Objective To explore the impact of Toxoplasma gondii infection on pregnancy outcomes in early pregnancy wom-en. Methods Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG antibodies in the peripheral blood of 2 993 early pregnant women were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). According to the test results,the infected ones were divided into an acute in-fection group,a previous infection group,and an active infection group,and 200 pregnant women without Toxoplasma infection were randomly chosen as a control group,and the pregnancy outcomes of the four groups were followed up and the results were compared. Results There were 286 women infected with Toxoplasma gondii,with the infection rate of 9.56%(286/2 993),in which 43 cases were diagnosed as acute infection,156 were previous cases,and the other 87 were active infection ones. The inci-dences of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the above 3 groups and the control group were 13.95%(6/43),1.92%(3/156),5.75%(5/87)and 1.50%(3/200),respectively. The incidences of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the acute infection group and active in-fection group were both higher than that in the control group,the differences were statistically significant(both P<0.05),while there was no significant difference between the previous infection group and control group(P>0.05). Conclusion Acute and ac-tive Toxoplasma gondii infections are closely associated with the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in early pregnant wom-en;therefore,Toxoplasma gondii IgM antibody should be included in the routine inspection items of the pre-pregnancy physical examination for child-bearing age women.

Objective To discuss the test efficiency of three methods for detecting Toxoplasma IgG antibody. Methods To-tally 304 specimens were detected parallelly for Toxoplasma IgG antibody by using the gold marked method,indirect hemagglutina-tion test(IHA),and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and the sensitivity,specificity and Youden index of these methods were compared. Results The detection sensitivities of gold marked method,IHA,and ELISA for Toxoplasma IgG anti-body were 85.5%,89.8%and 91.9%respectively(χ2=4.12,P>0.05);the specificities were 92.4%,96.6%and 97.5%respec-tively(χ2=4.06,P>0.05). The detection efficiency and Youden index of ELISA were 94.1%and 0.89 respectively,being high-er than those of IHA and gold marked method. Conclusion The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA method for Toxoplasma IgG antibody are higher,and in addition,it can be automated. Therefore,it is suitable for large-scale Toxoplasma IgG antibody screening.

BACKGROUND:Estrogen signaling pathway for interaction between aromatase and estrogen-related receptor may exist in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s, which is used for regulating biological activity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s. OBJECTIVE:To observe the expression of aromatase and estrogen-related receptors in adult bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s during osteogenic differentiation. METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s were respectively cultured in low-glucose DMEM medium (control group) and osteogenic induction medium (induction group). Cel proliferation and calcium deposition were determined by MTT assay and alizarin red staining, respectively. The expression of aromatase, estrogen receptorα, estrogen receptorβ, and estrogen-related receptorαduring osteogenic differentiation were determined by real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Estradiol levels in supernatants and lysates were detected by ELISA method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the induction group, the proliferation ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s was the strongest at 72 hours of culture;while there were a great amount of calcium nodules formed at 21 days of culture. Results from PCR and western blot assay showed that the expression of aromatase and estrogen receptorαwas improved in the induction group, but the expression of estrogen-related receptorαwas inhibited. There was no difference in the expression of estrogen receptorβbetween the two groups. ELISA results indicated that the level of estradiol in the supernatant of induction group was the highest. These findings indicate that aromatase, estrogen receptorα, estrogen receptorβand estrogen-related receptorαare al involved in osteogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s. Moreover, estradiol can be synthesized and secreted in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s, and most likely, promote the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s by related receptor pathway.

The duck circovirus (DuCV) infection in sick ducks from Fujian Province was investigated. The liver samples of 43 sick Muscovy ducks with infectious serositis were collected from 12 duck farms in Fujian Province.Based on the published sequences of DuCV, two primers were designed for the detection of DuCV and four pairs of primers were designed to amplify four overlapping fragments that cover the complete genome of DuCV. The specific PCR products were amplified from positive samples. The fragments were then cloned into pMD18-T vector and sequenced, and the full length genomic sequence of the FJ0601 isolate of DuCV was obtained. PCR analysis showed that the proportion of ducks which were positive for circovirus was 79% and 10 out of the 12 farms were positive. Sequence analysis showed that the complete genome of DuCV-FJ0601 was 1988 bp and possessed features common to the family Circoviridae which included a stem-loop structure and the Rep protein motifs. Homology analysis showed that FJ0601 isolate of DuCV had 97.3%～97.5% nucleotide sequence identity to all the four Taiwan isolates (TC1/2002, TC2/2002, TC3/2002, TC4/2002), 82.9% identity to the America (33753-52) isolate and 82.3% identity to the Germany isolate. Phylogenetic analysis with Clustal W, however,showed that FJ0601 isolate of DuCV was on a common branch with Taiwan isolates, and Germany and America isolates belonged to the other branch.

The aim of this study is to establish a multiplex polymerase chain raction (PCR) to identify of four kinds of laboratory animal pathogens: Pasteurella multocida, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae.Methods Specific primers were designed based on GenBank data.The multiplex PCR system was established through optimization of multiple PCR and detection of its specificity and sensitivity.This technique was used to test artificially infected samples and tracheal secretions of experimental animals (rat, mouse, guinea pig, rabbit, hamster), and comparing the detection results by this method and traditional detection test.Results Target bands of Pasteurella multocida (356 bp), Bordetella bronchiseptica (237 bp), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (266 bp), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (142 bp) were obtained, with a detection sensitivity of Klebsiella pneumoniae of 10 pg, and that of Pasteurella multocida, Bordetella bronchiseptica and Mycoplasma pneumoniae of 1 pg by this newly developed multiplex PCR assay.No target bands were observed from the non-specific pathogens of artificially infected samples.The tracheal secretions taken from 45 experimental animals (mice and rabbits) were tested with this new PCR assay, among which 15 cases of Klebsiella pneumonia and 9 cases of Pasteurella multocida were detected as positive, while all the results of traditional method and serological test were negative.Conclusions A simple, rapid, specific and highly sensitive multiplex PCR system has been successfully established.It is valuable for detection of Pasteurella multocida, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae in laboratory animals.

Objective To investigate the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs ) on vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 ( MCP-1 ) of acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (AMI-R) injury in rats. Methods 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group, AMI-R group and UCMSCs treatment groups on average. The rats were sacrificed on the 10th day after UCMSCs transplantation, and the myocardial tissues below the ligature were taken. The mRNA and protein expressions of MCP-1 of the tissue were detected by RT-PCR and Western Blot respectively, and the expression of VEGF protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results The relative expression levels of MCP-1 mRNA and the protein in UCMSCs group were significantly lower than those in sham group and AMI-R group (all P<0.05). The expression of VEGF protein in UCMSCs group was significantly higher than that in sham group and AMI-R group, the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05). Conclusion UCMSCs transplantation can promote the angiogenesis and decrease the inflammation reaction in the treatment of acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Objective:To explore the effect of the treatment of tendinous mallet finger deformity by the minimally invasive percutaneous quantitative suture technique eight times.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with fresh tendinous mallet fingers who underwent surgery in the Department of Hand and Foot Microsurgery of Nanjing Jiangbei Hospital from April 2021 to April 2022. During the procedure, the extensor digitalis tendon in the zone Ⅰ was sutured percutaneous with 3-0 thread monofilament sutures in the "quantitative 8-stitch method" according to the pre-marked number sequence of 1 to 8, and fixed at the base of the distal phalanx via a constructed bone tunnel. Removal of the Kirschner wire 8 weeks, the brace was used to fix the affected finger in the dorsal extension. The flexion and extension of the affected finger were gradually strengthened. The function of the affected finger was evaluated according to the Crawford standard after operation and follow-up: the active flexion and extension range of motion of each joint of the affected finger and the contralateral healthy finger was measured, and the total active ranges of motion of the finger were recorded. Finger function was evaluated according to the total active range of motion (TAM) system of the American Association of Hand Surgeons.Results:A total of 10 patients (10 digits) were enrolled, including 7 males and 3 females, and the age ranged from 20 to 52 years old, with an average age of 36.5 years old. The distance of tendon break was ≤10 mm. The operation time of the patients was 20-30 min, with an average of 24.5 min. The intraoperative blood loss was minimal. All 10 cases were followed up and the follow-up period was 6 to 12 months, with an average of 7 months. Mallet finger deformities were all corrected postoperatively, dorsal skin of fingers without a scar, there were no knot exposure, skin necrosis and other complications. At the last follow-up, the mean active range of motion of the distal interphalangeal joint was 84.4° and the mean TAM of the injured finger was 265.6°. According to TAM system assessment criteria: 8 cases were excellent, and 2 cases were good.Conclusions:Satisfactory therapeutic outcome for the treatment of tendinous mallet finger deformity can be achieved by the minimally invasive percutaneous quantitative suture technique eight times. It is a simple, safe, and effective method with minimal invasion.

