Objective:To understand molecular characteristics and antibiotic resistance of Clostridioides ( C.) difficile isolated from children in China, and provide data support the development of disease risk assessment and burden studies. Methods:A total of 155 strains of C. difficile isolated from children aged <12 years in 14 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) in China from 2010 to 2023 were used for the analyses on molecular characteristics and antibiotic resistance of C. difficile by PCR and drug susceptibility test. Results:A total of 26 sequence types (STs) and 18 ribotypes (RTs) were identified in the 155 C. difficile isolates, in which ST3 (20.65%), ST54 (16.13%), ST35 (12.90%), and RT012/ICDC007 (14.84%), RT001/ICDC001 (11.61%), RT046/ICDC018 (8.39%) were the most common. One highly virulent strain with RT078 and 27 non-toxin-producing strains were also found; the predominant toxin gene was tcdA+ tcdB+ cdt-. All the strains were sensitive to metronidazole and vancomycin, and there were 29 multidrug-resistant strains, in which 1 strain was resistant to all the seven antibiotics except for vancomycin and metronidazole. Conclusions:Molecular characteristics and antibiotic resistance of C. difficile in children were similar to those in whole population in China, but there were regional distribution differences. It is necessary to strengthen the routine drug-resistance surveillance for C. difficile infection in children in China.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in indeterminate phase with a low viral load.Methods:One hundred and thirty-nine cases with persistent normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection with low viral load who visited the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University from September 2013 to July 2021 were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into low hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) group ( n=59) and high HBsAg group ( n=80) according to the baseline hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level. The changes of various indicators at baseline and follow-up endpoints were analyzed between the two groups. The rate of HBsAg decrease ≥0.5 log 10IU/ml, HBV DNA negative conversion rate, ALT persistently normal rate, and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) persistently normal rate at the end of the follow-up were compared. The t-test, or non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used for comparison of continuous data between the two groups. The χ2 test, or Fisher's exact probability method, was used for comparing count data between the two groups. Results:There were statistically significant differences in age, gender, and HBsAg at baseline, but there was no statistically significant difference in terms of family history of hepatitis B, follow-up time, anti-HBe, anti-HBc, HBV DNA, ALT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (Alb), and LSM between the two groups. There were statistically significant differences in HBsAg, anti-HBc, and ALT levels before and after follow-up in the low HBsAg group, but no statistically significant differences in anti-HBe, HBV DNA, AST, Alb, and LSM levels. There were statistically significant differences in HBsAg and anti-HBc before and after follow-up in the high HBsAg group, but no statistically significant differences in anti-HBe, HBV DNA, ALT, AST, Alb, and LSM. A liver biopsy was performed in 66 patients during follow-up, and 27.27% of the patients had moderate liver damage. In the low HBsAg group, 45.76% of patients had a HBsAg decrease rate of ≥0.5 log 10IU/ml, 10.17% of patients had HBV DNA negative conversion, 88.14% of patients had a persistently normal ALT, and 96.61% of patients had a persistently normal LSM at the end of follow-up. In the high HBsAg group, 3.75% of patients had a HBsAg decrease of ≥0.5 log 10IU/ml, no patient had a HBV DNA negative conversion, 90% of patients had a persistently normal ALT, and 98.75% of patients had a persistently normal LSM. There were statistically significant differences in the HBsAg decrease rate (45.76% vs. 3.75%, χ2=32.975, P＜0.001) and HBV DNA negative conversion rate (10.17% vs. 0, χ2=6.219, P=0.013) between the two groups at the end of follow-up, but there were no statistically significant differences in the persistently normal ALT and LSM rates. Conclusion:The vast majority of patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection in the indeterminate phase with low viral load had persistent hypoviremia over the long term. Some patients have liver tissue damage and may progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer as a result of HBV DNA positivity, so antiviral treatment should be initiated in all.

