Medicine
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The h-index of a researcher refers to the maximum number h of his/her publications that has at least h citations via the concept of the square area. The x-index is determined by the maximum area of a rectangle under the curve to interpret authors' individual research achievements (IRAs). However, the properties of both metrics have not been compared and discussed before. This study aimed to investigate whether both metrics of h- and x-index are suitable for evaluating IRAs in a short period of years. ⋯ We verified that the h-index failed to differentiate authors' IRAs among author groups in a short time period. The x-index combined with the Kano map is recommended in research for a better understanding of the authors' IRAs in other journals or disciplines, not just limited to the journal of PloS One as we did in this study.
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Observational Study
Time on previous renal replacement therapy is associated with worse outcomes of COVID-19 in a regional cohort of kidney transplant and dialysis patients.
Chronic renal replacement therapy by either a kidney transplant (KTX) or hemodialysis (HD) predisposes patients to an increased risk for adverse outcomes of COVID-19. However, details on this interaction remain incomplete. To provide further characterization, we undertook a retrospective observational cohort analysis of the majority of the hemodialysis and renal transplant population affected by the first regional outbreak of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Germany. ⋯ Similarly, longer RRT correlated with death vs survival (P = .0002). In conclusion our data suggest renal replacement vintage as a novel risk factor for COVID-19-associated ARDS and death. The findings should be validated by larger cohorts.
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Ileocolonoscopy is currently recognized as the gold standard for evaluating mucosal healing in patients with Crohn disease (CD). However, the ideal noninvasive marker to assess mucosal healing instead of invasive ileocolonoscopy is not available. This study aimed to determine the correlations between the mucosal healing and serological optimizing markers in CD. ⋯ Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of CRP/ALB (0.87) was higher than NLR (0.69), PLR (0.72), and PLT/ALB (0.81). In the efficacy of assessing the mucosal healing in CD, the sensitivity of CRP/ALB, NLR, PLR, and PLT/ALB were 91.1%, 83.9%, 73.2%, and 73.2%, respectively, and the specificity was 76.5%, 46.9%, 64.2%, and 75.3%, respectively. CRP/ALB was the most appropriate marker to assess CD mucosal healing among the serological optimizing markers.
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The main purpose is to compare the efficacy of cystogastrostomy (CG) and Roux-en-Y-type cystojejunostomy (RCJ) in the treatment of pancreatic pseudocyst (PPC), and to explore the risk factors of recurrence and complications after internal drainage. Two hundred eight patients undergoing either CG or RCJ for PPC Between January 1, 2013and February 1, 2019, at West China Hospital of Sichuan University were retrospectively analyzed. The cure rate, complication rate and related factors were compared between the 2 groups. ⋯ Short course of pancreatitis (OR 0.922, 95% CI 0.855∼0.994, P = .035), and RCJ (OR 2.319, 95% CI 1.033∼5.204, P = .041) were independent risk factors for complications after internal drainage of PPC. Both CG and RCJ are safe and effective surgical methods for treating PPC. There were no significant differences in cure rate, reoperation rate, and mortality between the 2 groups, while the CG group had a short operation time, less intraoperative bleeding and less cost.
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Case Reports
Clinical assessment and FGFR2 mutation analysis in a Chinese family with Crouzon syndrome: A case report.
Crouzon syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) and one of the most common types of craniosynostosis. Here we report the detection of FGFR2 mutation and its related clinical findings in 2 patients with Crouzon syndrome from a Chinese family. ⋯ Our study confirms the presence of optic nerve atrophy in patients with Crouzon syndrome carrying FGFR2 C342W mutations and indicates that MRI and funduscopy should be performed to examine the optic nerve changes for patients with Crouzon syndrome.