Introduction：Neonatal tetanus is a major cause of neonatal mortality in many developing countries and remains a major public health problem. This study aimed to determine risk factors associated with neonatal tetanus in Wenzhou, China.Methodology：Medical records of neonatal tetanus cases from 17 hospitals over a 13-year period (2000–2012) were reviewed for potential risk factors. Controls were selected from neonates with diseases other than tetanus who were admitted to the same facility during the same period. The potential risk factors of the neonatal tetanus group were compared with the control group using univariate analysis and an unconditional logistic regression model.Results：A total of 246 neonates with tetanus and 257 controls were included in this study. Univariate analysis showed that having untrained birth attendants, home delivery, an unsterile method of delivery and being a migrant to Wenzhou were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of having an untrained birth attendant, home delivery and an unsterile method of delivery were significantly higher in the tetanus group than the control group (odds ratio: 1371.0; 95% confidence interval: 206.0, 9123.5).Conclusion：This study identified that the main risks of neonatal tetanus in cases from Wenzhou were having an untrained birth attendant, home delivery and an unsterile method of delivery. Preventive measures directed to these risk factors may reduce the occurrence of neonatal tetanus in the studied area.

Administration, Inhalation ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; administration & dosage ; Piperazines ; administration & dosage ; Purines ; administration & dosage ; Sildenafil Citrate ; Sulfones ; administration & dosage

The article puts forward the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome through regulating heart vitality since it is held that the pathological factors of the disease lay in dysfunction of heart and intestines as well as disorder of qi circulation. At the same time, the internal-external relationship between the heart the small intestine is discussed from the theory of Brain-gut Axis in modern medicine, which provides theoretical base of modern medicine for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome through regulation of the heart functions.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Intestines ; physiopathology ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility and clinical efficacy of a minimally invasive sinus tarsi approach in the treatment of Sanders II calcaneus fractures.

METHODSFrom August of 2015 to July of 2016, 13 patients(totally 13 feet) with Sanders II intra-articular calcaneus fractures were treated via the minimally invasive sinus tarsi approach. The Böhler angle, Gissane angle and the length, width and height of calcaneus were compared between pre-operation and post-operation. The AOFAS ankle and foot scoring system of the orthopaedic ankle foot Association was used to evaluate the efficacy.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 6 to 15 months, with an average of 9.5 months. No incision complications occurred. The Böhler angle was increased from preoperative (18.82±5.11)° to postoperative(26.63±4.45)°(=-4.16,=0.000). The Gissane angle was increased from preoperative(111.07±15.36)° to postoperative (124.56±8.71)° (=-2.75,=0.011). The length, width, height of calcaneus were absolutely improved from preoperative(69.82±5.95) mm, (42.07±3.68) mm, (41.20±3.90) mm to preoperatively(72.61±5.46) mm, (39.10±4.02) mm, (44.03±3.33) mm. According to the AOFAS, 8 patients got an excellent result, 4 good and 1 poor, and the postoperative mean score was 88.2±5.9.

CONCLUSIONSThe limited open sinus tarsi approach could be used successfully to treat displaced Sanders II fractures with less injury and effectively restored the surface of subtalar joint, however the method is not fit for the patients with comminuted fracture in lateral wall and great change in the length, width, height, varus and valgus of calcaneus.

BACKGROUNDThe pathological diagnosis is of critical importance to the subsequent treatment for the pathients with superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). The aim of this study is to report our experience in the diagnosis of SVCS by endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA).

METHODSThe data of 520 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA from September 2009 to May 2012 at our institution were reviewed. Of these, there were 14 males and 6 females (mean age of 59.1 years) with SVCS who received EBUS-TBNA that were included in the analysis.

