Ambispective epidemiological observational study of varicella-zoster virus infection: An 18 year-single-center Bulgarian experience

BACKGROUND Varicella(chickenpox)and herpes zoster(shingles)are outcomes of varicella-zoster virus(VZV)infection,and understanding their incidence trends is vital for public health planning.AIM To conduct an ambispective epidemiological study by analyzing the main epidemiological characteristics of VZV infection during an 18 year-period(2000-2018).METHODS We used descriptive and epidemiological methods to characterize chickenpox in Bulgaria,the city of Plovdiv and the region for a period of 18 years(2000-2018).RESULTS The average incidence of varicella-zoster infection for the period 2000–2018 in the Plovdiv region was estimated at 449.58‰.The highest relative share of the infection was assessed in the month of January at 13.6%,and the lowest in the months of August and September at 2.9%(both months).The age group most affected by the infection was 1-4 years,followed by 5-9 years.This corresponds to the so-called"pro-epidemic population"-a phenomenon typical for airborne infections,confirming their mass impact on the perpetuation of VZV infection.CONCLUSION Our findings reveal significant insights into VZV epidemiology,including age-specific incidence rates,clinical manifestations,and vaccination impact.This comprehensive analysis contributes to the broader understanding of VZV infec-tion dynamics and may inform evidence-based preventive measures.

Incidence trends and predictors for cost and average lengths of stay in colorectal cancer surgery

AIM:To evaluate the changing trends and outcomes of colorectal cancer(CRC)surgery performed at a large single institution in Taiwan.METHODS:This study retrospectively analyzed 778patients who received colorectal cancer surgery at E-Da Hospital in Taiwan from 2004 to 2009.These patients were from health examination,inpatient or emergency settings.The following attributes were analyzed in patients who had undergone CRC surgical procedures:gender,age,source,surgical type,tumor number,tumor size,number of lymph node metastasis,pathologic differentiation,chemotherapy,distant metastases,tumor site,tumor stage,average hospitalization cost and average lengths of stay(ALOS).The odds ratio and95%confidence intervals were calculated to assess the relative rate of change.Regression models were employed to predict average hospitalization cost and ALOS.RESULTS:The study sample included 458(58.87%)males and 320(41.13%)females with a mean age of64.53 years(standard deviation,12.33 years;range,28-86 years).The principal patient source came from inpatient and emergency room(96.02%).The principal tumor sites were noted at the sigmoid colon(35.73%)and rectum(30.46%).Most patients exhibited a tumor stage of 2(37.28%)or 3(34.19%).The number of new CRC surgeries performed per 100000 persons was12.21 in 2004 and gradually increased to 17.89 in 2009,representing a change of 46.52%.During the same period,the average hospitalization cost and ALOS decreased from$5303 to$4062 and from 19.7 to 14.4 d,respectively.The following factors were associated with considerably decreased hospital resource utilization:age,source,surgical type,tumor size,tumor site,and tumor stage.CONCLUSION:These results can be generalized to patient populations elsewhere in Taiwan and to other countries with similar patient profiles.

Outcomes of early hospital readmission after kidney transplantation: Perspectives from a Canadian transplant centre

BACKGROUND Early hospital readmissions(EHRs)after kidney transplantation range in incidence from 18%-47%and are important and substantial healthcare quality indicators.EHR can adversely impact clinical outcomes such as graft function and patient mortality as well as healthcare costs.EHRs have been extensively studied in American healthcare systems,but these associations have not been explored within a Canadian setting.Due to significant differences in the delivery of healthcare and patient outcomes,results from American studies cannot be readily applicable to Canadian populations.A better understanding of EHR can facilitate improved discharge planning and long-term outpatient management post kidney transplant.AIM To explore the burden of EHR on kidney transplant recipients(KTRs)and the Canadian healthcare system in a large transplant centre.METHODS This single centre cohort study included 1564 KTRs recruited from January 1,2009 to December 31,2017,with a 1-year follow-up.We defined EHR as hospitalizations within 30 d or 90 d of transplant discharge,excluding elective procedures.Multivariable Cox and linear regression models were used to examine EHR,late hospital readmissions(defined as hospitalizations within 31-365 d for 30-d EHR and within 91-365 d for 90-d EHR),and outcomes including graft function and patient mortality.RESULTS In this study,307(22.4%)and 394(29.6%)KTRs had 30-d and 90-d EHRs,respectively.Factors such as having previous cases of rejection,being transplanted in more recent years,having a longer duration of dialysis pretransplant,and having an expanded criteria donor were associated with EHR post-transplant.The cumulative probability of death censored graft failure,as well as total graft failure,was higher among the 90-d EHR group as compared to patients with no EHR.While multivariable models found no significant association between EHR and patient mortality,patients with EHR were at an increased risk of late hospital readmissions,poorer kidney function throughout the 1st year post-transplant,and higher hospital-based care costs within the 1st year of follow-up.CONCLUSION EHRs are associated with suboptimal outcomes after kidney transplant and increased financial burden on the healthcare system.The results warrant the need for effective strategies to reduce post-transplant EHR.

