BACKGROUND:Streptococcus mutans is an important pathogen of dental caries,and timely detection of its levels is of great significance for early detection and treatment of dental caries. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of loop-mediated isothermal amplification(FTA-LAMP)direct extraction of Streptococcus mutans DNA. METHODS:(1)Bacterial suspensions containing ATCC standard strains(Streptococcus mutans)were prepared and inoculated into the brain-heart leachate medium.After mixed thoroughly,the mixture was then diluted in a 10-fold gradient into seven concentrations(4.2×107,4.2×106,4.2×105,4.2×104,4.2×103,4.2×102,4.2×10 CFU/mL),two parallel controls were made for each dilution level,and sterile water was used as a blank control.(2)The DNA of Streptococcus mutans was extracted using FTA Elute card,boiling method,kit extraction and lysate extraction methods separately and then amplified using LAMP technology was amplified.A specificity test was also performed to compare the differences between the four DNA extraction methods.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The DNA extracted by all four methods met the requirements for LAMP amplification.Specificity test results showed that only Streptococcus mutans could specifically amplify the target gene.The detection limit value of the DNA concentration was 4.2×103 CFU/mL for the lysate method,4.2×104 CFU/mL for the FTA Elute card extraction method,4.2×106 CFU/mL for the kit extraction method,and 4.2×107 CFU/mL for the boiling method.In the other aspects of the four extraction methods,the kit extraction method had the highest experimental cost,number of steps and time;the other three methods had the same number of steps,with the FTA Elute card method requiring the least amount of instruments,the boiling method having the lowest single cost,and the lysate extraction method taking the least amount of time.Only a small amount of bacteria were needed for successful extraction using both the FTA Elute card and lysate extraction methods.Compared with the FTA Elute card method,the lysate extraction method was superior in terms of time,but it had a high single cost and required more equipment.To conclude,the FTA-LAMP technology established in this study has the advantages of ease of operation,high specificity,high sensitivity,and visualization,which is expected to be a new way for efficient extraction and detection of Streptococcus mutans.

Objective To observe the value of intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics based on diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)for predicting histological grade of breast cancer.Methods Preoperative DWI data of 700 patients with single breast cancer diagnosed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into training set(n= 560,including 381 of grade Ⅰ+Ⅱ and 179 of grade Ⅲ)and test set(n=140,including 95 of grade Ⅰ+Ⅱ and 45 of grade Ⅲ)at the ratio of 8∶2.Intratumoral ROI(ROIintra)was manually delineated on DWI,which was automatically expanded by 3 mm and 5 mm to decline peritumoral ROI(ROIperi,including ROI3 mm and ROI5 mm),then intratumoral-peritumoral ROI(ROIintra+3 mm,ROIintra+5 mm)were obtained.The optimal radiomics features were extracted and screened,and the radiomics model(RM)for predicting the histological grade of breast cancer were constructed.Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn,and the areas under the curve(AUC)were calculated to evaluate the predictive efficacy of each model.Calibration curve method was used to evaluate the calibration degree,while decision curve analysis(DCA)was performed to explore the clinical practicability of each model.Results AUC of RMintra,RM+3 mm,RM+5mm,RMintra+3 mm and RMintra+5 mm was 0.750,0.724,0.749,0.833 and 0.807 in training set,while was 0.723,0.718,0.736,0.759 and 0.782 in test set,respectively.In training set,significant differences of AUC was found(all P＜0.01),while in test set,no significant difference of AUC was found among models(all P＞0.05).The calibrations of models were all high.DCA showed that taken 0.02-0.88 as the threshold,the clinical net benefit of RMintra+per were greater in training set,while taken 0.40-0.72 as the threshold,the clinical net benefit of RMintra+per was greater in test set.Conclusion Both DWI intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics could effectively predict histological grade of breast cancer.Combination of intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics was more effective.

