Objective To analyze the clinical parameters of esophageal cancer patients before and during neoadjuvant chemotherapy,as well as to explore the related factors and predictive value that affect the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer.Methods A total of 194 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from 2020 to 2023 were selected as the research subjects.The treatment process and outcomes of the patients were followed up,and they were divided into an effective group and an ineffective group according to the effi-cacy.Differences were compared in clinical parameters between two groups of patients before and during treat-ment,screen for factors that may affect efficacy,correlation analysis was conduct to explore the correlation be-tween relevant factors and the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy,and the predictive value of relevant fac-tors were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Results There was a statisti-cally significant difference(P＜0.05)in the average cycle cost,lowest WBC value,lowest PLT value,inci-dence of nausea,transaminase abnormalities,and hair loss between the two groups.Logistic regression analysis showed that average cycle cost,transaminase abnormalities,and hair loss were related factors affecting neoad-juvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer.Spearman correlation analysis showed that the above indicators had a certain correlation with the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer.ROC curve a-nalysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)for predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in esophageal cancer by combining transaminase abnormalities,average cycle cost,and hair loss was 0.758(95％CI:0.683-0.832)Conclusion There is a certain correlation between average cycle cost,transaminase abnormalities,and hair loss and the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer,which has certain predictive value for the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Objective:To study the locational distribution characteristics of the heterotopic ossification (HO) following traumatic elbow stiffness and the risk factors for HO development at different locations.Methods:Consecutively included according to our inclusion criteria in the present study were the patients who had been admitted to Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 2018 to December 2018 for elbow release due to traumatic elbow stiffness but developed postoperative HO. Their baseline data and CT data were collected and processed using Mimics 20.0. The HO distribution for each patient was characterized at the anteromedial, anterolateral, posteromedial, posterolateral, posterior, medial, lateral, and proximal radioulnar locations. The patient's original injury was categorized into 5 types: distal humerus fracture, olecranon fracture, radial head fracture, coronoid fracture, and elbow dislocation. After the univariate analysis with the HO occurrence at a specific location as the dependent variable and the original injury and baseline data as the independent variables, the factors with P value less than 0.1 were included in the logistic regression analysis to determine the risk factors for HO at each location.Results:A total of 91 patients were included in this study. Of them, 88 had posteromedial HO (96.7%, 88/91), 62 posterior HO (68.1%, 62/91), 60 posterolateral HO (65.9%, 60/91), 41 anteromedial HO (45.1%, 41/91), 26 anterolateral HO (28.6%, 26/91), 13 proximal radioulnar HO (14.3%, 13/91), 8 lateral HO (8.8%, 8/91), and 7 medial HO (7.7%, 7/91). Logistic regression analysis showed that presence of ulnar nerve symptoms ( OR=4.354, P=0.017) and presence of original elbow dislocation ( OR=2.927, P=0.042) were the independent risk factors for the anteromedial HO development and that presence of original olecranon fracture ( OR=0.277, P=0.023) was the protective factor for the anteromedial HO development. Presence of original radial head fracture was the independent risk factor for the anterolateral HO development ( OR=2.891, P=0.033) and the posterolateral HO development ( OR=3.123, P=0.043). Conclusions:HO development in patients with post-traumatic elbow stiffness is closely related to their original injury. Posteromedial HO may develop in almost all the patients. Patients with ulnar nerve symptoms and original elbow dislocation are more prone to anteromedial HO development, but patients with original olecranon fracture are less likely to develop anteromedial HO. Patients with original radial head fracture are more likely to develop anterolateral and posterolateral HO.

The outbreak of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at the end of 2019 was a major public health emergency in human history. In a short period of time, Chinese medical workers have experienced the gradual understanding, evidence accumulation and clinical practice of the unknown virus. So far, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China has issued seven trial versions of the "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19". However, it is difficult for clinicians and laymen to quickly and accurately distinguish the similarities and differences among the different versions and locate the key points of the new version. This paper reports a computer-aided intelligent analysis method based on machine learning, which can automatically analyze the similarities and differences of different treatment plans, present the focus of the new version to doctors, reduce the difficulty in interpreting the "diagnosis and treatment plan" for the professional, and help the general public better understand the professional knowledge of medicine. Experimental results show that this method can achieve the topic prediction and matching of the new version of the program text through unsupervised learning of the previous versions of the program topic with an accuracy of 100%. It enables the computer interpretation of "diagnosis and treatment plan" automatically and intelligently.
Betacoronavirus ; China ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Machine Learning ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Objective To investigate the characteristics and the enhanced patterns of carotid plaque using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and patients with cerebral infarction.Methods The patients with carotid plaque were divided into two groups according to whether they had cerebral infarction:54 patients (62 plaques with CEUS) with cerebral infarction were included in group A,and 48 patients (54 plaques with CEUS) without cerebral infarction were included in group B.The plaques were divided into four grades according to the degree of plaque enhancement.According to the source of intraplaque contrast agents,plaque enhancement patterns were divided into adventitia enhancement,lumen enhancement and mixed enhancement.To analyze the degree and pattern of carotid plaque enhancement in the two groups.Results Carotid plaque enhancement in cerebral infarction group was mainly grade 3 (26/62) and grade 4 (22/62),while that in non-cerebral infarction group was mainly grade 2 (20/54) and grade 3 (20/54).There was significant difference between the two groups in the proportion of carotid plaque enhancement of grade 2 (P =0.019) and grade 4 (P =0.041).The proportion of plaque adventitia enhancement model in group A(27/59) was lower than that in group B (37/50),with statistically significant difference (P =0.003).While the proportion of mixed enhancement mode in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (P =0.003).Conclusions The enhancement of carotid plaque was obvious in cerebral infarction patients,and the mixed enhancement pattern was more common.It suggested that the communication between vascular cavity and plaque might be an important factor leading to cerebral infarction.

