Objective To investigate the predictive value of preoperative combined detection of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and prothrombin time-international normalized ratio to albumin ratio (PTAR) for early abdominal infection after liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 287 recipients who underwent liver transplantation at the Liver Transplant Center of Beijing Friendship Hospital, Affiliated to Capital Medical University, from January 2020 to April 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into infection group (n=60) and non-infection group (n=227) based on whether abdominal infection occurred within 30 days after surgery. The distribution characteristics of pathogens and infection time in infected patients were analyzed. Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between NLR, PTAR, Child-Pugh score and preoperative model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for abdominal infection. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted for NLR, PTAR, and the combined prediction model to evaluate their predictive efficacy for abdominal infection after liver transplantation. Based on the cutoff value of the combined model, recipients were divided into low-risk and high-risk groups, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the cumulative incidence of abdominal infection within 30 days after surgery between the two groups. Results Among the 287 recipients who underwent liver transplantation, 60 developed bacterial or fungal abdominal infections postoperatively. A total of 86 strains were isolated from infected patients, with Gram-negative bacteria accounting for 58%, Gram-positive bacteria for 36%, and fungi for 5%. Preoperative NLR and PTAR were positively correlated with Child-Pugh and MELD scores (all 1 > r > 0, P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative NLR, preoperative PTAR, postoperative ICU stay duration and postoperative biliary leakage were risk factors for abdominal infection within 30 days after surgery. The area under the curve (AUC) for NLR, PTAR, Child-Pugh score and MELD score were 0.771, 0.735, 0.650 and 0.741, respectively. The AUC for the combined NLR and PTAR prediction model was 0.824 (95% confidence interval: 0.763-0.885, P < 0.001), with a cutoff value of 0.168. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative incidence of abdominal infection within 30 days after surgery was lower in the low-risk group than in the high-risk group, with statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). Conclusions Preoperative NLR and PTAR are independent risk factors for abdominal infection within 30 days after liver transplantation. The combined prediction model of NLR and PTAR may effectively identify high-risk recipients for early abdominal infection after liver transplantation, providing basis for early intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical efficacy of bone cement filling combined with lower extremity arterial balloon dilation in treating Wagner grade Ⅳ diabetic foot (DF). METHODS: From January to October 2024, 9 Wagner grade Ⅳ DF patients with lower extremity vascular occlusion were admitted, including 7 males and 2 females, aged from 51 to 87 years old;5 patients on the left side and 4 patients on the right side. All patients were underwent stageⅠdebridement of the affected foot and bone cement filling, and treated with lower extremity arterial balloon dilation after operation, they were. After the formation of the induced membrane, stageⅡwound repair was performed. The wound healing time and condition were observed. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) was used to evaluate the lower extremity vascular perfusion before operation and 3 months after operation, respectively. RESULTS: The wounds of all 9 patients healed completely, and the healing time ranged from 45 to 65 days. All patients were followed up for at least 6 months without recurrence. The skin of the affected foot wound healed with keratinization, and there was mild scar hyperplasia locally (1 patient had necrosis of the adjacent toe after stageⅠsurgery and was debridement and toe amputation again). The narrowed or occluded blood vessels of the lower extremities were all recanalized. ABI recovered from 0.3 to 0.5 before operation to 1.0 to 1.1 at 3 months after operation. CONCLUSION Bone cement filling combined with lower extremity arterial balloon dilation for the treatment of grade Wagner Ⅳ DF is conducive to promoting healing of the affected foot, effectively preventing secondary ulceration of the affected foot, and clinical therapeutic effect is satisfactory.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Diabetic Foot/surgery* ; Aged ; Bone Cements/therapeutic use* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Lower Extremity/blood supply*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the etiological characteristics of bacterial meningitis (BM) in infants aged <90 days. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the etiology and outcomes of BM in infants aged <90 days admitted to five collaborating hospitals between January 2007 and December 2021. The overall etiological profile was described, and pathogen distributions were compared across different age groups, regions, and years. The prognosis of BM caused by common pathogens was also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 197 infants with bacteriologically confirmed BM were included. The most common pathogens were Escherichia coli (E. coli) (72 cases, 36.5%), group B Streptococcus (GBS) (49 cases, 24.9%), and Listeria monocytogenes (LM) (11 cases, 5.6%). The detection rate of E. coli was significantly higher in the neonatal group than in the infant group (40.2% vs 18.2%, P<0.05). E. coli was the predominant pathogen in Beijing (31.7%) and Kunming (54.1%), while GBS and E. coli were equally prevalent in Shenzhen (33.3%). From 2018 to 2021, the detection rates of E. coli were 46.4%, 47.2%, 45.2%, and 36.8%, respectively, whereas those of GBS were 25.0%, 27.8%, 22.6%, and 31.6%. No significant difference was observed in the overall complication rates among BM cases caused by E. coli, GBS, and LM (P>0.05). However, ventriculitis and hydrocephalus were more frequent in LM meningitis than in GBS meningitis (P<0.017). CONCLUSIONS E. coli is the most common pathogen in BM among young infants, particularly neonates. GBS is predominant in Shenzhen, with an increasing trend. LM meningitis accounts for a notable proportion of cases and is associated with poorer outcomes.
Humans ; Meningitis, Bacterial/microbiology* ; Infant ; Retrospective Studies ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Female

BACKGROUND: Lung adenocarcinoma is an important pathohistologic subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Invasive non-mucinous pulmonary adenocarcinomas (INMA) tend to have a poor prognosis due to their significant heterogeneity and diverse histologic components. Establishing a histologic grading system for INMA is crucial for evaluating its malignancy. In 2021, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) proposed that a new histological grading system could better stratify the prognosis of INMA patients. The aim of this study was to establish a visualized nomogram model to predict INMA IASLC grading preoperatively by means of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT), fractal dimension (FD), clinical features and conventional CT parameters. METHODS: A total of 112 patients with INMA who underwent preoperative DECT were retrospectively enrolled from March 2021 to January 2025. Patients were categorized into low-intermediate grade and high grade groups based on IASLC grading. The clinical characteristics and conventional CT parameters, including baseline features, biochemical markers, and serum tumor markers, were collected. DECT-derived parameters, including iodine concentration (IC), effective atomic number (eff-Z), and normalized IC (NIC), were collected and determined as NIC ratio (NICr) and fractal dimension (FD). Univariate analysis was employed to compare differences in conventional characteristics and DECT parameters between the two groups. Variables demonstrating statistical significance were subsequently incorporated into a multivariate Logistic regression analysis. A nomogram model integrating clinical data, conventional CT parameters, and DECT parameters was developed to identify independent predictors for IASLC grading of INMA. The discriminatory performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis identified smoking history [odds ratio (OR)=2.848, P=0.041], lobulation sign (OR=2.163, P=0.004), air bronchogram (OR=7.833, P=0.005), eff-Z in arterial phase (OR=4.266, P<0.001), and IC in arterial phase (OR=1.290, P=0.012) as independent and significant predictors for IASLC grading of INMA. The nomogram model constructed based on these indicators demonstrated optimal predictive performance, achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.804 (95%CI: 0.725-0.883), with specificity and sensitivity of 85.3% and 65.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The nomogram model based on clinical features, imaging features and spectral CT parameters have a large potential for application in the preoperative noninvasive assessment of INMA IASLC grading.
Humans ; Nomograms ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Adenocarcinoma of Lung/pathology* ; Neoplasm Grading ; Adult

OBJECTIVE: Poxviruses are zoonotic pathogens that infect humans, mammals, vertebrates, and arthropods. However, the specific role of ticks in transmission and evolution of these viruses remains unclear. METHODS: Transcriptomic and metatranscriptomic raw data from 329 sampling pools of seven tick species across five continents were mined to assess the diversity and abundance of poxviruses. Chordopoxviral sequences were assembled and subjected to phylogenetic analysis to trace the origins of the unblasted fragments within these sequences. RESULTS: Fifty-eight poxvirus species, representing two subfamilies and 20 genera, were identified, with 212 poxviral sequences assembled. A substantial proportion of AT-rich fragments were detected in the assembled poxviral genomes. These genomic sequences contained fragments originating from rodents, archaea, and arthropods. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that ticks play a significant role in the transmission and evolution of poxviruses. These viruses demonstrate the capacity to modulate virulence and adaptability through horizontal gene transfer, gene recombination, and gene mutations, thereby promoting co-existence and co-evolution with their hosts. This study advances understanding of the ecological dynamics of poxvirus transmission and evolution and highlights the potential role of ticks as vectors and vessels in these processes.
Animals ; Poxviridae/physiology* ; Ticks/virology* ; Phylogeny ; Transcriptome ; Evolution, Molecular ; Poxviridae Infections/virology* ; Genome, Viral

The analysis of poorly conductive samples using discharge plasma is a significant challenge in determining elemental content by atomic emission spectrometry.In this study,graphite as a conductive medium was combined with metal salts and silica to prepare soil sample pellets.A tungsten needle electrode was employed to generate point discharge microplasma with the sample,exciting atomic emission signals of analyte elements.By using Cu 324.7 nm as the analytical line,both the capability to excite atomic emission spectral lines and the impact of experimental conditions were investigated,resulting in accurate determination of trace copper in both standard and real samples.This method held promise for detecting other metals like manganese,iron,and zinc.This work offered methodology for non-conductive sample analysis via discharge plasma atomic emission spectrometry,showing potential for rapid on-site assessment of soil samples.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of mitral valve repair technique in the treatment of rheumatic mitral valve lesions. Methods The clinical data of patients diagnosed with rheumatic mitral valve lesions and undergoing mitral valve repair under extracorporeal circulation in our department from 2021 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 100 patients were collected, including 78 females and 22 males with an average age of 52 years. There were no secondary open heart or death in the whole group. Extracorporeal circulation time was 136.3±33.1 min, aortic cross-clamping time was 107.6±27.5 min, ventilator use time was 12.9±5.9 h, ICU stay was 2.6±1.4 d, and vasoactive medication use was 823.4±584.4 mg. Before and after the surgery, there were statistical differences in the left ventricular end diastolic diameter, left atrial end systolic diameter, effective mitral valve orifice area, shortening rate of left ventricular short axis, mitral E-peak blood flow velocity, mean mitral transvalvular pressure difference, mitral pressure half-time, and cardiac function graded by New York Heart Association (P＜0.05). While there was no statistical difference in left ventricular ejection fraction or left ventricular end-diastolic volume (P>0.05). Conclusion Overall repair of rheumatic mitral valve lesions can significantly improve the cardiac function and hemodynamics of the patients, and is a good choice for patients with rheumatic mitral valve lesions.

Objective:To investigate the techniques of digit-tip replantation with anastomosis of superior digital arch artery in children and to evaluate the clinical effects.Methods:From January 2020 to September 2022, 62 children (62 digits) with completely severed digit-tips were admitted to the Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics, Suzhou Ruihua Orthopaedic Hospital. All the injury planes were distal to the nail root. All arterial dissections were distal to the digital arterial arch with the vessel calibre from 0.15 mm to 0.35 mm. The superior arch arteries of the digital arterial arch were successfully anastomosed. After surgery, a significant blood flux to the replanted digit body were observed. Postoperative necroses or failures were analysed for the causes. All children with survived digit-tips were entered into scheduled follow-ups through a combination of visit of outpatient clinics or via WeChat and telephone reviews. Postoperative follow-up included digit body fullness, motion of distal interphalangeal joint, nail growth, scarring, and response of the replanted digit-tips to needling. Clinical outcomes were evaluated according to the evaluation criteria for finger replantation function.Results:Of the 62 replanted digit-tips, 56 survived after replantation. Two digits had wound infection after surgery, and survived by dressing change and applying sensitive antibiotics. Necrosis occurred in 6 replanted digit-tips, of which 2 necrotic digit bodies were amputated, and the stumps at the distal interphalangeal joint were repaired. The other 4 necrotic digits were healed after dressing change under the scab due to a smaller digit body. A total of 52 children (including 2 survivals from postoperative infection after dressing changes and 4 survivals with healing underneath-eschar after necrosis) and with 10 lost during follow-up (including 2 with stump repairs after necrosis). The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 30 months, with an average of 6 months. The shape and function of replanted digit-tips recovered well. According to the evaluation criteria for finger replantation function, 44 digits were of excellent, 6 of good, and 2 of fair.Conclusion:In children, the superior arch arteries of digital arterial arches of the digit-tips are small in diameter. However, the vessels in smaller calibres can be anastomosed, should proper surgical techniques are applied. Therefore, due to the satisfactory outcomes, microsurgeons should try the best efforts to replant a digit severed at the plane of digit-tip.

Objective:To explore the effectiveness of 18F-deuterated-Florbetapir (D3FSP) PET/CT imaging in detecting β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the brain and its correlation with plasma biomarkers. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 79 patients (32 males, 47 females; age(66±7)years) who underwent 18F-D3FSP PET/CT imaging from June 2022 to November 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, as a part of the Greater Bay Area Healthy Aging Brain Longitudinal Cohort Study (GHABS). Based on the Alzheimer′s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative cohort standard protocol, patients were categorized into cognitively unimpaired (CU) group, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) group, and Alzheimer′s disease (AD) group. Brain regions were segmented using the AW workstation and the SUV ratio (SUVR) was calculated with the cerebellum as the reference region. One-way analysis of variance, Bonferroni correction and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze data. The ROC curve analysis was used to analyze the cut-off value and the diagnostic efficacy of SUVR. Results:There were 48, 15 and 16 cases in CU, MCI and AD groups respectively. During the transition from CU to MCI and then to AD, there was a rising trend in SUVR ( F values: 11.15-22.38, all P<0.001) across the whole brain and various brain regions (bilateral frontal lobes, bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus, bilateral precuneus, bilateral parietal lobes, bilateral lateral temporal lobes, and bilateral occipital lobes). SUVRs of the right anterior cingulate gyrus and bilateral precuneus were different between the CU and MCI groups (all P<0.017), and those of bilateral frontal lobes, right precuneus, bilateral parietal lobes, bilateral lateral temporal lobes, and bilateral occipital lobes were different between the MCI and AD groups (all P<0.017). SUVRs of brain regions were negatively correlated with cognitive scale scores ( r values: from -0.57 to -0.37, all P<0.001), and were positively correlated with plasma phosphorylated tau181 (p-tau181, r values: 0.50-0.61, all P<0.001). The ROC curve analysis suggested that the cut-off value of SUVR in the precuneus for distinguishing CU from AD was 1.20, with the AUC, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 0.85, 12/16, 91.7%(44/48)and 87.5%(56/64), respectively. Conclusion:18F-D3FSP PET/CT imaging has good clinical application value in assessing the deposition sites and the extent of Aβ in the brain, which is related to clinical cognition and plasma p-tau181 level.

