Objective:To evaluate the effect of preoperative plasma D-dimer level on the risk of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI). Methods:The clinical data of patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2017 to December 2018 were collected retrospectively. All patients were distributed into two groups (normal D-dimer group with D-dimer level≤0.55 mg/L and elevated D-dimer group with D-dimer level>0.55 mg/L) according to the D-dimer threshold of 0.55 mg/L and the differences of clinical data between the two groups were compared. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis method was used to analyze the difference of the cumulative incidence of CSA-AKI between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic splines analysis were used to analyze the association between serum D-dimer and the incidence of CSA-AKI. Results:There were 871 patients enrolled in the study with 427 females (49.0%) and age of (56.6±12.3) years, including 215 patients (24.7%) with high D-dimer and 259 patients (29.7%) with CSA-AKI. Compared with the normal D-dimer group, patients with elevated D-dimer had higher baseline serum creatinine, proportion of chronic kidney disease stage 3, international normalized ratio, fibrinogen, proportion of receiving renal replacement therapy and incidence of CSA-AKI (all P<0.05). The prothrombin time, operation time, extracorporeal circulation time, aortic occlusion time and hospital stay in the elevated D-dimer group were longer (all P<0.05), and the preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and hemoglobin levels were lower than those in the normal D-dimer group (both P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, comorbid diseases, cardiac function classification, and hospital mortality (all P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve results showed that compared with the normal D-dimer group, the risk of CSA-AKI in the elevated D-dimer group was significantly increased (Log-rank χ2=14.227, P<0.001). The multivariate logistic regression showed that after adjusting variables including gender, age, diabetes mellitus, preoperative eGFR, cardiopulmonary bypass time and so on, the higher level of preoperative D-dimer (>0.55 mg/L) was still related to CSA-AKI ( OR=1.476, 95% CI 1.038-2.098, P=0.030). Restricted cubic splines analysis showed that the incidence of CSA-AKI raised when preoperative serum D-dimer concentration increased (non-linear P=0.262). Conclusion:Patients with high preoperative serum D-dimer have an increased risk of CSA-AKI.

Objective To understand the infected strains and prevalence of brucellosis in occupational population in Tacheng and Kashgar regions,Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Methods In September 2015,blood samples from occupational population (including herders,semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral,veterinarians) and non-occupational population (including students and cadres) were collected to detect Brucellaspecific antibody and bacterial nucleic acids by rose bengal plate test (RBPT),serological standard tube agglutination test (SAT) and PCR methods,respectively.The positive products of PCR were sent to Shanghai Sangon Biotechnology Co.,LTD.Then the sequence results were retrieved online using the basic alignment search tool (BLAST) in GenBank web page and uploaded to NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information).Results A total of 546 blood samples were tested,including 300 males,aged (55-± 15) years old,and 246 females,aged (54 ± 12) years old.The positive rates were 17.58％ (96/546) and 6.78％ (37/546) in 546 blood samples by serological method and genetic markers targeting omp22 and omp2,respectively.The positive rates were statistically significant (x2 =29.8,P ＜ 0.05).Additionally,based on BLAST analysis of outer membrane protein omp22 and omp2 genes,the positive products were identified as Brucella abortus,and the sequence similarity was 100.00％ (253/253,863/863 bp) to Brucella abortus strain Wisconsin genome assembly,chromosome (LT651712).Conclusions Brucellosis has a high infection rate in the occupational population of some animal husbandry-based groups in Xinjiang.The infection strain is abortive species Brucella,and health education for the occupational population and prevention of brucellosis should be strengthened to reduce the infection rate.

BACKGROUND: Bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) are increasingly used as substitutes for bisphenol A (BPA), an environmental obesogen. However, health effects of BPF and BPS remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the associations of BPA, BPF, and BPS with obesity in children and adolescents. METHODS: We used data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013 to 2014, a nationally representative study. We included 745 participants aged 6 to 17 years old. General obesity was defined based on the 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention body mass index-for-age growth charts for the United States. Abdominal obesity was defined as waist-to-height ratio ≥0.5. RESULTS: After adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, and urinary creatinine levels, the odds ratio of general obesity comparing the highest with lowest quartile of urinary bisphenol levels was 1.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92 to 3.31) for BPA, 1.54 (95% CI, 1.02 to 2.32) for BPF, and 1.36 (95% CI, 0.53 to 3.51) for BPS. Moreover, the associations were stronger in boys than in girls for BPA and BPF. Similar results were observed for abdominal obesity. CONCLUSION: This study for the first time showed that exposure to BPF, a commonly used substitute for BPA, was positively associated with higher risk of obesity in children and adolescents. The association of BPA and BPF with general and abdominal obesity was primarily observed in boys, suggesting a possible sex difference. Further investigations on the underlying mechanisms are needed.
Adolescent ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Child ; Creatinine ; Female ; Growth Charts ; Humans ; Life Style ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Odds Ratio ; Sex Characteristics ; United States

