BACKGROUND:The calcaneus is located in the lower posterior part of the foot and is heavily stressed.Calcaneus is complex and irregular in shape,surrounded by thin cortical bone and filled with a large number of trabeculae.The study of the microstructure,movement,and distribution of trabeculae is helpful to improve the understanding of calcaneus fracture. OBJECTIVE:The image data of calcaneus were obtained by scanning the calcaneus specimens with micro-computed tomography,and the structure of trabecular bone in calcaneus was analyzed to explore the morphology,distribution and structural characteristics of trabecular bone in calcaneus. METHODS:Dry adult calcaneus specimens were continuously scanned by micro-computed tomography,and the images were obtained after scanning and stored in DICOM format.Image data were imported into Hiscan Analyzer software to display clear and complete images of the sagittal plane,coronal plane,and the horizontal plane of the adult calcaneus.The trabecular movement of bone was observed layer by layer.According to the trabecular movement characteristics,the sagittal plane of the calcaneus was divided into six parts.A 49-mm2 region of interest was selected for each part at the same thickness as 7 mm.The three-dimensional microstructure of calcaneus and trabecular bone was obtained after three-dimensional reconstruction.After binarization,the volume fraction,surface density,trabecular thickness,trabecular space,and trabecular number parameters of the trabecular bone in the region of interest were calculated by software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The cortical layer of the calcaneus was very thin and filled with a large amount of cancellous bone,and the cortical layer of the horn of Gissane was obviously thickened.(2)The trabecular volume fraction in the upper part of the calcaneus was greater than that in the anterior part of the lower part of the calcaneus,the central triangle,the posterior part of the lower part of the calcaneus,and the base of the calcaneus,and the trabecular volume fraction in the tubercle of the calcaneus was greater than that in the anterior part of the lower part of the calcaneus,the central triangle,the posterior part of the lower part of the calcaneus,and the base of the calcaneus.The surface density of the trabecular bone in the tubercle of the calcaneus was higher than that in the front of the lower calcaneus,the middle triangle area,and the bottom of calcaneus,and the surface density of the trabecular bone in the upper part of calcaneal bone,and the lower part of the calcaneus was higher than that in the middle triangle area.The thickness of the trabecular bone in the upper part of the calcaneus was greater than that in the tubercle of the calcaneal bone.The bone trabecular space in the middle triangle was larger than that in the upper part of the calcaneus and calcaneal tubercles.The number of bone trabeculae in the calcaneal tubercles was greater than that in the middle triangle area.(3)These results indicate that the trabeculae of rod bone were mainly distributed in the middle triangle area.The surface density of trabeculae was the smallest,the volume fraction was smaller,and the space between trabeculae was the largest.This part of the bone is relatively loose.The compression resistance is poor when subjected to high impact.The trabecular bone fractures first occur,which is a prone site for fractures.

Objective:To correlate blood lipids and body mass index (BMI) with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection. Methods:A total of 303 participants who underwent physical examinations at The 903 Hospital of PLA Joint Logistics Support Force from May 2022 to May 2023 were included in this case-control study. These patients were divided into an Hp-infected group ( n = 97) and a non-Hp-infected group ( n = 206) based on whether they had Hp infection or not. Participants' body height and weight were recorded, and BMI was calculated. The levels of four blood lipid indicators were determined using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The distribution of different BMIs and abnormal statuses of these four blood lipid indicators were compared between the two groups. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between Hp infection and these four blood lipid indicators. A multivariate logistic regression model was applied to analyze the influential factors for Hp infection. Results:The number of participants who had 24 kg/m 2 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m 2 [39.17% (38/97)] and the number of participants who had BMI ≥ 28 kg/m 2 [10.31% (10/97)] in the Hp-infected group was significantly higher than those in the non-Hp-infected group [19.90% (41/206) and 2.43% (5/206), χ2 = 12.71, 7.11, P < 0.001, 0.008]. The decrease rate of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), increase rate of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), increase rate of triglyceride (TG), and increase rate of total cholesterol (TC) in the Hp-infected group were 23.71% (23/97), 31.96% (31/97), 17.53% (17/97), and 22.68% (22/97), respectively, which were significantly higher than 9.22% (19/206), 11.17% (23/206), 7.28% (15/206), and 8.74% (18/206) in the non-Hp-infected group ( χ2 = 11.59, 19.47, 7.33, 11.19, P = 0.001, < 0.001, 0.007, 0.001). The Spearman analysis showed that Hp infection was linearly positively correlated with BMI, LDL-C, TG, and TC ( r = 0.571, 0.519, 0.473, 0.535, all P < 0.001), while it was linearly negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r = -0.628, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that BMI ≥ 24 kg/m 2, decreased HDL-C, increased LDL-C, elevated TG, and elevated TC are independent risk factors for Hp infection. Conclusion:Blood lipids and BMI are closely associated with Hp infection, and abnormal blood lipids and elevated BMI are independent risk factors for Hp infection.