Staying on Course

Hu Jintao, Chinese President and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on June 25 once again stressed the importance of implementing the scientific concept of development, promoting social harmony and building an overall well-off society, ahead of the Party's once-every-five-year national congress later this year.

Effects of integrated management on surgical outcomes and mental health of patients following endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)is a less invasive local treatment for diseases throughout the gastrointestinal tract.AIM To develop an integrated management protocol and analyze its effects on surgical outcomes and mental health of patients after ESD.METHODS The study population consisted of patients undergoing ESD before implementation of integrated management and those undergoing ESD by the same pool of surgeons after implementation of integrated management.RESULTS The management group exhibited shortened fasting time and length of hospital stay compared to the control group(P<0.05).The management group exhibited a higher incidence rate of postoperative complications than the control group(3 cases vs 11 cases;P=0.043).The management group exhibited a lower uncertainty score for disease knowledge compared to the control group 12 h after surgery(P<0.05).The management group gave more scores on the domains of patient familiarity to the responsible nurses,professional skills of responsible nurses,and general evaluation compared to the control group.The management group had a higher total score of patient satisfaction towards the responsible nurses in term of health care than the control group(P<0.01).The management group exhibited lower Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale scores compared to the control group 12 h after surgery(P<0.01).CONCLUSION The study demonstrates that integrated management could improve surgical outcomes and mental health of patients undergoing ESD.

Impact of pre- and peri-operative risk factors on length of stay and hospital readmission following minimally-invasive partial nephrectomy

Objective:We conducted an analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for minimally-invasive partial nephrectomy cases reported with the goal to identify pre-and peri-operative variables associated with length of stay(LOS)greater than 3 days and readmission within 30 days.Methods:Records from 2008 to 2018 for“laparoscopy,surgical;partial nephrectomy”for prolonged LOS and readmission cohorts were compiled.Univariate analysis with Chi-square,t-tests,and multivariable logistic regression analysis with odds ratios(ORs),p-values,and 95%confidence intervals assessed statistical associations.Results:Totally,20306 records for LOS greater than 3 days and 15854 for readmission within 30 days were available.Univariate and multivariable analysis exhibited similar results.For LOS greater than 3 days,undergoing non-elective surgery(OR=5.247),transfusion of greater than four units within 72 h prior to surgery(OR=5.072),pre-operative renal failure or dialysis(OR=2.941),and poor pre-operative functional status(OR=2.540)exhibited the strongest statistically significant associations.For hospital readmission within 30 days,loss in body weight greater than 10%in 6 months prior to surgery(OR=2.227)and bleeding disorders(OR=2.081)exhibited strongest statistically significant associations.Conclusion:Multiple pre-and peri-operative risk factors are independently associated with prolonged LOS and hospital readmission within 30 days of surgery using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data.Recognizing the risks factors that can potentially be improved prior to minimally-invasive partial nephrectomy is crucial to informing patient selection,optimization strategies,and patient education.

Readmission rate and early complications in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty:A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Total knee arthroplasty(TKA)can improve pain,quality of life,and functional outcomes.Although uncommon,postoperative complications are extremely consequential and thus must be carefully tracked and communicated to patients to assist their decision-making before surgery.Identification of the risk factors for complications and readmissions after TKA,taking into account common causes,temporal trends,and risk variables that can be changed or left unmodified,will benefit this process.AIM To assess readmission rates,early complications and their causes after TKA at 30 days and 90 days post-surgery.METHODS This was a prospective and retrospective study of 633 patients who underwent TKA at our hospital between January 1,2017,and February 28,2022.Of the 633 patients,28 were not contactable,leaving 609 who met the inclusion criteria.Both inpatient and outpatient hospital records were retrieved,and observations were noted in the data collection forms.RESULTS Following TKA,the 30-day and 90-day readmission rates were determined to be 1.1%(n=7)and 1.8%(n=11),respectively.The unplanned visit rate at 30 days following TKA was 2.6%(n=16)and at 90 days was 4.6%(n=28).At 90 days,the unplanned readmission rate was 1.4%(n=9).Reasons for readmissions included medical(27.2%,n=3)and surgical(72.7%,n=8).Unplanned readmissions and visits within 90 days of follow-up did not substantially differ by age group(P=0.922),body mass index(BMI)(P=0.633),unilateral vs bilateral TKA(P=0.696),or patient comorbidity status(30-day P=0.171 and 90-day P=0.813).Reoperation rates after TKA were 0.66%(n=4)at 30 days and 1.15%(n=8)at 90 days.The average length of stay was 6.53 days.CONCLUSION In this study,there was a low readmission rate following TKA.There was no significant correlation between readmission rate and patient factors such as age,BMI,and co-morbidity status.

