Objective To investigate the changes and clinical significance of the plasma growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods A total of 100 patients with CHF were in?cluded in this study (CHF group), and 30 healthy persons were used as control group. CHF group was divided into heart func? tionⅡgrade (n=35),Ⅲgrade (n=32),Ⅳgrade (n=33) groups in accordance with New York Heart Association (NYHA). And CHF group was also divided into left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)<0.4 grade (n=52) and LVEF≥0.4 grade (n=48) groups in accordance with LVEF of patients. The plasma GDF-15 and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were detected by ELISA. The values of LVEF, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd), left ventricular systolic diameter (LVDs) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were detected by echocardiography. The correlation of GDF-15, NYHA classifi?cation, BNP and index of echocardiography was analyzed between groups. Results Compared with control group, the levels of BNP, GDF-15, LVDd and LVDs were significantly higher in heart failure group, and values of LVEF and LVFS were sig?nificantly lower (P<0.05). The plasma levels of BNP, GDF-15, LVDd and LVDs were in turn increased in control group, LVEF≥0.4 grade group and LVEF<0.4 grade group. The plasma levels of LVFS were in turn decreased, in control group, LVEF≥0.4 grade group and LVEF<0.4 grade group (P<0.05). There were positive correlations between the plasma levels of GDF-15 and BNP, NYHA, LVDd and LVDs (r=0.524, 0.286, 0.453 and 0.531, P<0.05). The plasma level of GDF-15 was negatively correlated with LVEF and LVFS (r=-0.592,-0.587,P<0.05). Conclusion The plasma level of GDF-15 can be used as a new marker for diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in patients with chronic congestive heart failure.

Objective: To investigate the protection roll of rosuvastatin on chronic heart failure (CHF) in rats with its effect on asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) metabolic pathway.
Methods: A total of 36 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, n=12 in each group. Isoproterenol (ISO) group, the rats received ISO subcutaneous injection (5mg·kg·d) for 7 days to establish CHF model, and then received normal saline gavage administration for 7 days. Rosuvastatin (ROS) treatment group, the rats received ISO with ROS for 7 days, then continuously receiving ROS until 14 days. Normal control group, the rats received saline gavage administration for 7 days. The related serum index and haemodynamic parameters were examined, myocardial pathological changes were observed and the relevant protein expression was measured by Western blot analysis.
Results: Compared with Normal control group, ISO group had obviously increased troponin (cTn I), serum ADMA,-LVdP/dtmin, all P<0.01, and decreased left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), heart rate, arterial SP, mean arterial pressure, +LVdP/dtmax, all P<0.01. Compared with ISO group, ROS treatment group showed signiifcantly decreased BNP, cTn I, ADMA , -LVdP/dtmin, all P<0.01, and increased LVSP, heart rate, arterial SP, mean arterial pressure,+LVdP/dtmax, all P<0.01. Compared with Normal control group, ISO group had increased expression of protein arginine methyltransferases 1 (PRMT1), decreased expression of dimethyl- arginine dimethylaminohydrolase 2 (DDHA2), both P<0.01. Compared with ISO group, ROS treatment group showed decreased expression of PRMT1, P<0.01 and similar expression DDHA2, P>0.05.
Conclusion: Rosuvastatin has the protective roll on ISO induced CHF in rats, which might be related to decreased serum levels of cTn I, BNP and ADMA metabolic pathway regulation.

Objective To understand the prevalence of Capillaria hepatica in rodents from Wuhan section of the Yangtze River marshland. Methods Rodents were trapped in Jiang an section of Wuhan marshland of the Yangtze River. The livers of the rodents were examined for pathological changes by unaided eyes and the liver tissues were examined for the eggs of C. hepati-ca by a microscope. Results According to the natural conditions the investigation was carried out in 6 survey areas. Each sur-vey area was placed with 60 mousetraps and all 360 mousetraps were recovered. A total of 31 rodents rodent density 8.61%were captured and examined including 24 Apodemus agrarius 3 Rattus norvegicus 4 Sorex caecutiens and C. hepatica eggs were found in 1 R. norvegicus 1/3 and not found in A. agrarius and S. caecutiens. Conclusion This study has documented a prevalence of C. hepatica in rodents from Wuhan section of the Yangtze River marshland where is a natural epidemic focus of ca-pillariasis hepatica.

