Background::Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and diameter, stiffness, and wave reflections, are independent and important clinical biomarkers and risk predictors for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the present study was to establish nationwide reference values of carotid properties for healthy Chinese adults and to explore potential clinical determinants.Methods::A total of 3053 healthy Han Chinese adults (1922 women) aged 18-79 years were enrolled at 28 collaborating tertiary centers throughout China between April 2021 and July 2022. The real-time tracking of common carotid artery walls was achieved by the radio frequency (RF) ultrasound system. The IMT, diameter, compliance coefficient, β stiffness, local pulse wave velocity (PWV), local systolic blood pressure, augmented pressure (AP), and augmentation index (AIx) were then automatically measured and reported. Data were stratified by age groups and sex. The relationships between age and carotid property parameters were analyzed by Jonckheere-Terpstra test and simple linear regressions. The major clinical determinants of carotid properties were identified by Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and analyses of covariance.Results::All the parameters of carotid properties demonstrated significantly age-related trajectories. Women showed thinner IMT, smaller carotid diameter, larger AP, and AIx than men. The β stiffness and PWV were significantly higher in men than women before forties, but the differences reversed after that. The increase rate of carotid IMT (5.5 μm/year in women and 5.8 μm/year in men) and diameter (0.03 mm/year in both men and women) were similar between men and women. For the stiffness and wave reflections, women showed significantly larger age-related variations than men as demonstrated by steeper regression slopes (all P for age by sex interaction <0.05). The blood pressures, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride levels were identified as major clinical determinants of carotid properties with adjustment of age and sex. Conclusions::The age- and sex-specific reference values of carotid properties measured by RF ultrasound for healthy Chinese adults were established. The blood pressures, BMI, and triglyceride levels should be considered for clinical application of corresponding reference values.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether nighttime elective surgery influenced the short-term outcomes and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Methods: The 1,339 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy were divided into the daytime surgery group (8 a.m.–6 p.m., n = 1,105) and the nighttime surgery group (after 6 p.m., n = 234) based on the start time of surgery. The 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used to control confounding factors. The short-term outcomes of HCC patients in the 2 groups were compared before and after PSM. Factors associated with major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade, ≥III) and textbook oncologic outcomes (TOO) were separately identified by multivariable logistic regression based on variables screened via least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results: TOO was achieved after surgery in 897 HCC patients. HCC patients in the nighttime surgery group had a higher body mass index (P = 0.010). After 1:2 PSM, the baseline characteristics of patients between the 2 groups were similar. Short-term outcomes in HCC patients were comparable both before and after PSM (all Ps > 0.05), as were TOO in the 2 groups before (P = 0.673) and after PSM (P = 0.333). In our LASSO-logistic regression, nighttime surgery was not an independent factor associated with major complications or TOO. Both groups also had similar OS (P = 0.950) and RFS (P = 0.740) after PSM. Conclusion Our study revealed the safety of nighttime elective hepatectomy for HCC patients.

To compare the efficacy, safety and economic cost of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided puncture sclerotherapy and laparoscopic decapitation decompression for the renal cysts in the upper pole, data of patients with renal cysts in the upper pole who received EUS-guided puncture sclerotherapy (the EUS group, n=9) or laparoscopic decapitation decompression (the laparoscopy group, n=16) in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2021 to August 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. The effective rate, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incidence of complications, hospital stay and treatment cost of the EUS group and the laparoscopy group were compared. Results showed that the effective rate was comparable in the EUS group and laparoscopy group (9/9 VS 14/16, P=0.520). The operation time was shorter (29.8±4.8 min VS 70.1±11.1 min, t=10.207, P<0.001), intraoperative blood loss less (0 mL VS 26.1±5.9 mL, t=13.089, P<0.001), postoperative hospital stay shorter (3.5±0.7 days VS 5.4±2.0 days, t=2.663, P=0.014), and total cost lower (10 547.85±2 388.19 yuan VS 15 316.09±5 352.45 yuan, t=2.517, P=0.019) in the EUS group compared with those in the laparoscopy group. There was no significant difference in the total hospital stay (8.1±2.0 days VS 9.3±3.1 days, t=1.019, P=0.319) or operation cost (3 946.79±490.82 yuan VS 3 860.18±857.42 yuan, t=-0.277, P=0.784) between the EUS group and laparoscopy group. There was 1 case of puncture bleeding, 1 case of hematuria, and 1 case of lumbago in the laparoscopy group, while no complication occurred in the EUS group. In conclusion, it is preliminarily believed that EUS-guided puncture sclerotherapy for renal cysts in the upper pole has similar clinical effects with higher safety, shorter postoperative hospital stay and lower total hospitalization cost compared with those of laparoscopic decapitation decompression, which is worth of clinical promotion.

