Consistency between metagenomic next-generation sequencing versus traditional microbiological tests for infective disease: systemic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pathogen identification is essential in sepsis and septic shock. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a novel pathogen detection method with several advantages over traditional tests. However, the consistency between mNGS and traditional pathogen tests requires further investigation.

Clinical analysis and risk factors associated with poor prognosis in nontuberculous mycobacterial infection.

Recently, the incidence and prevalence of NTM have been increasing nationwide in many countries. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with the prognosis and mortality of non-HIV nontuberculous mycobacterial disease patients. This retrospective study was conducted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Effectiveness and safety of azvudine versus nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in adult patients infected with COVID-19 omicron strains: a retrospective study in Beijing.

The study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of azvudine versus nirmatrelvir-ritonavir against omicron strains of coronavirus disease 2019 infections and determine their comparative effectiveness. This retrospective study included 716 patients who received nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (NR group) or azvudine (FNC group) at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 1 November 2022 and 27 February 2023. Patients in the FNC group (n = 304) were younger, exhibited less severe symptoms, started antiviral therapy later, received corticosteroids more frequently, and used tocilizumab less frequently than patients in the NR group (n = 412).

How Does Rescuer's Position Setting Impact Quality of Chest Compression: A Randomized Crossover Simulation Study on Unexperienced Clinicians.

Background: High-quality chest compression (CC) is the crux of survival for cardiac arrest patients. While, rescuers' position setting relative to patients during CC was unrecommended in the present guidelines. We aimed to assess the impact of position settings on CC quality during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and to test the heterogeneity related to rescuers' characteristics.

Cytomegalovirus colitis as intestinal obstruction in an immunocompetent adolescent: a case report and literature review.

Background: Cytomegalovirus infection manifests varying clinical characteristics and severity in diverse populations with different immune statuses. The signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal involvement are nonspecific. Here, we present a case of cytomegalovirus colitis in an immunocompetent adolescent, which manifested as intestinal pseud-obstruction.

Chylopericardium following esophagectomy: a case report and systematic review.

Background: Chylopericardium is a rare condition characterized by the accumulation of chyle in the pericardial space. It is most commonly caused by thoracic duct injury. Chylopericardium following esophagectomy is extremely rare but can cause life-threatening complications.

Spontaneous oesophageal perforation secondary to renal colic.

Boerhaave syndrome is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that involves a full-thickness tear of the oesophagus. It accounts for around 15% of all cases of oesophageal perforations and is associated with up to 40% of mortality. Vomiting has been found to be associated with the development of Boerhaave syndrome.

Identification of a novel splice site mutation in the DNAAF4 gene of a Chinese patient with primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare hereditary orphan condition that results in variable phenotypes, including infertility. About 50 gene variants are reported in the scientific literature to cause PCD, and among them, dynein axonemal assembly factor 4 ( DNAAF4 ) has been recently reported. DNAAF4 has been implicated in the preassembly of a multiunit dynein protein essential for the normal function of locomotory cilia as well as flagella.

High-flow nasal cannula therapy with sequential noninvasive ventilation versus noninvasive ventilation alone as the initial ventilatory strategy in acute COPD exacerbations: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is the recommended mode of ventilation used in acute respiratory failure secondary to an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Recent data has shown that high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) treatment can be an alternative for patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure. The purpose of this study is to evaluate HFNC with sequential NIV versus NIV alone as the initial ventilatory strategy in AECOPD.

Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome Secondary to Normally Functioning Mechanical Aortic Valve and High-Output Cardiac State.

Acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) is caused by an acquired deficiency of von Willebrand factor (VWF), a multimeric protein required for primary hemostasis. For patients with heart valve diseases, high gradient across the malfunctioning valves could cause elevated shear stress and damage the most effective large VWF, eventually resulting in AVWS. However, AVWS has not been reported in association with normally functioning mechanical valves.

Initial implementation of the resuscitation quality improvement program in emergency department of a teaching hospital in China.

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills may decay over time after conventional instructor-led BLS training. The Resuscitation Quality Improvement® (RQI®) program, unlike a conventional basic life support (BLS) course, is implemented through mastery learning and low-dose, high-frequency training strategies to improve CPR competence. We facilitated the RQI program to compare the performance of novices those with previous BLS training experience before RQI implementation and to obtain their confidence and attitude of the RQI program.

Early percutaneous catheter drainage in protecting against prolonged fever among patients with pyogenic liver abscess: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) has been viewed as first-line treatment for pyogenic liver abscess (PLA), yet detailed guidance is lacking for best practice of PCD. This study investigated characteristics of patients with PLA who had received PCD, identified factors associated with prolonged fever, and aimed to evaluate the relationship between timing of PCD and clinical improvement.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with PLA who had undergone PCD over a 7-year period.

Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Acute Severe Hepatitis of Unknown Origin: Operational Recommendation of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Around 450 cases of acute severe hepatitis of unknown origin in children have been reported in 21 countries and region globally since April 2022, which has exceeded the past annual incidences of related regions, and has aroused wide concern. Affected patients were predominantly children under 16 years of age, presented with symptoms of acute hepatitis with markedly elevated liver enzymes, and had been ruled out of common viral infections such as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Similar cases have not been reported in China yet.