RESULTSThe mean short axis diameter of the paratracheal lesions was (3.32 ± 1.79) cm (range, 1.69 to 9.50 cm) and 6 cases also had subcarinal lymph node enlargement with a mean short axis diameter of (2.14 ± 0.49) cm (range, 1.73 to 3.01 cm). An average of 4.3 punctures was performed per lesion. Malignancy was confirmed in 16 cases (10 small cell carcinomas, 4 adenocarcinomas, 1 squamous cell carcinoma and 1 Hodgkin lymphoma). In two patients, pathological examination of tissue revealed no evidence of malignancy and for 13 to 24 months of follow-up. One patient from whom adequate tissue was not obtained refused further surgical biopsy since he had undergone endovascular stenting of the SVC. One patient in whom a diagnosis was not obtained by EBUS-TBNA underwent thoracoscopic biopsy and the final diagnosis was B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The diagnosis accuracy of EBUS-TBNA in SVCS was 18/20 patients.

CONCLUSIONEBUS-TBNA is a highly effective and safe procedure for the diagnosis of SVCS.

Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Bronchoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Image-Guided Biopsy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome ; diagnosis

To evaluate the effect of Naoshuantong capsule on the life quality of patients with ischemic stroke in six months of follow-up studies, and observe the adverse events. The results would provide reference for the secondary prevention on the recovery stage of ischemic stroke. 696 patients from 12 Class III Grade I hospitals nationwide were divided into 2 groups by central randomization system. The study group, 344 cases, were treated with Naoshuantong capsule plus Aspirin, and the control group, 352 cases, were treated with Aspirin. The patients were treated for 6 months. At the end of treatment, SS-QOL used for evaluating the quality of life was observed. The safety index was defined by adverse observation event. The incidence of adverse events and laboratory tests results were observed before and after treatment at the same time. The results indicated that compared to the control group, the treatment group had significant statistical difference in the impact of effort, self-care ability and the the work or labor ability of patients (P < 0.05). No serious adverse events were observed. Naoshuantong capsule showed some superiority to Asprin on improving the quality of life on patients with ischemic stroke, and it could be used in secondary prevention on the recovery stage of ischemic stroke. Naoshuantong capsule is safe and effective in the treatment of convalescence ischemic stroke.
Adult ; Aged ; Capsules ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Stroke ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

This study was purposed to evaluate the effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) on hematopoietic reconstruction and survival in beagles exposed to mixed fission neutron and γ-ray. 13 beagles were unilaterally exposed to single dose of 2.3 Gy 90% neutrons. The experiments were divided into 3 groups: irradiation control group (no any treatment, n = 4), supportive care group (n = 5) and rhG-CSF plus supportive care group (n = 4, abbreviated as rhG-CSF group) in which the beagles were subcutaneously injected with 200 µg/kg of rhG-CSF early at half an hour and 24 hours post-irradiation respectively. The results showed that 2.3 Gy 90% neutron irradiation induced a severe acute radiation sickness of bone marrow type. The administration of rhG-CSF increased the survival rate from 60% in supportive care group to 100%. Twice injection of rhG-CSF in the first 24 hours reduced duration of neutropenia, enhanced neutrophil nadir and promoted neutrophil recovery when compared with control cohort administered clinical support. The number of colony-forming cells (CFU-GM, CFU-E, and BFU-E) in peripheral blood of rhG-CSF treated canines increased 2-to 5-fold relative to those of the supportive care group on day 3. All canines treated with rhG-CSF achieved hematopoietic reconstruction as evidenced by the pathological section of sternum while severe shortage of hemopoietic cells remained in the cohorts given supportive care alone. It is concluded that the combination of supportive care and high-dose rhG-CSF can accelerate hematopoietic recovery and enhance survival of dogs exposed to 2.3 Gy mixed neutron and gamma ray.
Animals ; Dogs ; Gamma Rays ; adverse effects ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic System ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Neutron Diffraction ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUNDThe Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway and the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway are the two major independent signal transduction pathways. However, it has recently been found that STAT3 may be negatively regulated by ERK1/2 in gp130-dependent signaling. Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1), a potent novel hypertrophic cytokine, depends on gp130 to induce signaling and depends on STAT3 to exert hypertrophic effect. In this study, we examined whether STAT3 activity was negatively regulated by ERK1/2 during CT-1-induced signaling in rat cardiomyocytes and, if so, whether such crosstalk interfered with the hypertrophic effect of CT-1 and, furthermore, whether the mechanism underlying the crosstalk involved phosphorylation of serine 727 (S727) in STAT3.

