Objective To evaluate the relationship between spectinomycin resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and mutations in the rpsE gene.Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from 4 clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with different levels of spectinomycin resistance.Then,PCR was performed to amplify the entire rpsE gene and the spectinomycin resistance-determining region (SRDR) in the 16S rRNA gene followed by direct sequencing.Two spectinomycin-sensitive Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains were transformed with the genomic DNA containing the mutant rpsE gene.Subsequently,the susceptibility of the transformants to spectinomycin was determined,and PCR was performed to amplify the rpsE and 16S rRNA genes in the transformants followed by sequencing.Results All the 4 spectinomycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains harbored an A70C transversion in the rpsE gene,but no abnormality in the SRDR of the 16S rRNA gene.No mutations were detected in the spectinomycin-sensitive Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains.The A70C transversion in the rpsE gene was also detected in the two Neisseria gonorrhoeae transformants with spectinomycin resistance.Conclusion The A70C point mutation within the rpsE gene is associated with spectinomycin resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

AIM: To observe the efficacy of pterygium excision combined with autologous limbal epithelial bulbar conjunctival transplantation in the treatment of patients with pterygium. METHODS:Prospective controlled study. A total of 102 patients(102 eyes)with pterygium treated in the hospital between October 2015 and October 2019 were selected as study subjects, and they were divided into observation group and control group according to the random number table method, with 51 cases in each group. The control group was treated with pterygium excision combined with amniotic membrane transplantation, and the observation group was given pterygium excision combined with autologous limbal epithelial bulbar conjunctival transplantation. The perioperative indicators(intraoperative blood loss, surgical time, corneal epithelial repair time)and clinical efficacy at 3mo after surgery were compared between the two groups, and the disease recovery-related indicators \〖tear film break-up time(BUT), uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), Schirmer Ⅰ test(SⅠt), corneal astigmatism degree(CAD)\〗 before and 3mo after surgery, postoperative aesthetic degree and recurrence during follow-up were recorded.RESULTS:The corneal epithelial repair time in observation group was shorter than that in control group(4.14±1.35 vs 4.72±1.37d,P<0.05), while the surgical time was longer than that in control group(32.24±6.69 vs 29.67±5.21min,P<0.05), and there was no statistical significance in the intraoperative blood loss between the two groups(P>0.05). At 3mo after surgery, there was no statistical difference in the effective rate of treatment between the two groups(86.3% vs 78.4%, P>0.05). At 3mo after surgery, the BUT, UCVA and SⅠt in the two groups were significantly enhanced compared with those before surgery(all P<0.05), and the UCVA and SⅠt in observation group were higher than those in control group(all P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the BUT between the two groups(P>0.05). The CAD in the two groups was significantly lower than that before surgery(P<0.05), but the difference was not significant between the groups(P>0.05). At 3mo after surgery, the scores of dimensions of aesthetic scale for pterygium treatment(ocular recovery, subjective symptoms)were significantly higher in observation group than those in control group(all P<0.05), but there were no statistical differences in the scores of cleanliness of surgical area and congestion between the two groups(all P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in recurrence rate between the two groups during follow-up(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Pterygium excision combined with autologous limbal epithelial bulbar conjunctival transplantation can effectively treat pterygium and prevent recurrence, and it has faster postoperative recovery and better aesthetic degree compared to pterygium excision combined with amniotic membrane transplantation.

OBJECTIVETo study the causes of orchiectomy in different age groups.

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical data about 291 cases of orchiectomy performed between March 1993 and October 2014 and analyzed the causes of surgery and their distribution in different age groups.

RESULTSThe main causes of orchiectomy were testicular torsion (45.8%), cryptorchidism (32.5%) and testicular tumor (16.9%) in the patients aged 0-25 years, testicular tumor (42.4%), cryptorchidism (25.9%) and tuberculosis (10.6%) in those aged 26-50 years. Prostate cancer was the leading cause in those aged 51-75 years (77.6%) or older (84.0%)), and testicular tumor was another cause in the 51-75 years old men (10.2%). Prostate cancer, testicular tumor, cryptorchidism, and testicular torsion were the first four causes of orchiectomy between 1993 and 2009. From 2010 to 2014, however, testicular tumor rose to the top while prostate cancer dropped to the fourth place.

