Objective To evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of a Hove]hepatitis C virus NS3 antigen detection immunoassay and the potential application of this assay in clinical diagnosis.Methods Samples from 77 healthy flubjects,173 anti-HCV-positive pailents and 3708 patients infected with other type of hepatitis were tested with the HCV NS3 antigen assay,some HCV NS3 antigen positive samples were validated witll HCV-RNA.neutralization and immunodot assays.Twenty.five sequential samples from 11 HCV NS3 antigen positive patients were subjected to kinetic studv.Results Forty-eight(1.3%)of 3708 antiHCV negative samples were positive for HCV NS3 antigen.Among them,44 of 3030 samples from patients only infected with HBV were HCV NS3 antigen-positive,4 of the 445 samples from patients infected with other type hepatitis were HCV NS,antigen-positive.In addition.42(24.3%)of 173 anti-HCV positive samplea were HCV NS3 antigen-positive and all 77 samples from healthy subjects were negative to HCV NS3 antigen assay.Of 15 HCV NSl antigen-positive samples,9(60%)were HCV-RNA positive.The neutralization and positive percentage of immunodot assay for 23 HCV NS3 antigen-positive sera were 87.0%(20/23)and 69.6%(16/23) respectively.Of the 25 sequential samples from 11 HCV NS3 antigen positive patients,there was a negative correlation between the A values and the duration of test.and there were correlations among their HCV NS3 antigen.HCV.RNA and anti-HCV;In addition,the anti-HCV antibodies of two sera were detected while their A values of HCV NS3 antigen decreased gradually.Conclusion The HCV NS3 antigen detection assay showed perfect specificity and higher sensitivity,it will be useful in routine laboratories test in developing countfies for earlier diagnosis of HCV infection.

In order to investigate biological functions of the 14-3-3 genes and their response to abiotic stress, two cDNAs (designated as Ta14R1 and Ta14R2) encoding putative 14-3-3 proteins were isolated from wheat by PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) technique. The cDNA of Ta14R1 is 999bp and encodes a protein of 262 amino acids, while the cDNA of Ta14R2 is 897bp in length and encodes a protein of 261 amino acids. Transient expression assays using Ta14R1/Ta14R2-GFP fusion constructs indicated that Ta14R1 and Ta14R2 were located in cytoplasm and cell membrane but not in chloroplasts. Real-time quantitative (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that Ta14R1 and Ta14R2 were differentially expressed in wheat tissues and significantly up-regulated in roots and shoots 1d after germination, indicating they may play a role in process of seed germination. The expression of the two genes in roots and leaves were significantly induced by plant hormone ABA, as well as heat, cold and drought treatments, suggesting that the two 14-3-3 genes in wheat may be involved in ABA dependent stress-responding pathway and response to heat, cold and drought stress.
14-3-3 Proteins ; genetics ; Abscisic Acid ; pharmacology ; DNA, Complementary ; Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Germination ; Plant Leaves ; genetics ; physiology ; Plant Roots ; genetics ; physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Temperature ; Triticum ; genetics ; physiology

PURPOSE: To produce competent undergraduate-level medical doctors for rural township health centers (THCs), the Chinese government mandated that medical colleges in Central and Western China recruit rural-oriented, tuition-waived medical students (RTMSs) starting in 2010. This study aimed to identify and assess factors that influence the choice to work in rural township health centers among both RTMSs and other students from five medical universities in Guangxi, China. METHODS: An internet-based self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted with medical students in Guangxi province. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify factors related to the attitudes toward work in a rural township health center. RESULTS: Among 4,669 medical students, 1,523 (33%) had a positive attitude and 2,574 (55%) had a neutral attitude toward working in THCs. Demographic characteristics, personal job concerns, and knowledge of THCs were associated with the choice of a career in THCs. The factors related to a positive attitude included the following: three-year program, a rural-oriented medical program, being male, an expectation of working in a county or township, a focus on medical career development, some perceived difficulty of getting a job, having family support, sufficient knowledge of THCs, optimism toward THC development, seeking lower working pressure, and a lower expected monthly salary. CONCLUSION: Male students in a three-year program or a rural-oriented tuition-waived medical education program were more likely to work in THCs. Selecting medical students through interviews to identify their family support and intentions to work in THCs would increase recruitment and retention. Establishing favorable policies and financial incentives to improve living conditions and the social status of rural physicians is necessary.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Career Choice ; China* ; Dronabinol ; Education, Medical ; Humans ; Intention ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Motivation ; Rural Health Services ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Social Conditions ; Students, Medical* ; Child Health

