Objective To investigate the status of frailty in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and to analyze the influence of COVID-19 disease on the prevalence of frailty. Methods This study was conducted using a cross-sectional survey method. COVID-19 patients admitted to a centralized isolation point in Guangzhou were selected for an questionnaire survey by “questionnaire star”, between November and December 2022. The questionnaire included the general information questionnaire, Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), the COVID-19 symptom scale and Mental Resilience Scale (RS-11). Multi-model logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influence of COVID-19 on the occurrence of debilitation. Results A total of 667 questionnaires were distributed, of which 594 were valid, with an effective rate of 89.1%. There were 150 patients (25.3%) were frail, 444 patients (74.7%) were non-frail, and 51 patients (8.6%) were newly frail after infected COVID-19. The median TFI score before COVID-19 was 3 (2, 4) points, 16.7% (99/594) were in a weak state. The median TFI score after COVID-19 was 3 (2, 5) points, 25.3% (150/594) were in a weak state. There were statistically significant differences in TFI scores (Z=?6.596, P＜0.001) and the incidence of debilitation (χ2=351.648, P＜0.001) before and after COVID-19. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after controlling disease factors, demographic factors and psychosocial factors, the score of the COVID-19 symptom score was always the influencing factor of COVID-19 patients. The overall change trend of COVID-19 symptom score was statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusions The COVID-19 symptom score is an important risk factor or predictor of frailty in patients with COVID-19. As the level of COVID-19 symptom score increases, the risk of frailty in COVID-19 patients increases.
Objective To compare and analyze the occurrence of acute and chronic pain after subxiphoid and transcostal thoracoscopic extended thymectomy. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on 150 patients who underwent thoracoscopic extended thymectomy in our hospital from July 2020 to June 2022, among whome 30 patients received subxiphoid video-assisted thoracic surgery, and 120 patients received transcostal video-assisted thoracic surgery. The patients were matched by the propensity score matching method. Postoperative pain was evaluated by numeric rating scale (NRS). The intraoperative conditions and postoperative pain incidence were compared between the two groups. ResultsAfter matching, 60 patients were enrolled, 30 in each group, including 30 males and 30 females with an average age of 50.78±12.13 years. There was no difference in the general clinical data between the two groups (P>0.05), and no perioperative death. There were statistical differences in the intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative catheter duration, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative pain on 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, 7 d, 3 months and 6 months after the surgery (P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the operation time or the postoperative 14 d NRS score (P>0.05). Further univariate and multivariate analyses for postoperative chronic pain showed that surgical method and postoperative 14 d NRS score were risk factors for chronic pain at the 3 months and 6 months after the surgery (P<0.05). Conclusion The subxiphoid thoracoscopic extended thymectomy has advantages over transcostal thoracoscopic surgery in the postoperative acute and chronic pain.
