1.Severity Assessment Parameters and Diagnostic Technologies of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Zhuo-Zhi FU ; Ya-Cen WU ; Mei-Xi LI ; Ping-Ping YIN ; Hai-Jun LIN ; Fu ZHANG ; Yu-Xiang YANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):147-161
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an increasingly widespread sleep-breathing disordered disease, and is an independent risk factor for many high-risk chronic diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, arrhythmias and diabetes, which is potentially fatal. The key to the prevention and treatment of OSA is early diagnosis and treatment, so the assessment and diagnostic technologies of OSA have become a research hotspot. This paper reviews the research progresses of severity assessment parameters and diagnostic technologies of OSA, and discusses their future development trends. In terms of severity assessment parameters of OSA, apnea hypopnea index (AHI), as the gold standard, together with the percentage of duration of apnea hypopnea (AH%), lowest oxygen saturation (LSpO2), heart rate variability (HRV), oxygen desaturation index (ODI) and the emerging biomarkers, constitute a multi-dimensional evaluation system. Specifically, the AHI, which measures the frequency of sleep respiratory events per hour, does not fully reflect the patients’ overall sleep quality or the extent of their daytime functional impairments. To address this limitation, the AH%, which measures the proportion of the entire sleep cycle affected by apneas and hypopneas, deepens our understanding of the impact on sleep quality. The LSpO2 plays a critical role in highlighting the potential severe hypoxic episodes during sleep, while the HRV offers a different perspective by analyzing the fluctuations in heart rate thereby revealing the activity of the autonomic nervous system. The ODI provides a direct and objective measure of patients’ nocturnal oxygenation stability by calculating the number of desaturation events per hour, and the biomarkers offers novel insights into the diagnosis and management of OSA, and fosters the development of more precise and tailored OSA therapeutic strategies. In terms of diagnostic techniques of OSA, the standardized questionnaire and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) is a simple and effective method for preliminary screening of OSA, and the polysomnography (PSG) which is based on recording multiple physiological signals stands for gold standard, but it has limitations of complex operations, high costs and inconvenience. As a convenient alternative, the home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) allows patients to monitor their sleep with simplified equipment in the comfort of their own homes, and the cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) offers a minimal version that simply analyzes the electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. As an emerging diagnostic technology of OSA, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) adeptly pinpoint respiratory incidents and expose delicate physiological changes, thus casting new light on the diagnostic approach to OSA. In addition, imaging examination utilizes detailed visual representations of the airway’s structure and assists in recognizing structural abnormalities that may result in obstructed airways, while sound monitoring technology records and analyzes snoring and breathing sounds to detect the condition subtly, and thus further expands our medical diagnostic toolkit. As for the future development directions, it can be predicted that interdisciplinary integrated researches, the construction of personalized diagnosis and treatment models, and the popularization of high-tech in clinical applications will become the development trends in the field of OSA evaluation and diagnosis.
2.Chinese expert consensus on the evaluation of allergen-specific immunotherapy outcomes(Wuhan, 2025).