Objective To observe the formation of the biofilm in endotracheal tubes,the characteris-tics of etiology, drug resistance and relationship between the biofilm and ventilator-associated pneumonia ( VAP) . Methods A total of 60 cases of ventilated children patients whose mechanical ventilation time were≥48 h in the ICU from September 2010 to September 2012,according to the mechanical ventilation time,all cases were divided into 2 to 6 d group,7 to 14 d group and ≥15 d group. The incidence of VAP, biofilm structure under the electron microscope,etiology culture positive rate of the lower airway secretions and bio-film,etiological characteristics and drug resistance were prospectively studied. Results ( 1 ) A total of 19 cases occurred VAP in 60 cases of mechanical ventilation,the incidence of VAP was 31. 7%. (2) Observed by electron microscope,biofilm had formed in the endotracheal tube inner wall in early period of mechanical ventilation. With prolonged mechanical ventilation,biofilm structure had improved,as well as VAP incidence rate from 9. 1%(2 to 6 d group ) increased to 44. 4%(7 to 14 d group) and 88. 9%(≥15 d group). (3) A large number of pathogenic bacteria colonized in the biofilm. Gram-negative bacilli were dominate and drug resistance was high. (4) With prolonged mechanical ventilation,the cultured pathogens from the lower airway secretions and biofilm converged. Conclusion Biofilm could form in the endotracheal tube with mechanical ventilation patients,and is associated with the occurrence of VAP and refractory infections.

There were 30%-60% of patients undergoing postintensive care syndrome (PICS) after hospitalized stay in intensive care unit (ICU), which seriously affected their qualities of life. The article aimed to review the current research status of physical and psychological nursing care approaches for PICS both in China and abroad, consider and prospect existing deficiencies, and provide academic suggestions for the establishment of physical and psychological care strategies to healthcare practitioners in China.

OBJECTIVETo achieve early diagnosis for inheritable hearing loss and determine carrier rate of deafness causing gene mutations in order to provide information for premarital, prenatal and postnatal genetic counseling.

METHODSA total of 17 000 dried heel blood spots of normal newborns in Chengdu were collected with informed consent obtained from their parents. Genomic DNA was extracted from dried blood spots using Qiagen DNA extraction kits. Microarrays with 9 common mutation loci of 4 deafness-associated genes in Chinese population were used. Nine hot mutations including GJB2 (35delG, 176del16, 235delC and 299delAT), GJB3 (538C> T), SLC26A4 (IVS 7-2A> G, 2168A> G), and mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA (1555A> G, 1494C> T) were detected by PCR amplification and microarray hybridization. Mutations detected by microarray were verified by Sanger DNA sequencing.

RESULTSOf the 17 000 new-borns, 542 neonates had mutations of the 4 genes. Heterozygous mutations of GJB2, at 235delC, 299delAT, and 176del16 were identified in 254, 55, and 15 newborns, respectively. Two newborns had homozygous mutation of GJB2, 235delC. Heterozygous mutations at 538C> T of GJB3, 2168A> G and IVS 7-2A> G of SLC26A4 were found in 23, 17 and 128 newborns, respectively. For mutation analysis of mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA, 1494C> T and 1555A> G were homogeneous mutations in 4 and 42 neonates, respectively. In addition, 6 complexity mutations were detected, which demonstrated that one newborn had heterozygous mutations at GJB2 235delC and SLC26A4, IVS7-2A> G, one had heterozygous mutation GJB2 235delC and 12S rRNA homogeneous mutation, 1555 A> G, one heterozygous mutations at GJB2, 299delAT, and GJB3, 538C> T, one at GJB2, 299delAT and 12S rRNA, 1555 A> G, two at GJB2, 299delAT, and SLC26A4, IVS7-2A> G. All mutations as above were confirmed by DNA sequencing.

