Efficacy of allogeneic cord blood platelet gel on wounds of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patients after pseudosyndactyly surgery

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the formation of blisters and wounds in skin and mucous membranes; it is classified into four types and has various methods of treatment. Management of previous wounds and prevention of formation of new lesions are the most important strategies in the course of therapy to improve patient's quality of life; lack of wound management can lead to further complications such as infection. The current study investigated the therapeutic effects of allogeneic platelet gel (prepared from umbilical cord blood) in a group of children diagnosed with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) eligible for surgical correction of pseudosyndactyly in the hand. The post‐surgical clinical outcome in this group was compared with the clinical outcomes of DEB patients receiving the standard treatment (paraffin gauze wound dressing and topical antibiotics) after corrective surgery. The current study results showed an increase in the rate of recovery and promotion of tissue granulation, complete wound healing, and a decrease in pain level and treatment period. The application of cord blood platelet gel topical dressing was not a conventional method of treatment in patients with DEB wounds and blisters. However, the current study results demonstrated that this gel dressing could effectively accelerate epithelialization and healing of the wounds and decrease patients' pain and post‐surgical recovery period, which altogether leads to improvements in patients' overall quality of life.     

Comparison between small renal masses 0-2 cm vs. 2.1-4 cm in size: A population-based study

BackgroundThe NCCN guidelines recommend active surveillance (AS) as an option for the initial management of cT1a 0-2 cm renal lesions. However, data about comparison between renal cell carcinoma (RCC) 0-2 cm vs. 2.1-4 cm are scarce.MethodsWithin the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2002–2016), 46,630 T1a N_anyM_any stage patients treated with nephrectomy were identified. Data were tabulated according to histological subtype, tumor grade (low [LG] vs. high [HG]), as well as age category and gender. Additionally, rates of synchronous metastases were quantified.ResultsOverall, 69.3 vs. 74.1% clear cell, 21.4 vs. 17.6% papillary, 6.9 vs. 6.8% chromophobe, 2.0 vs. 1.1% sarcomatoid dedifferentiation, 0.2 vs. 0.2% collecting duct histological subtype were identified for respectively 0-2 cm and 2.1-4 cm RCCs. In both groups, advanced age was associated with higher rate of HG clear cell and HG papillary histological subtype. In 0-2 cm vs. 2.1-4 cm RCCs, 13.8% vs. 20.2% individuals operated on harbored HG tumors and were more prevalent in males. Lower synchronous metastases rates were recorded in 0-2 cm RCC and ranged from 0 in respectively multilocular cystic to 0.9% in HG papillary histological subtype. The highest synchronous metastases rates were recorded in sarcomatoid dedifferentiation histological subtype (13.8% and 9.7%) in both groups.ConclusionsRelative to 2.1-4 cm RCCs, 0-2 cm RCCs harbored lower rates of HG tumors, lower rates of aggressive variant histology and lower rates of synchronous metastases. The indications and demographics of patients selected for AS may be expanded in the future to include younger and healthier patients.     

Treatment of spinal cord compression caused by C2 osteochondroma with reconstruction and fusion after total resection: Case report and literature review

Context: Osteochondroma is the most common benign tumor of the bone, but spinal osteochondroma is rare. We report a case of cervical osteochondroma in multiple exostoses arising from the lamina of the C2 vertebra, presenting with features of compressive myelopathy in a 22-year-old male. Total resection of the tumor and atlantoaxial fixation and fusion after reconstruction of the C1 posterior arch were performed.Findings: The patient recovered significantly. He was asymptomatic and no sign of recurrence was observed after one-year follow-up.Conclusions: Osteochondroma should be considered as a rare cause of spinal cord compression. Entire removal of the tumor will result in complete decompression and can reduce the risk of recurrence. We provide a new approach to reconstruct after resection.     

Reply to Comments on “A Scientometric Analysis of Recent Literature on Arsenic Bioaccumulation and Biotransformation in Marine Ecosystems”

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - In this letter, we formally replied to the comments on our recently published paper “A scientometric analysis of recent literature on...     