Yuqin DENG ; Xi LUO ; Zhuofu LIU ; Shuguang SUN ; Jing YE ; Tiansheng WANG ; Jianjun CHEN ; Meiping LU ; Yin YAO ; Ying WANG ; Wei ZHOU ; Bei LIU ; Qingxiang ZENG ; Yuanteng XU ; Qintai YANG ; Yucheng YANG ; Feng LIU ; Chengli XU ; Yanan SUN ; Haiyu HONG ; Haibo YE ; Liqiang ZHANG ; Fenghong CHEN ; Huabin LI ; Hongtian WANG ; Yuncheng LI ; Wenlong LIU ; Yu XU ; Hongfei LOU
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(11):1075-1085
Allergen-specific immunotherapy(AIT) remains the only therapeutic approach with the potential to modify the natural course of allergic rhinitis(AR). Nevertheless, considerable inter-individual variability exists in patients'responses to AIT. To facilitate more reliable assessment of treatment efficacy, the China Rhinopathy Research Cooperation Group(CRRCG) convened young and middle-aged nasal experts in China to formulate the present consensus. The recommended subjective outcome measures for AIT comprise symptom scores, medication scores, combined symptom and medication scores, quality-of-life assessments, evaluation of disease control, and assessment of comorbidities. Objective indicators may supplement these measures. Currently available objective approaches include skin prick testing, nasal provocation testing, and allergen exposure chambers. However, these methods remain constrained by practical limitations and are not yet appropriate for routine implementation in clinical efficacy evaluation. In addition, several biomarkers, including sIgE and the sIgE/tIgE ratio, sIgG4, serum IgE-blocking activity, IgA, cytokines and chemokines, as well as immune cell surface molecules and their functional activity, have been shown to have associations with AIT outcomes. While these biomarkers may complement subjective assessments, they are subject to significant limitations. Consequently, large-scale multicenter trials and real-world evidence are required to strengthen the evidence base. The present consensus underscores the necessity of integrating patients'subjective experiences with objective testing throughout the treatment process, thereby providing a more comprehensive and accurate framework for efficacy evaluation. Looking forward, future investigations should prioritize the incorporation of multi-omics data and artificial intelligence methodologies, which hold promise for overcoming current limitations in assessment strategies and for advancing both the standardization and personalization of AIT.
Humans
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Allergens/immunology*
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China
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Consensus
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Desensitization, Immunologic
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Immunoglobulin E
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Quality of Life
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Rhinitis, Allergic/therapy*
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Treatment Outcome
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East Asian People
3.Susceptible Windows of Prenatal Ozone Exposure and Preterm Birth: A Hospital-Based Observational Study.
Rong Rong QU ; Dong Qin ZHANG ; Han Ying LI ; Jia Yin ZHI ; Yan Xi CHEN ; Ling CHAO ; Zhen Zhen LIANG ; Chen Guang ZHANG ; Wei Dong WU ; Jie SONG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):255-260
4.Effect and mechanism of high-glucose environment on osteoblast function and bone quality in mice
Zhi-Kang GUO ; Xue LI ; Rui WANG ; Xi-Xiu XIE ; Tao-Jin FENG ; Yi LI ; Peng-Bin YIN ; Li-Jun XU ; Li-Xia ZHANG
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(10):1306-1314
Objective To explore the effects of different glucose concentrations on the synthesis and secretion of bone collagen in osteoblasts and the impact of diabetes on bone quality in mice.Methods(1)Primary osteoblasts were extracted from the skulls of neonatal mice via collagenase digestion and cultured in four groups under different glucose concentrations:normal glucose(5.5 mmol/L),moderate glucose(11.5 mmol/L),moderate-high glucose(16.5 mmol/L),and high glucose(25 mmol/L).EdU staining was performed to evaluate cell proliferation,while the Transwell assay was used to assess cell migration.Immunofluorescence and Western blotting were performed to detect and quantitatively analyze the content of type Ⅰ collagen(Col-1).Alizarin red S(ARS)staining and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)staining were applied to assess the effects of different glucose concentrations on osteogenic differentiation.(2)Six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group and model group(5 in each group).The model group was fed a high-fat diet for 4 weeks followed by streptozotocin(STZ)injection to establish a diabetic mouse model.The osteogenic differentiation capacity of primary osteoblasts from both groups was assessed.(3)Micro-computed tomography(Micro-CT)was employed to analyze femoral bone mineral density(BMD),bone volume/tissue volume(BV/TV),trabecular number(Tb.N),and trabecular separation(Tb.Sp).Three-point bending test was conducted to evaluate mechanical parameters including maximum load,Young's modulus,fracture energy,and stiffness.RT-qPCR was employed to assess the expression of osteogenic differentiation genes(Alp,Opn,Col1a1,and Lox).Masson staining and Mallory staining were used to evaluate Col-1 content in trabecular bone.Results(1)EdU and Transwell assay results demonstrated that with the gradual increase in glucose concentration,the proliferation and migration abilities of osteoblasts were significantly decreased(P<0.001),and the protein expression levels of Col-1 and lysyl oxidase(LOX)were significantly reduced(P<0.01 or P<0.001).ARS and ALP staining revealed that calcium salt deposition and ALP activity in osteoblasts were significantly decreased with increasing glucose concentration(P<0.05 or P<0.001).(2)Compared with control group,mice in model group exhibited typical"three polies and one weight loss"symptoms(polyuria,polydipsia,polyphagia,and weight loss)of diabetes,and ARS and ALP staining showed a significant reduction in osteoblasts(P<0.001).(3)Micro-CT and three-point bending test results indicated that,compared with control group,mice in model group showed microarchitectural deterioration of bone,decreased Tb.N,increased Tb.Sp,and significantly reduced maximum load,Young's modulus,fracture energy,and stiffness(P<0.05).RT-qPCR results showed that the relative mRNA expression levels of osteogenic differentiation genes(Alp,Opn,Col1a1,and Lox)were significantly decreased in model group compared with control group(P<0.01 or P<0.001).Masson and Mallory staining indicated a significant reduction in collagen content in model group compared with control group(P<0.01).Conclusions High-glucose environment inhibits osteoblast proliferation,differentiation,and migration.Diabetic mice exhibit reduced bone quality and increased bone fragility,potentially mediated by decreased lysyl oxidase and collagen levels.
5.Analysis of the Characteristics of Rare Disease Outpatient Visits in a Children′s Hospital: A Single-Center Retrospective Study
Zhe LYU ; Kaichong JIANG ; Sha YIN ; Siyu FENG ; Ruiying MA ; Yanmin ZHANG
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2025;4(4):453-459
To analyze the characteristics of outpatient rare disease admissions at Xi′an Children′s Hospital based on the two batches of the China′s Rare Disease Catalogs. Based on the hospital information system, the outpatient visits of children with diseases included in the two batches of the rare disease catalogs from January 2018 to December 2023 at our center were retrieved and analyzed. A total of 93 602 outpatient visits of children with rare diseases were recorded, accounting for 0.71% of the total outpatient admissions during the same period. Among the diseases included in the two batches of the rare disease catalogs, 129 disease types were admitted, with a disease coverage rate of 62.32% (129/207). Specifically, 83 disease types (83/121, 68.60%) from the first batch of the catalog were admitted, with a total of 18 454 outpatient visits, showing an increasing trend year by year; 46 disease types (46/86, 53.49%) from the second batch of the catalog were admitted, with a total of 75 148 outpatient visits. The department of neurology admitted the most disease types, with a total of 54 types (54/207, 26.09%). Outpatient visits for single disease types exhibited multi-specialty characteristics, with 51.21% of the cases involving two or more specialties. Our center has admitted a relatively large number of children with rare diseases, covering most of the disease types that onset during childhood in the two batches of catalogs. There are obvious multi-specialty characteristics in outpatient admissions. The study results can provide data support for further optimizing the outpatient admission process for children with rare diseases and reasonably setting up multidisciplinary outpatient services.
6.Exploration of antidepressant effect and mechanism of icariside Ⅱ based on GABAergic nervous system
Tingwang XIONG ; Jue ZHANG ; Chengxin SUN ; Caixia YIN ; Xi CHEN ; Faju CHEN
China Pharmacy 2024;35(2):145-149
OBJECTIVE To explore the antidepressant effect and potential mechanism of icariside Ⅱ (ICSⅡ) based on the GABAergic nervous system. METHODS The male Kunming mice were randomly divided into a control group (group C, 10 mice) and a modeling group (50 mice). The depression model was induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) method in the modeling group. After 21 days of stimulation, the rats of modeling group were randomly divided into depression model group (NS group), positive control group [ECS group, oxalate escitalopram 15 mg/(kg·d)] and ICSⅡ low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups [ICSⅡ-L group, ICSⅡ-M group, ICSⅡ-H group; ICSⅡ 10, 20, 30 mg/(kg·d)], with 10 mice in each group. Administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically, once a day, for 14 consecutive days. The sugar water preference rate, total exercise distance, immobility time in tail suspension and forced swimming experiments were detected in each group. The morphology of neurons and Nissl bodies in the hippocampal CA3 region were observed; the contents of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamic acid (Glu), GABA/Glu ratio, and the expressions of GABAergic nervous system-related proteins (GABA A receptor α1, GABA B receptor 1, vesicular GABA transporter, glutamate decarboxylase 67, GABA membranal transporter 3) were detected in hippocampus. RESULTS Compared with group C, the sugar water preference rate and the total exercise distance significantly reduced in NS group, while the values of immobility time in the tail suspension test and forced swimming test were significantly prolonged (P<0.05). The morphology of neurons in the CA3 area of the hippocampus was irregular and the Nissl bodies were reduced, with a significant decrease in the number of structurally intact neurons (P<0.05); the content of Glu was significantly increased, while the content of GABA, GABA/Glu ratio, and the expressions of GABAergic nervous system-related proteins were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with NS group, depression behavior in each administration group was improved, and the above indexes were mostly reversed (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS ICSⅡ can improve depression behavior of depression model mice. The mechanisms may be associated with regulating the balance of GABA and Glu, increasing the synthesis, transport and release of GABA, and regulating the expressions of GABA-related receptors, so as to improve GABAergic nervous system.
7.Clinical Observation of Shengmaisan Combined with Polymyxin B in Treatment of Sepsis Complicated with Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Yu ZHANG ; Qingfeng CHEN ; Xi YIN ; Xiaoyue WANG ; Zhaokui DENG ; Shan SHI ; Xiaohui LU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(12):129-135
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of Shengmaisan combined with polymyxin B in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacillus infection with sepsis complicated with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. MethodA total of 90 patients suffering from carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacillus infection with sepsis complicated with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, with 45 cases in each group. The control group was treated with polymyxin B, and the observation group was treated with Shengmaisan combined with polymyxin B. The treatment course of both groups was seven days. The infection-related indicators [white blood cell (WBC) count, procalcitonin (PCT), neutrophil apolipoprotein (HNL)], inflammatory factors [interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum chemokine ligand 2 (CXCL2)], and T lymphocyte subpopulations (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/ CD8+ value), acute physiological and chronic health Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score before and after treatment, as well as bacterial clearance rate and 28-day survival rate after treatment were observed. Result① The experiment was completed, and 81 cases were included, including 41 cases in the observation group and 40 cases in the control group. The general data of the two groups were comparable. ② The bacterial clearance rate of the observation group and the control group was 75.6% (31/41) and 52.5% (21/40), respectively, and the observation group was higher than the control group (χ2=4.7, P<0.05). ③ The WBC count, PCT, HNL, IL-6, CXCL2, and APACHE Ⅱ scores of the observation group and the control group all decreased after treatment (P<0.05). Except for the WBC count, the PCT, HNL, IL-6, CXCL2, and APACHE Ⅱ scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). ④ The values of CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ in the observation group were increased after treatment (P<0.05), and CD8+ was decreased (P<0.05). In the control group, only CD3+ value was increased (P<0.05). The values of CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the value of CD8+ was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). ⑤ The 28-day survival rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (χ2=4.3, P<0.05). ConclusionShengmaisan combined with polymyxin B in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacillus infection with sepsis complicated with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome can better clear bacteria, control infection, reduce the level of inflammatory factors, regulate the immune state of the body, and improve the short-term prognosis.
8.Expression of enolase and laminin in the vagina of bacterial vaginosis of mice
Rui Zhang ; Yiqing Wu ; Haixu Yin ; Chang Li ; Aixin Ma ; Junzhu Wang ; Huihui Bai ; Zhaohui Liu ; Qinping Liao
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(11):1939-1943
Objective:
To investigate the differences in enolase and laminin levels in vaginal epithelial tissues between mice successfully infected withGardnerellaand mice not infected with Gardnerella, providing information for further exploration of the correlation between enolase and laminin levels and the incidence of bacterial vaginosis.
Methods:
Gardnerella strains isolated, purified, and identified from vaginal secretions of patients with bacterial vaginosis were used to infect the vagina of mice and establish a mouse model of bacterial vaginosis. Successful and failed mice was defined as successful and failed groups, respectively. Differential expression of enolase and laminin in the vaginal epithelial tissue of two groups of mice was detected by Western blot. Modeling success rate was statistically analyzed, and the expression differences of enolase and laminin was compared between two groups.
Results:
One strain of Gardnerella vaginalis infected 10 SPF grade KM mice, 7 mice met the diagnostic criteria for bacterial vaginosis, and 3 mice failed to model, with a success rate of 70%. Western blot was used to detect protein expression levels, and the levels of laminin and enolase in the successfully modeled mouse vaginal epithelial tissue were significantly higher than those in the failed modeling group, with statistical differences between the two groups(P<0.05).
Conclusion
Enolase and laminin may be involved in the occurrence of bacterial vaginosis, however, further research is needed to determine the mechanisms through which they trigger the occurrence and development of the disease.
9.Clinical Manifestations,Molecular Genetics and Gonadal Pathology of 416 Patients with Disorders of Sex Development:A Single-Center Cohort Study
Wanjun LIN ; Cuili LIANG ; Wen FU ; Liyu ZHANG ; Wei JIA ; Jinhua HU ; Wen ZHANG ; Yunting LIN ; Huilin NIU ; Liping FAN ; Zhikun LU ; Duan LI ; Zongcai LIU ; Huiying SHENG ; Xi YIN ; Xiaodan CHEN ; Guochang LIU ; Jing CHENG ; Li LIU
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2024;3(3):310-317
Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations,molecular genetics and gonadal pathol-ogy characteristics of patients with disorders of sex development(DSD),and to summarize the clinical experi-ence of identifying rare diseases from common symptoms.Methods The clinical data of 416 patients with DSD diagnosed and treated in the multidisciplinary center of DSD of Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Cen-ter from May 2018 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed,summarized and discussed.Results Accord-ing to chromosome karyotype,416 cases of DSD were classified into three types:92 cases(22.1%)of abnormal sex chromosome karyotype,285 cases(68.5%)of 46,XY karyotype and 39 cases(9.4%)of 46,XX karyotype.Among the 92 patients with abnormal sex chromosome karyotype,59 cases were raised as males,18 cases(30.5%)complained of short penis with hypospadias and cryptorchidism.The most common karyotype was 45,X/46,XY(58 cases,63.0%).Among the 285 patients with 46,XY karyotype,238 cases were raised as males,and 63 cases(26.5%)complained of short penis and hypospadias;47 cases were raised as females,and 13 ca-ses(27.7%)complained of inguinal mass.A total of 216 patients with 46,XY karyotype were subjected to whole exome gene detection,and 155 cases(71.8%)were found to have molecular pathogenesis with the clinical phe-notype.Among the 39 patients with 46,XX karyotype,19 cases were raised as males,and 8 cases(42.1%)com-plained of short penis and hypospadias.In the 18 cases of gonad biopsy,17 cases showed testicular tissue in go-nads.Whole exome sequencing was performed in 14 cases.NR5A1 gene heterozygous mutation,SRY gene muta-tion and SOX3 gene mutation were found in 2 cases,respectively(14.3%).Twenty cases were raised as females,and 14 cases(70.0%)complained of clitoral hypertrophy.Gonad biopsy was performed in 8 cases,with 7 cases of ovotestis(87.5%)and 1 case of NR5A1 gene heterozygous mutation(14.3%).Conclusions The etiologies of DSD are complex and diverse,and the clinical manifestations are various,which can be manifested as hypospa-dias,micropenis,cryptorchidism and other common symptoms of the urinary system.Different etiologies have dif-ferent treatment options.Therefore,chromosome karyotype,molecular genetic testing and gonadal pathology can be used to clarify the cause of disease,especially for rare diseases,improve the detection rate,reduce the rate of missed diagnosis,and ensure reasonable treatment,especially sex selection.
