OBJECTIVES: To explore the efficacy of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) combined with nystatin for treatment of vaginal Candida albicans biofilm infection. METHODS: In vitro cultured Candida albicans biofilm were treated with LIPUS, nystatin, or both, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of nystatin was determined. Crystal violet staining, confocal laser microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy were used to quantify the biofilm and observe the activity and morphological changes of the biofilms; DCFH-DA was used to detect the changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS). Twenty female New Zealand White rabbits with vaginal inoculation of Candida albicans biofilm were randomized into 4 groups for treatment with normal saline, LIPUS, nystatin, or both LIPUS and nystatin. The changes in vulvar symptoms of the rabbits were observed, and the histopathological and ultrastructural changes of the vagina before and after treatment were observed using HE staining and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: In the combined treatment group, the MIC₅₀ and MIC₈₀ of nystatin in Candida albicans biofilms were both reduced by 50% compared with those in nystatin group, and the biofilm clearance rate increased by 26% and 68% compared with nystatin and LIPUS groups, respectively. Compared with nystatin and LIPUS treatment alone, the combined treatment produced stronger effects for inhibiting biofilm activity, causing structural disruption and promoting ROS production. In the rabbit models, the combined treatment more effectively improved vulvar symptoms and inflammatory infiltration, reduced residual vaginal hyphae/strains, and improved ultrastructure of the vaginal epithelium than LIPUS and nystatin treatment alone. CONCLUSIONS LIPUS combined with nystatin produces a significant synergistic antifungal effect against Candida albicans biofilm both in vitro and in vivo.
Animals ; Rabbits ; Female ; Biofilms/drug effects* ; Candida albicans/physiology* ; Nystatin/therapeutic use* ; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal/microbiology* ; Ultrasonic Waves ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use* ; Vagina/microbiology* ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Combined Modality Therapy

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the perception of dental outpatient care quality from multiple perspectives of administrators, physicians, nurses, and patients and propose nursing care quality evaluation indices that are consistent with the clinical reality to provide reference for the construction of a scientific, systematic, and comprehensive dental outpatient care quality evaluation system. METHODS: A total of 39 interviewees, including 7 administrators, 11 doctors, 11 nurses, and 10 patients, were selected for semi-structured in-depth interviews in five regionally representative tertiary-level A stomatological specialty hospitals nationwide during January-April 2024 by using a multistage sampling method. Colaizzi 7-step analysis was used to analyze and summarize the interview data. Themes were extracted on the basis of the Structure-Process-Outcome (SPO) three-dimensional quality assessment model. RESULTS: Five main themes and 15 secondary themes were extracted from three quality dimensions: structure, process, and result. The related topics of structural quality were as follows: disinfection and isolation norms, equipment and consumable management, nursing manpower ratio and nurse education structure, and emergency capability. The related topics of process quality were as follows: pre-diagnosis risk assessment, patient triage and guidance, communication and attitude, health education, humanistic care, continuous care, specialty operation, and four-hand operation. The related topics of result quality were as follows: satisfaction, adverse event management and analysis, effective complaints and disputes. CONCLUSIONS Structure quality is the foundation, process quality is the core, and result quality is the key in the evaluation of the quality of oral outpatient care. The standardization of disinfection and isolation, equipment and consumable management, allocation of reasonable nursing manpower and post capacity, implementation of high-quality nursing services, and improvement of the quality and satisfaction of medical cooperation are necessary guarantees to ensure the quality of oral outpatient care.
Humans ; Quality of Health Care ; Ambulatory Care/standards* ; Dental Care/standards* ; Outpatients

