Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of the Corheart 6 left ventricular assist system in patients with end-stage heart failure. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients with end-stage heart failure who were treated with Corheart 6 left ventricular assist system from March 2022 to June 2024 in 4 hospitals in Jiangsu Province. The efficacy of the device was evaluated by comparing changes in clinical indicators at preoperative, discharge, 3-month postoperative, and 6-month postoperative timepoints, including the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD). The safety of the device was assessed by analyzing the intraoperative position and orientation of the blood pump inlet cannula, as well as the incidence of adverse events. Results In this study, 39 patients were collected, including 34 males and 5 females with a mean age of (56.4±12.5) years, ranging from 20 to 75 years. There was no operative death. There was no death in postoperative 3 months with a survival rate of 100.0%. There were 3 deaths in 6 months postoperatively, with a survival rate of 92.3%. All patients had a preoperative NYHA cardiac function classification of class Ⅳ. The NYHA cardiac function class of the patients improved (P<0.05) at discharge, 3 and 6 months after surgery when compared to the preoperative period. LVEF was significantly higher at 3 months after surgery than that during the preoperative period (P<0.05). LVEDD was significantly smaller at discharge, 3 and 6 months after surgery than that during the preoperative period (P<0.05). The safety evaluation's findings demonstrated that all 39 patients' intraoperative blood pump inlet tubes were oriented correctly, the artificial blood vessel suture sites were appropriate, there were no instances of device malfunction or pump thrombosis, or instances of bleeding or hemolysis, and the rate of the remaining adverse events was low. Conclusion With a low rate of adverse events and an excellent safety profile, the Corheart 6 left ventricular assist system can efficiently enhance cardiac function in patients with end-stage heart failure. It also has considerable clinical uses.

Objective:To analyze the clinical data of patients with end-stage ankle and hindfoot ar-thropathy who underwent tibiotalocalcaneal(TTC)arthrodesis by the same surgeon,explore the short-and mid-term clinical results,complications and functional improvement,and discuss the clinical progno-sis and precautions of TTC arthrodesis.Methods:Retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 40 patients who underwent TTC arthrodesis by the same surgeon from March 2011 to December 2020.In this study,23 males and 17 females were included,with an average age of(49.1±16.0)years.All the patients underwent unilateral surgery.The clinical characteristics,imaging manifestations,main diagno-sis and specific surgical techniques of the patients were recorded.The clinical outcomes were evaluated by comparison of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS)ankle-hindfoot score and visual analogue scale(VAS)between pre-operation and at the last follow-up.The fusion healing time,symptom improvement(significant improvement,certain improvement,no improvement or deterioration)and postoperative complications were also recorded.Results:The median follow-up time was 38.0(26.3,58.8)months.The preoperative VAS score was 6.0(4.0,7.0),and the AOFAS score was 33.0(25.3,47.3).At the last follow-up,the median VAS score was 0(0,3.0),and the AOFAS score was 80.0(59.0,84.0).All the significantly improved compared with their preoperative corre-sponding values(P＜0.05).There was no wound necrosis or infection in the patients.One patient suf-fered from subtalar joint nonunion,which was syphilitic Charcot arthropathy.The median bony healing time of other patients was 15.0(12.0,20.0)weeks.Among the included patients,there were 25 cases with significant improvement in symptom compared with that preoperative,8 cases with certain improve-ment,4 cases with no improvement,and 3 cases with worse symptoms than that before operation.Con-clusion:TTC arthrodesis is a reliable method for the treatment of the end-stage ankle and hindfoot ar-thropathy.The function of most patients was improved postoperatively,with little impact on daily life.The causes of poor prognosis included toe stiffness,stress concentration in adjacent knee joints,nonunion and pain of unknown causes.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between health belief and the stages of parental decision-making on childhood 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) immunization in China.Methods:Cross-sectional multistage survey sampling method was used to select study subjects. The study subjects were parents who were aged 20-45 years and had one and more children ≤5 years old in three cities in China. A self-administered questionnaire designed based on health belief model was used to collect the information. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationships between perceived susceptibility, perceived severity of illness, perceived effect of PCV13 and stages of parental decision-making on childhood PCV13 immunization.Results:A total of 1 716 valid questionnaires were returned (89.33%). The average age of the study subjects was (35.33±4.95) years, and 79.60% of them were women. In the study subjects, 48.31% had in action, 21.79% were in contemplation and 29.90% were in pre-contemplation. The multinominal logistic regression analysis indicated that high perceived susceptibility ( OR=0.14, 95% CI:0.09-0.22; OR=0.54, 95% CI:0.39-0.76), high perceived severity of illness ( OR=0.55, 95% CI:0.42-0.73), and high perceived effect of PCV13 ( OR=0.27, 95% CI:0.18-0.40; OR=0.51, 95% CI:0.32-0.81) were significantly lower in those who were in contemplation or pre-compared with those who had in action. For study subjects with low perceived susceptibility, high perceived effect of PCV13 might decrease the probabilities of contemplation ( OR=0.53, 95% CI:0.32-0.87) and pre-contemplation ( OR=0.27, 95% CI:0.18-0.41). For those with high perceived susceptibility, perceived severity of illness might decrease the probability of contemplation ( OR=0.43, 95% CI:0.23-0.82). Conclusions:Childhood PCV13 vaccination willingness and level is low in China. It is important to pay greater attention to the intervention on health belief in child parents, such as perceived effect of PCV13, perceived severity of illness, and perceived susceptibility, in health policy development and health promotion.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the early effectiveness of a new minimally invasive plate in the treatment of varus-type ankle arthritis. METHODS: A clinical data of 15 patients with varus-type ankle arthritis who met the selection criteria between March 2021 and October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were treated with medial open-wedge supramalleolar osteotomy and fibular osteotomy. The osteotomies were fixed with the new minimally invasive plate. There were 7 males and 8 females with an average age of 49.8 years (range, 16-71 years). The causes of ankle arthritis included post-fracture deformity in 1 case, sprain in 8 cases, and acquired clubfoot in 1 case; and 5 cases were without obvious factors. The disease duration ranged from 1 to 12 years, with an average of 4.1 years. Comparisons were made between pre-operation and the last follow-up in the Takakura staging, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, foot function index (FFI), visual analogue scale (VAS) score, tibial anterior surface angle (TAS), tibial lateral surface angle (TLS), and talar tilt (TT). RESULTS: All incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 7-18 months (mean, 12.8 months). At last follow-up, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, FFI, VAS score, and Takakura staging significantly improved when compared with the preoperative ones ( P<0.05). X-ray films showed that the osteotomy healed at 3 months after operation. At last follow-up, TAS significantly increased and TT decreased when compared with the preoperative ones ( P<0.05), and the difference in TLS between pre- and post-operation was not significant ( P>0.05). Complications included 1 case of intraoperative screw breakage and 2 cases of nerve injury of the affected foot. None of the patients complained of significant discomfort at the plate placement during follow-up, and no loosening of the internal fixator occurred. Eleven patients were very satisfied with the effeectiveness, while 4 were relatively satisfied. CONCLUSION The new minimally invasive plate for the varus-type ankle arthritis has good early effectiveness in relieving ankle pain, correcting deformity, improving limb alignment and ankle function, and reducing the incidence of postoperative incisional complications.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ankle ; Ankle Joint/surgery* ; Osteoarthritis/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibia/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Aged

Objective:To explore the short- and mid-term clinical outcomes of surgical treatment of chronic Lisfranc injuries.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted of the clinical and imaging data of the 19 patients with chronic Lisfranc injury who had been treated surgically from April 2013 to September 2020 at Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. There were 13 males and 6 females, aged from 25 to 58 years (mean, 49 years). The median course of disease before operation was 24 months (from 3 to 312 months). All patients underwent fusion of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tarsometatarsal joints (TMTJ) plus reduction and fixation or arthroplasty of the 4th and 5th TMTJ by the same surgeon. The clinical outcomes were evaluated by comparison of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot score, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Lublin score between