AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 3% diquafosol sodium eye drops in children wearing orthokeratology lenses and with dry eye disease(DED)or at risk of DED.METHODS: Randomized controlled trials. Children with DED or at risk of DED were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 3% diquafosol sodium eye drops 6 times daily or a blank control at Chongqing Aier Children's Eye Hospital from November 2023 to November 2024. The primary endpoint was the change in the Dry Eye Questionnaire-5(DEQ-5)score from baseline at 12 wk. Secondary assessments included non-invasive breakup time(NIBUT), tear meniscus height, Schirmer's test, corneal fluorescein staining score, and axial length.RESULTS: A total of 80 participants(80 eyes)were enrolled(40 in each group), the average age of the participants was 11.11±1.88 years, with 43 females(54%)and 37 males(46%), and all completed the trial. After 12 wk, the DEQ-5 scores for the diquafosol sodium group and the blank control group were 1.88±2.02 and 2.88±2.79, respectively(P=0.079). The diquafosol sodium group demonstrated a significant improvement in DEQ-5 dryness symptom scores(-0.33±0.66 vs. 0.05±0.81, P=0.023)and NIBUT(6.18±3.73 vs. -1.09±4.40 s, P<0.001)at 12 wk. Additionally, the diquafosol sodium group showed no axial length elongation, in contrast to the blank control group, which exhibited elongation(0.00±0.08 vs. 0.05±0.10 mm, P=0.013). No other significant differences were found in the secondary endpoints. No adverse events occurred during the trial.CONCLUSION: Although no statistically significant improvements were noted in the overall DEQ-5 scores, the 3% diquafosol sodium eye drops significantly improved dryness symptoms and NIBUT when compared to the blank control group.

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of acute herpes zoster. The treatment of PHN remains a challenge for clinical pain management. Despite the effectiveness of anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and lidocaine patches in reducing PHN, many patients still face intractable pain disorders.In this randomized controlled study, we evaluated whether hydromorphone through intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) was effective in relieving PHN. Methods: Patients with PHN were randomly divided into two groups, one group received oral pregabalin with IV normal saline, another group received oral pregabalin with additional IV PCA hydromorphone for two weeks. Efficacy was evaluated at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the end of the treatments. Results: Two hundred and one patients were followed up for 12 weeks. After treatment, numerical rating scale (NRS) score of patients in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the difference of NRS scores between the two groups was statistically significant at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. The frequency of breakthrough pain in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that in the control group 1 and 4 weeks after treatment.After treatment, the quality of sleep in the hydromorphone group was significantly improved compared with the control group. The most common adverse reactions in the hydromorphone group were dizziness and nausea, with no significant respiratory depression. Conclusions IV PCA hydromorphone combined with oral pregabalin provides superior pain relief in patients with PHN, which is worthy of clinical application and promotion.

