Journal of International Medical Research

Blood-disseminated Aspergillus spondylitis in immunocompetent individuals is rare. The clinical, imaging, and pathological manifestations of this condition are not specific. Therefore, this disease is prone to misdiagnosis and a missed diagnosis. Systemic antifungal therapy is the main treatment for Aspergillus spondylitis. We report a case of blood-disseminated Aspergillus versicolor spondylitis in a patient with normal immune function. The first antifungal treatment lasted for 4 months, but Aspergillus spondylitis recurred a few months later...

OBJECTIVE: With the recent exponential increase in express deliveries across China, the number of patients with flame burns caused by electric bicycle battery chargers (BEBBC) has markedly increased in burn units. In this study, we aimed to characterize BEBBC to systematically explore measures to prevent their occurrence. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with flame burns who visited the Burn Department of Rui Jin Hospital between January 2015 and December 2021...

Among the various manifestations of COVID-19, the neurological implications of SARS-CoV-2 infection are of significant concern. Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD), a neurodegenerative disorder, exhibits a clinical spectrum ranging from mild progressive dementia in its chronic form to states of acute coma and varied mortality rates. Acute MBD primarily occurs in chronic alcoholics and malnourished individuals and is characterized by sudden loss of consciousness, seizures, confusion, and psychosis. We herein report a case of MBD presenting as acute loss of consciousness after the development of COVID-19...

OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate a novel feature selection technique, using photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors, for enhancing the performance of deep learning models in classifying vascular access quality in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved creating a novel feature selection method based on SelectKBest principles, specifically designed to optimize deep learning models for PPG sensor data, in hemodialysis patients. The method effectiveness was assessed by comparing the performance of multiple deep learning models using the feature selection approach versus complete feature set...

In recent years, radiomics has emerged as a novel research methodology that plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic stroke. By integrating multimodal medical imaging techniques such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, radiomics offers in-depth insights into aspects such as the extent of brain tissue damage and hemodynamics. These data help physicians to accurately assess patient condition, select optimal treatment strategies, and predict recovery trajectories and long-term prognoses, thereby enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing the risk of complications...

Functional or secondary mitral regurgitation is linked to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. From a mechanical perspective, secondary mitral regurgitation occurs due to an imbalance between the forces that tether the mitral leaflets and those that close them. This results in incomplete coaptation. Most commonly, functional mitral regurgitation, which occurs in both ischaemic and non-ischaemic disease states, is usually caused by dysfunction and changes in the left ventricle. Atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) is a disease state that has been more recently recognized...

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study investigated the effects of uterine manipulator use during minimally invasive radical hysterectomy on prognosis in patients with cervical cancer. METHODS: We collected clinical data on 762 patients with stage IA2 to IIB cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy in Chinese PLA General Hospital from 2009 to 2019. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests were used to compare the 5-year overall survival rates between patients treated with and without a uterine manipulator...

The target trial framework has emerged as a powerful tool for addressing causal questions in clinical practice and in public health. In the healthcare sector, where decision-making is increasingly data-driven, transactional databases, such as electronic health records (EHR) and insurance claims, present an untapped potential for answering complex causal questions. This narrative review explores the potential of the integration of the target trial framework with real-world data to enhance healthcare decision-making processes...

OBJECTIVES: Despite being an important research topic in oral biomaterials, few studies have demonstrated the differences between poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)/hydroxyapatite (PLGA/HA) and poly(d,l-lactic acid)/hydroxyapatite (PDLLA/HA). In this study, PLGA/HA and PDLLA/HA scaffolds were prepared using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology and implanted into radius defects in rabbits to assess their effects on bone regeneration. METHODS: In this study, 6 mm × 4 mm bone defects were generated in the bilateral radii of rabbits...

In patients with breast cancer, oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery can achieve a good aesthetic outcome without compromising oncological outcomes. However, tumors located in the upper inner quadrant (UIQ) are challenging for surgeons because treatment gives rise to visible scars, glandular deformities, and deviation of the nipple-areolar complex. The present study was performed to analyze a modification of the matrix rotation technique for UIQ tumors and address the main drawback of this technique, which is a visible scar on the commonly exposed part of the breast...