Objective To study on the relationship between the serum level of highsensitivity c-reaction protein (hs-CR),matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMT-9),tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and carotid plaque stability in elderly people.Methods According to the carotid ultrasonography examination,120 old people were divided into vulnerable plaque group (group A,n =45),stable plaque group (group B,n =41) and no plaque group (group C,n =34),and serum levels of hs-CRP,MMP-9,TIMP-1 in each group were also detected.Results The serum levels of hs-CRP and MMP-9 of unstable plaque group and stable plaque group were higher than those of non-plaque group (P ＜ 0.05).hsCRP and MMP-9 were positively correlated with carotid plaque unstability,while TIMP-1 was negatively correlated with carotid plaque unstability,hs-CRP,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were independent risk factors for carotid plaque stability.Conclusions Serum levels of hs-CRP,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 are closely related to the stability of carotid plaque.Elevated levels of hs-CRP and MMP-9 increase the risk of carotid plaque,and elevated levels of TIMP-1 decrease the risk of carotid plaque.

Objective To identify the biotype and analyze the epidemiological characteristics of twentyfour Brurella strains from the primary hospitals in Guangdong Province.Methods The twenty-four Brucella strains,collected from Oct.2009 to Oct.2015,were identified by routine biochemical methods,VITEK 2 COMPACT automatic microbial identification analyzer,16S rRNA gene sequencing and biology phenotype based on serological and bacteriophages lysis test.The etiology was analyzed based on clinical data,biotypes of the isolates and other clinical information.Results All of the twenty-four strains were Gram-negative coccobacilli,including two strains of Brucella suis biotype Ⅱ,four strains of Brucella melitensis biotype Ⅰ and eighteen strains of Brucella melitensis biotype Ⅲ.By GN card of VITEK 2 COMPACT automatic microbial identification analyzer,one strain was mistaken as Bordetella bronchiseptica and two strains were mistaken as Ochrobaetrum anthropi.The 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed they were high homology to Ochrobactrum intermedium and Ochrobaetrum anthropi,which completely excluded the possibility of Bordetella bronchiseptica.Tbe clinical data showed that all of the twenty-four patients were adults with an average age of 49.0 years old,men and women were twelve people respectively,with no significant gender differences and no occupational exposure,which presenting a wide and diverse range of nonspecific clinical signs and symptoms,but brucellosis was not aware of by the physician.Conclusion Brucella melitensis biotype Ⅲ is the main pathogen of brucellosis,with the characteristics of sporadic outbreak and occult infection in the primary hospitals in Guangdong Province.

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to determine the gene expression changes of iron transporters-divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) and ferroportin 1 (Fpn1) in the duodenal tissue of diet-induced obese mice.

METHODSC57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal control (NC) and obesity model (OM) group, 6 in each, and fed on conventional and high-fat diet respectively for 14 weeks by table of random number. Then the DMT1 and Fpn1 mRNA contents in duodenal tissues of the animals were measured by Real-time PCR method, and the protein expression levels were analyzed by Western blot test.

RESULTSThe Real-time PCR detection results showed that, compared with the NC group for which the mRNA expression level was defined as 1.0, the Fpn1 mRNA expression in OM group (0.58±0.11) was reduced significantly (t = 6.71, P = 0.014), whereas the relative expression level of DMT1 mRNA in OM group (0.89±0.26) showed no obvious alteration (t = 2.01, P = 0.122). Western blot results showed that the relative protein expression levels of Fpn1 in OM and NC group were 0.32±0.06 and 0.65±0.19, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t = 5.37, P = 0.026). The DMT1 protein relative abundance was 0.88±0.21 in OM group and 0.92±0.17 in NC group, and the difference has no statistical significance (t = 1.84, P = 0.185).

