Objective To investigate the factors influencing international normalized ratio (INR)>3.0 in patients undergoing warfarin anticoagulation therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of patients who underwent mechanical heart valve replacement surgery and received warfarin anticoagulation therapy at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2022. Based on the discharge INR values, patients were divided into two groups: an INR≤3.0 group and an INR>3.0 group. The factors associated with INR>3.0 at the time of discharge were analyzed. Results A total of 8901 patients were enrolled, including 3409 males and 5492 females, with a median age of 49.3 (43.5, 55.6) years. The gender, body mass index (BMI), New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function grading, INR, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and preoperative prothrombin time (PT) were statistically different between the two groups (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that lower BMI, preoperative PT>15 s, and mitral valve replacement were independent risk factors for INR>3.0 at discharge (P<0.05). Conclusion BMI, preoperative PT, and surgical site are factors influencing INR>3.0 at discharge in patients undergoing warfarin anticoagulation therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement. Special attention should be given to patients with lower BMI, longer preoperative PT, and mitral valve replacement to avoid excessive anticoagulation therapy.

Stroke is a critical health issue in China, and carotid artery stenosis and plaque play key roles in its prevalence. Despite the acknowledged significance of this condition, detailed information regarding the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis and plaque across the Chinese population has been scarce. This study analyzed data from the China Stroke High-risk Population Screening and Intervention Program for 2020-2021, focusing on 194 878 Chinese adults aged 40 years and above. It assessed the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis and plaque and identified their associated risk factors. Results revealed a standardized prevalence of 0.40% for carotid artery stenosis and 36.27% for carotid plaque. Notably, the highest rates of stenosis were observed in north and south China at 0.61%, while southwestern China exhibited the highest plaque prevalence at 43.17%. Key risk factors included older age, male gender, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, smoking, and atrial fibrillation. This study highlights significant geographical and demographic disparities in the prevalence of these conditions, underlining the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy reforms. These measures are essential for reducing the incidence of stroke and improving patient outcomes, addressing this significant health challenge in China.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Prevalence ; Middle Aged ; Carotid Stenosis/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Aged ; Adult ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/epidemiology* ; Stroke/epidemiology* ; Aged, 80 and over

Objective:To explore influencing factors of the self-reported brief life quality satisfaction score(Brief-QoL) in patients with acromegaly and understand the persistent low Brief-QoL scores in cases achieving biochemical remission.Methods:This study included 836 acromegaly patients who were hospitalized at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2012 and December 2020. We retrospectively examined how clinical characteristics, biochemical parameters, comorbidities, and symptoms influenced Brief-QoL. Among patients who achieved biochemical remission, differences in clinical symptoms and comorbidities were analyzed between the high and low quality of life groups.Results:Patients with well-controlled biochemical indicators at the last follow-up had generally high Brief-QoL. However, patients with symptoms such as headaches (47.8% in the low-score group vs 14.9% in the high-score group, P<0.001) and joint pain (69.6% in the low-score group vs 19.0% in the high-score group, P<0.001) had low Brief-QoL despite biochemical remission. Receiving combined treatment(52.4% in the low-score group vs 27.5% in the high-score group, P=0.030) and having comorbid diabetes or hyperlipidemia were significant factors leading to decreased quality of life. Conclusion:Brief-QoL is suitable for follow-up of outpatient patients. Early identification of factors affecting quality of life and timely intervention can facilitate the realization of standardized management.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) has a wide range of symptoms, and it is difficult for clinicians to make a quick and correct diagnosis. On November 11, 2021, a 36-year-old male patient with AAV was admitted to the emergency and critical care department of Yichang Central People's Hospital. He was admitted to the emergency intensive care unit (EICU) with gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, black stool) as the main physical signs, and was initially diagnosed as AAV with gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIH). No bleeding point was found after repeated gastroscopy and colonoscopy. Abdominal emission CT (ECT) showed diffuse hemorrhage in the ileum, ascending colon and transverse colon. Multi-disciplinary consultation in the whole hospital considered the diffuse hemorrhage caused by small vascular lesions in the digestive tract caused by AAV. Pulse therapy with methylprednisolone 1 000 mg/d and immunosuppressive therapy with cyclophosphamide (CTX) 0.2 g/d were administered. The patient's symptoms quickly relieved and transferred out of the EICU. After 17 days of treatment, the patient finally died of massive gastrointestinal bleeding. A systematic review of relevant literatures combined with the case diagnosis and treatment process found that only a minority of AAV patients present with gastrointestinal symptoms as their first symptoms, and patients with GIH were very rare. Such patients had a poor prognosis. This patient delayed the use of induced remission and immunosuppressive agents due to the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding, which may be the main cause of life-threatening GIH secondary to AAV. Gastrointestinal bleeding is a rare and fatal complication of vasculitis. Timely and effective induction and remission treatment is the key to survival. Whether patients should receive maintenance therapy, the duration of maintenance therapy, and the search for markers of disease diagnosis and treatment response are directions and challenges for further research.
Male ; Humans ; Adult ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis ; Critical Care ; Cyclophosphamide ; Death

Objective:To compare the clinical effects of microwave ablation (MWA) and surgical resection in the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma(SHCC).Methods:Sixty five SHCC patients with intact clinical data, treated in the Center of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital between Feb 2005 and Aug 2012, were enrolled in this study. Among them, 30 patients were treated by MWA, and the other 35 by hepatectomy. Follow-up was conducted from Mar 2013 to Feb 2021. The differences in long-term survival, intraoperative blood loss, operative time, postoperative complications, performance status (PS), and postoperative hospital stay were compared between the two groups.Results:The survival probability at 1, 3, 5 and 10 years was 93.2%, 82.5%, 55.6% and 41.2%, respectively, in the MWA group, and 97.1%, 82.6%, 67.2% and 48.3%, in the resection group ( P=0.347). The MWA group had less perioperative complications, less blood loss, shorter operation time, better PS score and better hospital stay than the surgical resection group (all P<0.001).There was no statistically significant difference in the survival rate between BCLC stage 0~A1 and A2~A4 patients( P=0.773, 0.536). Conclusions:Microwave ablation in the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma can achieve similar results as hepatectomy with less traumatic,better postoperative PS score and shorter postoperative hospital stay.

BACKGROUND: Adipose-derived stem cells are easy to access and have strong proliferative capacity, which are considered as ideal seed cells for bone defect repair. The bone tissue engineering research progress reveals that bioscaffold material modification can directly regulate the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. OBJECTIVE: To review various biological scaffold materials that can regulate the osteogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells. METHODS: The first author searched the articles in CNKI, WanFang, VIP, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases published from January 2016 to May 2019. The search terms were “adipose derived stem cells, scaffold, osteogenic, metal, Ti” in Chinese and English, respectively. Finally 62 eligible articles were selected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Scaffold materials for bone tissue engineering are classified into inorganic materials (hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, bioglass, titanium, and magnesium), natural polymer materials (collagen, silk fibroin, and chitosan) and synthetic polymer materials (polycaprolactone, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)). The studies on materials that interact with cells to guide their biological response and bone differentiation are increasing. But how to create a safe, rational, and close to the micro-environment of cell growth in vivo is a challenge. Modification of bioscaffold materials can directly regulate osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. Moreover, vascularization and post-implantation infections are issues of concern.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by pancreatic segmental portal hypertension.Methods The clinical diagnosis and follow-up data of 13 patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by pancreatic segmental portal hypertension from Jan 2010 to Dec 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.Results Of the 13 patients,5 had pancreatic pseudocysts and 8 had chronic pancreatitis.All of them had a history of hematemesis or (and) tarry feces,and 2 of them had a history of hemorrhagic shock.13 patients had isolated gastric varices,and 5 of them had varicose veins in the lower esophagus.13 patients had splenomegaly and hypersplenism,and all patients underwent splenectomy.All patients were followed up,and the varicose veins were significantly improved or disappeared.During 1 year to 8 years of follow-up,there was no rebleeding.Conclusion Splenectomy cures upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by rupture of the varicose veins in patients of pancreatic segmental portal hypertension.Preoperative interventional spleen artery embolization can reduce the difficulty of spleen resection.

Tumor radiotherapy is established on the basis of clinical oncology, radio-physics and radiobiology, and has become one of the three major therapeutic methods for malignant tumors. With the pace of socialist construction in China, the subject of radiotherapy in Shanxi province has developed from scratch and from small to large for more than 60 years. Remarkable achievements have been made in the establishment of departments, the updating of technical equipment, the increase of employees and clinical scientific research. This article reviews and summarizes the development history of tumor radiotherapy in Shanxi province.

Objective To investigate the complication and risk factors in elderly patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).Methods From Jan 2005 to Dec 2016,358 consecutive patients undergoing PD were divided into ≥ 70 years group (98 cases) and ＜ 70 years group (260patients).Perioperative complications were compared and risk factors explored between the two groups.Results There were differences in coronary heart disease between the two groups in the preoperative medical comorbidities (P =0.008),and that of albumin,alanine aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase and creatinine (all P ＜ 0.05).Perioperative mortality was higher in the elderly group than in the younger group (P =0.038),probably related to higher systemic complications (P =0.001).The independent risk factors influencing the postoperative medical complications were preoperative total bilirubin ≥ 171 μmol/L and intraoperative blood loss ≥ 1 000 ml.Conclusions Patients over 70 years old have a comparatively higher perioperative mortality rate after pancreaticoduodenectomy,which were probably derived from a higher postoperative vital organ dysfunction.

Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of anemia in patients diagnosed with extranodal nasal-type natural killer (NK)/T cell lymphoma (NKTCL).Methods Clinical data of 1 225 NKTCL patients receiving the first course of treatment from 10 medical institutions in China were retrospectively analyzed.According to the diagnostic criteria in China,anemia was defined as the hemoglobin (Hb) level＜ 120 g/L for the male and＜ 110 g/L for the female from the sea-level area.The severity of anemia was classified into the extremely severe anemia (Hb ≤ 30 g/L),severe anemia (31-60 g/L),moderate anemia (61-90 g/L) and mild anemia (＞90 g/L).Results Among 1 225 patients,199(16.2％) were complicated with anemia,who had more adverse prognostic factors compared with their counterparts without anemia.Among NKTCL patients with anemia,the proportion of patients with stage Ⅱ-ⅣV,a median age＞ anemia,Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score of 2-4 and NK/T-cell lymphoma prognostic index (NKTCLPI) ≥ 2 was relatively high.Patients with anemia obtained worse clinical prognosis than those without anemia.The 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in NKTCL patients with anemia were calculated as 49.4％ and 35.4％,significantly lower compared with 63.3％ and 56.0％ in their counterparts without anemia (both P＜0.01).Single factor analysis demonstrated that anemia,age,ECOG score,group B symptom,lactate dehydrogenase,primary tumor site,primary tumor invasion and staging were the prognostic factors of OS and PFS.Multivariate analysis revealed that anemia was still the independent prognostic factor.Conclusions Anemia is not common in patients with NKTCL and these patients obtain poor clinical prognosis.Anemia is an independent prognostic factor for patients with NKTCL.