Objective:To explore the echocardiographic characteristics of isolated brachiocephalic artery branches, and to analyze the reason of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy.Methods:Echocardiographic features of isolated subclavian artery and brachibrachial trunk confirmed by operation or CT angiography (CTA) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were retrospectively analyzed in Hebei Children′s Hospital from May 2017 to July 2021. Related literatures of other rare types of isolated brachiocephalic artery branches retrieved in PubMed were reviewed, and the echocardiographic characteristics of such vascular malformations were summarized.Results:A total of 4 children with isolated brachiocephalic artery branches were included. Echocardiography correctly diagnosed isolated brachiocebrachial trunk in 1 case and missed or misdiagnosis in 3 cases, including isolated subclavian artery was missed in 1 case, isolated subclavian artery was misdiagnosed as aberrant subclavian artery in 1 case and patent ductus arteriosus in 1 case. A total of 105 cases of isolated brachiocephalic artery branches were reviewed, including isolated brachiocephalic artery in 31 cases (53.3%), isolated common carotid artery in 15 cases (29.5%), isolated common carotid artery in 15 cases (14.3%) and isolated internal carotid artery in 3 cases (2.9%). The characteristic of echocardiography was that the brachiocephalic branch of the aortic arch was disconnected from the aortic arch, often via the ductus arteriosus or directly connected to the bifurcation of the pulmonary artery.Conclusions:Isolated brachiocephalic artery branches have certain characteristic echocardiographic features and these kinds of vascular malformations are accompanied by different degrees of stealing blood phenomenon. Careful tracing of the origin of brachiocephalic artery branches and combined with cervical vascular ultrasound when necessary can improve the diagnosis rate of isolated brachiocephalic artery branch lesions.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and safety of submaximal balloon dilation and to perform small-diameter stent for symptomatic carotid artery severely stenosis before coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG).Methods:From January 2016 to December 2019, 30 patients of the Department of Neurointervention in Beijing Anzhen Hospital with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis(≥70%) and the left main trunk or triple-vessel of coronary artery disease were analyzed retrospectively. General information, clinical characteristics, and imaging data of all cases were collected. All patients underwent submaximal balloon dilation and small-diameter stent implantation. Preoperative comorbidities or risk factors included hypertension 23 cases(76.7%), diabetes 10 cases(33.3%), hyperglycemia 14 cases(46.7%), moking 13 cases(43.3%). Left main trunk disease 6 cases(20.0%), three-vessels disease 24 cases(80.0%), mitral regurgitation 1 case(3.3%), stable angina 25 cases(83.3%), myocardial infarction 8 cases(26.7%), cerebral infarction 24 cases(80.0%) and transient ischemia attack(TIA) 6 cases(20.0%) caused by ipsilateral carotid artery stenosis. The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) score was 2(0-3), and the median modified Rankin Scale(mRS) score was 1(0-1) before the operation. The mean interval between carotid artery intervention and CABG was(23.4±8.2)days.Results:29 cases(96.7%, 29/30) underwent CAS-CABG operation successfully. In one case of carotid artery extreme tortuosity, the emboli protective device could not place the distal carotid artery. In the operative procedure, 27 cases(90.0%, 27/30) underwent with 3mm diameter balloon, only 3 cases(10.0%) with 3 mm balloon after pre-dilatation with 2 mm diameter balloon because of severely high-grade stenosis(99%). 25 cases(83.3%) with 7mm diameter stents and 5 cases(16.7%) with 6 mm diameter stents, including 22 cases(73.3%) with a closed-cell stent and 8 cases(26.7%) with an open-cell stent. In the perioperative period, the heart rate of two patients was lower than 50 BPM during operation and returned to normal after using atropine immediately. Another patient presented with chest tightness during interventional therapy. TNI elevation was examined urgently. After oxygen inhalation and intravenous infusion of Nitroglycerin, the patient's symptoms improved rapidly. No cardiac and cerebrovascular complications occurred during the perioperative period of CABG, no cardiac-related complications occurred within 30 days of follow-up, one case of TIA and 1 case of cerebral infarction. After intensive anti-platelet aggregation and lipid-lowering treatment, two patient's symptoms improved. There were no death cases in all patients during carotid artery interventional therapy, perioperative CABG and 30-day follow-up. Thirty days later, we performed a clinical follow-up of 23 cases, median 4.5(3.0-7.9) months, mRS Score Median 1(0-1). One patient presented with TIA, any patient had no symptoms of the cardiac or nervous system. Image follow-up of 17 cases, median 3.5(2.8-4.5) months, carotid artery ultrasound showed in-stent restenosis(stenosis rate>50%) in 1 case, the patient was asymptomatic restenosis, continue treatment of aggressive anti-platelet and lipid-lowering drugs.Conclusion:Submaximal balloon dilation and performing small-diameter stent for symptomatic carotid artery severely stenosis before CABG is safe and feasible, which could not only reduce the incidence of vagus reflex resulted in acute coronary syndrome during carotid artery stenosis intervention but also morbidity of acute ischemic stroke events during CABG.

Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by echinococcus multilocularis infection. The growth pattern of the lesions of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis is similar to that of liver malignant tumor showing invasive growth. Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis can not only directly invade the adjacent tissue structure, but also metastasize through the lymphatic tracts and blood vessels. Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with intraperitoneal implantable metastasis is extremely rare. The authors introduce the diagnosis and treatment of 1 patient who had hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with intraperitoneal implantable metastasis.

The HIV-infected people were investigated for their satisfactory situation towards the follow-up management of primary medical and health care institutions in Xinjian County, Yushan County and Guixi City of Jiangxi Province from January to July 2018 and related factors were also analyzed. The total score of the Infected Patients′ Follow-up Management Satisfaction Scale higher than 59 was defined as the satisfactory. 75.68% of 259 infected patients were satisfied with the follow-up management. Compared to farmers and other follow-up modes, non-farmers (OR=10.72, 95%CI: 2.07-55.63), and patients receiving follow-up service in responsible institutions (OR=6.44, 95%CI: 3.12-13.30) were more satisfied with follow-up management.

Objective: To understand the current status of follow up of people living with HIV/AIDS by health service at grass root in rural area of Jiangxi province and related factors, and provide references for the promotion of the follow up by grass root health service. Methods: People living HIV/AIDS aged ≥18 years and diagnosed before 31 December 2017 in 6 townships of Xinjian, Yushan counties and Guixi city were included in the study in Jiangxi province. They had been followed up for more than one time after the first epidemiologic survey. The information about their demographic characteristics and HIV infection status were collected by using self-designed questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors that influencing the acceptance of follow up by grass root health service. Results: Of the 373 surveyed HIV infected subjects aged (53.06±16.15) years, 261 were males (70.0%, 261/373). Among the surveyed subjects, the illiteracy and people who received only primary school education accounted for 54.7% (204/373). The rate of follow up of the HIV infected subjects by grass root health service was 55.8% (208/373), and those through heterosexual contact were 58.5% (190/325). The multivariate regression analysis showed that the acceptance of follow up by grass root health service was higher in those who were farmers (OR=7.36, 95%CI: 2.52-21.45), had family support (OR=16.01, 95%CI: 2.25-49.73), didn’t worry about discrimination (OR=12.97, 95%CI: 4.75-35.42), trusted health care provider (OR=5.07, 95%CI: 2.19-11.76) and showed AIDS symptoms (OR=10.58, 95%CI: 2.25- 49.73). Conclusions The performance of follow up of people living with HIV/AIDS by grass root health service was well, suggesting it is a feasible management model. Being famer or not, family member supporting or not, worry about discrimination or not, trusting health care provider or not and showing AIDS symptoms or not were the main factors influencing the acceptance of follow up by grass root health service.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current status of diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis (AA) in China. METHODS: Questionnaire survey was used to retrospectively collect data of hospitalized patients with AA from 43 medical centers nationwide in 2017 (Sort by number of cases provided: Jinling Hospital of Medical School of Nanjing University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Lu'an People's Hospital, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital, Dalian Central Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Dongying People's Hospital, Jinjiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huangshan