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The thermostatic valve was equipped with the spring made of CuAiNi shape memory alloy as the pari for sensing and controlling the temperature. For the forming process, the CuAlNi wire was transformed into a SM A spring, whose phase-transition temperature and recovery force were tested. The experimental results of the thermostatic valve show that, with the temperature of in- water ranging from 50°C to 70°C, the temperatures of the out-let water at different spool positions are 38. 50°C and 38. 75°C respectively, and that the thermostatic valve is reliable in controlling the temperature with the margin of error being 1.50°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CD46 has been revealed to be a key factor in malignant transformation and cancer treatment. However, the clinical significance of CD46 in cervical cancer remains unclear, and this study aimed to evaluate its role in cervical cancer diagnosis and prognosis evaluation., Methods: A total of 180 patients with an initial diagnosis of cervical cancer were enrolled at Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, China. The plasma levels of soluble CD46 (sCD46) and the expression of membrane-bound CD46 (mCD46) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively., Results: CD46 was found to be significantly upregulated in cervical cancer tissues vs. normal tissues, while no CD46 staining was detected in paired adjacent noncancerous tissues. CD46 staining was more pronounced in cancer cells than in stromal cells in situ (in tissues). Moreover, the plasma levels of sCD46 were able to some extent discriminate between cancer patients and healthy women (AUC=0.6847, 95% CI:0.6152-0.7541). Analysis of Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that patients with low CD46 expression had slightly longer overall survival (OS) than patients with high CD46 expression in the tumor microenvironment, but no significant difference. Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that CD46 ( P =0.034) is an independent risk factor for OS in cervical cancer patients., Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that cervical cancer patients exhibit aberrant expression of CD46, which is closely associated with a poor prognosis, suggesting that CD46 plays a key role in promoting cervical carcinogenesis and that CD46 could serve as a promising potential target for precision therapy for cervical cancer., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Yu, Yuan, Yan, Zhang and Xu.)

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in elderly patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 230 CRC patients undergoing ERAS from January 2017 to January 2018. These subjects included 120 young patients (<70 years) and 110 elderly patients (≥70 years).The rates of ERAS compliance,anastomotic leakage,re-operation,and re-hospitalization,the mortality,and the average hospital stay were compared between these two groups.Results The elderly group had significantly higher incidences including diabetes (20.9% vs. 10.8%,P=0.045),heart disease (24.5% vs. 11.7%,P=0.039),respiratory diseases (20.0% vs. 10.0%,P=0.041),and hypertension (26.4% vs. 15.0%,P=0.035) than the young group. However,these two groups were not statistically significant in terms of ERAS compliance rate (79% in the young group vs. 74% in the elderly group,P=0.574),incidence of anastomotic leakage (2.5% vs. 1.8%,P=1.000),re-operation rate (1.7% vs. 2.7%,P=0.672),re-hospitalization rate (2.5% vs. 4.5%,P=0.484),mortality rate within 30 days after operation (1.7% vs. 2.7%,P=0.672). The average hospital stay was 5 days in the young group and 7 days in the elderly group (P=0.000).Conclusions Although the elderly patients tend to have poor general status,their ERAS compliance rate and main treatment indicators including incidence of anastomotic leakage,re-operation rate,re-hospitalization rate,and mortality rate within 30 days after surgery are not different from young patients. Thus,the ERAS program is safe and feasible for elderly CRC patients.

Objective: To discuss the application of convoluted manipulation in pediatric femoral fractures., Methods: From March 2015 to October 2016, 12 children with femoral fractures were treated by Chinese traditional manipulation including 8 males and 4 females with an average age of 6 years old ranging from 1 to 12 years old. The causes of injury were falls in 10 cases and traffic accidents in 2 cases. Of which 1 case was transverse fractures, 4 cases were oblique fractures and 4 cases were spiral fractures, 2 cases were comminuted fracture, 1 case was greenstick fracture. All patients underwent manual reduction within 1 to 2 days, plus small splint with cedar bark, and parallel lower limb traction., Results: All the 12 patients were followed up for 1-3 months, with an average of 2 months. All the 12 patients achieved clinical union, and the average healing time was 6 weeks. There was no obvious shortening and rotational angulation. At the last follow-up, Schatzker-Lambert distal femoral fracture evaluation results were excellent in 11 cases, good in 1 case., Conclusions: Convoluted manipulation is very important for reduction of femoral fractures in children, with the splint of cedar bark, satisfactory therapeutic effect can be achieved., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

A new label-free resonance light scattering method for the highly selective and sensitive detection of mercury ion was designed. This strategy makes use of the target-induced DNA conformational change to enhance the resonance light scattering intensity leading to an amplified optical signal. The Hg²⁺ ion, which possesses a unique property to bind specifically to two DNA thymine (T) bases, in the presence of Hg²⁺, the specific oligonucleotide probes form a conformational reorganization of the oligonucleotide probes from single-chain structure to duplex-like complexes, which can greatly enhance the resonance light scattering intensity. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the enhanced resonance light scattering intensity at 566 nm was in proportion of mercury ion concentration in the range 7.2 x 10⁻⁹ x 10⁻⁸ mol · L⁻¹ with the linear regression equation was ΔI = 5.12c+3.55 (r = 0.999 5). This method was successfully applied to detection of Hg²⁺ in enviro nmental water samples, the RSD were less than 1.9% and recoveries were 99.4%-104.3%. This label-free strategy uses the mercury specific oligonucleotide probes as recognition elements and control the strength of resonance light scattering by changing the concentration of Hg²⁺. It translating the small molecule detection into the DNA hybridization behavior leading to an amplified resonance light scattering signal can well enhance the sensitive detection of Hg²⁺. With amplification by DNA hybridization behavior, the sensitivity for the detection of Hg²⁺ can achieve 2.16 x 10⁻⁹ mol · L(⁻¹). In this study, the stacked T-Hg²⁺-Tfunctioned not only as amplification property but also as an selective recognition. The highly specific detection of Hg²⁺ is attributed to the formation of a stable T-Hg²⁺-T complex.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of gracilis muscle transposition and postoperative salvage irrigation-suction in the treatment of complex rectovaginal fistulas (RVFs) and rectourethral fistulas (RUFs)., Methods: Between May 2009 and March 2012, 11 female patients with complex RVFs and 8 male patients with RUFs were prospectively enrolled. Gracilis muscle transposition was undertaken in all patients and postoperative wound irrigation-suction was performed in patients with early leakage. Efficacy was assessed in terms of the success rate and surgical complications. SF-36 quality of life (QOL) scores and Wexner fecal incontinence scores were compared before and after surgery., Results: The fistulas healed in 14 patients after gracilis muscle transposition; the initial healing rate was 73.7%. Postoperative leakage occurred and continuous irrigation-suction of wounds was undertaken in 5 patients: 4 healed and 1 failed, and postoperative fecal diversions were performed for the patient whose treatment failed. At a median follow-up of 17 mo, the overall healing rate was 94.7%. Postoperative complications occurred in 4 cases. Significant improvement was observed in the quality outcomes framework scores (P < 0.001) and Wexner fecal incontinence scores (P = 0.002) after the successful healing of complex RVFs or RUFs. There was no significant difference in SF-36 QOL scores between the initial healing group and irrigation-suction-assisted healing group., Conclusion: Gracilis muscle transposition and postoperative salvage wound irrigation-suction gained a high success rate in the treatment of complex RVFs and RUFs. QOL and fecal incontinence were significantly improved after the successful healing of RVFs and RUFs.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and experience of gracilis muscle transposition for complex rectovaginal fistula (RVF) and rectourethral fistula (RUF)., Methods: Nineteen patients underwent gracilis muscle transposition for complex RVF and RUF from May 2009 to November 2011 in the Beijing Shijitan Hospital and the clinical data were prospectively collected. The success rate and complications were recorded. SF-36 quality of life score, Wexner fecal incontinence score, and female sexual function score before surgery and 6 months after surgery were recorded., Results: In 19 patients, there were 8 males (RUF) and 11 females (RUF). The times of failed attempt repair preoperatively ranged from 0-3 (mean, 1.0). The diameter of the fistula ranged from 0.5-3.0 cm (mean, 1.6), and all fistulas located above the sphincter. The operative time ranged from 145-400 minutes (median, 240). The postoperative hospital stay ranged from 10-39 days (median 21). Early postoperative complications included thigh pain and numbness in 2 cases, leg numbness in 2 cases. No long-term complications were noticed. The follow-up period ranged from 6-35 months (median, 18). The gracilis muscle transposition had a healing rate of 94.7% (18/19). As compared with the preoperative level, Wexner score decreased from 10.0±8.8 to 2.9±5.8, and the continence function improved significantly (P=0.002). Sexual function score of 11 female patients increased from 1.0±1.8 to 4.0±4.0, and the sexual function had a significant improvement after surgery (P=0.022). SF-36 quality of life scores improved significantly (P<0.001)., Conclusions: Gracilis muscle transposition for complex rectovaginal fistula and rectourethral fistula has high success rate with mild and rare complications.

Objective: To evaluate the differences in clinicopathological characteristics and severity between American and Chinese patients with colorectal Crohn disease(CD)., Methods: Between March 1985 and September 2004, 68 patients with colorectal CD in Cleveland Clinic Florida (America) and 85 patients with colorectal CD in the 301 Hospital(China) were enrolled in the study. Data of two groups,including demographics, clinical characteristics, extraintestinal manifestations, presenting symptoms, location and pathological characteristics,were compared., Results: 60.3% of American patients and 36.5% of Chinese patients were female(P=0.003). 11.8% of American patients and 1.2% of Chinese patients had a family history of CD(P=0.016). American patients had a significantly higher rate of extraintestinal disease (39.7% vs 20.0%), abscess(19.0% vs 0), and anorectal fistulas(51.5% vs 0). American patients had significantly more extensive disease than Chinese patients(pancolitis: 44.1% vs 4.7%, P<0.01). American patients had a significantly higher rate of disease involving the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, anorectal area compared with Chinese patients(all P<0.05)., Conclusions: American patients with colorectal Crohn disease seem to have a female predominance, a higher rate of CD family history, to involve the distal intestinal tract more often, and have more severe clinical manifestation and pathological process, as compared with Chinese patients.

Objective: To observe the effects of blood motilin and gastrin on the electrical activity and emptying of the intrathoracic stomach after esophagectomy for cancer., Methods: Electrogastrography and determination of blood motilin and gastrin were carried out in 52 subjects, including 20 normal volunteers and 32 esophageal cancer patients before and 1, 3, 6, 12 months after operation. Gastric emptying of radiopaque granula was studied in 35 of the 52 subjects, including 5 normal volunteers, 7 preoperative patients and 23 postoperative patients., Results: The preoperative gastric emptying of radiopaque granula was 28.0 +/- 8.0 pieces 120 second after eating the test meal, significantly less than that of the normal controls [(38.0 +/- 2.0) pieces, t = 3.515, P = 0.006], and decreased to (16.0 +/- 4.8) pieces one month after esophagectomy (t = 6.987, P = 0.000), and then recovered to 16.8 +/- 4.8 one year after surgery but still could not reach normal (t = 9.387, P = 0.0000). Compared with the normal controls, the amplitude of electrogastrogram (EGG) of the preoperative patients was (229 +/- 118) microv, not significantly different from that of the controls [(226 +/- 62) microv, t = 0.085, P = 0.933], and the frequency of EGG of the preoperative patients was (3.1 +/- 0.2) times per minute, not significantly different from that of the controls too [(3.2 +/- 0.1) times per minute, t = 0.872, P = 0.387]. But the frequency and amplitude of EGG of the patients one month after operation were (2.9 +/- 0.3) times per minute and (172 +/- 46) microv respectively, both significantly decreased in comparison with those of the normal controls (t = 2.336, P = 0.024; and t = 3.118, P = 0.003). The amplitude reached normal [(223 +/- 60) microv, t = 0.145, P = 0.885] 1 year after surgery, but the frequency still remained at a low level [(3.0 +/- 0.1) times per minute, t = 2.208, P = 0.033). The level of blood motilin of the preoperative patients was (488 +/- 197) ng/L, significantly higher than that of the controls [(248 +/- 98) ng/L, t = 5.030, P = 0.000], and the blood gastrin level of the preoperative patients was (26 +/- 15) ng/L, significantly higher than that of the controls [(20 +/- 12) ng/L, t = 2.741, P = 0.043]. One year after operation the blood motilin level maintained at a high level [(443 +/- 129) ng/L, t = 3.725, P = 0.001], and the gastrin level remained at a high level too [(48 +/- 23) ng/L, t = 3.703, P = 0.001]., Conclusion: Physiologically important, persistent elevation of blood gastrin and motilin in the patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer facilitates the recovery of electrical activity and emptying of the intrathoracic stomach.