Objective:To investigate the clinical profile of primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia(PBMAH) and sex difference.Methods:One hundred and forty cases of PBMAH were recruited in our center from 2014, and all patients were evaluated for hormone secretion, adrenal imaging, and metabolic parameters.Results:Overt Cushing′s syndrome accounted for 76.4% of PBMAH cohort and 47.9% were female. The overt group had higher serum cortisol and 24 h urinary free cortisol levels, lower adrenocorticotropic hormone, higher serum cortisol after low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests, larger total adrenal size, and a higher percentage of obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypokalemia than the subclinical group(all P<0.05). When compared with the male group, the female group had smaller adrenal size( P<0.001), lower HbA 1C( P=0.003), higher total cholesterol( P=0.005), and lower density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels( P=0.035). Further, 24 h urinary free cortisol in the male group was found to be positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, 2 h postprandial glucose after oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT), and HbA 1C after adjusted for age, body mass index, and onset duration, and was negatively correlated with body mass index and potassium levels. While 24 h urinary free cortisol in the female group was positively correlated only with diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and 2 h postprandial glucose after OGTT(all P<0.05). During follow-up, 80.0% of patients achieved remission after unilateral adrenalectomy, with a recurrence rate of 17.9%. Conclusion:PBMAH related metabolic disorder is more pronounced in overt Cushing′s syndrome and males. Unilateral adrenalectomy as an effective treatment can benefit the majority of patients.

Objective:To compare the clinical effects of percutaneous curved vertebroplasty (PCVP) and unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was used to analyze the clinical data of 104 patients with single vertebral OVCF treated in Tianjin Hospital from September 2019 to September 2020, including 21 males and 83 females; aged 50-91 years [(70.3±7.7)years]. AO classification of the fracture was type A1 in 65 patients and type A2 in 39. The patients received PCVP (PCVP group, n=51) or unilateral PKP surgery (unilateral PKP group, n=53). The operation time, bone cement injection volume, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, effective dispersion times of bone cement and excellent rate of bone cement distribution were compared between the two groups. In evaluation of the therapeutic effects of the two groups, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) were measured preoperatively and at postoperative 24 hours, 3 months and 6 months; Beck index was measured preoperatively and at postoperative 24 hours and 3 months. The rate of bone cement leakage and rate of refracture of adjacent vertebral bodies were compared between the two groups. Results:All patients were followed up for 6-8 months [(6.4±0.7)months]. The operation time, bone cement injection volume and intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency in PCVP group was (12.15±1.63)minutes, (2.13±0.28)ml and (24.74±1.71)times, shorter or less than (22.09±1.62)minutes, (5.30±0.52)ml and (30.09±1.86)times in unilateral PKP group (all P<0.01). The effective dispersion times of bone cement in PCVP group was (1.42±0.04)times, higher than (1.18±0.02)times in unilateral PKP group ( P<0.01). The excellent rate of bone cement distribution in PCVP group was 94%, higher than 70% in unilateral PKP group ( P<0.01). There were no significant differences in VAS, ODI and Beck index between the two groups before operation and at 24 hours and 3 months after operation (all P>0.05). VAS and ODI in PCVP group were (1.20±0.49)points and 16.52±5.22 at 6 months after operation, lower than (1.49±0.58)points and 20.16±5.16 in unilateral PKP group (all P<0.01). VAS and ODI in the two groups were significantly improved at 24 hours, 3 months and 6 months after operation when compared with those before operation (all P<0.05). Beck index in the two groups detected at 24 hours and 3 months after operation was improved from that before operation (all P<0.05). Unilateral PKP group showed Beck index was 0.75±0.07 at 3 months after operation, significantly lower than 0.79±0.07 at 24 hours after operation ( P<0.05), but there was no significant change in PCVP group ( P>0.05). The leakage rate of bone cement in PCVP group was 16% (8/51), lower than 47% (25/53) in unilateral PKP group ( P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the incidence of refracture of adjacent vertebral bodies between the two groups during follow-up ( P>0.05). Conclusion:For OVCF, PCVP is superior to unilateral PKP in terms of operation time, amount of bone cement injection, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, dispersion effect of bone cement in vertebral body, pain, function improvement, maintenance of injured vertebral height and incidence of bone cement leakage.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infected with Delta variant, so as to provide further references for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:A real-world study was conducted to analyze the characteristics of 166 COVID-19 patients infected with Delta variant at Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University.Results:The study enrolled 5 asymptomatic cases, 123 non-severe cases (mild and moderate type), and 38 severe cases (severe and critical type). Among these patients, 69 (41.6%) were male and 97 (58.4%) were female, with a mean age of 47.0±23.5 years. Thirty-nine cases (23.5%) had received 1 or 2 doses of inactivated vaccine. The incidence of severe COVID-19 cases was 7.7% in 2-doses vaccinated patients, which was lower than that of 11.5% in 1-dose and 26.8% in unvaccinated patients. The proportion of severe cases in 2 dose-vaccinated patients was 7.7%, which was lower than that of 11.5% in 