Shoukang Hospital, Xuyi People's Hospital, Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital, Lanzhou 940th Hospital of PLA, Heze Municipal Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science of China Three Gorges University, Affiliated Jiujiang Hospital of Nanchang University, The Second People's Hospital of Hefei, Affiliated Central Hospital of Shandong Zaozhuang Mining Group, The Third People's Hospital of Kunshan City, Xuzhou First People's Hospital, The 81st Group Army Hospital of PLA, Linyi Central Hospital, The General Hospital of Huainan Eastern Hospital Group, The 908th Hospital of PLA, Liyang People's Hospital, The 901th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, The Fourth Hospital of Jilin University, Harbin Acheng District People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Nanjing Luhe People's Hospital, Taixing Municipal People's Hospital, Baotou Central Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Linyi People's Hospital, The 72st Group Army Hospital of PLA, Zaozhuang Municipal Hospital, People's Hospital of Dayu County, Taixing City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Beijing Guang'anmen Hospital, Langxi County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Central Hospital, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University).The diagnosis and management of AA were analyzed through unified summary. Different centers collected and summarized their data in 2017 and sent back the questionnaires for summary. RESULTS: A total of 8 766 AA patients were enrolled from 43 medical centers, including 4 711 males (53.7%) with median age of 39 years and 958 (10.9%) patients over 65 years old. Of 8 776 patients, 5 677 cases (64.6%) received one or more imaging examinations, and the other 3 099 (35.4%) did not receive any imaging examination. A total of 1 858 (21.2%) cases received medical treatment, mainly a combination of nitroimidazoles (1 107 cases, 59.8%) doublet regimen, followed by a single-agent regimen of non-nitroimidazoles (451 cases, 24.4%), a nitroimidazole-free doublet regimen (134 cases, 7.2%), a triple regimen of combined nitroimidazoles (116 cases, 6.3%), nitroimidazole alone (39 cases, 2.1%) and nitroimidazole-free triple regimen (3 cases, 0.2%). Of the 6 908 patients (78.8%) who underwent surgery, 4 319 (62.5%) underwent laparoscopic appendectomy and 2589 (37.5%) underwent open surgery. Ratio of laparotomy was higher in those patients under 16 years old (392 cases) or over 65 years old (258 cases) [15.1%(392/2 589) and 10.0%(258/2 589), respectively, compared with 8.5%(367/4 316) and 8.0%(347/4 316) in the same age group for laparoscopic surgery, χ²=91.415, P<0.001; χ²=15.915,P<0.001]. Patients with complicated appendicitis had higher ratio of undergoing open surgery as compared to those undergoing laparoscopic surgery [26.7%(692/2 589) vs. 15.6%(672/4 316), χ²=125.726, P<0.001].The cure rates of laparoscopic and open surgery were 100.0% and 99.8%(2 585/2 589) respectively without significant difference (P=0.206). Postoperative complication rates were 4.5%(121/2 589) and 4.7%(196/4 316) respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ²=0.065, P=0.799). The incidence of surgical site infection was lower (0.6% vs. 1.7%, χ²=17.315, P<0.001), and hospital stay was shorter [6(4-7) days vs. 6(5-8) days, U=4 384 348.0, P<0.001] in the laparoscopic surgery group, while hospitalization cost was higher (median 12 527 yuan vs. 9 342 yuan, U=2 586 809.0, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is still clinically based, supplemented by imaging examination. Appendectomy is still the most effective treatment at present. Laparoscopic appendectomy has become the main treatment strategy, but anti-infective drugs are also very effective.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; China ; Female ; Health Care Surveys ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the curative effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on patients with sternal osteomyelitis and sinus tract after thoracotomy.