CONCLUSIONThe total mutation carrier rate of the 4 deafness genes is 3.19% in healthy newborns at Chengdu. Mutations of GJB2 and SLAC26A4 are major ones (86.5% of total). The mutation rate of mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA is 2.71‰, which may have deafness induced by aminoglycoside antibiotics. Newborn screening for mutation of genes related to hereditary deafness plays an important role in the early detection and proper management for neonatal deafness as well as genetic counseling for premarital, prenatal and postnatal diagnosis.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; chemistry ; genetics ; Deafness ; diagnosis ; ethnology ; genetics ; Dried Blood Spot Testing ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; ethnology ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; methods ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Microarray Analysis ; methods ; Mutation ; Neonatal Screening ; methods ; RNA, Ribosomal ; genetics

Objective To compare the effects of losartan and irbesartan on blood pressure,blood uric acid,insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance in female hypertensive patients complicated with hyperuricemia.Methods From August 2015 to December 2017,100 females of hypertension complicated with hyperuricemia who hospitalized in the Third People's Hospital of Ningxia were enrolled in the study.All the patients were divided into two groups according to the random digital table,with 50 cases in each group.The observation group was treated with losartan,and the control group was treated with irbesartan for 8 weeks.The total effective rate and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Also the changes of blood pressure,serum uric acid,fasting glucose (FBG),fasting insulin (FINS),high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP),insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were compared between the two groups after treatment.Results There was no statistically significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups [92.0％ (46/50) vs.90.0％ (45/50)] (P ＞ 0.05).Before treatment,there were no statistically significant differences in blood pressure,serum uric acid,FBG,FINS,hs-CRP,ISI and HOMA-IR between the two groups (all P ＞ 0.05).After treatment,the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in the two groups were (133.09 ± 10.11) mmHg vs.(131.54 ± 11.01) mmHg and (82.76 ± 6.23) mmHg vs.(83.75 ± 6.88) mmHg,which were lower than those before treatment (observation group:t =19.742,10.606,control group:t =18.925,-9.956,all P ＜ 0.05).But there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups (all P ＞ 0.05).After treatment,the serum uric acid in the observation group was lower than that in the control group [(387.21 ± 25.56) μmol/L vs.(429.67 ± 27.44) μmol/L] (t =8.006,P ＜ 0.05).The hs-CRP,FINS,HOMA-IR,ISI in the observation group were (4.92 ± 1.02) rmg/L,(15.92 ± 3.01) mU/L,(1.71 ± 0.24),(1.047 ± 0.095),which in the control group were (4.54 ± 1.00) mg/L,(17.23 ± 3.20) mU/L,(1.65 ± 0.27),(1.140 ± 0.083).After treatment,the hs-CRP,FINS,HOMA-IR in the two groups were decreased (all P ＜ 0.05),while ISI was increased (P ＜ 0.05).Furthermore,the improvement of FINS,ISI and HOMA-IR in the observation group was better than those in the control group (t =2.109,-5.213,3.191,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Both losartan and irbesartan can improve clinical symptoms,lower blood pressure and improve insulin resistance in female hypertension patients complicated with hyperuricemia,and losartan is more effective than irbesartan.

