Plasma IL-36α and IL-36γ as Potential Biomarkers in Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Pilot Study in the Chinese Population.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a frequent extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and increases mortality in patients with RA. Early identification of ILD, especially the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern with a poor prognosis, is important for guiding treatment of RA-ILD and preventing damage resulting from a delay in diagnosis. Interleukin-36 (IL-36) cytokines are involved in connective tissue diseases. However, IL-36 expression in RA-ILD is unknown. In this study, the clinical relevance of plasma IL-36 cytokines was evaluated in 39 patients with RA-ILD and three other groups (30 healthy controls [HCs], 35 RA patients without ILD, and 27 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis [IPF]) in the Chinese population. Plasma IL-36α and IL-36γ concentrations were elevated in patients with RA-ILD compared with those in HCs and patients with RA. RA-ILD patients with UIP pattern had higher plasma IL-36γ concentrations than those with RA-ILD without UIP, but these were lower than those in patients with IPF. Receiver operating curve analysis suggested that IL-36α and IL-36γ were potential biomarkers for identifying ILD in patients with RA. Additionally, the optimal cutoff value of IL-36γ for distinguishing RA-ILD with the UIP pattern from RA-ILD without UIP was 555.40 pg/mL and that for distinguishing RA-ILD from IPF was 655.10 pg/mL. No significant difference in plasma IL-36ß or IL-36Ra concentrations was found between patients with RA-ILD and the three other groups. We also found that the lungs originating from different types of patients with PF, including RA-ILD and IPF, and those from mice following bleomycin-induced PF were characterized by increased IL-36γ expression. Our findings suggest that using IL-36 cytokines to identify patients with RA for further ILD workups may provide additional diagnostic value to the current clinically available assays. Moreover, IL-36γ may help to identify the presence of the UIP pattern in patients with RA-ILD and to discriminate RA-ILD from IPF.

Exploration and application of online teaching in first aid skill operation course / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To explore the teaching effect and novel ideas of online teaching applied in skill operation course.Methods:One hundred and fifty-one students studying in Sichuan University taking the First Aid in the Life: Basic Knowledge and Skills as an elective course in the autumn semester of 2019 and spring semester of 2020 were included as the research subjects in this study. Among them, 77 students in the spring semester of 2020 were selected as the experimental group and 74 students in the autumn semester of 2019 were selected as the control group. The students in the experimental group studied the first aid course by online platform, and the others in the control group studied through traditional teaching mode. The teaching effect of the two groups was compared and the teaching satisfaction of the two groups weas analyzed. SPSS 23.0 was used for Chi-square test and t-test. Results:There was no significant difference between the control group and the experimental group in the assessment scores of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, hemostatic bandaging, and fracture fixation [(8.65±0.81 vs 8.69±0.90, P=0.750); (8.10±0.50 vs 8.12±0.61, P=0.880); (8.21±0.89 vs 8.16±0.78, P=0.710)]. Among the students participating in the questionnaire survey in the experimental group, 59 (95.16%) students thought that this course was helpful in dealing with first aid in daily life, and 38 (61.29%) students did not want to change the traditional teaching method to online teaching. Conclusion:The application of online teaching in first-aid skill operation course is feasible and can achieve the similar teaching effect, which provides a novel idea for exploring the online teaching of first aid skills.