CONCLUSIONThe causes of orchiectomy vary in different age groups. The proportion of castration for prostate cancer patients significantly reduced in the past five years, which might be attributed to the improvement of comprehensive health care service.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Causality ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cryptorchidism ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orchiectomy ; statistics & numerical data ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; surgery ; Testicular Neoplasms ; surgery ; Tuberculosis, Male Genital ; surgery ; Young Adult

Objective: To explore associated factors of mobile phone dependence and its relation with psychological resilience among college students. Methods: College students from 5 universities in Hefei were randomly selected through multi-stage sampling (stratified clustering) and investigated with questionnaires. A total of 2 502 college students were included in the analysis. Results: Mobile phone dependence among college students differed by gender (χ2=18.25, P<0.01), residence (χ2=17.71, P<0.01), whether in a relationship(χ2=8.09, P<0.01), grade(χ2=19.58, P<0.01), only child(χ2=7.48, P<0.01), family economic status (χ2=17.43, P<0.01) and time spent in mobile phone (χ2=73.46，P<0.01) while no similar differences were found by family structure and length of mobile phone ownership. Spearman correlation showed negative correlation (P<0.01) between mobile phone dependence and psychological resilience. Logistic regression model results showed that female, not in a relationship, lower grade, less time spent in mobile phone and high psychological resilience were negatively correlated with mobile phone dependence. Compared with students from rural areas, urban area was positively associated with mobile phone dependence. Emotional control, family support, and interpersonal assistance associated with lower risk for mobile phone dependence. Conclusion Mobile phone dependence is affected by gender, relationship status, grade, usage duration, and residence. High psychological resilience associated negatively with risk for mobile phone dependence.

Purpose: The consequences of severe traumatic injury extend beyond hospital admission and have the potential for long-term functional, psychological, and economic sequalae. This study investigated patient outcomes 6 months following major trauma. Methods: Using the National Trauma Registry, database of patients who were admitted between 2016-18 in a tertiary trauma hospital for major trauma [Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 16] a review was performed on 6-month outcomes [including functional outcomes, self-reported state of health and outcome scores (EuroQol-5 Dimension score and Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended)].Result: There were 637 patients who were treated for major trauma (ISS ≥ 16); the median age was 64 years (range 16-100) and 435 (68.3%) patients were male. The most common injury mechanisms included falling from height (56.5%) and motor vehicle accident (27.0%). The median ISS was 24 (range 16-75). After 6 months, 87.6% of responders were living at home, 25.0% were back to work, and 55.1% were ambulating independently. The median self-rated state of health was 73 at baseline and 64 at 6 months. Age and length of stay were independent predictors of return to ambulation using multivariate analysis. Age, Abbreviated Injury Scale external, Glasgow Coma Scale on Emergency Department arrival, heart rate, and need for transfusion were independent predictors of failure to return to work at 6 months using multivariate analysis. Charlson Comorbidity Index, Glasgow Coma Scale on arrival, temperature, pain and need for inpatient rehabilitation were independent predictors of mortality at 6 months. Conclusion Recovery from major trauma is multi-faceted and requires a team-based approach well beyond discharge.

BACKGROUNDThere is no research, either at home or abroad, focusing on assessing the cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise tolerance in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), but the benefits of early exercise are well recognized. The goals of this study were to assess cardiopulmonary functional reserve in treated PE patients using the inert gas rebreathing method of the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), and to compare it with traditional methods.

METHODSCPET on the bicycle ergometer were performed in 40 patients with age, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and pulmonary function matched. The first group was the PE group composed of 16 PE patients (5 male, 11 female) who were given the standard antithrombotic therapy for two weeks. The second group was composed of 24 normal individuals (10 male, 14 female). Both groups were evaluated by cardiac ultrasound examination, 6-minute walking test (6MWT), and CPET.

