Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of varicella outbreaks in primary and middle schools, and to establish a risk predictive model, so as to provide scientific guidance for the prevention of varicella outbreaks in schools. Methods: Based on a nested case-control study, primary and middle schools in 4 districts of Shanghai (Yangpu District and Jingan District) and Hangzhou (Xiaoshan District and Linping District) from January to December 2023 were selected to observe the status of varicella outbreaks. Associated factors of varicella outbreaks were investigated and used for establishing the predictive model, which was evaluated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow(H-L) goodness of fit test, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: A total of 98 varicella outbreaks were included, with 195 schools without varicella outbreaks during the same period as controls. Eight factors, including the availability of warm water in restroom, availability of hand soap in restroom, average class size, duration of student attendance at school per day, presence of a fulltime school doctor, hesitancy of the school principal towards varicella vaccination, and rates of first and second doses of varicella vaccination, were identified as potential factors for school varicella outbreaks, with statistically significant differences (χ2/Z=10.01, 20.49, 17.43, 9.74, 32.17, 6.60, 2.20, 3.39, P<0.05). The 8 variables above were employed to construct a risk predictive model, and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test yielded a χ2 value of 5.863 (P>0.05); the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.846 (95%CI=0.799-0.893); Calibration curve analysis indicated good consistency between predicted and actual values of the model. DCA demonstrated favorable predictive performance of the model over a wide range. Conclusions The predictive model for school varicella outbreaks demonstrates satisfactory accuracy and efficacy. It suggested to make good use of this prediction model and take relevant measures to reduce the risk of varicella transmission in schools.

Patients with overlap syndrome(OS)of autoimmune liver disease may present with more than one biochemical,immunological,histological or cholangiography features of autoimmune liver disease(AILD)and often require a combination of immunosuppressants for treatment.Pulmonary cryptococcosis is a type of invasive pneumomycosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans or Cryptococcus gattii and has a relatively high incidence rate in immunocompromised patients.This case report presents a patient with OS who was found to have pulmonary cryptococcosis during immunosuppressive therapy and developed abnormal liver function during antifungal treatment.Based on the liver function of the patient,the feasibility of adjusting antifungal agents was assessed,and active treatment strategies for novel cryptococcal infection were developed under the close monitoring of liver function,which helped to avoid the progression of infection.It is suggested that before the initiation of immunosuppressive therapy,systemic foci of infection should be comprehensively evaluated,and suspicious foci of infection should be monitored continuously.

L-asparaginase (L-ASN) is widely applied in the treatment of malignant tumor and low-acrylamide food production, however, the low expression level hampers its application. Heterologous expression is an effective strategy to increase the expression level of target enzymes, and Bacillus is generally used as the host for efficient production of enzymes. In this study, the expression level of L-asparaginase in Bacillus was enhanced through optimization of expression element and host. Firstly, five signal peptides (SP_SacC, SP_AmyL, SP_AprE, SP_YwbN and SP_WapA) were screened, among which SP_SacC showed the best performance, reaching an activity of 157.61 U/mL. Subsequently, four strong promoters (P43, P_ykzA-P43, P_Ubay and P_bacA) from Bacillus were screened, and tandem promoter P_ykzA-P43 showed the highest yield of L-asparaginase, which was 52.94% higher than that of control strain. Finally, three Bacillus expression hosts (B. licheniformis Δ0F3 and BL10, B. subtilis WB800) were investigated, and the maximum L-asparaginase activity, 438.3 U/mL, was reached by B. licheniformis BL10, which was an 81.83% increase compared with that of the control. This is also the highest level of L-asparaginase in shake flask reported to date. Taken together, this study constructed a B. licheniformis strain BL10/P_ykzA-P43-SP_SacC-ansZ capable of efficiently producing L-asparaginase, which laid the foundation for industrial production of L-asparaginase.
Bacillus licheniformis/metabolism* ; Asparaginase/genetics* ; Bacillus/genetics* ; Protein Sorting Signals ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics* ; Bacillus subtilis/genetics* ; Bacterial Proteins

