Objective: To evaluate the utility of the Werry-Weiss-Peters Activity Rating Scale (WWPARS) for children with a Chinese background. Methods:In the city of Changsha, 465 normal children aged 8～12 in two primary schools and 27 ADHD children in an outpatient department were tested with WWPARS. Psychometric properties of the scale were analyzed for reliability and validity. Results: While levels of activity increased with age for all children, there was no significant difference between the two groups assessed. The scale attained good reliability and validity. Conclusion: This scale can be applied for evaluation of activity levels for Chinese children.

Objective To study the detection characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococcus.Methods Disks with 1 ?g of oxacillin and 30 ?g of cefoxitin were used to detect the inhibition zone of staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococcus at both 35℃ and 30℃ according to the method and breakpoint recommended by CLSI.The agar surface of oxacillin plate with sodium chloride was spotted.mecA gene was amplified by PCR.Results For detection of MRSA, disks of oxacillin and cefoxitin at 30℃ have the same sensitivity of 100%, however, the sensitivity of cefoxitin( 94.7%) is a little higher than that of oxacillin (93.3%) at 35℃. For detection of MRCNS, the sensitivity of 100% can be obtained by disks of both oxacillin and cefoxitin at both 30℃ and 35℃.The sensitivity and specificity of oxacillin plate with sodium chloride are the same as those of disks of oxacillin and cefoxitin at 30℃ for detection of MRSA, its sensitivity is lower than that of disks for detection of MRCNS.Conclusion The detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus can be improved by the use of cefoxitin disk.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the prevalence and resistance of extended spectram ?-lactamases(ESBLs) producers in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.METHODS ESBLs producing strains were screened by double disk test and confirmed by the NCCLS confirmatory test.Susceptibility test to antimicrobial agents was performed by disk diffusion method and analyzed by WHONET 5.3 and Excel.RESULTS The isolated ratio of ESBLs producing E.coli and K.pneumoniae increased from 14% and 15% in 1999 to 30.1% and 30.4% in 2002.Bacteremia caused by the two kinds of ESBLs producers accounted for 30.2% and 30.4%,respectively.ESBLs producing K.pneumoniae and(ESBLs) producing E.coli were 19.8% and 14.0% for outpatient and 26.6% and 31.6% for inpatient.The resistance of(E.coli) to 17 kinds of agents was similar,no matter it was isolated from blood,urine or sputum.Susceptibility of(ESBLs) producing E.coli and K.pneumoniae in urine to cefoperazone/sulbactam,and piperacillin/tazobactam were 85% and 65.2%,66.6% and 29.4%,although to other 15 agents there were no difference.None of the(isolates) showed resistance to imipenem.CONCLUSIONS There is an increasing trend of ESBLs producing E.coli and K.pneumoniae(isolated) from various kinds of specimens and from different wards.It is important for clinical physicians to understand the distribution and the resistance characteristics of ESBLs producing E.coli and(K.pneumoniae) to antibiotics.

Objective To investigate the resistance of Staphylococcus to erythromycin and clindamycin and detect the percentage and gene for inducible resistance. Methods Disk diffusion method was used to test the resistance phenotype of Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococcus according to the standards of NCCLS. The inducible resistance of erythromycin to clindamycin was checked by D-test and the gene for erythromycin ribosome methylase was detected by polymerase chain reaction.Results Co-resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin accounted for 62.7% and 54.8% in MRSA and MRCNS respectively. D-test positive rate was 17.7% among all Staphylococcus tested. The rate of inducible resistance to clindamycin (D-test positive) was 67.6% and 45.3% in Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus which possessed erythromycin resistant and clindamycin sensitive by individual disk diffusion test. The predominant gene for inducible resistance was ermC with the percentage of 74.5%.Conclusion The inducible resistance of erythromycin to clindamycin in Staphylococcus should be checked by D-test in clinical microbiology laboratory in order to help physicians to select MLSB antimicrobial agents correctly.