Analysis of Clinicopathologic Features of Esophageal Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Surgery-a Report of 4,329 Cases

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinicopathological features of esophageal carcinoma （EC） patients, and to analyze epidemiologic characteristics and the current situation of esophageal cancioma in the southern area of Hebei Province. METHODS A total of 4329 patients with esophageal cancinoma, undergoing surgery in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University during a period from January 1996 to December 2005, were selected. Collection and statistical analysis of the pathologic data were performed using a SAS 6.0 software package. RESULTS Over the past ten years, there has been a tendency for an increase in the mean age of EC onset （P 〈 0.05）, a downtrend in the percentage of squamous cancer （SqCa） （P 〈 0.05） and an uptrend in the frequency of small cell carcinoma （P 〈 0.05）. In clinical stages, there was a drop in the percentage of Stage-Ⅱ squamous EC patients （P 〈 0.05）, and an increase in that of Stage-Ⅳ patients （P 〈 0.05）. There were statistical differences in sex, age, pathologic types, depth of infiltration, ratio of stages and lymph node metastasis, etc. among the superior, middle and inferior segments of the EC diseased region （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION It was relatively late for the EC patients from this area to see a doctor, resulting in a drop in the ratio of SqCa and an ascensus in that of small cell cancer. However, due to a low incidence of adenocarcinoma, no obvious ascending tendency was found in the frequency of this carcinoma over the past ten years.

Trend analysis of cancer incidence and mortality in China

The National Central Cancer Registry of China （NCCRC） up- dated their nationwide statistics of cancer incidence and mor- tality in China according to 2013 population-based cancer registration data （due to the time required for data collection, quality control and analysis, the latest cancer statistics avail- able in China have a 3-year lag behind the current year）.

基于CiteSpace的国内二语词汇附带习得研究可视化分析

运用CiteSpace对中国知网1993-2017年间国内二语词汇附带习得研究文献进行作者、研究机构及关键词的可视化分析,研究发现:(1)二语词汇附带习得研究近年来发文量虽有所下降,但依然是国内研究者关注的焦点之一;(2)相关研究以区域性研究为主,跨地区研究者间的合作有待进一步加强;(3)该领域研究热点主要围绕"投入量假设"、二语阅读、词汇、对词汇教学的启示及二语阅读理解展开,其中词汇因素、二语阅读理解和"投入量假设"的研究热点是研究趋势。

Current status of surgical treatment of rectal cancer in China

With the changing lifestyle and the acceleration of aging in the Chinese population,the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer(CRC)have risen in the last decades.On the contrary,the incidence and mortality of CRC have continued to decline in the USA since the 1980s,which is mainly attributed to early screening and standardized diagnosis and treatment.Rectal cancer accounts for the largest proportion of CRC in China,and its treatment regimens are complex.At present,surgical treatment is still the most important treatment for rectal cancer.Since the first Chinese guideline for diagnosis and treatment of CRC was issued in 2010,the fourth version has been revised in 2020.These guidelines have greatly promoted the standardization and internationalization of CRC diagnosis and treatment in China.And with the development of comprehensive treatment methods such as neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy,targeted therapy,and immunotherapy,the post-operative quality of life and prognosis of patients with rectal cancer have improved.We believe that the inflection point of the rising incidence and mortality of rectal cancer will appear in the near future in China.This article reviewed the current status and research progress on surgical therapy of rectal cancer in China.

基于CiteSpace对国际词汇附带习得的可视化分析

词汇附带习得作为词汇习得主要方式之一,于二十世纪六十年代开始受到学者广泛关注。文章以Web of Science数据库国际权威期刊中关于词汇附带习得的学术论文以及会议论文为数据来源,利用CiteSpace的信息可视化技术,绘制词汇附带习得领域的知识图谱,分析该领域的发展趋势,研究热点以及前沿动态。研究发现,目前词汇附带习得正处于发展的高潮,虽出现了高产作者,但高被引文献的被引频次不高,说明该领域的中心性不强;词汇附带习得已广泛应用于英语教学,“学生”一直是该领域的研究热点;随着科技的发展,“电视”对词汇附带习得效果的影响也日益受到人们的关注。