Background/Aims: Reflux symptoms frequently present in patients diagnosed with functional dyspepsia (FD). This investigation sought to elucidate the contribution of gastroesophageal reflux in the overlap relationship. Methods: Consecutive patients presenting with reflux symptoms and/or FD symptoms were prospectively included. Comprehensive assessments, including symptoms evaluation, endoscopy, esophageal functional examinations (high-resolution manometry and reflux monitoring), and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment efficacy evaluation, were conducted in these patients. Results: The study enrolled 315 patients, 43.2% of which had concurrent FD symptoms and overlapping reflux symptoms. Notably, a mere 28.7% of patients in the overlap symptoms group had objective gastroesophageal reflux disease evidences (the grade of esophagitis≥ B or the acid exposure time ≥ 4.2%). Functional heartburn was demonstrated to be the main cause of overlapping reflux symptoms(55.1%). Reflux parameters analysis revealed that the reflux burden in the overlap symptoms group paralleled that of the FD symptoms group, with both registering lower levels than the reflux symptoms group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, PPI response rates were notably diminished in the overlap symptoms group (P < 0.001), even for those with objective gastroesophageal reflux disease evidences. Conclusions The study illuminated that overlapping reflux symptoms in FD was common. Strikingly, these symptoms primarily diverged from reflux etiology and exhibited suboptimal responses to PPI intervention. These findings challenge prevailing paradigms and accentuate the imperative for nuanced therapeutic approaches tailored to the distinctive characteristics of overlapping reflux symptoms in the context of FD.

Background/Aims: Reflux symptoms frequently present in patients diagnosed with functional dyspepsia (FD). This investigation sought to elucidate the contribution of gastroesophageal reflux in the overlap relationship. Methods: Consecutive patients presenting with reflux symptoms and/or FD symptoms were prospectively included. Comprehensive assessments, including symptoms evaluation, endoscopy, esophageal functional examinations (high-resolution manometry and reflux monitoring), and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment efficacy evaluation, were conducted in these patients. Results: The study enrolled 315 patients, 43.2% of which had concurrent FD symptoms and overlapping reflux symptoms. Notably, a mere 28.7% of patients in the overlap symptoms group had objective gastroesophageal reflux disease evidences (the grade of esophagitis≥ B or the acid exposure time ≥ 4.2%). Functional heartburn was demonstrated to be the main cause of overlapping reflux symptoms(55.1%). Reflux parameters analysis revealed that the reflux burden in the overlap symptoms group paralleled that of the FD symptoms group, with both registering lower levels than the reflux symptoms group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, PPI response rates were notably diminished in the overlap symptoms group (P < 0.001), even for those with objective gastroesophageal reflux disease evidences. Conclusions The study illuminated that overlapping reflux symptoms in FD was common. Strikingly, these symptoms primarily diverged from reflux etiology and exhibited suboptimal responses to PPI intervention. These findings challenge prevailing paradigms and accentuate the imperative for nuanced therapeutic approaches tailored to the distinctive characteristics of overlapping reflux symptoms in the context of FD.