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the pregnancy outcomes of Day 2 (D2) fresh embryo transfer and D3 fresh embryo transfer in women with only one zygote with two pronuclei (2PN). METHODS: Data on 432 in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles with only one 2PN zygote from January 2016 to January 2022 were retrospectively collected. A total of 302 fresh embryo transfers on D2 (n = 193) and D3 (n = 109) were analyzed, and pregnancy outcomes were compared...

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) constitutes a group of autoimmune neuroinflammatory conditions that are characterized by positive serum MOG-immunoglobulin G antibodies. The relationship between MOGAD and immune factors remains unclear. Herein, we report a man in his early 30s who initially presented symptoms of headache and low-grade fever persisting for 20 days. The patient experienced isolated meningitis onset and had recurrent meningitis as the primary clinical feature, which manifested as low-grade fever, headache, and neck rigidity...

OBJECTIVES: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; it arises from tissue-resident memory T-cells (TRM ). In the present study, we investigated potential functional genetic variations that may predispose MF development. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted using whole-exome sequencing, with a focus on genes that are essential to TRM function. RESULTS: We included 21 patients and 19 healthy subjects in the study...

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of butylphthalide combined with donepezil versus butylphthalide monotherapy for the treatment of vascular dementia. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials were searched in electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), Wan Fang, and China Biology Medicine from inception to 29 November 2022...

OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether bronchoscopy leads to clinicoradiological improvement in cystic fibrosis (CF) and the predictive factors. The study also investigated whether pulmonary atelectasis is a poor prognostic factor in CF. METHODS: This multicenter, case-control, observational, retrospective study included two groups of patients with CF: a case group (patients with persistent atelectasis who were followed-up at least for 2 years) and a control group (patients without atelectasis matched 1:1 by sex and age [±3 years])...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of hydrogen therapy on epileptic seizures in rats with refractory status epilepticus and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Status epilepticus was induced using pilocarpine. The effects of hydrogen treatment on epilepsy severity in model rats were then monitored using Racine scores and electroencephalography (EEG), followed by western blot of plasma membrane N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subtype 2B (NR2B) and phosphorylated NR2B expression...

OBJECTIVE: Inflammation has a crucial role in several metabolic diseases, such as obesity. The author aimed to investigate the relationship between the system inflammation response index (SIRI) and android fat composition and distribution. METHODS: Data for individuals aged 8-59 years, SIRI, android percent fat, and android-to-gynoid ratio from the 2017 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. Weighted multiple linear regression and smooth curve fitting were used to test for linear and nonlinear associations...

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the learning curve of ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) for the treatment of complex renal calculi. METHODS: Seventy-two patients with complex renal stones who underwent ultrasound-guided PCNL by the same operator from November 2016 to September 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The learning curve of PCNL for complex renal stones was analyzed using multifactorial cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis and best-fit curves...

BACKGROUND: To compare the biomechanical stability of a novel, C-shaped nickel-titanium shape memory alloy (SMA) implant (C-clip) with traditional cerclage wiring in the fixation of a Vancouver B1 (VB1) periprosthetic femoral fracture (PFF). METHODS: In total, 18 synthetic femoral fracture models were constructed to obtain unstable VB1 fracture with an oblique fracture line 8 cm below the lesser trochanter. For each model, the distal portion was repaired using a 10-hole locking plate and four distal bi-cortical screws...

We report the case of a woman nearing 70 years old who was admitted to the hospital with a complaint of "epigastric distension for 1 month". Her main signs and symptoms were progressive abdominal distension and occasional abdominal pain. Computed tomography suggested an abdominal mass. She had a surgical history of synovial sarcoma (SS) of the lungs. After admission, she was diagnosed with jejunal SS following a puncture biopsy and laparoscopic surgery. This disease usually occurs in the soft tissues of the limbs, and it is extremely rare for SS to originate in the jejunum...