Objective To optimize the design of the existing water conductivity control system for pharmaceutical water equipment of full membrane process so as to solve its problems in precision and long cycle time due to water source,ambient temperature and intermittent working mode.Methods The optimized water conductivity control system was composed of an alkali metering pump,a conductivity sensor and a programmable logic controller(PLC),which used a fuzzy proportional-integral-derivative(PID)controller to regulate the water conductivity of pharmaceutical water equipment of full membrane process,and the particle swarm optimization(PSO)algorithm to optimize the parameters of the fuzzy PID controller.A simulation model was established with MATLAB software to verify the performance of the optimized control system.Results Simulation results showed the optimized control system had reductions in overshoot(by 19％)and adjustment time(by 29％)when compared with the fuzzy PID control system,and enhanced control efficiency effectively.Conclusion The optimized control system optimized by the PSO algorithm improves the quality of produced water,and can meet the demands for rapid and safe production of pharmaceutical water by pharmaceutical water equipment of full membrane process in different conditions.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(6):14-19]

Objective To optimize the design of the existing water conductivity control system for pharmaceutical water equipment of full membrane process so as to solve its problems in precision and long cycle time due to water source,ambient temperature and intermittent working mode.Methods The optimized water conductivity control system was composed of an alkali metering pump,a conductivity sensor and a programmable logic controller(PLC),which used a fuzzy proportional-integral-derivative(PID)controller to regulate the water conductivity of pharmaceutical water equipment of full membrane process,and the particle swarm optimization(PSO)algorithm to optimize the parameters of the fuzzy PID controller.A simulation model was established with MATLAB software to verify the performance of the optimized control system.Results Simulation results showed the optimized control system had reductions in overshoot(by 19％)and adjustment time(by 29％)when compared with the fuzzy PID control system,and enhanced control efficiency effectively.Conclusion The optimized control system optimized by the PSO algorithm improves the quality of produced water,and can meet the demands for rapid and safe production of pharmaceutical water by pharmaceutical water equipment of full membrane process in different conditions.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(6):14-19]

Objective:To compare the therapeutic effect of ureteroscopy(RIRS)combined with fine needle ultra fine channel percutaneous nephrolithotomy(SMP)and microchannel percutaneous nephrolithotomy(MPCNL)in the treatment of complex kidney stones.Methods:100 patients with complex kidney stones who were admitted to our hospital from March 2022 to May 2024 were divided into control group of 50 cases and study group of 50 cases by using random number table method.The control group patients received MPCNL treatment,while the study group patients received fine needle SMP combined with RIRS treatment.The clinical indicators,pain status,inflammatory stress indicators,renal function indicators,and incidence of complications between the two groups were compared.Results:Surgical time in the study group was longer than that in the control group,the intraoperative blood loss was less than that of the control group,the postoperative hospitalization time and time to get out of bed after surgery were shorter than those in the control group(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the success rate of stone removal between the two groups(P＞0.05).The visual analog pain scale(VAS)scores in the study group were lower than those in the control group at 6 h,24 h,and 48 h after surgery(P＜0.05).Serum procalcitonin(PCT),high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),cortisol(Cor),norepinephrine(NE),urea nitrogen(BUN),serum creatinine(Scr),and cystatin C(Cys C)in the study group were lower than those in the control group at 3 d after surgery(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion:Compared with MPCNL treatment for complex kidney stones,fine needle SMP combined with RIRS can reduce intraoperative bleeding,shorten time to get out of bed and hospitalization time,alleviate inflammatory stress response,and reduce damage to kidney function and postoperative pain without increasing the incidence of complications.

