The influence of processed total non-forward and non-motile sperm count on the outcome of artificial insemination with the husband’s semen

BackgroundArtificial insemination with the husband’s semen (AIH) is an economical and noninvasive method of infertility treatment. However, AIH’s pregnancy rate is much lower than in vitro fertilization (IVF) as its multiple and complex uncertainty factors. Semen quality has been one of the main factors which affect the pregnancy outcome of AIH.MethodsThe relevant parameters of 1,142 AIH cycles were retrospectively studied, including the general parameters and the semen quality parameters among clinical pregnancy, biochemical pregnancy, non-pregnancy group, age, infertility duration, infertility type, body mass index (BMI), cycle count, morphology in previously semen examination, and semen quality parameters on the day of AIH.ResultsThe statistically significant difference was only found on processed total non-forward and non-motile sperm count (N-TFMSC). The mean processed N-TFMSC in the biochemical pregnancy group was 6.37±4.27 million, significantly higher than the other two groups (vs. 4.40±3.15 million or vs. 4.48±3.60 million, P<0.05). The study was then divided into two groups according to processed N-TFMSC, Group 1 ≤5.0 million, and Group 2 >5.0 million. A statistical increase in biochemical pregnancy rate was observed when the processed N-TFMSC was >5.0 million (2.72% vs. 0.90%).ConclusionsProcessed N-TFMSC may be one of the independent factors on AIH’s outcome; it should be given equal attention the same as processed total forward motile sperm count (TFMSC).     

Perioperative management of diabetes

Diabetes is a complex, chronic metabolic disorder affecting approximately 9.3% of the adult population with the estimated number of adults with diabetes worldwide having more than tripled since 2000. This increase has largely been attributed to global urbanization and lifestyle changes. Diabetes affects 10–15% of the surgical population. These patients are frequently elderly, have complex medical co-morbidities and present for both high-risk elective and emergency surgery. This multisystem disease poses a significant challenge to both anaesthesia and surgery with patients with diabetes demonstrating higher morbidity and mortality rates compared to their non-diabetic counterparts. It is crucial that good glycaemic control is maintained throughout the perioperative period as this has been shown to correlate with positive patient outcomes. It is well-recognized that a co-ordinated, multidisciplinary approach aimed at optimizing every point in the patient pathway from GP referral to post-discharge care is required to obtain the best outcomes for the surgical patient with diabetes. The anaesthetist has a key role in the perioperative diabetes multidisciplinary team. Patients themselves are well experienced in manging their own diabetes and should be involved in doing so whenever possible.     

Fourteen years of litigation claims in cardiothoracic surgery in the United Kingdom National Health Service

Approximately 36 400 cardiac and 23 100 thoracic operations are carried out in the United Kingdom between 2006 and 2015. National Health Service (NHS) resolution, as known as the NHS litigation authority, is one of the essential bodies of the Department of Health. Its purpose is to provide NHS expertise to resolve concerns fair and square share learning for improvement. We aim to evaluate and increase awareness of medicolegal cases in cardiothoracic surgery. Total numbers and details of claims coded by NHS resolution in cardiothoracic surgery from 2004 to 2017 were requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The data provided in successful claims is further breakdown into damages paid to the claimant, defence cost, claimant cost paid and the sum of the three. In contrast, unsuccessful claims only include the defence cost. Moreover, data provided also includes further analysis of primary causes and primary injuries for Claims Closed/Settled with damages paid. There were 753 claims recorded from 2004 to 2017, of which 415 (55.11%) were successful. The number of claims has been steadily increasing since 2004, with two significant raises from 2009/10 to 2010/11 (37‐55, 48.64% raise) and 2012/13 to 2013/14 (49‐69, 40.82% raise). The mean successful claim ratio was 69.58% (range, 47.56%‐ 83.33%) There is also a steady increase in the successful ratio from 2004 to 2017. In summary, this is the first study published in relation to litigation claims on cardiothoracic surgery in the United Kingdom. The results have provided insight on claims made against cardiothoracic surgery.     

Caution! Overestimation of treatment effects of corticosteroid therapy for community-acquired pneumonia in a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

It is well known that a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials aims to increase the power and precision of the estimated intervention effects. However, when a meta-analysis includes a limited number of patients and a small number of events, overestimation of intervention effect estimates may occur and could cause spurious results. Although many biases can cause the overestimation, random error may be the most common cause. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) can explore the independent effect of random error on intervention effect estimates in meta-analyses and protect meta-analyses against overestimation due to random error.     

微小RNA在皮肤鳞状细胞癌中的研究进展

皮肤鳞状细胞癌(cSCC)是角质形成细胞来源的恶性肿瘤之一。转录组是特定条件下细胞内全部转录产物的总和,包括编码mRNA和非编码RNA。研究发现,与正常细胞相比,鳞癌细胞在基因转录水平和模式上存在很大差异,具有不同转录表达谱。微小RNA(miRNA)可通过抑制转录产物的翻译,从而调控靶基因的表达,影响cSCC细胞的增殖、分化和凋亡等病理过程。越来越多的研究表明,miRNAs作为cSCC诊断、预测预后和治疗靶点的生物标志物,在临床上具有广阔的应用前景。本文通过回顾分析cSCC的miRNA表达谱,主要对其中经实验证实表达上调和下调的miRNAs在cSCC中的研究进展作一综述。     

Antimicrobial activities of novel bipyridine compounds produced by a new strain of Saccharothrix isolated from Saharan soil

The actinobacterium strain ABH26 closely related to Saccharothrix xinjiangensis, isolated from an Algerian Saharan soil sample, exhibited highly antagonist activity against Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi. Its ability to produce antimicrobial compounds was investigated using several solid culture media. The highest antimicrobial activity was obtained on Bennett medium. The antibiotics secreted by strain ABH26 on Bennett medium were extracted by methanol and purified by reverse-phase HPLC using a C18 column. The chemical structures of the compounds were determined after spectroscopic (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ¹H-¹H COSY and ¹H-¹³C HMBC spectra), and spectrometric (mass spectrum) analyses. Two new cyanogriside antibiotics named cyanogriside I (1) and cyanogriside J (2), were characterized along with three known caerulomycins, caerulomycin A (3), caerulomycin F (4) and caerulomycinonitrile (5). This is the first report of cyanogrisides and caerulomycins production by a member of the Saccharothrix genus. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of these antibiotics were determined against pathogenic microorganisms.     

Current status and challenges of Additive manufacturing in orthopaedics: An overview

Additive manufacturing is a rapidly emerging technology which is being successfully implemented in the various field of medicine as well as in orthopaedics, where it has applications in reducing cartilage defects and treatments of bones. The technology helps through systematic collection of information about the shape of the "defects" and precise fabrication of complex 3D constructs such as cartilage, heart valve, trachea, myocardial bone tissue and blood vessels. In this paper, a large number of the relevant research papers on the additive manufacturing and its application in medical specifically orthopaedics are identified through Scopus had been studied using Bibliometric analysis and application analysis is undertaken. The bibliometric analysis shows that there is an increasing trend in the research reports on additive manufacturing applications in the field of orthopaedics. Discussions are on using technological advancement like scanning techniques and various challenges of the orthopaedic being met by additive manufacturing technology. For patient-specific orthopaedic applications, these techniques incorporate clinical practice and use for effective planning. 3D printed models printed by this technology are accepted for orthopaedic surgery such as revision of lumbar discectomy, pelvic surgery and large scapular osteochondroma. The applications of additive manufacturing in orthopaedics will experience a rapid translation in future. An orthopaedic surgeon can convert need/idea into a reality by using computer-aided design (CAD) software, analysis software to facilitate the manufacturing. Thus, AM provides a comprehensive opportunity to manufacture orthopaedic implantable medical devices.     

Additional bedtime H2‐receptor antagonist for the control of nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough: A Cochrane systematic review

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of additional bedtime H₂‐receptor antagonists (H₂RAs) in suppressing nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough (NAB) via a systematic review. METHODS: Eligible trials were identified by searching the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2004), MEDLINE (January 1966–June 2004), EMBASE (January 1980–June 2004) and CINAHL (January 1982–June 2004). Additional hand‐searching was conducted on the proceedings of correlated conferences, eight important Chinese journals and references of all included trials. All randomized controlled trials evaluating H₂RAs for the control of NAB were eligible for inclusion. The systematic review was conducted using methods recommended by The Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: Only two randomized crossover studies, comprising 32 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Because the design, dosage and duration of the treatments were different between the studies, it was not possible to conduct meta‐analysis. There were no consistent conclusions found between the two included studies in evaluating H₂RAs for the control of NAB. CONCLUSIONS: No implications for practice at this stage can be concluded. Appropriately designed large‐scale randomized controlled trials with long‐term follow up are needed to determine the effects of additional bedtime H₂RAs in suppressing NAB.