METHODSThe activities of ERK1/2 and STAT3 were assessed by in-gel kinase assay and Western blot analysis, respectively. The role of S727 phosphorylation in the crosstalk between ERK1/2 and STAT3 was determined by a transient transfection study using a STAT3S727A mutant. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was evaluated by the cellular protein-to-DNA ratio and [(3)H]-leucine incorporation.

RESULTSCT-1 simultaneously activated both ERK1/2 and STAT3 in rat cardiomyocytes. Inhibition of ERK1/2 by U0126 resulted in an increase of CT-1-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 and, consequently, the protein-to-DNA ratio and [(3)H]-leucine incorporation. Transient transfection of the cells with STAT3S727A had no significant effect on CT-1-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3.

CONCLUSIONSSTAT3 is activated by CT-1 in rat cardiomyocytes, but full activation is mitigated by the simultaneous activation of ERK1/2. The inhibition of ERK1/2 increases the activity of STAT3, which, in turn, enhances the hypertrophic effect of CT-1. The crosstalk between ERK1/2 and STAT3 is independent of the phosphorylation of the S727 in STAT3. Such crosstalk may contribute to the development of adequate cardiac hypertrophy.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus ; Animals ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Cardiomegaly ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Cytokine Receptor gp130 ; Cytokines ; toxicity ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; physiology ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; physiology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; Trans-Activators ; physiology ; Tyrosine ; metabolism

To know the status of Enterobius vermicularis infection in children in Jiangxi Province in 2014, so as to provide the evidence for the formulation of prevention and control measures.A survey was performed according to the scheme of the 3rd Principal Human Parasites of Jiangxi Province in 2014. Based on the ecological regions, a stratified cluster sampling method was applied by the economic and geographic situation. There were 84 survey sites from 28 counties, and the basic data were also collected in the different investigation sites, and the round-end tube adhesive cellophane anal swab was used to examine E. vermicularis eggs for the children aged 3–6 years.A total of 1 486 children aged 3-6 years were detected, the E. vermicularis infection rate was 13.73% (204/1 486), and the infection rates were 13.89% (114/821) and 13.53% (90/665) in the male and female, respectively. The infection rate in the different age groups showed a gradual rise then fall trend, the lowest infection rate was 10.05% (38/378) in the 3-year age group, and the highest infection rate was 18.24% (81/444) in the 5-year age group. The infection rates in the high, medium and low-income survey sites were 13.79% (87/631), 17.23% (51/296), and 11.81% (66/559), respectively. The E. vermicularis infection rates in the 4 ecological regions were from 12.34% to 17.74%, but there was no significant difference among the different ecological regions (P > 0.05).The status of E. vermicularis infection in children in Jiangxi Province is relatively serious, and therefore, the parasitic disease control sectors should continue to strengthen the monitoring and control work of E. vermicularis infection in children.

2019-nCoV Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, which has brought new challenges to the prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic, has the characteristics of stronger transmissibility and more rapid transmission and more significant immune evasion. It took only two months to become a predominant strain worldwide after its identification in South Africa in November 2021. Local epidemics caused by Omicron variant have been reported in several provinces in China. However, the epidemiological characteristics of highly mutated Omicron variant remain unclear. This article summarizes the progress in the research of functional mutations, transmissibility, virulence, immune evasion and cross-reactive immune responses of Omicron variant, to provide references for the effective prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic caused by Omicron variant.
COVID-19 ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pandemics ; SARS-CoV-2