Objective:To explore a selective resection strategy for combined lumbosacral hemivertebra (LSHV) and thoracolumbar hemivertebra/lumbar hemivertebra (TLHV/LHV) double-balanced hemivertebra deformities.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 21 patients aged over 10 years with lumbosacral and thoracolumbar or lumbar combined hemimetameric segmental shift (HMMS) deformities who underwent surgery at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between May 2009 and October 2022. The cohort included 7 males and 14 females, with a mean surgical age of 21.5±10.9 years (range: 12-55 years) and a mean follow-up duration of 32.8±15.9 months (range: 24-74 months). Patients were divided into two groups based on preoperative coronal balance: the balanced group (Type A) and the unbalanced group (Type C). Radiographic parameters, including the major Cobb angle, lumbosacral take-off angle, kyphotic angle, coronal balance distance (CBD), and the deviation of the upper instrumented vertebra (UIV), were measured preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the final follow-up. Surgical complications were also recorded.Results:Of the 21 patients, 11 were classified as preoperatively balanced, and 10 as unbalanced. The deformity angular ratio of thoracolumbar to lumbosacral curves was significantly higher in the balanced group than in the unbalanced group (0.9±0.3 vs. 0.6±0.2; t=2.143, P=0.045). The preoperative main curve Cobb angles in the balanced and imbalanced groups were 71.3°±22.3° and 58.6°±8.2°, respectively. One week postoperatively, these angles were reduced to 38.4°±17.6° and 31.3°±5.6°, and were maintained at 40.0°±18.1° and 32.6°±5.6° at the final follow-up, all differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The preoperative lumbosacral take-off angles were 37.5°±9.1° in the balanced group and 36.7°±7.7° in the imbalanced group, which decreased to 18.4°±9.4° and 19.2°±5.5° at 1 week postoperatively, and remained at 19.4°±10.1° and 19.6°±5.8° at the final follow-up. These changes were also statistically significant ( P<0.05). In the balanced group, the UIV tilt angle, the CBD and the deviation of the UIV, were all significantly reduced compared to preoperative values ( P<0.05). Among the 21 patients, LSHV resection was performed in 15 cases, and TLHV/LHV resection was performed in 7 cases. Among the 15 patients with kyphosis, TLHV/LHV resection was performed in 6 cases. In the balanced group, 9 patients maintained type A postoperatively, including 4 patients with LSHV resection, 2 with TLHV/LHV resection, 2 with both LSHV and TLHV/LHV resection, 1 without resection of both hemivertebra. Two patients in the balanced group who underwent TLHV/LHV resection experienced postoperative deterioration to type C. In the unbalanced group, 8 cases with LSHV resection improved to type A, while 1 case with LSHV resection and 1 case with neither resection maintained C-type. In the LSHV resection group, CBD improved from 29.8±15.2 mm to 13.9±5.7 mm postoperatively and remained stable at 14.6±8.6 mm at final follow-up. Only 1 patient in this group experienced worsened coronal imbalance. In contrast, in the non-LSHV resection group, CBD worsened from 17.2 ± 8.7 mm to 19.7±12.1 mm postoperatively, progressing further to 20.5±13.0 mm at follow-up. Three patients in this group had worsening coronal imbalance, and 2 required revision surgery. Reported complications included 3 cases of internal fixation fracture, 1 case of proximal junctional kyphosis, and 1 case of acute incision infection. Conclusions:Effective resection of lumbosacral hemivertebrae is the preferred selective strategy, particularly for patients with preoperative coronal imbalance, as it significantly reduces the risk of worsening coronal imbalance and internal fixation-related complications. However, selective resection involving only TLHV or LHV without addressing LSHV in preoperatively balanced patients may increase the risk of postoperative coronal imbalance.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of SRS-Schwab grade 4 osteotomy and vertebral column resection (VCR) in the surgical correction of type II congenital kyphosis (CK).Methods:A retrospective review was conducted on clinical and radiographic data from patients with type II CK who underwent corrective surgery at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between June 2008 and December 2021. Patients were divided into two groups based on the osteotomy technique employed: the VCR group (21cases) and the SRS-Schwab grade 4 osteotomy group (19 cases). Clinical parameters, including operative duration, estimated blood loss (EBL), number of segmentation failure levels, number of fused segments, and the use of anterior support cages, were compared between groups. Radiographic parameters included the number of segmentation fusion and measurements of segmental kyphosis (SK) preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the final follow-up. The degree and rate of SK correction were also calculated and compared. Complications such as neurophysiological monitoring events, neurological injury, implant breakage, proximal junctional kyphosis/lordosis (PJK/PJL), sagittal translation (ST), and implant failure were recorded. Additionally, SRS-22 questionnaire scores were assessed preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the latest follow-up.Results:A total of 40 patients were included, with a mean follow-up duration of 48.96±21.31 months (range, 24-96 months). Compared to the SRS-Schwab group, the VCR group had significantly more levels of segmentation defect (3.85±0.79 vs. 2.68±0.54), required more fused segments (8.00±2.23 vs. 5.47±2.04), had longer operative time (358.71±77.06 min vs. 212.52±77.05 min), and greater EBL (963.66±278.49 ml vs. 698.94±222.20 ml), all with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in local kyphotic angle, correction magnitude, or correction rate between groups postoperatively (P>0.05). Among patients with ≤48 months of follow-up, the SRS-Schwab group showed significantly lower SK (13.00°±16.28° vs. 34.00°±21.37°) and a higher correction rate (82.52%±21.40% vs. 52.84%±24.67%) at final follow-up ( P<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in patients with >48 months of follow-up ( P>0.05), or in the overall cohort regardless of follow-up duration ( P>0.05). Complication rates were comparable between groups ( P>0.05). One neurophysiological monitoring event, 1 neurological injury, 3 cases of PJK, 1 case of PJL, 2 cases of ST, and 2 implant failures were observed in VCR group. The SRS-Schwab Grade 4 osteotomy group had 1 neurophysiological monitoring event, 1 neurological injury, 4 cases of PJK, 2 cases of ST, and 1 implant failure. The complication rates between the groups were not statistically different ( P>0.05). Both groups showed significant improvements in the self-image domain of the SRS-22 postoperatively and at the final follow-up ( P<0.05). In the function domain, both groups also demonstrated significant improvement at the final follow-up ( P<0.05), while the SRS-Schwab group showed earlier improvement at 3 months postoperatively ( P<0.05). Conclusions:SRS-Schwab grade 4 osteotomy provides comparable correction of segmental kyphosis to VCR but offers the advantages of significantly reduced blood loss and shorter operative time. Both surgical techniques effectively improve patients' quality of life.

Objective:To analyze the selection of internal fixation methods, surgical outcomes, and complications in patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) accompanied by dystrophic lumbosacral deformities, and to evaluate the indications for pelvic fixation.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 21 patients with NF1 and associated dystrophic lumbosacral malformations (L 4 to sacrum) who underwent spinal deformity correction surgery at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2009 to November 2022. The cohort included 11 males and 10 females, with a mean surgical age of 15.4±4.7 years (range, 7-24 years). Patients were divided into two groups based on whether pelvic fixation was performed: 10 patients in the non-pelvic fixation group (NP group) and 11 in the pelvic fixation group (P group), where fixation involved second sacral alar-iliac (S 2AI) screws or iliac screws. Radiographic parameters, including the Cobb angle of the lumbosacral fractional curve, main curve, and focal kyphosis, were compared preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the last follow-up. Results:The NP group had a significantly lower mean age (13.2±4.9 years) compared to the P group (17.5±3.5 years; t=2.287, P=0.034). Spinal instability (rotational subluxation or spondylolisthesis) due to dystrophic changes was observed in 2 patients in the NP group and 8 in the P group, a statistically significant difference (χ 2=5.838, P=0.030). In the P group, five patients underwent unilateral fixation and six underwent bilateral fixation. Implant types included 2 cases with iliac screws, 1 case with iliac screws plus S 2AI, and 8 cases with S 2AI screws alone. The utilization rate of hooks was significantly higher in the NP group (12.6%±11.5%) compared to the P group (3.5%±6.9%; t=2.230, P=0.038). The preoperative Cobb angle of the lumbosacral fractional curve was significantly smaller in the NP group (13.8°±9.0°) than in the P group (25.5°±13.9°; t=2.228, P=0.039). Postoperatively, the angles were corrected to 6.3°±6.1° and 6.4°±5.3°, respectively ( t=0.901, P=0.969), with correction rates of 57.3%±13.6% and 74.1%±17.8% ( t=2.369, P=0.029). At final follow-up, the angles remained stable (6.6°±6.6° vs. 6.3°±4.8°; t=0.116, P=0.909). For the main curve, preoperative Cobb angles were 52.5°±15.1° (NP) and 61.1°±16.9° (P; t=1.200, P=0.246), corrected to 31.3°±13.8° and 28.0°±8.4°, respectively ( t=0.646, P=0.526). Correction rates were 41.3%±13.0% in the NP group and 53.2%±11.6% in the P group ( t=2.206, P=0.037). At the final follow-up, these values were 32.4°±14.2° and 31.7°±10.3° ( t=0.133, P=0.896). Focal kyphosis, seen in 9 patients, was corrected from 19.7°±10.9° preoperatively to -13.6°±9.5° postoperatively, and remained at -14.1°±9.6° at the final follow-up ( F=33.547, P<0.001). Multi-rod systems were used in 6 cases (NP group) and 7 cases (P group), with no significant difference (χ 2=0.153, P=0.926). Two patients in the NP group developed coronal decompensation three years postoperatively, and one required revision surgery. In the P group, rod breakage occurred in 3 patients, two of whom underwent revision. Conclusions:Dystrophic rotational subluxation or spondylolisthesis of the lumbosacral spine is a primary indication for pelvic fixation in patients with NF1-associated deformities. However, complications related to internal fixation remain common. The combined use of a multi-rod screw-hook hybrid system, particularly when extending across the lumbosacral region, may reduce the risk of instrumentation failure.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of vertebral cement augmentation (VCA) at upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) and UIV+1 in preventing proximal junction complications in correction surgery for adult spinal deformity patients. Methods: A literature search was conducted on Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases for comparative studies published before December 30th, 2024. Two reviewers independently screened eligible articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessed study quality with Newcastle-Ottawa scale, and extracted data like study characteristics, surgical details, primary and secondary outcomes. Data analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 and Stata software. Results: Of all 513 papers screened, a meta-analysis was conducted on 7 articles, which included 333 cases in the VCA group and 827 cases in the control group. Patients in the VCA group had significantly older age and lower T score than patients in the control group. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of proximal junctional failure between the 2 groups, the results of the meta-analysis showed that the incidence of proximal junctional failure and the need for revision surgery were reduced by 36% and 71%, respectively, in the VCA group. One study reported 2 clinically silent pulmonary cement embolism and 1 patient requiring surgical decompression for cement leak into the spinal canal. Conclusion This meta-analysis supported the use of VCA in corrective surgery for spinal deformities patients, especially in patients with advanced age and osteoporosis.