Objective To develop a low-oxygen mixed gas generator to make up for the deficiencies of low-pressure chambers and load-resistant hypoxia trainers during pilot hypoxia tolerance testing.Methods The device prepared the low-oxygen gas with the principle of gas separation,which was composed of a Sunsource OLF1100D-220AF air compressor,a SMC IDG75SAM4-03 filter,a buffer tank,an AIR Products PA3010 integrated assembly,a control box,sensors and regulators.The sensors included the pressure sensor,flow sensor,concentration sensor and dew point temperature sensor,and the control box consisted of a main control board,a power supply module,a transmission module,a communication module,a display and a housing.The embedded control software of the device was developed with KEIL 5 and C++.Results The device developed prepared the low-oxygen gas with the volume fraction being 4％to 18％and the maximum error of volume fraction being 0.05％,and the main components of the prepared gas met the technical requirements of medical oxygen as stipulated in GB 8982-2009 Oxygen supplies for medicine and aircraft breathing.Conclusion The low-oxygen gas prepared by the device has its volume fraction precisely controlled and can be used for hypoxia tolerance testing and acclimation training for pilots.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(7):24-28]

Objective To explore the influence of different fixation times on chromosome test drops' slides. Methods The test included four groups: I, II, III and IV, which had fixation times of 10, 20, 40 and 60min, respectively. All the four groups were subject to same experimental procedure except for the different fixed time. All the samples were fixed once in the course of sample process. The good chromosomal staining rate (%), good mitotic phase rate (%), chromosome aberration rate (%) and average number of mitotic phases per field of view were calculated and compared among the different groups. Results The rate of good chromosome staining in group II was significantly different compared with that in group I (P < 0.01), but not statistically significant compared with that in group III (P>0.05). The rate of good chromosome staining in group IV was statistically significantly different compared with that in group III (P < 0.01). The rate of good chromosome mitotic phase in group II was statistically significantly different compared with that in group I (P<0.01), but not with that in group III (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference between group IV and group III in the rate of good chromosome mitotic phase (P>0.05). The average number of chromosome division phase per field of view in group II was not statistically significantly different compared with that in group I (P > 0.05), nor was it statistically significant compared with that in group III (P>05). The average number of chromosome division phase per field in group IV was statistically significant compared with that in group III (P < 0.05). The chromosome aberration rate of the four groups was 0%. The short fixation time and thick cytoplasm were not conducive to the dispersion of chromosomes. The excessively deep blue background was also not conducive to the observation and identification of chromosomes. Additionally, individual chromosomes were not easy to be completely stained under deep blue background. On the contrary, if the fixed time was long, the chromosome was scattered and lost, which easily led to the reduction of mitotic phase. Conclusion In the chromosome test, the fixation time has an influence on chromosome dispersion, staining and the number of mitotic phases. Short fixation time is not conducive to chromosome dispersion and staining, while long fixation time reduces the number of mitotic phases, and also waste time, manpower, and material resources.

Objective: To understand the use of psychoactive substances and its related factors in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Tianjin. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in MSM recruited in Tianjin by snowball sampling from September 2017 to December 2020, the information about their social demographic information, use of psychoactive substances and behavioral characteristics were collected, meanwhile the blood samples were taken from them for HIV/syphilis detections. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore related factors about psychoactive substances use. Results: A total of 9 218 MSM were included in the study, in whom 43.5% (4 013/9 218) had ever used psychoactive substances, including 92.6% (3 718/4 013)who used Rush and 17.2% (692/4 013) who used multi substances. Multivariate analysis showed that, the OR of psychoactive substances use in MSM who were in Han ethnic group was 0.68 (95%CI:0.51-0.91) compared with those who were in minor ethnic group; the OR of psychoactive substances use in MSM who were married or cohabited, divorced or widowed were 0.65 (95%CI: 0.57-0.71), 0.80 (95%CI: 0.65-0.97) respectively compared with those who were unmarried; the OR of psychoactive substances use in MSM who had the first homosexual sex at age of ≥30 years was 0.57 (95%CI: 0.44-0.74) compared with those who had the first homosexual sex at age of <30 years; the OR of psychoactive substances use in local MSM in Tianjin was 1.12 (95%CI: 1.03-1.23) compared with those who were not local residents in Tianjin; the OR of psychoactive substances use in MSM with education level of college or above was 1.29 (95%CI: 1.12-1.49) compared with those with education level of junior middle school or below; the OR of psychoactive substances use in MSM who had anal sex in the past six months was 1.93 (95%CI: 1.34-2.77) compared with those who had no anal sex; the OR of psychoactive substances use in MSM who had >2 homosexual partners in the last week was 1.62 (95%CI: 1.41-1.87) compared with those who had ≤2 homosexual partners; the OR of psychoactive substances use in MSM who had homosexual commercial sex in the past six months was 1.99 (95%CI: 1.62-2.45) compared with those who had no homosexual commercial sex; the OR of psychoactive substances use in MSM who had sexually transmitted diseases in the last year was 2.39 (95%CI: 1.82-3.12) compared with those who had no sexually transmitted diseases and the OR of psychoactive substances use in MSM who received peer education services in the last year was 1.63 (95%CI: 1.50-1.78) compared with those who received no peer education services. Conclusion: The prevalence of psychoactive substances use is high in MSM in Tianjin, and there are many influencing factors. It is necessary to conduct targeted interventions according to the influencing factors.
Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; HIV Infections/epidemiology* ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sex Work ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual and Gender Minorities ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Syphilis/epidemiology*

A total of 18 batches of Zhuru Decoction samples were prepared. Chromatographic fingerprints were established for Zhuru Decoction and single decoction pieces, the content of which was then determined. The extraction rate ranges, content, and transfer rate ranges of puerarin, liquiritin, and glycyrrhizic acid, together with the common peaks and the similarity range of the fingerprints, were determined to clarify key quality attributes of Zhuru Decoction. The 18 batches of Zhuru Decoction samples had 25 common peaks and the fingerprint similarity higher than 0.95. Puerariae Lobatae Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens had 21, 3, and 1 characteristic peaks, respectively. The 18 batches of samples showed the extraction rates within the range of 18.45%-25.29%. Puerarin had the content of 2.20%-3.07% and the transfer rate of 38.5%-45.9%; liquiritin had the content of 0.24%-0.85% and the transfer rate of 15.9%-37.5%; glycyrrhizic acid had the content of 0.39%-1.87% and the transfer rate of 16.2%-32.8%. In this paper, the quality value transmitting of substance benchmarks of Zhuru Decoction was analyzed based on chromatographic fingerprints, extraction rate, and the content of index components. A scientific and stable method was preliminarily established, which provided a scientific basis for the quality control and formulation development of Zhuru Decoction.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards* ; Glycyrrhizic Acid/analysis* ; Quality Control ; Rhizome/chemistry*

Objective:To explore the optimum time of ambulation of atrial fibrillation patients after radiofrequency ablation, to provide basis for patients' early postoperative rehabilitation.Methods:By convenient sampling method, a total of 120 patients with atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation were collected at Yanghu Branch and City Branch of Changzhou Second People's Hospital from January 2020 to May 2021. They were divided into the early group, middle group and late group according to the random number table method, each group were 40 cases. All patients received routine postoperative intervention, the time of ambulation were 4, 6 and 12 h after operation in the early group, middle group and late group, respectively. The complication rate within 24 h after operation was compared among the three groups, and the comfort level of the three groups at 24, 48 and 72 h after operation was evaluated with Comfort Status Scale (GCQ).Results:Finally, 111 patients were included, including 37 in the early group, 38 in the middle group and 36 in the late group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of bleeding or hematoma, urinary retention, lumbago within 24 h after operation among the three groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of postural hypotension within 24 h after operation in the early group was 2.7% (1/37), which was lower than 21.1% (7/38) and 25.0% (9/36) in the middle and late groups, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=4.86, 7.67, both P<0.05). At 48 and 72 h after operation, the scores of physiological dimension, psychological dimension and the total score of GCQ in the early group were (20.68 ± 3.07), (22.54 ± 3.35), (81.68 ± 6.11) and (22.54 ± 3.73), (24.38 ± 2.49), (84.92 ± 6.37), higher than those in the middle group (19.16 ± 2.19), (21.32 ± 2.27), (78.24 ± 5.58), (20.93 ± 2.85), (22.32 ± 2.04), (81.66 ± 6.56), and those in the late group (18.44 ± 1.50) (21.31 ± 1.99), (78.06 ± 4.32), (20.89 ± 2.25), (21.58 ± 1.86), (80.28 ± 6.44), the differences were statistically significant ( t values were 2.19-4.15, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Ambulation at 4 h after operation does not increase peripheral vascular complications, but can reduce the incidence of postural hypotension and improve the comfort of patients with atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation.

Objective Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) are major public health and social issues worldwide. The long-term follow-up of COVID-19 with pulmonary TB (PTB) survivors after discharge is unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively describe clinical outcomes, including sequela and recurrence at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge, among COVID-19 with PTB survivors. Methods From January 22, 2020 to May 6, 2022, with a follow-up by August 26, 2022, a prospective, multicenter follow-up study was conducted on COVID-19 with PTB survivors after discharge in 13hospitals from four provinces in China. Clinical outcomes, including sequela, recurrence of COVID-19, and PTB survivors, were collected via telephone and face-to-face interviews at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge. Results Thirty-two COVID-19 with PTB survivors were included. The median age was 52 (45, 59) years, and 23 (71.9％) were men. Among them, nearly two-thirds (62.5％) of the survivors were moderate, three (9.4％) were severe, and more than half (59.4％) had at least one comorbidity (PTB excluded). The proportion of COVID-19 survivors with at least one sequela symptom decreased from 40.6％ at 3 months to 15.8％ at 24 months, with anxiety having a higher proportion over a follow-up. Cough and amnesia recovered at the 12-month follow-up, while anxiety, fatigue, and trouble sleeping remained after 24 months. Additionally, one (3.1％) case presented two recurrences of PTB and no re-positive COVID-19 during the follow-up period. Conclusion The proportion of long symptoms in COVID-19 with PTB survivors decreased over time, while nearly one in six still experience persistent symptoms with a higher proportion of anxiety. The recurrence of PTB and the psychological support of COVID-19 with PTB after discharge require more attention.

Accurate methods for identifying pelvic lymph node metastasis (LNM) of prostate cancer (PCa) prior to surgery are still lacking. We aimed to investigate the predictive value of peripheral monocyte count (PMC) for LNM of PCa in this study. Two hundred and ninety-eight patients from three centers were divided into a training set (n = 125) and a validation set (n = 173). In the training set, the independent predictors of LNM were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, and the optimal cutoff value was calculated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The sensitivity and specificity of the optimal cutoff were authenticated in the validation cohort. Finally, a nomogram based on the PMC was constructed for predicting LNM. Multivariate analyses of the training cohort demonstrated that clinical T stage, preoperative Gleason score, and PMC were independent risk factors for LNM. The subsequent ROC analysis showed that the optimal cutoff value of PMC for diagnosing LNM was 0.405 × 109 l

OBJECTIVE: The clinical symptoms of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) can be effectively improved by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment, based on the usage of specific therapies for different TCM syndromes. However, in the stage of diagnosis, the standard criteria for the classification of TCM syndrome were still deficient. Through serum metabolic profiling, this study aimed to explore potential biomarkers in IBS-D patients with different TCM syndromes, which can assist in diagnosis of the disease. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from healthy controls (30 cases), IBS-D patients with Liver-Stagnation and Spleen-Deficiency syndrome (LSSD, 30 cases), Yang Deficiency of Spleen and Kidney syndrome (YDSK, 11 cases) and Damp Abundance due to Spleen-Deficiency syndrome (DASD, 22 cases). Serum metabolic profiling was conducted by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The potential biomarkers were screened by orthogonal partial least square-discriminate analysis, while metabolic pathways undergoing alterations were identified by pathway enrichment analysis in MetaboAnalyst 4.0. RESULTS: Overall, 34 potential biomarkers were identified in LSSD group, 36 in YDSK group and 31 in DASD group. And the 13 metabolites shared by three groups were determined as the potential biomarkers of IBS-D. Glycerophospholipid metabolism was disturbed significantly in IBS-D patients, which may play a role in IBS-D through inflammation. What's more, three TCM syndromes have the specific potential biomarkers in glycerophospholipid metabolism. CONCLUSION The serum metabolomics revealed that different TCM syndrome types in IBS-D may have different metabolic patterns during disease progression and glycerophospholipid metabolism was one of the pathways, whose metabolism was disturbed differently among three TCM syndromes in IBS-D. Therefore, the specific potential biomarkers in glycerophospholipid metabolism of three TCM syndromes in IBS-D can serve as the objective indicators, which can facilitate the TCM-syndrome objective classification of IBS-D.

Aortic Valve/surgery* ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/surgery* ; China/epidemiology* ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome