Correlation analysis of intestinal flora and pathological process of type 2 diabetes mellitus

ObjectiveTo observe the relationship between the different stages of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the intestinal flora and verify its underlying mechanism.MethodsT2DM rats were generated by high-fat diet (HFD) combined with intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ) injection. The rats were divided into four groups: the control group (fed with normal feed for 1 month), the HFD group (fed with HFD for 1 month), the T2DM group (HFD combined with STZ and blood glucose ≥11.1 mM), and the unformed T2DM model (Un-mod) group (HFD combined with STZ and blood glucose <11.1 mM). Feces were collected, and bacterial communities in the fecal samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in feces was measured by gas chromatography. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the expression of G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) and GPR43.ResultsAt different stages of T2DM, the intestinal flora and SCFAs content of rats were significantly decreased (all P < .05). Our results indicated that g__Prevotella had a significant negative correlation, and g__Ruminococcus_torques_group and g__lachnoclastic had a significant positive correlation with blood glucose. The content of SCFAs, in particular acetate and butyrate, in rat feces of different stages of T2DM were significantly reduced, as well as GPR41 and GPR43 expression. The results in the Un-mod group were similar to the T2DM group, and the expression of GPR41 and GPR43 proteins were significantly higher than those in the T2DM group (both P < .001).ConclusionThe intestinal flora–SCFAs–GPR41/GPR43 network may be important in the development of T2DM. Decreasing blood glucose levels by regulating the intestinal flora may become a new therapeutic strategy for T2DM, which has very important clinical and social values.     

蒙药绿松石的质量标准研究＊

目的 建立蒙药绿松石的质量标准。方法 收集不同产地绿松石，共10批。观察绿松石样品和粉末的性状并进行理化鉴别；按2020年版《中国药典》（四部）通则方法测定绿松石样品中水分、浸出物含量；采用原子吸收光谱法测定绿松石样品铜元素含量。结果 绿松石为不规则、周围带有黑石的块状物，表面蓝绿色，体重，质硬脆，难砸碎，断面呈贝壳状，蜡样光泽，粉末呈灰绿色，无臭，味淡；理化鉴别结果显示，呈铜盐反应；10批次样品中水分含量为0.41%-3.94%（SD=1.37%），浸出物含量为0.21%-0.81%（SD=0.21%），铜元素含量为3.03%-4.63%（SD=0.63%）。结论 初步拟定绿松石中水分含量不得超多5.0%、浸出物含量不得低于0.10%，铜元素含量应为2.60%-4.84%，制定的标准可用于蒙药材绿松石的质量控制。     

Contemporary Epidemiology of and Risk Factors Associated with Removal of a Pathologically Normal Appendix in Children with Suspected Appendicitis

BackgroundThe goal of this study was to characterize contemporary performance benchmarks and risk factors associated with negative appendectomy (NA) in children with suspected appendicitis.MethodsA multicenter retrospective cohort analysis of children undergoing appendectomy for suspected appendicitis was performed using data from the 2016–2021 NSQIP-Pediatric Appendectomy Targeted Public Use Files. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate the influence of year, age, sex, and WBC count on NA rate, and to generate rate estimates for NA based on different combinations of demographic characteristics and WBC profiles.Results100,322 patients were included from 140 hospitals. The overall NA rate was 2.4%, and rates decreased significantly during the study period (2016: 3.1% vs. 2021: 2.3%, p < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, the highest risk for NA was associated with a normal WBC (<9000/mm³; OR 5.31 [95% CI: 4.87–5.80]), followed by female sex (OR 1.55 [95% CI: 1.42–1.68]) and age <5 years (OR 1.64 [95% CI 1.39, 1.94]). Model-estimated risk for NA varied significantly across demographic and WBC strata, with a 14.4-fold range in rates between subgroups with the lowest and highest predicted risk (males 13–17 years with elevated WBC [1.1%] vs. females 3–4 years with normal WBC [15.8%]).ConclusionsContemporary NA rates have decreased over time, however NA risk remains high in children without a leukocytosis, particularly for girls and children <5 years of age. These data provide contemporary performance benchmarks for NA in children with suspected appendicitis and identify high-risk populations where further efforts to mitigate NA risk should be targeted.Level of EvidenceIII.     

Modification of an extended total temporomandibular joint replacement (eTMJR) classification system

The aims of this paper were to validate a modification of an extended total temporomandibular joint replacement (eTMJR) classification system and develop a classification schematic for ease of reference. High-volume TMJ surgeons were asked to score 20 separate eTMJR devices using the updated classification system, and inter-rater variability was calculated. Using the modified classification system developed, a Conger’s kappa (κ) coefficient of 0.53 was returned, suggesting moderate to good levels of agreement. The final classification system was then developed in a series of standardised graphic illustrations as visual representations of the different subcategories of eTMJR devices.     

