Chapter 2438: with translation of chapter title

A study in the journal Cell showed that the flesh-eating streptococcus causing necrotizing fasciitis hijacked neurons, using the normal communication mechanism between neurons and the immune system after bodily injury or infection to survive.

Liu Xu zhi looked completely bewildered; as a radiology department doctor from a small border county, he had no idea what neurons and the immune system were.

When the body is injured, the nervous system sends out two signals: one tells the brain and produces pain; the other suppresses the immune system, thereby avoiding collateral damage to healthy tissue from an excessive immune response.

In a mouse model, researchers found that the flesh-eating bacteria exploit this mechanism: by releasing the bacterial toxin streptolysin S, they increase the host's pain sensation and cause immune silence.

The human body is amazing, and bacteria are our natural enemies, just as this study says. They are very clever, so we must never be careless.

"Yun Ge'er, could you put it more simply?" Liu Xu zhi scratched his head, saying somewhat embarrassedly.

"That means you will feel intense pain, and the body's natural reaction lowers immune rejection, causing immune silence so there is no response to the flesh-eating bacteria." Su Yun said, "By the time a response occurs, it's already too late."

After listening to him finish, Liu Xu zhi felt a distended sensation in his right index finger and vaguely felt a bit of pain.

"Injecting and feeding infected mice with a calcitonin gene-related peptide blocker prevents immune cells from obeying neuronal commands, suppressing the flesh-eating bacteria infection." Su Yun continued, "You don't need to know what calcitonin gene-related peptide is; just go to the hospital for symptomatic treatment."

Liu Xu zhi nodded repeatedly.

"Old Liu, I'm not just talking nonsense." Su Yun said with a heavier tone, "In plain folk's terms, it's being eaten away. Many patients have their muscles eaten away, over a large area. After incision and debridement, at least half of the patients still cannot be saved."

Liu Xu zhi was frightened by Su Yun's alarmist talk, his heart pounding, and he even forgot about his intention to watch Zheng Lao Ban perform surgery.

The airtight lead door slowly opened, and Zheng Ren walked out from inside.

Only then did Liu Xu zhi realize he had been listening only to Yun Ge'er talk, while Zheng Lao Ban had already finished a surgery.

The speed of this surgery...

Inside, a clinical doctor was pressing to stop bleeding, and Zheng Ren asked, "Are you done speaking?"

"No, I still haven't found a relevant case for Old Liu." Su Yun said, "Over the past two years I've seen them occasionally post related cases in the group, but to find a detailed one—of someone who after a single glance never wants to eat seafood again and feels uncomfortable all over at the sight of it—still takes some time."

Zheng Ren expressed regret, wondering when Su Yun would ever get serious a bit.

"It shouldn't be a big problem; just to be safe." Zheng Ren said seriously, "The 24- to 48-hour window is the danger period; observe carefully, and if the localized swelling progresses too quickly, go to the hospital immediately."

"Mm-hmm." Liu Xu zhi nodded eagerly.

"Lucien Bouchard, a high-ranking official from Quebec, Jianda, died exactly this way." Su Yun smiled slightly and said to Liu Xu zhi, "Eric Allin Cornell, the Nobel Prize winner in physics, also died from a flesh-eating bacteria infection."

"..."

The more they spoke, the more eerie it became, and Liu Xu zhi's heart felt swollen.

"Hmm." Zheng Ren nodded, not only failing to correct Su Yun's alarmist talk but instead saying, "Besides group A streptococcus, seawater also commonly contains vibrio vulnificus and vibrio parahaemolyticus."

"There is a saying that, with the greenhouse effect, the area affected by flesh-eating bacteria is rapidly expanding." Su Yun added, causing Liu Xu zhi to abandon any hopeful fantasies.

Liu Xu zhi was almost in tears, saying, "Even going to see a doctor isn't enough—don't scare me, okay?"

"It's fine, Old Liu." Su Yun reached out and patted Liu Xu zhi's shoulder, saying, "You know the boss's surgical skills."

Liu Xu zhi nodded.

"Even with debridement, the boss has a greater chance than others of keeping you alive." Su Yun said with a chuckle, "But the surgery might very well not be possible."

Is this comfort? Liu Xu zhi didn't know. Anyway, after hearing Zheng Lao Ban and Yun Ge'er's words, his tension increased.

Even Zheng Lao Ban only has a greater chance of not dying himself… that still means he could die, right?

Honestly, it's damn scary.

What did I do? I just nibbled on a shrimp, and is it really that serious?

Liu Xu zhi's nose and eyes were scrunched together, and his face looked somewhat gloomy.

"Just knowing you're afraid is enough; don't do surgery for the next two days." Zheng Ren said, "Come with me for this next surgery."

Hearing Zheng Lao Ban's words, Liu Xu zhi felt somewhat doubtful.

"Stand behind me and watch; I'll still explain some things to you in person." Zheng Ren said, "Go back and think it over well. Surgery isn't just about constant practice; you also need to use your brain."

Saying this, Zheng Ren pointed at his own head with his finger.

Liu Xu zhi nodded, indicating he understood.

"That kind of skill honed through surgery is like a carpenter—just skilled enough to sell a little oil. Thinking it over with your brain? Forget it; I'd guess you don't have any talent for this, and you couldn't learn it even if you tried." Su Yun said offhandedly.

Liu Xu zhi had already developed strong immunity to Su Yun's retorts.

Back when he was in Pengxi Xiang, he had heard Yun Ge'er say countless similar things. Not only himself, but even Professor Mu of Pengcheng had been driven by Yun Ge'er to the point of not uttering a final word.

Liu Xu zhi grinned, stood up, saw the next patient being brought in, helped position them, while Zheng Ren went to scrub his hands and put on his clothes, then immediately began the surgery.

Su Yun lounged with his legs crossed, lazily slumped in the seat, and said to Lin JiaoJiao, "Sister Lin, Old Liu is tough and resilient, right?"

Lin JiaoJiao laughed and said, "Mm."

"I know you're wondering why the boss and I didn't come; although you didn't say it, you still feel a bit uneasy inside."

Lin JiaoJiao startled for a moment—was Yun Ge'er about to lay his cards on the table and turn hostile?

"That's because you don't know how impressive someone who can perform TIPS Surgery is." Su Yun said.

Lin JiaoJiao carefully savored Su Yun's words.

Back at 912, Director Kong was the first to carry out TIPS Surgery. She still clearly remembers that the first surgery took Director Kong at least five hours.

When it was over, she already had symptoms of low blood sugar. I had opened a bottle of 10% glucose and given it to Director Kong to drink.

High tension, frustration from repeated unsuccessful punctures, and the exhaustion of performing surgery while wearing lead clothing—these are the main causes of low blood sugar.

How could I not know how difficult TIPS Surgery is? Even nowadays, doctors who can successfully puncture with a single needle are few and far between, let alone a decade or more ago.

Just as that thought crossed her mind, Lin JiaoJiao suddenly startled, realizing what Su Yun meant.