Objective:Using bacterial culture as the gold standard, to evaluate the agreement of rapid antigen detection test (RADT) and rapid nucleic acid test (RNAT) in diagnosing group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis in pediatric outpatients, and assess their potential clinical utility. Methods:This cross-sectional study prospectively collected throat swab specimens and clinical data of 338 children diagnosed with acute pharyngitis at the Department of Outpatient Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University, between July 2023 and February 2024. The specimens were tested for GAS bacterial culture, RADT and RNAT. Using bacterial culture results as the reference standard, Kappa consistency analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic concordance between RADT and RNAT. Chi-square test was used to compare clinical characteristics between cases diagnosed by different methods.Results:In the 338 children diagnosed with pharyngitis, 195 were male and 143 were female, with an age at the visit of 7.4 (5.9, 7.4) years. The positivive rates for GAS detection were 25.7% (87/338) by bacterial culture, 20.7% (70/338) by RADT, and 41.7% (141/338) by RNAT. In terms of diagnostic performance, RADT exhibited a higher specificity (96.8% (243/251)) and better agreement with bacterial culture results ( κ=0.73), whereas RNAT showed greater sensitivity (95.4% (83/87)) but lower specificity (76.9% (193/251)) and moderate agreement ( κ=0.61). Among the 87 children with positive bacterial culture for GAS, 56 were male and 31 were female, with an age at visit of 7.3 (6.2, 8.8) years. Clinically, body temperature predominantly ranged from 38.1 to 39.0 ℃ in 48 cases (55.2%), and common accompanying symptoms included sore throat 62 cases (71.3%), cough 33 cases (37.9%), and cervical lymphadenopathy or tenderness 16 cases (18.4%). On physical examination, tonsillar enlargement was present in 73 cases (83.9%) and exudate in 37 cases (42.5%). The McIsaac score was most frequently 4 points, observed in 37 cases (42.5%). Laboratory tests showed a peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count of 14.5 (12.3, 18.7)×10?/L and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration of 22.0 (10.1, 41.4) mg/L. There were no statistically significant differences in the proportion of fever, sore throat, cough, tender cervical lymphadenopathy, tonsillar exudates, or tonsillar enlargement, nor in WBC count or CRP, among children who tested positive by RADT, RNAT, or bacterial culture (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Compared with bacterial culture,the RADT demonstrates higher specificity, while the RNAT exhibits greater sensitivity. Both methods show good concordance with culture results and may serve as effective adjunctive tools for the early screening of GAS pharyngitis.

Objective:Using bacterial culture as the gold standard, to evaluate the agreement of rapid antigen detection test (RADT) and rapid nucleic acid test (RNAT) in diagnosing group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis in pediatric outpatients, and assess their potential clinical utility. Methods:This cross-sectional study prospectively collected throat swab specimens and clinical data of 338 children diagnosed with acute pharyngitis at the Department of Outpatient Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University, between July 2023 and February 2024. The specimens were tested for GAS bacterial culture, RADT and RNAT. Using bacterial culture results as the reference standard, Kappa consistency analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic concordance between RADT and RNAT. Chi-square test was used to compare clinical characteristics between cases diagnosed by different methods.Results:In the 338 children diagnosed with pharyngitis, 195 were male and 143 were female, with an age at the visit of 7.4 (5.9, 7.4) years. The positivive rates for GAS detection were 25.7% (87/338) by bacterial culture, 20.7% (70/338) by RADT, and 41.7% (141/338) by RNAT. In terms of diagnostic performance, RADT exhibited a higher specificity (96.8% (243/251)) and better agreement with bacterial culture results ( κ=0.73), whereas RNAT showed greater sensitivity (95.4% (83/87)) but lower specificity (76.9% (193/251)) and moderate agreement ( κ=0.61). Among the 87 children with positive bacterial culture for GAS, 56 were male and 31 were female, with an age at visit of 7.3 (6.2, 8.8) years. Clinically, body temperature predominantly ranged from 38.1 to 39.0 ℃ in 48 cases (55.2%), and common accompanying symptoms included sore throat 62 cases (71.3%), cough 33 cases (37.9%), and cervical lymphadenopathy or tenderness 16 cases (18.4%). On physical examination, tonsillar enlargement was present in 73 cases (83.9%) and exudate in 37 cases (42.5%). The McIsaac score was most frequently 4 points, observed in 37 cases (42.5%). Laboratory tests showed a peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count of 14.5 (12.3, 18.7)×10?/L and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration of 22.0 (10.1, 41.4) mg/L. There were no statistically significant differences in the proportion of fever, sore throat, cough, tender cervical lymphadenopathy, tonsillar exudates, or tonsillar enlargement, nor in WBC count or CRP, among children who tested positive by RADT, RNAT, or bacterial culture (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Compared with bacterial culture,the RADT demonstrates higher specificity, while the RNAT exhibits greater sensitivity. Both methods show good concordance with culture results and may serve as effective adjunctive tools for the early screening of GAS pharyngitis.