安徽省4所综合医院临床护士营养护理能力现状及影响因素分析

目的 调查安徽省4所综合医院临床护士的营养护理能力,并分析其影响因素,为提高临床护士营养护理能力提供理论依据。方法 采用便利抽样法,2021年1月—2月应用一般资料问卷、临床护士营养护理能力量表对安徽省北部、中部、南部4所综合性医院的863名临床护士进行横断面调查。通过多元线性逐步回归分析临床护士营养护理能力的影响因素。结果 共回收有效问卷762份,临床护士营养护理能力总分为（235.16±44.02）分,条目得分为（3.73±0.70）分,其中营养专业知识维度和临床营养评估能力维度得分较低。多元线性逐步回归分析结果显示,工作年限、科室、定期接受营养护理督查、在校学习营养课、参加营养学习班、定期参加营养业务学习是临床护士营养护理能力的影响因素（P<0.05）。 结论 临床护士营养护理能力有待提高,护理管理者应重视对临床护士进行营养相关教育及培训,强化营养专业知识和临床营养评估能力,完善定期检查与考核机制,以提高临床护士的营养护理能力。     

Hip Displacement in Cerebral Palsy: The Role of Surveillance

IntroductionHip displacement is common in cerebral palsy (CP) and is related to the severity of neurological and functional impairment. It is a silent, but progressive disease, and can result in significant morbidity and decreased quality of life, if left untreated. The pathophysiology of hip displacement in CP is a combination of hip flexor-adductor muscle spasticity, abductor muscle weakness, and delayed weight-bearing, resulting in proximal femoral deformities and progressive acetabular dysplasia. Due to a lack of symptoms in the early stages of hip displacement, the diagnosis is easily missed. Awareness of this condition and regular surveillance by clinical examination and serial radiographs of the hips are the key to early diagnosis and treatment.Hip surveillance programmesSeveral population-based studies from around the world have demonstrated that universal hip surveillance in children with CP allows early detection of hip displacement and appropriate early intervention, with a resultant decrease in painful dislocations. Global hip surveillance models are based upon the patients’ age, functional level determined by the Gross Motor Function Classification system (GMFCS), gait classification, standardized clinical exam, and radiographic indices such as the migration percentage (MP), as critical indicators of progressive hip displacement.ConclusionDespite 25 years of evidence showing the efficacy of established hip surveillance programmes, there is poor awareness among healthcare professionals in India about the importance of regular hip surveillance in children with CP. There is a need for professional organizations to develop evidence-based guidelines for hip surveillance which are relevant to the Indian context.     

Diffusion-weighted MRI and PET/CT reproducibility in epithelial ovarian cancers during neoadjuvant chemotherapy

PurposeTo investigate the reproducibility of diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI and ¹⁸F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG)-Positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) in monitoring response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer.Materials and methodsTen women (median age, 67 years; range: 41.8–77.3 years) with stage IIIC-IV epithelial ovarian cancers were included in this prospective trial (NCT02792959) between 2014 and 2016. All underwent initial laparoscopic staging, four cycles of carboplatine-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy and interval debulking surgery. PET/CT and DW-MRI were performed at baseline (C0), after one cycle (C1) and before surgery (C4). Two nuclear physicians and two radiologists assessed five anatomic sites for the presence of ≥ 1 lesion. Target lesions in each site were defined and their apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), maximal standardized uptake value (SUV-max), SUV-mean, SUL-peak, metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were monitored (i.e., 10 patients × 5 sites × 3 time-points). Their relative early and late changes were calculated. Intra/inter-observer reproducibilities of qualitative and quantitative analysis were estimated with Kappa and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs).ResultsFor both modalities, inter- and intra-observer agreement percentages were excellent for initial staging but declined later for DW-MRI, leading to lower Kappa values for inter- and intra-observer variability (0.949 and 1 at C0, vs. 0.633 and 0.643 at C4, respectively) while Kappa values remained > 0.8 for PET/CT. Inter- and intra-observer ICCs were > 0.75 for SUV-max, SUL-peak, SUV-mean and their change regardless the time-point. ADC showed lower ICCs (range: 0.013–0.811). ANOVA found significant influences of the evaluation time, the measurement used (ADC, SUV-max, SUV-mean, SUV-max, SUL-peak, MTV or TLG) and their interaction on ICC values (P = 0.0023, P< 0.0001 and P =0.0028, respectively).ConclusionWhile both modalities demonstrated high reproducibility at baseline, only SUV-max, SUL-peak, SUV-mean and their changes maintained high reproducibility during chemotherapy.