Objective To study the early diagnostic value of procalcitonin(PCT),high-sensitivity C-reactive pro-tein(hs-CRP)and interleukin-6(IL-6)in catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI)in patients in intensive care unit(ICU).Methods 78 ICU patients with suspected CRBSI between April 2013 and April 2015 were selected, blood specimens of patients on the first day of admission and being suspected CRBSI were taken,blood and venous catheter tips were performed culture,patients were divided into CRBSI group and non-CRBSI group according to culture results of blood and venous catheter tips,diagnostic values of PCT,hs-CRP,and IL-6 were compared. Results 28 patients were diagnosed CRBSI.On the day of being suspected with CRBSI,levels of PCT,hs-CRP, IL-6,and white blood cell (WBC)in CRBSI group were significantly higher than non-CRBSI group respectively ([3.35±1 .52]μg/L vs [1 .22±0.44]μg/L;[32.90 ±11 .10]mg/L vs [23.50 ±6.00]mg/L;[423.20 ±171 .70] ng/L vs [257.90±81 .40]ng/L;[12.70±2.70]×109/L vs [11 .20±1 .90]×109/L],P <0.05 ).The receiver op-erating characteristic curve(ROC)analysis showed that area under the curve (AUC)and 95% CI of PCT,hs-CRP, IL-6,and WBC were 0.92(0.85,0.99),0.75(0.62,0.88),0.80(0.67,0.92),and 0.64(0.50,0.72)respectively;sensitivity were 0.82,0.64,0.71 ,and 0.46 respectively;specificity were 0.92,0.94,0.92,and 0.88 respectively. Conclusion PCT and IL-6 have high effectiveness for early diagnosis of CRBSI in ICU patients,and have certain predictive value for early diagnosis of CRBSI.

Using different models of focal cerebral ischemia, the temporal and spatial rules of metabolism and energy changes in the post-ischemia brain tissue were measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HMRS) to provide valuable information for judging the prognosis of acute focal cerebral ischemia and carrying out effective therapy. Nine healthy Sprague-Dawly rats (both sexes) were randomly divided into two groups: The rats in the group A (n = 4) were occluded with self-thrombus for 1 h; The rats in the group B (n = 5) were occluded with thread-emboli for 1 h. The 1H MRS at 30, 40, 50, 60 min respectively was examined and the metabolic changes of NAA, Cho and Lac in the regions of interest were semiquantitatively analyzed. The spectrum integral calculus area ratio of NAA, Cho, Lac to Pcr + Cr was set as the criterion. The values of NAA.Cho in the regions of interest were declined gradually within 1 h after ischemia, especially, the ratio of Cho/(Pcr + Cr), NAA/(Pcr + Cr) at 60 min had significant difference with that at 50 min (P < 0.05). The ratio of Lac/(Pcr + Cr) began to decrease at 40 min from initial increase of Lac in both A and B groups. MR proton spectrum analysis was a non-invasive, direct and comprehensive tool for the study of cellular metabolism and the status of the biochemical energy in acute ischemia stroke.
Brain Ischemia/*diagnosis ; Energy Metabolism ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/diagnosis ; *Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Phosphorylcholine/metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the clinical and imaging characteristics of isolated pontine infarction as well as the influencing factors for early progressive motor deficits (PMD) and short-term prognosis.Methods A total of 86 patients with isolated pontine infarction who admitted in hospital within 24 hours of symptom onset were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into paramedian pontine infarction (PPI) and lacunar pontine infarction (LPI) according to the maximal diameter of the lesions and the locations of infarction.They were divided into either a PMD group or a non-PMD group according to the early status of PMD.They were also divided into a poor outcome group (mRS score ＞ 2) and a good outcome group (mRS score ≤ 2) according to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at discharge.The clinical and imaging features of the different patient groups were compared.Results The patients' constituent ratios of hyperlipidemia (57.14％ vs.33.33％;x2 =4.80,P=0.028),hemiplegia (97.14％ vs.72.55％;x2 =8.718,P=0.003),basilar artery stenosis (45.71％ vs.17.65％;x2=7.930,P=0.005) and poor outcome at discharge (54.29％ vs.31.37％ ; x2 =4.515,P =0.034),and the baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (6.00 ± 2.39 vs.4.61 ± 3.41; t =2.087,P =0.040) in the PPI group (n =35) were significantly higher than those in the LPI group (n =51).The constituent ratios of the baseline diastolic blood pressure levels (97.82 ± 15.61 mm Hg vs.89.55 ± 12.23 mm Hg,1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa; t =2.258,P =0.031),PPI (63.64％ vs.32.81％ ;x2 =6.445,P =0.011) and basilar artery stenosis (59.10％ vs.18.75％ ;x2 =12.922,P =0.000) in the PMD group (n =22) were significantly higher than those in the non-PMD group (n =64).The baseline NIHSS scores (6.80 ± 2.63 vs.3.73 ± 2.55; t =5.426,P =0.000),fasting blood glucose levels (9.40 ±5.15 mmol/L vs.6.56 ±2.69 mmol/L; t =2.985,P=0.004) and the constituent ratios of PPI patients (54.29％ vs.31.37％ ;x2 =4.515,P =0.034) in the poor outcome group (n =35) were significantly higher than those in the good outcome group (n =51).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that basilar artery stenosis was an independent risk factor for the onset of PPI (odds ratio [OR] 3.801,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.357-10.646; P =0.011) and the early PMD of isolated pontine infarction (OR 4.571,95％ CI 1.214-17.214; P=0.025).The baseline NIHSS score ≥ 5 was its independent predictor for poor outcome (OR 4.277,95％ OR 1.505-12.151; P =0.006).Conelusions PPI is mainly associated with the lesions in the branches of basilar artery.The baseline NIHSS score ≥ 5 may be an independent predictor for short-term poor outcome of isolated pontine infarction.Its early PMD and short-term poor outcome may be associated with the basilar artery lesions.

Objective To study the effects of arsenic trioxide on the tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in human malignant melanoma cell line A375. Methods MTT was used to measure the proliferation of human malignant melanoma cell A375. The tyrosinase activity and the melanin content were measured. Results When the concentration of arsenic trioxide was lower than 0.01 ?mol/L, a positive effect was shown along with the increase of the concentration, such as cell proliferation, tyrosinase activity and up-regulation of melanogenesis. When the concentration of arsenic trioxide was above 0.01 ?mol/L, an inhibitory effect was observed. If the concentration of arsenic trioxide was above 1?mol/L, cytotoxic effect occurred. Conclusion Arsenic trioxide has diphasic effect on human malignant melanoma cell line A375.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current status of the medical college students ' sleep quality and learning burnout. METHODS: By stratified cluster sampling method,a total of 771 college students from a medical university in Xinjiang were selected in this study. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index( PSQI) scale and the College Students' Learning Burnout Survey scale were used to carry out the questionnaire survey. RESULTS: There were 146( 18. 9%) students found to have sleeping quality problems; 344( 44. 6%) students having learning burnout. The dimension scores of sleeping quality,sleep time,sleep disorder,daytime dysfunction and total score of PSQI in the students with learning burnout were higher than those of the students without learning burnout( P < 0. 01); the partial correlation analysis showed that the PSQI scores of medical college students were positively correlated with bad emotion,misbehavior,low sense of achievement and learning burnout total score( the partial correlation coefficients were 0. 266,0. 179,0. 091 and 0. 242,P < 0. 05).CONCLUSION: Medical college students have poor sleep quality and their learning burnout status are quite serious. There is a certain degree positively correlated between sleep quality and learning burnout in medical college students.

The GapC protein of Streptococcus uberis located on the surface of bacteria is a protein with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. It participates in cellular processes and exhibits a variety of biological activities. In addition, it has good antigenicity. The aim of this study was to predict the possible B-cell epitopes of the GapC protein and verify the immunogenicity of candidate epitope peptides. The gapC gene of S. uberis isolate RF5-1 was cloned into a recombinant expression plasmid pET-28a-GapC and inducibly expressed. The purified protein was used to immunize experimental rabbits to produce anti-GapC polyclonal antibodies. The three-dimensional structure and three-dimensional location of the GapC B-cell epitopes and the homology comparison of the GapC protein and its B-cell epitopes were carried out using bioinformatics softwares. The results showed that the 44-kDa GapC protein had a good immunological reactivity. Six linear and 3 conformational dominant B-cell epitopes against the GapC protein were selected and synthesized. Three dimensional analysis indicated that the selected peptides have better antigen epitope formation potential. Rabbit anti-GapC polyclonal antibodies were generated after immunized with the purified GapC protein, and the polyclonal antibodies were used to identify the epitope peptide by an indirect ELISA. The ELISA results showed that all of the 9 epitope peptides could react with anti-GapC polyclonal antibodies with varying titers. Among them, the epitope polypeptide ²⁶⁶AANDSYGYTEDPIVSSD²⁸² reacted with the polyclonal antibodies significantly stronger than with other epitope peptides. This study laid an experimental foundation for in-depth understanding of the immunological properties and utilizing effective epitopes of the GapC protein of S. uberis.
Animals ; Antigens, Bacterial/genetics* ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics* ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/genetics* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Rabbits ; Streptococcus

OBJECTIVE: To study the current status of musculoskeletal disorders( MSDS) among medical staffs,and to analyze the relationship of MSDS,sleep quality and occupational stress. METHODS: Four hundred and fourteen medical staffs from a tertiary hospital were selected as research subjects by using judgment sampling method. The questionnaires of Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire,Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Core Questionnaire of Occupational Stress were answered and analyzed. RESULTS: The annual prevalence and week prevalence of MSDS were 67. 9%( 281/414) and 58. 5%( 242/414) in the study group. The neck,waist and shoulder were areas of high incidence of MSDS in the medical staffs,and the annual prevalence was 67. 9%,67. 6% and 54. 6%,while the week prevalence was 56. 5%,58. 5% and 47. 8% respectively. There were 58. 9%( 244/414) medical staffs who had sleep problems. The MSDS annual prevalence,week prevalence of neck and shoulder for poor sleep quality in medical staffs were higher than that of good sleep quality group( P < 0. 05). There were 30. 2%( 125/414) medical staffs who had occupation stress. The annual prevalence,week prevalence of neck and shoulder MSDS in the occupation stress group of medical staffs were higher than the non-occupation stress group( P < 0. 05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that length of service,sleep duration,sleep quality and work requirements were the risk factors of MSDS( P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: The incidence of MSDS is higher in medical staffs with poor sleep quality and high occupational stress.

Objective To study the effect of sand therapy on the hemodynamics of flexural femoral artery, and further reveal the therapeutic mechanism of sand therapy from the perspective of hemodynamics. Methods The three-dimensional finite element model of the curved femoral artery was established based on CT images of human aorta, and the data of heart rate, peak blood flow velocity and inner diameter of femoral artery measured by the experiment were used as initial conditions and boundary conditions to carry out finite element numerical simulation. The blood flow velocity, pressure and wall shear stress before and after sand therapy were analyzed and compared under fluid-solid coupling condition. Results Compared with treatment before sand therapy, the longitudinal velocity of the flexural segment of blood vessel increased significantly, with an increase of 22.76%. The secondary reflux velocity decreased significantly, with a relative decrease of 18.26%. The wall shear stress decreased by 2.01% after sand therapy. Conclusions Sand therapy had a significant effect on blood fluidity, by improving blood flow of femoral arteries, and preventing deposition of arterial platelets. The transverse flow phenomenon was obviously weakened after sand therapy, which could avoid the deposition of substances in blood and had a positive effect on the prevention of atherosclerosis, thrombosis and other vascular diseases.

Objective To estimate the key epidemiological parameters, including the serial interval (SI), basic reproduction numbers (R₀), and time-dependent reproduction numbers (R_t) based on the case data of COVID-19 published on the official website of Shaanxi Provincial Health Commission. Methods The method of maximum likelihood estimation was used to fit the probability distribution of SI, and three parametric models including Gamma, Weibull, and Lognormal distributions were adopted to estimate the distribution of SI. The optimal model was selected by the corrected Akaike information criterion (AICc). Based on nonlinear regression model the cumulative number of confirmed cases was fit to the growth rate r of the Richard growth model to estimate R₀. The R_t was calculated based on the Bayesian framework. Results A total of 49 transmission chains were discovered from 245 local confirmed cases in Shaanxi Province. The Gamma distribution was the optimal model to fit the SI here by AICc. Using the Gamma distribution, the mean SI was estimated to be 6.3 days (95%CI:5.98 - 6.43) with a standard deviation (SD) of 3.94 days (95%CI: 3.01 - 5.03). Using the Richard growth model, the growth rate was estimated to be 0.23 (95% CI: 0.21 - 0.24) and the basic reproduction number in Shaanxi to be 3.11 (95%CI: 2.91 - 3.40). R_t showed an overall downward trend, and fell below 1 on February 10 (R_t=0.95（95%CI: 0.76-1.16)), and stabilized at around 0.35 on February 18. Conclusion The SI of COVID-19 is relatively shorter than that of MERS and SARS, while the R₀ is relatively larger, and R_t is on a downward trend, which suggests COVID-19 is a highly transmissible infectious disease. The control measures including the isolation and treatment of confirmed patients, quarantine and observation of suspected cases, contact tracing, improvement of public awareness, and adoption of self-protection measures can effectively reduce the COVID-19 outbreak.

To analyze the immunogenicity and protective ability of recombinant IgG-binding protein (EAG) of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi and to evaluate its value when used as equine vaccine antigen, EAG gene was amplified by PCR and inserted into pET-28a vector. The EAG recombinant proteins were expressed and purified to immune mice. The serum antibody and challenge protection were tested. The purified recombinant protein of EAG was 26 kDa, and the protein reacted specifically with positive serum of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi. The mice antibody level for EAG immunization group was 1∶8 100. The immunological protection result showed that the protection rate of the EAG recombinant protein was 90%. The results suggested that the EAG protein has good immunogenicity and immunological protection, and it can effectively increase the humoral immune response and immunological protection of mice.
Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Antigens, Bacterial ; immunology ; Bacterial Proteins ; immunology ; Bacterial Vaccines ; immunology ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Mice ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Binding ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology ; Streptococcal Infections ; prevention & control ; Streptococcus equi ; Vaccination