1-dose vaccinated patients and 26.8% in unvaccinated patients, but the difference was not significant ( P>0.05). The most common clinical symptom was fever (134 cases, 83.2%), and 39.1% of cases presented with high-grade fever (≥39 °C); other symptoms were cough, sputum, fatigue, and xerostomia. The proportion of fever in severe cases was significantly higher than that of non-severe cases (97.4% vs. 76.4%, P<0.01). Similarly, the proportion of severe cases with high peak temperature (≥39 ℃) () was also higher than that of non-severe cases (65.8% vs. 30.9%, P<0.01). The median minimal Cycle threshold (Ct) values of viral nucleic acid N gene and ORFlab gene were 20.3 and 21.5, respectively, and the minimum Ct values were 11.9 and 13.5, respectively. Within 48 h of admission, 9.0% of cases presented with decreased white blood cell counts, and 52.4% with decreased lymphocyte counts. The proportions of increased C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, interleukin 6, and interleukin 10 were 32.5%, 57.4%, 65.3%, and 35.7%, respectively. The proportions of elevated C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A and interleukin-6 in severe cases were significantly higher than those in non-severe cases ( P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that older age and higher peak temperature were associated with a higher likelihood of severe cases ( OR>3, 95% CI: 2-7, P<0.01). In terms of treatment, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was used in 97.6% of non-severe cases and 100% in severe cases. Other treatments included respiratory and nutritional support, immunotherapy (such as neutralizing antibodies and plasma of recovered patients). The median times from admission to progression to severe cases, of fever clearance, and of nucleic acid conversion were 5 days, 6 days and 19 days, respectively. No deaths were reported within 28 days. Conclusions:The symptoms of Delta variant infection in Guangzhou are characterized by a high proportion of fever, high peak temperature, long duration of fever, high viral load, a long time to nucleic acid conversion, and a high incidence of severe cases. The severe cases exhibit a higher percentage of elderly patients, a longer duration of fever and have a higher fever rate and a higher hyperthermia rate than non-severe cases. Age and hyperthermia are independent risk factors for progression to severe disease. The combination of TCM and Western medicine can control the progression of the disease effectively.

Objective    To investigate the safety and efficiency of robotic lung segmentectomy. Methods    The clinical data of 110 patients receiving robotic or thoracoscopic segmentectomy in our hospital between June 2015 and June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a robotic group [n=50, 13 males and 37 females aged 53.0 (46.0, 60.0) years] and a thoracoscopic group [n=60, 21 males and 39 females aged 61.0 (53.0, 67.0) years]. A propensity score-matched analysis was adopted to compare the perioperative data between the two groups. Results    After the propensity score-matched analysis, 34 patients were included in each group. In comparison with the thoracoscopic group, patients in the robotic group had less blood loss [40.0 (20.0, 50.0) mL vs. 60.0 (40.0, 80.0) mL, P<0.001], more stations of lymph node dissection [7.0 (6.0, 8.0) vs. 4.0 (3.0, 6.0), P<0.001], larger number of lymph node dissection [15.0 (11.0, 21.0) vs. 10.0 (6.0, 14.0), P=0.002], and a higher total cost of hospitalization [97.0 (92.0, 103.0) thousand yuan vs. 54.0 (42.0, 59.0) thousand yuan, P<0.001]. Conclusion    In contrast with the thoracoscopic segmentectomy, robotic segmentectomy has a similar operative safety, but less blood loss and a thorough lymphadenectomy.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and safety of laparoendoscopic single-site combined with transurethral approach for unilateral retrograde nephroureterectomy in the treatment of upper urinary tract epithelial carcinoma.Methods:The clinical data of 12 patients from January 2018 to November 2019 with unilateral retrograde nephroureterectomy were analyzed retrospectively. There were 7 males and 5 females with an average age of 65.9 years, the age ranged from 50 to 78 years.There were 8 cases with left ureteral tumor, 6 cases with left renal pelvis tumor, 4 cases with right tumor(2 cases of right ureteral tumor and 2 cases of right renal pelvis tumor). Surgical methods: 1470 laser sleeve was used to remove the inner segment of the ureter bladder wall after the lower ureter was clipped through abdominal approach, and the urethra was inserted under the guidance of zebra guide wire.The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative auxiliary cannula, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative drainage tube removal time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, postoperative pathology were recorded.Results:All of the operations were successful. The mean operation time was 194(135-260)min, the mean estimated blood loss was 50(25-100) ml, and the mean hospitalization time was 11.6(5-24)d. Among the 12 patients, 8 patients had abdominal drainage tube after operation. The mean time for drainage was 6.8(3-11)d. One patient added a 5 mm ancillary port.One patient had urinary leakage at the bladder anastomotic site, the catheter was removed 3 weeks later. The other patients had no postoperative incision infection, fever, bleeding, venous thrombosis and other related complications.No patient received blood transfusion and the pathological margin was negative. The median follow-up time was 12 months (5-15 months). One patient died of lumbar metastasis 8 months after operation, and others were neither tumor recurrence nor distant metastasis.Conclusions:The application of laparoendoscopic single-site combined with transurethral approach for unilateral retrograde nephroureterectomy in the treatment of upper urinary tract epithelial carcinoma is safe, accurate and effective, with less trauma and less bleeding. It is worth applying in clinical practice.

