Objective: To study the air removal efficiency of prevacuum sterilizers.Methods: The results of Bowie-Dick(BD) tests were monitored every day using the 3M disposable BD test pack,which was placed horizontally in the bottom section of the sterilizer rack near the exhaust opening.Results: Of the 1370 BD tests conducted with 3 autoclaves,1366 showed negative results and 4 positive.Conclusion: BD tests can be used to precisely assess the efficiency of prevacuum sterilizers.

To solve the problem that mostly gait analysis is independent from the treatment, this work proposes a system that integrates the functions of gait training and assessment for foot drop treatment. The system uses a set of sensors to collect gait parameters and designes multi-mode functional electrical stimulators as actuator. Body area network technology is introduced to coordinate the data communication and execution of the sensors and stimulators, synchronize the gait analysis and foot drop treatment. Bluetooth 4.0 is applied to low the power consumption of the system. The system realizes the synchronization of treatment and gait analysis. It is able to acquire and analyze the dynamic parameters of ankle, knee and hip in real-time, and treat patients by guiding functional electrical stimulation delivery to the specific body locations of patients.
Electric Stimulation ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Gait ; Humans ; Wireless Technology

ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility and value of mini-clinical evaluation exercise (Mini-CEX) in clinical neurology practice.MethodsNinety-four interns were randomly divided into observation group and control group,students in control group were teached and managed in accordance with existing management while those in observation group were evaluated by teachers after the 1 st,2nd and 3rd week.At the end of clinical practice,all the students( including students in control group and observation group)were cross assessed by teachers based on the methods mentioned above.Results The time to complete the assessment was about 25 - 40 min.The scores of nervous system examination at the end of the training were significant different between observation group and control group and the scores of diagnosis and treatment on the basis of examination were also significant different between observation group and control group ( P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionThe Mini-CEX assessment and feedback to promote teaching effect is feasible in the practice process of neurology,it can make up for the deficiency of current examination.

AIM:To explore the influence of exogenous hydrogen sulfide ( H2 S) on coagulation and fibrinoly-sis in ferric chloride ( FeCl3 )-induced mouse carotid artery thrombosis .METHODS: The mice were divided into sham control group, model group, different concentrations (12.5, 25 and 50μmol/kg) of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, H2S do-nor) groups and 30 mg/kg clopidogrel ( positive control ) group.Intraperitoneal injection of NaHS at different concentra-tions and oral administration of clopidogrel bisulfate were performed for 3 d prior to FeCl 3-induced carotid artery thrombo-sis.The frozen sections of the carotid artery were collected to perform HE staining , and the thrombus pattern and the chan-ges of vascular pathology were observed .The thrombus was weighed to calculate thrombosis inhibitory rate .Prothrombin time ( PT) , activated partial thromboplastin time ( APTT) , fibrinogen ( FIB) and fibrinogen degradation product ( FDP) in the mice were also measured by a coagulometer .The plasma levels of thromboxane B 2 ( TXB2 ) , 6-keto-prostaglandin F 1α(6-keto-PGF1α) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) were detected by ELISA.RESULTS: Compared with model group, NaHS dose-dependently inhibited the formation of carotid artery thrombus .NaHS treatment reduced the contents of TXB2 and PAI, and recovered 6-keto-PGF1αcontent in thrombosis model group .In NaHS treatment groups , 6-keto-PGF1α/TXB2 and thrombus weight was negatively correlated .NaHS treatment prolonged PT and APTT , reduced the content of FIB, but increased the level of FDP in thrombosis model group .CONCLUSION:Hydrogen sulfide prevents FeCl 3-induced carotid artery thrombosis by inhibiting coagulation and activating fibrinolysis .

AIM:To investigate the type of chloride channel activated by cisplatin in poorly differentiated na -sopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-2Z cells).METHODS:The technique of whole-cell patch-clamp was used to investi-gate the role of Ca 2+in the activation of cisplatin-activated chloride currents and to analyze the effect of hypertonic stress on these currents in CNE-2Z cells.RESULTS:Chloride currents were induced when the cells were exposed to the calcium -free cisplatin solution , showing the similar density to the currents induced by cisplatin with the presence of extracellular cal -cium.However , the latency and the peak time of cisplatin-activated currents in the absence of extracellular calcium were prolonged.The activation of cisplatin-activated chloride currents was insensitive to the depletion of intra-and extracellular calcium.Calcium channel antagonist nifedipine had no effect on the cisplatin -activated chloride currents , while hypertonic solution completely inhibited those currents .CONCLUSION:The cisplatin-activated chloride currents are independent on intra/extracellular calcium .The chloride channels activated by cisplatin are not calcium-activated chloride channels , but are probably volume-sensitive chloride channels .

