The facile and efficient synthetic route for Ag dendritic nanostructures on Indium tin oxide ( ITO) via electrodeposition was reported. The results showed that the Raman intensities of rhodamine 6G ( R6G) decreased with decreasing the loading concentration, and even at a low concentration of 10-10 mol/L, the signatures of R6G in Raman spectrum were still clearly observed. It indicated that the Ag dendritic nanostructures exhibited high surface-enhanced Raman scattering ( SERS) sensitivity. Moreover, the relative standard deviation ( RSD ) of band at 610 cm-1 was calculated to be 12 . 1%, 12 . 0%, 11 . 7%, 10 . 9%, 13. 2% and 14. 3%, respectively, corresponding with the concentration of R6G from 10-5 mol/L to 10-10 mol/L, which revealed that the Ag dendritic nanostructures could provide abundant hot spots and exhibited excellent reproducibility. In addition, the SERS spectrum of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3MPA) also could be detected when its concentration was 10-5 mol/L. This method offers an easy and low-cost way to prepare Ag dendritic substrates and makes SERS detection more practicable.

From December 2019, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia (formerly known as the 2019 novel Coronavirus [2019-nCoV]) broke out in Wuhan, China. In this study, we present serial CT findings in a 40-year-old female patient with COVID-19 pneumonia who presented with the symptoms of fever, chest tightness, and fatigue. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection confirmed by real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. CT showed rapidly progressing peripheral consolidations and ground-glass opacities in both lungs. After treatment, the lesions were shown to be almost absorbed leaving the fibrous lesions.
Adult ; China ; Coronavirus ; Fatigue ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Lung ; Pneumonia ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

From December 2019, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia (formerly known as the 2019 novel Coronavirus [2019-nCoV]) broke out in Wuhan, China. In this study, we present serial CT findings in a 40-year-old female patient with COVID-19 pneumonia who presented with the symptoms of fever, chest tightness, and fatigue. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection confirmed by real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. CT showed rapidly progressing peripheral consolidations and ground-glass opacities in both lungs. After treatment, the lesions were shown to be almost absorbed leaving the fibrous lesions.

In 2019, the rate of primary tooth caries rate among 1 598 preschool children in Shinan District and Shibei District of Qingdao was 59.4%. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that compared with children ≤ 2 years old with history of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), suffering IDA, breastfeeding to 2 years old and no tooth melanin, children ≤ 2 years old without history of IDA, not suffering IDA, breastfeeding to less than 2 years old and heavy tooth melanin had a lower risk of primary tooth caries, with OR ( 95%CI) values about 0.328 (0.197-0.549), 0.354 (0.208-0.603), 0.636 (0.437-0.926) and 0.301 (0.143-0.635), respectively.

In 2019, the rate of primary tooth caries rate among 1 598 preschool children in Shinan District and Shibei District of Qingdao was 59.4%. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that compared with children ≤ 2 years old with history of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), suffering IDA, breastfeeding to 2 years old and no tooth melanin, children ≤ 2 years old without history of IDA, not suffering IDA, breastfeeding to less than 2 years old and heavy tooth melanin had a lower risk of primary tooth caries, with OR ( 95%CI) values about 0.328 (0.197-0.549), 0.354 (0.208-0.603), 0.636 (0.437-0.926) and 0.301 (0.143-0.635), respectively.

Objective To analyze horizontal transmission patterns of Streptococcus mutans among caries-active preschool children for early interventions of dental caries. Methods Plaque samples obtained from 20 caries-active preschool children between 4 and 5 years of age were cultured under anaerobic conditions for isolating S. mutans, which were identified by morphological and biochemical analyses and PCR using primers homologous to the surface protein glucosyltransferase B (gtfB). The genotypes of the isolated S. mutans strains were determined by arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR). Results Of the 200 S. mutans isolates obtained, 19 were excluded by biochemical analysis, and the remaining 181 isolates were identified as S. mutans by PCR with primers of gtfB, showing 37 different genotypes as identified by AP-PCR. Six children were found to carry S. mutans of a single genotype, 11 carried 2 genotypes, 2 had 3 genotypes, and 1 had 4 genotypes;2 children from different classes were found to carry S. mutans of the same single genotype. Conclusion We identified 37 genotypes of S. mutans in these caries-active preschool children, among whom horizontal transmissions of the strains were not found.

Objective To analyze horizontal transmission patterns of Streptococcus mutans among caries-active preschool children for early interventions of dental caries. Methods Plaque samples obtained from 20 caries-active preschool children between 4 and 5 years of age were cultured under anaerobic conditions for isolating S. mutans, which were identified by morphological and biochemical analyses and PCR using primers homologous to the surface protein glucosyltransferase B (gtfB). The genotypes of the isolated S. mutans strains were determined by arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR). Results Of the 200 S. mutans isolates obtained, 19 were excluded by biochemical analysis, and the remaining 181 isolates were identified as S. mutans by PCR with primers of gtfB, showing 37 different genotypes as identified by AP-PCR. Six children were found to carry S. mutans of a single genotype, 11 carried 2 genotypes, 2 had 3 genotypes, and 1 had 4 genotypes;2 children from different classes were found to carry S. mutans of the same single genotype. Conclusion We identified 37 genotypes of S. mutans in these caries-active preschool children, among whom horizontal transmissions of the strains were not found.