Background/Aims: Reflux symptoms frequently present in patients diagnosed with functional dyspepsia (FD). This investigation sought to elucidate the contribution of gastroesophageal reflux in the overlap relationship. Methods: Consecutive patients presenting with reflux symptoms and/or FD symptoms were prospectively included. Comprehensive assessments, including symptoms evaluation, endoscopy, esophageal functional examinations (high-resolution manometry and reflux monitoring), and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment efficacy evaluation, were conducted in these patients. Results: The study enrolled 315 patients, 43.2% of which had concurrent FD symptoms and overlapping reflux symptoms. Notably, a mere 28.7% of patients in the overlap symptoms group had objective gastroesophageal reflux disease evidences (the grade of esophagitis≥ B or the acid exposure time ≥ 4.2%). Functional heartburn was demonstrated to be the main cause of overlapping reflux symptoms(55.1%). Reflux parameters analysis revealed that the reflux burden in the overlap symptoms group paralleled that of the FD symptoms group, with both registering lower levels than the reflux symptoms group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, PPI response rates were notably diminished in the overlap symptoms group (P < 0.001), even for those with objective gastroesophageal reflux disease evidences. Conclusions The study illuminated that overlapping reflux symptoms in FD was common. Strikingly, these symptoms primarily diverged from reflux etiology and exhibited suboptimal responses to PPI intervention. These findings challenge prevailing paradigms and accentuate the imperative for nuanced therapeutic approaches tailored to the distinctive characteristics of overlapping reflux symptoms in the context of FD.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors of Mycoplasma pneumoniae（MP）lobar pneumonia with plastic bronchitis（PB）in pediatric patients，and to establish a risk nomogram prediction model.Methods:The medical informations were collected from pediatric patients diagnosed with MP lobar pneumonia who performed bronchoscopy during hospitalization in the Department of Pediatrics at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from April 2023 to December 2023.According to the bronchoscopic findings，the patients were divided into PB group and non-PB group.The clinical medical records and ancillary diagnostic findings were retrospectively analyzed.A multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors for children with MP lobar pneumonia complicated with PB.A nomogram model was constructed to predict the risk of PB occurrence. Calibration curves and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test were used to evaluate the predictive value of the nomogram model for MP lobar pneumonia with PB. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the diagnostic efficacy.Results:A total of 357 pediatric patients diagnosed with MP lobar pneumonia were included，with 92 cases in PB group and 265 cases in non-PB group. No statistically significant differences in gender and age were observed between the two groups（ P>0.05）.The duration of fever and the hospitalization time in PB group were longer than those in non-PB group. The incidences of pleural effusion，consolidation area of a single lung lobe ≥2/3 and atelectasis on chest CT were higher in PB group compared to non-PB group. Additionally,the levels of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio，C-reactive protein，procalcitonin，D-dimer（D-D），alanine aminotransferase(ALT)，aspartate aminotransferase，lactate dehydrogenase，α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase，interferon-γ（IFN-γ），interleukin（IL）-6，IL-10 and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in PB group were higher than those in non-PB group（all P<0.05）.Logistic regression analysis showed elevated D-D, ALT and IFN-γ, pleural effusion and consolidation area of a single lung lobe ≥2/3 were independent risk factors for PB.The nomogram prediction model constructed by the model demonstrated good goodness-of-fit (χ 2=11.316， P=0.184) and provided significant clinical net benefits within a risk threshold range of 0.09–0.65. The area under the ROC curve for combined prediction was 0.771（95% CI 0.716-0.826），with a sensitivity of 0.707 and specificity of 0.706. Conclusion:In children with MP lobar pneumonia, elevated laboratory markers (D-D, ALT, IFN-γ) and imaging features (pleural effusion, consolidation area of a single lung lobe ≥2/3) are critical predictors for early diagnosis of PB.The nomogram prediction model can be used to predict MP lobar pneumonia with PB in early stage.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors of Mycoplasma pneumoniae（MP）lobar pneumonia with plastic bronchitis（PB）in pediatric patients，and to establish a risk nomogram prediction model.Methods:The medical informations were collected from pediatric patients diagnosed with MP lobar pneumonia who performed bronchoscopy during hospitalization in the Department of Pediatrics at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from April 2023 to December 2023.According to the bronchoscopic findings，the patients were divided into PB group and non-PB group.The clinical medical records and ancillary diagnostic findings were retrospectively analyzed.A multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors for children with MP lobar pneumonia complicated with PB.A nomogram model was constructed to predict the risk of PB occurrence. Calibration curves and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test were used to evaluate the predictive value of the nomogram model for MP lobar pneumonia with PB. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the diagnostic efficacy.Results:A total of 357 pediatric patients diagnosed with MP lobar pneumonia were included，with 92 cases in PB group and 265 cases in non-PB group. No statistically significant differences in gender and age were observed between the two groups（ P>0.05）.The duration of fever and the hospitalization time in PB group were longer than those in non-PB group. The incidences of pleural effusion，consolidation area of a single lung lobe ≥2/3 and atelectasis on chest CT were higher in PB group compared to non-PB group. Additionally,the levels of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio，C-reactive protein，procalcitonin，D-dimer（D-D），alanine aminotransferase(ALT)，aspartate aminotransferase，lactate dehydrogenase，α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase，interferon-γ（IFN-γ），interleukin（IL）-6，IL-10 and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in PB group were higher than those in non-PB group（all P<0.05）.Logistic regression analysis showed elevated D-D, ALT and IFN-γ, pleural effusion and consolidation area of a single lung lobe ≥2/3 were independent risk factors for PB.The nomogram prediction model constructed by the model demonstrated good goodness-of-fit (χ 2=11.316， P=0.184) and provided significant clinical net benefits within a risk threshold range of 0.09–0.65. The area under the ROC curve for combined prediction was 0.771（95% CI 0.716-0.826），with a sensitivity of 0.707 and specificity of 0.706. Conclusion:In children with MP lobar pneumonia, elevated laboratory markers (D-D, ALT, IFN-γ) and imaging features (pleural effusion, consolidation area of a single lung lobe ≥2/3) are critical predictors for early diagnosis of PB.The nomogram prediction model can be used to predict MP lobar pneumonia with PB in early stage.

