Tesla blood pumps demonstrate a reduced propensity for hemolysis and thrombosis compared with vane blood pumps. Considering the restricted driving force within the secondary flow channel of vane blood pumps, along with the low hydraulic efficiency of conventional Tesla blood pumps and their internal flow characteristics that significantly contribute to hemolysis and thrombosis, this study introduces a set of vanes atop the rotor of the Tesla blood pump. This forms a dual-fluid domain rotor, and an axial dual-outlet volute shell structure is adopted to realize the separation of the fluid domains. Through numerical simulations of the new structure, a comparative analysis was conducted in this study on the internal flow characteristics of double-outlet and single-outlet volute shells, and symmetric and asymmetric cross-sections of the same rotor. The results indicate that the flow field distribution is more uniform under the double-outlet volute shell structure, and overall energy dissipation is decreased. After implementing the double-outlet design, in the asymmetric cross-section, compared with the symmetric cross-section, the fluid velocity gradient and turbulent kinetic energy at the tongue of the septum are reduced, and the fluid velocity gradient at the convergence of the diffuser tube outlets are also decreased. The maximum scalar stress is lower, and the decline in head and efficiency is mitigated. Moreover, compared with the single-outlet volute shell, the hemolysis index in the asymmetric cross-section is reduced. In summary, this paper proposes a novel dual-outlet centrifugal disk blood pumps, which can provide a reference for the structural design and performance optimization of magnetically levitated centrifugal blood pumps.
Heart-Assist Devices ; Humans ; Equipment Design ; Hemolysis ; Computer Simulation

Objective:To study the clinical characteristics of patients with brucella bloodstream infection in different age groups, and provide a basis for clinicians to take targeted diagnosis and treatment measures. Methods:Demographic data and general condition (age, sex, occupation, location, onset season, source of infection, clinical stage), clinical characteristics (main clinical symptoms and complications), and laboratory test results (routine and pathogenic tests) of adult patients with brucella bloodstream infection admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College from January 2015 to January 2020 were collected. According to the age stratification standards recommended by the World Health Organization, the patients were divided into a young group (18 - 44 years old), a middle-aged group (45 - 59 years old), and an elderly group (≥60 years old), and various indicators among different age groups were compared and analyzed. Results:A total of 75 patients were included, including 15 cases (20.00%) in the young group, 37 cases (49.33%) in the middle-aged group, and 23 cases (30.67%) in the elderly group. Among them, 61 cases (81.33%) were males and 14 cases (18.67%) were females, with statistically significant differences in gender ratios among different age groups (χ 2 = 7.28, P = 0.021). The majority of patients were farmers (64 cases, 85.33%), and 92.00% (69/75) of the patients came from rural areas. The main sources of infection were infected cattle and sheep, and contaminated food (39 cases, 52.00%). The main season of onset was spring and summer (45 cases, 60.00%). The clinical staging was mainly in the acute phase (66 cases, 88.00%). In terms of clinical symptoms, the young group of patients had no symptoms of low back pain, while the incidence rates of low back pain in the middle-aged and elderly groups were 35.14% (13/37) and 30.43% (7/23), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the three groups (χ 2 = 6.98, P = 0.031). In terms of complications, there were no cases of concurrent spondylitis in the young group of patients. The incidence rates of spondylitis in the middle-aged and elderly groups were 32.43% (12/37) and 34.78% (8/23), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference among the three groups (χ 2 = 6.86, P = 0.032). In terms of routine laboratory examinations, there were statistically significant differences in the proportion of blood lymphocytes and albumin levels among patients of different age groups ( F = 3.41, 3.27, P = 0.038, 0.044). In terms of pathogenic examination, there was a statistically significant difference in the median alarm time for positive blood culture among patients of different age groups ( H = 9.54, P = 0.008), with the middle-aged group having the longest (66.24 h) and the elderly group having the shortest (58.80 h). Conclusions:The clinical characteristics of patients with brucella bloodstream infection vary among different age groups, middle-aged and elderly patients are prone to low back pain symptoms, accompanied by spondylitis. Clinicians should pay attention to the patient's own characteristics and provide targeted diagnosis and treatment.