Objective:To explore the effects of applying peer-assisted learning (PAL) combined with modular teaching in physiology education, and to explore a more suitable mode for physiology teaching and learning.Methods:We selected a total of 89 undergraduate medical students of grade 2022 from a university offering physiology courses from February 28 to June 30, 2022. They were assigned using a random number table into experimental class (44 students) and control class (45 students). The experimental class adopted PAL with modular teaching, while the control class adopted the online and offline hybrid teaching method. The two classes were compared for teaching effects in terms of the completion rate of task points, final assessment scores, and questionnaire results. SPSS 19.0 was used to perform the independent samples t-test and the chi-square test. Results:The final exam scores for the objective questions of the experimental class and the control class were (43.04±3.25) and (40.24±8.64), respectively; the scores for the subjective items were (44.49±2.80) and (39.21±5.71), respectively; and the total scores were (87.53±4.24) and (79.40±12.08), respectively, all with significant differences between the two classes. There were significant differences in students' learning autonomy, micro-video preview rate, problem discussion participation rate, unit self-test participation rate, and after-class homework completion rate. The questionnaire survey showed that students in the experimental class believed that this teaching model was helpful for improving students' comprehensive qualities.Conclusions:PAL combined with modular teaching can effectively improve physiology teaching effects and students' learning autonomy and comprehensive abilities.

Pulmonary blast injury has become the main type of trauma in modern warfare, characterized by externally mild injuries but internally severe injuries, rapid disease progression, and a high rate of early death. The injury is complicated in clinical practice, often with multiple and compound injuries. Currently, there is a lack of effective protective materials, accurate injury detection instrument and portable monitoring and transportation equipment, standardized clinical treatment guidelines in various medical centers, and evidence-based guidelines at home and abroad, resulting in a high mortality in clinlcal practice. Therefore, the Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association and the Editorial Committee of Chinese Journal of Trauma organized military and civilian experts in related fields such as thoracic surgery and traumatic surgery to jointly develop the Clinical treatment guideline for pulmonary blast injury ( version 2023) by combining evidence for effectiveness and clinical first-line treatment experience. This guideline provided 16 recommended opinions surrounding definition, characteristics, pre-hospital diagnosis and treatment, and in-hospital treatment of pulmonary blast injury, hoping to provide a basis for the clinical treatment in hospitals at different levels.

Objective:To investigate the vitamin D level of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Qinghai Province, and to explore the correlation between vitamin D level and pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods:From May to September 2020, 208 bacterial confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis patients who were admitted to The 4th People′s Hospital of Qinghai Province were enrolled as the pulmonary tuberculosis group, and 129 healthy people who underwent physical examination during the same period were enrolled as the healthy control group. Independent sample t test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results:The deficiency rate of vitamin D was 11.06%(23/208) in the pulmonary tuberculosis group, which was higher than that (3.10%(4/129)) in the healthy control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=6.840, P=0.009). The vitamin D level was (56.84±20.03) μg/L in the pulmonary tuberculosis group, which was lower than that ((67.39±17.07) μg/L) in the healthy control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=5.154, P<0.01). The vitamin D levels were not different between the newly treated ((56.66±20.02) μg/L)) and retreated pulmonary tuberculosis patients ((59.11±20.81) μg/L) ( t=0.468, P=0.650). The vitamin D level of simple pulmonary tuberculosis patients ((57.82±20.01) μg/L) was higher than that of pulmonary tuberculosis patients combined with other diseases ((48.08±18.46) μg/L), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.132, P=0.034). Conclusion:Pulmonary