Objective:To explore the effect of the treatment of tendinous mallet finger deformity by the minimally invasive percutaneous quantitative suture technique eight times.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with fresh tendinous mallet fingers who underwent surgery in the Department of Hand and Foot Microsurgery of Nanjing Jiangbei Hospital from April 2021 to April 2022. During the procedure, the extensor digitalis tendon in the zone Ⅰ was sutured percutaneous with 3-0 thread monofilament sutures in the "quantitative 8-stitch method" according to the pre-marked number sequence of 1 to 8, and fixed at the base of the distal phalanx via a constructed bone tunnel. Removal of the Kirschner wire 8 weeks, the brace was used to fix the affected finger in the dorsal extension. The flexion and extension of the affected finger were gradually strengthened. The function of the affected finger was evaluated according to the Crawford standard after operation and follow-up: the active flexion and extension range of motion of each joint of the affected finger and the contralateral healthy finger was measured, and the total active ranges of motion of the finger were recorded. Finger function was evaluated according to the total active range of motion (TAM) system of the American Association of Hand Surgeons.Results:A total of 10 patients (10 digits) were enrolled, including 7 males and 3 females, and the age ranged from 20 to 52 years old, with an average age of 36.5 years old. The distance of tendon break was ≤10 mm. The operation time of the patients was 20-30 min, with an average of 24.5 min. The intraoperative blood loss was minimal. All 10 cases were followed up and the follow-up period was 6 to 12 months, with an average of 7 months. Mallet finger deformities were all corrected postoperatively, dorsal skin of fingers without a scar, there were no knot exposure, skin necrosis and other complications. At the last follow-up, the mean active range of motion of the distal interphalangeal joint was 84.4° and the mean TAM of the injured finger was 265.6°. According to TAM system assessment criteria: 8 cases were excellent, and 2 cases were good.Conclusions:Satisfactory therapeutic outcome for the treatment of tendinous mallet finger deformity can be achieved by the minimally invasive percutaneous quantitative suture technique eight times. It is a simple, safe, and effective method with minimal invasion.

With the number of cases of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) increasing rapidly, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that patients with mild or moderate symptoms could be released from quarantine without nucleic acid retesting, and self-isolate in the community. This may pose a potential virus transmission risk. We aimed to develop a nomogram to predict the duration of viral shedding for individual COVID-19 patients. This retrospective multicentric study enrolled 135 patients as a training cohort and 102 patients as a validation cohort. Significant factors associated with the duration of viral shedding were identified by multivariate Cox modeling in the training cohort and combined to develop a nomogram to predict the probability of viral shedding at 9, 13, 17, and 21 d after admission. The nomogram was validated in the validation cohort and evaluated by concordance index (C-index), area under the curve (AUC), and calibration curve. A higher absolute lymphocyte count (
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Viral/blood* ; Area Under Curve ; COVID-19/virology* ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nomograms ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Viral Load ; Virus Shedding