Objective: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a global issue that negatively impacts the clinical outcome. Through the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic era, overcrowding of ED isolated territory (isolation bed) was aggravated. This study analyzed overcrowding indices of ED isolation beds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study was a single-center, retrospective, observational study. The study analyzed 34,925 patients who visited the ED during the COVID-19 pandemic from April 2021 to August 2022. Patients who were treated in isolation beds and regular beds were compared. Among the patients using isolation beds, patients who stayed longer than 720 minutes were also classified and analyzed. Results: During the analysis period, 4,479 and 34,943 patients were treated in the ED isolation bed and ED regular bed, respectively. The overcrowding indices (general ward admission rate, intensive care unit admission rate, ED-length of stay, transfer rate, mortality rate, prolonged ED stay patient ratio) of the isolation beds were significantly higher than those of the ED regular bed (P<0.05). The prolonged ED stay-patient ratio of isolation beds and regular beds was affected by the number of COVID-19 patients (regular bed, r=0.617 and P=0.01; isolation bed, r=0.525 and P=0.03). The average ED-length of stay of isolation beds was longer than that of the ED regular beds. One hundred and forty-five patients were classified as prolonged ED stay patients. Their time from the decision point to the discharge point comprised a higher rate with an average of 76.52%. Conclusion ED isolation beds are more vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks. A proper medical policy and arrangement management system that can flexibly deal with disaster emergencies are required

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of liver transplantation (LT) and liver resection (LR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and to investigate risk factors affecting prognosis. Materials and Methods: A total of 94 HCC patients with PVTT type I (segmental PVTT) and PVTT type II (lobar PVTT) were involved and divided into LR (n=47) and LT groups (n=47). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared before and after inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Prognostic factors for RFS and OS were explored. Results: Two treatment groups were well-balanced using IPTW. In the entire cohort, LT provided a better prognosis than LR. Among patients with PVTT type I, RFS was better with LT (p=0.039); OS was not different significantly between LT and LR (p=0.093). In subgroup analysis of PVTT type I patients with α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels >200 ng/mL, LT elicited significantly longer median RFS (18.0 months vs. 2.1 months, p=0.022) and relatively longer median OS time (23.6 months vs. 9.8 months, p=0.065). Among patients with PVTT type II, no significant differences in RFS and OS were found between LT and LR (p=0.115 and 0.335, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed treatment allocation (LR), tumor size (>5 cm), AFP and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels to be risk factors of RFS and treatment allocation (LR), AFP and AST as risk factors for OS. Conclusion LT appeared to afford a better prognosis for HCC with PVTT type I than LR, especially in patients with AFP levels >200 ng/mL.

Two new records of Trichocomaceae, namely Aspergillus allahabadii and Penicillium sizovae, were isolated in 2016 during a survey of fungal diversity in different crop fields locations in Gyeongnam, Korea. These species were identified based on morphological characters and phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer region and β-tubulin-encoding gene sequence data. A. allahabadii and P. sizovae have not yet been reported in Korea. Thus, this is the first report of these species in Korea, and their descriptions as well as details of their morphological characters are presented.
Aspergillus* ; Classification ; Korea* ; Penicillium* ; Phylogeny ; Soil*

BACKGROUND:Large volume of bone can be harvested by the reamer-irrigation-aspirator (RIA), which can be used for autologous bone graft, because there are many stromal stem cells and a variety of osteogenesis factors in the harvested bone. OBJECTIVE:To introduce the application progress of the RIA. METHODS:PubMed database was retrieved by the first author for RIA-related articles published from January 2000 to May 2017 using the keyword of "reamer-irrigator-aspirator". A total of 87 articles were searched initially and finally 38 articles met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with harvesting bone tissues from the iliac bone, the RIA can harvest more autologous bone tissues with more bone marrow stromal stem cells. Moreover, the osteogenic effect of the harvested autologous bone is better and there are fewer complications. Therefore, the RIA has been widely used as a method of harvesting non-structural autologous bone tissues. Removal of intramedullary lesions by the RIA is used in the treatment of long bone infection, osteomyelitis and bone tumors, as well as in the removal of intramedullary cement. RIA was originally used as a special reaming during intramedullary nailing for femoral shaft fractures, which could reduce high pressure and high temperature so as to decrease the risks of fat embolism and osteonecrosis. To conclude, the RIA can achieve satisfactory outcomes and result in few complications, but the clinical use is still limited by high cost, frequent fluoroscopy, bleeding and limited indications, as well as risks for iatrogenic fractures and perforation.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the related factors of the infection after operation of open tibiofibula fractures.

METHODSThe clinical data of 141 patients with open tibiofibula fractures underwent surgical treatment from June 2009 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were male and aged from 18 to 61 years old with an average of 39.2 years; all the fractures were unilateral. According to Gustilo typing of fracure, 5 cases were type I, 44 cases were type II, 27 cases were type III a, 56 cases were type III b and 9 cases were type III c. These clinical data included patients' age, gender, body mass index (BMI), underlying diseases, time of operation, fracture site, fracture type, fixation method, postoperative drainage, debridement condition and so on. The postoperative infection conditions were recorded, and the correlation between above factors and infections were analyzed. Finally, the significant related variables were introduced into a Logistic regression model to evaluated their risk.

RESULTSAmong the 141 patients, 22 cases developed with infection (15.6%). The significant relative factors with infection contained fixation method, debridement condition, underlying diseases and postoperative drainage (P < 0.05). The correlativities were stepped up in order, their odds ratios value was 2.451, 3.164, 3.414, 5.117, respectively.

CONCLUSIONActive treatment for underlying diseases before operation, thorough debridement for open wound, suitable fixation method for fracture and thorough draining are effective measures in preventing postoperative infection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Debridement ; Fibula ; injuries ; Fractures, Open ; surgery ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Surgical Wound Infection ; etiology ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study clinical outcomes of serial tightening of reserved suture threads in delayed incision closure.

METHODSFrom January 2005 to June 2013, 67 patients with delayed incision closure were treated with serial tightening of reserved suture threads. There were 37 males and 30 females, with an average age of 40 years old (ranged from 12 to 75 years old). Among them, 36 patients suffering from leg or forearm double fractures had the incision difficult to those primarily due to high tension or mergency; 13 patients had open wound which lasted for more than routine time for debridement and closure; 9 patients had wound infection; 9 patients had decompression incisions owing to compartment syndrome. The No. 4 suture thread was used to sew up the incision, and the 4 to 6 cm long thread was reserved at two ends of each thread. The reserved thread was tightened gradually from 2 to 4 days after operation according to conditions of swelling relieving. Finally, the reserved thread was not tied until the incision was completely closed.

RESULTSAfter operation, the reserved threads were tightened and tied for 1 time in 6 patients, 2 times in 23 patients, 3 times in 27 patients, 4 times in 11 patients. Postoperative closure time ranged from 3 to 9 days, with an average of 6.2 days. All the incisions got delayed primary healing.

CONCLUSIONThe method of serial tightening of reserved suture threads to close delayed incision closure avoids a second operation, which is simple and obtains a fine result.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Suture Techniques ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effectiveness of three localization methods, including methylene blue, metal clips and intraoperative colonoscopy in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed to review the clinical data of 64 patients who underwent the laparoscopic colorectal operations in Cancer Hospital of Fudan University from December 2009 to June 2012. Three methods of tumor localization were used perioperatively, including 23 cases of methylene blue, 20 of metal clips and 21 of colonoscopy.

RESULTSOperations were successfully performed in this cohort and there were no deaths or complications. In methylene blue group, intraoperative colonoscopy was performed in two cases because of the inability to visualize blue dye on the serosal surface of the intestinal wall, another 2 cases were converted to open operation because of methylene blue diffusion and inability to identify resection margin. Intraoperative colonoscopic localization was required for 3 cases of sigmoid colon or upper rectal tumor because of inaccurate tumor localization by metal clips. Poor operative exposure due to obvious bowel distension prompted the conversion to open surgery in 2 cases of colonoscopy localization group, and the accurate position of the lesion was not found in another 2 cases due to long pedunculated adenoma.

CONCLUSIONSColorectal tumor can be localized effectively by endoscopic methylene blue tattooing at a maximum of 2 tumors before operation and the method of 4-point positioning can significantly improve the accuracy of colorectal tumor localization. Tumor localization preoperatively on the day of surgery by metal clip is accurate for the right or left colon cancer. Intraoperative colonoscopy can localize tumor accurately and rapidly for rectosigmoid or descending tumor, and the incidence of bowel distension can be significantly reduced. Localization method should be considered according to the tumor location and surgical procedure.

Adult ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of nickel- titanium temperature-dependent memory-shape device(CAR27) for colorectal anastomosis.

METHODSSixty colorectal cancer patients were randomly divided into two groups and received colorectal anastomosis with CAR27 or traditional stapling device. Complications, bowel function return, and the extrusion of anastomosis ring were prospectively monitored.

RESULTSBoth CAR27 and stapler group had one case of anastomotic leakage. Other complications such as stricture or obstruction were not found. Time for anastomosis of the two groups were (10.1±1.2) minutes and (11.2±2.1) minutes respectively. Time to first flatus was(3.2±1.2) days and (3.5±1.4) days respectively. Time to food intake resumption was (4.0±1.4) days and (4.3±1.3) days respectively. The differences above between the two groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05). The ring was expelled with stool within 7-16 days. The two groups were similar in operative time and the return of bowel function.

CONCLUSIONCAR27 is safe and simple for colorectal anastomosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; instrumentation ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Colorectal Surgery ; instrumentation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nickel ; Prospective Studies ; Titanium ; Young Adult

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome ; Urethral Stricture ; surgery ; Young Adult

To elucidate the principal of orthogonal factor analysis, using an example of factor analysis of metabolic syndrome. The basic structures and the fundamental concepts of orthogonal factor analysis were introduced and data involving 1877 women aged of 35-65 years, selected from a cross-sectional study, which was conducted in 1998 - 2001 in Shanghai, were included in this study. Factor analysis was carried out using principle components analysis with Varimax orthogonal rotation of the components of the metabolic syndrome. The different components of the metabolic syndrome were not linked closely with the other components and loaded on the six different factors,which mainly reflected by the variables of obesity, blood pressure, plasma glucose, plasma insulin, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol respectively. Six major factors of the metabolic syndrome were uncorrelated with each other and explained 86% of the variance in the original data. The factor score and total factor score for the individual could be obtained according to the component score coefficient matrix. Although the components of the metabolic syndrome were related statistically, the finding of six factors suggested that the components of the metabolic syndrome did not show high degrees of intercorrelation. As a linear method of data reduction, the mode reduced a large set of measured intercorrelation variables into a smaller set of uncorrelated factors, which explained the majority of the variance in the original variables. Factor analysis was well suited for revealing underlying patterns or structure among variables showing high degrees of intercorrelation.
Adult ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Genomics ; Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Models, Statistical ; Prevalence ; Proteomics