Objective To observe the correlations of two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(2D-STI)parameters of healthy fetal heart and gestational age in middle and late pregnancy.Methods Fetal echocardiography was prospectively performed in 279 healthy singleton fetuses in middle and late pregnancy.The fetuses were divided into group A(20-23+6 weeks of pregnancy,n=49),B(24-27+6 weeks of pregnancy,n=112),C(28-31+6 weeks of pregnancy,n=63),D(32-35+6 weeks of pregnancy,n=30)and group E(≥36 weeks of pregnancy,n=25)according to gestational age.Fetal left ventricle(LV)ejection fraction,LV and right ventricle(RV)area change fraction,LV and RV global radial strain(GRS),LV and RV myocardium and endocardium global longitudinal strain(MyoGLS,EndoGLS),LV myocardium and endocardium global circumferential strain(MyoGCS,EndoGCS)were obtained with 2D-STI and compared among 5 groups,and the correlations with gestational age were analyzed.Results Significant differences of fetal LV EndoGLS was found among 5 groups(P=0.044).Fetal LV GRS and RV GRS were positively correlated with gestational age(r=0.165,0.122,both P＜0.05)in middle and late pregnancy,while the absolute value of LV EndoGLS was negatively correlated with gestational age(r=-0.133,P=0.026).Conclusion LV GRS and RV GRS were positively correlated with gestational age in healthy fetuses in middle and late pregnancy,while the absolute value of LV EndoGLS was negatively correlated with gestational age.

Objective:To evaluate the morphological characteristics of the fetal heart and the contractile function of the left and right ventricles in fetuses with pulmonary stenosis (PS) and pulmonary atresia (PA) using fetal heart quantitative analysis technology (fetal HQ), and to assess the impact of different degrees of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) on the contractile function of the fetal left and right ventricles. To accumulate early data and explore parameters for constructing a predictive model and clinical decision-making tool for the progression of fetal PS and PA.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 42 cases of mild to moderate PS and 23 cases of severe PS or PA detected through fetal echocardiography in the Department of Ultrasound, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, from July 2020 to December 2021. A control group of 195 normal fetal cases matching gestational weeks was selected. The fetal HQ technique was employed to measure the global sphericity index (GSI), left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), left/right ventricular area change percentage (LVFAC, RVFAC), and left/right ventricular longitudinal strain (LVGLS, RVGLS). Additionally, 24-segment sphericity index (SI) and fractional shortening (FS) for both left and right ventricles were measured. Comparative analyses were performed between the case and control groups, as well as within the case group.Results:In comparison with the control group, the case group exhibited significantly decreased GSI, LVGLS, LVEF, LVFAC, RVGLS, and RVFAC.The differences were statistically significant in the mild to moderate PS group (all P<0.05) and highly significant in the severe PS/PA group (all P<0.01). In the mild to moderate PS group, the left ventricle′s 2nd segment, right ventricle′s 24th segment SI, and the left ventricle′s 1st-13th segments, right ventricle′s 1st-16th and 20th-24th segments FS showed statistically significant differences compared to the control group (all P<0.05). In the severe PS/PA group, the right ventricle′s 1st-22nd segment SI, and the left ventricle′s 6th-13th, 21st-24th segments, and the right ventricle′s 1st-14th segments FS were reduced, showing statistically significant differences compared to the control group (all P<0.05). The severe PS/PA group showed lower RVGLS, RVFAC, and SI for the right ventricle′s 1st to 17th segments when compared to the mild to moderate PS group, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Quantitative indices derived by fetal HQ is capable of evaluating the cardiac morphology and function of fetuses with PS/PA, which may provide for reference information for comprehensive understanding of cardiac morphological and functional changes in such fetuses.

Objective:To explore the research status of artificial intelligence in nursing in China, so as to provide reference for conducting research domestically.Methods:The relevant literature collected from January 1, 2003 to May 1, 2023 was searched on China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, and VIP. CiteSpace and VOS viewer were used to visually analyze the research status, hotspots, and frontiers of artificial intelligence in nursing in China from the aspects of annual publication volume, region, institution, author, high-frequency keywords, and emerging words.Results:A total of 494 articles were included. In terms of publication volume, domestic research showed an overall upward trend, with publishing institutions mostly concentrated in economically developed and medically advanced regions. The authors of the articles often collaborated with research groups, with a co-authorship rate of 81.17% (401/494), but there was relatively little collaboration between groups. Research hotspots were focused on the application of artificial intelligence in geriatric nursing, rehabilitation nursing, Operating Rooms, and drug formulation, with a majority of research related to robots.Conclusions:The research enthusiasm in related fields in China is currently on the rise. Research on artificial intelligence in nursing management, nursing education, and psychological nursing can be strengthened, and the application of artificial intelligence can be enriched. At the same time, research institutions and personnel should strengthen mutual cooperation, and relevant national departments should improve laws and regulations to promote the vigorous development of this research field.

【Objective】 To investigate the clinical efficacy of human acellular allogeneic dermis (HADM) in the repair of urinary fistula. 【Methods】 The clinical data of 12 female patients with complex vesicovaginal fistula treated during Jun.2021 and Nov.2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients’ average age was 47.3 years, ranging from 38 to 56 years. The body mass index (BMI) ranged from 16.6 to 25.2, with an average of 21.3. HADM was inserted between vagina and bladder wall fistula to repair fistula in all 12 patients. 【Results】 All operations were successful. After the operation, the vaginal urine leakage stopped and the urinary tube was retained for 2 weeks. During the postoperative follow-up of 1 to 16 months, no recurrence or complication were observed. 【Conclusion】 Transvaginal HDMA is an ideal surgical method in the treatment of complex vesicovaginal fistula, which has advantages of small trauma, fast recovery and high success rate.

【Objective】 To explore the diagnosis and choice of surgical treatment of paraurethral cyst in adults. 【Methods】 The clinical data of 56 patients with paraurethral cyst treated at our hospital during Dec.2011 and Jul.2022 were retrospectively analyzed. 【Results】 Of the 56 patients, most of the urethral masses were found during physical examination or bathing, and the time between finding of masses and admission was 2 days to 10 years. Two cases were diagnosed as vaginal wall mass, and one as ureal mass, which were confirmed by postoperative pathology as leiomyoma. Fifty-three cases were diagnosed as paraurethral cysts, 15 of whom underwent fenestration and 38 complete resection of the cyst wall. In the 38 cases who underwent complete resection of cyst wall, 6 had urethral damage due to large and deep cysts closely connected with the urethra, and catheter was indwelled for 10 to 14 days after surgery. All cases were cured without complications. There was no recurrence during the 2 months to 10 years of follow-up. 【Conclusion】 Paraurethral cysts are not difficult to diagnose. Large cysts are likely to damage the urethra due to repeated infection and close connection with urethra. We suggest that the large and deep paraurethral cysts should be removed with fenestration.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between left and right atrial diameters and fetal biological growth parameters of normal fetuses in middle and late trimester, and to establish normal reference and Z-score model for left and right atria.Methods:Three hundred and ninety-two fetuses in middle and late trimester were prospectively selected from July 2022 to October 2022 in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital.Non-cardiac biometric parameters included biparietal diameter (BPD), femoral length (FL), and gestational age (GA) based on menstrual age were assessed.Left and right atrial widths (LAW, RAW) and atrial lengths (LAL, RAL) at end-systole, left and right atrial areas (LAA, RAA) at end-systole and the heart area (HA) at end-diastole were measured in standard apical four-chamber or basal four-chamber view. The ratio of RA and LA transverse diameters (RAW/LAW), the ratio of RA and LA length diameters (RAL/LAL), ratio of RA and LA area (RAA/LAA), spherical index of the ratio of RA and LA length to transverse diameter (RASI, LASI), ratio of LA and RA area to heart area (LAA/HA, RAA/HA) were calculated. The best regression equation was established using GA, BPD and FL as independent variables and LAL, LAW, LAA, RAL, RAW, RAA as dependent variable. The correlation between the standard deviation (SD) and the independent variables GA, BPD and FL was analyzed, and then the above statistics were used to calculate the corresponding Z-score for each variable of RA and LA using the regression equation.Results:①Significant positive correlations were found between LAW, RAW, LAL, RAL, LAA and RAA with the increase of GA, BPD and FL, and the highest degree of correlation between RAA, LAA and GA was denoted ( r=0.927, 0.920, all P<0.001). ②Taking GA as an example, there was no significant correlation between RAL/LAL, RAW/LAW and GA ( r=-0.064, 0.077; all P>0.05). RAA/LAA showed a very weak positive correlation with GA ( r=0.106, P=0.037), with normal reference values of 1.002±0.091, 1.091±0.093, 1.059±0.090, respectively. Interestingly RAL/LAL was found close to 1, while RAW/LAW and RAA/LAA were always >1. No significant correlations were found between LAA/HA, RAA/HA and GA ( r=0.003, 0.056; all P>0.05), with normal reference values of 0.155±0.026, 0.163±0.026, respectively, and RAA/HA was found larger than LAA/HA. LASI showed a very weak positive correlation with GA ( r=0.112, P=0.027), while there was no significant correlation between RASI and GA ( r=0.003, P>0.05), the normal reference values were 1.068±0.113, 0.980±0.105, respectively. ③The SD of LAL, LAW, etc.showed a simple linear relationship with the independent variables. Taking RAA and GA as examples, the linear regression equation for RAA was Y=-1.690+ 0.107 0GA ( r=0.927, P<0.001) and the linear regression equation for RAA-SD was Y=-0.107+ 0.010 4GA ( r=0.320, P<0.001). The Z-scores for LAL, LAW, LAA, RAL, RAW and RAA were relatively constant with the growth of GA, BPD and FL, with the corresponding Z-scores for GA were -1.817~3.631( r=0.000 3), -1.605~2.995( r<-0.000 1), -1.700~3.107( r<0.000 1), -1.617~3.466( r=0.000 1), -1.491~3.025( r<-0.000 1), -1.566~3.104( r=0.000 2), respectively. Conclusions:This study preliminarily establish the reference value ranges and Z-score of atrial diameters in normal fetuses during middle and late trimester, providing a reference basis for accurate quantitative evaluation of fetal atrial development and analysis of fetal congenital heart abnormalities, and contributing to the early detection of pathological conditions leading to abnormal atrial size.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the effect of enhanced external counterpulsation(EECP)on left ventricular function in elderly patients with coronary slow flow phenomenon(CSFP)using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography(2D-STE).Methods:This prospective case-control study included 30 patients aged ≥60 years with no stenotic lesions in the coronary arteries but with slow blood flow phenomenon in more than one major coronary artery who were treated at the Department of Geriatrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, between December 2017 and December 2018, and were divided into a medication group with 16 participants and a medication plus EECP group with 14 participants, using the numerical lottery method.Patients in the group treated with EECP received 6-week 36-h EECP therapy in addition to lifestyle modification and drug treatment.Fourteen patients with normal coronary blood flow served as the control group.Conventional echocardiography and 2D-STE were used to evaluate changes in left ventricular function in the CSF patients before and after drug treatment and EECP.Results:Compared with the control group before treatment, patients in the drug treatment group and the drug treatment plus EECP group showed a decrease in mitral annular early diastolic velocity( P<0.01), an increase in the ratio of peak mitral early diastolic blood flow velocity to the mean peak mitral annular early diastolic velocity( P<0.05), and a decrease in left ventricular longitudinal strain during systole( P<0.01), the longitudinal systolic myocardial strain rate( P<0.01)and the early diastolic longitudinal peak strain rate( P<0.01).There was no statistically significant difference in values from conventional echocardiographic parameters before and after treatment in CSF patients of the medication group(all P>0.05).In the group receiving EECP, there were statistically significant differences in pre-and post-treatment values in ventricular septal early diastolic velocity[(6.22 ± 0.64)cm/s vs.(6.69 ± 0.44)cm/s], lateral wall early diastolic velocity[(8.01±0.68)cm/s vs.(8.41±0.29)cm/s], mitral valve to mitral annulus early diastolic peak velocity ratio[(10.51±1.38) vs.(9.74±0.37)], longitudinal left ventricular systolic strain[(-16.21±0.46)% vs.(-16.80±0.48)%], left ventricular systolic longitudinal strain rate[(-1.29±0.03)s -1vs.(-1.35±0.04)s -1], and early diastolic longitudinal strain rate[(1.35±0.03)s -1vs.(1.40±0.03)s -1](t-values were -3.70、-2.74、2.23、10.25、12.30、-19.15, all P<0.05). Conclusions:2D-STE can evaluate subclinical myocardial dysfunction early and quantitatively in elderly patients with CSF, and objectively reflect changes in left ventricular function before and after clinical intervention with EECP.

SARS-CoV-2 is a new RNA virus affecting humans and spreads extensively throughout the world since its first outbreak in December,2019.Whether the transmissibility and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 in humans after zoonotic transfer are actively evolving,and driven by adaptation to the new host and environments is still under debate.Understanding the evolutionary mechanism underlying epidemiological and pathological characteristics of COVID-19 is essential for predicting the epidemic trend,and providing guidance for disease control and treatments.Interrogating novel strategies for identifying natural selection using within-species polymorphisms and 3,674,076 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences of 169 countries as of December 30,2021,we demonstrate with popula-tion genetic evidence that during the course of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in humans,1)SARS-CoV-2 genomes are overall conserved under purifying selection,especially for the 14 genes related to viral RNA replication,transcription,and assembly;2)ongoing positive selection is actively driving the evolution of 6 genes(e.g.,S,ORF3a,and N)that play critical roles in molecular processes involving pathogen-host interactions,including viral invasion into and egress from host cells,and viral inhi-bition and evasion of host immune response,possibly leading to high transmissibility and mild symptom in SARS-CoV-2 evolution.According to an established haplotype phylogenetic relation-ship of 138 viral clusters,a spatial and temporal landscape of 556 critical mutations is constructed based on their divergence among viral haplotype clusters or repeatedly increase in frequency within at least 2 clusters,of which multiple mutations potentially conferring alterations in viral transmis-sibility,pathogenicity,and virulence of SARS-CoV-2 are highlighted,warranting attention.

Objective:To investigate the immediate and lasting effects of enhanced external counterpulsation(EECP)on blood pressure in elderly patients with hypertension.Methods:In this real-world prospective non-randomized controlled study, the elderly hypertensive patients who were newly diagnosed as hypertension or had poor blood pressure control in the Geriatrics Department of Shandong University Qilu Hospital from May 2019 to December 2019, were enrolled as EECP group, and those with systolic blood pressure(SBP)≥180mmHg(1mmHg=0.133 kPa)or had contraindications for EECP treatment were excluded from EECP group(28 cases). Based on the 1∶1 ratio being consistent with the tendency score-matching method, patients' blood pressure was matched at 3 d before the start of the EECP treatment course, with other matched data of baseline data, coexisting disease, cardiovascular medication were choosed as control group(n=28). The EECP group received an additional 36 hours of EECP treatment(6 times/week, 1 hour/time)including lifestyle improvement and anti-hypertensive drugs.The patient's supine blood pressure was collected 3 minutes before each EECP treatment(baseline), 30 minutes during treatment, and 3 minutes after treatment.In the EECP group, family self-measured blood pressure was collected 3 days before the start of the 6-week treatment course(0w), the 6th week(6w)of the treatment course, and the 2nd week(+ 2w), 4th week(+ 4w)and 12th week(+ 12w)after the end of the treatment course, respectively.And the data of control group were collected at the same time point mentioned above.Results:Compared with baseline, the average immediate SBP of elderly hypertensive patients at the 30th minute of EECP treatment was decreased by(5.5±13.6)mmHg( P<0.001), and the average immediate diabolic blood pressure(DBP)was decreased by(1.1±7.5)mmHg( P<0.001). When the baseline SBP was between 160 and 169 mmHg, the probability of a further increase in SBP during treatment was 2.2%(2/89 cases), and when the baseline SBP was between 170 and 179 mmHg, the probability of a further increase in SBP during treatment was 0%(0/57). At 6 weeks, the decrease in SBP was significantly greater in the EECP group than in the control group[(-17.0±8.7)mmHg vs.(-10.5±7.3)mmHg, P<0.01], and the difference continued to + 2w[(-15.5±6.6)mmHg vs.(-10.6±2.5)mmHg, P<0.01]and + 4w[(-13.3±5.4)mmHg vs.(-10.7±2.1)mmHg, P<0.05]. At + 12w, the blood pressure drop was still greater in EECP group than in the control group, but it did not achieve statistically significant differences.Smoking history, history of diabetes, family history of hypertension, and improvement of comorbidities were the key factors that affect the continuous anti-hypertensive effect of EECP. Conclusions:EECP treatment has an immediate effect on lowering blood pressure in elderly hypertensive patients.A 6-week course of EECP treatment has a sustained effect on lowering blood pressure, and the effect can last from 4 to 12 weeks after the end of the course of treatment.

Objective:To explore the application of peritoneal dialysis routine examination in reducing the incidence of peritonitis associated with peritoneal dialysis.Methods:From July 2018 to June 2019, 191 patients with peritoneal dialysis who were followed up regularly in the nephrology department were selected as the study subjects.Using convenient sampling method, outpatient follow-up on Tuesday were selected as control group(95 cases) and fixed outpatient follow-up on Thursday were selected as observation group(96 cases). Routine follow-up was performed in the control group, and routine examination of peritonitis was performed in the observation group during the follow-up.Intervention was given immediately when the problems were found to the naked eye and the examination results were abnormal.The incidence of peritonitis in the two groups was compared.Results:Peritonitis occurred in 24 cases in the control group(25.26%), and 9 cases in the observation group(9.38%). The incidence of peritonitis in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant(χ 2=5.972, P<0.05). Conclusion:The occurrence of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis is related to a variety of factors.Paying attention to the routine examination of peritonitis and observing the color of peritonitis, strengthening the aseptic fluid exchange operation, and following up the patients can effectively reduce the occurrence of peritonitis and improve the quality of dialysis.