Objective To investigate effects of human postures on flow characteristics of iliac vein compression syndrome. Methods The numerical model of iliac vein was reconstructed from CT images of a typical patient with pelvic-type iliac vein compression syndrome with collateral veins. Based on the computational fluid dynamics method, the non-Newtonian model and the porous media model were adopted to describe effects of abnormal structures on blood flow and acquire the wall shear stress and pressure of iliac vein. The discrete phase model was used to study the residence conditions of erythrocytes under three human postures. Results The pressure gradient at two ends of the compressive region was lowest under lying state, while the iliac vein showed a high pressure under sitting and walking states. The local maximum wall shear stresses under three postures were found at narrow segment of the collateral vein and convergence region of two flows of right iliac vein. The maximum shear stress was largest under lying state and smallest under sitting state. The blood residence time of 52.2 s in the left iliac vein was the longest under sitting state. The residence time of 14.8 s was shortest under lying state. The blood residence time was 23.8 s under walking state. Conclusions Porous media model used to simulate the effect of abnormal structures was highly consistent with the angiography data. The venous hypertension under sitting and walking states was consistent with the clinical results, and the lying state could relieve the hypertensive condition. In terms of wall shear stress and blood residence time in iliac vein, the continual change between three human postures would cause endothelial damage and blood flow stasis alternately, thus increase the risk of thrombosis.