Objective To investigate the infectivity of hepatitis A virus(HAV)cell-adapted strain in a type Ⅰ interferon receptor-deficient mouse model.Methods The biological charateristics of HM175/18f were identified,including the viral protein expression and viral proliferation by indirect immunofluorescence,Western blot and real-time quantitative RT-PCR in vitro.Then,type Ⅰ interferon receptor-deficient A129 mice were infected with HM175/18f via intravenous injection.The viral RNA load in serum,feces and liver tissues of infected mice were detected to determine the replication of HAV in vivo.The level of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and HE staining of liver tissues were used to evaluate liver injury.Additionally,the dynamic changes of HAV-specific IgG antibody was detected to assess the humoral immune response induced by HM175/18f.Results A129 mice infected with HM175/18f did not show obvious clinical symptoms,nor was the ALT level significantly elevated.However,viral RNA persisted in the liver tissue of infected mice until 42 days after infection.There was focal infiltration of lymphocytes and neutrophils in the liver tissue of infected mice,but no focal necrosis was observed.More importantly,HM175/18f infection caused significant viremia and sustained fecal virus shedding.In addition,HM175/18f induced a significant HAV-specific humoral immune response in A129 mice.Conclusion Our study has revealed the infectivity of HAV cell-adapted strain HM175/18f in type Ⅰ interferon receptor-deficient mice,and identified the attenuated characteristics of HM175/18f,which not only contributes to our understanding of the pathogenesis of HAV,but also expand the applications of a type Ⅰ interferon receptor-deficient mouse model in the study of hepatitis A.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of hemofiltration on serum enzyme (SE),endotoxin (ET) and malonaldehyde (MDA) of dogs with heat stroke caused shock.MethodsSixteen healthy male hybrid dogs were randomly divided into 2 groups,8 for each:as heat stroke group (HS group ) and hemofiltration group (HF group).Severe heat stroke model was induced with high temperature.The dogs were taken out of the heating cabin when it reached heat stroke level,and then observed under normal temperature without treatment.The dogs in HF group was immediately treated with hemofiltration.The changes of SE,ET,MDA of two groups of dogs were observed and the survival time between two groups was compared,ResultsThe time from heat exposure to shock was ( 107.00 ± 28.52 ) and ( 111.38 ± 22.24 )minutes in HS group and HF group respectively ( t =- 0.354,P =0.729 ).The SE ( CK,LDH,ALT,AST) of the dogs were all higher after heat stroke,and the dogs of two groups showed no siginificant difference (P ＞ 0.05).At three hours after heat stroke,the SE increased apparently in HS group and HF group,but the level was significantly lower in HF group. Before heat stroke,the serum ET showed no siginificant difference between two groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).After heat stroke,the serm ET was much higher than before ( P ＜0.01 ),but there was still no siginificant difference between two groups ( P ＞0.05 ).At three hours after heat stroke,the ET increased both in HF group and HS group,but the level was lower in HF group.Before heat stroke,the serm MDA had no siginificant difference between two groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).After heat stroke,the serm MDA was much higher than before ( P ＜ 0.0l ),but there was still no siginificant difference between two groups (P ＞ 0.05 ).After heat stroke in three hours,the MDA of HS group rose apparently while HF group slowly declined.The median survival time of HF group was 180 min while HS group was 75 min,the survival rate showed siginificant difference (P ＜ 0.01 ).Conc4usions HF can improve the prognosis of dogs with heat stroke caused shock,prolong its survival time,reduce mortality.The mechanism is probably that HF clear serum MDA,partially clear serum ET and then eventually reduce cell and tissue injury and reduce SE.

