Objective To evaluate the application of modified MELD score based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the prognosis of patients with liver failure.Methods Clinical data of 558 patients with liver failure admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from December 2001 to September 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.Among all patients,238 cases survived (survival group) and 320 died (fatal group) within 3 months.The eGFR was used in the modified model for end stage liver disease (MELD) instead of serum creatinine.Cox regression analyses were fitted with modified MELD or MELD scores by SAS 9.0 PHREG.The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated and the values of modified MELD score and MELD score in predicting the prognosis of patients with liver failure in 3 months were compared.Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the survival rate of patients with liver failure.Results Cox regression analysis showed that total bilirubin,international normalized ratio (INR) and eGFR were independent prognostic factors for patients with liver failure.The fitted MELD modified score =4.07 × ln total bilirubin (mg/dL) + 12.99 × ln INR-8.32 × ln eGFR.The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the modified MELD score and the MELD score were 0.814 and 0.757,respectively,and the sensitivity and specificity of the modified MELD score were 70.0％ and 71.4％,respectively.The predictive power of modified MELD scores in patients with liver failure was better than MELD score (Z =4.47,P ＜ 0.01).The 3-month survival rate of patients with modified MELD score ＜-15.38 was significantly higher than those with modified MELD score ≥-15.38 (x2 =99.20,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions eGFR is an independent risk factor for the prognosis of patients with liver failure.The modified MELD score including eGFR and excluding etiological factors can be more effective and more accurate for prognosis of patients with liver failure.

Objective:To analyze the etiological and epidemiological characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Xi′an from 2019 to 2021, so as to provide evidence for the prevention and control of HFMD.Methods:Stool specimens and anal swabs were collected from patients with HFMD. Enteroviruses (EVs) including enterovirus 71 (EV71), coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16), CVA6 and CVA10 were detected by RT-PCR. Excel 2007 and SPSS18.0 software were used for data collection and statistical analysis, respectively. The epidemiological data of HFMD cases were analyzed by descriptive epidemiology method. The VP1 gene sequence of the representative strain of each CVA6 genotype was downloaded. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using MEGA X software and the genetic characteristics were analyzed.Results:A total of 1 531 HFMD cases were involved and 1 365 were positive for EVs with a positive rate of 89.16%. The detection rates of EV71, CVA16, CVA6, CVA10 and other EVs were 1.31% (20/1 531), 32.46% (497/1 531), 38.47% (589/1 531), 5.09% (78/1 531) and 11.23% (172/1 531), respectively. There were significant differences in the pathogen composition in HFMD cases of different clinical types (χ 2=46.14, P<0.01) and occupations (χ 2=34.65, P<0.01) as well as in different years (χ 2=462.86, P<0.01). The average age was greater in patients with CVA16 infection than in those with CVA6 or CVA10 infection ( F=6.00, P<0.01). In 2019, the HFMD cases were mainly caused by CVA16, while in 2020 and 2021, the main pathogen was CVA6. Enterovirus-positive cases showed a bimodal distribution with the main peak from May to July and the secondary peak from September to November. CVA16 was the predominant pathogen in spring and summer, and CVA6 was the predominant pathogen in autumn. CVA6 was the dominant pathogen in eight districts and counties of Xi′an; CVA16 was the dominant pathogen in six districts and counties; CVA6 and CVA16 co-circulated in one district. The CVA6 isolates belonged to two evolutionary branches of D3a subtype. Conclusions:CVA6 and CVA16 were the prevalent pathogens of HFMD and CVA6 subtype D3a circulated in Xi′an from 2019 to 2021. The pathogen composition of HFMD cases showed obvious differences in population, time and regional distribution.

Objective:To investigate the positive rates of 2019-nCoV nucleic acid in different specimens from confirmed COVID-19 cases during hospitalization and after discharge.Methods:Patients with confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled from designated hospitals. Nasal swabs, throat swabs, and specimens of stool, urine and blood were collected during hospitalization. After the patients were discharged, nasal swabs, throat swabs and stool specimens were collected during follow-up. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect 2019-nCoV nucleic acid.Results:This study involved 25 confirmed COVID-19 cases. During hospitalization, all patients tested positive in both nasal and throat swab 2019-nCoV nucleic acid tests, and nine of them (36.00%) were positive in stool specimen test. Urine and blood specimen test results were all negative. Nasal swabs, throat swabs and stool specimens were collected from each patient 7 d and 14 d after discharge. Two patients (8.00%) tested positive for 2019-nCoV nucleic acid again in nasal and throat swab tests on 7 d, while all stool specimen tests were negative. No 2019-nCoV nucleic acid was detected in nasal swabs, throat swabs or stool samples on 14 d.Conclusions:2019-nCoV nucleic acid was detected in stool samples of confirmed COVID-19 cases during hospitalization. Nasal and throat swab nucleic acid tests turned positive again in some patients after discharge.

BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)can release a large number of exosomes(Exos).The effect of Exos derived from BMSCs on hepatocyte apoptosis and the specific mechanism has not been fully clarified. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of miR-21-5p carried by Exos derived from BMSCs on apoptosis of rat liver cells and its mechanism. METHODS:Rat BMSCs were isolated and miR-21-5p NC or miR-21-5p inhibitor was transfected into BMSCs.The Exos were extracted by ultracentrifugation and named(BMSCs+miR-21-5p NC)-Exos and(BMSCs+miR-21-5p inhibitor)-Exos.BMSCs-derived Exos were co-cultured with rat hepatocytes to observe the effect of inhibiting miR-21-5p expression on the apoptosis of rat hepatocytes.The targeting relationship between miR-21-5p and PIK3R1 was verified by double luciferase reporter gene detection.TUNEL was used to detect the effect of miR-21-5p directly targeting PIK3R1 in Exos to activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway on hepatocyte apoptosis in BRL rats. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The double luciferase reporting system confirmed that when PI3KR1 wild type vector and miR-21-5p mimics co-transfected 293T cells,the luciferase activity decreased significantly compared with the PI3KR1 mutant vector co-transfected group,indicating that miR-21-5p could target PIK3R1.(2)TUNEL test results showed that compared with(BMSCs+miR-21-5p NC)-Exos group,(BMSCs+miR-21-5p inhibitor)-Exos treatment significantly increased the apoptosis rate.Compared with the(BMSCs+miR-21-5p NC)-Exos group,after the addition of AKT inhibitor LY294002,the apoptosis rate was significantly increased.(3)The results indicate that Exos may inhibit the apoptosis of BRL rat hepatocytes through miR-21-5p,in which miR-21-5p directly targets PIK3R1 to activate PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective To assess the prognostic value of APRI score and FIB-4 index for patients with chronic liver failure.Methods Clinical data of 426 patients with chronic liver failure admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from March 2005 to September 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.The MELD score,APRI score and FIB-4 index were calculated.Patients were divided into survival group and fatal group according to survival situation within 3 month after admission.Logistic regression was used to analyze the differences in all the indexes between the survival group and fatal group.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the value of the above indexes in predicting the 3-month survival.Results Among 426 patients 244 died within three months after admission.Univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression showed that MELD score and FIB-4 index were statistically significant between the survival and fatal groups (Z =-4.783 and-4.104,x2 =26.31 and 11.34,both P ＜ 0.01).The area under the ROC curve of MELD score,APRI score and FIB-4 index was 0.635,0.511 and 0.616 for predicting 3-month survival,respectively.Compared with the APRI score,MELD score and FIB4 index were statistically different (x2 =13.669 and 6.341,P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01).When MELD score ＞ 28,FIB-4 index ＞ 11.27,the patient has a high fatality rate and poor prognosis within three months.Conclusion FIB-4 index can be used to evaluate the short-term prognosis of patients with chronic liver failure,and the higher score of FIB-4 index predicts the worse prognosis.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and etiologic agent of herpangina in Xi’an in 2016. Methods: Herpangina epidemiological data and random stool samples were collected from two sentinel hospitals. The data were statistically analyzed with Excel and SPSS 18.0 and samples were detected and enteroviruses were genotyped using real-time PCR and RT-snPCR. Results: Totally 421 cases were reported and the male-to-female ratio was 1.54∶1, age ranged from 3 month to 13 years, and 90.50% were under three years of age. Herpangina showed semiannual peaks in April to October, of which the highest was in June (23.75%, 100/421). Lab result showed that 71.05% were EV positive out of 152 samples, and further genotyping indicated 60 were non-typable, and other 48 comprised of eight serotypes of EV including EV-A71, CV-A4, CV-A5, CV-A6(6.48%), CV-A10(23.15%), CV-A12, CV-A16 and CV-B3. Conclusions Male children under 3 years of age were the main population and herpangina cases were most frequently reported in June in Xi’an in 2016. CV-A6 and CV-A10 were more frequently detected in the typable ones.

Objective: To understand the etiological and clinical characteristics of children with severe hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Xi′an in 2018, and to provide the evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods: The children with severe HFMD admitted at Xi′an Children′s Hospital from January to December 2018 were selected as the research objects.Clinical data were collected, and the anal swab were detected by adopting real time(RT)-polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Results: Ninety-five cases of HFMD were treated in Xi′an Children′s Hospital in 2018, of which 92 cases were severe and 3 cases were critical.Eighty-seven cases were positive for enterovirus nucleic acid, 30 cases were enterovirus 71(EV71)(31.6%), 39 cases were coxsackievirus A6(CA6) (41.0%), 3 cases were CA16(3.2%), 2 cases were CA10(2.1%) and 13 cases were other enteroviruses (13.7%). Among 95 patients, the ratio of male to female was 1.1∶1.0; the peak period of incidence of HFMD was from May to July, and the main age of onset of severe HFMD was under 3 years old.The main clinical manifestations were mental retardation, vomiting, irritability, lethargy and convulsion.Severe cases of CA6 are prone to convulsion.The main form of rash in CA6 cases was bullous rash, and demethylation may occur in recovery period.The rash in EV71 cases was small, thick, hard and few.After active treatment, only one child with EV71 infection died because of severe cerebral dysfunction, frequent convulsions and neurogenic pulmonary edema.The other child was discharged with hemiplegia and language dysfunction.The other severe children were cured and discharged from hospital. Conclusions In 2018, CA6 was the main pathogen of severe HFMD in Xi′an, with bullae was the main manifestation of skin rash, and nail removal could occur during convalescence.Critical and death cases were still caused by EV71.

Objective To understand the distribution of novel coronaviruses in the external environment of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Methods Environmental surface swab specimens such as bed rails, doorknob, closestool, hand washing sink, table, locker,ward pager, mobile phone, cup, clothes, were collected from the sentinel hospital of COVID-19, and samples were collected for the nucleic acid detection by RT-PCR. Results A total of 150 environmental samples were collected from 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 6 samples were determined to be novel coronaviruses postive (positive rate 4.00%). The total 14 mobile phone showed 3 novel coronaviruses positive.Among the 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 6 cases (positive rate 20.00%)were found novel coronaviruses in the external environment. Conclusions Novel coronaviruses exists in external environment of confirmed COVID-19 cases, which indicates the potential risk of COVID-19 infection.