pre-operation and the final follow-up and by Likert satisfaction scale and post-operative complications as well.Results:The 19 patients were followed up for (66.1±23.2) months (from 12 to 104 months). At the final follow-up, the AOFAS midfoot score was 87 (79, 90), the VAS score 1 (0, 2), and the Lublin score 70 (60, 75), all significantly improved compared with their preoperative corresponding values [51 (44, 63), 4 (4, 6) and 50 (40, 55), respectively] ( P<0.05). Sixteen patients were satisfied with their surgery. Fusion was not healed in 3 cases; plate breakage happened in one case but none of the cases had infection or other complications related to the skin or wound. Conclusion:Fusion of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd TMTJ plus reduction and fixation or arthroplasty of the 4th and 5th TMTJ can lead to good short- and mid-term clinical outcomes in the surgical treatment of chronic Lisfranc injuries.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis via the fibula-preserving anterolateral approach.Methods:From March 2018 to February 2021, 23 patients underwent tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis via the fibula-preserving anterolateral approach at the Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital.Of them, 15 were males and 8 females. Their average age at surgery was 54.4 years (range, from 28 to 72 years). There were 11 cases of traumatic arthritis, 2 cases of Charcot arthropathy, 6 cases of neurogenic equinovarus, 2 cases of traumatic equinovarus, and 2 cases of Kashin-Beck disease. Comparisons were made between preoperation and the last follow-up in ankle-hindfoot score of American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), visual analogue scale (VAS), foot function index (FFI), hindfoot alignment angle (HA), hindfoot alignment distance (HD), and hindfoot alignment ratio (HR). The tibia-foot angle on lateral weight-bearing and patient satisfaction at the last follow-up and postoperative complications were documented.Results:This cohort were followed up for an average of 24.7 months (from 12 to 48 months). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score (78.2 ± 9.2), VAS [2.0 (0.5, 2.0)], FFI [19.0 (10.5, 35.0)], HA (2.7° ± 5.8°), HD [(0.1 ± 0.8) cm] and HR [44.2 (36.4, 59.2)%] at the last follow-up were significantly improved than the preoperative values [43.4 ± 12.7, 4.0 (4.0, 6.0), 98.0 (60.0, 127.0), 22.0° ± 14.3°, (2.2 ± 1.6) cm and 86.0 (66.3, 100.0)%] (all P<0.05). The tibia-foot angle on lateral weight-bearing was 89.0° (87.1°, 90.4°) at the last follow-up. By the Likert scale, 17 cases were very satisfied with the surgery, 4 cases satisfied and 2 cases tolerate, giving a satisfaction rate of 91.3%(21/23). Infection occurred in one case and nonunion in one. Conclusion:Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis via the fibula-preserving anterolateral approach yields good mid- to short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes, showing a strong capability to correct ankle and hindfoot varus and equinus.

Objective:To evaluate the radiologic and clinical outcomes of supramalleolar dome osteotomy in the treatment of varus-type ankle arthritis.Methods:From June 2018 to December 2019, 13 patients with varus-type ankle arthritis underwent supramalleolar dome osteotomy at Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. Of them, 13 (5 males and 8 females) were included in the study. Their average age at surgery was 47.2 years (range, from 16 to 65 years). By the modified Takakura staging for arthritis, 3 cases were stage 2, 4 cases stage 3a and 6 cases stage 3b. Comparisons were made between preoperation and the last follow-up in ankle-hindfoot score of American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), foot function index (FFI), visual analogue scale (VAS), Takakura staging, dorsal extension, plantar flexion, range of motion (ROM), tibial anterior surface angle (TAS), tibial lateral surface angle (TLS), and talar tilt (TT).Results:This cohort were followed up for 12 to 29 months (average, 17.2 months). At the last follow-up, AOFAS score (86.5±8.0), FFI (14.5±1.6), VAS score (1.5±1.0), Takakura staging (2.7±1.3), ROM (39.4°±8.0°), TAS (92.4°±6.0°), TT (3.7°±4.4°) were significantly improved than the preoperative values (68.3±14.4, 43.7±3.0, 4.2±1.4, 3.2±0.8, 43.3°±7.6°, 78.2°±8.3° and 7.0°±5.1°), and dorsal extension (10.9°±4.4°) was significantly smaller than the preoperative value (13.6°±5.1°) (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences between preoperation and the last follow-up in plantar flexion (29.7°±4.6° versus 28.5°±5.2°) or TLS (77.8°±4.5° versus 78.1°±5.3°) ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Supramalleolar dome osteotomy has shown promising short-term clinical efficacy in the treatment of varus-type ankle arthritis. It can significantly relieve pain, improve function, substantially correct deformity and retard progression of arthritis, but it may affect dorsal extension.