METHODSSixty-two patients with sternal osteomyelitis and sinus tract after thoracotomy, hospitalized from March 2011 to June 2015, were retrospectively analyzed. Based on whether receiving PRP or not, patients were divided into two groups, group NPWT ( 22 patients hospitalized from March 2011 to December 2012) and combination treatment group (CT, 40 patients hospitalized from January 2013 to June 2015). After debridement, patients in group NPWT were treated with continuous NPWT (negative pressure values from -15.96 to -13.30 kPa), while those in group CT were treated with PRP gel (blood platelet counts in PRP ranged from 1 450×10(9)/L to 1 800×10(9)/L, with 10-15 mL in each dosage) made on the surgery day to fill the sinus tract and wound, followed by NPWT. Negative pressure materials were changed every 5 days until 20 days after surgery in patients of both groups. PRP gel was replenished before changing of negative pressure materials in patients of group CT. The sinus tract sealing time, wound healing time, number of patients who had secondary repair surgery, number of patients who had recurrence of sinus tract within three months after wound healing, and length of hospital stay were recorded. Data were processed with t test, Fisher's exact test, and chi-square test.

RESULTSThe sinus tract sealing time, wound healing time, and length of hospital stay in patients of group CT were (16±8), (27±13), and (43±13) d respectively, which were all significantly shorter than those in group NPWT [(29±14), (41±17), and (60±20) d, with t values from 3.88 to 4.67, P values below 0.01]. The number of patients who had secondary repair surgery in group CT was less than that in group NPWT (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the number of patients who had recurrence of sinus tract between two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with NPWT only, PRP combined with NPWT has great curative effects on patients with sternal osteomyelitis and sinus tract after thoracotomy, for it shortens sinus tract sealing time, wound healing time, and length of hospital stay, and avoids the secondary repair surgery. This method is simple and safe with little injury.

Debridement ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Osteomyelitis ; surgery ; therapy ; Paranasal Sinuses ; pathology ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Retrospective Studies ; Sternum ; surgery ; Thoracotomy ; Wound Healing

Objective To investigate certain risk factors for and their impact on abnormal liver function in middle-aged and elderly adults.Methods A case-control study was constructed based on the SAGE cohort of 8642 registered residents aged 50 years or over in Shanghai.Of them,137 individuals with abnormal liver function,defined as aspartate transaminase (AST)＞ 40 U/L or alanine aminotransferase (ALT)＞ 40 U/L,were randomly selected as the observation group,while 411 healthy controls were 3 ∶ 1 matched with the cases in the observation group by gender and age (1 year).Face-to-face administered questionnaires and physical examinations were conducted and serum samples were tested for ALT,AST,glucose (GLU),total cholesterol (TC),triglycreide (TG),hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV Ab).Chi square test and rank sum test were used for single factor analysis,and logistic regression analysis was used for multiple factors.Results The prevalence of HBsAg positive patients was 12.4 ％ (68/548) Univariate analysis showed that hepatitis virus infection and body mass index (BMI) were associated with abnormal liver function (both P＜0.000).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hepatitis virus infection (OR=1.85,95％ CI:1.04 3.29,P-0.036) and obesity (OR=3.60,95％CI:1.92-6.73,P＜0.001) increased the risk of abnormal liver function,whereas chronic medication (OR=0.51,95％ CI:0.32-0.80,P =0.004) decreased the risk of abnormal liver function.Conclusions Among the study population,hepatitis virus infection and obesity are risk factors for abnormal liver function in middle-aged and elderly people.After adjustment for potential confounders,chronic medication is negatively correlated with abnormal liver function and may be a protective factor for liver function.

Purpose To explore the value of high frequency convex ultrasound probe in the diagnosis of ovarian tumor in infants and young children. Materials and Methods Sixty-nine infants and young children with ovarian tumor were examined with high frequency convex ultrasound probe, and the ultrasound findings were analyzed. Results Out of 69 cases, 45 had tumors on the right side of ovary and the rest 24 on the left side;27 cases of simple cyst, 24 cases of benign teratoma, 9 cases of borderline teratoma, 3 cases of serous cystadenoma, 3 cases of mucous cystadenoma, 3 cases of yolk sac tumor;24 accompanied with torsion or necrosis. The ultrasound of ovarian tumor presented the following features:polycystic structures were common;the strong echo posterior acoustic shadow was not obvious; no specific manifestation was shown to distinguish benign from malignant tumors. Doppler ultrasound of tissues around the tumor was significant in detecting ovarian tumor torsion and necrosis. Conclusion High frequency convex ultrasound probe can provide clear images and distinct dissection information, which is beneficial in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ovarian tumor in infants and young children.