Objective: To explore the effects of porcine acellular dermal matrix (ADM) combined with human epidermal stem cells (ESCs) on wound healing of full-thickness skin defect in nude mice. Methods: The morphology of porcine ADM was analyzed by photograph of digital camera, the cell residues in porcine ADM were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, the surface structure of porcine ADM was observed by scanning electron microscope, the secondary structure of porcine ADM was analyzed by infrared spectrometer, the porcine ADM particle size was analyzed by dynamic light scattering particle size analyzer, and the porcine ADM potential was analyzed by nano-particle size potentiometer. The morphology of porcine ADM was observed by inverted fluorescence microscope when it was placed in culture medium for 30 min, 1 d, and 5 d (n=2). The porcine ADM was divided into 5 min group, 10 min group, 20 min group, 30 min group, 60 min group, and 120 min group according to the random number table (the same grouping method below) in static state at normal temperature for the corresponding time to calculate the water absorption by weighing method (n=3). Swiss white mouse embryonic fibroblasts (Fbs) were divided into blank control group (culture medium only), and 50.0 g/L ADM extract group, 37.5 g/L ADM extract group, 25.0 g/L ADM extract group, 12.5 g/L ADM extract group, and 6.5 g/L ADM extract group which were added with the corresponding final concentrations of ADM extract respectively. At post culture hour (PCH) 24, 48, and 72, the cell survival rate was detected by cell counting kit 8 and the cytotoxicity was graded (n=5). The erythrocytes of a 6-week-old male Sprague-Dawley male rat were divided into normal saline group, ultra-pure water group, and 5 mg/mL ADM extract group, 10 mg/mL ADM extract group, and 15 mg/mL ADM extract group which were treated with the corresponding final concentrations of porcine ADM extract respectively. After reaction for 3 h, the absorbance value of hemoglobin was detected by microplate reader to represent the blood compatibility of porcine ADM (n=3). ESCs were isolated and cultured from the discarded prepuce of a 6-year-old healthy boy who was treated in the Department of Urology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (the Third Military Medical University) in July 2020, and then identified by flow cytometry. The porcine ADM particles of composite ESC (hereinafter referred to as ESC/ADM) were constructed by mixed culture. After 3 days of culture, the composite effect of ESC/ADM was observed by HE staining and laser scanning confocal microscope. Thirty-six 7-8-week-old male non-thymic nude mice were divided into phosphate buffer solution (PBS) alone group, ADM alone group, ESC alone group, and ESC/ADM group, with 9 mice in each group, and the wound model of full-thickness skin defect was established. Immediately after injury, the wounds were treated with the corresponding reagents at one time. On post injury day (PID) 1, 7, 11, and 15, the wound healing was observed and the wound healing rate was counted (n=3). On PID 7, the epithelialization of wounds was observed by HE staining and the length of un-epithelialized wound was measured (with this and the following sample numbers of 4). On PID 11, the dermal area and collagen deposition of wounds were observed by Masson staining and the dermal area of wound section was calculated, the number of cells expressing CD49f, a specific marker of ESC, was calculated with immunofluorescence staining, the mRNA expression of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in ESC after wound transplantation was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Data were statistically analyzed with independent sample t test, one-way analysis of variance, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, and least significant difference t test. Results: The porcine ADM was white particles and composed of reticular structure, with no cells inside, disordered structure, and rough surface. The absorption peak of porcine ADM appeared at the wave numbers of 1 659, 1 549, and 1 239 cm^-1, respectively. The main particle size distribution of porcine ADM in solution was 500 to 700 nm, with negative charge on the surface. The morphology of porcine ADM in static state at 30 min and on 1 and 5 d was relatively stable. The water absorption of porcine ADM remained relatively high level in static state from 30 min to 120 min. The cytotoxicity of mouse embryonic Fbs in 6.5 g/L ADM extract group, 12.5 g/L ADM extract group, and 25.0 g/L ADM extract group was grade 1 at PCH 24, and the cytotoxicity of the other groups was 0 grade at each time point. After reaction for 3 h, the absorbance value of hemoglobin of erythrocytes in ultra-pure water group was significantly higher than the values in normal saline group and 15 mg/mL ADM extract group (with t values of 8.14 and 7.96, respectively, P<0.01). After 3 days of culture, the cells of the fourth passage showed pebble-like morphology, with low expression of CD71 and high expression of CD49f, which were identified as ESCs. There was ESC attachment and growth on porcine ADM particles. On PID 1, the wound sizes of nude mice were almost the same in PBS alone group, ADM alone group, ESC alone group, and ESC/ADM group. On PID 7, 11, and 15, the wound contraction of nude mice in each group was observed, especially in ADM alone group, ESC alone group, and ESC/ADM group. On PID 7, the wound healing rates of nude mice in ESC alone group and ESC/ADM group were significantly higher than the rate in PBS alone group (with t values of 2.83 and 4.72 respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01). On PID 11, the wound healing rate of nude mice in ESC/ADM group was significantly higher than that in PBS alone group (t=4.86, P<0.01). On PID 15, the wound healing rates of nude mice in ADM alone group, ESC alone group, and ESC/ADM group were significantly higher than the rate in PBS alone group (with t values of 2.71, 2.90, and 3.23 respectively, P<0.05). On PID 7, the length of un-epithelialized wound of nude mice in ADM alone group, ESC alone group, and ESC/ADM group was (816±85), (635±66), and (163±32) μm, respectively, which were significantly shorter than (1 199±43) μm in PBS alone group (with t values of 5.69, 10.19, and 27.54 respectively, P<0.01). On PID 11, the dermal areas of wound section of nude mice in ADM alone group, ESC alone group, and ESC/ADM group were significantly larger than the area in PBS alone group (with t values of 27.14, 5.29, and 15.90 respectively, P<0.01); the collagen production of nude mice in ADM alone group and ESC/ADM group was more obvious than that in PBS alone group, and the collagen production of nude mice in ESC alone group and PBS alone group was similar. On PID 11, in the wounds of nude mice in ESC alone group and ESC/ADM group, the cells with positive expression of CD49f were respectively 135±7 and 185±15, and the mRNA expressions of GAPDH were positive; while there were no expressions of CD49f nor mRNA of GAPDH in the wounds of nude mice in PBS alone group and ADM alone group. Conclusions: ESC/ADM particles can promote the wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in nude mice, which may be related to the improved survival rate of ESCs after transplantation and the promotion of dermal structure rearrangement and angiogenesis by ADM.
Acellular Dermis ; Animals ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; Swine ; Wound Healing

Objective:To investigate the effects of deep learning-based AiContour ??versus atlas-based Raystation ?? automatic contouring methods on the contouring of organs-at-risk on CT images of patients with rectal cancer who undergo radiotherapy, providing evidence for clinical application. Methods:Fifty patients with rectal cancer who received treatment during January to June 2020 in Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College) were included in this study. The CT images from 20 patients with rectal cancer that had been contoured by experienced radiotherapist were selected as target images and automatically contoured using the data template library of AiContour ?? and Raystation ?? automatic contouring methods. Hausdorff distance, mean distance to agreement, dice similarity coefficient, Jaccard coefficient were used to quantitatively evaluate the accuracy of the volume of contour of organs-at-risk automatically sketched by the two methods. Results:There was no significant difference in Hausdorff distance in left femoral head [(6.81 ± 2.66) vs. (7.24 ± 2.10)], right femoral head [(7.38 ± 3.91) vs. (8.14 ± 3.71)], pelvis [(24.00 ± 9.01) vs. (24.66 ± 9.67)] between AiContour ?? and Raystation ?? automatic contouring methods ( tleft femoral head = -0.831, tright femoral head = -0.821, tpelvis = -0.357, all P > 0.05). Significant differences were observed in mean distance to agreement, dice similarity coefficient and Jaccard coefficient of organs-at-risk (all P < 0.05). The mean values of dice similarity coefficient automatically sketched by AiContour ?? method were > 0.7. The DSC of left kidney, right kidney, rectum and bladder automatically sketched by Raystation ?? method were < 0.7, and the dice similarity coefficient values of other organs-at-risk automatically sketched by Raystation ?? method were > 0.7. In addition, Hausdorff distance, mean distance to agreement and Jaccard coefficient values of organs-at-risk automatically sketched by AiContour ?? method were superior to those automatically sketched by Raystation ??. Conclusion:After slight modification, the organs-at-risk automatically sketched by AiContour ?? and Raystation ?? methods can meet clinical requirement. The contouring effects provided byAiContour ?? method were superior to those provided by Raystation ?? method.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect of calsurf, a domestic exogenous pulmonary surfactant, in the treatment of severe neonatal infectious pneumonia. METHODS: A total of 208 neonates with severe infectious pneumonia who hospitalized in 5 hospitals of China were enrolled. According to their parents' wishes on admission, these neonates were administered with conventional treatment (control group; n=81) and calsurf  treatment + conventional treatment (calsurf treatment group, n=127). The two groups were compared in terms of the degree of oxygen dependence on admission, blood gas parameters before and after treatment, lung ultrasound results, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, hospital costs, complications and prognosis. RESULTS: Compared with the control group on admission, the calsurf treatment group had significantly higher inhaled oxygen concentration and partial pressure of carbon dioxide and significantly lower arterial partial pressure of oxygen and oxygenation index (P<0.01). After 1 hour of treatment, both groups had significant improvements in the above indices (P<0.05), and the improvements were more significant in the calsurf treatment group (P<0.05). After 4-6 hours of calsurf administration, there was a significant reduction in the degree of pulmonary consolidation. The calsurf treatment group had significantly shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and length of hospital stay than the control group, while there was no significant difference in the incidence rate of complications between the two groups. The neonates of both groups had a good prognosis. CONCLUSIONS In neonates with severe infectious pneumonia, calsurf treatment can significantly improve oxygenation, reduce the degree of pulmonary consolidation, and shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and length of hospital stay. Therefore, it should be considered in neonates with severe infectious pneumonia.
China ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Pneumonia ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; Respiration, Artificial

