Objective:To analyze the surveillance results of brucellosis in Shanxi Province, to gain a understanding of the epidemic characteristics and changing trend of brucellosis in Shanxi Province, and to provide scientific basis for formulating prevention and control strategies and measures for brucellosis.Methods:The surveillance data of brucellosis in Shanxi Province from Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System of China Disease Prevention and Control Information System, and the active surveillance results of 5 national brucellosis surveillance sites from 2018 to 2023 were collected for descriptive analysis.Results:From 2018 to 2023, a total of 24 041 cases of human brucellosis were reported in Shanxi Province, with the number of cases increased from 2 800 in 2018 to 5 131 in 2023. The annual reported incidence was 11.22/100 000, ranging from 7.56/100 000 to 14.74/100 000, showing an overall upward trend (χ 2trend = 1 377.43, P < 0.001). The epidemic had affected all counties (cities and districts) in the province, mainly concentrated in Linfen City, Jinzhong City, Datong City, and Shuozhou City, with a total of 13 489 cases of human brucellosis reported, accounting for 56.11%. The population distribution was mainly composed of individuals aged 40 - 69 (17 682 cases), males (18 513 cases), farmers (20 295 cases), and household and unemployed individuals (1 017 cases). The onset of the disease showed obvious seasonality, with the peak time from March to August, accounting for 66.39% (15 961/24 041). A total of 14 130 occupational individuals were investigated at the surveillance sites, and 11 141 underwent serological tests, with a positive rate of 5.25% (585/11 141), including 299 new cases. The positive rate of serological tests was relatively high in Qinyuan County, at 8.51% (241/2 832). Etiological culture was conducted on 338 human blood samples, and 43 strains of Brucella were isolated, with a detection rate of 12.72%. All strains were Brucella melitensis, including 42 strains of Brucella melitensis biovar 3. Conclusions:The overall trend of human brucellosis epidemic in Shanxi Province from 2018 to 2023 is on the rise, and it is still at a high level. It is suggested to continue strengthening monitoring, study the epidemic situation in a timely manner, take comprehensive prevention and control measures, and effectively control the spread of brucellosis.

Objective:To investigate the surgical technique and initial outcomes of distal derotational femoral osteotomy (DDFO) combined with knee extension device reconstruction in adolescents with habitual patellar dislocation and severe lower limb torsional deformity.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 10 adolescent patients (12 knees) treated at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital and its Guizhou branch from June 2016 to June 2022. There were 6 males and 4 females with an average age of 12.0±1.5 years (range: 10.0-14.5 years) Surgical treatment included DDFO and knee extension device reconstruction (lateral retinacular release, medial retinacular plication, Roux-Goldthwait distal realignment, and MPFL reconstruction). Clinical outcomes were assessed using Lysholm scores, incidence of redislocation and complications, and imaging parameters (lateral patellofemoral angle, Insall-Salvati index, TT-TG distance, and femoral anteversion angle) preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively.Results:All 12 knees were successfully operated on, with an average surgery time of 2.0±0.5 h (range 1.0-2.5 h), intraoperative blood loss of 47.1±17.1 ml (range 20-80 ml), and follow-up time of 46.2±18.7 months (range 24-72 months). The Lysholm knee score improved from 58.25±8.80 preoperatively to 89.17±5.32 at final follow-up ( t=-9.096, P<0.001) with significant difference. The lateral patellofemoral angle improved from -64.92±4.68 preoperatively to 6.08±2.27 at final follow-up ( t=39.178, P<0.001) with significant difference. The femoral anteversion angle decreased from 34.08±3.06 preoperatively to 14.50±2.65 at final follow-up ( t=16.916, P<0.001) with significant difference. No patellar redislocation, skin necrosis, wound infection, or limited joint mobility occurred during follow-up. Conclusion:DDFO combined with knee extension device reconstruction is an effective and safe treatment for adolescent habitual patellar dislocation with severe torsional deformity, resulting in significant clinical and radiographic improvement with low complication rates.