tuberculosis is associated with decreased vitamin D levels, and patients with pulmonary tuberculosis are more likely to suffer from decreased or deficient vitamin D, which suggests clinicians considering the vitamin D status when treating pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of 100 units of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) intradetrusor injection in patients with overactive bladder.Methods:From April 2016 to December 2018, 17 tertiary hospitals were selected to participate in this prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Two phases of study were conducted: the primary phase and the extended phase. This study enrolled patients aged 18 to 75 years who had been inadequately managed by anticholinergic therapy (insufficient efficacy or intolerable side effects) and had spontaneous voiding with overactive bladder. Exclusion criteria included patients with severe cardiac, renal and hepatic disorders, patients with previous botulinum toxin treatment for 6 months or allergic to BTX-A, patients with urinary tract infections, patients with urinary stones, urinary tract tumors, diabetes mellitus, and bleeding tendency. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to BTX-A group and placebo control group in a ratio of 2∶1. Two groups of patients received 20 intradetrusor injections of BTX-A 100U or placebo at the depth of the submucosal muscle layer respectively under cystoscope, including 5 injections at the base of the bladder, 3 injections to the bladder triangle, 5 injections each to the left and right walls and 2 injections to the top, sparing the bladder neck. As a placebo control group, patients received same volume of placebo containing no BTX-A and only adjuvant freeze-dried preparations for injection with the same method. A combination of gelatin, sucrose, and dextran served as adjuvants. Average micturition times per 24 hours, urinary incontinence (UI) episodes per day, average micturition volume per day, OAB symptom score(OABSS), and quality of life (QOL) score were recorded at baseline and the 2nd, 6th and 12th week after treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline in the average micturition times per 24 hours at the 6th week after treatment. The secondary efficacy endpoints included the change from baseline in the average micturition times per 24 hours at 2nd and 12th week, as well as the change from baseline in the OABSS, QOL score, average frequency of urgency and UI episodes per day, urgency score, average micturition volume per day at 2nd, 6th and 12th week after treatment. Patients were followed for 12 weeks to assess adverse events (AEs). After assessed at week 12, if the micturition times has decreased less than 50% compared to baseline and the patient is willing to receive retreatment, then patients could enter the extended trial phase. In that phase, patients in both groups were injected with 100 units BTX-A from 12th week onwards and then followed up the same indicators for 12 weeks.Results:216 patients were enrolled in this trial (144 cases in the BTX-A group and 72 cases in the placebo control group). Baseline characteristics such as age (47.75±14.20 in the BTX-A group and 46.39±15.55 in the control group), sex (25 male/117 female in the BTX-A group and 10/61 in the control group), and disease duration (0.51 years in the BTX-A group and 0.60 years in the control group) were balanced between the two groups( P>0.05). A marked reduction from baseline in average micturition times per 24 hours was observed in all treatment groups at the 6th week and the reduction of the two groups was statistically different ( P<0.001 and P=0.008 respectively). Compared with the baseline, the average micturition times per 24 hours at the 6th week decreased from baseline by 2.40(0.70, 4.60)times for the BTX-A group and 0.70(-1.00, 3.30) times for the placebo control group respectively, and the difference between the two groups was considered to be statistically significant ( P=0.003). The change rates of average micturition times per 24 hours from baseline at the 6th week of the two groups were (16±22)% and (8±25)% respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.014). Compared with the baseline, the average micturition times per 24 hours at 2nd and 12th week decreased by 2.00(0.00, 4.00)and 3.30(0.60, 5.03)for the BTX-A group, 1.00(-1.00, 3.00)and 1.70(-1.45, 3.85)for the placebo control group respectively. The difference between two groups was considered to be statistically significant ( P=0.038 and P=0.012); the changes of average urgency times per day for the BTX-A group and the control group at the 2nd, 6th and 12th week were 2.00(0.00, 4.30)and 2.40(0.30, 5.00), 3.00(0.30, 5.70)and 0.70(-1.30, 2.70), 0.70(-1.30, 3.00) and 1.35(-1.15, 3.50), respectively. There were significant differences between two groups at the 2nd, 6th and 12th week, ( P=0.010, P=0.003 and P=0.025, respectively). The OABSS of the BTX-A group and the control group at the 6th week decreased by 1.00(0.00, 4.00)and 0.50(-1.00, 2.00) compared with the baseline, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.003). 47 cases of BTX-A group and 34 cases of placebo control group entered the extended trial phase, and 40 and 28 cases completed the extended trial phase, respectively. The average micturition volume per 24 hours changed by -16.60(-41.60, -0.60)ml and -6.40(-22.40, 13.30)ml, (-35.67±54.41)ml and(-1.76±48.69)ml, (-36.14±41.51)ml and (-9.28±44.59)ml, (-35.85±43.35)ml and(-10.41±40.29)ml for two groups at the 12th, 14th, 18th and 24th week, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant at each follow-up time ( P=0.01, 0.006, 0.012 and 0.016, respectively). There was no significant difference in other parameters( P>0.05). However, adverse reactions after intradetrusor injection included increased residual urine volume (27 in the BTX-A group and 3 in the control group), dysuria (21 in the BTX-A group and 6 in the control group), urinary infection (19 in the BTX-A group and 6 in the control group), bladder neck obstruction (3 in the BTX-A group and 0 in the control group), hematuria (3 in the BTX-A group and 1 in the control group), elevated alanine aminotransferase (3 in the BTX-A group and 0 in the control group), etc. During the follow-up period, there was no significant difference in the other adverse events between two groups except the increase of residual urine volume( P<0.05). In the primary trial phase, among the 27 cases with increased residual urine volume in BTA group, only 1 case (3.70%) with PVR more than 300 ml; the PVR of 3 patients in the placebo group was less than 100 ml. The increase of residual urine volume caused by the injection could be improved or disappeared with the passage of time. Conclusions:Intradetrusor injection of Chinese BTX-A improved the average micturition times per 24 hours, the average daily urgent micturition times, OABSS, and average micturition volume per time, and reduced the adverse effects in patients with overactive bladder.Chinese BTX-A at dose of 100U demonstrated durable efficacy and safety in the management of overactive bladder.

Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology* ; Antibodies, Viral/immunology* ; COVID-19/virology* ; COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology* ; Humans ; SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity* ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology* ; Vaccines, Inactivated/immunology*

Objective:To demonstrate the concept of planning target volume (PTV) is not suitable for intensity proton therapy (IMPT) in lung cancer, plan differences were compared based on the concept of PTV and Internal target volume (ITV), aiming to provide clinical reference.Methods:Six patients were retrospectively selected and approved by the local ethics committee. Each of the six patients received two IMPT plans based on a synchronous accelerator model, developed by SINAP team (Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, China Academy Science University) and commercial treatment system: one with the PTV-based robust IMPT (PTV-IMPT) plan and the other with ITV-based robust IMPT (ITV-IMPT) plan. Three beams were set in all plans, and the final dose was calculated using Monte Carlo dose algorithm. The plan quality and robustness of PTV-IMPT and ITV-IMPT plans were evaluated quantitatively.Results:Compared to the PTV-IMPT plan, ITV-IMPT plan showed better target conformity index (conformability index: 0.58 vs.0.43), better homogeneity index (homogeneity index: 0.96 vs.0.92), lower V 5Gy in normal lung tissue (13.1% vs.13.5%) and maximum dose in spinal cord (8.9 Gy vs. 9.5 Gy) as well as plan monitor unit (MU: 338 vs. 401) . In addition, ITV-IMPT plan showed more robust in target coverage (0.003-0.032 vs. 0.02-0.28), and normal lung tissue was also found a bit robust in the ITV-IMPT plan ( 0.06-0.11, 0.07-0.13). Conclusions:Compared with the PTV-IMPT plan, ITV-IMPT plan has the advantages of high planning quality, well robustness and better tumor motion mitigation. Therefore, ITV concept is recommended to be applied in the IMPT plan for lung cancer.

Objective:The purpose of current study was to evaluate the interplay effects in intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) for lung cancer and compare the results of different Iso-energy layer repainting techniques in the mitigation of interplay effects.Methods:Eight patients with lung cancer who underwent 4DCT were retrospectively selected. A robust CTV-based IMPT plan was generated for each based on commercial TPS, considering patient setup errors ±5 mm, range uncertainties ±3.5%, and CTV time structure motion in 4DCT image. Monte Carlo dose engines were used for all IMPT plans in the final dose calculation. The 4D static dose (4DSD) and 4D dynamic dose (4DDD) were calculated using a hybrid deformable algorithm and simulated proton delivery system for interplay effects. An index[ΔI(ROI, DVH)] was developed to quantitatively evaluate the interplay effects. We applied Iso-energy layer repainting techniques with different numbers of repainting (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) to the robust IMPT plans and evaluated the difference in the mitigation of interplay effects based on the ΔI(ROI, DVH) index.Results:Due to interplay effects, the mean values of target coverage, conformity and homogeneity index reduced by 13.7%, 12.7% and 24.6%, respectively. The mean values of lung V 5Gy and V 20Gy improved by 0.8%, 3.4% and 2.6%. Compared to the IMPT plans without layer repainting, Multiple iso-energy layers repainting techniques improved the mean values of CTV coverage by 4.5%, 3.8%, 3.8%, 3.6% and 5.7%, respectively. The average values of lung V 20Gy reduced by 1.5%, 1.8%, 1.7%, 1.6% and 1.9%, respectively. Conclusions:In the robust CTV-based IMPT plans, the interplay effects degraded the target dose distribution but were mitigated using iso-energy layer repainting techniques. We recommended to use the layer repainting technique according to the characteristics of the patient.

Objective:To construct a Nomogram model in predicting recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) at six months, one year and two years after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resection by using inflammatory markers combined with other routine clinical indicators.Methods:The data of 314 patients with HCC who underwent first time hepatectomy at Beijing Chaoyang Emergency Rescue Center and Air Force Characteristic Medical Center from January 2013 to January 2018 were analyzed. HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy at the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from January 2011 to January 2016 ( n=106) were used as the external validation group. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze independent risk factors of recurrence and death in HCC patients. A Nomogram model was constructed based on independent risk factors. Validation of the efficacy of the Nomogram model was done based on external data. Results:In the experimental group, 174 patients relapsed. The median RFS was 26 months. The 6 months, 1 year and 2 years RFS were 26.8%, 43.9%, and 68.8%, respectively. A total of 142 patients had died. The median survival time was 30 months. The 6 months, 1 year and 2 years OS were 5.9%, 23.6% and 63.1%, respectively. In the external validation group, 63 patients had developed recurrence, with a median RFS time of 28 months. The 6 months, 1 year and 2 years RFS were 26.4%, 45.3%, 54.7%, respectively. The median survival time was 31 months. The 6 months, 1 year and 2 years OS were 7.5%, 25.5%, 46.6%, respectively. Tumor size (>6.0 cm, HR: 1.447), vascular invasion ( HR: 1.408), TBil (>0.94 mg/dl, HR: 1.949), NLR (>2.54, HR: 2.843), AGR (≤0.88, HR: 2.447) were independent risk factors of HCC recurrence ( P<0.05). Tumor size (>6.0 cm, HR: 2.207), vascular invasion ( HR: 1.529), and NLR (>2.54, HR: 2.708) were independent risk factors of death for HCC patients ( P<0.05). The C-indexes of half-year, one-year and two-year RFS were 0.764 (95% CI: 0.677-0.854), 0.710 (95% CI: 0.615-0.824) and 0.673 (95% CI: 0.601-0.786), respectively. The C-indexes of half-year OS, one-year OS and two-year OS were 0.729 (95% CI: 0.648-0.841), 0.708 (95% CI: 0.608-0.813) and 0.664 (95% CI: 0.618-0.771), respectively. Conclusion:In this study, the construction of a Nomogram model in predicting prognosis of HCC patients was helpful to guide clinicians in improving preoperative treatment plans and in providing ideas for individualized treatment of patients.