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and endoscopic surgical procedures of the second branchial cleft cyst type Ⅳ in children.Methods:A retrospective review was conducted on 15 pediatric cases with type Ⅳ second branchial cleft cysts treated at the Beijing Children′s Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University and Henan Children′s Hospital from September 2019 to November 2023. All patients underwent excision via a two-person, three-hand endoscopic transoral approach. The cohort included 12 males and 3 females, with an age range of 10 months to 10 years and 5 months, and a median age of (59.20±32.05) months. The clinical data of initial symptoms, sides, imaging features, treatment methods, complications, length of hospital stay, prognosis and outcome were recorded and analyzed. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results:Of the 15 children, 13 cases presented with snoring as the primary symptom, 1 case with dysphagia, and 1 case was asymptomatic and was found unintentionally. The mean disease duration was (6.74±9.05) months (range, from 3 days-2 years). MRI revealed cystic lesions on the right side in 12 cases and on the left side in 3 cases, characterized by uniform long T2 signal, equal T1 or short T1 signal. The cysts appeared dumbbell-shaped in 10 cases with the pharyngeal constrictor muscle as the waist, the posterior outside of the mass was adjacent to the internal carotid artery. The remaining 5 cases showed an isolated cyst located inside the pharyngeal constrictor muscle. The intraoperative MRI findings were consistent. Partial cystectomy was performed in 10 cases near the internal carotid artery, leaving only the portion with a clear arterial pulse intact. Five cases with isolated cysts on the medial side of the pharyngeal constrictor muscle were totally removed. The average length of hospital stay was (4.53±0.52) days (4-5 days). All patients were followed up for 7-56 months [median (30±15.12) months] with no recurrence of symptoms observed.Conclusions:The second branchial cleft cyst type Ⅳ in children is characterized by prominent pharyngeal cystic mass, with snoring as a predominant initial symptom, MRI provides excellent diagnostic value. The two-person, third-hand endoscopic transoral approach for cyst excision is feasible, safe, and offers the benefits of minimal invasiveness and reduced hospitalization time.

Objective:To investigate the pathogenesis, clinical signs and diagnosing procedures of relapsing polychondritis(RP) in children with airway involvement.Methods:The medical history, clinical symptoms, physical examination, electronic laryngoscopy and imaging findings of six patients were retrospectively analyzed. The patients diagnosed as relapsing polychondritis with involving the airway from January 2018 to December 2021 were in our hospital. The clinical features of the 6 cases were summarized.Results:All 6 patients were male, ranging in age from 8 years 1 month to 14 years 1 month, with a median age of 12.04 years. Stridor and dyspnea were observed in all patients, with hoarseness in 2 patients and frequently nocturnal dyspnea during sleep in 2 patients. Initially, all children were diagnosed as laryngitis or laryngotracheitis, and were treated symptomatically with glucocorticoids and aerosol inhalation. Immunosuppressants and targeted therapy with biologics were given after patients diagnosed as RP. All patients were ultimately required tracheostomy. The time from the onset of airway symptoms to tracheostomy ranged from 1 month to 27 months. Two children had a history of endotracheal intubation prior to tracheostomy. All 6 patients underwent electronic laryngoscopy, revealing involvement of the laryngeal and subglottic mucosa and cartilage structures, which showed gradual improvement with medical therapy. Computed tomography (CT) of the trachea with three-dimensional reconstruction was performed in all patients, demonstrating moderate to severe subglottic stenosis. Two patients exhibited complete airway obstruction at the C4-C6 cervical level. Three children underwent suspension laryngoscopy under general anesthesia and endotracheal mucosal biopsy.Of the 6 children, 3 presented with nasal tip collapse or saddle nose, 2 had auricular cartilage changed, and 1 had scleralinvolvement. One patient underwent PET-CT scanning, which revealed tracheal collapse, diffuse increase in FDG(Flurodeoxyglucose)metabolism with increased FDG uptake in the nasal alar regions. All children were followed up for 2-3 years, 1 child died, while the remaining five continued to receive medical treatment.Conclusions:Relapsing polychondritis with airway involvement has an insidious onset and is difficult to diagnose. The airway stenosisresulting from RP is always severe and necessitating tracheotomy to maintain airway patency in the majority of cases.The treatment coursef or RP is prolonged, requiring long-term tracheostomy tube placement.