OBJECTIVETo select and identify ssDNA aptamers specific to Streptococcus mutans strains with different cariogenicity isolated from clinical specimens.

METHODSSubtractive SELEX technology targeting the whole intact cells was used to screen for ssDNA aptamers specific to the clinical isolates Streptococcus mutans strains with different cariogenicity. Radioactive isotope, flow cytometry, gene cloning and sequencing, MEME online software and RNA structure analysis software were employed to analyze the first and secondary structures of the aptamers and identify the screened aptamers.

RESULTSDetection by radioactive isotope showed sufficient pool enrichment after 9 rounds of subtractive SELEX. Flow cytometry showed that the selected aptamers H1, H16, H4, L1, L10 and H19 were capable of binding specifically with highly cariogenic Streptococcus mutans strains but not with strains with a low cariogenicity. The aptamer H19 had the strongest binding capacity to highly cariogenic Streptococcus mutans strains, with a dissociation constant of 69.45∓38.53 nmol/L.

CONCLUSIONWe have obtained the ssDNA aptamers specific to the clinical isolates of highly cariogenic Streptococcus mutans strains.

Aptamers, Nucleotide ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA Primers ; Dental Caries ; microbiology ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; SELEX Aptamer Technique ; Species Specificity ; Streptococcus mutans ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo analyze horizontal transmission patterns of Streptococcus mutans among caries-active preschool children for early interventions of dental caries.

METHODSPlaque samples obtained from 20 caries-active preschool children between 4 and 5 years of age were cultured under anaerobic conditions for isolating S. mutans, which were identified by morphological and biochemical analyses and PCR using primers homologous to the surface protein glucosyltransferase B (gtfB). The genotypes of the isolated S. mutans strains were determined by arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR).

RESULTSOf the 200 S. mutans isolates obtained, 19 were excluded by biochemical analysis, and the remaining 181 isolates were identified as S. mutans by PCR with primers of gtfB, showing 37 different genotypes as identified by AP-PCR. Six children were found to carry S. mutans of a single genotype, 11 carried 2 genotypes, 2 had 3 genotypes, and 1 had 4 genotypes; 2 children from different classes were found to carry S. mutans of the same single genotype.

CONCLUSIONWe identified 37 genotypes of S. mutans in these caries-active preschool children, among whom horizontal transmissions of the strains were not found.

Child, Preschool ; Dental Caries ; microbiology ; Dental Plaque ; Genotype ; Glucosyltransferases ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Streptococcal Infections ; transmission ; Streptococcus mutans ; classification

Objective:To propose a monosegment thoracic and lumbar fracture dislocation (mTLFD) classification, and to evaluate its reliability and clinical application.Methods:All of 298 cases of thoracic and lumbar fracture dislocation who received surgical management in our hospital from January 2014 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. 123 cases were included in the study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. mTLFD classification was proposed based on the imaging characteristics: type I (intervertebral disc injury mainly) and type II (vertebral burst fracture mainly). The type II was classified based on distribution of injury segment: type IIa (T 11 and above) and Ttype IIb (below T 11). Six spinal surgeons (3 residents, 3 associate chief physicians) were selected to classify the 123 cases according to preoperative imaging data, and to perform reliability test of each type. The repeatability and reliability of the classification were evaluated by ICC index. Different management strategies were performedf or each type: type I was managed with posterior decompression interbody fusion and internal fixation; type IIa underwent posterior decompression and fixation, subtotal vertebral resection and fusion was performed if bony compromise was still present through intra-operative exploration. Type IIb underwent posterior decompression, posterolateral fusion and internal fixation on the first stage, while anterior subtotal vertebral resection and reconstruction was performed on the second stage if the bony compromise was still present based on post-operative CT examination. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grading of all patients was recorded, and the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswetry disability Iindex (ODI) and local Cobb angle of each type was compared between pre-operation and final follow-up. Results:The average follow-up time of all patients was 10.4±1.8 months. The average repeatability and reliability ICC index of mTLFD of 3 residents and 3 deputy chief physicians were 0.926 and 0.964, respectively, and 0.746 and 0.907, respectively. The reliability ICC index of type I, type IIa and type IIb was 0.918, 0.947 and 0.962, respectively, and the repeatability ICC index was 0.930, 0.940 and 0.966, respectively. The neurological function recovery was obtained in 56 patients. The preoperative VAS of type I, type IIa and type IIb were 8.5±1.0, 8.4±1.0 and 8.3±0.9, and 2.0±1.1, 1.8±1.0 and 1.8±0.9 at the final follow-up (all P<0.001). The ODI of type I, type IIa and type IIb were 97.0%±2.1%, 97.1%±1.9% and 97.3%±2.1% before surgery, and 29.5%±6.8%, 27.0%±6.0% and 29.0%±6.7% at the final follow-up (all P<0.001). The local Cobb angles of type I, type IIa and type IIb were 20.9°±7.1°, 29.0°±9.1° and 26.4°±6.9° before surgery, and 12.5°±5.4°, 18.0°±9.1° and 13.1°±5.1° at the final follow-up (all P<0.001). Conclusion:The mTLFD classification proposed in this study has strong repeatability and reliability, and management strategy of each type have achieved satisfactory clinical efficacy, indicating that the classification has certain significance for management of thoracic and lumbar spine fracture dislocation.