This study was aimed to observe the effect of Compound Shi-Chang-Pu (CSCP) granula on behavior, structure changes of hippocampus with epileptic seizure of mice induced by pentyenetetrazole (PTZ). Sixty Kunming mice, which were half male and half female, were randomly divided into 6 groups, which were the blank control group, animal model, phenytoin (PHT) group, high-dose CSCP (4 000 mg·kg-1) group, middle-dose CSCP (2 000 mg·kg-1) group and low-dose CSCP (1 000 mg·kg-1) groups. The blank group and model group were given intragas-tric administration the same volume of saline, the others animals treated with continuous oral administration of drugs for 7 days. Intraperitoneal injection of PTZ (80 mg·kg-1) was given 1 h after the last medication to establish the a-cute epilepsy model (expect the blank control group). Observation was made on the influence of CSCP on incubation period, behavior degree and times of epileptic seizure among PTZ induced epilepsy mice, the structure changes of mice were detected by the brain tissue HE staining. The results showed that CSCP can improve the degree of seizure attack, prolong the incubation period of mild attack, and decrease Ⅳ and Ⅴ degree epileptic seizure, the PTZ in-duced epilepsy mice could damage the structure of hippocampus, reduce the number of cells, PHT and CSCP could ameliorate these changes. It was concluded that CSCP had certain inhibition on epileptic seizure mice induce by PTZ and ameliorate the damage of hippocampus. The antiepileptic mechanism still requires futher study.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of digital 3D heads-up display viewing system(3D viewing system) and intraoperative OCT (iOCT) in vitrectomy for myopic foveoschisis (MF). Methods: A retrospective, consecutive case series. From October 2018 to May 2019, Nineteen eyes of 19 consecutive patients with MF diagnosed in Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University who underwent vitrectomy were included in this study. There were 7 males and 12 females, with the mean age of 54.47±11.38 years. The average axial length was 30.40±2.30 mm, the mean logMAR BCVA was 0.56±0.31, the mean central foveal thickness (CFT) was 317.80±151.9.32 μm, the mean max retinal thickness (maxRT) was 556.7±143.7 μm. All the surgeries performed combined with 3D viewing system with iOCT. The standard 25G pars planar vitrectomy were performed with removing the posterior vitreous and indocyanine green (ICG) staining of internal limiting membrane (ILM) and air-fluid exchange. Thirteen of 19 eyes underwent fovea-sparing ILM peeling and the other 6 eyes not. The average follow-up was 4.2±1.4 months. All the patients were on regular follow-up to document the changes on BCVA, anatomical changes in macula, CFT and maxRT. Paired t test was used to compare BCVA, CFT and maxRT before and after surgery. Results: The fine images of macula were clearly shown on the 3D viewing system in all eyes. The electronic green filter enhanced the contrast sensitivity of ICG stained images. Clear images of macula were captured by iOCT in all eyes. The average surgical time was 35.5±8.2 min. On the last follow-up, 16 of 19 eyes with MF resolved. The mean CFT was 178.5±103.5 μm, the maxRT was 341.8±83.8.16 μm, and the mean logMAR BCVA was 0.35±0.22. The differences of CFT, maxRT and logMAR BCVA before and after surgery were statistically significant (t=4.181, 7.154, 5.129; P<0.001). Minimal invisible full thickness macular hole were detected in 2 eyes by iOCT and repaired with auto serum or ILM flap covering. There was no complication associated with the 3D viewing system. Conclusions 3D viewing system provides improved contrast and crystal clear macular image stain with ICG in pathological myopia. iOCT can detect the minimal invisible full thickness macular hole during surgery. Both may contribute to improved MF closure rate and BCVA.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the serum and the vascular endothelial function in patients with hypercholesterolemia and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: We examined the flow-mediated arterial diastolic function (FMD), the levels of IGF-1, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), NO, and the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the serum from 25 patients with hypercholesterolemia and from healthy controls. An endothelial cell injury model was established by incubation of the human umbical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) for 24 hours. Cells were treated with IGF-1 30 min before ox-LDL treatment. The levels of ADMA, NOS, and NO in the cell supernatant, the activity of dimethylarginine dimethylamine hydrolase (DDAH) in the cell lysate were measured. Beta-galactosidase staining was used to assess the degree of endothelial cell senescence by calculating the senescence rate of cells. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the FMD, the levels of IGF-1 and NO, and the activity of NOS in the serum from patients with hypercholesterolemia decreased significantly accompanied with a dramatic increase at ADMA level. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the change in IGF-1 was positively correlated with FMD while the change in ADMA was negatively correlated with FMD. Compared with the control group, ox-LDL treatments significantly decreased the activities of DDAH and NOS, and the level of NO, accompanied with an increase in ADMA. Betagalactosidase staining showed that the senescence rate of cells increased in the ox-LDL group. The effect of ox-LDL on HUVECs was significantly attenuated at the presence of IGF-1. CONCLUSION The decrease in IGF-1 in the peripheral blood may contribute to vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients with hypercholesterolemia. IGF-1 can protect HUVECs against ox-LDL-induced senescence, which is likely involved in the regulation of DDAH/ADMA pathway.