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis and trace back source of infection of human brucellosis in Hunan province during 2010-2018, and provide evidence for the prevention and control of human brucellosis. Methods: The surveillance data of human brucellosis in Hunan during 2010-2018 were analyzed with software Excel 2016 and ArcGIS 10.5, the epidemic characteristics were described using cases number, constituent ratio and rate. The conventional biotype methods were used for the identification of Brucella species, UTS-PCR was applied to further confirm the results from conventional biotype detections, then six virulence genes of two clinical Brucella strains were detected by PCR assay. Cluster analysis of two Brucella strains were performed with Multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) for the investigation of the infection source of human brucellosis. Results: From 2010 to 2018, a total of 728 human brucellosis cases were reported in Hunan with the annual incidence rate of 0.12/100 000. The incidence rate was 2.50/100 000 in Chenzhou and 1.90/100 000 in Yongzhou, higher than those in other areas. The number of counties reporting cases increased from 5 in 2010 to 69 in 2018. Most cases were reported in age group 45-54 years, accounting for 38.32% (279/728). The cases in farmers accounted for 59.07% (430/728) of the total. The male to female ratio of the cases was 2.75 ∶ 1. The reported case number was highest during May-July, accounting for 45.33% (330/728). The incidence was high in summer and autumn, and the peak was in May. The conventional identification showed that two strains were all Brucella melitensis biovar 1, consistent with UTS-PCR amplification results. Six virulence genes were found in two isolated strains, suggesting that the Brucella melitensis strains in this study had strong virulence. MLVA results confirmed that two strains detected in Hunan had complete identical MLVA-16 genotype with strains isolated from goat and camel in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, indicating that there was molecular epidemiology relationship between these strains and the source of infection were originated from Inner Mongolia. Conclusions The epidemic of human brucellosis in Hunan is becoming serious, and disease has spread to general population and non-epidemic areas. Two Brucella melitensis strains detected in Hunan were originated from Inner Mongolia. The quarantine and inspection in animal transportation should be strengthened to prevent human outbreaks of brucellosis.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of nutritional and fluid status measured by bioelectrical impedance methods for the prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Methods Patients with severe AKI received CRRT in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from September 2016 to September 2018 were enrolled, and divided into death group and survival group according to 28-day survival. Cox regression was used to analyze the association between 28-day survival and lean tissue index (LTI), fat tissue index (FTI), the ratio of extracellular water (ECW) and body cell mass (BCM) (ECW/BCM), and overhydration (OH), respectively. Results A total of 156 patients were included, including 101 males and 55 females. The age was (62.7 ± 15.4) years, with sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score of 9.9±3.9. The 28-day mortality rate was 46.2％. The pre-CRRT OH values in the 28-day survival group and death group were 2.95(1.80, 5.50) L and 4.20(2.95, 5.70) L(P=0.016), and ECW/BCM values were 1.00(0.76, 1.18) and 1.07(0.88, 1.25) (P=0.033), respectively. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that pre-CRRT high OH values (HR=1.08, 95％CI 1.00-1.17, P=0.040) and high ECW/BCM values (HR=3.02, 95％CI 1.46-6.22, P=0.003) were associated with 28-day death. The changes of OH values (HR=0.83, 95％CI 0.72-0.95, P=0.008) and ECW/BCM values (HR=6.79, 95％CI 1.72-26.82, P=0.006) between pre - CRRT and the 7th day after CRRT initiation were significantly associated with 28-day mortality in patients who survived 7 days after CRRT initiation. After adjusting for age, gender, and SOFA scores, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the high OH value (HR=1.16, 95％CI 1.06-1.27, P=0.002) and the high ECW/BCM value (HR=2.80, 95％CI 1.30-6.06, P=0.003) before CRRT, the change of OH value (HR=0.82, 95％CI 0.72-0.95, P=0.008) and ECW/BCM value (HR=2.79, 95％CI 1.30-5.98, P=0.009) between the 7th day after CRRT initiation and pre-CRRT, were independently associated with 28-day death, while LTI (HR=0.93, 95％CI 0.86-1.02, P=0.113) and FTI (HR=0.98, 95％ CI 0.92-1.04, P=0.475) before CRRT were uncorrelated with 28-day death. Conclusions In bioelectrical impedance analysis, the high OH value and high ECW/BCM value before CRRT are associated with 28-day mortality in patients with AKI, while the nutritional indicators LTI and FTI before CRRT are not significantly related. The correction of fluid overload by CRRT within 7 days may reduce the risk of 28-day mortality.

