Objective Take alkaline ashing method as golden standard to explore the accuracy of chloric acid digestion method in determination of human milk iodine. Methods Sixty one breast milk samples collected in Hexi district of Tianjin was measured by the method for determination of iodine in foodstuff by As3+-Ce4+ catalytic spectrophotometry (referred to as the alkaline ashing method) published in 2008 and the method for determination of iodine in urine by As3+-Ce4+ catalytic spectrophotometry(referred to as acid digestion) published in 1999, respectively. were highly correlated(r = 0.960, t = 26.3, P < 0.01), and the regression equation was (Y) = - 28.1 + 0.808X, in which X was independent variable, that is the results of alkaline ashing method; (Y) was dependent variable, that is the estimated data of chloric acid digestion method. The average difference of the results measured by the two methods was 68.3 μg/L, and the results from chloric acid digestion was 38.9% which lower than that of alkaline samples were diluted by 3,4 and 5-fold and then digested by chloric acid, the liquid clarification rates were 80.3% ashing and chloric acid digestion method were, respectively, 165.4, 110.0 μg/L. Conclusions Compared with alkaline ashing method, the results determined by chloric acid digestion method are significantly lower. It is suggested that there are systemic errors in chloric acid digestion method, which means that alkaline ashing method can not be replaced by the chloric acid digestion method.

Objective To assess the fluorine (F), arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) levels in hair of residents from the fluorosis area of Zhaotong and provide reference basis for the evaluation of the health status of populations in fluorosis areas as well as the prevention and control of fluorosis in Zhaotong. Methods Sixty-five hair samples were collected in fluorosis areas(Zhenxiong, Weixin County), including. 41 samples from 6 endemic townships and 24 samples from a non-endemic township. Fluorine content in hair was determined by combustion- hydrolysis-ion selective electrode method. Arsenic and selenium contents in hair were determined by atom- fluorescence method. Results The average contents of hair fluorine, arsenic and selenium contents were (15.1807±15.2397), (2.1806±1.9601), (2.3162±2.4535)mg/kg in the 41 patients with fluorosis and were (18.7703±17.1067), 0.3283±0.2466), (1.2805±0.6970) mg/kg in the 24 inhabitants (control). The difference of fluorine content in hair between patients in fluorosis and control inhabitants was not statistically significant (P 0.05), but the difference in arsenic and selenium content was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions Mild arsenic pollution exists in Zhaotong fluorosis areas, which aggravates the prevalence of fluorosis. Food roasted with blended coal contains high fluorine. Meanwhile it may bring in the supplement of selenium for the inhabitants in Zhaotong fluorosis areas.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Tachycardia ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antimicrobial resistance of clinical isolates of Stenotrophomonas matophilia (SMA) and the mechanisms of their drug resistance.

METHODSDisc diffusion method (NCCLS) was used to detect the resistant patterns of 88 initial SMA isolates resistant to 12 antibiotics isolated from a local hospital in the past 4 years. PCR was used to detect the 7 aminoglycosides modifying enzymes genes (AME) against amikacin and gentamicin. Metal-beta-lactamases (MBLs) were screened by synergic method, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) were detected by double-disk synergy test.

RESULTSThe resistance rates of the SMA isolates were 0%-9.7% to minocycline, 12.5%-22.6% to ticarcillin-clavulanic acid, 12.5%-28.6% to levofloxacin, 18.8%-33.3% to doxycycline, 18.8%-40% to sulfamethoxazole compound, 50%-65.7% to ciprofloxacin, 50%-66.7% to cehazindme, 54.8%-66.7% to amikacin, 75%-100% to gentamicin, 81.3%-100% to piperacillin, 87.5%-100% to aztreonam and 93.5%-100% to imipenem. Aac(3)-I and ant(4')-II were not detected in these strains. The positive rates of the other 5 AME genes of aac(3)-II, ant(2'')-I, aac(6')-I, aac(3)-III, aac(3)-IV were 2.3%, 5.7%, 8%, 10%, and 10%, respectively. SMA strains producing ESBLs were found at the rate of 38.6%; 25% of the strains were MBL-producing, and 13.6% produced both ESBLs and MBLs.

CONCLUSIONMost of the SMAs we isolated are multidrug-resistant through various mechanisms. The choice of antibiotics should be made according to the susceptibility results.

Amikacin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Gentamicins ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Imipenem ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

Adult ; Aged ; Bundle-Branch Block ; etiology ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Heart Septum ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology

This study was purposed to investigate whether phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHI) can reduce p16 gene methylation level or not. The myeloma U226 cell line was cultured with PHI of 0, 5, 10 micromol/L for 72 hours, then DNA was extracted. Hydrosulfite was used to treat the genome DNA of healthy adult, PCR amplification was carried out by using this DNA as template. The gene chip detecting methylation changes of 3 CpG in promoter region of p16 gene was constructed by designing a pair of probes which contain one methylated and one unmethylated probes. This pair of probes was used to detect 3 consecutive sites of CpG island in p16 gene. The standard curve was constructed by using gene chip after the methylated and unmethylated DNA were mixed at different ratio. Then treated samples of U266 cells were dotted on gene chip, obtained results were compared with standard curve to get the quantitative results. The results indicated that the probes on chip had excellent reproducible ability and precision, the methylation level of p16 gene in U266 cells treated with 0, 5 and 10 micromol/L of PHI was determined as 78.2%, 61.7% and 54.8%, respectively. It is concluded that the PHI can reduce the methylation level of p16 gene in U266 cells.
Cell Line, Tumor ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Down-Regulation ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Isothiocyanates ; pharmacology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

OBJECTIVEIn mid-July 2005, five patients presented with septic shock to a hospital in Ziyang city in Sichuan, China, to identify the etiology of the unknown reason disease, an epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory study were conducted.

METHODSAn enhanced surveillance program were established in Sichuan, the following activities were introduced: active case finding in Sichuan of (a) laboratory diagnosed Streptococcus suis infection and (b) clinically diagnosed probable cases with exposure history; supplemented by (c) monitoring reports on meningococcal meningitis. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infection was confirmed by culture and biochemical reactions, followed by sequencing for specific genes for serotype and virulence factors.

RESULTSFrom June 10 to August 21, 2005, 68 laboratory confirmed cases of human Streptococcus suis infections were reported. All were villagers who gave a history of direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in their backyards where slaughtering was performed. Twenty six (38%) presented with toxic shock syndrome of which 15 (58%) died. Other presentations were septicaemia or meningitis. All isolates were tested positive for genes for tuf, species-specific 16S rRNA, cps2J, mrp, ef and sly. There were 136 clinically diagnosed probable cases with similar exposure history but incomplete laboratory investigations.

CONCLUSIONAn outbreak of human Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infections occurred in villagers after direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in Sichuan. Prohibition of slaughtering in backyards brought the outbreak to a halt. A virulent strain of the bacteria is speculated to be in circulation, and is responsible for the unusual presentation of toxic shock syndrome with high case fatality.

Animals ; Bacteremia ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Shock, Septic ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; veterinary ; Streptococcus suis ; isolation & purification ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; microbiology

Objective: To prospectively explore the relationship between resting heart rate (RHR) and risk of new-onset heart failure. Methods: It was a prospective cohort study. People who attended the physical examination of Kailuan Group Company in 2006 and with complete electrocardiography (ECG) recordings were eligible for this study. A total of 88 879 participants aged 18 years old or more who were free of arrhythmia, a prior history of heart failure and were not treated with β-blocker were included. Participants were divided into 5 groups according to the quintiles of RHR at baseline (Q(1) group, 40-60 beats/minutes (n=18 168) ; Q(2) group, 67-70 beats/minutes (n=18 970) ; Q(3) group, 71-74 beats/minutes (n=13 583) ; Q(4) group, 75-80 beats/minutes (n=22 739) ; and Q(5) group,>80 beats/minutes (n=15 419) ) .The general clinical data and laboratory test results were collected. The outcome was the first occurrence of heart failure at the end of follow-up (December 31, 2016) .We used Cox regression model to examine the association between RHR and the risk of new-onset heart failure. Hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using Cox regression modeling. Results: Among the included patients 68 411 participants were male, mean age was (51.0±12.3) years old, and RHR was (74±10) beats/minutes. Statistically significant differences among the RHR quintiles were found for the following variables: age, gender, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, body mass index, the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, education status, physical activity, smoking status, drinking status, history of diabetes, history of hypertension and history of use antihypertensive drugs (all P<0.01) . Higher RHR was linked with higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension history, and higher systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and FBG levels (all P<0.01). After a mean follow-up of 9.5 years, the incidence of new-onset heart failure in Q(1), Q(2), Q(3), Q(4) and Q(5) groups was 1.60%(290/18 168), 1.36%(258/18 970), 1.80%(245/13 583), 1.76%(400/22 739) and 2.35%(362/15 419),respectively (P<0.01) . The person-year incidence of heart failure in Q(1), Q(2), Q(3), Q(4) and Q(5) groups was 1.7, 1.5, 1.9, 1.9 and 2.6 per 1 000 person-years respectively. Compared with the Q(2) group, multivariate analysis with adjustment for major traditional cardiovascular risk factors showed that HRs of Q(3),Q(4),and Q(5) group were 1.23 (95%CI 1.03-1.48, P<0.05) , 1.19 (95%CI 1.01-1.41, P<0.05) , 1.39 (95%CI 1.18-1.65, P<0.01) , respectively. In the absence of hypertension, diabetes, smoking and acute myocardial infarction, the Cox regression model showed that compared with Q(2) group, the HR of new-onset heart failure in Q(5) group was 1.58 (95%CI 1.02-2.45, P<0.05) . Conclusion: Increased RHR is associated with increased risk of new-onset heart failure in this cohort.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: A deep learning model (DLM) that enables non-invasive hypokalemia screening from an electrocardiogram (ECG) may improve the detection of this life-threatening condition. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the performance of a DLM for the detection of hypokalemia from the ECGs of emergency patients. METHODS: We used a total of 9908 ECG data from emergency patients who were admitted at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China, from September 2017 to October 2020. The DLM was trained using 12 ECG leads (lead I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, and V1-6) to detect patients with serum potassium concentrations <3.5 mmol/L and was validated using retrospective data from the Jiangling branch of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. The blood draw was completed within 10 min before and after the ECG examination, and there was no new or ongoing infusion during this period. RESULTS: We used 6904 ECGs and 1726 ECGs as development and internal validation data sets, respectively. In addition, 1278 ECGs from the Jiangling branch of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were used as external validation data sets. Using 12 ECG leads (leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, and V1-6), the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the DLM was 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.77-0.82) for the internal validation data set. Using an optimal operating point yielded a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 77.1%. Using the same 12 ECG leads, the external validation data set resulted in an AUC for the DLM of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.75-0.79). Using an optimal operating point yielded a sensitivity of 70.0% and a specificity of 69.1%. CONCLUSIONS In this study, using 12 ECG leads, a DLM detected hypokalemia in emergency patients with an AUC of 0.77 to 0.80. Artificial intelligence could be used to analyze an ECG to quickly screen for hypokalemia.
Artificial Intelligence ; Deep Learning ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Hypokalemia/diagnosis* ; Retrospective Studies