Objective To evaluate fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (FEVAR) using physician-modified stent-grafts (PMSGs) for thoraco-abdominal aortic lesions.Methods Seven cases of thoraco-abdominal aortic lesions (1 type Ⅲ thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm,1 type Ⅳ thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm,4 chronic thoraco-abdominal aortic dissection and 1 type Ⅰ endoleak after EVAR due to abdominal aortic aneurysm) were treated with FEVAR from Nov 2016 to Nov 2017.Results FEVAR was performed successfully in all cases.Type Ⅱ and Ⅲ endoleak occurred in 4 cases.One died of acute myocardial infarction 2 days postoperatively.Renal dysfunction deterioration occurred in one case of chronic dissection and improved after the medical treatment.Renal subcapsular hematoma was found in 2 cases postoperatively,and resolved after conservative therapy.Mean follow-up period was 7.2 months,target vessel patency was identified in 5 of the 6 cases.Conclusions FEVAR using PMSGs is a viable alternative to treat thoraco-abdominal aortic lesions.

Objective:To evaluate the calf muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat fraction (FF) in amateur marathon runners based on T 2WI-Flex fat-suppression sequence and iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetrical and least-squares estimation quantitation sequence (IDEAL-IQ) technique, and to explore the correlation between them and age, body mass index (BMI), running age, speed exercise, and monthly exercise. Methods:From September to November 2022, 37 amateur marathon group (marathon group) and 12 healthy volunteers (control group) who did not often exercise were recruited in Shijiazhuang. T 2WI-Flex fat-suppression sequence and IDEAL-IQ sequence were performed on all subjects. The anterior group of the right calf (tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, extensor digital longus), external group of the calf (peroneus longus, peroneus brevis), soleus, medial head and lateral head of the gastrocnemius were delineated along the edge of the muscle contour as regions of interest, and the CSA and FF values of the muscles were obtained. Twelve subjects matched with the clinical data of the control group were selected from the marathon group (marathon matched group), and the differences in CSA and FF were compared by independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between CSA and FF values of the right calf and running-related indicators including age, BMI, running age, speed exercise, and monthly exercise in 37 amateur marathon runners. Results:The CSA of the right calf soleus muscle in the marathon matched matched group was larger than that in the control group ( t=-2.09, P=0.048). There was no significant difference in CSA of other calf muscles between the two groups ( P>0.05). The FF values of the right calf anterior group, the outer group, the soleus muscle, the medial head and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle in the marathon matched group were lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05). The BMI of 37 amateur marathon runners was positively correlated with the CSA and FF values of the anterior group, the outer group, the soleus, the medial head and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle (CSA: r=0.628, 0.468, 0.680, 0.566, 0.615, respectively, all P<0.05; FF value: r=0.395, 0.567, 0.631, 0.482, 0.516, respectively, all P<0.05). The FF values of the anterior group, the outer group, the soleus, the medial head and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle were negatively correlated with monthly exercise ( r=-0.337, -0.405, -0.437, -0.338, -0.446, respectively, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Long-term running training can reduce the FF value of each calf muscle group, and the FF value of calf muscles is negatively correlated with the amount of running each month. Long-term running training has the greatest effect on the CSA of soleus muscle.

This study explored the ideas and methods of acupuncture for Guillain-Barré Syndrome （GBS） with the core principle of “to treat flaccidity， select the yangming （阳明） channel only”. The main pathological mechanism of GBS is deficiency of qi and blood in the yangming channel， malnutrition of all sinews， diminished spleen and stomach function leading to the production of pathogenic damp-heat qi， which obstructs the meridians， and gradually affects the liver and kidneys， consuming essence and damaging blood. Concurrently， dysfunction of the dumai （督脉） pivotal mechanism and lack of moisture in sinews and vessels result in symptoms such as skin numbness， paralysis， and muscle wastage. In clinical diagnosis and treatment， a combination of syndrome and channel differentiation is taken. Treatment primarily focuses on acupoints of yangming channel， aiming to supplement qi and blood， and acupoints of du mai are combined to open the vessel and fill the marrow. Specific acupoints are selected based on syndrome differentiation， providing comprehensive regulation to promote harmonization of qi and blood， relieve meridians， and the smooth generation and circulation of whole body fluids. This， in turn， enhances the strength of muscles and bones， and fosters a robust and freely moving body.