Objective To observe the formation of the biofilm in endotracheal tubes,the characteristics of etiology,drug resistance and effect on the biofilm and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) of inhaled N-acetylcysteine (NAC).Method We selected 117 tracheally intubated and undergoing mechanical ventilation for ≥48 h in our hospital ICU from September 2010 to August 2012.All the cases were randomly divided into control group (60 cases) and study group (57 cases).The patients in the study group were treated with different doses of aerosolized NAC according to different ages,starting the first administration within 12 hours of mechanical ventilation,once every 8 hours,until stopping mechanical ventilation.Comparison was performed on the two groups in biofilm structure under the scanning electron microscopy,biofilm culture positive rate,VAP incidence,the etiology and drug resistance of the lower airway secretions and biofilms.Result (1) Electron microscopy showed that biofilm had formed in the endotracheal tube inner wall in early period of mechanical ventilation.With prolonged mechanical ventilation,biofilm structure improved.At the same time of mechanical ventilation,the thickness of biofilm in the study group decreased as compared with the control group.(2) Biofilm culture positive rate and incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia decreased in the study group compared with in the control group (65％(37/57) vs.80％(48/60),P＜0.05;11％ (6/57)vs.32％(19/60),P＜0.01).(3) Alarge number of pathogenic bacteria colonized in the biofilm and gram-negative bacilli dominated.With prolonged mechanicalventilation,theculturedpathogensconvergedfromthelowerairwaysecretionsandbiofilm.Conclusion With prolonged mechanical ventilation,biofilm structure was improved.Inhalation of NAC can inhibit biofilm formation and reduce the incidence of VAP.

Objective:In general, patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are considered to show an aggressive disease course. However, the relationship between the two subgroups in disease severity is controversial. Our study is aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and prognosis of double-seropositive and seronegative RA in China through a real-world large scale study.Methods:RA patients who met the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria or the 2010 ACR/European Anti-Rheumatism Alliance RA classification criteria, and who attended the 10 hospitals across the country from September 2015 to January 2020, were enrolled. According to the serological status, patients were divided into 4 subgroups [rheumatoid factor (RF)(-) anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody (-), RF(+), RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+), anti-CCP antibody(+)] and compared the disease characteristics and treatment response. One-way analysis of variance was used for measurement data that conformed to normal distribution, Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for measurement data that did not conform to normal distribution; paired t test was used for comparison before and after treatment within the group if the data was normally distributed else paired rank sum test was used; χ2 test was used for count data. Results:① A total of 2 461 patients were included, including 1 813 RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) patients (73.67%), 129 RF(+) patients (5.24%), 245 RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) patients (9.96%), 74 anti-CCP antibody(+) patients (11.13%). ② Regardless of the CCP status, RF(+) patients had an early age of onset [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) (51±14) years old, anti-CCP antibody(+) (50±15) years old, RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) (48±14) years old, RF(+)(48±13) years old, F=3.003, P=0.029], longer disease duration [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) 50 (20, 126) months, anti-CCP antibody(+) 60(24, 150) months, RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) 89(35, 179) months, RF(+) 83(25, 160) months, H=22.001, P<0.01], more joint swelling counts (SJC) [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) 2(0, 6), Anti-CCP antibody(+) 2(0, 5), RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) 2(0, 7), RF(+) 2(0, 6), H=8.939, P=0.03] and tender joint counts (TJC) [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) 3(0, 8), anti-CCP antibody(+) 2(0, 6), RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) 3(1, 9), RF(+) 2(0, 8), H=11.341, P=0.01] and the morning stiff time was longer [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) 30(0, 60) min, anti-CCP antibody(+) 20(0, 60) min, RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) 30(10, 60) min, RF(+) 30(10, 60) min, H=13.32, P<0.01]; ESR [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) 17(9, 38) mm/1 h, anti-CCP antibody(+) 20(10, 35) mm/1 h, RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) 26(14, 45) mm/1 h, RF(+) 28(14, 50) mm/1 h, H=37.084, P<0.01] and CRP [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) 2.3 (0.8, 15.9) mm/L, Anti-CCP antibody(+) 2.7(0.7, 12.1) mm/L, RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) 5.2(1.3, 17.2) mm/L, RF (+) 5.2(0.9, 16.2) mm/L, H=22.141, P<0.01] of the RF(+)patients were significantly higher than RF(-) patients, and RF(+) patients had higher disease severity(DAS28-ESR) [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) (4.0±1.8), anti-CCP antibody(+) (3.8±1.6), RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) (4.3±1.8), RF(+) (4.1±1.7), F=7.269, P<0.01]. ③ The RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) patients were divided into 4 subgroups, and it was found that RF-H anti-CCP antibody-L patients had higher disease severity [RF-H anti-CCP antibody-H 4.3(2.9, 5.6), RF-L anti-CCP antibody-L 4.5(3.0, 5.7), RF-H anti-CCP antibody-L 4.9(3.1, 6.2), RF-L anti-CCP antibody-H 2.8(1.8, 3.9), H=20.374, P<0.01]. ④ After 3-month follow up, the clinical characteristics of the four groups were improved, but there was no significant difference in the improvement of the four groups, indicating that the RF and anti-CCP antibody status did not affect the remission within 3 months. Conclusion:Among RA patients, the disease activity of RA patients is closely related to RF and the RF(+) patients have more severe disease than RF(-) patients. Patients with higher RF titer also have more severe disease than that of patients with low RF titer. After 3 months of medication treatment, the antibody status does not affect the disease remission rate.