利用CT表现鉴别肾上腺隐匿型嗜铬细胞瘤和皮质腺瘤

目的探讨如何利用CT表现对肾上腺隐匿型嗜铬细胞瘤和肾上腺皮质腺瘤进行鉴别诊断。方法收集2010年1月至2020年1月期间中国医科大学附属第一医院收治的177例肾上腺肿瘤患者进行回顾性分析,对比各组患者之间的一般临床资料和CT表现。结果隐匿型嗜铬细胞瘤56例、皮质醇腺瘤32例、醛固酮腺瘤44例、无功能腺瘤45例,隐匿型嗜铬细胞瘤组在肿瘤侧别上与无功能腺瘤组差异有统计学意义,在肿瘤最大直径、平扫CT值、动脉期和延迟期增强CT值上均显著大于三组肾上腺腺瘤组。以肿瘤直径≥2.95 cm诊断隐匿型嗜铬细胞瘤,曲线下面积(AUC)为0.872,敏感度为87.5%,特异性为76.0%;当平扫CT值≥24.5 Hu时,AUC为0.929,敏感度为94.0%,特异性为82.5%;当动脉期增强CT值≥89.5 Hu时,AUC为0.886,敏感度为72.7%,特异性为90.6%;当延迟期增强CT值≥82.5 Hu时,AUC为0.937,敏感度为84.6%,特异性为95.3%;联合以上四个指标时,AUC为0.981,阈值为≥0.118,敏感度为100%,特异性为90.6%。结论以肿瘤直径2.95 cm、平扫CT值24.5 Hu、动脉期增强CT值89.5 Hu和延迟期增强CT值82.5 Hu为阈值对肾上腺隐匿型嗜铬细胞瘤有较好的鉴别诊断价值。     

腹部无辅助切口经阴道取标本的全机器人远端胃切除术(GC-NOSES Ⅳ式)

目的经自然腔道取标本手术(natural orifice specimen extraction surgery,NOSES)具有美观、腹壁损伤小、术后疼痛轻等优势,笔者旨在探究机器人(Da Vinci Xi)在胃癌NOSES中的手术技巧及应用要点。方法选取南昌大学第一附属医院普外科1例胃癌病例,简介使用Da Vinci Xi手术机器人系统进行腹部无辅助切口经阴道取标本的远端胃切除术的手术步骤。结果手术顺利完成,术中及术后无并发症。结论经腹部无辅助切口经阴道取标本的远端胃切除术是安全、可行的,机器人的应用为手术的进行创造了极大的便利。     

Determinants of biosecurity practices in French duck farms after a H5N8 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza epidemic: The effect of farmer knowledge,attitudes and personality traits

Biosecurity is crucial for infectious disease prevention, more importantly in the absence of vaccination. The need for improving the implementation of biosecurity practices was highlighted in French duck farms following the 2016–2017 H5N8 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) epidemic. Farmers have multiple reasons for not implementing biosecurity practices: external (time, money) and internal (socio‐psychological). The purpose of this study was to determine how sets of socio‐psychological factors (i.e. knowledge on biosecurity and avian influenza transmission, attitudes, personality traits, social background) affect the adoption of on‐farm biosecurity practices. Biosecurity practices and socio‐psychological determinants were assessed during 127 duck farm visits, in South West France, using both questionnaires and on‐farm observations. Factorial analysis of mixed data (FAMD) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) identified three groups of farmers with different socio‐psychological profiles: the first group was characterized by minimal knowledge, negative attitudes towards biosecurity, little social pressure and a low level of conscientiousness. The second group was characterized by more extensive experience in poultry production, higher stress and social pressure. The third group was characterized by less experience in poultry production, better knowledge and positive attitudes towards biosecurity, increased self‐confidence and orientation towards action. The first group had a significantly lower adoption of biosecurity measures than the two other groups. A better understanding of the factors involved in farmers' decision‐making could improve the efficiency of interventions aiming at improving and maintaining the level of on‐farm biosecurity in the duck industry.