Objective:To analyze the input and output status of health resources in primary medical and health institutions and their allocation efficiency in different regions of China, and to provide an empirical basis for optimizing the allocation of primary medical and health resources in China among regions.Methods:The input index data (number of beds and number of health personnel) and output index data (number of primary medical and health institutions visits, number of family health services, number of hospital admissions) of primary medical and health institutions in China in 2020 were extracted from the China Health Statistical Yearbook 2021. Based on the BCC ( Banker, Charnes, Cooper) model of data envelopment analysis ( DEA), the Bootstrap- DEA method was used to correct bias, the allocation efficiency of primary medical and health resources in 31 provinces was calculated and the regional differences were analyzed. Results:After bias correction, the technical efficiency (TE) of resource allocation in primary medical and health institutions decreased by 0.102. The average TE score of all 31 primary medical and health institutions was 0.669, indicating a serious problem of ineffective use of technology. The TE of the eastern, central and western regions was 0.694, 0.663, and 0.649 respectively. There was obvious polarization in the central regions.Further analysis of the efficiency improvement of non DEA efficient provinces showed that 2 DEA weakly efficient provinces and 16 DEA ineffective provinces had several reference provinces for efficiency configuration improvement; The provinces that have been referenced more than 10 times were Zhejiang, Chongqing, Sichuan, and Ningxia, while the provinces that were listed as the first reference by other provinces were Ningxia, Chongqing, Zhejiang, and Tibet.Conclusions:The resource allocation efficiency of primary medical and health institutions in China is relatively low, and regional differences are obvious. The balance between different inputs and outputs should be considered when allocating the resources. Non DEA effective provinces can use DEA analysis to find the most suitable reference object and make reference improvements in the short term.

Aim To clarify the effect of Borneol on the chloride channels and cell volume in poorly differentia-ted nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-2Z cells.Methods The technique of whole-cell patch clamp was used to detect the chloride currents and analyze the character-istics of the currents in CNE-2Z cells.The volume changes caused by Borneol were measured by the meth-od of time-lapse live cell imaging.Results The chlo-ride currents were induced by extracellular application of Borneol (20 μmol·L -1 )isotonic condition.The currents showed a characteristic of outward rectification and did not show voltage-dependent or time-dependent inactivation.The reversal potential of the currents was close to the CI-equilibrium potential. The currents were inhibited by the chloride channel blocker tamox-ifen.The currents were also inhibited by 47% hyper-tonic solution.Borneol decreased the cell volume by 9.4% in 30 min.Tamoxifen completely inhibited the Borneol-induced cell volume decrease.Conclusion Borneol can activate volume-sensitive chloride channels and induce volume decrease in CNE-2Z cells.Chloride channels play a pivotal role in the process of volume decrease caused by Borneol.

Objective:To investigate the genetic association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor genes cluster on chromosome 15q12 with autism in Chinese Han population.Methods:Totally 502 autism trios of Chinese Han ethnicity (including 502 autism individuals and 1004 healthy biological parents) were selected.All children met the autism diagnosis of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fourth edition (DSM-Ⅳ).Genotyping for 15 selected tag SNPs in three GABAA receptor genes (GABRB3,GABRA5,and GABRG3) was performed using Agena Bioscience MassARRAY platform.The family-based association test for 15 tag SNPs was performed to compare the transmitted frequency of al leles of heterozygous genotypes from parents to offspring in autism trios.Results:The C allele of rs7180500 in GABRG3 and the A allele of rs4906902 in GABRB3 exhibited the preferential transmission from parents to affected offspring (Z =3.573,P ＜0.001;Z =3.141,P =0.002),and the association was significant after Bonferroni correction.Conclusion:It suggests that GABRG3 and GABRB3 which located in chromosome 15q12 might be susceptibility genes in Chinese Han population.

Objective:To comprehensively evaluate the tricuspid valve, right heart anatomical characteristics and related dynamic parameters in patients with different degrees of functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) using four-dimensional auto tricuspid valve quantitative(4D Auto TVQ), four-dimensional auto right ventricle quantitative(4D Auto RVQ), and four-dimensional auto left atrium quantitative(4D Auto LAQ), and to investigate the structural and functional changes of the tricuspid valve and right heart in them.Methods:Sixty-three patients with FTR diagnosed by echocardiography at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from February to July 2022 were prospectively selected as the case group, including 30 patients with mild FTR and 33 patients with moderate or above FTR, and 30 healthy subjects were selected as the control group. Transthoracic echocardiography was used for two-dimensional and three-dimensional image acquisition of the heart. The tricuspid regurgitation volume, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), right ventricular global strain (RVGS) were measured by 2D images, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) were measured from the tricuspid regurgitation pressure difference. The 3D images were imported into EchoPAC 204 to obtain the tricuspid valve, right heart structure and related dynamic parameters. The annulus area (AA), annulus perimeter(AP), spherical index (SI), annulus area change fraction (AC), coaptation point height (CPH), and tenting volume (TV) were measured by 4D Auto TVQ. The right atrial maximum volume (RAVmax) and right atrial minimum volume (RAVmin) were measured by 4D Auto LAQ. Right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV), right ventricular end-systolic volume (RVESV), right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) were measured by 4D Auto RVQ. After standardizing the dimension parameters with body surface area (BSA), the differences in the above parameters were compared between the three groups, the correlation between regurgitant volume and each parameter was compared by correlation analysis, and the independent factors of increased tricuspid regurgitant volume were investigated by univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis.Results:There were statistically significant differences in PASP, AA/BSA, AP/BSA, AC, TV, RAVmax/BSA, RAVmin/BSA, RVFAC, RVGS, and TAPSE between the three groups (all P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in LVEF, CPH, RVEDV/BSA, and RVESV/BSA in the moderate and above FTR group compared with the control and mild FTR groups (all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that RAVmin was the most highly correlated with tricuspid regurgitant volume ( r=0.875, P<0.001) and TV and end-systolic annulus area(ESAA) were highly correlated with tricuspid regurgitant volume ( r=0.747, 0.683; both P<0.001) in patients with FTR. Multifactorial linear regression showed that RAVmin, TV and regurgitant volume were independently positively correlated (β=0.721, 0.205; both P<0.05). Conclusions:The four quantification technique can provide valid structural and functional information by quantifying the tricuspid valve as well as the right heart in patients with FTR, and RAVmin and TV are independent correlates of increased tricuspid regurgitant volume.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between prolonged PR interval and carotid atherosclerosis(CAS)in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods:A total of 537 middle-aged and elderly inpatients with T2DM in the Southern Branch of the Sixth People′s Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University from January 2019 to January 2021 were selected as the research objects. Color Doppler ultrasound was used to detect bilateral carotid artery intima-media thickness(CIMT). The subjects were divided into carotid atherosclerosis group(CAS group, n=352)and non-carotid atherosclerosis group(NCAS group, n=185). The difference in the PR interval of ECG between the two groups was compared. Pearson or Spearman rank correlation analysis was used for evaluating the correlation of PR interval and CAS lesions with various clinical index. The relationship between PR interval and CAS lesions was adopted by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results:The average PR interval of middle-aged and elderly patients with T2DM was(164.57±23.02)ms. The average PR interval in CAS group was significantly higher than that in NCAS group [(169.76±24.28) vs (154.70±16.42)ms, P<0.01]. The results of multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that age, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, serum osteocalcin, and PR interval were independent factors influencing the development of CAS lesions in middle-aged and elderly patients with T2DM( OR=1.079, 1.936, 0.879, 1.039, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01)where each 1 ms increase in PR interval was associated with a 3.9% increase in the risk of CAS in middle-aged and elderly patients with T2DM( OR=1.039, 95% CI 1.006-1.073, P=0.020). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that middle-aged and elderly type 2 diabetic patients with PR interval≥158 ms were 4.072 times more likely to have CAS lesions than those with PR interval<158 ms( OR=4.072, 95% CI 1.417-11.702, P<0.01). Conclusion:The PR interval of electrocardiogram is correlated with CAS lesions in middle-aged and elderly patients with T2DM. Middle-aged and elderly type 2 diabetic patients with significantly prolonged PR interval should be reminded to screen for CAS lesions early.