10.The application effect of a new type of laparoscopic multi-freedom surgical instrument in the training of basic surgical skills
Zhida CHEN ; Jianhan YIN ; Yi LIU ; Tingting LU ; Gan ZHANG ; Xiaoyu DONG ; Xiaohui DU ; Hongqing XI
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2024;62(11):1045-1053
Objective:To evaluate the application effect of a new type of laparoscopic multi-degree-of-freedom surgical instrument in the training of basic surgical skills and analyze the learning curve.Methods:The teaching records of the trainees who received training in the training base of laparoscopic surgeons in Chinese People′s Liberation Army General Hospital from January to October, 2023 were collected. The 50 trainees were randomly divided into conventional instrumentation group and new instrumentation group with 25 trainees in each group according to the random number table method before the training. According to the research design, five modules such as "accurate bean clamping, plum blossom pile bean clamping, ferrule positioning, threading with both hands, sewing and knotting" were trained. After the training, they were assessed and the completion time of each module was recorded. The comparison of the changes of the completion time of the two groups of students before and after training was statistically analyzed by differences-in-differences(DID) method, and the fitting analysis of learning curve was analyzed by cumulative summation method .Results:Before the training, there was no statistically significant difference in the time required to complete five modules between the two groups of trainees (all P>0.05). After the training, the time to complete the five modules in both groups was reduced compared to before the training (accurate bean clamping: (63.7±9.3) seconds vs. (85.4±18.2) seconds, t=2.38, P=0.035; plum blossom pile bean clamping: (45.2±6.8) seconds vs. (103.1±57.2) seconds, t=8.77, P=0.047; ring positioning: (78.5±19.1) seconds vs. (126.2±26.3) seconds, t=6.96, P=0.019; threading with both hands: (63.3±21.2) seconds vs. (105.8±27.9) seconds, t=3.43, P=0.015; sewing and knotting: (160.2±79.5) seconds vs. (228.9±96.6) seconds, t=4.58, P=0.008).The average time required to complete the five modules was shorter in the new instrument group compared to the conventional instrument group (DID for accurate bean clamping=37.66, t=2.43, P=0.007; DID for plum blossom pile bean clamping=58.42, t=3.03, P=0.013; DID for ferrule positioning=28.33, t=2.83, P=0.031; DID for threading with both hands=48.89, t=2.10, P=0.042; DID for sewing and knotting=54.78, t=3.57, P=0.012). In the learning curves for the plum blossom pile bean clamping, ferrule positioning, and sewing and knotting modules, the new instrument group required fewer class hours to reach proficiency compared to the conventional instrument group (plum blossom pile bean clamping: 3 class hours vs. 4 class hours; ferrule positioning: 4 class hours vs. 5 class hours; sewing and knotting: 3 class hours vs. 5 class hours). In the accurate bean clamping and threading with both hands modules, both the conventional and new instrument groups crossed the learning curve at the 5 th class hour, but there was a statistically significant difference in the slopes of the curves between the two groups (accurate bean clamping: t=-2.85, P=0.004; threading with both hands: t=-2.66, P=0.008). Conclusion:The new type of laparoscopic multi-degree-of-freedom surgical instruments can improve the learning effect and shorten the learning curve in laparoscopic training teaching, which shows good application effect and has the possibility of clinical trial.


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