Objective:To study the safety and efficacy of doxofylline for treating the patients with ticagrelor caused dyspnea.Methods:A total 172 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with ticagrelor caused dyspnea in our hospital from 2015-02 to 2016-07 were studied.The patients were divided into 2 groups:Intervention group,patients received doxofylline at 200 mg twice per day for 5 days and Control group,patients received placebo.n=86 in each group.Dyspnea remission rate of was recorded at 1 day after treatment;platelet aggregation rate before and after treatment,cardiac death,myocardial infarction (MI),stroke,bleeding and other adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events were compared at 6 month after treatment.Results:Compared with Control group,Intervention group had improved dyspnea remission rate at 1 day after treatment (93％ vs 63％),P＜0.05;platelet aggregation rate [before doxofylline application:(35.53±5.1)％ vs (35.16±4.6)％,after doxofylline application:(26.48±4.3)％ vs(25.98±4.7)％]adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events were similar between 2 groups before and after doxofylline application,P＞0.05.Conclusion:Doxofylline was effective for treating the patients with ticagrelor caused dyspnea,it does not affect platelet aggregation effect of ticagrelor.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of premature rupture of the membrane (PROM) on neonatal complications in premature infants.

METHODSThe registration information of 7684 preterm infants with gestational age <37 weeks were collected from the cooperative units in the task group between January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. Specially trained personnel from each cooperative units filled in the unified form in a standardized format to record the gender, gestational age, birth weight, PROM, placental abruption, antenatal corticosteroid, Apgar score, amniotic fluid pollution, and complications of the infants. The data were analyzed comparatively between the cases with PROM and those without (control).

RESULTSThe preterm mortality rate was significantly lower but the incidences of ICH, NEC, ROP and BPD were significantly higher in PROM group than in the control group (P<0.05). The 95% confidence interval of the OR value was <1 for mortality, and was >1 for ICH, NEC, ROP and BPD. After adjustment for gestational age, birth weight, gender, mode of delivery, placental abruption, placenta previa, prenatal hormones, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), gestational period hypertension and 5-min Apgar score <7, the incidences of NEC, ROP and BPD were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05) with 95% confidence interval of OR value >1, but the mortality rate and incidence of ICH were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONPROM is a risk factor for NEC, ROP and BPD in preterm infants, and adequate intervention of PROM can reduce the incidences of such complications as NEC, ROP and BPD in the infants.

Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture ; pathology ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; etiology ; Infant, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUNDStaphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) remains as an important microbial pathogen resulting in community and nosocomial acquired infections with significant morbidity and mortality. Few reports for S. aureus in lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) have been documented. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular epidemiology of S. aureus in LRTIs in China.

METHODSA multicenter study of the molecular epidemiology of S. aureus in LRTIs was conducted in 21 hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai and twelve other provinces from November 2007 to February 2009. All the collected S. aureus strains were classified as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), mecA gene, virulence genes Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) and γ-hemolysin (hlg), staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type, agr type, and Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST).

RESULTSTotally, nine methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and 29 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains were isolated after culture from a total of 2829 sputums or bronchoalveolar lavages. The majority of MRSA strains (22/29) had a MIC value of ≥ 512 µg/ml for cefoxitin. The mecA gene acting as the conservative gene was carried by all MRSA strains. PVL genes were detected in only one S. aureus strain (2.63%, 1/38). The hlg gene was detected in almost the all S. aureus (100% in MSSA and 96.56% in MRSA strains). About 75.86% of MRSA strains carried SCCmec III. Agr type 1 was predominant (78.95%) among the identified three agr types (agr types 1, 2, and 3). Totally, ten sequence type (ST) of S. aureus strains were detected. A new sequence type (ST1445) was found besides confirming ST239 as the major sequence type (60.53%). A dendrogram generated from our own MLST database showed all the bootstrap values ≤ 50%.

CONCLUSIONOur preliminary epidemiology data show SCCmec III, ST239 and agr type 1 of S. aureus as the predominant strains in LRTIs in Mainland of China.

Alleles ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; China ; epidemiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; genetics ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; Staphylococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; pathogenicity