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OBJECTIVE To study the cost-utility threshold （WTP/Q） based on the preference of the population in Liaoning province with willingness-to-pay（WTP） survey method， and to provide reference for decision-making. METHODS Using the method of questionnaire survey， quota sampling combined with snowball sampling were used to conduct telephone interviews with the general population in Liaoning province， collect data and analyze it. Probit regression combined with generalized linear model was used to analyze the relevant factors affecting WTP/Q. RESULTS A total of 755 general people were recruited. The WTP/Q of Liaoning population was 119 175 yuan，the average WTP/Q for improving the quality of life was 84 902 yuan， and the average WTP/Q for extending the survival period was 188 005 yuan. The analysis of influential factors showed that the older the age， the lower the probability of people purchasing medical interventions； the higher the education level and income， the greater the WTP/ Q； at the same time， the physical feelings of the interviewee， such as pain and depression， could also affect the WTP/Q results； compared with the scenario of improving quality of life， the WTP/Q for the extended survival period was higher. CONCLUSIONS The WTP/Q of Liaoning province based on the WTP survey method is about 2.07 times of the per capita gross domestic product of Liaoning province in the same period. The WTP/Q for extending survival period is about 2.21 times that of improving the quality of life. Therefore， interventions to improve quality of life and to extend the survival period need to be treated differently， in measurement or decision-making.
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Objective:To clarify the anatomical characteristics and adjacent relationship of the superior segment of the inferior vena cava during laparoscopic surgery.Methods:In December 2018, two frozen and two fresh adult cadavers were dissected. The chest of the frozen cadavers was opened along the bilateral midline of the clavicle, the anterior pericardial wall was opened, and the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava was dissected. The abdominal cavity was opened along the midline of the abdomen, the left and right hepatic lobes were turned over, the inferior vena cava and the second hilum of the posterior segment of the liver were exposed, and the hiatus of the inferior vena cava was opened and entered the pericardium.The anatomical characteristics and adjacent relationship of the superior segment of the inferior vena cava were observed, and the length of the superior segment of the inferior vena cava was measured. The fresh frozen cadaver patients underwent laparoscopic surgery.Five 12 mm trocars were placed at the side of umbilicus, right rectus abdominis about 4 cm from umbilicus, midline of abdomen about 6 cm above umbilicus, right axillary front about 2 cm below inferior edge of liver, left midline of clavicle about 2 cm below inferior edge of liver. Laparoscopic-assisted turning of the left and right hepatic lobes, exposing the posterior inferior vena cava and the second hilum of the liver, opening of the vena cava hiatus into the pericardium.The anatomical characteristics and adjacent relationship of the upper diaphragmatic segment of the inferior vena cava were observed.Results:In two autopsies, the inferior vena cava entered the chest through the cava sulcus of the liver and the phrenic foramen cava, and then through the fibrous pericardium into the right atrium. The length from the diaphragm of inferior vena cava to the right atrium was 1.67 cm, 2.57 cm. In laparoscopic operation, the diaphragm entrance of the posterior segment of the liver inferior vena cava, the second hepatic portal and the inferior vena cava could be well exposed.The diaphragm could be opened along the hole of the vena cava with a relatively non vascular anatomical layer of adipose tissue.There was a large anatomical gap between the pericardium and the right atrium, and the inferior vena cava, the superior vena cava and the right atrium could be well exposed, and the whole diaphragm could be completely and continuously exposed from the bottom to the inferior vena cava at the entrance segment of the right atrium.Conclusions:There was a relatively avascular anatomical layer beside the inferior vena cava. During laparoscopic operation, opening the diaphragm through the abdominal cavity could safely enter the pericardium and expose the inferior vena cava, the superior vena cava and the right atrium, which provides a possibility for the removal of Mayo Ⅳ grade inferior vena cava tumor thrombus through this approach.
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Traditional methods of non-contact human respiratory rate measurement usually require complex devices or algorithms. Aiming at this problem, a non-contact respiratory rate measurement method based on only the RGB video information was proposed in this paper. The method consisted of four steps. Firstly, spatial filtering was applied to each frame of the input video. Secondly, a gray compensation algorithm was used to compensate for the gray level change caused by the environmental light. Thirdly, the gray levels of each pixel over time were filtered separately by a low-pass filter. Finally, the region of interest was determined based on the filtering results, and the respiration rate of the human is measured. The physical measurement experiments were designed, and the measurement accuracy was compared with that of the biological radar. The error of the proposed method was between - 5.5% and 3% in different detection directions. The results show that the non-contact respiration rate measurement method can effectively measure the human respiration rate.
