Impact of mini-dose dexmedetomidine supplemented analgesia on sleep structure in patients at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea: a pilot trial.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in surgical patients and associated with worse perioperative outcomes.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of mini-dose dexmedetomidine supplemented analgesia on postoperative sleep quality pattern in patients at high risk of OSA.

Design: A pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

A machine learning-based diagnosis modeling of IgG4 Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Purpose: This study aims to develop a non-invasive diagnosis model using machine learning (ML) for identifying high-risk IgG4 Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) patients.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of 93 HT patients and a prospective cohort of 179 HT patients were collected. According to the immunohistochemical and pathological results, the patients were divided into IgG4 HT group and non-IgG4 HT group.

Association of high-sensitivity CRP and FEV1%pred: a study on non-pulmonary disease in a population in Beijing, China.

Background: No studies have investigated whether high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) can be used to predict the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/estimated value of FEV1 (FEV1%pred). This study aimed to assess the association between hsCRP and FEV1%pred in middle-aged and elderly individuals without underlying lung disease.

Methods: The data for this study were obtained from a prospective cohort study that included 1047 middle-aged and elderly citizens from Beijing aged 40-75 years without any evidence of underlying lung diseases with FEV1 >70% after receiving inhalational bronchodilators.

Geographic differences in pharmacotherapy patterns and outcomes of acute ischemic stroke in China.

Background: Vast economic and healthcare status discrepancies exist among regions in China, contributing to different treatment patterns. This study was aimed to investigate the current status of pharmacotherapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and outcomes in China and explore the geographic variation in stroke care.

Methods: This study was a multicenter prospective registry study, which collected the data of patients with AIS from 80 hospitals in 46 cities in 2015-2017 across China.

Detection of DNA in peritoneal fluids by PCR assay optimizing the diagnosis and treatment for intra-abdominal candidiasis in high-risk ICU patients: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC) is the predominant type of invasive candidiasis with high mortality in critically ill patients. This study aimed to investigate whether the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for detecting DNA in peritoneal fluids (PF) is useful in diagnosing and management of IAC in high-risk patients in intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: A prospective single-center cohort study of surgical patients at high risk for IAC was conducted in the ICU.

Effect of mini-dose dexmedetomidine supplemented intravenous analgesia on sleep structure in older patients after major noncardiac surgery: A randomized trial.

Study Objectives: In previous studies, low-dose dexmedetomidine supplemented opioid analgesia improved sleep architecture but increased sedation level. Herein we tested the hypothesis that mini-dose dexmedetomidine supplemented analgesia improves sleep structure without increasing sedation.

Methods: In this randomized trial, 118 older patients (≥65 years) following major noncardiac surgery were randomized to receive patient-controlled intravenous analgesia supplemented with either placebo or dexmedetomidine (median 0.

MRI-based analysis of different clinically significant prostate cancer detection rate of prostate imaging reporting and data system score 4 in the peripheral zone.

Purpose: To compare the clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) detection rate between diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) 4 and DWI 3 with positive dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) (hereinafter called 'DWI 3/DCE+') lesions in the peripheral zone (PZ) and to explore the diagnostic performance of targeted biopsy (TB) or systematic biopsy (SB) in patients with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) 4 lesions.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 206 patients who underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and had at least one PI-RADS 4 lesion in the PZ. All patients subsequently underwent combined magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound fusion-guided TB and ultrasound-guided 12-core SB.

Effect of low-dose dexmedetomidine on sleep quality in postoperative patients with mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit: A pilot randomized trial.

Background: Sleep disturbances are prevalent in patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU) and are associated with worse outcomes. Sedative-dose dexmedetomidine may improve sleep quality in this patient population but is associated with adverse events. Herein, we tested the effect of low-dose dexmedetomidine infusion on nighttime sleep quality in postoperative ICU patients with invasive ventilation.

Effect of a carbohydrate-rich beverage on rate of cesarean delivery in primigravidae with epidural labor analgesia: a multicenter randomized trial.

Background: Labor represents a period of significant physical activity. Inefficient energy supply may delay labor process and even lead to cesarean delivery. Herein we investigated whether ingestion of a carbohydrate-rich beverage could reduce cesarean delivery in laboring women with epidural analgesia.

Randomized Study on the Efficacy of Standard Versus Low Roxadustat Dose for Anemia in Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate whether a lower starting dose of roxadustat (∼1-1.4 mg/kg) converted from erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) could achieve a comparable hemoglobin (Hb) target (≥100 and ≤120 g/l) compared with the standard weight-based dose (∼1.5-2 mg/kg) at week 12 through a peritoneal dialysis (PD) cohort.

