Objective:To evaluate the anesthetic effect of remazolam when combined with sufentanil in elderly patients with liver cirrhosis and esophageal and gastric varices undergoing endoscopic sclerotherapy.Methods:A total of 150 cirrhotic patients with liver cirrhosis and esophageal and gastric varices, regardless of gender, aged 65-80 yr, with body mass index of 18-24 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅱor Ⅲ, who underwent endoscopic sclerotherapy under non-intubated general anesthesia from March 2022 to September 2023 in our hospital, were selected and divided into 2 groups ( n=75 each) by a random number table method: sufentanil plus propofol group (PS group) and sufentanil plus remazolam group (RS group). Anesthesia was induced with intravenous propofol 1-2 mg/kg and sufentanil 0.1 μg/kg and maintained by intravenous infusion of propofol 4-10 mg·kg -1·h -1 in PS group. Anesthesia was induced with intravenous remimazolam 0.1-0.2 mg/kg and sufentanil 0.1 μg/kg and was maintained with intravenous infusion of remimazolam 0.5-2.0 mg·kg -1·h -1 in RS group. BIS values were maintained between 40 and 60 during operation in both groups. Endoscopy was placed when the patients lost consciousness (modified observer′s assessment of alertness/sedation score ≤1). Sclerosing agent laurosinol injection was injected into esophageal submucosal varices in both groups. The time to loss of consciousness and recovery of consciousness, intraoperative body movement and cardiovascular events, and postoperative hypoxemia and nausea and vomiting were recorded. The operator-patient satisfaction was assessed by the visual analogue scale. Results:Compared with PS group, no significant changes were found in the incidence of intraoperative bradycardia, time to loss of consciousness and time to recovery of consciousness( P>0.05), the incidence of intraoperative hypotension was significantly decreased, the incidence of postoperative hypoxemia and nausea and vomiting was decreased, and the satisfaction scores for operators and patients were increased in RS group ( P<0.05). No obvious body movement was found in the two groups. Conclusions:Sufentanil combined with remifentanil provides better anesthetic effect than sufentanil combined with propofol in elderly patients with esophageal and gastric varices undergoing endoscopic sclerotherapy.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score and screw loosening after dynamic pedicle screw fixation with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) rods, and evaluate its predictive value. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the patients who underwent dynamic pedicle screw fixation with PEEK rods from March 2017 to June 2022. Data on age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia history, long-term smoking, alcohol consumption, VBQ score, L1–4 average Hounsfield unit (HU) value, surgical fixation length, and the lowest instrumented vertebra were collected. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between VBQ score and pedicle screw loosening (PSL). Results: A total of 24 patients experienced PSL after surgery (20.5%). PSL group and non-PSL group showed statistical differences in age, number of fixed segments, fixation to the sacrum, L1–4 average HU value, and VBQ score (p < 0.05). The VBQ score in the PSL group was higher than that in the non-PSL group (3.56 ± 0.45 vs. 2.77 ± 0.31, p < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, VBQ score (odds ratio, 3.425; 95% confidence interval, 1.552–8.279) were identified as independent risk factors for screw loosening. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for VBQ score predicting PSL was 0.819 (p < 0.05), with the optimal threshold of 3.15 (sensitivity, 83.1%; specificity, 80.5%). Conclusion The VBQ score can independently predict postoperative screw loosening in patients undergoing lumbar dynamic pedicle screw fixation with PEEK rods, and its predictive value is comparable to HU value.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score and screw loosening after dynamic pedicle screw fixation with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) rods, and evaluate its predictive value. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the patients who underwent dynamic pedicle screw fixation with PEEK rods from March 2017 to June 2022. Data on age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia history, long-term smoking, alcohol consumption, VBQ score, L1–4 average Hounsfield unit (HU) value, surgical fixation length, and the lowest instrumented vertebra were collected. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between VBQ score and pedicle screw loosening (PSL). Results: A total of 24 patients experienced PSL after surgery (20.5%). PSL group and non-PSL group showed statistical differences in age, number of fixed segments, fixation to the sacrum, L1–4 average HU value, and VBQ score (p < 0.05). The VBQ score in the PSL group was higher than that in the non-PSL group (3.56 ± 0.45 vs. 2.77 ± 0.31, p < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, VBQ score (odds ratio, 3.425; 95% confidence interval, 1.552–8.279) were identified as independent risk factors for screw loosening. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for VBQ score predicting PSL was 0.819 (p < 0.05), with the optimal threshold of 3.15 (sensitivity, 83.1%; specificity, 80.5%). Conclusion The VBQ score can independently predict postoperative screw loosening in patients undergoing lumbar dynamic pedicle screw fixation with PEEK rods, and its predictive value is comparable to HU value.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score and screw loosening after dynamic pedicle screw fixation with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) rods, and evaluate its predictive value. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the patients who underwent dynamic pedicle screw fixation with PEEK rods from March 2017 to June 2022. Data on age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia history, long-term smoking, alcohol consumption, VBQ score, L1–4 average Hounsfield unit (HU) value, surgical fixation length, and the lowest instrumented vertebra were collected. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between VBQ score and pedicle screw loosening (PSL). Results: A total of 24 patients experienced PSL after surgery (20.5%). PSL group and non-PSL group showed statistical differences in age, number of fixed segments, fixation to the sacrum, L1–4 average HU value, and VBQ score (p < 0.05). The VBQ score in the PSL group was higher than that in the non-PSL group (3.56 ± 0.45 vs. 2.77 ± 0.31, p < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, VBQ score (odds ratio, 3.425; 95% confidence interval, 1.552–8.279) were identified as independent risk factors for screw loosening. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for VBQ score predicting PSL was 0.819 (p < 0.05), with the optimal threshold of 3.15 (sensitivity, 83.1%; specificity, 80.5%). Conclusion The VBQ score can independently predict postoperative screw loosening in patients undergoing lumbar dynamic pedicle screw fixation with PEEK rods, and its predictive value is comparable to HU value.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score and screw loosening after dynamic pedicle screw fixation with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) rods, and evaluate its predictive value. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the patients who underwent dynamic pedicle screw fixation with PEEK rods from March 2017 to June 2022. Data on age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia history, long-term smoking, alcohol consumption, VBQ score, L1–4 average Hounsfield unit (HU) value, surgical fixation length, and the lowest instrumented vertebra were collected. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between VBQ score and pedicle screw loosening (PSL). Results: A total of 24 patients experienced PSL after surgery (20.5%). PSL group and non-PSL group showed statistical differences in age, number of fixed segments, fixation to the sacrum, L1–4 average HU value, and VBQ score (p < 0.05). The VBQ score in the PSL group was higher than that in the non-PSL group (3.56 ± 0.45 vs. 2.77 ± 0.31, p < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, VBQ score (odds ratio, 3.425; 95% confidence interval, 1.552–8.279) were identified as independent risk factors for screw loosening. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for VBQ score predicting PSL was 0.819 (p < 0.05), with the optimal threshold of 3.15 (sensitivity, 83.1%; specificity, 80.5%). Conclusion The VBQ score can independently predict postoperative screw loosening in patients undergoing lumbar dynamic pedicle screw fixation with PEEK rods, and its predictive value is comparable to HU value.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score and screw loosening after dynamic pedicle screw fixation with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) rods, and evaluate its predictive value. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the patients who underwent dynamic pedicle screw fixation with PEEK rods from March 2017 to June 2022. Data on age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia history, long-term smoking, alcohol consumption, VBQ score, L1–4 average Hounsfield unit (HU) value, surgical fixation length, and the lowest instrumented vertebra were collected. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between VBQ score and pedicle screw loosening (PSL). Results: A total of 24 patients experienced PSL after surgery (20.5%). PSL group and non-PSL group showed statistical differences in age, number of fixed segments, fixation to the sacrum, L1–4 average HU value, and VBQ score (p < 0.05). The VBQ score in the PSL group was higher than that in the non-PSL group (3.56 ± 0.45 vs. 2.77 ± 0.31, p < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, VBQ score (odds ratio, 3.425; 95% confidence interval, 1.552–8.279) were identified as independent risk factors for screw loosening. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for VBQ score predicting PSL was 0.819 (p < 0.05), with the optimal threshold of 3.15 (sensitivity, 83.1%; specificity, 80.5%). Conclusion The VBQ score can independently predict postoperative screw loosening in patients undergoing lumbar dynamic pedicle screw fixation with PEEK rods, and its predictive value is comparable to HU value.

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of combined determination of Model for End-Stage Liver Disease （MELD） score， albumin-bilirubin （ALBI） score， and β2-microglobulin in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis with acute kidney injury （AKI）. MethodsClinical data were collected from 258 patients with liver cirrhosis who attended The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from October 2019 to October 2022， and according to the presence or absence of AKI， they were divided into AKI group with 117 patients and non-AKI group with 141 patients. The changes in each index were compared between the two groups and between the patients with different stages of kidney injury. The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups； the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison between multiple groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve was plotted to evaluate the efficacy of each index in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis with AKI. ResultsCompared with the non-AKI group， the AKI group had significantly higher age （t=2.307， P=0.022）， proportion of patients with hepatic encephalopathy （χ²=18.064， P<0.001） or with spontaneous peritonitis （χ²=16.397， P<0.001）， mortality rate （χ²=45.251， P<0.001）， levels of creatinine （Z=-8.737， P<0.001） and β2-microglobulin （Z=-8.829， P<0.001）， and scores of CTP （Z=-4.058， P<0.001）， ALBI （t=2.563， P=0.011）， and MELD （Z=-5.628， P<0.001）， as well as a significantly shorter length of hospital stay （Z=-3.391， P=0.001）. There were significant differences in creatinine， β2-microglobulin， MELD score， and ALBI score between the patients with stage 1， 2 or 3 AKI （P<0.05）， while there was no significant difference in CTP score between these three groups （P>0.05）. The combined determination of ALBI score， MELD score， and β2-microglobulin had an area under the ROC curve （AUC） of 0.837 （95% confidence interval ［CI］： 0.782 — 0.892）， with a sensitivity of 75.2% and a specificity of 90.8%； ALBI score combined with MELD score had an AUC of 0.700 （95%CI： 0.636 — 0.764）， ALBI score combined with β2 microglobulin had an AUC of 0.823 （95%CI： 0.765 — 0.881）， and MELD combined with and β2 microglobulin had an AUC of 0.835 （95%CI： 0.779 — 0.890）， suggesting that combined determination of ALBI score， MELD score， and β2-microglobulin had a better diagnostic efficacy than ALBI score， MELD score， or β2-microglobulin used alone or in pairs， as well as a better diagnostic efficacy than creatinine. ConclusionCombined determination of ALBI score， MELD score， and β2-microglobulin has a relatively high value in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis with AKI.