PURPOSE: Details of patients hospitalized for asthma exacerbation in mainland China are lacking. To improve disease control and reduce economic burden, a large sample survey among this patient population is indispensable. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of such patients.METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients hospitalized for asthma exacerbation in 29 hospitals of 29 regions in mainland China during the period 2013 to 2014. Demographic features, pre-admission conditions, exacerbation details, and outcomes were summarized. Risk factors for exacerbation severity were analyzed.RESULTS: There were 3,240 asthmatic patients included in this study (57.7% females, 42.3% males). Only 28.0% used daily controller medications; 1,287 (39.7%) patients were not currently on inhaled corticosteroids. Acute upper airway infection was the most common trigger of exacerbation (42.3%). Patients with severe to life-threatening exacerbation tended to have a longer disease course, a smoking history, and had comorbidities such as hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and food allergy. The multivariate analysis showed that smoking history, comorbidities of hypertension, COPD, and food allergy were independent risk factors for more severe exacerbation. The number of patients hospitalized for asthma exacerbation varied with seasons, peaking in March and September. Eight patients died during the study period (mortality 0.25%).CONCLUSIONS: Despite enhanced education on asthma self-management in China during recent years, few patients were using daily controller medications before the onset of their exacerbation, indicating that more educational efforts and considerations are needed. The findings of this study may improve our understanding of hospital admission for asthma exacerbation in mainland China and provide evidence for decision-making.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Asthma ; China ; Comorbidity ; Disease Progression ; Education ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inpatients ; Medication Adherence ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seasons ; Self Care ; Smoke ; Smoking

Objective To investigate the clinical features and disease-causing mutations of familial hypomagnesaemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis.Methods In February 2016,a 24 year old female patient with left kidney stone and nephrocalcinosis in bilateral kidneys was admitted to our hospital.One month prior to this admission,she had been treated by PCNL to remove the most part of left kidney stone in otherhospital.Mter admission,She was found hypomagnesaemia (serum magnesium 0.65 mmol/ L) and hypercalciuria (24h urine calcium 364.0 mg) but with normal renal function (serum creatinine 101.5μmol/L).And the remained part of left kidney stone was removed by flexible ureteroscope.As she was considered probably with an autosomal recessive FHHNC,an analysis of CLDN16 and CLDN19 gene mutations was performed using her and her parents'peripheral white blood cells.Results Mutation analysis revealed this patient had two heterozygous mutations in the CLDN16.One is an one-base deletion mutation in the 123th codon in exon 2:368delA.The other is a missense mutation in the 139th codon in exon 2:416C →T which resulted in an amino acid change Ala139Val.Her parents respectively had one of each heterozygous mutation.In the six months follow-up,an oral administration with hvdrochlorothiazide,potassium citrate,and calcium magesium supplements significantly reduced her hypomagnesaemia (serum magnesiun 1.0 mmol/L) and hypercalciuria (24-h urine calcium 156.0 mg),and no stone recurrence and aggravation of nephrocalcinosis and renal dysfunction occurred.Conclusions We diagnosed a patient with FHHNC who had a novel compound heterozygous mutation of CLDN16.This rare disease should be suspected if there are three constant clinical features of hypomagnesaemia,hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis,and verified with CLDN16 and CLDN19 gene test.Currently the option for treatment of FHHNC is symptomatic treatment until severe deterioration of renal function.The hydrochlorothiazide,potassium citrate,and calcium magesium supplements may have considerable effects on hypomagnesaemia and hypercalciuria.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and clinical efficacy of intra-abdominal exposure instruments in laparoendoscopic single-port nephrectomy(LESS-N).Method From February 2012 to July 2016,61 cases of LESS-N were performed in our center.There were 34 males and 27 females with a mean age of (60.3 ± 9.4) years old (ranging 36-72 years old).There were thirty-nine cases of renal tumors and twenty two cases of nonfunctioning kidney.The patients were divided into two groups.Group A included 39 cases that underwent conventional LESS-N (22 radical nephrectomy/17 simple nephrectomy).Group B included 22 cases that underwent intra-abdominal exposure instruments assisted LESS-N (17 radical nephrectomy/5 simple nephrectomy).The perioperative and postoperative data were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Results