The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in free-range chickens in Jilin province, northeastern China was investigated. A total of 1095 serum samples were collected from nine administrative regions from July to October, 2012, and antibodies to T. gondii were examined by an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using Toxoplasma lysate antigen (TLA). The detection results were confirmed by Western blot. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii in free-range chickens was 17.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.4–19.4%), ranging from 13.3% (95% CI, 6.3–20.4%) in Siping to 23.6% (95% CI, 15.7–31.6%) in Liaoyuan. There was no significant difference in T. gondii infection among different regions in Jilin province (P> 0.05). The widespread presence of T. gondii infection in freerange chickens of Jilin province implies the wide contamination with T. gondii oocysts in the living environment of people, and free-range chickens might be an important source of infection for humans.

Objective To sum up the experience on diagnosis and treatment of Hashimoto disease and its concurrent thyropathy. Methods Clinical data were analyzed on 52 cases of Hashimoto disease(HD) surgically found to have concurrent thyropathy from Jan 1984 to Jun 2001 out of 138 HD cases undergoing surgery. Results Thyroid nodules were found in all 52 HD cases, among which 17 were with thyroid cancer, 2 with malignant lymphoma, 5 with thyroid adenoma, 2 with hyperthyroidism, and 26 with nodular goiter. Thyroidectomy of different extent was performed. Postoperatively all cases were given thyroxine. On follow-up a patient with malignant lymphoma died, and one patient suffered hypothyroidism. Conclusion HD is a ubiquitous disease. The clinical diagnosis of is still difficult. HD cases complicated with thyroid nodules should be treated surgically to exclude malignant tumors. Intraoperative frozen section is a reliable diagnostic method and may guide the surgical modality.

Objective To study on the research focus of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor(ACEI) and calcium channel blocker.Methods From 1999 to 2008,the literature which the "angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor"and"angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor" in SCI database were collected.CiteSpace visualization techniques were uesd to analyze hot fields,hot spot of the author and the hot article on two types of the drugs.Results There were 5 hot fields on two type of drugs,respectively were theray,ACEI,hypentesion,CCB and randomized-trial.The most frequent intermediate words were hypentesion and mortality,etc.The hotest fields were HARVARD UNIV and UNIV MILAN respectively,and the hotest magazine were Hypentesion,Hypentesions Rev respectively.Conclusion CiteSpace visualization techniques can make a scitific conclusion on ACEI and CCB.

Objective To study the bovine coronary artery endothelial cells(BCAEC)damage induced by cigarette abstracts and further clarify the relationship between smoking and cardiovascular diseases.Methods BCAEC were treated with nicotine, mainstream smoke extract(MSW)and sidestream smoke extract(SSW)which had the normal concentration(1.0?10~(-5),0.8?10~(-5), 0.9?10~(-5)mol/L)of nicotine in smoker.The morphological changes of BCAEC were recorded by microscope digital image system. The quantification of apoptotic BCAEC cells was performed by visualization of nuclei stained with 4,6'-diamidino-2-phenylindole and trypan blue exclusion assay was used to examine the percentage of necrotic BCAEC.The caspase activity assay was employed to discuss the mechanism of BCAEC apoptosis.Results BCAEC exposed to nicotine and MSW appeared the typical morphological alteration of apoptosis and necrotic morphological alteration were observed after BCAWC were treated with SSW. 5.89% and 11.94% apoptotic ceils were found after BCAEC were exposed to nicotine and MSW for 24 hours.The level of BCAEC necrosis after treated with SSW was 62.84%.Caspase-3 activity was induced by nicotine and MSW.Conclusion Cigarette smoke extract can induce the cell death of BCAEC.Nicotine and MSW can induce caspase-3 activity increase.Even in the presence of a non-cytotoxic concentration of nicotine and mainstream smoke solution,protease-induced apoptosis of BCAEC can be significantly increased.Sidestream smoke solution may cause BCAEC necrosis instead of apoptosis.Caspase-3 activation is probably the mechanism of BCAEC apoptosis.

Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of continuous light and benzene exposure on peripheral blood erythrocyte - Methods parameters and expression of miR 144/451 in the bone marrow of mice. This was a 2×2 factorial design. Photoperiod ， ， factor was set as normal and continuous light levels and mice were treated for 12 hours/12 hours light/dark or 24 hours light - respectively. The benzene exposure factor was set as non exposure and exposure levels. Mice were exposed to benzene by static 3 ， inhalation with a mass concentration of 0.0 and 32.5 mg/m for three hours per day five days per week for a total of four weeks. ， ， Specific pathogen free male C57BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into negative control group simple continuous light group - - ， ， simple benzene exposure group and combined exposure group with 12 mice per group. After benzene exposure peripheral ， blood was collected for the detection of erythrocyte parameters in four periods. After the mice were sacrificed the expression of - - - - miR 451a and miR 144 5p was detected by real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction in bone marrow Results （ ）， ， tissues. The hematocrit volume HCT mean corpuscular volume mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration （ ） - MCHC and mean corpuscular hemoglobin in peripheral blood and the relative expression of miR 451a in bone marrow tissue （ P< ） ， were statistically significant only in mice with benzene exposure all 0.05 . Among them the MCHC of benzene exposed （P< ）， （ P< ） - mice increased 0.05 but the other four indexes decreased all 0.05 compared with non benzene exposed mice. In thenegative control group the change of red blood cells count hemoglobin level and HCT in peripheral blood were rhythmical all P < ） ， （ P > ） rhythmical 0.05 . However the indexes above were out of rhythm all rhythmical 0.05 in the simple continuous light group and the - （ P > combined exposure group. The change of hemoglobin level and HCT of peripheral blood were also out of rhythm all rhythmical ） - - 0.05 in the simple benzene exposure group. The relative expression of miR 451a in bone marrow tissues of negative control （ P < ）， - group and simple continuous light group was rhythmical all rhythmical 0.05 while the relative expression of miR 451a in simple - - （ P > ）Conclusion benzene exposure group and combined exposure group was out of rhythm all rhythmical 0.05 . Benzene exposure ， induced changes in erythrocyte parameters of mice are independent effect and its mechanism may be related to the rhythmic - ， expression disorder of miR 451a in bone marrow tissues. Continuous light exposure benzene exposure and their interactions can ， interfere with the circadian rhythm of erythrocyte parameters such as red blood cell count hemoglobin and HCT to some extent.

Objective: To explore the factors affecting carotid plaque formation among high-risk populations for stroke, so as to provide the reference for early intervention for carotid atherosclerosis among the populations. Methods: Permanent residents were selected from Minhang District, Shanghai Municipality using the multi-staged cluster random sampling method from April to September 2021. Basic information, family history of stroke and past medical history were collected by the Community and Township Population Screening Scale for Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Risk Factors. High-risk populations for stroke were identified according to the Technical Specifications for Stroke Screening and Prevention. Carotid plaque status was assessed using carotid ultrasonography. Factors affecting carotid plaque formation were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Among the 25 666 permanent residents surveyed, 8 459 were identified as high-risk populations for stroke, including 3 362 males and 5 097 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 0.66︰1. The median age was 66.00 (quartile range, 11.00) years. Carotid plaque were detected in 4 305 cases among high-risk population for stroke, accounting for 50.89%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age (OR=1.052, 95%CI: 1.043-1.061), family history of stroke (OR=1.297, 95%CI: 1.103-1.526), hypertension (OR=1.245, 95%CI: 1.025-1.512) and diabetes (OR=1.439, 95%CI: 1.241-1.669) were associated with a higher risk of carotid plaque formation in male high-risk population for stroke, advanced age (OR=1.058, 95%CI: 1.051-1.066), lack of exercise (OR=1.138, 95%CI: 1.001-1.294), family history of stroke (OR=1.201, 95%CI: 1.062-1.357), significant overweight or obesity (OR=1.269, 95%CI: 1.127-1.430) and hypertension (OR=1.169, 95%CI: 1.003-1.362) were associated with a higher risk of carotid plaque formation in female high-risk population for stroke. Conclusion The main influencing factors for carotid plaque formation among high-risk populations for stroke include age, family history of stroke, exercise, significant overweight or obesity, hypertension and diabetes, with gender differences observed.