RESULTS(1) Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) in the PE group increased significantly compared to the control group, (34.81 ± 8.15) mmHg to (19.75 ± 3.47) mmHg (P < 0.01). But neither right atrial end-systolic diameter (RASD) nor right ventricular end-diastolic diameter (RVDD) in the PE patients had changed when compared with the controls. The 6-minute walk distance was significantly reduced in the PE patients compared with normal subjects, (447.81 ± 79.20) m vs. (513.75 ± 31.45) m (P < 0.01). Both anaerobic threshold oxygen consumption (VO(2)AT) and peak oxygen consumption (VO(2)peak) were significantly lower in patients with PE, while CO(2) equivalent ventilation (VE/VCO(2) slope) was higher; VO(2)AT (9.44 ± 3.82) ml×kg(-1)×min(-1) vs. (14.62 ± 2.93) ml×kg(-1)×min(-1) (P < 0.01) and VO2peak (12.26 ± 4.06) ml×kg(-1)×min(-1) vs. (23.46 ± 6.15) ml×kg(-1)×min(-1) (P < 0.01) and VE/VCO(2) slope 35.47 ± 6.66 vs. 26.94 ± 3.16 (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in resting cardiac output (CO) between the PE and normal groups, whereas peak cardiac output (peak CO) and the difference between exercise and resting cardiac output (ΔCO) were both significantly reduced in the PE group; peak CO (5.97 ± 2.25) L/min to (8.50 ± 3.13) L/min (P < 0.01), ΔCO (1.29 ± 1.59) L/min to (3.97 ± 2.02) L/min (P < 0.01). (2) The 6-minute walk distance did not correlated with CPET except for the VO2 peak in patients with PE, r = 0.675 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe cardiopulmonary functional reserve was reduced in patients with PE. CPET is an accurate, quantitative evaluation of cardiopulmonary functional reserve for PE patients.

Aged ; Exercise Test ; methods ; Exercise Tolerance ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen Consumption ; physiology ; Pulmonary Embolism ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the reliability of the birth defects surveillance system in four counties with high prevalence of birth defects (Pingding, Xiyang, Taigu and Zezhou counties) in Shanxi province, China.

METHODSOne township was selected from each county as study site. The health workers chosen from township or village level were trained to visit families on the outcomes of each pregnancy who gave birth during year 2003 in the study site. The number of births and cases collected in the study were compared with that from the surveillance system. The number of births reported by surveillance system in four counties was also compared with the data from the local government. The criteria of evaluation were: 1) number of the missing report of births should < or = 5%, 2) the number of missing report on major external birth defects cases should < or = 10%. Researchers from the Peking University were responsible for examining the quality of surveillance in some terminal units of surveillance system.

RESULTSThe numbers of births reported in the study and from the surveillance system for four-township were 1043 and 997, respectively. 46 births were missing and the rate of misreporting for births was 4.4%. The numbers of birth defects cases reported in the study and from the surveillance system were 30 and 29, respectively. 1 case of birth defect as missed, and rate of misreporting for birth defects cases was 3.3%. The total number of births reported from surveillance was similar to that in the study in four counties, with a difference of 1.2%. Birth registry data was rather readable and special health workers responsible for surveillance work were present in all the terminal units of the surveillance system.

CONCLUSIONThe misreporting of births and cases existed in the birth defects surveillance system of the four counties in Shanxi province, but were lower than the allowable criteria. The surveillance units had better registration, reporting and administration of births and birth defect cases. Hence, the quality of the data from the surveillance system in these four counties was reliable.

Birth Certificates ; China ; epidemiology ; Congenital Abnormalities ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Population Surveillance ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Registries ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo complete the full-length sequencing of the human adenovirus type 7 vaccine strain (Ad7v) for novel vector constructing.

METHODSThe Ad7v DNA was digested with SalI and the 17.5-68.0 map unit (mu) fragment was cloned and sequenced. The homology of encoding sequence of Ad7v hexon to those of group A,C,D,E,F and other numbers of group B was accomplished with the software CLUSTAL.V. The three-dimensional structure of the Ad7v hexon was predicted with the RasMo12.71.

RESULTSThe fragment contains 17,596 bp, part of E2 and late gene L1, L2 and L3 were encoded by this region. Polypeptide encoded by hexon gene lies in L3 region, which is composed of 934 amino acids. Multiple sequence alignment with the other nine known hexon protein sequences suggested that the variable sequences are mainly concentrated on seven regions, namely hypervariable regions (HVRs). The seven HVRs are related to type-specificity and group-specificity. The three-dimensional structure of the Ad7v hexon revealed that the variable regions are located in the I1 and I2 loops of the molecule mostly on the tower of the hexon.

CONCLUSIONThe full-length genome sequencing of Ad7v was accomplished at last. Since the deduced amino acid sequence of Ad7v hexon was quite different from other adenoviral vectors such as Ad5 and Ad2, this virus can be potentially used for the construction of novel gene delivery vectors to counterpart the immunity to the vectors widely used at present.

Adenovirus E3 Proteins ; chemistry ; Adenoviruses, Human ; genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Capsid Proteins ; chemistry ; Genetic Vectors ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Viral Vaccines ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo clone and express nucleocapsid (N) protein of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus, and to evaluate its antigenicity and application value in the development of serological diagnostic test for SARS.

METHODSSARS-associated coronavirus N protein gene was amplified from its genomic RNA by reverse transcript nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested-PCR) and cloned into pBAD/Thio-TOPO prokaryotic expression vector. The recombinant N fusion protein was expressed and purified, and its antigenicity and specificity was analyzed by Western Blot, to establish the recombinant N protein-based ELISA for detection of IgG antibodies to SARS-associated coronavirus, and SARS-associated coronavirus lysates-based ELISA was compared parallelly.

RESULTSThe recombinant expression vector produced high level of the N fusion protein after induction, and that protein was purified successfully by affinity chromatography and displayed higher antigenicity and specificity as compared with whole virus lysates.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant SARS-associated coronavirus N protein possessed better antigenicity and specificity and could be employed to establish a new, sensitive, and specific ELISA for SARS diagnosis.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Blotting, Western ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; blood ; diagnosis ; virology

OBJECTIVEStudying on the routes of vas deferens to provide anatomy basis for surgical operation, especially, reconstruction of long segment loss of vas deferens.

METHODSThe routes of vas deferens were observed and anatomic distances along epididymal, infrainguinal, inguinal, retroperitoneal and ampullar segments of vas deferens, the distances from external ring to extremity of vas deferens were measured respectively in 18 formalin fixed adult cadavers.

RESULTSThe vas deferens have a large curve from external ring to extremity in its route, draw it out from the external ring. Eliminating this curve will allow to shorten this segment of vas deferens for vasovasostomy by 6.1 - 12.9 (9.31 +/- 1.30) cm. The length of each segment of vas deferens, respectively, is epididymal: 3.2 - 5.6 (4.53 +/- 0.79) cm, infrainguinal: 4.5 - 9.5 (7.31 +/- 1.78) cm, inguinal: 4.4 - 7.5 (5.52 +/- 0.74) cm, retroperitoneal: 12.5 - 19.5 (16.75 +/- 1.87) cm and ampullar: 2.9 - 3.8 (3.63 +/- 0.23) cm. There was no significant differences in segment length and the distances from external ring to extremity of vas deferens between the right and left.

CONCLUSIONReconstruction of long segment loss of vas deferens can be performed by mobilization retroperitoneal vas deferens and draw it out from external ring. There were no significant differences in lengths of vas deferens and the distances from external ring to vassal extremity between the left and right in adults. The surgical operations of vas deferens are closely related each segment of vasa.

Adult ; Autopsy ; Humans ; Male ; Vas Deferens ; anatomy & histology