Objective: To explore the morphological characteristics and differences of posterior malleolus fracture fragments in ankle fracture combined with posterior malleolus fracture and spiral fracture of middle and lower third of tibial combined with posterior malleolus fracture, and to analyze the relationship between the posterior malleolus fracture fragments and the above two types of fracture injury. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed. One hundred patients with ankle fracture were admitted to Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 2011 to December 2011, including 59 males and 41 females, aged (42.0±14.1) years, with an age range of 17-73 years. Among them, 57 patients who were ankle fracture combined with posterior malleolus fracture were in Group A. Meanwhile, 90 patients with spiral fracture of middle and lower third of tibial were admitted to Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 2013 to December 2013, including 42 males and 48 females, aged (45.2±13.0) years, with an age range of 18-77 years. Among them, 35 patients who were spiral fracture of middle and lower third of tibial combined with posterior malleolus fracture were in group B. A total of 92 patients in the two groups were examined by CT before operation. The patient′s fracture classification was determined according to Haraguchi classification. On axial plane, the angle between posterior malleolus fracture line and medial and lateral malleolus axis was defined as Ⅰa in Haraguchi Ⅰ, angles between posterior malleolus fracture line and medial and lateral malleolus axis were defined as Ⅱa and Ⅱb in Haraguchi Ⅱ, and angle Ⅰc and Ⅱc were angles between posterior malleolus fracture line and tibial axis on sagittal CT. Measurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation (Mean±SD). Mann-whitney and Chi-square test were used to compare the differences of different angles in type I and type Ⅱ, and whether there were statistical differences in different angles between the two groups. Results: In the 92 cases, 75 were type Ⅰ, 12 were type Ⅱ and 5 were type Ⅲ. The angle of Ⅰa was (26.6±5.6)°, the angle of Ⅰc was (15.4±4.1)°, the angle of type Ⅱa was (22.1±3.3)°, and the angle of Ⅱc was (16.4±5.4)°. The difference between Ⅰa and Ⅱa data was statistically significant (P=0.003), but there was no significant difference between Ⅰc and Ⅱc(P=0.667). In group A and group B, the angle of Ⅰa was (26.6±5.9)°and (26.6±5.1)°, the angle of Ⅰc was (15.7±4.2)°and (14.9±3.9)°, the angle of Ⅱa was (22.0±3.0)°and (22.2±4.3)°, the angle of Ⅱb was (45.4±9.0)°and (46.5±10.0)°, the angle of Ⅱc was (17.0±5.4)°and (15.3±6.2)°, respectively. There were no significant differences in the angles of Ⅰa, Ⅰc, Ⅱa, Ⅱb and Ⅱc between the two groups (P values were 0.862, 0.387, 1.000, 0.932 and 0.444, respectively). Conclusion The posterior malleolar fragments is not associated with fracture type of ankle fracture combined with posterior malleolus frature and the spiral fracture of middle and lower third of tibial combined with posterior malleolus fracture.

Objective To analyze the associations of age and gender with post-operative outcomes after pilon fracture and the effect of interaction between age and gender on the outcomes.Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed of the 101 successive patients with pilon fracture who had been treated by open reduction and internal fixation from March 2009 to November 2013 and completely followed up.The distributions of potential prognostic factors (diabetes,injury mechanism,open fracture,Rüedi-Allg(o)wer classification and AO classification) were analyzed in different age and gender groups.The outcomes were evaluated in terms of reduction quality by the Burwell-Charnley criteria,time for return to work,traumatic osteoarthritis by Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score.The odds ratio and regression coefficients were estimated by Logistic regression and linear regression model;P values for interaction between age and gender were estimated by likelihood ratio tests.Results Of all the 101 pilon patients,84 were male and 12 were the aged.The distributions of gender (P =0.028) and mechanism (P =0.032) were significantly different between the aged and the younger patients,showing there were more females in the aged patients and low-energy injury was more likely to cause a pilon fracture in the aged patients.As multivariate analyses suggested,with the above influencing factors controlled,a median follow-up of 41.2 months revealed age was an independent favorable prognostic factor for reduction quality (OR =3.919,P =0.041).The association between gender and time for return to work was significantly different between the aged and the younger patients,as indicated by interaction analyses (P =0.030).Conclusions There may be more females in the aged patients with pilon fracture than in the younger ones.It is likely that the aged patients sustain a pilon fracture because of low-energy injury and achieve a fracture reduction of poorer quality.Although the quality of reduction may be poorer for the aged,there may be no significant difference between the aged and the younger patients in the mid-long-term AOFAS score.It is advisable for surgeons to provide personalized treatment to better help the patients.

Objective To establish the background information of physiological parameters for germ?free ( GF ) Taihu piglets. Methods In this study we selected 25 days old GF Taihu piglets and 4 conventional ( CV) littermates, the male and female ratio was 1∶3, to measure the normal clinical values of hematology and serum biochemistry, immunoglobu?lin concentration and main organ coefficients. The analysis of relative growths of main organ weight to body weight was con?ducted in the Taihu GF and CV pigs by allometric scaling model. Results (1) Twelve hematological parameters and 8 blood biochemical parameters in the GF piglets were significantly lower than those in CV pigs (P<0?05). (2) The aver?age body weight, IgM concentration of GF pigs and CV pigs had significant difference ( P <0?05 ) , and no mesenteric lymph nodes were found in the GF pigs. (3) The gut weight had the largest allometric association with body weight in the GF pigs, while spleen weight has the largest allometric association with body weight in the CV pigs. Both the weight of heart and stomach in CV and GF pigs had a negative allometric association with body weight (allometric coefficient b<1), respectively. Conclusions Different microbe control grades affect the body weight, hematology and serum biochemistry, expression of immunoglobulin and development of main organs in laboratory pigs.