BACKGROUND:Many studies have shown that total hip arthroplasty will improve low back pain in patients with hip-spine syndrome.However,there are few studies on the relationship between postoperative low back pain improvement and changes in spinal-pelvic sagittal parameters.This study aims to reveal their connections between the two. OBJECTIVE:To explore the relationship between the improvement of low back pain and changes in the spinal-pelvic sagittal parameters in patients with hip-spine syndrome after total hip arthroplasty. METHODS:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and imaging data of 93 end-stage hip disease patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty and combined with low back pain and were admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2019 to January 2022.Spinal-pelvic sagittal parameters were measured on lateral lumbar X-rays before surgery and 1 year at the last follow-up:pelvic incidence,pelvic tilt,sacral slope,lumbar lordosis,pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis(difference between pelvic incident angle and lumbar lordosis angle).Visual analog scale score,Oswestry disability index,and hip Harris score were recorded before and 1 year after arthroplasty.The patients were divided into two groups according to whether the change in visual analog scale scores 1 year after surgery reached the minimal clinically important difference for low back pain treatment,including 45 cases in the low back pain unimproved group and 48 cases in the low back pain improved group.The preoperative general data of patients,differences in spinal-pelvic sagittal parameters,Oswestry Disability Index and hip Harris score before and after surgery were compared between the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no significant difference in age,gender,surgical side,body mass index,and etiology between the two groups(P>0.05),and they were comparable.(2)There was no significant difference in visual analog scale scores before surgery(P>0.05).The visual analog scale scores of the low back pain improved group were lower than those of the low back pain unimproved group 1 year after surgery(P<0.01).(3)At 1 year after surgery,the lumbar lordosis of the low back pain unimproved group was significantly smaller than that before surgery,while the lumbar lordosis of the low back pain improved group was significantly smaller than that before surgery(P<0.01).At the same time,the pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch in the low back pain unimproved group was greater than before surgery,while the pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch in the low back pain improved group was smaller than before surgery,with significant differences between the two groups(P<0.01).There was no significant difference in the changes of other spinal-pelvic sagittal parameters between the two groups(P>0.05).(4)Preoperative lumbar Oswestry disability index and hip Harris score were not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05).At 1 year after surgery,Oswestry disability index of the low back pain improved group was lower than that of the low back pain unimproved group and the hip Harris score was higher than that of the low back pain unimproved group(P<0.05).(5)The results showed that the improvement of low back pain was related to changes in spinal-pelvic sagittal parameters in patients with hip-spine syndrome after total hip arthroplasty,showing reduced lumbar lordosis and pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch.Moreover,patients with improved low back pain after surgery had better functional scores,indicating that total hip arthroplasty improved spinal alignment and spinal-pelvic sagittal balance.For patients with hip-spine syndrome,a total hip arthroplasty performed before the onset of lumbar disease can have a favorable effect on the lumbar spine.