Objective To improve the efficiency and quality of end-to-end anastomosis,a novel degradable vascular anastomotic device was designed,and the relationship between pressure distances and biomechanical properties of the anastomotic stoma was explored.Methods The three-dimensional(3D)structure of the vascular anastomotic device was designed and the prototype was fabricated with extruded high-purity magnesium.The finite element model of the end-to-end vascular anastomosis was established to study the stress distributions of the anastomotic end face under different pressure distances(0.4,0.5,0.6,0.7,and 0.8 mm)and their change rules.In vitro experiments were conducted to verify the rationality of the finite element results as well as the feasibility and effectiveness of the vascular anastomotic device.Results When the pressure distance was 0.6 mm,the anastomotic tensile force,and burst pressure could reach(11.79±0.64)N and(39.32±2.99)kPa,respectively,meeting the clinical requirement for the strength of vascular anastomosis,and with the minimal mechanical damages to tissues.Conclusions The device designed in this study can be used for vascular anastomosis by adjusting the pressure distance,and it can improve operation efficiency,reduce mechanical damage to tissues,and further improve the quality of anastomosis.These results provide an essential reference for the design of degradable vascular anastomotic devices.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic efficacy and clinical value of GNB4 and Riplet gene methylation alone and in combination in the diagnosis of primary liver cancer.Methods A total of 313 patients were selected,including 78 patients with primary liver cancer,41 patients with other digestive system tumors,17 patients with non-digestive system tumors,20 patients with postoperative liver cancer,and 157 patients with benign liver disea-ses.The levels of GNB4 and Riplet gene methylation in plasma were detected using quantitative methylation-specific PCR(qMSP).Serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)levels were measured by direct chemiluminescence.Results The sensitivity and specificity of AFP in diagnosis were 51.3％and 94.3％,respectively;the sensitivity and specificity of GNB4 gene methylation in diagnosis were 83.3％and 99.4％,respectively;the sensitivity and specificity of Riplet gene methylation in diagnosis were 73.1％and 99.4％,respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of GNB4 and Riplet gene methylation combined diagnosis were 92.3％and 98.7％,respectively;the sensitivity and specificity of AFP,GNB4 and Riplet gene methylation combined diagnosis were 92.3％and 98.7％,respectively;the sensitivity and specificity of combined diagnosis including age and gender were 93.6％and 97.5％,respective-ly.Conclusion The sensitivity and specificity of AFP in the diagnosis of primary liver cancer are limited,while the methylation levels of GNB4 and Riplet genes are higher,and the sensitivity and specificity of their combined de-tection are higher than those of AFP.The sensitivity and specificity of AFP,GNB4 and Riplet gene methylation combined diagnosis are significantly higher than those of AFP,GNB4 and Riplet gene methylation alone.

Parkinson disease （PD） is a common neurodegenerative disease. Cognitive dysfunction seriously affects the quality of life of patients with PD， increasing their family burden. Currently， there are no clinically identified biomarkers to assist with the early diagnosis of cognitive impairment in patients with PD. Event-related potential P300 is a sensitive electrophysiological indicator to detect early insidious cognitive decline in PD. This article reviews the diagnostic value and clinical application of P300 for cognitive impairment in patients with PD.

Objective: To investigate the value of combined stool syndecan-2 (SDC2) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 ( TFPI2) gene methylation testing in the early screening of colorectal cancer． Methods : 106 patients with colorectal cancer (colorectal cancer group) ，75 patients with advanced adenoma ( advanced adenoma group) and 35 patients with non-advanced adenoma (non-advanced adenoma group) were selected as study subjects，and 153 patients with other gastrointestinal disorders and 182 patients with negative colonoscopy results during the same period were selected as the control group．The quantitative methylation-specific PCR(qMSP) method was used to detect SDC2 and TFPI2 gene methylation in the stool specimens of all subjects．The sensitivity and specificity of the combined SDC2 and TFPI2 gene methylation assay for the detection of colorectal cancer and adenoma were evaluated using colonoscopy and pathology results as the gold standard. Results : Among 106 patients with colorectal cancer， the sensitivity of combined methylation test was 93. 4% ; among 75 patients with advanced adenoma，the sensitivity of combined methylation test was 62. 7% ; among 35 patients with non-advanced adenoma，the sensitivity of combined methylation test was 34. 3% ; the specificity of the combined SDC2 and TFPI2 gene methylation test for colorectal cancer and adenoma screening was 94. 6%． Conclusion The combined SDC2 and TFPI2 gene methylation test has high sensitivity for colorectal cancer and its early lesions，and it also maintains high specificity.

Background/Aims: This study aimed to explore the effect of gut microbiota-regulated Kupffer cells (KCs) on colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis. Methods: A series of in vivo and in vitro researches were showed to demonstrate the gut microbiota and its possible mechanism in CRC liver metastasis. Results: Fewer liver metastases were identified in the ampicillin-streptomycin-colistin and colistin groups. Increased proportions of Parabacteroides goldsteinii, Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, and Bacteroides uniforms were observed in the colistin group. The significant expansion of KCs was identified in the ampicillin-streptomycin-colistin and colistin groups. B.vulgatus levels were positively correlated with KC levels. More liver metastases were observed in the vancomycin group. An increased abundance of Parabacteroides distasonis and Proteus mirabilis and an obvious reduction of KCs were noted in the vancomycin group. P. mirabilis levels were negatively related to KC levels. The number of liver metastatic nodules was increased in the P. mirabilis group and decreased in the B. vulgatus group. The number of KCs decreased in the P. mirabilis group and increased in the B. vulgatus group. In vitro, as P. mirabilis or B. vulgatus doses increased, there was an opposite effect on KC proliferation in dose- and time-dependent manners. P. mirabilis induced CT26 cell migration by controlling KC proliferation, whereas B. vulgatus prevented this migration. Conclusions An increased abundance of P. mirabilis and decreased amount of B. vulgatus play key roles in CRC liver metastasis, which might be related to KC reductions in the liver.

Objective: To study the resistance characteristics, carbapenemase genotypes and the homology of carbapenem-resistantEscherichia coli(CREC). Methods: 6 092Escherichia coliisolated from clinical specimens in The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were collected and 71 strains of CREC were selected. The identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test were carried out by Vitek-2 Compact. Confirmation of carbapenemase phenotype was performed by modified hodge test(MHT), modified carbapenem inactivation method(mCIM) and carbapenemase nordmann-poirel(Carba NP) test. Carbapenemase-encoding genes(blaKPC, blaNDM, blaVIM, blaIMP,etc.) were identified by PCR and positive amplification products were sequenced, and then analyzed by using BLAST programs. ERIC-PCR fingerprinting was used to determine the clonal relationship between the different strains. Results: CREC strains were mainly distributed in intensive care unit(ICU) and burn department, and the source of specimens was mainly urine. The drug susceptibility results showed that the resistance rates of CREC to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and cotrimoxazole were all above 70%, and the resistance rates to amikacin and tobramycin were less than 50%. Among 71 CREC strains, the number of positive strains for MHT, mCIM and Carba NP were 45, 67 and 69, and the positive rates were 63.38%, 94.37% and 97.18%, respectively. Carbapenemase genes were detected in 43 CREC isolates, of which 34 strains(79.07%, 34/43) carried blaNDM, 9 strains(20.93%, 9/43) carried blaKPC-2. In addition, the rates of strains harbored blaNDM-1or blaNDM-5were 20.59%(7/34) and 79.41%(27/34), respectively. Other carbapenem genes such as blaIMP, blaVIMand blaOXA-48were not detected. According to the fingerprint of ERIC-PCR, CREC was divided into 19 genotypes A-S, and no dominant genotype was found. Conclusion Drug resistance rate of clinically isolated CREC in our hospital is high, showing multi-drug resistance. blaNDMis the main carbapenemase gene of CREC. The epidemic CREC in our hospital has high genetic diversity and the homology of CREC is dispersive.

Objective: To evaluate the differences of serum total light chain(sTLC), urine total light chain(uTLC) and serum free light chain(sFLC) in different stages of chronic kidney disease(CKD) and their correlation with renal function indexes. To investigate the predictive value of light chain indexes in CKD staging. Methods: 292 patients with CKD were analyzed retrospectively, and plasma cell diseases, acute kidney injury and tumor diseases were excluded. According to the estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR), CKD patients were divided into five groups from CKD 1 stage to CKD 5 stage. The levels of sTLC, uTLC, sFLC and corresponding biochemical indexes of CKD patients were detected, and the differences and correlations among the indexes of each group were compared. The receiver operating curve(ROC curve) was used to analyze the predictive value of each light chain index in CKD stage, with CKD1-2 stage combined as control group and CKD3-5 stage combined as case group. Results: There was no significant difference in sTLC κ, sTLC λ, sTLC κ/λ and sFLC κ/λ among CKD1-5 stage(P>0.05). There were significant differences between sFLC κ, sFLC λ and uTLC κ, uTLC λ among CKD1-5 stage(P<0.05), which increased with the increase of CKD staging. The correlation between sFLC κ, sFLC λ and serum creatinine(Scr), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), eGFR were better than uTLC κ, uTLC λ(P<0.001). The sTLC κ, sTLC λ, sTLC κ/λ and sFLC κ/λ had no correlation with renal function indexes(P>0.05). The best critical points of sFLC κ and sFLC λ for predicting CKD3-5 stage were 35.4 mg/L and 52.8 mg/L, and AUC was 0.916(0.883-0.949) and 0.915(0.881-0.949), which were higher than uTLC κ and uTLC λ,AUC was 0.811(0.754-0.869) and 0.787(0.728-0.846), respectively. Conclusion With the increase of CKD staging, the levels of sFLC and uTLC gradually increase. The sFLC and uTLC can effectively predict patients with CKD3 and above, which has an important reference value in stratified management of patients with CKD.

Objective To report the distribution and antibiotic resistance of bacterial strains isolated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University during 2016 for improving clinical treatment of bacterial infections. Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or automated systems. The results were interpreted according to the clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) 2015 breakpoints, and analyzed using WHONWT 5.6. Results A total of 5 406 clinical isolates were collected during 2016, of which gram positive organisms accounted for 25.6％ (1 386/5 406) and gram negative organisms 74.4％ (4 020/5 406). The strains were mainly isolated from respiratory tract (35.4％, 1 913/5 406) and urine (26.7％, 1 441/5 406). The most frequently isolated microorganisms were E. coli (23.1％, 1 247/5 406), followed by K. pneumoniae (12.1％,654/5 406). The prevalence of MRSA was 52.2％ (166/318). The prevalence of MRCNS was 80.3％ (462/575). Of the ESBLs producers, E. coli accounted for 59.7％ (745/1 247), and K. pneumoniae accounted for 30.6％(200/654). ESBLs-producing strains showed significantly higher resistance rates to most antibiotics than non-ESBLs-producing strains. All the E. faecalis strains were susceptible to vancomycin. A few (0.2％) of the E. faecium strains were resistant to vancomycin, which were all from urine specimens. A total of 1 046 (19.3％, 1 046/5 406) carbapenemresistant strains were isolated. Most Enterobacteriaceae isolates were still highly sensitive to carbapenems. Carbapenem-resistant isolates were mainly A. baumannii (41.1％, 430/1 046), P. aeruginosa (17.4％, 182/1 046)) and K. pneumoniae (12.0％, 126/1 046). Most Acinetobacter strains were resistant to most of the antibiotics tested. Conclusions Antimicrobial resistance is increasing in the clinical isolates in this hospital. We should continue to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship, prescribe antibiotics for strict indications, and improve rational antibiotic use.

Objective To investigate the antibiotic resistance of clinical isolates in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University during 2017. Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using automated system or Kirby-Bauer method. Results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of CLSI 2017. The data were analyzed by WHONET 5.6 software. Results A total of 6 495 non-duplicate clinical isolates were collected in 2017. There were 1 727 strains (26.6％) of gram-positive bacteria and 4 768 strains (73.4％) of gram-negative bacteria. The most frequently isolated microorganisms were E. coli (19.8％), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii. The strains were mainly isolated from respiratory tract (37.0％) and urine (23.1％). The prevalence of MRSA and MRCNS in Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was 50.1％ and 82.1％, respectively. No Staphylococcus strains were found resistant to vancomycin or linezolid. E. faecalis and E. faecium accounted for 49.9％ and 40.4％ of total Enterococcus isolates. The prevalence of ESBLs-producing strains was 57.6％ in E. coli, 27.1％ in Klebsiella spp. and 33.0％ in Proteus mirabilis. Enterobacteriaceae strains were still highly susceptible to carbapenems antibiotics. The Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in 2017 showed significantly higher resistance rate to imipenem and meropenem than the strains in 2016. However, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacterbaumannii strains showed lower resistance rates to carbapenems than the strains in 2016. Conclusions The bacterial isolates in 2017 pose serious threat to clinical antibiotic therapy. More attention should be paid to rational use of antimicrobial agents and infection control measures.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The overall purpose of this study was to investigate the role of cytochrome C oxidase (CcO) in preventing ischemia reperfusion-induced cardiac injury through gaseous signaling molecule pathways. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used CcO inhibitor, potassium cyanide (KCN) to mimic the pre-treatment of gaseous signaling molecules in a global ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury model in rats. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined by measuring mitochondrial H2O2 and mitochondrial complex activity. RESULTS: KCN pre-treatment led to decreased infarction area after IR injury and improved cardiac function. KCN pre-treated group challenged with IR injury was associated with reduced ROS production through inhibition of activity and not downregulation of CcO expression. In addition, KCN pre-treatment was associated with enhanced expression and activity of mitochondrial antioxidase, suggesting the role of CcO in regulating IR injury through oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: KCN pre-treatment reduced the severity of IR injury. The potential mechanism could be increased endogenous anti-oxidase activity and consequently, the enhanced clearance of ROS.
Animals ; Cytochromes c* ; Cytochromes* ; Down-Regulation ; Electron Transport Complex IV* ; Infarction ; Ischemia* ; Mitochondria ; Myocardial Infarction ; Oxidative Stress ; Potassium Cyanide ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Reperfusion Injury*