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to construct an evaluation index system for nursing quality management in outpatient dental clinics based on the structure-process-outcome model and provide an objective standard for the evaluation of nursing quality in outpatient dental clinics. METHODS: Through literature review, multi-subject interviews, and expert meetings, the first draft of the evaluation index for nursing quality management in outpatient dental clinics was formulated. The Delphi method was adopted to select and invite 15 experts in the fields of hospital infection management, nursing management, and specialized oral care from across the country to modify the first draft. RESULTS: The positive coefficients of the experts in the two rounds of consultation were 86.7% and 92.3%, respectively. The total authority coefficients of the experts were 0.791 and 0.717, respectively. The mean scores of the importance and feasibility of the third-level indices in the two rounds of consultation were all ≥4.333; the coefficients of variation were all ≤0.150; and the Kendall's coordination coefficients were 0.308 and 0.184 respectively, with P<0.05 for all. These results indicated that the experts were motivated to participate in this study. They recognized the importance and feasibility of the overall items in this index system, and their opinions were relatively consistent. Finally, an evaluation index system, which included 3 first-level indices, 7 second-level indices, 22 third-level indices, and 69 index connotations, for nursing quality management in outpatient dental clinics was determined. The weights of the three first-level indicators were all 0.333. Patient satisfaction (0.076, outcome dimension), hand hygiene (0.061, outcome dimension), chair care ratio (0.057, structural dimension), and turnover rate (0.057, structural dimension) were the top tertiary indicators in terms of portfolio weight. CONCLUSIONS The construction method of the evaluation index system for nursing quality management in outpatient dental clinics is scientific and reliable. It can provide a reference for the evaluation of the management level of nursing quality in outpatient dental clinics and promote the continuous improvement of nursing quality in outpatient dental clinics.
Humans ; Dental Clinics ; Delphi Technique

Flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (3GT) is a key enzyme in the glucosidation of anthocyanins. To investigate the 3GT gene in rhododendron, we cloned an open reading frame (ORF) of 3GT gene (named Rh3GT) from Rhododendron hybridum Hort (Red cultivar) and then characterized this gene and the deduced protein in terms of the biochemical characteristics, expression level, and enzymatic function. The results showed that Rh3GT had a full length of 993 bp and encoded 330 amino acid residues. The deduced protein was hydrophilic, stable, weak acid, belonging to the glycosyltransferase family (GT-B type), with glutamine (Q) at position 44 in the PSPG box. The phylogenetic analysis showed that Rh3GT was most closely related to Vc3GT from Vaccinium corymbosum and Vm3GT from Vaccinium myrtillus. Rh3GT was expressed in the stems, leaves, and flowers and almost not expressed in the roots, with the highest expression level in petals during full blooming stage. Introduction of pCAMBIAL1302-Rh3GT into petals significantly up-regulated the expression level of Rh3GT and increased the total anthocyanin accumulation. Rh3GT was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 in the form of inclusion bodies with a size of about 36 kDa. The results of HPLC showed that the recombinant Rh3GT after denaturation, purification, and dilution could catalyze the synthesis of cyanidin and UDP-glucose to synthesize cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, indicating that the expressed protein had 3GT activity. This study provides basic data for further studying the molecular regulation mechanism of anthocyanin biosynthesis and theoretical support for molecular breeding of rhododendron.
Rhododendron/classification* ; Glucosyltransferases/metabolism* ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis* ; Anthocyanins/biosynthesis* ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Amino Acid Sequence