Objective To compare surgical outcomes of Stanford type A acute aortic dissection between operations at midnight and daytime. Methods From January 2004 to March 2013，195 patients with Stanford type A acute aortic dissection received surgical treatment in Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University （Nanjing Cardiovascular Disease Hospital）. Patients with identical or similar propensity scores were matched from 127 patients who underwent emergency operation at daytime and 68 patients who underwent emergency operation at midnight. A total of 58 pairs of matched patients which had the same or similar propensity score were selected in daytime surgery group （n=58，43 males and 15 females，47.7±14.6 years） and midnight surgery group （n=58，45 males and 13 females，48.3±14.6 years）. Operation time，postoperative chest drainage，mechanical ventilation time，postoperative incidence of dialysis and tracheostomy，length of ICU stay and in-hospital mortality were compared between the daytime group and midnight group. Results A total of 58 pair of patients were matched in this study. There was no statistical difference in postoperative incidence of tracheostomy ［19.0% （11/58） vs. 6.9% （4/58），P=0.053］ or in-hospital mortality ［8.6% （5/58） vs. 6.9%（4/58），P=0.729］ between the midnight group and daytime group. Operation time （485.7±93.5 minutes vs. 428.5±123.3 minutes，P=0.048），postoperative chest drainage （979.5±235.7 ml vs. 756.6±185.9 ml，P=0.031），mechanical ventilation time （67.9±13.8 hours vs. 55.7±11.9 hours，P=0.025），postoperative incidence of dialysis ［17.2% （10/58） vs. 5.2%（3/58），P=0.039］ and length of ICU stay （89.4±16.2 hours vs. 74.8±12.5 hours，P=0.023） of the midnight group weresignificantly longer or higher than those of the daytime group. A total of 107 patients were followed up for 4-6 months after discharge. During follow-up，there was no late death. Among the 13 patients who required postoperative dialysis，12 patientsno longer needed regular dialysis. Conclusion Emergency operation at midnight does not increase in-hospital mortalitybut increase some postoperative morbidity in patients with Stanford type A acute aortic dissection. Whether at midnight or daytime，better preoperative preparation and surgeons’ vigor are needed for timely surgical treatment for patients with Stanford type A acute aortic dissection.
ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of varicose great saphenous vein (GSV) treatment alone versus combined treatment with iliac vein compression (IVC) intervention in improving lower extremity symptoms and prognosis among the patients with varicose GSV complicated by IVC. MethodsBased on inclusion and exclusion criteria, the patients with varicose GSV complicated by IVC treated at the Day Service Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from May 2022 to January 2025 were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were assigned into two groups according to the treatment strategies: the varicose GSV treatment alone group (control group) and the combined treatment group for varicose GSV and IVC (observation group). The primary endpoints included the closure rate of the GSV trunk, venous clinical severity score (VCSS), and venous insufficiency epidemiological and economic study quality of life/symptom (VEINES-QOL/Sym) questionnaire score at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The significance level was set at α=0.05. ResultsA total of 264 patients with left lower extremity varicose GSV complicated by IVC were included. The observation group comprised 32 patients, while the remaining 232 patients underwent 1∶3 propensity score-matching, resulting in 96 matched patients in the control group. The baseline characteristics, including gender, age, and comorbidities, showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). At 12 months postoperatively, the GSV trunk closure rate was 100% in both groups. Within-group comparisons revealed significant improvements in the VCSS and VEINES-QOL/Sym points at 6 and 12 months as compared with preoperative (on admission) values (P<0.05). Between-group comparisons showed that the observation group had greater improvement in the VEINES-QOL/Sym score at 6 months (P=0.028), but no significant difference in the VCSS (P=0.775); At 12 months, the observation group demonstrated significantly better the VCSS (P<0.001) and VEINES-QOL/Sym points (P<0.001) as compared with the control group. ConclusionsFor patients with left lower extremity GSV varicosities complicated by IVC, both treatment strategies significantly improve symptoms. Results of short-term follow-up (6 months) demonstrate early advantages in quality of life improvement with concurrent IVC intervention, while results of 12-month follow-up indicate superior efficacy in both symptom relief and quality of life enhancement. Therefore, concurrent IVC intervention may provide greater clinical benefits for mid- to long-term prognosis for patients with left lower extremity GSV varicosities complicated by IVC.
Due to the minimum free energy model, it is very important to predict the RNA secondary structure accurately and efficiently from the suboptimal foldings. Using clustering techniques in analyzing the suboptimal structures could effectively improve the prediction accuracy. An improved k-medoids cluster method is proposed to make this a better accuracy with the RBP score and the incremental candidate set of medoids matrix in this paper. The algorithm optimizes initial medoids through an expanding medoids candidate sets gradually.The predicted results indicated this algorithm could get a higher value of CH and significantly shorten the time for calculating clustering RNA folding structures.