Adult ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiology ; Female ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; blood ; physiopathology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; physiology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; pharmacology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Protective Agents ; metabolism ; Vasodilation ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between interleukin-18 (IL-18) level and Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score as well as risk stratification in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and to determine the clinical prognostic value of IL-18 for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in ACS patients. METHODS: A total of 150 ACS patients were subjected to risk assessment and stratification with GRACE risk score. All ACS patients received conventional treatments and MACE was recorded. Plasma IL-18 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the relationship between plasma IL-18 level and GRACE scores in ACS patients was analyzed. Predictive accuracy of IL-18 level and GRACE risk score for MACE were determined by receiver operating characteristic curve and the corresponding area under the curve. RESULTS: According to GRACE risk stratification, IL-18 level was significantly elevated in the high risk group (>140) compared with that in the middle risk group (109-140; P<0. 05), while IL-18 level was significantly elevated in the middle risk group compared with that in the low risk group (≤108; P<0. 05). According to the IL-18 level, patients were stratified into 4 groups by quartile (from the lowest to the highest, Q1-Q4). Compared with Q1-Q3 groups, the GRACE risk score and percentage of high risk patients were the highest in the Q4 group (P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that IL-18 level was positively related with GRACE risk score and that the area under the curve of IL-18 level and GRACE risk score for predicting MACE in hospital patients were 0.887 and 0.914, respectively. CONCLUSION Both IL-18 level and GRACE risk score are valuable parameters for risk of MACE in patients with ACS. IL-18 may be an important biomarker in the prognosis of ACS patients.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Risk Assessment ; Severity of Illness Index

Copper is a trace element essential for the maintenance of normal physiological functions in cardiovascular system,and its transport and metabolisms are regulated by various copper proteins such as copper-based enzymes,copper chaperones and copper transporters.The disturbance of copper level or abnormal expression of copper proteins are closely associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis,hypertension,ischemic heart disease,myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure.Thus,intervention of copper ion signaling pathways is expected to be an effective measure for treating cardiovascular diseases.Some copper complexes,such as trientine,copper-aspirinate complex and copper(Ⅱ)diethyldithiocarbamate,have been found to play a role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and possess potential prospects.Exploring the role of copper in maintaining normal cardiovascular status and the potential application of copper complexes in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases may lay a foundation for finding new targets for prevention and treatment of various cardiovascular diseases,and provide new ideas for clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effects of vitrectomy with or without fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling on macular foveoschisis (MF) secondary to pathologic myopia. Methods: A non-randomized controlled study was adopted.Twenty-three patients (25 eyes) with refractive error ≥-8.00 DS and MF either combined with foveal retinal detachment or epi-macualr membrane or lamellar macular hole.The subjects were divided into non-internal limiting membrane peeling group (11 patients /11 eyes) who underwent triamcinolone (TA) assisted vitrectomy and fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling group (12 patients/14 eyes) who underwent TA assisted vitrectomy with fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling.The baseline data such as age, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractive error, axial length were not significant difference between the two group.Main outcomes were BCVA, remission of MF defined by optical coherence tomographyc OCT as well as complications.This study followed the Declaration of Helsinki and this protocol was approved by Ethic Committee of Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University (NO.XMYKZX-2016-YWS-007). Results: All patients completed follow-up for more 6 months.BCVA (LogMAR) was 0.47±0.30 in non-internal limiting membrane peeling group and 0.40±0.33 in fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling group, showing no significant difference between the two groups (t=0.66, P=0.52). Complete remission of MF was achieved in 22 eyes.The remission time in non-internal limiting membrane peeling group was 2.5 (1.8, 9.3) months, and 1.0 (1.0, 3.8) months in fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling group, no statistical significance was obtained between the two groups (U=35.00, P=0.09). One eye had post-operative macular hole in non-internal limiting membrane peeling group, accounting for 9%, while in fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling group, one eye had macular hole, accounting for 7%, and one eye had rhegmatogenous retinal detachment post-operatively, accounting for 7%. Conclusions MF can be resolved by vitrectomy while complete remission can achieved more quickly when combined with fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling.