OBJECTIVETo assess the feasibility of using saliva for Schistosomiasis japonica diagnosis.

METHODSSchistosoma japonicum infected animal model was established. Pairs of saliva and serum samples from rabbits and chronic schistosomiasis patients were collected. Anti-schistosoma specific antibodies in saliva and serum were detected by indirect ELISA.

RESULTSThe specificities of antibody detection of rabbit saliva and serum were 93% (28/30) and 97% (29/30), respectively, and the sensitivities of antibody detection of rabbit serum and saliva were 100% (24/24) and 88% (21/24), respectively. A significant correlation (r = 0.5307, P = 0.0038 < 0.05) existed between anti-SEA IgG levels in serum and saliva. As with those in serum, anti-SEA IgG levels in saliva could reflect the state of infection and treatment. The sensitivity of antibody detection was 91% (29/32) for patient saliva samples and 100% (32/32) for their sera. 8 samples were positive in 140 normal saliva samples (i.e. 6% false positive rate) and 6 samples were positive in 156 normal serum samples (4% false positive rate). There was a significant correlation (r = 0.4227, P = 0.008 < 0.05) between specific antibodies in saliva and serum.

CONCLUSIONThe detection of specific antibodies in saliva can be used as a non-invasive immunodiagnosis method of Schistosomiasis japonica.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth ; analysis ; Child ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rabbits ; Saliva ; immunology ; Schistosoma japonicum ; immunology ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; diagnosis

Objective:To observe the effects of virtual reality (VR) technology combined with scenario-based simulation training in obstetrics and gynecology internship teaching.Methods:Ninety-eight medical students interned in the department of obstetrics and gynecology from June 2021 to May 2022 were included. Among them, 49 students received conventional clinical internship teaching of obstetrics and gynecology in the control group, while the other 49 students received scenario-based simulation training with VR technology in the observation group. The two groups were compared in terms of test scores, learning ability assessed by the Self-Rating Scale of Self-Directed Learning, post competency, and the degree of satisfaction with teaching quality. The data were analyzed through the chi-squared test and t test with the use of SPSS 20.00. Results:The observation group had significantly higher scores than the control group in theoretical knowledge [(35.51±2.21) vs. (32.17±3.22)], case analysis[ (16.52±1.51) vs. (13.37±2.03)], and practical operation skills (all P<0.05). After teaching, the learning ability and post competency were significantly improved in both groups (both P<0.05), which were significantly better in the observation group than in the control group (both P<0.05). The degree of satisfaction with teaching of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:VR technology combined with scenario-based simulation training can help improve teaching quality and enhance medical students' learning ability and post competency, with a high degree of satisfaction with teaching quality, which is worth promotion and application.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have focused on the association between the lipid-lowering efficacy of statins and the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C polymorphism; however, the results are conflicting. The effects of statins show significant variability between individuals. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C polymorphism on the lipid-lowering effects of statins. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed and Web of Science to screen relevant studies. Meta-analysis was performed to identify the association between SLCO1B1 c.521 polymorphisms and the lipid-lowering effects of statinson the basis of the standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Additionally, we checked for heterogeneity (I 2) among studies and evidence of publication bias. We obtained eight studies including 2,012 wild genotype (T/T) and 526 variant genotype (T/C and C/C) cases. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the lipid-lowering efficacy of statins between the wildand variant genotypes of SLCO1B1, with a pooled SMD of 0.03 (95% CI: -0.07-0.13). Furthermore, there was no significant effect in the meta-analyses of the variant heterozygote, homozygote, and Chinese populations. Subgroup meta-analysis indicated that the timerequired for the statin to take effectdid notsignificantly affect the association between lipid-lowering efficacy of statins and SLCO1B1 c.521T>C polymorphism. However, thewild genotype improved the lipid-lowering efficacy of simvastatin with a pooled SMD of -0.26 (95% CI: -0.47- -0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No significant association was detected between the lipid-lowering efficacy of statins and the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C polymorphism, with the exception of simvastatin.
Alleles ; Databases, Factual ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Hyperlipidemias/drug therapy/genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Solute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter Family Member 1b1/*genetics

Multimorbidity is significantly associated with life quality decline, disability, and increased mortality risk. Additionally, it leads to greater consumption of healthcare resources, presenting substantial challenges to healthcare systems globally. To better assess the burden of multimorbidity, its impact on patient health outcomes and healthcare services, and to explore the underlying mechanisms in its development, this paper summarizes the existing methods used for measuring and analyzing multimorbidity in research and practice, including disease count, disease-weighted indices, multimorbidity pattern recognition (such as disease association analysis, clustering analysis, and network analysis) and longitudinal methods to provide references for the accurate assessment of the prevalence of multimorbidity and its changes and improve the validity and universality of research findings.