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

Objective To investigate the influence of different delivery techniques,treatment sites and dose-volume algorithms on the results of three-dimensional dosimetric verification for intensity-modulated radiation therapy(IMRT)plans and the importance of individualized quality assurance(QA)evaluation standard for radiotherapy plans.Methods Totally 350 tumor patients receiving radiotherapy at some hospital from January 2017 to February 2022 had their three-dimensional dosimetric verification results of IMRT plans selected retrospectively and underwent data collection with COMPASS system,and then were grouped in terms of delivery technique(fixed-beam IMRT and volumetric modulated arc therapy),treatment site(neck,chest and abdomen)and dose-volume algorithm(anisotropic analytical algorithm and collapsed cone convolution algorithm).All the groups were compared based on the 3％/2 mm criterion with regard to the Gamma pass rate of 10％prescription dose area(GP10％),Gamma pass rate(GP50％)and mean Gamma index(μGI5o％)of 50％prescription dose area,dose of 95％target volume(D95％)and its mean dose(Dmean),parotid gland mean dose(Dmean),dose of 1％spinal cord volume(D1％),dose of 1％brain stem volume(D1％)of head and neck radiotherapy plan,heart and lung mean dose(Dmean)and dose of 1％spinal cord volume(D1％)of chest radiotherapy plan and bladder,rectum and femur mean dose of abdomen radiotherapy plan(Dmean).SPSS 26.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results For different delivery techniques,significant differences were found in all the QA results except GP50％of abdomen radiotherapy plan(P＜0.05).For different treatment sites,the differences were statistically significant between the QA results of head and neck radiotherapy plan and abdomen plan and between those of chest radio-therapy plan and abdomen radiotherapy plan(P＜0.05),while were not significant between the QA results of head and neck radiotherapy plan and chest radiotherapy plan(P＞0.05).For different dose-volume algorithms,the QA results had significant differences except D5％of abdomen radiotherapy planning target volume and Dmean and D1％of chest radiotherapy PTV(P＜0.05).Conclusion Dosimetric verification results vary depending on the delivery technique,treatment site and dose-volume algorithm.Statistical process control recommended by AAPM TG-218 report may be involved in to establish individualized QA standard for radiotherapy plans in case universal action limits are not appropriate.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(11):54-59]

Objective: To investigate the application value of computed tomography (CT) examination of lymph node short diameter in evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: A total of 477 patients with primary thoracic ESCC who underwent surgical treatment in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2017 were collected. All of them underwent McKeown esophagectomy plus complete two-field or three-field lymph node dissection. Picture archiving and communication system were used to measure the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter in preoperative CT images. The postoperative pathological diagnosis results of cardia-left gastric lymph node were used as the gold standard. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the efficacy of CT lymph node short diameter in detecting the metastasis of cardia-left gastric lymph node in thoracic ESCC, and determine the optimal cut-off value. Results: The median short diameter of the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node was 4.1 mm in 477 patients, and the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter was less than 3 mm in 155 cases (32.5%). Sixty-eight patients had cardia-left gastric lymph node metastases, of which 38 had paracardial node metastases and 41 had left gastric node metastases. The lymph node ratios of paracardial node and left gastric node were 4.0% (60/1 511) and 3.3% (62/1 887), respectively. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of CT lymph node short diameter for evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis was 0.941 (95% CI: 0.904-0.977; P<0.05). The optimal cut-off value of CT examination of the cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter was 6 mm, and the corresponding sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 85.3%, 91.7%, and 90.8%, respectively. Conclusion: CT examination of lymph node short diameter can be a good evaluation of cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic ESCC, and the optimal cut-off value is 6 mm.
Humans ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/pathology* ; Cardia/surgery* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Lymph Node Excision ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods* ; Esophagectomy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: To investigate the application value of computed tomography (CT) examination of lymph node short diameter in evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: A total of 477 patients with primary thoracic ESCC who underwent surgical treatment in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2017 were collected. All of them underwent McKeown esophagectomy plus complete two-field or three-field lymph node dissection. Picture archiving and communication system were used to measure the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter in preoperative CT images. The postoperative pathological diagnosis results of cardia-left gastric lymph node were used as the gold standard. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the efficacy of CT lymph node short diameter in detecting the metastasis of cardia-left gastric lymph node in thoracic ESCC, and determine the optimal cut-off value. Results: The median short diameter of the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node was 4.1 mm in 477 patients, and the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter was less than 3 mm in 155 cases (32.5%). Sixty-eight patients had cardia-left gastric lymph node metastases, of which 38 had paracardial node metastases and 41 had left gastric node metastases. The lymph node ratios of paracardial node and left gastric node were 4.0% (60/1 511) and 3.3% (62/1 887), respectively. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of CT lymph node short diameter for evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis was 0.941 (95% CI: 0.904-0.977; P<0.05). The optimal cut-off value of CT examination of the cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter was 6 mm, and the corresponding sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 85.3%, 91.7%, and 90.8%, respectively. Conclusion: CT examination of lymph node short diameter can be a good evaluation of cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic ESCC, and the optimal cut-off value is 6 mm.
Humans ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/pathology* ; Cardia/surgery* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Lymph Node Excision ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods* ; Esophagectomy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies

This study aims to systematically evaluate the effect of oral Chinese patent medicines on hypertension with network Meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials on the treatment of hypertension with oral Chinese patent medicine combined with conventional western medicine were retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI), Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, EMbase, and Cochrane Library(from establishment of the database to August 2021). Two researchers independently screened the articles, extracted the data, and evaluated article quality. Then R 4.1.0 was employed for data analysis. Finally, 195 eligible articles were screened out, involving 22 546 patients and 18 oral Chinese patent medicines. The results of the network Meta-analysis are as follows. In terms of reducing systolic blood pressure(SBP) and diastolic blood pressure(DBP), Xuesaitong, Qiangli Dingxuan Tablets, Songling Xuemaikang Capsules combined with conventional western medicine are superior. In improving blood lipids, the overall effects of Xinmaitong Capsules, Compound Xueshuantong Capsules, Ginkgo Folium preparations, Yindan Xinnaotong Soft Capsules, and Naoxintong Capsules combined with conventional western medicine are outstanding. In terms of regulating endothelial function, Yindan Xinnaotong Soft Capsules, Xinmaitong Capsules, Zhenju Jiangya Tablets, Compound Danshen Dripping Pills, Xuesaitong with conventional western medicine have certain advantages. As for the safety, the incidence of adverse reactions of conventional western medicine combined with oral Chinese patent medicines is lower than that of conventional western medicine alone. In summary, compared with conventional western medicine alone, the 18 oral Chinese patent medicines combined with conventional western medicine in the treatment of hypertension show advantages in improving blood pressure, blood lipids, and endothelial function. Among them, Xuesaitong, Qiangli Dingxuan Tablets, and Songling Xuemaikang Capsules may be the best oral Chinese patent medicines for lowering blood pressure. The conclusion needs to be further verified by more high-quality studies.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Network Meta-Analysis ; Nonprescription Drugs

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the distribution of body mass index (BMI) and risk factors for obesity in children with Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA). METHODS: The children with DBA who attended National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, from January 2003 to December 2020 were enrolled as subjects. The related clinical data and treatment regimens were recorded. The height and weight data measured within 1 week before or after follow-up time points were collected to calculate BMI. The risk factors for obesity were determined by multivariate regression analysis in children with DBA. RESULTS: A total of 129 children with DBA were enrolled, among whom there were 80 boys (62.0%) and 49 girls (38.0%), with a median age of 49 months (range 3-189 months). The prevalence rate of obesity was 14.7% (19/129). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the absence of ribosomal protein gene mutation was closely associated with obesity in children with DBA (adjusted OR=3.63, 95%CI: 1.16-11.38, adjusted P=0.027). In children with glucocorticoid-dependent DBA, obesity was not associated with age of initiation of glucocorticoid therapy, duration of glucocorticoid therapy, and maintenance dose of glucocorticoids (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a high prevalence rate of obesity in children with DBA, and the absence of ribosomal protein gene mutation is closely associated with obesity in children with DBA.
Child ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Anemia, Diamond-Blackfan/genetics* ; Pediatric Obesity/complications* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Ribosomal Proteins/genetics* ; Mutation

Objective: To establish an ultra-sensitive, ultra-fast, visible detection method for Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP) . Methods: We established a new method for detecting the tdh and trh genes of VP using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 12a (CRISPR/Cas12a) combined with recombinase polymerase amplification and visual detection (CRISPR/Cas12a-VD). Results: CRISPR/Cas12a-VD accurately detected target DNA at concentrations as low as 10 ^-18 M (single molecule detection) within 30 min without cross-reactivity against other bacteria. When detecting pure cultures of VP, the consistency of results reached 100% compared with real-time PCR. The method accurately analysed pure cultures and spiked shrimp samples at concentrations as low as 10 ² CFU/g. Conclusion The novel CRISPR/Cas12a-VD method for detecting VP performed better than traditional detection methods, such as real-time PCR, and has great potential for preventing the spread of pathogens.
CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods* ; Recombinases/genetics* ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus/genetics*