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Humans , Algorithms , Radar , Respiration , Respiratory RateABSTRACT
Starch is the predominant compound in bulb scales, and previous studies have shown that bulblet development is closely associated with starch enrichment. However, how starch synthesis affects bulbification at the molecular level is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that
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Objective To investigate the outcome of postoperative hypopituitarism and hormone replacement in patients with pituitary adenoma,and to analyze the potential factors related to postoperative hypopituitarism.Methods A total of 215 postoperative patients with pituitary adenoma were analyzed.Pituitary functions( including gonadal,thyroid,and adrenal axes ) were asessed by strict criteria.Data of surgery history and hormone replacement situation were collected for statistical analysis.Results The prevalence of hypopituitarism was 54.0％,including 36.7％ hypogonadism,32.6％ hypothyroidism,and 28.4％ hypoadrenalism.Replacements of gonadal steroid,glucocorticoid,and thyroxine were carried out in 25.6％,84.3％,and 80.6％ of the cases,respectively.Univariate analysis showed that male sex and large tumor were related to hypopituitarism. Conclusion After pituitary adenomectomy,approximately half of the patients present anterior pituitary dysfunction,while quite a number of them have not been treated appropriately.
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Objective To evaluate desmopressin stimulated inferior petrosal sinus sampling in diagnosing Cushing′s disease.Methods Sixteen ACTH-dependent Cushing′s disease patients underwent bilateral desmopressin stimulated inferior petrosal sinus ( IPS ) sampling because of negative or equivocal magnetic resonance imaging.Cortisol response to high-dose dexamethasone suppression test was also evaluated.ACTH sampling was taken from a peripheral vein and bilateral IPS before and both 5 and 10 min after injection of desmopressin.Diagnosis was based on the ratio of ACTH level in between IPS to peripheral vein by desmopressin test.Diagnosis was confirmed after surgery.Results High-dose dexamethasone suppression test showed suppressible in 9 of 16 patients with Cushing′s disease.An IPS gradient ＞2 was found in 14 of the 16 cases (87.5％ )with Cushing′s disease after desmopressin injection,while before injection the respective figure was 12 of 16 (75.0％).No severe adverse effects were observed during or after the procedure.Conclusion Desmopressin test during bilateral IPS sampling is a safe and effective diagnostic procedure in Cushing′s disease.
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Objective To evaluate the overall effectiveness of microsurgery for elderly pituitary adenomas,and to select the optimal surgical approaches for this type of tumor. Methods Microsurgical operation was performed on 190 patients with elderly pituitary ademomas,and these patients were retrospectively analysed. The 190 cases were divided into transsphenoidal group and transcranial group with a comparison analysis of respective removal percentage,postoperative complication and follow-up. Results In the transsphenoidal group with 158 cases,total removal were performed in 112 cases (71.0%),subtotal removal in 30 cases,partial removal in 16 cases. In the transcranial group with 32 cases,total removal were performed in 8 cases (25.0%),subtotal removal in 16 cases,partial removal in 8 cases. Conclusions Transsphenoidal approach was characterized by shorter hospitalization period,less therapeutic charges and better postoperative quality of life and it should be of choice for the treatment of the elderly pituitary adenomas.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clarify whether it is necessary to reconstruct bone defects at the anterior skull base.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A long-term follow-up study of 50 patients with anterior skull-base defects in which the dura was reconstructed without bone grafts was conducted. CT and MRI examinations were taken periodically after surgery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ordinates of the bone defects averaged 3.5 cm (range, 2 - 6 cm), and the abscissas averaged 2.8 cm (range, 2 - 5 cm). The abscissas of the bone defects measured 2 - 3 cm in 38 patients, 3 - 4 cm in 10 patients, and 4 - 5 cm in 2 patients. The follow-up ranged from 3 months to 5 years (average, 2 years).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>At normal intracranial pressure, if the dura mater is repaired properly at the skull-base defects and reinforced with a pedicled pericranial flap, encephalomeningocele and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage can be prevented. It may not be necessary to make free bone grafts when the size of the cranial base bone defect is smaller than 4 cm.</p>