Objective:To analyze the surveillance results of brucellosis in Shanxi Province, to gain a understanding of the epidemic characteristics and changing trend of brucellosis in Shanxi Province, and to provide scientific basis for formulating prevention and control strategies and measures for brucellosis.Methods:The surveillance data of brucellosis in Shanxi Province from Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System of China Disease Prevention and Control Information System, and the active surveillance results of 5 national brucellosis surveillance sites from 2018 to 2023 were collected for descriptive analysis.Results:From 2018 to 2023, a total of 24 041 cases of human brucellosis were reported in Shanxi Province, with the number of cases increased from 2 800 in 2018 to 5 131 in 2023. The annual reported incidence was 11.22/100 000, ranging from 7.56/100 000 to 14.74/100 000, showing an overall upward trend (χ 2trend = 1 377.43, P < 0.001). The epidemic had affected all counties (cities and districts) in the province, mainly concentrated in Linfen City, Jinzhong City, Datong City, and Shuozhou City, with a total of 13 489 cases of human brucellosis reported, accounting for 56.11%. The population distribution was mainly composed of individuals aged 40 - 69 (17 682 cases), males (18 513 cases), farmers (20 295 cases), and household and unemployed individuals (1 017 cases). The onset of the disease showed obvious seasonality, with the peak time from March to August, accounting for 66.39% (15 961/24 041). A total of 14 130 occupational individuals were investigated at the surveillance sites, and 11 141 underwent serological tests, with a positive rate of 5.25% (585/11 141), including 299 new cases. The positive rate of serological tests was relatively high in Qinyuan County, at 8.51% (241/2 832). Etiological culture was conducted on 338 human blood samples, and 43 strains of Brucella were isolated, with a detection rate of 12.72%. All strains were Brucella melitensis, including 42 strains of Brucella melitensis biovar 3. Conclusions:The overall trend of human brucellosis epidemic in Shanxi Province from 2018 to 2023 is on the rise, and it is still at a high level. It is suggested to continue strengthening monitoring, study the epidemic situation in a timely manner, take comprehensive prevention and control measures, and effectively control the spread of brucellosis.

Objective:To explore the correlation between quantitative parameters based on SUV acquired by dynamic SPECT/CT imaging of parotid glands and pathological grading of labial gland in patients with primary Sj?gren syndrome (pSS).Methods:Seventy-two patients (6 males, 66 females, age (51.5±13.8) years) with confirmed pSS diagnosed at Hebei General Hospital between August 2022 and March 2024 were prospectively included. The clinical data and pathological grading information from labial gland biopsies were analyzed. Dynamic SPECT/CT imaging of the parotid glands was performed, and quantitative parameters based on SUV were obtained using Q-metrix software: SUV max, SUV mean, uptake volume of parotid glands (UVP) and total parotid uptake (TPU) pre/post-acid stimulation, as well as the differences in quantitative parameters before and after acid stimulation (ΔSUV max, ΔSUV mean, ΔUVP, and ΔTPU). The independent-sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test was performed to evaluate the differences in parameters between patients with pathological grade 1-2 and those with pathological grade 3-4. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correlation between quantitative parameters and pathological grading. The performance of quantitative parameters in distinguishing pathological grade 1-2 from grade 3-4 was assessed using ROC curve analysis with Delong test. Results:The SUV max pre/post-acid stimulation in patients with pathological grade 1-2 ( n=30) were higher than those in patients with grade 3-4 ( n=42) (36.38(27.81, 44.17) vs 15.45(10.77, 24.51), Z=-5.51, P<0.001(pre-acid stimulation); 21.53(16.93, 26.21) vs 11.33(7.32, 15.89), Z=-5.27, P<0.001 (post-acid stimulation)). SUV mean, UVP and TPU pre/post-acid stimulation in patients with pathological grade 1-2, as well as ΔSUV max, ΔSUV mean and ΔTPU, were all significantly higher ( Z values: from -4.73 to -3.04, t values: 6.39, 4.50, all P<0.01). Moreover, these parameters were negatively correlated with the pathological grading ( rs values: from -0.66 to -0.36, all P<0.05). No significant difference in ΔUVP was observed between patients with pathological grade 1-2 and those with grade 3-4 ( Z=-1.05, P=0.293), and ΔUVP showed no correlation with pathological grading ( rs=-0.13, P=0.297). Among all parameters, SUV max pre/post-acid stimulation and TPU pre-acid stimulation exhibited better diagnostic performance in differentiating pathological grade 1-2 from grade 3-4, with AUC values of 0.883, 0.866, and 0.888, respectively. Delong test showed that those 3 AUC values were all higher than AUC values of SUV mean, UVP post-acid stimulation and ΔUVP (all AUC<0.800; Z values: 2.09-4.65, all P<0.05). Conclusion:The quantitative parameters of parotid glands based on SUV acquired by dynamic SPECT/CT can reflect the damage degree of parotid glands in patients with pSS, providing novel quantitative analytical tools for the functional diagnosis and assessment of pSS.