Objective:To compare the effect of O-arm assisted and free-hand pedicle screw placement in the treatment of AO type C thoracolumbar fracture.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was used to analyze the clinical data of 34 patients with type C thoracolumbar fracture admitted to Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2018 to June 2021, including 23 males and 11 females; aged 42-63 years [(50.4±7.4)years]. The fracture was located at T 11 in 4 patients, T 12 in 10, L 1 in 12, L 2 in 6, T 11~12/L 1 in 1 and T 12/L 1 in 1. Posterior reduction and internal fixation was carried out for all patients, of whom 18 were treated with O-arm assisted pedicle screw placement (navigation group) and 16 with free-hand pedicle screw placement (free-hand group). The operation time, single screw placement time, intraoperative bleeding volume, operation mode and screw placement accuracy were compared between the two groups. The kyphotic Cobb angle, visual analogue score (VAS) and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score were compared between the two groups before operation, at 1 week after operation, at 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up. Postoperative complications were observed. Results:All patients were followed up for 12-29 months [(16.8±6.1)months]. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume and operation mode (all P>0.05). The single screw placement time was (9.4±1.6)minutes in navigation group, but was (10.8±1.5)minutes in free-hand group ( P<0.05). The screw placement accuracy was 97.4% in navigation group, but was 81.5% in free-hand group ( P<0.01). The kyphotic Cobb angle and VAS had no significant differences between the two groups before operation (all P>0.05). The kyphotic Cobb angle in navigation group and free-hand group was (4.3±1.1)° and (5.9±1.1)° at 1 week after operation, (4.4±1.2)° and (5.7±1.3)° at 3 months after operation, and (4.4±1.2)° and (6.8±0.9)° at the last follow-up, decreased significantly from that before operation [(21.8±3.1)°, (22.2±3.2)°] (all P<0.01). The kyphotic Cobb angle in navigation group was significantly lower than that in free-hand group at 1 week, 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up (all P<0.01). The VAS in navigation group and free-hand group was (3.2±0.7)points and (4.1±0.7)points at 1 week after operation, (2.4±0.6)points and (3.0±0.8)points at 3 months after operation, and (1.8±0.9)points and (2.6±0.7)points at the last follow-up, decreased significantly from that before operation [(8.4±0.8)points, (8.3±0.9)points] (all P<0.01). The VAS in navigation group was significantly lower than that in free-hand group at 1 week, 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up (all P<0.01). The ASIA score showed no significant difference within and between the two groups before operation, at 1 week, 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up (all P>0.05). Postoperative incision infection occurred in 1 patient in both groups ( P>0.05). Implant failure such as loosening or displacement was not observed in navigation group, and only occurred in 2 patients in free-hand group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with free-hand pedicle screw placement, O-arm assisted pedicle screw placement in the treatment of AO type C thoracolumbar fracture has advantages of rapid and accurate screw placement, good reduction and notable pain relief.

