OBJECTIVES: To explore the value of serum cystatin C (CysC) levels in evaluating renal prognosis in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinical data of IgAN patients diagnosed by renal biopsy at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from January, 2014 to December, 2018. Based on baseline serum CysC levels, the patients were divided into high serum CysC (>1.03 mg/L) group and normal serum CysC (≤1.03 mg/L) group. The composite endpoint for poor renal prognosis was defined as ≥50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and/or progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Lasso regression, multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to identify the risk factors and compare renal survival rates between the two groups. Smooth curves fitting and threshold effect analysis were used to explore the relationship between serum CysC levels and the outcomes. A nomogram model was constructed and its predictive performance was evaluated using concordance index, calibration curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under curve (AUC). RESULTS: A total of 356 IgAN patients were enrolled, who were followed up for 4.65±0.93 years. The composite endpoint occurred in 74 patients. High serum CysC was identified as an independent risk factor for poor renal prognosis in IgAN (HR=2.142, 95% CI 1.222 to 3.755), and the patients with high serum CysC levels had a lower renal survival rate (Log-rank χ²=47.970, P<0.001). In patients with serum CysC below 2.12 mg/L, a higher CysC level was associated with an increased risk of poor renal prognosis (β=3.487, 95% CI: 2.561-4.413, P<0.001), while above this level, the increase of the risk was not significant (β=0.676, 95% CI: -0.642-1.995, P=0.315). The nomogram model based on serum CysC and 3 other independent risk factors demonstrated good internal validity with a concordance index of 0.873 (95% CI: 0.839-0.907) and an AUC of 0.909 (95% CI: 0.873-0.945). CONCLUSIONS Serum CysC levels are associated with renal prognosis in IgAN patients, and high serum CysC an independent risk factor for poor renal prognosis.
Humans ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/diagnosis* ; Cystatin C/blood* ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Retrospective Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Nomograms ; Middle Aged

Microbiology is a key basic professional course for all the students specializing in biology, biotechnology and related majors. To date, microbiology is mainly taught in Chinese within colleges and universities in China. Development of a microbiology course that is taught in English may satisfy the diversified learning needs of the students and promote the "Double First-Class" initiative. We started to teach the microbiology course in English at the East China University of Science and Technology since 2016. This practice was associated with reform and innovation in the teaching methods and contents. The microbiology course taught in English greatly attracted the interest of the attending students and helped improve their professional English learning as well as scientific research. This course provided important support for fostering innovative professional first-class undergraduates under the context of the "Double First-Class" initiative.
China ; Humans ; Learning ; Students ; Universities

Objective:To analyze the influenza vaccination status of chronic disease management patients in Qingpu district of Shanghai and the vaccination characteristics of different characteristic populations, so as to provide scientific basis for improving the influenza vaccination rate of chronic disease patients in the community.Methods:By comparing the data of Shanghai chronic disease management information system, immunization planning information system and medical association platform, 89 453 subjects who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria in Qingpu district were selected as the research objects. The vaccination coverage rate of the study subjects was calculated according to gender, age group, urban and rural distribution, occupation, chronic disease type and quantity, and the vaccination coverage rate of different subgroups was compared to analyze the influencing factors of vaccination coverage rate.Results:Most of the 89 453 patients with chronic diseases were 60 years old and above (71.93%). Patients with hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmoriary disease (COPD) and three chronic diseases accounted for 87.12%, 28.67%, 8.71% and 1.83%, respectively. Influenza vaccination coverage in the 2016/2017 flu season was low, at 0.32%. Influenza vaccination coverage rate of women (0.37%) was higher than that of men (0.27%), which was 1.41 times respectively(95% CI: 1.16, 1.72) that of men patients. The coverage rate of influenza vaccination for the 70-79 year-old group was the highest (0.74%), which was 1.74 times respectively(95% CI: 1.39, 2.19) that of 60-69 year-old patients. The vaccination coverage rate of government departments and institutions was the highest (1.14%), which was 12.58 times respectively(95% CI: 4.52, 34.99) that of retirees. The vaccination rate of COPD patients (3.68%) was 2.50 times (95% CI: 1.66, 3.77) higher than that of patients without COPD.Conclusions:Influenza vaccination rate for chronic disease management patients in Qingpu district of Shanghai is low. Gender, occupation, age and types of chronic diseases are the influencing factors. Patients with chronic disease management should be included in the priority vaccination targets for influenza vaccines, and vaccination intervention for occupational chronic diseases such as non-retired agriculture and forestry patients, especially male patients, should be strengthened to improve influenza vaccination coverage rate.