All the procedures of these two groups were completed successfully.In Group A,four patients were added one 5 cm additional trocar and two patients were converted to open surgery.No additional trocars or conversion to open surgery were needed in Group B.For LESS radical nephrectomy,there were no significant differences of mean tumor diameter (5.7cm vs.5.4 cm,P =0.65) between two groups.The average operative time was (95.1 ± 43.9) min in Group B which was lower than that in Group A (127.4 ± 61.9) min (P ＜ 0.01).The mean renal vascular processing time was declined from (25.4 ± 10.1)rmin in Group A to (18.8 ± 8.9)min in Group B (P ＜ 0.05).The mean estimated blood loss was (128.6 ± 51.1) ml in Group A and (98.7 ±-57.6) ml in Group B (P ＜ 0.05).No severe intraoperative and postoperative complications occurred in both group.Conclusions Intra-abdominal exposure instruments are feasible and effective for LESS-N.This system may shorten the operation time,reduce the amount of bleeding and improve surgical accuracy.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a newly classified family of immune cells of the lymphoid lineage. While they could be found in both lymphoid organs and non-lymphoid tissues, ILCs are preferentially enriched in barrier tissues such as the skin, intestine, and lung where they could play important roles in maintenance of tissue integrity and function and protection against assaults of foreign agents. On the other hand, dysregulated activation of ILCs could contribute to tissue inflammatory diseases. In spite of recent progress towards understanding roles of ILCs in the health and disease, mechanisms regulating specific establishment, activation, and function of ILCs in barrier tissues are still poorly understood. We herein review the up-to-date understanding of tissue-specific relevance of ILCs. Particularly we will focus on resident ILCs of the skin, the outmost barrier tissue critical in protection against various foreign hazardous agents and maintenance of thermal and water balance. In addition, we will discuss remaining outstanding questions yet to be addressed.
Animals ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; physiology ; Inflammation ; immunology ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Skin ; immunology

Objective To investigate the effect of bone cement distribution on efficacy of vertebroplasty.Methods From January 2013 to June 2016,a total of 132 cases (132 vertebrae) with single segment osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures underwent parallel vertebroplasty surgery,and there were 57 male,75 female,with an average age of (71.6±2.2) years old (ranged from 65 to 86 years old).On the basis of the postoperative X-ray films of bone cement distribution were divided into 3 groups.The bone cement was biased to the lateral side of the vertebral body (partial group,35 cases),the bone cement was over the vertebral midline,but not completely filled with contralateral vertebral body (near midline group,46 cases),and the bone cement was filled with bilateral vertebral body (bilateral group,51 cases).There were 15 males and 20 females in the partial group,aged (70.3±5.3) years old;20 males and 26 females in the proximal midline group,aged (72.1±3.2) years old;22 males and 29 females in the bilateral group,aged (71.2±4.6) years old.Local anesthesia was used to make the patient prone to operate on the operating bed.The head and tail of the bed were increased at the same time slightly and vertebral compression fractures reduction was performed.Bone cement was injected into the vertebral body through partial or bilateral transpedicular approach.The visual analogue scores (VAS) were measured of preoperation,postoperation and 3,6,12 months after surgery.Analysis of variance for each group and VAS before and after operation,and postoperative complications were observed too.Results All the 132 cases were followed up for 1-12 months,with an average of (11±0.3) months.There were statistically significant differences in the immediate effect of postoperation among partial group,near middle group and the bilateral group (F=90.472,P=0.000),VAS score in partial group was lower than that in bilateral group (t=11.433,P=0.000),but higher than that in near midline group (t=11.106,P=0.000),and the differences were statistically significant,but there was no significant difference between near midline group and bilateral group (t=0.581,P=0.563).VAS score showed no statistically difference among the three groups 3 months,6 months and 1 year follow-up after operation (F=0.892,P=0.413;F=0.342,P=0.713;F=0.834,P=0.441).In 3 eases of partial group,the pain was not relieved due to unfilled cement until the contralateral bone was injected into the bone cement.However,there were 11 cases of cement leakage in partial group,13 cases in near midline group,and 3 cases in bilateral group.Conclusion The distribution of bone cement is one of the main factors affecting the clinical efficacy after vertebroplasty,and the clinical effect of distributing the midline of vertebral body is better than the one side.