Development and clinical application of a new transverse process retractor based on computer-aided design and 3D printing technology / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To manufacture a new type of transverse process retractor by using computer-aided design(CAD) combined with 3D printing technology and investigate its clinical application effect.@*METHODS@#A new type of transverse protrusion retractor was developed by CAD combined with 3D printing technology. From September 2018 to September 2019, the new transverse process retractor was applied in clinic. Sixty patients with lumbar single segment lesions who needed treatment by pedicle screw fixation, bone grafting and interbody fusion were divided into new transverse process retractor group and control group, with 30 cases in each group. There were 14 males and 16 females in new type transverse process retractor group, the age was (68.0±4.3) years old on average; lesion segment of 8 cases were L3,4, 9 cases were L4,5, 13 cases were L5S1;5 cases of lumbar disc herniation, 20 cases of lumbar spinal stenosis, 5 cases of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis;new transverse process retractor was used to pedicle screw placement. While there were 15 males and 15 females in control group, with an average age of (69.2±4.5) years old;lesion segment of 8 cases were L3,4, 10 cases were L4,5, 12 cases were L5S1;5 cases of lumbar disc herniation, 21 cases of lumbar spinal stenosis, 4 cases of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis;the traditional lamina retractor was used for soft tissue pulling and finished pedicle screw placement by freehand. The length of surgical incision, the time required for inserting a single screw, fluoroscopy times, the times of adjusting the positioning needle or screw in insertion process, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) of surgical incision 72 hours after operation were compared between two groups.@*RESULTS@#Using CAD and 3D printing technology, a new type of transverse protrusion retractor was developed quickly. The length of surgical incision, the time required for inserting a single screw, fluoroscopy time, and the times of adjusting the positioning needle or screw in insertion process in new transverse process retractor group were less than those in control group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS of lumbar incision pain at 72 hours after operation between two groups(P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Using CAD combined with 3D printing technology to develop a new transverse protrusion retractor has the advantages of convenient design, short development cycle and low cost. It provides a new idea for the research and development of new medical devices. The new transverse process retractor has the advantages of easy operation, reliable fixation, less damage to paravertebral muscle, convenient pedicle screw placement, reducing fluoroscopy time and so on.

Association Between Serum Human Epididymis Protein 4 Levels and Cardiovascular Events in Obese Patients with Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer have a higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum human epididymal protein 4 (HE4) levels and cardiovascular events in obese patients with breast cancer. METHODS: Serum HE4 levels in 316 obese patients with breast cancer were measured at baseline and then prospectively followed up for approximately 36 months. The prognostic value of serum HE4 for predicting cardiovascular events was analyzed by the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Serum HE4 was significantly associated with CVD history after adjustment for confounding factors (OR= 1.50; 95% CI 1.23-3.43; P=0.038) using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis suggested that serum HE4 had an independent prognostic value for predicting cardiovascular events in patients with breast cancer (HR=2.21, 95% CI 1.60-5.13, P<0.001). Additionally, sensitivity analysis showed that the independent association still existed. Stratified analysis showed that this relationship was not affected by chemoradiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Serum HE4 is significantly related to cardiovascular events and poses good prognostic value for predicting cardiovascular events in obese patients with breast cancer. Serum HE4 may be a valuable indicator for the early detection of cardiovascular complications in obese patients with breast cancer.

The complete chloroplast genome of Waldheimia glabra.

Waldheimia glabra (Decne.) Rgl. 1879 (family Asteraceae) is a perennial herb with high economic and medicinal values. In this study, we sequenced the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of W. glabra by high-throughput Illumina sequencing. The size of the W. glabra cp genome is 151,499 bp, with overall GC content of 37.3%. It contains a large single copy and a small single copy region of 83,078 bp and 18,457 bp, respectively, separated by a pair of inverted repeats regions of 24,982 bp. We also discovered 131 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes in the genome. The maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree demonstrated that W. glabra is closely related to Leucanthemella linearis.

Low molecular weight heparin and aspirin for prevention of deep vein thrombosisafter orthopaedic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To comprehensively evaluate the clinical effects of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and aspirin for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) patients after orthopaedic surgery. Studies comparing LMWH and aspirin were retrieved in multiple databases. Review Manager 5.0 was adopted for meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis and bias analysis. Finally, 4460 patients in 6 studies were included, and the eligibility criteria were finally met. The meta-analysis suggested that there was significant difference between LMWH and aspirin groups in DVT (RR = 0.58, 95%CI [0.39, 0.88], P = 0.01; P for heterogeneity = 0.45, I2 = 0%). Postoperative bleeding between the two groups showed no difference (RR = 2.20, 95%CI [0.48, 10.09], P = 0.31; P for heterogeneity = 0.79, I2 = 0%) This study shows that LMWH is a more effective therapy than aspirin for patients with DVT after orthopaedic surgery.

Efficacy of home-based exercise programme on physical function after hip fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of home exercise programmes on body function after hip fractures. A computerised literature search was performed for published trials in PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Randomised trials were selected investigating home-based exercise programmes vs usual care without home-based exercise in hip fracture patients. Physical health (measured by Short Form 36), normal gait speed, fast gait speed, balance, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), activities of daily living (ADL), lower extremity strength, leg strength in fractured leg, leg strength in non-fractured leg, and Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) per randomised patient were measured as outcomes. Eleven randomised controlled trials of 1068 subjects were included, 533 in the home-based exercise group and 535 in the control group. The results of this meta-analysis showed that the home-based exercise programmes were not significantly associated with physical health, normal gait speed, fast gait speed, balance, IADL, ADL, and lower extremity strength but were significantly associated with leg strength in the fractured leg, leg strength in the non-fractured leg, and 6MWT. The home-based exercise programme had a positive, although not significant, effect on physical function after hip fracture. Low-intensity training and poor patient compliance are unavoidable problems in home-based exercise rehabilitation. A more task-oriented rehabilitation programme might possibly yield more benefits for disability outcomes.

3D printing technology assisted the preoperative planning and application value in adult kyphoscoliosis deformity / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the application value of 3D printing technology in preoperative surgery plan and intraoperative auxiliary operation for adult kyphoscoliosis deformity.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 12 adult patients with kyphoscoliosis deformity treated from September 2017 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 3 males and 9 females, aged from 21 to 63 years old with an average of (47.67±13.32) years old. Among them, 4 cases were congenital kyphoscoliosis, 2 cases were old tuberculosis thoracolumbar kyphosis ; 2 cases were idiopathic kyphoscoliosis, 4 cases were degenerative kyphoscoliosis. The CT scan data of the patient's spine was imported into Mimics17.0 software to establish the three dimensional model of the spine, and the spine model was produced by 3D printer. Using the spine model simulated operation, preoperative surgery program planning and formulated a precise surgery, and further analysed postoperative imaging parameters improvement. All the patients were followed up for more than 1 year. Before and after operation and at the last follow-up, the scoliosis Cobb angle, maximum kyphosis Cobb angle, and coronal plane balance (distance between C 7 plumbline and center sacral vertical line, CPL-CSVL), sagittal plane balance (sagittal vertical axis, SVA), pelvic parameters and other related imaging parameters were measured to further evaluate its orthopedic effect.@*RESULTS@#Twelve patients with spine deformity were treated with different osteotomy and internal fixation fusion methods under the guidance of a 1∶1 spine model (pedicle screw placement of 4 patients with severe deformity were assisted by pedicle screw guide plates), nail placement and osteotomy have good effects, no major tissue damage such as blood vessels, nerves and spinal cord during and after surgery, no complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage and infection. Preoperative Cobb angle of scoliosis was (56.5±22.5) °, Cobb angle of kyphosis was (65.2±19.5) °, C PL-CSVL was (45.8±16.9) mm, SVA was (48.7±25.4) mm. Postoperative at 4 weeks, Cobb angle of scoliosis was (20.8±11.5) °, and Cobb angle of kyphosis was (22.0±6.6) °, with correction rates of (65.1±9.7)% and (64.6± 10.6)%, respectively ; C PL-CSVL was (22.3±8.9) mm, and SVA was (23.3±13.1) mm, all of which were significantly improved compared with preoperative results. The mean follow-up time was (18.5±7.9) months in 12 patients. At the last follow-up, the Cobb angles of scoliosis and kyphosis were (22.2±10.8) ° and (23.6±7.7) °, respectively, C PL-CSVL was (23.5±10.8) mm, and SVA was (24.7±12.5) mm. The results were statistically significant compared preoperative (0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The 3D print model can visually and clearly show the vertebral morphology and structure of adult kyphoscolisis and its spatial relationship with the adjacent vertebrae, blood vessels, and nerves, which provides a good and intuitive stereoscopic anatomical structure observation for the individualization of the surgical plan. Pre-simulation of operations to determine the internal fixation, fusion segment and osteotomy orthopedic way, may to provide a reference for actual clinical surgery, and can improve the accuracy and safety of surgery.