Objective To evaluate the apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)values of different bone marrow infiltration patterns in multiple myeloma(MM)patients with MR whole-body diffusion weighted imaging(WB-DWI)and to determine the ADC thresholds for different bone marrow infiltration patterns.Methods Nineteen MM patients diagnosed for the first time were selected.The lesions types of each site(cervical spine,ribs,sternum,humerus,scapula,sacral spine,ilium,femur,thoracic spine,and lumbar spine)after the WB-DWI images were visually evaluated,which were divided into focal group(including focal lesion in combined focal and diffuse infiltration)[region of interest(ROI)=141],pure diffuse infiltration group(ROI=150),diffuse lesion in combined focal and diffuse infiltration group(ROI=127),"salt-and-pepper"group(ROI=54),and normal appearance group(ROI=68).ADC values were measured and compared between each group and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to distinguish different patterns of bone marrow infiltration.Results There was no statistically significant difference in ADC values between the diffuse lesion in combined focal and diffuse infiltration group and the"salt-and-pepper"group(P＞0.99),and there was statistically significant difference in ADC values between the other groups(P＜0.05).The ROC curve showed that the area under the curve(AUC)for identifying focal group and the"salt-and-pepper"group was 0.889[95％confidence interval(CI)0.844-0.934],the AUC for identifying pure diffuse infiltration group and the normal appearance group was 0.968(95％CI 0.949-0.987).ADC values were able to accurately and visually differentiate between the different patterns of bone marrow infiltration.Conclusion The ADC values can be used as a quantitative tool to objectively distinguish different bone marrow infiltration patterns in MM patients.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the therapeutic effect of autologous costal cartilage transplantation with anterior/posterior split of cricoid cartilage on laryngotracheal stenosis in children.METHODS A retrospective analysis of 12 cases of laryngotracheal stenosis in children treated with anterior/posterior split of cricoid cartilage combined with T-tube implantation in Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University in recent years.There were 5 males and 7 females,aged from 2 years and 6 months to 16 years and 9 months,with an average age of 8 years and 9 months.There were 2 cases of grade Ⅱ stenosis,9 cases of grade Ⅲ stenosis and 1 case of grade Ⅳ stenosis.All cases underwent tracheotomy before operation.The course of disease ranged from 4 months to 6 years,with an average of 3 years.RESULTS Of the 12 patients,10(83.3％)were cured,and the tracheotomy cannula was successfully removed to restore normal breathing and pronunciation function.There were 2 cases of extubation failure,including 1 case of grade Ⅲ stenosis and 1 case of grade Ⅳ stenosis.CONCLUSION The etiology of laryngotracheal stenosis in children is complex and difficult to treat.Anterior/posterior split costal cartilage transplantation combined with T-tube implantation through internal/external cervical approach can achieve good therapeutic effect in the treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis in children.

