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

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and interventional treatment effects of pa-tients with renal arteriovenous fistula in this hospital over the past 10 years.Methods A retrospective analy-sis was conducted on the clinical and imaging data of 40 patients with renal arteriovenous fistula who were treated in this hospital from October 2012 to October 2022.After classifying the fistula type using digital sub-traction angiography(DSA),an individualized embolization plan was developed by a vascular surgery team.Postoperatively,the embolization materials,embolization success rate,clinical success rate,perioperative renal function changes and complications were analyzed.Results A total of 29 cases(72.5%)had acquired renal arteriovenous fistula,while 11 cases(27.5%)had non-acquired renal arteriovenous fistula.Forty-three super-selective transcatheter arterial embolization(TAE)procedures were performed,achieving a technical success rate of 100.0%(40/40)and a clinical success rate of 95.0%(38/40).The mean serum creatinine levels after TAE were(91.39±23.72)mmol/L in the non-acquired group and(105.94±35.51)mmol/L in the acquired group.No statistically significant difference was observed in perioperative serum creatinine changes between the two groups(P=0.095).No severe complications such as renal function deterioration occurred postopera-tively in any patient.Conclusion Gross hematuria serves as the primary clinical manifestation of renal arterio-venous fistula,with abdominal pain being more prevalent in non-acquired renal arteriovenous fistula.The em-bolization approach combining coils with polyvinyl alcohol particles demonstrates favorable safety and efficacy in treating renal arteriovenous fistula.

During the progression of heart failure(HF),abnormal transduction of the transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)/Smads signaling pathway is important mechanism of myocardial fibrosis(MF)in HF.TGF-β,a key factor in MF,is in an overexpression state in the process of MF in HF,and Smads is a major effector downstream of TGF-β.The TGF-β/Smads pathway induces abnormal proliferation of myofibroblasts,aggravates myocardial extracellular matrix deposition,and reduces the ability of the cardiac tissues to resist fibrosis,which plays a complex role in the pathogenesis of MF in HF.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has the efficacy of unequivocal inhibiting myocardial collagen deposition,anti-MF,protecting the myocardium and improving cardiac function in the prevention and treatment of MF in HF and so on,and the TGF-β/Smads pathway is one of the key pathways through which TCM monomers,TCM combinations,and proprietary medicines can exert their cardioprotective effects on the HF.This paper reviews the existing experimental research results of TCM intervening in the TGF-β/Smads pathway for the treatment of MF in HF over the past 10 years,with a view to providing theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of HF MF well as the development and of new drugs.

Objective To compare the pharmacokinetic behavior of two captopril tablets in Chinese healthy subjects,and evaluate the bioequivalence and safety of the tested and reference preparations.Methods This study was a single-center,random,open,double-cycle,double-cross design scheme.Twenty-four healthy subjects were randomized divided two groups and took single dose of 25 mg captopril of test tablet or reference tablet under fasting condition during each period.Plasma concentrations of captopril were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy(LC-MS/MS)following administration of the oral single captopril tablet.The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by using non-atrioventricular model with WinNonlin 8.0 software to evaluate bioequivalence.The safety of clinical observation indexes of the subjects was evaluated during the trail.Results Main pharmacokinetic parameters of test preparation and reference preparation captopril in fasting group test:Cmax were(803.22±196.81)and(844.75±163.43)ng·mL-1;AUC0-t were(3 118.06±642.05)and(3 353.53±597.94)h·ng·mL-1;AUC0-∞ were(3 347.35±712.07)and(3 594.15±654.39)h·ng·mL-1.The 90％confidence intervals(CI)of geornetric mean ratio of Cmax,AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ were 87.15％-99.97％,89.54％-96.14％and 89.55％-96.26％,all in the range of 80.00％-125.00％,indicating that the bioequivalence of the two preparations could be determined.During the trial,the incidence rates of adverse events for the test preparation and the reference preparation were 30.43％and 33.33％,respectively,without any serious adverse events occurring.Conclusion The test tablet and reference tablet of captopril were equivalent and safe during the trial.