Significance of emergency observation time of measurement with high-sensitive troponin T in patients with chest pain / 实用医学杂志

Objective To investigate the value of emergency observation time of chest pain patients for ruling-out myocardial infarction by using high-sensitive troponin T. Method Total 1 687 patients with chest pain from December 2015 to August 2016 visiting Sichuan University Huaxi Hospital emergency department were en-rolled.We included 1082 patients who diagnose with AMI finally.We define the time from the start of the chest pain to visiting the emergency as the onset time.We analyzed the level of high-sensitive troponin T of AMI patients at dif-ferent onset time and calculated the rate of patients with hs-cTnT level lower than the conventional hs-cTnT thresh-old of 14 ng/L. Result Among 1082 cases of AMI patients,32 patients with hs-cTnT level below threshold(14 ng/L).The for whose The onset time over 5h was observed in AMI patients with hs-cTnT level over 14 ng/L.Con-clusion AMI can not be excluded in chest pain patients whose hs-cTnT levels below the conventional threshold value of 14 ng/L,and these people should be dynamically monitored for 5h in emergency department.The patients can exclude AMI if the hs-cTnT levels are below 14 ng/L after 5 hours.

Time from symptom onset influences high-sensitivity troponin T diagnostic accuracy for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The time required for patients with acute chest pain to reach a hospital emergency department varies, possibly lowering the diagnostic performance of a general cut-off value for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) in diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study was to determine the cut-off values as calculated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) of hs-cTnT at different times from onset of symptoms to admission, and to evaluate their diagnostic performance. METHODS: Our study included 3096 patients with symptoms suggestive of AMI. These patients were classified according to time from onset of symptoms to admission. The diagnostic accuracy was quantified by the area under the ROC curve (AUC). RESULTS: Of the patients, 1082 (49.3%) were diagnosed as having AMI (317 were non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI]). The AUC for hs-cTnT to diagnose AMI was 0.881 at <3 h after symptom onset, 0.940 at 3-6 h after symptom onset, 0.966 at 6-12 h after symptom onset, and 0.974 at >12 h after symptom onset. The threshold as determined by ROC of hs-cTnT was 13.5 ng/L to diagnose AMI at ≤3 h after symptom onset with a sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 80.1%, 17.8 ng/L at 3-6 h after symptom onset with a sensitivity of 94.6% and a specificity of 84.3%, 30.0 ng/L at 6-12 h after symptom onset with a sensitivity of 95.9% and a specificity of 85.5%, and 58.0 ng/L at >12 h after symptom onset with a sensitivity of 92.7% and a specificity of 93.3%. The same observations were performed for the diagnosis of NSTEMI. CONCLUSIONS: The ROC-determined cut-off value of hs-cTnT for AMI or NSTEMI diagnosis gradually increased with time from onset of symptoms to presentation. Using a higher cut-off value by ROC for hs-cTnT will improve its accuracy in diagnosing AMI or NSTEMI patients in late presenters. The higher value will enable physicians to more quickly rule in patients compared to the 99th percentile cut-off, and can rule out patients safely.

Comparison of short-term effects by anterolateral deltoid approach or delto-pectoral approach for proximal humerus fractures / 重庆医学