Objective:To investigate the surgical technique and initial outcomes of distal derotational femoral osteotomy (DDFO) combined with knee extension device reconstruction in adolescents with habitual patellar dislocation and severe lower limb torsional deformity.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 10 adolescent patients (12 knees) treated at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital and its Guizhou branch from June 2016 to June 2022. There were 6 males and 4 females with an average age of 12.0±1.5 years (range: 10.0-14.5 years) Surgical treatment included DDFO and knee extension device reconstruction (lateral retinacular release, medial retinacular plication, Roux-Goldthwait distal realignment, and MPFL reconstruction). Clinical outcomes were assessed using Lysholm scores, incidence of redislocation and complications, and imaging parameters (lateral patellofemoral angle, Insall-Salvati index, TT-TG distance, and femoral anteversion angle) preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively.Results:All 12 knees were successfully operated on, with an average surgery time of 2.0±0.5 h (range 1.0-2.5 h), intraoperative blood loss of 47.1±17.1 ml (range 20-80 ml), and follow-up time of 46.2±18.7 months (range 24-72 months). The Lysholm knee score improved from 58.25±8.80 preoperatively to 89.17±5.32 at final follow-up ( t=-9.096, P<0.001) with significant difference. The lateral patellofemoral angle improved from -64.92±4.68 preoperatively to 6.08±2.27 at final follow-up ( t=39.178, P<0.001) with significant difference. The femoral anteversion angle decreased from 34.08±3.06 preoperatively to 14.50±2.65 at final follow-up ( t=16.916, P<0.001) with significant difference. No patellar redislocation, skin necrosis, wound infection, or limited joint mobility occurred during follow-up. Conclusion:DDFO combined with knee extension device reconstruction is an effective and safe treatment for adolescent habitual patellar dislocation with severe torsional deformity, resulting in significant clinical and radiographic improvement with low complication rates.

Objective:To explore the correlation between quantitative parameters based on SUV acquired by dynamic SPECT/CT imaging of parotid glands and pathological grading of labial gland in patients with primary Sj?gren syndrome (pSS).Methods:Seventy-two patients (6 males, 66 females, age (51.5±13.8) years) with confirmed pSS diagnosed at Hebei General Hospital between August 2022 and March 2024 were prospectively included. The clinical data and pathological grading information from labial gland biopsies were analyzed. Dynamic SPECT/CT imaging of the parotid glands was performed, and quantitative parameters based on SUV were obtained using Q-metrix software: SUV max, SUV mean, uptake volume of parotid glands (UVP) and total parotid uptake (TPU) pre/post-acid stimulation, as well as the differences in quantitative parameters before and after acid stimulation (ΔSUV max, ΔSUV mean, ΔUVP, and ΔTPU). The independent-sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test was performed to evaluate the differences in parameters between patients with pathological grade 1-2 and those with pathological grade 3-4. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correlation between quantitative parameters and pathological grading. The performance of quantitative parameters in distinguishing pathological grade 1-2 from grade 3-4 was assessed using ROC curve analysis with Delong test. Results:The SUV max pre/post-acid stimulation in patients with pathological grade 1-2 ( n=30) were higher than those in patients with grade 3-4 ( n=42) (36.38(27.81, 44.17) vs 15.45(10.77, 24.51), Z=-5.51, P<0.001(pre-acid stimulation); 21.53(16.93, 26.21) vs 11.33(7.32, 15.89), Z=-5.27, P<0.001 (post-acid stimulation)). SUV mean, UVP and TPU pre/post-acid stimulation in patients with pathological grade 1-2, as well as ΔSUV max, ΔSUV mean and ΔTPU, were all significantly higher ( Z values: from -4.73 to -3.04, t values: 6.39, 4.50, all P<0.01). Moreover, these parameters were negatively correlated with the pathological grading ( rs values: from -0.66 to -0.36, all P<0.05). No significant difference in ΔUVP was observed between patients with pathological grade 1-2 and those with grade 3-4 ( Z=-1.05, P=0.293), and ΔUVP showed no correlation with pathological grading ( rs=-0.13, P=0.297). Among all parameters, SUV max pre/post-acid stimulation and TPU pre-acid stimulation exhibited better diagnostic performance in differentiating pathological grade 1-2 from grade 3-4, with AUC values of 0.883, 0.866, and 0.888, respectively. Delong test showed that those 3 AUC values were all higher than AUC values of SUV mean, UVP post-acid stimulation and ΔUVP (all AUC<0.800; Z values: 2.09-4.65, all P<0.05). Conclusion:The quantitative parameters of parotid glands based on SUV acquired by dynamic SPECT/CT can reflect the damage degree of parotid glands in patients with pSS, providing novel quantitative analytical tools for the functional diagnosis and assessment of pSS.

Objective:To explore the interrelationship among three simplified hand and wrist bone age assessment methods and to establish corresponding bone ages for each substage in male children.Methods:This retrospective case series study included 169 left hand and wrist X-rays from 152 male children who underwent bone age assessments at the Pediatric Orthopedics and Pediatrics Departments,Beijing Jishuitan Hospital,Capital Medical University from January 2019 to December 2023. The age at the time of X-ray was (13.7±2.0) years (range:9.1 to 17.9 years). Reasons for bone age assessment included evaluating the progress of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in 36 cases, predicting limb length discrepancies in 28 cases, and predicting the height of healthy adolescents in 88 cases. Bone age was first graded using the Chinese hand-wrist bone age assessment method. Three simplified hand and wrist bone age assessment methods were then applied:Sanders simplified skeletal maturity staging system(Sanders stage), the distal radius and ulna classification (DRU), and e thumb ossification composite index (TOCI). Somers′delta correlation test was used to analyze the relationship among the results of the three simplified methods. The bone age and standard deviation for each sub-stage were calculated, and gender differences in bone age for the same sub-stage were compared with previous study.Results:The DRU, TOCI and Sanders stages showed a strong correlation when assessing bone age in male children, with Somers′delta correlation coefficients ranging from 0.881 to 0.876 (all P<0.01). The sub-stages with the smallest standard deviations (shorter duration) in each of the three classifications can serve as a quick reference for determining precise bone age, included proximal thumb epiphysis covered, without sesamoid (12.0 years);proximal thumb epiphysis covered with sesamoid or distal radial covered (13.0 years), early capping of the thumb epiphysis, radial epiphysis medial side capping(13.5 years), all phalangeal epiphyses capping (14.0 years), distal phalangeal physes beginning to close (14.5 years), all distal phalangeal physes closed (15.0 years), middle or proximal phalangeal physes beginning to close (15.5 years), all digital epiphyses closed (16.5 years), and nearly complete distal radius fusion with a notch (17.5 years). On average, the bone ages of males were 2 years behind those of females in the same substage. Conclusions:The DRU, TOCI, and Sanders stages can be applied to male children, and it is showed good correlation between them. The subtypes with shorter duration can be used as a quick assessment method to determine the bone age.

Objective:To explore the interrelationship among three simplified hand and wrist bone age assessment methods and to establish corresponding bone ages for each substage in male children.Methods:This retrospective case series study included 169 left hand and wrist X-rays from 152 male children who underwent bone age assessments at the Pediatric Orthopedics and Pediatrics Departments,Beijing Jishuitan Hospital,Capital Medical University from January 2019 to December 2023. The age at the time of X-ray was (13.7±2.0) years (range:9.1 to 17.9 years). Reasons for bone age assessment included evaluating the progress of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in 36 cases, predicting limb length discrepancies in 28 cases, and predicting the height of healthy adolescents in 88 cases. Bone age was first graded using the Chinese hand-wrist bone age assessment method. Three simplified hand and wrist bone age assessment methods were then applied:Sanders simplified skeletal maturity staging system(Sanders stage), the distal radius and ulna classification (DRU), and e thumb ossification composite index (TOCI). Somers′delta correlation test was used to analyze the relationship among the results of the three simplified methods. The bone age and standard deviation for each sub-stage were calculated, and gender differences in bone age for the same sub-stage were compared with previous study.Results:The DRU, TOCI and Sanders stages showed a strong correlation when assessing bone age in male children, with Somers′delta correlation coefficients ranging from 0.881 to 0.876 (all P<0.01). The sub-stages with the smallest standard deviations (shorter duration) in each of the three classifications can serve as a quick reference for determining precise bone age, included proximal thumb epiphysis covered, without sesamoid (12.0 years);proximal thumb epiphysis covered with sesamoid or distal radial covered (13.0 years), early capping of the thumb epiphysis, radial epiphysis medial side capping(13.5 years), all phalangeal epiphyses capping (14.0 years), distal phalangeal physes beginning to close (14.5 years), all distal phalangeal physes closed (15.0 years), middle or proximal phalangeal physes beginning to close (15.5 years), all digital epiphyses closed (16.5 years), and nearly complete distal radius fusion with a notch (17.5 years). On average, the bone ages of males were 2 years behind those of females in the same substage. Conclusions:The DRU, TOCI, and Sanders stages can be applied to male children, and it is showed good correlation between them. The subtypes with shorter duration can be used as a quick assessment method to determine the bone age.