Objective To analyze the etiological characteristics of human Brucella strains isolated, and to improve the precision in control and prevention of brucellosis. Methods In 2016, blood samples were collected from patients in Jingyuan County Gansu Province, and tested via the Rose-Bengal Plate Agglutination Test (RBPT) and the tube agglutination test methods,and serological positive blood samples were inoculated to bidirectional blood culture bottle for culturing, and further identified by traditional biological classification method and the Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, Brucella ovis, and Brucella suis species-specific PCR (AMOS-PCR). Multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat sequence analysis (MLVA) -16 was used to detect molecular typing and do cluster analysis. Results The isolated strain was identified by the traditional biological classification method, bacteria could grow in thionine and reddened dye, A and M factors agglutination tests were positive, Bk2phage treatment of bacterial strain cracking, but Tb, Wb phages were not cracked. AMOS-PCR amplification result showed a 731 bp band, which was a strain of Brucella melitensis. The results of MLVA-16 showed that there was a difference in the number of repeats on some Variaable Number of Tandem Repeat(VNTR)sites of the isolated strain. Clustering analysis showed that, the isolated strain was clusted into the same clade with the clustering of Brucella melitensis type 3 from GS-201605 in Gansu. And the clustering was similar compared with that of Zhejiang, Guangdong, Fujian and Yunnan. Conclusion Human brucellosis is a inputting transmission in Gansu Province, there is a genetic variation of genotype 3 sheep Brucella between Gansu Province and other domestic provinces.

Objective To observe the levels of peripheral blood cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ)and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in patients with acute and chronic brucellosis before and during treatment,and to understand the differences of two immunocytokines in acute and chronic stage of brucellosis,and the effect of antibacterial therapy on these two cytokines to provide immunological basis for clinical evaluation of the therapeutic effect of brucellosis.Methods Research subjects were 36 pre-treatment acute brucellosis and 36 pre-treatment chronic brucellosis and 36 dur-treatment acute brucellosis and 36 dur-treatment chronic brucellosis,which were selected from Ulanqab Center for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Jining City with 25 local healthy persons as healthy controls.The levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with acute and chronic brucellosis and control group before and during treatment.Parameters of IFN-γ and IL-4 were analyzed with One-Way ANOVA analysis in pre-treatment and dur-treatment acute brucellosis,chronic brucellosis and control groups.Results The means of IFN-γ [(462.79 ± 47.94),(431.92 ± 40.39),(280.50 ± 40.48) ng/L] and IL-4 [(606.11 ± 51.86),(550.66 ± 51.56),(383.24 ± 53.98) ng/L] were significantly different in the three groups before treatment (F =141.84,139.28,P ＜ 0.05);Compared to control group,the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in acute brucellosis and chronic brucellosis were significantly increased before treatment (P ＜ 0.05).The levels of IFN-γand IL-4 in the acute brucellosis were significantly increased compared to those of chronic brucellosis before treatment (P ＜ 0.05).After about ten days antibiotic therapy,the means of IFN-γ [(356.05 ± 43.75),(368.61 ± 35.69),(280.50 ± 40.48) ng/L] and IL-4 [(487.31 ± 51.59),(496.73 ± 48.70),(383.24 ± 53.98) ng/L] were significantly different in the three groups (F =39.57,41.99,P ＜ 0.05).Compared to control group,the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in acute brucellosis and chronic brucellosis were significantly increased during treatment (P ＜ 0.05).The levels of IFN-γand IL-4 in the acute brucellosis were not significantly different compared to those of chronic brucellosis during treatment (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Different immunological characteristics of cytokines in peripheral blood of patients with acute and chronic brucellosis before treatment have affected the therapeutic effect and clinical outcomes.