Objective:To evaluate the value of preoperative prediction of vessel invasion (VI) of locally advanced gastric cancer by machine learning model based on the venous phase enhanced CT radiomics features.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 296 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer confirmed by pathology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from July 2011 to December 2020 was performed. The patients were divided into VI positive group ( n=213) and VI negative group ( n=83) based on pathological results. The data were divided into training set ( n=207) and test set ( n=89) according to the ratio of 7∶3 with stratification sampling. The clinical characteristics of patients were recorded, and the independent risk factors of gastric cancer VI were screened by multivariate logistic regression. Pyradiomics software was used to extract radiomic features from the venous phase enhanced CT images, and the minimum absolute shrinkage and selection algorithm (LASSO) was used to screen the features, obtain the optimal feature subset, and establish the radiomics signature. Four machine learning algorithms, including extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), logistic, naive Bayes (GNB), and support vector machine (SVM) models, were used to build prediction models for the radiomics signature and the screened clinical independent risk factors. The efficacy of the model in predicting gastric cancer VI was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results:The degree of differentiation (OR=13.651, 95%CI 7.265-25.650, P=0.003), Lauren′s classification (OR=1.349, 95%CI 1.011-1.799, P=0.042) and CA199 (OR=1.796, 95%CI 1.406-2.186, P=0.044) were independent risk factors for predicting the VI of locally advanced gastric cancer. Based on the venous phase enhanced CT images, 864 quantitative features were extracted, and 18 best constructed radiomics signature were selected by LASSO. In the training set, the area under the curve (AUC) of XGBoost, logistic, GNB and SVM models for predicting gastric cancer VI were 0.914 (95%CI 0.875-0.953), 0.897 (95%CI 0.853-0.940), 0.880 (95%CI 0.832-0.928) and 0.814 (95%CI 0.755-0.873), respectively, and in the test set were 0.870 (95%CI 0.769-0.971), 0.877 (95%CI 0.788-0.964), 0.859 (95%CI 0.755-0.961) and 0.773 (95%CI 0.647-0.898). The logistic model had the largest AUC in the test set. Conclusions:The machine learning model based on the venous phase enhanced CT radiomics features has high efficacy in predicting the VI of locally advanced gastric cancer before the operation, and the logistic model demonstrates the best diagnostic efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (MHR) for the predictive value of early neurological deterioration (END) and poor outcome in patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke (AACIS).Methods:Patients with AACIS admitted to Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2021 to January 2022 were included retrospectively. END was defined as the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score within 7 d of onset increase ≥2 compred with baseline or the increase of motor function score ≥1. The patients were divided into END group and non-END group according to the presence or absence of END. The patients were also divided into good outcome group (0-2 points) and poor outcome group (3-6 points) according to the modified Rankin Scale score 3 months after onset. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for END and poor outcome, and the predictive value of MHR for END and poor outcome was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:A total of 522 patients were enrolled, including 338 male (64.8%), aged 61.99±11.39 years old. One hundred and five patients (20.1%) had END, 123 (23.6%) had poor outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that baseline NIHSS score (odds ratio [ OR] 1.075, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.017-1.137; P=0.010) and MHR (with the lowest quartile as the reference, the third quartile: OR 2.778, 95% CI 1.255-6.151, P=0.012; the fourth quartile: OR 12.645, 95% CI 5.942-26.912; P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for END; the baseline NIHSS score ( OR 1.075, 95% CI 1.021-1.132; P=0.006), END ( OR 2.306, 95% CI 1.010-6.261; P=0.047) and MHR (with the first quartile as reference, the fourth quartile: OR 2.769, 95% CI 1.167-6.569; P=0.021) were the independent risk factors for poor outcomes. ROC curve analysis showed that area under the curve of MHR for predicting END and poor outcome in patients with AACIS were 0.805 (95% CI 0.750-0.860; P<0.001) and 0.747 (95% CI 0.690-0.803; P<0.001) respectively. The best cutoff value was 0.435, the sensitivity was 73.3% and 64.2%, and the specificity was 79.6% and 78.7% respectively. The area under the curve of MHR for predicting END and poor outcome was higher than that of monocyte and HDL-C alone. Conclusion:MHR can be used as a predictor of END and poor outcome in patients with AACIS, and its predictive value is higher than that of monocytes or HDL-C.

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness of postoperative radiotherapy using shrinking field for patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS), mainly focusing on the local control rate and adverse events.Methods:Clinical data of 49 extremity STS patients who received postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy in the First Hospital of Tsinghua University from October 2017 to March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Target volumes were contoured on CT and MRI fusion images. The tumor bed was defined as GTV tb, with 3 cm expansion in the longitudinal direction and 1.5 cm expansion in the radial direction to construct CTV (the target volume should be properly repaired according to the anatomical barrier, and the edema area around the tumor should be included). GTV tb and CTV were expanded in all directions by 0.5 cm to construct PTV1 and PTV2 respectively, at a dose of 95%PTV1 63-66 Gy, 95%PTV2 50-56 Gy,1.8-2.0 Gy/f. The dose of surgical volume should be given at 70 Gy for patients who had a microscopic positive margin. Results:The median follow-up time was 32.1 months (7.9-45.6 months). The 3-year local failure-free survival (LFFS), overall survival (OS)and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were 91.7%,77.6% and 71.5%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that patients with a microscopic positive margin were more likely to develop local recurrence ( P<0.05). The incidence of grade 2 or above wound complications, joint stiffness, fracture, edema and skin fibrosis were 2%, 4.1%, 2%, 8.2% and 26.5%, respectively. Conclusion:Postoperative radiotherapy with shrinking field provides excellent local control rate and low incidence of late adverse events in patients with extremity STS.

Objective:To investigate anticoagulant effects of mechanical methods in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).Methods:In this prospective study, 54 obese patients receiving LSG were enrolled . All patients were given post-op mechanical methods for thrombogenic interventions. BMI and the operation-related factors were recorded. Venous blood specimens were taken from each patient before surgery, at the end of pneumoperitoneum (i.e., 0 h after surgery), at 24 hours after surgery for prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB) and D-dimer (D-D).Results:All 54 obese patients successfully underwent LSG. No severe complications were observed. Before operation, the mean BMI was (43.49±8.29) kg/m 2. DVT-2600 device was applied in all patients for 3 consecutive days after surgery. The PT values increased at 0 h, 24 h after surgery [(12.4±1.2) s, (12.4±0.8) s vs. (11.2±0.8) s, P=0, 0]. The APTT values at 0 h, 24 h after surgery decreased [(29.7±3.6) s, (29.0±3.1) s vs.(31.2±3.3) s, P=0.020, 0.001]. However, the D-D values increased at 0 h,24 h after operation [(213±143) ng/ml ,(445±237) ng/ml vs. (85±108) ng/ml, P=0, 0]. All patients were followed up for 1 month, and no thrombosis -related complications were observed. Conclusion:Mechanical methods for obese patients after LSG can help decrease the risk of deep venous thrombosis.