Objective To compare the short-term effects of proximal humerus fractures by deltoid approach or delto-pectoral approach .Methods The clinical records of 53 patients with proximal humeral fracture for two kinds of different treatment were re-viewed :delto-pectoral approach with anatomical form plate(delto-pectoral group ,24 cases) or anterolateral deltoid approach with locking proximal humerus plate (anterolateral deltoid approach group ,29 cases) from May 2008 to May 2013 .The length of inci-sion ,bleeding volume ,postoperative painscores ,union of fracture time ,incidence of complications ,pain and function of shoulder score (Neer scores) were compared and recorded .Results All the patients were followed up for 6 - 24 months(mean 16 .3 month) , and all patients obtained bone union .The anterolateral deltoid approach was significantly higher than delto-pectoral approach in the operation fime ,the bleeding volume ,postoperative painscores ,union of fracture time ,pain and function of shoulder score(after a month)(P 0 .05) .By delto-pectoral approach ,there were 2 cases with delayed wound healing ,3 cases underwent the loosening of screw ,4 cases humerus head varus and 2 cases necrosis of head of humerus ,with the rate of complications of 45 .8% .On the other hand ,deltoid approach group were 2 cases underwent screw cutting and 2 cases humerus head varus ,with the rate of complications of 13 .8% (P< 0 .05) .Conclu-sion The clinical results of anterolateraldeltoid approach group with locking proximal humerus plate had the advantage of reliable fixation ,less suffering ,less surgical trauma and less complication ,which was better the short-term effects than delto-pectoral ap-proach with atomical from plate .

Effect of ulinastatin on lung function in pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass:a meta-a-nalysis / 临床麻醉学杂志

Objective To systemically review the effect of ulinastatin on lung function in pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.Methods PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Controlled Trials Reg-istry,China National Knowledge infrastructure,China Biology Medicine disc,VIP and Wanfang databases were searched from their inception to October 2015.Articles regarding the use of ulinastatin on lung function in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass were searched.Studies were screened by two independent re-viewers and then the data were extracted.The methodological quality was evaluated according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Meta-analysis was then performed using RevMan 5.1 software. Results Nineteen eligible studies (n = 657 patients)were identified.The results of meta analysis showed that ulinastatin could improve the oxygen partial pressure(SMD=0.90,95%CI 0.52-1.28,P <0.01)and oxygenation index (SMD=1.01,95%CI 0.45-1.56,P <0.01),decrease the PA-a O2 (SMD= -0.87, 95%CI -1.70--0.03,P =0.04),reduce the respiratory index (SMD=-0.81,95%CI -1.51--0.11, P =0.02),Lower the airway peak pressure (SMD=-0.83,95%CI -1.18--0.48,P <0.01),improve the dynamic compliance (Cd)(SMD=1.10,95%CI 0.57-1.62,P <0.01),and shorten the breathing ma-chine ventilation time (SMD=-0.98,95%CI -1.59--0.36,P <0.01).Conclusion This meta-analysis showed that ulinastatin treatment had a certain degree of protective effects on lung function in pediatric pa-tients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB,but further research was needed for all these studies which were not multicenter,strictly controlled.

Chief complaints associated with mortality involving civilian transport after Wen-chuan earthquake.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have reported that civilian transport is a mortality risk factor in low-resource communities. Few studies have analyzed the chief complaints associated with mortality involving civilian transport after an earthquake.Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine whether mortality resulting from medical professional transport differs from that involving civilian transport, and if so, the chief complaints associated with mortality involving civilian transport after the Wen-chuan earthquake. METHODS: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted. Cases included all victims transported by civilians to West China Hospital from the disaster area (n=473). Controls included all victims transported by medical professionals to West China Hospital (n=1452). We further analyze six potential chief complaints of death to clarify the specific contributing chief complaints associated with mortality involving civilian transport. RESULTS: Civilian transport is associated with significantly greater mortality compared with medical professional transport (Pearson's χ-test: P<0.05). Patients with altered mental status had the greatest risk of death [odds ratio (OR)=4.552, 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.165-9.572], followed by patients with trunk injury (OR=2.517, 95% CI=1.251-5.066), and finally patients with shortness of breath (OR=2.345, 95% CI=1.040-5.288). CONCLUSION: Altered mental status, trunk injury, and shortness of breath were the significant chief complaints associated with mortality involving civilian transport to the hospital after the Wen-chuan earthquake. Our data suggest that patients with any of these complaints should be transported by medical professionals, not civilians, to the nearest hospital for treatment.