Objective To investigate the safety and acute toxicities of intraoperative electron radiotherapy for patients with abdominal tumors.Methods From May 2008 to August 2009, 52 patients with abdominal tumors were treated with intraoperative electron radiotherapy,including 14 patients with breast cancer,19 with pancreatic cancer,3 with cervical cancer, 4 with ovarian cancer, 6 with sarcoma, and 6 with other tumors.Fifteen patients were with recurrent tumors.The intraoperative radiotherapy was performed using Mobetron mobile electron accelerator, with total dose of 9 - 18 Gy.In all, 29, 4 and 19 patients received complete resection, palliative resection and surgical exploration, respectively.The complications during the operations and within 6 months after operations were graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0 (CTC 3.0).Results The median duration of surgery was 190 minutes.Intraoperative complications were observed in 5 patients, including 3 with hemorrhage, 1 with hypotension,and 1 with hypoxemia, all of which were treated conservatively.The median hospitalization time and time to take out stitches was 12 and 13 days, respectively.And the in-hospital mortality was 4% (2/52).Twentyfour patients suffered post-operative adverse events, including 3 postoperative infections.With a median follow-up time of 183 days, 20% of patients sufferred from grade 3 to 5 adverse events, with hematological toxicities being the most common complication, followed by bellyache.Grade 1 and 2 toxicities which were definitely associated with intraoperative radiotherapy was 28% and 4%, respectively.None of grade 3 to 5 complications were proved to be caused by intraoperative radiotherapy.Conclusions Intraoperative electron radiotherapy is well tolerable and could be widely used for patients with abdominal tumors, with a little longer time to take out stitches but without more morbidities and toxicities compared surgery alone.

OBJECTIVETo study the toxicological effects of benzo[a]pyrene(BaP) on mammalian animal's nerve tissue.

METHODS50 Kunming mice were divided into 5 groups at random, the exposed groups(3 dose level groups), the vehicle control group and standard control group. Every group got 10 mice. The exposed groups were treated by intraperitoneal injection with BaP dissolved in vegetable oil at 7.8, 3.2 and 1.3 mg/kg respectively, 4 times/week, for 10 weeks, the vehicle control group were given vegetable oil and the standard control group were not given any treatment. All the mice were anesthetized with 0.02 mol/L pentobarbital and infused with 1.33 mol/L paraformaldehyde dissolved in PBS through heart after 10 weeks. Then the brain, spinal cord and sciatic nerve were removed. Slices of these tissues were made and morphological changes were observed by optical microscope and electron-microscope. Cell appoptosis was examined by TUNEL(TdT-mediated x-dUTP nick end labeling) method.

RESULTSMorphological observations showed tissue injury in BaP exposed groups. There were focal necrosis areas found in the high-dose group. The cell apoptosis rates in 3.2 and 1.3 mg/kg groups were 90.02%-94.22% and 62.45%-77.54% respectively, significantly higher than those of vehicle control group and standard control group(4.60%-5.57%).

CONCLUSIONBaP is neurotoxic. It could damage the nerve tissue as well as induce DNA breaks and cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; toxicity ; Brain ; drug effects ; pathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Mice ; Sciatic Nerve ; drug effects ; pathology ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects ; pathology

Objective To investigate the qualitative diagnostic value of MRCP in patients with benign obstructive jaundice.Methods MRCP and conventional MR images were performed in 128 patients with benign obstructive jaundice on a superconductive MR scanner (Plilips medical systems Inc. Eclipse. 1.5T) . Final diagnosis was confirmed by surgical and histopathological findings in 123 patients and other 5 patients by follow-up.Results The accuracy of location diagnosis of MRCP was 100%; the qualitative diagnosis was 95.3%. The specificity, accuracy, sensitivity of the deadwood-sign for diagnosis of benign obstructive jaundice were 100%, 95.3%, 85.7% respectively. Conclusion The deadwood-sign was a specific indicator in MRCP of benign obstructive jaundice.

Objective To investigate the changes of Lp(a) in serum with three methods.Methods Using three regents to analyze 30 cases Lp(a) in serum.Results The level of 30 cases Lp(a) in serum is different with three methods,P 0.95 and P