ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological trends and characteristics of brucellosis in humans (hereinafter referred to as brucellosis) in Tangshan City, Hebei Province from 2016 to 2023, and to provide a scientific basis for formulating brucellosis prevention and control strategies in the region. MethodsThe incidence data of human brucellosis in Tangshan City from 2016 to 2023 were collected from the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The diagnosis time, infection route, and clinical characteristics of the cases were obtained from the case investigation reports. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the temporal, spatial, demographic distributions, and clinical characteristics of human brucellosis. Brucella species were identified using agglutination tests with bacterial suspension and A/M antigen-positive serum. ResultsA total of 2 193 cases of human brucellosis were confirmed and clinically diagnosed in Tangshan City from 2016 to 2023, with the peak incidence occured from March to August, and which exhibited distinct geographic distribution patterns. The highest incidence rate was found in people aged 60‒<70 years. The occupation of cases were primarily farmers. The incidence rate in males (528/100 000) was higher than that in females (184/100 000). All cases had confirmed exposure to infected animals or contaminated animal products. ConclusionThe epidemic of human brucellosis in Tangshan exhibited an overall steady downward trend from 2016 to 2023, except for a slight increase in 2016 and 2021, with the incidence rate controlled at 289/100 000‒335/100 000. The prevention and control situation of human brucellosis still remains severe, with the highest incidence rate in the eastern region of Tangshan, which are characterized by the breeding, slaughtering, and processing of cattle and sheep. Therefore, it it is necessary to enhance the prevention and control of human brucellosis among the personnel engaged in these industries in the eastern areas.

Objective: To investigate the effect of denture stomatitis of selective laser melting (SLM) titanium alloy for removable partial denture frameworks. Methods : Twenty patients with dentition defects in our hospital were divided into two groups according to the different methods of creating a removable partial denture framework: the SLM group and casting group. The success rate, placement rate, masticatory efficiency and incidence of denture stomatitis were compared. Experimental data were analyzed with SPSS20.0. Results : The success rate of the SLM framework group was 100.00%, which was higher than that of the casting group (90.00%) (P ＜ 0.01). The rate of framework placement in the SLM group was slightly lower than that in the casting group (P ＜ 0.05). The masticatory efficiency of the SLM group was higher than that of the casting group (0.783 ± 0.030 vs. 0.699 ± 0.037, P ＜ 0.001). The incidence of denture stomatitis (10.00%) in the SLM group was significantly lower than that in the casting group (30.00%) (P ＜ 0.001). Conclusion SLM is superior to the traditional casting method in mastication efficiency and reducing the incidence of denture stomatitis. This method can meet the clinical requirements, but the accuracy of the long-term stent needs to be improved.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of ultrasound in evaluating the degree of xerostomia in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma ( NPC) receiving intensity?modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Methods A total of 30 NPC patients who were admitted to our hospital from May 2013 to December 2014 were enrolled in this study. The degree of xerostomia in these NPC patients was scored according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scoring criteria. Color Doppler ultrasound was used to measure the peak systolic blood flow velocity of the parotid gland and submandibular gland and the changes in vascular diameter of the parotid gland in the NPC patients before, during, and after IMRT. The correlation between each parameter and the degree of xerostomia was determined by analysis of variance. Results In the 28 NPC patients included in the statistical analysis, the degree of xerostomia during IMRT was significantly higher than that before IMRT ( P=0024 ) , and the degree of xerostomia at 3 months after IMRT was significantly lower than that during IMRT ( P=0035) . The peak systolic blood flow velocity of the parotid gland and submandibular gland and the proportion of patients with decreases in vascular diameter of the parotid gland during IMRT were significantly higher than those before IMRT ( P=0001 and 0003;P=0001);the above parameters at 3 months after IMRT were significantly lower than those during IMRT ( P=0008 and 0012;P=0001) . During IMRT and after IMRT, the degree of xerostomia was significantly correlated with the peak systolic blood flow velocity of the parotid gland ( r=0563, P=0026;r=0409, P=0031) . Conclusions Ultrasound can be used as a noninvasive detection for the hemodynamic changes in the parotid gland, and it has a certain clinical reference value for evaluating the degree of xerostomia in NPC patients during and after IMRT.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical features and the experiences of diagnosis and treatment of extramedullary plasmacytomas (EMPs), and to enhance the cure rates of EMPs. METHOD: Clinical data of 8 patients with EMPs in head and neck, who treated in our hospital from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 2004, were reviewed. Of 8 cases, 3 cases with the tumors occurred in nasal cavities, 1 in maxillary sinus, 2 in nasopharynx, 1 in posterior wall of oropharynx. RESULT: Eight patients who were all pathologic confirmed EMP accepted surgical resections of the tumors, and 4 of 8 cases were boosted radiation therapy post-operation. Four cases were still alive disease-free for more than 1, 5, 10 and 12 years after treatments, respectively. One died of local recurrence in 2 years, 1 died of multiple myeloma in 3 year, and 1 died of heart attack in 2 years after treatments, respectively. One lost follow-up. CONCLUSION EMPs in head and neck are low potential malignancy tumors. The diagnosis of EMPs mainly depends on clinical manifestations and pathological results. Surgery and radiation therapy are the main treatments for EMPs in head and neck.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasmacytoma ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To enhance the cure rate and lower the complication rate and the mortality rate through summarizing the clinical features and experiences in diagnosis and therapy of carotid body tumor (CBT). METHOD: Retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 21 cases (23 sides) of CBT from 1995-2095 occurring in our hospital. RESULT: The accurate diagnosis rates hy using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were 100%. Seventeen cases (19 sides) accepted surgical operation with different kinds of procedures. The tumors of 8 cases were simplex isolated from the carotid artery. Both the tumour and the external carotid artery were resected in 9 cases. One case underwent resection of both the internal and external carotid artery and the tumour without carotid reconstruction. One case underwent resection of the internal, external carotid artery and the tumor with reconstruction of the internal carotid artery. No operative mortality was observed. The ventricular arrhythmia which had not been controlled pre-operation occurred in 1 case who was finally self-cured. One case had hoarseness and completely recovered in one week. and 1 case without carotid reconstruction had a frequent headache and gradually recovered in 5 months. The others had no complications. CONCLUSION OSA and MRI are the best methods for diagnosing CBT. Surgery is the first choice concerning the treatment of CBT. Accurate preoperative evaluation, correct therapeutic decision exquisite vascular surgical techniques can help to significantly decrease, even avoid the complications.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Carotid Body Tumor ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult