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Rationale: Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a nonhereditary, rare polyposis condition, first documented by Cronkhite and Canada in 1955. The primary distinct features of this syndrome include ectodermal abnormalities and diffuse gastrointestinal polyp changes accompanied by protein loss. The primary clinical manifestations of CCS include hair loss, excessive pigmentation of the skin, and malnourishment of fingernails or toenails. Other notable symptoms include weight loss, protein-losing enteropathy, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, taste abnormalities, and atrophic glossitis, which predominantly occur in middle-aged and older males. CCS is characterized by an extremely rare, nonfamilial hamartomatous polyposis syndrome, in which polyps are distributed in the stomach and colon (90%), small intestine(80%), and rectum (67%), while sparing the esophagus., Patient Concerns: This report describes a 72-year-old female, initially treated for intestinal obstruction, followed by a small intestine resection. She reported diarrhea, emaciation, and loss of appetite across various hospitals., Diagnoses: Endoscopic examination of the stomach and colon, plus capsule endoscopy, revealed multiple polyps throughout her gastrointestinal tract, except in the esophagus., Interventions: Treatment included hormones with antiallergic medication, acid-suppressing drugs, salicylates, and nutritional support with zinc sulfate, adding trace elements and amino acids., Outcomes: posttreatment, the patient demonstrated significant improvement in appetite and taste. Atrophic glossitis, upper limb pigmentation, and frequency of diarrhea also notably decreased. reexamination through endoscopy after 3 months of treatment revealed a substantial decrease in the number and size of gastrointestinal polyps., Lessons: In this case, from the lower esophageal sphincter to the rectum, there is an increasing trend of eosinophil and mast cell infiltration. These lesions can cause a positive IgG result. Pathological analysis indicates that the extent and severity of lesions in the middle and lower gastrointestinal tract are more substantial than in the upper tract. During treatment, endoscopic observations reveal that lesions in the middle and lower tract tend to resolve faster than those in the upper tract. Hormone therapy has demonstrated significant efficacy in treating this disease. Early treatment and regular follow-up for this disease can reduce the risk of cancerous changes and related complications., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (Cf-PWV) can well predict the prognosis of the general population. However, whether Cf-PWV can be used as a prognostic indicator in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients remains mysterious. The present study endeavored to explore the prognostic value of Cf-PWV among the MHD population. Patients who received MHD and underwent Cf-PWV examination at the hemodialysis center of Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital between March 1, 2017 and October 15, 2019 were enrolled. Relevant clinical data were collected from these patients, who were subsequently followed up for a minimum of 1 year. During the follow-up period, the occurrence of all-cause death was recorded as a prognostic indicator. Based on the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria 178 patients were included in the final analysis. These patients were categorized into 2 groups based on Cf-PWV values: group 1 (Cf-PWV < 13.8 m/s), and group 2 (Cf-PWV ≥ 13.8 m/s). Thirty-four patients succumbed to their conditions within a median follow-up period of 23.3 months. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that the median survival time of group 2 was significantly shorter than group 1 (log-rank test, χ2 = 12.413, P < .001). After adjusting for various factors, including age, cardiovascular disease, peripheral arterial diastolic pressure, central arterial diastolic pressure, albumin, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, left ventricular ejection fraction, 25 hydroxyvitamin D3, C-reactive protein and serum phosphorus, it was found that Cf-PWV ≥ 13.8m/s was an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality in MHD patients (relative risk = 3.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22-7.57; P = .017). A high level of Cf-PWV (≥13.8 m/s) is an independent risk factor for all-cause death in MHD patients., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is a simple nutritional assessment tool that can predict poor prognosis in elderly subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between GNRI and both islet function and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This research carries significant implications for the integrated treatment and nutritional management of this patient population. A total of 173 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, aged 60 years or older, who were hospitalized in the Endocrinology Department at Hebei General Hospital from February 2018 to June 2021, were selected as the research subjects. These subjects were divided into 4 groups according to the quartile of their GNRI values: T1 (GNRI < 99.4, n = 43), T2 (99.4 ≤ GNRI < 103, n = 43), T3 (103 ≤ GNRI < 106.3, n = 43), and T4 (GNRI ≥ 106.3, n = 44). Glucose, insulin, and C-peptide concentrations were tested at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. The homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance and the homeostasis model assessment for β cell function index were calculated. As the GNRI value increased, the levels of total protein, albumin, hemoglobin, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased significantly. The area under the curve for blood glucose decreased significantly across the 4 groups, while the AUCs for insulin and C-peptide showed an overall increasing trend. β Cell function index increased significantly with the increase of GNRI; meanwhile, both the early-phase insulin secretion index and the late-phase insulin secretion index increased significantly. Although there was an increasing trend, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance did not change significantly among the 4 groups. This study indicates that elderly type 2 diabetes patients with higher nutritional risk have worse islet function, while insulin sensitivity is not associated with nutritional risk., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Rationale: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disorders (MOGAD) represents a demyelinating neurological syndrome characterized by the presence of serum IgG antibodies directed against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG). Concurrently, giant cell arteritis (GCA) constitutes a systemic autoimmune vasculitis., Patient Concerns: In this case, we describe an elderly female patient who presented with the sudden onset of a severe headache, unilateral blindness, and clinical manifestations resembling those of GCA., Diagnosis: Upon conducting a comprehensive analysis of serum antibodies, the diagnosis of MOGAD was established due to the presence of detectable serum MOG-IgG., Interventions: Subsequently, the patient was administered intravenous methylprednisolone therapy, commencing 27 days after the initial onset of symptoms., Outcomes: It is noteworthy that patients afflicted by MOGAD typically manifest severe visual impairment, which, in many instances, exhibits significant improvement following immunotherapeutic interventions. However, this particular patient did not experience any amelioration in visual function despite glucocorticoid therapy., Lessons: This unique case illustrates that the clinical presentation resembling GCA may precede the inaugural manifestation of MOGAD. This suggests the possibility of immune-mediated arterial involvement. The significance of glucocorticoid therapy in the context of immune-related diseases warrants further scrutiny, particularly in cases where MOG-IgG screening should be promptly considered., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Obesity is a complex, multifactorial disease. The incidence of overweight and obesity has doubled worldwide since 1980, and nearly one-third of the world population is now classified as overweight or obese. Obesity rates are increasing in all age groups and for both sexes, regardless of geographic region, race, or socioeconomic status, although they are generally higher in older adults and women. Although the absolute prevalence of overweight and obesity varies widely, this trend is similar across different regions and countries. In some developed countries, the prevalence of obesity has levelled off over the past few years. However, obesity has become a health problem that cannot be ignored in low- and middle-income countries. Although the drug treatment model of modern medicine has a significant therapeutic effect in the treatment of obesity, its adverse effects are also obvious. Acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine treatment of obesity has prominent advantages in terms of clinical efficacy, and its clinical safety is higher, with fewer adverse reactions. The combination of acupuncture and medicine in the treatment of obesity is worth exploring., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Benzodiazepine hypnotics' effects on glucose metabolism are seldom reported, and the association between long-term (≥4 weeks) benzodiazepine usage and prediabetes has not been studied. This study was aimed to investigate the association between benzodiazepine hypnotic usage for ≥ 3 months and the prevalence of prediabetes. We analyzed cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during 2005 to 2008, selecting adult participants without diabetes who used benzodiazepine hypnotics for at least 3 months or did not take any hypnotics. Individuals taking other hypnotics, antipsychotics, glucocorticoids, or hypoglycemic drugs were excluded. We defined prediabetes as an hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) 5.7-6.4%, as suggested by the American Diabetes Association. Prescribed drug information was self-reported and checked by official interviewers, and HbA1C data in NHANES was recognized by the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program. We calculated the propensity score according to the covariates and adjusted it using multivariate logistic regression. Lower thresholds of HbA1C ≥ 5.5% or ≥ 5.3% were also analyzed. Among 4694 eligible participants, 38 received benzodiazepine hypnotics; using these hypnotics for ≥ 3 months was not significantly associated with the prevalence of prediabetes, as well as HbA1C ≥ 5.5% or ≥ 5.3%. Adjusted for propensity score, the respective odds ratios for prediabetes, HbA1C ≥ 5.5%, and HbA1C ≥ 5.3% were 1.09 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19-6.32), 0.83 (95% CI 0.22-3.13), and 1.22 (95% CI 0.3-4.93). No significant association was found between benzodiazepine hypnotic usage ≥ 3 months and the prevalence of prediabetes., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: To determine the efficacy of music therapy on pain relief during fundus screening in infants., Methods: The sample consisted of infants aged 0 to 3 months who required fundus screening. Infants were randomized to fast music, slow music, and control groups. All groups underwent fundus screening under topical anesthesia. Music therapy was provided to the music groups prior to, during, and after the operation. The patient's heart rate (HR), transcutaneous oxygen saturation, and crying decibel were measured. The Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scale was used for pain measurement., Results: A total of 300 subjects' data were collected. The quantitative analysis revealed that in both music groups, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation and satisfaction levels increased while pain scores decreased (P < .05). The slow music group's HR was shown to have significantly decreased (P < .05)., Conclusion: Music therapy can effectively reduce pain and crying, and increase blood oxygen saturation during fundus examination of infants. Music with a rhythm of 60 to 80 beats per minute can decrease HR. Music therapy must be remembered to increase infants' comfort during fundus examination., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Herein, we aimed to evaluate the clinical value and safety of transendoscopic submucosal tunnel tumor resection (STER) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for the resection of esophageal submucosal intrinsic muscle tumors. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 68 patients with esophageal submucosal intrinsic muscle tumors treated with STER (STER group, n = 38, March 2018 to January 2020) or ESD (ESD group, n = 30, January 2017 to January 2020) at the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang to compare the treatment efficacy, hospitalization time and costs, and postoperative complications between the 2 groups. All 68 cases were of single lesions. The mean operative duration was shorter in the STER group (53.39 ± 11.57 min) than in the ESD group (68.33 ± 18.52 min, P < .05). The postoperative hospital stay duration was significantly shorter in the STER group (5.86 ± 1.01 days; P < .05) than in the ESD group (8.2 ± 3.4 days, P < .05). The mean hospitalization cost was significantly lower in the STER group than in the ESD group (12,468.8 + 4966.8 yuan vs 17,033.3 ± 4547.2 yuan; P < .05). Only 1 case of intraoperative perforation occurred in ESD group. There were no other complications in both groups. The wound healed in both groups, and no residual or recurrent tumors were detected during the follow-up period. Both STER and ESD can be used for the treatment of esophageal intrinsic muscular layer (MP) tumors, and STER is safer and more efficient for lesions with a diameter <3.5 cm., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflict of interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Rationale: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a group of autosomal dominant monogenic diabetes mellitus with a wide range of clinical manifestations that require distinct treatment strategies. MODY9 (OMIM # 612225) is a rare type of MODY, caused by a mutation in the Paired box gene 4 (PAX4)., Patient Concern: A 19-months boy was admitted to the department of endocrinology at Beijing Children's Hospital due to excessive water drinking, polyuria for over half a month, and wheezing for 3 days., Diagnose: The whole-exon sequencing analysis demonstrated that the child carried the heterozygous missense mutation of c.487>T in the 7th exon region of PAX4 gene and diagnosed MODY9., Intervention: The patient was treated with fluid therapy, ketosis correction, insulin, and anti-infection treatment., Outcomes: After 17 days in the hospital, the blood glucose levels remained stable and the patient was discharged., Lessons: In Chinese children, the heterozygous mutation of c.487C>T in the PAX4 gene can lead to the occurrence of MODY9.Gene sequencing analysis is of great significance in the diagnosis and classification of MODY., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Rationale: Thyroid storm (TS) is a rare life-threatening hypermetabolic thyrotoxicosis with an incidence of 0.57-0.76/100,000. The coexistence of TS and acute cerebral infarction is rare. Previous studies have shown that hyperthyroidism complicated by cerebral infarction mainly occurs in the intracranial basal ganglia; however, there are no reports of corpus callosum infarction. We report a case of TS complicated by cerebral infarction of the corpus callosum at our hospital., Patient Concerns: A 31-year-old male patient with a history of hyperthyroidism was admitted to the hospital because of fatigue, palpitations, fever, and profuse sweating accompanied by a mild decrease in the muscle strength of the left limb. Diagnosis of a TS was confirmed by the laboratory test results. The patient's clinical symptoms gradually improved after treatment. However, his left limb muscle strength progressively decreased, and the bilateral pathological signs were positive at the same time. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head revealed acute cerebral infarction of the corpus callosum and pons., Diagnosis: The diagnosis was thyroid strom with acute cerebral infarction of the corpus callosum and pons and severe stenosis or occlusion of the basilar artery., Interventions: The patient was given 300 mg hydrocortisone intravenously per day, propylthiouracil tablets of 200 mg 3 times a day by nasal feeding, and 20 mg propranolol three times a day by nasal feeding. Aspirin and clopidogrel were administered to prevent platelet aggregation, and atorvastatin calcium was administered to lower lipid levels to stabilize plaques., Outcomes: The patient's left limb muscle strength recovered to grade 4+, and he could walk beside the bed with support. Simultaneously, thyroid function was better than before., Lessons: Careful physical examination should be performed in patients with thyroid storm, and head imaging examination should be improved for the early detection of cerebral infarction., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. Surgical resection is often only possible in the early stages of HCC and among those with limited cirrhosis. Radiofrequency ablation and Microwave ablation are 2 main types of percutaneous thermal ablation for the treatment of HCC. The efficacy and safety between these 2 therapy methods are still under a debate., Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of Radiofrequency ablation and Microwave ablation in treating HCC., Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane databases and Web of Science were systematically searched. We included randomized controlled trials and cohort studies comparing the efficacy and safety of Radiofrequency ablation and Microwave ablation in HCC patients. Outcome measures on local tumor progression, complete ablation, disease-free survival, overall survival, or major complications were compared between the 2 groups. The random effect model was used when there was significant heterogeneity between studies, otherwise the fixed effect model was used., Results: A total of 33 studies, involving a total of 4589 patients were identified, which included studies comprised 7 RCTs, 24 retrospective observational trials, and 2 prospective observational trial. Microwave ablation had a lower local tumor progression than Radiofrequency ablation in cohort studies (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.64-0.96, P = .02). Complete ablation rate of Microwave ablation was higher than that of Radiofrequency ablation in cohort studies (OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.05-2.25, P = .03). There was no significant difference in overall survival and disease-free survival between the 2 groups. Meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the main complications between Microwave ablation and Radiofrequency ablation., Conclusions: Microwave ablation has higher complete ablation and lower local tumor progression than Radiofrequency ablation in the ablation treatment of HCC nodules. There was no significant difference in overall survival between the 2 therapy methods., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: The incidence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is increasing year by year. If patients cannot receive timely and effective treatment, DPN may lead to diabetic foot ulcers or even amputation. This risk factor has been widely concerned around the world. Massage, as a non-invasive physical therapy method, is gradually being applied in the adjuvant treatment of DPN. However, there is no systematic review of the adjuvant treatment of DPN by massage. Our study will explore the effectiveness and safety of massage applied in DPN., Methods: Eight electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Sinomed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, Chongqing VIP Information) will be searched by our computer on February 9, 2022. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) of adjuvant massage therapy for DPN was screened. Primary outcome measures: efficiency, nerve conduction velocity. Secondary outcome measures: pain, blood glucose, and incidence of adverse reactions. The quality of the study was evaluated by two researchers using the RCT bias risk assessment tool in the Cochrane review manual Handbook5.4, and meta-analysis was performed by RevMan5.4 software., Results: RCTs will be used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of massage adjuvant therapy in DPN., Conclusion: This study will provide evidence-based evidence for the safety and effectiveness of massage adjuvant therapy in DPN., Protocol Registration Number: INPLASY202220025., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: The incidence of acute mastitis (AM) in lactating women has been increasing year by year. If there is no timely and appropriate treatment, AM may develop into mammary abscess and septicemia. This special situation has aroused social attention. Chinese massage has been widely used in the treatment of AM in recent years, but there is no systematic review of the effect of Chinese massage on AM. We plan to explore the efficacy and safety of Chinese massage in the treatment of AM., Methods: We will use a computer to search the following 8 electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, Sinomed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chongqing VIP Information, WanFang Data) on November 30, 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) of Chinese massage therapy for AM were screened. Primary outcome measure: overall clinical response rate, breast pain score. Secondary outcome measures: milk secretion, temperature, mass size and time to resolution, White blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and the incidence of adverse reactions. According to the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria, the included literature will be independently evaluated by two researchers using the RCT bias risk assessment tool in the Cochrane evaluation manual Handbook5.4, and meta-analysis will be performed by RevMan5.4 software. Funnel plots were used to analyze whether the study had publication bias., Results: We will evaluate the clinical effect of Chinese massage therapy on AM based on RCTs., Conclusion: This study will provide evidence-based evidence for the effectiveness and safety of Chinese massage in the treatment of AM., Protocol Registration Number: INPLASY2021120019., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Abstract: Very elderly people (over 80 years) with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) indications often have a higher prevalence of aging comorbidity, among which cognitive impairment is not uncommon. This study aimed to investigate periprocedural complications of CIED implantation among very elderly patients with and without cognitive impairment. One hundred eighty patients ≥80 years of age indicated for CIED implantation were included in our study. During hospitalization, the cognitive evaluation was performed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fifth edition). According to the cognitive test results, patients were divided into 2 groups (90 patients with normal cognitive function and 90 patients with cognitive impairment). Meanwhile, their physical parameters and laboratory measurements were completed. The procedural data and periprocedural complications were collected from both groups. The association between cognitive impairment and periprocedural complications was analyzed using univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. During a one-month follow-up, the most frequent periprocedural complications in very elderly patients were pocket hematoma and thrombosis events. Cognitively impaired patients had a higher incidence of complications than normal cognitive patients. Multivariate regression analysis showed that cognitive impairment was positively correlated with periprocedural complications in very elderly patients. Cognitive impairment is associated with increased periprocedural complications of CIED implantation in very elderly patients., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Abstract: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread to the whole world. Psychological and sleep problems among confirmed patients have drawn extensive attention which may be highly related to immune function and inflammatory responses of people. The aim of this study is to examine the correlation of mental health status, sleep quality, and inflammatory markers, virus negative conversion time (NCT) among confirmed patients during the COVID-19 outbreak.A cross-sectional survey was conducted in this study. Data from 66 patients assessed with demographic information, anxious symptom, depressive symptom, stress, and sleep quality were collected using a smartphone-based questionnaire platform and then clinical characteristics and laboratory indicators were collected using case review.Nearly 30% of the participants reported depression, anxiety, perceived pressure, and poor sleep quality. Compared with the group without depression, neutrophil count, and ratio of neutrophil count to lymphocyte count (NLR) in the depression disorder group were increased (P = .028, 0.043). There was also a significant difference in NLR and NCT between the anxiety group and the non-anxiety group (P = .021, .024). Similarly, compared with the good sleep quality group, NLR in the poor sleep quality group was increased (P = .011). Correlation analysis indicated that Self-Rating Depression Scale score was positively related to neutrophil count and NLR (r = 0.366, 0.330, P = .016, .031). The total score of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was negatively related to lymphocyte count (r = -0.317, P = .049), and the sleep disturbance as 1 of the 7 dimensions of PSQI scale was positively correlated with NCT and NLR (r = 0.370, 0.340, P = .020, .034).In our study, confirmed patients were prone to have psychological and sleep problems. The level of inflammation in patients with psychological and sleep problems was higher than that in patients without corresponding problems. The inflammatory level increased with the increase of Self-Rating Depression Scale score, and the lymphocyte count decreased with the increase of the PSQI score. NCT was prolonged in the anxiety group and sleep disturbance was positively correlated with NCT., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare and no financial interests with regard to this work., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: As the last link in the chain of cardiovascular events, chronic heart failure (CHF) has high morbidity, high mortality, and poor prognosis. It is one of the main causes of death and disability worldwide. As a new drug for the treatment of chronic cardiovascular disease, dapagliflozin, the efficacy, and safety issues are still the focus of attention. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in the treatment of CHF., Methods: According to the search strategy, regardless of publication date or language, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of dapagliflozin for CHF will be retrieved from 8 databases. First of all, the literature was screened according to the eligibility criteria, and use the Cochrane Collaboration's tool to assess the quality of the included literature. Then, using Rev Man 5.3 and STATA 14.2 software for traditional meta-analysis. Finally, the evaluation of the quality of the evidence and the strength of the recommendations will adopt the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation method., Results: This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin for CHF, thereby providing more evidence support for clinical decision-making in CHF., Conclusion: Our research will provide more references for the clinical medication of patients with CHF., Protocol Registration Number: INPLASY202150046., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: As the last link in the chain of cardiovascular events, chronic heart failure (CHF) has high morbidity, high mortality, and poor prognosis. It is one of the main causes of death and disability worldwide. Shenfuqiangxin Pills (SFQX) is widely used as a Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) prescription for CHF, but there is still a lack of strict evidence-based medical evidence. Therefore, we make a protocol for evaluating the efficacy and safety of SFQX for CHF., Methods: According to the search strategy, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of SFQX for CHF will be retrieved from 8 databases without limitation of publication date or language. First of all, the literature was screened according to the eligibility criteria, and use the Cochrane Collaboration's tool to assess the quality of the included literature. Then, using software for traditional meta-analysis. Finally, using GRADE method to assess the strength of recommendations., Results: This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of SFQX for CHF, thereby providing more evidence support for clinical decision-making in CHF., Conclusion: Our research will provide more references for the clinical medication of patients with CHF., Protocol Registration Number: INPLASY202110019., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Heart failure (HF) has become a serious global public health issue due to its high incidence, high mortality and extremely low quality of life. According to several clinical trials, Qishen Yiqi Dripping pills (QSYQ) combined with routine western medicine treatment can further enhance the curative effect of HF patients. However, most of the trials are small in sample size and poor in quality, which can only provide limited evidence-based medicine. The existing systematic reviews of efficacy and safety has provided evidence for the clinical application of QSYQ to a certain extent, but there are still 3 major defects. Here, we will perform a systematic review and meta-analysis that include the randomized clinical trial (RCT) of CACT-IHF, apply meta-regression and subgroup analysis to cope with multiple confounding factors, and add the clinical efficacy standards of TCM, all-cause death and readmission rates as reliable efficacy evaluation indicators. The purpose of this study was to rigorously evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of QSYQ in the complementary treatment of HF with a well-designed systematic review and meta-analysis., Methods: Following the strict search strategy, 9 databases will be searched to ensure a comprehensive search. We search the database from the establishment until November 30, 2020. This study will include RCTs of QSYQ in HF patients' complementary treatment. Two searchers will independently draft and carry out the search strategy, and the third member will further complete it. Two members independently screen literature, extract data and cross-check, and solve different opinions through discussion or negotiation with the third member. The risk bias will be evaluated based on Cochrane tool of risk of bias. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis are used to check and deal with the heterogeneity. The data analysis will be conducted by the statistical software Stata 16.0., Results: The results of this research will be delivered in a peer-reviewed journal., Conclusion: This study expects to provide credible and scientific evidence for the efficacy and safety of QSYQ in HF's complementary treatment, and at the same time provide a convenient and effective choice for decision-makers and patients., Protocol Registration Number: INPLASY 2020120106., Ethical Approval: Since this study is on the basis of published or registered RCTs, ethical approval and informed consent of patients are not required., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Rationale: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody (MOG-Ab) disease (MOG-AD) is a type of demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by a high frequency of optic neuritis (ON) attacks. anti-Nmethyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis (anti-NMDARe) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by memory deficits, conscious disturbance, and seizures. Cases of simultaneous occurrence of MOG-Ab and anti-NMDARe antibody (anti-NMDARe-Ab) are rarely reported and could be mistaken for overlapping MOG-antibody disease (MOG-AD) and NMDARe. The diagnosis of such patients is challenging., Patient Concerns: We report the case of a 37-year-old man who presented with recurrent headaches for 3 months and worsening symptoms over 2 weeks. He had a history of ON. He had a generalized seizure after 7 days in the hospital., Diagnosis: Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid tests showed no apparent abnormalities. Repeat MRI showed slight lesions 7 days later, and cerebrospinal fluid tests showed the simultaneous occurrence of MOG-Ab and anti-NMDARe-Ab., Interventions: He completely recovered after treatment with low doses of oral corticosteroids., Outcomes: Two months and 2 years follow-up showed that his condition was stable., Lessons: The co-occurrence of MOG-Ab and anti-NMDAR-Ab does not indicate the co-occurrence of MOG-AD and anti-NMDARe. Laboratory findings should be combined with the clinical features to achieve an accurate and suitable diagnosis., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

This study aimed to describe clinical characteristics and prognosis of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, and to compare these features among COVID-19 patients with different disease severity or age range.Totally, 129 COVID-19 patients were retrospectively enrolled, and the information about demographics, comorbidities, medical histories, clinical symptoms, and laboratory findings at the time of hospital admission were collected. Meanwhile, their clinical outcomes were recorded. According to the fourth version of the guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19 by the National Health Commission of China, patients were divided into subgroups according to disease severity (moderate and severe/critical) or age (<40 years, 40-64 years and ≥65 years).In total patients, the most common clinical symptoms were fever and cough (all incidences over 50%). Other common clinical symptoms included tiredness/anorexia, shortness of breath, dyspnea, aching pain, expectoration, diarrhea, shivering, and nausea/vomiting. The mortality rate was 5.4%, and the median value of hospital stay was 16.0 (11.0-23.0) days. Subgroup analyses disclosed that severe/critical patients exhibited increased neutrophil count, neutrophils, C-reactive protein, calcitonin, alpha-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, creatinine, and D-dimer levels, and more deaths compared with that in moderate patients. Regarding age, it correlated with more common fever, higher levels of red blood cell, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, neutrophils, red cell volume distribution width standard deviation-coefficient of variation, calcitonin, alpha-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase, Creatine Kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and D-dimer, raised death rate and prolonged hospital stay.Our findings provide valuable evidence regarding clinical characteristics and prognosis of COVID-19 patients to help with the understanding of the disease and prognosis improvement.

Elevated serum creatine kinase (CK) concentration was reported in some Graves disease patients during the treatment with oral antithyroid drugs (ATD). The pathogenesis of this abnormal biochemical value was considered to be related to the therapeutic drug. However, the relevant epidemiological investigation was absent.Overall, 416 patients with Graves disease treated with oral ATDs were recruited from December 2017 to October 2019. Clinical characteristics such as the patient's medical history and therapeutic regimen were collected. Serum CK concentration and thyroid function were measured. Statistical analysis was adopted to clarify the relationship between serum CK level and these clinical parameters.Elevation of serum CK concentration was emerged in 13.5% patients who were treated with oral ATDs. The proportion was significantly higher among men than among women (19.5% vs 10.8%). There was no correlation between increased serum CK concentration and age. More than 60% of serum CK elevations occurred within 6 months after taking oral ATDs. Free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine are negatively correlated with serum CK concentration. The correlation coefficients are respectively -0.222 (P < .05) and -0.234 (P < .05). There is positive correlation between thyroid stimulating hormone and serum CK concentration. The correlation coefficient is 0.405 (P < .05). There was no statistical correlation between drug dosage and increased serum CK level.Increased serum CK level is a common adverse reaction of oral ATDs. It generally develops early after starting treatment. The cause of this adverse reaction is not clear. It is speculated that elevation of serum CK level is related to the fluctuation of thyroid function.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is the terminal stage of various common cardiovascular diseases with quite a frequent readmission and a high mortality rate, and brings heavy financial burdens to families and society. Oral Chinese patent medicine (CPM) has been widely applied in the treatment of HF in China because of its simplicity, cheapness, convenience, and high efficiency. However, due to the large number and broad clinical selectivity of oral CPMs, there is a lack of uniformity and clinical application standardization. To choose more effective and safe medicine among so many oral CPMs is particularly essential for further improving the therapeutic effect. In this study, the efficacy and safety of different oral CPMs will be compared by a network meta-analysis (NMA), and the best CPM will be selected for the treatment of HF., Methods: According to the search strategy, 4 English and 4 Chinese databases will be searched from the construction of the library to July 31, 2020. The NMA will include clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of different oral CPMs in HF treatment. The methodological quality is assessed according to the bias risk assessment tool of Cochrane. The Bayesian NMA is performed by Aggregate Data Drug Information System (ADDIS), and the results are visualized using Stata 15.0 software. The GRADE approach is used to assess the quality of evidence and recommendation intensity., Results: The NMA will identify the best oral CPM in the complementary treatment of HF. A peer-reviewed journal will publish the results of the study., Conclusion: This study can provide reliable evidence for the efficacy and safety of oral CPMs in the treatment of HF, and help decision-makers and patients to select more effective and safer oral CPM., Protocol Registration Number: INPLASY202090053.

Prolonged heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval is an independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death, which is the hallmark of Timothy syndrome (TS). There are little data on children with syndactyly and QTc prolongation.To evaluate the characteristics and long-term outcomes in children with syndactyly, and to attempt to identify TS in patients with syndactyly and QTc prolongation.This is a retrospective case-control study of children with syndactyly who visited Beijing Jishuitan Hospital between July 2003 and February 2013. The patients with prolonged QTc intervals are matched 1:4 with patients without prolongation. Genetic testing of the CACNA1C gene is routinely performed in patients with QTc prolongation.The mean age at admission is 3.4 ± 2.3 years. Compared with the normal QTc group, those with QTc prolongation showed higher frequencies of congenital heart disease (11.8% vs 1.5%, P = .042), mental retardation and facial dysmorphia (11.8% vs 0, P = .004), and T wave alternans (23.5% vs 4.4%, P = .01). In the multivariable analysis, only T wave alternans (OR = 10.61, 95%CI: 1.39-81.16, P = .023) is independently associated with QTc prolongation in patients with syndactyly. One child with QTc prolongation had a mutation in the CACNA1C gene. No patients with prolonged QTs interval met the threshold for TS.Children with syndactyly and prolonged QTc interval had more multisystem diseases and electrocardiography abnormalities. T wave alternans is independently associated with QTc prolongation in patients with syndactyly.

Many surgical procedures have been developed for the treatment of post-traumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis. But there is a significant controversy over the ideal management. The aim of this study was to illustrate the technique of modified grade 4 osteotomy for the treatment of post-traumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis and to evaluate clinical and radiographic results of patients treated with this technique.From May 2013 to May 2018, 42 consecutive patients experiencing post-traumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis underwent the technique of modified grade 4 osteotomy, and their medical records were retrospectively collected. Preoperative and postoperative sagittal Cobb angle, visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) were recorded. The average follow-up period was 29.7 ± 14.2 months.The operation time was 185.5 ± 26.8 minutes, the intraoperative blood loss was 545.2 ± 150.1 mL. The Cobb angles decreased from 38.5 ± 3.8 degree preoperatively to 4.2 ± 2.6 degree 2 weeks after surgery (P < .001). The VAS reduced from 6.5 ± 1.1 preoperatively to 1.5 ± 0.9 at final follow-up (P < .001), and the ODI reduced from 59.5 ± 15.7 preoperatively to 15.9 ± 5.8 at final follow-up (P < .001). Kyphotic deformity was successfully corrected and bony fusion was achieved in all patients. Neurologic function of 7 cases was improved to various degrees.Modified grade 4 osteotomy, upper disc, and upper one-third to half of pedicle are resected, is an effective treatment option for post-traumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis. However, the long-term clinical effect still needs further studies.

Surgical lung biopsy is regarded as the golden standard for the diagnosis of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs). Here, we attempted to show the diagnostic accuracy of multidisciplinary classifications based on transbronchial pathology including transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) , bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy (EBUS-TBNA).Patients with suspected interstitial lung diseases admitted from June 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 were involved. Patients with known causes of interstitial lung diseases and typical idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis diagnosed through clinical, radiological information were excluded. Patients with atypical idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and possible IIPs accepted transbronchial pathological evaluation. Initial multidisciplinary diagnosis (MDD) classifications were made depending on clinical, radiological and transbronchial pathological information by a multidisciplinary team (MDT). The final MDD classifications were confirmed by subsequent therapeutic effects. All patients were followed up for at least 6 months.A total of 70 patients were finally involved. The samples of lung parenchyma extracted through TBLC were enough for confirmation of pathological diagnoses in 68.6% (48/70) cases. Samples of 6 cases were extracted by EBUS-TBNA. Bacteriological diagnoses were positive in 1 case by BALF. Pathological diagnoses of 77.1% (54/70) cases were achieved through TBLC, EBUS-TBNA and BALF. During the follow up study, the pulmonary lesions of 60% patients were improved, 11.43% were relapsed when glucocorticoid was reduced to small dose or withdrawal, 14.29% were leveled off and 8.57% were progressed. The diagnoses of 4 patients with progressed clinical feature were revised. As a result, 94.3% initial MDD classifications based on transbronchial pathology were consistent with the final MDD, and the difference of diagnostic yield wasn't significant between initial and final MDD (Z = -1.414, P = .157).Classifications of IIPs based on transbronchial pathology were useful and quite agreed with final MDD.

To study the changes of pancreas, thyroid, adrenal, parathyroid and gonadal organ-specific antibodies in patients with type 1 diabetic patients and to explore the risk of development to other endocrine gland autoimmune diseases.Fifty one patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus were selected. ELISA was used to detect islet, adrenal gland, Parathyroid, gonadal organ-specific antibody levels, the level of thyroid-related antibodies by lectrochemiluminescence.Compared with the healthy control group, the levels of the 17-α-OHAb, 21-OHAb, NALP5Ab, P450sccAb, and CaSRAb in the T1DM group were significantly higher. GADAb-positive patients were more likely to have TPOAb-positive patients than GADAb-negative patients, and the positive rate of 2 thyroid antibodies in GADAb-positive patients was significantly higher than that in GADAb-negative patients. The presence of these antibodies is related to the age of onset of type 1 diabetes or Patient age. In combination with 1 or 2 islet antibody-positive patients, the combined non-islet antibody positive rate was higher than that of islet antibody-negative patients.Patients with type 1 diabetes with other autoimmune diseases at risk significantly increased compared with normal, of which the most common thyroid autoimmune disease, thyroid antibodies and hormone levels should be routinely detected at the first visit and long-term follow-up.

This study aims to screen differentially expressed host miRNAs that could be used as diagnostic markers for liver alveolar echinococcosis (LAE).Differentially expressed miRNAs were first screened by miRNA microarray in liver tissues from2 LAE patients and normal liver tissues from 3 LAE patients, followed by qRT-PCR validation in 15 LAE tissues and 15 normal tissues. Target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted using Targetscan, PITA and microRNAorg database, and the overlapped predicted target genes were analyzed by GO and KEGG.The hsa-miR-1237-3p, hsa-miR-33b-3p, and hsa-miR-483-3p were up-regulated whereas the hsa-miR-4306 was down-regulated in LAE tissues compared with normal controls (P < .05). The expression change of miR-483-3p was further confirmed in both liver tissues and plasma. Several predicted targets of miR-1237-3p, miR-4306, and miR-483-3p were related to DNA-dependent transcriptional regulation, developmental regulation of multicellular organisms, and biological functions such as cellular immune responses (T cell proliferation). The overlapped predicted target genes of the 4 differentially expressed miRNAs were enriched in mRNA surveillance, cancer signaling pathway, intestinal immune network, and other signal pathways.Our results indicate that miR-483-3p is a potential marker for the diagnosis of LAE, and targets of this miRNA could be the focus of further studies.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) adversely affects neurological recovery. This study aimed to determine the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and/or rehabilitation in basal ganglia stroke patients with OSA.A prospective controlled trial was conducted in 2015-2018. The subjects received routine rehabilitation training for up to 2 years and were assigned to the intervention and control groups treated with CPAP or without, respectively. Then, treatment effects on sleep parameters, motor function, stroke severity, daily life activities, cognitive function, and psychological states were assessed at different time points.At 6 months, the CPAP group showed significantly lower mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), percentage of time with SpO2 at <90% (TS90%), micro-arousal index, and percentages of time in non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) stages 1-2 and REM stage in total sleeping time compared with the control group, and significantly higher mean minimum of peripheral oxygen saturation (L-SaO2%) and percentage of time in stage 3 (P < .001) sleep. The CPAP group showed significant improvements in average the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA), Barthel index (BI), Minimental state examination (MMSE), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and Hamilton depression rating scale for depression (HRSD) scores at different times versus the control group, respectively (P < .05). However, no difference in body mass index (BMI) management was observed (P > .05). Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant interactions between the two groups for change in FMA, MMSE, BI, HAMA, and HRSD scores from admission to 24 months (P < .001), but no significant was found for BMI (P = .582).Basal ganglia stroke patients with OSA tend to have significantly greater sleeping, neurological and functional recovery after CPAP, and rehabilitation over 2 years.

Data based on forensic autopsy in neonates and infants in China are rare in the literature. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of fetal, neonatal, and infant death and to determine the main cause of death among them.A retrospective analysis of fetal and infant forensic autopsies referred to the Tongji Forensic Medical Center (TFMC) in Hubei, central China, during a 16-year period between January 1999 and December 2014, was performed.In this period, there were 1111 males and 543 females; the total male-to-female ratio (MFR) was 2.05:1. There were 173 fetal and infant autopsies conducted, comprised of 43 fetal, 84 neonatal (<28 days) and 46 infant (4 weeks to 1 year) cases. The annual case number ranged from 5 in 2004 to 18 in 2014 (annual mean of 10.8). MFR was 1.75:1. About 94% of these deaths (163/173) resulted from natural causes, 6 cases (3.5%) were accidental deaths, and 4 (2.3%) resulted from homicide (4 abandoned babies). Among fetuses, the most common causes of death were placental and umbilical cord pathologies (28%, 12/43), followed by intrapartum asphyxia resulting from amniotic fluid aspiration (AFA) or meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) (18.6%, 8/43), congenital malformation (14%, 6/43), and intrapartum infection (9.3%, 4/43). A majority of neonatal deaths (66.7%, 56/84) died within 24 hours of birth. The main causes of neonatal death were asphyxia resulting from AFA, MAS, or hyaline membrane disease, and congenital malformation. The main causes of infant (1-12 months) death were infectious diseases, including pneumonia, meningitis, and viral brainstem encephalitis.This study was the 1st retrospective analysis of autopsies of fetal, neonatal, and infant death in TFMC and central China. We delineate the common causes of early demise among cases referred for autopsy, and report a male preponderance in this population. Our data observed that placental and/or umbilical cord pathology, asphyxia due to AFA, and/or MAS, and pneumonia were the leading causes of fetal, neonatal, and infant death, respectively. And it can inform clinical practitioners about the underlying causes of some of the most distressing cases in their practices.

Rationale: The kyphosis caused by old osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture usually requires osteotomy to correct it. Various osteotomy techniques have been reported, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages., Patient Concerns: We reviewed 2 cases of old osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with kyphosis in our hospital. One patient complained of persistent low-back pain, another patient complained of low-back pain and weakness of both lower extremities., Diagnosis: Old osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with kyphosis were diagnosed based on computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging., Interventions: We performed modified grade 4 osteotomy for 2 patients., Outcomes: Both patients said significant improvement in preoperative symptoms, and x-ray showed that the kyphosis was corrected. Both patients were satisfied with the treatment at the last follow-up, and the kyphosis was not aggravated., Lessons: Modified grade 4 osteotomy is an effective option for the treatment of old osteoporotic fracture with kyphosis. It can restore the spine sequence and achieve better clinical result.

Previous studies have indicated that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use is associated with Parkinson disease risk, but presented controversial results.Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database were searched update to November 2017. Key data were extracted from eligible studies. A dose-response meta-analysis was conducted for synthesizing data from eligible studies.Fifteen eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis. NSAIDs use was not associated with Parkinson disease risk [relevant risk (RR): 0.06; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.91-1.02]. Subgroup analysis showed that aspirin use (RR: 1.14; 95% CI, 0.98-1.30) or ibuprofen use (RR: 1.01; 95% CI, 0.88-1.17) was not associated with Parkinson disease risk; however, the use of non-aspirin NSAIDs was significantly associated with Parkinson disease risk (RR:0.91; 95% CI, 0.84-0.99). Furthermore, NSAIDs use was not associated with the risk of Parkinson disease in female (RR: 0.99; 95% CI, 0.83-1.17) and male (RR: 1.01; 95% CI, 0.88-1.16). In addition, a dose-response showed per 1 number of prescription incremental increase in NSAIDs use was not associated with the risk of Parkinson disease (RR: 0.96; 95% CI, 0.91-1.02), per 1 year of duration of NSAIDs use incremental increase was not associated with the risk of Parkinson disease (RR: 0.98; 95% CI, 0.92-1.03), and per 1 dosage of NSAIDs use incremental increase was not associated with the risk of Parkinson disease (RR: 0.98; 95% CI, 0.95-1.02).NSAIDs use was not associated with the risk of Parkinson disease. The potency and the cumulative NSAIDs use did not play critical roles.

Background: A positive circumferential resection margin (CRM) may result in local recurrence (LR), but the significance remains controversial. We attempted to utilize the lymphocyte ratio (LYMR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) count, and their combinations (TIL-LYMR/TIL-NLR) in predicting LR after rectal resection., Methods: Patients with rectal cancer who underwent curative resection between January 2016 and December 2018 were enrolled. Biopsy samples and data from the blood tests of 124 patients with rectal cancer who underwent curative resection were retrospectively obtained. Patients were divided into 2 groups: LR group and non-local recurrence (nLR) group. CD8 + TILs were immunostained using an antibody against CD8. The density of TILs was defined as the number of positive CD8 lymphocytes per square millimeter and was then graded as either high or low (cutoff = 80/mm). The count of LYMR and NLR was also graded as either high or low. The associations between TILs, LYMR, NLR, and their combinations (TIL-LYMR/TIL-NLR) were evaluated., Results: With a median follow-up of 24.4 months, TIL-LYMR showed a positive correlation with LR (P = .001), but not with the CD8 + TIL count (P = .215) or TIL-NLR count (P = .638). Among inflammatory and immune markers variables, univariate analysis revealed that gender, CD8 + TIL count, and TIL-NLR count were associated with anastomotic leakage (P = .001, P = .014, and P = .036, respectively). In multivariate analysis, TIL-LYMR remained an independent predictor of LR (OR = 8.918, CI = 1.124-70.747, P = .038). We also showed that gender associated with anastomotic leakage in rectal cancer (OR 5.429; 95% CI 1.885-15.637; P = .002)., Conclusion: In this study, our data indicate that absence of CD8 + T-cell infiltration in CRM may influence LR. These parameters may help identify LR provide additional information for therapeutic decision-making.

Background: PGE1 has been studied for prevention of CI-AKI in several RCTs and significant heterogeneous results exist., Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to December 26, 2017 for RCTs comparing PGE1 with placebo or other active medications for the prevention of CI-AKI in patients. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used for pooling dichotomous data, while mean difference and 95% confidence interval for pooling continuous data., Results: Seven RCTs involving 1760 patients were included in this meta-analysis. All these 7 trials reported the incidence of CI-AKI and compared with placebo or other treatment options, PGE1 was associated with a reduced risk of CI-AKI (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.28-0.53; P < .001) and only a trend for lower post procedure serum creatinine (Scr) levels compared with control groups at 48 hours (MD: -0.03 mg/dL, 95% CI: -0.08 to 0.02 mg/dL; P = .25; 6 trials combined). But the postprocedure Scr levels were significantly reduced in PGE1 groups compared with control groups at 72 hours (MD: -0.07 mg/dL, 95% CI: -0.11 to -0.04 mg/dL; P < .001; 4 trials combined). We also meta-analyzed the postprocedure cystatin C (CysC) at 24 and 48 hours with 2 trials. There were lower postprocedure CysC levels in PGE1 groups than those in control groups (MD: -0.18 mg/L, 95% CI: -0.33 to -0.03 mg/L; P = .02 at 24 hours and MD: -0.14 mg/L, 95% CI: -0.23 to -0.06 mg/L; P = .001 at 48 hours)., Conclusions: PGE1 provides effective nephroprotection against CI-AKI and may act as a part of effective prophylactic pharmacological regimens.

Rationale: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is an effective treatment for patients with degenerative lumbar disc disorder. Contralateral radiculopathy, as a complication of TLIF, has been recognized in this institution, but is rarely reported in the literature., Patient Concerns: In this article, we report 2 cases of contralateral radiculopathy after TLIF in our institution and its associated complications., Diagnoses: In the 2 cases, the postoperative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance image (MRI) showed obvious upward movement of the superior articular process, leading to contralateral foraminal stenosis., Interventions: Revision surgery was done at once to partially resect the opposite superior facet and to relieve nerve root compression., Outcomes: After revision surgery, the contralateral radiculopathy disappeared., Lessons: Contralateral radiculopathy is an avoidable potential complication. It is very important to create careful preoperative plans and to conscientiously plan the use of intraoperative techniques. In case of postoperative contralateral leg pain, the patients should be examined by CT and MRI. If CT and MRI show that the superior articular process significantly migrated upwards, which leads to contralateral foraminal stenosis, revision surgery should be done at once to partially resect the contralateral superior facet so as to relieve nerve root compression and avoid possible long-term impairment.

Background: Recent study has reported that risedronate was effective in reducing periprosthesis bone loss after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The meta-analysis was performed to compare the clinical outcomes of THA with oral risedronate versus placebo., Methods: Electronic databases: PubMed (1950-March 2018), EMBASE (1974-March 2018), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science (1950-March 2018) were systematically searched. Two authors independently graded the methodological quality of each eligible study using the Cochrane Collaboration tool and extracted relevant data. Statistical heterogeneity among the trials were evaluated with chi-square and I-square tests. This meta-analysis was performed using STATA 14.0., Results: A total of 4 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2006 and 2015 were included in our study. The meta-analysis demonstrated that risedronate was associated with a significantly reduction of periprosthetic bone mineral density after THA. No increased postoperative complications were observed., Conclusion: Oral risedronate might reduce the periprosthetic bone resorption after cementless THA. Additionally, no severe adverse effects were observed. High-quality RCTs with large sample size were still required.

Rationale: Extremely sharp angular spinal deformity of healed tuberculosis can be corrected by vertebral column resection (VCR). However, the VCR techniques have many limitations including spinal column instability, greater blood loss, and greater risk of neurologic deficit., Patient Concerns: We described a new spinal osteotomy technique to collect sharp angular spinal deformity in Pott disease. A 52-year-old woman presented with back pain and gait imbalance., Diagnosis: The kyphosis of healed tuberculosis was diagnosed based on history and imaging examinations., Intervention: A new posterior VCR was designed to treat this disease., Outcomes: The neurological function improved from Japanese Orthopedic Association scale 3 to 7. The back pain and neurological function were significantly improved. The Oswestry Disability Index decreased from 92 to 34. There was also a significant decrease in back pain visual analog scale from 9 to 2., Lessons: For cases with extremely severe Pott kyphotic deformity, the technology of modified VCR offers excellent clinical and radiographic results.

Rationale: Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) is a potentially fatal and chronically progressive infestation that is caused by the multivesicular metacestode of Echinococcus multilocularis (EM). HAE behaves like a malignant tumor and has been referred to as "worm cancer." The main treatment method for HAE is surgical resection., Patient Concerns: We present a 41-year-old Tibetan alveolar echinococcosis (AE) patient with AE lesions invading the right liver lobe and retrohepatic inferior vena cava (RHIVC)., Diagnoses: The patient was diagnosed with HAE based on results obtained from ultrasound examination, computed tomography, liver 3-dimensional reconstruction, serology tests, clinical presentation, and surgical exploration. The final pathology report confirmed the diagnosis as HAE., Interventions: A radical surgery that combined resection of the liver and RHIVC was performed successfully., Outcomes: The patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery and a good prognosis., Lessons: When lesions of the liver significantly violate the RHIVC, resecting the RHIVC without reconstruction may be considered if possible.

The present study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) preliminarily.Seventeen patients diagnosed to HAE and treated with MWA (80 watts, 4 min) were retrospectively analyzed. The upper abdominal computed tomography (CT) was performed at 1, 6, 12 months after the MWA treatment. The complications were evaluated to assess the safety.The diameters of the lesions in the HAE patients ranged from 1.9 to 4.7 cm. The patients included 10 males and 7 females, aged 26 to 70 (45.82 ± 13.36) years, 5 patients infecting with chronic hepatitis viral B and 8 patients with positive hydatid antibody (IgG). The lesions observed in the postoperative CT (1, 6, 12 months) were calcified compared with those observed in the preoperative CT and without relapse. No serious treatment-related complications occurred after treatment.MWA is a novel and effective therapeutic method for HAE with a single lesion (diameter≤=5 cm). Further studies based on prospective random control trials to confirm our findings are necessary.

Rationale: Bacterial meningitis (BM) has been recognized as a rare complication of spinal surgery. However, there are few reports on the management of postoperative BM in patients who have undergone spinal surgery. The initial approach to the treatment of patients suspected with acute BM depends on the stage at which the syndrome is recognized, the speed of the diagnostic evaluation, and the need for antimicrobial and adjunctive therapy., Patient Concerns: Here, we report the case of a patient with lumbar spinal stenosis and underwent a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion at L4-L5. The dura mater was damaged intraoperatively. After the surgery, the patient displayed dizziness and vomiting. A CSF culture revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection., Diagnoses: The patient was diagnosed with postoperative BM., Interventions: Antibiotic was administered intravenously depends on the organism isolated. Nevertheless, the patient's clinical condition continued to deteriorate. The patient underwent 2 open revision surgeries for dural lacerations and cyst debridement repair., Outcomes: The patient's mental status returned to normal and her headaches diminished. The patient did not have fever and the infection healed., Lessons: Surgical intervention is an effective method to treat BM after spinal operation in cases where conservative treatments have failed. Further, early surgical repair of dural lacerations and cyst debridement can be a treatment option for selected BM patients with complications including pseudomeningocele, wound infection, or cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

The beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) monitoring parameters, such as average beat-to-beat BP, BP variability (BPV), could have an influence on the vascular elasticity. This study hypothesized that the elevated beat-to-beat BPV could evoke the reduction of the vascular elasticity independent of BP levels. We measured the beat-to-beat BP recordings and total arterial compliance (TAC), which was used to assess the vascular elasticity, in 80 young healthy adults during the cold pressor test (CPT). The CPT included 3 phases: baseline phase, cold stimulus phase, recovery phase. Six parameters were used to estimate BPV. In bivariate correlation analysis, TAC showed a significant correlation with systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) in the cold stimulus phase; and 4 indices of SBP variability (SBPV) were associated with TAC (r = 0.271∼0.331, P ≤ 0.015) in the recovery phase; similarly, 2 indices of DBP variability (DBPV) were also correlated with TAC (r = 0.221∼0.285, P ≤ 0.048) in the recovery phase. In multivariate regression analysis, DBPV (β = 0.229, P = 0.001) was a determinant of TAC independent of average DBP, sex, and weight. In addition, both beat-to-beat BP and BPV values increased in the cold stimulus phase (P < 0.01); whereas, the TAC decreased in the cold stimulus phase (P < 0.01). In conclusion, these data suggest that the beat-to-beat DBPV shows an independent association with the vascular elasticity in young normal adults during the CPT.

Background: To detect drug resistance in Shigella obtained from the dung of the giant panda, explore the factors leading to drug resistance in Shigella, understand the characteristics of clustered, regularly interspaced, short, palindromic repeats (CRISPR), and assess the relationship between CRISPR and drug resistance., Methods: We collected fresh feces from 27 healthy giant pandas in the Giant Panda Conservation base (Wolong, China). We identified the strains of Shigella in the samples by using nucleotide sequence analysis. Further, the Kirby-Bauer paper method was used to determine drug sensitivity of the Shigella strains. CRISPR-associated protein genes cas1 and cas2 in Shigella were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the PCR products were sequenced and compared., Results: We isolated and identified 17 strains of Shigella from 27 samples, including 14 strains of Shigella flexneri, 2 strains of Shigella sonnei, and 1 strain of Shigella dysenteriae. Further, drug resistance to cefazolin, imipenem, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was identified as a serious problem, as multidrug-resistant strains were detected. Further, cas1 and cas2 showed different degrees of point mutations., Conclusion: The CRISPR system widely exists in Shigella and shares homology with that in Escherichia coli. The cas1 and cas 2 mutations contribute to the different levels of resistance. Point mutations at sites 3176455, 3176590, and 3176465 in cas1 (a); sites 3176989, 3176992, and 3176995 in cas1 (b); sites 3176156 and 3176236 in cas2 may affect the resistance of bacteria, cause emergence of multidrug resistance, and increase the types of drug resistance.

Extracranial arteriosclerosis usually indicates a high risk of ischemic stroke. In the past, a clinical decision following diagnosis was dependent on the percentage of vessel stenosis determined by an invasive technique. We aimed to develop a quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR) technique to evaluate artery structure and cerebral hemodynamics noninvasively.QMR and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were performed in 67 patients with suspected cerebral vascular disease at our hospital. Accuracy, sensitivity, positive predictive values (PPVs), negative predictive values (NPVs), and Pearson correlation coefficient of QMR were calculated and compared for the detection and measurement of vascular stenoses using DSA as a gold standard. For patients with unilateral artery stenosis, quantitative cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured by QMR in ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres.Among 67 subjects (male 54, female 12), 201 stenoses were detected by QMR and DSA. QMR measuring the degree of stenosis and lesion length was in good correlation with the results obtained by DSA (r = 0.845, 0.721, respectively). As for artery stenosis, PPV and NPV of QMR were 89.55% and 95.71%, respectively. As for severe stenosis, sensitivity and specificity of QMR were 82.3% and 86.0% with DSA as a reference. For subjects with unilateral carotid stenosis, CBF in basal ganglia decreased significantly (P < 0.001) compared with the contralateral one in symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. For subjects with moderate stenosis (50-79%), CBF of temporal and basal ganglia was decreased compared with the contralateral ganglia. However, CBF in subjects with severe stenosis or occlusion in the basal ganglia was mildly elevated compared with the contralateral ganglia (P < 0.001).In our study, a good correlation was found between QMR and DSA when measuring artery stenosis and CBF. QMR may become an important method for measuring artery stenosis and cerebral hemodynamics in the future., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest in this study.

Background: Reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES) is a newly recognized syndrome, and a reversible progress associated with transiently reduced diffusion lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC) is the typical pathological finding. The routine clinical symptoms include mildly altered states of consciousness, delirium, and seizures., Methods: We presented a 14-year-old patient with signs suggestive of transient ischemic attack (TIA), including triple episodic weakness on the right upper limb, slurred speech, and bucking, lasting several hours in each time 2 days ago. She just had a slight cold 2 weeks ago., Results: No evidence of abnormality was found in laboratory examinations except an elevated percentage of lymphocyte. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed lesions in splenium of the corpus callosum and frontal-parietal subcortex on both cerebral hemispheres. Cerebrovascular examination was also unremarkable. The patient recovered to baseline within 25 hours. No treatment was given to her in hospital. In addition, the follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging scan showed reduced lesions. TIA-like symptoms did not occur during a 30-day follow-up period., Conclusion: This young patient with RESLES type II exhibited TIA-like symptoms, which was not previously reported in literature. This case extends the recognized clinical phenotypes for this disorder.

Background: Tetramine (tetramethylene disulphotetramine, TETS) and fluoroacetamide (FAA) are known as illegal rodenticides with high toxicity to animal species and human beings, which could lead to severe clinical features, including reduction of consciousness, convulsions, coma, and even death., Methods and Results: We presented 2 cases that involved rodenticides poisoning. Even though the patients showed severe manifestations, they were initially misdiagnosed, resulting in 2 persons finally died from TETS and FAA poisoning in homicide cases., Conclusion: From the clinical and forensic experience of these 2 cases, we suggest that physicians should consider TETS and FAA poisoning when patients present generalized seizures, especially in some cases without clear cause and diagnosis of disease. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for positive management and criminal investigation in intentional poisoning cases. Moreover, clinical toxicology education should be reinforced., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

To evaluate the treatment pattern and survival of patients receiving radical resection for primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (PSCCE).This retrospective study included 150 patients who received radical resection of PSCCE. Data were retrieved from 4 centers in Western China. Thirty-nine of 150 patients received postoperative chemo-radiotherapy, 62 received postoperative chemotherapy, and 49 received radical resection only. The median radiation dosage was 50 Gy. The chemotherapeutic regimen was platinum-based and lasted for 2 to 6 cycles (median, 3).Median disease-free survival (mDFS) and overall survival (mOS) were 12.0 and 18.3 months, respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed that postoperative therapy did not improve survival in limited stage I (LSI) disease, whereas postoperative chemotherapy improved survival in limited stage II (LSII) disease. Relative to chemotherapy alone, chemoradiotherapy did not improve survival in patients with completely resected LSII disease. A multivariate analysis indicated an association of no postoperative chemotherapy with shorter DFS (P = 0.050) and OS (P = 0.010). Higher lymph node stage and length of disease longer than 3 cm were poor prognostic factors for both DFS and OS.Adjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in PSCCE patients with completely resected LSII disease. Adjuvant treatment with postoperative chemotherapy alone or postoperative chemo-radiotherapy does not increase survival in completely resected LSI disease., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.