[Illness cognition and related factors in patients with prostate cancer].

Objective: To study the illness cognition and related factors in patients with prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: Using the convenience-sampling method, we selected 231 PCa patients treated in a general hospital in Xuzhou from October 2019 to October 2020. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the cases based on the general data of the patients and their scores on the Illness Cognition Questionnaire (ICQ).

Emerging Roles of Long Non-coding RNAs as Novel Biomarkers in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Prostate Cancer.

New biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis are important in improving the diagnosis of metastatic or recurrent prostate cancer. Recent studies have shown important roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumorigenesis. Here we provide a comprehensive review of lncRNAs implicated in prostate cancer and discuss their potential as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for prostate cancer.

Development of an intensive simulating training program in emergency medicine for medical students in China.

Background: A national standardized emergency medicine (EM) curriculum for medical students, including specific competencies in procedural skills, are absent in many countries. The development of an intensive simulating training program in EM, based on a tight schedule, is anticipated to enhance the competency of medical students.

Methods: A 3-day intensive EM training program, consisting of four procedural skills and 8-hour case-based learning (CBL), was developed by experienced physicians from the EM department in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH).

[Benefits of community-based reproductive health service to middle-aged and elderly men].

Objective: To explore the role of community-based reproductive health service in improving male reproductive health-related knowledge, behavior and psychology in middle-aged and elderly men.

Methods: We recruited 136 men aged 40－69 years from 5 community health service centers in Xuzhou for this self-control study from July to August 2019. We carried out a 4-item health education among the subjects concerning reproductive health knowledge, reproductive system diseases, healthy life, and enjoying health.

Development and validation of a practical machine-learning triage algorithm for the detection of patients in need of critical care in the emergency department.

Identifying critically ill patients is a key challenge in emergency department (ED) triage. Mis-triage errors are still widespread in triage systems around the world. Here, we present a machine learning system (MLS) to assist ED triage officers better recognize critically ill patients and provide a text-based explanation of the MLS recommendation.

Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia in patients with rheumatic autoimmune diseases: clinical characteristics, antimicrobial resistance and factors associated with extended-spectrum β-lactamase production.

Background: Over the past decades, Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) infections have been increasing and affected immunocompromised patients nosocomially and communally, with extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production becoming a major concern. Patients with rheumatic autoimmune diseases, mostly receiving immunosuppressive therapy, are vulnerable to various infections, including K.

[Family-centered psychological support helps improve illness cognition and quality of life in patients with advanced prostate cancer].

Objective: To explore the effect of family-centered psychological support (FCPS) on illness cognition and quality of life in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: Using a randomized controlled study design, we divided 84 advanced PCa patients into an intervention group and a control group, all provided with PCa-related knowledge and answers to their questions, while the former group with FCPS in addition. Before, immediately after and at 1 and 3 months after intervention, we evaluated the effectiveness using the Illness Cognition Questionnaire (ICQ) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy － Prostate (FACT-P).

Can virtual reality improve traditional anatomy education programmes? A mixed-methods study on the use of a 3D skull model.

Background: Realistic, portable, and scalable lectures, cadaveric models, 2D atlases and computer simulations are being combined more frequently for teaching anatomy, which result in major increases in user satisfaction. However, although digital simulations may be more portable, interesting, or motivating than traditional teaching tools, whether they are superior in terms of student learning remain unclear. This paper presents a study in which the educational effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR) skull model is compared with that of cadaveric skulls and atlases.

Identifying the effects of an upgraded 'fever clinic' on COVID-19 control and the workload of emergency department: retrospective study in a tertiary hospital in China.

Objective: COVID-19 started spreading widely in China in January 2020. Outpatient fever clinics (FCs), instituted during the SARS epidemic in 2003, were upgraded to serve for COVID-19 screening and prevention of disease transmission in large tertiary hospitals in China. FCs were hoped to relieve some of the healthcare burden from emergency departments (EDs).

The characteristics and predictive role of lymphocyte subsets in COVID-19 patients.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics and predictive roles of lymphocyte subsets in COVID-19 patients.

Method: We evaluated lymphocyte subsets and other clinical features of COVID-19 patients, and analyzed their potential impacts on COVID-19 outcomes.

Results: 1.

Characteristics of respiratory virus infection during the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus in Beijing.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading. Here, we summarized the composition of pathogens in fever clinic patients and analyzed the characteristics of different respiratory viral infections.

Methods: Retrospectively collected patients with definite etiological results using nasal and pharyngeal swabs in a fever clinic.

Current state of biomarkers for the diagnosis and assessment of treatment efficacy of prostate cancer.

In recent years, with the westernization of lifestyle, reduced physical activity and increased prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, the incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) has risen significantly in developing countries. Currently, PSA is the only PCa biomarker applied clinically, but it does not perform well in the early diagnosis and distinguishing between benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. With the advances in deep sequencing technology, a series of new PCa biomarkers have been recently proposed to improve the diagnostic value of PSA, such as prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3), TMPRSS2-ETS fusion gene, microRNA, and other regulatory non-coding RNAs.