The patient,a male newborn,was admitted to the hospital 2 hours after birth due to prematurity(gestational age 27+5 weeks)and respiratory distress occurring 2 hours postnatally.After admission,the infant developed fever and elevated C-reactive protein levels.On the fourth day after birth,metagenomic next-generation sequencing of cerebrospinal fluid indicated a positive result for Mycoplasma hominis(9 898 reads).On the eighth day,a retest of cerebrospinal fluid metagenomics confirmed Mycoplasma hominis(56 806 reads).The diagnosis of purulent meningitis caused by Mycoplasma hominis was established,and the antibiotic treatment was switched to moxifloxacin[5 mg/(kg·day)]administered intravenously for a total of 4 weeks.After treatment,the patient's cerebrospinal fluid tests returned to normal,and he was discharged as cured on the 76th day after birth.This article focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal Mycoplasma hominis purulent meningitis,introducing the multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of the condition in extremely preterm infants.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(4):432-436]

The process of semen collection plays a key role in the quality of semen specimens. However, the association between semen collection time and semen quality is still unclear. In this study, ejaculates by masturbation from 746 subfertile men or healthy men who underwent semen analysis were examined. The median (interquartile range) semen collection time for all participants was 7.0 (5.0-11.0) min, and the median time taken for semen collection was lower in healthy men than that in subfertile men (6.0 min vs 7.0 min). An increase in the time required to produce semen samples was associated with poorer semen quality. Among those undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART), the miscarriage rate was positively correlated with the semen collection time. After adjusting for confounders, the highest quartile (Q4) of collection time was negatively associated with semen volume and sperm concentration. A longer time to produce semen samples (Q3 and Q4) was negatively correlated with progressive and total sperm motility. In addition, there was a significant negative linear association between the semen collection time and the sperm morphology. Higher risks of asthenozoospermia (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-3.25, P = 0.002) and teratozoospermia (adjusted OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.10-3.55, P = 0.02) were observed in Q3 than those in Q1. Our results indicate that a higher risk of abnormal semen parameter values was associated with an increase in time for semen collection, which may be related to male fertility through its association with semen quality.
Male ; Humans ; Semen Analysis ; Semen ; Sperm Motility ; Sperm Count ; Asthenozoospermia ; Spermatozoa

