Objective To evaluate safety and efficacy of linaclotide combined with polyethylene glycol(PEG)for bowel preparation.Methods A total of 612 patients from Department of Gastroenterology at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University for colonoscopy examination from January to June 2023 were selected.They were divided into group 1(1 L PEG+2 L PEG),group 2(linaclotide+2 L PEG)and group 3(1 L PEG+linaclotide+1 L PEG)by random number table method,with 204 cases in each group.The Ottawa Bowel Preparation Quality Scale(OBPS),the insertion time of colonoscopy,the time of the first defecation,the frequency of defecations,the occurrence of adverse effects and patients'tolerability were compared among the three groups.Results A total of 601 patients completed bowel preparation and accepted colonoscopy.Group 1 exhibited no statistically significant differences to group 2 with regards to OBPS and insertion time.However,Group 2 demonstrated a shorter duration for the time of the first defecation in comparison to both group 1 and group 3(P＜0.05).Group 1 displayed a higher frequency of defecations as compared to Group 2 and Group 3(P＜0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in group 2 and group 3 than in group 1(P＜0.05).The overall tolerance score of patients in group 1 was low-er than that in group 2 and group 3(P＜0.05).Conclusions The effect of combining 2 L PEG with 290 μg of lina-clotide for bowel preparation before colonoscopy is similar to that of 3 L PEG.It can reduce the incidence of adverse reactions and patients exhibit good tolerance.For patients who are intolerant to a single high-dose administration of PEG,they need divided-dose regimen of 2 L PEG in combination with linaclotide.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and risk of functional dependence in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).Methods:It was a cross-sectional survey study. The clinical data of MHD patients in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from June to December 2023 were collected. The Katz and Lawton-Brody questionnaires were used to assess the functional status. The patients were divided into normal functional status group and functional dependence group, and the differences of the clinical data between the two groups were compared. Serum albumin and lymphocytes were used to determine PNI, and the patients were divided into four subgroups: Q1 group (PNI≤44.3), Q2 group (44.349.8) according to the quartile of PNI. Logistic regression analysis method was used to analyze the relationship between PNI and risk of functional dependence in MHD patients, and subgroup analysis was conducted. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the efficacy of PNI, serum albumin, and lymphocytes in predicting the risk of functional dependence in MHD patients.Results:A total of 206 MHD patients were included in this study, with age of (58.35±0.98) years old, and 132 (64.1%) males. There were 58 (28.2%) patients with diabetes, 179 (86.9%) patients with hypertension, and 36 (17.5%) patients with cardiovascular diseases. There were 95 (46.1%) patients developing functional dependence. Compared with normal functional status group, functional dependence group had higher age ( t=-6.87, P<0.001), proportion of diabetes ( χ2=6.58, P=0.010), and pulse pressure ( t=-3.17, P=0.002), and lower diastolic pressure ( t=3.88, P<0.001), serum creatinine ( t=3.44, P=0.001), serum albumin ( t=4.09, P<0.001) and PNI ( t=3.92, P<0.001). The incidence of functional dependence in PNI Q1 group (69.2%, 36/52) was significantly higher than those in Q2 group (49.0%, 25/51), Q3 group (34.0%, 18/53) and Q4 group (32.0%, 16/50), and the differences among groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors: age, diabetes, pulse pressure, and serum creatinine, the risk of functional dependence of PNI Q1 group was 3.217 folds higher than that in Q4 group ( OR=3.217, 95% CI 1.229-8.422, P=0.017). The risk probability model of PNI predicting the occurrence of functional dependence in MHD patients: logit (odds)=5.854-0.128 3×PNI. The area under the ROC curve ( AUC) for PNI predicting the risk of functional dependence in MHD patients was 0.66 (95% CI 0.58-0.73, P<0.001), slightly higher than that of serum albumin ( AUC=0.64, 95% CI 0.54-0.73, P<0.001). The optimal cutoff value of PNI predicting the occurrence of functional dependence was 46.15, with sensitivity of 72.07% and specificity of 57.89%. Conclusion:Low PNI is associated with high risk of functional dependence in MHD patients.

OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical effect of calcium sulfate on promoting natural healing of docking sites during bone transport. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on the patients with posttraumatic chronic osteomyelitis treated by bone transport and calcium sulfate implantation from January 2013 to January 2018. There were 23 males and 4 females, aged from 20 to 61 years old with an average of (44.30±10.00) years, the courses of disease ranged from 3 to 86 months with an average of(13.26±16.47) months. Sixteen patients with posttraumatic chronic osteomyelitis were caused by internal fixation of closed fractures, and 11 patients were caused by open fractures. The length of bone defects after debridement ranged from 4 to 14 cm with an average of(9.11±2.57) cm. Postoperative complications, natural healing rate of the docking sites, external fixation index were observed, Checketts & Otterburn pin-tract infection classification was used to evaluate pin-tract infection, and Paley evaluation criteria was used to evaluate bone and function results. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients were followed up from 26 to 41 months with an average of (31.32±3.37) months. It did not happened skin embedded between bone stumps in all patients. All patients obtained bone union at (17.78±5.43) months after operation.Among them, 25 patients healed naturally in the docking sites, 2 patients with poor compliance healed after debridement and bone grafting in the docking sites. One patient occurred equines deformity, and no re-fracture or recurrence of infection occurred. According to Checketts & Otterburn pin tract infection classification, 22 patients (41 pin tracts)occurred pin-tract infection with varying degrees. The average external fixation index was (2.02±0.24) months/cm(ranged from 1.6 to 2.4 months/cm). According to Paley evaluation criteria, bony results showed 21 patients obtained excellent results, 5 good, and 1 moderate;functional results showed 19 patients got excellent results, 7 good, and 1 moderate. CONCLUSION During bone transport, the implantation of calcium sulfate on the bone defect areas could prevent skin embedding between the bone stumps, benefit for the natural healing of the docking sites, and could avoid the second-stage debridement and bone grafting for most patients. However, it should be noted that compliance needs to be increased.
Animals ; Bone Transplantation ; Calcium Sulfate ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fracture Fixation ; Horses ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Osteomyelitis/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibial Fractures ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:Loeys-Dietz syndrome is a rare type of hereditary connective tissue disease. This study was aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and gene mutations in a family of Loeys-Dietz syndrome with skeletal deformity.Methods:Clinical data of the proband and family members were collected and biochemical measurements and radiological examinations were conducted. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of the family members. Whole-exome sequencing was performed to determine the mutation sites in the proband, and Sanger sequencing was applied to verify the candidate mutation in the other family members.Results:The proband is a 34-year-old man with deformities of lower extremities for more than 30 years. Physical examinations showed dolichostenomelia, pes planus, joint laxity and scoliosis. Echocardiography revealed the dilatation of aortic root at the level of the sinuses of Valsalva. A heterozygous missense mutation (c. 220A>C, p.Thr74Pro) in exon 1 of TGFβ2 gene was identified in the proband. The same mutation was detected in his sister and niece with similar clinical features such as deformities of lower extremities and pes planus. This novel mutation has not been reported in ExAC or 1000G and was predicted to be deleterious, supporting a diagnosis of Loeys-Dietz syndrome type 4.Conclusions:Loeys-Dietz syndrome type 4 is caused by TGFβ2 mutations. Skeletal deformity is one of the distinctive features. Genetic testing is helpful for the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis from other connective tissue diseases.

Objective: To establish an ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of creatinine (Cre) and 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA) in urine. Methods: In October 2020, the end-of-shift urine samples of the monitored subjects were taken, and the filtrate was prepared by centrifugation. After separated by ultra high performance liquid chromatography C18 column, acetonitrile and 0.2% acetic acid aqueous solution were used as mobile phases for gradient elution, the three quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry adopted an electrospray ion source (ESI) , the ion source temperature was 500 ℃ , and the air curtain gas flow rate was 31.4 L/min, qualitative and quantitative analysis of Cre and TTCA were carried out under the multiple reaction monitoring mode. Results: The linear range of Cre was 1.0-1 000.0 μg/L, the linear equation was y=947.3x-1605.6, and the correlation coefficient was 0.9994. The detection limit and the limit of quantitation were 0.3, 1.0 μg/L. When the addition concentrations were 50.0, 150.0 and 450.0 μg/L, the recovery rates were 92.8%-94.6% , the intra assay precisions were 3.6%-5.7% , and the inter assay precisions were 3.4%-5.4%. The linear range of TTCA was 0.1-200.0 μg/L, the linear equation was y=1164.7x-2243.9, and the correlation coefficient was 0.9991. The detection limit and the limit of quantitation were 0.03, 0.1 μg/L. When the addition concentrations were 10.0, 40.0 and 160.0 μg/L, the recovery rates were 90.8%-93.6%, the intra assay precisions were 4.6%-7.4%, and the inter assay precisions were 4.4%-6.9%. Conclusion: The sample pretreatment process of the ultra high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of Cre and TTCA in urine is simple, and the continuous determination of Cre and TTCA in urine can be realized only by switching mass spectrometry parameters under the same chromatographic conditions, which is accurate and efficient, and each performance index of the method meets the determination requirements.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Thiazolidines

