Concomitant Distal Tibia-Fibula Fractures Treated with Intramedullary Nailing,With or Without Fibular Fixation: A Meta-Analysis

There is no consensus on whether a fibular fracture should be fixed when a concurrent extra-articular distal tibia fracture is managed with intramedullary nails. We evaluated the use of fibular fixation in a meta-analysis of randomized trials and observational studies. Two researchers independently assessed the quality of eligible studies and extracted the data. We analyzed 4 trials with a pooled sample of 283 patients (mean age, 24 to 43 years; 141 men), 94 who had undergone fibular fixation and 189 who had not. Two randomized trials assessed on the Cochrane risk-assessment criteria were determined to have a moderate risk of bias, and 2 retrospective cohort studies evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were considered to be high quality. Tibia malalignment at follow-up times ranging from 12 to 72 weeks was reported in 20% (19/94) of patients in the fibular-fixation group and 67% (126/189) of patients in the nonfixation group, indicating that fibular fixation was significantly associated with a lower risk of malalignment (risk ratio, 0.34; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.13 to 0.92; p = .03). The groups did not differ in the proportion of patients with malalignment immediately after surgery, delayed union, nonunion, or infection. When distal extra-articular tibia-fibular fractures are treated with intramedullary nails, fibular fixation may decrease the risk of late malalignment. Further randomized controlled trials with higher quality are required to verify the result.     

Association between lymphovascular invasion and oncological outcome in node-negative upper tract urothelial carcinoma with different stage

ObjectivesTo evaluate the prognostic impact of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) on node-negative upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).Materials and methodsA retrospective study was performed in single tertiary referral center of middle Taiwan between 2001 and 2015. Seven hundred and twenty-eight patients were diagnosed of UTUC and underwent RNU with ipsilateral bladder cuff excision including 303 and 195 patients with N0 and Nx status respectively. LVI status was assessed as a prognostic factor for cancer-specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS) using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.ResultsLVI was observed in 82 patients (16.5%). LVI presentation associated with smoking status, advanced tumor stage, high tumor grade, positive surgical margin, and consequence lung/liver/bone metastasis. In the multivariate analysis, LVI was failed to predict CSS, OS, and disease-free survival (DFS) (hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07 [0.55–2.09], 1.05 [0.62–1.79], 1.15 [0.69–1.92], in CSS, OS, DFS, respectively). In the subgroup analysis of pT1-2 disease, the CSS, OS, and DFS were associated with LVI status (HR [95% CI]: 2.29 [0.44–11.84], 3.17 [1.16–8.67], 2.66 [1.04–6.79], in CSS, OS, DFS, respectively). In contrast, there was no difference in pT3 disease.ConclusionIn conclusion, LVI status was not associated with survival outcomes of node-negative UTUC in our study. The subgroup analysis showed different prognostic impacts of LVI status in node-negative UTUC with T1-2 and T3 stage. Further evidence to clarify the prognostic effect is needed to make LVI became a practical factor in clinical decision-making.     

Eating patterns and unhealthy weight control behaviors are associated with loss-of-control eating following bariatric surgery

BackgroundLoss-of-control (LOC) eating is associated with poor weight-loss outcomes following bariatric surgery. It is not clear whether eating patterns (e.g., total number of daily meals/snacks, eating after suppertime, eating when not hungry) and unhealthy weight control behaviors (e.g., smoking, using laxatives) are associated with or predictive of LOC eating.ObjectivesTo examine whether eating patterns and unhealthy weight-control behaviors are associated with LOC eating and, if so, whether they predict LOC eating in bariatric patients.SettingMulticenter study, United States.MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery–2 study. Assessments were conducted before surgery and at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 84 months after surgery. Logistic mixed models were used to examine the longitudinal associations between eating patterns, unhealthy weight-control behaviors, and LOC eating. Time-lag techniques were applied to examine whether the associated patterns and behaviors predict LOC eating.ResultsThe participants (n = 1477) were mostly women (80%), white (86.9%), and married (62.5%). At the time of surgery, the mean age was 45.4 ± 11.0 years and the mean body mass index was 47.8 ± 7.5 kg/m². The total number of daily meals/snacks, food intake after suppertime, eating when not hungry, eating when feeling full, and use of any unhealthy weight-control behaviors were positively associated with LOC eating (P < .05). Food intake after suppertime, eating when not hungry, and eating when feeling full predicted LOC eating (P < .05).ConclusionMeal patterns and unhealthy weight control behaviors may be important intervention targets for addressing LOC eating after bariatric surgery.     

不同年龄非特异性腰痛患者腰椎曲度相关因素分析

目的 分析不同年龄段非特异性腰痛患者人口学因素、临床特征及竖脊肌形态与腰椎曲度的相关性.方法 选取2016年1月—2019年12月首都医科大学附属北京安贞医院和国家电网北京电力医院收治的临床影像学资料完整的非特异性腰痛患者99例,记录患者年龄、性别、体质量指数(BMI)、腰痛持续时间、腰痛视觉模拟量表(VAS)评分.于腰椎侧位X线片测量腰椎前凸角,于腰椎横断面MRI测量L4,5节段去除脂肪信号后的双侧竖脊肌横截面积(CSA)及L4 CSA.依据患者年龄分为≥65岁组(16例)和<65岁组(83例),比较2组人口学因素、腰痛持续时间、VAS评分、竖脊肌参数和腰椎前凸角的差异,并分析腰椎前凸角与其他指标的相关性.结果 <65岁组L4,5节段竖脊肌CSA/L4 CSA高于≥65组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).2组性别、BMI、VAS评分、腰痛持续时间及腰椎前凸角差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).在<65岁组中,相关性检验显示性别和L4,5节段竖脊肌CSA/L4 CSA与腰椎前凸角存在相关性,多元线性回归分析显示腰椎前凸角与L4,5节段竖脊肌CSA/L4 CSA呈正线性相关.在≥65岁组中,相关性检验显示腰椎前凸角与年龄和L4,5节段竖脊肌CSA/L4 CSA存在相关性,多元线性回归分析显示年龄与腰椎前凸角呈负线性相关、与L4,5节段竖脊肌CSA/L4 CSA呈正线性相关.结论 非特异性腰痛患者性别、年龄、L4,5节段竖脊肌CSA/L4 CSA与腰椎曲度均存在相关性,<65岁的患者腰椎曲度与性别相关,≥65岁的患者腰椎曲度与年龄相关,而腰椎曲度与L4,5节段竖脊肌CSA/L4 CSA的相关性不依赖于年龄.     

Recent Developments in the Determination of PM2.5 Chemical Composition

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - Fine particulate matter (named PM2.5) has become a prominent and dangerous form of air pollution. The chemical composition of PM2.5 mainly...     

The amendment of Organic matters enhances the anaerobic dechlorination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Paddy Soil

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - The toxicity of high-chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can be efficiently reduced through anaerobic dechlorination. However, this...