Objective To examine the inter- rater reliablity of Myoton-3 Myometer in assessment of muscle tone in healthy subjects.Methods 20 healthy volunteers were assessed their muscle tone of biceps brachii and flexor carpi radialis muscles in relaxed state with Myoton-3 by 2 testers within 24 h. The frequency of damping oscillations (F value) measured by Myoton-3 was as the characteristic of the muscletone. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis were performed. Results The ICC was 0.72~0.88 and 0.79~0.89 in triple scan and ten-time scan pattern, respectively. The Bland-Altman analysis revealed no systematic errors between testers. ConclusionThe Myoton-3 Myometer is reliable between testers for measuring the muscle tone in healthy adults.

This paper discusses the importance of the usage and maintenance of image plate(IP)for CR image quality and the life span of IP.

[Objective]This study was designed to investigate capability of the conditioned media that originated from Renca cells to convert CIM~+ CD25~- T cells into CD4~+ CD25~+ T cells,which can exert immunosuppressive effect on effector T cells in vitro and in vivo.[Methods]The common media were mixed with the conditioned media at different ratios,and fresh enriched CD4~+ CD25~- T cells with MACS were cultured in mixed media for 7 days.At end-point of culture,the cells were collected and detected phenotypes in flow cytometer.Moreover,we detected immunosuppressive effect of converted CD4~+ CD25~+ T cells on effeetor T cells proliferation in one-way mixed lymphocytes reaction by using CCK-8,and we observed survival time and histology of grafts.The delayed type hypersensitivity was determined 14 days after transplantation.[Results]The mixed media could increase ratio of CD4~+ CD25~+ Foxp3~+ T cells in conditioned media ratio-dependent(P＜0.05),compared with control groups,when the mixed media contained no mote than 75% of conditioned media.The converted CD4~+ CD25~+ T cells significantly suppress proliferation of effector T cells in vitro,and prolong survival time of grafts,which were(29.6±1.4)d in converted CD4~+ CD25~+ T cells treated groups(P＜0.05),compared with that in untreated groups(9.8±0.6 d)or PBS treated groups(10.9±0.6 d).Moreover,delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction were conducted at day 14 after transplantation in the recipients,and the results showed that less pad swelling in the group treated with converted CD4~+ CD25~+ T cells than other control groups was found,according to measurement of pad swelling.In addition,progressed to complete necrosis of grafts were exhibited in the mice treated with PBS and untreated mice,whereas better healing of grafts and less lymphocytes infiltration were displayed in the mice treated with converted CD4~+ CD25~+ T cells,which were similar to the mice treated with natural regulatory T cells.[Conclusion]The converted CD4~+ CD25~+ T cells with Renca conditioned media play suppressive role in vitro and in vivo.

The construction of teaching faculty is not only a core element to carry out medical education in municipal general hospitals, but also a weak link. Constructing a performance evaluation system of teaching faculty has important significance in promoting teaching reform and innovation, and improving teachers' enthusiasm for teaching as well as their teaching quality in municipal general hospitals. Taking the Affiliated Dongguan People's Hospital of Southern Medical University as an example, this paper focused on the construction of teaching faculty and aimed to provide references for municipal general hospitals to build a performance evaluation system through the promotion of a series of measures such as teaching ability assessment, quantitative assessment of teaching work, teaching quality evaluation, and teaching contribution assessment.

Objective: To investigate the vitamin A nutritional status of 6- to 17-year-old urban children and adolescents by analyzing serum retinol level, between 2010 and 2012 in China. Methods: Data were obtained from the China Nutrition and Health Survey in 2010-2012. Using multi-stage stratified sampling and the population proportional stratified random sampling method, 6 617 children aged 6-17 years from 32 metropolis and 41 middle-sized and small cities of China were selected. The questionnaire survey was used to collect demographic information. Blood samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography to determine serum retinol concentration, and the World Health Organization guidelines were used to evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin A. Vitamin A levels, vitamin A deficiency, and marginal vitamin A deficiency in children with different characteristics were compared. Results: A total of 3 785 cases with valid samples were obtained. The overall mean serum retinol concentration level was (1.49±0.71) μmol/L; the mean serum retinol concentration was (1.55±0.69) μmol/L for metropolis and (1.49±0.75) μmol/L for middle-sized and small cities (P>0.05). The mean serum retinol concentration was (1.52±0.78) μmol/L for boys and (1.47±0.68) μmol/L for girls (P>0.05). The mean serum retinol concentration level was (1.46±0.70) μmol/L for 6- to 11-year-old children and (1.54±0.65) μmol/L for 12- to 17-year-old children (P<0.05). The total vitamin A deficiency rate and marginal vitamin A deficiency rate was 7.69% (291/3 785) and 18.57% (703/3 785), respectively. The vitamin A deficiency rate was 8.00% (36/450) for metropolis and 7.64% (65/3 335) for middle-sized and small cities; 8.12% (155/1 908) for boys and 7.25% (136/1 877) for girls; and 8.04% (171/2 115) for 6- to 11-year-old children and 7.18% (120/1 670) for 12- to 17-year-old children. No significant differences were observed for region, sex, or age (P>0.05). The marginal vitamin A deficiency rate was 19.11% (86/450) for metropolis and 18.50% (617/3 335) for middle-sized and small cities; 18.19% (347/1 908) for boys and 18.97% (356/1 877) for girls, with no significant differences observed (P>0.05). The marginal vitamin A deficiency rate was 16.54% (350/2 115) for 6- to 11-year-old children and 21.13% (353/1 670) for 12- to 17-year-old children (P<0.05). Conclusion The vitamin A nutritional status of 6- to 17-year-old Chinese urban children and adolescents between 2010 and 2012 has improved, and the gap between cities is narrowing. However, vitamin A deficiency overall remains high, especially in younger children, and requires specific attention.

OBJECTIVEThe level of blood hemoglobin and the anemia status of Chinese urban residents in 2010-2012 was analyzed.

METHODSAll the data in this study came from the China Nutrition and Health Survey in 2010-2012. By using multi-stage stratified sampling and population proportional stratified random sampling method, 74 276 residents aged above 6 from 34 metropolis and 41 middle-sized and small cities were included in this study. The concentration of blood hemoglobin was determined by cyanmethemoglobin method. Anemia was judged by the anemia standard recommended by WHO, combined with elevation correction standard. The level of blood hemoglobin, the prevalence of anemia and the 95%CI value were analyzed by using the complex sampling weighted processing, combined with the population figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics in 2009.

RESULTSIn 2010-2012, the level of blood hemoglobin of Chinese city population was(144.16 ± 0.78)g/L, (152.88 ± 0.94)g/L for male and(135.01 ± 0.71)g/L for female, while (145.65 ± 1.22)g/L for metropolis and (143.90 ± 0.89)g/L for small and medium-sized. The anemia prevalence of Chinese city population (pregnant women were not included) was 9.7%(95%CI: 9.4%-10.1%), 6.8%(95%CI: 6.4%-7.3%) for male and 12.8%(95%CI: 12.2%-13.4%) for female, while 8.5%(95% CI: 8.0%-9.0%) for metropolis and 10.0%(95%CI: 9.5%-10.4%) for small and medium-sized. The anemia prevalence of 18-44 women (15.4%, 95%CI: 14.3%-16.6%) was the highest among all the age-groups, and the average anemia prevalence of people more than 60 years-old (including) (12.5%, 95%CI: 11.8%-13.2%) was higher than the other age-groups.

CONCLUSIONThe anemia prevalence of Chinese city population in 2010-2012 was obviously decreased in comparison of 10 years ago, while, more attention and improvement measures should be take upon women at reproductive age and the elder people.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Methemoglobin ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Prevalence ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

Objective: To evaluate the vitamin D nutritional status in Chinese women of child-bearing age by analyzing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level in 2010-2012. Methods: Data were obtained from the China Nutrition and Health Survey in 2010-2012. Using cluster sampling and proportional stratified random sampling, 1 514 women of child-bearing age (18-44 years old) from 34 metropolis and 41 small and medium-sized cities were included in this study. Demographic information was collected by questionnaire and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay, in accordance with the 2010 Institute of Medicine of the National Academies standards. We compared differences in vitamin D levels, specifically serious deficiency, lack of deficiency, insufficiency, and excess. Results: The overall serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of Chinese urban women of child-bearing age (P₅₀ (P₂₅-P₇₅)) was 20.1 (15.1-26.3) ng/ml; minorities had a significantly higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 22.0 (15.9-27.5) ng/ml compared with women of Han nationality (19.8 (14.9-26.2) ng/ml) (χ²=7.02, P=0.008). The proportions of women with serious deficiency, lack of deficiency, insufficiency, and excess vitamin D were 11.6% (n=175), 37.9% (n=574), 35.1% (n=531), and 0.3% (n=5), respectively. Only 15.1% (n=229) of women of child-bearing age had normal vitamin D nutritional status. No significant differences in vitamin D nutritional status were observed according to age, body mass index, city, nationality, educational level, marital status, or household income per capita (P>0.05). Conclusion Most Chinese urban women of child-bearing age have poor vitamin D levels and require vitamin D supplementation.

Objective: To assess the vitamin A nutritional status of the Chinese urban elderly population by analyzing serum retinol level in 2010-2012. Methods: Data were collected from the Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey in 2010-2012. Using the multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method, serum samples from elderly residents aged ≥60 years old were obtained from 34 metropolis and 41 middle-sized and small cities. Demographic data were collected using a questionnaire survey. The serum retinol concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was determined using the World Health Organization guidelines. A total of 3 200 elderly residents were included in the study. The serum retinol levels and prevalence of VAD and marginal VAD were also compared. Results: The serum retinol concentration (P₅₀(P₂₅-P₇₅)) of Chinese urban elderly residents was 1.83 (1.37-2.39) μmoL/L. Compared with middle-sized and small cities (1.91 (1.47-2.48) μmol/L), the retinol level of senior citizens in metropolis (1.70 (1.25-2.25) μmol/L) was significantly lower (P<0.001). The serum retinol levels of elderly male (1.89 (1.37-2.47) μmoL/L) was significantly higher than that of female (1.80 (1.36-2.28) μmoL/L) (P=0.001). The serum retinol concentration was 1.87 (1.42-2.43), 1.78 (1.32-2.33), and 1.71 (1.24-2.24) μmol/L for 60-69, 70-79, and ≥80 years olds, respectively. The retinol level in elderly people ≥70 years olds was significantly lower than that of 60-69 years olds (P<0.001). The overall prevalence of VAD among Chinese urban elderly residents was 4.22% (135/3 200); 6.00% (81/1 350) for metropolis residents and 2.92% (54/1 850) for middle-sized and small city residents. The overall marginal VAD rate of Chinese urban elderly residents was 8.19% (262/3 200); 10.51% (142/1 350) for metropolis residents and 6.49% (120/1 850) for medium-sized and small city residents. The prevalence of VAD and marginal VAD for males was 3.87% (61/1 577) and 8.24% (130/1 577), respectively (P<0.05). The prevalence of VAD according to age group was 3.65% (72/1 975), 4.96% (50/1 008), and 5.99% (13/217), respectively(P=0.097). The prevalence of marginal VAD according to age group was 6.99% (138/1 975), 9.82% (99/1 008), and 11.52% (25/217), respectively(P=0.05). Conclusion Chinese urban elderly residents showed various levels of VAD, although marginal VAD was quite common. As VAD was more common in metropolis residents and older residents, specific strategies should target these populations.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of anemia and the nutritional status of vitamins A and D by analyzing hemoglobin, serum retinol, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in Chinese urban pregnant women during 2010-2012. Methods: Data were obtained from the China Nutrition and Health Survey in 2010-2012. Using multi-stage stratified sampling and population proportional stratified random sampling, 2 250 pregnant women from 34 metropolis and 41 middle-sized and small cities were included in this study. Information was collected using a questionnaire survey. The blood hemoglobin concentration was determined using the cyanmethemoglobin method, and anemia was determined using the World Health Organization guidelines combined with the elevation correction standard. The serum retinol level was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography, and vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was judged by the related standard recommended by the World Health Organization. The vitamin D level was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and vitamin D deficiency was judged by the recommendation standards from the Institute of Medicine of The National Academies. The hemoglobin, serum retinol, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were compared, along with differences in the prevalence of anemia, VAD, and the vitamin D deficiency rate (including deficiency and serious deficiency). Results: A total of 1 738 cases of hemoglobin level, 594 cases of serum retinol level, and 1 027 cases of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D were available for analysis in this study. The overall blood hemoglobin level (P₅₀ (P₂₅-P₇₅)) was 122.70 (114.00-131.10) g/L; 123.70 (115.21-132.00) g/L for metropolis and 122.01 (113.30-130.40) g/L for middle-sized and small cities. The blood hemoglobin level of metropolis residents was significantly higher than that of middle-sized and small city residents (P=0.027). The overall prevalence of anemia was 17.0% (295/1 738). The overall serum retinol level (P₅₀ (P₂₅-P₇₅)) was 1.61 (1.20-2.06) μmol/L; 1.50 (1.04-2.06) μmol/L for metropolis and 1.63 (1.31-2.05) μmol/L for middle-sized and small cities. The serum retinol level of metropolis residents was significantly higher than that of middle-sized and small city residents (P=0.033). The overall prevalence of VAD was 7.4% (47/639); 11.5% (33/286) for metropolis and 4.0% (14/353) for middle-sized and small cities. A significant difference was observed in the prevalence of VAD between metropolis and middle-sized and small city residents (P<0.001). The overall serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level (P₅₀ (P₂₅-P₇₅)) was 15.41 (11.79-20.23) ng/ml; 14.71 (11.15-19.07) ng/ml for metropolis and 16.02 (12.65-21.36) ng/ml for middle-sized and small cities. A significant difference was observed in the vitamin D level between metropolis and middle-sized and small city residents (P<0.001). The overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 74.3% (763/1 027); A significant difference was observed in the prevalence of serious vitamin D deficiency between metropolis (30.64%(144/470)) and middle-sized and small city residents (26%(267/1 027))(P=0.002). There were no significant differences between blood hemoglobin level and the prevalence of anemia, VAD, and vitamin D deficiency. Conclusion The prevalence of anemia in Chinese urban pregnant women improved from 2002 to 2012. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women was generally more serious, while a certain percentage of women had VAD. The prevalence of VAD and serious vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women from metropolis was significantly higher than that of pregnant women from medium and small-sized cities.