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of vertebral cement augmentation (VCA) at upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) and UIV+1 in preventing proximal junction complications in correction surgery for adult spinal deformity patients. Methods: A literature search was conducted on Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases for comparative studies published before December 30th, 2024. Two reviewers independently screened eligible articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessed study quality with Newcastle-Ottawa scale, and extracted data like study characteristics, surgical details, primary and secondary outcomes. Data analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 and Stata software. Results: Of all 513 papers screened, a meta-analysis was conducted on 7 articles, which included 333 cases in the VCA group and 827 cases in the control group. Patients in the VCA group had significantly older age and lower T score than patients in the control group. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of proximal junctional failure between the 2 groups, the results of the meta-analysis showed that the incidence of proximal junctional failure and the need for revision surgery were reduced by 36% and 71%, respectively, in the VCA group. One study reported 2 clinically silent pulmonary cement embolism and 1 patient requiring surgical decompression for cement leak into the spinal canal. Conclusion This meta-analysis supported the use of VCA in corrective surgery for spinal deformities patients, especially in patients with advanced age and osteoporosis.

Objective:To compare the therapeutic effect of ureteroscopy(RIRS)combined with fine needle ultra fine channel percutaneous nephrolithotomy(SMP)and microchannel percutaneous nephrolithotomy(MPCNL)in the treatment of complex kidney stones.Methods:100 patients with complex kidney stones who were admitted to our hospital from March 2022 to May 2024 were divided into control group of 50 cases and study group of 50 cases by using random number table method.The control group patients received MPCNL treatment,while the study group patients received fine needle SMP combined with RIRS treatment.The clinical indicators,pain status,inflammatory stress indicators,renal function indicators,and incidence of complications between the two groups were compared.Results:Surgical time in the study group was longer than that in the control group,the intraoperative blood loss was less than that of the control group,the postoperative hospitalization time and time to get out of bed after surgery were shorter than those in the control group(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the success rate of stone removal between the two groups(P＞0.05).The visual analog pain scale(VAS)scores in the study group were lower than those in the control group at 6 h,24 h,and 48 h after surgery(P＜0.05).Serum procalcitonin(PCT),high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),cortisol(Cor),norepinephrine(NE),urea nitrogen(BUN),serum creatinine(Scr),and cystatin C(Cys C)in the study group were lower than those in the control group at 3 d after surgery(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion:Compared with MPCNL treatment for complex kidney stones,fine needle SMP combined with RIRS can reduce intraoperative bleeding,shorten time to get out of bed and hospitalization time,alleviate inflammatory stress response,and reduce damage to kidney function and postoperative pain without increasing the incidence of complications.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of vertebral cement augmentation (VCA) at upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) and UIV+1 in preventing proximal junction complications in correction surgery for adult spinal deformity patients. Methods: A literature search was conducted on Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases for comparative studies published before December 30th, 2024. Two reviewers independently screened eligible articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessed study quality with Newcastle-Ottawa scale, and extracted data like study characteristics, surgical details, primary and secondary outcomes. Data analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 and Stata software. Results: Of all 513 papers screened, a meta-analysis was conducted on 7 articles, which included 333 cases in the VCA group and 827 cases in the control group. Patients in the VCA group had significantly older age and lower T score than patients in the control group. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of proximal junctional failure between the 2 groups, the results of the meta-analysis showed that the incidence of proximal junctional failure and the need for revision surgery were reduced by 36% and 71%, respectively, in the VCA group. One study reported 2 clinically silent pulmonary cement embolism and 1 patient requiring surgical decompression for cement leak into the spinal canal. Conclusion This meta-analysis supported the use of VCA in corrective surgery for spinal deformities patients, especially in patients with advanced age and osteoporosis.