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the risk factors for neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture and establish a nomogram model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with 613 cases of neonatal asphyxia treated in 20 cooperative hospitals in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture from January to December 2019 as the asphyxia group, and 988 randomly selected non-asphyxia neonates born and admitted to the neonatology department of these hospitals during the same period as the control group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors for neonatal asphyxia. R software (4.2.2) was used to establish a nomogram model. Receiver operator characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis were used to assess the discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia, respectively. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that minority (Tujia), male sex, premature birth, congenital malformations, abnormal fetal position, intrauterine distress, maternal occupation as a farmer, education level below high school, fewer than 9 prenatal check-ups, threatened abortion, abnormal umbilical cord, abnormal amniotic fluid, placenta previa, abruptio placentae, emergency caesarean section, and assisted delivery were independent risk factors for neonatal asphyxia (P<0.05). The area under the curve of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia based on these risk factors was 0.748 (95%CI: 0.723-0.772). The calibration curve indicated high accuracy of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia. The decision curve analysis showed that the model could provide a higher net benefit for neonates at risk of asphyxia. CONCLUSIONS The risk factors for neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture are multifactorial, and the nomogram model based on these factors has good value in predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia, which can help clinicians identify neonates at high risk of asphyxia early, and reduce the incidence of neonatal asphyxia.
Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Nomograms ; Retrospective Studies ; Cesarean Section ; Risk Factors ; Asphyxia Neonatorum/etiology*

Objective:To analyze the fail mode of neoadjuvant therapy combined with surgery for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after long-term follow-up.Methods:Clinical data of consecutive 238 patients with locally advanced resectable ESCC who underwent neoadjuvant therapy combined with surgery in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from September 2012 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The failure mode in the whole cohort was analyzed after long-term follow-up. The overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) rates were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. Survival differences were determined by log-rank test.Results:The pathological complete response (pCR) rate was 42.0% in 238 patients. After a median follow-up of 46.1 months, tumor progression occurred in 96 patients (40.3%), including 25 patients (10.5%) with local recurrence, 61 patients (25.6%) with distant metastases, and 10 patients (4.2%) with simultaneous local recurrence and distant metastases. The median OS and DFS were 64.7 months and 49.9 months. And the 3-, 5-, and 7-year OS and DFS rates were 70.0%, 52.8%, 36.4% and 63.5%, 42.5%, and 30.0%, respectively. The 3-, 5-, and 7-year locoregional recurrence-free survival rates and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 86.0%, 71.4%, 61.2% and 70.6%, 55.9%, 43.0%. Compared with non-pCR patients, the overall progression rate and distant metastasis rate of pCR patients were lower (26.0% vs. 50.7%, 16.0% vs. 32.6%, both P<0.05). And the 3-, 5-, and 7-year OS (83.0% vs. 60.2%, 69.7% vs. 41.7%, 50.4% vs. 27.7%, all P<0.001) and DFS rates (80.4% vs. 51.4%, 63.9% vs. 31.2%, 45.9% vs. 20.3%, all P<0.001) were significantly better in pCR patients. Conclusions:Distant metastasis is the main failure mode of patients with locally advanced ESCC after neoadjuvant therapy. Patients with postoperative pCR can achieve better long-term survival.

Genetic risk factors have been shown to contribute to the development of sexual dysfunction. However, the role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene variants in the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) remains unclear. In this study, we recruited 1254 participants who underwent ED assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function-5. The MTHFR c.677C>T variant was also measured by fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR). No significant difference in the genotypic frequency of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism (CC, CT, and TT) was observed between men from the ED and non-ED groups. In addition, on binary logistic regression analysis, both crude and adjusted models showed that the risk of ED was not significantly associated with the C677T polymorphism. Interestingly, a significantly higher frequency of the 677TT polymorphism was found in severe and moderate ED (P = 0.02). The positive correlation between the MTHFR 677TT polymorphism and severe ED was confirmed by logistic regression analysis, even after adjusting for potential confounders (odds ratio [OR] = 2.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-5.50, P = 0.02). These findings suggest a positive correlation between the MTHFR 677TT polymorphism and the risk of severe ED. Identification of MTHFR gene polymorphisms may provide complementary information for ED patients during routine clinical diagnosis.