Objective:To summarize the characteristics of pregnant women with critical congenital heart disease, and to explore continuous, integrated, multidisciplinary management for this segment of population.Methods:The clinical records of pregnant women with severe congenital heart disease with a history of intensive care who were treated in Guangdong Provincial People′s Hospital from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:(1) A total of 132 cases were included, including 128 pregnant women [gestational age (28.0±8.8) weeks] and 4 puerpera cases (6-32 days postpartum), 63.6% (84/132) from economic underdeveloped rural areas, and 78.0% (103/132) by the municipal hospital, irregular prenatal examination accounted for 59.1% (78/132). The main type of congenital heart disease was shunt lesion (55.3%, 73/132). 90.9% (120/132) with mWHO risk classification stage Ⅳ were assigned to it. The main cardiovascular complication was pulmonary hypertension (64.4%, 85/132). 46.2% (61/132) of the patients had been diagnosed with congenital heart disease before pregnancy, and 70.5% (93/132) of the patients had not received any treatment before pregnancy. (2) All patients received obstetric-led, multidisciplinary care. The rescue success rate was 96.2% (127/132), and no serious obstetric complications occurred. The mortality within 24 hours after discharge was 3.8% (5/132). 16.7% (22/132) underwent cardiac surgery during pregnancy, of which 77.3% (17/22) continued their pregnancy beyond 34 weeks. Totally, the delivery week was (30.5±8.6) weeks, and the main mode was cesarean section (71.2%, 94/132). The average weight of 99 live births (including 1 twin pregnancy) was (2 167±698) g. Preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and congenital malformations were the main fetal comorbidities.Conclusions:Pregnant women with severe congenital heart disease mainly come from areas with underdeveloped economic and medical levels. Later disease intervention, pregnancy retention despite of clear pregnancy contraindications are the distinctive features, which leaded to a significant increase of incidence of maternal and fetal complications, and an increase of the consumption of medical resources. Multidisciplinary active treatment and cardiac surgery during pregnancy could relatively improve maternal and fetal pregnancy outcomes.

Objective:To investigate the effects of montelukast sodium combined with compound methoxyphenamine on airway inflammation, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and soluble programmed death ligand 1 (sPD-L1) levels in patients with post-infection cough.Methods:A total of 200 patients with post-infection cough who received treatment at The 903 Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force from January to December 2023 were included in this randomized controlled study. The patients were divided into an observation group ( n = 100) and a control group ( n = 100) using the random number table method. The control group received oral administration of compound methoxyphenamine capsules, while the observation group received oral administration of montelukast sodium in addition to compound methoxyphenamine capsules. Both groups were treated for 7 days. The therapeutic effects as well as daytime and nighttime cough scores, airway inflammation change, serum ICAM-1, TLR4, and sPD-L1 levels, and Leicester Cough Questionnaire scores were compared between the two groups. Results:The total effective rate in the observation group was 95% (95/100), which was significantly higher than that in the control group [84% (84/100), Z = 2.49, P < 0.05]. After treatment, the daytime and nighttime cough scores in the observation group were (1.24 ± 0.31) points and (1.02 ± 0.31) points, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(2.17 ± 0.65) points, (1.94 ± 0.47) points, t = 12.91, 16.34, both P < 0.001]. Serum levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the observation group were (8.84 ± 2.21) mg/L], (82.34 ± 13.24) mg/L, and (78.94 ± 13.24) ng/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(12.76 ± 2.53) mg/L, (127.18 ± 35.17) mg/L, (102.31 ± 21.08) ng/L, t = 11.67, 11.93, 9.39, all P < 0.001]. The ICAM-1 and TLR4 levels in the observation group were (178.32 ± 21.23) μg/L and (7.45 ± 2.32) ng/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(247.18 ± 25.64) μg/L, (19.98 ± 4.53) ng/L, t = 20.69, 24.62, both P < 0.001], while sPD-L1 level in the observation group [(2.34 ± 0.37) ng/L] was significantly higher than that in the control group [(1.72 ± 0.41) ng/L, t = -11.23, P < 0.001]. The quality-of-life scores in the observation group for social [(2.61 ± 0.25) points], psychological [(6.56 ± 0.45) points], physical [(7.65 ± 0.72) points], and total score [(16.81 ± 2.51) points] were significantly higher than those in the control group [(2.14 ± 0.30) points, (5.44 ± 0.52) points, (6.07 ± 0.65) points, (13.74 ± 2.68) points, t = 12.04, 16.29, 16.29, 8.36, all P < 0.001]. Conclusion:Montelukast sodium combined with compound methoxyphenamine is highly effective in treating post-infection cough in patients. The combined therapy can reduce airway inflammation, lower ICAM-1 and TLR4 levels, and increase sPD-L1 levels.

Objective:To discuss the medication law in prescriptions of Professor Shao Nianfang in the treatment of kidney deficiency and bone marrow loss in senile dementia based on data mining.Methods:Medical cases of kidney deficiency and bone marrow loss in senile dementia in the Geriatric Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from 1st Jan. 2014 to 31st Oct, 2019 were collected. Through hospital electronic medical records system prescription statistics, using ancient and modern medical case cloud platform (V1.2.4), medication frequency, property ans taste, efficacy analysis, correlation rule analysis, clustering analysis and complex network analysis were performed.Results:Totally 110 cases were included in medical cases, involving 238 kinds of Chinese materia medica. The top 10 Chinese materia medica with use frequency were Poria, Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, Corni Fructus, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus, Rehmanniae Radix, Astragali Radix, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma; the properties were mainly mild, warm slight cold, and cold; the tastes were mainly sweet, bitter, pungent, and light; the meridians were mainly spleen, liver, lung and kidney meridians; the efficacy was clearing dampness and promoting diuresis, clearing heat and promoting blood circulation, calming mind, clearing heat and detoxification, reducing dampness and promote appetizing, tonifying spleen; the association analysis found 15 groups of drug combinations used more than 25 times, they were: Corni Fructus and Poria, Corni Fructus and Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Dioscoreae Rhizoma and Corni Fructus, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata and Corni Fructus, Dioscoreae Rhizoma and Poria, Astragali Radix and Poria, Alismatis Rhizoma and Poria, Moutan Cortex and Poria, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata and Poria, Rehmanniae Radix and Poria, Polygalae Radix and Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, Moutan Cortex and Corni Fructus, Moutan Cortex and Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Alismatis Rhizoma and Corni Fructus, Alismatis Rhizoma and Dioscoreae Rhizoma; clustering analysis identified four groups of new prescriptions, the first group: Poria, Rehmanniae Radix, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Alismatis Rhizoma, Moutan Cortex, Corni Fructus, Dioscoreae Rhizoma; the second group: Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, Cistanches Herba, Morindae Officinalis Radix; the third group: Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle; the fourth group: Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Codonopsis Radix, Astragali Radix, Angelicae Sinensis Radix; the results of complex network analysis showed that the core prescription was modified Liuwei Dihuang Pills. Conclusion:This study found that in view of kidney deficiency and bone marrow loss in senile dementia, Professor Shao pays attention to strengthening the healthy qi, and focuses on tonifying deficiency, taking into account the methods of clearing dampness, clearing heat, detoxification, removing blood stasis and restoring consciousness. The four new prescriptions found in the study can provide a reference for modified medication for syndrome differentiation.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of echocardiography-guided transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) during pregnancy and summarize the multidisciplinary treatment experience for such women.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on three women receiving echocardiography-guided secondum ASD closure during pregnancy in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from January 2018 to October 2021. Perioperative and perinatal multidisciplinary treatment and prognosis were described.Results:All three patients underwent cardiac ultrasonography due to abnormal electrocardiogram during routine prenatal examination and were diagnosed with secondum ASD. Progressive cardiac dysfunction was found during close follow-ups and all cases met the criteria for ASD closure during pregnancy after multidisciplinary evaluation. Echocardiography-guided ASD closure was successfully performed in all patients. Pulmonary arterial pressure was significantly reduced and the cardiac function was stable after the operation. All patients delivered vaginally at term without complications such as miscarriage, premature birth, postpartum hemorrhage or fetal growth restriction and had their cardiac function recovered during postpartum follow-up.Conclusions:Echocardiography-guided ASD closure during pregnancy is technically feasible. Good maternal and fetal outcomes can be obtained through multidisciplinary and close monitoring and treatment during perioperative and perinatal periods.