension (45.3％ vs.68.4％),tachycardia (16.3％ vs.33.7％) and arrhythmia (14.7％ vs.31.1％) in Dex group were significantly lower than those of Mid group (all P ＜ 0.01),and no other cardiovascular adverse events such as cardiac arrest,sinus arrest,hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia were observed in two groups.There was no statistically significant difference in duration of mechanical ventilation between Dex group and Mid group [days:5 (2,28) vs.4 (2,56),Z =-1.917,P =0.055],but compared with Mid group,the length of ICU stay in Dex group was significantly prolonged [days:9 (2,67) vs.6 (2,57),Z =-4.302,P =0.000],and the 28-day mortality in Dex group was significantly reduced (22.6％ vs.44.6％,x2 =20.610,P =0.000).Conclusion Long time dexmedetomidine sedation is safe in critical patients undergoing mechanical ventilation,which can significantly reduce cardiovascular adverse events except bradycardia,and lower the 28-day mortality.

Objective To explore the surgical indication,diagnosis and treatment of suspected pancreatic cystic lesions.Methods To-tally 341 patients were admitted into our hospital because of pancreatic cystic lesions from October 2010 to October 2015.Except the 278 confirmed cases,the clinical data of the rest 63 patients with vague diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed.Results The surgical indication of pancreatic cystic lesions were:the lesion diameter was more than 4 cm;the imaging diagnosis was malignant;the lesion was combined with obvious clinical symptoms which can not explain with other diseases;there were asymptomatic pancreatic cystic lesion and main pancre-atic duct dilation without surgical risk factors;the follow-up showed that the desease is in development.Endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration is a useful supplement for more accurate diagnosis.However,it is an uncertain diagnostic value currently.Conclusion Diameter of lesion,uncertain imaging diagnosis,severe abdominal symptoms,obstructive jaundice and abnormal serum tumor markers are the surgical indication for patients.