Effects of comprehensive nutrition support on immune function,wound healing,hospital stay,and mental health in gastrointestinal surgery

BACKGROUND Postoperative patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery often encounter challenges such as low immune function,delayed wound healing owing to surgical trauma,and increased nutritional demands during recovery.AIM To assess the effect of comprehensive nutritional support program on immune function and wound healing in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.METHODS This retrospective comparative study included 60 patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery,randomly assigned to either the experimental group(n=30)or the control group(n=30).The experimental group received comprehensive nutritional support,including a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition,whereas the control group received only conventional comprehensive nutritional support.Evaluation indicators included immune function markers(e.g.,white blood cell count,lymphocyte subsets),wound healing(wound infection rate,healing time),pain score[visual analog scale(VAS)score],and psychological status(anxiety score,depression score)7 days post-surgery)and duration of stay.RESULTS The immune function of patients in the experimental group was significantly better than that in the control group.The white blood cell count was 8.52±1.19×109/L in the experimental group vs 6.74±1.31×109/L(P<0.05).The proportion of CD4+T cells was higher in the experimental group(40.09%±4.91%)than that in the control group(33.01%±5.08%)(P<0.05);the proportion of CD8+T cells was lower(21.79%±3.38%vs 26.29%±3.09%;P<0.05).The CD4+/CD8+ratio was 1.91±0.32 in the experimental group whereas 1.13±0.23 in the control group(P<0.05).The wound infection rate of the experi-mental group was significantly lower than that of the control group(10%vs 30%,P<0.05),and the wound healing time was shorter(10.35±2.42 days vs 14.42±3.15 days,P<0.05).The VAS score of the experimental group was 3.05±1.04,and that of the control group was 5.11±1.09(P<0.05);the anxiety score(Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale)was 8.88±1.87,and that of the control group was 12.1±3.27(P<0.05);the depression score(Hamilton Depression Rating Scale)was 7.37±1.41,and that of the control group was 11.79±2.77(P<0.05).In addition,the hospitalization time of the experimental group was significantly shorter than that of the control group(16.16±3.12 days vs 20.93±4.84 days,P<0.05).CONCLUSION A comprehensive nutritional support program significantly enhances immune function,promote wound healing,reduces pain,improves psychological status,and shortens hospitalization stays in patients recovering from gastrointestinal surgery.

Machine learning insights on intensive care unit-acquired weakness

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness(ICU-AW)significantly hampers patient recovery and increases morbidity.With the absence of established preventive strategies,this study utilizes advanced machine learning methodologies to unearth key predictors of ICU-AW.Employing a sophisticated multilayer perceptron neural network,the research methodically assesses the predictive power for ICU-AW,pinpointing the length of ICU stay and duration of mechanical ventilation as pivotal risk factors.The findings advocate for minimizing these elements as a preventive approach,offering a novel perspective on combating ICU-AW.This research illuminates critical risk factors and lays the groundwork for future explorations into effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Cost analysis of radical resection of malignant breast tumors under the China Healthcare Security Diagnosis Related Groups payment system

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women worldwide and poses a severe threat to their health.Therefore,this study examined patients who underwent breast cancer surgery,analyzed hospitalization costs and structure,and explored the impact of China Healthcare Security Diagnosis Related Groups(CHS-DRG)management on patient costs.It aimed to provide medical institutions with ways to reduce costs,optimize cost structures,reduce patient burden,and improve service efficiency.AIM To study the CHS-DRG payment system’s impact on breast cancer surgery costs.METHODS Using the CHS-DRG(version 1.1)grouping criteria,4073 patients,who underwent the radical resection of breast malignant tumors from January to December 2023,were included in the JA29 group;1028 patients were part of the CHS-DRG payment system,unlike the rest.Through an independent sample t-test,the length of hospital stay as well as total hospitalization,medicine and consumables,medical,nursing,medical technology,and management expenses were compared.Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to test the cost correlation.RESULTS In terms of hospitalization expenses,patients in the CHS-DRG payment group had lower medical,nursing,and management expenses than those in the diagnosis-related group(DRG)non-payment group.For patients in the DRG payment group,the factors affecting the total hospitalization cost,in descending order of relevance,were medicine and consumable costs,consumable costs,medicine costs,medical costs,medical technology costs,management costs,nursing costs,and length of hospital stay.For patients in the DRG nonpayment group,the factors affecting the total hospitalization expenses in descending order of relevance were medicines and consumable expenses,consumable expenses,medical technology expenses,the cost of medicines,medical expenses,nursing expenses,length of hospital stay,and management expenses.CONCLUSION The CHS-DRG system can help control and reduce unnecessary medical expenses by controlling medicine costs,medical consumable costs,and the length of hospital stay while ensuring medical safety.

Staying Connected

The Double Take column looks at a single topic from an African and Chinese perspective. This month we discuss whether the advent of social media brings relationships closer or moves them farther apart.

Study on the Application Effect of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in Patients Undergoing Spinal Fracture Surgery

Objective:To study the application effect of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery(ERAS)model in patients undergoing spinal fracture surgery.Methods:A randomized controlled trial was designed,and 86 patients undergoing spinal fracture surgery were randomly divided into the ERAS group and the conventional care group.Postoperative recovery outcomes of the two groups were compared.Results:The ERAS group showed better outcomes in terms of postoperative pain scores,activities of daily living,length of hospital stay,and adherence to rehabilitation training compared to the conventional care group,with shorter hospital stays and lower medical expenses(P<0.05).Conclusion:The ERAS model significantly improves the postoperative recovery quality of patients undergoing spinal fracture surgery,reduces hospital stay and medical costs,and increases patient satisfaction.

旅游小城镇规划中的Long Stay要素分析

根据小城镇具有发展Long Stay的条件,在进行小城镇规划建设中考虑Long Stay要素的体现,并对旅游小城镇的效益进行了分析。结果表明:小城镇具有发展Long Stay的条件,在城镇的总体规划中体现出其作用,并能对城镇产生经济效益与社会效益。

“Long Stay”与分时度假的比较分析

"Long Stay"与分时度假是休闲旅游的两种特殊形式,"Long Stay"刚进入国人视野,前景看好,而分时度假在国内的发展陷入困境。通过对比两者的主体、客体以及在我国发展的适应性,发现两者具备一定的互补优势,协同发展可以实现产品价值最大化和企业利润最大化。

Effects of Water Stress on Stay Green of Sugarcane Innovative Materials Yunge F_2 Generation

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the effect of water stress on stay green of Yunge F2 generation. [Method] Total 26 sugarcane innovative germplasm materials of Yunge F2 generation, along with their female parent, were selected as the experimental materials. Based on the observation on appearance of stray green and other five physiological and biochemical indexes, the drought resis- tance of the experimental materials was evaluated comprehensively by subordinate function method, grey relational analysis, and cluster analysis. [Result] The rank of drought resistance of the experimental materials was not exactly the same between subordinate function method and grey relational analysis. However, the drought .re- sistance evaluation results by isometric range-based cluster analysis were consistent with those by the two foregoing methods except Yunge F2 11-68 and Yunge F1 11- 254. At the Euclidean distance of 2.00, the tested materials were classified into four groups. The first group included 8 drought-strongly resistant materials, the third group included 6 drought-moderately resistant materials, the fourth group included 3 drought-poorly resistant materials, and the second group included drought-strongly resistant and drought-moderately resistant materials. The drought resistance coeffi- cients of green leaf numberLtotal leaf number and top four leaves chlorophyll content showed significantly positive correlation with drought resistance comprehensive eval- uation value, thus green leaf number/total leaf number and top four leaves chloro- phyll content could be used as the evaluation indexes of drought resistance in sug- arcane. [Conclusion] The excellent materials possess strong drought resistance and good green holding performance, such as Yunge F2 11-159, can be used as crucial parents and basic germplasm materials in drought resistance breeding of sugarcane. 7

Analysis of the Long Stay Elements in the Planning of Small Tourism Towns

According to the conditions to develop Long Stay in small tourism towns,the demonstration of Long Stay in the planning and construction of small towns was taken into consideration,and its benefits for tourism towns were analyzed.The results showed that small tourism towns were endowed with sound conditions to develop Long Stay,which played its role in the overall planning of towns and would benefit the economic development of these towns.

Study on the Development of "Farm Stay" Tourism in Yanan City of Shaanxi Province

'Farm stay' tourism is a kind of new tourism form in recent years,which can promote regional economic development.The study discusses the existing problems in the setting of tourism products,and puts forward some countermeasures for the development of 'farm stay' tourism in Yanan city.

Effects of multimodal fast-track surgery on liver transplantation outcomes

BACKGROUND: Fast-track surgery and enhanced recovery after surgery have been applied to many surgical procedures; however, data on fast-track surgery and enhanced recovery after surgery following liver transplantation is limited. This study aimed to conduct a prospective study to determine the effects of fast-track surgery on prognosis after liver transplantation. METHODS: This was a prospective, single-blinded, randomized study. One hundred twenty-eight patients undergoing liver transplantation were selected for the fast-track (FT group, n=54) or conventional process (NFT group, n=74). The primary endpoints were intensive care unit (ICU) stay and hospital stay. The secondary endpoints were as follows: operative time, anhepatic phase time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion volume, postoperative complications, readmission rate, and postoperative mortality. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in preoperative demographics between the two groups. The median ICU stay was 2 days (range 1-7 days) in the FT group and 5 days (range 3-12 days) in the NFT group (P<0.01). Furthermore, the hospital stay was also significantly reduced in the FT group (P<0.01). The operative time, anhepatic phase time, intraoperative blood loss, and intraoperative blood transfusion volume were decreased in the FT group compared with the NFT group (P<0.05). Based on Spearman correlation analysis, the ICU stay and hospital stay may be positively correlated with operative time, anhepatic phase time and intraoperative blood loss. There were no differences in the incidence of postoperative complications, readmissions, and postoperative mortality between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Fast-track procedures effectively reduce the ICU stay and hospital stay without adversely affecting prognosis. This study demonstrated that fast-track protocols are safe and feasible in liver transplantation.

Benefits of early ambulation within 24 h after total knee arthroplasty:a multicenter retrospective cohort study in China

Background:Postoperative care has been evolving since the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)was introduced in China.This study aimed to evaluate the effects of early ambulation within 24h after unilateral total knee arthroplasty(TKA)on postoperative rehabilitation and costs in a Chinese population.Methods:This cohort study of patients with knee osteoarthritis who had undergone TKA at 24 large teaching hospitals between January 2014 and November 2016 involved 2687 patients who began ambulating within 24h(Group A)and 3761 patients who began ambulating later than 24h(Group B).The outcome measurements,such as length of stay(LOS),total hospitalization costs,dynamic pain level,knee flexion range of motion(ROM),results of the 12-Item Short Form Survey(SF-12),incidence of thromboembolic events and other complications,were recorded and compared.Results:The early ambulation group(Group A)had a shorter LOS and lower hospitalization costs and pain levels than the late ambulation group(Group B).There was a favorable effect in enhancing ROM for patients in Group A compared with patients in Group B.In Group A,patients had significantly higher postoperative SF-12 scores than those in Group B.The incidence of deep venous thrombosis(DVT)and pulmonary infection was significantly lower in Group A than in Group B.The incidence of pulmonary embolism(PE)and other complications did not differ between the two groups.Conclusions:Early ambulation within 24h after TKA was associated with reduced LOS,improved knee function,lower hospitalization costs and lower incidence of DVT and pulmonary infection in the Chinese population.

Early vs late endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with acute cholangitis: A nationwide analysis

AIM To assess the effect of early vs late endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) on mortality and readmissions in acute cholangitis, using a nationally representative sample.METHODS We used the 2014 National Readmissions Database to identify adult patients hospitalized with acute cholangitis who underwent therapeutic ERCP within one week of admission. Early ERCP was defined as ERCP performed on the same day of admission or the next day(days 0 or 1, < 48 h), and late ERCP was performed on days 2 to 7 of admission. Patients with severe cholangitis had any of the following additional diagnoses: Severe sepsis, septic shock, acute renal failure,acute respiratory failure, or thrombocytopenia. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted odds of association of ERCP timing with inhospital mortality, 30-d mortality, and 30-d readmissions, controlling for age, sex,severe disease and comorbidities.RESULTS Four thousand five hundred and seventy patients satisfied the inclusion criteria;with a mean age of 64.1 years. Of these, 66.6% had early ERCP, while 33.4% had late ERCP. Early ERCP was associated with lower in-hospital mortality [1.2% vs2.4%, adjusted odds ratio(aOR) = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.76-0.83, P = 0.001] and lower 30-d mortality(1.5% vs 3.3%, aOR = 0.48, 95%CI: 0.33-0.69, P < 0.0001) compared to the late ERCP group. Similarly, early ERCP was associated with lower 30-d readmissions(9.7% vs 15.1%, aOR = 0.58, 95%CI: 0.49-0.7, P < 0.0001). When stratified by severity of cholangitis, there was a similar benefit of early ERCP on all outcomes in those with and without severe cholangitis. The mean length of stay was higher in the late ERCP group compared to the early ERCP group(6.9 d vs 4.5 d, P < 0.0001). The mean hospitalization cost was higher in the late ERCP group($21459 vs $16939, P < 0.0001).CONCLUSION Early ERCP is associated with lower in-hospital and 30-d mortality in those with or without severe cholangitis. Regardless of severity, we suggest performing early ERCP.

Outcomes of simple saline-coupled bipolar electrocautery for hepatic resection

AIM: To evaluate the application of bipolar coagulation (BIP) in hepatectomy by comparing the efficacy of BIP alone, cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) + BIP and conventional clamp crushing (CLAMP).

Intervention effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on ICU acquired weakness: A meta-analysis

Objective:The early use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES)to prevent intensive care unit-acquired weakness(ICU-AW)in critical patients is still a controversial topic.We conducted a systematic review to clarify the effectiveness of NMES in preventing ICU-AW.Methods:The Cochrane Library,PubMed,EMBASE,MEDUNE,Web of Science,Ovid,CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,China Biology Medicine disc(CBMdisc)and other databases were searched for randomized controlled trials on the influence of NMES on ICU-AW.The studies were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.After data and quality were evaluated,a meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.3 software.Results:A total of 11 randomized controlled trials with 576 patients were included.The meta-analysis results showed that NMES can improve muscle strength[MD=1.78,95%CI(0.44,3.12,P=0.009);shorten the mechanical ventilation(MV)time[SMD=-0.65,95%CI(-1.03,-0.27,P=0.001],ICU length of stay[MD=-3.41,95%CI(-4.58,-4.24),P<0.001],and total length of stay[MD=-3.97,95%CI(-6.89,-1.06,P=0.008];improve the ability of patients to perform activities of daily living[SMD=0.9,95%CI(0.45,1.35),P=0.001];and increase walking distance[MD=239.03,95%CI(179.22298.85),P<0.001].However,there is no evidence indicating that NMES can improve the functional status of ICU patients during hospitalization,promote the early awakening of patients or reduce mortality(P>0.05).Conclusion:Early implementation of the NMES intervention in ICU patients can prevent ICU-AW and improve their quality of life by enhancing their muscle strength and shortening the MV duration,length of stay in the ICU and total length of stay in the hospital.

Research on diagnosis-related group grouping of inpatient medical expenditure in colorectal cancer patients based on a decision tree model

BACKGROUND In 2018,the diagnosis-related groups prospective payment system(DRGs-PPS)was introduced in a trial operation in Beijing according to the requirements of medical and health reform.The implementation of the system requires that more than 300 disease types pay through the DRGs-PPS for medical insurance.Colorectal cancer(CRC),as a common malignant tumor with high prevalence in recent years,was among the 300 disease types.AIM To investigate the composition and factors related to inpatient medical expenditure in CRC patients based on disease DRGs,and to provide a basis for the rational economic control of hospitalization expenses for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.METHODS The basic material and cost data for 1026 CRC inpatients in a Grade-A tertiary hospital in Beijing during 2014-2018 were collected using the medical record system.A variance analysis of the composition of medical expenditure was carried out,and a multivariate linear regression model was used to select influencing factors with the greatest statistical significance.A decision tree model based on the exhaustiveχ^2 automatic interaction detector(E-CHAID)algorithm for DRG grouping was built by setting chosen factors as separation nodes,and the payment standard of each diagnostic group and upper limit cost were calculated.The correctness and rationality of the data were re-evaluated and verified by clinical practice.RESULTS The average hospital stay of the 1026 CRC patients investigated was 18.5 d,and the average hospitalization cost was 57872.4 RMB yuan.Factors including age,gender,length of hospital stay,diagnosis and treatment,as well as clinical operations had significant influence on inpatient expenditure(P<0.05).By adopting age,diagnosis,treatment,and surgery as the grouping nodes,a decision tree model based on the E-CHAID algorithm was established,and the CRC patients were divided into 12 DRG cost groups.Among these 12 groups,the number of patients aged≤67 years,and underwent surgery and chemotherapy or radiotherapy was largest;while patients aged>67 years,and underwent surgery and chemotherapy or radiotherapy had the highest medical cost.In addition,the standard cost and upper limit cost in the 12 groups were calculated and re-evaluated.CONCLUSION It is important to strengthen the control over the use of drugs and management of the hospitalization process,surgery,diagnosis and treatment to reduce the economic burden on patients.Tailored adjustments to medical payment standards should be made according to the characteristics and treatment of disease types to improve the comprehensiveness and practicability of the DRGs-PPS.