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Objective To compare epidemiology characteristics and control measures of dengue fever (DF) outbreaks in public places in Shenzhen and Hong Kong and integrate the advantages for better response to DF outbreaks. Methods Data of DF cases and mosquito vector surveillance in Shenzhen and Hong Kong were collected for descriptive epidemiological analysis and measures of mosquito control were compared. Results A total of 19DF cases were recorded in 13 d among six districts of Hong Kong, the male: female ratio was 1 ∶〗0.9. In Shenzhen, 20 cases were recorded in 33 d, the cases were distributed in three sub-districts, the Male: female ratio was 1 ∶〗0.82; Age difference between Shenzhen and Hong Kong was statistically significant (Z=-2.855, P=0.004). The time interval between date of onset and laboratory confirmation ranging from 5.5 to 8.5 d (median:7d) in Hong Kong, and ranged from 1.5 to 5.4 d (median:2 d) in Shenzhen, the difference was statistically significant (Z=-3.818, P<0.001). On the 4th day of the outbreak, Hong Kong declared 30 d closure for anti-mosquito operations with a range of 500 m, and monthly area ovitrap index (AOI) was used to monitor the territory-wide situation of Aedes albopictus. On the 2nd day of the outbreak, Shenzhen declared source closure for mosquito control with a range of 400 m and emergency vector surveillance was conducted, using Breteau Index (BI) and Human-baited double net trap(HDN) every 3 d. Conclusions The nature, scale, time and place of the two local DF outbreaks in Shenzhen and Hong Kong are similar. The prevention and control system is more sensitive and prompt, the ability of early detection is stronger, mosquito vector surveillance program is more comprehensive and the frequency is higher in Shenzhen. The epidemic information dissemination and risk communication with media is more active, mosquito management and control is more professional in Hong Kong.
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OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical value of arterial blood lactate level in predicting the prognosis of neonatal sepsis.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 301 cases of neonatal sepsis were collected, which mainly included biochemical indicators such as blood lactate on admission, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin. ROC curves were plotted to evaluate the value of lactate level on admission in predicting the prognosis of neonatal sepsis.@*RESULTS@#The mortality rate was significantly higher for full-term infants in the severely-elevated lactate group than in the mildly-elevated lactate group and the normal lactate group (26.1% vs 3.1% and 0%; P<0.017). The poor prognosis group had a significantly increased lactate level on admission compared with the good prognosis group (6.5±5.1 mmol/L vs 3.6±1.7 mmol/L; P<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of blood lactate level on admission (cutoff value: 6.15 mmol/L) were 0.545 and 0.919 respectively, in predicting the prognosis of neonatal sepsis.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Early blood lactate level can be used as a biochemical parameter to predict the prognosis of neonatal sepsis as it has a high specificity but a low sensitivity.
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Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , C-Reactive Protein , Neonatal Sepsis , Prognosis , ROC CurveABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The effects of serum uric acid (UA) level on a variety of diseases were found from experimental and observational studies via oxidative stress and anti-oxidants. However, research on the association of UA and hearing thresholds is relatively sparse. We investigated this issue in the U.S. general population to evaluate the relationship of serum UA levels and pure tone threshold of hearing. METHODS: Forty four thousand eighty four eligible participants aged 20 to 69 years who have serum UA data and received Audiometry Examination Component were enrolled from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2004. Hearing thresholds (dB) as a pure tone average at low frequencies (0.5, 1, 2 kHz) and at high frequencies (3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz) were computed. Multivariate linear regression models and tertile-based analysis with an extended-model approach for covariates adjustment were used to assess the correlation between serum UA level and hearing thresholds. RESULTS: In the adjusted mode of tertile-based analysis, the regression coefficients elucidated as the change of log-transformed mean hearing thresholds upon comparing participants in the highest tertile of serum UA to those in the lowest tertile were –0.067 (P=0.023) in high frequency and –0.058 (P=0.054) in low frequency. After adjusting for multiple pertinent covariates, inverse association between tertiles of serum UA and hearing thresholds remained essentially unchanged. The negative trends between serum UA and hearing thresholds were statistically significant (P for trends <0.05) in tertile-based multiple linear regressions. CONCLUSION: Individuals with elevated UA levels independently were found to be inversely associated with hearing thresholds for pure tone audiometry in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.