BACKGROUND: A novel coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first identified in Wuhan, China, has been rapidly spreading around the world. This study investigates the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in Zhejiang Province who did or did not have a history of Wuhan exposure. METHODS: We collected data from medical records of confirmed COVID-19 patients in Zhejiang Province from Jan. 17 to Feb. 7, 2020 and analyzed epidemiological, clinical, and treatment data of those with and without recorded recent exposure in Wuhan. RESULTS: Patients in the control group were older than those in the exposure group ((48.19±16.13) years vs. (43.47±13.12) years, P<0.001), and more were over 65 years old (15.95% control vs. 5.60% exposure, P<0.001). The rate of clustered onset was also significantly higher in the control group than in the exposure group (31.39% vs. 18.66%, P<0.001). The symptom of a sore throat in patients in the exposure group was significantly higher than that in the control group (17.30% vs. 10.89%, P=0.01); however, headache in the exposure group was significantly lower than that in the control group (6.87% vs. 12.15%, P=0.015). More patients in the exposure group had a significantly lower level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) than those in the control group. There was no significant difference in any degree of COVID-19 including mild, severe, and critical between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS From the perspective of epidemiological and clinical characteristics, there was no significant difference between COVID-19 patients with and without Wuhan exposure history.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Betacoronavirus ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the brain glucose metabolism and left ventricular function parameters, and to explore the cerebral glucose metabolism reduction regions in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: A total of 110 consecutive IHD patients who underwent gated (99)Tc(m)-sestamibi (MIBI) SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion imaging, gated (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT myocardial and brain glucose metabolic imaging within three days in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from April 2016 to October 2017, were enrolled in this study. Left ventricular functional parameters of SPECT/CT and PET/CT including end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were analyzed by QGS software. Viable myocardium and myocardial infarction region were determined by 17-segment and 5 score system, and the ratio of viable myocardium and scar myocardium was calculated. According to the range of viable myocardium, the patients were divided into viable myocardium<10% group (n=44), viable myocardium 10%-<20% group (n=36) and viable myocardium≥20% group (n=30). Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the range of viable myocardium and scar myocardium and the level of cerebral glucose metabolism. Brain glucose metabolism determined by the mean of standardized uptake value (SUV(mean)) was analyzed by SPM. The ratio of SUV(mean) in whole brain and SUV(mean) in cerebellum were calculated, namely taget/background ratio (TBR). Differences in cerebral glucose metabolism among various groups were analyzed by SPM. Results: There were 101 males, and age was (57±10) years in this cohort. The extent of viable myocardium and the extent of scar, LVEF evaluated by SPECT/CT and PET/CT were significantly correlated with TBR (r=0.280, r=-0.329, r=0.188, r=0.215 respectively,all P<0.05). TBR value was significantly lower in viable myocardium<10% group, compared with viable myocardium 10%-<20% group (1.25±0.97 vs. 1.32±0.17, P<0.05) and viable myocardium≥20% group (1.25±0.97 vs. 1.34±0.16, P<0.05). Furthermore, in comparison with viable myocardium≥20% group, the hypo-metabolic regions of viable myocardium<10% group were located in the precuneus, frontal lobe, postcentral gyrus, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and so on. Conclusions: There is a correlation between impaired left ventricular function and brain glucose metabolism in IHD patients. In IHD patients with low myocardial viability, the level of glucose metabolism in the whole brain is decreased, especially in the brain functional areas related to cognitive function.
Aged ; Brain ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Glucose ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Stroke Volume ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Ventricular Function, Left

BACKGROUND: Currently, there are no drugs that have been proven to be effective against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Because of its broad antiviral activity, interferon (IFN) should be evaluated as a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially while COVID-19-specific therapies are still under development. METHODS: Confirmed COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, from January 19 to February 19, 2020 were enrolled in a retrospective study. The patients were separated into an IFN group and a control group according to whether they received initial IFN-α2b inhalation treatment after admission. Propensity-score matching was used to balance the confounding factors. RESULTS: A total of 104 confirmed COVID-19 patients, 68 in the IFN group and 36 in the control group, were enrolled. Less hypertension (27.9% vs. 55.6%, P=0.006), dyspnea (8.8% vs. 25.0%, P=0.025), or diarrhea (4.4% vs. 19.4%, P=0.030) was observed in the IFN group. Lower levels of albumin and C-reactive protein and higher level of sodium were observed in the IFN group. Glucocorticoid dosage was lower in the IFN group (median, 40 vs. 80 mg/d, P=0.025). Compared to the control group, fewer patients in the IFN group were ventilated (13.2% vs. 33.3%, P=0.015) and admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) (16.2% vs. 44.4%, P=0.002). There were also fewer critical patients in the IFN group (7.4% vs. 25.0%, P=0.017) upon admission. Although complications during admission process were comparable between groups, the discharge rate (85.3% vs. 66.7%, P=0.027) was higher and the hospitalization time (16 vs. 21 d, P=0.015) was shorter in the IFN group. When other confounding factors were not considered, virus shedding time (10 vs. 13 d, P=0.014) was also shorter in the IFN group. However, when the influence of other factors was eliminated using propensity score matching, virus shedding time was not significantly shorter than that of the control group (12 vs. 15 d, P=0.206). CONCLUSIONS IFN-α2b spray inhalation did not shorten virus shedding time of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalized patients.
Albumins/analysis* ; Antiviral Agents/administration & dosage* ; Betacoronavirus ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis* ; COVID-19 ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/pharmacology* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Interferon alpha-2/administration & dosage* ; Nasal Sprays ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy* ; Propensity Score ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Sodium/blood* ; Virus Shedding/drug effects* ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment

Atrial fibrillation is closely related to the onset of stroke.It was previously believed that atrial fibrillation caused blood stasis,which resulted in thrombosis and cerebral embolism.However,as the research progresses,the mechanism of thromboembolism is currently considered to be caused by a variety of factors,including atrial fibrillation,systemic factors,and atrial tissue matrix abnormalities.This article reviews the complex mechanisms of atrial fibrillation leading to stroke.

OBJECTIVETo analyze clinical features, outcomes and correlative prognostic factors of the disease.

METHODTotally 14 newly diagnosed children with pancreatoblastoma at Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center and Beijing Children's Hospital were enrolled into this study between April 2003 and July 2013. The clinical features, surgery, chemotherapy protocol and prognostic factors of patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTThe median age at diagnosis was 6.5 years (0.6 to 11 years). Four cases had local tumor, 9 cases had local invasion, and in 1 case lung and liver metastasis was found at diagnosis. Increased serum α-fetoprotein were found in 8 cases (66-54,000 μg/L). In 8 patients the tumor was resected at first. The remaining 6 patients had biopsy and in four of them the tumor was completely resected after 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy. Except for 2 patients who gave up treatment, all the other patients fulfilled the comprehensive treatment including surgery and chemotherapy. One patient received radiofrequency ablation. The median follow-up period was 26 months(16-140 months). The estimated 2 year event free survival was (66.7 ± 13.6)%.On univariate analysis, non-resectable tumor(χ(2) = 6.663, P = 0.010), progression and metastases during treatment(χ(2) = 14.927, P = 0.000), poor response to treatment(χ(2) = 12.293, P = 0.000)were independent predictors for poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONComplete resection and complete remission after treatment were excellent prognostic factors. Some initially unresectable disease seems to be resectable after adjuvant chemotherapy, which may be a key point of treatment strategy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Child ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate