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To study the significance of dynamic evolution of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) levels in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). A total of 45 NEC child patients, 45 non-NEC child patients and 45 healthy newborns were enrolled. After the day age, weight, gestational week and delivery mode were matched, the serum TNF-α, IL-6 and I-FABP levels at 6, 24 and 72 h after admission were measured via ELISA method, and their correlations with prognosis were analyzed. The levels of serum TNF-α and IL-6 in NEC and non-NEC group reached the peak at 24 h and fell at 72 h; there were no differences in each time point between the two groups (P>0.05), but the levels of serum TNF-α and IL-6 were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The level of serum I-FABP in NEC and non-NEC group reached the peak at 6 h, and it fell at 72 h in NEC group and 24 h in non-NEC group; the level of I-FABP in each time point in NEC was significantly higher than that in non-NEC group, and the level was the lowest in healthy group; the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). There were 40 cases of survival and 5 cases of death (11.1%) in NEC group, while there were 43 cases of survival and 2 cases of death (4.4%) in non-NEC group. There were no differences in serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels at different times between surviving child patients and dead child patients in NEC group (P>0.05), but the levels of serum I-FABP in surviving child patients at 6 h and 24 h were significantly lower than those in dead child patients (P<0.05), and there was no difference at 72 h (P>0.05). There were no differences in serum TNF-α, IL-6 and I-FABP levels at different times between surviving and dead child patients in non-NEC group (P>0.05). Serum I-FABP level and its dynamic evolution may be important indexes of early diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of NEC.

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was used to extract total alkaloids, peimisine, peimine and peiminine from the bulb of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging activity (DPPH-RSA), ABTS radical scavenging activity (ABTS-RSA) and ferric reducing capacity (FRAP) assay. A central composite design (CCD) with four variables and five levels was employed for optimization of process parameters, and response surface plots were constructed in accordance with a second order polynomial model. Under optimal conditions of 3.0 h, 60.4 °C, 26.5 MPa and 89.3% ethanol, the highest yields were predicted to be 3.8 mg/g for total alkaloids, 0.5 mg/g for peimisine, 1.3 mg/g for peimine and 1.3 mg/g for peiminine, and the antioxidant capacity of extracts displayed EC50, DPPH value of 5.5 mg/mL, EC50, ABTS value of 0.3 mg/mL and FRAP value of 118.2 mg ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/100 g.

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Background. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment (RRDCD) is rare and the prognosis is poor. This retrospective study evaluated the effect of preoperative steroid on the clinical outcome of patients with RRDCD receiving 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Methods. Sixty-six patients (67 eyes) with diagnosed RRDCD underwent 23-gauge PPV. The patients assigned to receive systemic or subtenon injection of preoperative steroids were considered Group A (35 eyes) and did not receive are considered Control Group B (32 eyes). Most patients in Group A received subtenon injection of glucocorticoids. The cyclodialysis angle was measured with ultrasound biomicroscopy. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were compared. Results. The rates of retinal reattachment in Group A after the first and second operations were 68.8% (24/35 eyes) and 91.43% (32/35 eyes), respectively, which were not significantly different from that of Group B (78.1%, 25/32 eyes; 96.6%, 31/32 eyes). The logMAR (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) visual acuity in Group A (1.63 ± 0.75) was similar to that of Group B (1.34 ± 0.74). Postoperative intraocular pressure and ocular hypertension in Group A (17.94 ± 9.82 mmHg and 37.1%, respectively; 13/35 eyes) were comparable to that of Group B (20.93 ± 10.21 mmHg and 56.3%; 18/32 eyes). Logistic regression analysis showed that postoperative reattachment was negatively associated with preoperative cyclodialysis angle as measured with ultrasound biomicroscopy (P=0.048) but was not significantly associated with preoperative steroid use (P=0.907). Conclusions. Preoperative steroid use does not improve retinal reattachment and visual acuity in patients with RRDCD after 23-gauge PPV. Preoperative measurement of the cyclodialysis angle with ultrasound biomicroscopy may be useful for predicting clinical outcomes.

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After spine surgery, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is not uncommon in aged patients. This study investigates time-to-event risk factors of postoperative VTE based on medical records of aged patients (age≥60 yr) between January 2013 and December 2018. All participants had undergone lower extremity ultrasonography pre- and postoperatively at the first, second, fourth, eighth, and twelfth weeks. Mann-Whitney U tests and chi-square tests were used for univariate analyses, and Cox regression was utilized for multivariate analyses. A total of 1620 cases were recruited, VTE group (N=382, 23.6%) and non-VTE group (N=1238, 76.4%), aged 67 (IQR 11) years and 65 (IQR 6) years, respectively. The univariate analyses indicated significant differences between the VTE and non-VTE groups regarding advanced age, VTE history, hypertension, fusion, hospital stay, FIB, HDL, D-dimer, and TC (all P<0.05). The Cox regression showed that advanced age (OR=1.108; 95% CI, 1.091–1.126), VTE history (OR=4.962; 95% CI, 3.849–6.397), and hypertension (OR=1.344; 95% CI, 1.084–1.667) were the risk factors for postoperative VTE (P<0.05). The time-to-event analyses indicated that the hazard of VTE formation was highest in the first postoperative week. In conclusion, advanced age, VTE history, and hypertension are main risks for VTE formation, particularly in the first postoperative week.

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