Lower body mass index and higher height are correlated with increased varicocele risk

To evaluate the anthropometric indexes in subjects with varicocele compared to controls and the incidence of varicocele in different body mass index (BMI) groups for the purpose of exploring the association between varicocele and anthropometric indexes. A comprehensive literature search was conducted by using PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE databases and Cochrane Library up to February 2019. A systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted by STATA, and Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was utilised for assessing risk of bias. Ultimately, 13 articles containing seven case–control studies and six cross‐sectional studies with 1,385,630 subjects were involved in our study. Pooled results demonstrated that varicocele patients had a lower BMI (WMD = ?0.77, 95% CI = ?1.03 to ?0.51) and a higher height than nonvaricocele participants, especially in grade 3 varicocele patients. Subgroup analyses showed that normal BMI individuals had a higher risk of varicocele than obese or overweight individuals and a lower risk than underweight individuals. In conclusion, this study indicates that varicocele patients have a lower BMI and a higher height than nonvaricocele participants. Moreover, men with excess bodyweight have a lower incidence of varicocele compared to normal weight or underweight people. That is to say, high BMI and adiposity protect against varicocele and high BMI is associated with a decreased risk of varicocele.     

针刺干预对肌萎缩侧索硬化症模型小鼠脑及脊髓中IBA-1和TNF-α表达的影响

目的:探讨电针治疗肌萎缩侧索硬化症(ALS)的机制。方法:将SOD1^G93A转基因小鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、针刺组及利鲁唑治疗组,每组各8-10只。小鼠日龄30 d后,针刺组选取双侧天枢穴(ST25)及足三里穴(ST36)予以电针治疗。利鲁唑治疗组按照30 mg/(kg·d)的剂量予以90 d日龄小鼠灌胃治疗,1次/d。模型组及对照组常规饲养,不予干预。于小鼠电针治疗前及治疗后分别对4组进行体质量记录及行为学观察。采用免疫组化法检测各组小鼠脑干及脊髓中IBA-1和TNF-α表达变化。结果:正常组小鼠精神状态及运动功能良好,针刺组及利鲁唑组小鼠较模型组精神状态及运动功能明显改善; 转棒实验结果显示针刺组及利鲁唑组小鼠潜伏期较模型组延长; 免疫组化检测结果表明在模型组脑干IBA-1阳性细胞表达高于正常组(P<0.05); 而利鲁唑组IBA-1阳性细胞表达虽有降低,但组间无统计学差异(P>0.05)。该结果与IBA-1阳性细胞在脊髓L_4-5节段表达趋于一致(P<0.05)。针刺治疗后脊髓中促炎因子TNF-α表达明显减少(P<0.05),但利鲁唑组较模型组无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论:电针治疗及利鲁唑灌胃治疗均可以改善小鼠运动功能及生存质量,但早期针刺干预明显减少脑干及脊髓中小胶质细胞的活化,抑制促炎因子TNF-α释放,表明电针治疗ALS有效,其机制可能与针刺抑制神经炎症产生有关。     

Impact of overweight and obesity on US renal cell carcinoma incidence trends (1995-2018)

In the United States, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) incidence and the prevalence of obesity, an established risk factor for RCC, have been increasing for several decades. RCC is more common among older individuals. We sought to quantify the contribution of excess adiposity to the rising incidence of RCC among individuals 60 years or older. National Institutes of Health-American Association of Retired Persons Diet and Health Study data (n = 453 859 participants, enrolled in 1995-1996, age at enrollment 50-71 years) were used to estimate multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for RCC across body mass index categories and HRs associated with smoking. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated using estimated HRs and annual overweight/obesity prevalence from the National Health Interview Survey (1985-2008). PAF estimates were combined with RCC incidence from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-13 to calculate annual percent changes in RCC incidence attributable (and unrelated) to overweight/obesity. We found that between 1995 and 2018, among individuals aged 60 years and older, PAF for overweight/obesity increased from 18% to 29% for all RCCs. In comparison, the PAF for smoking declined from 12% to 9%. RCC incidence increased 1.8% per year (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5%-2.1%) overall, while RCC incidence attributable to overweight/obesity increased 3.8% per year (95%CI 3.5%-4.2%) and RCC incidence unrelated to overweight/obesity increased 1.2% per year (95% CI 0.9%-1.4%). In conclusion, overweight/obesity appears to have contributed importantly to the rising incidence of RCC in the United States since the mid-1990s. Public health interventions focused on reducing overweight and obesity could help substantially in curbing this trend.     

Dorsal suspension for Morton’s neuroma: A comparison with neurectomy

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the clinical outcomes of dorsal suspension with those of neurectomy for the treatment of Morton’s neuroma.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of dorsal suspension and neurectomy group. The dorsal suspension was performed by dorsal transposition of neuroma over the dorsal transverse ligament after neurolysis. The visual analog scale (VAS), the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), postoperative satisfaction, and complications were evaluated.ResultsBoth groups reported significant pain relief, and there were no significant differences between the groups with respect to postoperative pain. The postoperative FAAM outcomes showed no significant between-group differences. Satisfaction analysis showed ‘excellent’ and ‘good’ results in the dorsal suspension and neurectomy groups (95% and 77.7%, respectively). Complications of numbness and paresthesia reported in the dorsal suspension group (5% and 5%, respectively) were significantly fewer than those of neurectomy group (61.1% and 33.3%, respectively) (both, p < .05).ConclusionsWith its favorable results, dorsal suspension can be another operative option for the treatment of Morton’s neuroma.Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative case series.     

蒙特卡罗模拟法评价第一代头孢菌素预防手术部位感染的给药方案

目的：探讨第一代头孢菌素预防Ⅰ类切口手术部位感染的既往方案在目前微生物药敏下的预防效果。方法：基于药动学/药效学（PK/PD）理论利用蒙特卡洛模拟法进行探讨。以头孢唑林和头孢噻吩为考察药物，金黄色葡萄球菌、凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌和链球菌属为目标菌群，给药间期内游离药物浓度位于最低抑菌浓度（MIC）之上的时间占一个给药间期的百分比（fT>MIC）为PK/PD靶指数，利用蒙特卡罗模拟头孢唑林和头孢噻吩既往方案对抗目标菌群达到PK/PD靶指数的累积反应分数（CFR）≥90%为标准探讨给药策略及预防效果。结果：对于成人（体质量以60 kg计），头孢唑林仅“1 g，q 2 h”“2 g，q 4 h”“3 g，q 4 h”和“术前1 g；术中0.5 g，q 2 h”的方案，头孢噻吩仅“2 g，q 3 h”和“术前2 g；术中1 g，q 3 h”的方案对各目标菌群的CFR≥90%，两者其他的既往方案均无法达到CFR≥90%标准。结论：应用第一代头孢菌素预防Ⅰ类切口手术部位感染时，应注意选择合适的给药方案（CFR≥90%），以确保预防效果。