Objective To evaluate the short-term results of sleeve wrapping technique using remnant aortic wall in modified Bentall procedure. Methods The patients undergoing modified Bentall procedure with the remnant aortic wall as a sleeve to cover the sewing area of composite valved graft and the aortic annulus for proximal hemostasis between March 2021 and March 2022 in Shenzhen Fuwai Hospital were enrolled. Short-term results were assessed by cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic clamping time, mechanical ventilation time, ICU stay, postoperative hospital stay, effusion drainage on the first postoperative day, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and follow-up results. Results A total of 14 patients were collected, including 12 males and 2 females, with a mean age of 55.33±10.57 years. There was no postoperative or follow-up death. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 147.90±21.29 min, aortic clamping time was 115.70±15.23 min, mechanical ventilation time was 19.42±8.98 h, ICU stay was 99.08±49.42 h, and postoperative hospital stay was 16.33±2.74 d. Thoracic drainage volume was 333.33±91.98 mL on the first postoperative day. Only 2 patients required blood transfusion (4.5 U and 2 U, respectively). During the follow-up of 6.17±3.69 months, there was no death, no aortic or valve-related complications. There was statistical difference in the LVEDD between preoperation and before discharge after surgery (P＜0.001), and between half a year after surgery and before discharge after surgery (P＜0.001). There was a little decrease of LVEF before discharge after surgery compared with preoperative LVEF, but there was no statistical difference (P=0.219). There was no statistical difference in the LVEF half a year after operation compared with that before operation (P=1.000). Conclusion Sleeve wrapping technique using remnant aortic wall in modified Bentall procedure has good short-term results. This modification may be a simple, effective way in controlling proximal bleeding.

Epigenomic imbalance drives abnormal transcriptional processes,promoting the onset and progression of cancer.Although defective gene regulation generally affects carcinogenesis and tumor suppression networks,tumor immunogenicity and immune cells involved in antitumor responses may also be affected by epigenomic changes,which may have significant implications for the development and application of epigenetic therapy,cancer immunotherapy,and their combinations.Herein,we focus on the impact of epigenetic regulation on tumor immune cell function and the role of key abnormal epigenetic processes,DNA methylation,histone post-translational modification,and chromatin structure in tumor immunogenicity,and introduce these epigenetic research methods.We emphasize the value of small-molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modulators in enhancing antitumor immune responses and discuss the challenges of developing treatment plans that combine epigenetic therapy and immuno-therapy through the complex interaction between cancer epigenetics and cancer immunology.

Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus,which poses a serious risk to human health.People are generally susceptible to influenza virus.There is an international consensus that influ-enza vaccination is the most effective way to prevent and control influenza.In China,influenza vaccination is a non-immunization programme vaccine that is vaccinated voluntarily and at one's own expense.In some regions,immuni-zation policies are implemented for priority groups.In recent years,a number of health economic evaluations on in-fluenza vaccination have been conducted both at home and abroad,especially for key and high-risk populations such as pregnant women,children,elderly people aged ≥60 years old,people suffering from one or more chronic disea-ses,and health care workers.This paper analyzed the current status of researches on health economic evaluation of influenza vaccination through collating relevant literatures published at home and abroad in recent years,so as to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of influenza vaccination strategies in China.

Objective:To explore the dynamic changes of thrombosbondin-1(TSP-1)and transforming growth factor beta(TGF-β)in patients who underwent hepatectomy and their clinical value in predicting post-hepatectomy liver failure(PHLF).Methods:Clinical data of 113 patients who received hepatectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from Janu-ary 2016 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.The cohort comprised 59 males and 54 fe-males,with an average age of(41.00±13.98)years.According to the standard of the International Study Group of Liver Surgery(ISGLS),TSP-1 was divided into the PHLF group(n=40)and the non-PHLF group(n=73).The dynamic changes of plasma TSP-1 and TGF-β plasma levels during peri-operative period were observed.The definition and diagnostic criteria suggested by ISGLS was used to evaluate PHLF.The value of plasma TSP-1 and TGF-β level in predicting PHLF were ana-lyzed by calculating areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves(AUCs).Patients were divided into TSP-1 high group and TSP-1 low groups based upon the ROC cutoff values and their correlation with PHLF was analyzed.T test and Mann-Whitney rank sum test were performed to compare the TSP-1 and TGF-β levels between the two groups.The rate comparison was carried out by Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test.Results:In this study,40 patients experienced vary-ing degrees of PHLF.The plasma levels of TSP-1 on postoperative day I(POD1)and day 7(POD 7)in the PHLF group were significantly higher than those in the non-PHLF group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01,re-spectively).The area under the ROC curve of plasma TSP-1 level on postoperative 1 d in the diag-nosis of PHLF was 0.725,with sensitivity of 0.864 and specificity of 0.647.The area under the ROC curve of plasma TSP-1 level on postoperative 7 d in the diagnosis of PHLF was 0.81,with sensitiv-ity of 0.818 and specificity of 0.765.Conclusion:The incidence of PHLF is related to the extent of liver resection,Child-Pugh grade and TSP-1 levels on postoperative day 1.The concentration level of TSP-1 on POD land 7 might be utilized as an effective marker for predicting PHLF.