Objective:To investigate the effect of combination of infrared thermography (IRT) and high frequency colour Doppler ultrasound (HFCDU) in location of superficial fascia perforating vessels and to guide the design and harvest of super-thin anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) .Methods:A total of 15 patients who received medical treatment in the Department of Orthopaedics, Zhoushan Hospital and Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Wuxi No.9 People’s Hospital from January 2022 to July 2023 were selected to participate the study. The patients were 11 males and 4 females, aged 26 to 64 years with an average age of 48.3 years. A total of 14 wounds of foot, 1 of hand, 1 of forearm and 1 of ankle were reconstructed with 17 free super-thin ALTFs. The sizes of soft tissue defect were 5 cm×3 cm-23 cm×7 cm. The flaps were 6 cm×4 cm to 25 cm×8 cm in size. The donor sites were directly pulled together and sutured. Before surgery, HFCDU was applied to locate the perforator vessels across deep fascia into superficial fascia of the ALTF. IRT was further employed to locate the superficial perforator vessels on the superficial fascia in operating room. The running course of a perforating branch in the superficial fascia was determined by the running courses of the perforating branch located by the two location methods. Super-thin ALTFs were harvested and the precise locations of the perforating vessels were verified in surgery. SPSS 23.0 software was used for data analysis. Rank sum test was performed on the location data of superficial fascial perforating branches found by IRT and the data in surgery. P<0.05 was considered a statistically significant difference. All patients were included in the postoperative follow-up by means of visit of outpatient clinic and via WeChat reviews, where the survival and functional recovery of the flaps were observed. Results:A total of 30 perforating vessels had been located by HFCDU and 30 by IRT, and a total of 31 perforating vessels were found in superficial fascia in surgery. The true positive rate was 93.3%, with a false positive rate at 6.7% and a false negative rate at 9.7%. The rank sum test calculated P=0.853 for the number of perforating vessels located by the IRT and those found from surgery. There was no significant difference between the 2 detecting methods. No postoperative complication occurred in all 14 flaps. Partial necrosis occurred in 1 flap but healed after dressing changes. Venous occlusion had occurred in 1 flap, it was rectified after surgical exploration. Superficial infection happened in 1 flap and it was improved after anti-infection treatment. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for 3-12 months. The flaps were in good texture with satisfactory appearance and function of limbs. All donor sites healed well without scar hyperplasia. Conclusion:IRT combined with HFCDU is a reliable method in location of perforator vessels of ALTF, and it is an ideal technique in the exploration of perforator vessels and in the harvest of a super-thin flap.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy between arthroscopically assisted reduction versus open reduction in the treatment of paediatric humeral lateral condylar fractures with Kirschner wire fixation.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 28 children with humeral lateral condylar fracture who had undergone surgery at Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from August 2023 to September 2023. There were 24 males and 4 females with an age of (6.5±1.6) years, 24 cases of type Ⅱ and 4 cases of type Ⅲ fractures according to the Jacob classification, and 1 case of type Ⅰ and 27 cases of type Ⅱ fractures according to the Milch classification. The time from injury to surgery averaged (71.6±21.3) hours. The children were divided into 2 groups according to their reduction methods: an arthroscopic group of 16 cases treated by arthroscopically assisted reduction and K-wire fixation and an open reduction group of 12 cases treated by open reduction and K-wire fixation. The operation time, incision length, Kirschner wire removal time, Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) and the incidence of lateral bony spur on the X ray at the last follow-up were compared between the 2 groups; the flexion-extension and carrying angle of the elbow were compared between the healthy side and the affected side within each group at the last follow-up.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). The 28 pediatric patients were followed up for (4.9±0.4) months after surgery. The incision length [(1.3±0.4) cm] and Kirschner wire removal time [(42.8±3.5) d] in the arthroscopic group were significantly shorter than those in the open reduction group [(4.8±0.5) cm and (95.5±16.4) d] ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the operation time between the 2 groups [(70.6±15.5) min versus (61.7±14.5) min] ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the flexion-extension or in the carrying angle between the healthy and affected sides within each group at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference either in the MEPS score or in the incidence of lateral bony spur between the 2 groups at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). Follow-up revealed pin infection in 1 patient in the arthroscopic group, and exposure of Kirschner wire tail in 1 patient in the open reduction group. Conclusions:In the treatment of humeral lateral condylar fractures, arthroscopically assisted reduction and Kirschner wire fixation can allow for debridement of the fracture ends in a minimally invasive way, visual fracture evaluation and reduction. Compared with open reduction, arthroscopically assisted reduction can reduce operative trauma without significantly increasing operation time.