Objective:To explore the relationship between marital status and mild cognitive impairment in older adults.Methods:This study is a cluster random sampling.From January to December 2020, a questionnaire survey was conducted among older adults aged 60 years and over in four cities of Hebei Province.Finally, 2690 older adults with mild cognitive impairment and normal cognitive function were enrolled.The older adults were divided into 2 groups according to their marital status: married and living with their spouses(group E1), divorced or living alone(group E2). The mini-mental state examination(MMSE)scores of older adults in the two groups were compared.Moreover, the cognitive differences of older adults between the two groups and the interaction of marital status, social activities and life events on cognitive outcomes were analyzed.Results:The married older adults with partners had better cognitive preservation( P<0.01). The more life events were more likely to cause cognitive impairment( P<0.01), and the interaction of marital status, social activities and life events had a significant impact on cognition( P<0.01). Older men who were married and lived with spouse had better cognition than older women who were married and lived with spouse( P<0.05 in Model 3). The cognition of widowed elderly women was better than those of widowed elderly men( P<0.1 in Model 1; P<0.1 in Model 2). Among elderly men, the cognition of those married and living with spouse was better than that those of widowed( P<0.01 in models 1 and 2, P<0.1 in model 3). Among elderly women, those married and living with spouse had better cognitive outcomes than those widowed( P<0.01 in Model 1, P<0.01 in Model 2). Conclusions:Marital companionship is a protective factor for the cognition of older adults, and there are gender differences in the impact of marital status on cognition in late life.

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is an infectious disease with fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea as the main clinical manifestations. At present, CDI is mainly treated with antibiotics and faecal microbiota transplantation. As recurrent and refractory CDI continues to increase, it is important to seek a more effective alternative therapy. However, many of the studies on the prevention and control of CDI by probiotics are still in the early stage. This paper summarized the research on the types, mechanisms and technical means of probiotics in the treatment of CDI.

Objective: To analyze factors affecting the delay in the case finding, treatment and diagnosis of tuberculosis among students during 2014-2020，and to provide a reference for the prevention and control measures of tuberculosis among students in Guiyang City. Methods: The medical cases of students with tuberculosis from 2014 to 2020 recorded by "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System" were collected and trend of delays in the detection, treatment, and diagnosis of students with tuberculosis were analyzed, and χ 2 test and multivariate Logistic regression were used to analyze influencing factors. Results: From 2014 to 2020, the rate of delay in the case finding, treatment, and diagnosis of tuberculosis among students in Guiyang showed a relatively stable trend. From 2014 to 2020, Guiyang City reported a total of 1 323 valid cases, the median number of case finding was 16 days,and 48.75% of student TB patients were delayed; the median number of treatment was 11 days, the delay rate of treatment was 43.46%; the median number of diagnosis was 0 day, the diagnosis delay rate was 11.87%. The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the floating population was a risk factor for delay in case finding ( OR =1.45), the classification of the source of patients as "other" ( OR =0.19), the level of the first diagnosed unit was county ( OR =0.44), and the type of the first diagnosed unit was general hospital ( OR =0.58) were the protective factors for the delayed case finding of tuberculosis in students( P <0.05). Female ( OR =1.32) and floating population ( OR =1.38) were risk factors for delayed treatment. Floating population ( OR =1.51), rural areas ( OR =4.30), urban fringe ( OR =2.76),non severe patients ( OR =5.99) were risk factors for delayed diagnosis,females ( OR =0.65), ethnic minorities ( OR =0.38), college degree ( OR =0.53), and the first diagnosis unit wae a specialist hospital ( OR =0.22) were protective factors for delayed diagnosis of tuberculosis in students ( P <0.05). Conclusion The rates of tuberculosis case finding and treatment delay among students are common, which warrants targeted prevention and control measures to reduce the incidence of student delays and reduce the risk of tuberculosis cluster epidemics in schools.

Objective:To establish the acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture (ASOTLF) classification system, and to examine the reliability and evaluate the effect of clinical application.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 1 293 patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture(OTLF) admitted to Honghui Hospital from January 2016 to December 2018. There were 514 males and 779 females, aged 57-90 years [(71.4±6.3)years]. The T value of bone mass density was -5.0--2.5 SD [(-3.1±-0.4)SD]. According to the clinical symptoms a and fracture morphology, OTLF was divided into 4 types, namely type I(I occult fracture), type II(compressed fracture), type III (burst fracture) and type IV(unstable fracture). The type II was subdivided into three subtypes (type IIA, IIB, IIC), and the Type III into two subtypes (type IIIA, IIIB). of all patients, 75 patients (5.8%) were with type I, 500 (38.7%) with type II A, 134 (10.4%) with type IIB, 97 (7.5%) with type IIC, 442 (34.2%) with type IIIA, 27(2.1%) with type IIIB and 18 (1.4%) with type IV. After testing the validity of the classification, different treatment methods were utilized according to the classification, including percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for Type I, PVP after postural reduction for Type II, percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for Type IIIA, posterior reduction and decompression, bone graft fusion and bone cement-augmented screw fixation for Type IIIB, and posterior reduction, bone graft fusion and bone cement-augmented screw fixation for Type IV. The visual analog score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Frankel grade of spinal cord injury, local Cobb Angle, and vertebral body angle (vertebral body angle) were recorded in all patients and in each type of patients before surgery, at 1 month after surgery and at the last follow-up. The neurological function recovery and complications were also recorded.Results:The patients were followed up for 24-43 months [(29.9±5.1)months]. A total of 3 000 assessments in two rounds were conducted by three observers. The overall κ value of inter-observer credibility was 0.83, and the overall κ value of intra-observer credibility was 0.88. The VAS and ODI of all patients were (5.8±0.7)points and 72.5±6.6 before surgery, (1.8±0.6)points and 25.0±6.3 at 1 month after surgery, and (1.5±0.6)points and 19.5±6.2 at the last follow-up, respectively (all P<0.05). The Cobb angle and vertebral body angle of all patients were (13.0±9.1)° and (8.0±4.6)° before surgery, (7.9±5.2)° and (4.6±2.9)° at 1 month after surgery, and (9.1±6.0)° and (5.8±3.0)° at the last follow-up, respectively (all P<0.05). At the last follow-up, VAS, ODI, Cobb Angle and VBA of each type of patients were significantly improved compared with those before surgery (all P<0.05). The spinal cord compression symptoms were found 1 patient with type IV and 5 patients with type IIIB preoperatively. At the last follow-up, neurological function improved from grade C to grade E in 1 patient and from grade D to grade E in 5 patients ( P<0.05). The lower limb radiation pain or numbness in 3 patients with type IV and 22 patients with type III preoperatively were fully recovered after surgical treatment at the last follow-up except for three patients. Conclusions:The ASOTLF classification is established and has high consistency and reliability. The classification-oriented treatment strategy has achieved a relatively satisfactory effect, indicating that the classification has a certain guiding significance for treatment of OTLF.

Objective:To analyze the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injury in China in 2018.Methods:Multi-stage stratified cluster sampling was used to randomly select hospitals capable of treating patients with spinal cord injury from 3 regions，9 provinces and 27 cities in China to retrospectively investigate eligible patients with traumatic spinal cord injury admitted in 2018. National and regional incidence rates were calculated. The data of cause of injury，injury level，severity of injury，segment and type of fracture，complications，death and other data were collected by medical record questionnaire，and analyzed according to geographical region，age and gender.Results:Medical records of 4，134 patients were included in this study，with a male-to-female ratio of 2.99∶1. The incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury in China in 2018 was 50.484 / 1 million （95% CI 50.122-50.846）. The highest incidence in the Eastern region was 53.791 / 1 million （95% CI 53.217-54.365）. In the whole country，the main causes of injury were high falls （29.58%），as well as in the Western region （40.68%），while the main causes of injury in the Eastern and Central regions were traffic injuries （31.22%，30.10%）. The main injury level was cervical spinal cord in the whole country （64.49%），and the proportion of cervical spinal cord injury in the Central region was the highest （74.68%），and the proportion of lumbosacral spinal cord injury in the Western region was the highest （32.30%）. The highest proportion of degree of injury was incomplete quadriplegia （55.20%），and the distribution pattern was the same in each region. A total of 65.87% of the patients were complicated with fracture or dislocation，77.95% in the Western region and only 54.77% in the Central region. In the whole country，the head was the main combined injury （37.87%），as well as in the Eastern and Central regions，while the proportion of chest combined injury in the Western region was the highest （38.57%）. A total of 32.90% of the patients were complicated with respiratory complications. There were 23 patients （0.56%） died in hospital，of which 17（73.91%） died of respiratory dysfunction. Conclusions:The Eastern region of China has a high incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury. Other epidemiological features include high fall as the main cause of injury cervical spinal cord injury as the main injury level，incomplete quadriplegia as the main degree of injury，head as the main combined injury，and respiratory complications as the main complication.

AIM: To explore the regulatory effect of adrenomedullin (ADM) on pulmonary oxidative stress in the rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by high blood flow.METHODS: Healthy male SD rats (n=22) were randomly divided into control group, shunt group and shunt with ADM group.Abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava shunting was produced in the rats in shunt group and shunt with ADM group.After 8 weeks, ADM (1.5 μg·kg-1·h-1) was administered into the rats in shunt with ADM group subcutaneously by mini-osmotic pump for 2 weeks.Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was evaluated by a right cardiac catheterization procedure.The ratio of right ventricular mass to left ventricular plus interventricular septal mass [RV/(LV+SP)] and relative medial thickness (RMT) in pulmonary muscularized arteries were calculated.The content of malonaldehyde (MDA), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in lung tissues were detected by colorimetry.The expression of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) in the lung tissue was analyzed by Western blot.RESULTS: Compared with control group, the mPAP, RV/(LV+SP) and RMT in pulmonary muscularized arteries in shunt group were all significantly increased.The content of MDA and the expression of NOX4 in the lung tissues were significantly increased.The T-AOC, and activity of SOD and GSH-Px in the lung tissues were significantly decreased.However, mPAP, RV/(LV+SP) and RMT in pulmonary muscularized arteries in shunt with ADM group were significantly decreased as compared with shunt group.Meanwhile, ADM decreased the content of MDA and the expression of NOX4 in the lung tissues, but increased the T-AOC, and activity of SOD and GSH-Px in the lung tissue of shunt rats.CONCLUSION: ADM inhibits oxidative stress response in the development of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular structural remodeling induced by high pulmonary blood flow in the rats by down-regulating the NOX4 expression and strengthening the anti-oxidation response.

Objective To study the association between renal dysfunction and platelet parameters in elderly patients with early heart failure (HF).Methods 637 patients (350 old-aged and 287 middle-aged) with hypertension,CHD,T2DM admitted to our hospital from January 2013 to December 2014 served as a disease group and 464 subjects (229 old-aged and 235 middle-aged) selected from the 973 Aging Project in September 2007-June 2008 served as a healthy group.Their eGFR and platelets (PLT) were calculated,their plateletcrit (PCT) and mean platelet volume (MPV) were measured.Association between platelet parameters and renal dysfunction was analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis.Results The MPV and PCT were significantly lower in the old-aged disease group than in the old aged healthy group (9.78± 1.45 vs 10.66±0.78,P＜0.01;19.79 ± 6.21 vs 21.82 ± 6.04,P＜0.01).The PLT and PCT were closely associated with the eGFR in two groups (P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that the median and high PLT in disease group and the median PLT in healthy group were independently associated with renal dysfunction (OR=0.560,95％CI:0.315-0.996;OR=0.480,95％CI:0.262-0.879;OR=0.483,95％CI:0.249-0.936,P＜0.05).Conclusion Attention should be paid to the effect of PLT and their functional activity on renal function in treatment of early HF patients because aging-induced change of PLT and their functional activity are associated with renal dysfunction.

Most main oilfields in China have already entered a "double high" development stage (high water cut, high recovery degree). To further enhance oil recovery in reservoirs after polymer flooding (RAPFs), an efficient activator formulation for promoting metabolism of endogenous microorganism was studied by aerogenic experiments, physical simulation experiments, electron microscopy scanning and pyrophosphate sequencing. Results show that the activator could activate the endogenous microorganisms in the injected water and make the pressurized gas reach 2 MPa after 60 d static culture of the activator in a high pressure vessel. The oil recovery efficiency of natural core physical simulation flooding can be improved by more than 3.0% (OOIP) in RAPFs when injected 0.35 PV activator with 1.8% mass concentration, and a lot of growth and reproduction of activated endogenous microorganism in the core was observed by electron microscopy scanning. Field trial with 1 injector and 4 producers was carried out in the east of south II block of Sa Nan in December 2011. By monitoring four effective production wells, changes of carbon isotope δ13C (PDB) content of methane and carbon dioxide were -45 per thousand to -54 per thousand and 7 per thousand to 12 per thousand. Compared with east II of Sa Nan block, the oil amount increased by 35.9%, water cut stabled at 94%. The incremental oil was 5 957 t during the three and a half years, which provides an alternative approach for further improving oil recovery in similar reservoirs.
Carbon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Carbon Isotopes ; analysis ; China ; Diphosphates ; chemistry ; Methane ; chemistry ; Oil and Gas Fields ; microbiology ; Polymers ; Water ; Water Microbiology