Purpose: To intelligently diagnose whether there is bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in female with decent detrusor contraction ability by focusing on urodynamic study (UDS) data. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the UDS data of female patients during urination. Eleven easily accessible urinary flow indicators were calculated according to the UDS data of each patient during voiding period. Eight diagnosis models based on back propagation neural network with different input feature combination were constructed by analyzing the correlations between indicators and lower urinary tract dysfunction labels. Subsequently, the stability of diagnostic models was evaluated by five-fold cross-validation based on training data, while the performance was compared on test dataset. Results: UDS data from 134 female patients with a median age of 51 years (range, 27–78 years) were selected for our study.Among them, 66 patients suffered BOO and the remaining were normal. Applying the 5-fold cross-validation method, the model with the best performance achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value of 0.949±0.060 using 9 UDS input features. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for BOO diagnosis model in the testing process are 94.4%, 100%, and 89.3%, respectively. Conclusions The 9 significant indicators in UDS were employed to construct a diagnostic model of female BOO based on machine learning algorithm, which performs preferable classification accuracy and stability.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.

【Objective】 To compare the value of CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and echocardiography in predicting the degree pulmonary hypertension (PH). 【Methods】 Fifty-four patients in our hospital who underwent right heart catheterization, CTPA and echocardiography for suspected or confirmed PH from November 2013 to April 2021 were retrospectively recruited. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAMP) were measured by right heart catheterization. According to PAMP, the patients were divided into non-PH group and mild, moderate, and severe PH groups. The three-dimensional model of the pulmonary artery was obtained by computer-aided segmentation, and the best fitting circle diameter (Dfit), inscribed circle diameter (Dmin), circumscribed circle diameter (Dmax), hydraulic diameter (Dh), cross-sectional area (Area), circumference (Scf), and the largest area and largest short diameter of the right ventricle were measured. Echocardiography was used to estimate PASP. The differences in the above parameters between different PH groups were compared, the correlations of the above parameters with PASP and PAMP were analyzed, and statistically significant indicators were included to establish three predictive models of PAMP (Model 1: CTPA pulmonary artery; Model 2: CTPA pulmonary artery+CTPA right ventricle; Model 3: CTPA pulmonary artery+CTPA right ventricle+echocardiography), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the diagnostic performance of the three models. 【Results】 Some parameters of main pulmonary artery (Dfit, Dmin, Dmax, Dh, Area, Scf), right pulmonary artery (Dmax, Dh, Area, Scf), left pulmonary artery (Dfit), and right ventricular short diameter increased with the increase of PAMP (P<0.05). Dfit, Dmin, Dh, and area of main pulmonary artery, right pulmonary artery and left pulmonary artery were positively correlated with PASP and PAMP (P<0.05). Right ventricular short diameter and right ventricular maximum area were positively correlated with PASP (P<0.05), and right ventricular short diameter was positively correlated with PAMP (P<0.05). The estimated value of pulmonary artery systolic blood pressure in echocardiography was positively correlated with PASP and PAMP (P<0.05). Model 1, Model 2 and Model 3 could all be used to identify mild PH and moderate PH, among which Model 3 had the best performance in identifying non-PH and mild PH, moderate PH and severe PH. 【Conclusion】 CTPA and echocardiography are helpful in assessing the degree of PH, and the combination of the two has better accuracy in distinguishing non-PH from mild PH, moderate and severe PH.

Purpose: This descriptive study aimed to identify the effects of purposeful and timely nursing rounds on patients' perception of the quality of nursing services and nurses' perception of nursing rounds. Methods: Intentional nursing rounds were conducted by communicating patients’ questions on pain, position, pump, potty, and possessions. A total of 144 nurses and 149 patients participated, and data were collected using self-report questionnaires. The independent t-test, x 2 test, and Wilcoxon’s rank-sum test were used to analyze the data with SPSS version 24.0. Results: Although intentional nursing rounds improved the nurses’ perception of nursing rounds, there was no significant difference. The nurses’ benefit had the lowest score (3.36), and the benefit of communication with patients had the highest score (3.79).Intentional nursing rounds significantly improved the patients’ perception of the quality of nursing services in the intervention group. Among the factors of empathy (Z=4.98, p<.001) related to the quality of nursing services as perceived by the patient, assurance (Z=5.50, p<.001), reliability (Z=4.43, p<.001), and responsiveness (Z=5.02, p<.001) significantly increased. Conclusion Intentional nursing rounds positively affected patients’ perception of the quality of nursing service. It is important to improve intentional nursing rounds to enhance nurses’ perceptions of them.

BACKGROUND: Although ABO-incompatible (ABOi) kidney transplantation (KT) has been performed successfully, a standard preconditioning regimen has not been established. Based on the initial antidonor ABO antibody titers, an individualized preconditioning regimen is developed, and this study explored the efficacy and safety of the regimen. METHODS: From September 1, 2014, to September 1, 2020, we performed 1668 consecutive living-donor KTs, including 100 ABOi and 1568 ABO-compatible (ABOc) KTs. ABOi KT recipients (KTRs) with a lower antibody titer (≤1:8) were administered oral immunosuppressive drugs (OIs) before KT, while patients with a medium titer (1:16) received OIs plus antibody-removal therapy (plasma exchange/double-filtration plasmapheresis), patients with a higher titer (≥1:32) were in addition received rituximab (Rit). Competing risk analyses were conducted to estimate the cumulative incidence of infection, acute rejection (AR), graft loss, and patient death. RESULTS: After propensity score analyses, 100 ABOi KTRs and 200 matched ABOc KTRs were selected. There were no significant differences in graft and patient survival between the ABOi and ABOc groups (P  = 0.787, P  = 0.386, respectively). After using the individualized preconditioning regimen, ABOi KTRs showed a similar cumulative incidence of AR (10.0% υs . 10.5%, P  = 0.346). Among the ABOi KTRs, the Rit-free group had a similar cumulative incidence of AR ( P  = 0.714) compared to that of the Rit-treated group. Multivariate competing risk analyses revealed that a Rit-free regimen reduced the risk of infection (HR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.12-0.78, P  = 0.013). Notably, antibody titer rebound was more common in ABOi KTRs receiving a Rit-free preconditioning regimen ( P  = 0.013) than those receiving Rit. ABOi KTRs with antibody titer rebound had a 2.72-fold risk of AR (HR: 2.72, 95% CI: 1.01-7.31, P  = 0.048). ABOi KTRs had similar serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate compared to those of ABOc KTRs after the first year. CONCLUSIONS An individualized preconditioning regimen can achieve comparable graft and patient survival rates in ABOi KT with ABOc KT. Rit-free preconditioning effectively prevented AR without increasing the risk of infectious events in those with lower initial titers; however, antibody titer rebound should be monitored.
Humans ; Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Living Donors ; Kidney ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Rituximab/therapeutic use* ; ABO Blood-Group System ; Graft Rejection ; Graft Survival

Objective:To investigate the development of intrapulmonary vascular volume (IPVV) in normal preschool children based on quantitative measurement on chest CT.Methods:The CT data of 407 normal preschool children (236 males and 171 females, aged 1-72 months, with a median of 36 months) who underwent chest CT examination from January 2014 to May 2017 in the "Digital Lung" imaging database were retrospectively collected. The pulmonary vessels were segmented by the "Digital Lung" automatic detection tool, and the IPVV of the whole lung, the right lung, the left lung and each lobe were obtained, and the IPVV upper/lower and IPVV left/right were calculated. According to the age, the subjects were divided into infant period (0-12 months), early childhood period (13-36 months) and preschool period (37-72 months), with 30 cases (17 males and 13 females), 175 cases (95 males and 80 females) and 202 cases (124 males and 78 females) respectively. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between IPVV and month age. One-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare the differences of IPVV, IPVV upper/lower and IPVV left/right between different months of age. Independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences of IPVV between different genders, and the normal reference range of IPVV in normal preschool children of different months of age was established. Results:The IPVV of the whole lung, right lung, left lung and each lung lobe were positively correlated with age, the correlation coefficient was 0. 638-0.820 in males and 0. 683-0.791 in females (all P<0.001). There was no significant difference in IPVV of whole lung, right lung, left lung and each lobe between male and female from 0 to 12 months (all P>0.05), but there was significant difference in IPVV of whole lung, right lung, left lung and each lobe between male and female from 13 to 36 months (all P<0.05). There were significant differences in IPVV of the whole lung, right lung, left lung and upper lobe of both lungs between boys and girls from 37 to 72 months (all P<0.05). IPVV upper/lower in the right lung (χ 2=14.00, 12.87, P=0.001, 0.002) and IPVV upper/lower in the left lung (χ 2=6.65, 22.84, P=0.036,<0.001) were significantly different in both boys and girls among 3 months of age. And with the increase of age, it showed a decreasing trend. There was no significant difference in IPVV upper/lower between boys and girls at the same age (all P>0.05).There was no significant difference in IPVV left/right among different months and between different sexes (all P>0.05). Finally, the normal reference value range of IPVV of different genders in infancy, early childhood and preschool age was calculated. Conclusions:The increase of pulmonary vessels in normal preschool children is positively correlated with age. There is no significant difference in IPVV between boys and girls in infant period, but IPVV in boys is larger than that in girls in early childhood period and preschool period. IPVV in the lower lung increased faster than that in the upper lung, but there was no significant difference between the left and right lungs.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is the most common thyroid dysfunction, and its relationship with blood pressure (BP) has been controversial. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between SCH and newly-diagnosed hypertension. Methods: Based on data from the Thyroid disease, Iodine nutrition and Diabetes Epidemiology (TIDE) study, 49,433 euthyroid individuals and 7,719 SCH patients aged ≥18 years were enrolled. Patients with a history of hypertension or thyroid disease were excluded. SCH was determined by manufacturer reference range. Overall hypertension and stage 1 and 2 hypertension were diagnosed according to the guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association in 2017. Results: The prevalence of overall hypertension (48.7%), including stage 1 (28.9%) and 2 (19.8%) hypertension, increased significantly in SCH patients compared with euthyroid subjects. With elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, the hypertension prevalence also increased significantly from the euthyroid to different SCH subgroups, which was more profound in females or subjects aged <65 years. The age- and sex-specific regression analysis further demonstrated the same trends in the general population and in the 1:1 propensity matched population. Similarly, several BP components (i.e., systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP) were positively associated with TSH elevation, and regression analysis also confirmed that all BP components were closely related with SCH in female subjects aged <65 years. Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension increases for patients with SCH. SCH tends to be associated with hypertension and BP components in females younger than 65 years.

Objective:To investigate the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), procalcitonin (PCT), soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (sTREM-1) and soluble cell differentiation 14 (sCD14) in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and their predictive value for chorioamnionitis.Methods:A total of 132 pregnant women with PROM who received treatment in Tengzhou Central People's Hospital from January 2016 to June 2017 were included in the study group. These women were assigned to pre-term PROM group (gestational age < 37 weeks, n = 58) and full-term PROM group (gestational age > 37 weeks, n = 74). A total of 106 concurrent full-term healthy pregnant women were included in the control group. Pregnant women in the PROM group were also assigned into an infection group ( n = 51) and a non-infection group ( n = 81). Serum levels of MMP-9, PCT, sTREM-1 and sCD14 were compared between study and control groups, and their value in the diagnosis of PROM complicated with chorioamnionitis was analyzed. Results:The expression levels of MMP-9 [(271.42 ± 34.16) ng/L], PCT [(54.57 ± 8.16) pg/mL], sTREM-1 [(0.51 ± 0.11) ng/mL] and sCD14 [(60.23 ± 9.49) ng/mL] in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group [(54.97 ± 10.08) ng/L, (26.04 ± 1.98) pg/mL, (0.19 ± 0.04) ng/mL, (42.04 ± 10.33) ng/mL, t = 27.064, 13.767, 14.831, -13.342, all P < 0.01). The expression levels of MMP-9 [(314.05 ± 45.37) ng/L], PCT [(0.61 ± 0.18) ng/mL], sTREM-1 [(63.12 ± 10.12) pg/mL] and sCD14 [(68.07 ± 11.05) ng/mL] in the pre-term PROM group were significantly higher than those in the full-term PROM group [(238.01 ± 40.45) ng/L, (47.87 ± 8.90) pg/mL, (0.43 ± 0.14) ng/mL, (54.09 ± 10.33) ng/mL, t = 9.103, 8.862, -10.538, 6.494, all P < 0.05). The expression levels of MMP-9 [(343.74 ± 43.74) ng/L], PCT [(69.88 ± 8.83) pg/mL], sTREM-1 [(0.67 ± 0.16) ng/mL], sCD14 [(70.41 ± 8.89) ng/mL] in the infection group were significantly higher than those in the non-infection group [(230.09 ± 49.82) ng/L, (45.82 ± 11.04) pg/mL, (0.42 ± 0.19) ng/mL and (54.41 ± 12.42) ng/mL, t = 23.655, 12.014, 9.382, 11.306, all P < 0.01]. The sensitivity (94.23%), specificity (93.75%), positive predictive value (92.45%) and negative predictive value (96.20%) of combined detection of these indexes in the diagnosis of PROM complicated by chorioamnionitis were significantly higher than those of other indexes detected alone (all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Combined detection of serum levels of MMP-9, PCT, sTREM-1 and sCD14 can be used as an effective auxiliary index for the diagnosis of early premature rupture of membranes complicated with chorioamnionitis.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is the most common thyroid dysfunction, and its relationship with blood pressure (BP) has been controversial. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between SCH and newly-diagnosed hypertension. Methods: Based on data from the Thyroid disease, Iodine nutrition and Diabetes Epidemiology (TIDE) study, 49,433 euthyroid individuals and 7,719 SCH patients aged ≥18 years were enrolled. Patients with a history of hypertension or thyroid disease were excluded. SCH was determined by manufacturer reference range. Overall hypertension and stage 1 and 2 hypertension were diagnosed according to the guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association in 2017. Results: The prevalence of overall hypertension (48.7%), including stage 1 (28.9%) and 2 (19.8%) hypertension, increased significantly in SCH patients compared with euthyroid subjects. With elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, the hypertension prevalence also increased significantly from the euthyroid to different SCH subgroups, which was more profound in females or subjects aged <65 years. The age- and sex-specific regression analysis further demonstrated the same trends in the general population and in the 1:1 propensity matched population. Similarly, several BP components (i.e., systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP) were positively associated with TSH elevation, and regression analysis also confirmed that all BP components were closely related with SCH in female subjects aged <65 years. Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension increases for patients with SCH. SCH tends to be associated with hypertension and BP components in females younger than 65 years.