Objective:To investigate the clinical and radiologic characteristics of children with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) in a single center.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, clinical data of 497 children(507 limbs) with CPT who were treated at Department of Orthopedics, the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University from January 2011 to December 2020 were collected. Baseline data included gender, age at initial visit, age at onset of symptoms, accompanying symptoms, domicile, whether first treated at our hospital, and treatment-related information such as surgical or conservative treatment, surgical complications, etc., were extracted and analyzed using the health information system. Imaging data of the children, including Crawford classification, bilateral leg lengths, presence of fibular pseudarthrosis, and location of pseudarthrosis along the tibia segment, were analyzed using the Picture Archiving and Communication System. Data were compared using independent sample t test or χ2 tests. Results:Among 497 children with CPT, there were 305 males (61.4%) and 192 females (38.6%). The age at initial visit was (3.6±3.2) years (range: 0.1 to 16.2 years). Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) symptoms were positive in 340 children (68.4%), and negative in 157 children (31.6%). Among NF1-positive children, those with symptoms onset before 1 year of age were significantly more than NF1-negative children (74.1%(252/340) vs. 66.2%(104/157); χ2=9.24, P=0.001), and the proportion of fractures (92.9%,316/340) was significantly higher than that in the NF1-negative group (84.7%,133/157) ( χ2=8.33, P=0.004). According to imaging data, Crawford type Ⅳ was the most common type, with 321 limbs (63.3%), followed by type Ⅱ in 100 limbs (19.7%), type Ⅲ in 54 limbs (10.7%) and type Ⅰ in 32 limbs (6.3%). Pseudarthrosis occurred in the proximal third of the tibia in 14 limbs (2.8%), in the middle third in 185 limbs (36.5%), and in the distal third in 308 limbs (60.8%). Seventy-four children (14.9 %) had associated fibular pseudarthrosis. The lateral proximal tibial angle was 86.91°±5.21°(range: 72.17° to 102.08°), and the lateral distal tibial angle was 87.27°±10.73°(range: 51.07° to 128.17°). A total of 421 children (84.7%) underwent surgical treatment with (3.1±2.4) surgeries performed per child (range:0 to 12 surgeries); 76 children (15.3%) received conservative treatment. Postoperative complications mainly included ankle valgus (77 cases), leg length discrepancy (71 cases),refracture (48 cases), osteomyelitis (11 cases), and hardware failure (10 cases). NF1-positive children underwent more surgeries than NF1-negative children ((5.1±2.2)times vs.(2.1±1.8)times; t=14.93, P<0.01). Conclusions:Crawford type Ⅳ is the most common type of CPT in children in this study. CPT predominantly occurs in the middle or distal third of the tibia. The majority of children with CPT experienced symptoms and were seen at outpatient clinics before the age of 3 years. The main surgical complications currently associated with CPT treatment are ankle valgus and leg length discrepancy. Compared with CPT without NF1, children with NF1-positive CPT tend to have earlier symptom onset and may require more frequent treatments.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and radiologic characteristics of children with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) in a single center.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, clinical data of 497 children(507 limbs) with CPT who were treated at Department of Orthopedics, the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University from January 2011 to December 2020 were collected. Baseline data included gender, age at initial visit, age at onset of symptoms, accompanying symptoms, domicile, whether first treated at our hospital, and treatment-related information such as surgical or conservative treatment, surgical complications, etc., were extracted and analyzed using the health information system. Imaging data of the children, including Crawford classification, bilateral leg lengths, presence of fibular pseudarthrosis, and location of pseudarthrosis along the tibia segment, were analyzed using the Picture Archiving and Communication System. Data were compared using independent sample t test or χ2 tests. Results:Among 497 children with CPT, there were 305 males (61.4%) and 192 females (38.6%). The age at initial visit was (3.6±3.2) years (range: 0.1 to 16.2 years). Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) symptoms were positive in 340 children (68.4%), and negative in 157 children (31.6%). Among NF1-positive children, those with symptoms onset before 1 year of age were significantly more than NF1-negative children (74.1%(252/340) vs. 66.2%(104/157); χ2=9.24, P=0.001), and the proportion of fractures (92.9%,316/340) was significantly higher than that in the NF1-negative group (84.7%,133/157) ( χ2=8.33, P=0.004). According to imaging data, Crawford type Ⅳ was the most common type, with 321 limbs (63.3%), followed by type Ⅱ in 100 limbs (19.7%), type Ⅲ in 54 limbs (10.7%) and type Ⅰ in 32 limbs (6.3%). Pseudarthrosis occurred in the proximal third of the tibia in 14 limbs (2.8%), in the middle third in 185 limbs (36.5%), and in the distal third in 308 limbs (60.8%). Seventy-four children (14.9 %) had associated fibular pseudarthrosis. The lateral proximal tibial angle was 86.91°±5.21°(range: 72.17° to 102.08°), and the lateral distal tibial angle was 87.27°±10.73°(range: 51.07° to 128.17°). A total of 421 children (84.7%) underwent surgical treatment with (3.1±2.4) surgeries performed per child (range:0 to 12 surgeries); 76 children (15.3%) received conservative treatment. Postoperative complications mainly included ankle valgus (77 cases), leg length discrepancy (71 cases),refracture (48 cases), osteomyelitis (11 cases), and hardware failure (10 cases). NF1-positive children underwent more surgeries than NF1-negative children ((5.1±2.2)times vs.(2.1±1.8)times; t=14.93, P<0.01). Conclusions:Crawford type Ⅳ is the most common type of CPT in children in this study. CPT predominantly occurs in the middle or distal third of the tibia. The majority of children with CPT experienced symptoms and were seen at outpatient clinics before the age of 3 years. The main surgical complications currently associated with CPT treatment are ankle valgus and leg length discrepancy. Compared with CPT without NF1, children with NF1-positive CPT tend to have earlier symptom onset and may require more frequent treatments.

Objective:To investigate the Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) infection of Tibetan families and individuals in the Western Sichuan Plateau region and explore the related factors which affected H. pylori infection. Methods:This was a single-center cross-sectional study. Questionnaires were collected from 50 Tibetan families including 155 individuals in Western Sichuan Plateau region during March to May 2023. The 13C-urea breath test was performed to confirm the current infection status of participants. Binary logistic regression were used to analyze the related factors associated with H. pylori infection. Results:Among the 50 Tibetan households, the individual-based H. pylori infection rate was 47.10%(73/155), with two out of nine children and 48.63%(71/146) adults infected. The age group of 18 to 40 years had the highest infection rate (55.00%, 11/20). The prevalence of infection based on family was 80.00%(40/50), of which 16.00%(8/50) had all family members infected. Of the 59 couples surveyed, 23.73%(14/59) were both infected, and 45.76%(27/59) had one person infected. Of the six families which had children and adolescents, two households had their children infected. Logistic regression analysis showed that size of the family was a factor related to H. pylori infection (odds ratio=3.038, 95% confidence interval 1.043 to 10.491, P=0.042). Conclusions:The family-based H. pylori infection rate is relatively high in Tibetan residents in the Western Sichuan Plateau, and larger family size is related with higher risk of H. pylori infection within the family.

China has classified the Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19) as a statutory category B infectious disease and managed it according to Category B since January 8, 2023.In view that Omicron variant is currently the main epidemic strain in China, in order to guide the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) infection in children with the times, refer to the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Infection (Trial 10 th Edition), Expert Consensus on Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Novel Coronavirus Infection in Children (Fourth Edition) and the Diagnosis and Treatment Strategy for Pediatric Related Viral Infections.The Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Novel Coronavirus Infection in Children (Fifth Edition) has been formulated and updated accordingly on related etiology, epidemiology, pathogenic mechanism, clinical manifestations, auxiliary examination, diagnosis and treatment, and added key points for the treatment of COVID-19 related encephalopathy, fulminating myocarditis and other serious complications for clinical reference.

Flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of phycocyanidins. In this experiment, the petals of red Rhododendron hybridum Hort. at different developmental stages were used as experimental materials. The R. hybridum flavanone 3-hydroxylase (RhF3H) gene was cloned using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and rapid-amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) techniques, and bioinformatics analyses were performed. Petal RhF3H gene expression at different developmental stages were analyzed by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A pET-28a-RhF3H prokaryotic expression vector was constructed for the preparation and purification of RhF3H protein. A pCAMBIA1302-RhF3H overexpression vector was constructed for genetic transformation in Arabidopsis thaliana by Agrobacterium-mediated method. The results showed that the R. hybridum Hort. RhF3H gene is 1 245 bp long, with an open reading frame of 1 092 bp, encoding 363 amino acids. It contains a Fe²⁺ binding motif and a 2-ketoglutarate binding motif of the dioxygenase superfamily. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the R. hybridum RhF3H protein is most closely related to the Vaccinium corymbosum F3H protein. qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression level of the red R. hybridum RhF3H gene tended to increase and then decrease in the petals at different developmental stages, with the highest expression at middle opening stage. The results of the prokaryotic expression showed that the size of the induced protein of the constructed prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a-RhF3H was about 40 kDa, which was similar to the theoretical value. Transgenic RhF3H Arabidopsis thaliana plants were successfully obtained, and PCR identification and β-glucuronidase (GUS) staining demonstrated that the RhF3H gene was integrated into the genome of A. thaliana plants. qRT-PCR, total flavonoid and anthocyanin contentanalysis showed that RhF3H was significantly higher expressed in the transgenic A. thaliana relative to that of the wild type, and its total flavonoid and anthocyanin content were significantly increased. This study provides a theoretical basis for investigating the function of RhF3H gene, as well as for studying the molecular mechanism of flower color in R. simsiib Planch.
Arabidopsis/metabolism* ; Rhododendron/metabolism* ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Anthocyanins/metabolism* ; Phylogeny ; Flavonoids/metabolism* ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/metabolism*

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease.Previous studies have shown that children are vulnerable to monkeypox and are also at high risk for severe disease or complications.In order to improve pediatricians′ understanding of monkeypox and achieve early detection, early diagnosis, early treatment and early disposal, the committee composed of more than 40 experts in the related fields of infectious diseases, pediatrics, infection control and public health formulate this expert consensus, on the basis of the latest clinical management and infection prevention and control for monkeypox released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of monkeypox (version 2022) issued by National Health Commission of the People′s Republic of China and other relevant documents.During the development of this consensus, multidisciplinary experts have repeatedly demonstrated the etiology, epidemiology, transmission, clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, treatment, discharge criteria, prevention, case management process and key points of prevention and control about monkeypox.