Objective:To investigate the accuracy and feasibility of applying rapid immunohistochemistry(IHC) with CK5/6 antibodies in prostate biopsy tissues to assist frozen pathology diagnosis.Methods:The data of 41 patients who underwent prostate puncture and frozen tissue rapid IHC with CK5/6 antibody in Beijing Hospital from October 2022 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The median age of the patients was 76 (69, 79) years old, and the median PSA value was 12.37 (7.07, 26.17) ng/ml.The Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) scores of the target lesions were all ≥3. The PI-RADS score of 9 patients(21.95%) was 3, 15 (36.59%) was 4, and 17(41.46%) was 5. The median diameter of the lesions in the MRI examination was 1.40 (1.09, 2.20) cm.Fourteen lesions (34.14%) were located in the migratory zone, 23 (56.10%) were located in the peripheral zone, and 4 (9.76%) involved both peripheral and migratory zone lesions. Transperineal cognitive fusion targeted combined systematic biopsy was used, and intraoperatively, 1 additional needle was taken from each of the target and non-target areas for frozen pathology section, and hematoxylin eosin(HE) staining and rapid IHC staining with CK5/6 antibody was performed, then the frozen remaining tissue was HE staining and CK5/6 IHC staining. Data such as HE and rapid IHC results of frozen pathology sections and HE and IHC results of routine sections of the frozen remaining tissues, International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grading groupings(GG), and actual diagnostic results of targeted combined systematic puncture were recorded. Using the routine IHC results of the same needle tissue as the gold standard, the sensitivity and positive predictive value of applying rapid IHC frozen pathology to diagnose prostate cancer and the accuracy of its pathological GG were analyzed.Results:Among the 41 patients, a total of 35 cases were diagnosed with prostate cancer(PCa) by HE staining in frozen section of target tissue, with a positivity rate of 85.37%(35/41). Among these, there were 17 cases (48.57%) in ISUP GG 1, 8 cases (22.86%) in GG 2, 4 cases (11.43%) in GG 3, and 6 cases (17.14%) in GG 4 to 5. In addition, a total of 35 cases were diagnosed with PCa by HE staining in frozen remaining section of target tissue, with a positivity rate of 85.37%(35/41). Among these, there were 17 cases (48.57%) in ISUP GG 1, 8 cases (22.86%) in GG 2, 4 cases (11.43%) in GG 3, and 6 cases (17.14%) in GG 4 to 5. The results of rapid IHC of target tissue: 35 cases were negative for CK5/6 expression and 6 cases were positive. The results of routine IHC of target tissue: 35 cases were negative for CK5/6 expression and 6 cases were positive. The results of rapid IHC of non-target tissue: 12 cases were negative for CK5/6 expression and 29 cases were positive. The results of routine IHC of non-target tissue: 12 cases were negative for CK5/6 expression and 29 cases were positive. Thirty-five cases of target tissue rapid IHC diagnosis of PCa were in complete agreement with routine IHC diagnosis, with a false-positive rate of 0, a sensitivity of 100.00% (35/35) and a positive predictive value of 100.00% (35/35). Twelve cases of non-target tissue rapid IHC diagnosis of PCa were in complete agreement with routine IHC diagnosis, with a false-positive rate of 0, a sensitivity of 100.00% (35/35), and a positive predictive value of 100.00% (12/12).Conclusions:The preliminarily study results confirmed that the application of rapid IHC with CK5/6 antibodies in prostate biopsy tissues assisted frozen pathology diagnosis with high accuracy, but the reliability of rapid IHC technology in assisting frozen pathological diagnosis during puncture surgery still needs further validation through large sample size prospective studies.