Objective To investigate and predict the molecular targets and mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (黄连解毒汤, HLJDD) in the treatment of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) through network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis. Methods The chemical constituents and action targets of HLJDD were retrieved on Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), SymMap v2, Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM), a High-throughput Experiment- and Reference-guided Database of Traditional Chinese Medicine (HERB), and Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID). UniProt and GeneCards were used to query the target genes that corresponding to the active compounds, and then a compound-target network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.7.2. Gene Ontology (GO) database was used to annotate GO functions. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) was used to predict the possible mechanisms of active compounds. The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) was used to analysis the tissue enrichment. The main active compounds in HLJDD are molecularly docked with their corresponding related targets. Results Seventy-six compounds were screened and 458 corresponding targets in the network were obtained. Gene annotation showed that the targets were involved mainly in 1 953 biological processes. 884 signaling pathways was enriched, involving signaling by interleukins, cytokine signaling in immune system, generic transcription pathway, and RNA polymerase II transcription. The targets mainly distributed in the lung, liver, and placenta, involving a variety of immune cells, such as T cells and B cells. The molecular docking results showed that core compounds such as wogonin, berberine, and baicalein had high affinity with tumor necrosis factor (TNF), insulin (INS), and tumor protein 53 (TP53). Conclusion The active compounds in HLJDD may have a therapeutic effect on COVID-19 through regulating multiple signal pathways by targeting genes such as vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), INS, interleukin-6 (IL-6), TNF, caspase-3 , TP53, and mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3).

Objective: To investigate the relationship between tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the androgen receptor (AR) in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)-positive breast cancer. Methods: Specimens of 448 patients with HER-2-positive breast cancer from the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital between March 2018 and November 2018 were collected. TILs were pathologically evaluated. AR expression was immunohistochemically analyzed. The relationships among TILs, the AR, and clinicopathological parameters were determined. Results: There were 38.2% (171/448) patients with TILs non/low-infiltrated, 42.2% (189/448) with moderately infiltrated, and 19.6% (88/448) with high infiltration. AR was positive in 62.7%(281/448) of the patients. Spearman correlation analysis showed that TILs and the AR were negatively related (r=-0.140, P=0.003). TILs were significantly associated with the AR in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer (P=0.009). Conclusions: TILs and the AR were negatively related in HER-2-positive breast cancer, indicating that HER-2-positive breast cancer can be treated according to the different infiltration levels of TILs and AR expression.

Objective To summarize the clinical features of 9 cases with mutations in PKHD1 gene for a better understanding of its phenotype.Methods Clinical data of nine cases with mutations in PKHD1 gene were summarized from January 2011 to December 2016 in our center,including clinical manifestations,laboratory findings,imaging data and family investigation.Next generation sequencing was used to screen 4000 genes in case 1 to 4 and whole exons in case 5 to 9.Significant variants detected by next generation sequencing were confirmed by conventional Sanger sequencing.Segregation analysis was performed using parental DNA samples.Relevant literature was reviewed.Results Among these 9 cases,5 are male,4 are female.The average age of onset was 2.6 years old (ranging from 0.5-5.2 years).Renal ultrasound revealed that all 9 cases had cysts in bilateral kidney,7 cases with enlarged kidney,1 case with normal size kidney,1 case with normal size kidney,and 1 case with bilateral renal atrophy.Two cases with renal artery stenosis,1 case with focal narrowing in left main branch and 1 case with vesico-ureteral reflux were found.Among the 9 cases,3 cases had homozygous mutations,and 6 cases had compound heterozygous mutations,including 1 nonsense mutation,1 frameshift mutation and 15 missense mutations.There were 2 cases with 3 heterozygous mutations,2 c.5935C ＞ T mutations and 2 eases with C.5869G ＞ A mutations.A total of 10 new mutations were identified.Conclusion Patients with mutations in the PKHD1 gene had normal size kidney,or even atrophic kidney.Renal artery stenosis,vesicoureteral reflux and bronchial stenosis were all first reported in patients with mutations in PKHD1 gene.The novel mutations,c.274C ＞ T,c.9059T ＞ C,c.8996delG,c.281C ＞ T,c.10424T ＞ A,c.7092T ＞ G,c.4949T ＞ C,c.5869G ＞ A,c.6197A ＞ G and c.1877A ＞ G further expanded the mutation spectrum of PKHD1 gene.

Objective: To investigate the clinical and genetic character of Chinese children with the aarF domain containing kinase 4 (ADCK4)-associated glomerulopathy. Methods: Applying next generation sequencing to detect possible gene mutation(renal disease associated monogene was pooled as one panel) in 69 children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) or persistent proteinuria of unknown origin. Sanger sequencing was used to confirm the significant mutations found in the children and to validate these mutation sites in their patients. Using online software (PolyPhen2, SIFT, Mutation Taster) to predict whether the detected missense mutations were disease causing or not. Collecting and analyzing clinical data of children with ADCK4-associated glomerulopathy, which included onset age, clinical manifestation, and renal pathology. Results: The ADCK4 gene mutation was detected in 8 children with a positive rate of 11.6% (8 out of 69), among which 3 patients carried homozygous c.748G>C mutation, 3 patients carried homologous c.737G>A mutation, 1 patient carried compound heterozygous mutation(c.748G>C and c.737G>A), and 1 patient carried compound heterologous mutation(c.551A>G and c.737G>A). Collectively, there were only 3 mutation sites found in total 8 patients, in which the mutation sites of c.748G>C and c.737G>A had high detection frequency in these 8 patients. These 3 mutation sites were all missense mutation which were predicted to be disease causing by online software and not reported before. The average onset age was 6.5 years (2 years-11.75 years). Four patients presented with SRNS and the other 4 presented with persistent proteinuria. All 8 patients had no extrarenal manifestation, renal biopsy revealed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in most patients, among which 3 cases had gone to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at disease onset, and 2 cases progressed to ESRD 2 and 5 years after onset respectively. Seven patients had received glucocorticoid and/or immunosuppressive drug while only one patient getting partial response. All 8 patients were treated with large amount of coenzyme Q₁₀ (15 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) after definite diagnosis of ADCK4 mutation-some patients had acquired encouraging curative effect. Conclusions ADCK4-associated glomerulopathy is not rare especially in the children with SRNS. The onset age is relatively old and the extrarenal manifestation is less common. FSGS is a main pathology type. Patients usually have no response to immunosuppressive therapy, but may benefit from addition of large amount of coenzyme Q₁₀. Some patients may only manifest with insidious proteinuria, causing the early diagnosis to be difficult, which deserves more attention. Three new missense mutations expand disease causing mutation repertoire of ADCK4 gene, among which the two sites of c.748G>C and c.737G>A may be mutation hotspot of ADCK4-associated glomerulopathy in Chinese population, and need further study.

Objective: To summarize the clinical manifestation and molecular characteristics of COQ6 mutation induced nephrotic syndrome, and to evaluate efficacy of CoQ₁₀ therapy. Method: Clinical data of the case with infantile nephrotic syndrome was summarized, including clinical manifestations, laboratory findings and family investigation. The patient received CoQ₁₀ 30 mg/(kg·d) therapy. Urine protein/creatinine ratio, serum albumin and creatinine were detected to assess the efficacy of the therapy. Result: (1) The 10 months old boy was presented with nephrotic level proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia. Extra-renal manifestations included cardiovascular abnormality, motor and mental retardation and unilateral ptosis. The patient had no consanguinity. A novel homozygous p. R360W mutation in COQ6 gene was identified and confirmed by next-generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing, respectively. Family analysis showed that homozygous p. R360W mutation in COQ6 gene was inherited from his parents. Missense p. R360W mutation was damaging by prediction online PolyPhen and SIFT software. After 2 months of CoQ₁₀ complementary therapy, the patient′s urine protein/creatinine ratio declined from 7.2 to 1.3, and decreased further to 0.01 mg/mg with normal albumin level and renal function within 3 months. Nephropathy remission was maintained and growth retardation improved significantly during the last follow-up. Nevertheless, the patient manifested with sensorineural deafness at the age of 2 years. (2) There were 6 different mutations in coenzyme Q₁₀ biosynthesis monooxygenase 6 (COQ6) in 13 individuals from 7 families by homozygosity mapping in the whole world. Each mutation was linked to early-onset SRNS with sensorineural deafness. Renal biopsy revealed FSGS in 7 cases and DMS in 1 case. Other manifestations included ataxia, seizures, facial dysmorphism, nephrolithiasis and growth retardation. Four patients received CoQ₁₀ supplementation and responded to the treatment. Conclusion Renal disease caused by recessive COQ6 gene mutation was nephrotic syndrome. The patient benefited from early CoQ₁₀ complement and reached nephropathy remission.

Objective To summarize the clinical manifestation and molecular characteristics of COQ6 mutation induced nephrotic syndrome , and to evaluate efficacy of CoQ 10 therapy.Method Clinical data of the case with infantile nephrotic syndrome was summarized , including clinical manifestations , laboratory findings and family investigation .The patient received CoQ 10 30 mg/( kg? d ) therapy.Urine protein/creatinine ratio , serum albumin and creatinine were detected to assess the efficacy of the therapy . Result (1) The 10 months old boy was presented with nephrotic level proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia . Extra-renal manifestations included cardiovascular abnormality , motor and mental retardation and unilateral ptosis.The patient had no consanguinity .A novel homozygous p.R360W mutation in COQ6 gene was identified and confirmed by next-generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing , respectively.Family analysis showed that homozygous p.R360W mutation in COQ6 gene was inherited from his parents.Missense p.R360W mutation was damaging by prediction online PolyPhen and SIFT software .After 2 months of CoQ10 complementary therapy , the patient′s urine protein/creatinine ratio declined from 7.2 to 1.3, and decreased further to 0.01 mg/mg with normal albumin level and renal function within 3 months.Nephropathy remission was maintained and growth retardation improved significantly during the last follow-up.Nevertheless, the patient manifested with sensorineural deafness at the age of 2 years.(2) There were 6 different mutations in coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis monooxygenase 6 ( COQ6 ) in 13 individuals from 7 families by homozygosity mapping in the whole world.Each mutation was linked to early-onset SRNS with sensorineural deafness . Renal biopsy revealed FSGS in 7 cases and DMS in 1 case.Other manifestations included ataxia , seizures, facial dysmorphism , nephrolithiasis and growth retardation .Four patients received CoQ 10 supplementation and responded to the treatment .Conclusion Renal disease caused by recessive COQ 6 gene mutation was nephrotic syndrome .The patient benefited from early CoQ 10 complement and reached nephropathy remission .

Objective To explore anti-HBs persistence four years after revaccination with hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) among adults who were non-responsive to HepB primary immunization. Methods A total of 24 237 healthy adults who had no history of hepatitis B infection and hepatitis B vaccination, resided in the local area for more than six months and aged 18-49 years were selected from 79 villages of Zhangqiu County, Shandong Province, China in 2009. Blood samples were obtained and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody against hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and antibody against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were detected using ELISA method. A total of 11 590 persons who were negative for all of these indicators were divided into four groups by cluster sampling methods. Each group was vaccinated with one of the following four types of HepB at 0-1-6months schedule: 20 μg HepB derived in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (HepB-SC), 20μg HepB derived in Chinese hamster ovary cell (HepB-CHO), 10μg HepB-SC and 10 μg HepB derived in Hansenula polymorpha (HepB-HP). Blood samples were collected one month after the third dose of primary immunization and tested for anti-HBs using chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). The non-responders were followed up and their basic information and the histories of hepatitis B infection, HepB vaccination, smoking and drinking were investigated. Then they were revaccinated with three doses of HepB with the same schedule as the primary immunization. Blood samples were collected from all of them one month (T1), two years and four years after revaccination and anti-HBs, anti-HBc and HBsAg were detected by CMIA. A total of 356 participants were followed up from 645 low-responders four years after revaccination, and the ratio was 55.2%. The risk factors associated with the positive rate and geometric mean concentration (GMC) of anti-HBs after four years of revaccination were analyzed using multivariate unconditional logistic regression model and multivariate linear regression model, respectively. Results Among 356 participants, 172 (48.3%) were males and 184 (51.7%) were females. The anti-HBs positive rate was 90.4% (322 cases) at T1 and was 55.9% (199 cases) four years after revaccination. The GMC of anti-HBs was 240.5 (95%CI: 186.4-310.4)mU/ml at T1 and decreased to 15.0 (95%CI:12.2-18.5) mU/ml four years after revaccination. The average annual decreasing rate of GMC was 50.63% from one month after revaccination to four years after revaccination. The corresponding rate was 64.89% in the first two years, which was 2.12 times the rate in the latter two years (30.57%). When compared with those whose anti-HBs titer was less than 99 mU/ml at T1, the significantly higher anti-HBs four years after revaccination was observed in those whose anti-HBs titer at T1 was 100-999 mU/ml and those whose anti-HBs titer at T1 was≥1 000 mU/ml. The OR (95%CI) was 7.14 (3.90-13.05) and 28.40 (13.16-61.30) respectively. When compared with those whose anti-HBs titer was ≤99 mU/ml at T1, the GMC of anti-HBs four years after revaccination was also significantly higher among those whose anti-HBs titer at T1 was 100-999 mU/ml and those whose anti-HBs titer at T1 was≥1 000 mU/ml. The b (95%CI) was 1.66 (1.26-2.05) and 3.16 (2.72-3.60), respectively. Conclusion The positive rate and GMC of anti-HBs decreased four years after revaccination among non-responsive adults, but still kept anti-HBs above protective level. The immunity durability after revaccination is mainly associated with anti-HBs titer one month after revaccination.

Objective To explore anti-HBs persistence four years after revaccination with hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) among adults who were non-responsive to HepB primary immunization. Methods A total of 24 237 healthy adults who had no history of hepatitis B infection and hepatitis B vaccination, resided in the local area for more than six months and aged 18-49 years were selected from 79 villages of Zhangqiu County, Shandong Province, China in 2009. Blood samples were obtained and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody against hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and antibody against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were detected using ELISA method. A total of 11 590 persons who were negative for all of these indicators were divided into four groups by cluster sampling methods. Each group was vaccinated with one of the following four types of HepB at 0-1-6months schedule: 20 μg HepB derived in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (HepB-SC), 20μg HepB derived in Chinese hamster ovary cell (HepB-CHO), 10μg HepB-SC and 10 μg HepB derived in Hansenula polymorpha (HepB-HP). Blood samples were collected one month after the third dose of primary immunization and tested for anti-HBs using chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). The non-responders were followed up and their basic information and the histories of hepatitis B infection, HepB vaccination, smoking and drinking were investigated. Then they were revaccinated with three doses of HepB with the same schedule as the primary immunization. Blood samples were collected from all of them one month (T1), two years and four years after revaccination and anti-HBs, anti-HBc and HBsAg were detected by CMIA. A total of 356 participants were followed up from 645 low-responders four years after revaccination, and the ratio was 55.2%. The risk factors associated with the positive rate and geometric mean concentration (GMC) of anti-HBs after four years of revaccination were analyzed using multivariate unconditional logistic regression model and multivariate linear regression model, respectively. Results Among 356 participants, 172 (48.3%) were males and 184 (51.7%) were females. The anti-HBs positive rate was 90.4% (322 cases) at T1 and was 55.9% (199 cases) four years after revaccination. The GMC of anti-HBs was 240.5 (95%CI: 186.4-310.4)mU/ml at T1 and decreased to 15.0 (95%CI:12.2-18.5) mU/ml four years after revaccination. The average annual decreasing rate of GMC was 50.63% from one month after revaccination to four years after revaccination. The corresponding rate was 64.89% in the first two years, which was 2.12 times the rate in the latter two years (30.57%). When compared with those whose anti-HBs titer was less than 99 mU/ml at T1, the significantly higher anti-HBs four years after revaccination was observed in those whose anti-HBs titer at T1 was 100-999 mU/ml and those whose anti-HBs titer at T1 was≥1 000 mU/ml. The OR (95%CI) was 7.14 (3.90-13.05) and 28.40 (13.16-61.30) respectively. When compared with those whose anti-HBs titer was ≤99 mU/ml at T1, the GMC of anti-HBs four years after revaccination was also significantly higher among those whose anti-HBs titer at T1 was 100-999 mU/ml and those whose anti-HBs titer at T1 was≥1 000 mU/ml. The b (95%CI) was 1.66 (1.26-2.05) and 3.16 (2.72-3.60), respectively. Conclusion The positive rate and GMC of anti-HBs decreased four years after revaccination among non-responsive adults, but still kept anti-HBs above protective level. The immunity durability after revaccination is mainly associated with anti-HBs titer one month after revaccination.