Objective To investigate the HOOF genotyping characteristics of 83 Brucella (B.)melitensis strains isolated in Ulanqab of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2012 to 2015.Methods A total of 83 B.melitensis strains were detected by convention identification and AMOS-PCR,then HOOF protocol with eight VNTR locus were used for the genotyping of the strains,and the allelic diversity of each VNTR locus and the discriminatory power of VNTR typing of HOOF were assessed by Hunter-Gaston Discriminatory index.BioNumerics 5.0 was used for phylogenetic analysis and constructing dendrogram.Results All of the isolates were identified as B.melitensis strains by two identification methods.The complete eight VNTR locus had higher polymophism and diversity index was 0.998;and diversity index of six locus (1,2 and 4-7) were ≥0.678,discriminatory power of HOOF was mainly from this six higher diversity index locus.The 83 B.melitensis strains were classified into eight clusters and 76 genotypes,6 shared genotypes included 13 isolates,indicating that these brucellosis cases had epidemiological link,the other 70 strains had distinct genotypes,indicating that these cases had no epidemiological link.Conclusions The epidemic of human brucellosis in Ulanqab was characterized by local and sporadic outbreaks.Cross infection was related with the transfer of the sources of infection.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of human brucellosis diagnosis and reporting in medical institutions in Shanxi province, and understand the performance of clinical doctors to diagnose human brucellosis according to diagnostic criteria. Methods Field investigation was conducted in 6 medical institutions in the key areas of human brucellosis in Shanxi province. The diagnosis data of the reported brucellosis cases in 2015 were collected and reviewed retrospectively for the evaluation of the diagnosis accuracy with systematic sampling method. The database was established with Excel 2010 and the descriptive analysis and statistical test were conducted with software R 3.3.2. Results The diagnosis consistent rate of the 377 brucellosis cases reviewed was 70.8% (267/377), the diagnosis consistent rates in medical institutions at city-level and country-level were 77.0%(127/165) and 66.0%(140/212) respectively, the differences had significance (χ2=5.4, P=0.02). Among the reviewed cases, the diagnosis consistent rate of laboratory diagnosis and clinical diagnosis were 87.1%(256/294) and 13.3%(11/83) respectively, and the differences had significance (χ2=170.7, P<0.001) . Among the 21 investigated clinical doctors, the numbers of the doctors who correctly diagnosed the suspected cases, probable cases and lab-confirmed cases were only 3, 0 and 8 respectively. All of the clinical doctors knew that it is necessary to report the brucellosis cases within 24 hours after diagnosis. Conclusion The accuracy of human brucellosis diagnosis in key areas of human brucellosis in Shanxi was low, and the performance of the clinical doctors to diagnose human brucellosis according to diagnostic and case classification criteria was unsatisfied.

Objective Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common but usually under-diagnosed in hospitalized patients,of the impact of which on patients is still unclear.The paper was aimed to investigate the impact of delayed recognition of AKI on short-time prognosis of patients through a propensity score matched study.Methods From Oct 2013 to Sep 2014,1401 adult hospitalized patients with AKI in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were divided into delayed recognition group and timely-diagnosed group according to propensity score matching (1∶ 1) without replacement method.Primary endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality,and secondary endpoints included recovery of kidney at discharge,length of hospitalization,length of intensive care unit stay and hospital costs.Results There were significant differences in age,department distribution,complications,stage of AKI,Charlson index,APACHE Ⅱ score,SOFA score between the two groups before matching.After matching,there were no significant difference in demographic data,department distribution,complications,stage of AKI,Charlson index,APACHE Ⅱ score,SOFA score between the two groups except in blood urea nitrogen (P=0.039) and use of diuretics (P=0.018).Delayed recognition of acute kidney injury was not associated with 30-day all-cause mortality in univariate (P=0.711) and multivariate Logistic regression analyses.The secondary endpoints did not differ in two groups.Conclusion Delayed acute kidney injury recognition did not associate with poor short-term outcomes in adult hospitalized patients.