No abstract available.
Chest Pain* ; Echocardiography* ; Thorax*

No abstract available.
Chest Pain* ; Echocardiography* ; Thorax*

Background The evaluation of visual function after laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) mainly focuses on the study of contrast sensitivity funetion (CSF).However,CSF measurement is a subjective method and therefore has a limiting in application.A point spread function (PSF) is becoming a study topic because of its objectivity in assessing visual quality.Objective Present study was to evaluate the change of the modulation transfer function (MTF) of eyes and compare the optical and visual quality of human eyes after LASIK.Methods Thirty-six patients(72 eyes) were included in this study.The patients were divided into low myopia(-2.72±0.52 D),moderate myopia (-4.89+0.80 D) and high myopia (-8.00+0.98 D) groups according to the spherical equivalent (SE)diopter before the sugery.The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA),best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were examined before and after operation,and PSF data was obtained with Topoeon PSF-1000 analyzer under the 3.0 mm and 6.0 mm pupil size conditions.The follow-up visits of the patients were scheduled at the 7th days,1 st and 3rd months.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient before this study. ResuIts The MTF values among the three refractive groups were significantly different between 3 mm and 6 mm pupil preoperatively (P＜0.05).Under the condition of 3 mm pupil size,the MTF values in the spatial frequencies of 2.98 cpd and 14.88 cpd were significantly declined in different time points after operation in comparison with preoperative ones (P＜0.05).However,the MTF changes had no statistical significance in the spatial frequencies from 18.85-37.70 cpd among various time points(P＞0.05).Under the condition of the 6 mm pupil size,MTF values in low and moderate myopia groups were reduced after operation in comparison with before operation at the spatial frequencies from 2.98-7.44 cpd(P＜0.05),however,there were no obvious difference was found in the spatial frequencies of 9.42-37.70 cpd(P＞0.05).The MTF values of high myopia group was decreased significantly at all spatial frequencies(P＜0.05).The MTF values improved gradually as the prolong of time after operation but was still lower at the 3rd postoperative month than that of preoperation. Conclusion The postoperative visual quality is associated with refractive power and pupil diameter.PSF is a feasible method in assessing the early visual quality after LASIK.

Introduction: Undergraduate medical education should be broad-based, holistic, integrated and should promote a framework for the development of higher order cognitive skills like communication, professionalism and teamwork to prepare the student for a life-long challenging medical career. Recent calls for a competency-based medical education require, in addition, competency in clinical and procedural skills prior to graduation. This study investigates how often opportunities exist for medical students to perform four common ward procedures prior to graduation. Method: A prospective cross-sectional study to assess the opportunities a medical student have in performing four common ward procedures, comprising intravenous cannulation, nasogastric tube insertion, urinary catheterisation and chest tube insertion, in a State General hospital in Malaysia was done. Results: A medical student has sufficient opportunity to perform only intravenous cannulation prior to graduation. He has a remote chance to insert a urinary catheter and is unlikely to have the opportunity to insert a nasogastric tube or insert a chest tube prior to graduation. Conclusion: Although competency in clinical skills and procedural skills prior to graduation are desirable, this is increasingly difficult to achieve due to shortage of clinical material, teachers to supervise, the large numbers of medical students and house officers, the short time spent on the main disciplines and the failure of many universities to invest heavily in skills laboratories staffed by full time clinicians. The calls to introduce competency-based medical education in undergraduate medical education, particularly in procedural competence, should take into account the challenges in delivery and the realities in the hospitals today. This is necessary to avoid demoralising students who are unable to achieve their quota of procedures through no fault of theirs.