CONCLUSIONFpn1 gene expression is inhibited in the duodenum of diet-induced obesity mouse while DMT1 expression keeps unchanged, and this implies that decreased iron export from enterocytes into circulation might be responsible for the impaired iron absorption in obesity.

Animals ; Cation Transport Proteins ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat ; Duodenum ; Gene Expression ; Iron ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Obese ; RNA, Messenger

Objective To evaluate the effect of comprehensive schistosomiasis control measures based on infection source control in plateau mountain areas of Yunnan Province. Methods From 2006 to 2004,four administrative villages were selected as test areas from plateau canyon and plateau basin endemic areas in Jindun Town,Heqing County,two villages each type,and the comprehensive control measures were implemented,including the examination and treatment of schistosomiasis,Oncomela?nia hupensis snail survey and control,health education,improving drinking water and lavatories,banning grazing,constructing sanitary pen of livestock,replacing cattle with machine,etc. The schistosome infection state and snail status in 2006 were treat?ed as the baseline information,and the effect of the comprehensive measures were evaluated. Results The infection rate of hu?man in plateau canyon areas decreased from 4.94%in 2006 to 0.06%in 2014,and that of livestock decreased from 1.11%to 0. In plateau basin areas,there was only 1 case of schistosomiasis found in Xiaolian Village in 2007,and no any other cases found in the other years,the infection rates of livestock dropped from 7.38%to 0. Compared with 2006,the snail areas in the two type areas decreased by 74.89%and 75.30%,respectively,meanwhile,the percentage of snail area,the occurrence rate of frames with snails,as well as the average density of living snails also decreased,and no infected snails were found since 2008. Xidian and Xinzhuang villages in plateau canyon area reached the criteria of schistosomiasis transmission controlled in 2009,and Xiao?lian and Kangfu villages in plateau basin reached the criteria of transmission interrupted in 2014. Conclusions The comprehen?sive schistosomiasis control measures based on infection source control can effectively control the endemic situation of schistoso? miasis in plateau areas of Yunnan Province. In the future,we should pay an equal attention to the infection sources control and snail control to consolidate and amplify the achievement of schistosomiasis control.

Objective To investigate the relationship between inflammation and blood coagulation function in the patients with acute exacerbation of chronic cor pulmonale (AECCP) and discuss the potential mechanism and influence on the patients. Methods The present study was based on 30 healthy controls and 141 cases of AECCP in our hospital from January 2011 to June 2014.Levels of white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (NEUT), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP, Complement 3 (C3), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB) and thrombin time (TT) in the patients were determined. Results Compared with the healthy controls, the patients had higher levels of WBC, NEUT, hs-CRP, PT, APTT, FIB, TT (all P < 0.001) and lower level of C3 (P < 0.001). Significant positive correlations were found between the levels of WBC, NEUT and FIB (r = 0.196 and r = 0.199, both P < 0.05); hs-CRP and APTT, FIB(r = 0.234, P < 0.01 and r = 0.466, P < 0.001); C3 and FIB(r = 0.466, P < 0.001), and significant negative correlations were observed between the levels of C3 and PT, APTT, TT (r=-0.258, P<0.01;r=-0.279, P < 0.01 and r = -0.168, P < 0.05, respectively). Compared with the survival patients, the cases of death had higher levels of WBC and NEUT (both P < 0.01). The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of WBC and NEUT, predicting the prognosis, was 0.666 (95% CI 0.552, 0.780; P < 0.01) and 0.695 (95% CI 0.558, 0.801; P = 0.001) respectively. Conclusions Inflammation and blood coagulation function disorder usually coexist in the patients with AECCP, and are closely associated with the severity. Levels of both WBC and NEUT can be used as prognosis predictors for the patients.

Objective:To examine the potential influence factors of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).Methods:A 1∶2 pair-matched, case-control study was conducted from July 2011 to December 2012 .A pair was composed of one AAA patient recruited from the Vascular Surgery Department , Chinese PLA General Hospital and two gender-and age-matched non-AAA subjects , one from the same hospital and the other from the community in Fangshan District in Beijing .Demographic data , medical history and the lifestyle of each subject were collected .Moreover , all the participants underwent abdominal ultra-sound or computed tomography ( CT ) and peripheral venous blood samples were obtained .Results:There were 155 case/control pairs .The multivariate conditional logistic regression model confirmed that suffering from hypertension conferred a 1.98-fold (95%CI 1.12-3.18) increased likelihood of AAA. Smoking was a strong independent risk factor of AAA , with odds ratios ( 95% confidence intervals ) of 5.23 (2.44-11.23).Dyslipidemia(OR=2.61,95%CI 1.45-4.70), a higher level of serum hs-CRP (OR=2.43,95%CI 1.37-4.31) and homocysteine (OR=2.73,95%CI 1.61-4.65) were all asso-ciated with AAA.Conclusion: Hypertension and smoking are the risk factors of AAA .Dyslipidemia, hsCRP and Hcy are associated with AAA .