【Objective】 To analyze the impact of sporadic cases of COVID-19 on the work of Transfusion Department, so as to explore the countermeasures. 【Methods】 The admission of inpatient departments, the reception of outpatient(including emergency) departments, the workload of transfusion department(including blood typing, unexpected antibody screening and cross matching), and the consumption of blood components in the Xijing Hospital between October and November in 2021, during COVID-19 outbreak, were collected. All the above data was statistically compared to the data in same period in 2018, before the COVID-19 outbreak. 【Results】 Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, there was a significant decrease in number of inpatients(280±157.1 vs 340.4±110.2), outpatient(including emergency)(8 359±3 615 vs 10 151±3 225), the workload of blood typing(272.0±132.4 vs 341.6±110.4), unexpected antibody screening(78.26±42.22 vs 98.51±43.53) and crossmatch(237.2±99 vs 475.7±155.6), as well as the consumption(U) of all blood components(457.9±50.32 vs 579.4±62.51) in the Xijing Hospital(P<0.05). In detail, the epidemic had the most direct impact on the number of inpatients and outpatients, which shrank continuously on the 2^nd day after official announcement of the new COVID-1 cases. While the workload of blood typing, unexpected antibody screening and crossmatch decreased slightly, with a lag, usually on the 2^nd, 3^rd and 5^th day after official announcement. The decrease of the usage of red blood cells and plasma began from the 7^th day after the new epidemic to the 6^th day after the end of the epidemic. However, the usage platelets and cryoprecipitate coagulation factors decreased from the 8^th and 10^th day after the new epidemic to the 2^nd and 6^th day after the end of the epidemic, respectively. 【Conclusion】 The daily work of Blood Transfusion Department has been seriously affected by sporadic COVID-19 epidemic. The working mode, staff structure and inventory ratio of blood components should be adjusted and optimized instantly to maintain the normal conduct of medical treatments in hospitals and ensure the safety of patients.

Objective:To investigate the balance in young adult with scoliosis. Methods:From June to December, 2020, 30 college students with scoliosis in the outpatient department of Rehabilitation Department of Kunming Medical University Hospital were as the patients, and 30 normal peers were as the controls. They were measured with Pro-Kin balance test system to assess the static stability of both feet standing with eyes opened and closed, and the static and dynamic limit of stability (LOS) of both feet standing. Results:The moving distance of center of pressure (COP) on the Y-axis was longer in the patients than in the controls with both eye-opened and eye-closed (t > 2.022, P < 0.05). The static and dynamic LOS was less in the patients than in the controls (t > 3.365, P < 0.01). For static LOS, it was less in all the directions except left-forward and backward (t > 2.410, P < 0.05); for dynamic LOS, it was less in the directions of forward, right, left and left-forward (t > 2.446, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Both static and dynamic balance is deficient for yong adults with scoliosis, which may result in risk of fall.

italic>Crataegus pinnatifida is a traditional Chinese medicine, which contains organic acids, triterpenoid acids and other active components, has important medicinal and edible value. In order to study the difference of gene expression level in different developmental stages of hawthorn and explore the genes of active ingredient biosynthesis in Crataegus pinnatifida, high-throughput Illumina HiSeq 2000 technology were used to conduct transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis on Crataegus pinnatifida fruits from the same origin at different developmental stages. 78 496 Unigenes with an average length of 941 nt were obtained by Trinity software. Among them, 58 395 Unigenes can be annotated by NR, NT, Swiss prot, KEGG, COG, GO and other public databases. KEGG pathway analysis showed that 52 Unigenes encoding 15 key enzymes involved in the citric acid cycle. There are 62 Unigenes were involved in the triterpene biosynthesis pathway of Crataegus pinnatifida. Two key enzymes SQE of triterpenoid metabolism pathway in Crataegus pinnatifida were cloned and performed bioinformatic analysis. The results showed that ORF of CpSQE1 and CpSQE2 were 1 594 bp and 1 597 bp, respectively, encoding 530 and 531 amino acids. The molecular weight of proteins was 57.6 kDa and 57.5 kDa. Bioinformatics analysis showed that both CpSQE1 and CpSQE2 proteins have a PLN02985 superfamily conserved domain, belonging to the squalene monooxygenase superfamily. The phylogenetic tree shows that CpSQE1 and CpSQE2 are clustered together with SQE with squalene epoxidase function in other plants. This study provides a research basis for further exploring the key genes in the biosynthesis process of hawthorn active ingredients and analyzing the regulation pathway of its active ingredient biosynthesis.