Candida albicans is the most abundant fungal species in oral cavity. As a smart opportunistic pathogen, it increases the virulence by switching its forms from yeasts to hyphae and becomes the major pathogenic agent for oral candidiasis. However, the overuse of current clinical antifungals and lack of new types of drugs highlight the challenges in the antifungal treatments because of the drug resistance and side effects. Anti-virulence strategy is proved as a practical way to develop new types of anti-infective drugs. Here, seven artemisinins, including artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin, artemisinic acid, dihydroartemisinic acid, artesunate, artemether and arteether, were employed to target at the hyphal development, the most important virulence factor of C. albicans. Artemisinins failed to affect the growth, but significantly inhibited the hyphal development of C. albicans, including the clinical azole resistant isolates, and reduced their damage to oral epithelial cells, while arteether showed the strongest activities. The transcriptome suggested that arteether could affect the energy metabolism of C. albicans. Seven artemisinins were then proved to significantly inhibit the productions of ATP and cAMP, while reduced the hyphal inhibition on RAS1 overexpression strain indicating that artemisinins regulated the Ras1-cAMP-Efg1 pathway to inhibit the hyphal development. Importantly, arteether significantly inhibited the fungal burden and infections with no systemic toxicity in the murine oropharyngeal candidiasis models in vivo caused by both fluconazole sensitive and resistant strains. Our results for the first time indicated that artemisinins can be potential antifungal compounds against C. albicans infections by targeting at its hyphal development.
Animals ; Mice ; Candida albicans ; Candidiasis, Oral/drug therapy* ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology* ; Hyphae ; Artemisinins/pharmacology*