Objective:To investigate the difference in efficacy between transsylvian-transinsular approach and transcortical-transtemporal approach for hematoma evacuation in the treatment of severe basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage in young adults.Methods:Young adult patients with severe intracerebral hemorrhage in the basal ganglia region underwent craniotomy hematoma removal in Ankang Central Hospital from February 2012 to February 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. The Glasgow Outcome Scale score was used to evaluate the outcome at 6 months after onset. 4-5 were defined as good outcome and 1-3 were defined as poor outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent influencing factors of the poor outcomes. Results:A total of 51 patients were enrolled. Their median age was 41 (interquartile range 39-43) years, and 29 were men (56.8%). The median Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission was 6.0 (interquartile range 5.5-7.0), and the median baseline hematoma volume was 38.0 ml (34.5-47.5 ml). Twenty-one patients (41.2%) were in the transsylvian-transinsular approach group and 30 (58.8%) were in the transcortical-transtemporal approach group. There were no significant differences in demographics, vascular risk factors and baseline clinical data between the transsylvian-transinsular approach group and the transcortical-transtemporal approach group. Compared with the transcortical-transtemporal approach group, the amount of intraoperative bleeding and hematoma residue in the transsylvian-transinsular approach group were less, the proportion of patients requiring decompressive craniectomy was lower (33.3% vs. 63.3%; χ2=4.449, P=0.035), and the duration of dehydration medication and hospital stay were shorter (all P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the good outcome rate between the two groups (66.7% vs. 56.7%; χ2=0.518, P=0.472). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lower scores of Glasgow Coma Scale at admission (odds ratio 0.128, 95% confidence interval 0.017-0.977; P=0.047) and longer hospital stay (odds ratio 1.402, 95% confidence interval 1.065-1.844; P=0.016) were independently associated with the poor outcomes. Conclusion:For young adult patients with severe basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent hematoma removal, although there was no significant difference between the outcomes of patients with transsylvian-transinsular approach and transcortical-transtemporal approach, the former had more advantages.

Objective:To construct a model of early neurological deterioration (END) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and to evaluate the predictive value of this model.Methods:From February 2018 to December 2020, 263 cases of AIS patients admitted to Response General Hospital were selected as research objects. According to whether END occurs, they were divided into END group (80 cases) and non-END group (183 cases). Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of AIS concurrent END, and the predictive model of the above factors was constructed. The value of the model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, correction curve and decision curve analysis (DCA).Results:Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and door to needle time (DNT) in the END group were (144.66 ± 18.08) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), (84.04 ± 8.47) mmHg, (6.15 ± 1.00) mmol/L, (4.82 ± 1.08) mmol/L, (14.90 ± 4.95) points, (4.58 ± 1.02) h, all higher than those in the non-END group (132.32 ± 15.53) mmHg, (81.19 ± 11.00) mmHg, (5.53 ± 0.98) mmol/L, (4.51 ± 1.15) mmol/L, (11.37 ± 3.32) points, (3.22 ± 1.08) h, and the level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol was (1.09 ± 0.07) mmol/L in the END group,lower than that in the non-END group (1.15 ± 0.08) mmol/L, the differences were statistically significant ( t values were 2.07-9.53, all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that fasting plasma glucose ( OR=2.25, 95% CI 1.50-3.40, P<0.05), systolic blood pressure ( OR=1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.07, P<0.05), NIHSS score ( OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.14-1.39, P<0.05) and DNT ( OR=3.44, 95% CI 2.30-5.14, P<0.05) were independent risk factors for AIS concurrent END. The area under ROC curve, sensitivity and specificity of the model X composed of fasting plasma glucose, systolic blood pressure, NIHSS scores and DNT for diagnosing AIS concurrent END were 0.90 (95% CI 0.87-0.94), 90.00% and 77.60% respectively. The calibration curve of model X had a high coincidence with the ideal curve. Conclusions:The model X composed of fasting plasma glucose, systolic blood pressure, NIHSS score and DNT has high application value for the prediction of END, which can assist the clinic to make better decision.