To investigate the value of plasma placental growth factor (PlGF) in percutaneous coronary angioplasty and stent implantation. Methods From May 2006 to March 2007, 61 patients (53 males and 8 females, mean age61 years) and 28 normal controls were included. All patients present with acute chest pain and underwent coronary angiography, the lesion severity of coronary arteries was assessed by Gensini coronary scoring system. Of them, 26 patients having serious coronary lesion underwent (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, PTCA) and stent implantation. Cardiovascular events were recorded after 30 days. Plasma PlGF was determined by ELISA. Results According to the angiography, the patients could be divided into CAD group (n=45) and Non- CAD group (n=16). Plasma PlGF level in CAD group was significantly higher than that in Non-CAD group and control group [(10.70 ± 0.49) ng/L vs (4.53 ± 0.64) ng/L vs (3.64 ± 0.36) ng/L, P lt; 0.001)], and there was no significant difference between the non-CAD group and control group (P gt; 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between Gensini coronary score and plasma PlGF level (r=0.918, P lt; 0.01). Moreover, patients with cardiovascular events had a higher PlGF level than those without cardiovascular events after PTCA and stent implantation [(13.98 ± 3.39) ng/L vs (7.25 ± 2.96) ng/L, P lt; 0.01)]. Conclusion PlGF level has diagnostic value in patients with acute chest pain. The measurement of plasma PlGF might be helpful for early diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Patients with higher plasma PlGF level may have more severe coronary lesion. PlGF may be one of predictors for cardiovascular events after PCI.
Objective To explore the evolving strategies and compare perioperative and long-term outcomes of tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) in recent 20 years in our hospital.MethodsBetween 1998 and 2018, the clinical data of 608 patients who underwent TVR at the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 201 males and 407 females, with a median age of 47.0 (36.0, 57.0) years. Patients were divided into a biological tricuspid valve (BTV, n=427) group and a mechanical tricuspid valve (MTV, n=181) group. Propensity score matching was used to balance the baseline difference. Surgical strategy evolving, postoperative and long-term outcomes were analyzed between the two groups.ResultsSince 2008, the usage ratio of biological valves was significantly higher than that of mechanical valves. Seventy-nine (13.0%) patients died in hospital after TVR. Before propensity score matching, the postoperative mortality of the BTV group was higher than that of the MTV group (15.2% vs. 7.7%, P=0.012), and there was no statistical difference between the two groups after matching (10.4% vs. 7.2%, P=0.372). The duration of postoperative ventilator support in the BTV group was longer than that in the MTV group [22.0 (15.0, 37.0) h vs. 19.0 (11.0, 27.0) h, P=0.003], and the incidence of postoperative dialysis and re-thoracotomy exploring for bleeding was higher in the BTV group (8.9 % vs. 2.8%, 9.4% vs. 6.6%, respectively). However, there was no statistical difference in mortality after matching. The median follow-up time of discharged patients was 101.0 (65.0, 147.0) months, ranged from 1 to 265 months, and the follow-up rate was 82.2%. During the follow-up period, there were 101 deaths (19.1%) of whom 68 were from the BTV group and 33 from the MTV group. The survival rates at 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and 20 years of all patients were 85.0% (95%CI 82.2-87.9), 78.9% (95%CI 75.7-82.4), 71.1% (95%CI 67.3-75.3), 59.7% (95%CI 54.2-65.6) and 51.7% (95%CI 43.3-60.7), and there was no statistical difference between the two groups after matching (P=0.46). The median time of tricuspid valve failure was 84.0 (54.0-111.0) months.ConclusionTVR is associated with high perioperative risks. There is no statistical difference in early mortality and long-term survival between biological and mechanical valve, while patients with mechanical valve has higher risk of re-operation for valve failure. Therefore, the type of prosthetic valve can be selected according to the patients' age, physical condition and the doctors’ experience.
Objective To investigate the value of retention rate of indocyanine green at fifteen minutes (ICGR15) during hemihepatectomy for evaluation of residual liver reserve function in patients with primary liver carcinoma. Methods During hemihepatectomy, ICGR15 was tested in 44 patients after the hepatic artery and portal vein of resected side were ligated. Child-Pugh score, Child-Pugh classification, and MELD score before operation were tested. After operation, the liver function condition was estimated. Results The incidence of liver dysfunction was significantly lower in ICGR15lt;10% group (17.9%, 5/28) than that in 10%~15% group (75.0%, 12/16), Plt;0.05. There was no significant difference of Child-Pugh score among normal liver function group, mild insufficiency of liver function group, and severe insufficiency of liver function group （Pgt;0.05）. ICGR15 and MELD score in normal liver function group were statistical lower than those in mild insufficiency of liver function group and severe insufficiency of liver function group (Plt;0.05). ICGR15 was significantly lower in Child-Pugh A group than that in Child-Pugh B group (Plt;0.05). Conclusion Intraoperative residual liver ICGR15 may be more precisely compared with Child-Pugh score in evaluation liver reserve function for the patients with primary liver carcinoma and can help to guide liver resection.
ObjectiveTo understand the prevalence,risk factors,clinical features and the medication of coal worker's pneumoconiosis(CWP) complicated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MethodsPulmonary function testing results,clinical symptoms,medication of 451 patients with CWP were collected. Then, the risk factors relevant to the incidence of COPD in CWP were analyzed with Cox multivariate regression. ResultsThe prevalence of COPD in CWP was 44.6%,and the incidence was rising with the increasing of CWP phases, exposure duration,smoking index,with the odds ratio of 3.20,1.09,and 1.01,respectively.The patients with CWP and COPD were suffered more symtoms with a CAT score of 25.5 but received less regular medications. ConclusionsThe incidence of COPD in CWP is obviously higher than that in common populaton.Exposure duration, smoking index and phases of CWP are the high risk factors for COPD in the population of CWP. The patients with CWP and COPD are suffered more symtoms but receive irregular medications.
ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between the Barthel index score and other factors with the preoperative occurrence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) revision surgery. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 122 patients who met the inclusion criteria and underwent THA revision surgery between April 2017 and November 2020. Among them, 61 were male and 61 were female, with an age range of 32-85 years (mean, 65.3 years). The reasons for revision included prosthetic joint infection in 7 cases, periprosthetic fracture in 4 cases, prosthetic dislocation in 6 cases, and aseptic loosening in 105 cases. The Barthel index score was 76.4±17.7, with 10 cases classified as level 1, 57 as level 2, 37 as level 3, and 18 as level 4. Univariate analysis was performed on variables such as age, gender, body mass index, Barthel index score, preoperative D-dimer positivity, history of diabetes, hypertension, cancer, cerebral infarction, smoking, and thrombosis in patients with and without preoperative DVT. Furthermore, logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for preoperative DVT in THA revision surgery. The incidence of preoperative DVT was compared among different Barthel index score groups. ResultsPreoperative DVT was detected in 11 patients (9.02%), all of whom had intermuscular venous thrombosis. Among them, 1 had prosthetic joint infection, 1 had periprosthetic fracture, 1 had prosthetic dislocation, and 8 had aseptic loosening. Univariate analysis showed significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, and Barthel index score (P<0.05). logistic regression further revealed that female, age ≥70 years, and Barthel index score<60 were independent risk factors for preoperative DVT in patients undergoing THA revision surgery (P<0.05). The incidence of preoperative DVT in patients with Barthel index scores of levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 0 case (0%), 2 cases (3.5%), 3 cases (8.1%), and 6 cases (33.3%), respectively. A significant correlation was found between Barthel index score classification and the incidence of preoperative DVT in patients undergoing THA revision surgery (χ2=10.843, P=0.001). ConclusionIn patients undergoing THA revision surgery, older age, female, and lower Barthel index scores are associated with higher preoperative DVT incidence. For patients with low preoperative Barthel index scores, preoperative thrombosis screening should be emphasized.