Prophylactic Penehyclidine Inhalation for Prevention of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in High-risk Patients: A Double-blind Randomized Trial.

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications are common. Aging and respiratory disease provoke airway hyperresponsiveness, high-risk surgery induces diaphragmatic dysfunction, and general anesthesia contributes to atelectasis and peripheral airway injury. This study therefore tested the hypothesis that inhalation of penehyclidine, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist, reduces the incidence of pulmonary complications in high-risk patients over the initial 30 postoperative days.

Outdoor air pollution and the risk of asthma exacerbations in single lag0 and lag1 exposure patterns: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To synthesize evidence regarding the relationship between outdoor air pollution and risk of asthma exacerbations in single lag0 and lag1 exposure patterns. We performed a systematic literature search using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials, China National Knowledge Internet, Chinese BioMedical, and Wanfang databases. Articles published until August 1, 2020 and the reference lists of the relevant articles were reviewed.

Full title: The prevalence of and predictors for perioperative hypothermia in postanaesthesia care unit.

Background: Hypothermia is a common clinical issue during the perioperative period. The patients with perioperative inadvertent hypothermia are associated with higher risk of postoperative complications and higher hospitalisation costs.

Aims: The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence of and predictors for hypothermia in patients entering postanaesthesia care unit.

Efficacy and safety of aildenafil citrate in Chinese men with erectile dysfunction: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of aildenafil citrate in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in Chinese population.

Methods: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, double-cycle crossover trial was conducted in three medical centers. Male patients with mild to moderate ED were randomized into two groups and received either aildenafil citrate or placebos, followed by a crossover administration after a 7-day washout.

The rescue intervention strategy for asthma patients under severe air pollution: a single-center prospective randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The aim of our study is to provide a novel strategy to administer treatment at the first signs of severe air pollution and before patients experience symptoms for preventing airway damage.

Methods: This single-center, prospective, randomized and standard treatment parallel control clinical trial recruited adult asthma patients. The patients were randomized into either the rescue intervention strategy (RIS) group or control group.

Impact of dexmedetomidine supplemented analgesia on delirium in patients recovering from orthopedic surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Dexmedetomidine promotes normal sleep architecture; the drug also improves analgesia. We therefore tested the hypothesis that supplementing intravenous analgesia with dexmedetomidine reduces delirium in older patients recovering from orthopedic surgery.

Methods: In this double-blinded randomized controlled trial, we enrolled 712 older (aged 65-90 years) patients scheduled for major orthopedic surgery.

Effects of hydroxyethyl starch and gelatin on the risk of acute kidney injury following orthotopic liver transplantation: A multicenter retrospective comparative clinical study.

Objectives: This multicenter retrospective study aimed to compare the effects of HES and gelatin (GEL) on the risk of post-OLT AKI.

Method: A total of 1,672 patients undergoing OLT were enrolled from major transplant centers in China between 2005 and 2013. These patients were divided into three groups: GEL, hydroxyethyl starch (HES), and GEL + HES group.

Long-term Survival after Combined Epidural-General Anesthesia or General Anesthesia Alone: Follow-up of a Randomized Trial.

Background: Experimental and observational research suggests that combined epidural-general anesthesia may improve long-term survival after cancer surgery by reducing anesthetic and opioid consumption and by blunting surgery-related inflammation. This study therefore tested the primary hypothesis that combined epidural-general anesthesia improves long-term survival in elderly patients.

Methods: This article presents a long-term follow-up of patients enrolled in a previous trial conducted at five hospitals.

Risk Factors Associated With Abnormal Urinalysis in Children.

Targeted urinalysis has been suggested to improve screening efficiency in adults. However, there is no well-defined target population in children yet, with limited information on the risk factors for urinalysis abnormalities. Children from infants to 17 years old were randomly selected.

Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio as an Initial Screening Biomarker for Differential Diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome from Nonfunctional Adenoma in Patients with an Adrenal Mass.

Objective: Assessing excess adrenal hormones is important in patients with adrenal mass. Current screening tests for excess cortisol hormones are complex, so it cannot be done sometimes due to the limited medical resources. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can be used as an initial screening biomarker for Cushing's syndrome (CS) in patients with an adrenal mass.

A nomogram predicting subclinical extension of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in Chinese individuals: A retrospective study.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma usually extends beyond the visible margin. Little is known about the predictors for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with subclinical extension in Chinese individuals. This study aimed to construct a nomogram for predicting the probability of subclinical extension of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in Chinese patients.