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of acute herpes zoster. The treatment of PHN remains a challenge for clinical pain management. Despite the effectiveness of anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and lidocaine patches in reducing PHN, many patients still face intractable pain disorders.In this randomized controlled study, we evaluated whether hydromorphone through intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) was effective in relieving PHN. Methods: Patients with PHN were randomly divided into two groups, one group received oral pregabalin with IV normal saline, another group received oral pregabalin with additional IV PCA hydromorphone for two weeks. Efficacy was evaluated at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the end of the treatments. Results: Two hundred and one patients were followed up for 12 weeks. After treatment, numerical rating scale (NRS) score of patients in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the difference of NRS scores between the two groups was statistically significant at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. The frequency of breakthrough pain in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that in the control group 1 and 4 weeks after treatment.After treatment, the quality of sleep in the hydromorphone group was significantly improved compared with the control group. The most common adverse reactions in the hydromorphone group were dizziness and nausea, with no significant respiratory depression. Conclusions IV PCA hydromorphone combined with oral pregabalin provides superior pain relief in patients with PHN, which is worthy of clinical application and promotion.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between the AXIN2 gene promoter methylation status in breast cancer tissues with the breast cancer-related risk factors, clinicopathological characteristics and the mRNA expression of AXIN2 gene.Methods:The breast cancer tissues and adjacent tissues of 84 breast cancer patients were taken to detect the AXIN2 gene promoter methylation status and the AXIN2 mRNA expression. We used different concentrations of methyltransferase inhibitors 5-Azacytidine (5 -Aza) to treat human breast cancer ZR-75-1 cells, and collected the breast cancer-related risk factors and clinicopathological characteristics.Results:The positive rate of methylation of AXIN2 gene promoter in breast cancer tissues (40.5%) was significantly higher than that of adjacent tissues (19.0%) ( χ2=10.401, P=0.001) . The positive rate of AXIN2 methylation was related to the age at first delivery ( χ2=5.467, P=0.019) and a history of induced abortion ( χ2=8.372, P=0.006) ; the positive rate of AXIN2 methylation was related to lymph node metastasis ( χ2=5.338, P=0.021) , ER expression status ( χ2=9.141, P=0.002) and PR expression status ( χ2=6.918, P=0.009) . In addition, the relative expression of AXIN2 gene mRNA in breast cancer tissues (0.22 ± 0.03) was significantly lower than that in adjacent tissues (0.46 ± 0.06) ( t=3.527, P<0.001) . The relative mRNA expression of the methylation-positive breast cancer tissues (0.13 ± 0.02) was significantly lower than that of the methylation-negative breast cancer tissues (0.29 ± 0.04) ( t=3.616, P<0.001) . After ZR-75-1 cells treated with 5-Aza, the relative expression of AXIN2 gene mRNA increased significantly ( t=3.824, P<0.001) . Conclusion:DNA methylation in the promoter region of the AXIN2 gene is related to the pathogenesis of breast cancer, and has certain clinical application value.

Objective To analyze the molecular characteristics of Brucella strains isolated from Nanjing,understand strains genotying and clustering,and to provide a basis for prevention and treatment of brucellosis.Methods Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) were used to analyze and characterize Brucella ovis strains isolated from 7 cases of sporadic cases in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital,the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School,from 2011-2016,and cluster analysis was did with reference strain data from Jiangsu Province.Results The results showed that 7 strains were defined as sequence type (ST) 8 by MLST.They were typed into 7 subtypes and clustered in the "Middle Mediterranean Cluster" by MLVA.Strain NJ-2011-1 and two strains isolated from other cities in Jiangsu had the same MLVA genotype.Conclusions The results reveal ST8 is the predominant genotype in Nanjing.They have clustered in the "Middle Mediterranean Cluster" by MLVA.The 7 strains are sporadic.The transmission routes and risk factors are more complicated in the city.Various departments should strengthen the cooperation to control the source.

Objective To investigate the relationship between exon 11 CAG triplet nucleotide repeats ([CAG]n) of myocyte enhancer binding factor-2A (MEF2A ) polymorphisms and ischemic stroke caused by large artery atherosclerosis (LAA). Methods Two hundred and five patients with first onset ischemic stroke caused by LAA, admitted to our hospital from June 2010 to December 2014, and 192 healthy controls were chosen in our study. The polymorphisms of exons 11 of MEF2A gene were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT). The relation of ischemic stroke caused by LAA with polymorphisms of (CAG)n was analyzed. Results Different (CAG)n alleles could be detected, with repeated sequences of 9-11. Frequencies for the different (CAG)n alleles in exon 11 CAG of MEF2A gene were not the same between the ischemic stroke patients and the controls (χ2=8.547, P=0.036). The distribution frequency of the (CAG)9 allele in the ischemic stroke group was significantly higher than that in the control group (χ2=6.650, P=0.010). Logistic regression analysis indicated that systolic pressure and (CAG)9 (OR=1.401, P=0.017, 95％CI: 1.063-1.847) were the independent risk factors of acute ischemic stroke caused by LAA. Conclusion The (CAG)n polymorphisms may be associated with ischemic stroke caused by LAA and the (CAG)9 allele may be one of the genetic susceptibility factors for this subtype of stroke.

Background and objective This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the accumulation-associated protein (Aap) gene and transform growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) on the bioiflm formation of lung cancer-related Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE). Methods Species identification was performed to isolate SE strains from clinically im-planted materials in lung cancer patients. Stable genetic aggregated proteins, which are associated with negative and positive isolates, were obtained. hTe bioiflm-formation ability of the SE Aap gene was determined by PCR. Density gradient method was used to extract peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Atfer 30 h, these cells were co-cultured with A549 at different TGF-β1 concentrations. hTe supernatant was then combined with SE Aap+and SE Aap-strains and co-cultured with a medical silicone rubber. A semi-quantitative adhesion test was performed for each bacterial bioiflm formation. Scanning electron microscopy was also conducted to observe the microcosmic condition of this material on the bacterial bioiflm surface. Results hTe Aap gene was closely related to SE bioiflm formation. At 10 ng/mL, 20 ng/mL, and 40 ng/mL, SE Aap+bioiflm on the medical silicone rubber surface was thicker in the TGF-β1 group than in the control group. No signiifcant differences were found between TGF-β1 groups. For the SE Aap-strains, no evident bioiflm was formed in TGF-β1 and control groups. Conclusion In plant material-related infection of lung cancer patients, SE Aap+strain easily forms bioiflm. Furthermore, TGF-β1 was conducive for the bioiflm formation of SE Aap+strains.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of serum galactomannan platelia aspergillus kit in the diagnosis and treatment of invasive fungal infection(IFI) patients. MethodsA total of 178 serum samples from 74 high risk patients were collected. ELISA assay was used to detect the level of GM antigen. Refer to domestic IFI diagnostic criteria, 16 patients include the proven cases and probable cases were defined as study group, while 29 patients of improbable cases defined as control group. Fourflod table was founded,by which the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value, negative predictive value of this GM test were calculated. Meanwhile, a total of 53 patients received antifungal therapy which divided into GM-positive group(21 patients with I≥0. 5) and GM-negative group(32 patients with I ＜0. 5). The therapeutic effect comparison of two groups was made according to curative effect criterion. ResultsAccording to the certainty level of IFI diagnosis, 1,9,10 and 4 patients were identified as GM positive in proven, probable,possible and improbable IFI groups respectively. The prevalence of GM in these 4 groups was 50％ ,64％ ,34％ and 14％ ,respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of galactomannan ELISA assay were 63％ ,86％ respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 71％ and 81％ respectively. The diagnose accordance rate was 78％, the Younden index was 0. 49. The efficacy of fluconazole in GM-positive patients was significant lower than in GMnegative patients( x2 =4. 95 ,P ＜0. 05) ,while The efficacy of non-fluconazole drug was superior to that in GM-negative patients( x2 =4. 88,P ＜ 0. 05). After antifungal therapy, the GM value of GM-positive patients decreased significantly( t =2. 13 ,P ＜0. 05). ConclusionThe galactomannan ELISA assay with high specificity, could be helpful in diagnosis and choicing effective anti-fungi drug in clinic.

To research piezoelectric immunosensor array for rapid detecting HIV(1+2), piezoelectric immunosensor array matrix was designed. HIV(1+2)C1 antigen was immobilized onto the silver electrodes of quartz-crystal microbalance, which was modified with adsorption and cross-linked method. In the clean air flow and monitoring environment, standard quality control and clinical serum sample were detected. The linear range for the measurement of HIV(1+2) was 0.01-0.2 NCU/ml. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of HIV(1+2) piezoelectric protein sensor array were 91.7%, 93.3% and 92.7% respectively.
Biosensing Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Electrodes ; HIV ; isolation & purification ; HIV Antibodies ; blood ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; methods ; Protein Array Analysis ; instrumentation ; methods ; Quartz ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity