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【Objective】 To explore the correlation between serological screening of human T-lymphotropic virus antibodies (anti HTLV) and Western blot(WB) confirmatory tests among blood donors, so as to explore the infection status of HTLV Ⅰ/Ⅱ in Guangzhou. 【Methods】 The anti HTLV Ⅰ/Ⅱ enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kit was used to screen voluntary blood donors from Guangzhou Blood Center from July 2016 to August 2022. WB was used to confirm 395 reactive blood samples by ELISA. The correlation between the S/CO values of anti HTLV Ⅰ/Ⅱ ELISA reagents and the confirmatory test was analyzed using ROC curves. 【Results】 The results showed that 25 out of 395 initially screened reactive blood donor samples were confirmed as HTLV positive by WB, while 16 were uncertain. ROC curve analysis showed a correlation between the S/CO values by ELISA and the confirmatory test results: the S/CO value at the highest Youden index was 3.789, which was the optimal threshold. The S/CO value had a certain correlation with the predicted positive rate of confirmatory results (P<0.05): the larger the S/CO value, the higher the predicted positive value. The overall prevalence of HTLV in Guangzhou is relatively low. 【Conclusion】 The prevalence of HTLV among blood donors in Guangzhou is low.Since the false positive rate of HTLV Ⅰ/Ⅱ antibody by ELISA serological screening is high, the confirmatory testing is particularly important.
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BACKGROUND:Morphological characteristics of the rabbit lumbar vertebrae are of great significance for animal experiments about lumbar spine, but there is a lack of study on the lumbar morphology in rabbits. OBJECTIVE:To establish a three-dimensional model of rabbit lumbar vertebrae, and to observe its morphological characteristics, thereby providing anatomical basis for the animal experiments about lumbar spine.METHODS:Twenty New Zealand rabbits were subjected to 64-row multi-detector CT (Siemens) scan, and the three-dimensional models were constructed based on the CT data from 140 lumbar vertebrae. The morphological parameters of L1-7 were measured, and the internal and external structures of lumbar vertebrae and changes of different segments were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Changes of the morphological parameters of each lumbar vertebra:the L1-7 height first increased and then decreased, and the shortest height was in the L7, which was (1.12±0.18) cm. L1 vertebral body exhibited the shortest transverse diameter, (1.03±0.15) cm, and the longitudinal diameter did not differ significantly among vertebrae. The transverse and longitudinal diameters of L1-6 spinal canals were on a rise, but decreased abruptly at L7. The pedicle width of L1-7 increased gradually;the pedicle height of L1-5 increased gradually, and then began to decrease markedly, and the shortest at L7, (0.58±0.11) cm. The width and length of L1-6 spinous process increased steadily, but decreased at L7. The length of L1-3 transverse process increased gradually, tended to be steady at L3-6, and increased notably at L6-7;there were significant differences in the transverse process angle at L1-6, but the angle increased markedly to (58±2)° at L7, (2) These results indicate that the internal and external structures of lumbar vertebrae and changes of different segments are obtained through morphological measurement of lumbar vertebrae in New Zealand white rabbit, which provides a detailed anatomical data for relative animal experiments.
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Objective To study the functional connectivity (FC) pattern of anterior cingulated cortex in patients with vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia (VCIND) after subcortical ischemic vascular disease,and to analyze the relationship between FC and cognitive function.Methods Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were acquired from 14 patients with VCIND and 16 healthy volunteers with normal cognition.The altered functional connectivity pattern in VCIND was valuated by comparing to normal control.Then a correlation analysis was performed between the strength of FC and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores in patients with VCICD.Results (1) The visual space or executive function (3.14 ± 0.29),attention or computing power (3.79 ± 0.37),language (1.14 ± 0.21),directional power (4.14 ± 0.53) items,and the total points of MoCA (17.29 ± 1.53) in VCIND were significantly lower than that in the normal control group (4.93 ± 0.07,5.93 ± 0.07,2.93 ± 0.26,5.93 ± 0.07,27.57 ± 0.33 ; t =31.62,32.50,28.51,12.00,39.71,all P ＜ 0.05).While the abstract ability or memory (4.36 ± 0.74),the naming (2.79 ± 0.11) items in VCIND were not significantly different with that in the control group (4.79 ± 0.80,2.93 ± 0.07 ; t =1.76,1.00,both P ＞ 0.05).(2) Compared with the control group,the patients showed FC decrease between the anterior cingulated cortex and several brain regions,including the left middle temporal gyrus/left superior temporal gyrus,the left superior frontal gyrus/left middle frontal gyrus/left inferior frontal gyrus,the left posterior cingulated cortex/left precuneus,the left inferior parietal lobule/left angular gyrus,the right middle temporal gyrus/right superior temporal gyrus,the right orbit frontal cortex/right inferior frontal gyrus,the right inferior parietal lobule/right angular gyrums,and the right superior frontal gyrus/right middle frontal gyrus.There were also some regions that showed increased FC,which included the right posterior lobe of the cerebellum,the calcarine fissure,the left middle frontal gyrus,and the left precentral gyrus.(3) In the VCIND patients,the brain regions which positively correlated with the MoCA scores were the left inferior parietal lobule,the right middle temporal gyrus,the right superior frontal gyrus,and the left superior temporal gyrus.The negativerelated brain regions were the right posterior limb of internal capsule,the left middle temporal gyrus,the left precuneus,and the right anterior limb of internal capsule.Conclusions VCIND patients show abnormal FC pattern of anterior cingulated cortex,which could be the pathological basis of VCIND,and have certain predictive value for VCIND.
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Objective To evaluate the efficacy of visual analog scale international prostate symptom score (VAS-IPSS) in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).Methods Three hundred and ninety patients with BPH were recruited to participate in this study and were randomly assigned to one of two groups:the standard IPSS group and the VAS-IPSS group.In each group,sub-groups were further divided to non-interpretation arm (A) and interpretation arm ( B),based on the availability of medical professionals to interpret patientsˊ VAS-IPSS score.In the same way,the similar sub-groups were established in VAS-IPSS group with non-interpretation arm (C) and interpretation arm (D).All the patients were required to fill out the same questionnaires at first consultation and second consultation with an interval of two weeks.Eventually,all the data were collected and analyzed.Results The ICC index was as follows for arms A through D:0.87 (95％CI0.72-0.94); 0.88 (95％CI0.74-0.95); 0.82 (95％CI0.59-0.92); 0.97(95％ CI 0.93-0.99).The optimal prediction factor for arm A was frequency (F =14.70,P =0.010)and the sub-optimal was nocturia ( F =12.10,P =0.000) and urgency ( F =11.80,P =0.000).The optimal prediction factor for arm B was nocturia ( F =6.02,P =0.000 ) and the sub-optimal was urinary incontinence ( F =5.79,P =0.008 ).The optimal prediction factor for arm C was nocturia ( F =30.98,P =0.000) and the sub-optimal was urinary incontinence ( F =22.42,P =0.000).The optimal prediction factor for arm D was nocturia ( F =20.20,P =0.000) and the sub-optimal was urinary incontinence ( F =18.00,P =0.000) and weak urine steam (F =15.30,P =0.000).Conclusions VAS-IPSS is more stable than the standard IPSS.The questionnaire explanation to patients is helpful for improving the VASIPSS stability.
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ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of self-management to improve the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and life quality in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients.MethodsTwo hundred and twenty-two men were recruited to take αblockers for at least 3 months from March 2008 to September 2009. Participants were randomized to either attend a self-management program in addition to standard care or to standard care alone. Difference of scores of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and BPH-specific quality of life scale between the two groups was analyzed during enrollment period, the 1st week, the 3rd month and 6th month of therapy.ResultsAll participants were followed up for 6 months.The IPSS scores of the SMI group were 20.5 and 20.5 and the QOL were 50.9 and 50.8 at the 1st week.While the numbers were 19.6 and 19.3 for IPSS and 51.1 and 51.1 for QOL in the control group. There was no statistic difference in the control group.Whereas during the 3rd and 6th month assessment, the scores of IPSS and quality of life of self-management interventional group were statistically significantly lower than those of the control group.ConclusionsSelf-management intervention could reduce the LUTS symptoms and improve quality of life in BPH patients who were taking medicines.